cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gender influence on cognitive function after cardiac operation.

Abstract Background Women are at higher risk than men for stroke after cardiac operation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate for gender influences on the more common postoperative neurologic complication, cognitive dysfunction. Methods A standard battery of neuropsychological tests was administered to 117 patients (79 men and 38 women) the day before and again 4 to 6 weeks after cardiac operation. The battery assessed a broad array of cognitive domains, including attention, memory, executive function, and psychomotor processing speed. Analysis was performed only on patients with data from both testing sessions. Data were analyzed to assess for a dichotomous definition of postoperative cognitive impairment and to evaluate for factors influencing test results for specific cognitive domains. Results The frequency of one standard deviation decline on two or more cognitive tests compared with preoperative results (women, 10.7 % versus men, 9.9 %; p = 0.527), no decline, or one standard deviation improvement on each test postoperatively was no different between genders. After adjusting for age, gender, preexisting medical conditions, level of attained education, preoperative cognitive tests results, type of operation, and duration of cardiopulmonary bypass, female gender was independently associated with poorer performance postoperatively on visuospatial tasks. Other variables significantly related to postoperative cognitive function varied among the specific cognitive domains. Conclusions These data suggest that, although the frequency of cognitive dysfunction after cardiac operation is similar for women and men, women appear more likely to suffer injury to brain areas subserving visuospatial processing. Risk factors for postoperative cognitive impairment vary depending on cognitive domain, suggesting multiple etiologies for this form of perioperative neurologic injury.
SU-E-J-72: In Vivo Quality Assurance of Head and Neck Cancer IMRT Treatments Using TomoTherapyˈˈs Exit Detector Data

Purpose: The primary objective of this study was to explore the feasibility of utilizing the exit‐detector‐data (EDD) for in vivo quality assurance of head and neck (H&N) cancerpatient treatments. Methods: Using TomoTherapy's Delivery‐Verification (DVS) software we retrospectively evaluated treatments (53 fractions) of ten H&N cancer patients for dose delivery deviations. MV‐CT scans covering the entire length of treatment volumes and respective EDD files were used for DVS reconstruction and subsequent dose computation on a GPU platform. Differences between planned and reconstructed sinograms were analyzed to evaluate the leaf‐opening time (LOT) differences. Reconstructed dose distributions of fractionated‐deliveries were scaled, convolved to estimate composite dose distributions, and compared against planned dose distributions. The dose summation was strictly based on rigid registrations of the fractionated doses and it did not account for soft‐tissue/dose deformations. Computed DVHs were strictly based on the plannned contours and they did not include anatomical changes, if any. Results: Typical average LOT differences were −3msec‐eq with a standard‐deviation of 8msec‐eq, indicating the integrity of delivered treatments. Although, significant differences were noted for individual reconstructed fraction‐doses, the differences in cumulative reconstructed dose‐distributions were found to be small. Cumulative reconstructed plans show that the minimal dose (D99%) to the PTV was decreased by 1.6±1.4Gy. Average mean doses of the left and right parotids decreased by 1.0±0.6Gy and 0.8±0.7Gy, respectively. The mean dose and volume receiving >60Gy for the upper‐esophagus decreased by 0.7±1.0Gy and 0.6±2.3%, respectively. Overall all the reconstructed doses are lower than the original plans by ∼1.0% and this is consistent with our antropomorphic phantom measurements. Conclusions: The results of study suggest that EDDs are useful for DVS reconstruction and subsequent dose computation and can be a great tool for in vivo quality assurance of clinical H&N cancer treatments. Further studies are needed to account for deformation effects.
Fluoroquinolone-drug interactions: An overview

Abstract It is apparent that the fluoroquinolones represent an important advancement in infectious disease therapy. However, like other anti-microbial compounds, they are not without side effects. An understanding and appreciation of fluoroquinolone-drug interactions is essential for their optimal clinical use. Many questions concerning the potential of the fluoroquinolones with regard to drug interactions still remain. In addition, the majority of research on fluoroquinolone-drug interactions has been done in the research center environment using normal, healthy adult volunteers. The clinical significance of fluoroquinolone-drug interactions needs to be based upon observations in various patient populations, where feasible. Many of the aforementioned interactions could be influenced by race, dosage regimen design, smoking status of the patient, diet composition, and underlying organ function. Future research needs to assess the multiple factors of the clinical setting that might have an influence on patient outcome as a result of combining a fluoroquinolone with another interacting drug. Because norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin are commercially available in the United States, an active surveillance program in the community and institutional settings will help to identify and clarify many of the issues related to flouroquinolone-drug interactions.
Gene Therapy Progress and Prospects: Gene therapy in organ transplantation

