cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
GABAA α Subunit Control of Hyperactive Behavior in Developing Zebrafish

GABAA receptors mediate rapid responses to the neurotransmitter GABA and are robust regulators of the brain and spinal cord neural networks that control locomotor behaviors, such as walking and swimming. In developing zebrafish, gross pharmacological blockade of these receptors causes hyperactive swimming, which has been embraced as an epilepsy model. Although GABAA receptors are important to control locomotor behavior, the large number of subunits and homeostatic compensatory mechanisms have challenged efforts to determine subunit-selective roles. To address this issue, we mutated each of the eight zebrafish GABAA α subunit genes individually and in pairs using a CRISPR-Cas9 somatic inactivation approach, then we examined the swimming behavior of the mutants at two developmental stages. We found that disrupting the expression of specific pairs of subunits resulted in different abnormalities in swimming behavior at the first development stage. Mutation of α4 and α5 selectively resulted in longer duration swimming episodes, mutations in α3 and α4 selectively caused excess, large-amplitude body flexions (C-bends), and mutation of α3 and α5 resulted in increases in both of these measures of hyperactivity. At the later stage of development, hyperactive phenotypes were nearly absent, suggesting that homeostatic compensation was able to overcome the disruption of even multiple subunits. Taken together, our results identify subunit-selective roles for GABAA α3, α4, and α5 in regulating locomotion. Given that these subunits exhibit spatially restricted expression patterns, these results provide a foundation to identify neurons and GABAergic networks that control discrete aspects of locomotor behavior.
Temperature dependent plasticity in BCC micropillars

Abstract Recent experiments in micron- or sub-micron metallic pillars have displayed size dependent plasticity. Dislocation dynamics (DD) simulations can be a useful tool in studying dislocation-mediated plasticity, which is widely believed to contribute to observed size effects at small length scale. In particular, the plasticity in body-centered cubic (BCC) metals is known to have a strong temperature dependence, which stems from the thermally activated motion of screw dislocations. In this study, we develop a DD model based on the atomistic characterization of dislocation mobility and potential source mechanisms to investigate the temperature dependent plasticity in BCC micropillars. Our models show the dislocation source mechanism changes with respect to temperature due to the change in mobility of screw dislocations, and these results are compared with experimental results and theoretical models. In addition, the size dependence increases with temperature, which agrees with recent experimental observations.
How Political Identity Influences COVID-19 Risk Perception: A Model of Identity-Based Risk Perception (preprint)

Past research suggests that conservatives are usually more threat-sensitive than liberals are. Yet during the COVID-19 pandemic, conservatives consistently underestimated the risk from the virus. To reconcile this paradox, we introduce a model of Identity-based Risk Perception (IRP). This model posits that risk perceptions depend not only on objective risk, but also on people’s political identity and whether the risk pertains to their group identity (group risk) versus individual identity (individual risk). When asked about the group risk posed by a threat (“how many Americans will die of COVID-19?”), conservatives focus on their national pride and underestimate the risk of contracting the virus compared to liberals. However, when asked about individual risk from the same threat (“what is the probability of an individual dying of COVID-19?”), conservatives focus on individual mortality threat and overestimate the risk of succumbing to the virus compared to liberals. Three national surveys support the IRP model.
Limit Process Expansions Applied to Ordinary Differential Equations

In this chapter a series of simple examples are considered, some model and some physical, in order to demonstrate the application of various techniques concerning limit process expansions. In general we expect analytic dependence of the exact solution on the small parameter e, but one of the main tasks in the various problems is to discover the nature of this dependence by working with suitable approximate differential equations. Another problem is to systematize as much as possible the procedures for discovering these expansions.
Politics on the Hoof: Sparta, Crete and Carthage in Aristotle's Politics

I work with Aristotle’s discussions of Sparta, Crete and Carthage, to begin an examination of the prospects for a “polity” in the real world. I believe that Aristotle is showing that the painstaking lawgivers of these admired communities could not engineer a situation in which both the citizens would be virtuous and the city stable. On the other hand, these regimes did achieve some good political effects in terms of stability, if not those at which the original lawgivers aimed. I conclude that Aristotle suggests that, as important as the initial lawgiver is for establishing the way of life of a regime, he cannot take all contingencies into account and he cannot rely on future statesmen to maintain the way of life against all odds. If chance must play a large role in human affairs, then what characteristics of a political order will enable it to weather the storm? What characteristics must the citizens embody to guard the basic arrangements against inevitable decay? Aristotle’s discussion points toward the institutional arrangements of a polity based on the middling class and its middling virtues.
Studies on the mechanism of ventricular activity. V. Intramural depolarization potentials in the normal heart with a consideration of currents of injury in coronary artery disease.

