cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Water-soluble meta-poly(phenylene ethynylene) oligomers with stable helical secondary structure

Two novel water-soluble meta-poly(phenylene ethynylene) (mPPE) copolymers were synthesized and characterized, each contained ester and amine functional groups attached to exohelix positions on the phenylene rings and one contained methoxy endohelix functional groups. Secondary structure formation was investigated for these materials in aqueous solutions using ultraviolet and fluorescence spectroscopy. Additionally, the folding behaviors are reported for the mPPEs and their protected amine precursors in other protic and aprotic solvents. Results indicate that both mPPEs are able to form stable helical structures in water, while only the nonmethoxylated polymer exhibited a helical structure in acetonitrile and several alcohols. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012
Exposure to Ubiquitous Mobile Instructional Technology in a High School Setting: An Observational Study

This paper describes results of a study of high school juniors and seniors who participated in their school's 24/7 access tablet PC (TPC) program during the program's third year. Primary areas of interest for this study were students' experiences with and attitudes about the TPCs, physical discomfort associated with TPC use, and temporal and task-driven patterns of TPC use. Data were collected via questionnaire. Results showed students' attitudes were generally quite positive towards the TPCs. However, they did not tend to think TPCs had improved their grades, few disagreed that TPCs were a distraction in class, and visual and musculoskeletal discomfort was prevalent. Recognizing the organizational capacity of the TPC was associated with several positive attitudes towards the TPC, including aiding interactions with teachers and feeling more comfortable in class. This type of assessment provides a useful complement to more common assessments of impact of digital technology on academic performance.
On denitrification in the northeastern tropical Pacific Ocean

Abstract The existence of a maximum in nitrite concentration in the oxygen minimum layer below the thermocline in the northeastern tropical Pacific Ocean has been confirmed. At depths corresponding to the nitrite maximum, the nitrate concentration decreased and no ammonia was found. This nitrate decrease was greater than the corresponding increase in nitrite and it is suggested that further denitrification to N 2 O or N 2 had occured.
Inferring regulatory networks through orthologous gene mapping

In recent years, constructing regulatory networks using gene expression data has received extensive attentions. From Boolean network, Bayesian network to Module network, a number of models have been applied in order to learn the regulatory networks more accurately. The statistical power of network modeling is directly affected by sample size of available expression data used as training data. However, training data are not always abundantly available, except a few well-studied model organisms. It is also infeasible to perform a large number of experiments which require a lot of resources and labor. How to learn a reliable network using minimal training data making use of well-characterized model organisms becomes an important problem with pressing needs. In this paper, we developed a method that infers regulatory sub-networks for a species with limited expression data by learning from a known reference network through orthologous gene mapping. Inspection of three predicted sub-networks confirms biological relevance of our predictions and demonstrates the ability of the method in extracting core regulatory relationships.
Characteristics of Fibrin Formation and Clot Stability in Individuals with Congenital Type IIb Protein C Deficiency

Many studies have shown that unregulated or excessive thrombin formation is potentially a cause of thrombosis; however, studies examining processes that contribute to fibrin stabilization in individuals predisposed to thrombosis are limited. In this study, we investigate a family with familial thrombosis via type IIb protein C (PC) deficiency. Using contact pathway inhibited whole blood, thrombin generation, fibrin clot formation and factor (f)XIII activation were monitored over time in control (n=5) and PC deficient (n=4, 34 – 69% PC by activity) subjects. The dynamics of thrombin generation varied significantly with the time required to reach the maximal rate of thrombin-antithrombin formation being much shorter in PC deficiency (5.8±0.4 minutes) than in controls (9.7±0.4 minutes; p<0.001). PC deficient clots were significantly heavier than control clots (p<0.001) and this difference could not be contributed exclusively to differences in fibrinogen levels between groups. FXIII was consumed faster in PC deficient subjects (23.7±2.0 nM/minute) than in controls (5.1±1.5 nM/minute; p<0.0001) suggesting increased fXIII activation and incorporation of fXIIIa substrates into the clot. In plasma, the clot lysis time was increased in PC deficiency by both TAFIa dependent and independent mechanisms. Since PC deficient clots are both denser and show a greater degree of resistance to fibrinolysis, these clots would likely resist fibrinolysis and potentiate fibrin deposition observed in thrombosis.
Space traffic may be cause of increase in polar mesospheric clouds

A recent increase in polar mesospheric clouds could be due to a recent increase in space traffic, a new study suggests. Polar mesospheric clouds are diffuse collections of water ice crystals in the mesosphere near the poles at altitudes of about 80 kilometers. The number and brightness of polar mesospheric ice clouds is expected to decrease when the incoming flux of solar ultraviolet radiation increases. Increases in solar radiation heat and dry out the atmosphere slightly, leading to a decrease in ice cloud formation.
Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment after Molteno glaucoma implant surgery.

