cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
75 GROWTH HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT AFTER TOTAL PARENTERAL NUTRITION - A LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP

We have studied 26 children who received hyperalimentation during the immediate neonatal period. The follow-up ranges from four years to seven and a half years with a mean of five years. The indication for hyperalimentation was low birth weight in 80% of the patients, gut resection in 12% of the patients and intractable diarrhea in 7% of the patients. At follow-up, 50% of the patients were >50th percentile by weight, and 38% were >50th percentile by height. Forty-two percent of the patients were ≤10th percentile for weight and 38% were ≤10th percentile for height. Depending on the age, patients were given the W.P.S.S.I. or the W.I.S.C. and the D.A.P. and Bender tests. Only a third of the children had a full-scale I.Q. of 100 or more, another third had a full-scale I.Q. of 80 or less, and one child showed a moderate range of mental retardation with hydrocephalus secondary to hyperalimentation. These findings are similar to those seen in low birth weight infants treated prior to hyperalimentation era, and suggest that the high calorie, high protein infusion, while providing rapid weight gain and reducing the hospital stay, does not spare the tissues or the brain from the deleterious effects of intrauterine growth retardation.
Psychosocial Evaluation and Intervention in Liver Transplantation

Liver transplantation has become an accepted treatment for many patients with end-stage cirrhosis. Often, liver transplant candidates have had to cope with alterations in their daily life routines for a number of years prior to transplantation. Both patients and their families may experience stress associated with chronic illness. Although the prospect of a liver transplant may add a dimension of renewed hope for a normal life, new fears regarding outcome usually arise. A mixture of hopes and worries will be apparent during the inpatient stay required for the evaluation of transplant candidacy. This article focuses on the psychiatric and psychosocial assessment of these patients. We also describe interventions to ensure optimal psychosocial care during hospitalization.
Release of DNA from polyelectrolyte multilayers fabricated using 'charge-shifting' cationic polymers: tunable temporal control and sequential, multi-agent release.

Abstract We report an approach to the design of multilayered polyelectrolyte thin films (or ‘polyelectrolyte multilayers’, PEMs) that can be used to provide tunable control over the release of plasmid DNA (or multiple different DNA constructs) from film-coated surfaces. Our approach is based upon methods for the layer-by-layer assembly of DNA-containing thin films, and exploits the properties of a new class of cationic ‘charge-shifting’ polymers (amine functionalized polymers that undergo gradual changes in net charge upon side chain ester hydrolysis) to provide control over the rates at which these films erode and release DNA. We synthesized two ‘charge-shifting’ polymers (polymers 1 and 2 ) containing different side chain structures by ring-opening reactions of poly(2-alkenyl azlactone)s with two different tertiary amine functionalized alcohols (3-dimethylamino-1-propanol and 2-dimethylaminoethanol, respectively). Subsequent characterization revealed large changes in the rates of side chain ester hydrolysis for these two polymers; whereas the half-life for the hydrolysis of the esters in polymer 1 was ~ 200 days, the half-life for polymer 2 was ~ 6 days. We demonstrate that these large differences in side chain hydrolysis make possible the design of PEMs that erode and promote the surface-mediated release of DNA either rapidly (e.g., over ~ 3 days for films fabricated using polymer 2 ) or slowly (e.g., over ~ 1 month for films fabricated using polymer 1 ). We demonstrate further that it is possible to design films with release profiles that are intermediate to these two extremes by fabricating films using solutions containing different mixtures of these two polymers. This approach can thus expand the usefulness of these two polymers and achieve a broader range of DNA release profiles without the need to synthesize polymers with new structures or properties. Finally, we demonstrate that polymers 1 and 2 can be used to fabricate multilayered films with hierarchical structures that promote the sequential release of two different DNA constructs with separate and distinct release profiles (e.g., the release of a first construct over a period of ~ 3 days, followed by the sustained release of a second for a period of ~ 70 days). With further development, this approach could contribute to the design of functional thin films and surface coatings that provide sophisticated control over the timing and the order of the release of two or more DNA constructs (or other agents) of interest in a range of biomedical contexts.
A CD40 Signalosome Anchored in Lipid Rafts Leads to Constitutive Activation of NF-κB and Autonomous Cell Growth in B Cell Lymphomas

Abstract B cell lineage non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL-B) are neoplastic B cells that show dysregulated B lymphocyte growth characteristics. Unlike normal B cells, aggressive NHL-B cells show constitutive expression of nuclear NF-κB by maintaining an assembled, scaffold-like signaling platform, called a Signalosome within the lipid raft microdomain, extending from the cell membrane. The CD40 Signalosome appears to be initiated through autochthonous production and cognate binding of CD154 (CD40L, gp39) to CD40 by the lymphoma cell. Constitutive expression of NF-κB in NHL-B can be downregulated by treatment with antibodies to CD40 or CD154 that disrupt Signalosomes, inhibit lymphoma cell growth, and induce cell death. CD40 Signalosomes may provide a potentially vulnerable target for therapeutic intervention in NHL-B cells.
Use of a multiplex PCR/sequencing strategy to detect both connexin 30 (GJB6) 342 kb deletion and connexin 26 (GJB2) mutations in cases of childhood deafness.

