cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Time to Chemotherapy After Abdominoperineal Resection: Comparison Between Primary Closure and Perineal Flap Reconstruction

Wound complications are frequent flowing abdominoperineal resection (APR); this can lengthen the time to chemotherapy. Flap reconstruction is being used in an attempt to improve wound healing. To assess the effect of flap reconstruction after APR on time to perineal wound healing and administration of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with rectal adenocarcinoma. A retrospective review of patients who underwent APR for rectal adenocarcinoma between 2002 and 2012 was performed. Patients were divided into two groups based on type of perineal wound closure (primary vs. flap). Patients were compared for time to perineal wound healing, and time to adjuvant chemotherapy. 115 patients were identified; of whom 67 received adjuvant chemotherapy. 56 (84 %) patients underwent primary closure while 11 (16 %) underwent flap reconstruction. There was no difference in time to perineal wound healing (6.8 vs. 6.3 weeks, p = 0.40) and time to receive adjuvant chemotherapy (9.3 vs. 10.7 weeks, p = 0.79) between the primary closure and flap reconstruction groups, respectively. 25 (45 %) of the primary closure group had a delay in receiving adjuvant chemotherapy versus 6 (55 %) of the flap reconstruction group (p = 0.55). Delay in receiving adjuvant chemotherapy because of perineal wound complications occurred in 18 (32 %) patients with primary closure versus 3 (28 %) patients with flap reconstruction (p = 0.14). Flap reconstruction does not reduce the length of time to initiating chemotherapy; there was no difference in length of healing between the two groups. Therefore, flap reconstruction should be selectively used based on the size of the perineal defect.
Pharmacology of Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists and 5-Lipoxygenase Inhibitors in the Management of Asthma

The leukotrienes (LTs), a family of inflammatory mediators arising from the metabolism of arachidonic acid via the 5-lipoxygenase pathway, are prominently implicated in the pathobiology of asthma. Two classes of LTs, the cysteinyl LTs (LTC4, LTD4, and LTE4) and the dihydroxy-LT (LTB4) have been identified, with each class acting via distinct receptors. Inhibition of LT-mediated inflammation can be achieved by either interruption of 5-lipoxygenase action, thereby preventing formation of the LTs, or inhibition at specific LT receptor sites in the airway. Both the 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors and the cysLT receptor antagonists have thus far demonstrated the capacity to improve pulmonary function and reduce symptoms in clinical models of asthma, such as exercise-, aspirin-, or antigen-induced bronchoconstriction, and to improve pulmonary function in patients with mild-to-moderate, chronic stable asthma. The LTs are therefore critical effector molecules in some patients with asthma and important targets in the pharmacologic management of this disease.
A randomized-controlled trial pilot study examining the neurodevelopmental effects of a 5-week M Technique intervention on very preterm infants.

PURPOSE:To systematically test the cumulative effect of the M Technique on infant neurodevelopment in hospitalized very preterm infants.DESIGN:A pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT).SUBJECTS:Twenty very preterm infants (<30 weeks gestation with average birth weights <1000 g) were randomly assigne
Primate homeland: forests and the evolution of primates during the Tertiary and Quaternary in Asia

Primates evolved in the tropical forests of the Late Paleocene or Early Eocene. The cognitive, locomotor and life-history characteristics that define primates evolved under the equable and generally non-seasonal conditions that distinguish such forests. All primates since have carried the biological imprint of this original association with tropical forests. In Asia, the persistence of tropical forests in Indonesia from the Eocene onward has permitted tarsiers to endure and evolve, while other Eocene primates became extinct on their home continents. Following a disastrous decline in tropical forest distribution and primate diversity at the Late Eocene/Oligocene boundary, forests and primates rebounded during the Late Oligocene and Miocene. The dominant Old World primates of most of the Neogene were hominoids, which inhabited large tracts of woodlands and forests throughout Africa and Eurasia. These relatively large, frugivorous animals were quadrupedal, but many were capable of undertaking bridging postures that allowed them to stretch between arboreal substrates. Hominoids reached the apex of their evolutionary success in the Middle Miocene, then declined—as a result of the slow disappearance of their forest homes—in the Late Miocene, especially after 10 Ma. The extirpation of apes at this time can be traced to their inability to live in more seasonal and open habitats. Old World monkeys originated in forest biomes, but became the dominant primate of the late Neogene because of their ability to live in environments ranging from closed, non-seasonal rainforests to open savannahs and alpine meadows. This adaptability can be traced to their slightly faster life histories and their ability to thrive on a wide range of both high- and low-quality foods.
The role of selective attention in preschoolers’ rule use in a novel dimensional card sort

