cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Circuit analysis of electromagnetic band gap (EBG) structures

This paper presents a circuit analysis of electromagnetic band gap structures (EBG). Microwave transmission line theory is used to accurately analyze EBG structures. The results of this analysis are compared with previously published results, including more time-intensive fullwave analysis result, and this analysis is validated. The analysis applies to any type of EBG structure, including conventional periodic EBGs and progressive-dimensions EBG with broadband response.
Amorphous InZnO transparent conductors for c-Si/a-Si heterojunction PV

Amorphous InZnO (a-IZO) thin film transparent conductors have opto-electronic properties comparable to those of indium-tin-oxide (ITO). To test the performance of a-IZO in actual devices, we fabricate epitaxial film c-Si/a-Si heterojunction solar cells on heavily doped, electronically dead silicon wafers using both a-IZO and reactive evaporated ITO as the transparent conducting oxide (TCO). The best a-IZO and ITO reference solar cells have similar efficiencies, 6.2% for the a-IZO device and 6.0% with ITO.
An experimental study of flow fields and wind loads on gable-roof building models in microburst-like wind

An experimental study was conducted to quantify the flow characteristics of microburst-like wind and to assess the resultant wind loads acting on low-rise, gable-roof buildings induced by violent microburst-like winds compared with those in conventional atmospheric boundary layer winds. The experimental work was conducted by using an impinging-jet-based microburst simulator in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, Iowa State University. Two gable-roof building models with the same base plan and mean roof height, but different roof angle, were mounted over a homogenous flat surface for a comparative study. In addition to measuring the surface pressure distributions to determine the resultant wind loads acting on the building models, a digital particle image velocimetry system was used to conduct flow field measurements to reveal the wake vortex and turbulence flow structures around the building models placed in the microburst-like wind. The effects of important parameters, such as the distance of the building from the center of the microburst, the roof angle of the building, and the orientation of the building with respect to radial outflow of the oncoming microburst-like wind, on the flow features such as the vortex structures and the surface pressure distributions around the building models as well as the resultant wind loads acting on the test models were assessed quantitatively. The measurement results reveal clearly that when the building models were mounted within the core region of the microburst-like wind, the surface pressure distributions on the building models were significantly higher than those predicted by ASCE 7-05 standard, thereby induced considerably greater downward aerodynamic forces acting on the building models. When the building models were mounted in the outflow region of the microburst-like wind, the measured pressure distributions around the building models were found to reach a good correlation with ASCE 7-05 standard gradually as the test models were moved far away from the center of the microburst-like wind. It was also found that both the radial and vertical components of the aerodynamic forces acting on the building models would reach their maximum values when the models were mounted approximately one jet diameter away from the center of the microburst-like wind, while the maximum pressure fluctuations on the test models were found to occur at further downstream locations. Roof angles of the building models were found to play an important role in determining the flow features around the building models and resultant wind loads acting on the test models. The flow field measurements were found to correlate with the measured surface pressure distributions and the resultant wind loads (i.e., aerodynamic forces) acting on the building models well to elucidate the underlying physics of flow-structure interactions between the microburst-like winds and the gable-roof buildings in order to provide more accurate prediction of the damage potentials of the microburst wind.
Involvement of the circadian system in photoperiodic control of pubertal development in female deer mice, Peromyscus maniculatus.

Pubertal development in female deer mice,Peromyscus maniculatus, was stimulated by exposure to light cycles of LD 16∶8, LD 6∶30 or LD 6∶54, but not by exposure to cycles of LD 6∶18 or LD 6∶42. These results support the hypothesis that female deer mice use a circadian rhythm of responsiveness to light to measure photoperiodic time.
Historical perspective of low- vs. high-dose diuretics

In the 50 years since the introduction of cholorothiazide by Fries and Wilson for the treatment of hypertension, numerous thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics have been marketed. Orally-administered diuretics enhanced the therapeutic efficacy of extant antihypertensive medications and reduced the doses required; adverse effects were thereby reduced as well. Initially, high doses of diuretics were employed at least in part because of the misconception that substantial natriuresis was required for their antihypertensive effect. As the long-term vasodilating effects of the thiazides became appreciated, it was possible to separate antihypertensive dose-response from natriuretic dose-response. As ever lower doses of thiazides were proven to be effective, most of their associated biochemical side and adverse effects were also reduced. Fifty years later, thiazide diuretics maintain a key role in the treatment of hypertension-especially in combination with one or more non-diuretic drugs.
High-throughput binding characterization of RNA aptamer selections using a microplate-based multiplex microcolumn device