Hearing loss is a common congenital disorder that is frequently associated with mutations in the Cx26 gene (GJB2). Three recent reports that found a large deletion in another DFNB1 gene, Cx30 (GJB6), suggest that this defect may cause nonsyndromic recessive hearing loss through either a homozygous deletion of Cx30, or digenic inheritance of a Cx30 deletion and a Cx26 mutation in trans. We designed a simple diagnostic strategy with multiplex PCR followed by direct sequencing to allow for the simultaneous detection of Cx26 mutations and Cx30 deletions, and evaluated its effectiveness as a clinical genetic test by examining 200 DNA samples. In the 108 samples from deaf subjects, two digenic mutations were identified in Cx26 and Cx30 (E47X/342 kb deletion and 167delT/342 kb deletion); 69 had only Cx26 mutations (29 biallelic, 40 singleton), including two novel frameshift mutations 511-512insAACG and 358-360delAG; and 37 had no detectable mutation in either Cx26 or Cx30. Our deletion mapping suggested that the proximal breakpoint of all reported Cx30 large deletions are between the nucleotide 444 and 627 at the Cx30 coding region within a maximal interval of 78 or 184 bp. This simultaneous examination of Cx26 and Cx30 is a practical and efficient diagnostic approach for patients with nonsyndromic congenital deafness.
Adaptability and Configurability in Cognitive Radio Design on Small Form Factor Software Radio Platform

The recent advances in cognitive radio technology based on software defined radio platforms have extended the capabilities of wireless communication systems. The unique ability of cognitive radios to alter their communication protocols to meet changing system demands make them great candidates for wireless applications that are difficult to implement using conventional wireless terminals. Small form factor platforms make cognitive radio portable and easy to deploy. This paper discusses the design and implementation methodology to build a cognitive radio on small form factor platform with heterogeneous processing architecture. The result of this discussion is a configurable wireless transceiver that features two important concepts of cognitive radio, namely configurability and adaptability.
Hydrolytic degradation of triacylglycerols and changes in fatty acid composition in rice bran during storage

ABSTRACT Hydrolytic rancidity makes rice bran unsuitable for human consumption, restricting its use to animal feed. To better understand this lipolytic process, bran from rice cultivars ‘Cypress’ and ‘Earl’ differing in oil concentration (23.5 and 18.3 mg of triacylglycerol/100 mg of bran, respectively) was stored at room temperature for five months, and the changes in triacylglycerol content and fatty acid composition, as well as the accumulation of free fatty acids (FFA) were followed. The decomposition of triacylglycerols displayed a decay pattern, with Cypress showing a more elevated degradation rate when compared with Earl. At day 36, both lines reached the same oil concentration, but the triacylglycerol decomposition in Cypress was still higher, indicating that oil concentration may not be a significant factor affecting the intensity of the rancidity process. The higher degradation rate observed in Cypress was apparently caused by higher lipase activity, which was 26% higher (P < 0.001). Fatty acid ...
Immune-mediated mechanisms and immune activation of fibroblasts in the pathogenesis of eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome induced by l-tryptophan

To determine the immunopathogenesis of the persistent symptoms of patients with eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS) induced by L-tryptophan, we performed immunocytochemical studies on 10 muscle and fascia biopsy specimens obtained during the acute disease and the chronic persistent connective tissue sclerosis. A series of monoclonal antibodies was used in a single- or double-immunostaining technique to detect and quantify T-cell subsets, macrophages, major histocompatibility complex antigens, eosinophilic basic protein-positive cells, and resting fibroblasts expressing Thy-I antigen or activated fibroblasts expressing the activation marker F-19. We found inflammatory cells consisting of CD8+ cells (45% +/- 8.9%), T4 cells (36% +/- 10.1%), and macrophages (19% +/- 12%), scattered or perivascularly in the fascia, the perimysium, and the endomysial septae. Only rare granulated or degranulating eosinophils were noted. Many muscle fibers around fascicles or near blood vessels expressed major histocompatibility complex-I antigens. The mean number of fibroblasts in the fascia, the perimysial connective tissue, and the spindle capsule was increased in the EMS patients' specimens compared with the endomysial cells seen in six disease-control muscle biopsy specimens from patients with chronic inflammatory myopathies or dystrophies (P < .01). Up to 70% of the fibroblasts in EMS were activated and up to 30% of them expressed HLA-DR antigen. In the disease controls up to 29% of the fibroblasts were activated but none expressed DR. Repeat muscle biopsy a year later in a patient whose symptoms persisted showed reduced inflammation but an increased number of activated fibroblasts and enhanced DR expression. We conclude that in EMS there is a T-cell-mediated process against components of the extracellular matrix, including fibroblasts, in the fascia and the perimysium that persists even years after the drug is discontinued. Because the fibroblasts are activated and aberrantly express DR antigen, they may be the target cells playing a role in the continuing clinical and histologic signs of tissue sclerosis.
A high-fat diet supplemented with fish oil improves metabolic features associated with type 2 diabetes

