cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estradiol Replacement Enhances Working Memory in Middle-Aged Rats When Initiated Immediately after Ovariectomy But Not after a Long-Term Period of Ovarian Hormone Deprivation

The goal of the present study was to explore the effects of long-term hormone deprivation on the ability of subsequent estrogen replacement to affect cognition. Female rats, 12 months of age, underwent ovariectomies (n = 30) or sham surgeries (n = 10). Intact rats and 20 ovariectomized rats received cholesterol implants. Ten ovariectomized rats received implants containing 25% estradiol. Five months later, implants were replaced. Half of the ovariectomized rats with cholesterol implants received estradiol implants and half received new cholesterol implants. Rats with estradiol implants received new estradiol implants. Intact rats were ovariectomized and given estradiol implants. Beginning 1 wk later, working memory performance was assessed in an eight-arm radial maze across 24 d of acquisition and during eight additional trials in which a 2.5-h delay was imposed between the fourth and fifth arm choices. Estradiol replacement initiated immediately after ovariectomy at either 12 or 17 months of age significantly improved performance during acquisition and delay trials, compared with control treatment. When estradiol replacement was initiated at 17 months of age, 5 months after ovariectomy, no enhancements were evident. Uteri of rats that experienced delayed estradiol replacement weighed significantly more than uteri of ovariectomized controls but significantly less than uteri of rats that received immediate estradiol replacement. Uterine weight negatively correlated with mean errors during acquisition. These results indicate that whereas chronic estradiol replacement regimens positively affect working memory in middle-aged animals when initiated immediately after ovariectomy, estradiol replacement is not effective when initiated after long-term hormone deprivation.
Encapsulated phase change materials for energy storage – Characterization by calorimetry

Abstract The objective of this research was to develop encapsulated phase change materials (EPCMs) that can store thermal energy at temperatures up to 450 °C, suitable for applications in concentrating solar power systems. From initial explorations of candidate media, the two salts (PCMs) NaNO 3 and eutectic NaCl–MgCl 2 were selected for further development as storage media with phase change. A specialized calorimeter with requisite size and temperature capability was designed and built to obtain enthalpy values of the PCMs at temperatures below and above their melting points. The latent heats of phase change can contribute 57% and 75% to storage capacity of the NaNO 3 and NaCl–MgCl 2 media, respectively, for a 100 °C temperature swing bracketing the salts’ melting points. After calibration, this calorimeter was then used to determine the actual energy storage capacity achieved by capsules of EPCMs of various dimensions. The calorimeter tests proved that the salts and the encapsulation methods chosen here can store thermal energy effectively while taking advantage of the latent heat of phase change. Repeated thermal-cycles showed sustained performance of the EPCMs, with no discernible diminishment in storage capacity.
Improved separation of nucleosides, nucleotides, and aminoacyl tRNA on a strong anion-exchange resin

Nucleosides and nucleotides can be separated on a polystyrene-dinylbenzene anion-exchange resin, Chromex DA-X8-11 at 50 degree using isocratic elution with 1.0 M ammonium carbonate pH 8.8 or 0.05 M formic acid pH 2.4. The resin can also resolve aminoacyl tRNA on either the analytical or preparative scale.
Central giant cell granulomas: a systematic review of the radiographic characteristics with the addition of 20 new cases.

OBJECTIVES The radiographic characteristics of central giant cell granuloma (CGCG) vary to a great extent. This study sought to relate the radiographic and clinical features of several cases, which were confirmed histopathologically, as central giant cell granulomas, and to systematically review the relevant literature. METHODS Twenty cases with an established histopathological diagnosis of CGCG were received from the Department of Oral Pathology. The correlation between any two categorical variables was tested using Chi-square or Fischer's test, with alpha=0.01. A systematic review of the literature was performed using electronic and manual searches. RESULTS There was no gender predominance. Nearly 81% of the lesions were located in the deciduous tooth bearing area of the mandible and in 35% of the cases the lesions crossed the midline. The correlation between the size of the lesion and its appearance was statistically significant with larger lesions assuming a multilocular appearance. Most lesions (55%)...
Symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease improve after parathyroidectomy

Background Primary hyperparathyroidism can be associated with symptoms related to GERD, but it is unclear which symptoms of GERD improve after parathyroidectomy. Our goal was to assess prospectively for changes in specific GERD symptoms after parathyroidectomy using a validated questionnaire. Methods Using the GERD health-related quality of life (GERD-HRQL) questionnaire, symptoms of heartburn were prospectively assessed before and 6 months after treatment of hyperparathyroidism with parathyroidectomy. This validated questionnaire includes 10 items, with a Likert scale of 0–5. Scores range from 0 to 45, a lesser score indicates fewer/less severe symptoms. Results Pre- and postoperative surveys were available for 51 patients. Parathyroidectomy improved the overall questionnaire score (12.5 ± 1.3 vs 4.5 ± 0.9, P P = .001) and overall satisfaction with symptoms ( P P = .17). Conclusion All symptoms of GERD improved after parathyroidectomy for hyperparathyroidism. Despite the decrease in symptoms, there was not a change in the number of patients who remained on anti-reflux therapy. For patients with symptoms of GERD, a trial off antireflux medications after parathyroidectomy should be considered.
Editorial: Day 2-to-40. Proceedings from a Chemical Education Workshop Symposium

