cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimental evaluation of liquid film resistance in oxygen transport to microbial cells.

A membrane probe was used to monitor the dissolved oxygen concentrations in continuous cultures of Candida utilis and Micrococcus roseus growing at low dissolved oxygen concentrations and various agitation levels. For the yeast fermentations, increasing the agitation level within the range of 0.1 to 0.3 w per liter lowered steady-state dissolved oxygen concentrations in the fermentor. The steady-state dissolved oxygen concentration in the fermentor was not influenced by the agitation level within the range of 0.3 to 1.8 w per liter. With M. roseus, no effect of agitation on steady-state dissolved oxygen concentrations in the fermentor was observed within the range of 0.1 to 1.8 w per liter. It was concluded that, under the conditions used, a measurable transfer barrier from the liquid to the yeast cells existed at agitation levels below 0.3 w per liter and that this barrier did not exist at agitation levels above 0.3 w per liter. The transfer barrier from the liquid to the yeast surface could be represented by a stagnant film of liquid 0.6 × 10-4 cm thick surrounding the cell at an agitation level of 0.10 w per liter. This film represented an oxygen concentration drop of 1.3 × 10-7 M from the bulk of the medium to the cells under the experimental conditions.
TRPC1 regulates calcium‐activated chloride channels in salivary gland cells

Calcium-activated chloride channel (CaCC) plays an important role in modulating epithelial secretion. It has been suggested that in salivary tissues, sustained fluid secretion is dependent on Ca(2+) influx that activates ion channels such as CaCC to initiate Cl(-) efflux. However direct evidence as well as the molecular identity of the Ca(2+) channel responsible for activating CaCC in salivary tissues is not yet identified. Here we provide evidence that in human salivary cells, an outward rectifying Cl(-) current was activated by increasing [Ca(2+)]i, which was inhibited by the addition of pharmacological agents niflumic acid (NFA), an antagonist of CaCC, or T16Ainh-A01, a specific TMEM16a inhibitor. Addition of thapsigargin (Tg), that induces store-depletion and activates TRPC1-mediated Ca(2+) entry, potentiated the Cl(-) current, which was inhibited by the addition of a non-specific TRPC channel blocker SKF96365 or removal of external Ca(2+). Stimulation with Tg also increased plasma membrane expression of TMEM16a protein, which was also dependent on Ca(2+) entry. Importantly, in salivary cells, TRPC1 silencing, but not that of TRPC3, inhibited CaCC especially upon store depletion. Moreover, primary acinar cells isolated from submandibular gland also showed outward rectifying Cl(-) currents upon increasing [Ca(2+)]i. These Cl(-) currents were again potentiated with the addition of Tg, but inhibited in the presence of T16Ainh-A01. Finally, acinar cells isolated from the submandibular glands of TRPC1 knockout mice showed significant inhibition of the outward Cl(-) currents without decreasing TMEM16a expression. Together the data suggests that Ca(2+) entry via the TRPC1 channels is essential for the activation of CaCC.
Comparing massed‐trial instruction, distributed‐trial instruction, and task interspersal to teach tacts to children with autism spectrum disorders

Although massed-trial instruction, distributed-trial instruction, and task interspersal have been shown to be effective methods of teaching skills to children with autism spectrum disorders, they have not been directly compared. In the current study, we taught 6 children to tact shapes of countries using these methods to determine which would result in the quickest acquisition. Five of the 6 participants acquired the targets in the massed-trial condition before the other 2 conditions.
Laser Damage Phenomenology in Materials

Improvements in laser technology must be accompanied by concomitant improvements in optical materials. The presence of both macroscopic and microscopic defects contribute significantly to the evolution of damage in optical components. It is well known that macroscopic defects such as scratches, polishing pits, and inclusions at the surface of a material will tend to scatter incident light from the sample. Absorption and local heating will occur at cavities or near inclusions of varying dielectric constant, often resulting in catastrophic surface breakdown on bulk material failure. The presence of microscopic defects such as vacancies, interstitials, or “impurities” in a crystal may effect the absorption of light by causing a local perturbation of the lattice spectrum. Larger defects such as dislocations, voids, inclusions, and grain boundaries often serve as scattering centers or absorbers, depending upon dimensions, charge configuration, the wavelength of light, and the relative absorption efficiencies. Other defects, introduced either during material growth or as a result of exposure to ionizing radiation (e.g., electronic traps, color centers, impurity-vacancy pairs) can substantially affect absorption in both the visible-UV region and the infrared region of the spectrum.
Impact tolerance and resulting injury patterns in the baboon: Air Force shoulder harness-lap belt restraint

