cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Role of Health Information Technology in Quality Improvement in Pediatrics

Health information technology (HIT) will play an important role in most efforts to improve the quality of pediatric medicine, as evident from the range of investigations and projects discussed in this volume. Clement McDonald identified the importance of using information technology as an integral component of quality initiatives early in the development of electronic medical records (EMR). The role of HIT in quality improvement is not limited to tools integrated into EMR, but that remains an important strategy. Today, much attention is focused on interoperability of clinical systems that integrate and share data from multiple sources. There are also additional freestanding quality-improvement tools that can be used without an EMR. This article explores the many roles of HIT in quality improvement from several perspectives.
Effects of ligand heterogeneity in the characterization of affinity columns by frontal analysis.

This study examined how the binding capacities and equilibrium constants measured by frontal analysis are affected by ligand heterogeneity in affinity columns. Equations derived for n- and two-site systems gave good agreement with results obtained for the binding of l-thyroxine to a column containing human serum albumin (HSA) and for the binding of (R)-warfarin to coupled columns containing HSA or pigeon serum albumin. The same equations were used to examine how different degrees of ligand heterogeneity affected the apparent binding capacities or equilibrium constants measured using the linear range of double-reciprocal frontal analysis plots. A large proportion of two-site systems gave good estimates (i.e., less than 10−20% error) for the true total column capacity and for the association constant of the highest affinity ligand in the column. A smaller, but still appreciable, fraction of all three- and four-site cases also produced good estimates of these values. The results of this work are not limited ...
Acetate as a source of reducing equivalents in the reductive dechlorination of 2,5-dichlorobenzoate

Desulfomonile tiedjei is the key dechlorinating organism in a three-tiered bacterial consortium that grows on the methanogenic degradation of 3-chlorobenzoate. 2,5-Dichlorobenzoate, however, is only converted to 2-chlorobenzoate and is not a methanogenic substrate for the consortium. The dechlorinator uses hydrogen produced from benzoate by the benzoate degrading member of consortium as its source of reducing equivalents for the dechlorination reaction. Incubation of 3-chlorobenzoate grown consortium cells with 2,5-dichlorobenzoate resulted in the consumption of acetate concurrent with the formation of 2-chlorobenzoate indicating that acetate can serve as an alternative source of reducing equivalents for reductive dechlorination. This interpretation was confirmed by the finding that the formation of 14CO2 from 2-14C-labeled acetate was stoichiometric. The addition of hydrogen to 2,5-dichlorobenzoate metabolizing cells resulted in (i) an 2.7-fold increase in the rate of dechlorination, and (ii) a drop in the amount of label recovered as CO2+CH4 from methyl14C-labeled acetate, indicating that hydrogen was the preferred source of reducing equivalents for reductive dechlorination. Benzoate, an indirect source of H2 in the consortium, also inhibited the oxidation of acetate, while glucose, methanol, and butyrate did not affect labeled gas production and therefore were not suitable electron donors. Concomittant to dechlorination of 2,5-dichlorobenzoate 3- and 4-methoxybenzoate were converted to 3- and 4-hydroxybenzoate respectively. These conversions stimulated the rate of dechlorination 2-fold. Demethylation of 4-methoxybenzoate stimulated, but demethylation of 3-methoxybenzoate inhibited the oxidation of benzoate during the dechlorination of 2,5-dichlorobenzoate, suggesting that these isomers are metabolized through different pathways. Experiments with benzoate, 3-chlorobenzoate and 2,5-dichlorobenzoate metabolizing cells amended with 14CO2 showed that actively dechlorinating cells catalyzed an exchange reaction between CO2 and acetate.
Psychological stress as a determinant of cognitive complexity.

In an exploratory study of the situational generality of cognitive complexity (CC), Ss were administered a modification of Kelly's Role Construct Repertory Test under non-stress or stress instructions. The social role-figures on the complexity measure were also divided into socially close and distant subgroups. The results supported previous research indicating greater CC toward distant persons, perhaps a result of the perceiver's vigilant stance toward such individuals. However, Ss were generally less complex under stressful task instructions, possibly a manifestation of a decrease in tolerance for stimulus incongruity. Stress thus appears to be a relevant contextual as well as stimulus dimension with respect to CC.
Bilateral renal masses in a 10-year-old girl with renal failure and urinary tract infection: the importance of functional imaging

Renal sonography is a routine step in the evaluation of new onset renal failure. When renal masses are discovered in this setting, functional imaging may be critical. We report a case of bilateral renal masses in a girl with urinary tract infection and renal insufficiency found to have vesicoureteral reflux. Renal scintigraphy revealed these masses to be the only remaining functional renal tissue, preventing potentially harmful resection.
Prospective study of the value of serum chromogranin A or serum gastrin levels in the assessment of the presence, extent, or growth of gastrinomas

