cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Open-Surface Digital Microfluidics

Open-surface digital microfluidics refers to droplet manipulations in an open surface. Different chemi- cal/biological reaction protocols can easily be demonstrated in the same device by reprogramming the order of droplet manipulations. While continuous-flow or liquid-plug microfluidics within microchannels have inherently limited pro- grammability, there is no limit of reprogrammability in open-surface digital microfluidics. Three different mechanisms for droplet manipulations are addressed in this mini-review: electrowetting-on-dielectric, magnetofluidics and wire-guide manipulations. Brief theories of surface tension and work of adhesion are addressed. Potential applications are addressed as well as their complications.
Diagnosing novel faults

Currently available diagnostic expert systems are limited as they cannot address novel situations and faults. Moreover, they cannot recognize such situations, which often lead to an incorrect diagnosis or at best an exhaustive search through their knowledge bases. The CONSOLIDATE system is a hybrid diagnostic system which integrates experiential and causal-model-based knowledge sources, which retains the efficiency of experiential-based approaches while providing a mechanism to recognize and address previously unobserved situations. A discussion is given the CONSOLIDATE system, issues related to novel fault hypothesis generation, and the approach utilized to address these issues. >
MedEthEx: a prototype medical ethics advisor

As part of a larger Machine Ethics Project, we are developing an ethical advisor that provides guidance to health care workers faced with ethical dilemmas. MedEthEx is an implementation of Beauchamp's and Childress' Principles of Biomedical Ethics that harnesses machine learning techniques to abstract decision principles from cases in a particular type of dilemma with conflicting prima facie duties and uses these principles to determine the correct course of action in similar and new cases. We believe that accomplishing this will be a useful first step towards creating machines that can interact with those in need of health care in a way that is sensitive to ethical issues that may arise.
Otolith-based assessment of recruitment variation in a North Pacific seamount population of armorhead Pseudopentaceros wheeleri

An investigation into armorhead Pseudopentaceros wheeleri recruitment variation at Southeast Hancock Seamount (in the central North Pacific) focused on the examination of recruit characteristics, primarily those derived from otolith-increment analysis. Otoliths from recruits were sampled from years representing relatively strong (509 metric tons (t) in 1980), moderate (58 t in 1986), and weak (1 t in 1989) recruitment biomass. Recruit body length was also examined among these 3 years and from 10 additional years, providing even higher recruitment contrast. Transverse sections of sagittal otoliths were prepared, and yielded information on the mean and variability in pre-recruit pelagic duration and increment-width profiles. Mean length of female recruits, and to a lesser extent of mean pelagic duration, decreased with increasing recruitment strength. Although generally similar in shape, the mean increment-width sequence spanning the first 1.8 yr of the 2+ yr pelagic phase differed among recruit years. Transitions in sequential increment-width (inflection points) were exhibited among all recruit years and occurred primarily within the first pelagic year interval. The weak 1989 recruit year was most distinct among recruit years in exhibiting lower incre- ment widths at each of these inflection points.
Conjugated linoleic acid evokes de‐lipidation through the regulation of genes controlling lipid metabolism in adipose and liver tissue

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a unique lipid that elicits dramatic reductions in adiposity in several animal models when included at < or = 1% of the diet. Despite a flurry of investigations, the precise mechanisms by which conjugated linoleic acid elicits its dramatic effects in adipose tissue and liver are still largely unknown. In vivo and in vitro analyses of physiological modifications imparted by conjugated linoleic acid on protein and gene expression suggest that conjugated linoleic acid exerts its de-lipidating effects by modulating energy expenditure, apoptosis, fatty acid oxidation, lipolysis, stromal vascular cell differentiation and lipogenesis. The purpose of this review shall be to examine the recent advances and insights into conjugated linoleic acid's effects on obesity and lipid metabolism, specifically focused on changes in gene expression and physiology of liver and adipose tissue.
PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ANTLERS AND ANTLER BREAKAGE IN WHITE-TAILED DEER

A BSTRACT Previous descriptions of growth, development, and composition of deer antlers have not included factors that affect antler breakage. We related morphology and mineral concentration to occurrence of broken antler tines in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) using 126 cast antlers collected during 1989 to 1995. Antlers were divided into 2 categories: broken and intact. Density, break strength, spongy bone percentage, and mineral composition were measured for 1-cm cross-sections removed from the base of the main beam, from between the G2 and G3 tines, and from the base of the G3 tine. We compared these variables between broken and intact antlers and estimated correlations between tine density, break strength, spongy bone ratio, and mineral composition. Density, percentage of spongy bone, break strength, and mineral concentration did not differ significantly between broken and intact antlers. Main beam break strength differed significantly among years. Mineral composition differed significantly among antler locations and year. Rainfall during the antler growth period was correlated with concentrations of aluminum and manganese. Although there were significant correlations between morphology and mineral concentrations, morphology and mineral composition did not explain the presence of broken antlers.
On the Contribution of Plasma Sheet Bubbles to the Storm-Time Ring Current†

