cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Caspase Inhibitors Promote Vestibular Hair Cell Survival and Function after Aminoglycoside Treatment In Vivo

The sensory hair cells of the inner ear undergo apoptosis after acoustic trauma or aminoglycoside antibiotic treatment, causing permanent auditory and vestibular deficits in humans. Previous studies have demonstrated a role for caspase activation in hair cell death and ototoxic injury that can be reduced by concurrent treatment with caspase inhibitors in vitro. In this study, we examined the protective effects of caspase inhibition on hair cell death in vivo after systemic injections of aminoglycosides. In one series of experiments, chickens were implanted with osmotic pumps that administrated the pan-caspase inhibitor z-Val-Ala-Asp(Ome)-fluoromethylketone (zVAD) into inner ear fluids. One day after the surgery, the animals received a 5 d course of treatment with streptomycin, a vestibulotoxic aminoglycoside. Direct infusion of zVAD into the vestibule significantly increased hair cell survival after streptomycin treatment. A second series of experiments determined whether rescued hair cells could function as sensory receptors. Animals treated with streptomycin displayed vestibular system impairment as measured by a greatly reduced vestibulo-ocular response (VOR). In contrast, animals that received concurrent systemic administration of zVAD with streptomycin had both significantly greater hair cell survival and significantly increased VOR responses, as compared with animals treated with streptomycin alone. These findings suggest that inhibiting the activation of caspases promotes the survival of hair cells and protects against vestibular function deficits after aminoglycoside treatment.
The in vitro effect of chemical intravaginal contraceptives on Chlamydia trachomatis

The effect of four intravaginal chemical contraceptives on the in vitro growth of Chlamydia trachomatis in cycloheximide-treated McCoy cells was studied. Encare produced significant inhibition, while Koromex had little antichlamydial activity. Both Intercept and Conceptrol had an intermediate effect, reducing chlamydial replication to 60-70% compared to untreated controls. Some variation in these effect against different strains of Chlamydia has been observed. In addition, the antichlamydial properties observed do not seem to be solely mediated by the pH of the preparations or the concentration of nonoxynol-9, the active ingredient in these contraceptives. Thus, intravaginal contraceptives may have a role in decreasing asymptomatic transmission of this organism and possibly as an adjunct to antibiotic therapy in symptomatic patients.
Medical ethics and the media: the value of a story.

Media coverage of a sympathetic person's illness experience can trigger changes in public opinion and even public policy.
Unusual photocyclization of perfluoro cis-1,2-dimethyl-1,3-butadienyl benzenes as a means to synthesize partially fluorinated naphthalenes

Abstract Photoirradiation of the titled compounds perfluoro- cis -1,2-dimethyl-butadienyl benzenes ( 1 ), which were prepared in several steps from perfluorovinyl bromide, results in the formation of the corresponding novel naphthalene derivatives and 1,4-dihydronaphthalenes. Isolated 1,1,2-trifluoro-3,4-bis(trifluoromethyl)-1,4-dihydronaphthalene ( 3a ) could be converted into 1,2-bistrifluoromethyl-3,4-difluoronaphthalene ( 2a ) by base treatment (DABCO); however, 3a did not lead to 2a by photoreaction, suggesting 3a was not a possible photochemical precursor. Competitive photoreaction studies suggest that varying the substituent on benzene ring (e.g. methyl or trifluoromethyl) does not significantly affect the reaction rate. Presently, this reaction mechanism is not yet clearly understood.
Partitioning of snowy and rainy precipitation in a case of a north Adriatic frontal passage

Abstract. A case of snow fall in the plains of the Northern Italian region Veneto is presented from a forecasters' perspective. Contrasting forecast guidance came from the ECMWF global model and the limited area model LAMI. The former showed a marked warm-moist Sirocco flow coming from the Adriatic Sea onto the coast at all levels, the latter discerned a distinct cold air flow from the north-east along the foothills of the Alps. The integrated observing network of the Centro Meteorologico di Teolo ARPA Veneto revealed this cold-air structure and helped the forecaster in the choice of the forecast and underpin the snowfall alert to the road authorities. It is argued that this feature is a crucial element for the occurrence of snowfall over the Veneto plains, and that the high-resolution numerical weather prediction model was essential in describing this mesoscale feature. The nature of the north-easterly flow is thought to be a combination of a Bora like flow and a barrier jet induced by flow blocking by the Alps.
Critical ages for responses to ACTH in chicks

Abstract Linear regression analyses of the responses of adrenal and bursa of Fabricius weights, and adrenal and plasma cholesterol concentrations on log doses of ACTH indicated that the optimal age for bioassay occurred during the third week following hatching. Optimum ages for the glycemic response were not as clearly defined.
Encouraging the Development of Disability Allies.