BACKGROUND Serum chromogranin A levels (CgA) are reported by some authors to be of clinical utility for assessing the presence or absence of a pancreatic endocrine tumor and tumor extent or growth. The aim of the current study was to assess this finding and compare the results with those from serum gastrin determinations (FSG) in a large cohort of patients with gastrinomas. METHODS In 112 consecutive patients with the Zollinger–Ellison syndrome serum CgA and FSG levels were measured and correlated with disease activity, extent of disease, and the presence of multiple endocrine neoplasia type-1 (MEN-1) or gastric carcinoid tumors. RESULTS Serum CgA levels drawn on 2 consecutive days correlated closely (P < 0.00001) as did serum gastrin levels. Serum CgA levels correlated significantly with FSG levels (P < 0.00001). Serum CgA and FSG levels were significantly higher in patients with active disease than in disease free patients (P < 0.00001). The sensitivity for the presence of disease was higher for CgA compared with FSG (92% vs. 80%; P = 0.021). However, the specificity of CgA was 67%. Serum CgA levels were not significantly different in the four disease categories (stable extrahepatic disease, increasing extrahepatic disease, stable liver metastases, and increasing liver metastases). FSG levels were significantly lower in patients with stable extrahepatic disease compared with those with increasing extrahepatic disease. However, both tumor markers decreased significantly with a gastrinoma resection in five patients. The presence of MEN-1 or a gastric carcinoid tumor did not influence the results. CONCLUSIONS The results of the current study showed that serum CgA and FSG levels both are sensitive tumor markers for the detection of a gastrinoma; however, CgA levels have a relatively low specificity. Neither the magnitude of the serum CgA nor gastrin level correlated with tumor growth or tumor extent and therefore cannot be used to determine these variables. However, in contrast to some other studies, the results of the current study show that changes in serum CgA or gastrin in a given patient with time are related to the tumor extent and not to gastric mucosal changes due to hypergastrinemia. Cancer 1999;85:1470–83. © 1999 American Cancer Society.
Curcumin Inhibits Prostate Cancer Bone Metastasis by Up-Regulating Bone Morphogenic Protein-7 in Vivo

A number of studies have focused on the beneficial properties of Curcumin (diferuloyl methane, used in South Asian cuisine and traditional medicine) such as the chemoprevention of cancer. Recent studies have also indicated that this material has significant benefits for the treatment of cancer and is currently undergoing several clinical trials. We have been interested in the application of this compound as a therapeutic agent for advanced prostate cancer, particularly the skeletal complications in this malignancy. Our earlier work indicated that this compound could inhibit the osteomimetic properties which occur in castration resistant prostate cancer cells, by interfering with the common denominators between these cancer cells and the bone cells in the metastatic tumor microenvironment, namely the osteoblasts and the osteoclast. We predicted that curcumin could break the vicious cycle of reciprocal stimulation that results in uncontrolled osteolysis in the bony matrix. In this work, we have evaluated the potential of this compound in inhibiting the bone metastasis of hormone refractory prostate cancer cells in an established animal model. Our results strongly suggest that curcumin modulates the TGF-βsignaling that occurs due to bone matrix degradation by up-regulating the metastasis inhibitory bone morphogenic protein-7 (BMP-7). This enhancement of BMP-7 in the context of TGF-β in the tumor microenvironment is shown to enhance the mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition. Most importantly, we show that as a result of BMP-7 up-regulation, a novel brown/beige adipogenic differentiation program is also up-regulated which plays a role in the inhibition of bone metastasis. Our results suggest that curcumin may subvert the TGF-β signaling to an alternative adipogenic differentiation program in addition to the previously established interference with the osteomimetic properties, thus inhibiting the bone metastatic processes in a chemopreventive as well as therapeutic setting.
Self-diffusion in dilute quasi-two-dimensional hard sphere suspensions: Evanescent wave light scattering and video microscopy studies

We report measurements of the diffusion coefficient of a dilute quasi-two-dimensional hard sphere colloidal suspension using two independent experimental techniques: evanescent wave dynamic light scattering (EWDLS) and digital video microscopy (DVM). The system studied consists of 1 \ensuremath{\mu}m sterically stabilized, uncharged, poly(methylmethacrylate) spheres in a very thin cell (\ensuremath{\sim}3 \ensuremath{\mu}m). In principle, EWDSL and DVM yield identical information about the system, albeit by different analyses. When both methods are used to study the same system it is possible to directly compare measurements of preaveraged statistical dynamical quantities with their microscopic counterparts. Our EWDLS measurements yield the effective diffusion coefficient as a function of wave number and the mean square particle displacement, for fixed wave number, as a function of time. The DVM measurements generate particle trajectories; Fourier decomposition of the trajectories yields the dynamic scattering function, which is found to be in quantitative agreement with the same function measured by EWDLS. Analysis of the observed intermediate scattering function indicates that, as predicted by Cichocki and Felderhof [J. Phys. Condens. Matter 6, 7287 (1994)], in this quasi-two-dimensional system the time dependence of the evolution of the effective diffusion coefficient from its short time value to its long time value has the form (lnt)/t. To our knowledge, these results are the first experimental verification of the predicted temporal evolution of the diffusion coefficient for Brownian motion in a quasi-two-dimensional liquid. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Improving the Performance of the Kernighan-Lin and Simulated Annealing Graph Bisection Algorithms

In this paper, we compare the performance of two popular graph bisection algorithms. We also present an empirical study of a new heuristic, first proposed in [B87], that dramatically improves the performance of these bisection algorithms on graphs with small (≤ 4) average degree.
The effects of rigid motions on elastic network model force constants.