Particle injections occur frequently inside 10 RE during geomagnetic storms. They are commonly associated with bursty bulk flows or plasma sheet bubbles transported from the tail to the inner magnetosphere. Although observations and theoretical arguments have suggested that they may have an important role in storm time dynamics, this assertion has not been addressed quantitatively. In this paper, we investigate which process is dominant for the storm-time ring current buildup: large-scale enhanced convection or localized bubble injections. We use the Rice Convection Model—Equilibrium (RCM-E) to model a series of idealized storm main phases. The boundary conditions at 14-15 RE on the night side are adjusted to randomly inject bubbles to a degree roughly consistent with observed statistical properties. A test particle tracing technique is then used to identify the source of the ring current plasma. We find that the contribution of plasma-sheet bubbles to the ring current energy increases from ~20% for weak storms to ~50% for moderate storms and levels off at ~61% for intense storms; while the contribution of trapped particles decreases from ~60% for weak storms to ~30% for moderate and ~21% for intense storms. The contribution of non-bubble plasma-sheet flux tubes remains ~20% on average regardless of the storm intensity. Consistent with previous RCM and RCM-E simulations, our results show that the mechanisms for plasma-sheet bubbles enhancing the ring current energy are: (1) the deep penetration of bubbles and (2) the bulk plasma pushed ahead of bubbles. Both the bubbles and the plasma pushed ahead typically contain larger distribution functions than those in the inner magnetosphere at quiet times. An integrated effect of those individual bubble injections is the gradual enhancement of the storm time ring current. We also make two predictions testable against observations. First, fluctuations over a time scale of 5~20 minutes in the plasma distributions and electric field can be seen in the central ring current region for the storm main phase. We find that the plasma pressure and the electric field EY there vary over about 10%~30% and 50%~300% of the background values, respectively. Second, the maximum plasma pressure and magnetic field depression in the central ring current region during the main phase are well correlated with the Dst index.
Evolution of radical procedures for urologic cancer.

Kidney Renal cell carcinoma represents 2% of adult cancers and is the third most common genitourinary malignancy. Its classic presentation of flank pain, flank mass, and hematuria occurs in approximately 10% of the cases. Jayson and Sanders [1] found only 1 of 131 patients presented with the classic triad. With the advent of new imaging modalities, particularly CT and MRI, the number of renal masses discovered incidentally has increased to the point that they now represent the majority [1,2]. What is described today as a simple nephrectomy was the procedure performed for renal cell carcinoma up until 1948 when Mortensen [3] described a radical nephrectomy, defined as the removal of all contents within Gerota’s, fascia including the kidney, adrenal glands, and perirenal fat. In 1963, Robson [4] advocated performing a regional lymphadenectomy with the radical nephrectomy after observing that 22.5% of 62 nephrectomies for renal cell carcinoma showed involvement of the lymphatics surrounding the renal hilum. In 1969, Robson published convincing results demonstrating a significant survival advantage in 88 patients regardless of tumor size when regional lymphadenectomy was combined with radical nephrectomy [5]. This new definition of radical nephrectomy with regional lymphadenectomy has remained relatively unchanged since that time, except for the preservation of the ipsilateral adrenal gland in selected cases. Because renal cell carcinoma is radio- and chemotherapy-resistant, surgical
The Evolving Regulatory Role of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget

AbstractSince the early Reagan years, critics have argued that benefit-cost analysis is used by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as a one-sided tool of deregulation to advance the int...
Some Thoughts on UV Action Spectra

A very convincing case for the pivotal role of action spectra in assessing potential consequences of ozone reduction has been made (e.g., National Academy of Sciences 1979, Nachtwey and Rundel 1981, Caldwell 1981) and Smith and coworkers (Smith et al. 1980, Smith and Baker 1980) have applied this very appropriately in the case of photoinhibition of marine phytoplankton. Their data of short term photoinhibition of plankton under various combinations of polychromatic radiation are basically consistent with an action spectrum developed by Jones and Kok (1966) for the photoinhibition of isolated spinach chloroplasts. Since they have recently presented this information in the literature, as well as further consideration in this volume, it would be pointless for me to describe their experiments. Instead, I would like to offer a few comments on the importance of action spectra in assessment of the consequences of ozone reduction, the use of polychromatic radiation in determining action spectra, the nature of photoinhibition, and finally, a few comments on the limitations in the employment of many action spectra for ecological purposes.
Gene Expression Patterns of the Fibroblast Growth Factors and Their Receptors During Myogenesis of Rat Satellite Cells

