cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Präoperative Vorbereitung in der onkologischen Kolonchirurgie bei Frialität und Komorbidität

Das Konzept der Frialitat ist bei alteren Patienten von enormer Wichtigkeit. Unter Frialitat wird die erhohte Vulnerabilitat beim alteren Patienten verstanden. Fur die Definition werden verschiedene Konzepte angewendet. Das Verstandnis und die Anwendung eines Screening-Tools ist fur die Beratung der Patienten und somit das Festlegen des Behandlungsplanes und ein gutes Outcome unentbehrlich. Das praoperative Patientengesprach muss uber die onkologische Prognose hinaus auf funktionelle Aspekte wie die Selbststandigkeit und Lebensqualitat des Patienten eingehen.
Associations between chronic cigarette smoking and taste function: Results from the 2013-2014 national health and nutrition examination survey.

Abstract We identified associations between cigarette-smoking and taste function in the U.S. NHANES 2013–2014. Adults ≥ 40 years (n = 2849, nearly half former or current smokers) rated whole-mouth and tongue-tip bitter (1 mM quinine) and salt (1 M NaCl, 0.32 M NaCl) intensities and reported smoking history (pack years, PY), dependence (time to first cigarette, TTFC) and menthol/non-menthol use. Perceived intensity on the tongue-tip averaged just below moderate for quinine and moderate to strong for 1 M NaCl. Current chronic smokers (≥ 20 PY) reported lower bitter and salty intensities on the tongue-tip (β: -2.0, 95% CI: -3.7 to -0.4 and β: -3.6, 95% CI: -6.9 to -0.3, respectively) than never smokers. Similarly, compared to never smokers, dependent current smokers (TTFC ≤ 30 min) and dependent chronic smokers (≥ 20 PY, TTFC ≤ 30 min) rated less bitter (β: -2.0, 95% CI: -4.0 to 0.1 and β: -2.9, 95% CI: -4.5 to -1.3, respectively) and salty (β: -5.3, 95% CI: -9.3 to -1.4 and β: -4.7, 95% CI: -8.6 to -0.7, respectively) intensities on the tongue-tip. Depressed tongue-tip intensity in dependent smokers (with/without chronicity) versus never smokers was significant in younger (40–65 years), but not older (> 65 years) adults. Former smokers, non-chronic/less dependent smokers, and menthol smokers were more likely to report elevated whole-mouth quinine and 1 M NaCl intensities. Tongue-tip and whole-mouth taste intensity concordance varied between smokers and never smokers—current dependent smokers were more likely to rate tongue-tip quinine and NaCl lower than their respective whole-mouth tastants (OR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.0 to 3.1 and OR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.1 to 2.8, respectively). In summary, these U.S. nationally-representative data show that current smoking with chronicity and/or dependence associates with lower tongue-tip intensity for bitter and salty stimuli. Smokers with greater exposure to nicotine and/or dependence showed greater risk of taste alterations, with implications for diet- and smoking-related health outcomes.
Methods for Determining the Role of Fatigue and Cognitive Load on Behavior Detection Officers (BDOs) Performance in the Field

Job analysis and cognitive task analysis (CTA) are two methods for identifying all job tasks, both observable and unobservable respectively, which correlate to successful job performance. These methods will be applied to the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA’s) Behavior Detection Officers (BDOs) to identify the elements which compose their job and to identify what elements are most difficult, important and frequently accomplished in the support of our national security. This paper will describe one method for conducting a job analysis on the BDO job and then a method for following that work with a cognitive task analysis. The described JA and CTA will provide a scientific foundation for future research and analysis of the BDO job position and successful performance of that job.
Acquired resistance to a dual erbB1 and erbB2 kinase inhibitors

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006 2517 Background: ErbB1 and ErbB2 (erbB1/2) overexpression predicts for a poor prognosis in breast cancer making them attractive therapeutic targets. Small molecules to ErbB1 and ErbB2, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI’s) are currently in clinical trials. Although responses have been observed, they are short-lived. Estrogen and its receptors ERα and ER β play important roles in breast carcinogenesis. Most estrogenic responses are mediated through ERα. Crosstalk between ErbB and ER receptors has been linked to the development of hormone-resistance in breast cancer. This study was directed at understanding the regulation of development of resistance to ErbB1/ErbB2 inhibitors through activation of the ER pathway. Materials and Methods: cDNA was prepared from Au565 and BT474 cells treated with dual ErbB1/ErbB2 inhibitor, GW2974, to identify differentially expressed genes by microarray analysis. Breast cancer cell lines Au565 and BT474, which overexpress ErbB1 and ErbB2, were transfected with a cDNA for Bcl-2. Cells were treated with Herceptin and GW2974 and protein expression was analyzed by western blot or immunohistochemistry. An ERE-dependent luciferase reporter was transiently transfected into MCF7 cells and MCF7 cells that were transfected with a cDNA for ErbB2. Results: Although the ErbB1/ErbB2 pathway remained intact and was inhibited by GW2974, the dependence of cellular survival in GW2974 resistant cells switches from ErbB to the ER pathway. FOXO3a, a transcription factor that transactivates ERα and is inhibited by Akt, was upregulated by GW2974. This caused an upregulation of ERα and ERα dependent genes including Bcl-2. An ERE-dependent reporter construct was activated to a greater extent in MCF7 cells than MCF7 cells that stably express ErbB2. In addition, Au565 cells transfected with a cDNA for Bcl-2, a transcriptional target of ERα, were more resistant to GW2974 than control cells. Discussion: Acquired resistance to inhibitors of ErbB1/ErbB2 demonstrate that ER positive breast cancer cells overexpressing ErbB1/ErbB2 initially respond to GW2974, however, these cells eventually acquire resistance to the inhibitor by activating the ER pathway. This occurs in a similar manner to the development of resistance to anti-estrogen receptor therapy by up-regulating the ErbB pathways. Our results mimic the development of resistance in the clinic by patients who are also continuously exposed to dual inhibitors of ErbB1/ErbB2.
Sphingolipids of Commensals Modulate Host Immunity through Regulation of iNKT Cells