Background: The Molteno implant is a device used for surgical treatment of complicated glaucoma. Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD) is a relatively rare complication of Molteno implant surgery. This study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical features including the surgical management and postoperative outcome of patients with rhegmatogenous RD after Molteno implant surgery. Methods: The authors reviewed 350 consecutive patients who had Molteno surgery and identified 16 patients with subsequent rhegmatogenous RD. They also studied one patient referred for RD repair after Molteno surgery at another institution. Results: The risk of rhegmatogenous RD was 5%. Seventy percent (12/17) of the patients presented within 4 months of the Molteno procedure. Dialysis and flap tear were the most common types of retinal break found. Forty-one percent (7/17) of the patients had proliferative vitreoretinopathy. In three patients, clinical features suggested RD resulting from the Molteno procedure. In other patients, previous ocular surgery and underlying ocular disease may have contributed to the development of RD. Retinal detachment repair was attempted in all patients. Among 16 patients with at least 6 months of follow-up, 56% (9/16) had successful retina attachment. Forty-four percent (7/16) of the patients maintained formed vision. Eighteen percent (3/16) of the patients maintained visual acuity of at least 20/40. Intractable glaucoma did not develop in any of the patients with an attached retina. Recurrent RD, endophthalmitis, cyclitic membrane, or intractable glaucoma led to phthisis bulbi or enucleation in 44% (7/16) of the patients. Conclusion: A combined approach by vitreoretinal and glaucoma surgeons can restore vision and maintain glaucoma control in patients with rhegmatogenous RD associated with Molteno implant surgery. Ophthalmology 1994;101:665-671
Intraoperative angiography for neurovascular disease in the prone or three-quarter prone position.

Abstract Background Intraoperative angiography for neurovascular disease has gained wide acceptance as a useful tool. There are few published cases of intraoperative angiography performed in the prone or three-quarter prone position, and the transradial approach has not previously been described for this situation. Methods We retrospectively reviewed our last 177 consecutive cases of intraoperative angiography performed for neurovascular disease. Of these cases, 21 were performed in the prone or three-quarter prone position. Two different approaches were used: (1) a previously described extended femoral sheath approach (13 cases) and (2) a newly described transradial approach (8 cases). Results All 21 intraoperative angiograms were successfully completed in the prone or three-quarter prone position. This enabled us to make additional surgical adjustments when necessary or to conclude the operation. One complication, a dissection of the brachial artery, occurred during one intraoperative angiographic procedure. Conclusions Intraoperative angiography can be performed in the prone or three-quarter prone position with good efficacy and safety. The transfemoral route has the advantage of familiarity but has disadvantages of poor sterility at access site, possible kinking or thrombosis of the sheath, and possible skin injury while resting on the tubing during long procedures. The transradial route has advantages of continuous access to the entry site throughout the surgical procedure and ease of catheterization of vertebral arteries for occipital and suboccipital lesions. However, the transradial route has the disadvantage of working from an unfamiliar approach, especially for spinal arteriovenous malformations.
Does Barrett's oesophagus develop over time in patients with chronic gastro-oesophageal reflux disease?

Summary Background Barrett's oesophagus is present in 8–10% of patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Aim We performed a cohort study to determine the incidence of Barrett's oesophagus in patients with chronic heartburn symptoms. Methods We identified patients, with GERD and/or Barrett's oesophagus between 1998 and 2004 by primary or secondary International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9) codes of 530.81 and/or 530.2, who had two or more oesophagogastroduodenoscopies performed at least 6 months apart. Results We screened 11 040 patients (41 390 random data entries by ICD-9 code) and enrolled 515 (4.6%) GERD patients and 169 (1.5%) Barrett's oesophagus patients. The mean (±s.d.) number of oesophagogastroduodenoscopies in the GERD cohort was 3.2 ± 1.8 (range: 2–15) over 3.4 ± 2.2 (range: 0.5–11) years. None of the 412 (80%) GERD patients with non-erosive disease developed Barrett's oesophagus over a mean follow-up time of 3.4 ± 2.2 years (95% CI: 0–0.9%). Five (1%) of the 103 GERD patients with erosive oesophagitis developed subsequent Barrett's oesophagus. Fifty-seven per cent of the GERD patients were on PPI therapy at the time of index endoscopy. None of the 169 Barrett's oesophagus patients had normal index oesophagogastroduodenoscopies within a mean retrospective time period of 4.5 ± 2.8 years (95% CI: 0–2%). Using the ICD-9 code of 530.2 as a predictor of the presence of Barrett's oesophagus, the sensitivity was 79% with a specificity of 88%. Conclusion The majority of patients with GERD do not appear to develop Barrett's oesophagus when it is not present on the index endoscopy.
Establishing a connection between cilia and Bardet–Biedl Syndrome

Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS) is a gentic disorder with primary features of retinal dystrophy, obesity, polydactyly, structural and functional renal abnormalities, and learning disabilities. In addition to displaying remarkable pleiotropy, BBS is a heterogeneous disorder with linkage to at least eight loci. The identification of the first five BBS genes provided little insight into BBS protein function. Ansley at al. have now identified a sixth BBS gene (BBS8) and provide evidence that the BBS8 protein and other BBS proteins localize to the basal body of ciliated cells, suggesting that BBS is a ciliary dysfunction disorder.
Involvement of protein kinase-C in the mitogenic effect of insulin-like growth factor-I on rat astrocytes

