cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dioctanoylglycerol stimulates accumulation of [methyl-14C]choline and its incorporation into acetylcholine and phosphatidylcholine in a human cholinergic neuroblastoma cell line

Dioctanoylglycerol, a synthetic diacylglycerol, stimulated [14C]choline uptake in cultured human neuroblastoma (LA-N-2) cells. As this effect has not, to our knowledge, been reported before, it was of interest to characterize it in more detail. In the presence of 500 microM dioctanoylglycerol the levels of [14C]choline attained during a 2 hour labeling period were elevated by 78 +/- 12%, while [14C]acetylcholine and long fatty acyl chain [14C]phosphatidylcholine levels increased by 26 +/- 2% and 19 +/- 5%, respectively (mean +/- S.E.M.). Total (long chain plus dioctanoyl-) [14C]phosphatidylcholine was increased by 198 +/- 33%. Kinetic analysis showed that dioctanoylglycerol reduced the apparent Km for choline uptake to 56 +/- 9% of control (n = 4). The Vmax was not significantly altered. The stimulation of [14C]choline accumulation by dioctanoylglycerol was not dependent on protein kinase C activation; the effect was not mimicked by phorbol ester or by 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol, and was not inhibited by the protein kinase C inhibitors H-7 or staurosporine, or by prolonged pretreatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. The effect of dioctanoylglycerol was slightly (but not significantly) reduced by EGTA and strongly inhibited by the cell-permeant calcium chelator bis(o-aminophenoxy)-ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid, tetra(acetoxymethyl)ester. Although these results implicate elevated intracellular calcium in the response, dioctanoylglycerol did not increase phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis in LA-N-2 cells, and its effect was not inhibited by the diacylglycerol kinase inhibitor R 59 022 (which blocks the conversion of diacylglycerol to phosphatidic acid, a known stimulator of phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS).
Analysis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Azithromycin Susceptibility in the United States by the Gonococcal Isolate Surveillance Project, 2005 to 2013

ABSTRACT Azithromycin, administered with ceftriaxone, is recommended by the CDC for the treatment of gonorrhea. Many experts have expressed concern about the ease with which Neisseria gonorrhoeae can acquire macrolide resistance. We sought to describe gonococcal azithromycin susceptibility in the United States and to determine whether azithromycin susceptibility has changed over time. We analyzed data from 2005 to 2013 from the Gonococcal Isolate Surveillance Project, a CDC-supported sentinel surveillance network that monitors gonococcal antimicrobial susceptibility. A total of 44,144 N. gonorrhoeae isolates were tested for azithromycin susceptibility by agar dilution methods. The overall azithromycin MIC 50 was 0.25 μg/ml, and the MIC 90 was 0.5 μg/ml. There were no overall temporal trends in geometric means. Isolates from men who had sex with men had significantly higher geometric mean MICs than isolates from men who had sex exclusively with women. The overall prevalence of reduced azithromycin susceptibility (MIC, ≥2 μg/ml) was 0.4% and varied by year from 0.3% (2006 and 2009) to 0.6% (2013). We did not find a clear temporal trend in gonococcal azithromycin MICs in the United States, and the prevalence of reduced azithromycin susceptibility remains low. These findings support the continued use of azithromycin in a combination therapy regimen for gonorrhea.
400-photon-per-pulse ultrashort pulse autocorrelation measurement with aperiodically poled lithium niobate waveguides at 1.55 µm

We demonstrate ultrasensitive intensity autocorrelation measurements of subpicosecond optical pulses in the telecommunication band by using aperiodically poled lithium niobate (A-PPLN) waveguides. The tightly confined optical beam in the waveguides and the chirped poling period facilitate simultaneous high second-harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency and broad phase-matching (PM) bandwidth. The resulting measurement sensitivity is 3.2 x 10(-7) mW2, approximately 500 times better than the previous record for intensity autocorrelations. We also show that chirped A-PPLN waveguides retain nearly the same SHG efficiency as the unchirped guide as long as the PM bandwidth is not significantly broader than the input spectrum.
Irradiation effects on thermal conductivity of a light-water reactor pressure vessel steel

A Mn-1/2 Mo-1/2 Ni steel (ASTM A533 grade B class 1) similar to the material used for construction of early pressurized water reactors was examined for irradiation-induced changes in thermal conductivity. The mechanical properties of this steel have been shown to be sensitive to irradiation. Testing of a standard sample in the range 30 to 90°C showed that the thermal conductivity measurements had an absolute uncertainty of about ±3%. Results on the control and irradiated samples showed a small (1.7%) increase in thermal conductivity after irradiation at about 290°C to fluences up to 2.4 × 1023n/m2 (E > 1 MeV). Thus, for the neutron irradiation conditions investigated, the thermal conductivity of this pressure vessel steel is not degraded.
Finite element modeling of the influence of hand position and bone properties on the Colles' fracture load during a fall