The microbiota modulate invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell numbers in the colon. SInce iNKT cells recognize glycosphingolipids presented by CD1d and the Bacteroidetes are among the few microbia...
Ribosomes and Ribosomal Protein from Neurospora crassa I. Physical, Chemical, and Immunochemical Properties

Ribosomes from Neurospora crassa, initially characterized by ultracentrifugal and immunochemical analyses, have been used to prepare ribosomal protein for physical, chemical, and immunochemical study. The acrylamide gel disc electrophoretic profiles of Neurospora ribosomal protein exhibit a degree of heterogeneity comparable to what has been observed in other systems. Only by chemical modification or by aggregation of the protein do alterations in the profile become apparent. Disulfide-bond formation appears to play a role in the aggregation of ribosomal protein to complexes of S20,w = 200. The aggregation can be prevented by alkylation of −SH groups, and protein treated in this fashion has a subunit molecular weight of about 20,000 as determined by equilibrium centrifugation. Finger-printing of tryptic peptides indicates that more than one unique sequence of amino acids must be present in ribosomal protein, although gross primary structural heterogeneity is questioned. Antigenic heterogeneity is much less apparent; only a few precipitin bands are resolved by immunodiffusion tests, although complete reactivity of total ribosomal protein is suggested by quantitative precipitin analysis. The antigenically active ribosomal protein components appear to reside in at least two fractions; one is removed readily from the ribosome by CsC1 treatment. Ribosomal protein of N. crassa possesses antigenic determinants present in E. coli ribosomal protein as judged by spur formation in immunodiffusion tests. Images
Possible Brain Opioid Involvement in Disrupted Social Intent and Language Development of Autism

The underlying premise of this chapter is that a major dysfunction of the autistic brain resides in neural mechanisms that elaborate social motivation and thereby social intent. Although substantive understanding of brain mechanisms that mediate social emotions remains meager, animal brain research on fundamental processes such as separation distress and rough-and-tumble play has now yielded enough knowledge that some provisional hypotheses concerning the etiology and treatment of autism can be generated. Basically, our psychopharmacological work has affirmed the special importance of brain opioid activity in the elaboration of various social behaviors and social emotions, and convergent lines of reasoning suggest that opioid receptor blockade should be effective in alleviating and/or reversing the progress of certain autistic symptoms. In addition to summarizing evidence pertinent to the opioid-excess hypothesis, we discuss the possibility that certain cognitive symptoms of autism, such as problems in language development, may secondarily reflect disruption of underlying social emotions that dictate the intensity of social intent in the developing organism.
VIIRS thermal emissive bands on-orbit calibration coefficient performance using vicarious calibration results

The Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), a primary sensor on-board the Suomi-National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) spacecraft, was launched October 28, 2011. It has 22 bands: 7 thermal emissive bands (TEBs), 14 reflective solar bands (RSBs) and a Day Night Band (DNB). The TEBs cover the spectral wavelengths between 3.7 to 12 μm and have two 371 m and five 742 m spatial resolution bands. A VIIRS Key Performance Parameter (KPP) is the sea surface temperature (SST) which uses bands M12 (3.7 μm), M15 (10.8 μm) and M16’s (12.0 μm) calibrated Science Data Records (SDRs). The TEB SDRs rely on pre-launch calibration coefficients used in a quadratic algorithm to convert the detector’s response to calibrated radiance. This paper will evaluate the performance of these prelaunch calibration coefficients using vicarious calibration information from the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) also onboard the SNPP spacecraft and the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) on-board the Meteorological Operational (MetOp) satellite. Changes to the pre-launch calibration coefficients’ offset term c0 to improve the SDR’s performance at cold scene temperatures will also be discussed.
Transient sensitivities of non-indigenous shrub species indicate complicated invasion dynamics

