cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diazepam pharmacokinetics after nasal drop and atomized nasal administration in dogs.

The standard of care for emergency therapy of seizures in veterinary patients is intravenous (i.v.) administration of benzodiazepines, although rectal administration of diazepam is often recommended for out-of-hospital situations, or when i.v. access has not been established. However, both of these routes have potential limitations. This study investigated the pharmacokinetics of diazepam following i.v., intranasal (i.n.) drop and atomized nasal administration in dogs. Six dogs were administered diazepam (0.5 mg/kg) via all three routes following a randomized block design. Plasma samples were collected and concentrations of diazepam and its active metabolites, oxazepam and desmethyldiazepam were quantified with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Mean diazepam concentrations >300 ng/mL were reached within 5 min in both i.n. groups. Diazepam was converted into its metabolites within 5 and 10 min, respectively, after i.v. and i.n. administration. The half lives of the metabolites were longer than that of the parent drug after both routes of administration. The bioavailability of diazepam after i.n. drop and atomized nasal administration was 42% and 41%, respectively. These values exceed previously published bioavailability data for rectal administration of diazepam in dogs. This study confirms that i.n. administration of diazepam yields rapid anticonvulsant concentrations of diazepam in the dog before a hepatic first-pass effect.
A neutronic study of an accelerator-based neutron irradiation facility for boron neutron capture therapy

A neutronic study of an accelerator-based neutron irradiation facility (ANIF) for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) was performed using three-dimensional Monte Carlo transport calculations. The major components of the ANIF are a radio-frequency quadrupole proton accelerator, a /sup 7/Li target, and a moderator assembly. Neutrons are generated by bombarding the /sup 7/Li target with 2.5-MeV protons. The neutrons emerging from the /sup 7/Li target are too energetic to be used for BNCT and must therefore be moderated. Calculations show that, among all materials for the ANIF, beryllia (BeO) and heavy water (D/sub 2/O) are the best moderators. Between them, beryllia provides better neutron spectra, but D/sub 2/O gives higher neutron intensities. Adding alumina (Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/) to D/sub 2/O improves the neutron spectra, but it also increases gamma-ray contamination.
On the Wake and Drag of Bluff Bodies

A modification to Kirchhoff's free streamline introduces the parameter k = √(1- C_ps), which allows arbitrary base pressure and which must depend on the dynamics of the wake. For a cylinder of given cross-sectional shape, the drag, C_D, and the wake width, d', are functions of k only. These functions are used to relate C_D and the dimensionless shedding frequency , S = nd/U_ ∞ to another number, S* = nd' / U_s, which is based on wake parameters. It is found that S* = 0.16 for all cylinders. In another approach, k is evaluated by using Karman's solution for the vortex street.
A case study in verification of embedded network software

Embedded network systems support a variety of application domains, including environmental monitoring, social networking, and healthcare. These large networks of low-powered microcontroller-based nodes present challenges in ensuring correctness of the software that runs on these systems. Most embedded networked systems are programmed in C. Verifying software written in C is difficult. In this paper, we take a different approach: We report on our work using the RESOLVE language to program embedded networked systems. Our compiler leverages the RESOLVE verification system and maintains the correctness guarantees established during verification. The verified code is then translated into property-preserving C code that can run on the target hardware.
A meta-analysis of cholecystectomy and risk of colorectal cancer

Abstract Background : Over 60 studies have addressed the hypothesis that the risk of colorectal cancer is increased following cholecystectomy; these studies have yielded inconsistent findings. The aim of the present study was to quantitatively summarize the results from the collective studies. Methods : A meta-analysis of the published studies addressing the relation between cholecystectomy and colorectal cancer was conducted. Results : The combined results from 33 case-control studies showed an association between Cholecystectomy and risk of colorectal cancer (pooled relative risk [RR] = 1.34; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.14-1.57), particularly when limited to the proximal colon (RR = 1.88; 95% CI = 1.54-2.30). In most studies, the risk was stronger when the first 5–15 years following the surgery were excluded. The results from 6 cohort studies, with follow-up to approximately 15 years postcholecystectomy, were generally null (RR = 0.97; 95% CI = 0.82-1.14). A more limited body of evidence suggests that cholelithiasis is related to an elevated risk of proximal colon cancer. Conclusions : Because the risks varied substantially by study design and because time since cholecystectomy or potentially confounding factors were often not considered, we could not firmly quantitate this risk. However, the findings are consistent with other evidence that suggests some characteristic of bile acid metabolism increases the risk of cancer of the proximal colon.
LIPID METABOLISM IN THE NEWBORN II. NEUTRAL LIPIDS

Triglyceride, cholesterol and cholesteryl ester concentrations in the cord serum of 10 infants were determined and found to be considerably lower than in the mother9s serum. The fatty acid compositions of the cord serum triglycerides and cholesteryl esters were significantly different from those of the mothers. The linoleate fraction of these esters was especially low. Plasma triglyceride concentrations in full-term, healthy infants rose significantly 9 hours after birth. The fatty acid distribution of these triglycerides at 12 hours varied from that at birth; this difference was also reflected in reported plasma free fatty acids and suggests a precursory relationship. The plasma total cholesterol concentrations did not alter in the first 12 hours, nor did the fatty acid distribution of the cholesteryl esters change significantly. A method to measure low concentrations of triglycerides in small samples is described. The differences between maternal and cord serum lipids suggest that fetal lipids do not originate directly in the mother. The rise in plasma triglycerides is part of an increased fat mobilization occurring after birth.
A novel Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase and a male germ cell-specific calmodulin-binding protein are derived from the same gene.

