cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of vibration-rotation interaction on intensity measurements of OH in shock tubes

Abstract Recent intensity measurements of emission from the OH 2 Σ → 2 Π system at temperatures near 3500°K in a shock tube have been utilized to yield spectroscopic temperatures and absorption oscillator strengths (1, 2) . The shock tube data were reduced on the assumption of negligible vibration-rotation interaction. Calculations based on the Franck-Condon factors given by Learner (3) are presented here to show that the effect of vibration-rotation interaction is negligible and that this assumption is therefore valid for the conditions of the shock tube experiments. Results show that near 3500°K the spectroscopic temperatures based on emission from the (0, 0)-, (1, 1)-, (2,2)-, and (3, 3)-bands would be increased by vibration-rotation interaction about 70°K, which is within the estimated experimental error of ±75°K. The vibration f -number data of reference 2 (which is based on emission from the (0,0)-band only) is affected by less than 0·4 per cent up to 5000°K when assuming vibration-rotation interaction.
An improved force field (MM4) for saturated hydrocarbons

A new force field has been developed for alkanes and cycloalkanes, excluding small rings, to improve the calculation of vibrational frequencies, rotational barriers, and numerous relatively small errors that were observed to result from the use of the MM3 force field. © 1996 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Hydrolysis of radioactively-labelled ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase by an endopeptidase from the primary leaf of barley seedlings

Abstract Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPC) was purified after it had been labelled by simultaneously exposing etiolated barley leaves to light and 14CO2. Hydrolysis of [14C]RuBPC at pH 5.0 by crude extracts of barley primary leaves grown in continuous light was measured as trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-soluble radioactivity. Initial products of the endopeptidic cleavage of RuBPC were detected by SDS gel electrophoresis and quantitative fluorography. The large subunit (55 kDaltons) was cleaved into a series of fragments including prominent polypeptides of 50, 42,2, 37.3, 33.1, 22.4 and 18.8 kDaltons. Purified RuBPC consistently exhibited a low level of associated endopeptidase activity. As RuBPC purified from isolated chloroplasts was also observed to self-hydrolyze, it is possible that at least some of this adsorbed activity is normally localized in the plastid.
Root proliferation characteristics of seven perennial arid-land grasses in nutrient-enriched microsites

We compared root proliferation in fertilized microsites among seven cultivars of five commonly planted cool-desert perennial grass species that differ in productivity and competitive ability. In a greenhouse experiment on nutrient-limited plants, one soil microsite in each pot received distilled water (control) and a second microsite received a rich, complete nutrient solution (fertilized). Roots in and adjacent to the microsites were mapped on Mylar windows for 22 days after the injections to determine the magnitude and timing of response in root length relative growth rates (RGRs). Because we provided adequate water, used a high level of fertilization in the treatment microsites, and conducted the experiments during rapid vegetative growth, the results provide a measure of the relative capacities and maximal rates of the grasses responses to enriched microsites. Root samples were harvested from control and fertilized microsites at the end of the experiment to determine the morphological basis of the proliferation response. In all seven grasses fine roots proliferated in the fertilized microsites faster than in the control microsites. The grasses did not differ in the timing of their response which showed a peak 7-8 days after injection. Although one species, Pseudoroegneria spicata cv. Goldar, had higher maximum root length RGR and higher RGR ratio (RGR in fertilized to RGR in control microsites) 7-8 days after injection, the seven grasses did not differ significantly in the magnitude of root length RGR response to fertilizer integrated over the 22 day experiment. The grasses also did not differ significantly in root morphological changes in fertilized mocrosites. Compared to roots in control microsites, roots in fertilized microsites had greater specific root length, length of secondary roots per length of main axis, number of lateral and sublateral roots per length of main axis, and mean lateral root length. Root proliferation was mainly the result of increased lateral branching and lateral root growth in all seven grasses. The consistency of root proliferation responses among these seven cultivars suggests that differences in the capacity for, maximum rate, or morphological basis of root proliferation are not directly related to ecological characteristics such as productivity and competitive ability. Other aspects of root response to nutrient enrichment, such as differential responses as a function of microsite nutrient concentration, plant phenology, plant nutrient status, or specific nutrient element(s), may still be important, but further experiments are required to determine whether different responses to enriched soil microsites among species correspond with know species differences in ecological characteristics.
Gravitational descendents in Liouville theory

We study general three-point correlation functions in the Liouville theory approach to 2D gravity. The Liouville sector correlation functions cancel out the matter sector correlation functions up to scaling factors for each physical operator. Gravitationally dressed primary fields outside the minimal table fail to decouple and fusion rules are violated due to the singularity of the Liouville sector correlation functions. c<1 theories serve as regulators to define the c=1 theory coupled to 2D gravity. We are succesful in reproducing all universal features of the c=1 theory by considering the c→1 limit.
Surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma: in whom and how?

