cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Utility of Multiparametric MRI for Predicting Residual Clinically Significant Prostate Cancer After Focal Laser Ablation

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to compare in a multireader manner the diagnostic accuracies of 3-T multiparametric MRI interpretation and serial prostate-specific antigen (PSA) measurement in predicting the presence of residual clinically significant prostate cancer after focal laser ablation. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Eighteen men had undergone focal laser ablation for low- or intermediate-risk prostate cancer as part of two National Cancer Institute-funded phase 1 clinical trials. Multiparametric MRI was performed immediately after and 6 and 12 months after focal laser ablation. Serial PSA measurements after focal laser ablation were recorded, and MRI-ultrasound fusion biopsy was performed 6 and 12 months after ablation and served as the reference standard. Multiparametric MRI was performed at 3 T with pelvic phased-array coils. T2-weighted, DW, and dynamic contrast-enhanced MR images were retrospectively assessed by two blinded radiologists using a 3-point Likert scale (0-2). Inter-reader agreement was assessed with the Cohen kappa statistic. The diagnostic accuracies of multiparametric MRI and PSA measurement were compared. RESULTS. Residual clinically significant prostate cancer was identified in 11 of 18 (61%) men. Logistic regression analysis of serial PSA measurements yielded a correct classification rate of 61.1% (p > 0.05). Using a multiparametric MRI threshold score of 4 or greater, both radiologists made correct classifications for 16 of 18 men (89%) at 6 months and 15 of 17 men (88%) at 12 months. Interreader agreement was substantial to excellent for T2-weighted imaging, DWI, and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI and improved uniformly from 6 to 12 months. Logistic regression analysis of the retrospectively reviewed multiparametric MR images yielded AUCs greater than 0.90 for each radiologist 6 and 12 months after focal laser ablation (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION. Multiparametric MRI 6 and 12 months after focal laser ablation significantly outperformed serial PSA measurements for predicting the presence of residual clinically significant prostate cancer.
Revisting the Limits of Azimuth Processing Gain for Radar Sounding

Ice penetrating radar sounders are the primary geophysical instruments for profiling the subsurface of terrestrial [1] and planetary [2]-[6] cryospheres. The capability of radar sounders to detect subsurface interfaces beneath thick and/or lossy ice is a function of their link budget [6]-[7] which must be much greater than surface imaging or altimetric radars [8] to achieve deep penetration. We propose a coherent along-feature processing approach for radar sounding data that maximizes the achievable azimuth gain for applications, like the exploration of icy moons [6]-[7] or mapping of deep/warm outlet glacier beds [9], where detecting very weak reflections from continuous interfaces is critical.
Use of biochar to produce reclaimed water for irrigation use

Abstract Emerging contaminants, especially, pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) are not removed well during conventional wastewater treatment and hence pose water quality risk to the environment and potentially to public health. Long-term use of reclaimed wastewater for irrigation can lead to accumulation of trace contaminants in the soil, ground water and their subsequent uptake by plants and potentially can enter human food chain. This paper uses biochar as an adsorbent to remove emerging contaminants from treated wastewater by performing fixed bed experiments. Ten emerging contaminants namely, carbamazepine (CBZ), caffeine, diethyltoluamide (DEET), diphenhydramine (DPH), meprobamate (MPB), primidone (PMD), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), fluoxetine (FXT), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and trimethoprim (TMP) were monitored during lab scale experiments. Results from the continuous flow runs showed that the breakthrough curve for compounds caffeine, CBZ, DEET and PFOA follow second order Thomas model with adsorption capacities of 396 μg g−1, 392 μg g−1, 1160 μg g−1 and 32 μg g−1 biochar, respectively. Whereas compounds such as DPH, TMP and FXT were completely removed throughout the column runs by biochar. Results for rest of the compounds were interfered by leaching of these compounds from biochar. It was observed that commercially available GAC performed much better than biochar for all the compounds considered. Even at 1% of obtained capacity, biochar amendment to soils where reclaimed water is used for irrigation can reduce the uptake of these compounds by plants.
THINKING OUTSIDE THE HEART: EPICARDIAL PACEMAKER FOR RECURRENT VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA IN A PATIENT WITH ERDHEIM-CHESTER DISEASE

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare histiocytosis characterized by multiorgan involvement. Cardiac involvement can manifest as myopericardial infiltration, valvular disease, and conduction abnormalities. A 72 year old man with ECD presented with bradycardia-induced polymorphic ventricular
Diagnostic accuracy of a bovine specific electronic beta-hydroxybutyrate handheld meter in fresh blood and stored serum samples.

