cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation and prediction of pharmacokinetics of PFOA and PFOS in the monkey and human using a PBPK model

Perfluoroalkyl acid carboxylates and sulfonates (PFAAs) have many consumer and industrial applications. The persistence and widespread distribution of these compounds in humans have brought them under intense scrutiny. Limited pharmacokinetic data is available in humans; however, human data exists for two communities with drinking water contaminated by PFAAs. Also, there is toxicological and pharmacokinetic data for monkeys, which can be quite useful for cross-species extrapolation to humans. The goal of this research was to develop a physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for PFOA and PFOS for monkeys and then scale this model to humans in order to describe available human drinking water data. The monkey model simulations were consistent with available PK data for monkeys. The monkey model was then extrapolated to the human and then used to successfully simulate the data collected from residents of two communities exposed to PFOA in drinking water. Human PFOS data is minimal; however, using the half-life estimated from occupational exposure, our model exhibits reasonable agreement with the available human serum PFOS data. It is envisioned that our PBPK model will be useful in supporting human health risk assessments for PFOA and PFOS by aiding in understanding of human pharmacokinetics.
The history of the phantom in congenitally absent limbs

Abstract The great majority of investigators from the early 1900's to the present have consistently denied the existence of phantoms of congenitally absent limbs. However, contemporary workers have produced abundant evidence of such phantoms. Moreover, discovery of early sources indicates the phenomenon to have been established some 130 years ago. To date, 27 individuals with phantoms of congenital limbs have been reported. The present paper surveys the known literature and contains reports from six coutries.
Behavioral and biochemical effects of intranigral injection of phospholipase-A2.

Sperling MR, Pritchard PB, Engel J Jr, Daniel C, Sage1 J (1986): Prolactin in partial epilepsy: An indicator of limbic seizures. Ann Neurol 20:716-722. Zis AP, Remick RA, Clark CM, Grant BEK, Brown GM (1988): Methysergide blocks the postictal prolactin surge. Abstract NR131, American Psychiatric Association, p 77. Swartz CM, Abrams _R, Drews V (1988): Serotonin and Zis AP, Remick RA, Clark CM, Grant BEK, Brown GM electroconvulsive shock-induced pmlactin release. Con(1989): Blockade of the postictal prolactin surge by vuls Ther 4:141-145. methysergide. Arch Gen Psychiatry (in press).
B-mode ultrasonographic characterization of carotid atherosclerotic plaques in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients

Objective To identify features on B-mode ultrasonography (US) prevalent in symptomatic plaques and correlate these findings with histopathologic markers of plaque instability. Methods Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) plaques from symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with critical stenoses (>70%) were qualitatively assessed using preoperative B-mode US for echolucency and calcific acoustic shadowing. US echolucency was quantitated ex vivo using computerized techniques for gray-scale median (GSM) analysis. Histopathologic correlates for US plaque echolucency (percentage of necrotic core area) and acoustic shadowing (percentage of calcification area) were determined. Results Fifty CEA plaques were collected from 48 patients (46 unilateral and two bilateral); 26 of these plaques were from symptomatic patients. Age, degree of stenosis, and atherosclerotic risk factors were similar for the symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Using preoperative B-mode US, 58%, 35%, and 7% of symptomatic plaques and 18%, 41%, and 41% of asymptomatic plaques were found to be echolucent, echogenic, and calcific, respectively (P Conclusions Using B-mode US, symptomatic plaques are more echolucent and less calcified than asymptomatic plaques and are associated with a greater degree of histopathologic plaque necrosis. Such features are indicative of plaque instability and should be considered in the decision-making algorithm when selecting patients with high-grade asymptomatic carotid stenosis for intervention.
Dose response of rat retinal microvessels to proton dose schedules used clinically: a pilot study

Abstract Purpose: This preclinical rat pilot study quantifies retinal microvessel, endothelial, and pericyte population changes produced by proton irradiation Methods and Materials: The left eyes of rats were irradiated with single doses of 8, 14, 20, and 28 Gy protons; right eyes, with two fractions. Animals were euthanized, and eyes were removed; elastase digests were prepared, and cell populations were counted in sample fields. Results were compared with unirradiated controls. Results: Progressive time- and dose-dependent endothelial cell loss occurred following all schedules. Cell loss was significantly different from control values ( p p 0 phase of the mitotic cycle. 28 Gy produced photoreceptor cell loss. Conclusion: The retinal digest is an elegant bioassay to quantify the microvessel population response. Single- and split-dose schedules appear to yield similar outcomes, in terms of endothelial cell density.
Exploring the Link Between Maternal History of Childhood Victimization and Child Risk of Maltreatment