The authors advocate for a constructionist interpretation of disability, grounded in a social justice perspective, by discussing disability paradigms, factors that influence attitudes and attitude change regarding disability, and disability ally development and behaviors.
A diatom record of late Pliocene cooling from the Ross Sea continental shelf, AND-1B, Antarctica

Abstract A late Pliocene – early Pleistocene, 2.9–2.0 Ma, diatom record from the Antarctic Geological Drilling Program (ANDRILL) MIS drillcore AND-1B is presented. This core, recovered from beneath the Ross Ice Shelf south of Ross Island, comprises multiple diatomaceous-sediment units deposited during interglacial periods with open water over the core site. These represent interglacial phases of orbitally paced climate cycles and are punctuated by glacial advances. Extant diatom assemblages have limited presence in the late Pliocene record, which makes environmental interpretation less straight forward. We employ modern ecological data in combination with late Pliocene to present variation in diatom assemblages across the Southern Ocean oceanic fronts based on DSDP/ODP diatom biostratigraphic data to evaluate paleoenvironmental change for the 2.9–2.0 Ma interval of the AND-1B core. The diatom assemblages from AND-1B record a progressive environmental change through the late Pliocene–early Pleistocene. A relatively warm period with potential SST of up to 4 °C at ca. 2.9 Ma was succeeded by a reduction of warm water species and an increase of taxa associated with more southerly water masses until 2.58 Ma (at isotope stage G1). Younger, early Pleistocene, diatomaceous units are dominated by extinct Rouxia , Thalassiosira species and newly described Fragilariopsis species indicative of cold open water and drift ice. The last recorded cooling step occurs at the top of the interval studied (ca 2.0) Ma indicated by the trace abundance of Fragilariopsis and Actinocyclus species present in modern sea ice assemblages but absent in the late Pliocene–early Pleistocene AND-1B record, even though many of its species had their first occurrences during the Pliocene. The extant sea ice assemblage occurs with an abundance of 2–29% (average 10%) in the late Pliocene–early Pleistocene AND-1B record implying that the modern sea ice and ice shelf polar conditions were not established within the studied interval. The most frequently applied sea ice indicator, Fragilariopsis curta , is consistently present in low to moderate abundance (1–22%) together with Chaetoceros resting spores (2–30%) through the 2.9–2.0 Ma interval. The diatom assemblage shifts indicate a dynamic environment with an overall trend towards colder conditions after ca. 2.6 Ma but does not reach the Holocene configuration.
Abstract 3981: miR-708 induces apoptosis and suppresses tumorigenicity in renal cell carcinomas

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) constitute an evolutionarily conserved class of small non-coding RNAs that primarily regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level via sequence-specific interaction with the 3’-untranslated regions of cognate mRNA targets. Recent evidence indicates that dysregulated miRNA expression leads to tumorigenesis and miRNAs have been implicated to function as either tumor suppressors or oncogenes. The main objective of the present study was to identify miRNA genes that regulate renal cell carcinomas (RCC). Towards this, we performed microRNA expression profiling in normal immortalized renal cell line (HK2) and primary renal cancer cell lines (A498 and Caki2) and identified that miR-708 expression is significantly attenuated in renal cancer cell lines. This attenuation was validated by RT-PCR and in situ hybridization analysis of miR-708 in RCC tissue specimens. Further, trichostatin A, a pharmacological inhibitor of histone deacetylases, strongly increased miR-708 levels in cell lines from renal cancer suggesting that epigenetic silencing may lead to miR-708 downregulation in RCC. To evaluate the functional significance of decreased miR-708 expression, miR-708 was reintroduced in renal cancer cell lines followed by functional assays. Overexpression of miR-708 in the A498 cell line leads to significant decreases in cell growth, clonability, invasiveness and migratory properties. Importantly, miR-708 reexpression leads to dramatic induction of apoptosis in A498 cells suggesting that restoration of miR-708 expression in A498 cells suppressed tumorigenecity in vitro by primarily affecting the apoptotic program. In vivo, intratumoral delivery of miR-708 led to a regression of tumor growth in established renal tumor xenografts. Further, analysis of putative miR-708 targets showed that miR-708 targets survivin/BIRC5, a small inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) protein that plays a pivotal role in renal cancer progression. In conclusion, our data suggests a crucial tumor suppressive role for miR-708 in RCC. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3981. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3981
Decision noise: an explanation for observed violations of signal detection theory.

In signal detection theory (SDT), responses are governed by perceptual noise and a flexible decision criterion. Recent criticisms of SDT (see, e.g., Balakrishnan, 1999) have identified violations of its assumptions, and researchers have suggested that SDT fundamentally misrepresents perceptual and decision processes. We hypothesize that, instead, these violations of SDT stem from decision noise: the inability to use deterministic response criteria. In order to investigate this hypothesis, we present a simple extension of SDT—the decision noise model—with which we demonstrate that shifts in a decision criterion can be masked by decision noise. In addition, we propose a new statistic that can help identify whether the violations of SDT stem from perceptual or from decision processes. The results of a stimulus classification experiment—together with model fits to past experiments—show that decision noise substantially affects performance. These findings suggest that decision noise is important across a wide range of tasks and needs to be better understood in order to accurately measure perceptual processes.
Autonomy, security, and inequality: China, India, the United States, and the globalization of science and technology

