cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and characterization of gold(III) complexes possessing 2,9-dialkylphenanthroline ligands: to bind or not to bind?

In an effort to discover potential alternatives to the anti-cancer drug cisplatin, the synthesis of gold(III) polypyridyl coordination complexes was pursued. Specifically, this report describes the synthesis and characterization of a series of 2,9-dialkyl-1,10-phenanthroline (Rphen) gold(III) coordination complexes (R = n-butyl, sec-butyl, and tert-butyl). Due to the steric hindrance imparted by the alkyl substituents, these ligands do not react with HAuCl4 to form square-planar gold(III) dichloride complex ions, as is the case with 1,10-phenanthroline, but instead form salts comprised of [AuCl4]− anions and protonated 2,9-dialkylphenanthroline cations (compounds 1 and 2). In an effort to facilitate direct binding between the substituted phenanthroline and the gold(III) metal center, reactions were carried out between the ligand and NaAuCl4 in the presence of a Ag(I) salt. The precipitation of one equivalent of AgCl afforded the formation of neutral, distorted square-pyramidal gold(III) trichloride complexes (compounds 3 and 4). Primary or secondary substitutions at the alpha carbon of the alkyl substituent allow direct metal–ligand coordination, whereas a tertiary substituent inhibits chelation and results only in the formation of a salt comprised of a protonated phenanthroline cation and a [AuCl2]− anion (compound 5). Compounds 1–4 have been characterized by 1H NMR, UV/vis, IR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography.
Ultrastructural changes accompanying the mechanical deformation of bone tissue: a Raman imaging study

Raman spectroscopy and imaging are known to be valuable tools for the analysis of bone, the determination of protein secondary structure, and the study of the composition of crystalline materials. We have utilized all of these attributes to examine how mechanical loading and the resulting deformation affects bone ultrastructure, addressing the hypothesis that bone spectra are altered, in both the organic and inorganic regions, in response to mechanical loading/deformation. Using a cylindrical indenter, we have permanently deformed bovine cortical bone specimens and investigated the ultrastructure in and around the deformed areas using hyperspectral Raman imaging coupled with multivariate analysis techniques. Indent morphology was further examined using scanning electron microscopy. Raman images taken at the edge of the indents show increases in the low-frequency component of the amide III band and high-frequency component of the amide I band. These changes are indicative of the rupture of collagen crosslinks due to shear forces exerted by the indenter passing through the bone. However, within the indent itself no evidence was seen of crosslink rupture, indicating that only compression of the organic matrix takes place in this region. We also present evidence of what is possibly a pressure-induced structural transformation occurring in the bone mineral within the indents, as indicated by the appearance of additional mineral factors in Raman image data from indented areas. These results give new insight into the mechanisms and causes of bone failure at the ultrastructural level.
Combination therapy with glatiramer acetate (copolymer-1) and a type I interferon (IFN-α) does not improve experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

We sought to determine whether combinations of glatiramer acetate and parenteral or ingested type I interferon were synergistic in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Glatiramer acetate, subcutaneous murine interferon-α, or ingested murine interferon-α individually improved clinical scores. In contrast, glatiramer acetate in conjunction with either subcutaneous or ingested interferon-α did not improve clinical scores compared with control. These data suggest that clinical trials designed to test a possible synergistic effect of glatiramer acetate and type I interferon in humans should be designed to detect possible adverse effects of this combination of immunomodulatory agents. Ann Neurol 2000; 47:127–131
Becoming an anti‐racist institution

Abstract This paper represents a collaborative effort by students, faculty and administration to present the major changes at the Smith College School for Social Work toward becoming an anti‐racist institution, with a specific focus on the recent three year period (1994–1997) of accelerated change coinciding with the emergence of the Anti‐Racism Task Force. Framed by an historical context, the authors present the emergence of the Anti‐Racism Task Force created in response to a noteworthy student demonstration in the summer of 1994 and functioning as a catalytic agent for anti‐racist change throughout the years. This paper documents the School's anti‐racist efforts with the following areas of focus: the mission statement; curriculum; recruitment and hiring; faculty development and diversity training; and the design of anti‐racist practice infield internships. The conflicts and resistance to institutional change that arose along this journey are introduced to illuminate the complexity of the process.
Activation of Excitatory Amino Acid Receptors in Bovine Dental Pulp Evokes the Release of iCGRP

The activation of excitatory amino acid (EAA) receptors within the central nervous system is associated with numerous centrally mediated phenomena, including hyperalgesia. However, relatively little is known about the peripheral mechanisms which these receptors may regulate when activated. This research evaluated the hypothesis that EAA receptors in bovine dental pulp activate a population of peptidergic sensory neurons as measured by the release of immunoreactive calcitonin gene-related peptide (iCGRP), a neuropeptide associated with neurogenic inflammation. In vitro superfusion of bovine dental pulp was used to evaluate the regulation of iCGRP secretion by the EAA receptor agonists AMPA, kainate, NMDA, and L-glutamate. Both AMPA and kainate stimulated the release of iCGRP in a concentration-dependent manner (AMPA EC50 = 0.27 ± 3.3 nM; kainate EC50 = 3.2 ± 1.1 μM). Pre-treatment and coadministration of the AMPA/kainate receptor antagonist CNQX significantly reduced the iCGRP release evoked by either of t...
The initial response to immunization withdiphtheria and tetanus alum toxoid

