cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Single-dose Pharmacokinetics of Nestorone®, a potential female-contraceptive

A synthetic progestin Nestorone is being developed for female-contraception. This study was conducted to determine the distribution metabolism and excretion of tritium-labeled Nestorone ((3)H Nestorone) in adult female rats. Rats were injected subcutaneously (S.C.) with a single dose of 400 microCi (3)H Nestorone/kg BW. Its distribution and concentrations in blood plasma and other tissues were determined at defined times. The excreta were examined for elimination of (3)H Nestorone. Radioactivity in all samples was analyzed by liquid scintillation counter. Metabolite profiling was performed by HPLC and LC/MS analysis of the plasma urine and feces samples. Following subcutaneous injection of (3)H Nestorone the mean peak concentrations of radioactivity (C(max)) in the blood and plasma were 58.1 and 95.5 ng equiv. (3)H Nestorone/g respectively at 2-h postdose (T(max)). Thereafter the concentration of drug steadily declined through 96-h postdose with a terminal elimination half-life (t(1/2)) of 15.6 h. (3)H Nestorone-derived radioactivity was widely distributed in most tissues by 0.5 h and attained a mean maximal concentration by 2-h postdose. Approximately 81.4% and 7.62% of the administered dose was excreted via feces and urine respectively. In vivo metabolism of (3)H Nestorone resulted into a total of 19 metabolites. Among them two metabolites viz. 17alpha-deacetyl-Nestorone (M9) and 45-dihydro-17alpha-deacetyl-Nestorone (M19) were identified by HPLC and LC/MS analysis. Metabolite profiling of plasma samples showed that most of the circulating radioactivity was associated with unchanged parent drug and M19. The M19 was a major metabolite in the profiled urine and feces samples. Presence of large proportion of drug/drug-related material in feces suggested that the biliary excretion is a main elimination route of (3)H Nestorone. The distribution metabolism and excretion profiles of (3)H Nestorone obtained in this study provide a fairly good insight about its fate in women. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Natural history of psychological reaction to genital herpes: A prospective study of woman university students

Genital herpes simplex infection causes significant psychological stress, as noted in several previous cross-sectional studies. The current study quantifies the psychological reactions to a diagnos...
Proteome-wide profiling of isoniazid targets in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Isoniazid (INH) is an essential drug used to treat tuberculosis. The mycobactericidal agents are INH adducts [INH-NAD(P)] of the pyridine nucleotide coenzymes, which are generated in vivo after INH activation and which bind to, and inhibit, essential enzymes. The NADH-dependent enoyl-ACP reductase (InhA) and the NADPH-dependent dihydrofolate reductase (DfrA) have both been shown to be inhibited by INH-NAD(P) adducts with nanomolar affinity. In this paper, we profiled the Mycobacterium tuberculosis proteome using both the INH-NAD and INH-NADP adducts coupled to solid supports and identified, in addition to InhA and DfrA, 16 other proteins that bind these adducts with high affinity. The majority of these are predicted to be pyridine nucleotide-dependent dehydrogenases/reductases. They are involved in many cellular processes, including S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methyl transfer reactions, pyrimidine and valine catabolism, the arginine degradative pathway, proton and potassium transport, stress response, lipid metabolism, and riboflavin biosynthesis. The targeting of multiple enzymes could, thus, account for the pleiotropic effects of, and powerful mycobactericidal properties of, INH.
The promoters for human DNA-PKcs (PRKDC) and MCM4: divergently transcribed genes located at chromosome 8 band q11

A 30-kb genomic segment containing the promoter and first 9 exons of PRKDC, the gene encoding the catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) of the human DNA-activated protein kinase, DNA-PK, was isolated and partially sequenced. Sequence comparison with the NCBI nonredundant database revealed the locations of the first 13 exons of the upstream gene, MCM4. MCM4 is an essential component of a protein complex that prevents DNA from being replicated more than once per cell cycle. The MCM4 and DNA-PKcs promoters are in CpG islands separated by approximately 700 bp, and transcription from each initiates at multiple, closely spaced sites. Both promoters lack TATA boxes, and the MCM4 promoter also lacks an initiator (Inr) element but has an inverted CCAAT box. The DNA-PKcs promoter has an Inr-like sequence as well as a downstream MED-1 element. The two promoters appear to function independently, as sequences required for core promoter activity do not overlap, and sequences extending into the 5' region of each gene had little or no effect on transcription of the other gene, as shown in transient transfection assays. The arrangement of the PRKDC/MCM4 gene pair is similar to that of the ATM/E14(NPAT) gene pair. ATM, the product of the gene mutated in ataxia telangiectasia, and DNA-PKcs function in pathways that detect or repair DNA damage and are members of a family of large, serine/threonine kinases that are closely related to phosphatidylinositol 3 kinases.
The Role of the School District in Student Discipline: Building Consensus in Cincinnati.

