cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preloading Trifolded Grafts for Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty Affects Scroll Formation.

PURPOSE The trifolded, endothelium-in approach to Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) facilitates tissue insertion into the anterior chamber. We hypothesized that preloading the trifolded donor grafts in a cartridge for 48 hours before insertion would induce biomechanical changes that decrease their scrolling tendency compared with those loaded immediately before insertion. METHODS Ten Descemet membrane donor grafts, peeled and cut to 8.0 mm, were prepared by a single eye bank technician. Each graft was trifolded and pulled into a DMEK cartridge and stored for 48 hours. They were then pulled with microforceps into a petri dish filled with balanced salt solution. A video was recorded of the graft becoming a scroll over a 2-minute period. Each graft, serving as its own control, was then trifolded, pulled into the cartridge, and the process repeated. Images from 1, 5, 10, 60, and 120 seconds were extracted from video recording of the procedures. Scroll width was analyzed by graders masked to group assignment. A paired t test was used to determine differences in scroll width at each time point between the 48-hour and instant trifolding conditions. RESULTS All grafts scrolled after removal from the cartridge into balanced salt solution. We measured a significant difference at all time points 1 through 120 seconds (4.02 preloaded vs. 2.91-mm instant trifold, P = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS Preloading DMEK grafts in a trifolded configuration for 48 hours reduces the scrolling tendency of Descemet membrane for at least 2 minutes.
Monolithic III-V microdisk lasers on silicon by template-assisted selective epitaxy

In the present talk we discuss the application of Template-Assisted Selective Epitaxy (TASE) for the monolithic integration of III-V active photonic devices on silicon. The main concept of TASE relies on the guided growth of III-Vs within a confined oxide template. At one extremity of the template there is access to silicon to start the nucleation, and subsequently it is the template which guides the growth progression. This decoupling of the resulting geometry from the growth mode and substrate orientation, results in a larger processing window as we no longer rely on the growth conditions to tune the geometry, as well as a number of other advantages. A further unique advantage of TASE for silicon photonics applications is that it allows for the truly local integration of III-V material at precisely defined positions, since the location of the III-V may be defined with nm-scale precision in the same lithographic step as silicon passives. TASE was originally developed for electronics, but in recent years we have expanded it to enable several photonic devices. In the present talk, I will discuss our work on GaAs and InP microdisk lasers fabricated by either direct growth or via the use of micro-substrates. These devices show lasing at room temperature around 870 nm with thresholds of about 10 pJ/pulse. We also explore the use of metal-clad cavities for further light confinement.
When Putting Work Off Pays Off: The Curvilinear Relationship between Procrastination and Creativity

Although it is widely assumed that procrastination is counterproductive, delaying task progress may have hidden benefits for creativity. Drawing on theories of incubation, we propose that moderate ...
Regional application of human rights norms

The world may be a smaller place in the light of communication and travel technology, but it is still a large planet when it comes to effective international governance. Given the approximately 6 billion persons and the more than 190 states that existed at the turn of the twenty-first century, and given the weakness of global organizations like the United Nations, it was both logical and sometimes politically feasible to look to regional organizations for the advancement of human rights. This chapter will show that regional developments for human rights were truly remarkable for a time in Europe, delicately progressive in the Western Hemisphere, embryonic in Africa, and otherwise weak. The key to the effective regional protection of human rights is not legal drafting, but underlying political culture, political will, and political acumen. One sees this clearly in the light of Brexit, the 2016 British decision to leave the European Union, in large part because of resentment about the deep intrusion of regional authority into traditional national affairs. In Europe where there are considerable cases and other regional human rights decisions to analyze, I provide a summary analysis. In the Western Hemisphere with substantial case law and other important regional decisions only recently, I provide mostly political analysis of underlying conditions but some attention to legal factors. I treat Africa briefly because of lack of major impact through regional arrangements. Europe After World War II, significant US foreign aid to Europe in the form of the Marshall Plan encouraged regional cooperation, especially of an economic nature. Most West European elites endorsed this approach at least to some degree, both in pursuit of economic recovery and to defend traditional western values in the face of Soviet-led communism. One result was the creation of the Council of Europe (CE) with its strong focus on human rights. Separately, owing to reluctance of the UK to integrate fully with the rest of Western Europe, one had the development of the European Communities, which more or less evolved into the European Union (EU). By the start of the twenty-first century it was evident that this bifurcation, while it had “worked” to a considerable degree, was not a completely happy situation. As European international integration proceeded, the contradictions of bifurcation were salient as never before.
Residual temperature bias effects in stratospheric species distributions from LIMS

