cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Application of inverse gas chromatography at infinite dilution to study the effects of oxidation of activated carbons

Abstract Effects of the oxidation with nitric acid of active carbons from different origins have been studied by inverse gas chromatography. It is shown that the oxidation of activated carbons with nitric acid increases their acidity considerably, and at the same time decreases their adsorption affinity for n-alkanes, which is manifested by the decrease of the dispersive component of surface energy, γsD, and adsorption enthalpies of alkanes. A correlation has been established between the acidity of carbons measured by base titration and the energy of the specific interactions with π bonds of unsaturated hydrocarbons.
Insertion of bis-ferrocenylbutadiyne into an osmium hydride bond. The synthesis, structure and electrochemical response of Os4(CO)11(μ-η-Z-FcCC(H)C2Fc)(μ-H)3

Abstract The reaction of Os4(CO)12(μ-H)4 with Me3NO followed by 1,4-bis(ferrocenyl)butadiyne (1) has yielded the tetraosmium product Os4(CO)11(μ-η2-FcCC(H)C2Fc)(μ-H)3 (5), Fc=C5H5FeC5H4 in 9% yield by decarbonylation and insertion of the 1,4-bis(ferrocenyl)butadiyne into one of the metal–hydrogen bonds in the cluster. Compound 5 was characterized by IR, 1H-NMR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The molecule contains a closed tetrahedral cluster of four osmium atoms with three bridging hydride ligands. One of the C–C triple bonds of 1 was inserted into one of the Os–H bonds to form a (bis-ferrocenyl)yneenyl ligand that bridges one edge of the cluster in a θ-π coordination mode. Compound 5 exhibits two one-electron oxidations for the ferrocenyl groups at E°=+0.443 and +0.486 V versus Ag/AgCl, ΔE°=0.043 V. This small difference indicates that there is little or no electronic communication between the two ferrocenyl groups.
Limitations of Acetaminophen, Aspirin, and Caffeine in Alleviating Migraine

In reply We thank Maizels for his letter. We agree that our results cannot be generalized to the most severely disabled segment of patients with migraine. We deliberately excluded those migraine sufferers whose attacks usually required bed rest or who vomited 20% or more of the time to define a migraine population for whom nonprescription medication would be most appropriate. We estimate that the most severely disabled segment of migraine sufferers who was excluded from our studies encompasses about 30% of the overall migraine population. These patient selection criteria were stressed in the abstract, “Patients and Methods” section, and in the “Comment” section to be sure that readers would understand our design and the reasons for it. We thank Maizels for reemphasizing this key point. Maizels comments on the lack of “relapse” or “recurrence” data, often defined as the proportion of patients who achieve headache response (no pain or mild pain) at 2 hours and redevelop moderate or severe pain over the subsequent 22 hours. We agree that recurrence data are important. The present studies were designed to address acute treatment effects over 6 hours. Follow-up studies will address recurrence. When we described the “excellent safety profile” of study medication, we were commenting on the results of the acute treatment trials in our article. We were not attempting to provide general practice guidelines or to review the literature on rebound headache. We agree that dosing of all analgesics (prescriptionandnonprescription)shouldbelimitedinpatientswith migraine to reduce the risk of analgesic rebound headache. 1 Finally, Maizels suggests that the availability of overthe-counter migraine products will exacerbate the problem of rebound headache. Of course, nonprescription analgesics (including a combination product of acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine) have long been widely available and widely used for migraine. In fact, almost two thirds of migraine sufferers in the United States treat with over-the-counter medication to the exclusion of prescription drugs. 2 Until the recent approval of Excedrin Migraine (a combination product of aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine), all nonprescription medication use for migraine was off-label. We believe that controlled clinical trials provide consumers and health care providers with the information they need to make appropriate treatment choices. We also believe that appropriate medication labeling as well as professional and consumer education about appropriate use should reduce, not increase, the “unrecognized epidemic” of drug rebound headache.
Leukocyte telomere length and age at menopause.

Background Telomere length is a marker of cellular aging that varies by the individual, is inherited, and is highly correlated across somatic cell types within persons. Inter-individual telomere length variability may partly explain differences in reproductive aging rates. We examined whether leukocyte telomere length was associated with menopausal age.
D(—)-Lactate Dehydrogenase in Lower Fungi

A lactate dehydrogenase, specific for nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide and D(-)-lactate, has been detected in extracts from two fungi of the order Leptomitales (Oomycetes). Several fungi of this order carry out a lactic acid fermentation under conditions of reduced oxygen tension.
A Note on Bubbles, Worthless Assets, and the Curious Case of General Motors

Since the company declared bankruptcy in June 2009, shares of General Motors stock (now known as Motors Liquidation Company) have continued to trade at a high volume while maintaining a market capitalization near $300 million through most of 2010. Anecdotal evidence strongly suggests that both rational speculators and uninformed investors (often mistaking Motors Liquidation for the new, reorganized GM) have purchased the stock. We develop a theoretical asset-pricing model that includes both types of agents. We present two major results. First, the most frequent state is one where a small fraction of rational agents ensure that the share price behaves as if all agents are rational. A second state exists where all rational agents exit and the share price is inflated. Second, fitting the model to Motors Liquidation, we find evidence of irrational asset pricing for this firm. We find little evidence of similar behavior in the share prices of the thirty stocks that compose the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
Fibrosarcoma occurring at the site of a plastic vascular graft.