As biological invasions increasingly affect natural systems, the need for methods that can quantify the processes responsible for invasion success has increased. Further, methods should be geared to the formulation of management strategies. Demographic analyses are designed to explore the causes and properties of population change. Matrix population models, a commonly used technique for demographic analysis, have been applied to the analysis of stage-structured populations. However, most commonly, analyses have focused on long-term outcomes dynamics (ergodic dynamics). The methods available for analysis of matrix population models have recently been extended to facilitate analysis of the transient dynamics most important to invasion analysis. In this paper we analyze the transient population dynamics of three invasive shrubs and compare them to ergodic dynamics. Cytisus scoparius, Clidemia hirta, and Ardisia elliptica come from different parts of the world and are all now found in the United States of America. They also have published transition matrices that measure the probabilities that any one life-history stage will transition to another over an annual time step. These matrices have been estimated from multi-year data collected from plots in various environments. Our comparative study of transient and ergodic dynamics of invasive shrubs shows that, for all the considered shrub species, there was a clear difference between the sensitivities drawn from these two approaches. The transient sensitivities of earlier life-history transitions showed magnified importance relative to ergodic sensitivities. This was especially true of A. elliptica for which the stable population structure was most different from the starting structure analyzed in detail here. For other species, as stable population structures were heavily weighted towards early stages, the differences in the importance of early transitions transiently and ergodically were less dramatic. Late life transitions showed magnified importance in areas towards the center of the invasion or in older invasion areas. Finally, populations with shorter estimated generation times show greater transient sensitivity to early life-history stages; but the pattern was complex and varied according to species, and was also observed across other life-history transitions. Overall, the ambiguity and complexity of the results highlight the power of considering transient population dynamics for invading species, as well as the importance of specific biological and ecological knowledge of the invading species. Although there may be commonalities across invasions, important decisions on control or inference on population dynamics should treat invasions as individual, unique events.
Theoretical Decision Rules for Selecting Research Designs: The Study of Nation-States or Societies

Since nation-states are complex, they require special methodological rules for sampling. The suggestion is made that societies should be selected on the basis of their score on some independent variable and studied over long time periods so as to maximize information gain and to minimize cost. Then the choice of societies to represent alternative explanations and finally to represent particular kinds of control should be made. The problem of identifying the appropriate frequency of measurement is discussed via a number of general classes of sociological and political variables. If these rules of purposive sampling are followed, one approximates an experiment that will build on present theoretical knowledge.
Atomic resolution scanning tunneling microscope study of single-walled carbon nanotubes on GaAs(110)

We have studied single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) on the cleaved GaAs(110) surface using an ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) scanning tunneling microscope (STM). SWNTs were deposited via an in situ UHV dry contact transfer (DCT) procedure and subsequent STM images provide simultaneous resolution of the nanotube chirality and substrate lattice. Room temperature scanning tunneling spectroscopy measurements reveal semiconducting nanotube features within the substrate band gap indicative of a transport mechanism other than direct tip to substrate tunneling. Nanotube gaps scale appropriately and are found to be in reasonable agreement with theoretical values. SWNTs were transferred to the GaAs surface with minimal additional contamination and no indication of damage to either nanotube or substrate, recommending the DCT technique as a general deposition procedure for a variety of systems incompatible with ambient processing.
Phonon Transport in Carbon Nanotube Aerogels

A carbon nanotube (CNT) aerogel is a low-density network of small diameter single-walled CNTs held together by van del Waals forces. Due to the excellent mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of individual CNTs and the potential to fuse the junctions in the aerogel, CNT aerogels are candidates for ultralight structural media, radiation detectors, thermal insulators, and electrical conductors. Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, we predict the thermal conductance of the junction formed between two CNTs. To access the range of conditions present in the aerogel, we test the effects of different boundary conditions, the CNT lengths, and the rotational angle of the CNTs. A 3-D network model of the aerogel is built that will be used with the MD predictions to estimate the aerogel thermal conductivity.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Impact of Trauma Center Designation on Outcomes: Is There a Difference Between Level I and Level II Trauma Centers?

BACKGROUND: Within organized trauma systems, both Level I and Level II trauma centers are expected to have the resources to treat patients with major multisystem trauma. The evidence supporting separate designations for Level I and Level II trauma centers is inconclusive. The objective of this study was to compare mortality and complications for injured patients admitted to Level I and Level II trauma centers. STUDY DESIGN: Using data from the PennsylvaniaTrauma Outcomes Study registry, we performed a retrospective observational study of 208,866 patients admitted to 28 Level I and Level II trauma centers between 2000 and 2009. Regression modeling was used to estimate the association between patient outcomes and trauma center designation, after controlling for injury severity, mechanism of injury, transfer status, and physiology. RESULTS: Patients admitted to Level I trauma centers had a 15% lower odds of mortality (adjusted odds ratio [adj OR] 0.85; 95% CI 0.72 to 0.99) and a 35% increased odds of complications (adj OR 1.37; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.79). The survival benefit associated with admission to Level I centers was strongest in patients with very severe injuries (Injury Severity Score [ISS] 25; adj OR 0.78; 95% CI 0.64 to 0.95). Less severely injured patients with an ISS 9 (adj OR 0.91; 95% CI 0.64 to 1.30) and with an ISS between 9 and 15 (adj OR 0.98; 95% CI 0.81 to 1.18) had similar risks of mortality in Level I and Level II trauma centers. CONCLUSIONS: Severely injured patients admitted to Level I trauma centers have a lower risk of mortality compared with patients admitted to Level II centers. These findings support the continuation of a 2-tiered designation system for trauma. (J Am Coll Surg 2012;215:372–378. © 2012 by the American College of Surgeons)
The fate of N,N'-tetramethylenebis(1-aziridinecarboxamide) in the black blow fly and the screw-worm fly.

