cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
О некоторых аргументах в пользу жесткого и продолжительного карантина как средства против COVID-19 (Notes on a Few Arguments for Lasting Quarantine as a Means of Protection from the COVID-19)

Russian Abstract: Ссылки на исторический опыт Испанки в пользу жестких мер не поддерживаются фактами. Утверждения о том, что жесткий карантин - главное средство борьбы с вирусом охотно принимаются бюрократами и политиками. При этом фактических оснований за такими утверждениями пока явно недостаточно для обоснования реакций властей большинства стран на эпидемию. Популярный "этический" аргумент о приоритете защиты жизни по сравнению с доходами также несостоятелен. Резкое и массовое снижение доходов равносильно ощутимому росту заболеваемости и смертности. Популярная история о том, как правительство Италии своей нерасторопностью с введением принудительного карантина (в режиме домашнего ареста) повинно в высокой смертности также грубо противоречит фактам. Италия первой ввела такой карантин, а в Ломбардии - области с наивысшей смертностью карантинные меры начали вводиться за две недели до общенационального карантина (с 23 февраля). Политические интересы и стимулы бюрократов объясняют реакции властей намного надежнее сомнительных, в данном случае, резонов общественного блага. Тем правым политикам, которые под давлением слева выбрали этатистскую стратегию реагирования на эпидемию придется, вероятно, заплатить высокую цену на выборах если они быстро не скорректируют курс и не компенсируют избыточное вмешательство государства сегодня глубоким дерегулированием и фиксаций ограничений полномочий государства вмешиваться в частную жизнь. До выборов число пострадавших от безработицы или потерявших из-за карантина бизнес во много раз превысит число семей потерявших близких во время эпидемии. English Abstract: Here is collected short review of few popular arguments for strict quarantine during COVID-19 pandemic. Spanish Flu in the US experience is sometimes mentioned among the evidences of efficiency of lockdowns. The fact is, nothing comparable to nowadays lockdowns was applied during Spanish Flu. References on NYC provide actually clear evidences of the opposite – open businesses, schools and cultural facilities, extensive educational measures defended the most vulnerable to contagious diseases city in the country (main gates of the US to fighting Europe) from the most severe consequences (NYC lost 30 thousand lives – less than 5% of total national losses while in the current pandemic NYC have lost already almost 7 thousand lives – more than 30% of national losses). Italian Government is generally blamed for delayed moves in protection of population by strict quarantine. In fact authorities in Italy failed to protect population from the contacts with Chinese workers just returned from mainland China after Chinese New Year celebration (to avoid ‘racist’ approach) but rushed to impose quarantine among the first in the Europe. Experts, promoting strict quarantine, are totally ignoring broadly known and well established fact of mutual dependency between the level of incomes and risks of morbidity and mortality.
An Update on Multimodal Pain Management After Total Joint Arthroplasty.

➤ Multimodal analgesia has become the standard of care for total joint arthroplasty as it provides superior analgesia with fewer side effects than opioid-only protocols. ➤ Systemic medications, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, acetaminophen, corticosteroids, and gabapentinoids, and local anesthetics via local infiltration analgesia and peripheral nerve blocks, are the foundation of multimodal analgesia in total joint arthroplasty. ➤ Ideally, multimodal analgesia should begin preoperatively and continue throughout the perioperative period and beyond discharge. ➤ There is insufficient evidence to support the routine use of intravenous acetaminophen or liposomal bupivacaine as part of multimodal analgesia protocols.
Global optimal model selection for high-dimensional survival analysis

With the popularity of high-dimensional data, model selection is of great importance in recent survival analysis. In a model selection context, an important research question is how to define the b...
Multiple myeloma presenting as acute tubulointerstitial nephritis.

Background Acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (ATIN) is a very rare paraneoplastic manifestation in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). It is an uncommon pattern of renal disease in such patients. Case presentation We report a case of an 82-year-old male who was admitted with acute kidney injury. Renal biopsy showed typical findings of light chain-associated ATIN with scattered inflammatory cells in the interstitium and associated active tubulitis. No other common manifestations of MM were present at the time of presentation, including hypercalcemia, hyperuricemia, proteinuria, bone pain or lytic bone lesions. Subsequent immunoassays revealed significant serum lambda light chain burden and Bence Jones protein in urine. Immunofluorescence demonstrated linear tubular basement membranes with positive staining for lambda light chain (3+). Electron microscopy (EM) further showed interstitial edema and inflammation. All the aforementioned findings are consistent with ATIN and supported the diagnosis of MM. Conclusions In conclusion, light chain-associated ATIN should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute interstitial nephritis. Henceforth, serum free light chains as well as serum and urine protein electrophoresis should be included in the workup of such patients.
CD30+ Primary Cutaneous Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma

Primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (pcALCL), a member of the spectrum of CD30+ lymphoproliferative diseases, has an excellent prognosis. This indolent lymphoma is the second most common of all cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. It typically presents with solitary cutaneous and subcutaneous erythematous-to-violaceous papules and nodules. Although relapse after treatment is very common, patients are typically asymptomatic, and the vast majority do not experience extracutaneous spread.
AIRPORT DYNAMIC SIMULATION

The use of dynamic simulation to model the landside facilities of a modern airport offers a valuable analytical tool to the airport decision maker. The airport landside is defined as existing from the airport boundary to the aircraft gate. Those areas used for the movement and parking of aircraft (typically called the "airside" ) are excluded. Simulation technology can test and rank investment proposals by providing specific projections relating to landside congestion. This paper discusses an operating simulation that models the behavior of persons and vehicles moving through the landside systems. The output of the simulation is statistical information regarding the congestion parameters of waiting time, occupancy and flow at landside facilities. A description of how simulation outputs are validated and used in the determination of landside capacity is also included.
Is the 'Sophisticated Investor' Theory Still Relevant?