This issue of The Chemical Educator is devoted to the Proceedings from a workshop symposium that I organized for the weekend of May 10–11, 1997. The two-day event was held in the Willard H. Dow Chemical Sciences laboratory building on the central campus of The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Poly(p‐oxybenzoate‐co‐p‐phenylene isophthalate)s. IV. Crystallization kinetics of two copolyesters

Copolyesters with p-hydroxybenzoic acid content of 30(HBA30) and 40% mol are studied. Isothermal crystallization data showed that two crystallization processes exist for HBA 30 during cooling
Sonographic guidance of air enema for intussusception reduction in children

Background. Fluoroscopically guided air reduction of intussusception is a well-accepted technique. There are only two previous reports in which US has been used to monitor pneumatic reduction. Objective. To assess the ability of US to monitor the success of air reduction of intussusception. Materials and methods. Sonographically guided air-enema reduction of intussusception in 199 children. In phase I (11 children), the success or failure of reduction was confirmed by fluoroscopy. In phase II (188 children), complete reduction was confirmed by clinical improvement of the child and repeat sonography 1 h later showing no persistent intussusception. Results. In phase I, fluoroscopy confirmed the accuracy of US in all 11 children. In phase II, the success rate of initial reduction was 95 %. Following successful reduction, US repeated 1 h later showed no recurrence of intussusception in 92 %. In ten (5 %) of 188, initial reduction was unsuccessful; fluoroscopically guided air reduction successfully reduced only three of these ten failures. Conclusions. Air enema guided by US is a practical and reliable technique for the reduction of intussusception.
Optimizing systems for effective block-processing: the k-delay problem

Block-processing is a powerful and popular technique for increasing computation speed by simultaneously processing several samples of data. The effectiveness of block-processing is often reduced, however, due to suboptimal placement of delays in the dataflow graph of a computation. In this paper we investigate an application of the retiming transformation for improving the effectiveness of block-processing in computation structures. Specifically, we consider the k-delay problem in which we wish to retime any given computation so that given an integer k the resulting computation can process k data samples simultaneously in a fully regular manner. Our main contribution is an O(V/sup 3/E+V/sup 4/ log V)-time algorithm for the L-delay problem, where V is the number of computation blocks and E is the number of interconnections in the computation.
Operator coefficients for composite operators in the (φ4)4 theory

Abstract In a previous paper we derived a relation between the operator product coefficients and anomalous dimensions. We explore this relation in the (φ4)4 theory and compute the coefficient functions in the products of φ2 and φ4 to first order in the parameter λ. The calculation results in two-loop beta functions.
Photosystem II - mediated cyclic photophosphorylation.

DCMU-sensitive synthesis of ATP can be shown to continue in KCN-treated chloroplasts after cessation of O2 evolution. The catalyst for this reaction, p-phenylenediamine, also stimulates synthesis of ATP in NH2OH-treated chloroplasts, but at much higher rates. This ATP synthesis can be observed in the presence of the quinone antagonist dibromothymoquinone, and under the appropriate conditions it is completely sensitive to DCMU. Since neither uptake nor evolution of O2 can be observed during illumination, these results are interpreted as evidence for catalysis of cyclic photophosphorylation by photosystem II.
Substance use and sexual risk behaviors in perinatally human immunodeficiency virus-exposed youth: roles of caregivers, peers and HIV status.

Purpose To examine the association between sexual risk behaviors and substance use, as well as the impact of caregiver characteristics and perceived peer norms among perinatally HIV-exposed but uninfected and perinatally HIV-infected youth.
Pulmonary embolism after major spinal deformity corrective surgery in adults

Abstract Purpose of study: To determine the incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) and contributing factors after major spinal deformity corrective surgery in adults. Although pulmonary emboli are known to occur after spinal surgery, there are limited published data on the incidence of PE and its contributing factors following major spinal corrective surgery. Incidence of PE in this patient population has been reported to be as high as 3% to 17%. We report our experience in 417 patients. Methods used: From 1992 to 1999, 417 patients (347 women, 70 men) aged 20 to 87 years, (average, 51 years) underwent spinal deformity corrective surgery (146 primary, 271 revision). Surgical approaches include 23 anterior, 155 posterior, 167 same-day combined and 72 staged combined. All surgeries were performed by the senior author (JPK). Average intraoperative blood loss was 3,100 cc. Comorbidity risk was assessed by ASA score (1, 28; 2, 233; 3, 143; 4, 3; average 2.3). Fusion levels varied as follows: 10, 107. Prophylaxis included TEDS/SCDS, coumadin, heparin, and low molecular weight heparin. We retrospectively reviewed the patients who had pulmonary emboli on our service and identified possible contributory factors. of findings: the incidence of PE was 2.6% (11 of 417; 2 men, 9 women; aged 26 to 64 years, average, 50 years). Diagnosis by spiral computed tomography or V/Q scan occurred on average on postoperative day 4.4 (range, 1 to 13). Two had prior histories of PE/DVT. Eighty percent were diagnosed on or before post operative day 4. Average INR (2.8) and PTT (3) were elevated at time of diagnosis. Average intraoperative blood loss was 2,700 cc (1,000 to 5,000). Average number of levels was 8.6 (4 to 14). Of the 11, 5 were anterior approaches, 5 were posterior alone and 4 were combined; 7 were revisions. ASA scores averaged 2.6 (range, 2 to 3). Of the 11, 3 died (27%). Relationship between findings and existing knowledge: This is the largest known database of complications to date. Overall significance of findings: the incidence of PE after major spinal corrective surgery in adults is significant. Sex, age, blood loss and revision status were not factors affecting mortality. The majority of PEs were diagnosed early and occurred despite therapeutic laboratory values. The high incidence of mortality in this patient population makes it imperative to further investigate PE in this patient population. Disclosures: No disclosures. Conflict of interest: No conflicts.
Realtime voice activity and pitch modulation for laryngectomy transducers using head and facial gestures