Summary Over 600 infants have been given combined diphtheria and tetanus alum toxoid. The majority received three injections at intervals of one month each. Where the interval was longer, however, a higher tetanus antitoxin response tended to occur. The variation in tetanus antitoxin response was very great, but all of the 240 cases in which it was determined had over 1/100 of a unit of antitoxin following this primary immunization procedure. Ninety-six per cent negative Schick tests were obtained. The infants tolerated the antigen well. A study of their response to a late “recall” injection of tetanus toxoid is in progress.
Financial planning issues concerning funding, pricing and organization of corporate R&D activity: A case study

This paper is a case study of financial planning issues concerning funding, pricing, and the organization of corporate research and development (R&D) activity faced by American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) after the break up of the Bell System. The paper concludes that from the standpoint of financial planning, and in the context of firms similar to AT&T, a variant of the predivestiture model, rather than a profit centre model or a market model, appears to be the most efficient way of funding, pricing and organizing corporate R&D activity.
Expression of bacterial endonucleases in Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondria.

Abstract Expression vectors were created in which the 5′ end of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae CDC9 gene, which encodes a mitochondrial targeting peptide, was cloned in-frame with the coding regions of the Eco R I, Hind III, and Pst I endonuclease genes. Expression of the Eco R I and Hind III fusion proteins inhibited growth of yeast on glycerol-containing media and resulted in the nearly quantitative restriction digestion of their mitochondrial DNA. In contrast, expression of Pst I, which does not recognize any sites within yeast mitochondrial DNA, had no effect on growth in glycerol-containing media, and did not affect the integrity of the mitochondrial genome.
Xiphophorus: carving a niche towards a broader understanding of aggression and dominance

A review of some exciting new directions for Xiphophorus research in behavioral ecology and integrative animal behavior is presented. The primary objective of this review is to identify areas of research in this teleost genus that, if studied further, could yield insights into the manifold causes and consequences of dominance encounters that will have broad relevance in the behavioral biology community. First described is the phenomenon of social eavesdropping--the ability of animals to extract information from signaling interactions between others-as it applies to Xiphophorus systems, and how exploring the context--dependency of individual responses to watching fights will be of benefit. A brief discussion follows of the overwhelming tendency for research on Xiphophorus to focus on individual responses to visual cues available in their social environment, and to promote advancements towards a multimodal approach to understanding social dynamics. Lastly, historical studies on neuroendocrinology in this genus are reviewed, and recent advances in the molecular realm are highlighted that might serve as a springboard for integrative research addressing the behavioral impacts of direct (overt fighting) and indirect (eavesdropping) experiences in Xiphophorus.
Ultrafine sputter-deposited Pt nanoparticles for triiodide reduction in dye-sensitized solar cells: impact of nanoparticle size, crystallinity and surface coverage on catalytic activity.

This paper presents a detailed electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry (CV) investigation into the electrocatalytic activity of ultrafine (i.e., smaller than 2?nm) platinum (Pt) nanoparticles generated on a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) surface via room temperature tilted target sputter deposition. In particular, the Pt-decorated FTO electrode surfaces were tested as counter electrode candidates for triiodide () reduction in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). We observed a direct correlation between size-dependent Pt nanoparticle crystallinity and the reduction activity underlying DSSC performance. CV analysis confirmed the higher electrocatalytic activities of sputter-deposited crystalline Pt nanoparticles (1?2?nm) compared with either sub-nanometre Pt clusters or a continuous Pt thin film. While the low catalytic activity and DSSC performance of Pt clusters smaller in size than 1?nm is believed to arise from their non-crystalline nature and charge-trapping attributes, we attribute the high catalytic performance of larger Pt nanoparticles in the 1?2?nm regime to their well-defined crystallinity and fast electron transfer kinetics. For DSSC applications, the optimized Pt loading was calculated to be ?2.54???10?7?g?cm?2, which corresponds to surface coverage by ?1.6?nm sized Pt nanoparticles.
Practicing What We Preach: Modeling Leadership in the Classroom

Instructional leadership entails a clear demonstration of integrity between instructional practices and the teaching of corresponding leadership concepts, theories and research. This article illustrates an approach to modeling leadership in the classroom based on shared power, group action and involvement, and service to others. It invites leadership educators to identify their own beliefs and concepts about the subject and consciously apply them in the courses that they teach.
Total Synthesis of (−)-Himgaline