The problem of student discipline disproportionately affects urban schools with large numbers of low income and ethnic minority students. Research over the past 35 years however has consistently shown that discipline policies that are understood and accepted by teachers, students, and parents and consistently enforced by school officials, correlate with lower levels of student disruption. The important role that urban school districts can play in building consensus in support of student discipline policies has not been well documented. But increased levels of student mobility in large urban areas, and increased diversity among the families served by urban districts, highlight the need for district-wide codes of behavior that provide schools with a range of discipline programs that serve the needs of their particular communities. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how the process of developing and implementing a district-wide code of student behavior in Cincinnati played an important role in reducing disruptive behaviors leading to student suspension and expulsion. By involving all stakeholders in the development of its policies, and by responding to the concerns of all stakeholders in the range of programs it offered, the Cincinnati Public Schools was able to build consensus across socioeconomic and ethnic lines and make its code of behavior effective. On the basis of the evidence presented, it is argued that urban school districts can play a more active role in the area of student discipline. By developing and implementing district-wide codes of behavior that are understood and accepted by teachers, students, and parents, and consistently enforced by school officials, urban districts can lay the foundation on which schools can build healthy learning communities.
Factors limiting the spatial resolution and sensitivity of EELS microanalysis in a STEM

Abstract The experimental parameters which limit the spatial resolution and sensitivity of parallel electron-energy-loss microanalysis have been reviewed in order to determine the limiting factors over a range of experimental conditions. The effects of the signal-detector characteristics and electron optics on the performance of the microanalytical technique have been quantified. The importance of statistical considerations (signal-to-noise ratios) and the specimen itself are considered in order to develop a non-arbitrary definition of microanalytical performance based not only on the electron beam dimensions, but also incorporating other experimental limitations.
Surviving Online: An Analysis of How Burn Survivors Recover from Life Crises

This study is a qualitative analysis of e-mail communication between burn survivors. Grounded in 200+ e-mail messages between participants of an online support group, the study shows how burn survivors manage multiple, albeit contradictory, discourses of recovery. Using a narrative approach, we first highlight how burn survivors manage a tension between acceptance of their situation and resentment toward their circumstances. Then, we reveal how they cope with multiple meanings of beauty. Our study shows that online support groups can also privilege or enforce particular ways of thinking about recovery, such as valuing acceptance over resentment. In the conclusion, we suggest that surviving is a communicative accomplishment and propose that practitioners should engage in supportive communication without being patronizing.
Fatores de risco associados ao vício de sucção em leitões na fase de creche

Foi realizado um estudo epidemiologico em 65 granjas de suinos situadas na regiao Sul do Brasil para identificar os fatores que favorecem a ocorrencia do vicio de succao entre leitoes desmamados. Em cada granja acompanhou-se um lote de leitoes do nascimento ate 21 dias apos o desmame, provenientes de no minimo seis leitegadas, para obtencao de informacoes relacionadas as instalacoes, a nutricao, as praticas de manejo, ao ambiente interno e ao desempenho dos leitoes. Os dados foram submetidos a analises descritivas e de correspondencia multipla. A manifestacao do vicio ocorreu em 23 (35,4%) granjas. Nos lotes que apresentaram o vicio de succao, os leitoes obtiveram media de ganho diario de peso (P<0,005) inferior aos que nao apresentaram o vicio de succao. Os principais fatores de risco identificados foram: peso medio ao desmame menor que 6,3kg, ausencia de bebedouro especifico para os leitoes na maternidade, ocorrencia de diarreia na primeira semana apos o desmame, tipo de bebedouro usado na creche diferente daquele usado na maternidade, orientacao do eixo do predio inadequado, presenca de sinais de sarna no lote, ausencia de vazio sanitario na creche e uso da restricao alimentar logo apos o desmame. Sugere-se que a correcao dos fatores de risco previna a manifestacao do vicio de succao e melhore a media de ganho diario de peso dos leitoes apos o desmame.
Cost effectiveness of cephalosporin monotherapy and aminoglycoside/ureidopenicillin combination therapy. For the treatment of febrile episodes in neutropenic patients.

Objective: To assess the relative cost effectiveness of cephalosporin monotherapy options and aminoglycoside/ureidopenicillin combination therapy for the treatment of febrile episodes in adult patients with neutropenia.
A Nonlinear Model for Hippocampal Cognitive Prosthesis: Memory Facilitation by Hippocampal Ensemble Stimulation

Collaborative investigations have characterized how multineuron hippocampal ensembles encode memory necessary for subsequent successful performance by rodents in a delayed nonmatch to sample (DNMS) task and utilized that information to provide the basis for a memory prosthesis to enhance performance. By employing a unique nonlinear dynamic multi-input/multi-output (MIMO) model, developed and adapted to hippocampal neural ensemble firing patterns derived from simultaneous recorded CA1 and CA3 activity, it was possible to extract information encoded in the sample phase necessary for successful performance in the nonmatch phase of the task. The extension of this MIMO model to online delivery of electrical stimulation delivered to the same recording loci that mimicked successful CA1 firing patterns, provided the means to increase levels of performance on a trial-by-trial basis. Inclusion of several control procedures provides evidence for the specificity of effective MIMO model generated patterns of electrical stimulation. Increased utility of the MIMO model as a prosthesis device was exhibited by the demonstration of cumulative increases in DNMS task performance with repeated MIMO stimulation over many sessions on both stimulation and nonstimulation trials, suggesting overall system modification with continued exposure. Results reported here are compatible with and extend prior demonstrations and further support the candidacy of the MIMO model as an effective cortical prosthesis.
Epidermal receptor development and sensory pathways in vitally stained amphioxus (Branchiostoma floridae)