The tolerance to abrupt linear deceleration (-Gdx) and impact trauma patterns resulting from the use of the Air Force shoulder harness-lap belt restraint were investigated. Eighty-nine deceleration tests were performed with 37 adult male baboons. Peak sled decelerations ranged from 6.5-134 g. The stopping distance varied from 0.5-3.5 ft at 6 in increments. LDd5d0s were calculated to be 102, 103, and 98 g for the 0.5, 2.0, and 3.5 ft stopping distances, respectively. Since the deceleration pulses were similar, the results imply that for the exposure range of these tests, impact lethality is dependent upon the magnitude of peak sled deceleration, irrespective of the pulse duration, sled velocity, or stopping distance. At all stopping distances, the primary cause of death was lower brainstem or cervical spinal cord trauma. The pelvic, abdominal, and thoracic injury patterns were significantly different at the various stopping distances. Animals impacted at the 0.5 ft stop typically displayed no significant injuries other than head-neck trauma. The predominant injuries at the 2.0 ft stop included pelvic and abdominal myorrhexis, intestinal herniation, urinary bladder rupture, and pelvic fractures in addition to luxation of cervical through thoracic vertebrae. At the 3.5 ft stop animals received extensive muscular and skeletal injuries of the pelvic, abdominal, and thoracic regions. Brainstem hemorrhage was a significant finding, but there was no evidence of luxation or fractures of cervical vertebrae.
Electromagnetic insight of Professor Y.T. Lo and his influence on my research career

The paper, dedicated to the memory of Professor Y.T. Lo, describes two research projects that vividly remind me of his influence as well as my interactions with him which I cheerfully remember. These projects are the microstrip disk resonator and meta-material research.
The Pattern of Polymorphism on Human Chromosome 21

Polymorphism data from 20 partially resequenced copies of human chromosome 21 — more than 20 ,000 polymorphic sites — are analyzed. The allele-frequency distribution shows no deviation from the simplest population genetic model with a constant population size (although we show that our analysis has no power to detect population growth). The average rate of recombination per site is estimated to be roughly one half of the rate of mutation per site, again in agreement with simple model predictions. However, sliding-window analyses of the amount of polymorphism and the extent of linkage disequilibrium (LD) shows significant deviations from standard models. This could be due to the history of selection or demographic change, but it is impossible to draw strong conclusions without much better knowledge of variation in the relationship between genetic and physical distance along the chromosome.
XTV: a framework for sharing X Window clients in remote synchronous collaboration

XTV is a distributed system for sharing X Window applications synchronously among a group of remotely located users at workstations running X and interconnected by the Internet. The major components of the system are designed and implemented in such a way that make them reusable in other collaborative systems and applications. A description is presented of the fine technical details and knowledge required to understand and replicate the work which went into developing XTV. The following concepts are discussed: interception, distribution and translation of traffic between X clients and display servers; regulation of access to tools using a token passing mechanism and reverse-translation of server traffic; and accommodation of systems with different architectures which may have different byte orders for integer representation. >
Measurement of Protein Carbonyls in Plasma of Smokers and in Oxidized LDL by an ELISA

Protein carbonyls are considered as markers of oxidative stress (1). The conventional colorimetric assay (2) that measures reactive protein carbonyls using 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and uses a large quantity of solvents. Recently, a new ELISA method for protein carbonyls was developed (3). However, the validity of this assay in smokers, who clearly have increased lipid peroxidation (4), and as a measure of LDL oxidation has not been studied. Hence, in this study we evaluated a modification of this ELISA method for protein carbonyls and compared it with the conventional colorimetric assay. We also validated the ELISA as an oxidative stress measurement in the plasma of smokers and as a measure of LDL oxidation. Native bovine serum albumin (BSA; 50 g/L) was oxidized with 0.42 mmol/L Fe2+ and 0.73 mol/L H2O2 in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) containing EDTA (0.1 g/L) for 2 h at 37 °C as reported previously (5). Oxidation was stopped with 40 μmol/L butylated hydroxytoluene. The carbonyl content of the oxidized BSA was measured spectrophotometrically (2). Aliquots of oxidized BSA were stored at −70 °C. Before use, an aliquot was thawed and diluted to a carbonyl content of 2 nmol/L in PBS. The ELISA method used was a modification of the original assay described by Buss …
Cutaneous Malignancies: Melanoma and Nonmelanoma Types

Learning Objectives:After reviewing this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Describe the epidemiology and etiology of skin cancers. 2. Understand the biology and predisposing conditions. 3. Understand tumor types and their clinical behavior. 4. Discuss the importance of diagnostic biopsy
Wire Bond Integrity Test Chip

A special test chip and bonding diagram has been designed to nondestructively evaluate wire bond integrity of plastic encapsulated IC packages. Differential Kelvin resistance measurements as a function of bake time provide a quantitative measure of bond degradation. It was found that a 20 m? resistance increase corresponds to unacceptable performance in bond pull and ball shear. A hypothesis is advanced to explain the development of bimodal distributions of bond resistance change and bond pull strengths, which develop after long bake periods. This method was used for optimization of gold wire bonding to pure aluminum and silicon-doped aluminum, and for encapsulant selection.
A point-of-care PCR test for HIV-1 detection in resource-limited settings