Satellite cells are the myogenic precursors in postnatal muscle and are situated beneath the myofiber basement membrane. We previously showed that fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2, basic FGF) stimulates a greater number of satellite cells to enter the cell cycle but does not modify the overall schedule of a short proliferative phase and a rapid transition to the differentiated state as the satellite cells undergo myogenesis in isolated myofibers. In this study we investigated whether other members of the FGF family can maintain the proliferative state of the satellite cells in rat myofiber cultures. We show that FGF1, FGF4, and FGF6 (as well as hepatocyte growth factor, HGF) enhance satellite cell proliferation to a similar degree as that seen with FGF2, whereas FGF5 and FGF7 are ineffective. None of the growth factors prolongs the proliferative phase or delays the transition of the satellite cells to the differentiating, myogenin(+) state. However, FGF6 retards the rapid exit of the cells from the myogenin(+) state that routinely occurs in myofiber cultures. To determine which of the above growth factors might be involved in regulating satellite cells in vivo, we examined their mRNA expression patterns in cultured rat myofibers using RT-PCR. The expression of all growth factors, excluding FGF4, was confirmed. Only FGF6 was expressed at a higher level in the isolated myofibers and not in the connective tissue cells surrounding the myofibers or in satellite cells dissociated away from the muscle. By Western blot analysis, we also demonstrated the presence of FGF6 protein in the skeletal musle tissue. Our studies therefore suggest that the myofibers serve as the main source for the muscle FGF6 in vivo. We also used RT-PCR to analyze the expression patterns of the four tyrosine kinase FGF receptors (FGFR1-FGFR4) and of the HGF receptor (c-met) in the myofiber cultures. Depending on the time in culture, expression of all receptors was detected, with FGFR2 and FGFR3 expressed only at a low level. Only FGFR4 was expressed at a higher level in the myofibers but not the connective tissue cell cultures. FGFR4 was also expressed at a higher level in satellite cells compared to the nonmyogenic cells when the two cell populations were released from the muscle tissue and fractionated by Percoll density centrifugation. The unique localization patterns of FGF6 and FGFR4 may reflect specific roles for these members of the FGF signaling complex during myogenesis in adult skeletal muscle.
New Techniques in Handling Lactic Cultures to Enhance Their Performance

Problems of dairy product manufacturing continue to emphasize the need for development of new techniques in handling lactic starter cultures. This presentation will emphasize this need by identification of problems of culture performance and also by pointing out new methods being developed to solve these problems. Six areas of culture problem will be identified: a) phage inhibition, b) instability, c) antibiotic inhibition, d) inhibition by agglutinins, e) poor bulk starter media, and f) lack in uniformity of flavor.
The Proteasome Activator PA200 Regulates Tumor Cell Responsiveness to Glutamine and Resistance to Ionizing Radiation

The cellular response to ionizing radiation (IR) involves a variety of mechanisms to repair damage and maintain cell survival. We previously reported that the proteasome activator PA200 promotes long-term cell survival after IR exposure. The molecular function of PA200 is to enhance proteasome-mediated cleavage after glutamate; however, it is not known how this molecular function promotes survival after IR exposure. Here, we report that upon IR exposure, cellular demand for exogenous glutamine is increased. Cells containing PA200 are capable of surviving this IR-induced glutamine demand, whereas PA200-deficient cells show impaired long-term survival. Additional glutamine supplementation reverses the radiosensitivity of PA200-knockdown cells suggesting impaired glutamine homeostasis in these cells. Indeed, PA200-knockdown cells are unable to maintain intracellular glutamine levels. Furthermore, when extracellular glutamine is limiting, cells that contain PA200 respond by slowing growth, but PA200-knockdown cells and cells in which post-glutamyl proteasome activity is inhibited are nonresponsive and continue rapid growth. This cellular unresponsiveness to nutrient depletion is also reflected at the level of the mTOR substrate ribosomal S6 kinase (S6K). Thus, inability to restrict growth causes PA200-deficient cells to continue growing and eventually die due to lack of available glutamine. Together, these data indicate an important role for PA200 and post-glutamyl proteasome activity in maintaining glutamine homeostasis, which appears to be especially important for long-term survival of tumor cells after radiation exposure. Mol Cancer Res; 10(7); 937–44. ©2012 AACR.
Rating Rectangular Farm Delivery Meter Gates for Flow Measurement

AbstractTraditional meter gates for farm delivery flow measurement from an open channel conveyance have traditionally incorporated round canal gates (Armco type) for control. In recent years, some ...
Rebuttal from David Gozal

