cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An integrated approach to shape and laminate stacking sequence optimization of free-form FRP shells

Efficient use of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites in civil structures will require developing new forms that are conducive to their dominant in-plane mechanical properties. For this goal, an approach for the shape and stacking sequence optimization of free-form FRP shells was developed. The process was uncoupled into continuous- and discrete-variable problems and implemented in a two-level procedure: shape and laminate-property optimization followed by laminate stacking sequence optimization. Examples show the benefits of integrated shape and laminate optimization for FRP structures, and validate the method for the mixed variable problem and for different number of plies and intervals of ply orientations.
The relationship between leaf water repellency and leaf traits in three distinct biogeographical regions

Leaf water repellency (LWR) is the degree to which water droplets repel from a leaf surface. LWR has been suggested as an adaptation to maximize gas exchange during photosynthesis and as a mechanism to increase hydrological inputs beneath the canopy. This article examined the relationships between LWR and leaf traits in 33 species across three distinct biogeographical regions (tropical montane cloud forests in Guatemala; tropical dry forests in Guatemala; and foothills-grassland vegetation in the U.S.). The objectives of this study were to determine if leaf area, leaf thickness, leaf biomass, specific leaf area, leaf toughness, stomatal density, and the presence of epiphylls explained variation in LWR in the 33 species. LWR was greatest in the dry foothills-grassland ecotone in Colorado and lowest in humid cloud forest of the Sierra de las Minas. Most possible pairs of species were significantly different from each other at each study area. Significant variation in all leaf traits was found among species and sites. LWR was not explained by leaf area, leaf thickness, leaf biomass, and specific leaf area. The presence of epiphylls influenced LWR on the abaxial leaf surfaces of species of the Sierra de las Minas. The article concludes that leaf traits related to size and mass do not influence LWR; however, the variation in LWR in species between distinct biogeographical regions remains an important research area in ecohydrology.
Production of aflatoxin on peanuts under controlled environments.

The influence of temperature, relative humidity, nature of the substrate, atmospheric gases, and other factors on growth and aflatoxin production by Aspergillus flavus in peanuts, Arachis hypogaea L. variety ‘Early Runner’, was investigated under controlled environments. Sound or broken mature kernels, immature kernels, and unshelled peanuts were inoculated with spores of A. flavus and incubated in 98 ± 1 per cent r.h. at temperatures ranging from 10 to 45°C, and also 30 ± 0·5°C in relative humidities ranging from 70 to 99 per cent. The substrate was either heat-treated (sterile) cured peanuts, surface-sterilized pods of freshly dug peanuts, or unsterile cured peanuts. Surface-sterilized, sound mature kernels were used in studies with atmospheric gases. Samples were removed after 7, 21, 42 or 84 days and assayed for aflatoxin, free fatty acids, and kernel moisture. The limiting relative humidity for aflatoxin production was 83 ± 1 per cent or higher at 30°C, varying with the substrate and length of the incubation period. The lower limiting temperature was 11–12 ± 1°C, whereas the upper limiting temperature was 40·5 ± 0·5°C at 98 ± 1 per cent r.h. Living peanuts in the shell were slightly less susceptible to invasion and aflatoxin formation than shelled kernels or heat-killed peanuts. Aflatoxin production in sound mature kernels decreased with increasing concentrations of CO2 from 0·03 to 100 per cent. Reducing O2 concentrations generally reduced aflatoxin production. Notable decreases in aflatoxin resulted when O2 was reduced from 5 to 1 per cent in combination with 0, 20 or 80 per cent CO2. Lowering temperature or relative humidity from optimum also reduced aflatoxin production. Aflatoxin production varied with strain of the fungus, maturity of the peanut, shake or stationary culture, and microbial interactions. Free fatty acid formation paralleled fungus growth rather than aflatoxin synthesis.
Fluorometric flow injection determination of aqueous peroxides at nanomolar level using membrane reactors

A flow injection system based on the p-hydroxyphenylacetate-peroxide-peroxidase reaction allows the simultaneous determination of H/sub 2/O/sub 2/ and CH/sub 3/HO/sub 2/ at 50 samples/h with an LOD of 0.1 /sup +/g/L (3 nM) H/sub 2/O/sub 2/. A pressurized porous PTFE membrane reactor introduces the enzyme, and the pH of the flow stream is altered by introducing NH/sub 3/ through a nonporous cation exchange membrane reactor. Excellent reproducibility, precision, and sensitivity are achieved with the membrane reactors and an inexpensive filter fluorometer with a monochromatic excitation source. Low levels of residual peroxide in water are ubiquitous; such levels return soon after the H/sub 2/O/sub 2/ is catalytically removed.
Structure and Biological Function of the RNA Pyrophosphohydrolase BdRppH from Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus

Summary Until recently, the mechanism of mRNA decay in bacteria was thought to be different from that of eukaryotes. This paradigm changed with the discovery that RppH (ORF176/NudH/YgdP), an Escherichia coli enzyme that belongs to the Nudix superfamily, is an RNA pyrophosphohydrolase that initiates mRNA decay by cleaving pyrophosphate from the 5′-triphosphate. Here we report the 1.9 A resolution structure of the Nudix hydrolase BdRppH from Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus , a bacterium that feeds on other Gram-negative bacteria. Based on the structure of the enzyme alone and in complex with GTP-Mg 2+ , we propose a mode of RNA binding similar to that of the nuclear decapping enzyme from Xenopus laevis , X29. In additional experiments, we show that BdRppH can indeed function in vitro and in vivo as an RNA pyrophosphohydrolase. These findings set the basis for the identification of possible decapping enzymes in other bacteria.
Identifying Multiple Gestation Groups Using State-Level Birth and Fetal Death Certificate Data

Purpose: Birth and fetal death certificates classify individuals as twins or higher order multiples, but do not identify multiple gestation groups. As a result, multiple gestations are consistently excluded from maternal and child health research studies despite the surge in multiple births since the early 1980s and the health risks associated with them. A standardized methodology for states to identify multiple gestation groups is proposed to allow researchers to account for multiple gestations in analyses, improve the accuracy of the incidence of multiple gestations and further knowledge of the impact of multiple gestations on birth outcomes. Methods: Using 3 years of Massachusetts birth and fetal death certificate data from 1998 to 2000 (247,959 births and 1358 fetal deaths), we assigned matching multiple gestation group numbers to records with identical combinations of mother's first name, last name, date of birth, and month of delivery. To validate our methodology, we calculated plurality and compared it to plurality reported on the existing birth and fetal death data. Results: This method correctly identified 10,765 records out of 10,795 validated multiple gestation deliveries (99.8%). Our method identified 71 additional multiple gestation deliveries, which were not identified by the birth and fetal death files. This method resulted in only 4 false positives and 51 false negatives over 3 years. Conclusions: This algorithm provides much needed information on multiple gestation groupings, and as an additional benefit, improves the identification of multiple gestation deliveries. This method has proven easy to use, employs state-level data, and offers numerous new analytic opportunities.
Recovery of the human compound action potential following prior stimulation

The recovery from prior stimulation of the compound action potential (CAP) was measured using a forward masking stimulus paradigm in four normal-hearing, human subjects. The CAP was recorded using a wick electrode placed on the tympanic membrane. The effects of a 4000-Hz, 97-dB SPL conditioning stimulus on CAP amplitude in response to a 4000-Hz probe were measured as a function of conditioner-probe interval for three probe levels. The normalized probe response amplitude was completely recovered to the control values at an average conditioner-probe interval of 1359 ms, similar to that observed in chinchilla (Relkin, E.M., Doucet, J.R., Sterns, A., 1995. Recovery of the compound action potential following prior stimulation: evidence for a slow component that reflects recovery of low spontaneous-rate auditory neurons, Hear. Res. 83, 183-189). The present results are interpreted as a consequence of the slow recovery of low spontaneous-rate (SR), high threshold neurons from prior stimulation (Relkin, E.M., Doucet, J.R., 1991. Recovery from prior stimulation. I: Relationship to spontaneous firing rates of primary auditory neurons. Hear. Res. 55, 215-222) and may provide indirect physiological evidence for the existence of a class of low-SR auditory neurons in humans.
Differential Expression of Cyclin D1 in the Human Hair Follicle