Abstract Objective The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of a high-fat diet supplemented with fish oil or olive oil, fed to C57BL/6J mice for an extended period, on metabolic features associated with type 2 diabetes. Methods Mice were fed one of four diets for 30 wk: a low-fat diet, a high-fat diet supplemented with lard, a high-fat diet supplemented with fish oil, or a high-fat diet supplemented with olive oil. Phenotypic and metabolic analysis were determined at 15 and 25 to 30 wk, thereby providing comparative analysis for weight gain, energy consumption, fat distribution, glucose and insulin tolerance, and hepatic/plasma lipid analysis. Results Mice fed a high-fat diet supplemented with fish oil had improved glucose tolerance after an extended period compared with mice fed a high-fat diet supplemented with lard. Moreover, mice fed a high-fat diet supplemented with fish oil had significantly decreased concentrations of liver cholesterol, cholesteryl ester, and triacylglycerol compared with mice fed a high-fat diet supplemented with either lard or olive oil. Conclusion Mice fed a high-fat diet supplemented with fish oil improved metabolic features associated with type 2 diabetes such as impaired glucose tolerance and hepatic steatosis.
An update in postcardiac arrest management and prognosis in the era of therapeutic hypothermia.

Prognostication of patients who remain comatose following successful resuscitation after cardiac arrest has long posed a challenge for the consulting neurologist. With increasing rates of early defibrillation, out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and expanding use of therapeutic hypothermia, prognostication in hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy has become an increasingly common consult for neurologists. Much of the data we previously relied upon for prognostication were taken from patients who were not treated with therapeutic hypothermia. In this review, we examine useful prognostic tools and markers, including the physical examination, evaluation of myoclonus, electroencephalogram monitoring, somatosensory-evoked potentials, biochemical markers of neuronal injury, and neuroimaging. Neurologists must avoid overly pessimistic prognostic statements regarding survival, awakening from coma, or future quality of life, as such statements may unduly influence decisions regarding the continuation of life-sustaining treatment. Conversely, continuation of aggressive medical management in a patient without any hope of awakening should also be avoided. Thus, an understanding of the utility and the limitations of these prognostic tools in the era of therapeutic hypothermia is essential.
HIV-associated salivary gland disease: a review.

Human immunodeficiency virus-associated salivary gland disease (HIV-SGD) is defined as the presence of xerostomia and/or swelling of the major salivary glands. It is common among children but uncommon among adults. HIV-SGD includes lymphoepithelial lesions and cysts involving the salivary gland tissue and/or intraglandular lymph nodes, and Sjogren's syndrome-like conditions, diffuse interstitial lymphocytosis syndrome, and other reported lesions of the major salivary glands. This article reviews the terminology, prevalence, symptoms, clinical features, diagnostic procedures, histopathology, serology, natural history, treatment, and pathogenesis of HIV-SGD.
A neuropeptide gene defined by the Drosophila memory mutant amnesiac

Mutations in genes required for associative learning and memory in Drosophila exist, but isolation of the genes has been difficult because most are defined by a single, chemically induced allele. Here, a simplified genetic screen was used to identify candidate genes involved in learning and memory. Second site suppressors of the dunce (dnc) female sterility phenotype were isolated with the use of transposon mutagenesis. One suppressor mutation that was recovered mapped in the amnesiac (amn) gene. Cloning of the locus revealed that amn encodes a previously uncharacterized neuropeptide gene. Thus, with the cloning of amn, specific neuropeptides are implicated in the memory process.
Temporal changes in pO2 of R3230Ac tumors in fischer-344 rats

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was to characterize the kinetics of hypoxia-reoxygenation in a murine tumor. Information on the prevalence and kinetics of this process are lacking in solid tumors, although there are data on blood flow fluctuation. Materials and Methods: Oxygen tension (pO 2 ) was monitored at one position in 1 cm diameter R3230Ac tumors of Fischer-344 rats, using 10–12 μm diameter recessed-tip polarographic electrodes. Data were collected continuously at a sampling frequency of 25 Hz for 30–90 min. Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and heart rate were also monitored. Results: Temporal fluctuations in pO 2 were observed in all 13 experiments. To assess the potential for hypoxia-reoxygenation, two threshold pO 2 values were chosen (5 and 10 mmHg), and the number and duration of intervals that measurements resided below the thresholds was quantitated. In some experiments, the measurements did not fluctuate across the threshold values and, instead, either remained above or below them throughout the observation period. The percentage of sites that did not fluctuate across the thresholds was 38 and 61% for the 10- and 5-mmHg values, respectively. For the remaining studies, fluctuations above and below the thresholds of hypoxia ranged around 4–7 events per h. There were wide variations in the duration of hypoxic episodes, ranging from less than 1 to more than 40 min. The percentage time that measurements were below the hypoxic thresholds was also variable, ranging from 30–90%. Conclusions: These results, taken with the already published data on temporal instability in human and murine tumor blood flow, suggest that intermittent hypoxia is a common phenomenon in tumors. Future studies will focus on the underlying mechanisms that contribute to this process, because it has important implications for radiation and chemotherapy and, perhaps, gene regulation in tumors.
Tomographic imaging of nonsymmetric multicomponent tailored supersonic flows from structured gas nozzles