Abstract 1. 1. By means of a specially designed plunge electrode, intraventricular leads were recorded from multiple sites throughout the walls, papillary muscle, septum and cavities of thirty-two dogs during normal sinus rhythm. A series of experiments was performed which established (a) that the presence of the plunge electrode in the myocardium did not alter the normal course of depolarization, and (b) that the depolarization complexes registered by the plunge electrode represented essentially local potentials. 2. 2. Pure QS or rS waves were recorded throughout at least the innermost two-thirds of the intramural myocardium in both ventricles as well as from all levels of the left papillary muscle. Intraseptal leads also exhibited essentially negative deflections, although considerable positivity was noted in the center and right side of the septum. Only the epicardial surface and a thin subjacent layer of the walls yielded predominantly positive depolarization complexes. In general, negative potentials were found to predominate in roughly 80 per cent of the musculature during ventricular depolarization while about 20 per cent of the myocardium was predominantly positive. This observation indicates that the ventricular wall does not depolarize in the same manner as the auricles. 3. 3. Pure QS waves consistently were obtained throughout the left ventricular cavity as well as from all portions of the right ventricular cavity except in the immediate vicinity of the septum. Cavity leads recorded near the right septal surface occasionally displayed a small R wave derived from the initial positivity of the right septal surface. 4. 4. The velocity of the depolarization wave was measured in twenty animals by timing the onset of the downstrokes in intramural leads from multiple depths of the left ventricular wall. As determined by this method, the rate of depolarization appears to be considerably more rapid in the innermost two-thirds of the wall than in the superficial layers. 5. 5. Currents of injury, manifested by RS-T segment elevation, always occurred for a brief period following the introduction of the plunge electrode into the myocardium. The RS-T segment deviation was markedly less in subendocardial leads than in subepicardial leads, indicating that subepicardial muscle characteristically is capable of producing more intense injury currents than are the deeper layers of the myocardium. 6. 6. The observed weakness of subendocardial injury currents in experimental animals suggests that the downward RS-T segment deviation, which is seen clinically in angina pectoris, is not attributable to subendocardial anoxia as is generally believed. On the basis of the same experimental observation, a new theory concerning the cause of RS-T segment elevation following coronary occlusion is proposed which appears to reconcile apparent discrepancies among the electrocardiographic, anatomic, and pathologic findings.
Efficacy and Pharmacokinetics of Pantoprazole in Alpacas

Background: Despite frequent clinical use, information about the pharmacokinetics and efficacy of pantoprazole in camelids is not available. Objectives: To examine the pharmacokinetics of both IV and SC pantoprazole and to determine whether pantoprazole administration would increase 3rd compartment pH in alpacas. Animals: Six healthy adult alpacas. Methods: Alpacas were fitted with a 3rd compartment cannula for measuring gastric pH. After recovery, alpacas received 1 mg/kg pantoprazole IV, q24h for 3 days or 2 mg/kg SC q24h for 3 days. Alpacas received both IV and SC pantoprazole, with a minimum of 3 weeks between treatments. Third compartment pH was recorded and plasma samples were taken for pharmacokinetic analysis. Results: Pantoprazole induced a slow but sustained increase in 3rd compartment pH when given by both the IV and SC routes. Third compartment pH was significantly increased as compared with baseline values (1.81 ± 0.7; mean ± SD) at 24 (2.47 ± 0.8), 48 (3.53 ± 1.0) and 72 hours (4.03 ± 1.3) after daily IV administration of pantoprazole. Third compartment pH increased from 1.73 ± 0.6 at baseline to 3.05 ± 1.1, 4.02 ± 1.4, and 3.61 ± 1.6 at 24, 48, and 72 hours after SC administration, respectively. Pharmacokinetic analysis demonstrated that pantoprazole had a short elimination half-life (0.47 + 0.06 h) and a high clearance rate (12.2 ± 2.9 mL/kg/min) after both IV and SC administration. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Based on the results of this study, pantoprazole represents a safe and effective drug for increasing 3rd compartment pH in camelids. Either IV or SC administration is likely to be an effective treatment for gastric ulcers.
Botox A Injection for Pain after Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia: A Case Report

Introduction. Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair has many advantages over open techniques: adequate visualization of the entire abdominal wall, ease of placement of preperitoneal mesh with adequate overlap, and cosmesis. Intense and activity limiting pain is often one inferior aspect of this repair. We report the case of a patient who was intolerant of narcotic pain medicine with activity limiting pain. A novel technique for postoperative pain control was instituted utilizing Botox A (Allergan Inc., Irvine, CA, USA). Methods. Botox A was diluted to 2 units per mL and three injection sites were chosen on each side of the abdominal wall. All three muscle bellies (external oblique, internal oblique, and transversus) were identified by ultrasound and 8 mL was injected in each. This resulted in three muscle layers at six sites for a total of 18 injections. A total of 300 units of Botox A were utilized. Results. Pain scores improved from 10/10 to 2/10 and were durable at 3-month follow up. Conclusion. Botox A provided significant pain control for this patient after laparoscopic ventral hernia repair. Continued prospective study to define long-term outcomes, cost savings, and appropriate timing of injections is underway.
Stimulation of Phospholipase D via α1-Adrenergic Receptors in Madin-Darby Canine Kidney Cells is Independent of PKCα and -ε Activation