Chloromethyl (CM) DiI was applied to the exterior of living embryos, larvae, and metamorphic juveniles of amphioxus. This fluorescent dye is taken up preferentially (but not highly selectively) by epidermal receptors and often stains sensory axons to their full extent. Type I primary receptors in the epidermis first become morphologically detectable along the rostrocaudal axis of the 2.5 day larva when their epidermal perikarya extend unbranched axons to the nerve cord. These axons run posteriorly or anteriorly within the nerve cord, depending on whether their perikarya are located, respectively, rostral or caudal to the most posterior pharyngeal slit. In later larvae, axons of type I receptors are organized into a dorsal and a subdorsal sensory tract on either side of the nerve cord. In the epidermis of metamorphic juveniles, CM-DiI also stains type II receptors (which are axonless, secondary receptors) and ventral pit cells (which may not be receptors). It is probable, but not yet conclusively demonstrated, that peripheral neurites from Retzius bipolar cells (primary intramedullary sensory neurones) synapse with type II secondary epidermal receptors or ramify freely among the other epidermal cells. The discussion considers homologies among epidermal sensory receptors in chordates.
Effect of visual perspective on memory and interpretation in dysphoria

When engaging in self-reflection, the visual perspective one adopts has important effects on emotional reactivity. Specifically, adopting a distanced stance, or viewing oneself from a third-person perspective, has been found to reduce emotional reactivity to negative autobiographical memories. The effect of adopting this perspective is moderated by depression such that reactivity is not reduced for individuals with particularly low levels of depressive symptoms. In the current study, we examine the effects of visual perspective on two forms of mental imagery in dysphoric and nondysphoric individuals. We attempt to replicate previous findings for recall of sad autobiographical memories and extend this research to interpretation of ambiguous situations. The results suggest that the effects of adopting a distanced stance are not moderated by depressive symptoms and do not extend from memories to interpretations of ambiguous situations.
Identification of the srtC1 Transcription Start Site and Catalytically Essential Residues Required for Actinomyces oris T14V SrtC1 Activity

In Actinomyces oris T14V, sortase SrtC1 mediates the assembly of type 1 fimbriae. We analyzed the effects of the conserved residues (H184, H204, F213, Y236, L263, T265, C266 and R275) on the SrtC1 activity by site-directed mutagenesis. We identified three essential conserved residues (H204, Y236 and C266) that are critical for the assembly of type 1 fimbriae in this organism. rapid amplification of cDNA ends analyses and reverse transcriptase-PCR results indicate that srtC1 was transcribed together with the putative adhesin gene fimQ and major structural subunit gene fimP as a single polycistronic mRNA.
Phosphatidylcholine-associated nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit DNA synthesis and the growth of colon cancer cells in vitro

The use of NSAIDs or COX-2 inhibitors for chemoprevention of colorectal cancer has been suggested for patients at high risk for this disease. However, the gastrointestinal side effects of traditional NSAIDs which consist of bleeding and ulceration, and the cardiovascular effects of COX-2 inhibitors may limit their usefulness. In preclinical studies, our laboratory has shown that the addition of phosphatidylcholine (PC) to the NSAIDs aspirin (ASA) or ibuprofen (IBU) results in a NSAID–PC with fewer GI side effects and also maintained or enhanced analgesic, anti-pyretic and anti-inflammatory efficacy over the unmodified NSAID. Because NSAID–PCs have not been tested for anti-cancer activity, in the present study, ASA–PC and IBU–PC were tested on the SW-480 human colon cancer cell line. SW-480 cells were incubated in media containing 1–5 mM NSAID or NSAID–PC for 2 days. Measurements were made of cell number, cell proliferation (DNA synthesis), and manner of cell death (necrosis and apoptosis). ASA and IBU reduced cell number in a dose-dependent manner with IBU showing a greater potency than ASA. The association of PC to the NSAID resulted in greater reductions of cell number for both NSAIDs. Furthermore, the NSAID–PC formulation had significantly greater efficacy and potency to inhibit cellular DNA synthesis than the unmodified NSAID. PC alone at the doses and times used had no effect on cell number in this cell line, but did have a small effect to reduce DNA synthesis. None of the drugs had a clear effect on cell death by necrosis. Only IBU and IBU–PC caused cell death by apoptosis in SW-480 cells. We conclude that NSAID–PCs have activity to impede the growth of colon cancer cells in vitro, which is due, in major part, to a marked reduction in DNA synthetic activity of these cells. This growth inhibitory effect appears to be independent of COX-2 activity, since it is known that SW-480 cells do not have this inducible COX isoform. Due to its greater efficacy in this model system, IBU–PC should be further evaluated as a chemopreventive agent that is safer for the GI tract than unmodified NSAID.
Charity brand personality: can smaller charitable organizations leverage their brand's personality to influence giving

