cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Real-time characterization of uptake kinetics of glioblastoma vs. astrocytes in 2D cell culture using microelectrode array

Extracellular measurement of uptake/release kinetics and associated concentration dependencies provides mechanistic insight into the underlying biochemical processes. Due to the recognized importance of preserving the natural diffusion processes within the local microenvironment, measurement approaches which provide uptake rate and local surface concentration of adherent cells in static media are needed. This paper reports a microelectrode array device and a methodology to measure uptake kinetics as a function of cell surface concentration in adherent 2D cell cultures in static fluids. The microelectrode array simultaneously measures local concentrations at five positions near the cell surface in order to map the time-dependent concentration profile which in turn enables determination of surface concentrations and uptake rates, via extrapolation to the cell plane. Hydrogen peroxide uptake by human astrocytes (normal) and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM43, cancer) was quantified for initial concentrations of 20 to 500 μM over time intervals of 4000 s. For both cell types, the overall uptake rate versus surface concentration relationships exhibited non-linear kinetics, well-described by a combination of linear and Michaelis-Menten mechanisms and in agreement with the literature. The GBM43 cells showed a higher uptake rate over the full range of concentrations, primarily due to a larger linear component. Diffusion-reaction models using the non-linear parameters and standard first-order relationships are compared. In comparison to results from typical volumetric measurements, the ability to extract both uptake rate and surface concentration in static media provides kinetic parameters that are better suited for developing reaction-diffusion models to adequately describe behavior in more complex culture/tissue geometries. The results also highlight the need for characterization of the uptake rate over a wider range of cell surface concentrations in order to evaluate the potential therapeutic role of hydrogen peroxide in cancerous cells.
Effects of Maternal Carbohydrate and Fat Intake on Fetal Telomere Length.

OBJECTIVES Telomere length can be affected by dietary factors in adults. We investigated the association between maternal carbohydrate and fat intake during pregnancy and telomere length in neonatal cord blood leukocytes. We hypothesized that high fat consumption and high carbohydrate consumption would be associated with shortened fetal telomere length. METHODS We collected umbilical cord blood at delivery from women admitted for labor and delivery in a university hospital (N = 62) and extracted genomic DNA using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. We quantified telomere length using the telomere-to-single copy gene ratio method (T:S ratio). High carbohydrate intake was defined as consumption of >175 g/day and high fat intake as >35 g/day. We performed generalized linear regression modeling and bootstrap statistical analyses to derive precise estimates of association. RESULTS Of the 62 maternal-fetal dyads included in this study, 79% were classified as high carbohydrate consumers and 37% were classified as high fat consumers. High fat consumption had a significant negative effect on T:S ratio (P < 0.05). Although high carbohydrate consumption was associated with a decreased T:S ratio, this relation did not attain statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this study is the first evidence of an association between maternal high fat consumption and shortened fetal telomere length. These findings could enhance our understanding of the role of maternal diet in fetal programming.
NGmerge: merging paired-end reads via novel empirically-derived models of sequencing errors

Advances in Illumina DNA sequencing technology have produced longer paired-end reads that increasingly have sequence overlaps. These reads can be merged into a single read that spans the full length of the original DNA fragment, allowing for error correction and accurate determination of read coverage. Extant merging programs utilize simplistic or unverified models for the selection of bases and quality scores for the overlapping region of merged reads. We first examined the baseline quality score - error rate relationship using sequence reads derived from PhiX. In contrast to numerous published reports, we found that the quality scores produced by Illumina were not substantially inflated above the theoretical values, once the reference genome was corrected for unreported sequence variants. The PhiX reads were then used to create empirical models of sequencing errors in overlapping regions of paired-end reads, and these models were incorporated into a novel merging program, NGmerge. We demonstrate that NGmerge corrects errors and ambiguous bases better than other merging programs, and that it assigns quality scores for merged bases that accurately reflect the error rates. Our results also show that, contrary to published analyses, the sequencing errors of paired-end reads are not independent. We provide a free and open-source program, NGmerge, that performs better than existing read merging programs. NGmerge is available on GitHub ( https://github.com/harvardinformatics/NGmerge ) under the MIT License; it is written in C and supported on Linux.
Consumer Policy Remedies and Consumer Segment Interactions

This paper introduces a framework for examining consumer and market problems as a function of consumer segment interaction patterns. Three patterns of interactions are described as consisting of po...
A Deep Learning Approach for Microwave and Millimeter-Wave Radiometer Calibration