Abstract Perhaps no three countries have benefited from the globalization of science and technology (S&T) more than India, China, and the United States. All three have leveraged the growing internationalization of innovation to offset weaknesses in their own national innovation systems. Still, globalization raises critical questions of autonomy, security, and equality, and in turn the political struggle over these three issues shapes the pace and scope of the globalization of S&T. Significant deterioration on any one of these criterion could lead to substantially less support among policy makers and the public for the globally networked system of innovation that appears to be emerging.
THE ESTROGEN-REGULATED DESTABILIZATION OF XENOPUS ALBUMIN MRNA IS INDEPENDENT OF TRANSLATION

Abstract Protein synthesis inhibitors have been shown to increase the stability of a number of labile mRNAs. In Xenopus laevis serum albumin mRNA is destabilized in the liver cell cytoplasm following estrogen administration. The present study examined the effect of translation inhibitors on this process. The initiation inhibitor 2-(4-methyl-2,6-dinitroanilino)-N-methylpropionamide causes accumulation of albumin mRNA in 20–80S mRNP particles whereas the elongation inhibitor cycloheximide causes albumin mRNA to accumulate in polysomes. Neither inhibitor blocked the disappearance of albumin mRNA from liver cell cytoplasm when added with estradiol to the medium of liver explant cultures. We conclude that unlike a number of labile mRNAs the instability of Xenopus albumin mRNA following estradiol is independent of translation.
Wavelength shift analysis techniques & methods for dual mode surface plasmon resonance sensors

The range of detection of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors is limited by the accuracy of wavelength shift detection. In this paper we overview peak shift, centroid, polynomial fit, and raw point methods of mathematical wavelength shift calculation. We also investigate raw data based, integral, and slope based proportional integral derivative (PID) methods of wavelength tracking for temperature tunable laser tracking. Results indicate that polynomial fit is the superior method for mathematical calculation and the PID (slope based) is the preferred method for laser tracking.
Associations of psychosocial factors with heart rate and its short-term variability: multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis.

RMSSD, and SDNN were 0.5 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.2–0.7), 0.8 (95% CI, 1.5 to 0.2), and 0.7 (95% CI, 1.1 to 0.2). The social support score was inversely associated with HR, but nonsignificantly associated with RMSSD and SDNN. There was no association of trait anger or trait anxiety with HR, RMSSD, or SDNN. Associations were generally consistent in men and women. Conclusions: These findings generally support the hypothesis that depression may be associated with increased HR and reduced HR variability, which increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Key words: autonomic nervous system, coronary artery disease, depression, heart rate, psychosocial factor, race/ethnicity. BMI body mass index; BP blood pressure; HR heart rate; CES-D Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale; CHD coronary heart disease; ECG electrocardiogram; MESA Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis; MET metabolic equivalent; RMSSD root mean square of successive differences in normal-to-normal interbeat intervals; SDNN standard deviation of normal-to-normal interbeat intervals.
Judging medical futility: an ethical analysis of medical power and responsibility.

In situations where experience shows that a particular intervention will not benefit a patient, common sense seems to suggest that the intervention should not be used. Yet it is precisely in these situations that a peculiar ethic begins to operate, an ethic that Eddy calls “the criterion of potential benefit.” According to this ethic, “a treatment is appropriate if it might have some benefit.” Thus, the various maxims learned in medical school instruct physicians that “‘an error of commission is to be preferred to an error of omission,’ or ‘when in doubt, cut it out’ or ‘if but one patient is helped, then the treatment is worthwhile.’”
Multi-mode holographic waveguide coupler

Abstract A double-exposure thick-holographic-grating waveguide coupler is described in which two waveguide modes can be excited with a single incident beam. Single-grating decouplers are also designed to selectively remove one of the coupled waves.
An Architecture for Mining and Visualization of U.S. Higher Educational Data

Higher education has undergone considerable change in the past decades. As a result, the higher education community is collecting and disseminating a great deal of data that is typically used to benchmark performance or satisfy reporting requirements. This data is a rich source for scholarly inquiry, and particularly interesting for questions related to investment strategies within the academy. However, the real value of these data sets can often only realized when the data is viewed and studied across the aggregate collection of data sources. This is a complex task that requires gathering, cleaning, and applying consistent metadata standards to data sets. This paper presents a Unified Data Framework that allows the aggregation of high demand data sources into a single useful research resource that is relevant to research in higher education. The Unified Data Framework guides the aggregation of existing and new data sets, and provides the option of connecting and automatically, or semi-automatically, updating data from the original sources. The Unified Data Framework presents to researchers of higher education a robust suite of analytic tools for data mining and visualization of combined and complex data sources.
Mixed Tocotrienols Inhibit Prostate Carcinogenesis in TRAMP Mice