Distal forearm fracture is one of the most frequently observed osteoporotic fractures, which may occur as a result of low energy falls such as falls from a standing height and may be linked to the osteoporotic nature of the bone, especially in the elderly. In order to prevent the occurrence of radius fractures and their adverse outcomes, understanding the effect of both extrinsic and intrinsic contributors to fracture risk is essential. In this study, a nonlinear fracture mechanics-based finite element model is applied to human radius to assess the influence of extrinsic factors (load orientation and load distribution between scaphoid and lunate) and intrinsic bone properties (age-related changes in fracture properties and bone geometry) on the Colles' fracture load. Seven three-dimensional finite element models of radius were created, and the fracture loads were determined by using cohesive finite element modeling, which explicitly represented the crack and the fracture process zone behavior. The simulation results showed that the load direction with respect to the longitudinal and dorsal axes of the radius influenced the fracture load. The fracture load increased with larger angles between the resultant load and the dorsal axis, and with smaller angles between the resultant load and longitudinal axis. The fracture load also varied as a function of the load ratio between the lunate and scaphoid, however, not as drastically as with the load orientation. The fracture load decreased as the load ratio (lunate/scaphoid) increased. Multiple regression analysis showed that the bone geometry and the load orientation are the most important variables that contribute to the prediction of the fracture load. The findings in this study establish a robust computational fracture risk assessment method that combines the effects of intrinsic properties of bone with extrinsic factors associated with a fall, and may be elemental in the identification of high fracture risk individuals as well as in the development of fracture prevention methods including protective falling techniques. The additional information that this study brings to fracture identification and prevention highlights the promise of fracture mechanics-based finite element modeling in fracture risk assessment.
A molecular beam investigation on the kinetic energy dependence of the activation of ethane on the reconstructed Ir(110)-(1 × 2) surface

Abstract Using molecular beam techniques we have investigated the initial dissociative sticking probability for ethane on a reconstructed Ir(110)-(1×2) surface. At kinetic energies below 15 kcal/mol the probability of activation at zero surface coverage, S 0 , is constant at about 0.03. With 1146 1151 V 3 increasing beam energy S 0 increases linearly to a value of 0.40 at an energy near 40 kcal/mol. Variation of surface temperature in the range 300 ≤ T s ≤1400 K does not influence the dependence of S 0 on kinetic energy.
Clinical Experience with an Improved Mitral Valve Prosthesis

Abstract More than five years ago a Dacron velour-covered Teflon-disc mitral valve prosthesis was introduced in an effort to decrease thromboembolic complications of mitral valve replacement. Numerous reports have demonstrated an extremely low incidence of thromboembolic complications with this prosthesis. Efforts toward improving the prosthesis have been aimed at using more durable materials, and a Dacron velour-covered mitral prosthesis using Pyrolite carbon for both the disc and the cage legs now is available. Animal investigations with scanning electron microscopical wear analysis predicted 140 years of wear prior to penetration of the Pyrolite carbon coating. Clinical trials then were begun, and combined experience with this prosthesis in three centers now includes 175 cases. There have been no deaths related to the prosthesis, and only four thromboembolic episodes have occurred; the only fatal one was an embolus from the left atrial appendage that occluded the prosthesis. This improved prosthesis appears to offer significant advantages.
A Flexible Path for Human and Robotic Space Exploration

During the summer of 2009, a flexible path scenario for human and robotic space exploration was developed that enables frequent, measured, and publicly notable human exploration of space beyond low-Earth orbit (LEO). The formulation of this scenario was in support of the Exploration Beyond LEO subcommittee of the Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee that was commissioned by President Obama. Exploration mission sequences that allow humans to visit a wide number of inner solar system destinations were investigated. The scope of destinations included the Earth-Moon and Earth-Sun Lagrange points, near-Earth objects (NEOs), the Moon, and Mars and its moons. The missions examined assumed the use of Constellation Program elements along with existing launch vehicles and proposed augmentations. Additionally, robotic missions were envisioned as complements to human exploration through precursor missions, as crew emplaced scientific investigations, and as sample gathering assistants to the human crews. The focus of the flexible path approach was to gain ever-increasing operational experience through human exploration missions ranging from a few weeks to several years in duration, beginning in deep space beyond LEO and evolving to landings on the Moon and eventually Mars.
The Problem of Rational Compliance with Rules

Let us suppose that the citizens of some country recognize the need for certain public goods, such as education, police, and roads. Different rules promoting the provision of such goods might have different levels of effectiveness, and they might vary in their costs of implementation or enforcement, too. For example, a rule leaving the provision of such goods up to private charity would probably have low costs but rate low on any reasonable measure of effectiveness, too. Let us suppose, then, that when all the costs and benefits are taken into account, the rule with the best consequences, morally speaking, requires the provision of public goods to be centrally managed, through taxation and appropriation. This optimal rule will presumably be fairly complex, including clauses concerned with the behavior of legislators, executive agencies, and ordinary citizens. Most of this complexity can be set aside, but it is important here to suppose that one aspect of this optimal rule requires every citizen to pay all the taxes that he or she legally owes. Let us also suppose that a system in accord with such a rule gets started, with the rule being regarded as morally binding solely because of the consequentialist reasoning that can be offered in justification of it. With the system up and running, each year tax payments flow in and appropriations flow out, providing public goods in certain quantities. Inevitably, there is always some tax evasion, since not everyone is adequately motivated to comply with the optimal rule and the costs of increasing enforcement enough to catch every last evader would outweigh the benefits of securing those missing dollars. But the system is functioning, overall. Finally, let us suppose that a particular citizen, aware of unmet needs in her local community, can see that if she were to follow the rule requiring her to pay all of her legally assigned taxes, the consequences would be worse, overall, than if she were to direct some or all of those
Interfacial fracture testing of deposited metal layers under four-point bending