Elastic network models provide an efficient way to quickly calculate protein global dynamics from experimentally determined structures. The model’s single parameter, its force constant, determines the physical extent of equilibrium fluctuations. The values of force constants can be calculated by fitting to experimental data, but the results depend on the type of experimental data used. Here we investigate the differences between calculated values of force constants _t to data from NMR and X-ray structures. We find that X-ray B factors carry the signature of rigid-body motions, to the extent that B factors can be almost entirely accounted for by rigid motions alone. When fitting to more refined anisotropic temperature factors, the contributions of rigid motions are significantly reduced, indicating that the large contribution of rigid motions to B factors is a result of over-fitting. No correlation is found between force constants fit to NMR data and those fit to X-ray data, possibly due to the inability of NMR data to accurately capture protein dynamics.
Work Release as a Transition: Positioning Success Via the Halfway House

Halfway houses (HWHs) are one resource that the New Jersey DOC utilizes to transition offenders from prison back into society. Previous studies show that offenders who participated in HWH programming are at less risk for recidivating compared to nonparticipants (Austin, 2001; Lowenkamp & Latessa, 2005). Work-release HWHs, specifically, have shown effectiveness in reducing recidivism for participants (Washington State Institute for Public Policy, 2007). Using propensity score matching, offenders placed in work release HWHs were matched to offenders released directly from prison (N = 11,644). Offenders in work-release HWHs demonstrate a reduced propensity for revocation and returns to prison (for any reason) compared to nonparticipants.
Oolitic ironstones and contrasting Ordovician and Jurassic paleogeography

Distribution of abundant Ordovician and Jurassic oolitic ironstones provides a test for current ideas about factors controlling their origin. These include warm climate and deep weathering, dispersed continents, and highstand of global sea level. Most of the Jurassic ironstones developed in middle northern latitudes on the unstable European part of assembled Laurasia at a time of low global sea level, mild moist climate, and abundant vegetation. Most of the Ordovician ironstones accumulated around the northwestern margin of assembled Gondwana and Armorica during highstand of sea level and an absence of land plants, and in high southern latitudes that supported an ice cap by the end of the period. These contrasts demonstrate that neither dispersed continents nor major highstand of sea level was a necessary factor. Moreover, requisite weathering in Ordovician time may have been induced by adequate soil-air CO 2 pressure maintained by elevated atmospheric P co 2 in tne absence of land plants.
Vitamin E modulates the lipoxygenation of arachidonic acid in leukocytes

The arachidonic acid released from cellular phospholipids of specifically stimulated platelets and leukocytes is oxygenated enzymatically by two major pathways. A complex cycloxygenase converts some of the free arachidonic acid to labile endoperoxides that are transformed to prostaglandins, thromboxanes and prostacyclin (PGI2). Lipoxygenases convert part of the arachidonic acid to unstable hydroperoxy-eicosatetraenoic acids (OOHETEs) that are transformed to monohydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs), oligohydroxy-eicosatetraenoic or -eicostatrienoic acids such as di-HETEs and tri-HETEs, and, in some instances, more complex humoral mediators, including slow-reacting substances. Both the nature of the HETEs and the ratio of the HETEs to the cyclo-oxygenase products are specific characteristics of each type of cell. In human neutrophils, the sum of the lipoxygenase products 5-HETE, 11-HETE and 5,12-di-HETE substantially exceeds the total amount of PGE2 and other cyclo-oxygenase metabolites that are generated concurrently, and the endogenous lipoxygenase products regulate neutrophil function. The present data indicate that vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) bidirectionally modulates the activity of the lipoxygenase pathway of human neutrophils in vitro. Normal plasma concentrations of alpha-tocopherol enhance the lipoxygenation of arachidonic acid, whereas higher concentrations of alpha-tocopherol exert a suppressive effect that is consistent with its role as a hydroperoxide scavenger.
Competing Risks of Death in Patients with Localized Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Comorbidity Based Model

Purpose: Multiple risks compete with cancer as the primary cause of death. These factors must be considered against the benefits of treatment. We constructed a model of competing causes of death to help contextualize treatment trade-off analyses in patients with localized renal cell carcinoma.Materials and Methods: We identified 6,655 individuals 66 years old or older with localized renal cell carcinoma in the linked SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results)-Medicare data set for 1995 to 2005. We used Fine and Gray competing risks proportional hazards regression to predict probabilities of competing mortality outcomes. Prognostic markers included race, gender, tumor size, age and the Charlson comorbidity index score.Results: At a median followup of 43 months, age and comorbidity score strongly correlated with patient mortality and were most predictive of nonkidney cancer death, as measured by concordance statistics. Patients with localized, node negative kidney cancer had a low 3 (4.7%), 5 (7.5%) ...
Shedding Genomic Ballast: Extensive Parallel Loss of Ancestral Gene Families in Animals