Abstract The strong link between mothers' history of childhood victimization and children's risk of experiencing maltreatment is not well understood. Two hundred and twenty mother-child dyads from poor, high-crime urban neighborhoods, 58% of which included children who had been maltreated, were studied. In univariate logistic regression analyses, maternal childhood history of victimization was associated with increased child risk of maltreatment. However, this relationship disappeared in multivariate logistic regression analyses, after controlling for mothers' current marital status, victimization as an adult, and depressive symptoms, which all continued to predict maltreatment risk of children. Factors in mothers' current situations appear to partially explain the link between their experiences of childhood victimization and their children's risk of maltreatment.
Differential rates of recovery following frontal cortical lesions in rats

Abstract Recovery from frontal neocortical lesions in rats was assessed with two measures: (1) amphetamine-induced stabilimeter activity and (2) spontaneously occurring daily wheel running activity. Frontal ablation potentiated the stimulant-like properties of amphetamine in rats tested 10 days after surgery but had little or no affect on animals tested 30 days after surgery. These results held true across a wide range of dosages. The increased wheel running produced by frontal lesions was, on the other hand, still prominent in animals given 40 days of postoperative recovery.
FOCUSING OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION WITH POLYCAPILLARY OPTICS

Abstract Polycapillary optics are arrays of thousands of hollow capillary tubes. Focal spots are produced from the overlap of outputs from multiple channels at distances of 10–100 mm from the output of the optic. Synchrotron focusing was performed with two polycapillary X-ray optics. The spot size for the monolithic optic was 80 μm, which yielded a measured gain in photon flux through a 350 μm pinhole of nearly 100. Gains up to an order of magnitude larger are expected for smaller pinholes. White beam focusing was also demonstrated.
RESISTANCE TO FIBROMA VIRUS INFECTION. THE ROLE OF IMMUNE LEUKOCYTES AND IMMUNE MACROPHAGES

Leukocytes and macrophages, obtained from fibroma-immune rabbits and added to immune serum-fibroma virus mixtures, significantly increased the neutralization of fibroma virus as compared with immune serum alone. Immune cell suspensions from peritoneal exudates, regional lymph nodes, buffy coats, spleen, and liver were all effective in inhibiting fibroma virus. Approximately 2000 to 4000 immune cells/mm.3 were necessary to cause an effect but no particular cell type could be implicated as responsible for the inhibition of fibroma virus. Normal cells did not consistently and significantly inhibit fibroma virus and cells from rabbits immunized with other viruses did not inhibit fibroma virus. Studies of the mechanism of action of the immune cells revealed: ( a ) that living cells were essential; ( b ) that normal cells, sensitized with immune serum, did not simulate the effects of immune cells; ( c ) that immune cells contained less preformed neutralizing antibody than an equivalent volume of immune serum, and ( d ) that inhibition of fibroma lesions was not the result of viral interference. It is suggested that the fibroma-neutralizing effect of immune cells is related to intracellularly placed antibody or to cellular transfer of an ability to form specific antibody in recipient animals.
761-4 Angloplasty in Borderline Lesions of <50% Diameter Stenosis for Unstable or Post-Infarction Angina is not a Benign Procedure

Absence of a significant lesion of ≥ 50% diameter stenosis is considered a contraindication to PTCA. In unstable or post-infarction angina, however, PTCA of borderline lesions of l 50% diameter stenosis may be warranted because of the dynamic nature of cyclic flow reduction due to intermittent platelet plugging. To define the clinical and angiographic outcome of PTCA of borderline lesions, we analyzed the results in patients undergoing PTCA for unstable or post-infarction angina in the Hirulog Tm Angioplasty Study. Of 3051 patients with validated clinical data and films analyzed in the Core Angiographic Laboratory, 227 (7.4%) had PTCA performed exclusively for lesions l 50% diameter stenosis. In this group of patients, the mean pre-treatment stenosis was 40 ± 9% (range, 0-49.9%). and the mean post-angioplasty stenosis was 26 ± 15% (range, -20-100%). In comparison with patients with more severe lesions, patients with borderline lesions of l 50% stenosis had similar age, sex distribution, incidence of rest angina, and PTCA complication rates: l 50% stenosis ≥ 50% stenosis P value n 227 2824 Procedural success (%) 93.0 85.1 0.001 Abrupt vessel closure (%) 4.9 5.8 0.55 Death (%) 0.0 0.5 0.31 Myocardial infarction (%) 2.6 3.2 0.67 Emergency bypass (%) 2.2 2.2 0.99 Clinical restenosis (%) 11.3 13.1 0.60 Clinical restenosis results at 6 months (death. MI, or revascularization) were available for 1387 (45%) patients. In summary, these results suggest that PTCA of lesions l 50% diameter stenosis is not a benign procedure and carries similar risks as PTCA for more severe lesions. This warrants a cautious approach to intervention in such lesions and further study into their natural history.
Internal-external control of reinforcement and embedded-figures performance

Male and female Ss were tested in an extended series of 68 embedded figures. Rate of decrease in discovery time was related to Ss’ attitudes about locus of control of reinforcing outcomes. Results confirmed those of an earlier study, showing that practice dissipated sex-related performance differences observable in early trials.
Simultaneous measurement of multiple plasma steroids by radioimmunoassay demonstrating episodic secretion.