A cDNA representing a unique Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase has been cloned and sequenced from a rat brain cDNA library. This enzyme, expressed in brain, testis, and spleen, is only 32% identical to the various isoforms of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. The sequence of the COOH-terminal 169 amino acids is identical to that of a previously described male germ cell-specific calmodulin-binding protein called calspermin (T. Ono, G.R. Slaughter, R.G. Cook, and A.R. Means, J. Biol. Chem. 264:2081-2087, 1989). This identity extends to the nucleic acid sequence and includes all but the first 130 nucleotides of the calspermin cDNA. Primer extension and sequence of a genomic fragment containing the unique calspermin sequence reveals that this mRNA is derived from the kinase transcription unit by germ cell-specific use of a unique exon. In situ hybridization was used to demonstrate that both kinase and calspermin mRNAs are expressed during spermatogenesis. The kinase mRNA is first detected in early meiotic cells and declines to a low level in haploid cells. Calspermin mRNA first appears in pachytene primary spermatocytes and continues to increase as cells complete meiosis and undergo terminal differentiation. These results show that differential utilization of a single gene during spermatogenesis is used to generate mRNAs that encode proteins with distinct functions.
Immune responses to reporter proteins and high viral dose limit duration of expression with adenoviral vectors: comparison of E2a wild type and E2a deleted vectors

Experiments designed to evaluate the effect of deletion of E2a on duration of expression using adenoviral vectors led to a series of observations regarding host responses to adenoviral vectors and reporter proteins. In studies using human alpha1-antitrypsin (hAAT) as a reporter gene, we found that the duration of expression is very brief for C3H/J and CBA/J mice but is prolonged for C57BL/6J mice, that disappearance of hAAT from the blood is correlated with the appearance of antibodies, and that immunization against hAAT can prevent appearance of the protein in the blood after administration of an adenoviral vector. Deletion of E2a in hAAT vectors did not prolong expession in C3H/J or CBA/J mice and did not shorten duration of expression in C57BL/6J mice. Using similar vectors expressing Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase (beta-Gal) in immunocompetent mice, short duration of expression with a beta-Gal reporter was remarkably different from the long expression with an identical vector expressing hAAT in C57BL/6J. In the case of vectors expressing hAAT, adenoviral sequences persisted in the liver, and inflammatory responses were minimal compared to vectors expressing beta-Gal, where adenoviral sequences disappeared from the liver concomitant with a prominent inflammatory response. The duration of expression of beta-Gal in hepatocytes was increased in transgenic mice expressing the reporter in keratinocytes, indicating that host immune responses to the reporter can limit duration of expression. Dosage studies indicated that persistence of expression of hAAT can be markedly decreased by administration of high doses of vector in a manner consistent with a nonimmune-mediated toxicity following injection. These experiments indicate that host responses to reporter genes rather than host responses to adenoviral proteins can be the primary determinant of duration of expression under many experimental conditions.
Increased Hepatic Transduction with Reduced Systemic Dissemination and Proinflammatory Cytokines Following Hydrodynamic Injection of Helper-Dependent Adenoviral Vectors

Hydrodynamic injection of helper-dependent adenoviral vectors (HDAd) in mice results in increased hepatic transduction, reduced splenic and pulmonary transduction, and reduced levels of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-12 compared to conventional injection. These results indicate that hepatic transduction by HDAd, at least alone, does not necessarily provoke a severe innate inflammatory response. Instead, they suggest that systemic vector dissemination may play a major role in the severity of the innate inflammatory response. These results further suggest that the safety and efficacy of HDAd-mediated, liver-directed gene therapy may be improved if the vector could be preferentially, if not exclusively, targeted to liver.
Reexamining Vehicle-Actuation Strategies at Isolated Signalized Intersections

This paper uses simulation to assess intersection performance under enhanced vehicle-actuated signal control. The enhanced strategies seek to: (1) terminate green time in such a way as to promote use of the clearance interval by discharging vehicles; (2) shorten the required duration of the clearance interval by only serving, to the extent possible, queued vehicles; and (3) respond to gaps in individual travel lanes. Enhanced schemes are compared with conventional policies for an array of operating scenarios. Findings suggest that substantial reductions in vehicle delay result from use of the enhanced strategies.
Bexarotene and DAB389IL-2 (Denileukin Diftitox, ONTAK) in Treatment of Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphomas: Algorithms