The arguments set forth by Rosenzweig and colleagues (2012) are extremely valuable since they point out (i) the complexity of the effects on CNS as a result of the sleep and gas exchange perturbations accompanying sleep apnoea disease, and (ii) the possibility that the conventional imaging technologies used in the studies published to date may not have specifically investigated unique structural properties of the CNS. Indeed, novel functional and structural connectivity maps have revealed complex interactions between a priori undetectable or very subtle anatomical deficits that impinge upon the functional integrity of the neural systems (Alexander et al. 2011; Fornito et al. 2012; Segall et al. 2012). Therefore to deny that there is CNS injury, simply because some of the symptoms can be putatively attributed to a phenotypic constellation that is not fully associated with specific lesions of the CNS (as defined in the context of conventional brain imaging), is tantamount to surmising that sleep apnoea elicits functional perturbations in a neural network without affecting any of its integral anatomical components. To move the field forward, I would argue for the use of integrative approaches that combine more advanced connectivity-based imaging technologies, and couple them to pertinent functional reporters that integrate pathway analyses with exquisitely sensitive cellular and molecular stimulus-triggered responses (Saygin et al. 2011). The conceptual framework of the cerebellum (Rosenzweig et al. 2012) as one of the putative targets and central sites of vulnerability is, however, important. Indeed, outputs from the cerebellum have been identified in non-motor areas in the prefrontal and posterior parietal cortex, and the spectrum of tasks associated with cerebellar activation encompasses tasks designed to assess attention, executive control, language, working memory, learning and emotion (Strick et al. 2009). All of these functions are potentially affected by sleep apnoea. In fact, evidence for the cerebellum as a neural site that is uniquely vulnerable to intermittent hypoxia has been previously identified (Pae et al. 2005; Ramanathan et al. 2005). Similarly, the analogy of CNS perturbations with those of thalamo-cortical dysrhythmia may not fully capture the complexity of neuronal cellular losses imposed by the presence of sleep apnoea, along with the compensatory cellular processes recruited over time to preserve higher level functioning (Goghari et al. 2010; Schulman et al. 2011). Thus, the cumulative animal and human evidence supports the underlying concepts of initial cellular losses in the context of sleep apnoea as the major underlying driver for potential alterations in higher level brain functioning.
Beta diversity of plant–insect food webs in tropical forests: a conceptual framework

Beta diversity of plant-herbivore food webs, defined as turnover of trophic interactions between the food webs, represents a potentially useful extension of traditional studies of plant and herbivore beta diversity as it integrates spatial turnover of plant and herbivore species with changes in herbivore host plant preferences. 2. Beta diversity of plant-herbivore food webs can be partitioned into four compo- nents, corresponding to the turnover of plant-herbivore interactions due to change in (i) both plant and herbivore species, (ii) plant, but not herbivore, species, (iii) herbivore, but not plant, species, and (iv) herbivore host preferences between food webs. These components can be quantified using a range of existing beta diversity indices. 3. Relative magnitude of plant and herbivore beta diversity of plant-herbivore food webs can be analysed as an outcome of herbivore (i) host specificity, (ii) ability to track host plant populations by dispersal, and (iii) response to environmental conditions, competitors and enemies. The relative importance of these factors in tropical ecosystems remains to be determined.
The uptake and subcellular distribution of aromatic amines in the brain of the rat.

— The hydroxylated phenylethylamines p-tyramine, m-tyramine, octopamine, metaraminol and norepinephrine were accumulated by homogenates of rat brain much more vigorously than β-phenethylamine or amphetamine. The affinity concentrations (Km) for initial (5-min) uptake by homogenates of whole brain were 0.5, 3 and 6 μM for DL-norepine-phrine, p-tyramine and DL-octopamine, respectively. The uptake of these three hydroxylated compounds was much more vigorous in striatal tissue than in cortical tissue, and in both tissues the rate of uptake decreased in the sequence: norepinephrine > tyramine > octopamine. The uptake of these three substances was inhibited by reduced temperature, by lack of glucose, by CN- and DNP, and by desmethylimipramine, cocaine and ouabain. The uptake of norepinephrine and octopamine appeared to require Na+. Pretreatment of rats with reserpine or 6-hydroxydopamine decreased the ability of brain to take up norepinephrine or octopamine. Previously accumulated labelled phenylethylamines migrated in sucrose density gradients with a peak of radioactivity corresponding to an equilibrium position of catecholamine-containing nerve endings. The magnitude of the retention of [3H]amine in this synaptosornal peak decreased in the order: norepinephrine > octopamine > tyramine. The accumulated amines were released by sonic, osmotic and thermal stresses which disrupt neuronal membranes. The presence of a β-hydroxyl group appeared to protect amines from destruction by monoamine oxidase, presumably by virtue of uptake in presynaptic storage vesicles. During superfusion, tyramine and metaraminol appeared to displace [3H]norepinephrine from binding sites in brain slices.
Young adult drinking partnerships: alcohol-related consequences and relationship problems six years later.

Objective:This study examines the association between young adult drinking partnerships (ages 18–26 years) and later alcohol-related problems and consequences, alcohol use, relationship quality, and relationship dissolution in adult relationships (ages 26–35).Method:Data came from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health; Waves III and IV) with 1,347 young adults and their partners at Wave III, including dating, cohabiting, and married couples, and individual adult behaviors at Wave IV, 6 years later. Drinking partnerships were based on alcohol use frequency, quantity, heavy episodic drinking, and getting drunk.Results:Four clusters included (a) congruent light and infrequent, (b) discrepant male heavy and frequent, (c) discrepant female heavy and frequent, and (d) congruent heavy and frequent drinkers. Young adult discrepant partnerships reported more alcohol-related problems and consequences 6 years later. Young adults in the congruent heavy drinking partnership indicated more se...
Another small molecule in the oncometabolite mix: L-2-Hydroxyglutarate in kidney cancer.