Epidemiology of HCC Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for 85 90% of all primary liver cancer. Each year, approximately half a million people worldwide are newly diagnosed with HCC. A similar number die of HCC, thus demonstrating the dismal prognosis of this cancer. The highest HCC incidence rates are reported from regions endemic for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, including Southeast Asia (e.g. North and South Korea, China, and Vietnam) and sub-Saharan Africa (e.g. Mozambique). Chronic HBV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) explain the majority of HCC cases. In the United States, HCC is currently the fastest growing cause of cancer-related death. As the incidence rates for HCC have tripled in the past two decades [El-Serag and Rudolph, 2007], the distribution of HCC has shifted towards white Hispanic and non-Hispanic individuals of younger ages (45 and 60 years). This increase is at least partially attributable to the rise in HCV-related HCC [El Serag, 2002].
Apolipoprotein E alleles and risk of coronary disease. A meta-analysis.

A meta-analysis was undertaken to assess the impact of apolipoprotein E (apo E) alleles (e2, e3, and e4) on coronary disease in 14 published observational studies (9 clinical coronary disease and 5 coronary angiography). In comparison with e3, the e4 allele was associated with greater odds for coronary heart disease, and summary estimates of the odds ratios (ORs) and (95% confidence intervals) for both sexes combined were OR=0.98 (0.85-1.14) for e2 and OR=1.26 (1.13-1.41) for e4. Separate analyses for men and women showed similar associations. In angiographic studies the relative odds for significant coronary artery disease among both sexes combined was OR=0.76 (0.55-1.05) for e2 and OR=1.11 (0.88-1.40) for e4. The overall impression is that e4 is associated with clinical and coronary disease and that results are similar in men and women.
Sensory Enhancement of Freshwater Prawns Through Post-Harvest Salt Acclimation

Freshwater prawns, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, were harvested and transferred to holding tanks containing aerated well water. One group of prawns was held in the well water without any addition of salt (control). For post-harvest salt acclimation, experimental treatments consisted of different salt sources (solar, halite, marine) that were initially added to achieve a salinity of 10 ppt. Then, 5-ppt increases occurred every two hours until the salinity was 30 ppt, with 10-h exposure at this salinity prior to harvesting. A randomized complete block design with three replications was used to evaluate the effect of salt type on the sensory acceptability (n = 60 consumers per replication) of prawns. All treatments had mean acceptability scores between like slightly and moderately; inclusion of solar, marine, and halite salts all enhanced (p 100) liked all treatments but preferred (p < 0.05)...
Automatic 3D change detection for glaucoma diagnosis

Important diagnostic criteria for glaucoma are changes in the 3D structure of the optic disc due to optic nerve damage. We propose an automatic approach for detecting these changes in 3D models reconstructed from fundus images of the same patient taken at different times. For each time session, only two uncalibated fundus images are required. The approach applies a 6-point algorithm to estimate relative camera pose assuming a constant camera focal length. To deal with the instability of 3D reconstruction associated with fundus images, our approach keeps multiple candidate reconstruction solutions for each image pair. The best 3D reconstruction is found by optimizing the 3D registration of all images after an iterative bundle adjustment that tolerates possible structure changes. The 3D structure changes are detected by evaluating the reprojection errors of feature points in image space. We validate the approach by comparing the diagnosis results with manual grading by human experts on a fundus image dataset.
Volatilization of volatile organic compounds from showers. I: Analytical method and quantitative assessment

Abstract To provide data to test mathematical models developed to predict human exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) volatilizing from showers, an analytical method was developed to analyze the simultaneous volatilization of VOCs in the water and humid air of showers. Five VOCs with a wide range of Henry's law constants were used. Experiments, conducted in a full-scale shower, were performed at initial water concentrations nearing tap water VOC concentrations (a few μgλ−1). VOCs in water and humid air samples were concentrated by purge-and-trap, thermally desorbed from a Tenax trap and analyzed with a gas chromatograph-electron capture detector. The fraction of the VOCs volatilized from showers at various water temperatures and flow rates were calculated. Mass-balane equations indicated the presence of sinks of VOCs in the experimental shower other than those due to the airflow. An experimental method to measure the residence time of the water in the shower is presented.
A tabu search heuristic for preventive maintenance scheduling

Abstract In this paper, we present a tabu search based heuristic, PM_TABU, for the preventive maintenance (PM) scheduling problem. The PM scheduling problem aims to maximize the total priority of the scheduled tasks subject to resource availability constraints. The heuristic involves three basic moves — adding a PM task to the current schedule, dropping a task from the schedule and swapping craft-combinations assigned to a task. The heuristic also incorporates the probabilistic intensification and diversification feature introduced by Rochat and Taillard (J. Heuristics, 1 (1995) 147). We have tested our heuristic on 60 problems used by Gopalakrishnan, Ahire and Miller (Manag. Sci., 43 (1997) 827) in their study. PM_TABU reduces the average optimality gap for the test problems from 2.26 (obtained from Gopalakrishnan et al., Manag. Sci., 43 (1997) 827) to 0.60%.
Genetic background has a major impact on differences in sleep resulting from environmental influences in Drosophila.