When N, N' -tetramethylenebis (1-aziridinecarboxamide) was applied topically to the black blow fly, Phormia regina (Meigen), and the screw-worm fly, Cochliomyia homicivorax (Coquerel), about 25% of the applied dose remained on the blow fly 504 hours posttreatment and 47-86% remained on the screw-worm fly 240 hours post-treatment. When the chemical was injected, none was present in P. regina after 16 hours or in C. hominovorax after 12 hours.
Narcissus in Asia

* The wide range of social, cultural, and psychological diversity in human populations constitutes an invaluable opportunity for the discovery and testing of social, cultural, and psychological generalizations. * The comparative method is an invaluable tool for the formulation and testing of theoretical principles by which such generalizations might be explained. * Notwithstanding the wide range of human diversity, there exists a common core of psychological characteristics that constitutes a panhuman nature, or (as traditional anthropology put it) the "psychic unity of mankind."
Process Simulation of Complex Biochemical Pathways in Explicit 3D Space Enabled by Heterogeneous Computing Platform

Biological pathways typically consist of dozens of reacting chemical species and hundreds of equations describing reactions within the biological system. Modeling and simulation of such biological pathways in explicit process space is a computationally intensive due to the size of the system complexity and nature of the interactions. Such biological pathways exhibit considerable behavioral complexity in multiple fundamental cellular processes. Hence, there is a strong need for new underlying simulation algorithms as well as need for newer computing platforms, systems and techniques. In this work we present a novel heterogeneous computing platform to accelerate the simulation study of such complex biochemical pathways in 3D reaction process space. Several tasks involved in the simulation study has been carefully partitioned to run on a combination of reconfigurable hardware and a massively parallel processor, such as the GPU. This paper also presents an implementation to accelerate one of the most compute intensive tasks - sifting through the reaction space to determine reacting particles. Finally, we present the new heterogeneous computing framework integrating a FPGA and GPU to accelerate the computation and obtain better performance over the use of any single platform. The platform achieves 5x total speedup when compared to a single GPU-only platform. Besides, the extensible architecture is general enough to be used to study a variety of biological pathways in order to gain deeper insights into biomolecular systems.
Cross‐over trials in practice: tales of the unexpected

In a previous Toolkit article, Byron Jones compared the cross-over trial to the fictional "subtle knife", which can cut any substance. Here, he and Scott Haughie explain that using cross-over trials in real-life requires skill and innovation.
A general and sensitive chemical method for sequencing the glycosyl residues of complex carbohydrates

Abstract This paper describes a new glycosyl-sequencing method. This method was made possible by the ability to fractionate complex mixtures of peralkylated oligosaccharides by reversed-phase, high-pressure liquid chromatography. The fractionation ability of the reversed-phase system allows the isolation and subsequent unambiguous identification by g.l.c.-m.s. of disaccharides, almost all trisaccharides, and, in some cases, tetrasaccharides generated by successive partial acid hydrolysis, reduction, and ethylation of a permethylated, complex carbohydrate. As these small oligosaccharides overlap within the unhydrolyzed, complex carbohydrate, the oligosaccharide sequences may be pieced together, and, with the glycosyl-linkage composition of the intact complex carbohydrate, can be used to determine the glycosyl sequence of the complex carbohydrate. The details of the sequencing method are illustrated by the elucidation of the glycosyl sequences of three complex carbohydrates. These examples demonstrate the wide variety of complex carbohydrates whose structures can be ascertained by the new sequencing technique. Two of the examples are the commercially available polysaccharides, lichenan and xanthan, whose structures have already been reported. The other example is a nonasaccharide derived from xyloglucan, a structural polymer of plant cell-walls. The glycosyl residues of the complex carbohydrates studied include hexosyl, deoxyhexosyl, pentosyl, glycosyluronic, and pyruvic acetal-substituted hexosyl residues. It will be demonstrated that the new glycosyl-sequencing technique is not compromise by the presence, in the carbohydrate to be analyzed, of glycosyl linkages possessing very different acid labilities. Two major advantages of this sequencing technique are that it is relatively rapid and that it requires only milligram quantities of carbohydrate.
Measurement of conditional phase shifts for quantum logic.