A method for measuring cortisol, corticosterone, testosterone, progesterone, and 17-OH progesterone simultaneously in 2 ml of plasma has been developed especially for episodic secretion studies in which many frequent assays are required. Steroids were extracted from plasma, separated into 4 fractions by paper chromatography, and individual steroids in each fraction were measured by radioimmunoassay. The individual steroid radioimmunoassays were demonstrated to be sensitive, specific, accurate, and precise. Base line 8 AM plasma steroid levels were measured in normal males and menstruating females both before and after ovulation. The values obtained were in good agreement with those previously reported by other investigators using different methods. In order to establish the normal diurnal variation in both sexes, plasma steroid levels were measured at 20-min intervals throughout the day in a normal man and a preovulatory woman. When plasma steroid levels were plotted against time frequent intermittent pea...
Numerical Integration of the Global Barotropic Primitive Equations with Hough Harmonic Expansions

Abstract A new spectral model is formulated using Hough harmonics as basis functions to solve numerically the nonlinear barotropic primitive equations (shallow water equations) over a sphere. Hough harmonics are eigensolutions of free oscillations (normal modes) for linearized shallow water equations over a sphere about a basic state of rest and a prescribed equivalent height. Hough harmonics are expressed by Θls exp(isλ) with zonal wavenumber s, longitude λ and meridional index l. Hough vector functions Θls consist of three components-zonal velocity U, meridional velocity V and geopotential height Z, all functions of latitude. There are three modes with distinct frequencies for s≥1: eastward and westward propagating gravity waves and westward propagating rotational waves of the Rossby/Haurwitz type. The advantage of using Hough harmonies for a spectral barotropic global primitive equation model is that the prognostic variables are efficiently represented because Hough harmonics are normal modes of the pr...
Antiemetic therapy for nausea and vomiting in the emergency department.

Background: Antiemetic agents are among the most frequently prescribed medications in the emergency department (ED). Nevertheless, there are no widely accepted evidence-based guidelines to optimize the use of these medications for nausea or vomiting in this setting. Objective: The objective of this article is to briefly review the evidence supporting the use of antiemetic agents for the treatment of nausea or vomiting for adults in the ED, and to provide recommendations to help guide therapy. Discussion: The antiemetic agents studied include droperidol, promethazine, prochlorperazine, metoclopramide, and ondansetron. Droperidol was commonly used in the past, and is more effective than prochlorperazine or metoclopramide, but due to the US Food and Drug Administration black box warning regarding the potential for QT prolongation with this drug, its use is limited to refractory cases. Promethazine is more sedating than other comparative agents, and also has the potential for vascular damage upon intravenous administration. It may be a suitable option when sedation is desirable. Patients given prochlorperazine or metoclopramide must be monitored for akathisia that can develop at any time over 48 h post administration. Decreasing the infusion rate can reduce the incidence of this adverse effect, and the effect can be treated with intravenous diphenhydramine. Ondansetron is as effective as promethazine, and is not associated with sedation or akathisia. Conclusion: Based on the safety and efficacy of ondansetron, it may be used as a first-line agent for relief of nausea or vomiting for most patient populations in the ED.
In vitro activity of ceftaroline and comparator antimicrobials against European and Middle East isolates from complicated skin and skin-structure infections collected in 2008–2009

The activities of ceftaroline, the active metabolite of the pro-drug ceftaroline fosamil, a novel anti-meticillin-resistant staphylococcal cephalosporin, and nine comparators were determined against surveillance isolates collected in 2008-2009. Over 3000 isolates associated with complicated skin and skin-structure infections (cSSSIs) were collected from 106 centres in 19 countries. MICs were determined using CLSI broth microdilution methodology. Clonal relatedness of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with raised ceftaroline MICs (2 mg/L) was assessed by MLST, PFGE and mec typing. The presence of Panton-Valentine leukocidin in these isolates was also determined. Ceftaroline was active against 500 MRSA and 479 meticillin-susceptible S. aureus, with MIC(50/90) values of 0.5/2 mg/L and 0.25/0.25 mg/L, respectively. For coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), the ceftaroline MIC(50/90) values for meticillin-resistant strains (n=159) were the same as those seen for MRSA. Meticillin-susceptible CoNS (n=113) had the same MIC(90) as that seen with S. aureus, but the MIC(50) was lower at 0.06 mg/L. Ceftaroline was also active against β-haemolytic streptococci (n=526; MIC(50/90)=0.004/0.015 mg/L), other streptococci (n=75; 0.015/0.06 mg/L), common Enterobacteriaceae (n=897; 0.25/≥128 mg/L) and Enterococcus faecalis (n=329; 1/16 mg/L). Those MRSA with ceftaroline MICs of 2mg/L were found to be from four clonal groups associated with the country of origin. These data confirm the broad-spectrum in vitro activity of ceftaroline against cSSSI pathogens. Ceftaroline is unique among clinically available cephalosporins, having good in vitro activity against MRSA and meticillin-resistant CoNS and moderate activity against Gram-negative bacteria.
The impact of charter school attendance on student performance