Abstract In this work, a four-point bend test for determining interfacial fracture resistance is applied to deposited metal layers. The motivating application for this study is a layered manufacturing technique involving the successive deposition of molten metal. A four-point bend test for determining the interfacial fracture toughness of a two-layer bimaterial specimen has been considered in the literature. In this study, this concept is extended and applied to both two-layer and three-layer deposited metal specimens. A closed-form expression for a steady-state energy release rate (independent of crack length) is obtained for the three-layer specimen and is verified by finite element calculations. In addition, finite element results are used to calculate a steady-state measure of mode mix. Experimental procedures for determining the interfacial fracture toughness of deposited metal layers are described for both two-layer and three-layer specimens. Insight is given into specimen design such that interfacial fracture occurs prior to large-scale yielding. Critical interfacial fracture parameters are presented for two deposited metal interfaces and the existence of varying toughness along deposited metal interfaces is discussed.
Knowledge-Based Analysis And Understanding Of 3D Medical Images

The anatomical three-dimensional (3D) medical imaging modalities, such as X-ray CT and MRI, have been well recognized in the diagnostic radiology for several years while the nuclear medicine modalities, such as PET, have just started making a strong impact through functional imaging. Though PET images provide the functional information about the human organs, they are hard to interpret because of the lack of anatomical information. Our objective is to develop a knowledge-based biomedical image analysis system which can interpret the anatomical images (such as CT). The anatomical information thus obtained can then be used in analyzing PET images of the same patient. This will not only help in interpreting PET images but it will also provide a means of studying the correlation between the anatomical and functional imaging. This paper presents the preliminary results of the knowledge based biomedical image analysis system for interpreting CT images of the chest.
Using Consumer Evaluation to Improve College Curricula in Nigerian Teacher Training.

Abstract A first step consumer evaluation of a Nigerian College BEd degree programme was carried out to determine students' impressions of the programme. Subjects were 114 in number, made up of 54 male and 60 female students currently enrolled for the BEd degree programme. A 21 item semantic differential evaluation of the BEd course on a five point scale, and free comments from the respondents, were the instruments used to collect data, which were analysed utilising frequencies and percentages. The study revealed areas of students' dissatisfaction with the programme as well as its areas of strength. The implications of this finding for the development and improvement of the BEd degree programme are discussed in this paper.
Continuous intrapulmonary distension with perfluorocarbon accelerates lung growth in infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia: initial experience.

Abstract Background/Purpose: The authors have shown previously in an animal model that neonatal lung growth can be accelerated by continuous intrapulmonary distension with a perfluorocarbon (PFC). The authors now describe a preliminary clinical experience with this therapeutic concept in a select group of infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Methods: Neonates with very high predicted mortality rate caused by CDH had their lungs completely filled with PFC while on extracorporeal life support (ECLS); (n = 5). A continuous positive pressure of 7 to 10 cm H 2 O was maintained via the endotracheal tube for 3 to 7 days (mean, 5.6 ± 0.87 days). The areas of both lungs (L) then were measured daily from digitized chest x-rays and divided by the area of the corresponding L1 vertebrae (V), to create an L/V index, so as to control for variable roentgenographic techniques. Immediately after removal of PFC, blood gas data were collected off ECLS. Results: At the end of continuous pulmonary distension, all patients showed improvements in oxygenation and ventilation. The ipsilateral lungs showed significant increase of the L/V index with time ( P =.003) and of L/V's daily change ( P Conclusions: Continuous intrapulmonary distension with PFC for up to 1 week accelerated ipsilateral lung growth, improved gas exchange, and increased survival of CDH infants with profound pulmonary hypoplasia marooned on ECLS. Additional trials of PFC-based pulmonary distension in similar infants are warranted. J Pediatr Surg 36:1237-1240. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.
Let's close the confidentiality gap

An examination of the interface between the law of privileged communication and the professional standards of confidentiality reveals a considerable gap between what the law is and what counseling and guidance personnel believe it is. The nature of the law is discussed, and evidence of disagreement with and misunderstanding of the law by counseling and guidance personnel is presented. Several recommendations are made to close the gap by bringing knowledge and attitude of counseling and guidance personnel into agreement with the law as well as modifying the law to reflect the needs of clients, counselors, and society.
An analysis of enzyme kinetics data for mitochondrial DNA strand termination by nucleoside reverse transcription inhibitors.