We describe a versatile 96-well microplate-based device that utilizes affinity microcolumn chromatography to complement downstream plate-based processing in aptamer selections. This device is reconfigurable and is able to operate in serial and/or parallel mode with up to 96 microcolumns. We demonstrate the utility of this device by simultaneously performing characterizations of target binding using five RNA aptamers and a random library. This was accomplished through 96 total selection tests. Three sets of selections tested the effects of target concentration on aptamer binding compared to the random RNA library using aptamers to the proteins green fluorescent protein (GFP), human heat shock factor 1 (hHSF1), and negative elongation factor E (NELF-E). For all three targets, we found significant effects consistent with steric hindrance with optimum enrichments at predictable target concentrations. In a fourth selection set, we tested the partitioning efficiency and binding specificity of our three proteins’ aptamers, as well as two suspected background binding sequences, to eight targets running serially. The targets included an empty microcolumn, three affinity resins, three specific proteins, and a non-specific protein control. The aptamers showed significant enrichments only on their intended targets. Specifically, the hHSF1 and NELF-E aptamers enriched over 200-fold on their protein targets, and the GFP aptamer enriched 750-fold. By utilizing our device’s plate-based format with other complementary plate-based systems for all downstream biochemical processes and analysis, high-throughput selections, characterizations, and optimization were performed to significantly reduce the time and cost for completing large-scale aptamer selections.
Bradykinin excites tetrodotoxin-resistant primary afferent fibers

Bradykinin is a nonapeptide that plays a central role in the production of pain and inflammation. A horizontal spinal cord slice preparation with attached dorsal root and dorsal root ganglion was used to study the effect of bradykinin on afferent fibers. Intracellular recordings were made from dorsal root ganglion and dorsal horn neurons. Bath application of bradykinin (1 microM) to the dorsal root ganglion compartment produced a depolarization (5 +/+ 0.8 mV) and firing of action potentials in eight out of eighteen dorsal root ganglion neurons tested. Simultaneous intracellular recordings from dorsal horn neurons revealed that the application of bradykinin to dorsal root ganglion, peripheral nerve trunk or dorsal root resulted in the synaptic activation of dorsal horn neurons. The depolarizing effect of bradykinin on the dorsal root ganglion neurons and its synaptic excitatory effect on dorsal horn neurons was abolished by pretreatment of the same segment of sensory neurons by a B2 bradykinin receptor antagonist (D-Arg0,Hyp3,beta-Thi5,8,D-Phe7)-bradykinin (5 microM). Bath application of tetrodotoxin (TTX; 0.2-1 microM) to the sensory neurons blocked electrically-evoked action potentials in large dorsal root ganglion neurons and, consequently, excitatory postsynaptic potentials in dorsal horn neurons evoked by electrical activation of low threshold afferent fibers. However, the stimulatory effects, both depolarization and firing of action potentials, of bradykinin were resistant to TTX. Replacement of sodium ions with TRIS completely abolished the stimulatory effect of bradykinin on the sensory neurons. Bradykinin potentiated the postsynaptic potentials induced by electrical stimulation of TTX-resistant afferent fibers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Simulated retrievals for the remote sensing of CO 2 , CH 4 , CO, and H 2 O from geostationary orbit

Abstract. The Geostationary Fourier Transform Spectrometer (GeoFTS) is designed to measure high-resolution spectra of reflected sunlight in three near-infrared bands centered around 0.76, 1.6, and 2.3 μm and to deliver simultaneous retrievals of column-averaged dry air mole fractions of CO2, CH4, CO, and H2O (denoted XCO2, XCH4, XCO, and XH2O, respectively) at different times of day over North America. In this study, we perform radiative transfer simulations over both clear-sky and all-sky scenes expected to be observed by GeoFTS and estimate the prospective performance of retrievals based on results from Bayesian error analysis and characterization. We find that, for simulated clear-sky retrievals, the average retrieval biases and single-measurement precisions are
Depolarization Parameter in Proton-Proton Scattering at 213 MeV

The depolarization parameter (D) in p-p scattering at 213 Mev is measured over the cms angular range 30 to 90 deg . The results may be used to yield a unique phase-shift set for p-p interaction at this energy. The results of the experiment are also compared with the predictions by semiphenomenological potentials. (auth)
In vitro degradation of apo-, zinc-, and cadmium-metallothionein by cathepsins B, C, and D.

Abstract Metallothionein (MT) has been extensively studied over the past several years because of its probable role in endogenous metal homeostasis and cellular protection. A large body of knowledge now exists describing the physicochemical properties of MT as well as the mechanisms involved in MT induction. It has been well established that MT protects tissues from metal toxicity by chelating metals that would otherwise be available to interact with and disrupt vital cell functions. Information on the degradation of metal-saturated MT and the fate of the metals associated with it would be extremely important in predicting metal toxicity. Lysosomes have been targeted as a possible subcellular site for the turnover of MT; however, the susceptibility of MT to degradation by specific acidic proteases (i.e., cathepsins) has not been described. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the relative abilities of cathepsins B, C, and D to degrade Zn 7 -MT, Cd 7 -MT, and apo-MT in vitro . In so doing, the effects of metal species, degree of metal saturation, and pH on the degradation processes were evaluated. Time course experiments revealed that apo-MT was rapidly degraded by all three cathepsins. Cathepsin B degraded apo-MT approximately 36-fold more rapidly than cathepsin C and 45-fold more rapidly than cathespin D. Therefore, under the in vitro conditions used in this study, the relative potency of the cathepsins tested was cathepsin B ⋙ cathepsin C > cathepsin D. In comparison, metal-saturated MT was more than 1000-fold more resistant to degradation by the cathepsins tested. In order to determine how much metal was needed to protect MT against degradation, apo-MT was reconstituted with increasing molar equivalents of Zn 2+ . The results suggest that as metal to apo-MT ratios increase, less apo-MT substrate is available to the protease and degradation decreases.
Philosophy and reflection: A critique of Frank Welz’s sociological and “processual” criticism of Husserl and Schutz