The first total synthesis of (−)-himgaline and a highly enantioselective synthesis of its congener (−)-GB 13 are described. Decarboxylative aza-Michael reaction of the hexacyclic lactone precursor under acidic conditions, followed by basic workup, yielded (−)-GB 13 in 80% yield. Cyclization of (−)-GB 13 to oxohimgaline under acidic conditions, followed by internally coordinated sodium triacetoxyborohydride reduction, gave (−)-himgaline as the exclusive product.
Oral methylphenidate establishes a conditioned place preference in rats

Emerging data suggest that illicit methylphenidate abuse is a growing problem. Although abuse of the drug typically occurs by the intranasal route, oral (per os; p.o.) methylphenidate also has abuse potential. The present study compared the effects of p.o. and intraperitoneal (i.p.) methylphenidate in rats using the conditioned place preference (CPP) procedure. Young adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to consume oyster crackers injected initially with saline. Next, rats were randomly assigned to receive p.o. or i.p. methylphenidate (3 or 10mg/kg) or saline immediately or 30min prior to 30min conditioning trials. Methylphenidate or saline were each paired 4 times with an end compartment; preference for the methylphenidate-paired compartment was then assessed on a drug-free session. When given immediately prior to conditioning, significant CPP was obtained with both 3 and 10mg/kg of i.p. methylphenidate, but only with 10mg/kg of p.o. methylphenidate. When given 30min prior to conditioning, there was no evidence of CPP for any dose of i.p. or p.o. methylphenidate. These findings are the first demonstration that p.o. methylphenidate has rewarding effects, although i.p. methylphenidate is obtained at a 3mg/kg dose which did not establish CPP with p.o. administration. The lack of CPP following 30min pretreatment also suggests that conditioning may require the CS to be associated with a US of ascending, rather than descending, brain levels of methylphenidate. These results are consistent with clinical evidence of the reduced abuse liability of p.o. methylphenidate relative to methylphenidate taken by other (e.g., intranasal) routes.
Caloric Restriction and Calcium's Effect on Bone Metabolism and Body Composition in Overweight and Obese Premenopausal Women

Obesity results in numerous preventable deaths and comorbidities. Unfortunately, a reduction of body weight has been correlated with a reduction in bone mass, the reasons for which have not been fully elucidated. The importance of maximizing peak bone mass during premenopausal years is well known. Most studies demonstrate a positive relationship between calcium intake and bone mass. However, during caloric restriction, which is commonly used for weight loss, calcium intake has shown mixed results. Calcium from dairy sources has received additional attention, beyond its importance to bone, for its role in regulating body weight and composition. Dairy foods are perceived as high fat, and therefore, are generally minimized or avoided during caloric restriction. The current calcium intake for premenopausal women is significantly below recommendations, and even if met during caloric restriction, may not be adequate. This review underscores the need for maintaining at least adequate intake levels of calcium, if not more, during weight loss regimens to minimize potential long-term detrimental effects on bone metabolism.
Effects of action video game experience on change detection.

Monitoring digital displays for changes will be an increasing part of a soldier's duties as the U.S. Army transforms to a networked system of systems; however, it is well established that humans of...
Heterogenization of Homogeneous Catalysts in Metal–Organic Frameworks via Cation Exchange

This paper describes the heterogenization of single-site transition-metal catalysts in metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) via cation exchange. A variety of cationic complexes of Pd, Fe, Ir, Rh, and Ru have been incorporated into ZJU-28, and the new materials have been characterized by optical microscopy, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction. MOF-supported [Rh(dppe)(COD)]BF4 catalyzes the hydrogenation of 1-octene to n-octane. The activity of this supported catalyst compares favorably to its homogeneous counterpart, and it can be recycled at least four times. Overall, this work provides a new and general approach for supporting transition-metal catalysts in MOFs.
Spontaneous Magnetization in Idealized Ferromagnets

An attempt is made to clarify the concept of "spontaneous magnetization" in idealized ferromagnets such as the Ising and Heisenberg models. Some definitions in common use are discussed; their equivalence is not obvious. It is shown that a value based upon the probability distribution of the total magnetization cannot exceed the spontaneous magnetization based on bulk thermodynamic properties when the magnetization and exchange operators commute. A convexity argument shows that a definition of spontaneous magnetization based on minima in the (bulk) free energy is not applicable to systems with short-range interactions. Reference is made to difficulties arising when magnetization and exchange operators do not commute.
Conditioned medium from activated splenocytes increases substance P in sympathetic ganglia