Loss of ancestral gene families has played an important role in genomic specialization in ani- mals. An examination of the pattern of gene family loss in completely sequenced animal genomes re- vealed that the same gene families have been lost independently in different lineages to a far greater extent than expected if gene loss occurred at random. This result implies that certain ancestral gene fami- lies—and thus the biological functions they en- code—have been more expendable than others over the radiation of the animal phyla.
RESPONDING TO THE GROWTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCE: AN OVERVIEW

Summary Throughout the world, whether in the Americas, Europe, Africa, or Asia, the rising cost of health care and limitations on access to care are central concerns. For example, in the United States, health care costs in 1992 reached $838 billion — 13% of our gross national product and many of our citizens, particularly in our poor and minority communities, confront financial, geographic and other barriers to health care.
Secure Distributed Solution for Optimal Energy Consumption Scheduling in Smart Grid

The demand-side energy management is crucial to optimize the energy usage with its production cost, so that the price paid by the users is minimized, while it also satisfies the demand. The recent proposed solutions leverage the two- way communication infrastructure provided by modern smart- meters. The demand management problem assumes that users can shift their energy usage from peak hours to off-peak hours with the goal of balancing the energy usage. The scheduling of the energy consumption is often formulated as a game- theoretic problem, where the players are the users and their strategies are the load schedules of their household appliances. The Nash equilibrium of the formulated game provides the global optimal performance (i.e., the minimum energy costs). To provide a distributed solution the users require to share their usage information with the other users to converge to the Nash equilibrium. Hence, this open sharing among users introduces potential privacy and security issues. In addition, the existing solutions assume that all the users are rational and truthful. In this paper, we first highlight the privacy and security issues involved in the distributed demand management protocols. Secondly, we propose an efficient clustering based multi-party computation (MPC) distributed protocol that enables users to share their usage schedules and at the same time preserve their privacy and confidentiality. To identify untruthful users, we propose a mechanism based on a third party verifier. Through simulation experiments we have demonstrated the scalability and efficiency of our proposed solution.
Unsaturated Iron‐Binding Capacity of Human Milk

The unsaturated iron-binding capacity (UIBC) and lactoferrin concentration of human milk from early stages of lactation were determined. The UIBC decreased significantly (p < 0.01) from 342 μg Fe/100 ml at the early transitional stage to 261 μg Fe/100 ml at the transitional stage and 215 μg Fe/100 ml at the mature stage. The lactoferrin concentration decreased significantly (p < 0.01) from 406 mg/100 ml at the early transitional stage to 241 mg/100 ml at the mature stage. No significant diurnal variations in UIBC or lactoferrin concentration were noted. Approximately 60% of the UIBC was retained after three different pasteurization treatments while less than 40% of the lactoferrin was retained. Seventy-five percent of the UIBC was retained after sterilization; however, lactoferrin was completely destroyed. After frozen storage, the UIBC of the initial sample increased by 37% while the lactoferrin concentration decreased by 30%. These results indicate that there is not a direct relationship between iron-binding capacity and lactoferrin concentration.
Effect of aquariums on electroconvulsive therapy patients

AbstractThis study investigates the effect of an aquarium on pre-treatment anxiety, fear. frustration, and depression in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) patients. Forty-two patients consecutively referred for ECT were rotated between rooms with and without aquariums. Self report measures of depression, anxiety, fear, and frustration were obtained, along with heart rate and blood pressure measurements. Preliminary mixed-model, repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed no significant differences between the aquarium and control conditions on any of the dependent measures. A trend toward significance was found for self reported anxiety (p=0.08) and further data were collected. Subsequent mixed model, repeated measures ANOVA confirmed the trend toward differences (p=0.08) in anxiety between the aquarium and control conditions. Factoring out demographic factors, the average patient experienced 12% less anxiety in the presence of an aquarium.
Foucault's enlightened reaction