Abstract Mycosis fungoides (MF), CD4 + epidermotropic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), often arises as indolent, inflammatory, chronic, persistent patches and plaques. Conservative and sequential topical therapy patients have the same survival as patients treated with aggressive chemotherapy. Hence, until curative therapy is found, therapies that keep MF in check and prevent progression to more advanced lymphoma may be desirable alternatives and may preserve quality of life. Stage IA patients with stable disease have a very favorable prognosis and often initially receive psoriasis-type therapy. Bexarotene gel, a new topical retinoid X receptor retinoid will resolve MF lesions, reducing dermal T-cell infiltrates when used as a single agent. However, it may be even more effective when combined with topical steroids, with phototherapy (ultraviolet B and psoralen-ultraviolet A), or even with oral bexarotene. The gel may also provide a safe adjunctive therapy for individual lesions that are refractory to other agents, including keratodermas. When more than 10% of the body is involved with CTCL or when adenopathy is present (> stage IB), systemic therapy is indicated. Bexarotene capsules have the advantage of easy oral administration and are extremely effective both for early-stage patients with long-standing extensive plaques and for late-stage patients with Sezary syndrome or large-cell transformation. Monitoring of white blood cell count, lipids, and thyroid function is required. Bexarotene should be tested in combination with interferon-alfa or other therapies such as photopheresis, psoralen-ultraviolet A, and methotrexate and for maintenance after total body skin electron beam. DAB 389 IL-2 is targeted to CD25 + , the interleukin-2 receptor on activated T cells as measured by the expression of CD25. DAB 389 IL-2 has given complete or partial remission in 30% of highly refractory patients with extensive plaques and disfiguring tumors. Because it is effective in killing T cells that surround dermal vessels, cytokine release may occur and result in capillary leak syndrome. Hence, it will be reserved for more advanced and refractory patients and will require intravenous administration and monitoring. The use of oral bexarotene first to reduce dermal infiltrates prior to DAB 389 IL-2 administration might reduce subsequent side effects imparted by this therapy. With three new highly effective agents in the armamentarium for the treatment of CTCL, new combination treatment algorithms can be tested to achieve maximal benefit and quality of life for these patients.
Feasibility and acute toxicities of radioimmunoguided prostate brachytherapy.

Abstract Purpose: We present a technique that fuses pelvic CT scans and ProstaScint images to localize areas of disease within the prostate gland to customize prostate implants. Additionally, the acute toxicity results from the first 43 patients treated with this technique are reviewed. Methods and Materials: Between 2/97 and 8/98, 43 patients with clinical stage II prostate adenocarcinoma received ultrasound-guided transperineal implantation of I-125 or Pd-103 seeds. The median patient age was 70 years (range 49–79). Prior to treatment, the median Gleason score and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were 6 (range 3–8) and 7.5 (range 1.8–16.6 ng/mL), respectively. The median follow-up was 10 months (range 2.9–20.4 months). Results: The median PSA value at 10 months is 0.7 ng/mL. Significant acute complications within the first month following implantation included 13 Grade I urinary symptoms, 24 Grade II urinary symptoms, 6 Grade III symptoms, and no Grade IV complications. Beyond 4 months, complications included 12 Grade I urinary symptoms, 17 Grade II urinary symptoms, 1 Grade III, and 1 Grade IV complications. Conclusions: The image fusion of the pelvic CT scan and ProstaScint scans helped identify regions within the prostate at high risk of local failure, which were targeted with additional seeds during implantation.
Economic and health aspects of peptic ulcer disease and H2-receptor antagonists

The costs of peptic ulcer disease to society are very high. Costs can be expressed as either direct or indirect. Direct costs include hospitalization or clinic visits, physicians' fees, and medication. Indirect costs are loss of productivity due to absenteeism from work or loss of income from death of an employee. The daily cost of different ulcer drugs such as the histamine (H2)-receptor antagonists for intravenous treatment, acute healing, and maintenance can easily be compared. As newer anti-ulcer drugs such as H2-receptor antagonists have been introduced into the marketplace, the number of prescriptions and medication costs have increased rather than decreased. In part, this may be accounted for by the high frequency with which H2 antagonists are prescribed for patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia. Some patients have chronic peptic ulcer disease with multiple painful recurrences or complications such as hemorrhage, perforation, or obstruction. They may require long-term care or drug maintenance, hospitalization, or surgery. For patients with chronic ulcer disease or complications, randomized controlled trials to compare the efficacy, safety, and costs of different forms of therapy (maintenance drugs, surgery, or placebo) have not been reported. However, based upon good efficacy and safety for acute healing and long-term drug maintenance for painful duodenal ulcer disease, long-term maintenance with H2-receptor antagonists is now prescribed for many patients. No controlled randomized trials have been reported to document that long-term maintenance with H2-receptor antagonists actually reduces peptic ulcer complications. However, by current cost estimates, long-term H2-receptor antagonist therapy is less expensive than ulcer surgery for uncomplicated ulcer disease for up to eight years. However, maintenance drug therapy after eight years may be more expensive than elective ulcer surgery in patients with chronic peptic ulcer disease who are good surgical candidates. Patients with complications of peptic ulcer disease seem to represent a different subset than patients with symptomatic ulcer disease. Further studies in these subsets are needed to ascertain the most effective, safest, and least expensive management such as surgery, long-term drug maintenance, or intermittent drug therapy to prevent recurrent ulceration or complications.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Proposal to dissolve SIGAPL