The biological activities of tocotrienols are receiving increasing attention. Herein, we report the efficacy of a mixed-tocotrienol diet against prostate tumorigenesis in the transgenic adenocarcinoma mouse prostate (TRAMP) mouse model. Male TRAMP mice, 8 wk old, were fed 0.1%, 0.3%, or 1% mixed tocotrienols in AIN-76A diet up to 24 wk old. Likewise, a positive control group consisting of male TRAMP mice and a negative control group consisting of wild-type nontransgenic mice were fed regular AIN-76A diet up to 24 wk old. Our results show that mixed-tocotrienol-fed groups had a lower incidence of tumor formation along with a significant reduction in the average wet weight of genitourinary apparatus. Furthermore, mixed tocotrienols significantly reduced the levels of high-grade neoplastic lesions as compared to the positive controls. This decrease in levels of high-grade neoplastic lesions was found to be associated with increased expression of proapoptotic proteins BAD (Bcl2 antagonist of cell death) and c...
Mixed carbon paste-pea seedling electrochemical sensor for measuring plant growth-regulating activity of amines

Abstract The use of pea seedlings as a source of diamine oxidase for the determination of enzymatic oxidation rates, which are important in evaluating the plant growth-regulating activity, of various amines is reported. A mixed carbon paste-plant tissue amperometric sensor was constructed and characterized using speramidine as a substrate (KM=5 × 10−6 M). Generation of hydrogen peroxide due to enzymatic oxidation of amine was monitored at 0.9 V vs. Ag/AgCl under steady-state conditions using this sensor. Easy construction, reliability of the data, reusability, shorter response times (of the order of 4 s) and a detection limit of 7.1 nmol 1−1 are some of the advantages.
Asymptotic Stability Analysis for Sheet Metal Forming—Part II: Application

The general asymptotic method proposed in Part I is applied to the investigation of the puckering instability in the hemispherical cup test. Both a membrane and a shell stress state for the principal axisymmetric solution have been considered. Due to the possibility of strong deviations from proportional loading in some cases, a corner theory of plasticity is also employed, in addition to the standard J 2 deformation theory which is often used in plastic buckling calculations. Results are compared to a previous experimental investigation for brass specimens.
The geology of the Caribbean crust: Tertiary sediments, granitic and basic rocks from the Aves ridge

Abstract In 1967 aboard Duke University's R.V. “Eastward”, escarpments and pedestals near the southern end of the Aves ridge were sampled. From four pedestals, thirteen dredges, ranging in depth from 400 to 1,400 m, sampled limestones, marls and cherts. The age of the fossiliferous samples ranges from Middle Eocene to Recent. The mid-Eocene to Lower Miocene limestones were deposited in shallow, carbonate-shelf environments. The mid-Miocene to Pleistocene samples were deposited in an open-ocean planktonic environment. Three dredges were located on the north wall of a precipitous east-west trending escarpment. Two of the dredges recoverd 3,500 kg of granodiorite. The third dredge located about 40 km away from the two granitic hauls contained diabase, porphyritic basalt and metamorphosed basalt. Potassium-argon dates of three granitic samples and one diabase sample indicate that the rocks are no older than middle Cretaceous and no younger than Paleocene. The compressional wave velocity at 1–2 kbar confining pressure of the granitic samples ranged from 6.0 to 6.4 km/sec and these values correlate with the 6.0–6.3 km/sec crustal layer recorded on the Aves ridge by seismic refraction methods. These results suggest that the Aves ridge is underlain by granitic rock Late Mesozoic in age. The dredged carbonate samples indicate that during the Eocene to Early Miocene, portions of the Aves ridge were characterized by a shallow water carbonate shelf environment. The deep water pelagic samples of Mid-Miocene to Recent age indicate a subsidence of 400–1,400 m.
Preassociation of Calmodulin with Voltage-Gated Ca2+ Channels Revealed by FRET in Single Living Cells

Abstract Among the most intriguing forms of Ca 2+ channel modulation is the regulation of L-type and P/Q-type channels by intracellular Ca 2+ , acting via unconventional channel-calmodulin (CaM) interactions. In particular, overexpressing Ca 2+ -insensitive mutant CaM abolishes Ca 2+ -dependent modulation, hinting that Ca 2+ -free CaM may "preassociate" with these channels to enhance detection of local Ca 2+ . Despite the far-reaching consequences of this proposal, in vitro experiments testing for preassociation provide conflicting results. Here, we develop a three filter-cube fluorescence resonance energy transfer method (three-cube FRET) to directly probe for constitutive associations between channel subunits and CaM in single living cells. This FRET assay detects Ca 2+ -independent associations between CaM and the pore-forming α 1 subunit of L-type, P/Q-type, and, surprisingly, R-type channels. These results now definitively demonstrate channel-CaM preassociation in resting cells and underscore the potential of three-cube FRET for probing protein-protein interactions.
Common oral lesions found during a mass screening examination.