ance. A feminist might reject the Enlightenment and its universalizing assump? tions on the grounds that they inherently serve a patriarchy, while nevertheless preserving something of its humanistic core and its faith in itself as the en? gine of human self-transformation and self-construction. An anthropologist might identify the Enlightenment as the origin of dangerous and totalitarian moments in human scientific thought, though also noticing and approving of Kant's ultimate submission of all philosophical questioning to the single ques? tion: "What is Man?" And a phenomenologist might applaud the "Coperni can turn" to an analysis of consciousness in Kant, while deploring, as Hegel did, Kantian abstraction from the conditions of life, from willing and desir? ing. The question "What remains of the Enlightenment?" in the context of rejection or acceptance calls for a triage, an attempt at the recuperation of those elements that we accept and a burial of those that we reject. Michel Foucault neither accepts nor rejects the Enlightenment, though he frequently and seriously identifies himself as an Enlightenment thinker. His identification is surprising in many ways, since his work offers a resounding challenge to what we typically associate with the Enlightenment, a challenge that Habermas on a number of occasions took up on behalf of the Enlighten? ment. Foucault's essay, "What is Enlightenment?", is an attempt to work out his relation to the Enlightenment not just as an historical period or philosophi? cal event, but also as a very present and somewhat irritating academic, cul? tural, and philosophical lineage. If "What is Enlightenment?" represents an attempt by Foucault to account for his work in the context of modernity ? if it puts him, as Florence (1998) suggests, "squarely within a tradition of En? lightenment critique" (p. 459)1-then the question becomes, why does Foucault the intrepid genealogist feel compelled to cast himself, with all the possibili? ties of misunderstanding that such a casting might churn up, as an "Aufkl?rer" : Or to generalize the question, how do we experience our own freedom, our ability to reject as freely as we affirm possibilities for our lives, without fall? ing prey to nihilism? Without engaging in a form of criticism that once again emphasizes limits rather than the transgression of limits and the production ofpossibilities?
The Solomon Effect in Learning Disabilities Diagnosis: Can We Learn from History?

The Individuals with Disabilities Act (Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act; IDEIA, 2004) has been reauthorized, and new parameters for defining learning disabilities (LD) have been established that provide more flexibility for corresponding state and local regulations. The field now has a unique opportunity to shape the practice of LD diagnosis and should consider important conceptual, theoretical, empirical, economic, legal, and practical issues related to LD diagnosis. This article highlights five key recommendations for the diagnostic definition of learning disabilities: (1) the definition needs to be unambiguous; (2) it must be universally accepted across professions, researchers, and governmental entities; (3) it must incorporate clearly defined subtypes of learning disabilities; (4) it must be empirically supported; and (5) it must point to valid, reliable, and cost–effective procedures for the identification of children with and without learning disabilities. Consideration of these points may help the field to avoid repeating past mistakes and returning to the folly of poor LD diagnostic practice.
Epithelial stem cells in vivo.

Summary Cellular topography within the highly polarized surface epithelia can be used to identify the location of the stem cells. In some instances, this can be quite precise and allows the characteristics of stem cells to be studied. Our current knowledge of the stem cell population in murine epidermis and small intestinal crypts is reviewed. In the epidermis, the stem cells would appear to make up about 10 % of the basal layer and are distributed towards the centre of the basal layer component of the epidermal proliferative unit. These cells have a long cell cycle and are probably the same cells that retain both tritiated thymidine and radioactively labelled carcinogens for long periods of time. This label retention permits the labelling of the putative stem cell compartment. Over recent years, there has been an accumulation of information indicating various types of heterogeneity within the basal layer, much of which can be interpreted in relation to cellular hierarchies. In the small intestine, cell positions can be fairly precisely identified and the stem cell zone identified. Complex modelling of a wide range of cell kinetic experiments suggests that each crypt contains between 4 and 16 steady state functional stem cells. Radiobiological experiments suggest that up to 32 cells may be capable of clonal regeneration. The repopulation of the clonogenic cell compartment has been determined and the doubling time measured to be 19.7 h. Such studies should throw further light on the behaviour of stem cells and identify the timing of periods of increased and decreased cell proliferation (activation and suppression of controls).
Swedish Austerity: Benefits at Risk:

The Swedish welfare state is facing the greatest threat since its inception. Attacks stem from the country's sharp economic downturn since 1989 and the related currency crisis of September 1992. Politicians of the right and left have responded to the economic crisis by initiating cutbacks in social welfare programs and supporting policies that will lead to a massive transfer of income from working people to corporations. The focus on cutting social programs is misplaced. The Swedish economy flourished for decades with the network of social service programs in place; the welfare state cannot be blamed for economic problems that have only recently arisen.
Interaction of organometallic moleties with carbanions and other electron-rich centers

Abstract In this review, I cite literature data which suggest that polyhapto organometallic groups generally provide effective stabilization of β-carbanions through interactions summarized by . These interactions are also discernible in neutral compounds having electron-donor groups X = OH, OR, NR 2 , etc. The same interaction is responsible for the exo stereochemistry generally observed in deprotonation reactions of alkyl-substituted organometallics, and in electrophilic attacks on double conjugated with organometallic groups, the reverse reaction. And it is responsible for the instability of many η 1 -organometallics having acidic β-hydrogens. Wider recognition of the general ability of organometallic groups to stabilize carbanions should lead to broader synthetic exploitation of organometallic compounds.
Tissue Distribution, Gender- and Genotype-Dependent Expression of Autophagy-Related Genes in Avian Species