Nucleoside analogs used in antiretroviral treatment have been associated with mitochondrial toxicity. The polymerase-γ hypothesis states that this toxicity stems from the analogs' inhibition of the mitochondrial DNA polymerase (polymerase-γ) leading to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) depletion. We have constructed a computational model of the interaction of polymerase-γ with activated nucleoside and nucleotide analog drugs, based on experimentally measured reaction rates and base excision rates, together with the mtDNA genome size, the human mtDNA sequence, and mitochondrial dNTP concentrations. The model predicts an approximately 1000-fold difference in the activated drug concentration required for a 50% probability of mtDNA strand termination between the activated di-deoxy analogs d4T, ddC, and ddI (activated to ddA) and the activated forms of the analogs 3TC, TDF, AZT, FTC, and ABC. These predictions are supported by experimental and clinical data showing significantly greater mtDNA depletion in cell culture and patient samples caused by the di-deoxy analog drugs. For zidovudine (AZT) we calculated a very low mtDNA replication termination probability, in contrast to its reported mitochondrial toxicity in vitro and clinically. Therefore AZT mitochondrial toxicity is likely due to a mechanism that does not involve strand termination of mtDNA replication.
Persistent Conductivity in Post-Growth Doped ZnO Films Following Pulsed UV Laser Irradiation

Abstract Solution and rf sputter deposited doped ZnO films were subjected to cumulative 4-ns pulses of 355 nm light from a pulsed Nd:YAG laser at fluences between 5 and 150 mJ/cm 2 . Film densification, change in refractive index, and an increase in conductivity were observed following room temperature irradiation in air, a carbon monoxide reducing environment, or under vacuum. At fluences between 20 and 80 mJ/cm 2 , the films did not damage catastrophically under irradiation and high visible transparency persisted. The increase in conductivity is attributed to creation of oxygen vacancies and subsequent promotion of free carriers into the conduction band. Effects were most pronounced for films treated in vacuum. All treated films became insulating again upon equilibration in air at room temperature after several days. Films were characterized by means of UV–VIS–NIR transmission spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and Hall measurements. Analysis of interference fringes in measured transmission spectra allowed evaluation of optical properties. Raman measurements showed an increase of LO mode intensity with respect to TO mode intensity as the films became more conducting in accord with previous work. Results of this study are not only important for continued development of transparent conducting oxides, but also provide compelling evidence for the role of free carriers as initiators of laser damage in wide bandgap metal oxide films.
Linear CCD With Enhanced X-Ray Quantum Efficiency

We have built a linear CCD with enhanced quantum efficiency to x-rays. The primary objective is to replace an existing scanning pinhole camera used to evaluate x-rays optics that we are developing. The scanning pinhole camera can take up to 3 hours to acquire a single scan of data. Several scans may be required in order to evaluate an optics part. By using a linear CCD, an entire scan of data can be taken at the same time, which would reduce the data collection time for an optics part to a few minutes.
Functional reconstitution of U6 snRNA in nematode cis- and trans-splicing: U6 can serve as both a branch acceptor and a 5′ exon

Maturation of nuclear pre-mRNAs in nematodes requires both cis- and trans-splicing. Both processing pathways involve analogous two-step phosphotransfer reactions and both are dependent upon the integrity of U6 snRNA. We have developed a functional reconstitution assay to assess the U6 snRNA sequence requirements for cis- and trans-splicing. Branch formation between the splicing substrates and U6 snRNA was observed. The frequency of this event was greatly enhanced when a highly conserved sequence in U6 snRNA was altered by mutation. In cis- and trans-splicing reactions reconstituted with this mutant U6 snRNA the liberated exon of U6 proceeded through the second step of splicing using the appropriate splice acceptor sites. These results demonstrate covalent interactions between a U snRNA required for splicing and a splicing substrate, and they provide evidence for an unexpected degree of catalytic flexibility within the spliceosome.
The Scientific Management of Hazardous Wastes

According to the jacket of this book, three independent scientists carefully define the limits of scientific knowledge applicable to the management of hazardous wastes. It is claimed that the extrapolation and application of this knowledge is examined, significant areas of uncertainty are identified, and the authors reveal “the fallibility of certain interpretations.” It would be more accurate to claim these as possible goals of the book rather than its accomplishments. Chapter 1, Hazardous Wastes and Their Recycling Potential, includes 11 pages of lists of chemicals, some of which are poorly reproduced. The remaining pages describe, superficially, several recycling schemes. Connections between the chemicals previously listed and the recycling schemes are not given. Concerning the potential for recycling, the last sentence of the chapter reads, “Indeed, the concept of waste recycling, itself a contradiction in terms, is better politics than business.” Taken literally, this assertion itself contradicts venerable practice, as the farmer might observe as he transfers waste from his cows to the crops in his field. More pertinently, it can be argued that the recovery of solvents, metals, and oil from waste flows is much more than a political gesture.
High-reflectivity high-resolution X-ray crystal optics with diamonds