What is known as the "sophisticated investor doctrine" as a defense poses significant challenges: it is subjective, ambiguous and in many instances irrelevant to the complaint against which it is offered as a defense. Unlike arbitration, the sophisticated investor defense is generally unavailing in federal securities litigation because the antifraud provisions of federal securities laws are construed objectively and "as a general matter, the securities laws do not distinguish between sophistication and unsophisticated investors; both are entitled to protection, of disclosure and antifraud provisions." In addition, "the Act[s] does not speak in terms of sophisticated as opposed to unsophisticated people dealing in securities. The rules when the giants play are the same as when the pygmies enter the market." This article explains why use of the defense should be challenged in any securities arbitration of a unsuitability claim.
TWITTER AND DISASTERS: The uses of Twitter during the 2010 Pakistan floods

This research explores the specific use of the prominent social media website Twitter during the 2010 Pakistan floods to examine whether users tend to tweet/retweet links from traditional versus social media, what countries these users are tweeting from, and whether there is a correlation between location and the linking of traditional versus social media. The study finds that Western users have an overwhelming preference for linking to traditional media and Pakistani users have a slight preference for linking to social media. The study also concludes that authorities and hubs in our sample have a significant preference for linking to social media rather than traditional media sites. The findings of this study suggest that there is a perceived legitimacy of social media during disasters by users in Pakistan. Additionally, it provides insights into how social media may be – albeit minimally – challenging the dominant position of traditional media in disaster reporting in developing countries.
Minimizing View Sets without Losing Query-Answering Power

The problem of answering queries using views has been studied extensively due to its relevance in a wide variety of data-management applications. In these applications, we often need to select a subset of views to maintain due to limited resources. In this paper, we show that traditional query containment is not a good basis for deciding whether or not a view should be selected. Instead, we should minimize the view set without losing its query-answering power. To formalize this notion, we first introduce the concept of "p-containment." That is, a view set V is p-contained in another view set W, if W can answer all the queries that can be answered by V. We show that p-containment and the traditional query containment are not related. We then discuss how to minimize a view set while retaining its query-answering power. We develop the idea further by considering p-containment of two view sets with respect to a given set of queries, and consider their relationship in terms of maximally-contained rewritings of queries using the views.
Restated Financial Statements and Auditor Litigation

This study provides evidence on the restatement circumstances associated with lawsuits against auditors. We examine restatements of financial statements previously issued to the public and filed with the SEC by 416 US companies that announced restatements from 1995 to mid-1999. Our examination focuses on the accounting issues giving rise to restatements. We classify these issues as either economic or technical. Economic restatements involve transactions and accounts related to core (recurring) earnings; all other restatements are technical. We find that auditors are significantly more likely to be sued over economic restatements than technical ones. Additionally, we find that revenue restatements, one type of economic restatement and overall the most frequent, primarily contribute to this result. While economic restatements are associated with more severe circumstances as measured by fraud, materiality, bankruptcy/delisting, and security price reaction, our multivariate model includes these as control variables.
Three Powerful Ideas for Growing Communities of Teachers

These brief remarks introduce the articles by Kappa Delta Pi Laureates Marilyn Cochran-Smith, Luis C. Moll, and Ken Zeichner that make up a special section of this issue of the Record about growing...
An AXIN2 Mutant Allele Associated With Predisposition to Colorectal Neoplasia Has Context-Dependent Effects on AXIN2 Protein Function

Heterozygous, germline nonsense mutations in AXIN2 have been reported in two families with oligodontia and colorectal cancer (CRC) predisposition, including an AXIN2 1989G>A mutation. Somatic AXIN2 mutations predicted to generate truncated AXIN2 (trAXIN2) proteins have been reported in some CRCs. Our studies of cells from an AXIN2 1989G>A mutation carrier showed that the mutant transcripts are not significantly susceptible to nonsense-mediated decay and, thus, could encode a trAXIN2 protein. In transient transfection assays, trAXIN2 was more abundant than wild-type AXIN2 protein, and in contrast to AXIN2, glycogen synthase kinase 3β inhibition did not increase trAXIN2 levels. Like AXIN2, the trAXIN2 protein interacts with β-catenin destruction complex proteins. When ectopically overexpressed, trAXIN2 inhibits β-catenin/T-cell factor–dependent reporter gene activity and SW480 CRC cell colony formation. These findings suggest the trAXIN2 protein may retain some wild-type functions when highly expressed. However, when stably expressed in rat intestinal IEC-6 cells, the trAXIN2 protein did not match AXIN2’s activity in inhibiting Wnt-mediated induction of Wnt-regulated target genes, and SW480 cells with stable expression of trAXIN2 but not AXIN2 could be generated. Our data suggest the AXIN2 1989G>A mutation may not have solely a loss-of-function role in CRC. Rather, its contribution may depend on context, with potential loss-of-function when AXIN2 levels are low, such as in the absence of Wnt pathway activation. However, given its apparent increased stability in some settings, the trAXIN2 protein might have gain-of-function in cells with substantially elevated AXIN2 expression, such as Wnt pathway–defective CRC cells.
Film Review: A Life Without Words