Measurements of the birefringence of a single atom strongly coupled to a high-finesse optical resonator are reported, with nonlinear phase shifts observed for an intracavity photon number much less than one. A proposal to utilize the measured conditional phase shifts for implementing quantum logic via a quantum-phase gate (QPG) is considered. Within the context of a simple model for the field transformation, the parameters of the "truth table" for the QPG are determined.
Greenhouse effect in semi-infinite scattering atmospheres

Greenhouse effect in semiinfinite scattering atmospheres determined by method of discrete ordinates
Candidate gene analysis of anthocyanin pigmentation loci in the Solanaceae

Crop species in the Solanaceae, which includes tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum), potato ( Solanum tuberosum), pepper ( Capsicum spp.), and eggplant ( S. melongena), exhibit natural variation in the types, levels, and tissue-specific expression patterns of anthocyanin pigments. While the identities of the genes underpinning natural variation in anthocyanin traits in these crops are largely unknown, many structural genes and regulators of anthocyanin biosynthesis have been isolated from the solanaceous ornamental species Petunia. To identify candidate genes that may correspond to loci controlling natural variation in the four crops, 13 anthocyanin-related genes were localized on a tomato F(2) genetic map. Gene map positions were then compared to mapped mutants in tomato and through comparative genetic maps to natural variants in potato, eggplant, and pepper. Similar map positions suggest that the tomato mutants anthocyaninless, entirely anthocyaninless, and anthocyanin gainer correspond to flavonoid 3'5'-hydroxylase ( f3'5'h), anthocyanidin synthase, and the Petunia Myb domain trancriptional regulatory gene an2, respectively. Similarly potato R, required for the production of red pelargonidin-based pigments, P, required for production of purple delphinidin-based pigments, and I, required for tissue-specific expression in tuber skin, appear to correspond to dihydroflavonol 4-reductase, f3'5'h and an2, respectively. The map location of an2 also overlaps pepper A and eggplant fap10.1, lla10.1, lra10.1, sa10.1, pa10.1 and ca10.1, suggesting that a homologous regulatory locus has been subjected to parallel selection in the domestication of many solanaceous crops. To test the hypothesis that tomato anthocyaninless corresponds to f3'5'h, a portion of the gene was sequenced. A premature stop codon was observed in an anthocyaninless mutant, but not in wild-type.
A Critique of Violent Retaliation in Sport

(2010). A Critique of Violent Retaliation in Sport. Journal of the Philosophy of Sport: Vol. 37, No. 1, pp. 1-10.
Chemistry of ferromanganoan sediment of the Bauer Deep

Sediment from the Bauer Deep in the east Pacific is commonly carbonate free, containing only small amounts of detrital minerals, and is enriched in Fe, Mn, Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, and Ba. An Fe-montmorillonite and ferromanganese compounds, occurring both as colloids and micronodules, are the principal phases present. A large proportion of the Fe occurs in the Fe montmorillonite, which appears to originate from the interaction of hydrothermal solutions with sea water. Adsorption and incorporation of metals from sea water on the micronodules or the Fe and Mn oxide colloids best explain the elemental relationships observed for Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and Ni in the oxide fraction of the sediment. These processes are responsible for the enrichment of the sediment in Ni, Co, and possibly Mn. Enrichment in Cu and Zn occurs in both the oxides and the Fe montmorillonite. Sedimentation rates measured in one core provide a minimum value of 2.5 mm/10 3 yr. The rate of accumulation of authigenic material is more than 2 mm/10 3 yr. Elemental accumulation rates of Fe, Mn, Cu, Ni, and Zn are comparable to those found near the crest of the East Pacific Rise.
Depression: An Evolutionarily Conserved Mechanism to Terminate Separation Distress? A Review of Aminergic, Peptidergic, and Neural Network Perspectives

Our basic thesis is that depression is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism in mammalian brains, selected as a shutdown mechanism to terminate protracted separation distress (a prototype mammalian emotional state), which, if sustained, would be dangerous for infant mammals. However, this fundamental shutdown mechanism remains available to more mature mammalian and hominid brains, particularly those with certain polymorphisms in genetic endowment, early loss/separation trauma, or other predisposing factors, which can promote reactivation in relationship to almost any chronic stressor. Such evolutionarily selected shutdown mechanisms could become hypertrophied, and released from normal adaptive control mechanisms in vulnerable individuals, to potentially yield the full spectrum of depressive illness. Depression remains a challenging puzzle of neurobiological correlates, involving changes in many biogenic amine and neuropeptide systems and alterations in neuroendocrine and immune function. We suggest that c...
Suitability of the lognormal distribution for corrective maintenance repair times