The SGB EC brought forward a motion to dissolve SIGAPL, the Special Interest Group on the APL and J Languages based on an insufficient level of activity. The SGB EC recommends that SIGAPL's resources be used to provide up to two years worth of membership in another SIG of their choice (one year for SIGAPL members who have paid only one year of dues). Furthermore, the SGB EC has recommended that the SIGAPL community could organize conferences or other activities under the auspices of a more general SIG such as SIGPLAN. In accordance with ACM Bylaw 6 Section 11, this motion will be considered only after ACM's membership has had 60 days of notice to respond. If one percent of all ACM members, or five percent of SIGAPL members challenge the proposal to dissolve SIGAPL, the consideration of the motion will be delayed six additional months to give those challengers an opportunity to revitalize the SIG. ACM members who wish to challenge the proposed dissolution should contact Donna Cappo, Director of SIG Services, at cappo@acm.org, no later than June 15, 2007. Challenges must include your ACM membership number and should indicate whether you are a current member of SIGAPL. Other questions can be addressed to SGB Chair Joseph Konstan (konstan@acm.org).
Brain, Lung, and Cardiovascular Interactions with Cocaine and Cocaine-Induced Catecholamine Effects

The pathopysiologic effects of cocaine on neuronal, pulmonary, and cardiovascular tissue are related to the drug's interaction with select catecholamine and neuroendocrine systems. Cocaine has been shown to alter circulating levels of the neurotransmitters, dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, as well as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis hormones corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and cortisol. Furthermore, brain and lung tissue have been identified as primary sites of cocaine sequestration and metabolism. This paper reviews evidence suggesting that steroid-potentiated actions of catecholamines on vascular tissues contributes to the etiology of cocaine-related medical complications, including ischemic stroke, coronary ischemia, and ischemia-based renal failure.
Improved diagnosis of mild hypothyroidism using time-of-day normal ranges for thyrotropin.

Objective To assess clinical utility of time-of-day-based thyrotropin (TSH) ranges. Study design Ranges for TSH at 8 am, 4 pm, and am/pm TSH ratio were developed from prior data in 94 typical children (age, 5 to 18 years). Data for these values in 227 short children (1.5 to 18 years) were compared with those in typical children. Results Short children included idiopathic short stature (ISS, n=153), central hypothyroidism (Central, n=42), and mild primary hypothyroidism (Primary, n=32), referred for evaluation of growth. In typical children, ISS, and Primary, 8 am TSH was greater than 4 pm TSH ( P Conclusions Either 8 am TSH or 4 pm TSH (compared with time-of-day normal range) can identify TSH elevation. Low am/pm TSH ratio (FT4 in lowest one-third of normal) confirms central hypothyroidism. Thus, time-of-day TSH ranges should be used for accurate diagnosis and more appropriate cost-effective treatment of mild hypothyroidism.
Mapping of Diagenesis In a Carbonate Reservoir In the Gulf of Mexico By a Stochastic Data Integration Technique

Summary Diagenetic alteration of petrophysical properties in a reservoir is an important aspect that has significant implication on the ultimate productivity of the reservoir. This impact is even more significant for carbonate reservoirs. We present a comprehensive analysis of disparate data types, namely, seismic, well log and cores for a carbonate reservoir in the Gulf of Mexico. Various facies and different fracture networks mostly characterize this reservoir. One of the important producing zones is the Cretaceous breccia facies mainly composed of dolomite breccias. Prior interpretations reported that the breccia formations were deposited in a ramp type carbonate platform and tectonic activities yielded fracture networks. Our analysis involved probabilistic integration of results from seismic inversion with cores and well logs resulting in probabilistic maps of reservoir regions that are likely to have been altered diagenetically. Several realizations of the diagenesis indicator maps were generated conditioned to both the well locations and the seismic AI data Our results indicate that the data integration results in robust mapping of reservoir regions altered by diagenesis.
NOTES ON THE GENUS CHASMATONOTUS WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF THREE NEW SPECIES (DIPTERA, CHIRONOMIDAE)

This North American genus was erected in 1864 by Loew who based his description on specimens collected in New Hampshire. The species of this genus are readily separated from those of any other chironomid genus by the presence of a median longitudinal fissure on the mesonotum. The nonplumose male antennae are also quite characteristic of this group, although this condition obtains also in the genus Hydrobaenus Fries. At present five species are known, to which are now added three new species.
Multinational Corporations and the Impact of Public Advocacy on Corporate Strategy: Nestlé and the Infant Formula Controversy