A sarcoma, arising in association with a prosthetic arterial graft, was surgically excised. The patient, a 31-year-old man, sustained a soft tissue injury to the thigh 10 years previously. A lacerated superficial femoral artery was repaired with a woven teflon-dacron graft. A large tumor surrounded, but did not invade, the graft. The tumor posed diagnostic difficulties and was thought to be either an angiosarcoma or a fibrosarcoma. Electron microscopy, performed retrospectively, showed the tumor to be probably a fibrosarcoma. The relationship of the tumor to the graft and similar experimentally induced tumors are discussed.
Molecular correlates of morphological differentiation: Avian scutes and scales

The scute reticulate scales of birds differ morphologically. We present evidence that the differences extend to the level of molecular content and organization. From the molecular evidence it appears that the scute was derived from the crocodilian scale and that the reticulate scale, like the feather, may be a structure unique to birds.
Phencyclidine produces aggressive behavior in rapid eye movement sleep-deprived rats

Abstract This study examined effects of acute doses of phencyclidine (PCP; 0.025, 0.05, 0.10, and 0.20 mg/kg intraperitoneally) on intra-specific aggressive behavior and muricide in normal rats and rats deprived of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Dose-related changes in intra-specific aggression and muricide occurred in REM sleep-deprived rats only. Dose-response curves are inverted-U shaped with the .05 mg/kg dose producing increases in aggression. Intra-specific and muricide may serve as models of PCP-induced aggression in humans.
Construction and characterization of the chloramphenicol-resistance gene cartridge: a new approach to the transcriptional mapping of extrachromosomal elements.

Abstract A system has been developed to transcriptionally map plasmid DNA molecules in vivo. This system is based upon the activity of the Tn 9 Cm r gene whose product, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT), can be easily assayed enzymatically and identified phenotypically in Escherichia coli . The Cm r gene was excised as a single DNA fragment from the plasmid cloning vector, pBR328, and its ends were converted to hexamer-specific restriction enzyme recognition sites. These modified Cm r gene fragments were designated “CAT cartridges”. The CAT cartridges were expressed at high levels only when inserted in the proper orientation, downstream of a plasmid promoter. Using DNA restriction endonuclease cleavage sites as insertion points, the CAT cartridges were inserted into plasmid pBR327, and the levels of CAT activity produced in cells containing the various plasmids were determined. The CAT activities at each position and orientation were used to construct a transcriptional map of plasmid pBR327. The positions and strengths of promoters demonstrated in vivo using the CAT cartridge coincided with those predicted by in vitro studies. Using the CAT cartridges it should be possible to study gene expression on any extrachromosomal element in the appropriate host.
Optimizing Water Efficiency in Distributed Data Centers

The number and scale of data centers explode with the dramatically surging demand for cloud computing services, resulting in huge electricity consumption as well as an enormous impact on sustainability. While numerous efforts have been dedicated to decreasing the carbon footprint of data centers, there is a surprising and also embarrassing lack of attention to the enormity of data center water consumption despite its emergence as a critical concern for future sustainability. In this paper, we take the first step towards the data center water efficiency. We first identify two characteristics of data center water efficiency: water efficiency varies by location and also over time. Then, by exploiting these characteristics, we propose a novel geographical load balancing (GLB) algorithm, called GLB for Water Sustainability (GLB-WS), which dynamically schedules workloads to water-efficient data centers for improving the overall water usage effectiveness (an emerging metric for quantifying data center water efficiency) while satisfying the electricity cost constraint. We also perform a trace-based simulation study to validate the analysis. The result shows that compared to the state-of-the-art cost-minimizing GLB, GLB-WS significantly improves the water efficiency (by 60%) and reduces the water consumption (by 51%).
Anything you can do, I can do better (no you can't)

Abstract Computer vision suffers from an overload of written information but a dearth of good evaluations and comparisons. This paper discusses why some of the problems arise and offers some guidelines we should all follow.
Cycloleucine Transport in Isolated Rat Thymocytes: In Vitro Effects of Triiodothyronine and Thyroxine

Thymocytes obtained from suckling or young adult rats were used as a model system to study the action of thyroid hormones in vitro. In this tissue, L-triiodothyronine (T3) increased the uptake of the non-metabolizable amino acids, a-aminoisobutyrate and cycloleucine. A detectable effect of T3 on the uptake of cycloleucine was seen at a concentration of 0.1 µM and maximum effects were seen at 20 µ.M. Thyroxine (TJ also increased cycloleucine uptake with about one-third the potency of T3, and this effect could not be ascribed to conversion of T4 to T3. In contrast, L-monoidotyrosine and L-diiodotyrosine were without effects on transport. Kinetic studies indicated that T3 enhanced uptake by inhibiting amino acid efflux; no effect was seen on influx. The effect of T3 on amino acid uptake was evident within 1 min, and was not inhibited by either prior treatment of the cells with cycloheximide or by lowering the incubation temperature from 37 to 24 C. In other studies, when T3 was injected into rats in vivo at ...
The spiritual care of sick children: reflections from a pilot participation project