One major complication facing organ transplant recipients is the requirement for life-long systemic immunosuppression to prevent rejection, which is associated with an increased incidence of malignancy and susceptibility to opportunistic infections. Gene therapy has the potential to eliminate problems associated with immunosuppression by allowing the production of immunomodulatory proteins in the donor grafts resulting in local rather than systemic immunosuppression. Alternatively, gene therapy approaches could eliminate the requirement for general immunosuppression by allowing the induction of donor-specific tolerance. Gene therapy interventions may also be able to prevent graft damage owing to nonimmune-mediated graft loss or injury and prevent chronic rejection. This review will focus on recent progress in preventing transplant rejection by gene therapy.
Outward FDI and home country employment in USA manufacturing industries

Considerable attention has been focused on how the ‘offshoring’ practices of multinational firm’s impact domestic employment within home countries. Although few definitive conclusions have emerged to date, empirical work often distinguishes international outsourcing per se from the transfer of activities to foreign subsidiaries. Much of the existing evidence is limited to measuring employment effects at parent firms, thereby ignoring impacts on the broader labour market within the home industry. The present research concerns how outward FDI by US-based multinationals, as manifested by an expanded role of foreign affiliates, affects home employment. A standard employment growth model is applied to the domestic industries of parent firms, avoiding problems encountered by focusing solely on firm-level effects. This approach allows complementarity and substitutability effects that occur between domestic firms to be internalised, revealing the net impact on total industry employment. Findings from the empirical exercise offer little support for the contention that employment growth within domestic industries necessarily suffers as multinationals increasingly rely on foreign affiliates.
Modeling and optimization of an inductive magnetic harvester considering nonlinear effects

This paper presents an equivalent model of an inductive magnetic harvester, taking nonlinear effects of magnetic field into consideration. Conventional models consist of one AC voltage source in series with an inductor and are unable to predict harvester performance precisely; a more accurate approach is introduced by considering the nonlinear effects of the magnetic fields. The new model uses a magnetizing inductance and a leakage inductance rather than a single series inductor. In the proposed equivalent model, magnetizing and leakage inductance can be found by detecting flux variation in the air gap between magnets and coil cores. The finite element analysis (FEA) method is used to estimate the electromagnetic field and flux linkage of the coils. The optimum harvesting system design is only possible based on the more accurate modeling of the inductive magnetic harvester.
History of chronic stress modifies acute stress-evoked fear memory and acoustic startle in male rats.

AbstractChronicity of trauma exposure plays an important role in the pathophysiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Thus, exposure to multiple traumas on a chronic scale leads to worse outcomes than acute events. The rationale for the current study was to investigate the effects of a single adverse event versus the same event on a background of chronic stress. We hypothesized that a history of chronic stress would lead to worse behavioral outcomes than a single event alone. Male rats (n = 14/group) were exposed to either a single traumatic event in the form of electric foot shocks (acute shock, AS), or to footshocks on a background of chronic stress (chronic variable stress-shock, CVS-S). PTSD-relevant behaviors (fear memory and acoustic startle responses) were measured following 7 d recovery. In line with our hypothesis, CVS-S elicited significant increases in fear acquisition and conditioning versus the AS group. Unexpectedly, CVS-S elicited reduced startle reactivity to an acoustic stimulus i...
The solubility of paclitaxel in supercritical CO2 and N2O

Abstract The solubilities of paclitaxel in supercritical carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide were measured to identify the optimum conditions for extraction and to verify the thermal stability of the drug under supercritical conditions. The solubility in carbon dioxide was measured at 311.1, 322.2 and 328.9 K and over a pressure range of 14.12–34.62 MPa, whereas that in nitrous oxide was measured at 326.2 K and over a pressure range of 14.03–27.72 MPa. Paclitaxel was found to be more soluble in nitrous oxide than in carbon dioxide, although the solubilities in both cases were very low and ranged from 1.1 × 10−6–7.4 × 10−6 mole fraction.
Protein Kinase C η Is Required for T Cell Activation and Homeostatic Proliferation

Protein kinase C η (PKCη) is abundant in T cells and is recruited to the immunological synapse that is formed between a T cell and an antigen-presenting cell; however, its function in T cells is unknown. We showed that PKCη was required for the activation of mature CD8 + T cells through the T cell receptor. Compared with wild-type T cells, PKCη −/− T cells showed poor proliferation in response to antigen stimulation, a trait shared with T cells deficient in PKCθ, which is the most abundant PKC isoform in T cells and was thought to be the only PKC isoform with a specific role in T cell activation. In contrast, only PKCη-deficient T cells showed defective homeostatic proliferation, which requires self-antigen recognition. PKCη was dispensable for thymocyte development; however, thymocytes from mice doubly deficient in PKCη and PKCθ exhibited poor development, indicating some redundancy between the PKC isoforms. Deficiency in PKCη or PKCθ had opposing effects on the relative numbers of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells. PKCη −/− mice had a higher ratio of CD4 + to CD8 + T cells compared to that of wild-type mice, whereas PKCθ −/− mice had a lower ratio. Mice deficient in both isoforms exhibited normal cell ratios. Together, these data suggest that PKCη shares some redundant roles with PKCθ in T cell biology and also performs nonredundant functions that are required for T cell homeostasis and activation.
The communication of innovation in American policing