STUDY OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of different genetic backgrounds on demographic and environmental interventions that affect sleep and evaluate variance of these measures; and to evaluate sleep and variance of sleep behaviors in 6 divergent laboratory strains of common origin. DESIGN Assessment of the effects of age, sex, mating status, food sources, and social experience using video analysis of sleep behavior in 2 different strains of Drosophila, white(1118ex) (w(1118ex)) and white Canton-S (w(CS10)). Sleep was also determined for 6 laboratory strains of Canton-S and 3 inbred lines. The variance of total sleep was determined for all groups and conditions. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS The circadian periods and the effects of age upon sleep were the same between w(1118ex) and w(CS10) strains. However, the w(1118ex) and w(CS10) strains demonstrated genotype-dependent differences in the effects upon sleep of sex, mating status, social experience, and being on different foods. Variance of total sleep was found to differ in a genotype dependent manner for interventions between the w(1118ex) and w(CS10) strains. Six different laboratory Canton-S strains were found to have significantly different circadian periods (P < 0.001) and sleep phenotypes (P < 0.001). Three inbred lines showed reduced variance for sleep measurements. CONCLUSIONS One must control environmental conditions in a rigorously consistent manner to ensure that sleep data may be compared between experiments. Genetic background has a significant impact upon changes in sleep behavior and variance of behavior due to demographic factors and environmental interventions. This represents an opportunity to discover new genes that modify sleep/wake behavior.
O-Linked fucose in glycoproteins from Chinese hamster ovary cells

We report our discovery that many glycoproteins synthesized by Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells contain fucose in O-glycosidic linkage to polypeptide. To enrich for the possible presence of O-linked fucose, we studied the lectin-resistant mutant of CHO cells known as Lec1. Lec1 cells lack N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I and are therefore unable to synthesize complex-type N-linked oligosaccharides. Lec1 cells were metabolically radiolabelled with [6-3H]fucose and total glycoproteins were isolated. Glycopeptides were prepared by proteolysis and fractionated by chromatography on a column of concanavalin A (Con A)-Sepharose. The sets of fractionated glycopeptides were treated with mild base/borohydride to effect the beta-elimination reaction and release potential O-linked fucosyl residues. The beta-elimination produced [3H]fucitol quantitatively from [3H]fucose-labelled glycopeptides not bound by Con A-Sepharose, whereas none was generated by treatment of glycopeptides bound by the lectin. The total [3H]fucose-labelled glycoproteins from Lec1 cells were separated by SDS-PAGE and detected by fluorography. Treatment of selected bands of detectable glycoproteins with mild base/borohydride quantitatively generated [3H]fucitol. Pretreatment of the glycoproteins with N-glycanase prior to the SDS-PAGE method of analysis caused an enrichment in the percentage of radioactivity recovered as [3H]fucitol. Trypsin treatment of [3H]fucose-labelled intact CHO cells released glycopeptides that contained O-linked fucose, indicating that it is present in surface glycoproteins. These findings demonstrate that many glycoproteins from CHO cells contain O-linked fucosyl residues and raise new questions about its biosynthesis and possible function.
Quantification Of The Expression Of A Temperature-Sensitive Pigment Allele In Sailfin Mollies (Poecilia latipinna) By Image Analysis

Image analysis was used to quantify the activity of a temperature-sensitive macromelanophore-determining allele in sailfin mollies as the percentage of the body surface area covered by macromelanophores. Fish heterozygous for the macromelanophore-determining allele produced very few macromelanophores when raised at either 25 or 28 degrees C, even after more than 200 days. In contrast, the mean percent coverage for genetically identical fish raised at 22 degrees C increased steadily throughout the course of the experiment. Production of macromelanophores was sex influenced, with greater expressivity seen in males. At 22 degrees C, the mean percent coverages had significantly diverged between males and females by the age of 201 days. From that point on, the percent macromelanophore coverage of the males was consistently significantly higher than that of the females. The tendency to produce greater melanization at cooler temperatures is not the result of a heat-sensitive tyrosinase enzyme, as is the case in mammals carrying the Himalayan allele. In mollies, the activity of tyrosinase increases between 22 and 29 degrees C. We hypothesize that production of macromelanophores is under the control of a proto-oncogene.
Directional adaptation effects with contrast modulated stimuli

In this study we investigated the directional selectivity of the mechanisms used to encode the motion of contrast modulated stimuli. Unlike luminance-domain stimuli, contrast-domain stimuli fail to generate convincing motion aftereffects. On the other hand, contrast-domain stimuli produce other direction specific adaptation effects that are as large as those produced by luminance-domain stimuli. The results of this study indicate that the dissociation between these two measures of directional selectivity might result from differences in the temporal nature of the test probe they employ. Specifically, it is suggested that the mechanisms which encode the motion of contrast modulated stimuli reveal their directional selectivity only when tested with a dynamic stimulus.
Strategic behavior in power markets under uncertainty