Alterations in metabolism are now considered a hallmark of cancer. One of the clearest links between metabolism and malignancy are oncometabolites. To date, several putative oncometabolites with transforming properties have been identified in the context of tumors due to both gain and loss of function mutations in genes encoding enzymes of intermediary metabolism. Through an unbiased metabolomics approach, we identified elevations of the metabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) in the most common histology of kidney cancer that is among the most common malignancies in both men and women. Subsequent analyses demonstrate that the predominant enantiomer of 2-HG elevated in renal cancer is the L(S) form. Notably, elevations of L-2HG are due in part to loss of expression of the L-2HG dehydrogenase (L2HGDH) which normally serves as an enzyme of “metabolite repair” to keep levels of this metabolite from accumulating. Lowering L-2HG levels in RCC through re-expression of L2HGDH mitigates tumor phenotypes and reverses epigenetic alterations known to be targeted by oncometabolites. These data add to the growing body of evidence that metabolites, similarly to oncogenes and oncoproteins, can play a role in tumor development and/or progression. As such, they represent a unique opportunity to utilize these findings in the clinic setting.
Factors affecting the occurrence of intertidal amphipods in reducing sediments

Abstract Differences in sedimentary vertical zonation of two species of haustoriid amphipods, with emphasis on the influence of the redox potential discontinuity (RPD), have been observed on an intertidal sandflat in North Inlet, South Carolina, U.S.A. Sediment on the high energy flat is well-sorted and vertically homogeneous in median diameter (≈ 2.35 o) and total organic matter (≈ 0.44%). In much of the intertidal zone, the visually observed RPD separates oxidized sediments from a gray-black transition zone with redox potentials of 0–100 mV. In more sheltered areas, the transition zone is replaced by black reducing sediments. Low porosity and a high percentage fine sand may produce hypoxic or anoxic conditions in these darker layers. The gray zone comprises the center of vertical concentration of Pseudohaustorius caroliniensis Bousfield. Acanthohaustorius millsi Bousfield lives in oxidized sediment at significantly shallower depth than Pseudohaustorius caroliniensis. At 15°C in the laboratory, P. caroliniensis has significantly greater anoxia tolerance than Acanthohaustorius millsi, but at 25°C no significant difference is observed. It is suggested that haustoriids are able to inhabit reducing sands in oxidizing microniches created by their own bioturbation and that of other infauna such as tubicolous polychaetes. Additional factors, including temporal changes in the RPD and various respiratory adaptations, are potentially important in haustoriid survival below the RPD. Compared to interstitial meiofauna, which produce little disturbance, and large tube or burrow-dwelling macrofauna, which maintain contact with the surface, free-burrowing infauna, such as haustoriid amphipods, are intermediate in bioturbation capability. The significance of these intermediate animals in trophic-energetic exchange between oxidized and reduced habitats is poorly known relative to that of extensive bioturbators.
Flight of the Mahogany Shoot Borer, Hypsipyla grandella

Field studies were undertaken in Costa Rica to elucidate flight preparation and behavior of released Hypsipyla grandella . In a cleared area, 83% of the released moths flew toward and landed in the foliage of larger trees; the rest landed on the lower, grassy vegetation. Flight was correlated with ambient air temperature but not with relative humidity. Wind speed was important in determining the direction in which moths flew, and no difference was observed in flight behavior between males and females.
Characterization of Flow Structures and Turbulence in Hypersonic Jet Interaction Flowfields.

Numerical simulations of normal sonic gaseous injection through diamond shaped orifices into a Mach 5.0 freestream were performed using RANS and DES turbulence models. The GASP and Cobalt flow solvers were used in this work. A detailed study of the secondary turbulent flow structure was performed. Flow structures predicted by RANS solutions were compared with instantaneous and time-averaged DES solutions. Results indicate that RANS and DES predict similar flow structures. Turbulent kinetic energy results show higher predictions by DES in the downstream shear layer and lower prediction near the injector as compared to RANS model results. Also, clear connection to secondary flow structure was observed; for example, a TKE peak was observed downstream of the injector and was concluded to be due to the interaction of the wake vortices.
Subnanosecond Time-Resolved Electron Diffraction from Thin Crystalline Gold Films

A 100-ps-resolution electron pulse was used to study a 25-nm thick gold single crystal irradiated by a synchronized infrared optical pulse. The change in electron diffraction intensity following laser heating (the Debye-Waller effect) was measured as a function of delay time. The relaxation of a crystal lattice distortion in the surface region appears to explain an observed oscillation in time of the scattered electron intensity. This novel technique provides a sensitive structure probe for short-time dynamics and is, we believe, the fastest lattice temperature probe.
Abstract A54: Epigenetic changes in colon cancer cell lines treated with the tea polyphenolic, EGCG