This study was conducted to verify that the lognormal distribution is a suitable descriptor for corrective maintenance repair times and to estimate the error caused in assuming an exponential distribution for availability and maintainability calculations when in fact the distribution is lognormal. In a previous study, twenty-four sets of maintainability demonstration repair time data from electronic systems were analyzed using the methods of probability plotting and statistical goodness-of-fit testing for distributional assumption. Forty-six additional data sets from electronic and mechanical systems and equipments have been analyzed in the current study.
Heme-induced neutrophil extracellular traps contribute to the pathogenesis of sickle cell disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is characterized by recurring episodes of vascular occlusion in which neutrophil activation plays a major role. The disease is associated with chronic hemolysis with elevated cell-free hemoglobin and heme. The ensuing depletion of heme scavenger proteins leads to nonspecific heme uptake and heme-catalyzed generation of reactive oxygen species. Here, we have identified a novel role for heme in the induction of neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation in SCD. NETs are decondensed chromatin decorated by granular enzymes and are released by activated neutrophils. In humanized SCD mice, we have detected NETs in the lungs and soluble NET components in plasma. The presence of NETs was associated with hypothermia and death of these mice, which could be prevented and delayed, respectively, by dismantling NETs with DNase I treatment. We have identified heme as the plasma factor that stimulates neutrophils to release NETs in vitro and in vivo. Increasing or decreasing plasma heme concentrations can induce or prevent, respectively, in vivo NET formation, indicating that heme plays a crucial role in stimulating NET release in SCD. Our results thus suggest that NETs significantly contribute to SCD pathogenesis and can serve as a therapeutic target for treating SCD.
Relative exon affinities and suboptimal splice site signals lead to non-equivalence of two cassette exons.

Abstract Tau is a microtubule-associated protein whose transcript undergoes complex regulated splicing in the mammalian nervous system. Exons 2 and 3 of the gene are alternatively spliced cassettes in which exon 3 never appears independently of exon 2. Expression of tau minigene constructs in cells indicate that exon 2 resembles a constitutive exon, while a suboptimal branch point connected to exon 3 inhibits inclusion of exon 3 in the mRNA. Splicing of the two tau exons is controlled by their relative affinities for each other versus the affinities of their flanking exons for them.
Superoxide-induced changes in endothelin (ET) receptors in hepatic stellate cells

Abstract Background/Aims: Reactive oxygen species are mediators of various pathophysiologic events, including postischemic reperfusion injury and inflammation. Generation of reactive oxygen species and consequent organ injury are associated with increased levels of a powerful vasoconstrictor peptide endothelin-1. Current evidence suggests that actions of endothelin-1 on the contractile and fibrogenic transdifferentiated stellate cells may play a critical role in hepatic pathophysiology. the aim of this investigation was to determine whether reactive oxygen species modulate the synthesis of endothelin-1 and its receptors in stellate cells. Methods: Primary cultures of transdifferentiated stellate cells were exposed to reactive oxygen species-generating system, hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase, before determination of endothelin-1 and its receptors. Results: The treatment caused an initial decrease in ET-1 receptor density (about 30% at 30 min), followed by a significant increase over the basal level at 6 h. The increase in the receptors, which occurred specifically in the ET B subtype, progressed thereafter up to 24 h and was accompanied by an augmented functional response, as indicated by an enhanced endothelin-1-induced release of [ 3 H]arachidonic acid from the prelabeled cells. Furthermore, treatment of cells for 24 h but not 30 min caused increased expression of ET B mRNA as determined by semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The release of endothelin-1 in the culture medium was also enhanced by hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase treatment. These effects of hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase were inhibited by superoxide dismutase and dimethyl sulfoxide. ET-1-induced [ 3 H]arachidonic acid release was also inhibited by the ET B receptor antagonist BQ788, but not by the ET A receptor antagonist BQ123. Conclusions: These findings indicate that interactions between ET-1 and stellate cells during episodes of the generation of reactive oxygen species can be an important mechanism in the pathophysiology of hepatic disorders.
Electrochemical synthesis of zeolite-like ruthenium-based hexacyanometalates multi-film assemblies

Abstract Electrochemical synthesis of zeolite-like films of K+xRuy[Fe(CN)6]z (RF) or ruthenium hexacyanoferrate and K+xRuy[Ru(CN)6]z (RR) or ruthenium hexacyanoruthenuate, and related compounds have been achieved using cyclic voltammetric technique. Formation of porous multi-film assemblies of Prussian Blue (PB) and RF was carried out by either direct electrodeposition of PB over RF or RF over PB during repetitive potential cycling, or by electrochemically driven insertion–substitution methods. The cyclic voltammetric studies indicate that the method of preparation has no effect on the overall electrochemical (EC) behavior of the formed assemblies. In all studied cases, the EC of all redox centers in the multi-films was observed regardless of their order in the assembly. Substitution of a counter ion In3+ or Cu2+ results in less stable assemblies. Studies indicate that whenever Ru3+ serves as the counter ion in hexacyanometalates (HCM), the redox potential of the complex center ([Mz+(CN)6]) is shifted to a more negative potential. Some of these multi-film assemblies demonstrated catalytic activities in the oxidation of hydrazine.
Radiometry as a short-wavelength limit of statistical wave theory with globally incoherent sources

Abstract It is shown that for fields produced by quasi-homogeneous sources, one of the generalized radiance functions introduced by Walther reduces, in the asymptotic limit of large wave number, to a function that has all the basic properties of the radiance of traditional radiometry. An explicit expression for this radiance is obtained in terms of the intensity distribution across the source and the degree of spectral coherence of the source. The results provide a rigorous foundation for radiometry in free space, on the basis of statistical wave theory.
Intensifying Screen Speed . . . Its Impact On A Cardiovascular System

Radiographic screens with improved phosphors were evaluated in terms of their impact on image quality and system design. Using tungstate screens as a reference it was shown that system performance can be improved by reducing one or more of the following parameters: MAS, KVP, Focal Spot Size, and Exposure Time. In the case of cardiovascular angiography for instance, maximum benefit was obtained by reductions in exposure time and focal spot size.© (1976) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Teaching Earth Signals Analysis Using the Java-DSP Earth Systems Edition: Modern and Past Climate Change.