Abstract This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the bovine specific beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) meter Nova Vet (NVET). We evaluated the accuracy and agreement of the NVET in fresh blood and thawed serum with the reference laboratory assay; and the repeatability, the interference by anticoagulants, and the optimum slope calibration factor. Individual blood samples were collected from 200 Holstein and crossbred cows between 3 and 14 days post-calving from 13 dairy herds in Minnesota. Using a laboratory assay with a cut point of 1.2 BHB mmol/L hyperketonemia prevalence was 10.6% (95% CI: 6.7, 15.8). The sensitivity of NVET in blood and serum was 100.0% while the specificity was 98.3 and 97.7% respectively. The agreement between NVET and the laboratory assay was the highest using blood samples (concordance correlation coefficient –CCC = 96.2, 95% CI: 95.0, 97.1. The coefficient of variation including within day (intra-meter), between- days, and -batches was 13.4% when testing blood samples. Minimal interference was observed with the use of anticoagulants (K-EDTA and Li-Heparin, CCC 0.90 and 0.93 respectively) in reference to whole blood without anticoagulant. The best calibration slope factor in serum was 1.0 (Youden's index: 0.98). Results suggest that the NVET device maintained a high accuracy and precision to quantified BHB concentration when applied in fresh blood and thawed serum under field conditions using the default calibration slope (1.0), and with minimal anticoagulant interference when used in whole blood samples.
Pharmacokinetics of Orally Administered GS-441524 in Dogs

Despite being FDA-approved for COVID-19, the clinical efficacy of remdesivir (Veklury ® ) remains contentious. We previously pointed out pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and toxicology reasons for why its parent nucleoside GS-441524, is better suited for COVID-19 treatment. Here, we assess the oral bioavailability of GS-441524 in beagle dogs and show that plasma concentrations ∼24-fold higher than the EC 50 against SARS-CoV-2 are easily and safely sustained. These data support translation of GS-441524 as an oral agent for COVID-19.
Proximity to international airports and early transmission of COVID-19 in the United States-An epidemiological assessment of the geographic distribution of 490,000 cases.

Abstract Background Identifying hotspots in a pandemic is essential for early containment. In the context of the rapid global dissemination of the Covid-19 pandemic, describing viral infection rates in relation to international air travel early during the pandemic can help inform future public health policy. The objective of this study is to determine whether proximity to an international airport predicted higher infection rates during the early phase of the Covid-19 pandemic in the United States (US). Methods In this cross-sectional study, the authors examined the incidence of Covid-19 in areas near US international airports in the first weeks after detection of Covid-19 in all 50 states, using publicly available county-level incidence of Covid-19 data. They performed a multiple regression to determine the relative effects of population density and air traffic in the Counties Containing Airports (CCA) and the number of Covid-19 cases, and determined the odds of Covid-19 in CCA compared to the rest of the state. Results Multiple regression analysis revealed that air traffic was significantly correlated with Covid-19 cases during the initial phase of pandemic while population density was not significantly correlated. Three weeks into the pandemic, the pooled odds of Covid-19 cases in CCA was 2.66 (95% CI [2.64, 2.68], p Conclusions The counties in the US containing international airports represented initial hotspots for Covid-19 transmission. Early public health containment efforts focused on these areas may help mitigate disease transmission during future similar novel respiratory virus epidemics.
Semiclassical description of nuclear dynamics moving through complex-valued single avoided crossings of two electronic states.

The standard fewest-switches surface hopping (FSSH) approach fails to model nonadiabatic dynamics when the electronic Hamiltonian is complex-valued and there are multiple nuclear dimensions; FSSH does not include geometric magnetic effects and does not have access to a gauge independent direction for momentum rescaling. In this paper, for the case of a Hamiltonian with two electronic states, we propose an extension of Tully’s FSSH algorithm, which includes geometric magnetic forces and, through diabatization, establishes a well-defined rescaling direction. When combined with a decoherence correction, our new algorithm shows satisfying results for a model set of two-dimensional single avoided crossings.
Highland stonerollers (Campostoma spadecium) do not clearly avoid recreational boat noise or preferentially graze algae in quieter areas

As anthropogenic noise increases globally, there is an urgent need to understand how noise impacts ecological communities. Recent literature shows both terrestrial and aquatic species exhibit myriad responses to noise, including physiological stress, higher mortality, and habitat avoidance. Most studies focus on the responses of single species from terrestrial or marine habitats, with fewer examining freshwater systems and implications for trophic relationships. We used a laboratory study to investigate whether highland stonerollers (Campostoma spadecium), an algivorous freshwater fish, avoid recreational boat noise and thus graze preferentially in quieter areas. For seven groups of eight fish, we recorded the tank position (near, mid, far) of individual fish relative to a speaker playing intermittent boat noise (noise trials) and a mock speaker playing no noise (quiet trials) over a 3-day period. After each trial, we measured the proportion of algae grazed from tiles placed in each section of the tank. Our results show that fish did not avoid the noise speaker compared to fish near the mock speaker in the near section of the tank, but they were found in higher proportions in the quietest section of the tank (mid) during noise trials. There was no difference in the amount of algae consumed in any section when comparing quiet to noisy trials. Thus, our study did not indicate that recreational boat noise elicited clear avoidance behavior or impacted algal coverage. However, these results should be interpreted cautiously since sensitivity to noise pollution varies according to stimulus and species, and these results represent only one species from one geographic location.
β + decay of Cr 47