Individuals who have undergone laryngectomy often rely on handheld transducers (i.e., the electrolarynx) to excite the vocal tract and produce speech. Widely used electrolarynx designs are limited, in that they require manual control of voice activity and pitch modulation. It would be advantageous to have an interface that requires less training, perhaps using the remaining, intact speech production system as a scaffold. Strong evidence exists that aspects of head motion and facial gestures are highly correlated with gestures of voicing and pitch. Therefore, the goal of project MANATEE is to develop an electrolarynx control interface which takes advantage of those correlations. The focus of the current study is to determine the feasibility of using head and facial features to accurately and efficiently modulate the pitch of speaker's electrolarynx in real time on a mobile platform using the built-in video camera. A prototype interface, capable of running on desktop machines and compatible Android devices, is implemented using OpenCV for video feature extraction and statistical prediction of the electrolarynx control signal. Initial performance evaluation is promising, showing pitch prediction accuracies at double the chance-level baseline, and prediction delays well below the perceptually-relevant, ~50 ms threshold.
Three-dimensional temporally resolved measurements of turbulence–flame interactions using orthogonal-plane cinema-stereoscopic PIV

A new orthogonal-plane cinema-stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (OPCS-PIV) diagnostic has been used to measure the dynamics of three-dimensional turbulence–flame interactions. The diagnostic employed two orthogonal PIV planes, with one aligned perpendicular and one aligned parallel to the streamwise flow direction. In the plane normal to the flow, temporally resolved slices of the nine-component velocity gradient tensor were determined using Taylor’s hypothesis. Volumetric reconstruction of the 3D turbulence was performed using these slices. The PIV plane parallel to the streamwise flow direction was then used to measure the evolution of the turbulence; the path and strength of 3D turbulent structures as they interacted with the flame were determined from their image in this second plane. Structures of both vorticity and strain-rate magnitude were extracted from the flow. The geometry of these structures agreed well with predictions from direct numerical simulations. The interaction of turbulent structures with the flame also was observed. In three dimensions, these interactions had complex geometries that could not be reflected in either planar measurements or simple flame–vortex configurations.
Inappropriate medication prescribing for elderly ambulatory care patients.

Background Inappropriate medication use in elderly patients has been linked to a large share of adverse drug reactions and to excess health care utilization. Methods Trends in the prevalence of potentially inappropriate drug prescribing at ambulatory care visits by elderly persons from 1995 to 2000 were examined with data from office-based physicians in the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and from hospital outpatient departments in the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. Explicit criteria were used to identify potentially inappropriate prescribing. Multivariate regression was used to identify related factors. Results In 1995 and 2000, at least 1 drug considered inappropriate by the Beers expert panel was prescribed at 7.8% of ambulatory care visits by elderly patients. At least 1 drug classified as never or rarely appropriate by the Zhan expert panel was prescribed at 3.7% and 3.8% of these visits in 1995 and 2000, respectively. Pain relievers and central nervous system drugs were a large share of the problem. The odds of potentially inappropriate prescribing were higher for visits with multiple drugs and double for female visits. The latter was due to more prescribing of potentially inappropriate pain relievers and central nervous system drugs. Conclusions Potentially inappropriate prescribing at ambulatory care visits by elderly patients, particularly women, remains a substantial problem. Interventions could target more appropriate drug selection by physicians when prescribing pain relievers, antianxiety agents, sedatives, and antidepressants to elderly patients. Such behavior could eliminate a large portion of inappropriate prescribing for elderly patients and reduce its higher risk for women.
Developmental neuroimaging: a developmental psychologist looks ahead

The study of the mature human brain has moved forward at a rapid pace over the last 10 years, thanks in large part to the invention and use of a variety of neuroimaging methods. As the papers in this volume attest, many of these methods are now available for the study of the developing human brain, both in normal children and in children with a variety of developmental disabilities. These methods will allow developmental neuroanatomists and neurophysiologists to chart changes in brain morphology, long-range connectivity and activity as children grow and learn. Combinations of these methods, moreover, will allow developmental neuroscientists to probe specific brain processes and growth patterns. By combining functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) or near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) with event-related potentials (ERP) or magnetoencephalography (MEG), for example, investigators will be able to chart with considerable precision both where and when particular patterns of neural activity occur as children perform particular tasks. By combining diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and fMRI, moreover, investigators will be able to relate developmental changes in connectivity across brain areas to changes in patterned activity within individual areas. Knowledge of human brain development promises to
The control and facilitation of MHC class II antigen processing by the BCR.