We consider a setting of a two settlement power market where firms compete in the forward market and an uncertain real-time market. A recourse-based framework is proposed where firms make simultaneous bids in the forward market and take recourse in the real-time market contingent on the realization of uncertainty. The market participants include both generation firms as well as the independent system operator (ISO), the latter of which is assumed to maximize wheeling revenue. The resulting stochastic game-theoretic problem is seen to be a Nash game with coupled strategy sets, often referred to as a generalized Nash game. In general, the primal variational conditions of such problems are given by quasi-variational inequality. Yet, the associated complementarity problem in a primal-dual space admits a monotonicity property that allows us to derive an appropriate existence statement. Computation of equilibria is complicated by the challenge arising from the size of the sample-space. We present a distributed iterative regularization technique that is shown to scale well with the size of the sample-space. Finally, the paper concludes with the application of this model on an electrical network and provides insights on market design and operation.
The EutT Enzyme of Salmonella enterica Is a Unique ATP:Cob(I)alamin Adenosyltransferase Metalloprotein That Requires Ferrous Ions for Maximal Activity

ABSTRACT ATP:co(I)rrinoid adenosyltransferase (ACAT) enzymes convert vitamin B12 to coenzyme B12. EutT is the least understood ACAT. We report the purification of EutT to homogeneity and show that, in vitro, free dihydroflavins drive the adenosylation of cob(II)alamin bound to EutT. Results of chromatography analyses indicate that EutT is dimeric in solution, and unlike other ACATs, EutT catalyzes the reaction with sigmoidal kinetics indicative of positive cooperativity for cob(II)alamin. Maximal EutT activity was obtained after metalation with ferrous ions. EutT/Fe(II) protein lost all activity upon exposure to air and H2O2, consistent with previously reported results indicating that EutT was an oxygen-labile metalloprotein containing a redox-active metal. Results of in vivo and in vitro analyses of single-amino-acid variants affecting a HX11CCXXC83 motif conserved in EutT proteins showed that residues His67, Cys80, and Cys83 were required for EutT function in vivo, while Cys79 was not. Unlike that of other variants, the activity of the EutTC80A variant was undetectable in vitro, suggesting that Cys80 was critical to EutT function. Results of circular dichroism studies indicate that the presence or absence of a metal ion does not affect protein folding. EutT can now be purified in the presence of oxygen and reactivated with ferrous ions for maximal activity.
Extent of surgery for differentiated thyroid cancer.

The extent of surgery for thyroid cancer continues to be an area of controversy in endocrine surgery. The options for treatment include thyroid lobectomy and isthmusectomy or a total extracapsular thyroidectomy. There is a general consensus that total or near-total thyroidectomy (leaving less than 2 g of tissue if necessary to preserve parathyroid tissue or protect the recurrent laryngeal nerve) is the optimal treatment for patients with highrisk, differentiated thyroid cancer, but the optimal extent of thyroidectomy in patients with low-risk disease remains controversial. Unfortunately, a prospective randomized controlled trial to evaluate the potential benefits or risks of the extent of thyroidectomy, postoperative radioiodine ablation, and thyroid-stimulating hormone suppressive therapy has not been performed, and most likely will not be performed, due to the patient accrual required and length of follow-up necessary to demonstrate a difference in outcome between the two surgical options. The answer to this question has thus required analysis of retrospective reports and, more recently, decisionanalysis models to address the extent of thyroidectomy in the management of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. We believe that total thyroidectomy is the surgical management of choice for patients with differentiated thyroid cancer when it can be done safely with a low complication rate. Advocates for total thyroidectomy maintain that the advantages of total thyroidectomy, in descending order of importance, are [1–3] 1. Radioactive iodine may be used to detect and treat residual normal thyroid tissue and local/regional or distant metastases. 2. Serum thyroglobulin level is a more sensitive marker of persistent or recurrent disease when all normal thyroid tissue has been removed.
Passivation of Semiconductor Surfaces for Improved Radiation Detectors: X-Ray Photoemission Analysis

Surface passivation of device-grade radiation detector materials was investigated using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in combination with transport property measurements before and after various chemical treatments. Specifically Br-MeOH (2% Br), KOH with NH{sub 4}F/H{sub 2}O{sub 2} and NH{sub 4}OH solutions were used to etch, reduce and oxidize the surface of Cd{sub (1-x)}Zn{sub x}Te semiconductor crystals. Scanning electron microscopy was used to evaluate the resultant microscopic surface morphology. Angle-resolved high-resolution photoemission measurements on the valence band electronic structure and core lines were used to evaluate the surface chemistry of the chemically treated surfaces. Metal overlayers were then deposited on these chemically treated surfaces and the I-V characteristics measured. The measurements were correlated to understand the effect of interface chemistry on the electronic structure at these interfaces with the goal of optimizing the Schottky barrier height for improved radiation detector devices.
Revisiting James Madison University: A Case Analysis of Program Restructuring Following So Called ‘Title IX’ Cuts