Deep learning artificial neural network techniques can be applied for on-orbit calibration of microwave and millimeter-wave radiometer spaceborne instruments, including those for small satellites. The noise-wave model has been employed for noise characterization and validation of the proposed deep learning calibration technique for a synthetically generated Dicke-switching radiometer. The developed deep learning neural network radiometer calibrator produces high accuracy estimates of antenna temperatures from the measurements of radiometer output voltage and thermistor readings. Tests with noise-free and noisy samples of the developed model have shown that the proposed calibration method does not add any significant noise to the radiometer calibration. The performance of the proposed method does not degrade with increased nonlinearity for a radiometer, while nonlinearity is a challenging issue for conventional calibration techniques. The deep learning calibration model learns the radiometer noise characteristics from radiometer prelaunch measurements during thermal vacuum chamber testing. The neural network calibrator proposed in this paper has self-learning capability during the on-orbit operation of a radiometer that can be used to improve the performance of on-orbit calibration. The proposed technique is demonstrated by comparing the residual uncertainty of the deep learning calibration with the theoretical value. No numerical study is presented to compare the performance with conventional calibration techniques. The new method may be solely applied to calibrate the radiometer or applied along with conventional calibration techniques.
Body Image Disturbance in Surgically Treated Head and Neck Cancer Patients: A Patient-Centered Approach.

ObjectiveTo promote patient-centered oncology care through an in-depth analysis of the patient experience of body image disturbance (BID) following surgery for head and neck cancer (HNC).Study Desi...
Comparing community garden typologies of Baltimore, Chicago, and New York City (USA) to understand potential implications for socio-ecological services

Urban community gardens offer unique social and ecological benefits in cities. However, given the dynamic nature of cities and the profound effects of variable land uses on green space provisioning for people and wildlife, investigating community gardens from a landscape perspective offers valuable insight into the functions of these spaces in terms of ecosystem services and sustainable development. In this study, we use garden locations provided by stakeholder groups and fine-scale spatial data to compare community gardens across three cities: New York City, NY, Chicago, IL, and Baltimore, MD (USA). In each city, we assess the spatial distribution of gardens and compare the natural vegetation and impervious surface cover within these gardens to the surrounding neighborhood and landscape. We then compared these cities to clarify the role of community gardens in metropolitan development. Our findings demonstrate that gardens cluster in neighborhoods in New York City and Chicago, but they are more spatially distributed across the landscape in Baltimore. The distribution of Baltimore’s community gardens is more likely to be contributing to a greater network of ecosystem services across a broader urban landscape. Moreover, at the garden scale, gardens in NYC and Chicago have more canopy cover and built infrastructure than the more herbaceous gardens in Baltimore. This suggests that our case study cities exhibit different garden typologies, histories, and potential for ecosystem services. This work provides critical insight into the typology in and around community gardens in different cities, which is useful in understanding the potential ecosystem services and planning trajectories of these cities.
Methods of identifying delirium: A research protocol

Delirium is an acute disorder affecting up to 80% of intensive care unit (ICU) patients. It is associated with a 10-fold increase in cognitive impairment, triples the rate of in-hospital mortality, and costs $164 billion annually. Delirium acutely affects attention and global cognitive function with fluctuating symptoms caused by underlying organic etiologies. Early detection is crucial because the longer a patient experiences delirium the worse it becomes and the harder it is to treat. Currently, identification is through intermittent clinical assessment using standardized tools, like the Confusion Assessment Method for ICU. Such tools work well in clinical research but do not translate well into clinical practice because they are subjective, intermittent and have low sensitivity. As such, healthcare providers using these tools fail to recognize delirium symptoms as much as 80% of the time. Delirium-related biochemical derangement leads to electrical changes in electroencephalographic (EEG) patterns followed by behavioral signs and symptoms. However, continuous EEG monitoring is not feasible due to cost and need for skilled interpretation. Studies using limited-lead EEG show large differences between patients with and without delirium while discriminating delirium from other causes. The Ceribell is a limited-lead device that analyzes EEG. If it is capable of detecting delirium, it would provide an objective physiological monitor to identify delirium before symptom onset. This pilot study was designed to explore relationships between Ceribell and delirium status. Completion of this study will provide a foundation for further research regarding delirium status using the Ceribell data.
Exposure of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) to silver nanoparticles and silver nitrate: physiological and molecular response.

AbstractSilver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are among the most widely used nanomaterials, with applications in sectors as diverse as communications, energy, medicine, and agriculture. This diverse applica...
Girls in the Public Sphere: Dissent, Consent, and Media Making

ABSTRACTSince the early 2000s, girls’ participation in the public sphere has undergone what may appear to be a radical transformation. For the first time, this group has gained access to the media ...
Forward osmosis with an algal draw solution to concentrate municipal wastewater and recover resources