We report experimental results on the production and characterization of asymmetric and composite supersonic gas flows, created by merging independently controllable flows from multiple nozzles. We demonstrate that the spatial profiles are adjustable over a large range of parameters, including gas density, density gradient, and atomic composition. The profiles were precisely characterized using three-dimensional tomography. The creation and measurement of complex gas flows is relevant to numerous applications, ranging from laser-produced plasmas to rocket thrusters.
Nanosecond timing for a large liquid scintillator

Abstract A description is given of the fast-slow coincidence system now used with a 1.25 m liquid scintillation detector for keV neutron capture measurements at the Rensselaer Linac Laboratory.
Economic feasibility of combined heat and power and absorption refrigeration with commercially available gas turbines

Abstract Combined heat and power (CHP) systems often use absorption technology to supply heating and cooling to a facility. With the availability of gas turbines spanning an increasingly wide range of capacities, it is becoming more and more attractive to utilize CHP via a combination of gas turbines and absorption chillers. The present study investigates the economic feasibility of implementing such CHP systems with existing, commercially available gas turbines and single, double, and triple effect absorption chillers. The maximum amount of thermal energy available for the chiller is calculated based on the size of turbine, exhaust flow rate and exhaust temperature, yielding approximately 300,000 kW of cooling (85,379 tons) for a large power turbine. The annual demand and usage avoided costs for varying turbine and absorption system sizes are discussed as well, showing that a CHP system is capable of saving millions of dollars annually on electricity.
Multigenerational workforce: are we using the literature effectively?

There has been a lot of attention paid to the multigenerational work force in the nursing media over the last 10 years. Typical articles discuss the 4 categories of workers as determined by the year they were born. The 4 groups and their birth years include are as follows: Veterans, 1925-1945; Baby Boomers, 19461964; Generation X, 1965-1980; and Millennial Generation, 1981-2000. This breakout is explained as different generations related to the circumstances faced by these nurses during their formidable years. Many articles present a discussion and graph about the differences between the generations related to their styles and behaviors and what nurses should know about working within a multigenerational environment. Each of these articles does provide a perspective about the individual generation related to their behaviors, motivation, and styles of communication, thereby explaining what strategies may be effective in communicating with, leading, or working with members in each group. Although the groups of generations and the analysis provided are of course a generalization, many of us can relate, given our previous observations or interactions with individuals from the different generational groups. However, are we using this information about multigenerational workforces to provide a better workplace or to be better leaders? This topic makes me think about when I was in grade school, sitting around the kitchen table with 3 generations of nurses (with me as the next generation to follow), listening to their stories of caring, conflict, and resolve. More importantly, it reminds me of the things that were not said and the way my family members from the different generations treated each other. Most times, they were respectful of each other. The innuendo of “she’s just a kid” from my grandmother to my mother and “she’ ss o out of touch” from my mother to my great grandmother was just as tell
Activation of an excluded immunoglobulin allele in a human B lymphoma cell line

Mature B cells that express surface immunoglobulin (Ig) are usually committed to their original Ig product. It was shown that such a cell can replace its light chain by rearranging and expressing a new light chain from the other allele. Anti-idiotype antibodies were used to isolate idiotypic variants from a surface IgM+lambda+ human B cell tumor line. The variants expressed a new lambda light chain. Both the original and the new lambda transcripts were present in the variant cells, but only the new one was expressed as a protein on the cell surface. Therefore, although the cell exhibited allelic exclusion and had only one Ig receptor at a time, the commitment to a particular light chain gene was reversible.
Muscarinic receptor activation modulates the excitability of hilar mossy cells through the induction of an afterdepolarization.

Abstract In the present study we used electrophysiological techniques in an in vitro preparation of the rat dentate gyrus to examine the effect of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor activation on the intrinsic excitability of hilar neurons. We found that bath application of muscarine caused a direct depolarization in approximately 80% of mossy cells tested, and also produced a clear afterdepolarization (ADP) in nearly 100% of trials. The ADP observed in hilar mossy cells is produced by the opening of a Na+ permeant and yet largely TTX insensitive ion channel. It requires an increase in postsynaptic calcium for activation, and is blocked by flufenamic acid, an antagonist of a previously identified calcium activated non-selective cation channel (ICAN). Further, we demonstrate that induction of an ADP in current clamp causes release of cannabinoids, and subsequent depression of GABAergic transmission that is comparable to that produced in the same cells by a more conventional 5 s depolarization in voltage clamp. By contrast, other types of hilar neurons were less strongly depolarized by bath application of muscarinic agonists, and uniformly lacked a similar muscarinic ADP. Overall, the data presented here extend our understanding of the specific mechanisms through which muscarinic agonists are likely to modulate neuronal excitability in the hilar network, and further reveal a mechanism that could plausibly promote endocannabinoid mediated signaling in vivo.
The Formation of Molecular Helium in a Glow Discharge