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) stimulates the proliferation of many cell types, including astrocytes. Astrocytes are a population of brain cells highly enriched in IGF-I receptors, which unlike neurons, retain the ability to proliferate in the adult brain. Although astrocyte proliferation in response to IGF-I is well documented, the intracellular mechanisms that mediate this phenomenon are poorly defined. Interestingly, activation of protein kinase-C (PKC) by IGF-I has been observed in several cell types. In this report we first characterized the mitogenic effects of IGF-I on highly purified type I rat astrocyte cultures. Next, we determined whether IGF-I activates PKC in our cultures. Finally, since astrocyte proliferation is stimulated by both IGF-I and the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), we decided to test the possible involvement of PKC in the mitogenic activity of IGF-I on astrocytes. IGF-I stimulated the DNA synthesis rate in rat astrocytes. Analysis of the time course revealed that IGF-I (10 nM) induces maximal stimulation of [3H]thymidine incorporation (a 4-fold increase) 16-18 h after exposure. TPA also stimulated mitogenesis in our cultures. The dose-response of [3H]thymidine incorporation induced by IGF-I and TPA indicated that 10 nM was the lowest concentration producing a maximal effect for both agents. Analysis of proteins by Western blot revealed that 10 nM IGF-I translocates PKC(alpha), the predominant PKC isoform in astrocyte cultures, from the cytosol to the membrane fraction within 20 min. A similar activation of PKC was achieved with 100 nM TPA. When astrocytes were exposed to IGF-I (10 nM) and TPA (10 nM) in combination, [3H]thymidine uptake was significantly higher than the uptake induced by either IGF-I (10 nM) or TPA (10 nM) alone. However, the effect of IGF-I plus TPA was not fully additive. In a second experiment, the mitogenic effect of IGF-I was partially abolished in cells depleted of PKC by preincubation with high concentrations of TPA (300 nM). Finally, incubation of astrocytes with the PKC inhibitor H-7 at 20 microM, a concentration that completely blocked the mitogenic action of TPA, only reduced the ability of IGF-I to stimulate DNA synthesis by 50%. In summary, our results demonstrate that IGF-I can rapidly activate PKC in astrocytes, and that PKC activation is involved in the mitogenic effect of IGF-I on these cells. However, we conclude that IGF-I also stimulates astrocyte proliferation through PKC-independent pathways.
TH‐D‐351‐04: Cone Beam CT Beam Hardening and Scatter Preprocessing for Improved Image Quality in Image‐Guided Adaptive Radiation Therapy

Purpose: To improve cone beam CT(CBCT)image quality in terms of CT number uniformity and accuracy to better support key image‐guidedadaptive radiation therapy tasks such as intensity‐driven deformable image registration and adaptive treatment planning.Method and Materials: Subtractive scatter corrections to Varian on‐board imager (OBI) CBCT projections utilized Monte Carlo simulated scatter profiles based upon the known phantom geometry. A first‐order water linearization correction was developed based upon the measured x‐ray beam central ray spectrum with mathematical spectral correction for the bowtie filter thickness associated with each detector pixel. Projections corrected for scatter and beam hardening and further corrected using Varian's scatter normalization phantom, were reconstructed with an in‐house FDK reconstruction engine. The preprocessing algorithm was applied to both half‐fan and full‐fan projection sets with and without the bowtie filter. Results:CBCTimages corrected with the described preprocessing method showed improved CT number uniformity and reduction of the notorious CBCT cupping artifact. For a 20 cm diameter water phantom, the cupping artifact was reduced from about 15% to within 2%. Conclusion: Model‐based scatter and beam‐hardening preprocessing procedures improve the on‐board CBCTimage quality, improving its utility for image‐guidedadaptive radiation therapy.Conflict of Interest: This work was supported by NIH P01 CA116602 and a grant from Varian Medical Systems.
Protein-tyrosine kinase activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Saccharomyces cerevisiae was examined for tyrosine kinase activity in vitro because this organism offers molecular and genetic approaches for analyzing the role of tyrosine phosphorylation in cellular growth control that are unavailable in higher eukaryotes. Yeast extracts phosphorylated a random copolymer (glutamic acid:tyrosine, 80:20) at tyrosine in a reaction that was linear with respect to time and protein concentration. In the absence of added copolymer, phosphotyrosine was 0.1 percent of the total phosphoamino acids labeled with [gamma-32P]adenosine triphosphate in endogenous yeast proteins. However, specific activities of these reactions were low (approximately 1 percent of those in extracts of chick embryo fibroblasts). Lack of significant incorporation of label from [alpha-32P]adenosine triphosphate into the copolymer or endogenous yeast proteins demonstrated that nucleotide interconversion, adenylylation, and subsequent hydrolysis could not account for the generation of phosphotyrosine observed.
Geochemistry and plate-tectonic significance of the volcanic rocks of the Summerford Group, north-central Newfoundland