The importance of establishing a strong brand identity has been the focus for consumer brand managers for decades. Organizations develop and communicate a distinctive brand personality as a means of attracting consumers and cultivating long-term relationships. While the concept of branding has gained recent attention as an important strategy for nonprofit practitioners, little empirical data exist on the role a charity's brand personality might play in attracting donors. A few recent studies of large national charitable organizations provide support that charities exhibit distinctive personalities. This study explores whether smaller, local scope charitable organizations, without the benefit of national brand recognition, also exhibit distinctive brand personalities and whether such brand personalities influence donors. Results from five charitable organizations, from four distinct categories of cause, find that brand personality traits that are both differentiating and relevant to donors influence charitable giving. The findings provide nonprofit practitioners with valuable insights for leveraging their brand's personality to turn donor awareness into commitment and establish a stronger market position. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Study of the conformational change of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐grafted chains in water with neutron reflection: Molecular weight dependence at high grafting density

The temperature-dependent conformational change of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) brushes in D2O was investigated as a function of the molecular weight (M) at a high grafting density with neutron reflection. PNIPAM chains with three different M values were grafted at the same high surface density from a gold surface by atom transfer radical polymerization. A significant change in the segment concentration profile was observed for all three samples as the temperature passed through the lower critical solution temperature (∼30 °C), in contrast to previous results obtained for samples with much lower surface density. Somewhat surprisingly, the fractional change in the first moment of the segment concentration profile (〈z〉) from 20 to 41 °C was weaker with increasing M. This is contrary to the trend for systems involving only van der Waals (VDW) interactions, in which higher M chains experience larger conformational changes with change in solvent quality. Indeed, the M dependence of the first moment of the segment concentration profile for the grafted PNIPAM chains at 20 °C was much weaker than has been reported previously for dense brushes involving only VDW interactions under good solvent conditions. At 20 °C, the form of the segment concentration profile varied systematically with M. A single-layer profile resulted for the highest M, but the profiles became more bilayer in character with decreasing M. At 41 °C, the profiles for all three samples were adequately described by a single dense layer with a smooth transition region to bulk D2O. The weak dependence of 〈z〉 on M at 20 °C and the trend from a bilayer profile at lower M to a single-layer profile at higher M appear to be related. These results are interpreted in terms of concentration-dependent segment–segment interactions that result in a weak attraction for high segment densities at 20 °C. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 3302–3310, 2004
Comparison of the Accuracies of Several Phylogenetic Methods Using Protein and DNA Sequences

A biologically realistic method was used to simulate evolutionary trees. The method uses a real DNA coding sequence as the starting point, simulates mutation according to the mutational spectrum of Escherichia coli-including base substitutions, insertions, and deletions-and separates the processes of mutation and selection. Trees of 8, 16, 32, and 64 taxa were simulated with average branch lengths of 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 changes per branch. The resulting sequences were aligned with ClustalX, and trees were estimated by Neighbor Joining, Parsimony, Maximum Likelihood, and Bayesian methods from both DNA sequences and the corresponding protein sequences. The estimated trees were compared with the true trees, and both topological and branch length accuracies were scored. Over the variety of conditions tested, Bayesian trees estimated from DNA sequences that had been aligned according to the alignment of the corresponding protein sequences were the most accurate, followed by Maximum Likelihood trees estimated from DNA sequences and Parsimony trees estimated from protein sequences.
Comparative biophysical properties of tenofovir-loaded, thiolated and nonthiolated chitosan nanoparticles intended for HIV prevention

Aim: This study is designed to test the hypothesis that tenofovir-loaded (an anti-HIV microbicide) chitosan–thioglycolic acid-conjugated (CS–TGA) nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit superior biophysical properties for mucoadhesion compared with those of native CS NPs. Materials & methods: The NPs are prepared by ionotropic gelation. The particle mean diameter, encapsulation efficiency and release profile are analyzed by dynamic light scattering and UV spectroscopy, respectively. The cytotoxicity, cellular uptake and uptake mechanism are assessed on VK2/E6E7 and End1/E6E7 cell lines by colorimetry/fluorimetry, and percentage mucoadhesion is assessed using porcine vaginal tissue. Results: The mean diameter of the optimal NP formulations ranges from 240 to 252 nm, with a maximal encapsulation efficiency of 22.60%. Tenofovir release from CS and CS–TGA NPs follows first-order and Higuchi models, respectively. Both NPs are noncytotoxic in 48 h. The cellular uptake, which is time dependent, mainly occurs via the caveoli...
Limits of highly oscillatory controls and the approximation of general paths by admissible trajectories