Modern data collection in the Earth Sciences has propelled the need for understanding signal processing and time-series analysis techniques. However, there is an educational disconnect in the lack ...
A deeply recessed active site in angiotensin-converting enzyme is indicated from the binding characteristics of biotin-spacer-inhibitor reagents

Abstract Two biotinylated derivatives of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, lisinopril, were synthesized. Compounds BL11 (e-biotinamidocaproyl-lisinopril) and BL19 (e-biotinamidocaproyl-β-alanyl-β-alanyl-lisinopril) have, respectively, 11 and 19 atoms of spacing structure between the biotin and the inhibitor moieties. Both compounds were found to be potent inhibitors of mouse kidney ACE, but they lost this ability in the presence of streptavidin in free solution. However, BL19 (but not BL11), when complexed to ACE, retained enough residual binding strength for streptavidin to allow the complex to be specifically removed from solution by streptavidin-agarose beads. It was thus possible to employ BL19 for the affinity isolation of ACE from crude mixtures. These results indicate that the bound determinant of lisinopril must lie at least 11 A below the outer surface of the ACE molecule.
Histopathology of the internal anal sphincter in chronic anal fissure

A prospective study of 18 consecutive patients undergoing unilateral, partial-thickness, distal, internal sphincterotomy for the treatment of chronic anal fissure was performed. Biopsies were taken from the base of the fissure and from the lateral muscle before division. Normal specimens were taken from the internal anal sphincter of patients undergoing abdominoperineal resection. Specimens confirmed the presence of fibrosis throughout the internal anal sphincter in patients with anal fissures, but none in controls.
Barium toxicity in plants

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the level of Ba in plants necessary to cause yield depressions. Barium levels of about 2% in bush bean leaves and 1% in barley leaves decreased yields considerably. The levels were obtained after application of 2000 μg Ba per g of soil as Ba(NO3)2 with equivalent nitrate added in controls.
Regional variations in electricity demand elasticities: The situation in the Central United States

Within the sizable literature on electricity demand relatively little attention is given to regional variations in electricity demand elasticities. This paper investigates 39 electric utility companies having a total of 93 separate operating regions in order to assess the nature of regional electricity demand elasticity variations. Residential, commercial, and industrial demand functions are estimated for each operating region using a flow adjustment model of demand. The resulting electricity price, measure of economic activity, and natural gas price elasticities vary regionally, but not in a systematic manner. The demand elasticities found in each sector range from highly inelastic to highly elastic with the pattern of elasticity variations exhibiting few spatial trends or relationships. Comparisons between operating region results and more aggregated statewide results indicate that statewide and national analysis of electricity demand masks much regional detail — a result which has important implications for energy policy making.
Structure and Stability of M−H2 Complexes

The potential stability of van der Waals complexes M−H2 (M = Li, Be, B, C, Na, Mg, Al, Si) is assessed using quadratic configuration interaction and large basis sets. It is found that the alkali metals and alkaline earths form very weak complexes in their ground states, but much stronger complexes in their (p) excited states. The elements B, Al, C, and Si form both linear (C∞v) and perpendicular (C2v) complexes, with greater thermodynamic stability in the latter arrangements. The complexes formed by C are likely to be kinetically unstable, and the same may be the case for Si. On the other hand, the complexes formed by B and Al are predicted to be quite stable.
Origin and migration of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone neurons in mammals

Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) neurons are unique among hypothalamic neurons in that they originate outside of the central nervous system. In most vertebrates, LHRH-immunoreactive (-ir) neurons are detected in the epithelium of the medial olfactory pit soon after its formation. The LHRH-ir neurons migrate out of the placodal epithelium and into the brain along a migration route that consists of the central processes of the terminal, olfactory, and vomeronasal nerves. LHRH-ir cell migration follows a highly ordered course from the initial appearance of the LHRH-ir cells in the epithelium of the medial olfactory pit, to the crossing of these cells in cords on the nasal septum, to their entrance into the forebrain. Here they separate and follow an arching trajectory to their final destinations in the septal and preoptic areas and in the hypothalamus. Examination of the molecular makeup of the developing migration route reveals the presence of neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) in non-LHRH-ir cells. The N-CAM-ir cells migrate into the nasal mesenchyme, trailed by N-CAM-ir axons of the olfactory, vomeronasal, and terminal nerves. These N-CAM cells and axons link the olfactory epithelia with the developing forebrain and together form scaffolding along which the LHRH-ir cells migrate into the brain. The focus of this review is on the origin and migration of LHRH-ir neurons in mammals, including humans. A discussion of Kallmann's syndrome (hypogonadotropic hypogonadism with anosmia) is included, in which there is an absence of LHRH-ir in the brain but clusters of LHRH-ir cells in the nasal cavity. This "experiment of nature" lends support to the hypothesis that all LHRH-ir cells in humans originate in the olfactory placode.
Mn4+ emission in pyrochlore oxides