The article reviews the book “Multinational Corporations and the Impact of Public Advocacy on Corporate Strategy: Nestle and the Infant Formula Controversy,” by S. Prakash Sethi.
Quantitative determination of the concentrations of 13C15N chemical bonds by double cross-polarization NMR

Methode de determination des liaisons chimiques entre 15 N et 13 C dans des composes doublement marques par ces isotopes en utilisant la double polarisation croisee en RMN
POSSIBLE MECHANISMS OF ACTION OF Gymnodinium breve TOXIN AT THE MAMMALIAN NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTION

1 The mechanism of action of a crude fraction of Gymnodinium breve toxin (GBTX) was investigated by intracellular recording techniques in the rat phrenic nerve diaphragm preparation. 2 GBTX (2 micrograms/ml) decreased the input resistance of the muscle membrane concomitantly with a depolarization of the resting membrane potential. 3 A low sodium solution reversed or prevented a GBTX-induced membrane depolarization. 4 Tetrodotoxin (TTX) antagonized a GBTX-induced increase in miniature endplate potential (m.e.p.p.) frequency and repolarized a GBTX-depolarized membrane. Pretreatment with TTX prevented GBTX effects. 5 GBTX reversibly reduced depolarizations produced by bath applied acetylcholine (ACh). The membrane depolarization was not responsible for the depression of ACh responses. 6 These findings suggest that GBTX increases m.e.p.p. frequency and depolarizes the resting membrane potential by increasing sodium permeability. The reduction of ACh-induced depolarizations suggests that GBTX may be acting at some site on the ACh receptor.
Six Approaches to Evaluating Teaching: A Typology.

Methods for evaluating teacher effectiveness abound, and this author attempts to assist administrators by classifying and comparing some of those methods.
Pyoderma gangrenosum in a patient with cryoglobulinemia and hepatitis C successfully treated with interferon alfa

We describe a patient with long-standing pyoderma gangrenosum unresponsive to therapy. The patient had concomitant cryoglobulinemia and hepatitis C. When the hepatitis C was treated with interferon alfa-2a his pyoderma gangrenosum resolved. Whether this was from the interferon alfa or spontaneous resolution is not known.
Discrete Event Simulation Implemented in a Virtual Environment

Virtual reality (VR) technology provides a human-computer interface that allows participants to interact naturally with digital objects which are represented as three-dimensional images that occupy positions in a three-dimensional world. Related to problems of engineering design and manufacturing, this new technology offers engineers the ability to work with computer models in a three-dimensional, immersive environment. This paper describes a virtual reality application where the results of a discrete event simulation of a manufacturing cell are integrated with a virtual model of the cell to produce a virtual environment. The program described in this paper, the VRFactory, combines results from a commercial discrete event simulation program, SLAM II, with a virtual environment. This allows the user to investigate, using three-dimensional computer models, how various changes to the manufacturing cell affect part production. This investigation is performed while immersed in a computer-generated three-dimensional representation of the cell. Existing discrete event programming software allows only two-dimensional views of the factory as the parts progress through the simulation. Parts are shown only as primitive geometric shapes on the computer monitor and instantaneously move from one station to the next. The virtual environment implementation of the SLAM II results allows users to experience the simulation in a fully immersive three-dimensional digital environment. The virtual environment used here is a CAVE-like projection screen-based facility called the C2, which is located at Iowa State University. This paper describes the creation of the VR model of the manufacturing cell, the animation of the environment and the implementation of the results of the discrete event simulation.
Behavior of copper in southeastern United States estuaries

Abstract Dissolved copper behaves nonconservatively during transport from rivers through southeastern U.S. estuaries. Copper is released from particles and/or colloids at low salinities. Additional releases from estuarine and nearshore sediments occur at higher salinities. Seasonal variations in copper mixing curves appear to be due to variations in river concentrations and their rate of discharge.
Effect of thermal expansion on shape memory behavior of polyurethane and its nanocomposites

The effects of thermal expansion on shape memory performance of shape memory polyurethanes and their nanocomposites with organoclay, carbon nanofiber (CNF), silicon carbide (SiC), and carbon black (CB) were evaluated. The shape memory test cycle involved tensile deformation at above the trigger temperature to initiate shape memory function, cooling to room temperature to fix the shape, and shape recovery induced by heating to above the trigger temperature. Phenomenological models were used to interpret the experimental data on coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). It was found that Kerner model showed good fit for composites of SiC and CB, and Halpin model gave better fit for composites of organoclay and CNF. It was observed that thermal expansion exerts negative effect on recovered strain, the extent of which depends on the magnitude of temperature gradient, CTE, and the level of tensile strain. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1437–1449, 2008
Relaxed molecular clocks, the bias-variance trade-off, and the quality of phylogenetic inference