A54 Retinoids are known for their role in regulating cell growth and proliferation and for activating tumor suppressor genes. We have previously shown that Retinoid X Receptor alpha (RXR alpha) is silenced in tumors of the colon cancer AOM-APCmin+ mouse model. Upon treatment with green tea, RXR alpha expression was restored and intestinal tumorigenesis was inhibited. We hypothesize that tea polyphenols, especially epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), induce modification of gene expression through effects of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs). We first determined the optimal range of EGCG concentration with which to treat the cells by performing cytotoxcity assays. We treated HT-29 and HCT116 colon cancer cells with EGCG concentrations of 0, 50, 100 or 150µM for 24 and 48 hours. The cell lines were chosen based on their methylation status. HCT116 cells are sensitive to methylation while HT-29 cells are not. Using nuclear fractions of the cell lysates, we probed for presence of the most common DNMTs using western blotting. We found that expression of DNMT1, DNMT3a and DNMT3b was inhibited in a dose dependent manner following treatment with EGCG at both 24 and 48 hour time points. We also used the DNMT inhibitor 5-aza-2dC as a positive control to recover DNMT expression in the cells treated with EGCG. We can conclude that the silencing of RXR alpha may be due in part to by repressing effects of EGCG on DNMT activity. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2008;1(7 Suppl):A54.
The Implications of Low Absolute CD4 Counts in Patients With Cirrhosis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

To the Editor—In their recent study, Baranoski et al [1] describe a high rate of liver disease progression in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-hepatitis B virus coinfection and CD4 counts <200 cells/mm3. The authors suggest that more advanced immunosuppression in these patients may lead to accelerated liver fibrosis. Because only 50% of the HIV-infected patients were taking antiretroviral therapy at study entry and 78% had detectable HIV viremia, this is a reasonable explanation for the progression of liver disease in these patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome. However, another possible explanation is that a low absolute CD4 count may be an independent marker of liver dysfunction, even in patients without HIV. For example, a 2007 study of 60 HIV-negative patients with cirrhosis found that 43% had CD4 counts <350 cells/mm3 and 7% had CD4 counts <200 cells/mm3 [2]. Yet although low absolute CD4 counts were common in this study, 95% of these patients had normal CD4 cell percentages. Likewise, several studies of patients with HIV and liver disease have found an association between advanced liver disease and discordant absolute CD4 counts and CD4 percentages [3, 4]. One hypothesis is that liver dysfunction and portal hypertension may lead to splenic sequestration of CD4+ T cells and a low absolute CD4 count, even as the CD4 percentage remains relatively intact [5, 6]. In these patients, the low absolute CD4 count may be a sign of advanced liver disease as opposed to advanced immunosuppression. The clinical and immunologic implications of a low absolute CD4 count but normal percentage in patients with HIV and cirrhosis remain unclear. In the study by Baranoski et al [1], it is possible that CD4 counts <200 cells/mm3 were more likely to occur in patients with hepatic fibrosis or splenomegaly, and therefore progression of liver disease was more likely among these patients as well. However, whether or not immunosuppression itself contributed to this progression merits further investigation. In this regard, it would be helpful to know the rates of low CD4 percentages in this study, and whether low percentages were also associated with worsening liver disease in these patients. A link between low CD4 percentage and liver disease progression would support the authors' arguments regarding immunosuppression promoting hepatic fibrosis, whereas lack of association might support consideration of other causes.
Intoxication and binge and high-intensity drinking among US young adults in their mid-20s.

ABSTRACTBackground: Alcohol use is a key risk factor for young adult mortality and disease, but limited research has focused on high-risk alcohol use among individuals moving from early young adulthood into building and maintaining an initial structure of adult life. This study estimated the prevalence of a range of alcohol use behaviors among US young adults aged 25/26, examined evidence for historical change in prevalence rates, and estimated associations between alcohol use and key demographic, substance use, and adult social role characteristics. Methods: Data were obtained from 3542 individuals selected for follow-up from the nationally representative 12th-grade student Monitoring the Future study. Respondents self-reported alcohol use behaviors at age 25/26 during calendar years 2005–2014. Results: Two fifths (39.9%) of young adults aged 25/26 reported being intoxicated at least once in the past 30 days; 25.6% reported usually experiencing a sustained high of 3 or more hours when drinking alcohol. P...
Divergent forecasts for two salt marsh specialists in response to sea level rise

Ecosystem specialists are predicted to be more vulnerable to global change than generalists, but whether specialists within an ecosystem will respond similarly to those changes is often largely unknown. Will specialists track changes in their habitats as a group, or are their distributions governed by landscape gradients that will make some species more sensitive to habitat changes? In this study, we forecasted the effects of sea level rise (SLR) on two salt marsh specialist bird species: clapper rails Rallus crepitans and seaside sparrows Ammodramus maritimus. We sampled the abundance of these two species in salt marshes throughout the Georgia, USA, coast in 2013–2014, and analyzed count data using a Bayesian N-mixture model. Model predictions were applied to an SLR land cover model to determine distribution shifts over 100 years. Both species distributions were most sensitive to the relative elevation gradient, with clapper rails using lower elevation marshes and seaside sparrows using higher elevation marshes. These disparities in habitat use, along with other differences according to marsh salinity and distance to forested areas, led to divergent responses to SLR. Clapper rail habitat is predicted to increase with SLR by 52%, but seaside sparrow habitat will contract by 81% by the year 2100. Seaside sparrow habitat is not predicted to decline until sometime between 2025 and 2050, at which point the decline will rapidly accelerate, indicating the importance of careful monitoring in future decades. Diverging responses to a global perturbation create a conservation planning dilemma: if specialists have opposing responses to SLR, it may be difficult to manage conservation areas that accommodate many species.
The result analysis of mosquito-borne monitoring before the second Beijing Capital Airport construction