The ${\ensuremath{\beta}}^{+}$ decay of $^{47}\mathrm{Cr}$ (${J}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}$,T${=(3/2)}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$,(1/2)) has been studied following its production by the $^{9}\mathrm{Be}$${(}^{40}$Ca, 2n${)}^{47}$Cr reaction at E${(\mathrm{}}^{40}$Ca)\ensuremath{\approxeq}90 MeV. In addition to the previously reported superallowed decay to the mirror state (i.e., the $^{47}\mathrm{V}$ ground state), we observe a (3.7\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.2)% allowed ${\ensuremath{\beta}}^{+}$ branch to the ${(5/2)}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ state at 87 keV in $^{47}\mathrm{V}$. These two branches appear to dominate the decay of $^{47}\mathrm{Cr}$; an upper limit of less than 0.5% is set on possible \ensuremath{\gamma} rays, other than the 87-keV \ensuremath{\gamma} ray, in the range of 15 to 2800 keV. Measurement of the time decay of the 87-keV \ensuremath{\gamma} ray establishes a value of ${T}_{1/2}$=508\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}10 ms for the $^{47}\mathrm{Cr}$ half-life which is in significant disagreement with two previously reported values. The present work utilized Ge spectroscopy and a He-jet system for transport of the beam-induced radioactivity, as opposed to previous measurements which used a plastic scintillator to detect positrons and either a He-jet chopper or a slow beam-pulsing system. A summary of decay data for the complete ${f}_{7/2}$ shell series of mirror nuclei is also presented.
Ten-Year Plan for China’s Academic Independence

I keenly feel that our higher education needs a ten-year plan, the aim of which is to lay the foundation within the next 10 years for the academic independence of China.
Arkadia mediates sumoylation-dependent degradation of Nrf2 in promyelocytic leukemia-nuclear bodies (555.5)

The cellular abundance of the transcription factor Nrf2 is largely controlled by Keap1, an inhibitory protein that functions as a substrate adaptor for ubiquitylation of Nrf2 by the Cullin3/RING box1 (Cul3-Rbx1) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, thereby targeting Nrf2 for proteasome-dependent degradation in the cytoplasm. It is becoming increasingly apparent that degradation of Nrf2 can also occur by Keap1-independent mechanisms. Recently, we showed that Nrf2 is a SUMO-modifiable protein and that polysumoylated Nrf2 can be polyubiquitylated by the poly-SUMO-specific E3 ubiquitin ligase known as RING finger protein 4 (RNF4) and subsequently degraded in PML-NBs. The role of sumoylation in the turnover of Nrf2, independent of Keap1, is a novel aspect of the biology of Nrf2. Here, we explored whether sumoylated Nrf2 is a substrate for Arkadia, another polySUMO-specific E3 ubiquitin ligase (also known as RING finger protein 111 [RNF111]). Our results indicate that Arkadia can ubiquitylate polysumoylated Nrf2 in PML...
Concepts of Adaptronic Structures

Chapter 2 deals with concepts of adaptronic structures and compares biological systems with adaptronic systems, both types being characterised by their adaptive behaviour. The components of adaptronic systems and their functions are described with reference to biology in each case. Self-repairing structures and structural health monitoring are highlighted among the application examples.
Cloning and expression profiling of odorant‐binding proteins in the tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris

In insects, the perception and discrimination of odorants requires the involvement of odorant-binding proteins (OBPs). To gain a better molecular understanding of olfaction in the agronomic pest Lygus lineolaris (the tarnished plant bug), we used a transcriptomics-based approach to identify potential OBPs. In total, 33 putative OBP transcripts, including the previously reported Lygus antennal protein (LAP), were identified based on the characteristic OBP Cys signature and/or sequence similarity with annotated orthologous sequences. The L. lineolaris OBP (LylinOBP) repertoire consists of 20 ‘classic’ OBPs, defined by the spacing of six conserved Cys residues, and 12 ‘Plus-C’ OBPs, defined by the spacing of eight conserved Cys and one conserved Pro residue. Alternative splicing of OBP genes appears to contribute significantly to the multiplicity of LylinOBP sequences. Microarray-based analysis of chemosensory tissues (antennae, legs and proboscis) revealed enrichment of 21 LylinOBP transcripts in antennae, 12 in legs, and 15 in proboscis, suggesting potential roles in olfaction and gustation respectively. PCR-based determination of transcript abundance for a subset of the LylinOBP genes across multiple adult tissues yielded results consistent with the hybridization data.
Conceptual Modeling: First Steps

Conceptual modeling portrays the application domain at a high level, using terms and concepts familiar to the application users, ignoring logical- and physical-level aspects (that is, the underlying database or programming structures used for implementation) and external-level aspects (that is, the screen forms used for data entry). This chapter discusses the desirable characteristics for any language to be used for conceptual modeling: expressibility, clarity, simplicity and orthogonality, semantic stability, semantic relevance, validation mechanisms, abstraction mechanisms, and formal foundation. With large-scale applications, the UoD can be divided into convenient modules. The conceptual schema design procedure (CSDP) is applied to each, and the resulting subschemas can be integrated into the global conceptual schema. This chapter explores three steps of CSDP: verbalizing familiar information examples as facts; refining these into formal, elementary facts, and applying quality checks; drawing the fact types, and applying a population check; and checking for entity types that should be combined. This object-role modeling approach has been used productively in industry for over 25 years.
Recurrent Barrett's esophagus and adenocarcinoma after esophagectomy