We have demonstrated previously that protein kinase Cα(PKCα) plays a key role in regulating phospholipase D (PLD) activation by nucleotides and the phorbol ester phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK-D1) cells. In the current work, we investigated PLD activation in MDCK-D1 cells triggered by the adrenergic receptor agonist epinephrine and its mechanism of activation. Epinephrine, acting through the α1-adrenergic receptor subtype, promoted transient translocation of PKCα and more prolonged translocation of PKCe to the membrane fraction, indicating activation of these two isoforms. In addition, epinephrine promoted activation of PLD, as shown by a sustained accumulation of phosphatidylethanol. All of these events were blocked by pretreatment of cells with the α1-adrenergic antagonist prazosin. D609, an inhibitor of phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis, blocked translocation of PKCα and PKCe but did not inhibit PLD activation. Unlike results with PMA, or with the P2purinergic receptor agonist ATP, epinephrine-stimulated PLD activity was not inhibited in MDCK-D1 cells in which PKCαexpression is attenuated by an antisense cDNA construct or in cells in which PKC activity was inhibited by 1 μm GF 109203X. However, PLD activation by epinephrine was abolished by concomitant incubation of cells with the calcium chelator EGTA. These data, together with previous results, are consistent with the hypothesis that in MDCK-D1 cells, epinephrine acting on α1-adrenergic receptors, promotes a rapid increase in cytosolic Ca2+ that promotes activation of PLD through an as-yet poorly defined mechanism. The data demonstrate that different types of G protein-linked receptors that activate PLD can mediate this activation in either a PKC activation-dependent or -independent manner within a single cell type.
A novel mouse model of thromboembolic stroke.

Abstract Background We previously demonstrated that tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) reduces infarct size after mechanical middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in wild-type (WT) mice and transgenic mice expressing human leukocyte antigen DR2 (DR2-Tg). Clinically, tPA limits ischemic damage by dissolving the clot blocking blood flow through a cerebral artery. To mimic the clinical situation, we developed a new mouse model of thromboembolic stroke, and tested the efficacy of tPA in WT and DR2-Tg mice. New Method Autologous blood is withdrawn into a PE-8 catheter filled with 2 IU α-thrombin. After exposing the catheter briefly to air, the catheter is reintroduced into the external (ECA) and advanced into the internal carotid artery (ICA) to allow for intravascular injection of thrombin at the MCA bifurcation. To validate the model, we tested the effect of tPA on laser-Doppler perfusion (LDP) over the MCA territory and infarct size in WT and DR2-Tg mice. Results The procedure results in a consistent drop in LDP, and leads to a highly reproducible ischemic lesion. When administered at 15 min after thrombosis, tPA restored LDP and resulted in a significant reduction in infarct size at 24 h after thrombosis in both WT and DR2-Tg. Comparison with Existing Methods Our model significantly reduces surgery time, requires a single anesthesia exposure, and produces a consistent and predictable infarction, with low variability and mortality. Conclusion We validated the efficacy of tPA in restoring blood flow and reducing infarct in a new model of endovascular thromboembolic stroke in the mouse.
Information Technology Training in Developing Countries

It is well known and well documented that there is a severe shortage of information technology professionals around the world. In an approach to address this shortage, Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina and the University of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica haw developed a training program to help produce and sustain an information technology workforce in Jamaica. This paper describes the Caribbean Institute of Technology (CIT), a software training institute that was started in Jamaica in 1999. The institute consists of a main centre in Montego Bay and several satellite centres distributed across the island of Jamaica. These centres provide an intense ten-month training program for up to 100 Jamaicans at each site every year. The paper describes the organisation of the centres, the curriculum of the program, the co-operative efforts between Furman University and the University of the West Indies, and the future direction of CIT. Although this paper describes a case study within Jamaica, such an institute night well be duplicated in other developing countries.
The Value of Clawbacks

We examine whether the adoption of clawback provisions in executive compensation contracts improves the informativeness of accounting information. Contrary to conventional wisdom we find that clawbacks do not lead to improved financial reporting. Specifically, we document a significant decline in the market’s response to earnings surprises after the adoption of both fraud and performance based clawback provisions. In contrast, we find that the market’s reaction to earnings surprises reported by TARP firms after their mandatory clawback adoption is larger than it was in the three years prior to the adoption. In addition, there is evidence that voluntary adopters may be motivated to adopt clawback provisions by the recent occurrence of restatements. Taken together, our results provide a cautionary tale of how some types of clawbacks may produce an unintended consequence in terms of deteriorating the established relation between reported earnings and stock price.
Shaping a New Generation of Culturally Responsive Evaluators: Program Director Perspectives on the Role of the Internship Experience