A study of oral connective tissue and mucosal lesions found in 23,616 white American adults is reported, and the 30 most common lesions are ranked according to gender-specific prevalence rales. The first detailed study of common oral connective tissue and mucosal lesions in US adults is reported. More than 10% of the 23,616 white Americans who participated in a mass screening examination had at least one oral lesion. The 30 most common lesions, which represented more than 93% of all reported lesions, are ranked according to gender-specific prevalence rates. Leukoplakia was the most common mucosal lesion. Oral carcinoma ranked 24th overall. Data from this study are compared with data from other studies dealing with the prevalence of oral lesions.
A process for mining science & technology documents databases, illustrated for the case of "knowledge discovery and data mining"

This paper presents a process of mining research & development abstract databases to profile current status and to project potential developments for target technologies, The process is called “technology opportunities analysis.” This article steps through the process using a sample data set of abstracts from the INSPEC database on the topic o “knowledge discovery and data mining.” The paper offers a set of specific indicators suitable for mining such databases to understand innovation prospects. In illustrating the uses of such indicators, it offers some insights into the status of knowledge discovery research
Thematic Mapper, Band 6, Radiometric Calibration And Assessment

A technique is presented for absolute radiometric calibration of longwave infrared satellite systems. The technique involves a combination underflight technique and radiometric models to estimate the radiance field reaching a satellite sensor. The radiance field can then be compared to the radiance observed at the satellite to evaluate the sensor's post launch calibration. The technique was applied to the Thematic Mapper band 6 sensor on board Landsat 5. Results are presented for three underflight dates. These results indicate that the TM band 6 sensor can be calibrated to yield an expected error (1 standard deviation) in surface temperature of 0.9K. The radiometric propagation models used to achieve these results are presented along with estimates of potential sensor calibration errors. The final radiometric propagation models developed can be applied independent of underflight requirements and represent a general approach to computation of kinetic surface temperatures. The parameters included in the analysis encompass internal calibration, sensor spectral response, atmospheric transmission, upwelled radiance, downwelled radiance, and sample emissivity.
Wide bandwidth silicon nitride membrane microphones

Small, low cost microphones with high sensitivity at frequencies greater than 20 KHz are desired for applications such as ultrasonic imaging and communication links. To minimize stray capacitance between the microphone and its amplifier circuit, process compatibility between the microphone and on-chip circuitry is also desired to facilitate integration. In this work, we have demonstrated micromachined microphones packaged with hybrid JFET amplifier circuitry with frequency response extending to 100 KHz, and voltage sensitivity of approximately 2.0 mV/Pa from 100 Hz to 10 KHz, and 16.5 mV/Pa at 30 KHz with a bias voltage of 8.0 V. The microphones are fabricated with membranes and fixed backplates made of low temperature plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposited (PECVD) silicon nitride. Because the maximum temperature of the fabrication process is 300 degrees Celsius, microphones may be built on silicon wafers from any commercial CMOS foundry without affecting transistor characteristics, allowing integration with sophisticated amplifier circuitry. Low stress silicon nitride deposition was used to produce membranes up to 2.0 mm diameter and 0.5 micrometer thickness with plus or minus 0.10 micrometer flatness. The excellent planarity of both the diaphragm and the backplate, combined with a narrow sense gap (approximately 2 micrometers) results in high output capacitance (up to 6.0 pF). The high output capacitance results in noise spectral density which is approximately 3x lower than silicon diaphragms microphones previously fabricated by the authors. Diaphragms with corrugations were fabricated to relive tensile stress, to increase deflection per unit pressure and to increase deflection linearity with pressure.
In vivo Cellular Imaging of the Rodent Retina

Developing in vivo imaging techniques in rodent models will enhance our understanding of disease mechanisms and treatments. We review a fluorescence adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscope that can resolve sub-cellular features in living rat retinae.
Variation of refractive index in strained InxGa1−xAs‐GaAs heterostructures

In(x)Ga(1-x)As-GaAs heterostructures and strained-layer superlattices can be used as optical waveguides. For such applications it is important to know explicitly the refractive index variation with mismatch strain and with alloying in the ternary layer. Starting from the Kramers-Kronig integral dispersion relations, a model has been developed from which the refractive index change in the ternary layer of In(x)Ga(1-x)As-GaAs heterojunctions can be calculated. The results are presented and discussed. The expected changes in a superlattice have been qualitatively predicted.
Renal disease and cardiac mortality in survivors of sudden cardiac death.

Objective — Renal disease is associated with increased all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality. However, the role of ICD implantation on cardiac mortality in patients with renal disease has not been well studied. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation is protective against cardiac death in a secondary prevention population with renal disease. Methods — The Antiarrhythmics Versus Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (AVID) Trial (n = 1016) was a multicentre trial comparing ICD (n = 507) and anti-arrhythmic drugs (AAD) (n = 509) for secondary prevention of life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias.We performed a post-hoc analysis of the AVID trial using the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute limited access dataset. Individuals in the original AVID study with history of renal disease (n = 82) were included in this analysis. Outcomes of our analysis were cardiac death and all-cause mortality. Results — 41 patients had renal disease in both the ICD and AAD arms. A total of 116 patients died in the ICD arm, while 162 died in the AAD arm. Renal disease was an independent predictor (HR, 95% CI) of cardiac death (1.967, 1.09-3.57, P=0.02) and all-cause mortality (2.04, 1.23-3.39, P = 0.01) in the AAD arm. Renal disease was also a predictor of all-cause mortality in the ICD arm (1.75, 1.01-3.01, P=0.04). However, renal disease did not influence cardiac death in the ICD arm. Conclusions — Our study investigates the effect of ICD implantation in an entirely secondary prevention population with renal disease. ICD implantation appears to be equally protective against cardiac death in renal disease when compared to AAD.
Highly unidirectional Y-junction S-section ring lasers