Abstract We employ a panel of individual student data on math and reading test performance for five cohorts of students in Texas to study the impact of charter school attendance. We control for school mobility effects and distinguish movement to a charter school from movement within and between traditional public school districts. We find students experience poor test score growth in their initial year in a charter school, but that this is followed by recovery in the subsequent years. Failure to account for this pattern may lead to potentially misleading estimates of the impact of charter attendance on student achievement. Students who remain in charters largely recover from the initial disruption within approximately 3 years, and there is weak evidence that there may be overall gains from charter attendance within this period. Furthermore, students who return to traditional public schools after just 1 or 2 years in a charter do not appear to suffer a lasting negative impact despite their poor average performance in their first year of charter attendance.
Quantitative In Vitro Assessment of Phototoxicity by a Fibroblast-Neutral Red Assay

We have adapted the neutral red uptake assay for quantitative assessment of injury to fibroblast cultures by potential phototoxins. Tetracycline derivatives, quinolone derivatives, and chlorpromazine were used as model compounds for development of the assay. Human fibroblasts were incubated with potential phototoxins, the cell cultures irradiated with UV, and the capacity for neutral red uptake determined. Demeclocycline and doxycycline, two known photosensitizers, showed a 94% and 95% decrease of neutral red uptake, respectively, indicating photo-induced cytotoxicity. Minocycline, a non-photosensitizing tetracycline derivative, showed no decrease in uptake. Tetracycline, a weak phototoxin, showed minor (10%) decrease at equivalent concentrations (20 micrograms/ml). Microscopic observation of neutral red uptake and cell damage paralleled the spectrophotometric findings. Chlorpromazine, a non-tetracycline phototoxin, showed 91% decrease. An additional group of phototoxic drugs, quinolone antibacterials, were studied. Nalidixic acid, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and norfloxacin all demonstrated phototoxicity, with nalidixic acid showing the greatest decrease in neutral red uptake. This methodology may provide a useful rapid method to quantify phototoxic potential of new drugs or suspected phototoxins.
Synthesis and Characterization of Phosphorus- Containing Polyamides and Copolyamides Based on 1-( (Dialkoxyphosphinyl)Methyl)-2,4- and -2,6-Diaminobenzenes

Phosphorus containing polyamides and copolyamides were prepared from 1-(dialkoxyphosphinyl)methyl-2,4- and -2,6-diaminobenzenes. The polymers produced were characterized by infrared and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. Their thermal properties were compared with those of the corresponding common polyamides. In addition, by determining the limiting oxygen index value of some of these polyamides, their fire resistance was evaluated.
Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: The Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score as a Surrogate for Diagnostics and Outcome

The Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS) was developed to serve as a surrogate tool to facilitate the diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). The CPIS is calculated on the basis of points assigned for various signs and symptoms of pneumonia (eg, fever and extent of oxygenation impairment). Although some studies suggest that a CPIS >6 may correlate with VAP, most studies indicate that the CPIS has limited sensitivity and specificity. In addition, no well-done studies validate the CPIS in either acute lung injury or trauma. The interobserver variability in CPIS calculation remains substantial, suggesting that this cannot be routinely used across multiple centers to support the conduct of randomized clinical trials. Changes in the CPIS may correlate with outcomes in VAP, but it appears that the ratio of partial pressure of arterial oxygen to the fraction of inspired oxygen is a more important marker for outcomes than the CPIS. At present, the CPIS has a limited role both clinically and as a research tool.
Minimizing observer metamerism in display systems

Observer metamerism has long been known to be an issue of concern for color engineers. With the advent and mass proliferation of narrow-band display devices, this article addresses the issue of observer metamerism and puts it in the context of first understanding the implication of interobserver variations in the color matching functions (CMFs) and additionally designing the ideal set of primary illuminant spectral power distributions (SPDs) such that observer metamerism is minimized. The article also suggests the use of the Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM) and the number of modes (peaks) in the primary SPDs as a means of assessing the susceptibility to observer-to-observer variations between various modern display technologies. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 34, 391–398, 2009
Convulsions Associated with the Use of a Synthetic Cannabinoid Product

Introduction Clinical presentations following the use of various “spice” or synthetic cannabinoids have included agitation, anxiety, emesis, hallucinations, psychosis, tachycardia, and unresponsiveness. Convulsions were described in a one report although there was not laboratory confirmation for synthetic cannabinoids. In another published report laboratory confirmation for a synthetic cannabinoid was done in which the patient manifested activity that was interpreted as a possible convulsion.
Inszenierungen der Sprache und des Körpers in Schnitzlers Reigen