The authors are a multi-disciplinary team of chaplains, one with a counselling qualification, and an academic with a research background in spirituality and youth work. A pilot participation project undertaken at Birmingham Children’s Hospital (UK) focused on increasing the understanding of the spiritual needs of sick children and young people and involving children and young people in improving the service and provision of spiritual and religious care to them. Views from children, young people and parents were sought with the intention of developing resources and training that help facilitate the meeting of spiritual and religious needs of children and young people in hospital. Within the wider chaplaincy team are chaplains from the six major world faiths and this project considers spiritual needs of children and young people who perceive themselves as belonging to a faith group or not. Reflections from the pilot include identifying ten principles and practices to inform the spiritual care of sick childr...
Neo-Marxists, Nietzscheans, and New Critics: The Voices of the Contemporary Law and Literature Discourse

Later in life, as White took up legal practice and then law teaching, the interrelations of law and literature continued to please him. Literary texts informed his legal work, and experiences in the law enhanced his literary reading. "For me," White says, "the activities of law and literature, usually thought of as separate, were in a deep sense the same thing, and I could not do one without the other" (at xii). Among American law and literature scholars this sentiment is a veritable credo. These scholars have been productive and provocative throughout the twentieth century, and in recent years they have come to constitute an interdisciplinary law and literature movement, one that does not revolve around White but certainly includes him as a most distinguished contributor. As one familiar with the history of law and literature scholarship, I
Dairy farm wells in southeastern Minnesota: The relation of new water sources (new wells) to milk and milk fat production

Abstract Milk and milk fat production per cow were studied on 17 Fillmore County, Minnesota, Dairy Herd Improvement Association dairies before and after the source of drinking water for cows was changed by the drilling of a new well. New wells were in deeper aquifers which were more protected from waterborne pollutants; the former wells were in shallow, easily polluted aquifers. Seventeen other dairies with swallow wells served as controls, matched for pre-well milk production per cow, dairy location, and breed of cow. The changes in milk and milk fat production per cow after the drillingof a new well were not statistically significant.
Bradycardia and its complications in the prehospital phase of acute myocardial infarction.

To elucidate the mechanisms of sudden death in the prehospital phase of acute myocardial infarction, the records of 84 patients with acute myocardial infarction transported by the mobile coronary care unit of Montgomery County, Maryland, were studied. Twenty patients (24 percent) had bradycardia, 10 receiving no pharmacologic therapy other than narcotic drugs. All 20 survived transportation and hospitalization, whereas 7 of the 64 patients without bradycardia died. Ten (12 percent) had systolic blood pressure values of 90 mm Hg or less, and bradycardia was an associated finding in five. Thus, in a suburban-metropolitan population of the United States, bradycardia occurs frequently during the prehospital phase of acute myocardial infarction. Although the overall incidence of hypotension is low by the time a patient calls for medical aid, hypotension is not uncommon in patients with bradycardia. The therapeutic implications of these observations depend on an elucidation of the natural history of acute myocardial infarction with bradycardia in the presence and absence of hypotension.
Poverty, Physical Stature, and Cognitive Skills: Mechanisms Underlying Children's School Enrollment in Zambia.

Past research suggests robust positive associations between household socioeconomic status and children's early cognitive development in Western countries. Relatively little is known about these relations in low-income country settings characterized by economic adversity, high prevalence of malnutrition and infectious disease, and relatively lower school enrollment. The present study develops and empirically evaluates an adapted model of early childhood development using a sample of 2,711 Zambian 6-year-olds. Early learning in and out of the home was found to explain much of the relation between socioeconomic status and children's cognitive skills, including language, nonverbal reasoning, and executive function. Child height-for-age (a proxy for overall nutritional status and health) was also predictive of children's cognitive skills and both early and on-time school enrollment. Implications for global child development, intervention, and future work are discussed.
Importance of the C1 anterior tubercle depth and lateral mass geometry when placing C1 lateral mass screws.

OBJECTIVE: We measured the variability in the size of the anterior tubercle of C1 and the optimal depth and angle of placement of C1 lateral mass screws using axial and sagittal reconstructed computed tomographic scans to determine the utility of these parameters for preoperative planning and intraoperative guidance. METHODS: One hundred consecutive cervical spine computed tomographic scans were reviewed (mean patient age, 44.6 years; age range, 7-96 years). The size of the anterior tubercle of C1, bilateral depths of optimal screw placement in the axial and sagittal planes, and optimal angles of placement in the axial and sagittal planes were measured in a standardized manner using the measuring tool included in our radiology server software. These measurements were correlated with age and sex. RESULTS: The mean depth of the C1 tubercle was 6.9 mm (range, 2.7―11.2 mm; standard deviation, 1.7 mm). The depth of the C1 tubercle tended to increase with age, but the relationship was not significant. The optimal screw depth in the sagittal plane was significantly greater than in the axial plane (right 2.09 versus 1.93 cm; left 2.07 versus 1.91 cm). The depth of the right lateral mass increased significantly with age. No other relationships reached significance. CONCLUSION: The depth of the anterior tubercle of C1 varies considerably and should be studied carefully before using lateral fluoroscopy of this structure to guide depth of C1 lateral mass screw placement. Optimal angles and depths of placement of C1 lateral mass screws vary widely and should be examined preoperatively to plan appropriate depth and trajectory.
Treatment of West Nile virus-infected mice with reactive immunoglobulin reduces fetal titers and increases dam survival.