The light from near the electrodes of an ac glow discharge in helium is found to be particularly rich in the He2 spectrum. This light occurs at an unusual phase of the voltage cycle.The process which forms excited molecules also gives rise to excited atoms. Furthermore, the process is inhibited by the presence of an electric field.There are indications that the process is one of recombination between electrons and atomic positive ions.
THE FUEL ECONOMY LABEL--A CASE STUDY IN GOVERNMENT RULEMAKING

On April 6, 1984, EPA announced a final rule (40 CFR Part 600, Vol. 49, No. 68) which amended the Federal Fuel Economy Information Program by prescribing adjustment factors for the Federal fuel economy numbers and by establishing a new format for the Federal fuel economy label displayed on new vehicles. This rule, one of over 5,000 documents printed in the 1984 Federal Register rule section, presents some interesting lessons about development of government regulations. The contents of this rule amended an existing rule, did not have a "major" impact on the economy, and was not considered to be controversial. Nonetheless, this rule represents at least nine years of work, negotiations, and deliberations by Federal and private sector organizations. The history of this rule can provide insight into the Federal rulemaking process, and the forces affecting that process.
In the wake of a negligent release law suit

Several staff members at a state psychiatric hospital were found negligent in a jury trial for having released a psychiatric patient who subsequently killed a member of the plaintiff's family. This study explored the impact of the law suit on the hospital staff members as individuals and on the functioning of the institution. Self-report measures revealed that both named defendants and nondefendant staff experienced symptoms of emotional disturbance associated with the litigation. Self-report measures suggest that the law suit was not instructive in any meaningful way regarding improved procedures for subsequent release decision making. Archival data indicate that the staff did release significantly fewer patients during the trial and follow-up period than prior to the litigation. Results are discussed in the context of Wexler's concept of therapeutic jurisprudence.
Report of Colletotrichum coccodes Associated with Mentha

Colletotrichum coccodes (Wallr.) Hughes is a pathogen of tomato and potato and occurs worldwide on plants primarily from the Solanaceae. It has not been previously reported for Mentha. C. coccodes was isolated from rhizomes and lower portions of above ground stems of symptomless Mentha × piperita L. (peppermint) plants collected from commercial fields in central Washington and Wisconsin (central sands). Three isolates from mint were evaluated for pathogenicity on mint and potato. Rooted cuttings of eight plants each of M. × piperita, M. spicata L. (native spearmint), and M. × gracilis Sole (Scotch spearmint) were dipped into a conidial suspension (1 × 106 conidia per ml) of each isolate of C. coccodes for 10 min. Plants were transplanted into a sterilized potting mix and moved to a greenhouse. After 50, 90, and 185 days, pieces of rhizomes and roots were thoroughly washed in running water, soaked in 1.5% NaOCl for 7 min, and plated on NPX agar medium (1). C. coccodes was reisolated from 25 of 36 plants at...
Ornithine transaminase in the liver of the chick embryo and in the young chick

Abstract Ornithine transaminase from chick liver was purified 100-fold. The pH optimum was 7.45. Michaelis constants were as follows: 0.01 m for l -ornithine, 0.0017 m for α-ketoglutarate, 0.05 m for oxaloacetate, and 0.1 m for pyruvate. α-Ketoglutarate had a protective effect on the enzyme. Pyridoxal phosphate proved to be an essential cofactor only after purification. Inhibition of enzyme activity of 66% was obtained by addition of p -chloromercuribenzoate, 0.004 m . The level of ornithine transaminase in the liver of the month-old chicks was of the same order of magnitude as that reported for rat liver. In contrast to the rat, activity in the kidney was lower than that in liver for the chick. The developmental pattern of the enzyme in chick liver was studied from the 7th day of incubation to the 12th day after hatching. Two maxima of ornithine transaminase specific activity were observed, one during the 11th–15th day of incubation for the embryo, and one for the first day after hatching. The effect of fasting and of hydrocortisone injection on levels of ornithine transaminase, tyrosine transaminase, and arginase were studied in livers of young chicks. Hydrocortisone caused an increase in activity of all enzymes that was detectable 4 hours after injection. Fasting did not affect the levels of these enzymes. The implications of these results and of the developmental pattern are discussed with respect to the possible physiological role of ornithine transaminase.
Three dimensional transformation of Parylene thin film structures via thermoforming

Non-planar, three dimensional structures, not possible with conventional microfabrication processes, were achieved using post-fabrication thermal annealing of thin film Parylene-C structures facilitated by a mold (“thermoforming”). We demonstrate thermoforming of Parylene-Parylene and Parylene-metal-Parylene (PMP) structures for increased structural and mechanical functionality such as strain relief, formation of open-lumen sheath structures, and conformation-matching of curved surfaces that broaden applications for Parylene MEMS. Characterization of the material and mechanical properties as a function of thermoforming temperature is also presented. Thermoformed Parylene consistently retained bulk/surface chemical material properties following the treatment regardless of temperature, and thermoforming at higher temperatures increased structural stiffness, which is attributed to increased crystallinity of the polymer. By varying the thermoforming process parameters, the final shaped structure can be mechanically and structurally tuned for broad range of applications, most notably, structured implantable neural interfaces with integrated channels for tissue ingrowth and improved integration.
Effects of alcohol feeding on synthesis and secretion of apolipoproteins by regenerating rat sciatic nerve.