Preschoolers often fail in switching between dimensions in sorting cards. To evaluate proposed cognitive constraints, we introduced a “same-silly” task, not requiring an extra-dimensional shift. Instructions were to sort cards so that the shapes were the same (“same” game) or not the same (“silly” game) as targets. In Experiment 1, using b/w line drawings, 3-year-olds successfully played both “same” and “silly” games. In Experiments 2 and 3, with the irrelevant dimension of color added to cards, most children below 4;6 perseverated on the “same” game, revealing an effect of stimulus complexity on rule-based reasoning. Thus, with uni-dimensional stimuli, 3-year-olds flexibly alternated between “same” and “silly” rules, but could not follow identical rules with bi-dimensional stimuli requiring selective attention to shape. We suggest that preschoolers’ difficulties in selective attention, rather than the presence of an extra-dimensional shift, lead to card sorting failure.
Restriction fragment length polymorphisms of the insulin gene hypervariable region in gestational onset diabetes mellitus

Restriction fragment length polymorphisms in the insulin gene hypervariable region are compared among 93 women with gestational onset diabetes mellitus and 146 women with normal glucose tolerance during pregnancy. No significant differences in gene or genotype frequencies were observed in the overall sample (p > 0.50). However, an increased frequency of one allele (class 1) was observed among nonoverweight patients with gestational onset diabetes mellitus with elevated fasting plasma glucose levels compared with age-, race-, and parity-matched control subjects (p = 0.061). These data suggest that gestational onset diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous disorder with respect to both genotypic and phenotypic characteristics, and that restriction fragment length polymorphisms near the insulin gene may serve as a molecular marker for susceptibility to gestational onset diabetes mellitus only in some women.
Metallic nickel: A coupling reagent of benzyl halides and acyl halides to yield benzyl ketones

Abstract Metallic nickel was found to be a convenient reductive coupling reagent for the preparation of benzyl ketones by the reaction of benzyl halides with acyl halides.
NEGATIVE INSTANCES AND THE ACQUISITION OF THE MATHEMATICAL CONCEPTS OF COMMUTATIVITY AND ASSOCIATIVITY

The effects of negative instances in the acquisition of the mathematical concepts of commutativity and associativity were examined. Two treatment levels for commutativity (positive instances or positive and negative instances) and the same treatment levels for associativity were crossed to form a 2 × 2 factorial design with 21 subjects per cell. Subjects were undergraduate elementary education majors. Criterion variables were number of correct responses, stimulus intervals, and postfeedback intervals. Results supported the contention that negative instances enhance concept acquisition but also appear to require more time during treatments. No evidence for a transfer effect for negative instances from one concept to another was found.
The physical exam and the sense of smell.

Dr. Andrew Bomback writes that the prognostic implications of a patient's smell can be as important as those of the white-cell count or costophrenic angles. Smells also indicate in which direction a patient is headed.
Keep Your Friends Close: The History of a Museum Partnership and Its Community of Teacher Learners

ArtsConnectEd is a Web site that is the product of a ten-year partnership between the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and the Walker Art Center, bringing together online the collections of the two museums specifically for K-12 teachers and students in Minnesota and beyond. This article describes the history of the partnership and important lessons learned along the way. The article will also include information about a redesign of ArtsConnectEd currently underway, illustrating how the partnership has attempted to keep pace with the changes in technology that challenge both museum educators and K-12 teachers.
Genetic and computational identification of a conserved bacterial metabolic module

We have experimentally and computationally defined a set of genes that form a conserved metabolic module in the alpha-proteobacterium Caulobacter crescentus and used this module to illustrate a schema for the propagation of pathway-level annotation across bacterial genera. Applying comprehensive forward and reverse genetic methods and genome-wide transcriptional analysis, we (1) confirmed the presence of genes involved in catabolism of the abundant environmental sugar myo-inositol, (2) defined an operon encoding an ABC-family myo-inositol transmembrane transporter, and (3) identified a novel myo-inositol regulator protein and cis-acting regulatory motif that control expression of genes in this metabolic module. Despite being encoded from non-contiguous loci on the C. crescentus chromosome, these myo-inositol catabolic enzymes and transporter proteins form a tightly linked functional group in a computationally inferred network of protein associations. Primary sequence comparison was not sufficient to confidently extend annotation of all components of this novel metabolic module to related bacterial genera. Consequently, we implemented the Graemlin multiple-network alignment algorithm to generate cross-species predictions of genes involved in myo-inositol transport and catabolism in other alpha-proteobacteria. Although the chromosomal organization of genes in this functional module varied between species, the upstream regions of genes in this aligned network were enriched for the same palindromic cis-regulatory motif identified experimentally in C. crescentus. Transposon disruption of the operon encoding the computationally predicted ABC myo-inositol transporter of Sinorhizobium meliloti abolished growth on myo-inositol as the sole carbon source, confirming our cross-genera functional prediction. Thus, we have defined regulatory, transport, and catabolic genes and a cis-acting regulatory sequence that form a conserved module required for myo-inositol metabolism in select alpha-proteobacteria. Moreover, this study describes a forward validation of gene-network alignment, and illustrates a strategy for reliably transferring pathway-level annotation across bacterial species.
Conversion of solar to electrical energy utilizing the thermodielectric effect