Following removal of the presynaptic input to the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) of the neonatal rat, there is an increase in substance P (Kessler et al.: Science 214:335-336, 1981; Kessler and Black: Brain Res 234:182-187, 1982) and the mRNA coding for its prohormone precursor (Roach et al.: Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 84:5078-5081, 1987). However, the functional significance of this increase has been unclear. We report here that SP increases dramatically in cultures of SCG grown in the presence of conditioned medium from con-A-stimulated splenocytes. The effect is mimicked by growing SCG explants in the presence of human recombinant interleukin-1 (hrIL-1) but not hrIL-2. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is not involved in mediating this effect since antibodies to NGF included in the culture fail to alter the lymphokine-induced increase in SP. Moreover, the effect is somewhat specific for SP since the activities of tyrosine hydroxylase, tryptophan hydroxylase, and choline acetyltransferase (enzymes in the biosynthetic pathways for norepinephrine, serotonin, and acetylcholine) are not similarly elevated. Dorsal root ganglia respond with only modest increases in SP. The action of lymphokines in stimulating SP may, therefore, be a ganglion-specific action in promoting recovery following injury.
Creation of Water-Soluble Integral Membrane Proteins using an Engineered Amphipathic Protein “Shield”

Integral membrane proteins (IMPs) play crucial roles in all cells and represent attractive pharmacological targets. However, functional and structural studies of IMPs are hindered by their hydrophobic nature and the fact that they are generally unstable following extraction from their native membrane environment using detergents. Here, we devised a general strategy for in vivo solubilization of IMPs in a functional conformation without the need for detergents or mutations to the IMP itself. This technique, called SIMPLEx (solubilization of IMPs with high levels of expression), involves creating fusions between an IMP target and truncated apolipoprotein A-I, which serves as an amphipathic proteic “shield” that sequesters the IMP from water and promotes its solubilization.
Extensions and Applications of Event Charts

Abstract Event charts, which are used to track and plot timed events at the individual level, are highly effective for presenting multiple time-to-event data, can serve as valuable data-monitoring tools, and can be used to supplement conventional survival plots. Depending on the information chosen and the format to be plotted, commonly used event charts are classified as calendar, interval, or Goldman event charts. A very flexible S-Plus routine was developed for drawing standard event charts and for providing many extensions, such as sorting, subsetting, alignment, and multiple point and line formats, to facilitate the graphical data presentation. If used appropriately, these extensions are useful for revealing the correlation between covariates and multiple events. For example, they can be set up so that a continuous time-invariant covariate such as age of diagnosis is plotted on the y axis, and multiple timed events are plotted on the x axis. They can also be set up so that discrete time-invariant cova...
The double cortical line: A sign of osteopenia

The double cortical line is a radiographic sign of osteopenia which results from intracortical resorption of bone. This sign is frequently seen in humans with osteopenia but has received minimal attention in the veterinary literature. This report describes the double cortical line in cases of senile osteopenia, nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism, suspected renal secondary hyperparathyroidism and in the acetabulum following triple pelvic osteotomy for hip dysplasia.
Plate tectonics: Piecing together rifts

Earth's crust is formed where tectonic plates rift apart and upwelling magma solidifies. Disparate observations from rifts beneath the oceans and on land provide insights into the dynamics of rifting and opportunities for synthesis.
Detection of N-acetylated forms of β-endorphin and nonacetylated α-MSH in the intermediate pituitary of the toad, Bufo marinus

Steady-state analysis of the acid extracts of the intermediate pituitary of the toad, Bufo marinus, revealed the presence of multiple forms of beta-endorphin and alpha-MSH. Approximately 98% of the immunoreactive beta-endorphin was N-acetylated. The major form of N-acetylated beta-endorphin, which represented 81.5% of the total beta-endorphin recovered from this tissue, had an apparent molecular weight of 1.2 kDa and a net charge of +1 at pH 2.75. Approximately 98% of the immunoreactive alpha-MSH present in the Bufo intermediate pituitary had reverse phase HPLC properties similar to the nonacetylated form of alpha-MSH, ACTH(1-13)amide. These observations are in agreement with studies on the intermediate pituitary of the frog, Xenopus laevis, which have shown that the N-acetylation of alpha-MSH in this species is a cosecretory processing event, whereas the N-acetylation of beta-endorphin is a posttranslational processing event (2, 5, 15). These observations indicate that the N-acetylation of beta-endorphin and alpha-MSH occurs at distinct subcellular sites in intermediate pituitary cells of anuran amphibians. The Bufo intermediate pituitary will serve as a good model system for studying these novel N-acetyltransferase reactions.
Thy1 expression in the brain is affected by iron and is decreased in Restless Legs Syndrome