The amounts of apolipoprotein (apo) E and A1 released into the culture medium were examined in the regenerating nerves distal to a crush site following chronic alcohol feeding. Cultured minced segments of regenerating nerves taken from rats fed an alcohol-containing liquid diet for 5 weeks released only 50% of apoE but nearly 200% of apoA1 when compared with rats pair-fed with a control diet. The extent of decrease in medium apoE corresponded to the decrease of apoE mRNA in the nerve. Thus, chronic alcohol ingestion affects apoE synthesis of regenerating nerves by changing its mRNA level. On the other hand, apoA1 mRNA remained undetectable in regenerating and intact nerves whether the rats were fed alcohol or not. Furthermore, the amount of apoA1 released by the regenerating nerve into the culture medium was not significantly larger than that present in the nerve tissue prior to incubation. Therefore, it is most likely that apoA1 released by the injured nerve originated from the bloodstream and the increase in apoA1 content seen in the crushed nerve of alcohol-fed rats is due to an enhanced permeability of the nerve-blood barrier. Since the burst of apolipo-proteins in the injured nerve is likely to play a role in nerve regeneration, the perturbation of apolipo-protein contents in regenerating nerves by chronic alcohol consumption may contribute to the pathogenesis of alcoholic neuropathy.
“That’s Like an Act of Suicide” Patients’ Attitudes Toward Deactivation of Implantable Defibrillators

Objective To understand potential patient barriers to discussions about implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) deactivation in patients with advanced illness.
Localization of the squalene synthase gene (FDFT1) to human chromosome 8p22-p23. 1

Recently, we reported the isolation of a cDNA encoding the human enzyme squalene synthase, the first step of sterol biosynthesis uniquely committed to synthesis of cholesterol (6). As such, it is likely that this enzyme occupies a critical regulatory position in the synthesis of cholesterol. As part of continuing studies of the role of this gene in cellular metabolism, we undertook the mapping of this gene on the human chromosomes. To localize the gene, we have first isolated a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) containing the squalene synthase gene. We then used fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with yeast DNA containing the YAC to localize the gene to chromosome 8. Assignment to human chromosome 8 was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction analysis of a somatic cell hybrid containing human chromosome 8. Use of a somatic cell hybrid regional mapping panel dividing chromosome 8 into several fragments localized the gene to 8p21-pter. Fractional length analysis of the FISH mapping placed the signal generated with this YAC at 8p22-p23.1.
Rad17 recruits the MRE11‐RAD50‐NBS1 complex to regulate the cellular response to DNA double‐strand breaks

The MRE11-RAD50-NBS1 (MRN) complex is essential for the detection of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and initiation of DNA damage signaling. Here, we show that Rad17, a replication checkpoint protein, is required for the early recruitment of the MRN complex to the DSB site that is independent of MDC1 and contributes to ATM activation. Mechanistically, Rad17 is phosphorylated by ATM at a novel Thr622 site resulting in a direct interaction of Rad17 with NBS1, facilitating recruitment of the MRN complex and ATM to the DSB, thereby enhancing ATM signaling. Repetition of these events creates a positive feedback for Rad17-dependent activation of MRN/ATM signaling which appears to be a requisite for the activation of MDC1-dependent MRN complex recruitment. A point mutation of the Thr622 residue of Rad17 leads to a significant reduction in MRN/ATM signaling and homologous recombination repair, suggesting that Thr622 phosphorylation is important for regulation of the MRN/ATM signaling by Rad17. These findings suggest that Rad17 plays a critical role in the cellular response to DNA damage via regulation of the MRN/ATM pathway.
Modeling the asymmetry in traffic flow (b): Macroscopic approach

The asymmetric characteristic of a vehicle’s ability in deceleration and acceleration, as well as its impact to micro- and macroscopic traffic flow has caused increased attention from both theoretical and practical sides. However, how to realistically model this property remains a challenge to researchers. This paper is one of the two studies on this topic, which is focused on the modeling at the microscopic level from the investigation of car-following behavior. The second part of the study [H. Liu, H. Xu, H. Gong, Modeling the asymmetry in traffic flow (b): macroscopic approach, Appl. Math. Model. (submitted for publication)] is focused on the modeling of this asymmetric property from the macroscopic scale. In this paper, we first present an asymmetric full velocity difference car-following approach, in which a higher order differential equation is developed to take into account the effect of asymmetric acceleration and deceleration in car-following. Then, efforts are dedicated to calibrate the sensitivity coefficients from field data to complete the theoretical approach. Using the data recorded from the main lane traffic and ramp traffic of a segment of the US101 freeway, the two sensitivity coefficients have been successfully calibrated from both congested and light traffic environments. The experimental study reveals that in the studied traffic flow, the intensity of positive velocity difference term is significantly higher than the negative velocity difference term, which agrees well with the results from studies on vehicle mechanics.
Measurements of vertical water movement in the Cayman Basin

Abstract An instrument has been designed which is capable of sensing and telemetering vertical water movement of less than 1 m/hr (0·028 cm/sec). The instrument was used in the deep waters of the Cayman Basin of the Caribbean Sea, in an effort to determine whether or not vertical convection results from heat flow through the floor of that basin.
The influence of ranitidine on the pharmacokinetics and toxicity of doxorubicin in rabbits.