Reports on the innovations process in American policing. Explores how information about innovation is communicated among police organizations and the factors which influence adoption. Reports the findings of a survey of police chiefs and executives. Develops a model with four elements: cosmopolitanism; risk mediation; peer emulation; and innovativeness. Finds that many police departments use informal networks of communication to support organizational decision making and are often influenced by executives’ participation in policy communities and by efforts to reduce the organization’s perceived risk of civil liability. Recommends that police organizations strengthen their networks of communication in a more formal manner.
Regenerator Dependent Photoinduced Desorption of a Dicarboxylated Cyanine Dye from the Surface of Single-Crystal Rutile

A photon-initiated desorption of a dicarboxylated thiacarbocyanine dye from a dye-sensitized semiconducting oxide crystal has been observed when hydroquinone is used as a regenerator. No desorption was found under the same conditions when KI was used as the regenerator. Intermittent illumination experiments suggest that the oxidation products of the hydroquinone regenerator compete for dye adsorption sites. By comparing the photocurrent decay at both the dye monomer sensitization maximum and the dimer sensitization maximum, a rearrangement of monomer into dimer was observed. A kinetic model for the photocurrent decay as a function of desorption time was derived, and the desorption rate constants were obtained by fitting the experimental data to the model.
Strengthening Communities: Neighborhood Watch and the Elderly in a Pennsylvania Town

Innovative police departments have to address two pronounced changes in the twenty-first century—the increasing elderly population and declining police resources. Neighborhood Watch programs may be an effective means of handling both concerns. However, evaluations of Neighborhood Watch programs are mixed. Evaluating such programs within specific contexts and with various outcome variables may be important in understanding conditions under which Neighborhood Watch complements policing tactics. This study examines the relationship between Neighborhood Watch, fear of crime and the view of the police by the elderly (n = 201) in a predominantly white, working-class, non-urban town. Furthermore, this study examines whether residing near a local crime ‘hot spot’ affects the relationship between these three factors. Findings suggest that for the elderly in non-urban towns, Neighborhood Watch programs successfully reduce fear of crime, regardless of one's proximity to a crime ‘hot spot’; however, Neighborhood Watch's effect on the elderly's view of the police is mixed.
A Methodology to Conduct a Combined Heating and Power System Assessment and Feasibility Study for Industrial Manufacturing Facilities

This paper considers combined heat and power (CHP) systems based on topping cycles only, in which electricity is generated by a prime mover and heat is then recovered from the exhaust and utilized to offset all or a portion of the facility’s process and/or space heating requirements.. The objective of this paper is to develop a methodology to perform a topping cycle CHP assessment and feasibility study for industrial manufacturing facilities. In order to determine the best and most viable option for the facility in question, the proposed methodology can be used to size different systems which utilize diverse technologies and fuel sources, perform an economic analysis of each proposed option, and then compare the benefits and setbacks of each type of CHP system considered. The calculations performed in the economic analysis will then provide a broad insight as to which proposed system will show the best payback if installed. Examples are presented in this paper that describe in detail the application of this methodology, from equipment selection and sizing through economic analyses and proposed system comparisons, which is recommended for use in order to determine the most economically feasible CHP system for an industrial manufacturing facility.© 2011 ASME
An item‐level analysis of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES‐D) by race and ethnicity in patients with coronary artery disease

Introduction The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) is a measure of depressive symptoms that is commonly used in clinical studies. Studies employing this measure often describe variations in aggregate scores. However, few studies have examined variations in response to specific items by race and ethnicity. Method This was a cross-sectional analysis among adults who were ages 50 and older and who were hospitalized for the management of coronary artery disease. Differential item functioning analysis was used to determine whether there were racial and ethnic variations in response to the items on the CES-D. Results Of the 571 participants, 76% were Caucasian, 12% were African-American, and 8% were Latino-American. After adjusting for age, gender, and education, four items exhibited differential item functioning. The odds of Latinos endorsing the item ‘I was bothered by things that usually don't bother me’ was 2.5 (95% CL 1.2–5.9); 2.7 (95% CL 1.4–5.1) for the item ‘My sleep was restless’; 2.0 (95% CL 1.0–5.0) for the item ‘I felt that I was just as good as other people’; and 2.3 (95% CL 1.3–4.5) for the item ‘I enjoyed life’. The last two items were scored in reverse therefore; higher scores reflect more depressive symptoms. African-Americans were 3.0 times more likely to endorse the item ‘people were unfriendly’ (95% CL 1.4–6.5). Conclusions In this study, differences in somatic, positive affective and interpersonal symptoms were associated with the higher prevalence of depressive symptoms observed among racial and ethnic minorities when compared to Caucasians. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nevermind: creating an entertaining biofeedback-enhanced game experience to train users in stress management