Semiconductor ring lasers show great promise for rotation sensing through the Sagnac effect of frequency shifting. Ensuring a controlled unidirectional operation of ring lasers can greatly benefit this application. An S-section racetrack design for semiconductor ring lasers was previously developed with the goal of favoring the waves traveling in a preselected direction and suppressing the counterpropagating waves. However, that design turned out to be not as effective as expected, with bistable behavior and directional switching over a wide range of pumping currents. We report on design, fabrication and characterization of Y-junction S-section InAs/InGaAs/GaAs/AlGaAs quantum dot ring lasers with improved unidirectionality. The new design suppresses the unwanted counterpropagating waves more effectively than it was possible in the previous S-section-racetrack design.
Developing an optimal emergence profile of the definitive restoration with a modified impression cap technique for ITI solid abutment

There appears to be no convenient method for fabricating an optimal emergence profile for the definitive restoration of an ITI solid abutment when the implant is installed subgingivally. This article describes an efficient technique to solve this problem and reviews its advantages and disadvantages.
Adjunct therapy for type 1 diabetes mellitus

Insulin replacement therapy in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is nonphysiologic. Hyperinsulinemia is generated in the periphery to achieve normal insulin concentrations in the liver. This mismatch results in increased hypoglycemia, increased food intake with weight gain, and insufficient regulation of postprandial glucose excursions. Islet amyloid polypeptide is a hormone synthesized in pancreatic beta cells and cosecreted with insulin. Circulating islet amyloid polypeptide binds to receptors located in the hindbrain and increases satiety, delays gastric emptying and suppresses glucagon secretion. Thus, islet amyloid polypeptide complements the effects of insulin. T1DM is a state of both islet amyloid polypeptide and insulin deficiency. Pramlintide, a synthetic analog of islet amyloid polypeptide, can replace this hormone in patients with T1DM. When administered as adjunctive therapy to such patients treated with insulin, pramlintide decreases food intake and causes weight loss. Pramlintide therapy is also associated with suppression of glucagon secretion and delayed gastric emptying, both of which decrease postprandial plasma glucose excursions. Pramlintide therapy improves glycemic control and lessens weight gain. Agents that decrease intestinal carbohydrate digestion (alpha-glucosidase inhibitors) or decrease insulin resistance (metformin) might be alternative adjunctive therapies in T1DM, though its benefits are marginally supported by clinical data.
Pilot study of topical delivery of methotrexate by electroporation.

Summary Background The topical administration of methotrexate (MTX) for the treatment of psoriasis and neoplastic diseases is restricted by the poor diffusion of MTX across the stratum corneum. Objectives We applied electroporation to increase the transdermal transport of MTX. Methods Electrodes were placed either side-by-side on the surface of excised full thickness pig skin, or on a piece of skin clamped between compartments of a vertical diffusion chamber. Sixty rectangular electric pulses at 120 V, 1 ms and 1 Hz were applied across the skin. MTX was left on the skin surface for an additional 10 min to take advantage of diffusion through electropores. Cumulative drug transport was measured by radioactive tracing, using [3H]-methotrexate, from punch biopsy samples taken from under the cathode. The integrity of the radioisotope was verified by high-performance liquid chromatography. Results Using side-by-side electrodes, treatment with the pulses alone resulted in a 2·5-fold increase; adding anionic lipid enhancers to the pulses resulted in a 4·4-fold enhancement compared with passive diffusion. Concurrent iontophoresis for the 11-min time period made a nonsignificant contribution. To reduce tissue resistance we used 40 °C hyperthermia in a vertical diffusion chamber; transport was increased 11-fold to 53 µg cm−2 (flux = 290 µg cm−2 h−1). MTX penetration profiles indicated that more than half of the MTX was confined to the epidermis and papillary dermis. The tissue concentration in this superficial reactive unit was 1·7 mmol L−1. Conclusions Electroporation of MTX with an anion lipid enhancer under a mild hyperthermic environment provided a significant transdermal delivery within a short application time. The method may be an effective means of drug delivery for treating psoriasis or other MTX-sensitive disorders and avoids the potential systemic toxicity.
Nonparametric comparisons with k2 > 2 controls using normal scores and savage statistics

Distribution-free methods are considered for comparing k 1 treatments to k 2 controls in the one-way layout. Using normal scores statistics, one-sided tests are developed for k 1 treatment versus k 2 control comparisons of medians. Using Savage statistics, analogous results are developed for comparing scale parameters of the treatments to the controls with non-negative data. Upper bounds for the Type I error probabilities are established for general k 1 and k 2 using the concept of partitions and a union---intersection algorithm. The code for the computations in this manuscript is available at http ://wsbe.unh.edu/WSBE_FacultyStaff / Faculty_Staff.cfm under the author's name. Asymptotic relative efficiencies of these tests relative to their competitors are identical to their two-sample counterparts.
Detergent-range alcohol alkoxylates via vicinal glycol additions to α-olefins