This study aimed to concentrate and recover resources from municipal wastewater with a novel forward osmosis (FO) system. The FO system used synthetic seawater as the draw solution (DS) to extract water from the feed solution (FS) (synthetic raw municipal wastewater). Because ammonium passed through the FO membrane from the FS to the DS, we cultivated an algal strain (Chlorella vulgaris) in the DS to remove and recover ammonium. For three consecutive FO cycles, the algal FO system removed 35.4% of the ammonium from the DS, increased the concentrations of COD and PO 4 3 - - P in the FS by 43.0%, and achieved a water flux of 11.59 ± 0.49 L m-2 hr-1 . Throughout the FO cycles, the algal biomass concentration of the DS stayed at 606 ± 29 mg COD/L due to simultaneous algal growth and DS dilution. This FO process may be feasible to implement for full-scale applications to concentrate wastewater and recover resources. PRACTITIONER POINTS: A novel forward osmosis (FO) system with an algal draw solution (DS) concentrated municipal wastewater and recovered resources (ammonium). Ammonium but not organic matter or phosphate diffused across the FO membrane from the feed solution (FS) to the DS. The algal FO system increased COD/phosphate concentration in the FS by 43.0% and removed 35.4% of ammonium from the DS. The water fluxes in the algal FO system and the control were 11.59 and 12.02 L m-2 hr-1 , respectively. The novel algal FO process has the potential to improve full-scale efficiency by concentrating municipal wastewater and recovering nutrients.
Las raíces toltecas de la política azteca: los palacios

Es probable que la forma de gobierno de los aztecas, reflejada en elementos arquitectonicos como el palacio ?con sus tres espacios mas importantes: plaza, patio principal y sala del trono?, sea una influencia de los toltecas, en especial de la ciudad de Tula.
‘Being a team, working together, and being kind’: Primary students’ perspectives of cooperative learning's contribution to their social and emotional learning

Background/purpose: It has been suggested that cooperative learning (CL) is a model-based practice which can develop students’ social and emotional learning (SEL) competencies in physical education...
Coronary revascularization outcomes in relation to skilled nursing facility use following hospital discharge.

BACKGROUND Observational analyses comparing coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) among elderly or frail patients are likely biased by treatment selection. PCI is typically chosen for frail patients, while CABG is more common for patients with good recovery potential. HYPOTHESIS We hypothesized that skilled nursing facility (SNF) use after revascularization is a measure of relative frailty associated with outcomes following coronary revascularization. METHODS We used a 20 percent sample of Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years or older who received inpatient PCI or CABG between 2007-2014. Key explanatory variables were the revascularization strategy and SNF use after revascularization. We used Cox regression to evaluate death and repeat revascularization within one year and logistic regression to evaluate SNF use and 30-day readmissions/death. RESULTS CABG patients were 25.1 percentage points [95% confidence interval: 24.7, 25.5] more likely to use SNF following revascularization than inpatient PCI patients. SNF use was associated with a higher death rate (hazard ratio (HR): 3.19 [3.02, 3.37]) and a 16.2 percentage point (15.5, 16.9) increase in 30-day readmissions/death. Among patients with SNF use, CABG was associated with a decrease in 30-day readmissions/death compared to PCI. CONCLUSIONS While CABG was associated with higher rates of SNF use and 30-day readmission/death overall, CABG was associated with significantly lower rates of 30-day readmissions/death among patients with SNF use. The findings suggest that caution is needed in treatment selection for patients at high-risk for SNF use and that selection of inpatient PCI over CABG may be associated with frailty and worse outcomes for some patients.
On the Mechanism of Chemical and Enzymatic Reduction of Folate and Dihydrofolate

The incorporation of tritium from tritiated water, which occurs during the chemical reduction of folate to dihydrofolate, folate to tetrahydrofolate, and dihydrofolate to tetrahydrofolate, has been determined. Also, the transfer of tritium from enzymatically reduced triphosphopyridine nucleotide during the enzymatic reduction of dihydrofolate to tetrahydrofolate has been investigated. By degradation of the reaction products it was established that in all of these reactions tritium was most probably incorporated only into position 7 of the pteridine ring, suggesting that the reduction of dihydrofolate to tetrahydrofolate is preceded by intramolecular rearrangement. This was confirmed by experiments in which dihydrofolate labeled with deuterium in position 7 was reduced enzymatically or chemically to tetrahydrofolate.
Mammalian carbamyl phosphate synthetase (CPS). DNA sequence and evolution of the CPS domain of the Syrian hamster multifunctional protein CAD.

Glutamine-dependent carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase (EC 6.3.5.5) catalyzes the first step in de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis. The mammalian enzyme is part of a 240-kDa multifunctional protein which also has the second (aspartate carbamoyltransferase, EC 2.1.3.2), and third (dihydroorotase, EC 3.5.2.3) activities of the pathway. Shigesada et al. (Shigesada, K., Stark, G.R., Maley, J.A., and Davidson, J.N. (1985) Mol. Cell Biol. 175, 1-7) produced a truncated cDNA clone from a Syrian hamster cell line that contained most of the coding region for this protein. We have completed sequencing this clone, known as pCAD142. The cDNA insert contained all of the coding region for the glutaminase (GLN) and carbamyl phosphate synthetase (CPS) domains but lacked a short amino-terminal segment. By comparing the primary structure of the mammalian chimera to monofunctional proteins we have identified the borders of the functional domains. The GLN domain is 21 kDa, close to the size of the functionally similar polypeptide products of the Escherichia coli pabA and hisH genes. The domain has the three regions of homology common to trpG-type glutamine amidotransferases, as well as a fourth region specific to the carbamyl phosphate synthetases. The CPSase domain is similar to other reported CPSases in size (120 kDa), primary structure (37-67% amino acid identity), and homology between its amino and carboxyl halves. Analysis of the nucleotide and amino acid sequence identities among the various carbamyl phosphate synthetases suggests that the gene fusion which joined the GLN and CPS domains was an early event in the evolution of eukaryotic organisms and that the Saccharomyces cerevisiae enzyme consisting of separate subunits arose by defusion from an ancestral multifunctional protein.
Critical Voices: The Reactions of Rahner and Ratzinger to “Schema XIII” (Gaudium et Spes)