Thy-1 is a cell adhesion molecule that plays a regulatory role in the vesicular release of neurotransmitters. The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between iron status and Thy1 expression in neuronal systems of varying complexity. Pheochromocytoma cell (PC12) cells were used to explore whether there was a direct relation between cellular iron status and Thy1 expression. Iron chelation significantly decreased expression of Thy1 in PC12 cells in a dose and time dependent manner. Transferrin receptor expression was increased with iron chelation demonstrating that a global decrease in protein synthesis could not account for the Thy1 changes. We also examined brain homogenates from adult rats that were nursed by dams on an iron deficient (ID) diet and found a significant decrease in Thy1 compared to control rats. Finally, the substantia nigra from individuals with Restless Legs Syndrome reportedly has lower than normal amounts of iron. Therefore, we examined this brain region from individuals with the clinical diagnosis of primary Restless Legs syndrome (RLS) and found the concentration of Thy1 was less than half that of controls. The results of these studies support the novel concept that there is a relationship between Thy1 and iron and point to a novel mechanism by which iron deficiency can affect brain function. They also indicate a possible mechanism by which iron deficiency compromises dopaminergic transmission in RLS, providing a potentially important link between decreased brain iron and the responsiveness to levodopa and iron supplementation treatment in RLS.
AlGaAsSb superlattice buffer layer for p-channel GaSb quantum well on GaAs substrate

Abstract Metamorphic Al 0.7 Ga 0.3 As y Sb 1− y buffers on GaAs substrates to reduce defect density in the strained GaSb QW p-channels were developed by employing superlattice (SL) consisting of alternating 10 nm-thick layers with different As-contents. The maximum hole mobility of 1070 cm 2 /V s was obtained in a sample with As-, Sb-valves toggled, and Al-, Ga-shutters constantly open. The p-channel hole mobility strongly depended on the As average composition in AlGaAsSb SL and the resulting strain in GaSb QW. The integral room temperature photoluminescence (PL) intensity was found to decrease monotonically with increasing of biaxial strain in the GaSb QW p-channel.
Evidence for possible interactions between the solar wind and global sea surface temperatures (SST)

Abstract A comparison of the near-decadal variations in sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTA) and near-Earth solar wind speeds reveals possible evidence for oscillator forcing. Several frequency components are shared between the two signals with nearly inverted phases. Comparing the relative powers of the two spectra over the 0.1–0.5 yr−1 frequency range reveals an apparent resonance region near the ENSO period of ∼ 3 – 4 yr . In the context of non-linear oscillators, this may indicate a forcing scenario with possible concerns for instability as the anthropogenic trend in the SSTA alters the parameters of this relationship.
A multidimensional inverse problem in transport theory

Abstract In this paper we deal with the multidimensional transport theory involving the inverse problem, which presents results applicable to radiative transfer and neutron transport theory for a homogeneous medium. The Legendre expansion is used to construct the scattering kernel (or phase function) from assumed known experimental data described herein. Two cases are considered, the interior problem in which the medium contains a monodirectional point source and the exterior problem in which the medium is free of sources but is subjected to a plane wave source at infinity. Use of the principles of invariance is made to relate results of measurements with different geometries. The paper is an extension of earlier work on the one-dimensional case with azimuthal symmetry by Kanal and Moses.
Ion-current-based Proteomic Profiling of the Retina in a Rat Model of Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome

Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS) is one of the most common recessive human disorders and is characterized by multiple congenital malformations as well as neurosensory and cognitive abnormalities. A rat model of SLOS has been developed that exhibits progressive retinal degeneration and visual dysfunction; however, the molecular events underlying the degeneration and dysfunction remain poorly understood. Here, we employed a well-controlled, ion-current-based approach to compare retinas from the SLOS rat model to retinas from age- and sex-matched control rats (n = 5/group). Retinas were subjected to detergent extraction and subsequent precipitation and on-pellet-digestion procedures and then were analyzed on a long, heated column (75 cm, with small particles) with a 7-h gradient. The high analytical reproducibility of the overall proteomics procedure enabled reliable expression profiling. In total, 1,259 unique protein groups, ∼40% of which were membrane proteins, were quantified under highly stringent criteria, including a peptide false discovery rate of 0.4%, with high quality ion-current data (e.g. signal-to-noise ratio ≥ 10) obtained independently from at least two unique peptides for each protein. The ion-current-based strategy showed greater quantitative accuracy and reproducibility over a parallel spectral counting analysis. Statistically significant alterations of 101 proteins were observed; these proteins are implicated in a variety of biological processes, including lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, cell death, proteolysis, visual transduction, and vesicular/membrane transport, consistent with the features of the associated retinal degeneration in the SLOS model. Selected targets were further validated by Western blot analysis and correlative immunohistochemistry. Importantly, although photoreceptor cell death was validated by TUNEL analysis, Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses suggested a caspase-3-independent pathway. In total, these results provide compelling new evidence implicating molecular changes beyond the initial defect in cholesterol biosynthesis in this retinal degeneration model, and they might have broader implications with respect to the pathobiological mechanism underlying SLOS.
Numerical Modeling Study of Hydraulic Impact of a Large Sediment Capping Facility