The purpose of this study was to revisit one of the most highly publicized cases alleging Title IX harmed male athletes at James Madison University (JMU) following a decision that cuts would be made to the athletic program in 2006. Using budget data and publicly available information about the JMU athletic program, comparisons were made between the academic years 2006–2007 and 2010–2011. The authors conclude that the cuts in the JMU program were motivated far more by forces associated with the upward drift phenomenon in intercollegiate athletics, as evidenced in an institutional commitment to an expansion project costing $62 million for the football stadium in 2009 than concerns about Title IX. As the analysis reveals, despite public concern that Title IX had harmed male athletes, the athletic department restructuring at JMU did not increase opportunities for female athletes, did not result in the disappearance of men’s teams although those teams were demoted to club status, and did not inhibit the assump...
For the love and respect of the service: Applied aesthetics and palliative care

In this article, the author discusses her experiences as an artist in residence in the Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Emphasis is placed on applied aesthetics in palliative care and their implications for addressing communication, spiritual, and health care issues for military service members. Drawing on six vivid case studies, the author examines the various ways in which end of life narratives can shed valuable light on key issues concerning individuals’ life experiences in the Navy, the Army, and the Air Force. These cherished images strengthened people’s spirits at the end of life, and each of the men told their stories with pride.
Recent developments in cardiovascular stem cells.

Heart failure, a common consequence of ischemic heart disease, is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the world.1–3 Pharmacological treatment with β-blockers and inhibitors of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system has improved the clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure.4–7 Likewise, mechanical unloading with left ventricular assist devices and resynchronization therapy have led to partial reversal of cardiac structural and molecular remodeling and symptomatic improvement.8–10 Despite these remarkable advances, however, mortality and morbidity of patients with heart failure, with or without reduced ejection fraction remains high.1,2 Moreover, heart transplantation, while an effective option, is available only for a selected number of patients and is not without considerable negative consequences.11 Furthermore, gene therapy still remains in early investigational stages and not yet ready for clinical applications.12 The high residual mortality and morbidity of patients with heart failure might be inherent to the shortcomings of the current therapeutic approaches, as none directly targets the underlying causal problem in heart failure, that is, loss of or intrinsically dysfunctional myocytes. Consequently, novel therapeutic approaches are necessary to further improve the clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure. The heart is considered, by and large, a terminally differentiated organ with a limited intrinsic regenerative capacity that alone is insufficient to compensate for the pathological loss of cardiac myocytes during the postnatal period.13–15 The discovery of cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) in the heart more than a decade ago along with the recent data showing that the existing myocytes undergo a gradual turnover have raised the potentials for regenerative cardiac repair.16,17 Likewise, the discovery of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which was thought to have the potential to differentiate to cardiac myocytes, but yet to proven, or enhance …
The adsorption of Cd(II) and Pb(II) to chitin in seawater

The adsorption of Cd2+ and Pb2+ to the surface of chitin has been studied in seawater as a function of pH (2 to 8), temperature (5 to 60°C), salinity (4 to 36), and the presence of other transition metals. The rates of adsorption were quite rapid (t12 = 20 min) and were affected by the presence of other metals such as Cu2+. For Pb2+, a Langmuir-type adsorption equilibrium was used to represent the experimental data. The Langmuir stability constant, KHs, was 1.9 × 10−10 mg mol−1 and the complexing capacity was 4.4 × 10−8 mol g−1. For Cd2+, a single linear adsorption with a slope of 515.1 ± 8.7 ml g−1 was found. A decrease in the temperature resulted in greater adsorption for both Cd2+ and Pb2+. For Pb2+, an increase in the salinity resulted in a decrease of the adsorption. For Cd2+, the reverse behavior was observed as a consequence of a direct competition between the chitin surface groups and the Cl− ions in solution.
A three-dimensional finite element method for computing magnetically induced currents in tissues

Time-varying magnetic fields used both in nerve stimulation and in magnetic resonance imaging induce electric fields and currents in conducting tissues. Knowledge of the spatial distributions of these induced electric fields and currents in the tissues is very limited because of the complex geometry and inhomogeneous, anisotropic conductivities of the tissues, as well as the spatial nonuniformity of the applied magnetic fields. In this paper, we present a finite element solution method that can be used to compute the induced electric field and current density distributions in tissues when the time rate of change of the applied magnetic field is low enough that the propagation time and magnetic diffusion time in the conductive tissues are negligible, and when the conduction current in the tissues is substantially larger than the displacement current. This finite element implementation is tested for some simple conductive models with both spatially uniform and nonuniform magnetic fields. Our solutions for a homogeneous isotropic conductive slab and a homogeneous anisotropic conductive slab exposed to a uniform magnetic field are in good agreement with analytical results. The finite element approach enables us to include conductive inhomogeneity and anisotropy. I allows us to closely model the complex geometry of the tissues. Therefore, it is well suited for realistic models of the conductive anatomy of biological tissues. >
Use of the medicinal leech for salvage of venous congested microvascular free flaps of the head and neck.