Abstract The synthesis of detergent-range, secondary alcohol alkoxylates via vicinal glycol addition to C 8 –C 14 linear α-olefins has been demonstrated using both homogeneous, heteropoly acids and solid strong-acid catalysis — acidified montmorillonite clays. 1-Tetradecene reaction with ethylene glycol yields 2-(2-tetradecyloxy)ethanol as the principal glycol ether product. 1,2-Propylene glycol addition to typical linear α-olefins (e.g. 1-octene and 1-tetradecene) gives the corresponding secondary alkyl alcohol propoxylates. Both batch and continuous preparations of C 8 –C 14 secondary alcohol 1-and 2-alkoxylates are described.
Gas exchange in wind spiders (Arachnida, Solphugidae): Independent evolution of convergent control strategies in solphugids and insects

Solphugids are aberrant, archaic, tracheate arachnids that diverged from the other arthropod clades hundreds of millions of years ago. Their tracheal system is completely independently derived from that of insects. We investigated the dynamic gas exchange characteristics of two solphugid species (Eremorhax titania and Eremobates sp.) from the Mojave Desert (Zzyzx, California). The solphugids utilized a discontinuous gas exchange cycle (DGC) almost identical to that of insects, comprising a closed-spiracle or C phase followed by a largely, or entirely, diffusive phase characterized by tissue-level O2 uptake but very low CO2 emission (functionally equivalent to the insect fluttering-spiracle or F phase) and finally an open-spiracle or O phase during which accumulated CO2 escaped. O phase CO2 emission volume was independent of temperature and metabolic rate (MR), comprising 20 μl g−1 body mass. DGC frequency increased with body temperature (and thus MR), and decreased with body mass, as predicted by the solphugids' sub-unity mass scaling exponent of MR on body mass. The two species did not differ significantly in any of the above relations. Both direct and indirect evidence suggest that the F phase hypoxic initiation and hypercapnic termination triggers are very similar in solphugids and insects. Highly convergent gas exchange strategies, together with associated control systems, have therefore evolved in two otherwise spectacularly divergent arthropod taxa.
Human T-cell Leukemia Virus-I Tax Oncoprotein Functionally Targets a Subnuclear Complex Involved in Cellular DNA Damage-Response

The virally encoded oncoprotein Tax has been implicated in HTLV-1-mediated cellular transformation. The exact mechanism by which this protein contributes to the oncogenic process is not known. However, it has been hypothesized that Tax induces genomic instability via repression of cellular DNA repair. We examined the effect of de novo Tax expression upon the cell cycle, because appropriate activation of cell cycle checkpoints is essential to a robust damage-repair response. Upon induction of tax expression, Jurkat T-cells displayed a pronounced accumulation in G2/M that was reversible by caffeine. We examined the G2-specific checkpoint signaling response in these cells and found activation of the ATM/chk2-mediated pathway, whereas the ATR/chk1-mediated response was unaffected. Immunoprecipitation with anti-chk2 antibody results in co-precipitation of Tax demonstrating a direct interaction of Tax with a chk2-containing complex. We also show that Tax targets a discrete nuclear site and co-localizes with chk2 and not chk1. This nuclear site, previously identified as Tax Speckled Structures (TSS), also contains the early damage response factor 53BP1. The recruitment of 53BP1 to TSS is dependent upon ATM signaling and requires expression of Tax. Specifically, Tax expression induces redistribution of diffuse nuclear 53BP1 to the TSS foci. Taken together these data suggest that the TSS describe a unique nuclear site involved in DNA damage recognition, repair response, and cell cycle checkpoint activation. We suggest that association of Tax with this multifunctional subnuclear site results in disruption of a subset of the site-specific activities and contributes to cellular genomic instability.
ELECTROPHORETIC PROTEIN VARIATION IN Macrobrachium ohione AND ITS IMPLICATIONS IN GENETIC STUDIES1

Horizontal starch gel electrophoresis was used to examine protein variation in 6 populations of Macrobrachium ohione. Nine proteins and 14 loci were identified. Estimates for proportion of polymorphic loci, mean heterozygosity per locus, and mean heterozygosity per individual ranged from 21.4 to 42.8%, 12.9 to 24.1%, and 12.9 to 24.1%, respectively. Estimates of genetic similarity and genetic distance also were calculated and all populations were essentially genetically similar. The wide range of heterozygosity values between the 6 geographic populations has important implications in brood stock selection and breeding programs where increased heterozygosity in the breeding populations or heterosis in the progeny are being studied.
Can a lot more people live to one hundred and what if they did

In the 21st century humanity will witness unprecedented, increases in the number of older people, especially centenarians, in both the developed and developing world. From a public policy standpoint, the aging of our populations and the longer lives we experience will change, the fabric of our modern world - from the funding of age entitlement programs, to the rising cost of health care, to the new ways in which we transport ourselves in increasingly more urban environments. If it becomes possible for biomedical advances to manufacture a form of biological plasticity among the new generations reaching 85 and older in the future, much like that which now exists for the recent middle-aged classes of people aged 65-85, then the future of aging will be bright. If we fail to marshal resources to confront the biological processes of aging, then it is possible that the more destructive side of senescence will emerge. In this paper, I explore the various perspectives on the future course of longevity, examine the prospects for significant increases in the number of very old people - especially centenarians - and present a general view of the demographic aging of our changing society. Language: en
From zigzag to affect, and back: Creation, life and friendship