Abstract. The Nimbus 7 Limb Infrared Monitor of the Stratosphere (LIMS) instrument operated from 25 October 1978 through 28 May 1979. Its version 6 (V6) profiles were processed and archived in 2002. We present several diagnostic examples of the quality of the V6 stratospheric species distributions based on their level 3 zonal Fourier coefficient products. In particular, we show that there are small differences in the ascending ( A ) minus descending ( D ) orbital temperature–pressure or T(p ) profiles (their A−D values) that affect ( A−D ) species values. Systematic A−D biases in T(p ) can arise from small radiance biases and/or from viewing anomalies along orbits. There can also be ( A−D ) differences in T(p ) due to not resolving and correcting for all of the atmospheric temperature gradient along LIMS tangent view-paths. An error in T(p ) affects species retrievals through (1) the Planck blackbody function in forward calculations of limb radiance that are part of the iterative retrieval algorithm of LIMS, and (2) the registration of the measured LIMS species radiance profiles in pressure altitude, mainly for the lower stratosphere. There are clear A−D differences for ozone, H 2 O, and HNO 3 but not for NO 2 . Percentage differences are larger in the lower stratosphere for ozone and H 2 O because those species are optically thick. We evaluate V6 ozone profile biases in the upper stratosphere with the aid of comparisons against a monthly climatology of UV–ozone soundings from rocketsondes. We also provide results of time series analyses of V6 ozone, H 2 O, and potential vorticity for the middle stratosphere to show that their average ( A+D ) V6 level 3 products provide a clear picture of the evolution of those tracers during Northern Hemisphere winter. We recommend that researchers use the average V6 level 3 product for their science studies of stratospheric ozone and H 2 O, while keeping in mind that there are uncorrected nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium effects in daytime ozone in the lower mesosphere and in daytime H 2 O in the uppermost stratosphere. We also point out that the present-day Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) experiment provides measurements and retrievals of temperature and ozone that are nearly free of anomalous diurnal variations and of effects from gradients at low and middle latitudes.
Toxic Stress in a Mid-Sized Urban Community: An Initial Needs Assessment of Families with Children in Maywood, IL:

BackgroundLoyola Medical Center is located in Maywood, IL, a community that faces high rates of poverty, violence, and barriers to healthcare. These factors can contribute to toxic stress, which ha...
Distinct requirements for the COMPASS core subunits Set1, Swd1, and Swd3 during meiosis in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Meiosis-specific chromatin structures, guided by histone modifications, are critical mediators of a meiotic transient transcription program and progression through prophase I. Histone H3K4 can be methylated up to three times by the Set1-containing COMPASS complex and each methylation mark corresponds to a different chromatin conformation. The level of H3K4 modification is directed by the activity of additional COMPASS components. In this study, we characterized the role of the COMPASS subunits during meiosis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In vegetative cells, previous studies revealed a role for subunits Swd2, Sdc1, and Bre2 for H3K4me2 while Spp1 supported trimethylation. However, we found that Bre2 and Sdc1 are required for H3K4me3 as yeast prepare to enter meiosis while Spp1 is not. Interestingly, we identified distinct meiotic functions for the core COMPASS complex members that required for all H3K4me, Set1, Swd1, and Swd3. While Set1 and Swd1 are required for progression through early meiosis, Swd3 is critical for late meiosis and spore morphogenesis. Furthermore, the meiotic requirement for Set1 is independent of H3K4 methylation, suggesting the presence of nonhistone substrates. Finally, checkpoint suppression analyses indicate that Set1 and Swd1 are required for both homologous recombination and chromosome segregation. These data suggest that COMPASS has important new roles for meiosis that are independent of its well-characterized functions during mitotic divisions.
Hybrid donor-acceptor polymer nanoparticles and combination antibiotic for mitigation of pathogenic bacteria and biofilms

Abstract Biofilms pose a significant clinical problem in skin and soft tissue infections. Their resistance to antibiotics has spurred investigations into alternative treatments, such as nanoparticle-mediated photothermal ablation. Non-toxic Hybrid Donor- Acceptor (DA) Polymer nanoParticles (H-DAPPs) were developed for fluorescence imaging (using poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5 diyl) (P3HT)) and rapid, near-infrared photothermal ablation (NIR- PTA) (using poly[4,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-cyclopenta[2,1-b;3,4-b’]dithiophene-2,6-diyl-alt−2,1,3-benzoselenadiazole-4,7-diyl] (PCPDTBSe)). H-DAPPs were evaluated alone, and in combination with antibiotics, against planktonic S. aureus and S. pyogenes , and S. aureus biofilms. H-DAPPs NIR-PTA (15–700 μg/ mL) can generate rapid temperature changes of 27.6–73.1 °C, which can eradicate planktonic bacterial populations and reduce biofilm bacterial viability by more than 4- log (> 99.99%) with exposure to 60 s of 800 nm light. Reductions were confirmed via confocal analysis, which suggested that H-DAPPs PTA caused bacterial inactivation within the biofilms, but did not significantly reduce biofilm polysaccharides. SEM imaging revealed structural changes in biofilms after H-DAPPs PTA. S. aureus biofilms challenged with 100 μg/mL of H-DAPPs (H-DAPPs-100) to induce an average temperature of 55.1 °C, and the minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) of clindamycin, resulted in up to ~3- log decrease in bacterial viability compared to untreated biofilms and those administered H-DAPPs-100 PTA only, and up to ~2- log compared to biofilms administered only clindamycin. This study demonstrates that polymer nanoparticle PTA can mitigate biofilm infection and may improve antimicrobial efficacy.
Mass Spectrometry of Carbamates, Thiocarbamates, Dithiocarbamates, Urea, Thiourea, and Carboxanilide Pesticides