Abstract The objectives of this study were to determine if injection of West Nile virus (WNV) into timed-pregnant mice would result in fetal infection and if administration of WNV-reactive immunoglobulin would increase dam survival and reduce fetal viral titers. Dams injected on 7.5 days post-coitus (dpc) had detectable viral titers in the placenta 10.5 dpc with a mean titer of 10 4.9 50% cell-culture infectious doses per gram of tissue (CCID 50 /g tissue). The mean placental titer increased to 10 8.6 CCID 50 /g tissue at 12.5 dpc. Infectious virus was detectable 12.5 dpc in 10 of 10 fetuses with a mean titer of 10 7.5 CCID 50 /g tissue. Treatment of dams (challenged with WNV on 7.5 dpc) with WNV-reactive human immunoglobulin (Ig) on 8.5 and 9.5 dpc resulted in a significant reduction of virus in fetuses as compared with non-reactive human Ig-treated females on 12.5 dpc ( P ≤ 0.001). Treatment also resulted in survival of dams to term. Treatment of dams with WNV-reactive human Ig on 12.5 and 13.5 dpc also resulted in reduction of viral titer on 14.5 dpc, indicating that later treatment may also be efficacious. This suggests that Ig treatment may be useful in treating fetal WNV infection in women.
Alzheimer's disease: challenges ahead.

Research on Alzheimer's disease (AD) has gone through periods of great enthusiasm with the view that its etiology and pathogenesis would be clarified in the near future. In recent years, a turning point was the dis-coveries in the nineties of mutations in the familial forms of the disease. A key development as well was the observation that the e4 apolipoprotein E variant is a strong genetic risk factor for the late onset form of AD. Although these major findings have certainly shed some light on its causes and progression, it is disappointing that we do not fully understand their involvement in the disease, and the majority of AD cases have no clearly identified risk factors. Furthermore, these targets have yet to lead to the development of effective drugs, although it should be acknowledged that several clinical trials are underway. Based on available data from these studies, it appears that these experimental therapies are not likely to reverse the course of the disease but may perhaps stabilize it and/or delay its progression. To prevent it or postpone its onset, better diagnostic methods must be developed that are sufficiently sensitive and specific to detect the disease in its earliest stages prior to measurable cognitive deficits. A part of the problem is that AD may well be several different disorders with only a final common endpoint, namely loss of synapses, neurons and aggregation of amyloid-β and tau, with associated pathologies and cognitive impairments. Once these endpoint features have been established, it may be too late to figure out the originating defects and to do much about it. The presumably slow progression of AD, starting several years and even decades before clinical symptoms, make it particularly challenging to understand, diagnose early, and treat. Al-though several excellent animal models have been developed for this purpose, none recapitulate all the as-pects of AD. It is therefore not surprising that several potential therapies that worked in animals have been ineffective in clinical trials. In summary, the major challenges in the field are to: (1) Identify risk factors for the majority of the sporadic cases that are unrelated to apoE genotype; (2) Generate animal models with all the features of AD; (3) Detect individuals at risk prior to cognitive impairment, and; (4) Develop effective disease-modifying therapies. Even though numerous outstanding scientists and clinicians are working on solving these obvious problems with some promising recent findings, it is important to foster involvement of established investigators from other fields with unconventional ideas.
Patterns of Adaptation among Households of U.S.-Bound Migrants from Michoacán, Mexico:

This article provides a close-range study of conditions leading to illegal migration from a rural village in Mexico. It is one of the few available studies of illegal migration at its point of orig...
Narrative representations of revolutionary Zanzibar

Abstract Increasingly, geographers use literature and popular culture to interpret the ways in which historical events are represented and remembered. One goal of this usage of literature is the expansion of the prevailing scholarly imagination beyond western scripts to appreciate the nuances of interpretation which accompany any major world event. Here, I develop a cultural materialist study of narratives of Zanzibar's 1964 Revolution with a focus on accounts originating in Tanzania. These representations of history are assessed as dominant, residual, emergent and excluded accounts in a contest for cultural hegemony, emphasizing themes of place description and racial identity. Storytelling about Zanzibar's revolution evidences the layers of meaning in representations of history and highlights the shifting power dynamics and historical geography of cultural narratives. Such a multi-layered analysis is necessary because the revolution narrative is not an idle memory or an uncontested tale. It is at the core of many Zanzibaris» political identity. Zanzibar represents a microcosm of many of the world's most pressing social and geopolitical concerns, providing a valuable lesson in the intricacies of imagined communities and the imagined histories which accompany them.
Design and Characterization of PEG-Derivatized Vitamin E as a Nanomicellar Formulation for Delivery of Paclitaxel