The authors describe sufficient conditions, extending earlier work by J. Kurzweil and J. Jarnik (Results in Mathematics, vol.14, p.125-137, (1988)), for a sequence of inputs to be such that, for every m-tuple of smooth vector fields, the trajectories of the time derivative of x(t) converge to those of an extended system, where the new vector fields are Lie brackets of the original m-tuples. Using these conditions, the inverse problem is solved, wherein given a trajectory gamma of the extended system, one must find trajectories of the original system that converge to gamma . This is done by means of a universal construction that only involves knowledge of the coefficients of the extended system. These results can be applied to solve the problem of approximate tracking for a controllable system without drift. >
Imaging findings of expansile lesions of the thymus

The purpose of this article is to review the imaging findings of the different expansile lesions of the thymus. Almost 50% of all mediastinal masses are located in the anterior mediastinum. The thymus is the most common site of origin of these masses. Several kinds of lesions can arise from this gland because it derives from the three embryonic germ cell layers. Primary neoplasms of the thymus are thymoma, thymolipomas, carcinoma, carcinoid, primary germ cell tumors, and lymphoma. The latter can also involve the organ in a secondary fashion. Other lesions that cause thymic enlargement and that can be confused with neoplasia are thymic cysts and thymic hyperplasia. Even though anterior mediastinal masses are first found on conventional radiographs, computed tomography and magnetic resonance are very useful additional studies for assessing the origin and extension of these masses. The basic concepts regarding embryology, anatomy, and histology relevant for the differential diagnosis of an enlarged thymic gland are also described.
LiNbO3-quartz-LiNbO3 composite delay line with zero linear temperature coefficient of delay

A bonded composite consisting of LiNbO3-quartz-LiNbO3 is shown to have zero linear temperature coefficient of delay (t.c.d.) for acoustic surface waves. The quartz is a rotated y-cut crystal with propagation along the x direction providing a small negative linear t.c.d. that offsets the positive contribution from the surface-wave propagation in the LiNbO3.
A 5-month-old with intractable epilepsy

The nosology of early infantile seizures and epilepsy syndromes is controversial. There are two age-related early infantile epileptic encephalopathy syndromes that are characterized by early onset of spasms, a burst-suppression EEG pattern, poor response to treatment, and poor prognosis. This paper examines the early myoclonic epilepsies.
On the Measurement of Virtual Height

A time dependent definition of the virtual height of a reflected wave train is suggested. This definition is such that its accuracy increases as the width of the incident pulse increases. Moreover, it is theoretically possible to obtain an estimate of the virtual height with as small an error as desired, no matter what the nature of the reflecting medium. Suppose an incident pulse having width W and a carrier frequency \omega_{0} produces a reflected wave which, when measured at a fixed point x={0} in space, is R(\omega_{0}, w, t) . The suggested definition of the virtual height h'(\omega_{0}) is h'(\omega_{0}) = lim \min{\omega\rightarrow\infty}c\{\int\min{-\infty}\max{\infty} t\|R(\omega_{0},w,t)\|^{2}dt/ \int\min{-\infty}\max{\infty}\|R(\omega_{0},w,t)\|^{2}dt -\int\min{-\infty}\max{\infty}\|I(\omega_{0},w,t)\|^{2}dt/\int\min{-\infty}\max{\infty}\|I(\omega_{0},w,t)\|^{2}dt}, where c is the free space velocity of light. This relation for h'(\omega_{0}) holds for any physically reasonable incident wave train and is independent of its envelope shape. An example is given of a reflected wave whose virtual height cannot be determined by inspection in the usual manner. The expression given here for the virtual height provides the correct result.
Culturally competent healthcare systems: A systematic review

Culturally competent healthcare systems—those that provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services—have the potential to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities. When clients do not understand what their healthcare providers are telling them, and providers either do not speak the client’s language or are insensitive to cultural differences, the quality of health care can be compromised. We reviewed five interventions to improve cultural competence in healthcare systems—programs to recruit and retain staff members who reflect the cultural diversity of the community served, use of interpreter services or bilingual providers for clients with limited English proficiency, cultural competency training for healthcare providers, use of linguistically and culturally appropriate health education materials, and culturally specific healthcare settings. We could not determine the effectiveness of any of these interventions, because there were either too few comparative studies, or studies did not examine the outcome measures evaluated in this review: client satisfaction with care, improvements in health status, and inappropriate racial or ethnic differences in use of health services or in received and recommended treatment.
CALCIUM AND CALCIOTROPIC HORMONES IN TRANSIENT HYPERTENSION OF PREGNANCY VERSUS PREECLAMPSIA

Objective: Women with preeclampsia (PE) have markedly reduced urinary calcium excretion compared to normotensive, pregnant controls (NT). This abnormality in PE is accompanied by significandy reduced serum ionized calcium, increased parathyroid hormone, and reduced 1,25(OH)2-vitamin D levels. Urinary calcium in women with transient hypertension of pregnancy (THP) may be normal, but serum calcium and calciotropic hormones have never been reported. We set out to determine whether calcium and calciotropic hormones differed between women with THP and PE.Methods: Third-trimester women with THP were studied and compared to values previously reported but concurrently measured for NT and PE. Urinary calcium, sodium, creatinine, and protein in conjunction with serum total and ionized calcium, intact parathyroid hormone (PTH), 25(OH)-vitamin D, 1,25(OH)2-vitamin D, and phosphate were measured in these women.Major Outcome Measure: Our hypothesis was that women with PE and THP could be distinguished on the basis of u...
ATP consumption by uncoupled mitochondria activates sarcolemmal KATP channels in cardiac myocytes