Ordovician volcanic rocks of the Summerford Group were assumed to be calc-alkaline basalts generated in an island arc now located in the Dunnage zone. However, chemical analyses show that these volcanic rocks are tholeiitic and alkalic basalts. Trace-element and REE abundances indicate that the basalts were generated either at an ocean island (off-axis basalt) or at a midocean ridge. Associated carbonates and siliceous sediments indicate that these basalts formed a seamount(s) that reached above the calcium compensation depth (CCD). The long time span reported for the Summerford Group (Tremadocian-Llandeilian/Caradocian) might suggest that they represent more than one seamount, perhaps a chain of seamounts. We suggest that the Summerford Group is the youngest seafloor yet reported for the northeastern Dunnage zone and that the volcanic rocks may have been underthrust into an accretionary wedge that was active in Early Silurian time.
Energy balance in first-lactation Holstein, Jersey, and reciprocal F1 crossbred cows in a planned crossbreeding experiment

The Virginia Tech crossbreeding project began in the fall of 2002 by mating Holstein (H) and Jersey (J) foundation females to Holstein and Jersey bulls to create HH, HJ, JH, and JJ genetic groups, where the sire breed is listed first followed by dam breed. Collection of individual daily feed intakes began in September 2005 and continued through November 2008, resulting in observations on 43, 34, 41, and 22 HH, HJ, JH, and JJ cows, respectively. Intakes were measured for 2 wk out of every 6-wk period for first-lactation cows less than 310 d in milk. The ration was analyzed for dry matter and nutrient content, which was used to calculate net energy of lactation (NEL, Mcal/kg). Body and milk weights were collected daily with milk components measured monthly. The NEL requirements for maintenance, growth (in the form of retained energy), pregnancy, and production were calculated using National Research Council (2001) equations. Random regression models were used to predict consumed NEL and NEL required for production, maintenance, and body weight at every week in lactation. Energy required for growth was calculated for each cow at each stage of lactation using five 2-mo stages. Energy balance was estimated by subtracting the predicted energy required for production, maintenance, growth, and pregnancy from the predicted NEL consumed. A linear model with fixed effects of genetic group, year-season of calving group, and a linear and quadratic effect of age at calving was used to analyze the energy terms. The HJ and JH groups were not different in any of the analyses for energy terms. The HH cows consumed more energy than did HJ and JJ cows. There were no genetic group differences for total energy for pregnancy. The HH, HJ, and JH groups were not different from each other for energy required for production but required more energy for production than the JJ. The JH allocated a lower percentage of their energy intake to maintenance than the HH (25.7 to 27.4%) and the JJ allocated less energy to growth than the HH and HJ. Genetic group explained significant variation for percentage of energy partitioned to production with the JJ allocating more energy to production than the HH (66.3 vs. 60.9%). Genetic group differences in characterization of energy balance warrant further study.
ROLE OF REDUCTIONISM AND EXPANSIONISM IN SYSTEM DESIGN AND EVALUATION

Reductionism is based on the assumption that any complex system can be decomposed into a set of indivisible components that operate independently of each other. Interactions among components are based on cause and effect relationships described by a mechanistic model Expansionism is based on the assumption that a component is understood as it relates to a larger whole. It is possible, that in a mechanistic sense, a component may seem to operate properly when evaluated based on cause and effect; however, from an expansionist point of view the component may not adequately contribute to the goals and objectives of the system as a whole. In order to detect such problems early and minimize development time and cost, the expansionist view is applied during conceptual design To facilitate expansionism during conceptual design, an explicit operational model is applied that can assist understanding global context sensitive interactions that can cause problems later. To evaluate the architecture, the operational model is expanded, during system design, to include structural details.
Adjusting for patient acuity in measurement of nurse staffing: two approaches.

Background Researchers who examine the relationship between nurse staffing and quality of care frequently rely on the Medicare case mix index to adjust for patient acuity, even though it was developed originally based on medical diagnoses and may not accurately reflect patients' needs for nursing care. Objectives The aim of this study was to examine the differences between unadjusted measures of nurse staffing (registered nurses per 1,000 adjusted patient days) and case mix adjusted nurse staffing and nurse staffing adjusted with nursing intensity weights, which were developed to reflect patients' needs for nursing care. Method Secondary data were used from 579 hospitals in 13 states from 2000 to 2006. Included were three measures of nurse staffing and hospital characteristics including ownership, geographic location, teaching status, hospital size, and percent Medicare inpatient days. Results Measures of nurse staffing differed in important ways. The differences between the measures were related systematically to ownership, geographic location, teaching status, hospital size, and percentage Medicare inpatient days. Discussion Without an accurate method to incorporate acuity into measurement of nurse staffing, research on the relationship between staffing and quality of care will not reach the full potential to inform practice.
The arrangement of the immunoglobulin-like domains of ICAM-1 and the binding sites for LFA-1 and rhinovirus

Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1, CD54) binds to the integrin LFA-1 (CD11a/CD18), promoting cell adhesion in immune and inflammatory reactions. ICAM-1 is also subverted as a receptor by the major group of rhinoviruses. Electron micrographs show that ICAM-1 is a bent rod, 18.7 nm long, suggesting a model in which the five immunoglobulin-like domains are oriented head to tail at a small angle to the rod axis. ICAM-1 sequences important to binding LFA-1, rhinovirus, and four monoclonal antibodies were identified through the characterization of chimeric ICAM-1 molecules and mutants. The amino-terminal two immunoglobulin-like domains of ICAM-1 appear to interact conformationally. Domain 1 of ICAM-1 contains the primary site of contact for both LFA-1 and rhinovirus; the presence of domains 3-5 markedly affects the accessibility of the binding site for rhinovirus and less so for LFA-1. The binding sites appear to be distinct but overlapping; rhinovirus binding also differs from LFA-1 binding in its lack of divalent cation dependence. Our analysis suggests that rhinoviruses mimic LFA-1 in binding to the most membrane-distal, and thus most accessible, site of ICAM-1.
Scanning electron microscopy of cercariae, metacercariae and adults of Pygidiopsis ardeae Køie, 1990 (Digenea, Heterophyidae).