Various PEG–Vitamin E conjugates including d-α-tocopheryl poly(ethylene glycol) succinate 1000 (TPGS) have been extensively studied as a nonionic surfactant in various drug delivery systems. However, limited information is available about the structure–activity relationship of PEG–Vitamin E conjugates as a micellar formulation for paclitaxel (PTX). In this study, four PEG–Vitamin E conjugates were developed that vary in the molecular weight of PEG (PEG2K vs PEG5K) and the molar ratio of PEG/Vitamin E (1/1 vs 1/2) in the conjugates. These conjugates were systematically characterized with respect to CMC, PTX loading efficiency, stability, and their efficiency in delivery of PTX to tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. Our data show that PEG5K-conjugates have lower CMC values and are more effective in PTX loading with respect to both loading capacity and stability. The conjugates with two Vitamin E molecules also worked better than the conjugates with one molecule of Vitamin E, particularly for PEG2K-system. Fur...
Utilization trends for advanced imaging procedures: evidence from individuals with private insurance coverage in California.

Background:Recent reports by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission have highlighted sharp increases in the use of advanced diagnostic imaging procedures among the Medicare fee-for-service population. Little research has examined whether such trends also exist among persons with generous private i
Pharmacogenomics: a systems approach

Pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics involve the study of the role of inheritance in individual variation in drug response, a phenotype that varies from potentially life-threatening adverse drug reactions to equally serious lack of therapeutic efficacy. Pharmacogenetics-pharmacogenomics represents a major component of the movement to 'individualized medicine'. Pharmacogenetic studies originally focused on monogenic traits, often involving genetic variation in drug metabolism. However, contemporary studies increasingly involve entire 'pathways' that include both pharmacokinetics (PKs)--factors that influence the concentration of a drug reaching its target(s)--and pharmacodynamics (PDs), factors associated with the drug target(s), as well as genome-wide approaches. The convergence of advances in pharmacogenetics with rapid developments in human genomics has resulted in the evolution of pharmacogenetics into pharmacogenomics. At the same time, studies of drug response are expanding beyond genomics to encompass pharmacotranscriptomics and pharmacometabolomics to become a systems-based discipline. This discipline is also increasingly moving across the 'translational interface' into the clinic and is being incorporated into the drug development process and governmental regulation of that process. The article will provide an overview of the development of pharmacogenetics-pharmacogenomics, the scientific advances that have contributed to the continuing evolution of this discipline, the incorporation of transcriptomic and metabolomic data into attempts to understand and predict variation in drug response phenotypes as well as challenges associated with the 'translation' of this important aspect of biomedical science into the clinic.
Cytokine levels in the preterm infant with neonatal intestinal injury.

Objectives The purpose of this study is to characterize the cytokine response of preterm newborns with surgical necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP) before surgical treatment and to relate these finding to intestinal disease (NEC vs. SIP). Study Design The study was a 14-month prospective, cohort study of neonates undergoing surgery or drainage for NEC or SIP or surgical ligation of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Multiplex cytokine detection technology was used to analyze six inflammatory markers: interleukin-2, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-1 β (IL-1β), interferon-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Results Patients with NEC had much higher median preoperative levels of IL-6 (NEC: 8,381 pg/mL; SIP: 36 pg/mL; PDA: 25 pg/mL, p Conclusion Surgical NEC is a profoundly more proinflammatory disease than SIP. The cytokine profiles of patients with SIP are closer to those of a nonseptic surgical neonate.
High-multiplicity cyclic job shop scheduling

We consider the High-Multiplicity Cyclic Job Shop Scheduling Problem. There are two objectives of interest: the cycle time and the flow time. We give several approximation algorithms after showing that a very restricted case is APX-hard.
Studies on metabolism of linoleic-1-14C acid in testes of hypophysectomized rats

Studies are reported on the influence of hypophysectomy and pituitary gonadotrophins on the interconversion and incorporation of linoleic-1-14C acid into lipid classes of mature rat testis. Linoleic 1-14C acid was injected into the testes of mature rats 3 weeks after hypophysectomy. Groups of animals were killed at 0.25, 0.50, 1, 3, 12, 24, 36 and 48 hr after injection of the radioactive linoleic acid, and the incorporation of radio-activity into the fatty acids and lipid classes of the testicular lipids was determined. Similar experiments were carried out with hypophysectomized animals injected intramuscularly with luteinizing or follicle stimulating hormones, or both. The specific activitties of the triglyverides and phospholipids of the testicular lipid increased to a maximum ca. 1 hr after the injection of the radioactive linoleic acid, then decreased sharply. The general pattern of changes in the specific activities of these compounds indicated that the rate of fatty acid catabolism was greatly increased by hypophysectomy. In contrast, the specific activities of the cholesteryl esters and glyceryl ether diesters changed slowly after reaching a maximum at approximately the same time. This pattern, their accumulation in the lipid, and an increase in the constituent 22∶5 indicated that the turnover of these compounds was impaired by hypophysectomy. The conversion of linoleic acid to arachidonic acid was also impaired by hypophysectomy, as evidenced by an increase in the percentage and the high specific activity of 20∶3 compared to 20∶4. The administration of gonadotrophins partially prevented the effects of hypophysectomy, indicating that some of the enzymes in the testes involved in the metabolism of the lipids are hormone sensitive.
Modeling of magnetic material displaying magnetic aftereffect with slow decay rates