We tested whether close coupling exists between mitochondria and sarcolemma by monitoring whole cell ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) current (I K,ATP) as an index of subsarcolemmal energy state during mito...
Ebola virus mediated infectivity is restricted in canine and feline cells

Ebolaviruses and marburgviruses belong to the Filoviridae family and often cause severe, fatal hemorrhagic fever in humans and non-human primates. The magnitude of the 2014 outbreak in West Africa and the unprecedented emergence of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the United States underscore the urgency to better understand the dynamics of Ebola virus infection, transmission and spread. To date, the susceptibility and possible role of domestic animals and pets in the transmission cycle and spread of EVD remains unclear. We utilized infectious VSV recombinants and lentivirus pseudotypes expressing the EBOV surface glycoprotein (GP) to assess the permissiveness of canine and feline cells to EBOV GP-mediated entry. We observed a general restriction in EBOV-mediated infection of primary canine and feline cells. To address the entry mechanism, we used cells deficient in NPC1, a host protein implicated in EBOV entry, and a pharmacological blockade of cholesterol transport, to show that an NPC1-dependent mechanism of EBOV entry is conserved in canine and feline cells. These data demonstrate that cells of canine and feline origin are susceptible to EBOV GP mediated infection; however, infectivity of these cells is reduced significantly compared to controls. Moreover, these data provide new insights into the mechanism of EBOV GP mediated entry into cells of canine and feline origin.
Unexpected Twists in the Affordable Care Act Decision

In its keenly anticipated decision in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, the Supreme Court found the "individual mandate" provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) constitutional, along with nearly the entirety of the rest of the Act. The Court did so with an unexpected vote count and on unanticipated legal bases.This article summarizes the decision and its likely effects.
Divergence between Organometallic and Single-Electron-Transfer Mechanisms in Copper(II)-Mediated Aerobic C–H Oxidation

Copper(II)-mediated C–H oxidation is the subject of extensive interest in synthetic chemistry, but the mechanisms of many of these reactions are poorly understood. Here, we observe different products from CuII-mediated oxidation of N-(8-quinolinyl)benzamide, depending on the reaction conditions. Under basic conditions, the benzamide group undergoes directed C–H methoxylation or chlorination. Under acidic conditions, the quinoline group undergoes nondirected chlorination. Experimental and computational mechanistic studies implicate an organometallic C–H activation/functionalization mechanism under the former conditions and a single-electron-transfer mechanism under the latter conditions. This rare observation of divergent, condition-dependent mechanisms for oxidation of a single substrate provides a valuable foundation for understanding CuII-mediated C–H oxidation reactions.
Resolving voltage-time dilemma using an atomic-scale lever of subpicosecond electron-phonon interaction.

Nanoelectronic memory based on trapped charge need to be small and fast, but fundamentally it faces a voltage–time dilemma because the requirement of a high-energy barrier for data retention under zero/low electrical stimuli is incompatible with the demand of a low-energy barrier for fast switching under a modest programming voltage. One solution is to embed an atomic-level lever of localized electron–phonon interaction to autonomously reconfigure trap-site’s barrier in accordance to the electron-occupancy of the site. Here we demonstrate an atomically levered resistance-switching memory built on locally flexible amorphous nanometallic thin films: charge detrapping can be triggered by a mechanical force, the fastest one being a plasmonic Lorentz force induced by a nearby electron or positron bunch passing in 10–13 s. The observation provided the first real-time evidence of an electron–phonon interaction in action, which enables nanometallic memory to turn on at a subpicosecond speed yet retain long-term m...
Quantitative comparison of Dosimetry Toolkit (DTK) and custom software for hybrid 2D/3D residence time estimation

102 Objectives Estimation of organ residence time is critical for treatment planning of targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT). A variety of approaches (2D, hybrid 2D/3D, and fully 3D) have been used with custom software and have recently become supported in commercial software packages. This study uses retrospective data from a clinical trial to compare a previously-developed in-house method to that in the commercial DTK (GE Healthcare) in terms of processing time and concordance between residence time estimates and its various constituents. Methods Data from 10 patients treated from 2003-6 in a high-dose myeloablative Zevalin TRT trial were used. Imaging data included a SPECT/CT scan ~24 h and wholebody scans at 1, 4-6, 24, 72, and 144 h post-injection, and a static acquisition of a calibration source. Data were preprocessed (reconstructed with iterative scatter, attenuation, and collimator-detector response correction for SPECT, scatter and geometric-mean attenuation for planar) for input into the DTK and a previously developed manual method. Planar images at the different time points were registered, organ VOIs/ROIs were defined and residence times calculated. Both methods were analyzed by the same user and separated by more than 1 month in time. Results DTK resulted in reduced processing times (18 to 47% - mean 34%) with an average time of 56 min. Residence times obtained for the liver (the critical organ) with DTK were comparable to the manual mode, following compensation for the differences in calibration source ROIs, SPECT VOIs and planar organ quantification, which contributed to an estimated error of 8, 16, and 6 %, respectively. The integrated/automated nature of data/metadata extraction in DTK reduced user errors (transcription and image selection). Conclusions Commercial integrated packages such as DTK provide improved processing time and reduce user errors. However, these data suggest that careful attention and standardized, rather than ad hoc manual processing, data analysis tools are needed to bring advanced dosimetry methods to clinical practice.
The supramodal brain: implications for auditory perception