Frank Welz’s Kritik der Lebenswelt undertakes a sociology of knowledge criticism of the work of Edmund Husserl and Alfred Schutz that construes them as developing absolutist, egological systems opposed to the “processual” worldview prominent since the modern rise of natural science. Welz, though, misunderstands the work of Schutz and Husserl and neglects how their focus on consciousness and eidetic features pertains to the kind of reflection that one must undertake if one would avoid succumbing to absolutism, that uncovers the presuppositions of the processual worldview itself, and that secures a domain distinctive of philosophy over against sociology. Finally, Welz’s charge that Schutz favors a Neo-Kantian social scientific methodology contradictory to his phenomenology neglects the levels of Schutz’s discourse and ignores how the Weberian ideal-typical approach can be subsumed within phenomenology.
Extended electron energy loss fine structure simulation of the local boron environment in sodium aluminoborosilicate glasses containing gadolinium

Abstract Electron energy loss boron K-edge spectra of gadolinium-bearing sodium aluminoborosilicate glasses were acquired. Extended electron energy loss fine structure studies were performed in both extended and near edge region. Using Gd-metaborate, GdB3O6, as a model, we fitted the experimental B K-edge spectra of the glasses containing 30 and 47 mass% Gd2O3 in r-space with a non-linear least-square fitting method. Based on the results obtained from the current study, the majority of borate units appear to react with Gd cations and the local environment of Gd cations resembles that of the Gd-metaborate structure. Therefore, a distorted Gd-metaborate-like local atomic structure is proposed, in which each Gd cation is stabilized by one tetragonal BO4 unit and two trigonal BO3 units. The similarity of the chemical environment between the two high Gd-bearing glasses implies that the local Gd-metal borate environment, 1BO4:Gd:2BO3, is stable. When the Gd to B ratio in the glasses exceeded 1 to 3 ratio, according to the model, excess Gd cations should form bonds with silicate units. The modeling results are further supported by the energy loss near edge spectra data and previously results obtained from Raman and laser fluorescence deduced phonon side band studies.
Changing systems for measuring activated clotting times: Impact on the clinical practice of heparin anticoagulation during cardiac surgery

Abstract Background The activated clotting time (ACT) is a standard monitor for heparin anticoagulation during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). This study determines the effect of upgrading our ACT system on our clinical practice with regards to the conduct and safety of heparin anticoagulation during cardiopulmonary bypass. Methods We compared the intraoperative heparin doses required for all adult cardiac surgery patients ( n =1240) and postoperative bleeding for a subset of primary aortocoronary bypass (CABG) surgery procedures ( n =285) from cohorts before and after the change in ACT systems. Results The heparin dose needed to exceed our target ACT of 480 sec for the duration of CPB was higher (45 000 vs. 40 000 units; p p p Conclusions We demonstrated that the introduction of the Actalyke® ACT system significantly altered our clinical practice by increasing the heparin dose required to exceed our target ACT during CPB. Prospective study to determine the effect of Actalyke® ACT system monitoring on hemostasis after cardiac surgery is merited.
Vortex-induced dissipation in narrow current-biased thin-film superconducting strips

A vortex crossing a thin-film superconducting strip from one edge to the other, perpendicular to the bias current, is the dominant mechanism of dissipation for films of thickness $d$ on the order of the coherence length $\ensuremath{\xi}$ and of width $w$ much narrower than the Pearl length $\ensuremath{\Lambda}\ensuremath{\gg}w\ensuremath{\gg}\ensuremath{\xi}$. At high bias currents ${I}^{*}lIl{I}_{c}$ the heat released by the crossing of a single vortex suffices to create a belt-like normal-state region across the strip, resulting in a detectable voltage pulse. Here ${I}_{c}$ is the critical current at which the energy barrier vanishes for a single vortex crossing. The belt forms along the vortex path and causes a transition of the entire strip into the normal state. We estimate ${I}^{*}$ to be roughly ${I}_{c}/3$. Furthermore, we argue that such ``hot'' vortex crossings are the origin of dark counts in photon detectors, which operate in the regime of metastable superconductivity at currents between ${I}^{*}$ and ${I}_{c}$. We estimate the rate of vortex crossings and compare it with recent experimental data for dark counts. For currents below ${I}^{*}$, that is, in the stable superconducting but resistive regime, we estimate the amplitude and duration of voltage pulses induced by a single vortex crossing.
The evolutionary origin of complex features