A low-cost, fully integrated sample-to-answer, quantitative PCR (qPCR) system that can be used for detection of HIV-1 proviral DNA in infants at the point-of-care in resource-limited settings has been developed and tested. The system is based on a novel DNA extraction method, which uses a glass fiber membrane, a disposable assay card that includes on-board reagent storage, provisions for thermal cycling and fluorescence detection, and a battery-operated portable analyzer. The system is capable of automated PCR mix assembly using a novel reagent delivery system and performing qPCR. HIV-1 and internal control targets are detected using two spectrally separated fluorophores, FAM and Quasar 670. In this report, a proof-of-concept of the platform is demonstrated. Initial results with whole blood demonstrate that the test is capable of detecting HIV-1 in blood samples containing greater than 5000 copies of HIV-1. In resource-limited settings, a point-of-care HIV-1 qPCR test would greatly increase the number of test results that reach the infants caregivers, allowing them to pursue anti-retroviral therapy.
46, XX man with SRY gene translocation: cytogenetic characteristics, clinical features and management

This report describes a well-masculinized 33-year-old man with infertility and primary hypogonadism in whom chromosomal evaluation revealed a 46, XX karyotype. This syndrome is a rare but important cause of hypergonadotropic hypogonadism in which the diagnosis can be delayed or missed. A review of the cytogenetic basis and clinical features is presented to raise awareness of this entity among clinicians and to emphasize the importance of appropriate laboratory testing when indicated.
NATO Tactical Reconnaissance Data Link

Today's changing tactical environment emphasises the NATO forces need for a common, real-time data link to provide the dissemination of intelligence data. This paper addresses the NATO problem, but the requirements and the scenario are applicable for other theatres as well. The NATO theatre was chosen because it represents the worst case situation in terms of the threat environment and the density of emitters. It is imperative that common linkage among forces is available and that the networks for the dissemination of critical data are in place and survivable; i.e., the node points must be away from prime target areas. The purposes herein are threefold. First, a review of some of the desirable aspects of a data link, as envisaged by the operational community is presented. Second, a NATO Recce scenario with its attendant data collection requirement is postulated. Third, pertinent data link characteristics, for operation in this environment, are suggested. Data link technology limitations, trade-offs and representative configurations are presented, with an emphasis on interoperability issues. Although no universal solutions are presented, it is shown that a NATO interoperable data link is feasible.
137Cs and 210Pb dating of sediments from soft-water lakes in New England (U.S.A.) and Scandinavia, a failure of 137Cs dating

Abstract Deep-water sediment cores from 32 Scandinavian and 19 northern New England, U.S.A., lakes were analyzed for 137Cs; 210Pb was analyzed in cores from 16 and 14 of these lakes, respectively. Additional dating of the New England cores was based on chronostratigraphic pollen markers. The profiles in sediment of 137Cs deviate greatly from expectations based on fallout history. The profiles have their maxima at the surface, and 137Cs occurs at depths dated by 210Pb and pollen as many decades older than the beginning of 137Cs fallout. Non-exponential 210Pb profiles in certain lakes (most in New England) and pollen dates suggest that bioturbation, physical mixing, changes in sedimentation rate, or acidification may be occurring, but this is insufficient to account for the deviant 137Cs profiles. In most of the lakes there is no evidence of mixing. We argue that the occurrence of 137Cs at prefallout sediment depths is due mostly to net downward molecular diffusion and adsorption, and that surface concentration is due to net upward diffusion and adsorption (and possibly also biological uptake), recycling of sedimentary 137Cs in the water column, and delayed input from the watershed. It is probable that much of the 137Cs entering these lakes is carried by organic detritus. Mobility of 137Cs in this sediment may be a function of release by organic decomposition and scarcity of clay minerals for adsorption. Correlation analyses of the sedimentary radionuclide activities vs. physical and chemical characteristics of the lake water, sediment and watersheds suggest that considerable trapping of 137Cs and 210Pb by terrestrial vegetation and organic soils is occurring. The resultant delayed export to these lakes is contributing to the failure of 137Cs as a dating tool, but 210Pb dating can be valid under these circumstances.
The child and adolescent psychiatry trials network (CAPTN): infrastructure development and lessons learned

In 2003, the National Institute of Mental Health funded the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Trials Network (CAPTN) under the Advanced Center for Services and Intervention Research (ACSIR) mechanism. At the time, CAPTN was believed to be both a highly innovative undertaking and a highly speculative one. One reviewer even suggested that CAPTN was "unlikely to succeed, but would be a valuable learning experience for the field." To describe valuable lessons learned in building a clinical research network in pediatric psychiatry, including innovations intended to decrease barriers to research participation. The CAPTN Team has completed construction of the CAPTN network infrastructure, conducted a large, multi-center psychometric study of a novel adverse event reporting tool, and initiated a large antidepressant safety registry and linked pharmacogenomic study focused on severe adverse events. Specific challenges overcome included establishing structures for network organization and governance; recruiting over 150 active CAPTN participants and 15 child psychiatry training programs; developing and implementing procedures for site contracts, regulatory compliance, indemnification and malpractice coverage, human subjects protection training and IRB approval; and constructing an innovative electronic casa report form (eCRF) running on a web-based electronic data capture system; and, finally, establishing procedures for audit trail oversight requirements put forward by, among others, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Given stable funding for network construction and maintenance, our experience demonstrates that judicious use of web-based technologies for profiling investigators, investigator training, and capturing clinical trials data, when coupled to innovative approaches to network governance, data management and site management, can reduce the costs and burden and improve the feasibility of incorporating clinical research into routine clinical practice. Having successfully achieved its initial aim of constructing a network infrastructure, CAPTN is now a capable platform for large safety registries, pharmacogenetic studies, and randomized practical clinical trials in pediatric psychiatry.
Phase equilibria constraints on the chemistry of hot spring fluids at mid-ocean ridges