Nevermind is a PC-based biofeedback-enhanced adventure horror game developed in Unity that challenges the player to go outside of his psychological comfort zone. Its use of biofeedback technology isolates the problem of fear and stress, making it a concrete, measurable entity that can be identified and addressed on a very direct and personal level. The high entertainment value of the game serves to compel players to push further to find out "what happens next" - and, in turn, the demand to venture into the terrifying unknown and return unscathed (both as an in-game character and as a person) encourages players to push beyond boundaries of fear in their own lives.
Relevance dimensions in preference-based IR evaluation

Evaluation of information retrieval (IR) systems has recently been exploring the use of preference judgments over two search result lists. Unlike the traditional method of collecting relevance labels per single result, this method allows to consider the interaction between search results as part of the judging criteria. For example, one result list may be preferred over another if it has a more diverse set of relevant results, covering a wider range of user intents. In this paper, we investigate how assessors determine their preference for one list of results over another with the aim to understand the role of various relevance dimensions in preference-based evaluation. We run a series of experiments and collect preference judgments over different relevance dimensions in side-by-side comparisons of two search result lists, as well as relevance judgments for the individual documents. Our analysis of the collected judgments reveals that preference judgments combine multiple dimensions of relevance that go beyond the traditional notion of relevance centered on topicality. Measuring performance based on single document judgments and NDCG aligns well with topicality based preferences, but shows misalignment with judges' overall preferences, largely due to the diversity dimension. As a judging method, dimensional preference judging is found to lead to improved judgment quality.
Results of anterograde transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus using single or multiple gianturco coils

Abstract Retrograde coil embolization of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) has been reported for ducts
The convergence of top-down and bottom-up nanofabrication: formation of 3D structures

Lithography and the processes associated with it are the backbone of the nanotechnology revolution. Several developments are occurring simultaneously: a drive to reduce minimum feature size leading to advances in microelectronics, the use of lithographically patterned structures to prepare devices for photonics, biotechnology and other forms of nanotechnology and finally the drive to create three-dimensional (3D) structures for device and new materials creation. Thus the controlled formation of nanometer scale structures in two and three dimensions is of increasing interest in many applications. This paper will overview new approaches for the construction of small-scale structures using methods generally considered as next generation lithography. New approaches derived from two photon processes for the formation of complex images and the development of patterned structures will be described. Finally in the production of 3D patterns, the possible role of self-assembly coupled to lithography will be examined. Photodefinable block copolymers with erodable microstructures have been successfully used to form mesoporous materials and will be discussed.
Synthesis of polytertiary phosphines and ‘mixed’ phosphorus–sulphur and ‘mixed’ phosphorus–nitrogen polydentate ligands via free-radical catalysis

In the presence of free radicals, phosphorus–hydrogen and sulphur–hydrogen bonds cleanly and readily add to the carbon–carbon double bonds of vinyl derivatives to produce organic compounds that are useful as polydentate chelating ligands. The generality and mild conditions of the reaction are demonstrated by the synthesis of di-, tri-, and tetra-(tertiary phosphines) and of compounds that contain both phosphorus and sulphur or phosphorus and nitrogen donor groups. This free-radical-catalysed addition of molecules containing P–H and S–H bonds to vinyl compounds provides a general valuable alternative to the base-catalysed addition method.
A FORMALISM FOR COVARIANT POLARIZED RADIATIVE TRANSPORT BY RAY TRACING

We write down a covariant formalism for polarized radiative transfer appropriate for ray tracing through a turbulent plasma. The polarized radiation field is represented by the polarization tensor (coherency matrix) N{sup {alpha}{beta}} {identical_to} (a{sup {alpha}}{sub k} a*{sup {beta}}{sub k}), where a{sub k} is a Fourier coefficient for the vector potential. Using Maxwell's equations, the Liouville-Vlasov equation, and the WKB approximation, we show that the transport equation in vacuo is k{sup {mu}}{nabla}{sub {mu}} N{sup {alpha}{beta}} = 0. We show that this is equivalent to Broderick and Blandford's formalism based on invariant Stokes parameters and a rotation coefficient, and suggest a modification that may reduce truncation error in some situations. Finally, we write down several alternative approaches to integrating the transfer equation.
Adsorption of carbon monoxide on the molybdenum (100) surface

Abstract The interaction of CO with Mo(100) has been studied by means of thermal desorption spectrometry, work function measurements and electron stimulated desorption, in conjunction with LEED and AES. Results have been obtained for adsorption at room temperature and at temperatures down to 200 K. The study confirms previous results, showing that the β-states formed at room temperature are atomic. The thermal desorption data for the β-states are analyzed to give directly the desorption activation energy as a function of coverage. This energy is found to vary smoothly from an initial value of 3.7 to a final value of 2.9 eV molecule, indicating an average repulsive interaction between a pair of adjacent adatoms of 0.2 eV. The data at low temperature indicate that a molecular state, virgin-CO, is produced in competition with β-CO and probably one other state, from a common precursor. The step leading to virgin-CO has both a low activation energy and a low pre-exponential factor, suggesting that a reorientation of the molecule is required.
Digestion Rate and Food Consumption of Florida Gar, Warmouth, and Largemouth Bass