Because a constant rate of DNA sequence evolution cannot be assumed to be ubiquitous, relaxed molecular clock inference models have proven useful when estimating rates and divergence dates. Furthermore, it has been recently suggested that using relaxed molecular clocks may provide superior accuracy and precision in phylogenetic inference compared with traditional time-free methods that do not incorporate a molecular clock. We perform a simulation study to determine if assuming a relaxed molecular clock does indeed improve the quality of phylogenetic inference. We analyze sequence data simulated under various rate distributions using relaxed-clocks, strict-clocks, and time-free Bayesian phylogenetic inference models. Our results indicate that no difference exists in the quality of phylogenetic inference between assuming a relaxed molecular clock and making no assumption about the clock-likeness of sequence evolution. This pattern is likely due to the bias-variance trade-off inherent in this type of phylogenetic inference. We also compared the quality of inference between Bayesian and maximum likelihood time-free inference models and found them to be qualitatively similar.
Muscle activation and coactivation during five-time-sit-to-stand movement in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty

Quadriceps weakness is prevalent with knee osteoarthritis (OA) and after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). To compensate for quadriceps dysfunction, patients often alter movement strategies. Little is known about muscle coordination during sit-to-stand (concentric) and stand-to-sit (eccentric) movements in the acute postoperative period. This investigation characterized the distribution of muscle activation between the concentric and eccentric phases during a five-time-sit-to-stand (FTSTS) movement in late stage OA and one month after TKA. Patients and healthy participants performed a FTSTS while recording bilateral ground reaction forces (GRFs) and electromyography (EMG). Concentric and eccentric ensemble averages of the GRF and EMG were calculated for the concentric and eccentric phases. Coactivation indices, integrated EMG, and GRF were calculated for each limb and phase. Patients demonstrated higher eccentric coactivation than the healthy group. Postoperative loading was higher in the nonsurgical limb. Postoperative quadriceps activity was lower in the concentric phase and higher in the eccentric phase than the healthy group. Higher coactivation in the patients resulted from sustained distribution of quadriceps activity throughout the eccentric phase. This indicated an inability to coordinate muscle firing when rapidly lowering to a chair and occurred despite unloading of the surgical limb. Although these patterns may serve as a protective strategy, they may also impede recovery of muscle function after TKA.
Use of SDS Micelles To Stabilize a Ternary Intermediate in the Reaction of Ferrioxamine B and 1,10-Phenanthroline

Spectrophotometric measurements of the reaction of ferrioxamine B (FeHDFB+) with 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) reveal the presence of a ternary intermediate complex in both aqueous solution and an aqueous solution of 0.16 M sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The stoichiometry of the intermediate is Fe(H2DFB)(phen)2+ on the basis of a Schwarzenbach analysis of spectrophotometric data obtained at variable pH and phen concentrations. The ternary complex formation constant for the reaction FeHDFB+ + H+ + phen ⇄ Fe(H2DFB)(phen)2+ is log K = 6.96 in aqueous solution and log K = 8.64 in aqueous 0.16 M SDS. The enhanced stability of Fe(H2DFB)(phen)2+ in micellar solution was analyzed in terms of the pseudophase ion-exchange (PPIE) model of micellar reactions. The association constants for the binding of each reactant to the micellar pseudophase were measured by ultrafiltration. According to PPIE model calculations, the enhanced stability of Fe(H2DFB)(phen)2+ in micellar SDS arises from a proximity effect created by the h...
Increased IL-4 production and attenuated proliferative and pro-inflammatory responses of splenocytes from wild-caught rats (Rattus norvegicus).

Wild animals, unlike their laboratory counterparts, live amidst an abundance of pathogens and parasites. The presence of such immune stimulation from the time of birth likely has a profound effect on the development and stasis of the immune system. To probe potential differences between the immune systems of wild and laboratory animals, the response to mitogen (Con A) of splenocytes from wild rats was evaluated in vitro and compared with results from lab-rat-derived splenocytes. Although the response to mitogen is ubiquitous in splenocytes from laboratory animals regardless of strain or even species, splenocytes derived from wild rats were unresponsive to mitogen as judged by upregulation of activation markers and proliferation. Further, splenocytes from wild rats produced almost 10-fold less IL-2 and TNF-a in response to mitogen than did splenocytes from laboratory rats. In addition, mitogen stimulation resulted in an almost 100-fold greater production of IL-4 in wild-rat-derived splenocytes than in lab-rat-derived splenocytes. Perhaps surprisingly, these differences were observed in the absence of differences between wild and laboratory animals in the ratio of CD4 + /CD8 + T cells or in the relative numbers of T cells, B cells and monocytes in the splenocyte population. These observations may have substantial implications for the hygiene hypothesis and provide considerable insight into the roles played by the environment during immune system development and modulation.
Solvent-mediated internal conversion in diphenoxyethane-(H2O)nclusters, n = 2-4