For the existing Mn4+ activated red phosphors have relatively low emission energies (or long emission wavelengths) and are therefore inefficient for general lighting. Density functional calculations are performed to study Mn4+ emission in rare-earth hafnate, zirconate, and stannate pyrochlore oxides (RE2Hf2O7, RE2Zr2O7, and RE2Sn2O7). We show how the different sizes of the RE3+ cation in these pyrochlores affect the local structure of the distorted MnO6 octahedron, the Mn–O hybridization, and the Mn4+ emission energy. The Mn4+ emission energies of many pyrochlores are found to be higher than those currently known for Mn4+ doped oxides and should be closer to that of Y2O3:Eu3+ (the current commercial red phosphor for fluorescent lighting). The O–Mn–O bond angle distortion in a MnO6 octahedron is shown to play an important role in weakening Mn–O hybridization and consequently increasing the Mn4+ emission energy. Our result shows that searching for materials that allow significant O–Mn–O bond angle distortion in a MnO6 octahedron is an effective approach to find new Mn4+ activated red phosphors with potential to replace the relatively expensive Y2O3:Eu3+ phosphor.
New module efficiency record: 23.5% under 1-sun illumination using thin-film single-junction GaAs solar cells

Alta Devices has fabricated a thin-film single-junction GaAs module with an independently confirmed solar energy conversion efficiency of 23.5%, under the global AM1.5 spectrum at one sun intensity. This represents a new record for terrestrial modules under non-concentrated sunlight. Reduced shading, intrinsic electrical interconnect, optimized optical coupling, and high efficiency solar cells all contributed to the unmatched performance of this module. Behind these attributes lies the thin and flexible nature of Alta's solar material, which enables high conversion efficiency at the cell and module levels. Because of its thin-film characteristics, this module technology has the potential to reduce the cost of solar energy generation beyond grid parity. The unique combination of a flexible form factor and high performance in outdoor environments makes this technology extremely competitive for both traditional solar installations as well as a variety of advanced photovoltaic (PV) applications.
Ethylene, storage and ripening temperatures affect Dwarf Brazilian banana finger drop

Abstract The Dwarf Brazilian banana (Musa sp. cv. Santa Catarina Prata) frequently suffers severe finger drop from the hand during postharvest ripening. Finger drop occurred after the climacteric ethylene peak and was associated with a second ethylene production peak. Holding fruit at 15 °C for up to two weeks reduced finger drop of fruit ripened at 25 °C. Ripening fruit at 17.5 °C, or one day at 25 °C then at 17.5 °C reduced finger drop from up to 100% to less than 10%. Ethylene treatment for one day at 25 °C resulted in less finger drop than fruit that did not receive ethylene. More mature hands were more prone to finger drop than less mature hands. Temperature management during ripening and ethylene treatment of mature hands reduced the susceptibility to finger drop.
Illegal Drug Use among Rural Adults: Mental Health Consequences and Treatment Utilization

This study uses the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse to examine mental health consequences and treatment utilization among nonmetropolitan and rural adults. The study employs an ecological system perspective, dividing the study population into three groups: nonmetropolitan-rural, nonmetropolitan-urban, and metropolitan-rural. Logistic regression analysis is used to examine four sets of factors related to self-report of mental health problems among drug-using adults, including community level features, family characteristics, personal characteristics, and stress factors. Perceived ease of purchasing cocaine, number of moves in last five years, employment in blue-collar occupations, number of jobs in last five years, and residence in neighborhoods with a low rate (< 10%) of minority households were significantly related to self-report problems. Results of the analysis are discussed in terms of barriers to utilization of treatment and rehabilitation services among nonmetropolitan and rural adults, such as availability and access to facilities and professional services, social stigma, ability to afford services, and the difficulty for rural communities to support inhospital and outpatient services.
Compositional and toxicological evaluation of the diazotrophic cyanobacterium, Cyanothece sp. strain ATCC 51142

Compositional analyses of Cyanothece sp. strain ATCC 51142 showed high protein (50-60%) and low fat (0.4-1%) content, and the ability to synthesize vitamin B12. The amino acid profile indicated that Cyanothece sp. was a balanced protein source. Fatty acids of the 18:3n-3 type were also present. Mineral analyses indicated that the cellular biomass may be a good source of Fe, Zn and Na. Caloric content was 4.5 to 5.1 kcal g dry weight-1 and the carbon content was approximately 40% on a dry weight basis. Nitrogen content was 8 to 9% on a dry weight basis and total nucleic acids were 1.3% on a dry weight basis. Short-term feeding studies in rats followed by histopathology found no toxicity or dietary incompatibility problems. The level of uric acid and allantoin in urine and tissues was low, suggesting no excess of nucleic acids, as sometimes reported in the past for a cyanobacteria-containing diet. The current work discusses the potential implications of these results for human nutrition applications.