Abstract Objective The objective of the study was to determine the utility of leech therapy in venous congested microvascular free flaps in which venous outflow could not be established or surgical revision was unsuccessful. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of all patients at a tertiary referral center from January 2002 to December 2008 who received leech therapy for a venous congested microvascular free flap in which venous outflow could not be established primarily or failed surgical revision. Results Six patients were identified. Leech therapy was required for a median of 9 days (4-14 days). The median lowest hemoglobin level per patient was 8.0 g/dL (5.4-9.3 g/dL). All patients (6/6, 100%) required blood transfusions during therapy. The median number of units of packed red blood cells transfused per patient was 13.5 U (4-29 U). All flaps (6/6, 100%) were successfully salvaged with leech therapy. There was one minor complication, observed as 2 episodes of syncope in the same patient, related to anemia. There were no cases of infection transmitted as a result of leech therapy. Conclusions Leech therapy can be used to successfully salvage venous congested microvascular free flaps in the absence of primary venous outflow. Leech therapy can be used safely and with little morbidity compared with other reports.
The timing of associative memory formation: frontal lobe and anterior medial temporal lobe activity at associative binding predicts memory

The process of associating items encountered over time and across variable time delays is fundamental for creating memories in daily life, such as for stories and episodes. Forming associative memory for temporally discontiguous items involves medial temporal lobe structures and additional neocortical processing regions, including prefrontal cortex, parietal lobe, and lateral occipital regions. However, most prior memory studies, using concurrently presented stimuli, have failed to examine the temporal aspect of successful associative memory formation to identify when activity in these brain regions is predictive of associative memory formation. In the current study, functional MRI data were acquired while subjects were shown pairs of sequentially presented visual images with a fixed interitem delay within pairs. This design allowed the entire time course of the trial to be analyzed, starting from onset of the first item, across the 5.5-s delay period, and through offset of the second item. Subjects then completed a postscan recognition test for the items and associations they encoded during the scan and their confidence for each. After controlling for item-memory strength, we isolated brain regions selectively involved in associative encoding. Consistent with prior findings, increased regional activity predicting subsequent associative memory success was found in anterior medial temporal lobe regions of left perirhinal and entorhinal cortices and in left prefrontal cortex and lateral occipital regions. The temporal separation within each pair, however, allowed extension of these findings by isolating the timing of regional involvement, showing that increased response in these regions occurs during binding but not during maintenance.
Note-Further Tests of Aspiration Level Effects in Risky Choice Behavior

This Note extends the work reported in Payne, Laughhunn, and Crum Payne, J. W., D. J. Laughhunn, R. Crum. 1980. Translation of gambles and aspiration level effects in risky choice behavior. Management Sci.26 1039-1060. on the need to incorporate a target return, reference point, or aspiration level concept in the analysis of risky choice behavior. Two experiments are reported. The first experiment provides a more complete test of the model of reference point effects developed by Payne, Laughhunn, and Crum. A translation of outcomes procedure, which adds a constant to all outcomes, was used to vary the relationship of pairs of gambles to an assumed target or reference point. The results fully support the model. The second experiment provides evidence of the conceptual validity of the model by using explicit instructions to vary the target levels of managers, while holding gamble values constant.
The pathogenic equine streptococci

Streptococci pathogenic for the horse include S. equi (S. equi subsp. equi), S. zooepidemicus (S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus), S. dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis and S. pneumoniae capsule Type III. S. equi is a clonal descendent or biovar of an ancestral S. zooepidemicus strain with which it shares greater than 98% DNA homology and therefore expresses many of the same proteins and virulence factors. Rapid progress has been made in identification of virulence factors and proteins uniquely expressed by S. equi. Most of these are expressed either on the bacterial surface or are secreted. Notable examples include the antiphagocytic SeM and the secreted pyrogenic superantigens SePE-I and H. The genomic DNA sequence of S. equi will greatly accelerate identification and characterization of additional virulence factors and vaccine targets. Although it is the most frequently isolated opportunist pyogen of the horse, S. zooepidemicus has been the subject of few contemporary research studies. Variation in the protectively immunogenic SzP proteins has, however, been well characterized. Given its opportunist behavior, studies are urgently needed on regulation of virulence factors such as capsule and proteases. Likewise, information is also very limited on virulence factors and associated gene regulation of S. dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis. It has recently been shown that equine isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae are clonal, a feature shared with S. equi. All equine isolates express capsule Type III, are genetically similar, and have deletions in the genes for autolysin and pneumolysin. In summary, the evolving picture of the interaction of the equine pathogenic streptococci and their host is that of multiple virulence factors active at different stages of pathogenesis. The inherent complexity of this interaction suggests that discovery of effective combinations of immunogens from potential targets identified in genomic sequence will be laborious.
High-power single-mode semiconductor diode lasers