Hard-X-ray mirrors usually rely on total external reflection at grazing incidence, owing to the high-penetration and low X-ray reflectivity of most materials. A demonstration of the almost perfect reflectance of hard X-rays from diamond at near-normal incidence could allow the development an entirely new class of X-ray optics. Owing to the depth to which hard X-rays penetrate into most materials, it is commonly accepted that the only way to realize hard-X-ray mirrors with near 100% reflectance is under conditions of total external reflection at grazing incidence to a surface. At angles away from grazing incidence, substantial reflectance of hard X-rays occurs only as a result of constructive interference of the waves scattered from periodically ordered atomic planes in crystals (Bragg diffraction). Theory predicts that even at normal incidence the reflection of X-rays from diamond under the Bragg condition should approach 100%—substantially higher than from any other crystal. Here we demonstrate that commercially produced synthetic diamond crystals do indeed show an unprecedented reflecting power at normal incidence and millielectronvolt-narrow reflection bandwidths for hard X-rays. Bragg diffraction measurements of reflectivity and the energy bandwidth show remarkable agreement with theory. Such properties are valuable to the development of hard-X-ray optics, and could greatly assist the realization of fully coherent X-ray sources, such as X-ray free-electron laser oscillators1,2,3.
Arithmetic acceleration techniques for wireless communication receivers

We develop techniques to accelerate the implementation of the next generation wireless communication algorithms in hardware. We discuss an implementation of a key computationally intensive baseband algorithm for joint multiuser channel estimation and detection for this purpose and study its real-time requirements. An analysis of the bottlenecks present in the algorithm is made. We present an acceleration technique using task decomposition to take advantage of the existing pipelining and parallelism flow in the algorithm. We show that an application specific system design with multiple processing elements is more effective than the conventional single processor approach as it can satisfy the high data rate requirements of the next generation wireless communication systems. Our analysis is done independent of the final mapping of the processing elements in hardware.
Carpe diem. Retooling the publish or perish model into the share and survive model.

Recent advances in high-throughput technologies such as genome sequencing and genome-wide gene expression profiling have energized and created a groundswell of interest among academic scientists, funding agencies, biotech companies, and even the general public. The development of these technologies in the last 20 years has culminated in drastic changes in how we conduct research and how we share the outcomes, as poignantly described in articles of this Editor’s Choice series. The exponential growth of data that can be used to accelerate our understanding of biology provides a tantalizing hint that we may be on the verge of a scientific revolution. Individual researchers are digesting more information and expanding from their own “domain of expertise,” fueled by access to the large body of information generated by other researchers and facilitated by advances in communications technologies such as the Internet, e-mail, and open community databases. Until recently, it was not unusual for an entire research group to focus on the characterization of just one gene, and many successful careers were built on that model. Now, it is more typical for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers to characterize a family of genes simultaneously. Even molecular genetics has expanded scope from the study of monogenic traits to the characterization of complex, quantitative traits and the eventual cloning of the genes responsible for these traits. There is a dark side to this picture. Recent trends in public funding and in the biotech private sector in the last few years suggest that the enthusiasm for large-scale projects to make genomic resources available to the community may be winding down (http://www.lifesciencesnetwork.com/news-detail.
A Survey of Fungi from the Order Melanconiales for Antibiotic Activity

Twenty-six genera including 55 different species of fungi from the order Melanconiales were tested for antibiotic activity. A comparison of the value of four broth substrates used in this survey is given. Twenty-three species were found to be active. More species were found to be active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa than any other test organism used. None of the molds was found to be active against Bacillus subtilis or Escherichia coli.
Rational use of the laboratory for childhood and adult growth hormone deficiency

No laboratory test has sufficient diagnostic sensitivity and specificity to serve as a gold standard for the diagnosis for GHD: therefore, test results must be interpreted after assessment of risk for GHD is determined on clinical grounds. Growth data are particularly crucial for diagnosis of childhood GHD;history of known pituitary damage and presence or absence of other pituitary hormone deficiencies are the critical elements for the diagnosis of adult GHD. New reference preparations are available for GH and IGF-I and should greatly aid interassay comparisons when the preparations are universally adopted.GH stimulation testing remains a key part of the diagnosis of adult GHD, but is currently being de-emphasized for the diagnosis of pediatric GHD. Better interassay comparative data and organized clinical collaboration between clinicians and test manufacturers/laboratories to set rational clinical diagnostic cutoffs would improve greatly the clinical usefulness of GH stimulation testing. The availability of statistically sound age- and sex-related normative data for IGF-I and IGFBP3 make these key tests for the diagnosis of childhood GHD. Although IGF-I may not be a perfect test for the diagnosis of adult GHD, it may be sufficiently informative in many cases to warrant using it ona routine basis. IGF-I also has a role in monitoring the safety of adult patients who are on GH treatment; studies are underway to determine if IGF-I may be useful in the future for optimization of GH dosaging.
Assessment of rose bengal versus riboflavin photodynamic therapy for inhibition of fungal keratitis isolates.