Title: A Life Without Words Film/Video Producer : Documentary Educational Resources, Director: Adam Isenberg Name of Reviewer: Amanda McLaughlin Release Date: 2013 How to Obtain: http://www.der.org/films/life-without-words.html Cost: $24.95
Performance of the ATLAS Transition Radiation Tracker

Abstract The ATLAS Transition Radiation Tracker (TRT) is a large straw tube tracking system that is the outermost of the three subsystems of the ATLAS Inner Detector (ID). With over 350,000 readout channels, the TRT provides both excellent particle identification capabilities and electron-pion separation, as well as contributing significantly to the resolution for high-pt tracks in the ID. As the instantaneous luminosity of the LHC increases, the occupancy of the TRT will increase as well. The low-occupancy tracking resolution and efficiency will be presented, as will be studies of resolution and PID at higher occupancies.
Subsurface losses of surface-applied metribuzin as influenced by yard waste compost amendments, no-tillage, and conventional-tillage.

Metribuzin is effective as a broadleaf weed control for no-till tomatoes (Shelby et al., 1988) but has the potential to contaminate groundwater (USEPA, 1992; USEPA, 1985). No-till practices reduce water runoff and erosion but increased infiltration possibly results in more pesticide movement through the unsaturated zone and into groundwater (Gish et al., 1991; Donigian and Carsel, 1987). In contrast, Gish et al. (1995) reported that no-till can have a positive impact on groundwater quality. Therefore, it is desirable to design a tillage system that would reduce both erosion and decrease subsurface pesticide transport.
Conversion of an Atomic Fermi Gas to a Long-Lived Molecular Bose Gas

We have converted an ultracold Fermi gas of $^{6}\mathrm{L}\mathrm{i}$ atoms into an ultracold gas of $^{6}\mathrm{L}\mathrm{i}_{2}$ molecules by adiabatic passage through a Feshbach resonance. Approximately $1.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{5}$ molecules in the least-bound, $v=38$, vibrational level of the ${X}^{1}{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}_{g}^{+}$ singlet state are produced with an efficiency of 50%. The molecules remain confined in an optical trap for times of up to 1 s before we dissociate them by a reverse adiabatic sweep.
Biliary Issues in the Bariatric Population

Transabdominal imaging for biliary disease has limitations in the morbidly obese patient, and may underestimate gallbladder disease. The use of ursodeoxycholic acid has been shown to be effective in decreasing the risk of formation of gallstones and gallbladder sludge if used during the rapid weight loss phase after bariatric surgery. After Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, access to the biliopancreatic ducts by standard endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is compromised. The use of laparoscopic-assisted percutaneous transgastric ERCP is highly successful in providing access to the duodenum, to the bile, and to the pancreatic ducts.
An integrated mass flow sensor with on-chip CMOS interface circuitry

A multielement monolithic mass flow sensor which developed for possible use in automotive and industrial process control applications is reported. The chip illustrates the use of a common microstructure (a thin dielectric window/diaphragm) for the simultaneous measurement of flow velocity (rate), flow direction, gas type, and pressure. These transducers are merged with on-chip interface electronics to amplify and multiplex the transducer signals, control on-chip actuators, perform self-test, reduce the number of external leads required, and demonstrate process compatibility with a p-well CMOS process. The on-chip circuitry also implements a bandgap sensor for the measurement of ambient temperature. Thus, the chip simultaneously monitors all parameters needed for the computation of true mass flow, requires only ten external leads, and delivers high-level buffered output signals. >
Desensitization for solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Desensitization protocols are being used worldwide to enable kidney transplantation across immunologic barriers, i.e. antibody to donor HLA or ABO antigens, which were once thought to be absolute contraindications to transplantation. Desensitization protocols are also being applied to permit transplantation of HLA mismatched hematopoietic stem cells to patients with antibody to donor HLA, to enhance the opportunity for transplantation of non-renal organs, and to treat antibody-mediated rejection. Although desensitization for organ transplantation carries an increased risk of antibody-mediated rejection, ultimately these transplants extend and enhance the quality of life for solid organ recipients, and desensitization that permits transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells is life saving for patients with limited donor options. Complex patient factors and variability in treatment protocols have made it difficult to identify, precisely, the mechanisms underlying the downregulation of donor-specific antibodies. The mechanisms underlying desensitization may differ among the various protocols in use, although there are likely to be some common features. However, it is likely that desensitization achieves a sort of immune detente by first reducing the immunologic barrier and then by creating an environment in which an autoregulatory process restricts the immune response to the allograft.
Protection from ataxia-linked apoptosis by gap junction inhibitors.