ABSTRACTThe perceptual brain is designed around multisensory input. Areas once thought dedicated to a single sense are now known to work with multiple senses. It has been argued that the multisensory nature of the brain reflects a cortical architecture for which task, rather than sensory system, is the primary design principle. This supramodal thesis is supported by recent research on human echolocation and multisensory speech perception. In this review, we discuss the behavioural implications of a supramodal architecture, especially as they pertain to auditory perception. We suggest that the architecture implies a degree of perceptual parity between the senses and that cross-sensory integration occurs early and completely. We also argue that a supramodal architecture implies that perceptual experience can be shared across modalities and that this sharing should occur even without bimodal experience. We finish by briefly suggesting areas of future research.
Worker reentry safety. IX. Techniques of determining safe reentry intervals for organophosphate-treated cotton fields

Several circumstances have revealed a need for better appraisal of the hazard incurred by workers who reenter cotton fields recently treated with pesticides: (1) the increased use of parathions and other organophosphate insecticides on cotton as substitutes for DDT, (2) the rapid expansion of cotton pest-management programs involving large numbers of cotton checkers, and (3) a lack of human exposure information for establishing reentry intervals. A “reentry interval” is the waiting period required to protect field workers from possible poisoning when they enter pesticide-treated fields. Reentry information on treated fields is needed essentially for workers who are intimately associated with the foliage of maturing cotton for extended periods, e.g., cotton insect field checkers (cotton scouts), hoe crews, and scientists. Irrigators and tractor drivers are the only other personnel entering fields and they do not normally contact cotton foliage. Cotton scouts, by reason of their direct contact with cotton foliage, in field after field, for up to 10 hr of intermittent exposure/day and approaching 40 hr/week, become the principal concern in establishing safe reentry intervals for cotton.
Clinical Observation of Traditional Chinese Drug Treatment on Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura in Children

Objective The purpose of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic effects and side effects of traditional Chinese drug treatment on idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura(ITP) in children.Methods Traditional Chinese drug was given combined with adrenl cortical hormone to treat ITP.Results The effect of group with traditional Chinese drug therapy was significantly better than that in the control group(P＜0.05).The total effective rate for improvement was 92% after treatment in treatment group,while the control group was 76% (P＜0.05).The number of platelet in group of patients who received tranditional Chinese drug was higher than those with adrenl contical hormone (P＜0.05).Conclusions Traditional Chinese drug therapy is effective and safe for childhood ITP, and the effect of the combined therapy is better than single agent.In order to improve the therapeutic effects,it is necessary to make a therapeutic regimen.
Pay without Performance: The Unfulfilled Promise of Executive Compensation

(2005). Pay without Performance: The Unfulfilled Promise of Executive Compensation. Journal of Economic Issues: Vol. 39, No. 4, pp. 1083-1086.
Observation of deflagration wave in energetic materials using reactive molecular dynamics

Abstract Currently, there is no universal atomistic approach for simulating the combustion chemistry of a moving deflagration wave in condensed phase energetic materials. A reactive molecular dynamics based approach is used to identify the thermochemical events behind the formation and the propagation of a thermally initiated deflagration wave in the condensed phase RDX. The reactive molecular dynamics trajectory is mapped onto Eulerian control volumes to calculate the mass, energy and chemical flux across such deflagration front. A transition from ignition to a self-sustaining deflagration front occurs when the mass transport at the front exceeds the thermal transport in the course of propagation. Upon the formation of a self-sustaining deflagration front, a sudden rise in temperature at the front is observed accompanied by increase in the local density of the unreacted solid ahead of the front. The observed energy flux across the propagating deflagration front agrees well with the previously reported heat of explosion predictions. The deflagration front chemistry of RDX is dominated by the intermolecular and the intramolecular H-transfer reactions and subsequent formation of short-lived heavier polyradicals similar to the non-volatile residue reported in the literature. Chemical analysis indicates that the deflagration front is composed of a reactive chemical mixture of molten RDX, polyradicals and lighter intermediate radicals with intact triazine rings.
Deep Venous Thrombosis: Upper and Lower Extremity

Three sets of paired venae comitantes paralleling the course of three named arteries begin in the distal calf. The paired veins join in the mid calf. The anterior tibial vein drains the anterior compartment, the posterior tibial vein drains the posterior compartment, and the peroneal vein drains the lateral compartment of the leg. They join to form the popliteal vein in the popliteal fossa.
Quantitation of the rabbit intestinal glycolipid receptor for Shiga toxin: Further evidence for the developmental regulation of globotriaosylceramide in microvillus membranes