Purpose To compare the in vitro effect of rose bengal and riboflavin as photosensitizing agents for photodynamic therapy (PDT) on fungal isolates that are common causes of fungal keratitis. Design Experimental study. Methods Three isolates ( Fusarium solani , Aspergillus fumigatus , Candida albicans ) recovered from patients with confirmed fungal keratitis were used in the experiments. Isolates were grown on Sabouraud-Dextrose agar, swabbed, and prepared in suspension, and 1 mL aliquots were inoculated onto test plates in triplicate. Test plates were separated into 5 groups: Group 1, no treatment; Group 2, 0.1% rose bengal alone; Group 3, 518 nm irradiation alone; Group 4, riboflavin PDT (riboflavin + 375 nm irradiation); and Group 5, rose bengal PDT (rose bengal + 518 nm irradiation). Irradiation was performed over a circular area using either a green light-emitting diode (LED) array (peak wavelength: 518 nm) or an ultraviolet-A LED array (peak wavelength: 375 nm). Test plates were irradiated with an energy density of 5.4 J/cm 2 . Later, plates were placed in a 30 C incubator and observed for growth. Results Rose bengal–mediated PDT successfully inhibited the growth of all 3 fungal isolates in the irradiated area. All other groups exhibited unrestricted growth throughout the plate. Conclusions Rose bengal–mediated PDT successfully inhibited the growth of 3 types of fungi. No other experimental groups, including riboflavin-mediated PDT, had any inhibitory effect on the isolates. The results might be useful for the treatment of patients suffering from corneal infection.
Is sampled data sufficient for anomaly detection

Sampling techniques are widely used for traffic measurements at high link speed to conserve router resources. Traditionally, sampled traffic data is used for network management tasks such as traffic matrix estimations, but recently it has also been used in numerous anomaly detection algorithms, as security analysis becomes increasingly critical for network providers. While the impact of sampling on traffic engineering metrics such as flow size and mean rate is well studied, its impact on anomaly detection remains an open question.This paper presents a comprehensive study on whether existing sampling techniques distort traffic features critical for effective anomaly detection. We sampled packet traces captured from a Tier-1 IP-backbone using four popular methods: random packet sampling, random flow sampling, smart sampling, and sample-and-hold. The sampled data is then used as input to detect two common classes of anomalies: volume anomalies and port scans. Since it is infeasible to enumerate all existing solutions, we study three representative algorithms: a wavelet-based volume anomaly detection and two portscan detection algorithms based on hypotheses testing. Our results show that all the four sampling methods introduce fundamental bias that degrades the performance of the three detection schemes, however the degradation curves are very different. We also identify the traffic features critical for anomaly detection and analyze how they are affected by sampling. Our work demonstrates the need for better measurement techniques, since anomaly detection operates on a drastically different information region, which is often overlooked by existing traffic accounting methods that target heavy-hitters.
Characterization of retinal guanylate cyclase-activating protein 3 (GCAP3) from zebrafish to man.

Calmodulin-like neuronal Ca 2+ -binding proteins (NCBPs) are expressed primarily in neurons and contain a combination of four functional and nonfunctional EF-hand Ca 2+ -binding motifs. The guanylate cyclase-activating proteins 1‐3 (GCAP1‐3), the best characterized subgroup of NCBPs, function in the regulation of transmembrane guanylate cyclases 1‐2 (GC1‐2). The pairing of GCAPs and GCs in vivo depends on cell expression. Therefore, we investigated the expression of these genes in retina using in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry. Our results demonstrate that GCAP1, GCAP2, GC1 and GC2 are expressed in human rod and cone photoreceptors, while GCAP3 is expressed exclusively in cones. As a consequence of extensive modification, the GCAP3 gene is not expressed in mouse retina. However, this lack of evolutionary conservation appears to be restricted to only some species as we cloned all three GCAPs from teleost (zebrafish) retina and localized them to rod cells, short single cones (GCAP1‐2), and all subtypes of cones (GCAP3). Furthermore, sequence comparisons and evolutionary trace analysis coupled with functional testing of the different GCAPs allowed us to identify the key conserved residues that are critical for GCAP structure and function, and to define class-specific residues for the NCBP subfamilies.
E-080 Outcomes of Carotid Artery Angioplasty and Stenting in Patients after Treatment of Acute Ischaemic Stroke

Introduction and Purpose Internal carotid artery (ICA) angioplasty and stenting is a possible treatment modality for patients with acute stroke that is associated with carotid artery occlusion. Here we investigate the use of this combined technique and evaluate the results and outcomes of carotid artery recanalisation in patients presenting with acute ischaemic stroke. Methods Over a period of six months, five patients with acute ischaemic stroke associated with cervical ICA occlusion underwent combined ICA angioplasty and stenting. A retrospective review was completed and clinical variables were measured and evaluated. Thrombolysis in cerebral ischaemia (TICI) score was used to define the degree of recanalisation, and a favourable outcome was defined as a Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0–3 at 90 days. Results The mean patient age was 60.2 (range49–77) and the mean presenting National Institute of Health Stroke Scale was 17.8 (range16–19). Out of all patients, four had complete occlusion of the left ICA and one had complete occlusion of the right ICA. In four patients there was concomitant intracranial occlusion. The time from symptom onset to endovascular intervention was ≤ 3 hours in three patients, 10 hours in one patient and unknown in the other patient. Internal carotid angioplasty with stenting was completed in all patients. A TICI score greater than IIb was achieved in 100% of patients and grade III was achieved in 60% of patients. The 90 day mRS was 0–2 in 40% of patients and 0–3 in 80% of patients. Conclusion Clinical outcomes suggest that carotid artery angioplasty when combined with stenting is a useful and reasonable technique for carotid artery recanalisation in patients undergoing an ischaemic stroke. Further studies need to be completed to assess the overall safety and efficacy of this combined technique for use of treatment in acute ischaemic stroke. Disclosures P. Morone: None. J. Mocco: None.
Propagation of Extra Low Frequency Waves in the Magnetosphere