The basic skeleton of all carbamate insecticides is the hypothetical carbamic acid, the monoamide of carbon dioxide having the following structure: Open image in new window The carbamic acid can be stabilized by esterification with alkyl or aryl alcohols to form simple alkyl or aryl esters such as ethyl carbamate or phenylcarbamate commonly known as ethylurethane and phenylurethane.
Sexually Transmitted Pathogens, Depression, and Other Manifestations Associated with Premenstrual Syndrome

This study investigated whether sexually transmitted infections and lifestyle variables are associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) as well as particular manifestations commonly associated with PMS. Data were gathered from medical records of 500 regularly cycling women. The following infectious agents were investigated: human papillomavirus, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrheae, Gardnerella vaginalis, Candida albicans, and Trichomonas vaginalis. Bivariate tests and multivariate logistic regressions were used to evaluate whether these pathogens were associated with headache, pain, nausea, and depression. Chlamydia trachomatis was significantly associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and two common manifestations of PMS: depression and pain. Trichomonas vaginalis was significantly correlated with headache and Gardnerella vaginalis with nausea. None of the illness manifestations was significantly associated with the tested lifestyle variables: dietary calcium supplementation, alcohol and drug use, exercise, and smoking. These associations provide a basis for assessment of infectious causation of PMS and several manifestations of illness that are commonly associated with PMS.
Law as Integrities: Polyphonicity and Legal Interpretation

Contained within Ronald Dworkin's enormously influential model of law as interpretation is a call for legal scholars to draw increasingly on resources in literary theory beyond the hermeneutics Dworkin owes a debt to. This paper attempts the preliminary articulation of a model of legal interpretation based in the work of Mikhail Bakhtin. Bakhtin's model of interpretation revolves centrally around his concept of polyphonicity (or multivoicedness), which holds that speakers always speak through more than one voice at a time. This concept of polyphonicity responds to Stanley Fish's criticisms of Dworkin's model by suggesting a way of avoiding both legal realism and strict constructionism in interpreting a legal history; both authors and interpreters are partially constrained by the plural voices of the text without the text wholly determining any one correct interpretation.
A comparison of associated enzyme activities in various deoxyribonucleic acid polymerases.

Abstract A comparison of activities associated with Escherichia coli polymerase I, calf thymus 6 to 8 S DNA polymerase and calf thymus 3.4 S DNA polymerase demonstrates that neither exonuclease activity nor pyrophosphorolysis is essential for polymerization. The 3.4 S enzyme has no demonstrable 3'- to 5'-exonuclease activity and cannot carry out pyrophosphate exchange. Under these conditions phosphodiester bond formation is kinetically irreversible.
Ancestors, Anthropology of

The main question asked about ancestors by anthropologists is how the living define them, transform the dead into them, and use them to safeguard social and individual moralities. Ancestors are distinct from the mass of the dead: their descendants select and make them by mortuary rites. The selected deceased are linked to their descendant by descent and are usually those who hold a structurally important genealogical position as founders of family segments. Those not selected for ancestorhood join the generality of the dead and are soon forgotten. Ancestors are thought to dwell in a home of the dead, or near their descendants with whom they may communicate; they may punish if offended. The latter communicate with the ancestors by offerings of food or goods. They are remembered in genealogies or memorialized by graves or written monuments. Their importance tends to lessen in ‘modern’ societies in which kinship may be of little importance, and where Christianity, Islam, or other ‘world’ religions give more emphasis to deities and less to ancestors.
Novel Microemulsion Enhancer Formulation for Simultaneous Transdermal Delivery of Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Drugs

Purpose. Microemulsion (ME) systems allow for the microscopic co-incorporation of aqueous and organic phase liquids. In this study, the phase diagrams of four novel ME systems were characterized.
Healthcare costs associated with osteoarthritis in US patients.

Background: Osteoarthritis is a chronic debilitating condition affecting many adults in the United States. This study was to compare pharmacologic treatments and costs for newly diagnosed and existing osteoarthritis patients to assess unmet medication treatment needs and economic burden. Methods: This retrospective analysis of de-identified medical and pharmacy insurance claims from the MarketScan® databases identified adult patients with an osteoarthritis claim in 2007. The date of the first osteoarthritis claim in 2007 served as the index. Patients were stratified into newly diagnosed and existing cohorts, based on the presence of osteoarthritis claim(s) over the 12-month pre-index period. Utilization of pain-related medications and healthcare costs was assessed in the 12-month postindex period. Multivariate analysis was conducted to adjust costs controlling for cross-cohort differences. Results: Newly diagnosed osteoarthritis patients (n = 134,584) were younger (66.0 vs. 68.0, P < 0.001), had a higher proportion of men (37.4% vs. 33.9%, P < 0.001) but lower rates of comorbidities than existing patients (n = 123,653). Significantly higher proportions of newly diagnosed patients had an inpatient admission and outpatient office visit. Higher proportions of existing patients utilized a majority of the medication classes examined. Total adjusted osteoarthritis-related costs for newly diagnosed patients were $6,811 annually (95% confidence interval [CI] $6,743 to $6,887), compared to $6,407 (95% CI $6,327 to $6,477) for existing patients. Costs of pain-related prescription drugs associated with osteoarthritis were $965 (95% CI $955 to $975) among new patients, less than the $1,117 (95% CI $1,107 to $1,129) among existing patients. Conclusion: Newly diagnosed osteoarthritis patients incurred higher annual costs, but lower pain-related prescription drug costs in the year following diagnosis than patients with existing osteoarthritis.
Regulation of calcium slow channels of heart by cyclic nucleotides and effects of ischemia.