The influence of ranitidine on the pharmacokinetics and toxicity of doxorubicin was studied in six female New Zealand white rabbits. Plasma pharmacokinetic data were first obtained from rabbits given 3 mg/kg doxorubicin. After 1 month, the same rabbits were treated with ranitidine, 2.5 mg/kg or 25 mg/kg, before and during doxorubicin administration. The plasma doxorubicin assays to determine pharmacokinetic parameters were repeated. Drug toxicity was evaluated using complete blood counts, and hepatic function was measured using a 14C-aminopyrine breath test. High-dose ranitidine increased the total exposure to doxorubicin (area under the curve of doxorubicin alone =1.44±0.88 μ M·h/ml vs 4.49±2.35 μM·hr/ml for doxorubicin given with high-dose ranitidine; P=0.06). Low-dose ranitidine did not alter doxorubicin pharmacokinetics. Exposure to doxorubicinol was altered by either high-dose or low-dose ranitidine. 14C-Aminopyrine half-life was altered by a raniditine dose of 25 mg/kg (aminopyrine half-life after placebo control =97±6 min as against aminopyrine half-life after ranitidine =121±7 min; mean±SEM; P<0.02). Low-dose ranitidine did not exacerbate doxorubicin-induced myelosuppression. High-dose ranitidine enhanced doxorubicin-induced erythroid suppression while sparing the myeloid series. At cytochrome P-450-inhibitory doses, ranitidine's effects upon doxorubicin plasma pharmacokinetics are similar to those previously seen with cimetidine. These changes did not appear to alter drug detoxification and are not related to microsomal inhibition of doxorubicin detoxification. Low doses of ranitidine do not alter doxorubicin plasma pharmacokinetics or toxicity in rabbits.
After the Fall of the Wall: Life Courses in the Transformation of East Germany

After the Fall of the Wall: Life Courses in the Transformation of East Germany. Edited by Martin Diewald, Anne Goedicke, and Karl Ulrich Mayer. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2006. 408p. $65.00. This volume is an empirical analysis of “life courses”—individual trajectories through major rights of passage—in the transition of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) into an enlarged Federal Republic (FRG) in the period from 1989 to 2003. The published study draws on survey and interview data collected in 1991–92 and again in 1996–97, from three birth cohorts (1939–41, 1951–53, and 1959–61) in the East German Life History Study (EGLHS). This remarkable data set allows areas of impact to be distinguished and separately evaluated, rather than making disaggregated claims about how individuals raised in socialism fared under rapid privatization and the liberalization of society. The study offers a differentiated picture of the way an abrupt—even “radical” (p. 46)—social transformation affects different cohorts in various life phases. The underlying data is comprehensive enough to allow these lives to be understood across a broad spectrum of institutionalizations—structures, moreover, that exhibit a greater range of formalization than those captured by census data or other aggregate statistics. Thus, the data allow finer distinctions between phases in labor market adjustment, job mobility, and the lateral or vertical shifts involved with such changes. It addresses the relationship between different social systems, including intimate and instrumental networks of family and acquaintances, class status, ideological conviction, familial status, and gender.
A millimeter-scale electric generator

The research presented in this paper concerns the design, construction, and testing of an electrical generator intended for interface with a MEMS internal combustion Wankel engine. The engine and the generator are integrated into a single unit by utilizing the engine rotor as the generator rotor. The design allows for thermal insulation between the stator and the combustion chamber, simple assembly of the engine and the generator, and excellent utilization of copper in the generator winding. The majority of the generator structure is built from discrete millimeter-scale components, with only the rotor being microfabricated. Prototype construction and testing are described; a peak open-circuit voltage of 2.63 V and a maximum power output of 375 $\mu\hbox{W}$ at 13.3 kr/m are reported.
Muscle Strength and Changes in Physical Function in Women With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Objective Cross-sectional studies have observed that muscle weakness is associated with worse physical function among women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The present study examines whether reduced upper and lower extremity muscle strength predict declines in function over time among adult women with SLE.
Spectroscopic Characterization of the Surface of Iron Oxide Nanocrystals

The surface of highly monodisperse magnetic iron oxide (γ-Fe2O3) nanocrystals was thoroughly investigated by FTIR, NMR, and mass spectroscopy. The nanocrystals were prepared by a thermal decomposition method now widely used for the preparation of magnetic metal and metal oxide nanocrystals. This method takes advantage of oleic acid as a means to passivate the surface and render the particles stable with respect to aggregation or grain growth and keeps them highly dispersed in a variety of organic media. The nature of this surface in terms of ligand structure and the role of oleic acid during the synthesis remained somewhat undetermined until this report. We provide spectroscopic evidence of an oleic acid ligand structural change during γ-Fe2O3 nanocrystal synthesis.
Electronic journals: a new dimension to research.