Summary The transmission of extra low frequency transverse waves with time periods 1 to 600 seconds propagating along the geomagnetic field from the magnetospheric boundary to the surface of the Earth is considered. A nearly exact analytical solution for the propagation through the entire highly inhomogeneous path is obtained. For typical magnetospheric conditions pronounced maxima of transmission are found at time periods in the vicinity of 30, 47, 70, 136 and 218s. More moderate resonances are seen at 37, 39, 50, 77 and 99s. Closely spaced small resonances are found between 7 and 36s and between 54 and 64s and two extremely small ones are seen at 1.5 and 4s. Giant resonances are seen at 168, 311 and 542s.
Structure and Properties of Silver Borate Glasses

Clear glasses form in the system Ag2O-B2O3 up to about 35 mol% (65 wt%) Ag2O. Infrared absorption, thermal expansion, and density data indicated an analogy to the Na2O-B2O3 system. Pentaborate-triborate group pairs appear to be formed on addition of Ag2O to B2O3 up to 20 mol% Ag2O and diborate groups from 20 to 33 mol% Ag2O. This interpretation is supported by the comparison of the infrared absorption spectra of quenched and crystallized glasses. One crystallization product, Ag2O-4B2O3, was identified previously. A new compound starts to appear at 28 mol% Ag2O. The theory that silver is generally present as a network modifier like sodium was substantiated by the comparison of the molar volume of sodium and silver borate glasses. Above 27 mol% Ag2O some atomic silver is assumed to be present; below 15 mol%, exploratory studies indicate a two-phase structure within an immiscibility gap. A low-temperature internal friction peak in the glasses up to 28 mol% Ag2O corresponds to the alkali peak in other glasses; a high temperature peak appearing in the 34 mol% Ag2O glass is associated with the appearance of nonbridging oxygen in the system.
In Vitro Inhibition of Cryptosporidium parvum Infection by Human Monoclonal Antibodies

Cryptosporidium parvum infection of the small epithelial intestine causes unremitting diarrhea and malabsorption that can lead to chronic and sometimes fatal illness in patients with AIDS. The illness may be ameliorated by passive oral immunoglobulin therapy. The objective of this study was to produce anti-Cryptosporidium human monoclonal antibodies for evaluation as potential therapy. All human monoclonal cell lines that produced C. parvum antibodies were originally generated from the peripheral blood lymphocytes of a human immunodeficiency virus-seronegative woman. She had recovered from C. parvum infection and had a high specific antibody titer. Hybridization of these lymphocytes with a tumor cell line was accomplished by hypo-osmolar electrofusion. Twelve clones were identified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as secreting anti-Cryptosporidium antibodies after the initial hybridization. From the 12 positive clones, two high antibody-secreting clones, 17A and 17B, were maintained in long-term culture. A second hybridization produced two other human monoclonal cell lines, EC5 and BB2. Human monoclonal antibody from the first two cell lines bound to C. parvum sporozoites and oocysts by immunofluorescence. The ability of human monoclonal antibodies to inhibit C. parvum infection in vitro was assessed by using a human enterocyte cell line, HT29.74. The antibodies of the four different human hybridomas inhibited infection by 35 to 68% (P < 0.05) compared to a control irrelevant human monoclonal antibody derived in a similar fashion. Human monoclonal antibodies are candidate molecules for immunotherapy of C. parvum infection.
Some Notes on the Use of Family Sculpture in Therapy

Therapists learning to use family sculpture as a tool often find difficulty in exploiting the technique to its fullest. This article, designed to encourage therapists to take the risks involved in using a technique new to them, describes how the author and his cotherapists used sculpture in three cases in different ways. In each case, the author explains how the therapists made the choices involved in directing the therapeutic process. He suggests that even when a sculpture itself seems to have failed to produce useful information, it can elicit from clients signals that will indicate opportunities for effective use of other techniques and that a sculpture, once used, can be restaged to reinforce client behavior change.
EUV Resists: Illuminating the challenges

As extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography enters the commercialization phase with potential introduction at the 3x nm half-pitch node in 2013, the attention of advanced EUV resist research has turned to addressing patterning at 16-nm half pitch and below. Whereas line-edge roughness is the primary concern at 2x half pitch and larger, research at the 16-nm half pitch level is uncovering broader.
Laser-induced melting of thin conducting films. I. The adiabatic approximation