Schema XIII (eventually Gaudium et Spes) occasioned somewhat of a split within the “progressive majority” at Vatican II. This article considers one side of this divide via the contributions and objections of Karl Rahner and Joseph Ratzinger, two of the text's most salient critics. After reviewing the history of Schema XIII, I demonstrate that both theologians reacted to it with very similar concerns which centered upon the issue of nature and grace. However, their differing approaches to anthropology and Christology caused their proposed remedies for the schema's shortcomings to diverge significantly.
Bridging the Gap: Connecting School and Community with Service Learning.

Ladson-Billings have long called for the connection of school and community. These thinkers have identified the need for students of all backgrounds to feel connected to their education. This connection begins by bridging the gap between the two places where students spend their time: the school and the community in which they most identify themselves. John Dewey clearly identifies this dilemma when he describes the frustration of students who try to apply to daily life what they've learned in school. Effective teachers know that the first step to bridging this gap begins with considering the students' experiences and the society in which they live. Effective teaching comes when students seek a tangible goal they themselves have set. For me, the first step was to stop assuming my community experience would be similar to that of my students, and to begin asking students to define and seek their own relevant goals. What started as inquiry-based instruction soon blossomed into student-based community learning. The projects were of the community andfor the community. These students knew, much better than I, what was needed and how to go about fulfilling those needs. Their project started by bringing the community to our school with an art exhibit of tolerance. It continued
Environmental Lead Contamination

Aims to: familiarize the audience with the potentially serious consequences of exposure to lead and ways of preventing them; facilitate understanding of how massive environmental contamination with lead occurred, and is still happening, with the expectation that this knowledge will be useful in designing strategies to reduce environmental contamination with lead and other toxic substances, in the future; emphasizes the relevance of lead to the subject‐matter of virtually every department in schools of arts and sciences in anticipation that some instructors will incorporate this information into their respective courses to increase their students′ awareness of this topic. Discusses some of the properties and uses of lead and its compounds and then indicates its ubiquitous presence in air, water, soil, dust and food. Considers some effects of exposure to lead and describes some pivotal contributions of various researchers. Explores the role of lead in history, in literature and in art. Briefly surveys occup...
The relationship of protein synthesis to early transcriptive events in bacteriophage T4-infected Escherichia coli B.

The relationship of early transcriptive events to protein synthesis has been studied in protoplasts of bacteriophage T4-infected Escherichia coli by division of the infection cycle into a period of transcription and one of translation with inhibitors of RNA and protein synthesis. The accumulation of specific messengers during an initial incubation in the presence of 5-methyltryptophan or chloramphenicol was determined by the inhibition of further RNA synthesis with rifamycin and the measurement of the increase in the activity of various early enzymes after the restoration of protein synthesis. Three groups of early enzymes could be distinguished operationally according to the manner in which the respective messenger RNA accumulated during incubation with 5-methyltryptophan. In the case of one early enzyme, deoxynucleotide kinase, the messenger RNA did not accumulate in the presence of 5-methyltryptophan, a suggestion that the transcription of this region of the phage DNA requires the prior synthesis of a specific phage-induced protein. It was also shown that early viral transcription is severely limited when the synthesis of phage-induced proteins is inhibited with chloramphenicol. These studies suggest that early transcriptive events in viral development may be regulated by the synthesis of specific proteins.
Decreasing post-succinylcholine myalgia in outpatients

The effectiveness of four pretreatment regimens in decreasing succinylcholine-induced myalgias was studied in healthy outpatients undergoing general anaesthesia for ambulatory surgery. Four hundred and forty adult females were randomly assigned to one of four pretreatment groups. Three hundred and ninety-five patients completed the study. One of the following pretreatments was given prior to injection of 1.5 mg X kg-1 of succinylcholine: normal saline IV three minutes and again immediately prior to succinylcholine; 0.06 mg X kg-1 d-tubo-curarine (dTc) IV three minutes prior and normal saline IV immediately prior; normal saline IV three minutes prior and 1.5 mg X kg-1 lidocaine IV immediately prior; 0.06 mg X kg-1 dTc IV three minutes prior and 1.5 mg X kg-1 lidocaine IV immediately prior. Fasciculations after injection of succinylcholine were observed and recorded. Patients were contacted by telephone 40-48 hours postoperatively and questioned about the presence of muscle pains. These pains, if present, were graded either mild or moderate to severe. The patients in the two dTc-containing groups exhibited less fasciculations than patients in the other two experimental groups. The dTc-lidocaine group had a lower incidence of moderate to severe fasciculations than in any of the other three groups. Patients in the dTc, lidocaine, and dTc-lidocaine experimental groups reported a higher incidence of absence of muscle pain and a lower incidence of moderate-severe pain than did patients in the saline group. The dTc-lidocaine group had more patients without myalgia and less patients with moderate to severe myalgias than any of the other groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Decoupling and pole assignment in nonlinear systems