Abstract Recent advances in experimental and theoretical geochemistry have made it possible to assess both homogeneous and heterogeneous equilibria involving a wide range of aqueous species at temperatures and pressures appropriate to model hydrothermal alteration processes at mid-ocean ridges. We have combined selected aspects of the chemistry of hot spring fluids with constraints imposed by a geologically reasonable assemblage of minerals in the system Na2O-K2O-CaO-MgO-FeO-Fe2OrAl2O3-SiO2-H2O-HCl-H2S to assess the effect of temperature on the composition of the aqueous phase and the activities of mineral components in plagioclase and epidote solid solutions. Assuming ƒO 2(g) and ƒS 2(g) controlled by pyrite-pyrrhotite-magnetite equilibria, a constant dissolved Ca concentration, and a dissolved Cl concentration equivalent to that of seawater, increasing temperature from 250 to 400°C at 500 bars results in systematic changes in the composition of mineral phases, which in turn constrain pH and the distribution of aqueous species. The model predicts that dissolved concentrations of Fe, SiO2, K, H2S, and H2 increase, while Na and pH(25°c) decrease with increasing temperature. pH(in-situ) decreases slightly with increasing temperature, and has a value of 5.16 at 400°C. Dissolved Mg concentrations do not exceed 1 mmolal at any temperature investigated. Allowing for differences in pressure and total dissolved Cl, the predicted effect of temperature on fluid chemistry is in good agreement with results from basalt alteration and plagioclase + epidote + quartz recrystallization experiments, and in some cases, with results from hot spring fluids at mid-ocean ridges. Some vent fluids, in particular NGS (EPR, 21°N) and vent-4 (EPR, 11°N), however, reveal pH and/or dissolved Fe, H2S, H2, and SiO2 concentrations, which are difficult to reconcile with measured temperatures in comparison with results of temperature dependent mineral solubility calculations, and suggest that these fluids have lost heat by conduction on ascent to the seafloor. That many hot spring vent fluids are characterized by variable degrees of conductive heat loss renders measured temperatures unreliable as indicators of the maximum temperature of subseafloor hydrothermal alteration processes. The implications of this are significant for hot spring fluids which reveal large Cl variations relative to seawater, since likely mechanisms to account for such variability typically require temperatures in excess of those inferred for subseafloor reaction zones by simply correcting measured temperatures for the effects of adiabatic cooling.
Induction of mitotic abnormalities in the root tips ofAllium cepa by tobacco smoke

Es wurden Untersuchungen der Wirkung des Tabakrauches auf mitotische Fehler beiAllium-cepa-L.-Samlingen gemacht und dabei eine Abnahme des mitotischen Indexes und induzierte mitotische Missbilungen gefunden.
Detecting Higgs bosons with muons at hadron colliders

Abstract We investigate the prospects for the discovery of neutral Higgs bosons with a pair of muons by direct searches at the CERN large hadron collider (LHC) as well as by indirect searches in the rare decay B s → μ + μ − at the Fermilab Tevatron and the LHC. Promising results are found for the minimal supersymmetric standard model, the minimal supergravity (mSUGRA) model, and supergravity models with non-universal Higgs masses (NUHM SUGRA). For tan β ≃ 50 , we find that (i) the contours for a branching fraction of B ( B s → μ + μ − ) = 1 × 10 −8 in the parameter space are very close to the 5 σ contours for p p → b ϕ 0 → b μ + μ − + X , ϕ 0 = h 0 , H 0 , A 0 at the LHC with an integrated luminosity ( L ) of 30 fb −1 , (ii) the regions covered by B ( B s → μ + μ − ) ⩾ 5 × 10 −9 and the discovery region for b ϕ 0 → b μ + μ − with 300 fb −1 are complementary in the mSUGRA parameter space, (iii) in NUHM SUGRA models, a discovery of B ( B s → μ + μ − ) ≃ 5 × 10 −9 at the LHC will cover regions of the parameter space beyond the direct search for b ϕ 0 → b μ + μ − with L = 300 fb −1 .
Application of MS-based proteomics to study serum protein adsorption/absorption and complement C3 activation on poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels.