Design principles for high-power single-mode diode lasers are presented with emphasis on the design of constricted double-heterojunction large-optical-cavity (CDH-LOC) devices. In the CDH-LOC structure the lateral geometry allows oscillation in relatively large spots (1.7 µm × 7 µm), while providing strong discrimination against high-order mode operation via "anti-guiding" losses. Thus, operation in a single mode (spatial and longitudinal) is recorded to 40 mW/facet cw, the highest single-mode power ever reported for semiconductor lasers. Under 50% duty-cycle conditions, single spatial mode operation is recorded to 100 mW/facet. The beams have no astigmatism and typical half-power full widths of 7\deg \times 25\deg . Preliminary room-temperature lifetests at 40 mW/facet initial power and 50% duty-cycle show relatively small changes after 10,000 hours of operation. For comparison, results from other types of high-power single-mode devices are presented and discussed.
Testing for Evidence of Maternal Effects among Individuals and Populations of White Crappie

Abstract For an increasing number of species, maternal characteristics have been correlated with the characteristics of their eggs or larvae at the individual level. Documenting these maternal effects at the population level, however, is uncommon. For white crappies Pomoxis annularis, we evaluated whether individual maternal effects on eggs existed and then explored whether incorporating maternal effects explained additional variation in recruitment, a population-level response. Individual egg quality (measured as ovary energy density) increased with maternal length among individuals from seven Ohio reservoirs in 1999 and three in 2000. Among these same individuals, egg quality increased with maternal condition factor (measured as residual wet mass for a given length) in 1999 but not in 2000. In 2000 we estimated somatic energy density, an improved measure of condition; egg quality increased with somatic energy density, but somatic energy density was also strongly correlated with maternal length. Hence, w...
Carbonate diagenetic facies in the Upper Pennsylvanian Dennis Formation in Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas

ABSTRACT The carbonate members of the Dennis Formation can be divided into five regional diagenetic facies that are defined by differing preservation of originally unstable carbonate grains. Such grains contain no relict internal structure in the uppermost facies (A); they are better preserved in middle facies (B and C); and they are well preserved in the lowest facies (D). A fifth facies (E) contains no originally unstable grains and is characterized by a microcrystalline dolomite fabric. The five facies exhibit differing patterns of compaction and dolomitic void filling. The textures and interpreted diagenetic environments of the diagenetic facies were caused by progressive interaction of initially unsaturated meteoric water with the marine sediments during a general regression. Transfer of CaCO3 in that interaction and the resulting distribution of cements governed later patterns of pressure solution and void filling by ferroan dolomite. Paleohydrologic controls caused irregularities in the distribution of diagenetic facies. Paleotopographic and depositional trends derived from diagenetic evidence agree with previous interpretations based on depositional evidence.
Invariant imbedding, iterative linearization, and multistage countercurrent processes. VII. Distillation column at minimum reflux and nonlinear boundary value problems

Abstract The concept of treating multicomponent distillation problems as nonlinear boundary value problems in difference equations is used to solve columns at minimum reflux. Various computational algorithms are formulated based on the choice of different unknown variables and different boundary conditions. To show the quadratic convergence some typical algorithms are illustrated by numerical examples. It is shown that using very rough initial approximations or starting values, four to five digit accuracy is obtained in five to seven iterations.
Transport of Insulin Across the Blood-Brain Barrier: Saturability at Euglycemic Doses of Insulin

Blood-borne insulin is known to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) where it can act as a satiety peptide. We examined in mice the pharmacokinetics and characteristics of such passage by multiple-time regression analysis. The unidirectional influx constant (Ki) of human insulin radioactively labeled with iodine (I-Ins) ranged from 0.87 to 1.7 microliters/g-min. The transport of I-Ins was inhibited almost 50% by 0.1 micrograms/mouse of unlabeled human insulin, a dose that had no effect on serum glucose. Similar results were found with rat insulin. The results with self-inhibition suggest that any hemoencephalic signal transmitted by the blood to brain transport of insulin is independent of the effects of insulin on glucose. The transport of I-Ins was altered by aluminum but not by administration of tyrosine, verapamil, or leptin, indicating independence from amino acid transport, the p-glycoprotein system, a slow calcium channel, or leptin transport. By contrast with insulin, enzyme degradation limited the uptake and accumulation by brain of intravenously injected, radioactively labeled glucagon and glucagon-like peptide. In conclusion, these results are consistent with the view that insulin can affect satiety and related behaviors independently of its peripheral effects by crossing the BBB to act within the brain.
Multivectored suture suspension: a minimally invasive technique for reanimation of the paralyzed face.