Abstract Antigens capable of cross-linking the BCR are preferentially captured, processed and presented to MHC-class-II-restricted T cells. Cross-linking antigens initiate tyrosine-kinase-dependent pathways that accelerate the delivery of antigen–receptor complexes to specialized late-endocytic processing compartments. Accelerated trafficking is mediated by the recruitment of signaling molecules required for transience through specific checkpoints along the endocytic pathway.
Vibrational spectroscopy of supermolecular assemblies

Vibrational spectroscopy as a tool for ultrathin organic film structural investigations is considered. The application of total-internal-reflection-excited surface Raman spectroscopy to self-assembled and Langmuir-Blodgett monolayers and multilayer structures is described. The substrate is fused silica upon which a metallic mask has been deposited. Laser excitation is on-coupled from the rear through the approximately 100- mu m opening in the mask. A metal island film (Ag or Au) of approximately 50-AA thickness is evaporated onto the substrate and is then covered with a sputtered dielectric layer. Typical results for a quaternary ammonium cationic amphiphile are shown. Two types of information can be obtained from the spectrum. The depolarization ratios can be used, at least in principle, to determine the orientation of the polarizability ellipsoid of the molecule, and spectral interpretation can be used just as in bulk systems. >
Recurrent orthostatic numbness with carotid stenosis and beta-blocker use.

patient had a left carotid endarterectomy and remains symptom free. Unlike many of the previously reported cases, our patient illustrates that a significant reduction in systolic BP (20 mm Hg) may not be necessary to cause ischemic symptoms. A minor drop (9 mm Hg systolic in our case) may symptomatically compromise blood flow across a stenosed artery if adequate collaterals are unavailable to a particular area of the brain. Anti-hypertensive medications can uncover otherwise asymptomatic carotid disease and alter the course of patient management by precipitating surgical intervention. Conversely, one could argue that these medications should be used cautiously in patients with known high-grade stenosis even in the absence of significant orthostatic hypotension. The TIA reported here is a classical example of a perfusion failure TIA. 5 These TIAs are frequently associated with severe carotid stenosis and signify distal insufficiency. The presentation is stereotypic, as illustrated by our patient, although the exact symptoms probably depend on the individual pattern of collateral supply.
An energy-aware and intelligent cluster-based event detection scheme in wireless sensor networks

It is important to consider fast and reliable detections of sensing events occurring in various parts of the sensor network. We propose a cluster-based, energy-aware event-detection scheme where events are reliably relayed to a sink in the form of aggregated data packets. The clustering scheme provides faster and better event detection and reliability control capabilities to the areas of the network where an event is occurring. It also reduces network overhead, latency and loss of even information due to cluster rotation. The proposed scheme has the following new features: a new concept of energy-level-based Cluster Head (CH) selection, event packet(s) being capable of transmitting from the CHs to the sink while the cluster(s) are being formed, the sink's assigning a dynamically adaptable reliability factor to clusters, a mechanism used to control the transmission rate of the sensors according to the assigned cluster reliability, etc.
Necrotic and apoptotic myocyte cell death in the aging heart of Fischer 344 rats

To determine the effects of aging on myocyte cell death, Fischer 344 rats at 3, 7, 12, 16, and 24 mo of age were injected with myosin monoclonal antibody for the localization and quantification of necrotic myocyte cell death in the left ventricle, interventricular septum, and right ventricle. Conversely, the presence of DNA strand breaks in myocyte nuclei, indicative of programmed cell death, was evaluated by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase assay and confirmed by DNA laddering. Myocyte necrosis, which involved nearly 1,000 myocytes in the left ventricular free wall at 3 mo, progressively increased with aging, reaching a value of 13,600 myocytes at 24 mo. Corre- sponding values in the interventricular septum were 300 and 9,400 myocytes. In the right ventricle, there were 270 necrotic myocytes at 3 mo and 9,000 at 24 mo. Programmed myocyte cell death was restricted to the left ventricular free wall and included 140 cells at 3 mo. This form of myocyte cell death increased at the subsequent age intervals, resulting in the involvement of 874 cells at 24 mo. The combination of necrosis and apoptosis in the left ventricular free wall was associated with 1,150 cells dying at 3 mo and 14,500 at 24 mo. In conclusion, myocyte cell death, apoptotic and necrotic in nature, constitutes an important determinant of the aging process, possibly mediating the occurrence of ventricular dysfunction and failure in the old heart.
Tonic immobility in chicks during presentations and withdrawals of an imprinting stimulus

We investigated the effects of presentation and withdrawal of an imprinting stimulus on durations of the tonic immobility reaction in domestic fowl. In Experiment 1, presentation and withdrawal of the imprinting stimulus was compared to similar manipulations with a novel stimulus. Differences in the immobility reaction were due to specific effects of the imprinting stimulus. In Experiment 2, we demonstrated the effect of the presence or withdrawal of only the imprinting stimulus on the duration of the immobility reaction. The presence of the imprinting stimulus shortened the duration of the immobility reaction, while the withdrawal of the same stimulus lengthened the duration of the reaction, relative to a baseline condition. The results are interpreted in terms of central affective states which interact in simple ways.
Testing for presence of known and unknown molecules in imaging mass spectrometry