The authors explore the thermal characteristics of an isolated metallic film which is subjected to a short pulse of laser radiation. The main feature of such an adiabatic system is that no steady-state solution is possible. This means that the molten zone dimensions depend on the pulse duration length and also on the temperature dependence of the influencing parameters (essentially, the thermal diffusivity). The authors use available models for the temperature-dependent conductivity and diffusivity to compare the theoretical results with experimental data obtained from a quasi-adiabatic system. >
Parallel implementation of the polyhedral homotopy method

Homotopy methods to solve polynomial systems are well suited for parallel computing because the solution paths defined by the homotopy can be tracked independently. For sparse polynomial systems, polyhedral methods give efficient homotopy algorithms. The polyhedral homotopy methods run in three stages: (1) compute the mixed volume; (2) solve a random coefficient start system; (3) track solution paths to solve the target system. This paper is about how to parallelize the second stage in PHCpack. We use a static workload distribution algorithm and achieve a good speedup on the cyclic n-roots benchmark systems. Dynamic workload balancing leads to reduced wall times on large polynomial systems which arise in mechanism design.
Rotational and Vibrational Dynamics of Interstitial Molecular Hydrogen

The calculation of the hindered roton-phonon energy levels of a hydrogen molecule in a confining potential with different symmetries is systematized for the case when the rotational angular momentum J is a good quantum number. One goal of this program is to interpret the energy-resolved neutron time-of-flight spectrum previously obtained for H2C60 . This spectrum gives direct information on the energy-level spectrum of H2 molecules confined to the octahedral interstitial sites of solid C60 . We treat this problem of coupled translational and orientational degrees of freedom ~i! by construction of an effective Hamiltonian to describe the splitting of the manifold of states characterized by a given value of J and having a fixed total number of phonon excitations, ~ii! by numerical solutions of the coupled translation-rotation problem on a discrete mesh of points in position space, and ~iii! by a group theoretical symmetry analysis. Results obtained from these three different approaches are mutually consistent. The results of our calculations explain several aspects of the experimental observations, but show that a truly satisfactory orientational potential for the interaction of an H 2 molecule with a surrounding array of C atoms has not yet been developed.
Optical Replacement of pH Electrode

The development of a noninvasive, self-contained optical pH sensor probe intended as a direct replacement for a pH electrode is presented. It uses a fluorescent excitation-ratiometric pH sensing dye in a patch. The patch is excited by light emitting diodes of differing wavelengths which are controlled by a microcontroller (MCU). The emission levels are measured by analog circuitry and their ratio is converted by the MCU into a linear output which mirrors that of a conventional pH electrode. The optical sensor readings were consistent with readings from a glass pH electrode with average difference .061 pH. This sensor allows noninvasive, low-cost optical pH sensing with the ability to interface with existing pH monitoring equipment.
Modulation of Ventricular Repolarization by a Premature Stimulus: Role of Epicardial Dispersion of Repolarization Kinetics Demonstrated by Optical Mapping of the Intact Guinea Pig Heart

Recent evidence suggests that ion channels governing the response of action potential duration (APD) to a premature stimulus (ie, APD restitution) are heterogeneously dispersed throughout the heart. However, because of limitations of conventional electrophysiological recording techniques, the effects of restitution in single cells on ventricular repolarization at the level of the intact heart are poorly understood. Using high-resolution optical mapping with voltage-sensitive dyes, we measured APD restitution kinetics at 128 simultaneous sites on the epicardial surface (1 cm2) of intact guinea pig hearts (n = 15). During steady state baseline pacing, APD gradients that produced a spatial dispersion of repolarization were observed. Mean APD was shortened monotonically from 186 +/- 19 ms during baseline pacing (S1-S1 cycle length, 393 +/- 19 ms) to 120 +/- 4 ms as single premature stimuli were introduced at progressively shorter coupling intervals (shortest S1-S2, 190 +/- 15 ms). In contrast, premature stimuli caused biphasic modulation of APD dispersion (defined as the variance of APD measured throughout the mapping field). Over a broad range of increasingly premature coupling intervals, APD dispersion decreased from 70 +/- 29 ms2 to a minimum of 10 +/- 7 ms2 at a critical S1-S2 interval (216 +/- 18 ms), and then, at shorter premature coupling intervals, APD dispersion increased sharply to 66 +/- 25 ms2. Modulation of APD dispersion by premature stimuli was attributed to coupling interval-dependent changes in the magnitude and direction of ventricular APD gradients, which, in turn, were explained by systematic heterogeneities of APD restitution across the epicardial surface. There was a characteristic pattern in the spatial distribution of cellular restitution such that faster restitution kinetics were closely associated with longer baseline APD. This relationship explained the reversal of APD between single cells, inversion of APD gradients across the heart, and ECG T-wave inversion during closely coupled premature stimulation. Therefore, because of the heterogeneous distribution of cellular restitution kinetics across the epicardial surface, a single premature stimulus profoundly altered the pattern and synchronization of ventricular repolarization in the intact ventricle. This response has important mechanistic implications in the initiation of arrhythmias that are dependent on dispersion of repolarization.