Although the interaction between cells and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels is well documented, there lacks a thorough investigation into the adsorption of blood proteins on these surfaces which dictates the observed cellular and in vivo host response. Thus, a clear understanding of how surface-bound proteins mediate the unique biological property of PEG hydrogels is fundamentally important. The information obtained will also provide insights into future biomaterial design. In this study, several mass-spectrometrybased proteomic tools coupled with complementary immunoassays were employed to survey the complex surface-bound serum proteome. The adsorption of vitronectin, thrombin, fibrinogen and complement component C3 was significantly lower on PEG hydrogels than on tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS). Although PEG hydrogels mediated lower C3 adsorption than TCPS, the extent of C3 activation between the two surfaces was comparable. Adherent monocyte density was also significantly lower on PEG hydrogels ...
Quantitative comparison of the fasted and re-fed mouse liver phosphoproteomes using lower pH reductive dimethylation

Phosphorylation is a common but crucial protein posttranslational modification occurring in virtually all known species. A successful technique for identifying phosphorylation sites is via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). In addition to identification, the introduction of stable isotopes allows for LC-MS based quantification of thousands of phosphorylation sites. Historically, stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) has been the preferred method for introducing stable isotopes for quantification. SILAC is not well suited, however, for quantitative proteomics in larger animals. The introduction of stable isotope instead by reductive dimethylation is an alternative for performing quantitative proteomics in animal tissues. Here we present an improved reductive dimethylation protocol and demonstrate the application of this method in the analysis of the fasted vs. re-fed mouse liver phosphoproteome. In our analysis, greater than 8500 sites were identified from ∼2700 phosphoproteins. Nearly 7400 phosphorylation events from ∼2300 phosphoproteins were reliably quantified. Using a 2-fold change as a cutoff, 390 phosphorylation sites were found to change between fasted and re-fed mice, many of which may have interesting biological interpretations.
The Effect of Nidroxyzone and Nihydrazone on Laying Hens

Abstract INTRODUCTION NIDROXYZONE (Furadroxl R 1 NF-67 or 5-nitro-2-furaldehyde-2-(2-hydroxethyl) semicarbazone) and nihydrazone (Nidrafur P 2 NF64 or 5-nitro-2-furaldehyde acetyl hydrazone) were the compounds studied in this investgation. They are but two of the many nitrofuran compounds. This class of compounds basically consists of a furan ring with a nitro group at the fifth position. Additions of various side chains such as 2-(2-hydroxethyl)-semi carbozone and acetyl hydrazone can change the physiological effect it has on the animal to which it is administered. An early review of the literature on this group of compounds may be found in the proceedings of the first, second, and third National Symposiums on Nitrofurans in Agriculture (1956, 1958, 1960). Early interest in the nitrofurans was due to their chemotherapeutic value. Paul et al. (1961) showed that nidroxyzone improved growth of chicks on a low protein diet. Creek et al. (1959) indicated that nidroxyzone served as a growth stimulant in…
Stealth Liposomes, Ninja Liposomes, Or Cryptosomes: Are They Really Sterically Stabilized Liposomes?

AbstractWhen the idea of putting together a Forum on the subject of polymer and glycan coated liposomes came across my mind, I thought that this would be an unique opportunity for those of us who argue fiercefully in meetings to do the same in writing. The idea was well received when I contacted my colleagues about a year ago. After some minor arm-twisting by phone and FAX, here is the first Forum published in JLR.
The Observation, Documentation, and Shared Reflection Process: Preparing Early Childhood Educators to Teach in Alaska Native Communities.

The eight early childhood educators who participated in this study were admitted into a 60-credit statewide distance-delivered Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree program at the University of Alaska. All eight educators were women of Alaska Native ancestry who lived and worked in remote and rural Native communities. Seven of these teachers were employed by Head Start programs and one taught preschool for a rural school district. A major goal of the statewide distance-delivered AAS program is that participants will become skilled observers of children and learn to use observation to make decisions that foster developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive services. All the course work in our AAS degree program involves actively doing and using observations of children. This study is based on a principle that intrinsic changes can occur in program management, curriculum development, and teacher practice when teachers learn how to use observation of children rather than external evaluation to ma...
Finite element modeling of passive material influence on the deformation and force output of skeletal muscle

The pattern of deformation of different structural components of a muscle-tendon complex when it is activated provides important information about the internal mechanics of the muscle. Recent experimental observations of deformations in contracting muscle have presented inconsistencies with current widely held assumption about muscle behavior. These include negative strain in aponeuroses, non-uniform strain changes in sarcomeres, even of individual muscle fibers and evidence that muscle fiber cross sectional deformations are asymmetrical suggesting a need to readjust current models of contracting muscle. We report here our use of finite element modeling techniques to simulate a simple muscle-tendon complex and investigate the influence of passive intramuscular material properties upon the deformation patterns under isometric and shortening conditions. While phenomenological force-displacement relationships described the muscle fiber properties, the material properties of the passive matrix were varied to simulate a hydrostatic model, compliant and stiff isotropically hyperelastic models and an anisotropic elastic model. The numerical results demonstrate that passive elastic material properties significantly influence the magnitude, heterogeneity and distribution pattern of many measures of deformation in a contracting muscle. Measures included aponeurosis strain, aponeurosis separation, muscle fiber strain and fiber cross-sectional deformation. The force output of our simulations was strongly influenced by passive material properties, changing by as much as ~80% under some conditions. The maximum output was accomplished by introducing anisotropy along axes which were not strained significantly during a muscle length change, suggesting that correct costamere orientation may be a critical factor in the optimal muscle function. Such a model not only fits known physiological data, but also maintains the relatively constant aponeurosis separation observed during in vivo muscle contractions and is easily extrapolated from our plane-strain conditions into a three-dimensional structure. Such modeling approaches have the potential of explaining the reduction of force output consequent to changes in material properties of intramuscular materials arising in the diseased state such as in genetic disorders.
Zoonotic Disease Risk Perception and Use of Personal Protective Measures among Wildlife Biologists: An Application of the Health Belief Model