Abstract For magnetic materials that display slow decay rates, the entire relaxation process cannot be observed experimentally within a reasonable time interval. While magnetic aftereffect behavior has been understood and analyzed quantitatively in general, the important parameters of magnetic materials with slow decay cannot be easily extracted. We present comprehensive experimental characterization of time, field, and temperature dependence of magnetic properties of a magnetic nanocomposite, which exhibits slow decay. Based on the measurement results and previously developed Preisach–Arrhenius model, we propose an analytical model that can predict the shape of the entire aftereffect curves at different temperatures with only the major hysteresis loop and one aftereffect curve at a specific holding field within the region of interest. The model is validated with both simulated data and measured data. This model allows the derivation of an analytical formula for the time variation of the magnetization based on a Gaussian distribution.
Diclofenac activates T cells in the direct popliteal lymph node assay and selectively induces IgG1 and IgE against co-injected TNP–OVA

Abstract Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are frequently associated with immune-mediated hypersensitivity reactions. The NSAID diclofenac is associated with several distinct allergic and autoimmune-like reactions including anaphylaxis, idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity and autoimmune hemolytic anemia. The aim of this study was to examine the immunostimulating potential of diclofenac in the direct popliteal lymph node assay (PLNA) and reporter antigen PLNA. In BALB/c mice, diclofenac caused dose-dependent increases in PLN weight and PLN cellularity in the direct PLNA; 0.25 mg was non-immunostimulating whereas 0.50–1.00 mg caused a significant PLN reaction. In the direct PLNA, diclofenac also increased the percent of T cells in the PLN with activated phenotypes (CD44 high CD62L low and CD44 high CD62L high ). Finally, the magnitude of the diclofenac-induced direct PLN reaction was significantly reduced when the assay was conducted in T-cell-deficient mice. When co-injected with the reporter antigen TNP–Ficoll (trinitrophenyl Ficoll), 0.50 mg diclofenac caused significant increases in PLN weight, PLN cellularity, and induced IgM and IgG 1 anti-TNP antibody forming cells (AFCs) in the PLN. In a final set of studies, a TNP–OVA PLNA was conducted using diclofenac, phenobarbital (negative control) and streptozotocin (positive control). As expected, phenobarbital (1.00 mg) failed to cause an increase in PLN cellularity or induce AFCs in the PLN. Streptozotocin (1.00 mg) caused significant increases in PLN cellularity, IgM AFCs, and selectively induced IgG 2a and IgG 2b AFCs against TNP–OVA. Likewise, diclofenac caused dose-dependent increases (0.25–1.00 mg) in PLN cellularity and IgM AFCs. However, in contrast to streptozotocin, diclofenac caused a selective dose-dependent increase in both IgG 1 and IgE AFCs. Finally, an increase in the intracellular level of IL-4, but not INFγ, was detected in CD4 + PLN cells following the injection of diclofenac mixed with TNP–OVA. Collectively, these data suggest that diclofenac: (i) induces a T-cell-dependent direct PLN reaction that; (ii) provides non-cognate help for IgG AFC production when co-injected with TNP–Ficoll, possibly through the formation of neo-antigens; and (iii) possesses intrinsic adjuvant activity that selectively induces IL-4 mediated production of IgG 1 and IgE against co-injected TNP–OVA.
Cost-effective and compact wide-field fluorescent imaging on a cell-phone

We demonstrate wide-field fluorescent and darkfield imaging on a cell-phone with compact, light-weight and cost-effective optical components that are mechanically attached to the existing camera unit of the cell-phone. For this purpose, we used battery powered light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to pump the sample of interest from the side using butt-coupling, where the pump light was guided within the sample cuvette to uniformly excite the specimen. The fluorescent emission from the sample was then imaged using an additional lens that was positioned right in front of the existing lens of the cell-phone camera. Because the excitation occurs through guided waves that propagate perpendicular to our detection path, an inexpensive plastic colour filter was sufficient to create the dark-field background required for fluorescent imaging, without the need for a thin-film interference filter. We validate the performance of this platform by imaging various fluorescent micro-objects in 2 colours (i.e., red and green) over a large field-of-view (FOV) of ∼81 mm2 with a raw spatial resolution of ∼20 μm. With additional digital processing of the captured cell-phone images, through the use of compressive sampling theory, we demonstrate ∼2 fold improvement in our resolving power, achieving ∼10 μm resolution without a trade-off in our FOV. Further, we also demonstrate darkfield imaging of non-fluorescent specimen using the same interface, where this time the scattered light from the objects is detected without the use of any filters. The capability of imaging a wide FOV would be exceedingly important to probe large sample volumes (e.g., >0.1 mL) of e.g., blood, urine, sputum or water, and for this end we also demonstrate fluorescent imaging of labeled white-blood cells from whole blood samples, as well as water-borne pathogenic protozoan parasites such as Giardia Lamblia cysts. Weighing only ∼28 g (∼1 ounce), this compact and cost-effective fluorescent imaging platform attached to a cell-phone could be quite useful especially for resource-limited settings, and might provide an important tool for wide-field imaging and quantification of various lab-on-a-chip assays developed for global health applications, such as monitoring of HIV+ patients for CD4 counts or viral load measurements.
On the importance of resolving the western boundary layer in wind-driven ocean general circulation models