Thermal energy can be converted directly to electricity by heating a charged capacitor containing a dielectric whose permittivity changes with temperature. This dependence of the permittivity on temperature is known as the thermo-dielectric effect. A general mathematical description of the conversion process is presented. A material figure of merit is also presented, which differs from previously proposed expressions. In 1959, S. R. Hoh1 proposed such a solar to electrical energy converter and later several investigators considered and analyzed this process.2-9
Quantitative Analysis of Two-Dimensional Fluorescence Spectra Via Fourier-Transform-Based Correlation Analysis

Two-dimensional Fourier-transform-based correlation analysis methods are discussed with application to excitation-emission matrices (EEMs). Quantitative analysis of single and multicomponent EEMs in the presence of noise is explored with the use of synthetic and real data. The algorithms developed are then used with a video fluorometer (VF) to study the kinetics of the photodecomposition of acridine. The precision of the kinetic data generated by correlation analysis of EEMs is found to be greater than the precision of data obtained simultaneously by HPLC monitoring of the photodecomposition process.
Electron current through metal-insulator-metal sandwiches

Abstract A straightforward numerical calculation is carried out for the energy distribution of the electron current from a metal into an insulator using the Sommerfeld and Bethe model, of a rectangular barrier modified by the image force. From the graphical presentation approximate formulae are developed for the total current density as a function of the electric field and temperature in wider ranges than those possible in the more rigorous calculation of Murphy and Good. The applicability of the new calculation to the solid-state case is stressed. Comparison with Advani's results suggests the inclusion of the multiple-image-force for sandwich thickness below 150 A. The effective mass in the forbidden band of aluminum oxide is calculated to be 1·78 m 0 as a result of the comparison. Specific conclusions, useful in the study of other solid-state thin-film devices, are made from the total current calculation.
Formation of biliary thrombi in protoporphrin-induced cholestasis in perfused rat liver

The effect of bile acids on the formation of biliary thrombi in protoporphyrin-induced cholestasis was determined by perfusing isolated rat livers with taurocholate, chenodeoxycholate and ursodeoxycholate with and without protoporphyrin. Protoporphyrin-induced reduction of bile flow was similar in the presence of each bile acid. The cholestasis was greater at high doses (2,000 to 10,885 nmol) than at low doses (1,500 nmol) of protoporphyrin, unrelated to the amount of lactate dehydrogenase released into the perfusate, and it was not altered by increasing bile acid infusions. Bile acid excretion was inhibited by high protoporphyrin doses. Periportal birefringent pigment deposits were seen in canaliculi and ductules when the biliary protoporphyrin concentration exceeded 161 nmol/ml, 345 nmol/ml and 1,036 nmol/ml for ursodeoxycholate, chenodeoxycholate and taurocholate, respectively; or, when the protoporphyrin (nanomole) to bile acid (micromole) ratio exceeded 3.23, 7.03 and 23.43, respectively. The maximal ratio of ductular deposits to portal tract deposits examined was 0.9. Electron microscopy showed these deposits were associated with canalicular thrombi. Thus, biliary thrombi were produced by infusion of bile acids and protoporphyrin. The occurrence of thrombi varied with bile acid structure. Explanations for this finding are speculative. The presence of periportal thrombi, however, did not influence the degree of functional cholestasis.(HEPATOLOGY 1990; 11:757-763.)
Microbial Protein in Soil: Influence of Extraction Method and C Amendment on Extraction and Recovery

The capacity to study the content and resolve the dynamics of the proteome of diverse microbial communities would help to revolutionize the way microbiologists study the function and activity of microorganisms in soil. To better understand the limitations of a proteomic approach to studying soil microbial communities, we characterized extractable soil microbial proteins using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Two methods were utilized to extract proteins from microorganisms residing in a Quitman and Benfield soil: (1) direct extraction of bulk protein from soil and (2) separation of the microorganisms from soil using density gradient centrifugation and subsequent extraction (DGC–EXT) of microbial protein. In addition, glucose and toluene amendments to soil were used to stimulate the growth of a subset of the microbial community. A bacterial culture and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were added to the soil to qualitatively assess their recovery following extraction. Direct extraction and resolution of microbial proteins using SDS-PAGE generally resulted in smeared and unresolved banding patterns on gels. DGC–EXT of microbial protein from soil followed by separation using SDS-PAGE, however, did resolve six to 10 bands in the Benfield but not the Quitman soil. DGC–EXT of microbial protein, but not direct extraction following the addition of glucose and toluene, markedly increased the number of bands (~40) on the gels in both Benfield and Quitman soils. Low recoveries of added culture and BSA proteins using the direct extraction method suggest that proteins either bind to soil organic matter and mineral particles or that partial degradation takes place during extraction. Interestingly, DGC may have been preferentially selected for actively growing cells, as gauged by the 10–100× lower cy19:0/18:1ω7 ratio of the fatty acid methyl esters in the isolated community compared to that for the whole soil. DGC can be used to isolate soil communities and provide microbial protein that can be characterized using PAGE.
Effect of thyroid hormone on T3-receptor mRNA levels and growth of thyrotropic tumors.