Abstract Voluntary- and force-feeding experiments were conducted on 131 Florida gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus), 46 warmouth (Chaenobryttus gulosus), and 21 largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) to determine the rate of digestion and food consumption. The digestion rate of the warmouth was 1.6 times greater than that of the gar, and that of the bass was 1.5 times greater than the warmouth and 2.4 times greater than the gar. The daily voluntary food consumption of the warmouth was 1.6 times greater than the gar, and that of the bass 1.6 times that of the warmouth and 2.5 times greater than the gar.
Preparedness for epidemic disease or bioterrorism: Minimum cost planning for the location and staffing of urban point-of-dispensing centers

Urban health authorities in the United States have been charged with developing plans for providing the infrastructure necessary to dispense prophylactic medications to their populations in the case of epidemic disease outbreak or bioterrorist attack. However, no specific method for such plans has been prescribed. This article formulates and demonstrates the use of an integer programming technique for helping to solve a part of the dispensing problem faced by cities, namely that of providing the federally required infrastructure at minimum cost, using their limited time and resources. Specifically, the technique minimizes the number of point-of-dispensing (POD) centers while covering every resident in all the census tracts within the city's jurisdiction. It also determines the optimal staffing requirement in terms of the number of nurses at each POD. This article includes a demonstration of the model using real data from Cleveland, OH, a mid-sized US city. Examples are provided of data and computational results for a variety of input parameter values such as population throughput rate, POD capacities, and distance limitations. The technique can be readily adapted to a wide range of urban areas.
Preventing Bacterial Contamination and Proliferation During the Harvest, Storage, and Feeding of Fresh Bovine Colostrum

The objectives of this study were to identify control points for bacterial contamination of bovine colostrum during the harvesting and feeding processes, and to describe the effects of refrigeration and use of potassium sorbate preservative on bacteria counts in stored fresh colostrum. For objective 1, first-milking colostrum samples were collected aseptically directly from the mammary glands of 39 cows, from the milking bucket, and from the esophageal feeder tube. For objective 2, 15-mL aliquots of colostrum were collected from the milking bucket and allocated to 1 of 4 treatment groups: 1) refrigeration, 2) ambient temperature, 3) refrigeration with potassium sorbate preservative, and 4) ambient temperature with potassium sorbate preservative. Subsamples from each treatment group were collected after 24, 48, and 96 h of storage. All samples underwent bacteriological culture for total plate count and coliform count. Bacteria counts were generally low or zero in colostrum collected directly from the gland [mean (SD) log10 cfu/mL(udder) = 1.44 (1.45)]. However, significant bacterial contamination occurred during the harvest process [mean (SD) log10 cfu/mL(bucket) = 4.99 (1.95)]. No additional bacterial contamination occurred between the bucket and the esophageal feeder tube. Storing colostrum at warm ambient temperatures resulted in the most rapid increase in bacteria counts, followed by intermediate rates of growth in nonpreserved refrigerated samples or preserved samples stored at ambient temperature. The most effective treatment studied was the use of potassium sorbate preservative in refrigerated samples, for which total plate count and total coliform counts dropped significantly and then remained constant during the 96-h storage period.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS FOR ADVANCE CARE PLANNING AND END-OF-LIFE CONVERSATIONS

Background Clinician’s communication skills are central to advance care planning and discussions of goals of care. Aim To discuss and practice three core communication skills needed to discuss goals of care with seriously ill patients. Methods Discussion and role playing in small groups Results/Discussion The session will focus on how to assess a patient’s values and then make a recommendation based on those values. The key skills involved include: 1) attending to patient’s emotions; 2) using the patient’s emotions to explore a patient’s hopes and concerns; 3) asking for permission to make a recommendation; and 4) making a recommnedation by “showing one’s work”. Conclusion Skills needed to have discussions with seriously ill patients about their goals can be taught.
Dark matter from particle physics

Abstract Eventually, the properties of particles relevant to the possible amounts of dark matter from various particle physics sources (lightest superpartner (LSP), massive neutrinos, axions, etc.) will be well determined. I discuss how well Ω LSP h 2 can be calculated once there is collider data on the properties of the LSP. Study of the supersymmetry Lagrangian implies that current limits on WIMPs are not general.
TURNOVER OF PLASMA GLUCOSE IN ANESTHETIZED WARM- AND COLD-ACCLIMATED RATS EXPOSED TO COLD

The turnover of plasma glucose has been measured in anesthetized warm- and cold-acclimated white rats by a method involving a single injection of a tracer amount of uniformly labelled C14-glucose a...
The degradation of l-histidine and trans and cis-urocanic acid by bacteria from skin and the role of bacterial cis-urocanic acid isomerase