Background Esophagectomy is considered the gold standard for the treatment of high-grade dysplasia in Barrett's esophagus (BE) and for noninvasive adenocarcinoma (ACA) of the distal esophagus. If all of the metaplastic epithelium is removed, the patient is considered "cured". Despite this, BE has been reported in patients who have previously undergone esophagectomy. It is often debated whether this is "new" BE or the result of an esophagectomy that did not include a sufficiently proximal margin. Our aim was to determine if BE recurred in esophagectomy patients where the entire segment of BE had been removed.
The inflammatory process of gout and its treatment

Gouty arthritis is a characteristically intense acute inflammatory reaction that erupts in response to articular deposits of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals. Important recent molecular biologic advances in this field have given us a clear picture of the mechanistic basis of gouty inflammation. The innate immune inflammatory response is critically involved in the pathology of gout. Specifically, MSU crystals promote inflammation directly by stimulating cells via Toll-like receptor signaling and by providing a surface for cleavage of C5 and formation of complement membrane attack complex (C5b-9), culminating in secretion of cytokines, chemokines, and other inflammatory mediators with a dramatic influx of neutrophils into the joint. Despite the detailed mechanistic picture for gouty inflammation, there are no placebo-controlled, randomized clinical studies for any of the therapies commonly used, although comparative studies have demonstrated that many nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are equivalent to indomethacin with respect to controlling acute gouty attacks. In general, the first line of anti-inflammatory therapy for acute gout is nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and the selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitor celecoxib can be used where appropriate. The second line of treatment is glucocorticosteroids, given systemically (oral, intravenous, or intramuscular) or intra-articularly. Alternatively, synthetic adrenocorticotropic hormone is effective, partly via induction of adrenal glucocorticosteroids and partly via rapid peripheral suppression of leukocyte activation by melatonin receptor 3 signaling. The third line of treatment is oral colchicine, which is highly effective when given early in an acute gouty attack, but it is poorly tolerated because of predictable gastrointestinal side effects.
Catheter Outcomes in the Short-term Inpatient Setting: A Controlled Quality Improvement Study Comparing Citrate and Heparin Lock

Heparin and citrate are used as catheter lock solutions to reduce risk of catheter dysfunction and infection in hemodialysis. There is a paucity of data comparing these two locks in the short-term, inpatient setting. We compared the efficacy of 2.2% acid citrate dextrose (ACD) versus 5000 U/ml heparin as catheter lock in the inpatient setting. The study was conducted at two sites within our system, with ACD locks used at site 1 and heparin locks at site 2. We assessed catheters for catheter dysfunction and infection. Both nontunneled dialysis catheters (NTDC) and tunneled dialysis catheters (TDC) were evaluated. We studied 250 catheters and 139 met inclusion criteria: 90 catheters in the ACD group and 49 in the heparin group. ACD had superior outcomes for NTDC; event rate was 0.052 for NTDC/ACD and 0.125 for NTDC/heparin (p = 0.032). There was no difference for TDC. Univariate (odds ratio [OR]: 1.88, confidence interval [CI]: 0.931, 3.82) and multivariate (OR: 1.35, CI: 0.64, 2.87) analyses demonstrated a trend toward increased odds of event with heparin. Catheter lock with 2.2% ACD has lower risk of catheter dysfunction as compared with that of 5000 U/ml heparin in the short-term inpatient setting in NTDC and similar risk in TDC.
Mechanism of Quinolone Action A DRUG-INDUCED STRUCTURAL PERTURBATION OF THE DNA PRECEDES STRAND CLEAVAGE BY TOPOISOMERASE IV

Quinolones are potent broad spectrum antibacterial drugs that target the bacterial type II DNA topoisomerases. Their cytotoxicity derives from their ability to shift the cleavage-religation equilibrium required for topoisomerase action toward cleavage, thereby effectively trapping the enzyme on the DNA. It has been proposed that these drugs act by binding to the enzyme-DNA complex. Using catalytically inactive and quinolone-resistant mutant topoisomerase IV proteins, nitrocellulose filter DNA binding assays, and KMnO4 probing of drug-DNA and drug-DNA-enzyme complexes, we show: (i) that norfloxacin binding to DNA induces a structural alteration, which probably corresponds to an unwinding of the helix, that is exacerbated by binding of the topoisomerase and by binding of the drug to the enzyme and (ii) that formation of this structural perturbation in the DNA precedes DNA cleavage by the topoisomerase in the ternary complex. We conclude that cleavage of the DNA and the resultant opening of the DNA gate during topoisomerization requires the induction of strain in the DNA that is bound to the enzyme. We suggest that quinolones may act to accelerate the rate of DNA cleavage by stimulating acquisition of this structural perturbation in the ternary complex.
Past as tradition, past as history: The Rajatarangini narratives in Kashmir’s Persian historical tradition