MOTIVATION Imaging mass spectrometry has emerged in the past decade as a label-free, spatially resolved and multi-purpose bioanalytical technique for direct analysis of biological samples. However, solving two everyday data analysis problems still requires expert judgment: (i) the detection of unknown molecules and (ii) the testing for presence of known molecules. RESULTS We developed a measure of spatial chaos of a molecular image corresponding to a mass-to-charge value, which is a proxy for the molecular presence, and developed methods solving considered problems. The statistical evaluation was performed on a dataset from a rat brain section with test sets of molecular images selected by an expert. The measure of spatial chaos has shown high agreement with expert judges. The method for detection of unknown molecules allowed us to find structured molecular images corresponding to spectral peaks of any low intensity. The test for presence applied to a list of endogenous peptides ranked them according to the proposed measure of their presence in the sample. AVAILABILITY The source code and test sets of mass-to-charge images are available at http://www.math.uni-bremen.de/∼theodore. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary materials are available at Bioinformatics online. CONTACT theodore@uni-bremen.de.
The monoclonal antibody E587 recognizes growing (new and regenerating) retinal axons in the goldfish retinotectal pathway

E587 is a new monoclonal antibody against a 200 kDa cell-surface glycoprotein in the fish retinotectal pathway. The E587 antigen probably belongs to the class of cell adhesion molecules, and more specifically, to the family of L1-like molecules. The immunopurified protein is recognized by the antibody against the HNK1/L2 sugar epitope (associated with most cell adhesion molecules) and by a polyclonal antiserum against chick G4, which is related to the cell adhesion molecule L1 in mouse. Moreover the NH2-terminal sequence of E587 shows similarity with L1 and Ng-CAM. The E587 immunostaining pattern in the fish retinotectal pathway suggests that the E587 antigen is a growth- associated molecule on fish retinal axons. In fish embryos, all retinal axons are labeled. In adult fish, however, only the young axons from newly added ganglion cells carry E587 staining. After optic nerve transection (ONS) and retinal axonal regeneration, all axons reexpress the E587 antigen into their terminal processes in the tectal retinorecipient layers. The reexpression of the E587 antigen is temporally regulated, and E587 immunoreactivity declines by 7 months and disappears at 12 months after ONS. We hypothesize that the E587 antigen may mediate axon-axon associations. In its restricted appearance on young axons in normal adult fish, it may contribute to the selective fasciculation of the newest axons with young axons and thus participate in the creation of the age-related fiber organization in the fish optic nerve.
Chromium-induced biochemical, genotoxic and histopathologic effects in liver and kidney of goldfish, carassius auratus.

Fish constitute an excellent model to understand the mechanistic aspects of metal toxicity vis-a-vis oxidative stress in aquatic ecosystems. Hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)), due to its redox potential can induce oxidative stress (OS) in fish and impair their health. In the present investigation, we hypothesize that OS plays a key role in chromium induced toxicity in goldfish; leading to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as O(.)(2), H(2)O(2), OH(.), and subsequent modulation of the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), metallothioneins (MT), glutathione proxidase (GPx), genotoxicity and histopathology. To test this hypothesis, antioxidant enzymes, DNA damage and histopathology assays were performed in liver and kidney tissues of goldfish exposed to different concentrations of Cr (VI) (LC(12.5), LC(25) and LC(50)) following 96h static renewal bioassay. The results of this study clearly show that the fish experienced OS as characterized by significant modulation of enzyme activities, induction of DNA damage and microscopic morphological changes in the liver and kidney. In both tissues, CAT activity was decreased whereas SOD activity and hydroperoxide levels were increased. In addition, GPx activity also increased significantly in higher test concentrations, especially in the kidney. MT induction and DNA damage were observed in both tissues in a concentration dependent manner. Microscopic examination of organ morphology indicated degeneration of liver tissue and necrosis of central vein. Necrosis of kidney tubular epithelial cells and tubules was observed at higher Cr (VI) concentrations. Taking together the findings of this study are helpful in organ-specific risk assessment of Cr (VI)-induced oxidative stress, genotoxicity and histopathology in fish.
Changes in Dentin Appositional Rates During Pregnancy and Lactation in Rats

Dentin appositional rates were determined in pregnant and lactating rats and compared with those in non-pregnant, age-matched controls. Appositional rates were calculated from measurements of distance between fluorescent mineralized tissue markers. There were significant increases in dentin apposition during pregnancy, with the greatest increases seen in the first two weeks. Dentin appositional rates decreased significantly during mid-lactation. These results indicate that homeostatic changes during pregnancy and lactation affect mineralized tissue accretion.
Radioimmunoassay on Polycarbonate Membranes: a Sensitive and Simplified Method for the Detection and Quantitation of Antibody