In this chapter, we reflect on the role of the internship experience (also known as the practical evaluation project placement) within the overall design and function of the Graduate Education Diversity Internship (GEDI) program as well as its relationship to program goals and outcomes. We argue that explicit consideration of the program's cultural context is critical for understanding the impact of the internship experience on the program's overall quality and effectiveness. Drawing on our experiences as former codirectors, as well as our former interns’ reflections, we address the ways in which cultural and contextual factors within their internship sites, and within the larger program itself, affected the interns’ ability to incorporate tenets of culturally responsive evaluation into their internship experience. Framing the internship as both a pedagogical and a practical space for merging evaluation theory and practice, we discuss our attempts to understand its role in supporting interns’ evolving understanding of culturally responsive evaluation.
Psychoactive-drug use among adolescents with psychiatric disorders

Demographic and medical data and data on the use of prescribed and illicit psychoactive drugs were collected retrospectively from medical records of patients admitted for the first time to the adolescent unit of a psychiatric hospital between July 1974 and June 1984. The frequency with which adolescents used prescribed and illicit drugs before admission, during hospitalization, and at discharge from the facility was examined. Data were analyzed for the entire study period and for three time intervals within the 10-year period. Of 204 adolescents between the ages of 11 and 17, 52% were male and 86% were white. The percentage of patients using prescribed psychoactive agents increased during the study period, with the third time interval (1982-84) accounting for the majority of the increase. The use of antidepressants significantly increased over the 10-year period while the use of neuroleptic agents remained fairly constant. Use of at least one illicit drug before admission to the psychiatric facility was reported by 45% of the patient population studied; marijuana was the most frequently used illicit drug. The prescribing patterns reported may be related primarily to individual variation among prescribers. Other factors possibly influencing these prescribing patterns include improved history-taking over the time period studied and less resistance to taking psychoactive medications.
Inbreeding levels and prey abundance interact to determine fecundity in natural populations of two species of wolf spider

Long-term effective population size is expected, and has been shown, to correlate positively with various measures of population fitness. Here we examine the interacting effects of population size (as a surrogate for genetic factors) and prey consumption rates (as a surrogate for environmental quality) on fecundity in two sympatric species of wolf spider, Rabidosa punctulata and Rabidosa rabida. Population size was estimated in each of seven genetically isolated populations in each of 3 years using mark-recapture methods. Fecundity was estimated as the mean number of live offspring produced by ∼15 females sampled from each population of each species each year for 3 years. Prey consumption rates were estimated by sampling ∼300 spiders per population per year and assaying the proportion of spiders with prey. Larger populations have higher fecundity and more genetic diversity than smaller populations. Variation among populations in fecundity for a given year could be attributed most strongly to differences in population size, with variation in prey consumption rates and the interaction between population size and prey consumption playing smaller but still important roles. During the most stressful environmental conditions, the smallest populations of both species experienced disproportionately low-fecundity rates, more than doubling the estimated number of lethal equivalents during those years. The evidence presented in this paper for inbreeding-environment interactions at the population level and further evidence for a log-linear relationship between population size and fitness have important implications for conservation.
Work in Progress: Effects of An Online Instrument for ABET Assessment: M.E.E.T.

Penn State's Engineering Technology programs are geographically distributed over twenty campuses. Some of the course offerings at these locations have very small enrollments, making it difficult to collect assessment data that is usable for program assessment. An online system was needed to virtually reduce the distance between faculty members teaching the same courses. Further, faculties are notoriously independent, making existing online assessment tools such as those used in K-12 settings ineffective. Beginning in 2002, the researchers developed an online suite of instruments that encourage faculty participation and buy-in by focusing on existing (embedded) assessments and explicitly respecting faculty expertise in the subject matter. The system, Measurement and Evaluation of Engineering Technology ("M.E.E.T.") has been described elsewhere. This paper will report on a study of faculty participation in and with the system. The research questions are, "Will an open-ended online assessment system encourage faculty participation and buy-in", and, "Will participation in an online assessment system that encourages faculty participation result in an improved understanding of performance-based outcomes?" Data related to these questions will be presented and discussed
Association between dietary fat content and outcomes in pediatric burn patients