The slow Ca2+ channels (L-type) of the heart are stimulated by cAMP. Elevation of cAMP produces a very rapid increase in the number of slow channels available for voltage activation during excitation. The probability of a Ca2+ channel opening and the mean open time of the channel are increased. Therefore, any agent that increases the cAMP level of the myocardial cell will tend to potentiate ICa, Ca2+ influx, and contraction. The action of cAMP is mediated by PK-A and phosphorylation of the slow Ca2+ channel protein or an associated regulatory protein (stimulatory type). The myocardial slow Ca2+ channels are also regulated by cGMP, in a manner that is opposite or antagonistic of that of cAMP. This has been demonstrated at both the macroscopic level (whole-cell voltage clamp) and the single-channel level. The effect of cGMP is mediated by PK-G and phosphorylation of a protein, for example, a regulatory protein (inhibitory type) associated with the Ca2+ channel. It has been demonstrated that introduction of PK-G intracellularly causes a relatively rapid inhibition of ICa(L) in both chick and rat heart cells. In addition, cGMP/PK-G act to stimulate a phosphatase that dephosphorylates the Ca2+ channel. In addition to the slower, indirect pathway--exerted via cAMP/PK-A--there is a faster, more direct pathway for ICa(L) stimulation by the beta-adrenergic receptor. The latter pathway involves direct modulation of the channel activity by the alpha subunit (alpha S*) of the GS protein. PK-C and calmodulin-PK also may play roles in the regulation of the myocardial slow Ca2+ channels, possibly mediated by phosphorylation of some regulatory type of protein. Both protein kinases stimulate the activity of the slow Ca2+ channels. Thus, it appears that the slow Ca2+ channel is a complex structure, including perhaps several associated regulatory proteins, which can be regulated by a number of factors intrinsic and extrinsic to the cell (Fig. 9). The cyclic nucleotides also have effects on the slow Ca2+ channels in cells other than cardiac muscle, including neurons, smooth muscle, and skeletal muscle fibers (Tables III and IV). In cardiac muscle, the two cyclic nucleotides have opposing effects, cAMP stimulating and cGMP inhibiting. In some smooth muscles (e.g., vascular), both cyclic nucleotides act in the same direction, namely, both inhibit ICa(L). In skeletal muscle, both cAMP and cGMP act in the same direction on ICa(L), but to stimulate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Quantitative characterization of collagen in the fibrotic capsule surrounding implanted polymeric microparticles through second harmonic generation imaging

The collagenous capsule formed around an implant will ultimately determine the nature of its in vivo fate. To provide a better understanding of how surface modifications can alter the collagen orientation and composition in the fibrotic capsule, we used second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy to evaluate collagen organization and structure generated in mice subcutaneously injected with chemically functionalized polystyrene particles. SHG is sensitive to the orientation of a molecule, making it a powerful tool for measuring the alignment of collagen fibers. Additionally, SHG arises from the second order susceptibility of the interrogated molecule in response to the electric field. Variation in these tensor components distinguishes different molecular sources of SHG, providing collagen type specificity. Here, we demonstrated the ability of SHG to differentiate collagen type I and type III quantitatively and used this method to examine fibrous capsules of implanted polystyrene particles. Data presented in this work shows a wide range of collagen fiber orientations and collagen compositions in response to surface functionalized polystyrene particles. Dimethylamino functionalized particles were able to form a thin collagenous matrix resembling healthy skin. These findings have the potential to improve the fundamental understanding of how material properties influence collagen organization and composition quantitatively.
Geophysical implications of Izu–Bonin mantle wedge hydration from chemical geodynamic modeling

Using two-dimensional dynamic models of the Northern Izu–Bonin (NIB) subduction zone, we show that a particular localized low-viscosity (η_(LV) = 3.3 × 10^(19) − 4.0 × 10^(20) Pa s), low-density (Δρ ~ −10 kg/m^3 relative to ambient mantle) geometry within the wedge is required to match surface observations of topography, gravity, and geoid anomalies. The hydration structure resulting in this low-viscosity, low-density geometry develops due to fluid release into the wedge within a depth interval from 150 to 350 km and is consistent with results from coupled geochemical and geodynamic modeling of the NIB subduction system and from previous uncoupled models of the wedge beneath the Japan arcs. The source of the fluids can be either subducting lithospheric serpentinite or stable hydrous phases in the wedge such as serpentine or chlorite. On the basis of this modeling, predictions can be made as to the specific low-viscosity geometries associated with geophysical surface observables for other subduction zones based on regional subduction parameters such as subducting slab age.
Morphine-induced antinociception and reward in “humanized” mice expressing the mu opioid receptor A118G polymorphism