Kalhana’s Rajatarangini and its Sanskrit continuations are usually regarded as sui generis—unique historical compositions in a landscape otherwise barren of historical production in Kashmir and Sou...
Imaging of Small Airways and Emphysema

Abstract High-resolution chest computed tomography (CT) is one of the most useful techniques available for imaging bronchiolitis because it shows highly specific direct and indirect imaging signs. The distribution and combination of these various signs can further classify bronchiolitis as either cellular/inflammatory or fibrotic/constrictive. Emphysema is characterized by destruction of the airspaces, and a brief discussion of imaging findings of this class of disease is also included. Typical CT findings include destruction of airspace, attenuated vasculatures, and hyperlucent as well as hyperinflated lungs.
Fuel Miles and the Blend Wall: Costs and Emissions from Ethanol Distribution in the United States

From 1991 to 2009, U.S. production of ethanol increased 10-fold, largely due to government programs motivated by climate change, energy security, and economic development goals. As low-level ethano...
Artists Design Exhibitions: Introduction*

In the first half of the twentieth century, exhibition design served a central and multivalent function: As spaces of the public sphere, exhibitions offered sites for aesthetic experimentation, for the confrontation with new technologies, and for the dissemination of propaganda materials. Rather than elaborating a medium per se, artists who turned to exhibition design sought tactical, site-specific—even project-specific—interventions in the pressing questions of their present, and they did so by positioning their work within the terms, materials, and technologies then active. One need only consider the approaches articulated in such diverse texts as El Lissitzky's 1926 manifesto-like “Exhibition Rooms” or Herbert Bayer's 1937 treatise “Fundamentals of Exhibition Design” to appreciate the privileged role and cultural currency of this formal strategy through the middle of the century.
Demonstration of self-imaging effect without paraxial approximation

The classical self-imaging effect can be observed for a periodic object with a pitch larger than the diffraction limit of an imaging system. In this paper, we show that the self-imaging effect can be achieved in an indefinite metamaterial even when the period is much smaller than the diffraction limit in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional numerical simulations, where the paraxial approximation is not applied. This is attributed to the evanescent waves, which carry the information about subwavelength features of the object, can be converted into propagating waves and then conveyed to far field by the metamaterial, where the permittivity in the propagation direction is negative while the transverse ones are positive. The indefinite metamaterial can be realized and approximated by a system of thin, alternating multilayer metal and insulator (MMI) stack. As long as the loss of the metamaterial is small enough, deep subwavelength image size can be achieved.
In vitro somatic embryogenesis in turf‐type bermudagrass: roles of abscisic acid and gibberellic acid, and occurrence of secondary somatic embryogenesis

Bermudagrass is an important warm-season turfgrass species that is recalcitrant in regeneration in tissue culture. In a previous report, we observed that somatic embryogenesis of immature inflorescence culture was substantially improved when low levels of 2,4-dichloro-phenoxy acetic acid (1 mg/l) and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP, 0.01 mg/l) were included in the callus induction medium. The object of this study was to further improve the culture conditions to enhance somatic embryo formation and plantlet regeneration. It was shown that the abscisic acid supplement (2 or 5 mg/l) to the above callus induction medium further enhanced somatic embryogenesis in hybrid bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon×Cynodon transvaalensis) cv. ‘Tifgreen’. The addition of gibberellic acid (0. 2 mg/l) to the BAP (1 mg/l)-containing regeneration medium accelerated germination/regeneration of the somatic embryos. Secondary and repetitive somatic embryogenesis, which is rarely reported in monocots, was observed in common bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon, cv. ‘Savannah’), and a full course of such a development was captured by a periodical microphotography. Scanning electron microscopy further confirmed the observation.
The Power of Stereotypes: A Labeling Exercise

The labeling exercise is a classroom activity that enables students to explore stereotyping processes relevant to the perceiver and the target of stereotypes. Students are assigned stereotypical trait descriptors and, within the content of a specific task, are asked to treat each other according to those descriptors. This exercise provides an engaging introduction to the topic of social perception and encourages discussion of approaches to prejudice reduction This exercise is appropriate for courses exploring issues of stigma or intergroup relations, including introductory psychology, social psychology, abnormal psychology, educational psychology, and psychology of gender. Evaluation data indicate consistently favorable ratings of this exercise.
Heterogeneity in Gentamicin Clearance Between High-Efficiency Hemodialyzers