A long-standing challenge to evolutionary theory has been whether it can explain the origin of complex organismal features. We examined this issue using digital organisms—computer programs that self-replicate, mutate, compete and evolve. Populations of digital organisms often evolved the ability to perform complex logic functions requiring the coordinated execution of many genomic instructions. Complex functions evolved by building on simpler functions that had evolved earlier, provided that these were also selectively favoured. However, no particular intermediate stage was essential for evolving complex functions. The first genotypes able to perform complex functions differed from their non-performing parents by only one or two mutations, but differed from the ancestor by many mutations that were also crucial to the new functions. In some cases, mutations that were deleterious when they appeared served as stepping-stones in the evolution of complex features. These findings show how complex functions can originate by random mutation and natural selection.
The Metal-Insulator Transition in Correlated Disordered Systems

Some materials are metals and conduct electricity well; others are insulators and do not. In some cases, metals can be converted to insulators and vice versa by changing some fundamental parameter, such as pressure. In their Perspective, Abrahams and Kotliar discuss results reported in the same issue by Husmann et al . (p. 1874) in which a continuous metal-insulator transition has been observed in a nickel selenide-sulfide compound. Understanding such transitions, which have posed puzzles for years, may help unravel the physics of highly correlated electrons, as well as lead to new materials.
Timing dysfunctions in schizophrenia as measured by a repetitive finger tapping task.

Schizophrenia may be associated with a fundamental disturbance in the temporal coordination of information processing in the brain, leading to classic symptoms of schizophrenia such as thought disorder and disorganized and contextually inappropriate behavior. Although a variety of behavioral studies have provided strong evidence for perceptual timing deficits in schizophrenia, no study to date has directly examined overt temporal performance in schizophrenia using a task that differentially engages perceptual and motor-based timing processes. The present study aimed to isolate perceptual and motor-based temporal performance in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia using a repetitive finger-tapping task that has previously been shown to differentially engage brain regions associated with perceptual and motor-related timing behavior. Thirty-two individuals with schizophrenia and 31 non-psychiatric control participants completed the repetitive finger-tapping task, which required participants to first tap in time with computer-generated tones separated by a fixed intertone interval (tone-paced tapping), after which the tones were discontinued and participants were required to continue tapping at the established pace (self-paced tapping). Participants with schizophrenia displayed significantly faster tapping rates for both tone- and self-paced portions of the task compared to the non-psychiatric group. Individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia also displayed greater tapping variability during both tone- and self-paced portions of the task. The application of a mathematical timing model further indicated that group differences were primarily attributable to increased timing – as opposed to task implementation – difficulties in the schizophrenia group, which is noteworthy given the broad range of impairments typically associated with the disorder. These findings support the contention that schizophrenia is associated with a broad range of timing difficulties, including those associated with time perception as well as time production.
The relationship between retinal axon ingrowth, terminal morphology, and terminal patterning in the optic tectum of the frog

The mode of entry of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons and the detailed morphology of their arbors has been studied in the tectal lobes of the frog Ranapipiens. These tecta were subjected intact to HRP histochemistry and subsequently flal-mounted for examination under a compound microscope. Subsets of RGC axons were labelled by inserting small pellets of solidified HRP into the optic chiasm region or into the tectal neuropil itself. Annular or semiannular patterns of retinal ganglion cell arbors were always observed after placement of HRP in the chiasm region. HRP pellets in the tectal neuropil labelled segments of annuli in caudal tectal regions. These tectal patterns corresponded to a similar annular distribution of HRP-filled RGC bodies in the topographically appropriate regions of the contralateral retina. The morphologies and trajectories of RGC axons were found to vary systematically depending on the age of the animal and the region of the tectal lobe examined. In rostral tectum the tangential spread of large-caliber RGC axon arbors appears to decrease with increasing animal age and in large adult frogs there is a general tendency for arbors in caudal tectum to be larger than arbors in rostral tectum. In addition, axons contributing to terminal annuli in the central region of young and old frog tecta travel in a strict rostrocaudal direction over the anterior regions of the lobe. A predominantly rostrocaudal trajectory is also established by axons terminating in lateral and medial regions of the tecta of young postmetamorphic frogs. In the lateral and medial regions of mature optic tecta, however, axons arborizing in peripheral terminal annuli turn rather abruptly off the medial and lateral optic tracts and establish radially oriented trajectories. The annular patterning of terminal arbors and the age- and position-dependent differences in arbor morphology are discussed in the context of a developmental sequence where arbors from newly arrived RGC axons distribute themselves along the tectal borders. The question of whether such a high degree of fiber and terminal ordering actually dictates synaptic patterning in the tectal lobe has also been addressed in this study by using the stereotyped striped pattern found in the dually innervated tectal lobes of three-eyed frogs (Constantine-Paton and Law, 78;Law and Constantine-Paton, '81). The presentresults indicate that eye-specific segregation in the terminal zone is independent of bundling of axons in the optic tract. Stripes are also shown to be independent of the path taken by axons en route to the tectum and of the way in which axons enter the tectal plate. These observations and our earlier conclusions (Reh et al., '83) concerning order in the Rana optic nerve are discussed in terms of recent models of retino tectal development which postulate a role for passive “extra-tectal” factors in the formation of this visual map.
Cytoskeletal polarity mediates localized induction of the heart progenitor lineage