The paper deals with the decoupling of nonlinear time-variable systems by state feedback. The class of systems that can be decoupled is extended, a feedback law in explicit form is given for the pole assignment of the decoupled system and the structure of the compensated form is considered.
Specific and nonspecific stimulation of resistance in mice against infection with mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv

Intravenous vaccination of mice with oil-treated cell walls of BCG orM. tuberculosis, H37Rv protected against aerosol challenge with virulent tubercle bacilli, whereas protoplasm of these strains or cell walls in aqueous suspension failed to elicit resistance.
Rabbit as a model for chlorpromazine-induced hyperpigmentation of the skin.

Abstract Hyperpigmentation of exposed skin areas, comparable to that seen in less than 1 per cent of patients chronically dosed with chlorpromazine after intensive long-term therapy, has been produced in sixteen out of sixteen chronically dosed pigmented rabbits, receiving between 20–30 mg/kg per day. Thirty-min u.v. irradiation of a clipped or shaved area produced clear-cut hyperpigmentation of naturally pigmented skin areas in about 4 weeks. The characteristic occurrence of granular pigment in the dermis which is normally free of pigment was also observed. Hyperpigmented rabbits did not develop any concomitant ocular pathology, as seen in some patients on long-term, high-dosage chlorpromazine therapy.
Theoretical studies of the effect of the dipolar field in multiple spin-echo sequences with refocusing pulses of finite duration

Abstract It has been observed recently that the finite duration of refocusing rf pulses in a multiecho acquisition of the signal formed under the influence of the dipolar field leads to significant signal attenuation [S. Kennedy, Z. Chen, C.K. Wong, E.W.-C. Kwok, J. Zhong, Investigation of multiple-echo spin-echo signal acquisition under distant dipole–dipole interactions, Proc. Int. Soc. Magn. Reson. Med. 13 (2005) 2288]. Hereto, we quantify the phenomenon by evaluating analytically the influences of both the distant dipolar field (DDF) and transverse relaxation T 2 on the magnetization in a multiecho pulse sequence based on correlation spectroscopy revamped by asymmetric z -gradient echo detection (CRAZED). Analytic expressions for the magnetization were obtained, which demonstrate explicitly the origin of rephased signal in the presence of the finite π pulses in the multiecho train. The expressions also explain the effects of the DDF and T 2 during the refocusing pulses on the signal strength, and show the substantial signal dependence on the phase of the rf pulses. We show that when the DDF effect during the pulse is canceled, the signal rises primarily during the free evolution time in the acquisition period. This elucidates the signal attenuation when the rf pulses cover a significant proportion of time in the sequence. In addition, we performed an optimization on the number of refocusing pulses that maximizes the total acquired signal using parameters for water, brain white matter, and muscle. We found that maximal signal-to-noise ratio is obtained when the pulse duration approximately equals the free evolution time in the samples with a wide range of T 2 .
The effects of detergents and urea on the rotatory dispersion of ovalbumin.

Sodium dodecyl sulfate causes the Moffitt b0 of ovalbumin to become more negative, even in the presence of urea. If b0 is a measure of the helical content of a protein, and if detergents act on proteins by weakening hydrophobic bonds, then it is unlikely that the action of urea on ovalbumin arises from the weakening of hydrophobic bonds. The cationic detergent hexadecyl trimethylammonium bromide produces an effect on the b0 value of ovalbumin that is similar to that of sodium dodecyl sulfate.
Variance Estimation Using Auxiliary Information

Abstract Variance estimators under several sample designs are proposed and compared when auxiliary information is available. Improvement of the bias and mean squared error over some estimators commonly used in practice is illustrated. A Monte Carlo comparison of the estimators is also presented.
Ventricular Arrhythmias following Mitral Valve Replacement: Control with Intra-aortic Balloon Counterpulsation

Two patients with severe left ventricular failure (New York Heart Association's class 4) secondary to acute mitral insufficiency underwent mitral valve replacement after their condition had been stabilized by intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation. The need for hemodynamic support declined rapidly following valve replacement in both cases, but when the frequency of balloon counterpulsation was reduced, the immediate onset of life-threatening arrhythmias was noted. The resumption of 1:1 intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation always immediately abolished the arrhythmia. The dependency upon counterpulsation for arrhythmia suppression gradually diminished, and after a week the intra-aortic balloon was removed from the second patient, who subsequently made a complete recovery. The intra-aortic balloon was removed from the first patient four days after surgery and one day after its antiarrhythmic effect had been noted. Twenty-four hours later, this patient succumbed to a ventricular tachycardia which terminated in ventricular fibrillation. When no surgically correctable lesion is present, prolonged use of the intra-aortic balloon is recommended for all patients who develop ventricular or low nodal arrhythmias in response to decreasing the frequency of counterpulsation. As in our second patient, this will on occasion save a very high-risk patient.
Simultaneous asymmetric bilateral traumatic hip dislocation