The penetration apparatus of the cercaria of Pygidiopsis ardeae Koie, 1990 (Heterophyidae) is provided with five large preoral hooklets. Various types of presumably sensory structures surround the small oral aperture. Small, pointed spines protrude throughout the cercarial body. After parasite penetration and encystment in the fish intermediate host, the metacercarial tegument increases its absorptive area by developing irregular projections. Concurrently the pointed spines become scale-like and serrated. The tegumental outgrowths appear to have regressed in infective metacercariae. The external surface of mature worms removed from the intestine of domestic chickens does not differ from that of infective excysted metacercariae. Adults taken from experimentally infected chickens were identical to specimens obtained from naturally infected herons.
Associations of Child Maltreatment and Intimate Partner Violence with Psychological Adjustment among Low SES, African American Children.

Abstract Objective This study assessed the unique and interactive effects of child maltreatment and mothers’ physical intimate partner violence (IPV) status on low-SES African American children’s psychological functioning. Methods Mothers were recruited from a large, inner-city hospital, and those who met eligibility criteria were asked to complete a lengthy face-to-face interview while their child was assessed separately but concurrently. The sample included 152 mother–child dyads. The children’s mean age was 10 years, and 45% were male. Multivariate linear regression analyses tested the main and interactive effects of child maltreatment and mothers’ exposure to physical IPV on children’s psychological functioning (internalizing and externalizing symptoms, traumatic stress symptoms), while controlling for covariates. Results Children who experienced child maltreatment and children whose mothers experienced physical IPV had higher levels of psychological distress than their respective counterparts. Post hoc analysis of significant interaction effects indicated that child maltreatment was associated with internalizing and externalizing problems and traumatic stress only when mothers reported higher levels of physical IPV. This finding did not hold true for youth whose mothers did not acknowledge elevated rates of physical IPV. Conclusions African American youth from low-SES backgrounds who are maltreated and whose mothers experience physical IPV are at particularly high risk for psychological distress. Targeted prevention and intervention programs are needed for these poly-victimized youth.
Evolution from axillofemoral to in situ prosthetic reconstruction for the treatment of aortic graft infections at a single center.

Objective The primary purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical outcome in patients treated for aortic graft infections with in situ reconstruction (ISR). As a secondary aim, the outcomes were compared between patients who had similar clinical characteristics and extent of infection, needed total graft excision, and had either ISR or axillofemoral reconstruction (AXFR). Methods 117 consecutive patients treated for aortic graft infection over a 20 year period from January 1981 to December 2001 were identified. 52 patients had prosthetic ISR, 49 had AXFR, and 16 had other reconstructions. The ISR patients treated with total (n = 35) or partial (n = 17) graft excision comprised the primary analysis. A second analysis was done between 34 ISR and 43 AXFR patients (non-concurrent groups), as stated above. Primary outcome measures were early and late procedure-related death, primary graft patency and limb loss. Secondary outcomes were operative morbidity, patient survival, and graft reinfection rates. Results There were 40 males and 12 females with a mean age of 69 years treated with ISR. 43 patients had Rifampin-soaked grafts and 39 had omental flap or other autogenous coverage. Operative morbidity occurred in 23 patients (44%). There were 4 early and no late procedure-related deaths after a median follow up of 3.4 years (range, 2 months to 9.6 years). Primary patency and limb salvage rates at 5 years were 89% and 100%, respectively. Graft reinfection occurred in 6 patients (11.5%) and was not associated with procedure-related death. In the comparative analysis, the procedure-related death rate for patients treated with ISR was not different than those treated with AXFR (9% versus 23%; P=0.11). There was a significant improvement in primary patency between ISR and AXFR at 5 years (89% versus 48%; P=.01). Limb salvage was 100% for ISR and 89% for AXFR at 5 years (P = .06). The incidence of graft reinfection was similar in both groups: 11% for ISR and 17% for AXFR ( P = .28). Major complications or procedure-related deaths occurred in 12 patients after ISR (30%) and 26 patients (60%) after AXFR ( P Conclusion ISR is a safe and effective alternative in the treatment of select patients with aortic graft infection. Graft reinfection occurred in 11.5% of the patients. The graft patency and limb salvages rates are excellent.
Heat transfer and ice formations deposited upon cold tube bundles immersed in flowing water—I. Convection analysis