The rewarding and antinociceptive effects of opioids are mediated through the mu-opioid receptor. The A118G single nucleotide polymorphism in this receptor has been implicated in drug addiction and differences in pain response. Clinical and preclinical studies have found that the G allele is associated with increased heroin reward and self-administration, elevated post-operative pain, and reduced analgesic responsiveness to opioids. Male and female mice homozygous for the "humanized" 118AA or 118GG alleles were evaluated to test the hypothesis that 118GG mice are less sensitive to the rewarding and antinociceptive effects of morphine. We found that 118AA and 118GG mice of both genders developed conditioned place preference for morphine. All mice developed tolerance to the antinociceptive and hypothermic effects of morphine. However, morphine tolerance was not different between AA and GG mice. We also examined sensitivity to the antinociceptive and hypothermic effects of cumulative morphine doses. We found that 118GG mice show reduced hypothermic and antinociceptive responses on the hotplate for 10mg/kg morphine. Finally, we examined basal pain response and morphine-induced antinociception in the formalin test for inflammatory pain. We found no gender or genotype differences in either basal pain response or morphine-induced antinociception in the formalin test. Our data suggests that homozygous expression of the GG allele in mice blunts morphine-induced hypothermia and hotplate antinociception but does not alter morphine CPP, morphine tolerance, or basal inflammatory pain response.
Extent of Hypophagia Caused by Propionate Infusion Is Related to Plasma Glucose Concentration in Lactating Dairy Cows

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate how dose-response effects of intraruminal infusion of propionate on feeding behavior and plasma metabolites are altered by diets differing in fermentability. Twelve ruminally cannulated Holstein cows were used in each experiment. Cows were fed diets containing either steam flaked corn or dry cracked corn (30% of dietary dry matter) in expt. 1, and diets differing in forage-to-concentrate ratio (66:34 vs. 36:64) in expt. 2. For both experiments, the experimental design was a crossover for dietary treatment, and a 6 x 6 Latin square for infusion treatment within a diet for each period. Infusion treatments were mixtures of sodium propionate and sodium acetate, containing propionate at 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 as a fraction of total volatile fatty acids infused. Treatment solutions were infused into the rumen continuously for 18 h starting 6 h before feeding at a rate of 23.1 mmol/min. Although propionate production from ruminal fermentation was expected to be different, dietary treatments did not affect dry matter intake (DMI) responses to propionate infusion for either experiment. However, propionate infusion decreased DMI linearly in expt. 1, but did not decrease DMI at lower rates of propionate infusion, which were much more effective at increasing plasma glucose concentration in expt. 2. Propionate had a smaller hypophagic effect at low concentrations of plasma glucose and had a greater hypophagic effect at elevated concentrations of plasma glucose, which could be explained by changes in the metabolism of propionate in the liver.
TRANSCRIPTIONAL REGULATION OF THE HUMAN INTERLEUKIN 1β GENE BY FIBRONECTIN: ROLE OF PROTEIN KINASE C AND ACTIVATOR PROTEIN 1 (AP-1)

Abstract Interleukin 1β (IL-1β) is a multifunctional polypeptide considered a key cytokine during inflammation. Fibronectin (FN), a matrix glycoprotein highly expressed in injured tissues, can induce expression of IL-1β in human blood monocytic cells. Herein, we explore the intracellular signals and transcriptional mechanisms responsible for IL-1β induction by FN using human promonocytic U937 cells transfected with the human IL-1β promoter connected to a reporter gene. Exposure of transfected U937s to FN resulted in increased expression of the full-length IL-1β promoter. This effect, mediated via the α5β1 integrin, was associated with activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and was abolished by pre-treatment of cells with Calphostin C, a specific inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC) activation. Deletion analysis and co-transfection studies using consensus activator protein 1 (AP-1) oligonucleotides suggested that an AP-1 site present in the 5′ end of the IL-1β promoter was involved in the FN-induced response. Finally, electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that FN induced binding of AP-1, but not NF-κB. Together, these experiments demonstrate that FN binding to the α5β1 integrin activates MAPK-dependent signal pathways, and results in the transcription of the IL-1β promoter in U937 cells by activating PKC and inducing AP-1.
EVALUATING COMPLEX SYSTEM RELIABILITY USING RELIABILITY BLOCK DIAGRAM SIMULATION WHEN LITTLE OR NO FAILURE DATA ARE AVAILABLE

When failure data are sparse, triangle distribution can replace Weibull distribution for the determination of component failure rates, reducing the complexity of the modeling process while returning similar output analysis. Results indicate that the ava..
Qualities of adolescent mothers' parenting.