A 25-year-old man presented to the emergency department with simultaneous right anterior and left posterior hip dislocations resulting from a motor vehicle accident. Simultaneous bilateral traumatic hip dislocation is an uncommon occurrence. More rare is asymmetric simultaneous bilateral hip dislocation, with only ten cases documented in the English-language literature. The importance of an anteroposterior pelvic radiograph after significant major trauma is emphasized. Several serious complications can be associated with this condition, so expeditious management in the ED is warranted.
Another Look at Consumers' Ratings of Quick-Service Restaurant Meals

Developments in the nutritional value of quick-service meals since 1990 are highlighted, including the impact of the changes in the USDA Food Pyramid, the obesity issue, trends in quick-service menu items, and ratings of quick-service meals. In a survey of Louisiana consumers, respondents in the lower socioeconomic group rated the nutritional value of the quick-service meals as less nutritious than did those in the upper-class group. No significant differences were found between nutrition knowledge groups. The authors then compared the findings to previous studies of quick-service meal ratings.
Simulated microgravity suppresses osteoblast phenotype, Runx2 levels and AP-1 transactivation

Conditions of disuse such as bed rest, space flight, and immobilization result in decreased mechanical loading of bone, which is associated with reduced bone mineral density and increased fracture risk. Mechanisms involved in this process are not well understood but involve the suppression of osteoblast function. To elucidate the influence of mechanical unloading on osteoblasts, a rotating wall vessel (RWV) was employed as a ground based model of simulated microgravity. Mouse MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts were grown on microcarrier beads for 14 days and then placed in the RWV for 24 h. Consistent with decreased bone formation during actual spaceflight conditions, alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin expression were decreased by 80 and 50%, respectively. In addition, runx2 expression and AP-1 transactivation, key regulators of osteoblast differentiation and bone formation, were reduced by more than 60%. This finding suggests that simulated microgravity could promote dedifferentiation and/or transdifferentiation to alternative cell types; however, markers of adipocyte, chondrocyte, and myocyte lineages were not induced by RWV exposure. Taken together, our results indicate that simulated microgravity may suppress osteoblast differentiation through decreased runx2 and AP-1 activities.
Lithium, leukocytes, and lesions

Abstract It is written, on the one hand, that dermatoses caused by the lithium ion are scarce and, on the other, that they are more common than realized, a cliche situation for the medical literature. 1–3 Undoubtedly, lesions have not been reported because cause and effect were not linked. The range of effects of the elemental lithium ion on skin, central nervous system, blood, and bodily organs is remarkable, surpassing many pharmaceutically contrived complex molecules panoplied with purposeful side groups. The name "lithium" was derived from the Greek root lithos , meaning stone, which was thought (incorrectly) to be limited to mineral, nonorganic matter. 4 Lithium was discovered as an element in 1817 and is the lightest in atomic weight of the alkaline metals, followed in increasing order by sodium, potassium, rubidium, and cesium. Lithium is soft, silvery, and highly reactive; it is not found in the free state in nature but rather in a variety of salts. Lithium is much more common than zinc in the earth's crust and is found in sea and fresh water. 6
Tagamet-induced acute dystonia.

A 20-year-old woman presented with an apparent acute dystonic reaction after only five doses of cimetidine (Tagamet ® ). The patient was on no other medications with the exception of oral contraceptives. Emergency administration of IV diphenhydramine HCL brought rapid reversal of this acute dystonic reaction without any neurological sequelae. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an acute dystonic reaction associated with cimetidine.
Effects of Visual and Auditory Cues About Threat Location on Target Acquisition and Attention to Auditory Communications

Abstract : This study examined the effects of visual, spatial language and three-dimensional (3-D) audio cues about target location on target acquisition performance and the recall of information contained in concurrent radio communications. Two baseline conditions were also included in the analysis: no cues (Baseline 1) and target presence cues only (Baseline 2). In modes in which target location cues were provided, 100% of the targets presented were acquired, as compared to 94% in Baseline 1 and 95% in Baseline 2. On average, targets were acquired 1.4 seconds faster in the visual, spatial language, audio modes than in the baseline conditions, with times in the visual and 3-D audio modes being 1 second faster than those in spatial language. Overall workload scores were lower in the 3-D audio mode than in all other conditions except the visual mode. Less information (23%) was recalled from auditory communications in Baseline 1 than in the other four conditions where attention could be directed to communications between target presentations.
Using scenarios to identify and manage allocation decision risks