Abstract UV-B radiation suppresses cell-mediated immunity. Histidine forms trans-urocanic acid (trans-UCA) enzymatically in the stratum corneum. Photoisomerization of trans-UCA to cis-urocanic acid (cis-UCA) has been proposed for the initiation of an immunosuppressive process. Many microorganisms described in the literature metabolize histidine and/or trans-UCA. Our enrichment cultures of soil and sewage contain organisms that can degrade cis-UCA. We have tested microorganisms for degradation of cis-UCA, trans-UCA, or l -histidine when they are incorporated at 0.2% in nutrient broth. Six out of 10 selected genera isolated by our clinical microbiology laboratory degrade one or more of the imidazole substrates. We have cultured over 60 aerobic isolates from human skin. Of these, 33 degrade one or more of the three imidazole substrates and 12 degrade cis-UCA. Isolates from BALB/c mice are also active on cis-UCA. We have identified a cis-UCA-degrading bacterium as Micrococcus luteus. Four ATCC strains of M. luteus have been tested and three are active on histidine or trans-UCA; two are active on cis-UCA. Micrococci that degrade cis-UCA contain a new enzyme, cis-UCA isomerase, which converts the substrate to the trans-isomer. This enzyme provides access to the classical l -histidine degradation pathway. We hypothesize that an epidermal microflora that degrades l -histidine, trans-UCA, or cis-UCA influences the concentration of urocanic acids on the skin and, thus, affects immune suppression.
Case Report: Longitudinal Stress Fracture of the Humerus: Imaging Features and Pitfalls

Longitudinal stress fractures are an uncommon injury in which a diaphyseal fracture line occurs parallel to the long axis of a bone in the absence of direct trauma. They have been described in the tibia and less commonly in the femur but apparently not in the upper limb. We report a longitudinal stress fracture occurring in the humerus of a 62-year-old woman who had a history of osteoporosis and had undergone recent surgery of the contralateral wrist. We present the radiographic, MRI, and CT features of the case and emphasize the difficulties in diagnosis caused by negative findings on early radiographs and by nonspecific bone marrow edema pattern on MRI. The risk of a contralateral upper extremity stress fracture from activities of daily living in a patient with osteoporosis whose other upper extremity is immobilized also is highlighted.
I Wanna Hold Your Hand: The Progression of Social, Romantic and Sexual Events in Adolescent Relationships

CONTEXT: Despite the vast amount of existing research on adolescent sexual behavior, little is known about the trajectory of social, romantic and sexual events within an adolescent’s relationship. METHODS: A subsample of participants in Wave 2 of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (8,438 respondents aged 12–21) provided data on the sequence of 15 social, romantic and sexual events that occurred in a recent romantic relationship. Proportions reporting each event and average relative rankings were assessed for all respondents, for different racial and ethnic groups, and for respondents who belonged to the same racial or ethnic group as their partner. Logistic regression was used to compare proportions; ordinary least square regression was used to analyze the mean sequential ranking of each event. RESULTS: Social and romantic events, such as spending time with one’s partner in a group and holding hands, were far more common than sexual events, such as touching one’s partner without clothing, and typically preceded sexual events in the trajectory of relationship events. Romantic events were the most common across three of the four major U.S. racial and ethnic groups. Asian and Hispanic respondents tended to have low proportions reporting sexual events compared with white respondents. Black adolescents were the only group for whom talking about prevention of pregnancy and STDs preceded sexual events. Reports from male and female adolescents were similar. CONCLUSION: Recognition of the diversity of relationship experiences may prompt the development of more effective interventions for adolescents who engage in risky sexual behavior.
Administration of pamidronate alters bone-titanium attachment in the presence of endotoxin-coated polyethylene particles

Bisphosphonates are promising in the treatment of periprosthetic osteolysis induced by particulate wear debris. The in vivo effects of pamidronate with different doses and durations of administration on bone-titanium attachment in the presence of endotoxin-coated polyethylene particles were examined in a rat model in this study. Titanium pins and endotoxin-coated polyethylene particles were introduced into rat femoral canals followed by intraperitoneal injection of pamidronate every other day. The treatment varied in the dose from 0 to 40 μg/kg and the duration of either 10 days or 6 weeks. Bilateral femurs were harvested after 6 weeks and examined by bone densitometer and MicroCT scan. Pamidronate increased the bone density of the left, unoperated femurs in a dose and duration dependent manner. Bone-titanium attachment significantly increased in all treatment groups compared to the control group. When pamidronate was administered for 10 days, the increase of bone-titanium attachment was significantly dose-dependent. However, when pamidronate was given for 6 weeks at 4 μg/kg, the bone-titanium attachment was significantly (p < 0.001) lower compared to the 10 day treatment of the same dose, although it was significantly higher than controls. Our results suggest that pamidronate effectively increase bone-titanium attachment even in the presence of endotoxin-coated polyethylene particles. However, long-term administration may reduce its efficacy. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2007
Fast and numerically stable parametric alignment of biosequences