As a result of the genetic selection of broiler (meat-type breeders) chickens for enhanced growth rate and lower feed conversion ratio, it has become necessary to restrict feed intake. When broilers are fed ad libitum, they would become obese and suffer from several health-related problems. A vital adaptation to starvation is autophagy, a self-eating mechanism for recycling cellular constituents. The autophagy pathway has witnessed dramatic growth in the last few years and extensively studied in yeast and mammals however, there is a paucity of information in avian (non-mammalian) species. Here we characterized several genes involved in autophagosome initiation and elongation in Red Jungle fowl (Gallus gallus) and Japanese quail (coturnix coturnix Japonica). Both complexes are ubiquitously expressed in chicken and quail tissues (liver, leg and breast muscle, brain, gizzard, intestine, heart, lung, kidney, adipose tissue, ovary and testis). Alignment analysis showed high similarity (50.7 to 91.5%) between chicken autophagy-related genes and their mammalian orthologs. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the evolutionary relationship between autophagy genes is consistent with the consensus view of vertebrate evolution. Interestingly, the expression of autophagy-related genes is tissue- and gender- dependent. Furthermore, using two experimental male quail lines divergently selected over 40 generations for low (resistant, R) or high (sensitive, S) stress response, we found that the expression of most studied genes are higher in R compared to S line. Together our results indicate that the autophagy pathway is a key molecular signature exhibited gender specific differences and likely plays an important role in response to stress in avian species.
Phytoplankton Pigments in Maryland Coastal Bay Sediments as Biomarkers of Sources of Organic Matter to Benthic Community

ABSTRACT Chen, J.; Oseji, O.; Mitra, M.; Waguespack, Y., and Chen, N., 2016. Phytoplankton pigments in Maryland coastal bay sediments as biomarkers of sources of organic matter to benthic community. In this study, the sources of pelagic organic matter and their transport to the surface sediment in the Maryland Coastal Bays (MCB), part of the U.S. mid-Atlantic coastal lagoon system, were examined. Photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls a and b), accessory pigments (peridinin, fucoxanthin, zeaxanthin, alloxanthin, etc.), and chlorophyll a decomposition products (chlorophyllide a, pheophorbide a, pheophytin a, and pyropheophytin a) from surface sediments collected at 13 sites in the MCB in March 2013 were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography. The spatial distributions of diagnostic pigments in surface sediments indicated that organic matter was mainly derived from nano- and picophytoplankton (i.e. cyanobacteria, cryptophytes, and chlorophytes) at sites characterized by high nutrient input, al...
Model calculations of torque-induced axial magnetization in circumferentially magnetized rings: Small angle approximation

Abstract We report calculations of the axial magnetization developed in a ferromagnetic, magnetostrictive ring initially magnetized in a circumferential direction and then subjected to a torque. The ring is assumed to consist of single-domain crystallites, and six specific cases are considered, corresponding to uniaxial, cubic 1 1 1-easy, and cubic 1 0 0-easy magnetocrystalline anisotropy with the crystallites either aligned circumferentially or distributed isotropically. Exact solution is possible only for the aligned uniaxial case; for the others, we employ the small-angle approximation in which the departure of each moment from its remanent-state easy direction in the presence of torque is taken to be small. We also extend our results to composites consisting of magnetostrictive material in a nonmagnetic matrix.
Self-assembly patterns formed upon solvent evaporation of aqueous cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-coated gold nanoparticles of various shapes

Gold nanocrystals of various shapes, which were produced in high yield in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), showed a range of two-dimensional self-assembly patterns upon drying from aqueous solution. The interparticle spacings were independent of the size and shape of the gold nanocrystals. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic studies revealed that the CTAB molecules adsorb onto surfaces of the gold nanocrystals in a bilayer or multilayer fashion, consistent with other groups' results. Zeta potential measurements showed that CTAB-coated nanocrystals were positively charged and the zeta potential remained almost the same upon two centrifugations and redispersion of the nanocrystals in deionized water, confirming the high stability of the surfactant-nanoparticle interaction. The nanocrystal shape strongly influenced the nature of the self-assembly patterns, in some cases in accord with theoretical predictions. CTAB is proposed as the medium for self-assembly, via interdigitation of its hydrophobic chains from adjacent nanocrystals for close contact, or via sharing a layer of counterions for larger inter-nanocrystal spacings.
High Quantum Yield Sensitization of Nanocrystalline Titanium Dioxide Photoelectrodes with cis-Dicyanobis(4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine)osmium(II) or Tris(4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine)osmium(II) Complexes

Osmium polypyridyl complexes were used as sensitizers in solar cells that utilize nanocrystalline titanium dioxide photoelectrodes. Exposure of TiO_2 electrodes to sources of Os^(II)(H_2L‘)_2(CN)_2 (where L‘ is 4,4‘-dicarboxylato-2,2‘-bipyridine) or Os^(II)(H_2L‘)_3^(2+) extended the light absorption and spectral response of the cell to longer wavelengths than did exposure of TiO_2 to Ru(H_2L‘)_2(NCS)_2. The Os complexes also provided very high external quantum yields for photocurrent flow and produced open-circuit voltages similar to those of the Ru complex. The Os-based systems therefore offer promise in developing efficient dye-sensitized nanocrystalline TiO_2-based photoelectrochemical cells.
Influence of a buried misfit dislocation network on the pyramid-to-dome transition size of Ge self-assembled quantum dots on Si(001)