1,2-diphenoxyethane (DPOE) is a flexible bichromophore whose excited states come in close-lying pairs whose splitting and vibronic coupling can be modulated by solvent. Building on the ground state infrared spectroscopy of DPOE-(H2O)n clusters with n = 2-4 from the adjoining paper [Walsh et al., J. Chem. Phys. 142, 154303 (2015)], the present work focuses on the vibronic and excited state infrared spectroscopies of the clusters. The type and degree of asymmetry of the water cluster binding to DPOE is reflected in the variation in the magnitude of the S1/S2 splitting with cluster size. Excited state resonant ion-dip infrared spectroscopy was performed at the electronic origins of the first two excited states in order to explore how the water clusters’ OH stretch spectra report on the nature of the two excited states, and the interaction of the S2 state with nearby S1 vibronic levels mediated by the water clusters. The data set, when taken as a whole, provides a state-to-state view of internal conversion and the role of solvent in mediating conversion of electronic excitation between two chromophores, providing a molecular-scale view of Kasha’s rule.
The flow field around a micropillar confined in a microchannel

Abstract The flow field over a low aspect ratio (AR) circular pillar (L/D = 1.5) in a microchannel was studied experimentally. Microparticle image velocimetry (μPIV) was employed to quantify flow parameters such as flow field, spanwise vorticity, and turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) in the microchannel. Flow regimes of cylinder-diameter-based Reynolds number at 100 ⩽ ReD ⩽ 700 (i.e., steady, transition from quasi-steady to unsteady, and unsteady flow) were elucidated at the microscale. In addition, active flow control (AFC), via a steady control jet (issued from the pillar itself in the downstream direction), was implemented to induce favorable disturbances to the flow in order to alter the flow field, promote turbulence, and increase mixing. Together with passive flow control (i.e., a circular pillar), turbulent kinetic energy was significantly increased in a controllable manner throughout the flow field.
Evaluation of colitis: usefulness of CT enterography technique

Computed tomographic enterography (CTE) is a useful technique for evaluating the small bowel and has the capability to include the colon for evaluation of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aims of this study are (1) to determine if CTE is a sensitive method for detecting Crohn colitis and ulcerative colitis and (2) to assess the accuracy of determining the extent and activity of colonic disease in patients with proven IBD. Seventy patients (35 patients with proven colitis at colonoscopy and 35 negative patients with a proven normal colon) having both a CTE examination and recent colonoscopy formed the retrospective study group. A radiologist evaluated the examinations in a blinded fashion for disease presence, activity, and extent. Sensitivity was 93% for the detection of moderate and severe disease in well-distended colons. Specificity was 91%. In good to excellent distended colons, mild, moderate, and severe disease was detected with a sensitivity of 67%, 90%, and 100%, respectively. Severe disease activity was commonly underestimated, and mild disease when detected was usually overestimated. The full extent of colonic disease at CTE was usually underestimated. CTE is a valid technique for detecting colitis in the colon in patients with IBD. Better methods for assessing disease activity and extent are needed.
Laser Shock-Based Platform for Controllable Forming of Nanowires

One-dimensional nanomaterials have attracted a great deal of research interest in the past few decades due to their unique mechanical, electrical, and optical properties. Changing the shape of nanowires (NWs) is both challenging and crucial to change the property and open wide functions of NWs, such as strain engineering, electronic transport, mechanical properties, band structure, and quantum properties, etc. Here we report a scalable strategy to conduct cutting, bending, and periodic straining of NWs by making use of laser shock pressure. Three-dimensional shaping of silver NWs is demonstrated, during which the Ag NWs exhibit very good ductility (strain-to-failure reaches 110%). Meanwhile, the high electrical conductivity of Ag NWs could retain well under controlled laser shock pressure. The microstructure observation indicates that the main deformation mechanism in Ag NWs under dynamic loading is formation of twinning and stacking fault, while dislocation motion and pile-up is less obvious. This method could be applied to semiconductor NWs as well.
Optimal jetting velocity and nozzle considerations for a cephalopod inspired underwater thruster

This paper examines a new type of thruster which, similar to squid and jellyfish, generates propulsive forces by cyclically ingesting and expelling jets of water. The thrust output of this device depends greatly on the nature of the expelled jet, with greater output occurring for jets which form a single coherent vortex ring rather than a vortex ring with a trailing wake. The average thrust output as well as the jetting efficiency are maximized with respect to the thruster's nozzle diameter and jet velocity program. The appropriate constraints of the problem are defined including a dynamic constraint to ensure that the propulsive jet forms a single vortex ring. It is shown that the average thrust output under these constraints reaches a maximum when the nozzle radius is set to a critical value, and that using an orifice nozzle decreases propulsive efficiency at low Reynolds numbers.
Control of neuronal morphology and connectivity: Emerging developmental roles for gap junctional proteins