Objective Master the mosquito species composition, density and seasonal fluctuation before the second Beijing Capital Airport construction, to provide a scientific reference for the control of mosquito- borne infectious diseases.Methods Based on Daxing covers location of airport construction plan, selecting six natural villages for monitoring fromeast to south-west. Opening the lure mosquito lamp at one hour before sunset, continuous monitor mosquito for 2 hours using the lure mosquito lamp of carbon dioxide, once every ten- day in June to October 2014. Identifying species and counting the captured mosquitoes.ResultsIn total 5883 mosquitoes were captured, belonging to two subfamilies, fourgenera, five species. Armigeres subalbatus was collected in Daxing area for the first time. Culex pipiens pallens was the perdominant species. The mosquitoes density peak was in late June. Testing negative results of Japanese encephalitis virusnucleic acid.Conclusion Mastering the mosquito species composition, density and seasonal fluctuation before the second Beijing Capital Airport construction. The monitoring results can provide a scientific basis for the assessment of risk correlation mosquito-borne infectious diseases, and for the prevention and control of mosquitoes.
Effect of prolonged ketamine exposure on cardiovascular physiology in pregnant and infant rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

Physiologic measurements in nonhuman primates usually are collected from animals that are chemically or physically restrained. Both types of restraint may affect the parameters measured, and those effects can vary with age. Heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, expired CO2, blood pressure, temperature, blood glucose, hematocrit, and venous blood gasses were measured in rhesus monkeys that were either infused intravenously with ketamine for 24 h or were cage-housed and physically restrained for sample collection. The subjects were pregnant monkeys at gestational day 120 to 123, infants 5 to 6 d old, and infants 35 to 37 d old. Heart rate and blood pressure were lower in ketamine-treated monkeys than physically restrained monkeys. Heart rate was higher in infants than adults, whereas blood pressure was lower in infants. Respiratory rate was higher in infants than adults and higher in physically restrained infants than ketamine-sedated infants but was not affected by ketamine in pregnant adults. Hematocrit was decreased in older infants. In summary, both physical restraint and ketamine sedation altered several physiologic parameters in pregnant and infant rhesus macaques. Investigators should consider these effects when designing experiments and evaluating experimental outcomes in monkeys.
Paediatric study of bedaquiline remains an “open issue”

Paediatric study of bedaquiline is open but several years behind schedule, delaying access for children with MDR-TB http://ow.ly/4mP8wm
Energetic analysis on a turbulent channel flow with spatial blowing/suction perturbation

F control is one of the major topics in fluid mechanics aimed at altering unnatural flow state into a more desired state. Since most engineering flows include complex conditions, emphasis has been put on development of active controls in recent decades, Gad-el-Hak (2007). One of the well-known active control techniques is blowing/suction perturbations, which is used experimentally or numerically by many investigators. A detailed numerical analysis of the influence of steady and unsteady blowing/suction over span wise slots on the velocity and thermal fields in a turbulent channel is introduced by Araya et al. (2008, 2011). They concluded that intensification in the wall shear stress fluctuations was the major cause of skin friction, wall heat flux, and Stanton number augmentation downstream from the local forcing source. In this study, we are using extensive and highly accurate DNS to elucidate the effects of blowing and suction over spanwise holes on the drag reduction and heat transfer coefficient at Re = 394 based on the friction velocity. In addition, the corresponding influence of perturbing amplitudes and angles on the energy budget of velocity fluctuations, thermal fluctuations and mean vorticity are discussed extensively. Furthermore, proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) of the channel flow is analyzed in this study and the energy redistribution of POD modes by the effects of blowing/suction perturbations are shown. Can Liu, J Appl Mech Eng 2013, 2:3 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2168-9873.S1.002
Psychological Aspects of Aging Edited by John E. Anderson

(1958). Psychological Aspects of Aging Edited by John E. Anderson. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy: Vol. 8, No. 4, pp. 479-480.
Prospective analysis of expression of circulating levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in the serum of patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL)

1532 Background: Matrix metalloproteinases have been associated with angiogenesis, tumor infiltration and metastases formation in systemic lymphoma. Disease status in PCNSL is determined by brain MRI; however it may be inconclusive and non-invasive tests to evaluate disease status would be useful. This study was designed to determine whether circulating levels of MMP-9 could be related to disease status in PCNSL. Methods: Circulating levels of MMP-9 were determined by ELISA and correlated with disease status assessed by MRI in a prospective longitudinal study. The disease status was classified as no evidence of disease (CR) versus active disease (AD). Results: We enrolled 18 PCNSL patients and obtained 93 blood samples (median 6 per patient, range 1–10) from August 2002 to December 2005. When in CR (12 patients, 59 samples), the mean MMP-9 level was 205.5 ± 19.1 ng/ml (median 162.3 ng/ml, range: 35.9–649.1 ng/ml). MMP-9 levels were significantly higher in AD (16 patients, 34 samples), with a mean MMP-9 of...
A Cold War Battleground: Catfish Row versus the Nevsky Prospekt