AbstractAn engineered containment facility (ECF) that would cap and contain some of the most contaminated sediments in Hamilton Harbour has been proposed. Because of the size and shape of this structure, the ECF will alter local flow hydraulic conditions and isolate local discharges and intakes from free interaction with the open water of the harbour. To investigate the impact and functionality of the ECF, a three-dimensional (3D) hydraulic model was adopted in this study. The model was verified against vertical velocity profiles measured with an acoustic doppler current profiler in the study region. Results of the verification reveal that under the driving force of wind, the best agreement between simulated and measured currents occurs in the surface layer. Considering the complex nature of the hydraulic conditions in the harbour, the model performs reasonably well. Overall, the model should provide a useful tool considering and comparing hydraulic conditions under different ECF configurations and the ex...
A biomechanical assessment of a novel double endobutton technique versus a coracoid cerclage sling for acromioclavicular and coracoclavicular injuries

Purpose Recently, many acromioclavicular–coracoclavicular (AC–CC) ligament reconstruction techniques address only the CC ligament. However, many of these techniques are costly, time-consuming, and require the use of allogenic grafts, making them prone to creep and failure or novel devices making them challenging for orthopaedic surgeons. The purpose of this study was to compare the biomechanical characteristics of a double endobutton technique using a standard endobutton CL with those of a coracoid cerclage sling (CS) for reconstruction of the CC ligaments.
Chronic Disorders of Consciousness Following Coma: Part Two: Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues

Increasing numbers of patients survive traumatic brain injury and cardiopulmonary arrest and resuscitation and are admitted to the ICU while in coma. Some of these patients become brain dead; others regain consciousness. Still others become vegetative or minimally conscious, conditions called chronic disorders of consciousness and ultimately can be cared for outside the ICU. Whether these patients would want life-sustaining therapy is difficult to determine because most have not articulated their wishes before becoming comatose. Ethics and law recognize that patients with decision-making capacity have a right to refuse such therapy and that surrogates can exercise this right for them through the principle of substituted judgment as was established by the Supreme Court of New Jersey in the case of Karen Ann Quinlan. In its decision regarding Nancy Cruzan, the US Supreme Court determined that states may require clear and convincing evidence of a vegetative patient's prior wishes before life-sustaining therapy may be withdrawn; this standard has been applied to minimally conscious patients by state supreme courts in some cases. Nevertheless, cases such as these only come to the legal system because end-of-life decisions are contested, which is unusual, and most end-of-life decisions for specific patients with chronic disorders of consciousness are made by surrogates with recommendations from physicians without court involvement. Recent advances in neuroimaging may influence both end-of-life decision-making and legal deliberations. Targeting vegetative and minimally conscious patients in medical resource allocation remains ethically unacceptable and untested in the law.
The effect of consumer emotional disclosure on fairness perceptions

One way consumers cope with an unfair consumption experience is to express how they felt about it. Understandably, these disclosures are often rich with emotion. Does emotional disclosure in this context influence consumers' perceptions of fairness? Drawing hypotheses from the emotional disclosure literature, this research reveals that writing about emotions improves consumer fairness perceptions and satisfaction. However, the benefit of emotional disclosure disappears if the disclosure is solicited by the company perceived to be responsible for the unfairness and they do not offer redress. The findings lead to the recommendation that companies provide and facilitate opportunities for consumers to disclose to third parties the emotions arising from consumption experiences perceived as unfair. Implications for managing customer feedback, complaints, and negative word-of-mouth are discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Heat capacity behaviour of Pu−Fe eutectic alloy (10 a/o Fe) between 15 and 373°K. Evidence for order-disorder and an antiphase structure below room temperature

Low temperature heat capacity studies of Pu−Fe eutectic alloy (10 a/o Fe) have suggested the possibility of order-disorder of atoms and an antiphase structure below room temperature. Slow cooling and temperature cycling below 76°K were required for appearance of the postulated antiphase structure. Fermi surface-Brillouin zone boundary interactions are suggested as an explanation for the low temperature behavior of the eutectic alloy as well as for the resistivity maximum in both Pu6Fe and α-Pu. The best values for S°(298) and {H°(298)−H°(0)} were judged to be 14·20±0·10 cal mol−1 K−1 and 1660±30 cal mol−1.
Diagnostic accuracy of the resting electrocardiogram in detection and estimation of left atrial enlargement: An echocardiographic correlation in 551 patients

The identification of LA enlargement may have important clinical implications. Previous correlations of ECG P wave morphologies associated with LA enlargement and echocardiography have been limited by the use of small numbers of patients and by the employment of M-mode echocardiography without the benefit of two-dimensional guidance. The purpose of this study was to further examine the sensitivity and specificity of various P wave morphologies (P wave greater than or equal to 110 msec, notched P greater than or equal to 40 msec, and PTFV1 greater than or equal to 40 msec.mm) for the diagnosis of LA enlargement and to determine if these waveforms may be predictive of LA size. ECGs and surface echocardiograms obtained within 1 week of each other were evaluated in 551 patients (140 normal and 411 study subjects). The various P wave morphologies were found to be poorly sensitive (30% to 60%) but very specific (90%) for LA enlargement. Combinations of P wave morphologies did not improve sensitivity or specificity. ECG features did give an estimate of the degree of LA enlargement. When PTFV1 is greater than or equal to 40 msec.mm, 95% of patients had LA size greater than or equal to 40 mm; and when this parameter was greater than or equal to 60 msec.mm, 75% had LA size greater than or equal to 60 mm. These criteria for LA enlargement on the ECG are specific and predictive of the degree of LA enlargement measured by echocardiography.
Cytogenetic and molecular aspects of gastric cancer: Clinical implications