Der Aufsatz untersucht die Figurenkommunikation in Schnitzlers Kom oUdie unter dem Gesichtspunkt der erotischen Strategien, deren sich die Akteure dieses St uUckes zur Durchf uUhrung ihrer‘Liebesspiele’bedienen. An die Stelle einer im Zuge des gegenseitigen Einverstandnisses in bezug auf den angestrebten Geschlechtsakt unnotig gewordenen Verfuhrung treten im Reigen — so die Grund-these dieses Essays — je nach Figurenkonstellation unterschiedlich komplexe Verfuhrungsspiele, von denen hier gezeigt wird, in welcher Form sie auf Diskursvorgaben zur Liebeskommunikation zuruckgreifen, wie sie in der burgerlichen Literatur des 18. Jahrhunderts ausgebildet wurden. Die Untersuchung der entsprechenden Strategien erfolgt mittels einer Dialoganalyse der Vorspiele in den-jenigen Szenen, in denen die junge Frau und die Schauspielerin die Interaktion dominieren. Anhand einer Analyse der Kommuni-kationsstrategien des ehelichen Paares in der funften Szene wird auch die Rolle erotischer Phantasien im Kontext der ehelichen Sexualitat erortert. Daraus ergibt sich abschlieβend die Frage, worin sich Schnitzlers Reigen von traditionallen Formen der satirischen Komodie unterscheidet.
Structural manifestations of the rat Sertoli cell to hypophysectomy: a correlative morphometric and endocrine study.

Although the Sertoli cell is a key cell mediating the actions of FSH- and LH-stimulated testosterone (T) in the testis, there is little information to indicate how this cell responds structurally to hormonal insufficiency. The present study used morphometric techniques to study the structural manifestations of the Sertoli cell in adult rats hypophysectomized for 6 and 28 days. Six days posthypophysectomy, a period when germ cell degeneration is first evident, tubular diameter and length, testis weights, volume of the interstitium, and volume of most parameters that comprise the interstitium (except blood vessels) showed significant regressive features. However, virtually no parameter relating to the volume and surface area of the Sertoli cell or its subcellular components was significantly reduced compared with that in the normal animal. Thus, at a time when germ cell degeneration is seen in the testis, the Sertoli cell showed no significant structural response to the changing endocrine status of the anim...
Clouds not important for control of short‐term surface temperatures

In two recent papers, R. W. Spencer and W. D. Braswell (Remote Sens., 3(8), 1603– 1613, doi:10.3390/rs3081603, 2011) (SB) and R. S. Lindzen and Y.-S. Choi (Asia Pac. J. Atmos. Sci., 47(4), 377–390, doi:10.1007/s13143-011-0023-x, 2011) (LC) argue that clouds act as a primary initiator of surface temperature changes in Earth's climate system. The two sets of authors reached this conclusion by developing a method that tries to determine the Earth's surface temperature by calculating how much energy is stored in the ocean's upper layers, how much of this heat is transferred to the rest of the climate system, how clouds affect the rate at which energy escapes Earth's atmosphere, and how the surface's energy flux changes with temperature. Both studies spurred substantial debate within the media and the public, with the research by SB causing the editor of the journal in which it was published to resign, claiming it should not have been accepted by the journal. Assessing the two studies,Dessler found what he suggests are a number of methodological errors.
Culture and transfer of calf ova.

Abstract Modified Ham's F10 and TCM 199, each with 1.5% bovine serum albumin, were used to culture superovulated ova from pre- and postpuberal heifers. The maximum cleavage in vitro was from the 1-cell to the 12-cell stage. Twenty-two of 30 normal appearing 2-cell ova recovered from calves cleaved further when cultured in chemically defined media, but five calf ova with four or more blastomeres at the time of collection and ova collected 5 days after ovulation did not cleave further in vitro. This suggests that the reproductive tract of the immature animal may be harmful to ova. Four of 14 calf ova cleaved up to three times in the ligated oviduct of pseudopregnant rabbits. A total of 102 ova was transferred to 18 postpuberal recipient heifers. One definite pregnancy was achieved following transfer into the oviducts of one laparotomized heifer about three hours after recovery of the ova. After 275 days the heifer delivered a bull calf weighing 45 kg showing that some ova recovered from prepuberal heifers are fully capable of normal development.
The use of imagery by intelligent and by creative schoolchildren

Two studies focusing on differences in thinking strategies between intellectually gifted and creative children were undertaken. In the first study (N = 29), ethnographic techniques of observation along with testing and problem-solving interviews were used in a regular classroom. Three subjects (one high IQ and high creativity, one high IQ and low creativity, and one low IQ and high creativity) were identified for intensive observation. In the second study, testing procedures and problem-solving interviews were completed with 30 children who were placed in a gifted program within an urban school system. Both studies produced evidence supporting the link between imaging abilities and creative thinking.
Reflections on 200 years of science in the United States

In spite of its obvious importance today, the history of the sciences in the USA is usually neither the subject for research nor part of courses taught by non-American historians. Nor is this history known and understood, particularly in Europe. This is in marked contrast to an avid interest in current US science policies and developments, which cannot be wholly explicable without an understanding of their historic origins. Broadly speaking, these origins are US variants of certain western European traditions resulting, as it were, in cults of knowledge, nation, and people. Science and scientists have flourished, but uneasily, in the resulting environment.
Resveratrol modulation of signal transduction in apoptosis and cell survival: a mini-review.