Abstract A staggered and an in-line tube bank configuration were subjected to a crossflow of water. Internal tube subcooling (
High‐fructose, medium chain trans fat diet induces liver fibrosis and elevates plasma coenzyme Q9 in a novel murine model of obesity and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Diets high in saturated fat and fructose have been implicated in the development of obesity and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in humans. We hypothesized that mice exposed to a similar diet would develop NASH with fibrosis associated with increased hepatic oxidative stress that would be further reflected by increased plasma levels of the respiratory chain component, oxidized coenzyme Q9 (oxCoQ9). Adult male C57Bl/6 mice were randomly assigned to chow, high-fat (HF), or high-fat high-carbohydrate (HFHC) diets for 16 weeks. The chow and HF mice had free access to pure water, whereas the HFHC group received water with 55% fructose and 45% sucrose (wt/vol). The HFHC and HF groups had increased body weight, body fat mass, fasting glucose, and were insulin-resistant compared with chow mice. HF and HFHC consumed similar calories. Hepatic triglyceride content, plasma alanine aminotransferase, and liver weight were significantly increased in HF and HFHC mice compared with chow mice. Plasma cholesterol (P < 0.001), histological hepatic fibrosis, liver hydroxyproline content (P = 0.006), collagen 1 messenger RNA (P = 0.003), CD11b-F4/80+Gr1+ monocytes (P < 0.0001), transforming growth factor β1 mRNA (P = 0.04), and α-smooth muscle actin messenger RNA (P = 0.001) levels were significantly increased in HFHC mice. Hepatic oxidative stress, as indicated by liver superoxide expression (P = 0.002), 4-hydroxynonenal, and plasma oxCoQ9 (P < 0.001) levels, was highest in HFHC mice. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that nongenetically modified mice maintained on an HFHC diet in addition to developing obesity have increased hepatic ROS and a NASH-like phenotype with significant fibrosis. Plasma oxCoQ9 correlated with fibrosis progression. The mechanism of fibrosis may involve fructose inducing increased ROS associated with CD11b+F4/80+Gr1+ hepatic macrophage aggregation, resulting in transforming growth factor β1–signaled collagen deposition and histologically visible hepatic fibrosis. (HEPATOLOGY 2010)
Extended Hubbard model of superconductivity driven by charge fluctuations in iron pnictides

We present a scenario for iron-pnictide superconductivity mediated by charge fluctuations that are strongly enhanced by Fe-As intersite electronic interactions. Deriving an eight-band extended Hubbard model including Fe 3$d$ and As 4$p$ orbitals for the LaOFeAs family, we show that charge fluctuations induced by $p$-$d$ charge transfer and As orbital polarization interactions in the Fe-pnictogen structure peak at wave vectors $(0,0)$, and $(\ensuremath{\pi},0)$ and $(\ensuremath{\pi},\ensuremath{\pi})$, respectively. Intraorbital spin-singlet pairing attraction develops at these wave vectors and the solution of the linearized gap equation shows robust $s$-wave superconductivity with both ${s}_{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}$ and ${s}_{++}$ gap functions.
3D Nanofluidic Channels Shaped by Electron‐Beam‐Induced Etching

In-plane nanofluidic channels with 3D topography are fabricated. Nanochannel masters are written by electron beam lithography in SU-8 resist and shaped by electron-beam-induced etching (EBIE) with water as the precursor gas. Nanofunnel replicas cast from unmodified and EBIE-modified masters show that the funnel tip dimensions decrease from a 150-nm depth and 80-nm width to a 70-nm depth and 40-nm width.
The SmgGDS Splice Variant SmgGDS-558 Is a Key Promoter of Tumor Growth and RhoA Signaling in Breast Cancer

Breast cancer malignancy is promoted by the small GTPases RhoA and RhoC. SmgGDS is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor that activates RhoA and RhoC in vitro . We previously reported that two splice variants of SmgGDS, SmgGDS-607, and SmgGDS-558, have different characteristics in binding and transport of small GTPases. To define the role of SmgGDS in breast cancer, we tested the expression of SmgGDS in breast tumors, and the role of each splice variant in proliferation, tumor growth, Rho activation, and NF-κB transcriptional activity in breast cancer cells. We show upregulated SmgGDS protein expression in breast cancer samples compared with normal breast tissue. In addition, Kaplan–Meier survival curves indicated that patients with high SmgGDS expression in their tumors had worse clinical outcomes. Knockdown of SmgGDS-558, but not SmgGDS-607, in breast cancer cells decreased proliferation, in vivo tumor growth, and RhoA activity. Furthermore, we found that SmgGDS promoted a Rho-dependent activation of the transcription factor NF-κB, which provides a potential mechanism to define how SmgGDS-mediated activation of RhoA promotes breast cancer. This study demonstrates that elevated SmgGDS expression in breast tumors correlates with poor survival, and that SmgGDS-558 plays a functional role in breast cancer malignancy. Taken together, these findings define SmgGDS-558 as a unique promoter of RhoA and NF-κB activity and a novel therapeutic target in breast cancer. Implications: This study defines a new mechanism to regulate the activities of RhoA and NF-κB in breast cancer cells, and identifies SmgGDS-558 as a novel promoter of breast cancer malignancy. Mol Cancer Res; 12(1); 130–42. ©2013 AACR .
Long-Term Behavior of Cloud Systems in TOGA COARE and Their Interactions with Radiative and Surface Processes. Part I: Two-Dimensional Modeling Study