AbstractThis paper employs the solver function in Microsoft Excelâ„¢ to make a ‘what-if' analysis of library materials budgetary allocation decisions. Two sets of allocation constraints are presented and used to describe two different theoretical scenarios: (1) a slight materials budget increase and (2) a significant materials budget decrease. In each scenario, the associated allocation ‘parity' risks are identified using solver and the outcomes of different risk management strategies are considered. Sensitivity to context requires different risk management solutions to minimize conflicts between stakeholders with competing interests. By pre-managing allocation risks, the decisions allow library materials budgets to be optimized.
Introduction of a Panelized Brick Veneer Wall System and Its Building Science Evaluation

This paper introduces a panelized brick veneer over steel stud backup wall system to address some of the shortcomings of conventional systems. Thermal and hygrothermal analyses of the proposed wall system with different stud gauges and arrangements are discussed. The movement joint design aspects, a pressure moderation performance evaluation, the simulated wind-driven water penetration results, and an example cost analysis are also presented. This study provides information about some of the attributes of the proposed system such as crack resistance and water penetration potential as well as the pressure moderation aspect. Some of the issues that need consideration for the practical application of the system are also described.
Idarose: A potato variety with bright Red skin, excellent culinary quality, and long tuber dormancy

IdaRose is a late-maturing, potato variety with round, dark red tubers. It has high yield potential and exceptionally long tuber dormancy. IdaRose was released in 2000 by the USDA/ARS and the experiment stations of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. It resulted from a 1982 cross of Sangre and TXA218-7. IdaRose is suited for use in both the early summer and storage fresh markets. Tuber yield of IdaRose is higher than that of Dark Red Norland and Sangre. It has yield potential similar to or slightly lower than Red LaSoda. Tubers of IdaRose have good internal and external quality. Culinary quality of boiled, baked, and micro-waved IdaRose tubers is excellent. It has moderate resistance to growth cracks, hollow heart, and other defect problems. IdaRose is susceptible or moderately susceptible to most common field diseases of potato. Tubers of IdaRose have dry matter content (19.2%) similar to other standard red varieties, and have a relatively high concentration of sugars and low concentration of glycoalkaloids (2.4 mg/100 g).
Nutritional intervention improves menu adequacy in group homes for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities

Abstract Background Research documents that adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) living in the community experience nutritional deficits, inadequate diets, and poor nutritional status. Objective We developed a nutrition intervention that was targeted at improving the food systems in group homes for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, called MENU-AIDDs (Materials Supporting Education and Nutrition for Adults with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities). Methods MENU-AIDDs was implemented for 8 and 16weeks in four community-based group homes for adults with IDD. Improved nutritional adequacy of planned menus was tested as a marker of improved dietary intake in the residents of the homes. Results Results showed significant statistical and clinical improvements in the planned menus whereby there were significant increases in the appearance on menus of whole grains, vegetables overall and green/yellow/orange vegetables in particular, and low-fat proteins, and significant decreases in the higher-fat proteins, potatoes, and “junk foods.” The positive practice of specifying portion sizes on the menus increased significantly. Conclusions MENU-AIDDs is a community-based health promotion intervention that can improve menu planning and dietary adequacy while being responsive to the needs of group home residents, direct care staff, and administrators.
Immersion Spectrophotometry of Interference Films: Refractive Indices of Fluoride Films on Uranium Dioxide and Anodic Oxide Films on Uranium Metal*

The principles of the immersion spectrophotometry of interference films are discussed. A practical application is presented for determining directly the refractive indices of thin films in situ on solid substrates. With this method the spectrophotometric peak heights are measured with the specimen immersed in various fluids. The plot of peak height vs index of refraction of the immersion medium is a smooth line going through zero at the refractive index of the interference layer. The mathematical basis of the method is developed and data for fluoride films on uranium dioxide and for anodic oxide films on uranium metal are presented.
Modeling Frequency-Dependent Longitudinal Dynamic Behavior of Linear Viscoelastic Long Fiber Composites:

An approach to modeling the longitudinal dynamic behavior of unidirectional long fiber composites made from constituents having frequency-dependent material properties is described. In this approac...
Update in cardiology.

The results of several studies published in 1998 were important to the practice of cardiology. The main areas of interest were evaluation of chest pain, acute coronary syndromes, valvular heart dis...
Sublingual drug delivery

The sublingual route is one of the early modes of administration for systemic drug delivery. This route avoids first-pass metabolism and affords quick drug entry into the systemic circulation. Attempts have been made to deliver various pharmacologically active agents, such as cardiovascular drugs, analgesics, and peptides, across the sublingual mucosa. In this review, the anatomical structure, blood supply, biochemical composition, transport pathways, permeation enhancement strategies, in vitro/in vivo models, and clinical investigations for the sublingual route of drug delivery is discussed.
Moment theory of breakthrough curves for fixed-bed adsorbers and reactors