Parametric alignment is an approach towards dealing with the uncertainties that are inherent in the cost parameters involved in the alignment of biosequences. In parametric alignment, a selected set of cost parameters is kept variable. The resulting space of optimal alignments is then analyzed with respect to the dependencies on these cost parameters. The number n of variable parameters is called the dimension of the parametric aligment problem. If the cost function is linear in the variable parameters, then the alignment space has the structure of a subdivision of the n-dimensional euclidean space into a collection of convex polyhedra. Each polyhedron represents a region of parameter settings that lead to the same set of optimal alignments. Efficient algorithms have been put forth for computing the subdivisions arising from oneand two-dimensional parametric alignment. General algorithmic schemes have been developed for n > 2, but these algorithms are inefficient, in practice. To our knowledge, all algorithms devised so far are plagued by numerical instabilities. We propose an algorithm for two-dimensional parametric alignment which is both faster than existing algorithms and numerically stable. We report on experimental results with this algorithm on biological data and comment on the potential role of parametric alignment in the analysis of biosequences.
Gonadal histology and characteristic histopathology associated with endocrine disruption in the adult fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas)

Examination of gonadal histopathology has been beneficial in understanding and assessing the effects of potential endocrine disrupting chemicals in fish and other organisms. The present study describes the normal gonadal histology of the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas), a widely used test organism, reviews typical effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals with different modes/mechanisms of action on the histological structure of the ovaries and testes, and recommends methods for optimizing histopathological results.
Drosophila melanogaster NPC2 proteins bind bacterial cell wall components and may function in immune signal pathways

ML (MD-2 (myeloid differentiation factor-2)-related Lipid-recognition) is a conserved domain identified in MD-2, MD-1, NPC2 (Niemann-Pick disease type C2), and mite major allergen protein from animals, plants, and fungi. Vertebrate members of the ML family proteins, such as NPC2 and MD-2, play important roles in lipid metabolism and immune signaling pathway. MD-2 is an essential co-receptor in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway. Insects contain multiple ML genes, arbitrarily named md-2- or npc2-like genes. However, whether insect ML genes have functions similar to vertebrate md-2 is unknown. In Drosophila melanogaster, there are eight npc2 genes (npc2a-h), and they can be further divided into three subgroups based on the numbers of cysteine residues (6, 7 and 8 Cys) in the mature proteins. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether any Drosophila npc2 genes may have functions in immune signaling pathways. We chose npc2a, npc2e and npc2h genes representing the three subgroups for this study. We showed that recombinant NPC2a, NPC2e and NPC2h not only bound to LPS and lipid A, but also bound to peptidoglycan (PG) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA), a property that has not been reported previously for vertebrate NPC2 or MD-2. More importantly, we showed that over-expression of NPC2a and NPC2e activated diptericin promoter reporter in S2 cells stimulated by PG, suggesting that NPC2e and NPC2a may play a role in the immune deficiency (Imd) pathway. This is the first in vitro study about NPC2 proteins in innate immunity of D. melanogaster.
Footwear and posture. Compensatory strategies for heel height.

The belief that wearing high-heeled shoes increases lumbar lordosis is firmly ingrained in clinical folklore. Proponents of negative heel footwear argue that because high positive heels increase the lumbar lordosis, negative heels will decrease the lumbar lordosis. Quantitative documentation of the assumption regarding high heels is not to be found in the literature, although sporadic attempts to prove this assumption have been made throughout the 20th Century. Although other effects, such as decreased gait speed and step length, and increased knee flexion at heel strike have been found in more than one study, no increase in lumbar lordosis has been found. Where an actual decrease in lordosis has been found, authors tend to explain it away as inconsistent with what every clinician feels that he or she has observed. We felt it appropriate, then, to conduct both a static and a dynamic study to assess the effects of heel height on lumbar spine and lower limb joint kinematics in the sagittal plane, as well as other strategies to compensate for heel height. The results indicate that the greatest compensation is at the ankle and knee. Where a significant effect occurred in the lumbar spine (males, dynamic study), high heels decreased the lumbar lordosis, i.e., resulted in less swayback rather than more.
Thorium-234 as a tracer of particle dynamics and upper ocean export in the Atlantic Ocean

Abstract The flux of sinking particles is an important removal mechanism of carbon and other chemical species from the surface ocean as part of the biological pump. Euphotic zone export of 234Th was measured on GEOTRACES transects of the Atlantic Ocean to evaluate basin-scale export variability. High-resolution sampling through the entire water-column allowed for the identification of unique 234Th features in intermediate and deep waters. These data will be important for describing distributions and estimating the fluxes of trace elements measured by other investigators in the GEOTRACES program. This extensive data set will also be useful when combined with other particulate and radioisotope data for improving our understanding of particle cycling and the relation of particle flux to particle composition and abundance.
Structural characterization of the Molluscum contagiosum virus genome