A new radioimmunoassay technique is described in which a sampling manifold and polycarbonate filter membranes are used. Antigen-antibody reactions take place on the membranes. The manifold permits the simultaneous running of 30 samples and a rapid wash technique in which the washing solution is introduced into the manifold wells and suctioned off from below. The polycarbonate membrane offers a distinct advantage over the cellulose acetate in that nonspecific protein adsorption is substantially reduced. Antigens employed are whole bacteria or soluble antigen coupled to Sepharose beads and are layered over the membrane surface. A radiolabeled antibody is used to measure the primary antigen-antibody interaction. The sensitivity of the procedure is equal to that of fluorescent antibody tests.
Speed kills: ineffective avian escape responses to oncoming vehicles

Animal–vehicle collisions cause high levels of vertebrate mortality worldwide, and what goes wrong when animals fail to escape and ultimately collide with vehicles is not well understood. We investigated alert and escape behaviours of captive brown-headed cowbirds ( Molothrus ater ) in response to virtual vehicle approaches of different sizes and at speeds ranging from 60 to 360 km h −1 . Alert and flight initiation distances remained similar across vehicle speeds, and accordingly, alert and flight initiation times decreased at higher vehicle speeds. Thus, avoidance behaviours in cowbirds appeared to be based on distance rather than time available for escape, particularly at 60–150 km h −1 ; however, at higher speeds (more than or equal to 180 km h −1 ) no trend in response behaviour was discernible. As vehicle speed increased, cowbirds did not have enough time to assess the approaching vehicle, and cowbirds generally did not initiate flight with enough time to avoid collision when vehicle speed exceeded 120 km h −1 . Although potentially effective for evading predators, the decision-making process used by cowbirds in our study appears maladaptive in the context of avoiding fast-moving vehicles. Our methodological approach and findings provide a framework to assess how novel management strategies could affect escape rules, and the sensory and cognitive abilities animals use to avoid vehicle collisions.
Women's Rights Movements during Political Transitions: Activism against Public Sexual Violence in Egypt

The most famous demand raised by protesters in the “Arab Spring” was “al-shaʿb/yurīd/isqāṭ al-niẓām” (the people/want /the fall of the regime). Three years later, little progress has been made—outside of Tunisia—in permanently replacing authoritarian regimes with the formal institutions of democracy. However, new forms of activism have emerged that increase citizens’ ability to directly combat pervasive social problems and to successfully pressure official institutions to alter policies. The evolution of activism against public sexual violence in post-Mubarak Egypt is a concrete example. Sexual harassment of women on the streets and in public transportation, widespread before the 25 January uprising, has likely since increased.1 Many women have been subjected to vicious sexual assault at political protests over the last three years. But activism against these threats has also expanded in ways unimaginable during the Mubarak era. Groups of male and female activists in their twenties and early thirties exhort bystanders on the streets to intervene when they witness harassment, and intervene themselves. Satellite TV programs have extensively covered public sexual violence, directly challenging officials for their failure to combat it while featuring the work of antiharassment and antiassault groups in a positive light. These new practices facilitated two concrete changes in the summer of 2014: amendments to the penal code on sexual harassment, and Cairo University's adoption of an antiharassment policy which was developed by feminist activists.
Gas absorption with consecutive second-order reactions

For gas absorption accompanied by two consecutive second-order reactions, the reaction factors of the film and penetration theories were solved by the orthogonal collocation method. For equivalent definition of the other physico-chemical parameters, the reaction factors from the two theories differ only slightly. In film theory, it is shown that the film-bulk boundary condition is of importance only for small values of M. It is also shown that the difference between the point yields of the film and penetration theories is generally small, although it is larger than the difference in reaction factors for the two theories.
Background of the Problem

The largest single group of children at psychiatric clinics is made up of children with behavior and learning problems. Over the years such children have proved to be an enigma. As many as 60–70% of the clientele at child guidance clinics are referred because of problems in management by parents and teachers. Attempts to correct the children’s behavior by the usual means have failed; they seem to disregard punishment or praise, except in the short run. Rather than growing out of the problem, their difficulties in impulse control and learning persist into adulthood. Sometimes easily confused with the child who is merely undisciplined, close inspection reveals fundamental impairments in perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral functions that go beyond simple “brat behavior.”
Orlistat and antisense-miRNA-loaded PLGA-PEG nanoparticles for enhanced triple negative breast cancer therapy.

Background: This study explores the use of hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol)-conjugated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (PLGA-PEG-NPs) as delivery system to improve the antitumor effect of antiobesity drug orlistat for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) therapy by improving its bioavailability. Materials & methods: PLGA-PEG-NPs were synthesized by emulsion-diffusion-evaporation method, and the experiments were conducted in vitro in MDA-MB-231 and SKBr3 TNBC and normal breast fibroblast cells. Results: Delivery of orlistat via PLGA-PEG-NPs reduced its IC50 compared with free orlistat. Combined treatment of orlistat-loaded NPs and doxorubicin or antisense-miR-21-loaded NPs significantly enhanced apoptotic effect compared with independent doxorubicin, anti-miR-21-loaded NPs, orlistat-loaded NPs or free orlistat treatments. Conclusion: We demonstrate that orlistat in combination with antisense-miR-21 or current chemotherapy holds great promise as a novel and versatile treatment agent for TNBC.
Developments in Varicella Zoster Virus Vasculopathy