Gentamicin is frequently prescribed for treatment of gram-negative infections in patients on dialysis. The aminoglycoside is renally excreted; therefore, dosage modifications are required in patients on hemodialysis. The introduction of short-duration dialysis using high-efficiency hemodialyzers requires that the dialysance of gentamicin be re-examined. We recently demonstrated that high-efficiency dialyzers have a superior gentamicin clearance as compared with conventional dialyzers. In this study we examined the dialysance of gentamicin in two high-efficiency dialyzers using a randomized, controlled, cross-over design. Despite a comparable amount of dialysis (Kt/V urea), rate of dialysis (K/ V urea), and ultrafiltration, there were significant differences noted in gentamicin removal between the high-efficiency cuprammonium rayon and polysulfone dialyzers. Furthermore, the amount of dialysis (Kt/V urea) could predict the fractional gentamicin clearance for the TAF 175L dialyzer (Terumo Corp, Somerset, NJ) and may be useful in the initial planning of gentamicin therapy. In addition, since gentamicin is a middle molecule (molecular weight, 500 to 2,000 d), the study suggests a superior middle molecule clearance of cuprammonium rayon dialyzer compared with a highefficiency polysulfone dialyzer. The substantial heterogeneity in gentamicin clearance, even between dialyzers of the same class, emphasizes the importance of monitoring drug levels in hemodialysis patients receiving this drug.
Effects of site quality and season of clearcutting on upland hardwood forest composition 38 years after harvest

Abstract This study is an examination of the effects of site quality and season (summer and winter) of clearcutting 38 years after harvest in upland central hardwood stands at a location in Ohio. Comparisons are made with data collected 18–20 years after harvest. Mesophytic stands dominated by mixed hardwoods and red maple developed on good sites (black oak (Quercus velutina Lam.) site index >23 m at reference age 50) regardless of harvest season. On medium sites (black oak site index 18–23 m) summer clearcutting produced oak-hickory dominated stands while winter clearcutting produced a more equal mixture of oak-hickory, mixed hardwoods, and red maple. The oak-hickory composition in the overstory of these stands could be predicted from potential crop trees identified at age 18–20 years. Red maple continued to represent a major component of the overstory in all treatment combinations, but is decreasing in diameter growth and crown dominance. It is unlikely that red maple will dominate the overstory of the stands studied unless released.
Chromatin, cancer and drug therapies

The structure and organization of chromatin have attracted a great deal of attention recently because of their implications for the field of epigenetics. DNA methylation and the post-translational modifications that occur on histones can specify transcriptional competency. During cancer development, tumor suppressor genes become silenced by DNA hypermethylation and chromatin modifiers no longer perform in their usual manner. Current epigenetic therapy has been able to take advantage of the reversibility of these epimutations. Progress has been made in the treatment of hematological malignancies and some solid tumors. As the knowledge of how chromatin regulates gene expression is enhanced, improvements in the treatment of cancer can be made.
Effects of temperature on the life span, vitality and fine structure of Drosophila melanogaster

The effects of temperature on the aging process have been investigated in approximately 3500 imagoes of male Drosophila melanogaster (Oregon R), with focus on the following parameters: mortality, O2 utilization, vitality (as expressed by negative geotaxis and mating) and fine structural alterations in the abdominal organs and brain. The data on mortality kinetics of flies maintained continuously at 18°, 21°, 27° or 30 °C or exposed in succession to 21° and 27 °C or vice versa support the concept that life span is temperature dependent. Moreover, these data, together with the increased O2 utilization and accelerated loss of vitality at 21 °C as compared with 18 °C, suggest that, in agreement with the rate-of-living theory proposed by Alpatov and Pearl in 1929, the flies are living faster at the higher temperature. Fine structural aging changes, like ribosomal loss in the Malpighian tubules and lipofuscin-ceroid accumulation in the midgut cells, seem to be more intense at 27° and at 29 °C than at 21 °C. Also, the low vitality exhibited through their lives by flies kept at 27 °C suggests that this relatively high temperature is injurious to Drosophila adapted (by previous exposure through many generations) to 21 °C. Flies maintained at 29 °C showed a striking degeneration of the brain with an almost complete loss of the cytoplasmic organelles of the nerve cells. This electron microscopic finding lends support to the view that nervous tissue injury (perhaps induced by thermal denaturation of membrane lipoproteins) may play a crucial role in life shortening induced by relatively high temperatures.
Assessment of teratogenic potential of trichlorfon in mice and rats

Abstract Trichlorfon was evaluated for its teratogenic potential in the CD‐1 mouse at doses of 200, 300 or 400 mg/kg/day administered by gavage on days 7–16 of gestation. In the CD‐1 mouse, TCF was teratogenic, fetotoxic and lethal at the two highest dose levels which were also maternally lethal. At the lowest dose level which was not maternally lethal, there was a significant decrease in the number of calcified centers in the forepaws and hindpaws indicating fetotoxicity and a delay in maturation. TCF was administered at doses of 50, 100 or 200 mg/kg/day to CD rats by gavage on gestational days 7–19 (study I) or 8–20 (study II). In the CD rat in both study I and II, the highest dose level was maternally lethal. In study I, TCF was teratogenic with a shift in rib profile. In study II, TCF was teratogenic with an increased incidence in malformations of the urinary system. Additionally, TCF was fetotoxic with reduced ossification of the skulls at the lowest and highest dose levels.
Electrochemical energy — progress towards a cleaner future: lead/acid batteries and the competition