Cells must make appropriate fate decisions within a complex and dynamic environment. In vitro studies indicate that the cytoskeleton acts as an integrative platform for this environmental input. External signals regulate cytoskeletal dynamics and the cytoskeleton reciprocally modulates signal transduction. However, in vivo studies linking cytoskeleton/signalling interactions to embryonic cell fate specification remain limited. Here we show that the cytoskeleton modulates heart progenitor cell fate. Our studies focus on differential induction of heart fate in the basal chordate Ciona intestinalis. We have found that differential induction does not simply reflect differential exposure to the inductive signal. Instead, pre-cardiac cells employ polarized, invasive protrusions to localize their response to an ungraded signal. Through targeted manipulation of the cytoskeletal regulator CDC42, we are able to depolarize protrusive activity and generate uniform heart progenitor fate specification. Furthermore, we are able to restore differential induction by repolarizing protrusive activity. These findings illustrate how bi-directional interactions between intercellular signalling and the cytoskeleton can influence embryonic development. In particular, these studies highlight the potential for dynamic cytoskeletal changes to refine cell fate specification in response to crude signal gradients.
Translational Stroke Research Using a Rabbit Embolic Stroke Model: A Correlative Analysis Hypothesis for Novel Therapy Development

Alteplase (tissue plasminogen activator, tPA) is currently the only FDA-approved treatment that can be given to acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients if patients present within 3 h of an ischemic stroke. After 14 years of alteplase clinical research, evidence now suggests that the therapeutic treatment window can be expanded 4.5 h, but this is not formally approved by the FDA. Even though there remains a significant risk of intracerebral hemorrhage associated with alteplase administration, there is an increased chance of favorable outcome with tPA treatment. Over the last 30 years, the use of preclinical models has assisted with the search for new effective treatments for stroke, but there has been difficulty with the translation of efficacy from animals to humans. Current research focuses on the development of new and potentially useful thrombolytics, neuroprotective agents, and devices which are also being tested for efficacy in preclinical and clinical trials. One model in particular, the rabbit small clot embolic stroke model (RSCEM) which was developed to test tPA for efficacy, remains the only preclinical model used to gain FDA approval of a therapeutic for stroke. Correlative analyses from existing preclinical translational studies and clinical trials indicate that there is a therapeutic window ratio (ARR) of 2.43-3 between the RSCEM and AIS patients. In conclusion, the RSCEM can be used as an effective translational tool to gauge the clinical potential of new treatments.
CHARMMing: A new, flexible, web portal for CHARMM

A new web portal for the CHARMM macromolecular modeling package, CHARMMing (CHARMM interface and graphics, http://www.charmming.org), is presented. This tool provides a user-friendly interface for the preparation, submission, monitoring, and visualization of molecular simulations (i.e., energy minimization, solvation, and dynamics). The infrastructure used to implement the web application is described. Two additional programs have been developed and integrated with CHARMMing: GENRTF, which is employed to define structural features not supported by the standard CHARMM force field, and a job broker, which is used to provide a portable method for using grid and cluster computing with CHARMMing. The use of the program is described with three proteins: 1YJP , 1O1O , and 1UFY . Source code is provided allowing CHARMMing to be downloaded, installed, and used by supercomputing centers and research groups that have a CHARMM license. Although no software can replace a scientist's own judgment and experience, CHARMMing eases the introduction of newcomers to the molecular modeling discipline by providing a graphical method for running simulations.
Annular surfaces in annular field systems

We present an optical surface description that is more suit- able for designing annular field systems than the standard aspheric sur- face representation. The use of this novel surface description leads to shorter design times and improved systems. © 1997 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. (S0091-3286(97)01812-6)
Welfare Politics in Congress

The stakes of political conflict involve contending values and issue definitions as well as policy. Welfare reform was the most important change in American domestic policy since civil rights. Its significance hinges crucially on how participants understood the issue, but existing research fails to resolve what their perceptions were. Most accounts suggest that welfare reform was an ideological contest concerning the proper scope of government, but there are other views. This study gauges the welfare agenda rigorously by coding speakers in congressional hearings on the basis of how they framed the issue and the position they took on it during the six chief episodes of welfare reform that occurred between 1962 and 1996. The reform efforts aroused four distinct divisions. Over time, positions moved rightward, but more important, the dominant issue changed: The ideological debate about government was overtaken by a more practical debate about how to manage welfare. This is the first study to track the substantive meaning of any issue in Congress over an extended period of time using hearing witnesses and a preset analytic scheme.
On the Uçar prototype model

Using the model recently proposed by Ucar, we develop a technique that will allow two Ucar systems to be synchronized together. Numerical results exemplify the synchronization procedure.
Evolution of Endoscopic Endonasal Surgery of the Skull Base and Paranasal Sinuses

Melvin Field, MD*, Brian Spector, MD, Jeffrey Lehman, MD Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Central Florida, College of Medicine, PO Box 160116, Orlando, FL 32816, USA Florida Hospital Minimally Invasive Brain Surgery Program, Department of Neurological Surgery, Florida Hospital, 601 East Rollins Street, Orlando, FL 32803, USA Department of Otolaryngology, Florida State University College of Medicine, 525 South Magnolia Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801, USA Department of Otolaryngology, Florida Hospital, 601 East Rollins Street, Orlando, FL 32803, USA Ear, Nose, and Throat Surgical Associates, 201 North Lakemont Avenue, Suite 100, Winter Park, FL 32792, USA
Experience with 31 sentinel lymph node biopsies for sarcomas and carcinomas in pediatric patients