Abstract The western boundary layer (WBL) plays a fundamental role in basin-scale wind-driven ocean circulations. In idealized ocean models with flat bottom topography, this layer is required not only to balance the interior Sverdrup transport to close the gyre circulation, but also to dissipate the vorticity imposed by the wind-stress curl. The width of the WBL in Munk-type models is estimated to be δ M ( A H / β ) 1/3 , where A H and β are horizontal eddy viscosity and the meridional derivative of the Coriolis parameter respectively. For commonly used values of A H , the boundary-layer width δ M ranges from 30 to less than 200 km in the mid-latitude ocean. This scale is often poorly resolved in large-scale climate models. This paper intends to demonstrate some consequences when the western boundary layer is not adequately resolved. It is found that coarse resolution models reach equilibrium states by distorting some important dynamics in order to dissipate wind-imposed vorticity. In three-dimensional models, for instance, very strong spurious upwelling and downwelling can occur along the WBL. In models of two-dimensional flow, however, spurious recirculations may develop near the boundary. These false features can be removed when the boundary layer is better resolved. We propose a method in which a spatially varying A H is used to broaden the WBL without affecting mixing in the interior. The method improves the model results considerably.
Endovascular repair of symptomatic carotid artery aneurysm with covered stent: A case report and literature review

Objectives:Extracranial carotid artery true aneurysm is extremely uncommon, and definite treatment has traditionally involved open surgical repair. Although successful management of the internal ca...
Changes in glutathione homeostasis during liver regeneration in the rat

We have shown previously that plating primary cultures of rat hepatocytes under low density, which stimulates hepatocytes to shift from the G 0 to the G 1 phase of the cell cycle, resulted in increased levels of glutathione (GSH) and cysteine, and increased activity of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (GCS), the rate-limiting enzyme in GSH synthesis (Lu et al., Am. J. Physiol. 1992;263:C1181-C1189). In the current work we examined changes in GSH homeostasis after two-thirds partial hepatectomy (PH). Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent two-thirds PH or sham operation. GSH, oxidized glutathione (GSSG), cysteine, GSH efflux, DNA synthesis, changes in GCS subunit messenger RNA (mRNA), and protein levels were measured 12 and 24 hours after PH. Both liver GSH and cysteine levels were doubled at 12 hours and remained elevated at 24 hours after PH. GSSG levels also increased, but the ratio of GSH to GSSG levels remained unchanged. The increase in GSH and cysteine levels preceded the increase in DNA synthesis. Sinusoidal GSH efflux was unchanged after two-thirds PH, but biliary GSH efflux decreased. However, total GSH efflux was minimally altered after two-thirds PH. The increase in GSH can be largely accounted for by the increase in both cysteine availability and the activity of GCS. The steady-state mRNA and protein levels of the GCS heavy subunit were increased at 12 hours after PH. The mRNA level of the GCS light subunit was unchanged. In summary, early in the course of liver regeneration the steady-state hepatic GSH levels double because of an increase in the biosynthesis of GSH.
Temperature and Ionic Strength Effects on Some Reactions Involving Sulfate Radical [SO4-(aq)]

Sulfate radical anion SO4- was generated by 248 nm laser flash photolysis of K2S2O8 solutions and monitored by time-resolved multipass absorbance at 454 nm. The 320−520 nm absorption spectrum of SO4- was unaffected by up to 2 M added HClO4, under the experimental conditions. Three reactions were investigated: (a) SO4- + SO4- → S2O82-, (b) SO4- + H2O → HSO4- + OH, and (c) SO4- + S2O82- → products. Rate constant kc was too slow to be measured, and only an upper limit was determined: kc ≤ 104 M-1 s-1. Arrhenius parameters were determined at low ionic strength over the range 11.8−74.4 °C: 2ka /e = (4.8 ± 2.0) × 105 exp(−1.7 ± 1.1 kJ mol-1/RT) cm s-1 and kb = (4.7 ± 0.1) × 103 exp(−15.5 ± 0.6 kJ mol-1/RT) M-1 s-1, where e is the SO4- absorption coefficient at 454 nm. At 296 K, the values are in good agreement with literature values: 2ka/e = (2.5 ± 0.2) × 105 cm s-1 and kb[H2O] = 440 ± 50 s-1. Rate constants ka and kb were found to increase strongly and nonlinearly with increasing ionic strength (added NaCl...
The Role of the Interlocking Director and Board Receptivity in the Diffusion of Practices