In November 2007, a National Park Service (NPS) wildlife biologist died from pneumonic plague after unprotected contact with an infected mountain lion. To begin to assess perceptions of zoonotic disease risk and attitudes toward personal protective measures among NPS biologists, two focus-group discussions were held in September 2008 with 12 biologists from 10 parks. Each facilitator-led discussion lasted approximately 75 minutes. Common themes were identified from audio transcripts and field notes and interpreted according to the Health Belief Model. Participants described cautious, but not overly concerned, perceptions of risk. Barriers to personal protective measures included challenges associated with field environments and lack of mandatory continuing education on zoonotic diseases. In contrast, NPS-supported guidance and supervisors who emphasize safety facilitated personal protection. These findings could have implications for developing practical interventions to improve zoonotic disease preventio...
Conditionability of caudate dopamine activity in the caudate nucleus of cats demonstrated by in vivo electrochemistry

An in vivo electroanalytic method was used to measure dopamine and dopamine metabolite levels in the anterior caudate of freely behaving cats. Food reinforcement was made contingent on either increasing or decreasing dopamine metabolite levels. The cats were found to be capable of contingent metabolite level variation in accord with reinforcement contingency. The metabolite variations were observed as both short-term and long-term changes, and were significantly different than variations obtained during random reinforcement. No distinctive overt behavioral responses were observed to accompany any of the reinforcement conditions. These results indicate that central dopaminergic activity can be significantly altered through extrinsic control and further imply that specific stimulus environments may contribute to the regulation and/or disregulation of neurochemical brain systems.
Mechanism-based inhibition of human Cytochrome P450-3A activity by grapefruit hybrids having low furanocoumarin content

A citrus breeding program aimed at developing low furanocoumarin (FC) grapefruit cultivars provided 40 grapefruit juice (GFJ) samples containing variable concentrations of FC derivatives, established as being mechanism-based (irreversible) inhibitors of human CYP3A isoforms.The principal inhibitory FCs were identified as 6′,7′-dihydroxybergamottin, along with a series of dimeric compounds (spiroesters) having high inhibitory potency.A random subset of the GFJ samples (n = 25) were tested as CYP3A inhibitors using an in vitro model based on human liver microsomal metabolism of the index substrate triazolam. The reciprocal values of in vitro 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) were highly correlated with concentrations of inhibitory FCs in the GFJ samples (r2 = 0.96). However the correlations were driven mainly by a few samples having high FC content and high reciprocal IC50 (corresponding to low IC50). Among the rest of the samples, the relationship was less robust.Further study is needed to determine how...
Threatened fishes of the world : Alosa alabamae (Jordan and Evermann, 1896) (Clupeidae)

Common names: Alabama shad, Gulf shad. Conservation status: US National Marine Fisheries Service Species of Concern, AFS: Vulnerable; IUCN: Endangered. Identification: Upper jaw median notch, protruding lower jaw, one row tongue teeth, 41–48 rakers on lower anterior gill arch; no dorsal filament. Silver with black spots on lower jaw; greenish-blue dorsally. Females 36–46 cm, males 9–42 cm SL. Distribution: Euryhaline, anadromous, schooling; spawns in medium to large rivers from the Mississippi River drainage to the Suwannee River, Florida (Mettee and O’Neil 2003); extirpated from at least 8 of the 14 native states (Mettee and O’Neil 2003). Abundance: Once commerically harvested, now rare (Mettee and O’Neil 2003); largest remaining population occurs in the Apalachicola River, Florida (Barkuloo et al. 1993). Habitat and ecology: Juveniles are found in rivers for their first 6–8 months, eat fishes and invertebrates. Diurnally, small juveniles use sandbars, then switch to open channels and steep bank habitat; they select cooler temperatures (Mickle 2006). Little is known of their ecology in marine environments. Juveniles enter the Gulf of Mexico from late summer to early winter. Spawning starts primarily at age 2 and live 6 years (Mettee and O’Neil 2003). Reproduction: Broadcast spawn spring/early summer at 18–238C over coarse sand and gravel in moderate currents; no foraging during spawning (Mills 1972). Arrival time varies by sex and age (Mette and O’Neil 2003), return to sea after spawning (Barkuloo et al. 1993). Some homing and genetic differences among drainages (Bowen 2005). Threats: Dams block spawning access and alter hydrology and substrates (Adams et al. 2000; Mettee and O’Neil 2003); poor water quality, siltation, altered habitat and thermal regimes, dredging, and perhaps bycatch in marine fisheries. Conservation recommendations: Implement effective fish passage; restore hydrologic regimes. Research into the marine phase including migrations, feeding and bycatch; and spawning, rearing, and other habitat needs. Remarks: Allopatric species pair with A. sapidissima. D. W. Meadows (&) Office of Protected Resources F/PR3, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA e-mail: Dwayne.Meadows@noaa.gov
Use of dermal fat graft for augmentation of the labia majora