Mutations in the protein kinase C γ (PKCγ) gene cause spinocerebellar ataxia type 14 (SCA14), a heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder. Synthetic peptides (C1B1) serve as gap junction inhibitors through activation of PKCγ control of gap junctions. We investigated the neuroprotective potential of these peptides against SCA14 mutation-induced cell death using neuronal HT22 cells. The C1B1 synthetic peptides completely restored PKCγ enzyme activity and subsequent control of gap junctions. PKCγ SCA14 mutant proteins were shown to cause aggregation which initially resulted in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and cell apoptosis as demonstrated by phosphorylation of PERK on Thr981, activation of caspase-12, increases in BiP/GRP78 protein levels, and consequent activation of caspase-3. Pre-incubation with C1B1 peptides completely abolished these SCA14 effects on ER stress and caspase-3 activation, suggesting that C1B1 peptides protect cells from apoptosis through inhibition of gap junctions by restoration of PKCγ control of gap junctions, which may result in neuroprotection in SCA14.
EFFECTS OF GAMMA-IRRADIATION ON THE PRIMITIVE GERM-CELLS OF THE PREPUBERTAL BOVINE TESTIS.

SummaryPost-natal male Hereford calves aged 1 to 150 days were exposed to a 200 r whole-body dose of gamma-rays and castrated at 30, 60, or 210 days after irradiation.The quantitative histological analysis revealed that the primitive bovine germ-cell is most radiosensitive during the post-natal period which extends from birth to approximately 70 days old. A lesser sensitivity was apparent at 80 to 105 days, and relatively minor damage was produced from 120 to 150 days post-natal.Changes in germ-cell radiosensitivity were shown to be correlated with quantitative and qualitative alterations within the developing germ-cell population.
Long-term follow-up after bowel resection for necrotizing enterocolitis: Factors affecting outcome

Abstract Background: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common surgical emergency among newborns and is associated with a high morbidity and mortality. This study evaluates the long-term survival of infants requiring surgical intervention for NEC and factors affecting outcome. Methods: A retrospective review of infants requiring surgery for complications of NEC at a tertiary care, pediatric hospital over a 16-year period was performed. Patients were evaluated for early and late morbidity and mortality, length of intestinal resection, presence of the ileocecal valve (ICV), days of parenteral nutrition (PN), and growth. Results: Two hundred forty-nine patients were included, with an average gestational age of 30 ± 5 (±SD) weeks and birth weight of 1.50 ± 0.89 kg. The surgical mortality rate was 45%, with survivors (137) being larger ( P P Conclusions: Survivors of NEC are characterized by greater gestational age, greater birth weight, and older postgestational age at surgery. Infants who underwent greater intestinal resections required longer periods of PN. The length of intestine resected or presence of the ileocecal valve had no overall bearing on long-term outcome.
W::Neo: A Novel Dual-Selection Marker for High Efficiency Gene Targeting in Drosophila

We have recently developed a so-called genomic engineering approach that allows for directed, efficient and versatile modifications of Drosophila genome by combining the homologous recombination (HR)-based gene targeting with site-specific DNA integration. In genomic engineering and several similar approaches, a "founder" knock-out line must be generated first through HR-based gene targeting, which can still be a potentially time and resource intensive process. To significantly improve the efficiency and success rate of HR-based gene targeting in Drosophila, we have generated a new dual-selection marker termed W::Neo, which is a direct fusion between proteins of eye color marker White (W) and neomycin resistance (Neo). In HR-based gene targeting experiments, mutants carrying W::Neo as the selection marker can be enriched as much as fifty times by taking advantage of the antibiotic selection in Drosophila larvae. We have successfully carried out three independent gene targeting experiments using the W::Neo to generate genomic engineering founder knock-out lines in Drosophila.
Temporal and Spatial Control of Germ-Plasm RNAs

In many species, germ cells form in a specialized germ plasm, which contains localized maternal RNAs. In the absence of active transcription in early germ cells, these maternal RNAs encode germ-cell components with critical functions in germ-cell specification, migration, and development. For several RNAs, localization has been correlated with release from translational repression, suggesting an important regulatory function linked to localization. To address the role of RNA localization and translational control more systematically, we assembled a comprehensive set of RNAs that are localized to polar granules, the characteristic germ-plasm organelles. We find that the 3'-untranslated regions (UTRs) of all RNAs tested control RNA localization and instruct distinct temporal patterns of translation of the localized RNAs. We demonstrate necessity for translational timing by swapping the 3'UTR of polar granule component (pgc), which controls translation in germ cells, with that of nanos, which is translated earlier. Translational activation of pgc is concurrent with extension of its poly(A) tail length but appears largely independent of the Drosophila CPEB homolog ORB. Our results demonstrate a role for 3'UTR mediated translational regulation in fine-tuning the temporal expression of localized RNA, and this may provide a paradigm for other RNAs that are found enriched at distinct cellular locations such as the leading edge of fibroblasts or the neuronal synapse.
A Tale of Two Rashes