Thyrotropic tumors (TtT97) contain mRNA transcripts for three T3-receptor (TR) isoforms, α1, β 1 and β2, and a non-receptor α2-variant. We administered T4 (5 mg/l of drinking water) for one month to TtT97-bearing mice, to examine its effect on tumor growth and tumor TR isoform steady-state mRNA levels. Baseline mice were killed at the start of the experiment, and placebo mice were maintained hypothyroid. The treated tumors were 30–35% smaller than the baseline tumors (p = NS), while the placebo tumors were 2- to 7-fold larger than the baseline tumors (p < 0.05). TRβ1 mRNA increased 5- to 6-fold, while TRβ2 mRNA decreased by 76%. TRα1 and the α2-variant decreased by 52% and 70%, respectively. Therefore, the tumors decreased their growth rate in response to T4 administration, and increased the ratio of TRβ1 to TRβ2 mRNA. This raises the intriguing possibility of a correlation between the relative abundance of the TRβ isoforms and tumor growth.
Impact of DUV exposure on reticle repairs

The reticle manufacturing process induces various defects on the mask that need to be repaired. Missing absorber or clear defects are often repaired by depositing a carbon-based material (depo) using a Focused Ion Beam (FIB) tool. Few cases of such depo repairs on defects in between nested contacts on attenuated phase shift masks were found to fail upon use in high volume wafer manufacturing factories. With the goal of first reproducing the problem in the mask shop, a controlled set of depo repairs were performed on a test reticle and sequentially exposed on a DUV flood exposure system, emulating stepper exposure. The repair AIMS printability and AFM height profiles were measured before and after each exposure step. With incremental exposures, AIMS results showed the repaired contacts gradually printing larger in size and AFM results showed the tail of the depo repair (also referred to as depo overspray or halo) correspondingly receding with exposure. This suggests that the tail of the depo presumably contributes to the correct print CD of the repaired contact, and its gradual recession with exposure was likely causing the contacts to print larger, ultimately even bridging with the neighboring nested contact in some cases. This mechanism was confirmed by checking similar repairs on several production masks already being used in the wafer factories, at different stages of exposure. Subsequently, a novel post-repair process was developed which achieves rapid overspray removal thereby avoiding any further change in these repairs and associated wafer yield impact upon prolonged use on scanners.
Theory of Bragg fiber

The possibility of using Bragg reflection in a cylindrical fiber to obtain lossless confined propagation in a core with a lower refractive index than that of the cladding medium is proposed and analyzed.
The Empty Nest Syndrome: Ways to Enhance Quality of Life

Empty nest syndrome occurs as a result of urbanization and loosened relationships among family members. It may threaten the life quality of older adults and stability of society as a whole. This survey was designed to investigate the situation and factors that influence the life quality of a sample of older adults in a western state. Thirty-five respondents completed surveys that included questions relating to quality of life and living conditions of older adults living in the empty nest. This study showed that although most of the people did not live with their family members, the relationship with their family members appeared to greatly influence their life quality. It also showed the healthier they were and the more activities they participated in, the higher their life qualities were.
The influence of nutrition on neural and behavioral development. II. Growth of body and brain in infant rats using different techniques of undernutrition

Two techniques were used for producing undernutrition in infant rats and their effects on the growth of the body and the brain were investigated. In one procedure, the mothers were fed ad lib and the size of their litters was varied (5, 10, and 16 pups). In the other, litter size was kept constant at 8 pups per mother but during lactation the mothers either were fed ad lib or their food intake was restricted to 40% or 20% of normal consumption. The latter procedure was found to be the more reliable way of producing experimental retardation in the growth of the body and of the brain during the preweaning period. The failure of both procedures in producing retardation of brain growth during the first week of life is discussed.
Evaluation of Near-Wall Turbulence Models for Deliberately Roughened Liquid Annular Seals

An extensive numerical evaluation of the performance of two near-wall treatments and two core-flow turbulence models has been done while simulating experimental tests of water flowing between flat plates with deliberately roughened surfaces. These flat-plate tests replicated the results of several annular seal experiments in which friction factor increased as the seal clearance increased. Annular seals are extensively used in a wide range of turbomachinery, and their design influences efficiency and rotordynamic stability. A commercial code, FLUENT, was used to solve the Reynolds-averaged Navier‐Stokes equations with the flat-plate tests as a reference. The performance of the standard wall functions, based on the law of the wall, as near-wall treatment of turbulence was evaluated and compared to the two-layer-zonal approach. Similarly, the solutions obtained with the standard and “renormalization group” method versions of the first-order closure k‐e model were contrasted to those obtained with a second-order closure, the Reynolds-stress model. Although the main features of the friction factor behavior observed in the experiments under study were reproduced with a simple two-dimensional approach, the present work concentrates on the numerical detail and lessons learned while obtaining such results. It was found that wall function solutions are extremely sensitive to the location of the first grid point near the wall, even if it is located within the overlap region. In addition, the low-Reynolds nature of the flow requires coarse meshing making any k‐e model solution grid dependent. On the other hand, the two-layer zonal model is more consistent, and it is not sensitive to the location of the first grid point near the wall, provided it is located at a y + distance no larger than 10. Solutions obtained with the latter approach and the Reynolds-stress model are found to be grid independent. In summary, a numerical solution is truly grid independent when it is consistently replicated upon variation of the discretization scheme, the pressure-to-velocity linking method, the algebraic equation solving algorithm, and the mesh size and type. In low-Reynolds-number turbulent flow, the two-layer zonal approach fulfills such statement as near-wall treatment of turbulence.
Twenty-year analysis of trends in the incidence and in-hospital mortality for lower-extremity arterial thromboembolism.