Abstract Electric vehicles (EVs) with conventional architecture may be capable of a range of 72–80 km (45–50 miles) with a 35 Wh kg−1 lead/acid battery with a weight equal to 25% of that of the vehicle. An improved vehicle (such as the GM Impact) with lower energy utilization and architecture that allows greater battery weight may attain 160 km (100 miles). A battery corresponding to the mid-term goal of the US Advanced Battery Consortium in an Impact-type vehicle could allow 480 km (300 miles) range. It remains to be seen if this will be technically and economically attained. The EV is more likely to be made practical with the development of a satisfactory polymer-exchange-membrane (PEM) fuel cell, which will involve the same recharging logistics as those of a gasoline vehicle, with much improved energy efficiency. Considerable progress is still required, but one major problem, the amount of platinum catalyst required per vehicle, appears to have been overcome. A loading of 0.15 g/kW now appears to be feasible, so major production of such vehicles will allow platinum producers to keep pace. The advent of the PEM-fuel-cell/battery hybrid vehicle wiil open up a larger market for rechargeable bateries than that for vehicles which use traction batteries alone. Economics seem to point to the fact that such vehicles will use lead/acid batteries for the hybrid peak power and regenerative braking element.
Modes of mantle convection and the removal of heat from the Earth's interior

Thermal histories for two-layer and whole-mantle convection models are calculated and presented, based on a parameterization of convective heat transport. The model is composed of two concentric spherical shells surrounding a spherical core. The models were constrained to yield the observed present-day surface heat flow and mantle viscosity, in order to determine parameters. These parameters were varied to determine their effects on the results. Studies show that whole-mantle convection removes three times more primordial heat from the earth interior and six times more from the core than does two-layer convection (in 4.5 billion years). Mantle volumetric heat generation rates for both models are comparable to that of a potassium-depleted chondrite, and thus surface heat-flux balance does not require potassium in the core. Whole and two-layer mantle convection differences are primarily due to lower mantle thermal insulation and the lower heat removal efficiency of the upper mantle as compared with that of the whole mantle.
COMPARISON OF PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAITS OF COLLEGE WOMEN WITH HIGH AND LOW FITNESS INDICES.

There is a tendency for the “fit” individual to appear more stable in certain psychological traits and to appear less anxious in others.
Measurement of Water Transport during Freezing in Cell Suspensions Using a Differential Scanning Calorimeter

Abstract A new technique using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) was developed to obtain dynamic and quantitative water transport data in cell suspensions during freezing. The model system investigated was a nonattached spherical lymphocyte (Epstein–Barr virus transformed, EBVT) human cell line. Data from the technique show that the initial heat release of a prenucleated sample containing osmotically active cells in media isgreaterthan the final heat release of an identical sample of osmotically inactive or lysed cells in media. The total integrated magnitude of this difference, Δqdsc, was found to be proportional to the cytocrit and hence also to the supercooled water volume in the sample. Further, the normalized fractional integrated heat release difference as a function of temperature, Δq(T)dsc/Δqdsc, was shown to correlate with the amount of supercooled cellular water which had exosmosed from the cell as a function of subzero temperature at constant cooling rates of 5, 10, and 20°C/min. Several important limitations of the technique are (1) that it requires a priori knowledge of geometric parameters such as the surface area, initial volume, and osmotically inactive cell volume and (2) that the technique alone cannot determine whether the heat released from supercooled cellular water is due to dehydration or intracellular ice formation. Cryomicroscopy was used to address these limitations. The initial cell volume and surface area were obtained directly whereas a Boyle–van't Hoff (BVH) plot was constructed to obtain the osmotically inactive cell volumeVb. Curve fitting the BVH data assuming linear osmometric behavior yieldedVb= 0.258V0; however, nonlinearity in the data suggests that the EBVT lymphocyte cells are not “ideal osmometers” at low subzero temperatures and created some uncertainty in the actual value ofVb. Cryomicroscopy further confirmed that dehydration was the predominant biophysical response of the cells over the range of cooling rates investigated. One notable exception occurred at a rate of 20°C/min where evidence for intracellular ice formation due to a DSC measured heat release between −30 and −34°C correlated with a higher end volume but no darkening of the cells during cryomicroscopy. For the cooling rate tested (5°C/min) the cryomicroscopy data correlated statistically very well with the DSC water transport data. A model of water transport was fit to the DSC water transport data and the average (5, 10, and 20°C/min) biophysical parameters for the EBVT lymphocytes were found to beLpg= 0.10 μm/min-atm,ELp= 15.5 kcal/mol. Finally, the decrease in heat release from osmotically active cells measured by the DSC during repetitive freezing and thawing was found to correlate strongly with the viability of the cells measured during identical freeze/thaw protocols with cryomicroscopy. This shows the additional ability of the technique to assess freeze/thaw injury. In summary, this DSC technique is a promising new approach for measuring water transport in cellular systems during freezing.
Narrative Therapy for Treating Video Game Addiction

Video game addiction is increasingly prevalent and treatment modalities have ignored the unique aspects of this particular process addiction. This article reviews the construct of video game addiction and posits utilizing narrative therapy in a manner tailored to the video game culture. By focusing upon the skills inherent in being a successful gamer, clients can translate those skills from online to offline and make substantial changes in their lives. Also, an appendix with commonly used terms in the video game culture is provided.
Changing Flags: Naturalization and Its Determinants Among Mexican Immigrants.