Gastric cancer is of major importance world-wide being the second most common cause of cancer-related death in the world. According to Lauren's histological classification gastric cancer is divided in two groups, the better differentiated intestinal carcinomas and the poorly differentiated diffuse-type cancers. The genetic changes underlying the initiation and progression of gastric cancer are not well defined. Gastric carcinogenesis is a multistep process involving a number of genetic and epigenetic factors. Although it has been proposed that different genetic pathways exist for differentiated and undifferentiated carcinomas, the two histological subtypes of gastric cancer share some common genetic alterations. Currently, tumor histology and pathologic stage are the major prognostic variables used in the clinical practice for gastric cancer patients. However, it is known that tumors with similar morphology may differ in biological aggressiveness, prognosis and response to treatment. Molecular genetic analysis of gastric cancer revealed a number of associations of certain genetic changes with pathological features, tumor biological behavior and prognosis of gastric cancer patients, suggesting that these genetic abnormalities might play an important role in gastric tumorigenesis. Increasing evidence suggests that the molecular genetic changes could be helpful in the clinical setting, contributing to prognosis and management of patients. Regarding epigenetic events in gastric tumorigenesis, a number of methylating markers have been proposed for risk assessment, prognostic evaluation and as therapeutic targets. However, further research is required in order to systematically investigate the genetic changes in gastric cancer estimating also their usefulness in the clinical practice. A good understanding of the genetic changes underlying gastric carcinogenesis may provide new perspectives for prognosis and screening of high risk individuals. Some of the genetic alterations could definitely improve tumor classification and management of gastric cancer patients. Also, based on molecular data identified in gastric cancer novel therapeutics might help to improve the treatment of this disease.
Therapy of Renal Anemia in Children and Adolescents with Recombinant Human Erythropoietin (rHuEPO)

Eleven anemic children and adolescents with a median age of 14 years (range six months-20 years) on chronic hemodialysis were treated with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) intravenously three times a week for an average of 9.2 months. After eight weeks of therapy, hematocrit rose from 20.3 +/- 1.4% to 31.7 +/- 0.7% (0.20 +/- 0.01 to 0.31 +/- 0.007, p less than 0.001, mean +/- SEM). After reaching the target hematocrit of 30% to 33% (0.30 to 0.33), doses were adjusted individually. Blood transfusions were eliminated in all but one patient. All patients experienced an increase in appetite and energy level. Serum ferritin concentrations decreased in all patients who reached target hematocrit and seven required iron supplementation. Hypertension worsened in two patients and developed in two others. One patient's vascular access clotted. Dialysis efficiency and heparin requirements during dialysis did not change significantly. We conclude that rHuEPO is safe, effective, and should be recommended as treatment for anemia in children and adolescents on hemodialysis, but close monitoring for the development of hypertension and/or iron deficiency is necessary.
Gene set analysis using variance component tests

Background Gene set analyses have become increasingly important in genomic research, as many complex diseases are contributed jointly by alterations of numerous genes. Genes often coordinate together as a functional repertoire, e.g., a biological pathway/network and are highly correlated. However, most of the existing gene set analysis methods do not fully account for the correlation among the genes. Here we propose to tackle this important feature of a gene set to improve statistical power in gene set analyses.
Volumetric modeling of neuronal populations

The authors describe a method for the automatic identification of labeled neuronal cell populations, coupled with the subsequent three-dimensional reconstruction and volumetric rendering of a set of serial thin sections. This was achieved by applying morphological image-processing operations to each of the serial sections. Surface fitting techniques were then developed for the neuronal cell population delineation. The coupling of volumetric rendering and interior surface fitting adds to the ease of visual interpretation of this complicated three-dimensional structure. >
The Use of Think-Aloud Protocols to Compare Inferencing Abilities in Average and Below-Average Readers

In this study, we examined whether think-aloud procedures would uncover differences in the kinds of inferences generated by average and below-average readers. Participants were 40 third-grade children who were divided into groups of average and below-average readers. All participants completed measures of nonverbal IQ, reading, language, and working memory, and a story comprehension task that consisted of two conditions: listen through and think aloud. The major findings in this study were that (a) average readers generated significantly more explanatory inferences than below-average readers, and (b) comprehension performance as measured by story recall was significantly better for both groups in the think-aloud condition than in the listen-through condition. The discussion addresses the implications of these findings.
Production of human osteoclasts in a three-dimensional bone marrow culture system