Abstract Purpose: This study examined the interrelations among adolescent mothers' parenting attitudes, parenting confidence, and parenting stress and the potential differences in these dimensions by mothers' age, race and parity, and age and sex of child. Methods: Subjects were 119 former adolescent mothers ( M age=20.2 years) from predominantly poor, minority backgrounds (50% Hispanic, 27% AfricanAmerican, 17% non-Hispanic white). All subjects completed questionnaires about their parenting qualities twice an average of 10 weeks apart. All children were at least one year of age ( M age=37.2 months; range 12–50 months). Results: Results indicated that for some mothers there exists a triple jeopardy of low parenting confidence, high parenting stress, and inappropriate parenting values. Young maternal age at delivery and young maternal age at the time of this study were associated with low child acceptance. Non-Hispanic white mothers had significantly more favorable parenting values than did African-American and Hispanic mothers, and African-American mothers reported significantly greater caretaking confidence than did Hispanic mothers. No parity or sex of child effects were found. Conclusions: These results suggest the presence of meaningful patterns of convergence and within-group variation for the psychological qualities of adolescent mothers' parenting.
Intravenously injected, TNP-derivatized, Langerhans cell-enriched epidermal cells induce contact hypersensitivity in Syrian hamsters

The ability of haptenated subpopulations of epidermal cells (EC) to induce contact hypersensitivity (CH) in Syrian hamsters was investigated. Crude haptenated EC and haptenated EC enriched for Langerhans cells (LC) inoculated i.v. into hamsters induced CH that was equivalent in intensity to that induced by epicutaneous application of hapten. By contrast, haptenated EC, relatively depleted of LC, failed to induce CH hypersensitivity responses. Upon subsequent reimmunization of all animals with epicutaneously applied hapten, hamsters that had first received haptenated EC depleted of LC failed to respond in CH assays, indicating that these animals had been rendered unresponsive. These data suggest that haptenated LC are capable of inducing CH regardless of the route of inoculation, whereas haptenated EC, when depleted of LC, deliver a down-regulating signal via the i.v. route.
Edaphic variation and the mesoscale distribution of tree species in a neotropical rain forest

1 Do local edaphic factors over short environmental gradients affect the distribution and abundance of tree species in tropical rain forests? We addressed this question by examining the responses of tree species to soil type, topographic position and slope angle in an upland old-growth tropical rain forest landscape in Costa Rica, Central America. 2 The study area covered 216 ha of non-swamp old growth and included replicated landscape units such as ridgetop to swale catenas, small watersheds, and alluvial terraces. An existing soils map was refined using additional sampling along a regularly spaced grid. Three soil units were defined: residual soils derived from in-place weathering of basaltic parent material; old alluvial terrace soils formed by precontemporary flooding; and soils of stream valleys. A Geographic Information System was used to assign soil type to 2190 post-establishment individuals of nine tree species in a long-term demographic study. Topographic position and slope angle were measured in the field. 3 Data from 433 regularly spaced sample points were used to generate an expected distribution of edaphic variables, which was compared with the number of individuals of each species in each edaphic category. 4 Non-random distributions among soil types were found for seven of the nine species, with topographic positions for six species, and with slope angle classes for four species. 5 The issue of what constitutes an independent sample of establishment was analysed by considering the old-growth character of the landscape and evidence for frequent dispersal among edaphic units. A re-analysis of species’ distributions using only individuals > 4 cm diameter showed that results from the original analyses were robust. 6 Soil type (residual vs. old alluvial) was not significantly related to diameter growth. Three species showed significant differences in size class distributions between soil types with increasing diameter. 7 Tree species in tropical rain forests are frequently non-randomly distributed along relatively short edaphic gradients on upland soils. Future studies should increase the number of species and spatial scale analysed, incorporate better analyses of edaphic variables, and include experiments to identify the ecological processes that generate these non-random distributions.
Time-to-event analyses for long-term treatments--the APPROVe trial.

Assessment of the cardiovascular data from the APPROVe trial raises important issues about the analysis and interpretation of a time-to-event end point in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluating a long-term treatment. Stephen Lagakos explains.
Electron-electron interactions in expanded-metal compounds

Abstract Magnetic studies by the Faraday method were carried out over the range 4.2–200K on a variety of structures in which lithium metal was progressively “expanded.” At one extreme is tetrakisammonialithium(zero), Li(NH3)4, which is Pauli metallic; at the other is monolithium [2.1.1] cryptate electride, the magnetic behavior of which is clearly nonmetallic. Intermediate, apparently just on the nonmetallic side of the metal-nonmetal transition, is the solid tetrakismethylaminelithium(zero), Li(CH3NH2)4. The electronic behavior of these “expanded-metal” compounds is interpreted in terms of Hubbard bands and Mott-Anderson transitions. The dielectric constant of the host matrix is crucial for scaling the onset of metallic behavior.
Ethics education in the microchip millennium

In today's fast-paced, technology-dependent society, individuals are often confronted with a wide variety of ethical dilemmas and moral issues when living, learning and working in an Information Technology (IT) environment. In many instances, IT users find themselves at a loss, because it is often not clear which, if any, moral rule applies. In addition, if two or more moral rules are relevant this can also lead to problems and confusion, particularly if those rules clash. Furthermore, ethical ignorance concerning IT security and IT-related crimes, not withstanding overt disregard, can cause many individuals to make inappropriate decisions, such as virus creation, the invasion of privacy and the proliferation of e-mail hoaxes. In this paper, which is designed to guide and assist both educators and administrators in their efforts to improve, expand and/or create an ethics workshop or credit course, the authors will discuss the unethical actions associated with IT and the motivations that are often promulgated by lack of awareness. The authors also point out the increasing and critical need for universities and colleges to take a more active role--including, but not limited to, compulsory ethics education--in preparing students, faculty and staff for the ethical IT dilemmas they may encounter both academically and professionally in the "Microchip Millennium.
The stimulatory effect of phenobarbital on the N-demethylation of P-chloro-N-methylaniline.