BACKGROUND Few data exist regarding techniques, indications, and outcomes for sentinel lymph node biopsy in pediatric patients with sarcomas and carcinomas. METHODS A retrospective 10-year review was conducted, with Institutional Review Board waiver, of the pathology, lymphoscintigraphy, and clinical records for all pediatric patients selected to undergo sentinel lymph node biopsy at a major cancer center. RESULTS Thirty-one sentinel lymph node biopsies were performed in 30 pediatric patients (median age, 12 years; range, 2–21 years). With the administration of technetium 99m sulfur colloid, sentinel lymph nodes were identified preoperatively in 30 of 31 cases, and intraoperatively in the remaining case. Radiotracer alone was used in 13 of 31 cases but was supplemented with isosulfan blue dye in the remaining 18 cases. There were no complications. Positive sentinel lymph nodes occurred in 1 of 9 patients with rhabdomyosarcoma and in 2 of 5 patients with breast cancer, and in both of these diseases the sentinel lymph node results helped guide treatment decisions. No other patients had positive sentinel lymph nodes, and among those with nonrhabdomyosarcoma soft-tissue sarcomas there were no lymph node basin recurrences despite a lack of lymph node basin irradiation or formal lymph node dissection. The median follow-up was 48 months (range, 0-111 months). CONCLUSIONS Sentinel lymph node biopsy for pediatric soft-tissue tumors can be performed safely, and the results can alter treatment decisions both for children with rhabdomyosarcoma and adolescents with breast cancer. In patients with nonrhabdomyosarcoma soft-tissue sarcoma, we observed no positive sentinel lymph nodes and no lymph node basin recurrences; these data should prompt the prospective study of sentinel lymph node biopsy as a modality that might help guide the administration or withholding of regional therapy among pediatric patients with nonrhabdomyosarcoma soft-tissue sarcoma. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Wnt signalling sees spots.

The organization of signalling complexes represents the coalescence of cell biology and signal transduction. Recent work on Dishevelled (Dvl), a multifunctional component of the Wnt–Frizzled (Fz) signalling pathway, ascribes vesicle- and actin-binding properties to a single domain within the protein. This could represent a critical point for divergence of the Wnt signalling pathway.
Characteristics of the sulfation of N-linked oligosaccharides in vesicles from Dictyostelium discoideum: in vitro sulfation of lysosomal enzymes.

Abstract Lysosomal enzymes from Dictyostelium discoideum contain unusual sulfated N-linked oligosaccharides, whose synthesis has been well studied in vivo . However, little is known about the properties of the pertinent sulfotransferases. To study these transferases, we have prepared a cell-free system which transfers 35 SO 4 from 3′-phosphoadenosine 5′-phosphosulfate to either endogenous or exogenous acceptors. We found that the 35 SO 4 was released from macromolecules by protein N -glycanase F to yield a mixture of anionic oligosaccharides with 1–6 negative charges. Some of the labeled molecules contained acid-stable methyl phosphodiesters but none contained phosphomoesters or acid-labile diesters. The sulfate was found in molecules with the acid stability characteristic of esters of primary alcohols. In all these ways, the products resembled those generated in vivo . We also demonstrated that a membrane-associated form of β-hexosaminidase and the precursor of α-mannosidase were among the products. In addition, glycoproteins prepared from a sulfation-deficient mutant strain could act as exogenous acceptors in permeabilized vesicles.
Robotic-assisted lung resection for malignant disease.

ObjectiveThere have been few reports of the use of robotic surgery to resect lung malignancies. Feasibility and safety of robotic lung resection for malignant lung lesions will be assessed by perfo...
Incorporating joint confidence regions into design under uncertainty

Abstract A new formulation is proposed to solve design problems under model uncertainty. The proposed method combines well-known techniques for solving multiperiod design problems with the concept of joint confidence regions. One way to incorporate uncertainty into design problems is to discretize the uncertain parameters into a number of finite values and solve a multiperiod design problem. Traditionally, the uncertain parameters are discretized to a lower and upper bound based upon their individual confidence intervals. However, a more accurate description of the model parameter uncertainty is available through the use of joint confidence regions. In this work, we propose choosing the discrete values of uncertain model parameters based upon the principal components of their joint confidence region. We demonstrate the proposed method in several examples. The resulting optimal designs are more accurate because they incorporate the actual model uncertainty using joint confidence regions. Moreover, faster convergence to an optimal solution is observed using a two-stage algorithm because fewer discretization points may be needed in the multiperiod problem.
Forecasting Challenges Associated with Tropical Cyclones within Subtropical Gyres