Background The aim of the study was to compare a low fat/high-carbohydrate diet and a high-fat diet on clinical outcomes by a retrospective cohort study. Methods Nine hundred forty-four children with burns ≥ 40% of their total body surface area (TBSA) were divided into two groups: patients receiving Vivonex T.E.N. (low-fat/high-carbohydrate diet; n = 518) and patients receiving milk (high-fat diet; n = 426). Patient demographics, caloric intake, length of hospital stay, and incidence of sepsis, mortality, hepatic steatosis, and organomegaly at autopsy were determined. Results Demographics and caloric intake were similar in both groups. Patients receiving Vivonex T.E.N. had shorter (intensive care unit) ICU stays (Vivonex T.E.N.: 31 ± 2 d; milk: 47 ± 2 d; P Conclusions The period with a low-fat/high-carbohydrate diet was associated with lower LOS, decreased incidence of organomegaly, infection, and hepatic steatosis post-burn compared with the period when a high-fat diet was used. These associations indicate the benefit of high carbohydrate/low fat nutrition; however, the findings in these time periods can also be likely due to the multifactorial effects of advances in burn care. We believe that these results have some relevance because high fat is associated with poorer outcomes compared with low fat.
Mobile health

Mobile health has been receiving a lot of attention from patients, healthcare professionals, application developers, network service providers and researchers. Mobile health is more than just some healthcare applications on a mobile phone and it can involve sensors and wireless networks in monitoring various conditions, mobile devices to access numerous healthcare services, healthcare professionals to make decisions and provide emergency care, and for the elderly to manage their daily activities in independent living. More specifically, m-health can result in major advances in (a) expanding healthcare coverage, (b) improving decision making, (c) managing chronic conditions and (d) providing suitable healthcare in emergencies. To help realize these advances, there are major research challenges that need to be addressed. We classify these challenges in four categories of (a) patients related, (b) healthcare professionals related, (c) IT related and (d) applications related challenges. Within each category, we identify several research problems, and we present some high-level and preliminary solutions along with an agenda for future research. The paper may provide a platform for future research and decision-making related to patients, healthcare professionals, applications, and infrastructure. These decisions will significantly impact how future mobile health services will be designed, developed, evaluated, and adopted globally. We present an integrated view of mobile health.Mobile health can lead to many significant improvements in healthcare.There are many important challenges in mobile health.We classify mobile health challenges in four categories.For each category, the challenges and possible solutions are discussed.
“Almost divisibility” in the Ihara zeta functions of certain ramified covers of q+1-regular graphs

Abstract Given a ( q + 1 ) -regular graph X and a second graph Y formed by taking k copies of X and identifying them at a common vertex, we form a ramified cover of the original graph. We prove that the reciprocal of the zeta function for X “almost divides” the reciprocal of the zeta function for Y , in the following sense. The reciprocal of the zeta function of X divides the product of the reciprocal of the zeta function of Y and some polynomial of bounded degree (which depends only on the graph X , not on the number of copies). Two specific examples show that in fact “almost divisibility” is the best that can be hoped for.
Regulation of ANF receptor internalization: involvement of extracellular calcium.

Abstract Receptor mediated internalization of 125 I-ANF (99–126) and the underlying mechanism was studied in PC12 cells. Phosphorylation of PC12 cell plasma membrane proteins at 0°C or 37°C was not altered in presence of ANF (99–126) or c-ANF (4–23). Exposure of cells to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, 100 ng/ml) did not alter the endocytic rate or extent of 125 I-ANF (99–126) internalization. When cells were treated with a combination of PMA and the calcium ionophore A23187, internalization was not stimulated. Incubation with A23187 (10 μM) alone decreased 125 I-ANF (99–126) internalization by 22% in Ca 2+ containing medium. Cell surface binding increased 10% in the presence of Ca 2+ compared to Ca 2+ free medium, irrespective of the presence of A23187. Ca 2+ appears to play an important role in the binding of ANF to the receptor and initiation of ligand-receptor complex internalization. Activation of protein kinase C or receptor phosphorylation is not an essential step in initiating ANF receptor internalization.
Nuclear quadrupole resonance detection of explosives: an overview

Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance (NQR) is a spectroscopic technique closely related to Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). These techniques, and NQR in particular, induce signals from the material being interrogated that are very specific to the chemical and physical structure of the material, but are relatively insensitive to the physical form of the material. NQR explosives detection exploits this specificity to detect explosive materials, in contrast to other well known techniques that are designed to detect explosive devices. The past two decades have seen a large research and development effort in NQR explosives detection in the United States aimed at transportation security and military applications. Here, I will briefly describe the physical basis for NQR before discussing NQR developments over the past decade, with particular emphasis on landmine detection and the use of NQR in combating IED's. Potential future directions for NQR research and development are discussed.
Trapping vectors: des vecteurs pièges pour l'étude du développement

L'utilisation de la souris pour letude du developpement des vertebres a connu un essor considerable grâce a la mutagenese par recombinaison homologue dans les cellules ES. Neanmoins, cette approche est limitee a l'etude de genes deja clones. De nouvelles approches genetiques utilisant des ≪ vecteurs pieges ≫ permettent la mutagenese et le clonage de genes dont le profil d'expression est aussi revele par un gene rapporteur. En particulier, les ≪ pieges a gene ≫ ont ete utilises avec succes pour caracteriser de nouveaux genes du developpement.
Dominant Factors on the Micellization of BnEmBn-Type Triblock Copolymers in Aqueous Solution