Abstract For linear rate expressions in isothermal fixed-bed adsorbers or reactors, an approximate expression for the breakthrough curve (BTC) is obtained by applying the convolution theorem and integrating a Hermite polynomial series expansion for the pulse response of the column. The approximate solution is compared with exact solutions such as that of the Goldstein J function model and a dispersed-flow column with homogeneous first order reaction. If the series is truncated so that only two moments appear, i.e. the first absolute moment μ' 1 and the second central moment μ 2 , then the approximate model gives BTCs which are in good agreement with the exact solutions when μ' 1 / (2μ 2 ) 1/2 ⩾ 2.5. The agreement is improved for longer columns and lower fluid velocities. For a model describing mass transfer to porous particles and intraparticle diffusion as well as adsorption, the approximate solution compares well with experimental data except for very short columns. The semi-empirical method of combining mass-transfer resistances is evaluated and is found to be quite accurate. An economic study of pumping cost and product value is developed to optimize flow rates in adsorption processes.
Differential regulation of endothelial exocytosis of P-selectin and von Willebrand factor by protease-activated receptors and cAMP.

Thrombin-mediated endothelial-cell release of von Willebrand factor (VWF) and P-selectin functionally links protease-activated receptors (PARs) to thrombosis and inflammation. VWF release can be stimulated by both Ca2+ and cAMP, and, although both VWF and P-selectin are found in Weibel-Palade bodies (WPBs), we found that their release could be differentially regulated. In these studies, human umbilical vein endothelial cells stimulated with cAMP or PAR2-AP led to a delayed release of VWF and significantly less P-selectin release compared with histamine, thrombin, or PAR1-AP. Dose-response studies revealed that PAR2-AP was significantly less efficacious in promoting the release of P-selectin compared with VWF. PAR2-AP–induced robust stimulation of intracellular Ca2+ coupled with a significantly greater inhibitory effect of calcium chelation on release of VWF compared with cell-surface expression of P-selectin, suggests an additional Ca2+-independent pathway involved in release of P-selectin. PAR2-AP failed to increase global cAMP levels; however, inhibition of protein kinase A led to a significant attenuation of PAR2-AP–mediated release of VWF. Confocal microscopy studies revealed that PAR2 and forskolin caused preferential release of a population of Weibel-Palade bodies (WPBs) consisting of only VWF. Thus, WPBs are pharmacologically and morphologically heterogeneous, and distinct granule populations are susceptible to differential regulation.
Investigation of the asymmetric Birch reduction–alkylation of a chiral 5-arylbenzamide containing a carbamate group

Abstract The synthesis and asymmetric Birch reduction–alkylation of chiral benzamide 17 are described. Birch reductive alkylation of benzamide 17 was optimized to give the corresponding cyclohexa-1,4-diene products in 66–78% isolated yield and with high diastereoselectivity (dr: >98:2). The effects of performing the reduction in the presence and in the absence of tert -butyl alcohol are discussed.
Human Cdt1 Lacking the Evolutionarily Conserved Region That Interacts with MCM2–7 Is Capable of Inducing Re-replication

Replication initiation must be a carefully regulated process to avoid genomic instability caused by aberrant replication. In eukaryotic cells, distinct steps of protein loading (origin licensing) and replication activation are choreographed such that a cell can replicate only once per cell cycle. The first proteins recruited to the origins form the pre-replication complex. Of these proteins, Cdt1 is of interest, as it is the focus of several pathways to control replication initiation. It is degraded by two different pathways, mediated by the interaction of Cdt1 with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) or with cyclin-Cdk2 and inhibited by geminin once cells are in S-phase, presumably to prevent reloading of pre-replication complexes once S-phase has begun. Although the requirement of Cdt1 in loading MCM2–7 is known, the mechanism by which overexpressed Cdt1 stimulates re-replication is unclear. In this study we have designed various mutations in Cdt1 to determine which portion of Cdt1 is important for re-replication, providing insight into possible mechanisms. Surprisingly, we found that mutants of Cdt1 that do not interact with MCM2–7 are able to induce re-replication when overexpressed. The re-replication is not due to titration of geminin from endogenous Cdt1 and is not accompanied by stabilization of endogenous Cdt1. Additionally, the N-terminal one-third of Cdt1 is sufficient to induce re-replication. The N terminus contains the PCNA- and cyclin-interacting motifs, and deletion of both motifs simultaneously in the overexpressed Cdt1 prevents re-replication. These findings suggest that exogenous Cdt1 induces re-replication by de-repressing endogenous Cdt1 through the titration of PCNA and cyclin.
The gravity-pressurized reactor as a means to efficiently carry out metallurgically important reactions

Abstract Many industrially important reaction rates benefits from increased temperature, but often the accompanying higher pressures complicate reactor operation and increase costs. Using gravity to pressurized a very long, vertical reactor simplifies construction and enhances heat transfer as well as reaction kinetics. The U.S. Bureau of Mines is determining the chemical kinetics of metallurgically important reactions to show the possibility of using the gravity-pressurized reactor (GPR) concept to carry out reactions involving gas, liquid, and solid phases.