[The mind] alone can discover the truth. But how? What an abyss of uncertainty, whenever the mind feels overtaken by itself; when it, the seeker, is at the same time the dark region through which i...
Assessment of bone turnover by microradiography and autoradiography

Microradiography and autoradiography have both been applied to bone in studies of metabolism and pathology. Microradiographic studies have permitted measurement of the mineral density of bone and evaluation of bone tissue formation and resorption. The localization of radionuclides has been studied autoradiographically and, in addition to quantitating calcium movement in bone, has provided further understanding of mineral metabolism.. An understanding of these processes provides a basis for interpretation of skeletal imaging with radionuclides in investigation and in clinical practice.
Resonant Raman scattering in an InSb/In 1-x Al x Sb strained-layer superlattice and in In 1-x Al x Sb epilayers on InSb

Resonant Raman scattering was used to study an InSb/${\mathrm{In}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Al}}_{\mathit{x}}$Sb strained-layer superlattice and the InSb and ${\mathrm{In}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Al}}_{\mathit{x}}$Sb parent materials. Resonant enhancement peaks were observed in epilayer films in the regions of the ${\mathit{E}}_{1}$ and ${\mathit{E}}_{1}$+${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}}_{1}$ optical gaps. In the superlattice, two sets of peaks observed in the plots of the Raman cross section versus exciting photon energy are shown to originate from the independent electronic transitions in the alternating layers. The calculated resonance Raman profiles for two phonons in the alloy layers are in reasonable agreement with experiment. Estimates of the strain and confinement effects in these layers were made and these agree with the observed differences from the parent materials.
Eye closure causes widespread low-frequency power increase and focal gamma attenuation in the human electrocorticogram

Abstract Objective We sought to characterize the effects of eye closure on EEG power using electrocorticography (ECoG). Specifically, we sought to elucidate the anatomical areas demonstrating an eye closure effect, and at which frequencies this effect occurs. Methods ECoG was recorded from 32 patients undergoing invasive monitoring for seizure focus localization. Patients were instructed to close and open their eyes repeatedly. ECoG power was compared in the epochs following eye closure and opening, for various frequency bands and brain regions. Results We found that at low frequencies, eye closure causes widespread power increases involving all lobes of the brain. This effect was significant not only in the α (8–12 Hz) band but in the δ (2–4 Hz), θ (4–8 Hz), and β (15–30 Hz) bands as well. At high frequencies, eye closure causes comparatively focal power decreases over occipital cortex and frontal Brodmann areas 8 and 9. Conclusions Eye closure (1) affects a broad range of frequencies outside the α band and (2) involves a distributed network of neural activity in anatomical areas outside visual cortex. Significance This study constitutes the first large-scale, systematic application of ECoG to study eye closure, which is shown to influence a broad range of frequencies and brain regions.
In vivo photoacoustic tomography of chemicals: high-resolution functional and molecular optical imaging at new depths

High-resolution volumetric optical imaging modalities, such as confocal microscopy, two-photon microscopy, and optical coherence tomography, have become increasingly important in the biomedical imaging field. However, due to strong light scattering, the penetration depths of these imaging modalities are limited to the optical transport mean free path in biological tissues, for example, ∼1 mm in the skin. Photoacoustic tomography (PAT), an emerging hybrid imaging modality that can provide strong endogenous and exogenous optical absorption contrasts with high ultrasonic spatial resolution using the photoacoustic (PA) effect, has overcome the fundamental depth limitation. The image resolution is scalable with the ultrasonic frequency. The imaging depth is limited to the reach of photons and up to a few centimeters deep in biological tissues. This Review will focus on the following aspects of PAT described in works published from 2003 to 2009: (1) multiscale PAT systems, (2) morphological and functional PAT using intrinsic contrasts (hemoglobin or melanin), and (3) functional and molecular PAT using exogenous contrast agents (organic dyes, nanoparticles, reporter genes, or fluorescence proteins).
System architecture pliability and trading operations in tradespace exploration

The concept of operations is often assumed when assessing different design variables in a tradespace study for a particular system architecture, The way a system operates, however, has a large effect on its performance, and can often be the only variable through which stakeholders can influence a system after the system is implemented. The concept of pliable system architectures is introduced so that operational variables can be explicitly considered and incorporated into tradespace studies. System transitions can be predicted by pliability, and these transitions can provide insight into other system “ilities” such as changeability, adaptability, flexibility and survivability. Two techniques are introduced in order to demonstrate the usefulness of the pliability concept; (1) a step-by-step process by which operational variables can be identified within a system architecture, and (2) a process by which very large tradespaces can be sampled into a manageable set of system instances that provide maximum insight for the level of effort to model them. As these new concepts and methodologies are new and part of ongoing research, they will need to be tested and validated in future work.