Ever since the humans have evolved the evolution is not limited to physical aspect of life but also to the world surrounding it. As man started to cope up with the challenges of life he learnt new ways and methods. These ways opened doors to a whole new dimension of lifethe research. Practice led to strange new discoveries and eventually the implementation of these moved us into better understanding. Technology, science, health and various other disciplines of life started to grow. With the advent of the 20 century mankind stepped into a whole new space, the “cyber space”.
Asymmetric Schottky Tunneling Source SOI MOSFET Design for Mixed-Mode Applications

Schottky barrier MOSFETs have recently attracted attention as a viable alternative to conventional CMOS transistors for sub-65-nm technology nodes. An asymmetric Schottky tunneling source SOI MOSFET (STS-FET) is proposed in this paper. The Schottky tunneling source SOI MOSFET has the source/drain regions replaced with silicide as opposed to highly doped silicon in conventional devices. The main feature of this device is the concept of a gate-controlled Schottky barrier tunneling at the source. The device was optimized with respect to various parameters such as Schottky barrier height and gate oxide thickness. The optimized device shows excellent short channel immunity, compared to conventional SOI MOSFETs. The asymmetric nature of the device has been shown to improve the leakage current as well as the linear characteristics of the device as compared to conventional Schottky FETs. The STS-FET was fabricated, using conventional processes combined with the present NiSi technology and large angle implantation, and successfully demonstrated. The high immunity to short channel effects improves the scalability, and the output resistance of the device also makes it an attractive candidate for mixed-mode applications.
Lipopolysaccharide deacylation by an endogenous lipase controls innate antibody responses to Gram-negative bacteria

T cell–independent type 1 agonists such as Gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharides can stimulate B lymphocytes to proliferate and produce antibodies by signaling through Toll-like receptors. This phenomenon is well established in vitro, yet polyclonal B cell responses after bacterial infection in vivo are often weak and short-lived. We show here that B cell proliferation and polyclonal antibody production in response to Gram-negative bacterial infection are modulated by acyloxyacyl hydrolase, a host enzyme that deacylates bacterial lipopolysaccharides. Deacylation of lipopolysaccharide occurred over several days, allowing lipopolysaccharide to act as an innate immune stimulant yet limiting the eventual amount of B cell proliferation and polyclonal antibody production. Control of lipopolysaccharide activation by acyloxyacyl hydrolase indicates that mammals can regulate immune responses to bacterial infection by chemical modification of a Toll-like receptor agonist.
Changes in aboveground primary production and carbon and nitrogen pools accompanying woody plant encroachment in a temperate savanna

When woody plant abundance increases in grasslands and savannas, a phenomenon widely observed worldwide, there is considerable uncertainty as to whether aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) and ecosystem carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools increase, decrease, or remain the same. We estimated ANPP and C and N pools in aboveground vegetation and surface soils on shallow clay and clay loam soils undergoing encroachment by Prosopis glandulosa in the Southern Great Plains of the United States. Aboveground Prosopis C and N mass increased linearly, and ANPP increased logarithmically, with stand age on clay loam soils; on shallow clays, Prosopis C and N mass and ANPP all increased linearly with stand age. We found no evidence of an asymptote in trajectories of C and N accumulation or ANPP on either soil type even following 68 years of stand development. Production and accumulation rates were lower on shallow clay sites relative to clay loam sites, suggesting strong edaphic control of C and N accumulation associated with woody plant encroachment. Response of herbaceous C mass to Prosopis stand development also differed between soil types. Herbaceous C declined with increasing aboveground Prosopis C on clay loams, but increased with increasing Prosopis C on shallow clays. Total ANPP (Prosopis+herbaceous) of sites with the highest Prosopis basal area were 1.2 × and 4.0 × greater than those with the lowest Prosopis basal area on clay loam and shallow clay soils, respectively. Prosopis ANPP more than offset declines in herbaceous ANPP on clay loams and added to increased herbaceous ANPP on shallow clays. Although aboveground C and N pools increased substantially with Prosopis stand development, we found no corresponding change in surface soil C and N pools (0–10 cm). Overall, our findings indicate that Prosopis stand development significantly increases ecosystem C and N storage/cycling, and the magnitude of these impacts varied with stand age, soil type and functional plant traits
New Medical Missions For National Laboratories

Medical costs in the U.S. today represent about 13% of the gross domestic product; for the year 2000, the estimate is a 20% impact on the U.S. economy. The Clinton Administration has singled out health care as a top priority issue that needs near-term resolution to help avoid a severe economic problem. The DOE national defense laboratories can propose a bold and comprehensive medical initiative for which high technology leads to greatly lowered medical costs for the general public and which we define here as Center for Advanced and Cost-Effective flealth-Care Technologies (CACHET). CACHET would feature minimally invasive, therapeutic and diagnostic medical procedures that eliminate lengthy and costly hospitalizations. These procedures should provide a heightened level of medical care and minimal lost job time. The currently popular endoscopic procedures and their derivatives are but the first salvos in a long-term battle to use high technology to provide routine cost-effective and enhanced health care treatments.