Recent evidence indicates that gap junction (GJ) proteins can play a critical role in controlling neuronal connectivity as well as cell morphology in the developing nervous system. GJ proteins may function analogously to cell adhesion molecules, mediating cellular recognition and selective neurite adhesion. Moreover, during synaptogenesis electrical synapses often herald the later establishment of chemical synapses, and thus may help facilitate activity-dependent sculpting of synaptic terminals. Recent findings suggest that the morphology and connectivity of embryonic leech neurons are fundamentally organized by the type and perhaps location of the GJ proteins they express. For example, ectopic expression in embryonic leech neurons of certain innexins that define small GJ-linked networks of cells leads to the novel coupling of the expressing cell into that network. Moreover, gap junctions appear to mediate interactions among homologous neurons that modulate process outgrowth and stability. We propose that the selective formation of GJs between developing neurons and perhaps glial cells in the CNS helps orchestrate not only cellular synaptic connectivity but also can have a pronounced effect on the arborization and morphology of those cells involved.
Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube/Polymer Composite: A Nano-enabled Continuous Fiber

A homogeneous mixture of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) (EVOH) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was prepared. A nano-enabled composite fiber was continuously spun using this homogeneous mixture through a single-hole spinneret into a coagulation bath containing methanol. The physical properties and the intermolecular interactions of the fiber were studied by scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, and infrared spectroscopy. Fourier transform infrared analysis suggests that there is an interfacial interaction between PVA, EVOH, and MWCNT through the functional groups attached to them along the molecular chains of the fibers. Tensile strength was measured. The careful removal of a small amount of PVA produced a 20% increase in tensile strength.
The H-Y antigen and its role in natural transplantation

A concise overview of the transplantation biology of the H-Y antigen is presented with particular reference to: its prototypic behavior as a weak transplantation antigen; the facility with which mice of certain inbred strains can be rendered tolerant of H-Y incompatible skin grafts; its capacity to instigate graft-versus-host reactions; its significance in clinical transplantation; and finally, H-2 control of anti-H-Y immune responses. The role of the H-Y antigen in natural transplantation, i.e. pregnancy, is then reviewed. Evidence is presented to support the hypothesis that in certain cases maternal immune responses directed specifically to the H-Y antigen can exert selective pressures on male zygotes, producing deviant sex ratios in certain experimental and clinical situations.
Refractometric sensor based on antiresonant-guiding microstructured optical fibers

A novel refractometric sensor utilizing unique spectral properties of antiresonant-guiding microstructured optical fibers is proposed. Refractive index changes on the order of 0.1% can be detected using less than a nanoliter of a sample.
Electron energy-loss spectrum of nanowires

The electronic properties of nanoscale-size fibers can be studied by electron energy-loss spectroscopy with electron beams that pass near the fiber but do not penetrate it. We derive the formulas for the differential energy spectrum assuming that the fiber can be treated as a dielectric cylinder. The formula can be evaluated in closed form for a conducting wire; the spectrum displays the surface plasmon and a low-energy peak associated with charge-conduction modes that diverges inversely as the energy loss.
Effects of long-time reading experience on reaction time and the recognition potential

The proposition that long-time experience in reading a language gradually builds up rapidly acting neural processes that facilitate the processing of words in that language and speed them into conscious awareness was examined. Behavioral reaction time (RT) and electrophysiological responsiveness to visually displayed words and non-language images were measured in persons who differed in how much experience they had in reading English. The electrophysiological response was the recognition potential (RP). Behavioral RT and the latency of the RP to English words were both expected to depend upon how much English reading experience a person had. The short latency of the RP was expected to free it from the influence of non-perceptual factors that affect RT, such as speed/accuracy tradeoff. This expectation yielded the prediction that the behavioral and electrophysiological results would differ in a specific way. Long-time readers of English were expected to show shorter RP latency to English words than less experienced (China-educated) readers of English but no RP latency difference for non-language images, with which neither group had greater experience. In contrast, due to speed accuracy tradeoff, the China-educated subjects were expected to show longer RT for both the words and the non-language images. The prediction was confirmed. The amount of language experience that a person had showed a stronger relationship to RP latency than it did to RT. This helped to validate the use of the RP as a tool for investigating perception and demonstrated definite advantages that it has for studying acquired perceptual processes in humans.
FUSION: a tool for registration and visualization of multiple modality 3D medical data

When forming a diagnosis or developing a treatment plan, physicians frequently rely on images from multiple modalities of acquisition. Each of the sets of images contain different information vital to a proper diagnosis or treatment. Typically physicians are required to spatially integrate information from different sources (such as CT, MR, and SPECT) in order to reconstruct an informationally complete 3D model of the patient. This spatial integration of multimodality information is an extremely complex cognitive task, and in the end there is no tangible model available to verify either the diagnosis or treatment plan. A system allowing the registration and visualization of multiple modality 3D data is a tool physicians can use to improve both the quality of and their confidence in diagnosis and treatment planning. At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill we have developed a tool called FUSION to register and visualize multiple modality 3D data. Although our initial investigation began with, and still includes, automatic registration methods, we have found that an interactive method using 3D interactive visualizations is the most successful general approach for our registration needs. FUSION uses real-time volume and surface rendering techniques implemented on a SGI reality engine. With this tool, the user is provided with manipulation controls (to rotate, translate, and scale one or both data sets), contrast controls (to visualize various portions of each study's information), and visualization tools to see one or both of the studies with gray scale or various colors. These visualization methods include both static and dynamic display methods.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.