The critical sizes of the pyramid-to-dome transition of Ge self-assembled quantum dots (SAQDs) grown on relaxed SiGe buffer layers were investigated for the relationship between the misfit strain built in dots and nucleation sites. The strain field of arrays of buried dislocations in a relaxed SiGe buffer layer provided preferential nucleation sites for quantum dots. Burgers vector analysis using plan-view transmission electron microscopy verified that the preferential nucleation sites of Ge SAQDs depended on the Burgers vector direction of corresponding dislocations. The measurement of the lateral distance between SAQDs and dislocations clarified that the location of SAQDs was at the intersection of the dislocation slip plane and the top surface. The samples are fabricated to contain low dislocation densities. The average dislocation spacing is larger than the surface migration length of Ge adatoms, resulting in two groups of SAQDs, those that are located along the dislocations, and those that are not. Atomic force microscopy observations showed a distinctively larger critical size for Ge SAQDs grown over the intersection of the dislocation slip plane and the top surface than those grown in regions between dislocations. These experimental observations indicate that the critical size of the pyramid-to-dome transition is strongly dependent on misfit strain in SAQDs with lower strain being associated with a larger critical size.
A HIGHLY REACTIVE HETEROATOM ANALOG OF RETINAL AND ITS INTERACTION WITH BACTERIORHODOPSIN

— C18 formate ester (5) [2-(6-methyl-8-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl)-3E,5E,7E-octatrienyl formate], a highly reactive analog of retinal, was synthesized and its interaction with bacterioopsin studied. The formate ester, in the absence of purple or bleached membrane, undergoes very rapid reaction (tl/2= 0.9 min) in neutral buffer but with membrane present it diffuses more rapidly into the membrane where it reacts slowly. Incorporation of 5 in the membrane results in a 38 nm (3900 cm-1) red shift which remains after reconstitution with retinal. Similar experiments with the corresponding C18 alcohol (4) results in a red shift, but this absorption blue shifts upon reconstitution with retinal. Washing the formate ester-treated membrane with bovine serum albumin or the corresponding lyophilized preparation with hexane, treatments that remove retinal oxime, fails to remove the UV-visible absorption, suggesting that a covalent bond between the C18 moiety and a nucleophilic group of the protein has probably formed.
Pulmonary Hypertension in Pregnancy and Anesthetic Implications

Pulmonary hypertension in pregnancy is associated with significant maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Although the prognosis seems to be improving as new treatment options have emerged, the physiologic changes that occur during pregnancy and in the peripartum period are still poorly tolerated in this patient population. The main anesthetic implications when caring for a parturient with pulmonary hypertension are related to the dynamic hemodynamic changes that occur during labor and delivery. Hemodynamic goals include avoiding factors that negatively influence the already compromised pulmonary vascular system and right ventricle: reducing pulmonary vascular resistance, maintaining perfusion and function of the right ventricle, and optimizing volume status. Early epidural analgesia plays an important role in attenuating the stress response to labor. Neuraxial anesthesia is frequently preferred over general anesthesia for cesarean deliveries for more controlled speed of onset, degree of autonomic and sensory block, and hemodynamic effects. Pre-delivery planning, timely institution of targeted treatments and an expert multidisciplinary team approach are crucial to achieving successful outcomes in these challenging cases.
Anisotropy of Hc2 in single crystal Nb3Sn and V3Si at high magnetic fields: Limitations of linear chain model

Abstract The anisotropy of H c2 for single crystal Nb 3 Sn and V 3 Si in the low temperature tetragonal phase was measured in high magnetic fields. At ∼ 8K, δ = [ H c2 [100]- H c2 [110])/ H c2 ] ≈0.05 for Nb 3 Sn and δ ≈ 0.02 for V 3 Si. The data do not show evidence of a highly anisotropic Fermi surface for Nb 3 Sn or V 3 Si.
The Bushmeat Trade: Increased Opportunities for Transmission of Zoonotic Disease

Bushmeat is a term that refers to the use of wild animals, ranging from cane rats to gorillas, for food. The term typically refers to the practice in forests of Africa. The bushmeat trade is an example of an anthropogenic factor that provides opportunities for the transmission of diseases from wildlife to humans. The expansion of the bushmeat trade over the past 2 decades has provided a venue for the emergence of zoonotic diseases by providing an increased opportunity for the transmission of organisms known to cause disease and organisms with an unknown impact on humans. Because the bushmeat trade is embedded in a complex cultural, political, and economic context, efforts to prevent the emergence of zoonoses require a multidisciplinary approach. Mt Sinai J Med 76:429-434, 2009. (c) 2009 Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
Co-assembly of envoplakin and periplakin into oligomers and Ca2+-dependent vesicle binding: Implications for cornified cell envelope formation in stratified squamous epithelia