Abstract Background : There is mounting evidence in the literature that resveratrol is a promising natural compound for prevention and treatment of a variety of human cancers. This overview summarizes recent studies of the major apoptosis and survival pathways regulated by resveratrol. Biological mechanisms : Apoptosis or programmed cell death is a key regulator of tissue homeostasis during normal development and also in adult organism under various conditions including adaptive responses to cellular stress. For example, tissue homeostasis is maintained by tight control of signaling events regulating cell death and survival. Thus, uncontrolled proliferation or failure to undergo cell death is involved in pathogenesis and progression of many human diseases, for example in tumorigenesis or in cardiovascular disorders. Moreover, current cancer therapies primarily act by triggering apoptosis programs in cancer cells. Therapeutic applications : Natural products such as resveratrol have gained considerable attention as cancer chemopreventive or cardioprotective agents and also because of their antitumor properties. Among its wide range of biological activities, resveratrol has been reported to interfere with many intracellular signaling pathways, which regulate cell survival or apoptosis. Discussion : Further insights into the signaling network and interaction points modulated by resveratrol may provide the basis for novel drug discovery programs to exploit resveratrol for the prevention and treatment of human diseases.
Designing Language Games in Okapi.

Study of information retrieval (IR) interaction from a viewpoint of an appropriate discipline of human communication, such as semiotics, should be useful. Application of semiotic categories to IR reveals that the basic distinction in the retrieval interaction is between the two particular types of “language games” (speech acts) known as “denotations” and “presentations”. The denotative act in IR is needed to transmit information from the database to the user of the system. The prescriptive act, however, can be used to “invent” new connections between documents that constitute documentation systems and, thus, to create new knowledge. The research project being carried out by the present author applies semiotic concepts and tools to the IR systems design problem. IR systems design practice is viewed as a social practice in which the main disjunction is between the two conflicting acts of denotation and prescription. It is the aim of the reported project to balance these two conflicting language games within the framework of the Okapi experimental information retrieval system.
Comparative genotyping of Streptococcus mutans by repetitive extragenic palindromic polymerase chain reaction and multilocus sequence typing

Summary The genetic diversity of Streptococcus mutans has been extensively studied using a variety of genotyping methods. Repetitive extragenic palindromic-polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR) is a genotyping approach used for screening large numbers of bacterial isolates. This two-part study used multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis to evaluate genotypes previously identified as unique using rep-PCR. In part one, an isolate was selected from each of the 22 S. mutans rep-PCR genotype groups representing 8000 clinical isolates. For part two, four additional isolates were selected from the six most commonly occurring genotype groups (GG) for further analysis. Real-time PCR was performed using eight housekeeping S. mutans gene loci and the amplicons were sequenced. Sequence data analysis was performed using CLC DNA Workbench and alleles were compared with the PubMLST database for Oral Streptococcus using the Nakano scheme. Concatenated sequences were evaluated with MEGA using a minimum evolution method with bootstrap. All 22 rep-PCR genotypes were unique by MLST analysis. Within rep-PCR GGs, MLST matched rep-PCR in three groups demonstrating clonality; three groups exhibited more diversity with MLST. The discovery of three clonal groups is unique to this study and suggests that S. mutans genotypes are shared between unrelated subjects. Furthermore, MLST defined 19 new alleles and 26 new sequence types that have been confirmed and registered with PubMLST. Methods for processing were streamlined and a process for using MLST with rep-PCR is suggested. In conclusion, MLST verified that rep-PCR is a reliable and cost-effective method for screening large numbers of S. mutans strains for epidemiological study.
Self-administration of cocaine increases the release of acetylcholine to a greater extent than response-independent cocaine in the nucleus accumbens of rats.

Rationale: The neurochemical effects of psychostimulant exposure may depend on how these drugs are encountered. A useful method for examining this issue is to compare neurotransmitter release following response-dependent, or self-administered, drug exposure and response-independent exposure. Objectives: This experiment examined the effect of active and passive cocaine administration on acetylcholine (ACh) efflux in the shell region of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) in rats. Methods: One group of rats (CSA: cocaine self-administration) was trained to lever-press for intravenous infusions of cocaine (0.42 mg/kg per infusion) on a fixed-ratio-1 schedule of reinforcement. Cocaine infusions were accompanied by the onset of a stimulus light that signaled a 20-s time-out period. Control rats received intravenous cocaine (cocaine non-contingent: CNC) or saline (SAL) in a manner that was not contingent upon their behavior. Drug infusions in these groups were determined by the lever-press behavior of the animals in the CSA group, i.e. they were yoked to rats in the self-administration group such that CNC animals received equal amounts of cocaine as CSA rats. Animals received cocaine or saline in 3-h sessions for 13 consecutive days before testing. On day 14, extracellular ACh was measured in 15-min intervals before, during and after a 3-h session of cocaine exposure using unilateral microdialysis probes located in the NAc shell coupled with HPLC. Results: ACh efflux was significantly increased above baseline in both groups of rats that received cocaine but CSA rats had significantly higher ACh levels during the self-administration period compared to their yoked counterparts. In addition, ACh efflux remained elevated longer in CSA animals relative to CNC rats following cessation of cocaine exposure. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that ACh interneurons in the NAc shell are responsive to cocaine exposure. In addition, these findings suggest that the manner in which the drug is administered (i.e. either by active self-administration or passive exposure) may be relevant to the magnitude of the neural response.
Measurement of adducts of benzoquinone with hemoglobin and albumin