On 26 December 1955 the first US theatrical production to perform in the Soviet Union opened in Leningrad. In January, the Everyman Opera production of Porgy and Bess ran in Moscow for eight days, then moved to Poland and Czechoslovakia. The African American cast was the toast of the Soviet Union, enjoying cheering crowds wherever they went. Russian media trumpeted the tour, with Nikolai Mikhailov, Minister of Culture, declaring it a successful strengthening of cultural ties. The tour was not sponsored by the US government. Despite pleas from the Everyman producers, the State Department refused to fund it (although it would fund other legs of the tour). Instead, the Soviet government sponsored the company and made much of the presence of the African-American actors, who could move more freely in the Soviet Union than in the USA. While the company’s presence may have been the result of a thaw in US–Soviet relations after Stalin’s death in 1953, it also marked the fierce cultural battle the two powers were waging with race as a significant front. At stake were the many non-aligned nations of colour who were suspicious of both powers. This paper will explore the ways in which the Soviet Union used a cultural product of the USA against it in the global struggle over race that so marked the Cold War. Drawing on first-person accounts, Soviet reviews, and archival materials, I will demonstrate how theatre was a vital weapon in the Cold War arsenal for all combatants.
Understanding Suicidal Behavior of Gifted Students: Theory, Factors, and Cultural Expectations

The dramatic increase in the rate of youth suicide in the United States, including suicide among gifted adolescents, emphasizes the need for more research in this area. The literature on suicide among gifted adolescents is examined following a review of the literature on the incidence and causes of suicide in the general population. The literature on the possible vulnerability to suicide among gifted adolescents is explored through a focus on the social and emotional issues faced by gifted adolescent males and females. An examination of the literature on the proneness of gifted adolescents to suicide highlights the difficulties in obtaining conclusive results. More research on the possible correlations between the unique difficulties experienced by gifted youth and a propensity for suicide is needed.
Data Analytics of a Wearable Device for Heat Stroke Detection.

When exercising in a high-temperature environment, heat stroke can cause great harm to the human body. However, runners may ignore important physiological warnings and are not usually aware that a heat stroke is occurring. To solve this problem, this study evaluates a runner’s risk of heat stroke injury by using a wearable heat stroke detection device (WHDD), which we developed previously. Furthermore, some filtering algorithms are designed to correct the physiological parameters acquired by the WHDD. To verify the effectiveness of the WHDD and investigate the features of these physiological parameters, several people were chosen to wear the WHDD while conducting the exercise experiment. The experimental results show that the WHDD can identify high-risk trends for heat stroke successfully from runner feedback of the uncomfortable statute and can effectively predict the occurrence of a heat stroke, thus ensuring safety.
A Quality Improvement Initiative to Decrease Platelet Ordering Errors and a Proposed Model for Evaluating Clinical Decision Support Effectiveness.

Background and Objectives Clinical decision support (CDS) and computerized provider order entry have been shown to improve health care quality and safety, but may also generate previously unanticipated errors. We identified multiple CDS tools for platelet transfusion orders. In this study, we sought to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of those CDS tools while creating and testing a framework for future evaluation of other CDS tools. Methods Using a query of an enterprise data warehouse at a tertiary care pediatric hospital, we conducted a retrospective analysis to assess baseline use and performance of existing CDS for platelet transfusion orders. Our outcome measure was the percentage of platelet undertransfusion ordering errors. Errors were defined as platelet transfusion volumes ordered which were less than the amount recommended by the order set used. We then redesigned our CDS and measured the impact of our intervention prospectively using statistical process control methodology. Results We identified that 62% of all platelet transfusion orders were placed with one of two order sets (Inpatient Service 1 and Inpatient Service 2). The Inpatient Service 1 order set had a significantly higher occurrence of ordering errors (3.10% compared with 1.20%). After our interventions, platelet transfusion order error occurrence on Inpatient Service 1 decreased from 3.10 to 0.33%. Conclusion We successfully reduced platelet transfusion ordering errors by redesigning our CDS tools. We suggest that the use of collections of clinical data may help identify patterns in erroneous ordering, which could otherwise go undetected. We have created a framework which can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of other similar CDS tools.
Representation of convex geometries by circles on the plane

Abstract Convex geometries are closure systems satisfying the anti-exchange axiom. Every finite convex geometry can be embedded into a convex geometry of finitely many points in an n -dimensional space equipped with a convex hull operator, by the result of Kashiwabara et al. (2005). Allowing circles rather than points, as was suggested by Czedli (2014), may presumably reduce the dimension for representation. This paper introduces a property, the Weak 2 × 3-Carousel rule, which is satisfied by all convex geometries of circles on the plane, and we show that it does not hold in all finite convex geometries. This raises a number of representation problems for convex geometries, which may allow us to better understand the properties of Euclidean space related to its dimension.