The micellization parameters of a series of oxyethylene/oxybutylene (BnEmBn) triblock copolymers (B4E40B4, B5E39B5, B5E91B5, B6E46B6, B7E22B7, B7E40B7, B10E271B10, and B12E260B12) were summarized to obtain collective conclusions on the dominant factors that affect the micellization of such sort of triblock copolymers in aqueous solution. The effects of the block lengths of both the hydrophobic end B blocks and the hydrophilic middle E block on the critical micellar concentrations, the association numbers, the second virial coefficients of micelles, the enthalpy of micellization, the hydrodynamic radius, and the intermicellar cross-linking are discussed. It was found that the micellization was mainly determined by the B block length while the micellar size and the intermicellar structure were influenced greatly by the E block length. The scaling theory that was derived from diblock copolymer micelle models can also be used in triblock copolymer miceller systems.
The regulatory role of transforming growth factor-beta in activation of milk mononuclear cells.

PROBLEM: Immunoregulatory role of milk mononuclear cells and cytokines during the involution of the mammary gland. METHOD OF STUDY: Bioassays were used to determine the levels of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) and their effects on milk mononuclear cells (MMCs). RESULTS: MMCs collected from involuting glands were less responsive to Con A stimulation than peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and purified huTGF-beta 1 inhibited the activation of both MMCs and PBMCs by Con A. Furthermore, secretions collected over a period of approximately 4 weeks into the involution period contained high levels of active TGF-beta and extremely high levels of latent TGF-beta, MMCs stimulated with Con A produced higher levels of IL-2 than did the PBMCs of the same animals, and bovine milk TGF-beta and huTGF-beta 1 significantly inhibited the IL-2 production by MMCs. Mammary secretions of involuting glands did not contain any detectable levels of IL-2, and they inhibited the growth of the IL-2-dependent bovine lymphoblastoid T cell line (BLTC), even in the presence of 10 U/ml of rBo IL-2. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that TGF-beta is a major immunoregulatory factor in the involuting mammary gland.
Use of Potentially Inappropriate Drugs in Nursing Homes

Study Objectives. To examine patterns and determine predictors of inappropriate drug use in nursing homes. Design. Retrospective study. Setting. One thousand four hundred ninety-two nursing homes in five states. Patients. A total of 44,562 residents admitted to nursing homes over 1 year. Methods. Frequency of discontinuation and initiation of potentially inappropriate drugs over the first 90 days after admission to a nursing home was calculated. Data were collected using the minimum data set. Results. On admission, 33% of residents were receiving at least one potentially inappropriate drug. After 90 days, the drug was discontinued in 16% of these residents. Of those not receiving a potentially inappropriate drug on admission, one was begun in 18%. Demographic factors and number of drugs taken by patients were associated with the use of potentially inappropriate drugs. Conclusions. Use of potentially inappropriate drugs was prevalent on admission and at 90 days after admission. Discontinuation was highest among patients with conditions for which potentially safer therapeutic alternatives existed.
Preclinical pharmacology of the natural product anticancer agent 10-hydroxycamptothecin, an inhibitor of topoisomerase I.

Purpose: 10-Hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) is an indole alkaloid isolated from a Chinese tree, Camptotheca acuminata, and has a wide spectrum of anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo mainly through inhibitory effects on topoisomerase I. HCPT has been shown to be more potent and less toxic than camptothecin and has recently undergone clinical trials. To determine how HCPT might be best used as an anticancer agent, preclinical studies of the pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution, metabolism and elimination of HCPT in rats were undertaken. Methods: HCPT was administered to rats by i.v. bolus injection at doses of 1, 3, and 10 mg/kg body weight. HCPT (lactone and carboxylate) and its metabolites in plasma, urine, feces, and various tissues were quantitated by reversed-phase HPLC. Pharmacokinetic parameters were then estimated. Results: Following i.v. administration at doses of 3 or 10 mg/kg, the plasma concentration-time profile for lactone HCPT could be best described by a three-compartment model, with terminal elimination half-lives of 140.4 and 428.6 min, respectively. A two-compartment model was used to fit the plasma concentration-time curve at 1 mg/kg, with a terminal elimination half-life of 30.5 min. Carboxylate HCPT had a longer half-life than the lactone form of HCPT. During the initial 6 h after dosing, urinary excretion was the major route of elimination, and fecal excretion became the major route of elimination thereafter. HCPT was widely distributed to various tissues including the enterohepatic system, kidney, and bone marrow. The lactone form of HCPT was detectable in various tissues examined up to 72 h after dosing at all the three test doses. HCPT glucuronides were present in plasma, urine, feces and various tissues. No significant toxicity was observed at doses of 1 or 3 mg/kg. Polyuria and hematuria were observed only during the initial 3 h after dosing at 10 mg/kg. Conclusions: Prolonged elimination of HCPT in vivo may have a significant impact on its therapeutic effects. HCPT is metabolized to its carboxylate form and glucuronides. Dose-dependent toxicity was observed with i.v. administration of HCPT. The results of this study should be useful in the design of future human trials with this anticancer drug.
Finite Element Study of Double Diffusive Convection and Solidification Under the Combined Influence of Microgravity and Magnetic Fields