AbstractThis case study examines the complex history of a tropical storm that formed southeast of a large subtropical gyre. In real time the tropical storm was incorrectly identified as being two separate storms, and at one time was mislocated by 465 km. The unique forecast problems associated with tropical cyclones within a subtropical gyre are described. The tropical storm propagated around the gyre and encountered a midlevel temperature gradient to the north. The interaction of the storm with this gradient produced a strong midtropospheric temperature dipole. Temperature advection within this feature produced a change in structure to a subtropical storm corotating with an upper low. The subtropical storm turned equatorward and nearly came to a halt as the upper low became aligned with the storm. As convection increased over warm water, the upper low shifted away from the center and the storm reversed direction and moved poleward. These sudden track changes have frequently been observed in the northwest...
Kinetic difference between hydrolyses of γ-cyclodextrin by human salivary and pancreatic α-amylases

Abstract γ-Cyclodextrin was found to be hydrolyzed by human salivary and pancreatic α-amylases (1,4-α- d -glucan glucanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.1) at appreciable rates. The optimum pH for the enzyme reactions at 37°C in the presence of 0.1 M NaCl was at around pH 5, which was remarkably different from the optimum pH (pH 6.9) of the enzymes for starch. The K m value (2.9 mg/ml) of pancreatic α-amylase for γ-cyclodextrin was smaller than that (5.3 mg/ml) of salivary α-amylase at pH 5.3, while the V value of the former was 3.7-times larger than that of the latter. The hydrolyses of γ-cyclodextrin by both enzymes took place via the multiple attack mechanism. The degrees of multiple attack by salivary and pancreatic α-amylases for γ-cyclodextrin at pH 5.3 were 2.0 and 1.1, respectively. The distribution of maltodextrins produced by hydrolysis of γ-cyclodextrin by salivary α-amylase was suggested to be independent of the substrate concentration, while that produced by pancreatic α-amylase was presumably dependent on the substrate concentration.
Restoration of in-phase translation by an unlinked suppressor of a frameshift mutation in Salmonella typhimurium.

When carrying an unlinked suppressor, a frameshift mutant produces small quantities of wild-type protein.
The role of polymeric surface smoothness of biliary stents in bacterial adherence, biofilm deposition, and stent occlusion

Bacterial adherence and biofilm deposition onto the surface of polymers used for biliary stents are the initial events that ultimately lead to stent occlusion. Vivathane is a new polymer with an ultrasmooth surface. In this study, stents made from Vivathane were compared to standard plastic stents in an in vitro model. Polyethylene, C-flex, and Vivathane stents were connected in parallel and perfused with infected bile. The surfaces of the polyethylene and C-flex stents developed exuberant bacterial growth and biliary sludge deposition. Vivathane stents were nearly free of bacteria and demonstrated no propensity for biliary sludge deposition. These results indicate that polymeric surface irregularities promote bacterial adherence, biofilm deposition, and accumulation of biliary sludge. The ultrasmooth surface of Vivathane does not allow bacterial adherence and biofilm deposition. Vivathane holds promise as a new polymer for use in biliary stents in long-term applications.
Particulate inclusions in a lamellar phase

We study theoretically the effect of colloidal inclusions in a smectic liquid crystal. Our treatment is appropriate for any type of particle that exerts a small force perpendicular to the nearest layers. This force may either be outward, forming a local 'bulge,' or inwards, pinching the neighboring membranes together. We calculate both the distortion field and associated energy due to one such inclusion, as well as the membrane mediated two body interaction potential. Aggregation of particles to form polydisperse disklike assemblies is treated using a simple Flory-Huggins theory. In this case there exists a characteristic aggregate radius $\sqrt{\ensuremath{\lambda}d}$, where \ensuremath{\lambda} is the usual characteristic smectic penetration length and d is the layer spacing. A novel feature of this system is that 'large' disklike aggregates of this size may be formed. There is no such length for disklike aggregation in solution, where it is difficult to obtain aggregates much bigger than the particle size. Our treatment of aggregation neglects interaggregate interactions studied in more detail elsewhere. In this approximation, we find that for certain systems, such as strongly segregated copolymer melts and stacks of surfactant bilayers stabilized by electrostatic interactions, some significant aggregation is occurring. On the other hand we predict only weak aggregation in a stack of flexible surfactants bilayers governed by the Helfrich interaction. We use our results, combined with a simplistic mean field theory, to study an inclusion driven binding transition.
Cooperative Activation of Npr1 Gene Transcription and Expression by Interaction of Ets-1 and p300

The objective of the present study was to gain insight into the cooperative roles of Ets-1 and p300 in transcriptional regulation and expression of the Npr1 gene (coding for guanylyl cyclase-A/natriuretic peptide receptor-A). Overexpression of Ets-1 and p300 in mouse mesangial cells increased Npr1 promoter activity by 12-fold, natriuretic peptide receptor-A mRNA levels by 5-fold, and ANP-dependent intracellular accumulation of cGMP by 26-fold. Knockdown of Ets-1 and p300 expression by small interfering RNA inhibited Npr1 gene transcription by 90%. Sequential chromatin immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated a direct physical association between p300 and Ets-1 on binding to the Npr1 promoter, suggesting that a physical interaction between Ets-1 and p300 is important to enhance Npr1 gene transcription. Mutant p300 lacking histone acetyltransferase activity did not show a functional effect with Ets-1, suggesting that histone acetyltransferase activity of p300 is required for the cooperative interaction in modulating Npr1 gene transcription. Overexpression of wild-type adenovirus E1A significantly decreased the Npr1 promoter activity by 40%, whereas mutant E1A, which is incapable of binding to p300, did not show any effect. The results indicate that Npr1 gene transcription is critically controlled by histone acetyltransferase p300 and Ets-1. The present findings should yield important insights into the molecular signaling governing Npr1 gene transcription, an important regulator in the control of hypertension and cardiovascular events.
Implementation of Antibiotic Rotation Protocol Improves Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile in a Surgical Intensive Care Unit