Benzoquinones (BQ) are genotoxic species that stem from metabolism of phenolic compounds. We have developed a method for measuring adducts of 1,2- and 1,4-benzoquinone (1,2-BQ and 1,4-BQ) with cysteine residues of hemoglobin (Hb) and albumin (Alb). The method employs a reductive catalyst (Raney nickel) to selectively cleave sulfur-bound adducts so that they may be extracted with an organic solvent, derivatized with heptafluorobutyrylimidazole and measured by GC-ECD or GC-MS. Reactions of 1,4-BQ (0-300 microM) with whole blood of both F344 rats and humans resulted in linear formation of adducts with Hb and Alb. Adducts of 1,2-BQ with human Alb were formed by activation of catechol (0-300 microM) in situ with horseradish peroxidase. The mean half lives in vitro of 1,4-BQ in blood from humans and rats were 3.5 and 0.68 h, respectively. Second-order rate constants for reaction of 1,4-BQ with Hb and Alb in whole blood were estimated to be 18 and 76 l/mol/h for humans and 180 and 74 l/mol/h for rats respectively. Interestingly, the following high background levels of 1,2-BQ and 1,4-BQ adducts were observed in the proteins: 1,2-BQ-human Hb = 1.5 nmol/g, rat Hb = 25.1 nmol/g; human Alb = 8.0 nmol/g; 1,4-BQ-human Hb = 27.2 nmol/g, rat Hb = 11.5 nmol/g; human Alb = 20.5 nmol/g. These large background levels of BQ adducts suggest that significant exposure to BQ precursors occurs from dietary and/or endogenous sources. Given current evidence regarding the genotoxicity of BQ, such exposures and their health consequences should be investigated.
Water/glass reactions at elevated temperatures and pressures

Abstract Hydration behavior of two closely related glasses was studied as a function of temperature and percent saturation of steam in an autoclave atmosphere. Temperatures ranged from 225 to 350°C under steam pressures which varied from 56 to 100 percent of saturation. These glasses hydrated to give a sharp boundary layer, with H 2 O contents (wt %) up to 17.5%. The position of this boundary (penetration), weight gain per unit area, and water content of the hydrated layer, were determined as a function of time, temperature and saturation. Penetration rates in both compositions decreased with decreasing saturation and were relatively insensitive to temperature. Water contents (by LOI) increased within the hydrated layer with decreasing temperature. The implications of these findings with regard to process control are discussed.
Aseptic Lymphocyte Dominated Vasculitis-Associated Lesion Resulting From Trunnion Corrosion in a Cobalt-Chrome Unipolar Hemiarthroplasty

Most of the published descriptions of adverse soft tissue reactions that have been reported in the context of a metal-on-metal articulation have been in cases of total hip arthroplasty or resurfacing arthroplasty. Recently, several case reports have been published describing aseptic lymphocyte dominated vasculitis-associated lesions (ALVAL) in metal-on-polyethylene. To our knowledge, there has not been a description of a similar, aggressive reaction secondary to metal debris from the head-neck junction of a unipolar hemiarthroplasty component. In this case report, we describe a patient with a catastrophic failure of a unipolar hip hemiarthroplasty, secondary to aggressive osteolysis and an inflammatory mediated immunological reaction to metal debris.
Molecular motions and thermotropic phase behavior of triacylglycerols and cholesterol esters in herpesvirus-infected arterial smooth muscle cells: A deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance study

Abstract The physical state of lipids in arterial smooth muscle cells (SMC) may contribute to lipid accumulation following injury. We have previously demonstrated that herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection alters the physical state of the neutral lipid accumulating in arterial SMC, as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (Biochem. J. 268 (1990) 693–697). To more precisely determine the molecular packing of neutral lipids in HSV-infected cells, the influence of HSV-infection on the thermotropic and phase-behavior of the lipids in intact arterial smooth muscle cells and in cell-free lipid extracts was evaluated using [2H]-NMR, employing U-[2H]-oleic acid incorporated into cells. Inspection of the [2H]-line-widths indicate that the lipid of HSV-infected cells exhibited more restricted motion or a greater chemical shift dispersity than lipids from uninfected cells, as evidenced by significant broadening of the CDCD signals at 25°C and 45C. Fatty acid compositional analysis of the neutral lipids of control and HSV-infected cells following C18:1 supplementation (an amount added similar to the NMR experiments) reveals that: (1) there is approximately 55-fold more triacylglycerols (TG) than cholesteryl esters (CE) in control cells and 40-fold more TG than CE in the HSV-infected cells; (2) HSV infection significantly increases the C18:1 content of CE, and C18:3 and C20:4 in TG; and (3) HSV-infection does not alter the ratio of TG to CE. These data support the hypothesis that the greater restriction of the neutral lipids in HSV-infected cells may be due to the rigidifying effects of C18:1 on lipid mobility. Thus, alterations in the physical state of neutral lipids in HSV-infected cells may lead to reduced CE hydrolysis which, in turn, may contribute to or exacerbate lipid accumulation.
Care of patients undergoing vascular surgery at safety net public hospitals is associated with higher cost but similar mortality to nonsafety net hospitals