Board interlocks are frequently examined as conduits of practices between firms. I propose that variance among the individual directors who create these linkages affects the likelihood information is transmitted across them. Further, I discuss organizational characteristics that shape how receptive a board is to the diffusion of practices. I conceptualize a model to investigate, first, which directors are more likely to transmit experience or knowledge about organizational practices and, second, what factors influence how that information is received.
Nationwide Price Variability for an Elective, Outpatient Imaging Procedure

Abstract Purpose Out-of pocket expenses for common medical tests and procedures will become increasingly relevant as high-deductible insurance plans gain widespread adoption. The purpose of this study was to determine the variability of pricing for an outpatient, noncontrast knee MRI, based on geographic location and population. Methods We randomly chose nonhospital outpatient radiology centers in each state's highest-population locality, based on a list generated from the ACR MRI Accreditation Program database. The presence of ≥2 and a maximum of 3 centers within a given locality was required for inclusion. Using a standardized script, we contacted centers by phone to determine the lowest, out-of-pocket, bundled cost (technical fee plus professional fee). The median (interquartile range) costs were calculated within each locality and region, including Midwest, Northeast, South, and West regions. A generalized linear model and Spearman's rank correlation were used to determine the association between cost and region, and cost and population, respectively. Results A total of 122 outpatient centers from 43 cities were analyzed. Costs ranged from $259 to $2,042 across all centers. For centers within a locality, the difference between the minimum and maximum costs among centers ranged from $1,592 to $0; median cost differences between localities ranged from $1,488 to $325. Median cost for the West, Northeast, Midwest, and South region was $690, $500, $550, and $550, respectively ( P = .849). Median cost was inversely correlated with population density (ρ = –0.417 [correlation coefficient], P = .005). Conclusions Out-of-pocket costs for an outpatient knee MRI vary substantially across imaging centers, both locally and nationally. Cost tends to decrease with increasing local population.
Prediction and fundamental moving averages for discrete multidimensional harmonizable processes

Abstract The moving average representations of discrete multidimensional stationary processes are generalized to fundamental moving average representations of weakly harmonizable processes. For strongly harmonizable processes, necessary and sufficient conditions on covariance functions are obtained for the existence of such moving average representations. These are used in obtaining least squares prediction formulae for such processes.
Mapping Buried Bedrock Topography with Gravity

In the formerly glaciated Midwest, bedrock formations commonly are denser than overlying glacial sediments. Thus, gravity anomalies have a direct relationship to bedrock topography. Where the density contrast between the glacial sediments and the bedrock is known, the anomalies can be used to map the bedrock configuration if they can be isolated from gravity anomalies originating elsewhere in the geologic section. A method of isolating bedrock topography gravity anomalies is suggested based upon known bedrock elevations obtained from drillhole data. A regional gravity anomaly map is prepared by subtracting the excess gravitational effect of the known bedrock relief above a datum from the observed gravity anomalies at all drillhole sites. The regional gravity anomaly map is subtracted from the observed anomaly map to obtain a residual anomaly map reflecting the bedrock topography. The bedrock configuration can be calculated directly from this map. This method of isolating bedrock topography anomalies was found to be superior to the use of cross-profiling and least-squares polynomial approximation procedures in a study of Kalamazoo County, Michigan. The bedrock topography map of this County determined by the gravity-geologic method shows a complex bedrock topography and drainage system.
Why agribusiness anyway

“The distinctive competence of an organization is more than what it can do well; it is what it can do particularly well.” (K.R. Andrews1).
Building a partnership through collaboration, reflection, dialogue

Abstract The qualitative study examined the processes and approaches to collaboration, reflection, and dialogue of preservice and mentoring teachers who were engaged in a yearlong internship experience. Within the context of a university course grounded in constructivism, social constructivism, and the concept of teacher as researcher, the study explored the social interactions of the teachers throughout the course of the school day. Teachers were observed in the process of planning and reflecting on daily classroom activities through collaborative meetings with a focus on the teaching and learning process. The preservice teachers were educated in the use of the main principles described by the Reggio Emilia Approach ‐ collaboration reflection, and dialogue (Edwards, Gandini & Forman, 1998) and thus, served as a guide for the collaborative interactions with the mentoring teachers.
Spyn: augmenting the creative and communicative potential of craft

We present data collected from a field study of 12 needle-crafters introduced to Spyn-mobile phone software that associates digital records (audio/visual media, text, and geographic data) with locations on fabric. We observed leisure needle-crafters use Spyn to create one or more handmade garments over two to four weeks and then give those garments to friends, partners, and family members. Using Spyn, creators left behind digital and physical traces that heightened recipients' appreciation for the gift and enabled a diverse set of meanings to emerge. Digital engagements with Spyn became a means for unraveling the value of the gift: recipients used digital information associated with the physical objects to interpret the story behind the objects and their creators. We discuss the nature of this relationship between digital and physical material and its implications for craft.
Interplay between integrins and FLK-1 in shear stress-induced signaling.

Blood flow can modulate vascular cell functions. We studied interactions between integrins and Flk-1 in transducing the mechanical shear stress due to flow. This application of a step shear stress ...