Abstract The genome of Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) appears in an electron microscope as a linear, duplex DNA molecule having a mean contour length of 53.02 ± 1.87 μm. Vaccinia virus DNA, similarly processed and used for comparison, measures 53.03 ± 2.2 μm. The average molecular weight of MCV-DNA was calculated to be 118 × 106. Single-stranded circles measuring twice the length of linear molecules were observed with both poxvirus DNAs following high levels of denaturation. However, partial denaturation profiles of MCV and vaccinia virus DNA differed markedly when mounted for microscopy under similar conditions. MCV-DNA consistently required an additional 10° equivalents to achieve comparable levels of denaturation. In contrast to vaccinia virus DNA, the most easily denaturable regions of the MCV genome appeared to be the ends of the molecule. When MCV-DNA was cleaved by restriction endonuclease BAM · HI, 12 fragments were produced ranging in size from 4 × 105 to 31 × 106 daltons as determined by agarose-gel electrophoresis and contour length measurements. Vaccinia virus DNA, similarly treated, produced more than 23 fragments which did not appear to correspond in size to those of MCV. With the aim of comparing the genetic and structural heterogeneity of the MCV genome, 11 independently isolated virus samples were analyzed by restriction endonuclease digestion and coelectrophoresis. Only three cleavage profiles were detected, with some fragments present in all three profiles, comigrating in agarose gels. We conclude, therefore, that the genome of Molluscum contagiosum virus is a continuous polynucleotide chain which is base paired to form a linear, duplex DNA molecule. Three genetic types of MCV were isolated from clinically typical skin lesions and identified in this study.
Metabolism of tocotrienols in animals and synergistic inhibitory actions of tocotrienols with atorvastatin in cancer cells

Tocotrienols (T3s), members of the vitamin E family, exhibit potent anti-cancer, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and some other biological activities. To better understand the bioavailability and metabolism of T3s, T3s and their metabolites were identified in urine and fecal samples from mice on diet supplemented with mixed T3s using HPLC/electrochemical detection and liquid chromatography electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (LC–ESI–MS). Whereas the short-chain metabolites carboxyethyl hydroxychromans (CEHCs) and carboxymethylbutyl hydroxychromans (CMBHCs) were the major metabolites of T3s, several new metabolites with double bonds were also identified. Similar to tocopherols, the majority of T3 metabolites were excreted as sulfate/glucuronide conjugates in mouse urine. The distribution of γ- and δ-T3 and γ-T3 metabolites were also determined in different organs as well as in urine and fecal samples from mice on diets supplemented with corresponding T3s. The synergistic anti-cancer actions of γ-T3 and atorvastatin (ATST) were studied in HT29 and HCT116 colon cancer cell lines. The combination greatly potentiated the ability of each individual agent to inhibit cancer cell growth and to induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The triple combination of γ-T3, ATST, and celecoxib exhibited synergistic actions when compared with any double combination plus the third agent. Mechanistic studies revealed that the synergistic actions of γ-T3 and ATST could be attributed to their mediation of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase, and the subsequent inhibition of protein geranylgeranylation. It remains to be determined whether such a synergy occurs in vivo.
Effect of mithramycin on boneβ-glucuronidase and resorption

Mithramycin suppresses bone resorption. Its effect on the synthesis and release of β-glucuronidase (a referent for lysosomal enzymes) in mouse calvarial explants was studied in an in vitro culture system. A newly described medium (designated as KT medium) was introduced in this specific study. Mithramycin initially inhibited the release of β-glucuronidase into the medium and resulted in an ultimate accumulation of this enzyme in the bone. These results suggest that inhibition of bone resorption by mithramycin may be attributed to interference in release of lysosomal enzymes from bone cells.
Linear models to predict the digestible lipid content of fish diets

Values for the digestible contents of nutrients in diets and feed ingredients are of utmost importance in nutritional strategies for fish. Prediction from dietary composition would eliminate lengthy, tedious and demanding digestibility experiments with fish. Apparent digestible lipid (DL) content [range 7.6–353.4 g kg−1 dry matter (DM)] in compound diets can be predicted with high accuracy (n = 610; studies =127; fish species = 34; R2 = 0.9515; RMSE = 16.9504) from dietary crude lipid (CL) content (range 12.0–388.7 g kg−1 DM) by the linear regression equation DL =−2.7303 + 0.9123 CL. Validation of this equation against 65 values from 15 independent studies presented R2 and mean prediction error (MPE) values of 0.9947 and 0.0671, respectively. The corresponding equation for 37 individual feed ingredients evaluated in 24 studies with 18 fish species (n = 180) was found to be DL = −1.5824 + 0.8654 CL (R2 = 0.9717; RMSE = 8.3765). However, validation of the latter is currently hampered by a lack of independent values.
Violent Epiphany: Nuclear Deterrence and the Sacred

The idea of "limitless" violence, long scomed by Westerners, suddenly looms up before us. Absolute vengeance, formerly the prerogative of the gods, now returns, precisely weighed and calibrated, on the wings of science. .. It seems increasingly clear that the pressure of violence or the insistence of truth . . . has forced modem man to come face to face with this same violence or truth. For the first time he is confronted with a perfectly straight-forward and even scientifically calculable choice between total destruction and the total renunciation of violence.