Objective This study compared in-hospital mortality and resource utilization among vascular surgical patients at safety net public hospitals (SNPHs) with those at nonsafety net public hospitals (nSNPHs). Methods The National Inpatient Sample (2003-2011) was queried to identify surgical patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), carotid stenosis, or nonruptured abdominal aorta aneurysm based on International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnostic and procedure codes. The cohort was then divided into SNPH and nSNPH groups according to the definition of SNPH used by the National Association of Public Hospitals. Clinical characteristics, length of stay, in-hospital mortality, and hospital charges were compared between groups. Advanced PAD was defined as that associated with rest pain or tissue loss. Statistical methods included bivariate χ 2 tests for categoric variables, t -tests for continuous variables, and multivariable linear and logistic regression to adjust for confounding variables (in-hospital mortality). Results We identified 306,438 patients operated on for PAD, carotid stenosis, and abdominal aortic aneurysm. Patients at SNPHs were younger, the percentage of female and minority patients was higher, and patients had a higher Elixhauser comorbidity index ( P P > .05) and symptomatic carotid stenosis ( P P P Conclusions Patients undergoing vascular surgery at SNPHs, despite being younger, had higher comorbidities, presented more urgently with more advanced disease, and incurred higher costs than the SNPH cohort despite similar adjusted odds of in-hospital mortality. Delayed presentation and higher comorbidities are most likely related to poor access to routine and preventive health care for the SNPH patients.
Defining Features of Unhealthy Exercise Associated with Disordered Eating and Eating Disorder Diagnoses.

Objectives The current study sought to compare different features of unhealthy exercise on associations with disordered eating and their ability to identify individuals with eating disorders. A secondary aim of the study was to compare prevalence and overlap of different aspects of unhealthy exercise and potential differences in their gender distribution.
Trilepton production at the CERN LHC : Standard model sources and beyond

Events with three or more isolated leptons in the final state are known to be signatures of new physics phenomena at high energy collider physics facilities. Standard model sources of isolated trilepton final states include gauge boson pair production such as $WZ$ and $W{\ensuremath{\gamma}}^{*}$, and $t\overline{t}$ production. We demonstrate that leptons from heavy flavor decays, such as $b\ensuremath{\rightarrow}lX$ and $c\ensuremath{\rightarrow}lX$, provide sources of trileptons that can be orders of magnitude larger after cuts than other standard model backgrounds to new physics processes. We explain the physical reason heavy flavor backgrounds survive isolation cuts. We propose new cuts to control the backgrounds in the specific case of chargino plus neutralino pair production in supersymmetric models. After these cuts are imposed, we show that it should be possible to find at least a $4\ensuremath{\sigma}$ excess for supersymmetry parameter space point LM9 with $30\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{fb}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ of integrated luminosity.
Sequence-specific priming and exonuclease-released fluorescence detection of HLA-DQB1 alleles

Molecular typing of HLA DQB1 alleles, employing sequence-specific primers (SSP) for PCR amplification, was used to test a novel method that eliminates the requirement for subsequent gel electrophoresis or additional hybridization steps by directly detecting positive reactions. We have evaluated the performance of this fluorescence-based oligonucleotide probe assay to assign the most common DQB1 alleles on DNA from 14 homozygous cell lines and in a blind study of 50 diabetic patient samples that had been previously typed at the DQB1 locus using SSOP and conventional SSP-based approaches. We used a panel of 14 DQB1 SSP primer pairs, internal control primers, and a combination of 4 fluorescent oligonucleotide probes to detect 14 alleles or groups of alleles and controls. We can reliably detect single-base allelic differences, observe 100% concordance with the results obtained using both of the standard methods, and are able to further subtype several alleles that are not easily distinguished using SSOP (e.g. DQB1 *0401/0402 and DQB1 *0302/ 0303). Sequence-specific priming and exonuclease-released fluorescence (SSPERF) detection is technically simple and can be performed in less than 2 hours, including DNA extraction, PCR amplification, data analysis and allele identification. This method is particularly useful for the analysis of large numbers of samples, for which high throughput is critical and for which gel-based approaches are difficult to perform. This technique may also be useful for small-scale class I and class II molecular typing in clinically oriented laboratories.