Abstract Pretreatment of male and female rats with sodium phenobarbital caused a significant enhancement of the microsomal enzymes that N-demethylate PCMA and aminopyrine. The determination of PCA is 10 times more sensitive than for measuring formaldehyde. Also, the assay procedure for measuring PCA is simpler and more rapid than the determination of formaldehyde by the NASH reagent.
Hydroperoxide anion, HO2−, is an affinity reagent for the inactivation of yeast Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase: Modification of one histidine per subunit

Abstract Yeast Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase is inactivated by H 2 O 2 at alkaline pH, and complete inactivation correlates with the modification of 1.0 histidine per subunit. At elevated concentrations of H 2 O 2 , a saturation process is evident and is characterized by k max , the maximum pseudo-first-order rate constant for inactivation, and K inact , the total hydrogen peroxide concentration at which the enzyme is half-saturated. In the pH range from 9.0 to 11.5 at 25 °C, k max remains constant at 0.54 ± 0.03 min −1 , but K inact decreases progressively with increasing pH, from 15.5 m m at pH 9.0 to 1.11 m m at pH 11.5. It is proposed that the reason for the observed increased affinity with increasing pH is that the reactive species is not H 2 O 2 per se, but rather the HO 2 − anion (the p K a for H 2 O 2 is 11.6). An increase in pH would thus lead to an increased concentration of HO 2 − at a fixed total peroxide concentration, and saturation would occur at a lower total peroxide concentration. By analogy with other anions, it is proposed that HO 2 − coordinates directly to the Cu ion to form the reactive complex. Once the enzyme-peroxide complex is formed, however, the rate-determining step leading to modification of histidine and loss of activity is independent of pH between 9.0 and 11.5.
EMG scanning: Normative data

Surface EMG was recorded from both right and left aspects of 18 muscle groups for the purpose of establishing a data base of normative EMG levels. A scanning electrode permitted easy and rapid EMG measurement from 52 male and 51 female college students, both sitting and standing. Several a posteriori analyses of variance revealed sex differences in the masseter, occipital, posterior cervical, upper trapezius, latissimus dorsi, and anterior tibialis. Similarly, there were side differences for the anterior temporalis, occipitalis, splenius capitus, trapezius, paraspinalis, and soleus. The analyses also revealed interactions among sex, position, and side for various measures on the trapezius. The data show that females tend to muscle brace more than males in the upper extremities. The study provides data for normative comparisons and helps to plan and interpret future EMG studies.
Routine prophylactic sentinel lymph node biopsy is not indicated in women undergoing prophylactic mastectomy.

Background Prophylactic mastectomies (PM) are performed to reduce the risk of breast cancer. Occasionally an occult carcinoma is found in PM specimens. Given the high morbidity of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), some perform prophylactic sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). We undertook a study to examine if prophylactic SLNB is indicated in all patients undergoing PM. Methods A retrospective review of all PM between 2004 and 2010 was performed. The stage of tumor on the disease side and the pathologic findings in the prophylactic breast were analyzed. The number of SLN and the frequency of lymph node metastases were evaluated. Results A total of 199 PM on 184 patients were performed: 169 contralateral PM and 30 bilateral PM. Of the 199 PM, 12 had occult carcinomas (6.0%): 10 non-invasive, 1 microinvasive and 1 T1b invasive tumor. 153 of 199 PM specimens had prophylactic SLNB, of which only 2 had a positive SLN that originated from the index side of the breast. Conclusions Although it is not uncommon to find occult carcinomas in the prophylactic breast, it is rare for the occult carcinoma to spread to the lymph nodes. Therefore, routine prophylactic SLNB is not indicated in patients undergoing PM. J. Surg. Oncol. 2012; 105:650–654. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Human monocyte chemotactic protein-3 (MCP-3): Molecular cloning of the cDNA and comparison with other chemokines

When human MG-63 osteosarcoma cells are triggered with IL-1 beta, they produce, among various other cytokines, also monocyte chemotactic proteins (MCPs). Homogeneous MCP-1, MCP-2 and MCP-3 were found to induce production of gelatinase B and chemotaxis of monocytes. Based on the almost complete amino acid sequence of natural MCP-3, two sets of degenerated oligonucleotides were used for the amplification of MCP-3 cDNA. Total RNA from stimulated MG-63 cells was reverse transcribed and PCRs done on the mRNA:cDNA duplex. Using the PCR-product, several cDNAs were isolated from a cDNA library of IL-1-stimulated MG-63 cells. From the cDNA sequence the complete primary structure of the protein was deduced: MCP-3 shows 71% and 58% amino acid homology with MCP-1 and MCP-2, respectively. Our study establishes MCP-3 as an inflammatory cytokine that regulates macrophage functions. Because MCP-3 is often produced by tumor cell lines and regulates protease secretion by macrophages, its production might also contribute to invasion and metastasis of cancer cells.
Performance comparison of subcarrier multiplexed coherent systems using optical intensity and phase modulators