Background Despite advanced techniques for reanimation of the lower face, many patients opt for static suspension procedures, which are less invasive and have a relatively short recovery period. However, even static suspension procedures require general anesthesia, overnight hospital stay, and significant soft tissue manipulation. We present a minimally invasive technique, the multivectored suture suspension, which addresses these drawbacks. Objectives To study the technical feasibility and efficacy of the multivectored suture suspension technique in the paralyzed face. Design The study was carried out prospectively in 12 patients with House-Brackmann grade 6 facial paralysis. Nine patients presented within 6 months of tumor resection and 3 patients presented more than 1 year after surgery. Main Outcome Measures The parameters evaluated were (1) restoration of nasal breathing; (2) improvement of drooling; (3) restoration of normal speech; (4) cosmetic results; and (5) total surgical time. Results With an average follow-up of 14 months, patient evaluation of the outcome parameters was as follows: (1) 10 patients (83%) reported significant and 2 (17%) reported moderate restoration of nasal breathing; (2) 10 patients (83%) reported significant improvement and 2 (17%) reported modest drooling improvement; (3) 8 patients (66%) reported significant improvement and 4 (34%) reported modest improvement of speech; (4) 9 patients (75%) reported complete satisfaction and 3 (25%) reported moderate satisfaction with cosmesis. The average surgical time was 46 minutes. Three revisions were required for suture failure. Conclusions The multivectored suture suspension technique is a minimally invasive, reversible method of lower facial reanimation that provides improved cosmesis with restoration of nasal breathing. It can be performed under local anesthesia in an outpatient setting, thereby reducing morbidity and cost.
A Retrospective Examination of Female Model Portrayals in Male Youth-Targeted Cigarette Advertising

We present a retrospective (1994-2003) portrayal of female models in an era of male-targeted cigarette advertising. Our content analysis findings suggest that, in aggregate, the portrayal of females in male-targeted cigarette print advertising overwhelmingly consists of young, physically attractive, highly sexualized women whose purpose is largely decorative, primarily to endow the advertising with sexual attractiveness. They are used to add an element of sexuality to the hedonic meaning of cigarettes. They are restricted in gender role to traditional notions of femininity, and rarely appear in groups. They even are assigned different roles in terms of the simple act of smoking.
In vivo prostate cancer detection and grading using restriction spectrum imaging-MRI.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is emerging as a robust, noninvasive method for detecting and characterizing prostate cancer (PCa), but limitations remain in its ability to distinguish cancerous from non-cancerous tissue. We evaluated the performance of a novel MRI technique, restriction spectrum imaging (RSI-MRI), to quantitatively detect and grade PCa compared with current standard-of-care MRI. In a retrospective evaluation of 33 patients with biopsy-proven PCa who underwent RSI-MRI and standard MRI before radical prostatectomy, receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were performed for RSI-MRI and each quantitative MRI term, with area under the ROC curve (AUC) used to compare each term’s ability to differentiate between PCa and normal prostate. Spearman rank-order correlations were performed to assess each term’s ability to predict PCa grade in the radical prostatectomy specimens. RSI-MRI demonstrated superior differentiation of PCa from normal tissue, with AUC of 0.94 and 0.85 for RSI-MRI and conventional diffusion MRI, respectively (P=0.04). RSI-MRI also demonstrated superior performance in predicting PCa aggressiveness, with Spearman rank-order correlation coefficients of 0.53 (P=0.002) and −0.42 (P=0.01) for RSI-MRI and conventional diffusion MRI, respectively, with tumor grade. RSI-MRI significantly improves upon current noninvasive PCa imaging and may potentially enhance its diagnosis and characterization.
Evidence for Intramyocardial Disruption of Lipid Metabolism and Increased Myocardial Ketone Utilization in Advanced Human Heart Failure

Background The failing human heart is characterized by metabolic abnormalities, but these defects remains incompletely understood. In animal models of heart failure there is a switch from a predominance of fatty acid utilization to the more oxygen-sparing carbohydrate metabolism. Recent studies have reported decreases in myocardial lipid content, but the inclusion of diabetic and nondiabetic patients obscures the distinction of adaptations to metabolic derangements from adaptations to heart failure per se. Methods and results We performed both unbiased and targeted myocardial lipid surveys using liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy in nondiabetic, lean, predominantly nonischemic, advanced heart failure patients at the time of heart transplantation or left ventricular assist device implantation. We identified significantly decreased concentrations of the majority of myocardial lipid intermediates, including long-chain acylcarnitines, the primary subset of energetic lipid substrate for mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation. We report for the first time significantly reduced levels of intermediate and anaplerotic acyl-coenzyme A (CoA) species incorporated into the Krebs cycle, whereas the myocardial concentration of acetyl-CoA was significantly increased in end-stage heart failure. In contrast, we observed an increased abundance of ketogenic β-hydroxybutyryl-CoA, in association with increased myocardial utilization of β-hydroxybutyrate. We observed a significant increase in the expression of the gene encoding succinyl-CoA:3-oxoacid-CoA transferase, the rate-limiting enzyme for myocardial oxidation of β-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate. Conclusions These findings indicate increased ketone utilization in the severely failing human heart independent of diabetes mellitus, and they support the role of ketone bodies as an alternative fuel and myocardial ketone oxidation as a key metabolic adaptation in the failing human heart.