This article presents a secondary analysis of citizenship acquisition among legal Mexican immigrants who arrived in the United States during the early 1970s. A large array of individual characteris...
Soluble histone H2AX is induced by DNA replication stress and sensitizes cells to undergo apoptosis

Chromatin-associated histone H2AX is a key regulator of the cellular responses to DNA damage. However, non-nucleosomal functions of histone H2AX are poorly characterized. We have recently shown that soluble H2AX can trigger apoptosis but the mechanisms leading to non-chromatin-associated H2AX are unclear. Here, we tested whether stalling of DNA replication, a common event in cancer cells and the underlying mechanism of various chemotherapeutic agents, can trigger increased soluble H2AX. Transient overexpression of H2AX was found to lead to a detectable fraction of soluble H2AX and was associated with increased apoptosis. This effect was enhanced by the induction of DNA replication stress using the DNA polymerase α inhibitor aphidicolin. Cells manipulated to stably express H2AX did not contain soluble H2AX, however, short-term treatment with aphidicolin (1 h) resulted in detectable amounts of H2AX in the soluble nuclear fraction and enhanced apoptosis. Similarly, soluble endogenous H2AX was detected under these conditions. We found that excessive soluble H2AX causes chromatin aggregation and inhibition of ongoing gene transcription as evidenced by the redistribution and/or loss of active RNA polymerase II as well as the transcriptional co-activators CBP and p300. Taken together, these results show that DNA replication stress rapidly leads to increased soluble H2AX and that non-chromatin-associated H2AX can sensitize cells to undergo apoptosis. Our findings encourage further studies to explore H2AX and the cellular pathways that control its expression as anti-cancer drug targets.
Identification of potent and highly selective chiral tri-amine and tetra-amine μ opioid receptors ligands : An example of lead optimization using mixture-based libraries

Abstract The generation of chiral polyamine libraries has been successfully accomplished in our laboratory following exhaustive reduction of resin-bound peptides. Herein, we report the synthesis and screening results of a positional scanning mixture-based library of chiral hepta-amines in a radioreceptor assay for the opioid receptor. The positional scanning hepta-amine library was generated by the exhaustive reduction of a library of 34,012,070 hexapeptides. Following screening of the entire library, combinations of the most active functionalities found at each position were used to synthesize and screen 40 individual hepta-amines and served as starting ‘hits’ for further SAR studies. The individual compounds showed IC 50 values ranging from 14 to 345 nM. As might be anticipated by the known studies of μ opiate antagonists, the identified active hepta-amines possessed aromatic rings derived from phenylalanine and tyrosine amino acid side chains. Following SAR studies, a truncation analog, reduced and permethylated YYF-NH 2 , was found to be highly active (0.5 nM) as a selective μ antagonist in the guinea pig ileum bioassay.
Associations between a history of binge drinking during adolescence and self-reported responses to alcohol in young adult Native and Mexican Americans.

BACKGROUND: Binge drinking during adolescence is common and may predict increased drinking in young adulthood and enhanced risk of alcohol dependence. Variation in level of response to the hedonic and adverse effects of alcohol is in part an inherited factor that may also influence its use, abuse, and dependence. This study investigated, in young adults, whether an association could be demonstrated between variation in self-reported responses to alcohol and a history of binge drinking during adolescence. METHODS: Young adult (18 to 30 years, n = 790) Native Americans and Mexican Americans were recruited from the community and completed a structured diagnostic interview. Response to alcohol was indexed using the expectation version of the Subjective High Assessment Scale (SHAS-E). An adolescent history of regular binge drinking was defined as drinking 5 or more drinks for boys and 4 or more drinks for girls per drinking occasion at least once a month during their highest drinking period prior to the age of 18. RESULTS: An adolescent history of regular binge drinking was found to be associated with a lower level of self-reported responses to the negative aspects of alcohol intoxication (feeling terrible) as well as to the overall level of intoxication, but not to the positive impressions of intoxication (feeling great) on the SHAS-E. A history of regular adolescent binge drinking was also correlated with less feelings of the "terrible" and "total" effects of alcohol, as indexed by the SHAS-E, in a linear regression model that included several diagnostic and demographic variables such as a history of conduct disorder and current levels of drinking. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that a history of adolescent binge drinking is associated with a reduction in the self-reported level of intoxication in young adulthood, a factor that could theoretically lead to increased risk of alcohol dependence. Language: en
A spatiotemporal model of civilization

A mathematical model of an urban civilization is presented. Both time- and space-dependence of the four main variables, population, rural commodities, urban commodities, and state power, are described by coupled partial differential equations. The interaction of the variables produces a complex time evolution of the whole living system. Numerical solution of the equations reveals a number of realistic predictions, including class stratification and destruction of states by conquest. The limitations of the very simple ideas used in constructing the model suggest avenues of further research.