PRESENTATION A rash is often an important clue as to the etiology of a systemic illness. In this case, 1 patient developed 2 distinct rashes that led to two diagnoses both associated with C4 complement deficiency. A 72-year-old woman with endstage renal disease presented to our emergency department with an 8-day history of pain and swelling in her left arm. She recalled that she had experienced similar symptoms 4 months previously; at that time, she had been treated with angioplasty of an occluded vascular graft in the same extremity. Her medical history was otherwise significant for a hospital admission 10 years previously for management of malignant hypertension, dyspnea, and seizures. At that time, she had marked hypertension, peripheral edema, and bilateral pleural effusions. Her serum creatinine level was 2.4 mg/dL, and she had proteinuria (4.16 g protein per 24 hours). Antinuclear antibody testing was positive, with an atypical speckled pattern. Anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies also were positive (titer not reported), but her anti-double stranded DNA antibody titer was negative. Her rheumatoid factor level was mildly elevated (17 IU/mL; normal range, 0–15 IU/mL). Monoclonal IgM kappa and polyclonal IgG cryoglobulins were present at 3% total concentration. Complement testing yielded a normal C3 level (102 mg/dL) but no detectable C4. Hepatitis B surface and core antibodies, but not surface antigen, were detected. Hepatitis C testing
Kinetic study on the alkaline degradation of amylose

The kinetics of end-wise degradation of amylose has been studied varying base concentration and temperature. At 100°C, the rate of peeling increases with hydroxyl ion concentration up to 0.1 N base concentration, remaining constant thereafter, whereas the rate of termination continues to increase beyond this point levelling off finally to a constant value at approximately 1.5 N base concentration. As a consequence, the ratio of peeling to termination is sufficiently high in 0.01–0.1 N sodium hydroxide solutions to effect total degradation of amylose. The kinetic pattern is interpreted in terms of mono- and di-ions of the reducing end-groups acting as reactive intermediates. The potential application of the peeling reaction to structural studies of polysaccharides is discussed.
ICADS expert design advisor: an aid to reflective thinking

Abstract An Intelligent Computer Aided Design System ( ICADS ) is under long-term development. Central to this work is the philosophy that the system should be a valuable assistant to the designer throughout the entire design activity. The current working ICADS prototype is a distributive system that can run with a variety of hardware processors in a Unix environment. It includes an expert design advisor that has six knowledge-based systems working as domain experts, a blackboard-coordination expert, two knowledge bases, and several sources of reference data. The expert design advisor in the prototype interprets a drawing as it is being made by a designer working in a CAD environment. It reacts in real time to monitor the evolving floorplan from the viewpoints of experts in the domains of access, climate, cost, lighting, sound and structure. The system also provides for additional interaction with the designer outside the CAD system to help in the realization of a resultant design that is free from conflicts in the six areas listed above.
Myocardial protection with potassium-channel openers is as effective as St. Thomas' solution in the rabbit heart.

Background. Previous work from our laboratory has demonstrated the advantage of adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium-channel openers as cardioplegic agents when compared with hyperkalemic (20 mmol/L KCl) Krebs-Henseleit solution. However, Krebs-Henseleit with 20 mmol/L KCl is not an ideal hyperkalemic cardioplegia. Therefore, we investigated the hypothesis that hyperpolarized arrest with pinacidil and aprikalim could provide equal or superior myocardial protection to hyperkalemic arrest with the widely accepted St. Thomas' solution. Methods. Myocardial protection was compared in the blood-perfused isolated parabiotic rabbit heart Langendorff model. Twenty-four hearts were protected with a 50-mL infusion of cardioplegia for a 30-minute global normothermic ischemic period followed by 30 minutes of reperfusion. Systolic function (percent recovery of developed pressure) and the diastolic properties of the left ventricle were measured. Coronary blood flow was measured throughout each experiment. Results. The percent recovery of developed pressure (mean ± standard error of the mean) for St. Thomas' solution, pinacidil, and aprikalim was 53.1% ± 5.4%, 64.0% ± 3.0%, and 62.4% ± 3.2%, respectively. The time (minutes) until mechanical and electrical arrest was significantly longer in the pinacidil (4.82 ± 0.10 and 12.06 ± 1.07) and aprikalim (3.33 ± 0.28 and 11.12 ± 0.94) groups when compared with the St. Thomas group (1.84 ± 0.74, and 3.17 ± 1.44). Coronary blood flow upon reperfusion was significantly greater in the pinacidil (16.4 ± 2.1 mL/min) and aprikalim (19.4 ± 2.8 mL/min) groups compared with the St. Thomas' solution group (8.0 ± 1.0 mL/min), and this returned to baseline after 15 minutes of reperfusion. Conclusions. Myocardial protection with pinacidil and aprikalim is comparable with that of St. Thomas' solution in the blood-perfused isolated rabbit heart despite prolonged mechanical and electrical activity during ischemia.
The effects of deuterium oxide (2H2O) on the polymerization of tubulin in vitro