Plakin family members envoplakin and periplakin have been shown to be part of the cornified cell envelope in terminally differentiating stratified squamous epithelia. In the present study, purified recombinant human envoplakin and periplakin were used to investigate their properties and interactions. We found that envoplakin was insoluble at physiological conditions in vitro, and co-assembly with periplakin was required for its solubility. Envoplakin and periplakin formed soluble complexes with equimolar stoichiometry. Chemical cross-linking revealed that the major soluble form of all periplakin constructs and of envoplakin/periplakin rod domains was a dimer, although co-assembly of the full-length proteins resulted in formation of higher order oligomers. Electron microscopy of rotary-shadowed periplakin demonstrated thin flexible molecules with an average contour length of 88 nm for the rod-plus-tail fragment, and immunolabeling EM confirmed the molecule as a parallel, in-register, dimer. Both periplakin and envoplakin/periplakin oligomers were able to bind synthetic lipid vesicles whose composition mimicked the cytoplasmic side of the plasma membrane of eukaryotic cells. This binding was dependent on anionic phospholipids and Ca2+. These findings raise the possibility that envoplakin and periplakin bind to the plasma membrane upon elevation of intracellular [Ca2+] in differentiating keratinocytes, where they serve as a scaffold for cornified cell envelope assembly.
Facets of the k -partition polytope

Abstract We study facets of the k -partition polytope P k , n , the convex hull of edges cut by r -partitions of a complete graph for r ⩽ k , k ⩾ 3. We generalize the hypermetric and cycle inequalities (see Deza and Laurent, 1992) from the cut polytope to P k , n , k ⩾ 3. We give some sufficient conditions under which these are facet defining. We show the anti-web inequality introduced by Deza and Laurent (1992) to be facet defining for P k , n , k ⩾ 3. We also give lifting procedures for constructing facets of P k , r from facets of P k , n for r ⩾ n + 1 and facets of P k , r from facets of P k −1, n for r ⩾ n + 1.
Ab-Initio Molecular Dynamics Study of Nano-Scale Thermal Energy Transport

Ab-initio molecular dynamics (MD) which employs density functional theory (DFT) is used to study thermal energy transport phenomena in nano-scale structures. Thermal equilibration in multiple thin layer structures with thicknesses less than 1 nanometer per layer is simulated. Different types of layer combinations are investigated. Periodic boundary conditions in all directions are used in all cases. Two neighboring layers are first set to different temperatures using Nose-Hoover thermostats, and then the process of energy equilibration is simulated with a “free run” (without any thermostat controlling the temperatures). The temperature evolutions in the two neighboring layers are computed. The atomic vibration power spectra are calculated and used to explain the phenomena observed in the simulation.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Comparison of the stability of the atlantic thermohaline circulation in two coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation models

Abstract Two coupled atmosphere–ocean general circulation models developed at GFDL show differing stability properties of the Atlantic thermohaline circulation (THC) in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project/Paleoclimate Modeling Intercomparison Project (CMIP/PMIP) coordinated “water-hosing” experiment. In contrast to the R30 model in which the “off” state of the THC is stable, it is unstable in the CM2.1. This discrepancy has also been found among other climate models. Here a comprehensive analysis is performed to investigate the causes for the differing behaviors of the THC. In agreement with previous work, it is found that the different stability of the THC is closely related to the simulation of a reversed thermohaline circulation (RTHC) and the atmospheric feedback. After the shutdown of the THC, the RTHC is well developed and stable in R30. It transports freshwater into the subtropical North Atlantic, preventing the recovery of the salinity and stabilizing the off mode of the THC. The flux adjust...
Neonatal coronary revascularization: six-year follow-up period.

The arterial switch operation used to treat transposition of the great arteries associated with an intramural coronary artery can lead to either early or late myocardial ischemia [1]. Previous reports have demonstrated that arterial revascularization during the neonatal period using the internal mammary artery is possible [1, 2]. However, the midand long-term patency is unknown. We present images from coronary catheterization of a left internal mammary artery (LIMA) revascularization of the left anterior descending coronary artery after an arterial switch in which a single coronary ostia gave rise to an intramural left coronary artery. Comparison of Fig. 1a, b, in which selective angiography was performed at 1 and 6 years, demonstrated that the LIMA graft supplied the blood for the entire left coronary circulation, and that after 6 years, the LIMA continued to grow in size, supplying blood to the myocardium. The presence of an intramural coronary artery is known to increase the incidence of periand postoperative ischemia during the arterial switch operation [1, 2]. Previous data have demonstrated an increased risk for stenosis when the saphenous vein is used as a conduit to treat myocardial ischemia within the neonatal period [2]. For this reason surgeons have reported their experience in using either the left or right internal mammary artery for revascularization during the neonatal period [1, 2]. However, no midor long-term followup evaluations have been reported regarding the patency of the internal mammary used during the neonatal period. Despite favorable short-term results from the use of mammary artery grafts to reperfuse the myocardium, it was unknown whether the internal mammary artery could supply sufficient coronary blood flow to support the ongoing growth of the heart [3]. Comparison of Fig. 1a, b demonstrates for the first time the ability of a LIMA graft to supply the left coronary circulation with blood flow adequate to keep up with myocardial growth.