Background:Antibiotic rotation has been proposed as a way to potentially reduce the development of antimicrobial resistant bacteria in intensive care units. We assessed the effect of an antibiotic rotation protocol on the antibiotic susceptibility profiles of three clinically relevant gram-negative
Treatment utility of the sociotropy/autonomy distinction: Implications for cognitive therapy

The treatment utility of the Sociotropy/Autonomy Scale was evaluated by matching or mismatching subjects to either individual or group cognitive therapy according to their dominant personality dimension. Both groups of subjects obtained statistically significant, but equivalent, reductions in depression. Consistent with Beck's (1983) interactional model, tests of clinical significance indicated a higher proportion of matched subjects who displayed marked improvement at follow-up. Implications for cognitive therapy and further research on the assessment of personality dimensions relevant to depression are discussed.
Effect of shear stress on viscoelastic properties of a phase-separated multiblock thermoplastic elastomer

Abstract Shear experiments on a molten thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) show that, above a critical stress level, the viscoelastic properties are severely affected by the flow. The TPE is a microphase-separated multiblock copolymer of poly(4-methyl-1,3-dioxolane) (PMDOL) with a copolymer of dioxolane and trioxane (PDT). The amorphous PMDOL undergoes glass transition at about −60°C, and the crystalline PDT phase melts at about 105°C. When sheared in a creep experiment at a shear stress below a critical value, the transient shear viscosity, τ y (t) , grew by two orders of magnitude without coming close to reaching steady state in the first 1000 s, and 40–80% of the total strain was recovered upon release of the shear stress. At higher shear stresses, τ y (t) passed through a maximum and then levelled off to a low plateau (steady shear viscosity), i.e. the TPE changed into a viscoelastic fluid of low viscosity. In oscillatory shear, linear viscoelasticity was limited by a critical shear stress amplitude, τ0, which was independent of frequency and in agreement with τc of the creep experiment. τc dropped from 800 to 100 Pa as the temperature was increased from 120 to 160°C. Polarizing microscopy showed that the shear-induced transition is accompanied by the disruption of PDT domains which otherwise would act as physical crosslinks in the TPE melt.
Effect of cropland management and slope position on soil organic carbon pool at the North Appalachian Experimental Watersheds

Soil organic matter is strongly related to soil type, landscape morphology, and soil and crop management practices. Therefore, long-term (15–36-years) effects of six cropland management systems on soil organic carbon (SOC) pool in 0–30 cm depth were studied for the period of 1939–1999 at the North Appalachian Experimental Watersheds (<3 ha, Dystric Cambisol, Haplic Luvisol, and Haplic Alisol) near Coshocton, OH, USA. Six management treatments were: (1) no tillage continuous corn with NPK (NC); (2) no tillage continuous corn with NPK and manure (NTC-M); (3) no tillage corn–soybean rotation (NTR); (4) chisel tillage corn–soybean rotation (CTR); (5) moldboard tillage with corn–wheat–meadow–meadow rotation with improved practices (MTR-I); (6) moldboard tillage with corn–wheat–meadow–meadow rotation with prevalent practices (MTR-P). The SOC pool ranged from 24.5 Mg ha −1 in the 32-years moldboard tillage corn (Zea mays L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–meadow–meadow rotation with straight row farming and annual application of fertilizer (N:P:K = 5:9:17) of 56–112 kg ha −1 and cattle (Bos taurus) manure of 9 Mg ha −1 as the prevalent system (MTR-P) to 65.5 Mg ha −1 in the 36-years no tillage continuous corn with contour row farming and annual application of 170–225 kg N ha −1 and appropriate amounts of P and K, and 6–11 Mg ha −1 of cattle manure as the improved system (NTC-M). The difference in SOC pool among management systems ranged from 2.4 to 41 Mg ha −1 and was greater than 25 Mg ha −1 between NTC-M and the other five management systems. The difference in the SOC pool of NTC-M and that of no tillage continuous corn (NTC) were 16–21 Mg ha −1 higher at the lower slope position than at the middle and upper slope positions. The effect of slope positions on SOC pools of the other management systems was significantly less ( < 5M g ha −1 ). The effects of manure application, tillage, crop rotation, fertilizer rate, and soil and water conservation farming on SOC pool were accumulative. The NTC-M treatment with application of NPK fertilizer, lime, and cattle manure is an effective cropland management system for SOC sequestration. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.