A finite element model is presented for the g-jitter induced double diffusive convection and solidification phenomena with and without the presence of magnetic fields in a Sn-doped Bi single crystal growth system planned for space experiments in space vehicles and the International Space Station. The model is developed based on the deforming finite element formulation with the penalty formulation for pressure approximation and an isothermal front tracking algorithm is used to predict the solid-liquid interface. Extensive numerical simulations are carried out and studied parameters include the effects of solutal striation on the solidification front location and interface morphology under both steady state and g-jitter (or time varying gravity perturbations) conditions with and without the presence of a magnetic field. Both synthesized g-jitter and real g-jitter taken from space flights are used, with the former intended to provide a fundamental understanding of system performance and later to obtain quantitative information in real flight environments. Computed results show that the concentration effects on interface morphology must be considered for an accurate prediction of solidification interface morphology. Also, an applied magnetic field can be very useful means to suppress the deleterious g-jitter induced convection and solutal striation and their effects on solidification.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Is unsystematic risk priced in bank loan contracts

We demonstrate that a firm's unsystematic risk is positively related to its cost of bank debt. A borrower's unsystematic risk needs to be costly monitored by the lender and some of this cost is included in the bank contract. A one SD increase in unsystematic risk results in a 14.0–19.5% increase in the cost of the loan, or 24–34 basis points for the median loan. Our results complement recent literature about the relevance of unsystematic risk and its effect on the cost of capital of corporations.
Proposed experimental approach to the tachyon hypothesis

Abstract The tachyon hypothesis is investigated without recourse to any particular dynamical theory. Considering the results of all previous experiments, the possibility exists for a small tachyon–photon coupling within certain assumptions. These assumptions and their ramifications are spelled out. In particular, the effective charge viewpoint is adopted for tachyons as the means of coupling to photons. A proposed electron accelerator experiment to search for tachyons is described in detail. Other experimental approaches, with a minor difference to the effective charge assumption, are also discussed.
Ferroelectric temperature sensors for thermometric titrations and enthalpimetric analysis

Abstract The capabilities of commercially available barium titanate ferroelectric ceramics with switching points of 25 and 0°C were tested for use in thermometric titrations. Temperature (T) versus resistance (R) data taken from 24 to 26°C for seven ferroelectrics and from −1 to +1°C for three others were fitted to an exponential equation of the form R = Aexp(CT), where A is a scaling factor and C is the temperature coefficient of resistance. A ferroelectric sensor (FES) was wired in a Wheatstone bridge in place of the thermistor customarily used in conventional instrumentation. Calculations substantiated that the bridge imbalance potential response approximated linearity within any 1°C interval, provided that the bridge was balanced in the middle of the span. The response of the FES bridge showed a fourfold enhancement for a given temperature change compared with the thermistor bridge and a concomitant reduction in baseline noise. Analytical capabilities are illustrated by thermometric redox titrations in the concentration range between 3 × 10−5 and 2 × 10−3 M.
Unstructured Modeling of a Synthetic Microbial Consortium for Consolidated Production of Ethanol

Abstract A defined mixed culture of specialized microbes that exploits the native capabilities of each member species is a promising alternative to use of a single engineered microbe for cellulosic biofuels production. We explored such a synthetic consortium that couples the high cellulolytic activity of the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei with the ability of the yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Scheffersomyces stipitis to ferment hexose and pentose sugars to ethanol. Consortium stability was demonstrated by culturing the three microbes on a mixture of cellulose and xylan. As a first step towards understanding and manipulating this consortium, we developed a simple dynamic model with unstructured descriptions of enzyme synthesis, cellulose and hemicellulose degradation, sugar uptake, cell growth, and ethanol production. The batch culture model contained 10 ordinary differential equations with parameters obtained from the literature and experiment to the extent possible. The dynamic model was used to predict initial concentration of each cell type that maximized ethanol productivity for a fixed total inoculum concentration. The simulated ratio of cellulose to hemicellulose in the feedstock was varied to determine the effects on the optimal inoculum and ethanol productivity.
Adaptive VQ-based linear prediction for lossless compression of ultraspectral sounder data