Abstract Two-dimensional cloud-resolving modeling of tropical cloud systems was performed for a 39-day period (5 December 1992 through 12 January 1993) during the Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere (TOGA) Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Response Experiment (COARE). This period contains strong convective episodes within a major westerly wind burst. A cloud-resolving model combined with a cloud-interactive radiation scheme was driven by the observed evolving large-scale forcing for temperature and moisture, evolving large-scale horizontal winds, and evolving sea surface temperature. These all represent averaged conditions over the Intensive Flux Array of TOGA COARE. Model-produced quantities were evaluated against the observational data and used to quantify interactions of the simulated cloud systems with radiative and surface processes. Focus is on quantities of value to cloud–climate research and to an improved physical basis for the parameterization of cloud systems per se. During convectively disturbed periods (...
Cross-gender immediacy behaviors and sexual harassment in the workplace: a communication paradox

It is asserted that immediacy communicates approachability and availability, and that interpersonal relationships are crucial to job effectiveness and satisfaction for technical communication professionals. Increased concern about sexual harassment in the workplace, however, creates a paradox; while immediacy behaviors can establish a positive workplace environment, sexual harassment policies can serve to inhibit such behaviors. As a result, technical communication professionals in the arenas of training policies and procedures construct training programs that provide both male and female perspectives and prevent the slanting of materials inappropriately in one direction over another. Immediacy behaviors that are appropriate within the context of sexual harassment policies in the cross-gender workplace are addressed, with emphasis on the above paradox. >
Modified Fluorometric Method for Determining Plasma Catecholamines

Plasma catecholamines were fluorometrically determined by a modification of the standard alumina-trihydroxyindole method in which radioactive tracer catecholamines are used to follow the chromatographic behavior of the endogenous catecholamines on alumina. This modification permits appropriate fluorometry of that portion of the eluate with the highest concentration of catecholamines, because incomplete elution of the total endogenous catecholamines can be corrected by use of the isotope recovery data. Additionally, a low column blank was obtained; this method of blank preparation may have obviated some of the known difficulties associated with unoxidized and incomplete plasma blanks that have traditionally been used.
Neuropathic pain: mechanisms and their clinical implications

Neuropathic pain can develop after nerve injury, when deleterious changes occur in injured neurons and along nociceptive and descending modulatory pathways in the central nervous system. The myriad neurotransmitters and other substances involved in the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain also play a part in other neurobiological disorders. This might partly explain the high comorbidity rates for chronic pain, sleep disorders, and psychological conditions such as depression, and why drugs that are effective for one condition may benefit others. Neuropathic pain can be distinguished from non-neuropathic pain by two factors. Firstly, in neuropathic pain there is no transduction (conversion of a nociceptive stimulus into an electrical impulse). Secondly, the prognosis is worse: injury to major nerves is more likely than injury to non-nervous tissue to result in chronic pain. In addition, neuropathic pain tends to be more refractory than non-neuropathic pain to conventional analgesics, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioids. However, because of the considerable overlap between neuropathic and nociceptive pain in terms of mechanisms and treatment modalities, it might be more constructive to view these entities as different points on the same continuum. This review focuses on the mechanisms of neuropathic pain, with special emphasis on clinical implications.
Disseminated Nocardiosis in a Patient with X-Linked Chronic Granulomatous Disease and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

We report the first case of HIV infection in a patient with underlying X-linked chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) who presented with hepatopulmonary nocardiosis. Despite the coexistence of CGD and HIV, the response to therapy was normal, and no unusual sequelae were noted. The patient's high virus burden was successfully repressed with antiretroviral therapy, suggesting that the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase system is not essential for active viral replication or response to antiretroviral agents.
Studies of picosecond collisional dephasing in atomic sodium vapor using broad-bandwidth transient four-wave mixing

We have employed dye-laser pulses of 10-nsec duration and 1.5–10-nm bandwidth in a transient four-wave-mixing experiment to study high-perturber-pressure collisional dephasing in dilute atomic sodium vapor. Working at argon perturber pressures of several atmospheres, we are able clearly to resolve dephasing times over a thousand times shorter than our excitation pulse duration. Measured dephasing rates are in excellent agreement with those measured by more traditional methods. When both of the sodium D lines are excited, our signal displays quantum-beat-like oscillations at the 0.52-THz frequency difference between these two states. We provide a simple picture explaining the origin of these beats.
Full characterization of femtosecond pulses at 1225–1350 nm produced by a high power fiber optical parametric oscillator

We describe a fiber optical parametric oscillator operating at 1225 to 1350 nm in wavelength with 100 mW of average power. Characterization using SHG-FROG reveals linearly-chirped compressible pulses with duration of 250 fs.
Positioning matrices with respect to the boundary of the maximal group

Let Δ denote the Banach algebra of all conservative triangular matrics, M the maximal group of invertible elements of Δ, B the boundary of M and . In this note little Norlund means are located with respect to the disjoint decomposition M u B u N of Δ in terms of the zeros of the generating power series. Further, corridor matrices of finite type, that is, conservative methods with finitely many convergent diagonals, are located with respect to M u B u N.
Cooperative control of visual displays for telemanipulation