Background—Epidemiology data for lower-extremity arterial thromboembolism (LET) are limited and may result from either acute limb ischemia or an acute exacerbation of critical limb ischemia. Given marked changes in both diagnosis and therapy over the last 2 decades, we hypothesized that this time period would have witnessed reductions in both the incidence and in-hospital mortality of LET. Methods and Results—Data from 1988 through 2007 from the National Hospital Discharge Survey were analyzed. All admissions for patients with LET were extracted, and the respective International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes were internally validated for both LET and acute limb ischemia. Descriptive statistics were used. The validity of the codes was good for identifying LET cases but poor for identifying acute limb ischemia cases because many of these acute presentations were attributable to critical limb ischemia. Over the 20-year span, there were 1.76 million cases of LET. The ...
Short-term exercise has a prolonged effect on scar formation after experimental acute myocardial infarction

The effect of early short-term exercise on late scar formation of myocardial infarction is unknown. Therefore, rats anesthetized with ether underwent proximal left coronary artery occlusion. Infarct extent was assessed 24 hours later by electrocardiographic criteria (QRS morphology). Immediately after electrocardiography, the rats were divided into two groups. Group 1 rats (n = 8) were subjected to daily graded swimming (up to 45 minutes a day) starting 24 hours after coronary occlusion for a total of 7 days followed by 2 weeks of nonswimming. Group 2 rats (n = 7) served as a control group and were not subjected to swimming. Twenty-one days after coronary occlusion, the rats were anesthetized, their heart excised and wall thickness determined histologically. Noninfarcted septal wall thickness was similar in both Groups 1 and 2. A ratio for transmural infarcts was obtained from multiple measurements by dividing scar thickness by noninfarcted septal wall thickness. Ratio of scar thickness divided by noninfarcted wall thickness for the control (nonswimming) group was 0.48 ± 0.05 (mean ± standard error of the mean); however, in the exercise (swimming) group, there was marked scar thinning with a ratio of 0.25 ± 0.02 (mean ± standard error of the mean, p From the Departments of Medicine and Pathology, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. This study was supported in part by Grants HL 23140, 28048 and SCOR 26215 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Hammerman is a fellow of the Stanley J. Sarnoff Society for Cardiovascular Research, Boston, Massachusetts. This work was done during the tenure of Dr. Kloner as an Established Investigator from the American Heart Association, Dallas, Texas with funds contributed in part by the Massachusetts Heart Association, Needham, Massachusetts. Manuscript received April 4, 1983; revised manuscript received May 31, 1983, accepted June 6, 1983.
Growing up differently: An adolescent's perspective

Brian was diagnosed three years ago with null cell acute lymphocytic leukemia. His age (15 years) and his initial white blood cell count (28,000/m3) portended a difficult road ahead. Four weeks of vincristine and prednisone failed to induce a remission, another poor prognostic factor, but finally remission was attained at week 6. Just 12 months from diagnosis, Brian suffered a bone marrow relapse. The philosophy of our division is to consider bone marrow transplantation in acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) patients at the time of their second remission. Remission was induced with aggressive chemotherapy that included vincristine, prednisone, L-asparaginase, and daunorubicin. Bone marrow was transplanted from an HL-A identical sibling I month later. His course was complicated by transient electrocardiogram (EKG) abnormalities, graft v host disease of the skin and gut, upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, mild renal dysfunction, and intermittent fever. Brian is currently 18 months post-transplant. He suffers from chronic graft v host disease manifested by decreased range of motion in some joints secondary to scleroderma. He sees a physical therapist three times weekly for whirlpool treatments. He also has intermittent sinusitis and mild obstructive airway disease. A senior in high school, Brian is active in many school and church activities. His description of his experience with cancer points out his positive attitudes throughout therapy and his desire to have a normal healthy adulthood.
IL-13 Transgene State Impairs Mycobacterial (Type-1) and Schistosomal (Type-2) Antigen-Elicited Responses☆