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a highly neurotropic human herpesvirus. Primary infection usually causes varicella (chicken pox), after which virus becomes latent in ganglionic neurons along the entire neuraxis. VZV reactivation results in zoster (shingles) which is frequently complicated by chronic pain (postherpetic neuralgia). VZV reactivation also causes meningoencephalitis, myelitis, ocular disorders, and vasculopathy, all of which can occur in the absence of rash. This review focuses on the association of VZV and stroke, and on the widening spectrum of disorders produced by VZV vasculopathy in immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals, including recipients of varicella vaccine. Aside from ischemic stroke, VZV infection of cerebral arteries may lead to development of intracerebral aneurysms, with or without hemorrhage. Moreover, recent clinical-virological case reports and retrospective pathological-virological analyses of temporal arteries positive or negative for giant cell arteritis (GCA) indicate that extracranial VZV vasculopathy triggers the immunopathology of GCA. While many patients with GCA improve after corticosteroid treatment, prolonged corticosteroid use may potentiate VZV infection, leading to fatal vasculopathy in the brain and other organs.
Fine-needle aspiration cytology of peripheral T-cell lymphoma. A cytologic, immunologic, and cytometric study

The diagnosis of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is difficult. This entity can be misdiagnosed as Hodgkin's disease or a reactive process such as nonnecrotizing granulomatous lymphadenitis or it can present a problem in lymphoma classification. Fine-needle aspirates from 13 patients with histologically proven PTCL were evaluated by cytology, immunochemistry, and flow cytometry. Of the 13 patients with PTCL, initial cytologic diagnoses were atypical lymphocytic infiltrate (2), mixed-cell lymphoma (6), mixed-cell lymphoma with associated histiocytes (2), large cell lymphoma (2), and small cell lymphoma (1). Surface marker studies were performed on cytospin preparations. Antibodies against cytotoxic-suppressor (Leu-2a) and helper-inducer (Leu-3a,b) antigens were used in 11 cases. Ten lymphomas demonstrated helper phenotype and one showed phenotypic heterogeneity in two different sites. The most prominent cytologic features of PTCL were a variable combination of small, intermediate, and large lymphoid cells with irregular nuclei, presence of epithelioid histiocytes, and atypical mononuclear cells. Flow cytometry studies showed a diploid stem line with intermediate proliferative activity (mean S-phase of 6.7%) in most cases, despite the clinical aggressiveness of this neoplasm.
Design and Implement of Portable Three-Phase Current Transformer Automatic Verification Device

The paper introduced a kind of convenient testing three-phase current transformer automatic verification de-vice.Based on the indirect measurement methods of current transformer magnetic saturation margin,the device con-structed current transformer general stepless automatic adjustment load module.With the designed automatio verifica-tion method,it comes true that the automation of measuring process such as basic error,magnetic saturation margin and so on.The design idea and verification have strong feasibility,high verification efficiency,accuate test results and conveniece application.
Expression of renal Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange activity in Xenopus laevis oocytes.

The expression of a renal Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger by Xenopus oocytes has been investigated. Each oocyte was injected with 50 ng of poly(A)+ RNA from either rat or rabbit kidney or with an equivalent volume of water. Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange was determined 3 days after injection, by measuring Ca2+ uptake by oocytes in the presence or absence of an outwardly directed Na+ concentration gradient. To manipulate Na+ concentration gradients, oocytes were first loaded with Na+ in Ca(2+)-free medium containing 90 mM Na+ and nystatin. They were then exposed to medium containing 45Ca and either 90 mM or 0 Na+. Na(+)-free media contained (in mM) either 90 K+, 90 choline or 85 choline plus 5 K+. Oocytes injected with rat kidney poly(A)+ RNA showed a Na+ gradient-dependent Ca2+ uptake of 6.6 +/- 0.8 (SE, n = 5) pmol.oocyte-1.30 min-1. This is significantly higher than the value of 3.4 +/- 0.5 (SE, n = 5) pmol.oocyte-1.30 min-1 obtained in water-injected oocytes (P less than 0.001). Similar results were obtained using poly(A)+ RNA from rabbit kidney cortex. Neither 10 microM nifedipine nor 0.5 mM D 600 significantly affected this Ca2+ uptake. However, 90% of the Ca2+ uptake was inhibited in the presence of 0.1 mM La3+. The poly(A)+ RNA-induced Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange activity was stimulated by the presence of 5 mM K+ in the extracellular choline solution compared with choline alone. Fractionation experiments indicate that the rat kidney Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger was encoded by poly(A)+ RNA of 3-4 kb.
Chemosensing at the carotid body. Involvement of a HERG-like potassium current in glomus cells.