The initial rate and final extent of polymerization of both bovine brain tubulin and sea urchin egg tubulin were enhanced in the presence of 2H2O. The yields were increased in association with the elevation of the 2H2O concentration. 2H2O also reduced the critical concentration for polymerization of brain tubulin. Thermodynamic analysis was attempted using the temperature dependence of the critical concentration for polymerization in the presence of 2H2O. We obtained linear van 't Hoff plots and calculated thermodynamic parameters which were positive and were increased with the elevation of the 2H2O concentration. The enhancement of the polymerization of tubulin by 2H2O could, therefore, be the result of the strenghening of intra-and/or inter-molecular hydrophobic interactions of the tubulin molecules. We believe that the increase in lenghth and number of microtubules of the mitotic spindles in the dividing cells of the eukaryotes with 2H2O may be caused by the direct involvement of 2H2O in the polymerization of tubulin.
Inferring human stem cell behaviour from epigenetic drift.

Although conventional experimental manipulations are impractical, it may be possible to infer human stem cell fates by ‘reading’ histories recorded within their genomes. Genomes are almost perfect copies of copies, and ancestries may be surreptitiously recorded by replication errors that inevitably accumulate. The greater the number of divisions, the greater the number of replication errors (‘a molecular clock hypothesis’). Mutations rarely occur during a lifetime, but DNA methylation patterns are also copied after DNA replication and measurably drift with ageing at certain CpG sites in mitotic tissues, such as the colon. Such passenger methylation pattern variation may effectively function as ‘epigenetic’ somatic cell mitotic clocks. Replication errors can only accumulate in long-lived stem cell lineages, so methylation pattern drift largely records stem cell behaviour. How methylation patterns may encode stem cell ancestries is illustrated with two types of small reproductive units — colon crypt niches with continuous genealogies, and hair follicles with punctuated genealogies. Potentially, the genealogy of any human cell may be inferred by ‘reading’ its genome.
A General Numerical Procedure for Extracting Mixed-Mode Stress Intensity Factors Along the Fronts of Three-Dimensional Nonplanar Cracks

A numerical procedure is described for extracting mixed-mode stress intensity factors along the fronts of three-dimensional, nonplanar cracks embedded in solids. The mixed-mode stress intensity factors at points along the crack front are obtained by evaluating interaction energy integrals for three-dimensional, non-planar cracks. To assess the validity of the numerical procedure, two numerical examples are considered. First, we consider the problem of a non-planar, lens-shaped crack in an infinite solid subjected to hydrostatic tension. The numerical results are shown to be in excellent agreement with available analytical results. We then consider the case of a non-planar, warped elliptical crack surface, where to our knowledge no analytical solution exists, and the results are discussed.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Transport mechanisms responsible for the absorption of loracarbef, cefixime, and cefuroxime axetil into human intestinal Caco-2 cells

Abstract Loracarbef, cefixime and cefuroxime axetil are β-lactam antibiotics that are administered orally. Oral absorption of loracarbef is nearly complete, while that of cefixime and cefuroxime axetil is 30–50%. To investigate this we used the human intestinal cell line Caco-2 that possesses the proton-dependent peptide transporter that takes up cephalexin and cefaclor. Drug uptake was measured at pH 6 by high performance liquid chromatography or with radioactively labelled drug. The initial uptake rate of 1 mM cefixime was lower than that of 1 mM loracarbef. By 2 h both drugs were concentrated intracellularly against a gradient; however, the accumulation of cefixime was only 40% of that of loracarbef. The uptake rate of both drugs was sodium-independent, temperature- and energy-dependent, and was inhibited by dipeptides, cephalexin, cefaclor, but not by amino acids. Kinetic analysis of the concentration-dependence of the uptake rates for loracarbef and cefixime indicated that diffusion and a single transport system were responsible for uptake. The kinetic parameters for loracarbef and cefixime, respectively, were: K m values of 8 and 17 mM and V max values of 6.5 and 2 nmol/min per mg protein. Loracarbef and cefixime were competitive inhibitors of each other's uptake. By contrast, cefuroxime axetil was taken up and rapidly hydrolyzed to cefuroxime by Caco-2 cells. Cefuroxime axetil uptake was not dependent on energy and was not affected by dipeptides. Thus, cefuroxime axetil apparently enters Caco-2 cells by simple diffusion. By contrast, loracarbef and cefixime share a common transport mechanism, the proton-dependent dipeptide transporter. Cefixime was taken up less well than loracarbef due to a substantial reduction in the turnover rate and decreased affinity of the transporter for cefixime.
Radiation D10 values for Salmonella Typhimurium LT2 and an Escherichia coli cocktail in pecan nuts (Kanza cultivar) exposed to different atmospheres

Abstract Electron beam irradiation can help prevent outbreaks due to consumption of raw nuts. However, their high-fat content makes irradiation difficult and methods to reduce the dose required for decontamination (D10-value) are needed; in addition, accurate D10-values are currently lacking. Our objectives were (1) to determine the effect of irradiation set-up on the D10-values of the populations of an Escherichia coli cocktail (BAA-1427, BAA-1428, BAA-1430) and Salmonella Typhimurium LT2 inoculated in pecans and (2) to assess the effect of Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) conditions on the D10-values. Pecan halves [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch cv. Kanza] were inoculated either in the dorsal grooves or on their flat surface and irradiated at room temperature using a 1.35-MeV e-beam accelerator at 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 kGy under vacuum-packaging (VP), air-packaging (AP), 100% nitrogen-packaging (NP), and 100% oxygen-packaging (OP). There were no (P > 0.05) differences in D10-values between the microorganisms under the different atmospheres. The D10-values obtained when pecans were irradiated under vacuum were higher (P
Benefit of immune monitoring in heart transplant patients using ATP production in activated lymphocytes.