Transgenic technology provides one approach for examining cytokine properties in vivo. This study directly tested the effect of a lung-targeted IL-13 transgene on the induction and elicitation of Th1 and Th2 cell-mediated immuno-inflammatory responses. Induction of Th1 (type 1) and Th2 (type 2) responses were tested by sensitization of IL-13 transgenics and littermates with purified protein derivative (PPD) of Mycobacterium bovis or Schistosoma mansoni eggs. Secondary elicitation of pulmonary granulomas was examined in adoptively sensitized transgenics and littermates challenged with bead-bound PPD or S. mansoni egg antigens. Parameters included lymphoid tissue cytokine profiles and granuloma sizes. Results showed that induction and elicitation of both type 1 and type 2 cytokines and granulomas were significantly abrogated in transgenics. Systemic effects were possible, as transgenic serum contained high levels of circulating IL-13. These findings support the concept that IL-13 impairs effector functions and provide novel information regarding its role in regulating Th2 cytokines.
The physisorption of CH4 on graphite and on a (9,0) carbon nanotube

Our best estimates for the binding energy of methane on graphite, on a (9,0) single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) and at the groove site between two (9,0) SWCNTs are 3.5 ± 1, 2.9 ± 1, and 5.6 ± 1 kcal/mol, respectively. Our computed values are in good agreement with the available experimental values. The calculations, therefore, support the current view that methane initially fills the groove site and then covers the outer nanotube surfaces, and that the binding energy of graphite is intermediate between the binding energy values for these two nanotube binding sites. In turn, the experimental results support the use of a cluster model in conjunction with the MP2 level of theory for the study of molecules that are weakly bound to SWCNTs.
Season-long mating disruption of Grapholita molesta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) by one machine application of pheromone in wax drops (SPLAT-OFM)

A novel emulsified wax dispenser (SPLAT-OFM) of pheromone was evaluated in concert with a custom-built, tractor-mounted applicator, designed for fast application of dispensers for mating disruption of Oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck), in apple. The formulation consisted of microcrystalline wax emulsified in water. It was loaded with G. molesta pheromone (93:6:1 blend of (Z)-8-dodecen-1-yl-acetate:(E)-8-dodecen-1-yl-acetate:(Z)-8-dodecen-1-ol) at 10% by weight. The hydraulically driven applicator dispensed the wax formulation as discrete particles from a rotating double-orifice distributor positioned directly above the tree canopy. Wax-drop size averaged (±SEM) 0.38 ± 0.16 g and 4.3 ± 0.5 drops adhered per tree. Following a single mechanized application of SPLAT-OFM on 24 April at 8 ml per tree (1.6 kg/ha) to 0.8 ha blocks of apple, male G. molesta orientation to optimally attractive pheromone traps was disrupted by 98% relative to untreated control plots for the whole season. Furthermore, on 17 weekly deployments of tethered virgin females (1,016 females deployed and 732 recovered for dissection) throughout the season, no mating was detected in SPLAT-OFM-treated blocks, while mating in control blocks averaged 27%. During the first 17 days following deployment in sticky traps, SPLAT-OFM drops attracted ca. 1/46th of the number of male G. molesta attracted to optimized synthetic lures. However, following 17 days of field aging, SPLAT-OFM drops became equally attractive to optimized synthetic lures for the remainder of the season. The release rate of pheromone from wax drops 0–14 and 15–76 days following deployment averaged 21.4 and 5.3 μg/h, respectively. The trapping and release rate data were consistent with competitive attraction as the mechanism mediating disruption. Shoot injury following the first moth generation was sevenfold less in SPLAT-OFM treated blocks compared with controls and fruit injury at the end of the season in treated blocks was approximately half of that recorded in controls.
Long-run monetary neutrality

In this article, we provide a test of long-run monetary neutrality employing cointegration and vector error-correction modelling methodology. Using quarterly data for the United States, we estimate the long-run relationships among money supply and output and other key macroeconomic variables. Our findings, in general, raise doubts about the long-run monetary neutrality proposition.
A Controlled Comparison of Traditional Feeding Tube Verification Methods to a Bedside, Electromagnetic Technique

Background: Benefits of enteral feeding are diminished by aspiration pneumonia and mechanical complications of misplaced feeding tubes. To avoid complications, clinicians determine the location of the tip before feeding. This study compares diagnostic test characteristics of 4 techniques for tip localization. Methods: A prospective, blinded trial was conducted on the wards and critical care units of four acute-care hospitals. Patients requiring at least 3 days of enteral feeding were studied. Four observers at each institution used a randomly assigned technique to determine a tube's tip location. Methods included auscultation, aspiration with inspection or pH determination of aspirated material, and a recently developed electromagnetic technique. Results were compared with radiographic determination. Success rates were compared using sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios. Results: The 4 methods agreed with the radiograph in (mean, 95% confidence interval): 84 (80 to 88)%, 50 (45 to 55)%, 56 (51 ...
Pinning and mode-locking of reaction fronts by vortices

Abstract We present results of experiments on the behavior of reaction fronts in the presence of vortex-dominated flows. The flow is either a single vortex or a chain of vortices in an annular configuration, and the reaction is the excitable Belousov–Zhabotinsky chemical reaction. If the vortex chain oscillates periodically in the lateral direction, the reaction front often mode-locks to the oscillations, propagating an integer number of wavelengths of the flow (two vortices) in an integer number of drive periods. In the presence of a uniform “wind”, the front often freezes, remaining pinned to the leading vortex and neither propagating forward against the wind nor being blown backward by it. Studies with an individual vortex verify the ability of a moving vortex to pin and drag a reaction front. We use this pinning behavior to explain the mode-locking for the oscillating case.
FT-IR study of carbon monoxide adsorption on Li-exchanged zeolite X