Currently, it is notclear what type of K+ channel(s) is active at the resting membrane potential (RMP) in glomus cells of the carotid body (CB). HERO channels produce currents that are known to contribute to the RMP in other neuronal cells. The goal of the present study was to determine whether CB glomus cells express HERG-like (HL) K1 current, and if so, to determine whether HL currents regulate the RMP. With high [K+][1] depolarizing voltage steps from −85mV revealed a slowly deactivating inward tail current indicative of HL K+ current in whole-cell, voltage clamped glomus cells. The HL currents were blocked by dofetilide (DOF) in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 13 nM) and high concentrations (1 and 10 mM) ofBa21. The steady-state activation properties of the HL current (Vh=− mV) suggest that it is active at the R M P in glomus cells. Whole-cell, current clamped glomus cells exhibited a RMP of −48mV. 150 nM DOF caused a significant (14 mV) depolarizing shift in the RMP. In isolated glomus cells, [Ca2−+], increased in response to DOF (1 μM). In an in-vitro CB preparation, DOF increased basal sensory discharge in a concentration-dependent manner and significantly attenuated the sensory response to hypoxia. These results suggest that the HERG-like current is responsible for controlling the RMP in glomus cells of the rabbit CB, and that it is involved in the chemosensory response to hypoxia of the CB.
Comparative effects of unilateral and bilateral subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation on gait kinematics in Parkinson’s disease: a randomized, blinded study

Gait dysfunction in Parkinson's disease (PD) does not always respond to bilateral subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS). Since right hemisphere motor networks may be dominant for gait control, identical stimulation of asymmetric circuits could account for gait dysfunction. We compared the effects of bilateral and unilateral STN-DBS on gait kinematics in PD patients who developed gait impairment after STN-DBS. Twenty-two PD patients with >50 % improvement in motor scores, but dopamine-resistant gait dysfunction 6-12 months after bilateral STN-DBS were blindly tested off dopaminergic effects in four randomly assigned DBS conditions: bilateral, right-sided, left-sided and off stimulation. Motor scores (MDS-UPDRS III), gait scores (MDS-UPRDS 2.11-2.13 + 3.9-3.13), turning time (seconds), stride length (meters) and velocity (meters/second) were measured 1 h after DBS changes. Motor and gait scores significantly improved with bilateral versus unilateral STN-DBS. Stride length and velocity (0.95 ± 0.06, 0.84 ± 0.07) significantly improved with bilateral (1.09 ± 0.04, 0.95 ± 0.05), right-sided (1.06 ± 0.04, 0.92 ± 0.05) and left-sided stimulation (1.01 ± 0.05, 0.90 ± 0.05) (p < 0.05). Stride length significantly improved with right-sided versus left-sided (0.05 ± 0.02) and bilateral versus left-sided stimulation (0.07 ± 0.02) (p < 0.05). Turning time (4.89 ± 0.6) tended to improve with bilateral (4.13 ± 0.5) (p = 0.15) and right-sided (4.27 ± 0.6) (p = 0.2) more than with left STN-DBS (4.69 ± 0.5) (p = 0.5). Bilateral STN-DBS yields greater improvement in motor and gait scores in PD patients. Yet, unilateral stimulation has similar effects on gait kinematics. Particularly, right-sided stimulation might produce slightly greater improvements. Although the clinical relevance of differential programming of right versus left-sided STN-DBS is unclear, this approach could be considered in the management of treatment-resistant gait dysfunction in PD.
Use of a Mutant Strain for Evaluating Processing Strategies to Inactivate Vibrio vulnificus in Oysters

Vibrio vulnificus is a ubiquitous marine bacterium frequently isolated from shellfish and associated with severe and often fatal disease in humans. Various control strategies to reduce the disease risk associated with V. vulnificus contamination in shellfish have been proposed. However, evaluating the efficacy of these control strategies is complicated because of the difficulty in distinguishing V. vulnificus from the high levels of background environmental Vibrio spp. The purpose of this research was to develop a model indicator V. vulnificus strain that could be readily differentiated from background microflora and used to facilitate the evaluation of processing efficacy. A spontaneous nalidixic acid-resistant strain of V. vulnificus (Vv-NA) was prepared from a wild-type parent (Vv-WT) using selective plating techniques. Vv-NA was very similar to Vv-WT with respect to biochemical characteristics, appearance on selective plating media, detection limits using most probable number and polymerase chain reaction, and growth rate. In comparative freeze inactivation studies on pure cultures, Vv-WT and Vv-NA had similar freeze inactivation profiles at -20 degrees C (conventional freezing), at -85 degrees C (cold blast freezing), and in liquid nitrogen (cryogenic freezing). In oyster homogenates artificially inoculated with Vv-NA, the organism was inactivated 95 to 99% after freezing, irrespective of freezing temperature. Thermal inactivation comparisons of pure cultures of Vv-WT and Vv-NA using the capillary tube method revealed statistically significant differences in D values at 47 degrees C (2.2 versus 3.0 min, respectively) and 50 degrees C (0.83 versus 0.56 min, respectively), but nearly identical values at 52 degrees C (0.21 versus 0.22 min, respectively). However, these D values were notably higher than those reported by other investigators and hence provided a conservative means by which to evaluate thermal inactivation. In oyster homogenates seeded with Vv-NA, D values of 1.3+/-0.09 min and 0.41+/-0.01 min were obtained at 46 degrees C and 48 degrees C, respectively. This study demonstrated that Vv-NA is readily enumerated and could be used as a surrogate for evaluating the degree of V. vulnificus inactivation provided by freezing and thermal treatments of oyster homogenates.