Background Balancing immunosuppression to prevent rejection while minimizing infection or drug toxicity risk is a major challenge in heart transplantation. Therapeutic drug monitoring alone is inadequate to measure the immune response. An immune monitoring (IM) assay (ImmuKnow; Cylex, Columbia, MD) performed on peripheral blood measures adenosine triphosphatase (ATP) release from activated lymphocytes and may predict the immune state. Therefore, we sought to determine the utility of IM in heart transplant recipients. Methods Between November 2005 and July 2008, 296 heart transplant recipients had a total of 864 IM assays performed at 2 weeks to 10 years post-transplant and were correlated with infection and rejection events that occurred within 1 month after IM testing. All patients received standard triple-drug immunosuppressive therapy with tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil and corticosteroids, without induction therapy. Results There were 38 infectious episodes and 8 rejection episodes. The average IM score was significantly lower during infection than steady state (187 vs 280 ng ATP/ml, p p = 0.35). Interestingly, 3 of 8 rejection episodes were antibody-mediated rejections and had hemodynamic compromise and, for these, the mean IM score was significantly higher than for steady-state patients (491 vs 280 ng ATP/ml, p Conclusions The non-invasive IM test appears to predict infectious risk in heart transplant patients. The association between high IM scores and rejection risk is inconclusive due to the small number of rejection episodes. Further studies with larger sample sizes for rejection episodes are required.
Estimating Loop−Helix Interfaces in a Polytopic Membrane Protein by Deletion Analysis†

Insertions of amino acids into transmembrane helices of polytopic membrane proteins disrupt helix−helix interactions with loss of function, while insertions into loops have little effect on transmembrane helices and therefore little effect on activity [Braun, P., Persson, B., Kaback, H. R., and von Heijne, G. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 29566−29571]. Here the inverse approach, amino acid deletion, is utilized systematically to approximate loop−helix boundaries in the lactose permease of Escherichia coli. Starting with deletion mutants in the periplasmic loop between helices VII and VIII (loop VII/VIII), which has been defined by immunological analysis and nitroxide-scanning electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, it is shown that mutants with single or multiple deletions in the central portion of the loop retain significant transport activity, while deletion of amino acid residues near the loop−helix boundaries or within the flanking helices leads to complete inactivation. Results consistent with hyd...
Clinical Relevance of Discourse Characteristics After Right Hemisphere Brain Damage

Purpose Discourse characteristics of adults with right hemisphere brain damage are similar to those reported for healthy older adults, prompting the question of whether changes are due to neurologi...
Where is juvenile probation today? the legally prescribed functions of juvenile probation officers

This paper reviews the statutes of the 50 states and the district of Columbia to determine the legally prescribed functions of juvenile probation officers. We compare the statutory requirements to determine whether juvenile probation follows a rehabilitation or punishment model.
Barriers to Entry of a Vertically Integrated Health Insurer: An Analysis of Welfare and Entry Costs

I investigate the reasons why market expansion attempts by vertically integrated health insurers have largely failed. I use an econometric model of consumer demand for hospitals and insurers to simulate entry of an integrated plan into 28 new markets. The results indicate that entry would increase social surplus by over $34 billion per year. I then investigate several potential barriers to entry. Three are particularly important. Integrated plans cannot attract enough enrollees to support their provider networks unless they exceed competitor quality levels and convince consumers of this benefit. Regulatory restrictions on plans building new facilities may also be important.
Effect of pre-processing on satellite image fusion

Satellite image fusion plays a key role in providing researchers with more precise and abundant information by injecting spatial details of a panchromatic image into a multispectral image. However, pre-processing of source images is required prior to the fusion process. Without well-performed pre-processing, the main fusion process cannot produce high-quality fusion results because incorrect registration of the source images can significantly degrade the fusion results either spatially or spectrally. Therefore, we analyze the effect of preprocessing on satellite image fusion in this study, using four differently pre-processed data sets. In addition, fusion framework and fusion scheme are based on the contourlet transform which outperforms the wavelet transform in terms of representing salient features of the source images. As a result of both spatial and spectral analyses, we conclude that co-registration and pre-processing of the source images can significantly improve the quality of the fusion results.
Diffusion and NMR spin lattice relaxation of 1H in α′ TaHx and NbHx☆