Carbon monoxide adsorption on LiX-1.0 zeolite ([Li 9 6 .(Si 9 6 Al 9 6 O 3 8 4 )]-FAU, Si/Al = 1.0) has been studied by means of FT-IR spectroscopy at a wide temperature range (77-298 K) to investigate the nature and properties of the adsorption sites. We show the existence of two slightly different adsorption centers (Li + cations at sites SIII and SIII') in LiX-1.0 zeolite at room and low temperatures. Variable-temperature experiments confirmed that a phase transition from a cubic phase at ambient temperature to an orthorhombic phase at low temperature takes place between ∼220 and ∼235 K. Our studies indicate that cation redistribution takes place in this temperature range. The number of the Li + cations accessible for CO adsorption (most probably at site SIII') is increased significantly. We argue that this change in population of these sites is triggered by the presence of admolecules, as it is not observed in an unloaded adsorbent. The effective electric fields created by Li + cations at different sites in the cavity of LiX-1.0 zeolite are reported.
Houston Homeless Street Outreach

Abstract Several cities in the nation have developed innovative programs to assist the homeless who are “living on their streets.” This paper describes one such program developed in Houston, Texas. The Homeless Street Outreach was a collaborative project of several service agencies in the greater Houston area. The outcome of this outreach project indicates that a coordinated effort can bring about delivery of more comprehensive services to the homeless population. The principles that emerge from the outreach include involvement of the homeless in planning and development, service agencies taking “ownership” of the project, and agency flexibility in delivering services to the homeless.
Relationship between urinary triclosan and paraben concentrations and serum thyroid measures in NHANES 2007–2008

Triclosan and parabens are broad spectrum antimicrobials used in a range of consumer products. In vitro and animal studies have suggested the potential for these compounds to disrupt thyroid function, though studies in humans have been limited. The objective of the study was to assess the relationship of urinary concentrations of triclosan and parabens with serum thyroid measures in a large, representative sample of the US population. We conducted an exploratory, cross-sectional analysis of data on urinary biomarkers of triclosan and paraben exposure and serum thyroid measures obtained from 1831 subjects (ages≥12 years) as part of the 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). We found evidence of some inverse associations between parabens and circulating thyroid hormone levels in adults, with the strongest and most consistent associations among females. We also observed a positive association between triclosan and total triiodothyonine (T3) concentrations in adolescents. These results, in accordance with the in vitro and animal literature, suggest that paraben, and potentially triclosan, exposures may be associated with altered thyroid hormone levels in humans. Further research is needed for confirmation and to determine the potential clinical and public health significance of these findings.
Attentional control as a prospective predictor of posttraumatic stress symptomatology

Abstract Attentional control may be used by trauma survivors to temporarily disengage and shift attention from threat salient information, allowing individuals to remain in, and habituate to, trauma-relevant contexts rather than using less adaptive regulatory strategies. Thus, greater attentional control abilities may be one factor that differentiates those who recover from trauma exposure from those who do not. In the present study, we examined attentional control as a prospective predictor of posttraumatic (PTS) symptoms over the course of two assessment sessions (T1 and T2). Consistent with the hypothesis that attentional control can be used to alleviate trauma-related distress, we predicted that an inverse relation between T1 attentional control and T2 PTS symptoms would be significantly stronger among participants who had experienced a traumatic event between time points (24% of the total sample: N = 85). Pre-T1 trauma history and T1 PTS symptoms served as covariates in regression analysis. Results revealed that T1 attentional control only predicted T2 PTS symptoms for participants who had experienced a traumatic event between time points. Thus, attentional control may be a protective factor against the development of PTS symptomatology in the aftermath of a traumatic event.
Progenitor cells in infantile hemangioma

Infantile hemangioma is a vascular tumor that occurs in 5–10% of infants of European descent. A hallmark of infantile hemangioma is its lifecycle, which is divided into three stages. The proliferating phase spans the first year of postnatal life, and is characterized by cellular masses without a defined vascular architecture as well as nascent blood vessels with red blood cells evident within the lumenal space. The involuting phase begins around one year of age and continues for 3–5 years. Proliferation slows or stops in this phase, and histology shows that the blood vessel architecture becomes more obvious and vessel size is enlarged. The involuted phase is reached by 5–8 years of age, at which point blood vessels are replaced with a fibrofatty residuum and capillary-sized channels. The growth and involution life-cycle of infantile hemangioma is very different from other vascular tumors and vascular malformations, which do not regress and can occur at any time during childhood or adult life. Many laboratories have reported on the endothelial characteristics of the cellular masses that are prominent in the proliferating phase of infantile hemangioma, as well as their immature appearance. These studies, along with isolation and characterization of hemangioma-derived cell populations with progenitor cell properties have lead to an emerging hypothesis that hemangioma is caused by an abnormal or delayed differentiation of mesodermal progenitor cells into the disorganized mass of blood vessels. Here we discuss the literature that support this emerging hypothesis.
Technology, Demography, and the Anachronism of Traditional Rights