Dermal fat grafts have been utilized in plastic surgery for both reconstructive and aesthetic purposes of the face, breast, and body. There are multiple reports in the literature on the male phallus augmentation with the use of dermal fat grafts. Few reports describe female genitalia aesthetic surgery, in particular rejuvenation of the labia majora. In this report we describe an indication and use of autologous dermal fat graft for labia majora augmentation in a patient with loss of tone and volume in the labia majora. We found that this procedure is an option for labia majora augmentation and provides a stable result in volume-restoration.
Capnographic Monitoring of Respiratory Activity Improves Safety of Sedation for Endoscopic Cholangiopancreatography and Ultrasonography

Background & Aims The Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations recommends ventilation monitoring during procedural sedation for gastrointestinal endoscopy. We sought to determine whether intervention, based on a microstream capnography-based ventilation monitoring system that has been shown to function as an early warning system for hypoxemia, would decrease hypoxemia during endoscopy. Methods Subjects undergoing elective endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) under procedural sedation with a combination of opioid and benzodiazepine were randomly assigned to either a study arm in which the endoscopy team was blinded to capnography or an open arm in which the endoscopy team was prompted of capnographic changes. The primary end point was the occurrence of hypoxemia; secondary end points were the occurrences of severe hypoxemia, apnea, and oxygen supplementation. Results A total of 263 subjects were enrolled; 247 were analyzed for efficacy. The numbers of hypoxemic events in the blinded and open arms were 132 and 69, respectively ( P P P = .004), for apnea were 63% and 41% ( P P = .02), and for recurrent hypoxemia after oxygen supplementation were 38% and 18% ( P = .01), respectively. Conclusions Capnographic monitoring of respiratory activity improves patient safety during procedural sedation for elective ERCP/EUS by reducing the frequency of hypoxemia, severe hypoxemia, and apnea.
Ring current development in MHD simulations

Abstract A signature feature of magnetic storms is the development of a ring current. Recent ideas on ring current formation suggest that during the main phase of storms the ring current is primarily asymmetric, becoming symmetric only during the recovery phase. In this paper, we examine ring current formation during a magnetic storm using global magnetohydrodynamic simulations of the interaction between the solar wind and the magnetosphere. The magnetohydrodynamic simulation uses solar wind data as a boundary condition, allowing the modeling of actual events. The event modeled here is the January 1997 storm. Although the code does not develop a true ring current, the simulated electromagnetic potentials predict the trajectory of drifting energetic particles in a non-self-consistent manner. Comparing drift paths of ring current-energy particles during the main phase and the recovery phase, we find that the MHD simulation predicts an asymmetric main phase ring current that evolves into a symmetric ring current during the recovery phase.
Physical Management of Velopharyngeal Incompetence

The pharyngeal flap is the most popular surgical treatment for velopharyngeal incompetence following cleft palate repair. Presented in this article is an approach which matches the width of the pharyngeal flap to the velopharyngeal gap. Results of 120 cases treated by this method are presented.
Gas transport properties of thin polymeric membranes in the presence of silicon dioxide particles

Abstract The fundamental gas transport properties of thin films of six high performance polymers were evaluated in the presence of silicon dioxide particles. The silica particles were brought in close contact with the polymer inside the 200 A. (DIA) pores of Anopore™ aluminum oxide membranes. This unique environment allows intimate contact between the polymer and the silica particles. The presence of silica improves the gas separation properties of the permselective layer, particularly for oxygen and nitrogen. The increase in O 2 /N 2 selectivity for some membranes is accompanied by an increase in oxygen permeability. The oxygen/nitrogen separation properties of the polymers in the presence of silica falls above the so-called “upper limit” of performance reported for polymeric materials. The observed significant increases in the glass transition temperature suggest restriction of chain segmental mobility possibly due to adsorption of polymer to silica surface. The increase in the activation energy of permeation points to increases in energetics of diffusion as the reason for the improved selective permeation. The observed behavior was not limited to oxygen and nitrogen as demonstrated by the results for other gas pairs tested.
Reorienting women's health in low- and middle-income countries: the case of depression and Type 2 diabetes.