Abstract The concentration and temperature dependence of the self diffusion coefficient, D, of H in Group V transition metals Nb and Ta has been measured for the α' phase. The nuclear magnetic resonance spin lattice relaxation time, T1, was measured in Ta only. A pulsed field gradient, NMR spin echo technique was utilized to measure D. In both systems, the activation energy increases with hydrogen concentration while the pre-exponential factor is not strongly concentration dependent. The diffusion results are compared with published values of the macroscopic diffusion coefficient, D ∗ , obtained from Gorsky effect measurements. Values of the thermodynamic factor [ ( ρ kT )( ∂μ (∂ρ) ] are found for selected ρ and T, where μ is the chemical potential and ρ is the density of hydrogen atoms. These values agree with known determinations of the same factor obtained from the Gorsky effect relaxation strengths, but the agreement with results from solubility measurements is less satisfactory. NMR relaxation is partitioned into conduction electron (T−11e) and dipolar (T−11d) relaxation rates. The observed x dependence of ( D T 1d ) is inconsistent with random occupancy of tetrahedral sites, and it is suggested that a repulsive interaction exists between H atoms on nearest neighbor sites.
Use of a long-acting GnRH agonist for benign cystic mesothelioma

Background: Benign cystic mesothelioma, a tumor characteristically found in women during the reproductive years, is rare after bilateral oophorectomy or menopause, suggesting hormonal sensitivity. Case: We treated a 17-year-old woman with a rapidly increasing and symptomatic benign cystic mesothelioma with a long-acting GnRH agonist. A rapid and continued reduction in volume corresponded to the induction and maintenance of a hypoestrogenic state over a 6-month period. However, the subsequent addition of a combination of estrogen and progestin (known as add-back therapy) resulted in a gradual increase in cyst volume, which progressed after discontinuation of all therapy. Resumption of GnRH-analog therapy alone reduced cyst volume again, and the patient underwent surgical removal. Conclusion: Long-acting GnRH agonists may have a role in the conservative management of these rare neoplasms. The reduction in volume concomitant with a hypoestrogenic state and regrowth with addition of add-back therapy further suggest extreme sensitivity of this tumor to one or both hormones.
Migrating birds: Why transnational bioscience entrepreneurs return home

Transnational bioscience entrepreneurs (TBEs) accelerate not only the economic, but also the cultural, political, and social development of their host and sending countries. Today, the ease with which TBEs shuttle between American, Chinese, and Taiwanese cultures and resolve intractable workplace norms such as haphazard research, inadequate quality control, insular attitudes, and misguided regulations throws into sharp relief the significance of the TBEs' global sensibility. This paper uses grounded theory building to understand how intellectual engagement and rootedness are precursors to global sensibility. Analyzing the experiences and motivations of TBEs advances our understanding of why they return to their country of origin to upgrade its bioscience infrastructure.
Segmentation of the Angler Population by Catch Preference, Participation, and Experience: A Management-Oriented Application of Recreation Specialization

Abstract Segmentation of the angler population by catch preference. experience, and participation can help fishery managers understand diversity in consumptive preferences and attitudes among recreational anglers. Estimates of the sire and number of angler groups can also provide an understanding of the relative demand for the different types of fishing experiences sought. These types of angler information are often collected with mailed surveys, but segments of the angler population may be underrepresented because of nonresponse bias. A 10-page mail questionnaire was sent to a stratified random sample of 9,981 Texas fishing license holders. Information was collected on fishing participation. fishing experience, club membership, tournament participation. activity-specific attitudes, and opinions on fishery management options. Response rate was 62% (exclusive of surveys that could not be delivered). Adjustments for nonresponse were made with response propensity stratification. Groups of anglers were formed...
Critical Buckling Pressure in Mouse Carotid Arteries with Altered Elastic Fibers

Arteries can buckle axially under applied critical buckling pressure due to a mechanical instability. Buckling can cause arterial tortuosity leading to flow irregularities and stroke. Genetic mutations in elastic fiber proteins are associated with arterial tortuosity in humans and mice, and may be the result of alterations in critical buckling pressure. Hence, the objective of this study is to investigate how genetic defects in elastic fibers affect buckling pressure. We use mouse models of human disease with reduced amounts of elastin (Eln+/−) and with defects in elastic fiber assembly due to the absence of fibulin-5 (Fbln5−/−). We find that Eln+/− arteries have reduced buckling pressure compared to their wild-type controls. Fbln5−/− arteries have similar buckling pressure to wild-type at low axial stretch, but increased buckling pressure at high stretch. We fit material parameters to mechanical test data for Eln+/−, Fbln5−/− and wild-type arteries using Fung and four-fiber strain energy functions. Fitted parameters are used to predict theoretical buckling pressure based on equilibrium of an inflated, buckled, thick-walled cylinder. In general, the theoretical predictions underestimate the buckling pressure at low axial stretch and overestimate the buckling pressure at high stretch. The theoretical predictions with both models replicate the increased buckling pressure at high stretch for Fbln5−/− arteries, but the four-fiber model predictions best match the experimental trends in buckling pressure changes with axial stretch. This study provides experimental and theoretical methods for further investigating the influence of genetic mutations in elastic fibers on buckling behavior and the development of arterial tortuosity.