Abstract Osteoclasts, which are derived from hemopoietic stem cells, play important roles in bone remodeling and resorption. Osteoclast development is critically dependent on the bone microenvironment. We have developed a novel human ex vivo bone marrow model that mimics bone marrow both structurally and functionally by providing artificial scaffolding, thus obtaining a three-dimensional growth configuration with high cell density and intimate physical contact between hemopoietic and stromal cells. In this study, we utilized the 3-D culture system to produce multinucleated cells (MNCs) from human bone marrow cells cultured in the presence of Vitamin D3 and the absence of hydrocortisone and any exogenous growth factors. These multinucleated cells had the phenotypic and functional characteristics of osteoclasts as determined by their morphology, expression of tartarate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), and the ability to resorb bone. Scoring of the resorption pits revealed a dose response to Vitamin D3 stimulation with 10−7 M being the optimal concentration. Furthermore, addition of parathyroid hormone (10−8 M) resulted in an up-to three-fold enhancement of bone resorption. These findings suggest that the 3-D culture system represent a physiologically relevant model to study osteoclastogenesis and elucidate the molecular and cellular signals associated with this process.
Generalized Median Graphs: Theory and Applications

We study the so-called Generalized Median graph problem where the task is to to construct a prototype (i.e., a 'model') from an input set of graphs. The problem finds applications in many vision (e.g., object recognition) and learning problems where graphs are increasingly being adopted as a representation tool. Existing techniques for this problem are evolutionary search based; in this paper, we propose a polynomial time algorithm based on a linear programming formulation. We present an additional bi-level method to obtain solutions arbitrarily close to the optimal in non-polynomial time (in worst case). Within this new framework, one can optimize edit distance functions that capture similarity by considering vertex labels as well as the graph structure simultaneously. In context of our motivating application, we discuss experiments on molecular image analysis problems - the methods will provide the basis for building a topological map of all pairs of the human chromosome.
Update in neoplastic lung diseases and mesothelioma.

Abstract Context.—Lung cancer is a common disease frequently seen by the surgical pathologist. Although secondary to improvements in screening and radiologic techniques and aggressive resection of small pulmonary nodules, the diagnosis of preneoplastic lesions is increasing in frequency and importance. Consequently, a greater understanding of their role in the development of lung carcinoma is needed for optimal patient care. Two lesions often encountered as small pulmonary nodules are bronchioloalveolar carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, which can be challenging to distinguish. Recently, updates to the TNM classification of non–small cell lung carcinoma have been reported that directly impact prognosis and treatment algorithms. Identification of new molecular targets in pleural mesothelioma and in preneoplastic lesions may lead to improved therapeutic strategies. Objective.—To present recent advances in our understanding of neoplastic lung diseases and mesothelioma and to describe how these advances relate to ...
Understanding nature's design for a nanosyringe

Synthetic and natural peptide assemblies can possess transport or conductance activity across biomembranes through the formation of nanopores. The fundamental mechanisms of membrane insertion necessary for antimicrobial or synthetic pore formation are poorly understood. We observe a lipid-assisted mechanism for passive insertion into a model membrane from molecular dynamics simulations. The assembly used in the study, a generic nanotube functionalized with hydrophilic termini, is assisted in crossing the membrane core by transleaflet lipid flips. Lipid tails occlude a purely hydrophobic nanotube. The observed insertion mechanism requirements for hydrophobic-hydrophilic matching have implications for the design of synthetic channels and antibiotics.
Experiences with Bilateral Art: A Retrospective Study

Recent advances in neuroscience describe the effect of experience on neural architecture. Paralleling these advances in neuroscience, recent explorations in the field of art therapy speculate on the relationship between specific therapeutic interventions and neuroplasticity, which underlies the changes in neural architecture. One such intervention, bilateral art, purposefully engages both left and right hemispheres of the brain, as well as multiple sensory systems, in responding to clientidentified conflicted elements of experience. This paper summarizes experiences using bilateral art over an eighteen-month period with individuals at a university family therapy center. The bilateral art intervention was applied to a range of presenting problems including relationship issues, depression, anxiety, and trauma. Outcome measures include clientreported scalings, as well as client-reported and/or therapistobserved changes in behavior over time. Additionally, this paper presents indicators for the use of bilater...
Weak transverse localization of light scattered incoherently from a one-dimensional random metal surface

We consider the incoherent scattering of light from a one-dimensional, random, metal surface when the plane of incidence is parallel to the generators of the surface and perpendicular to the mean surface. The incoherent component of the scattered light is then confined to a conical region whose axis of rotation is the intersection of the plane of incidence with the mean surface. Scattering anomalies associated with weak localization are observed in both copolarized and cross-polarized scattering. Results are presented for the scattering of visible light from both silver and gold surfaces.