Two cooperative control schemes for telerobot visual displays are addressed. In the first scheme, on-the-screen visual enhancements such as reference lines indicating the vertical height of the robot hand, a stick figure model of the robot hand, and its projection on the horizontal grid plane are constructed by the interactive cooperation between the human operator and the telerobotic system, and then superimposed on the video screen. Experimental results with a five-degree-of-freedom robot and a frame grabber indicate that superimposition of visual enhancements on the video screen greatly improves telemanipulation task performance. In the second scheme, the position and orientation of an object on video screens are determined interactively; these then assist the telerobotic system in executing the human operator's task-level commands autonomously. >
Immediate mandibular rehabilitation with endosseous implants: simultaneous extraction, implant placement, and loading.

Purpose: This report of a clinical patient series indicates the relative safety and illustrates the procedures involved in the extraction of remaining teeth followed by immediate implant placement and loading with a simple acrylic resin fixed denture. Materials and Methods: Ten consecutive patients who selected tooth extraction and implant-supported fixed denture rehabilitation of the mandible were treated using a 1-visit approach for extraction, implant placement, and restoration. Healthy individuals (10 women) were treated under local anesthesia. Fifty-four implants were placed in 10 patients. Five or 6 Astra Tech implants (11 or 13 mm long) were placed into the edentulous parasymphyseal region of the mandible. Four to 6 implants (48 of 54) were immediately loaded by the fabrication of a simple acrylic resin fixed denture. The criterion for loading was clinical judgment of primary stability, ie, the absence of axial or lateral mobility with physical resistance to rotation. Patients were recalled at 1, 3, and 12 weeks. At 12 weeks, impressions were made for the fabrication of a screw-retained fixed denture. The fixed dentures were completed using conventional fabrication and prosthetic techniques. Results: After a period of 6 to 18 months, all 54 implants had survived and were considered 100% successful by independent testing of mobility and radiographic evidence of osseointegration. There were no surgical complications. Fracture and debonding of the acrylic resin provisional denture occurred for 1 patient during the first 12 weeks of treatment. Discussion: Advantages to extraction with simultaneous replacement include the maintenance of vertical dimension, elimination of reline procedures and interim denture therapy, and potential improvement of soft tissue healing. Conclusion: This therapeutic approach simplifies patient care without apparent additional risk. (INT J ORAL MAXILLOFAC IMPLANTS 2002;17:517‐525)
Effect of dose, time, and pretreatment on the biliary excretion and tissue distribution of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in the rat.

Effect of Dose, Time, and Pretreatment on the Biliary Excretion and Tissue Distribution of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in the Rat. Kedderis, L. B., Andersen, M. E., and Birnbaum, L. S. (1993). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 21, 405-411. Previous studies of the effect of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) pretreatment on the biliary excretion and hepatic disposition indicated that TCDD did not induce its own metabolic elimination. Pretreatment with TCDD did enhance its hepatic uptake. The present work was designed to further examine the effects of dose, time, and pretreatment on the tissue distribution and biliary elimination of [3H]TCDD. Adult male F-344 rats were administered 0 or 100 nmol [14C]TCDD or [3H]TCDD/kg body weight po 3 days prior to bile duct cannulation and iv injection of 0 or 1 nmol [3H]TCDD or 1, 10, or 100 nmol [14C]TCDD/kg. Bile was collected for up to 8 hr while rats were maintained under pentobarbital anesthesia. Biliary TCDD and TCDD metabolites were quantified by liquid scintillation spectrometry. In naive animals which received no pretreatment, similar rates of excretion (% dose) were observed following iv administration of 1 nmol [3H]TCDD/kg or 10 or 100 nmol [14C]TCDD/kg. Metabolic elimination of highly purified [3H]TCDD (>99%) appeared to be linear with respect to time with ∼0.8% of the dose being excreted in the bile over a 5- to 8-hr collection period 0 or 24 hr after iv dosing (1, 10, or 100 nmol/kg) and 72 hr after oral dosing (100 nmol/kg). In all groups, higher concentrations of TCDD were found in liver versus fat, and perirenal fat concentrations were elevated relative to epididymal fat concentrations, probably reflective of the enhanced blood perfusion of the former tissue. Pretreatment enhanced hepatic concentrations and decreased fat concentrations of the challenge dose. The time dependence of factors involved in the dose-related hepatic accumulation of TCDD disposition was illustrated by the elevated liver:fat concentration ratios observed at the 100 versus 10 or 1 nmol/kg dose at 30 hr, but not by 5-6 hr after dosing. In studies designed to evaluate the role of CYP1A2 in the hepatic disposition of TCDD, pretreatment with isosafrole, a selective inhibitor of CYP1A2, diminished hepatic concentrations of [3H]TCDD. In conclusion, TCDD was metabolically cleared at a fairly constant rate over an 80-hr period, and the rate of elimination was proportional with regard to dose. Studies with isosafrole suggest that TCDD is bound to CYP1A2 in the liver.