ABSTRACT Theories of the influence of technology on modern Western society have failed to take into account the important role played by a widespread pattern of sociotechnical practice. The pattern in question involves the interplay of technology, rights, and numbers. This paper argues that in the context of an ever more potent technological arsenal and an ever increasing number of individuals who have access to its elements and believe themselves entitled to use them in maximalist ways, adherence to the traditional notion of individual human rights is anachronistic and increasingly problematic for the quality of life in contemporary society. To combat this situation, I criticise the idea of human rights as timelessly valid and offer a contextualised account of these constructs, one able to take on board the implications of their maximalist exercise in a populous technological society. I conclude by illustrating the struggles being waged over the adaptation of human rights to techno-demographic reality in two areas of contemporary Western society: urban planning and medicine.
[FeFe]-hydrogenase maturation: insights into the role HydE plays in dithiomethylamine biosynthesis.

HydE and HydG are radical S-adenosyl-l-methionine enzymes required for the maturation of [FeFe]-hydrogenase (HydA) and produce the nonprotein organic ligands characteristic of its unique catalytic cluster. The catalytic cluster of HydA (the H-cluster) is a typical [4Fe-4S] cubane bridged to a 2Fe-subcluster that contains two carbon monoxides, three cyanides, and a bridging dithiomethylamine as ligands. While recent studies have shed light on the nature of diatomic ligand biosynthesis by HydG, little information exists on the function of HydE. Herein, we present biochemical, spectroscopic, bioinformatic, and molecular modeling data that together map the active site and provide significant insight into the role of HydE in H-cluster biosynthesis. Electron paramagnetic resonance and UV–visible spectroscopic studies demonstrate that reconstituted HydE binds two [4Fe-4S] clusters and copurifies with S-adenosyl-l-methionine. Incorporation of deuterium from D2O into 5′-deoxyadenosine, the cleavage product of S-ad...
Single-stranded DNA-binding Proteins PURα and PURβ Bind to a Purine-rich Negative Regulatory Element of the α-Myosin Heavy Chain Gene and Control Transcriptional and Translational Regulation of the Gene Expression IMPLICATIONS IN THE REPRESSION OF α-MYOSIN HEAVY CHAIN DURING HEART FAILURE

The α-myosin heavy chain is a principal molecule of the thick filament of the sarcomere, expressed primarily in cardiac myocytes. The mechanism for its cardiac-restricted expression is not yet fully understood. We previously identified a purine-rich negative regulatory (PNR) element in the first intron of the gene, which is essential for its cardiac-specific expression (Gupta, M., Zak, R., Libermann, T. A., and Gupta, M. P. (1998) Mol. Cell. Biol. 18, 7243-7258). In this study we cloned and characterized muscle and non-muscle factors that bind to this element. We show that two single-stranded DNA-binding proteins of the PUR family, PURα and PURβ, which are derived from cardiac myocytes, bind to the plus strand of the PNR element. In functional assays, PURα and PURβ repressed α-myosin heavy chain (α-MHC) gene expression in the presence of upstream regulatory sequences of the gene. However, from HeLa cells an Ets family of protein, Ets-related protein (ERP), binds to double-stranded PNR element. The ERP·PNR complex inhibited the activity of the basal transcription complex from homologous as well as heterologous promoters in a PNR position-independent manner, suggesting that ERP acts as a silencer of α-MHC gene expression in non-muscle cells. We also show that PUR proteins are capable of binding to α-MHC mRNA and attenuate its translational efficiency. Furthermore, we show robust expression of PUR proteins in failing hearts where α-MHC mRNA levels are suppressed. Together, these results reveal that (i) PUR proteins participate in transcriptional as well as translational regulation of α-MHC expression in cardiac myocytes and (ii) ERP may be involved in cardiac-restricted expression of the α-MHC gene by preventing its expression in non-muscle cells.
Impacts of a Soda Ash Facility on Onondaga Lake and the Seneca River, NY

ABSTRACT A synthesis of the impacts of the operation (1884–1986) of a soda ash (Na2CO3) manufacturing facility on Onondaga Lake, NY, its tributaries, and adjoining portions of the river that receives the lake's outflow is presented, based on long-term programs of monitoring, process studies, and mathematical modeling. The lake was used as a source of cooling water and for the disposal of ionic (Cl− Na+, and Ca2+) waste, related solids and spent cooling water. At peak production the facility discharged ~1.3 × 106 metric tons of ionic waste to the lake annually. The soda ash facility had a profound impact on these ecosystems, by severely altering their structure and function. Portions of the two largest tributaries to the lake have been degraded from solids deposition associated with solution mining for NaCl (process reactant) and precipitation of Ca2+ waste (as CaCO3). The cooling water operation recycled phosphorus enriched hypolimnetic waters to the epilimnion. Ionic waste impacts on the lake and river i...