Contemporary and future ultraspectral sounders represent a significant technical advancement for environmental and meteorological prediction and monitoring. Given their large volume of spectral observations, the use of robust data compression techniques will be beneficial to data transmission and storage. In this paper, we propose a novel Adaptive Vector Quantization (VQ)-based Linear Prediction (AVQLP) method for ultraspectral data compression. The method is compared with several state-of-the-art methods such as CALIC, JPEG-LS and JPEG2000. The compression experiments show that our AVQLP method is the first to surpass the 4 to 1 lossless compression barrier for a selected set of AIRS ultraspectral sounder test data.
Coping with no-shows, late cancellations and oversales: American hotels out-do the airlines

Abstract The article describes the related problems of no-shows, late cancellations, overbooking and oversales that plague both the hotel and airline industries. It then examines how American hotels and airlines have coped with the problems of no-shows/late cancellations, engaged in protective overbooking to minimise oversales and undersales, dealt with bumps and walks with upgrades and compensation plans and what they have done to monitor their reservation profiles. The author, an airline economist, has come to the unmistakable conclusion that the hotels have done a much better job than the airlines of managing the problem of no-shows, late cancellations and oversales.
Hemodynamic instability during hemodialysis.

D'apres l'observation d'une femme de 77 ans, discussion de la dysfonction autonomique, de l'importance de l'osmolalite plasmatique stable, de l'utilisation d'acetate ou de bicarbonate pour le dialysat
Utility of Evaluating HCV in an Uninsured Population

Although effective HCV treatment is available, it can be difficult to access for uninsured, urban patients. Our aim was to assess the utility of evaluation and outcomes in the uninsured with HCV when access to health care and treatment with triple therapy is provided. We performed a retrospective review of consecutive patients referred for HCV from 2011 to June 2013 to an indigent HCV clinic. The primary outcomes were assessment of disease severity by noninvasive means and initiation of therapy. We identified 350 patients: mean age 50.6, 84 % with no insurance, 62 % men, 58 % black, 91 % HCV treatment naive. Of these, 148 underwent liver biopsy and 68 % had F0–F1 and 10 % had F3–F4 fibrosis. FIB-4 and APRI were highly correlated (r = 0.9; p < .0001) and correctly classified patients by fibrosis strata (F0–F1, F2, and F3–F4; p = .0004). When combined, a FIB-4 ≤1.5 and APRI ≤0.5 correctly classified the absence of advanced disease in 97 % (p < .0001). Of those evaluated, 39 (11 %) went on to HCV treatment. Of those not in a clinical trial, 51 % completed treatment with SVR in 61 % with genotype 1 and 75 % in genotypenon-1. Of those not treated (n = 309), the most common reasons were mild disease (16 %), lost to follow-up (23 %), ongoing alcohol or substance abuse (24 %), and uncontrolled depression (10 %). Noninvasive assessment can accurately exclude advanced fibrosis. Despite access to care, the utility of evaluating to initiate HCV treatment is low suggesting that eliminating the barrier to health care may not increase HCV treatment.
Advanced Postprocessing and the Emerging Role of Computer-Aided Detection

Advances in multidetector CT (MDCT) scanners have increased the pace of development of advanced postprocessing applications, such as virtual endoscopy (VE), segmentation and volumetry, and computer-aided postprocessing methods. Availability of thin-section MDCT data sets of isotropic voxel resolution ensures accuracy in structure segmentation, which is an important initial prerequisite on which the results of such advanced postprocessing applications are based. This article explains the technique of VE, segmentations and volumetry and various computer-aided post processing methods, with emphasis on their importance in the present clinical scenario.
MRI findings in an atypical case of Kearns-Sayre syndrome: a case report

MR imaging features of mitochondrial encephalomyopathies, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes, Kearns-Sayre/Pearson syndrome have been described in the literature. We describe extensive white matter changes with abnormal signal intensity lesions involving the deep gray nuclei and myelinated white matter tracts in an 18-year-old female with a large-scale 7.4 kb mitochondrial DNA deletion and a atypical presentation of Kearns-Sayre syndrome. Restricted diffusion due to status spongiosus at the involved sites is also discussed.
Accounting for acceleration and deceleration emissions in intersection dispersion modeling using MOVES and CAL3QHC.

Near-road dispersion modeling with CAL3QHC has traditionally been accomplished by assuming vehicles are either idling in queue links or flowing freely in cruise links. With the introduction of the new mobile-source emissions model MOVES, second-by-second activity patterns can be used to produce emission factors (EFs) that vary by vehicular modal activity, that is, acceleration, deceleration, idle, and cruise. By using these EFs in unique modal links in CAL3QHC input files, the predicted concentration of pollutants near roadways can be modeled with greater precision in regard to real-world intersection vehicle behavior. It is noted that this work does not include any comparisons with real-world monitored data, and thus only the precision and not the accuracy of the proposed method is addressed. This work poses the question of how best to include modal links into near-road dispersion modeling. Specifically, it examines dividing acceleration and deceleration segments into multiple sublinks for greater resolu...