Abstract Shiga toxin, produced by Shigella dysenteriae 1 , causes enterotoxic, cytotoxic, and neurotoxic effects, which may be mediated by a glycolipid receptor, globotriaosylceramide, Gb 3 . To study the relationship of this receptor and toxin effects, globotriaosylceramide was quantitated and further characterized in rabbit small intestinal microvillus membranes at various ages. Glycolipids were extracted from rabbit microvillus membranes, purified on Unisil columns, and quantitated by highperformance liquid chromatography. The major glycolipid peaks were hydroxylated fatty acid-containing glucosylceramide, lactosylceramide, and globotriaosylceramide. There was a marked increase of globotriaosylceramide levels with age, ranging from 0.02 to 16.2 pmol/μg microvillus membrane protein in neonates and adults, respectively. The globotriaosylceramide peak was susceptible to α-galactosidase treatment, which produced an elevation in the lactosylceramide peak, but markedly reduced globotriaosylceramide content in 34-day-old rabbits. Binding of iodinated Shiga toxin to globotriaosylceramide was documented on highperformance thin-layer chromatography plates by autoradiography. The glycolipid receptor for Shiga toxin in rabbit microvillus membranes is thus a hydroxylated fatty acid-containing globotriaosylceramide. This moiety is virtually absent in neonates and gradually increases with age. Quantitative differences in globotriaosylceramide may be the underlying basis for the age-specific differences in functional responsiveness of rabbit intestinal tissue to Shiga toxin.
Tracking Down the Misplaced Concreton in the Neurosciences

My aim in this essay is to show how far it is possible to defend the quality of ‘humanness’ against the scientific world view, under stringent (and, I would say, appropriate) conditions.1 The conditions are: first, not to resort to anything in the nature of vitalism or teleology — by modern standards, a not particularly stringent condition; second, which is, I think, quite stringent, not to resort to anything in the nature of holism or organicism, nor appeal to hypothetical schemes of thought or laws of nature of a non-empirical kind, like dialectics. In effect, I propose to defend this quality, which we may think of for purposes of this discussion as tied in with such felt, relatively noncognitive entities as ‘the spark of life’ or free will, sense of self or sense of one’s uniqueness, without challenging the scientific reducibility of life to the laws of physics, and without postulating any laws of physics not in the textbooks today. The defense I speak of is not new. It was first put forth some fifty years ago by Alfred North Whitehead, in the early chapters of his book Science and the Modern World (Whitehead [1925]). I shall take up only Whitehead’s very simple proposals of his early chapters, without the speculative material further on. I shall argue, first, that this stark message of Whitehead’s deserves new attention because it is all that one can reasonably expect; and second, by means of various observations including a proposition that I call a ‘quasi-theorem’, which is a continuation of Whitehead’s thought, that it is really enough, if properly and not very complicatedly developed, and therefore deserves the further attention of philosophers.
Comprehensive Material Characterizations of Pavement Structure Installed with Wicking Fabrics

AbstractWhen a road is constructed, soils within the embankment are often compacted at the optimum water content to achieve the best performance. The postconstruction water content tends to increas...
T.D.A. Cockerell (1866–1948) of the University of Colorado: His contributions to the natural history of the California islands and the establishment of Channel Islands National Monument

Theodore Dru Alison Cockerell was a naturalist at the University of Colorado from 1904 to 1947 and studied botany, zoology, and paleontology in North and South America, Asia, Australia, Africa, and Europe. In the latter part of his career, he studied the California islands and published many papers on their natural history, 16 of them in four years (1937–1940). He made important contributions to the natural history of the islands in four distinct ways: entomology of the islands, including identification of a number of new species of bees; discovery of fossil marine invertebrate faunas and recognition that the zoogeography of the taxa reflects the position of the islands relative to converging cool and warm currents; discovery of abundant land snails, both living and in fossil form, and recognition that the fossils are in close stratigraphic association with mammoth fossils; and island biogeography, with considerations of species dispersal mechanisms and endemism. Newly discovered letters and memos also reveal that Cockerell played a pivotal role in the establishment of Channel Islands National Monument.
From protection to persecution: Threat environment and refugee scapegoating:

The security consequences associated with refugee flows are among the most widely studied aspects of forced migration. While the majority of this research program has focused on how refugee movemen...
Error Performance of Cryptography Transmission in Wireless Fading Channels

If an error occurs in encrypted data while transmitted over the wireless channel, it is known that the decryption process at the destination results in avalanche to the original data. Closed-form expressions for error performance of encrypted data over the wireless channel have not been given attention in literature. We consider crypto-systems signals transmitted over faded wireless channels and derive closed-form expressions for the bit error rate (BER). Numerical results and computer simulations are provided to interpret and verify the derived expressions. The results provide design engineers a quantitative insight into performance deterioration resulted from using cryptography in wireless communications using closed-form expressions rather than running time-consuming simulation programs.