Women’s health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) has historically focused on sexual and reproductive health. However, understanding how women acquire, experience, and treat non-reproductive health conditions, such as non-communicable diseases, has become a fundamental public health concern. Special attention to the social determinants of LMIC women’s health can provide socially and culturally relevant knowledge for implementation of policies and programs for women increasingly confronting these ‘New Challenge Diseases’. This article uses the example of depression and Type 2 diabetes comorbidity to illustrate how attending to the social determinants of mental and physical health beyond the reproductive years contributes to a more holistic agenda for women’s health. For instance, we must address the plurality of experiences that shape women’s health from social determinants of depression, such as gendered subjugation within the home and public sphere, to the structural determinants of obesity and diabetes, such as poor access to healthy foods and health care. Attending to the complexities of health and social well-being beyond the reproductive years helps the women’s global health agenda capture the full spectrum of health concerns, particularly the chronic and non-communicable conditions that emerge as life expectancy increases. Keywords : women’s health; depression; Type 2 diabetes; life course; social determinants; epidemiological transition (Published: 9 January 2014) Citation : Glob Health Action 2014, 7: 22803 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/gha.v7.22803 Special Issue : This paper is part of the Special Issue: Epidemiological Transitions – Beyond Omran’s Theory . More papers from this issue can be found at http://www.globalhealthaction.net . Please note: A summary box of main findings and key messages for action has been added at the end of the article (as of 15 May 2014). The text of the article is otherwise identical to that published 9 January 2014.
Going from microbial ecology to genome data and back: studies on a haloalkaliphilic bacterium isolated from Soap Lake, Washington State.

Soap Lake is a meromictic, alkaline (~pH 9.8) and saline (~14 to 140 g liter-1) lake located in the semiarid area of eastern Washington State. Of note is the length of time it has been meromictic (at least 2000 years) and the extremely high sulfide level (~140 mM) in its monimolimnion. As expected, the microbial ecology of this lake is greatly influenced by these conditions. A bacterium, Halanaerobium hydrogeniformans, was isolated from the mixolimnion region of this lake. H. hydrogeniformans is a haloalkaliphilic bacterium capable of forming hydrogen from 5- and 6-carbon sugars derived from hemicellulose and cellulose. Due to its ability to produce hydrogen under saline and alkaline conditions, in amounts that rival genetically modified organisms, its genome was sequenced. This sequence data provides an opportunity to explore the unique metabolic capabilities of this organism, including the mechanisms for tolerating the extreme conditions of both high salinity and alkalinity of its environment.
New Definitions and Measures of Telecommunciations Access

Current definitions of telecommunications access are antiquated and overly simplistic. They overlook technological alternatives, overlaps, and interdependencies as well as patterns of usage and the integration of usage into daily lives. Ethnographic observation of communication behavior can be used to construct social indicators of telecommunications access and usage that are based on theories about communication and behavior, not technologies.
Social Networks and Peer-Assessed Problem Behavior in Elementary Classrooms Students With and Without Disabilities

Peer-assessed problem behavior was examined in relation to peer group membership and social network centrality (social prominence) in 59 fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade classes. Differences among students with and without disabilities were explored. Peer assessments for Starts Fights, Gets in Trouble, and Disruptive were used to identify students with high levels of problem behavior. Students with high peer-assessed problem behavior tended to associate with peers who shared their behavioral features, and they were as socially prominent as students with low problem behavior. Most students with high peer-assessed problem behavior were students without disabilities, but students with disabilities were overrepresented at the highest levels of problem behavior. Within prominent problem behavior peer groups, students without disabilities tended to have higher prominence than students with disabilities. Implications for school services are discussed.
Detection efficiency and evoked brain activity: day-to-day and moment-to-moment fluctuations.

Abstract 1. 1. The relationship between fluctuations in photically evoked bioelectric brain activity and visual detection efficiency was investigated on a moment-to-moment and day-to-day basis by filtering scalp-recorded evoked brain output at the frequency of photic stimulation. 2. 2. Long term (day-to-day) changes in detection efficiency were very closely and positively correlated with long-term changes in amplitude of evoked brain output. 3. 3. Moment-to-moment fluctuations in detection efficiency were not correlated with moment-to-moment fluctuations in amplitude of evoked brain output. 4. 4. It is suggested that the scalp-recorded evoked response of the brain reflects changes in general arousal but does not reveal fluctuations in attention per se.
Relationship Between Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome and Migraine

The strength of the association between cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) and migraine was explored by studying the prevalence of migraine in patients with CVS and their relatives versus geographic normal controls. A questionnaire was sent to patients with CVS or their parents and to individuals of the same gender and age living within 1 mile of the home of patients with CVS. Patients with CVS, their mothers, and their grandmothers had a prevalence of migraine almost twice as frequent as that in controls. In a large number of patients, CVS is migraine-related.
On the Stability of Viscous Flow in a Curved Channel

In this paper the stability of viscous flow between two concentric cylinders due to a pressure gradient acting round the cylinders is considered when the spacing between the cylinders is small compared with their radii. Two methods of approximate solution are described, both of which show that instability first sets in when the parameter R$\surd $(d/R$_{1}$) attains a value of about 36 in close agreement with earlier results of Dean (1928). The pattern of motion which then sets in is of the familar cellular type but with a marked asymmetry.