The performance of subcarrier multiplexed coherent systems is compared theoretically using optical intensity and phase modulators. The results show that a subcarrier multiplexed coherent system with a symmetrical optical intensity modulator can offer a receiver sensitivity improvement as high as 9.1 dB over that with an optical phase modulator.
Thermochemistry of inorganic sulfur compounds VIII. Na2SO3 and K2SO3: standard molar enthalpies of solution and formation at 298.15 K, high-temperature enthalpy increments and heat capacities, and temperatures and enthalpies of transition. A new value for the standard molar enthalpy of formation of SO32−(aq)☆☆☆

Abstract Solution calorimetry has been used to determine the enthalpies of reaction with I3−(aq) of thoroughly characterized specimens of Na2SO3 and K2SO3, from which the standard molar enthalpies of formation ΔfHmo of the solid sulfites at 298.15 K have been derived: −(1096.78 ± 0.81) kJ · mol−1 for Na2SO3 and −(1123.37 ± 0.96) kJ · mol−1 for K2SO3. The standard molar enthalpies of solution in water at 298.15 K of Na2SO3 and K2SO3 have been determined to be −(13.24 ± 0.09) kJ · mol−1 and −(10.06 ± 0.21) kJ · mol−1, respectively, from which ΔfHmo(SO32−, aq, mo = 1 mol · kg−1, 298.15 K) = −(629.3 ± 0.6) kJ · mol−1, has been deduced. High-temperature enthalpy increments relative to 298.15 K, heat capacities, and the enthalpies of transition have been measured by drop calorimetry. For Na2SO3, Ttrs of the α-to-β transition is (646 ± 2) K and ΔtrsHmo = (0.67 ± 0.50) kJ · mol−1; for K2SO3. Ttrs = (696 ± 2) K and ΔtrsHmo = (3.15 ± 0.50) kJ · mol−1. Thermodynamic properties are tabulated for M2SO3(α, β) and ΔrGmo values are given for the Foerster-Kubel reaction and for reduction of M2SO4 to M2SO3 by C(graphite) and CO(g).
Active vibration isolation on an experimental flexible structure

The paper describes experimental research in the area of active vibration isolation. The objective of the research is to quantitatively assess the performance gained by augmenting a passive isolator with an active stage. Vibration isolation experiments were carried out on a flexible structure utilizing a proof-mass shaker as the disturbance source and a newly developed active member as the isolator. Broad band force feedback control demonstrated more than 20 dB reduction in force transmissibility over passive isolation alone. The broad band controller was augmented with notch filters which resulted in reducing force transmissibility by 40 dB over the passive stage in select narrow bands.
Financial innovations and the interest elasticity of money demand in Canada

Abstract Using Canadian data for the period 1934-86, the paper empirically tests the Gurley-Shaw hypothesis that innovations in the financial markets raise the interest elasticity of money demand. The results provide sufficient evidence to reject the Gurley-Shaw hypothesis in Canada.
Adenovirus encoding soluble tumor necrosis factor α receptor immunoglobulin prolongs gene expression of a cotransfected reporter gene in rat lung

Abstract Objective Because almost all pulmonary diseases are not caused by one gene, multiple gene transfection is required for current gene therapy. Adenovirus is an important gene therapy vector, but a short duration and the inability of repeated administration remain limitations. The aims of this study were to evaluate whether adenoviral vector encoding soluble tumor necrosis factor α receptor immunoglobulin and β-galactosidase cotransfection prolongs gene expression and facilitates repeated vector administration to investigate the feasibility of a cotransfection strategy. Methods F344 rats received intratracheal administration of 1 × 10 9 plaque-forming units of adenoviral vector encoding β-galactosidase or both adenoviral vector encoding β-galactosidase and adenoviral vector encoding soluble tumor necrosis factor α receptor immunoglobulin. In the expression study β-galactosidase gene expression in the lung was examined by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on days 2, 7, 14, 28, and 56 (n = 4/day). In the repeated transfection study, soluble tumor necrosis factor α receptor immunoglobulin and β-galactosidase were readministered once (7 days after the first adenovirus administration) or twice (on days 7 and 14; n=4/day). A 2-way factorial analysis of variance was used for statistical analysis. Results Soluble tumor necrosis factor α receptor immunoglobulin and β-galactosidase cotransfection prolonged the duration of β-galactosidase expression. However, antiadenovirus antibody production was significantly increased in the cotransfection group. In addition, there was no increase in β-galactosidase expression after readministration of soluble tumor necrosis factor α receptor immunoglobulin and β-galactosidase. Conclusion Adenoviral vector encoding soluble tumor necrosis factor α receptor immunoglobulin and β-galactosidase cotransfection prolongs β-galactosidase expression but does not increase β-galactosidase expression after repeated administration. These results suggest that tumor necrosis factor α is one of the most important factors in regulating the duration of gene expression. The cotransfection approach is feasible, but the increase of antiadenovirus antibodies might make repeated cotransfection unfeasible.
An approach to automatic classification of text for information retrieval

In this paper, we explore an approach to make better use of semi-structured documents in information retrieval in the domain of biology. Using machine learning techniques, we make those inherent structures explicit by XML markups. This marking up has great potentials in improving task performance in specimen identification and the usability of online flora and fauna.