The proliferation of keratinocytes in the hair follicle varies from slowly cycling, intermittently proliferating stem cells in the bulge to rapidly proliferating, transient cells in the bulb. To better understand the biological differences between these two compartments, we sought to identify differentially expressed genes using cDNA macroarray analysis. Cyclin D1 was one of 13 genes increased in the bulge compared to the bulb, and its differential expression was corroborated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on the original samples. Using immunohistochemical staining, laser-capture microdissection (LCM) and quantitative real-time PCR, we localized cyclin D1 to the suprabasal cells of the telogen bulge and anagen outer root sheath (ORS). Surprisingly, cyclin D1, D2, and D3 were not detectable by immunohistochemistry in the rapidly proliferating hair-producing cells of the anagen bulb (matrix cells), while these cells were strongly positive for Ki-67 and retinoblastoma protein. In contrast, pilomatricoma, a tumor thought to be derived from matrix cells, was positive for cyclin D1, D2, and D3. Our results suggest that cyclin D1 may mediate the proliferation of stem cells in the bulge to more differentiated transient amplifying cells in the suprabasal ORS. In contrast, non-cyclin D1-proteins appear to control cell division of the highly proliferative bulb matrix cells. This non-cyclin D1-mediated proliferation may provide a protective mechanism against tumorigenesis, which is overridden in pilomatricomas. Our data also demonstrate that the combination of DNA macroarray, LCM and quantitative real-time PCR is a powerful approach for the study of gene expression in defined cell populations with limited starting material.
Elevated serum heparanase-1 levels in patients with pancreatic carcinoma are associated with poor survival.

BACKGROUND It has previously been shown that heparanase-1 (HPR1), an endoglycosidase, is up-regulated in pancreatic carcinoma. The purpose of this study was to test whether serum HPR1 levels in pancreatic carcinoma patients are elevated, and whether higher serum HPR1 levels are associated with a shortened survival. METHODS Serum HPR1 levels in 40 healthy donors, 31 pancreatic carcinoma patients, and 11 patients treated with gemcitabine were measured by a novel enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay. HPR1 expression in tumors was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. Patient overall survival time was determined according to the Kaplan–Meier method, and their difference was evaluated by the log-rank test. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS The mean serum HPR1 activity in pancreatic carcinoma patients was 439 ± 14 units/mL, compared with 190 ± 4 units/mL in the control serum samples from healthy donors. Serum HPR1 levels were significantly higher in patients with HPR1-positive tumors (660 ± 62 units/mL) compared with those with HPR1-negative tumors (241 ± 14 units/mL). The mean survival of 19 pancreatic carcinoma patients with serum HPR1 activity > 300 units/mL was 7.9 ± 0.2 months, whereas the mean survival of 12 patients with serum HPR1 activity < 300 units/mL was 13.3 ± 0.6 months. A Kaplan–Meier plot of the patient survival curve followed by log-rank test revealed that patients in the high serum HPR1 group had a significantly shorter survival compared with those in the low serum HPR1 group. Mean serum HPR1 activity decreased by 64% in 11 pancreatic carcinoma patients after 2 weeks of treatment with gemcitabine. CONCLUSIONS Serum HPR1 activity in pancreatic carcinoma patients was found to be significantly elevated, in particular in those with HPR1-positive tumors. Increased serum HPR1 activity was associated with a shorter survival in patients with pancreatic carcinoma patients. Cancer 2006. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Protein kinase C-zeta mediates apoptosis of mouse Kupffer cells via ERK-1/2: A novel mechanism

Background We have demonstrated that activated Kupffer cells undergo accelerated apoptosis via Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 and protein kinase C (PKC)-ζ–dependent nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation. Because PKC-ζ plays a pivotal role in cell signaling, we sought to determine the signaling pathway of PKC-ζ in Kupffer cell apoptosis. Methods Mouse Kupffer cell line (MKCL3-2) were transfected with PKC-ζ small interfering RNA (siRNA) and then treated with elastase alone or elastase along with the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitor U0126. Cell extracts were assayed for PKC-ζ (protein and activity), TLR-4, NF-κB nuclear translocation, phosphorylated ERK-1/2, activated caspase-3, and DNA fragmentation. All n ≥3; data are expressed as mean values ± standard deviations; means were compared using the t test; P Results Elastase upregulated TLR-4, PKC-ζ, NF-κB, ERK-1/2, caspase-3, and DNA fragmentation (all P Conclusion Activation of Kupffer cells upregulates PKC-ζ activity, increases apoptosis, and induces nuclear translocation of NF-κB via ERK-1/2–dependent pathways. Inhibiting the activity of PKC-ζ significantly attenuates Kupffer cell apoptosis, NF-κB, and ERK-1/2 activation. The interaction of PKC-ζ and ERK-1/2 warrants further investigation.
A prospective evaluation and literature review of levetiracetam use in patients with brain tumors and seizures.

To determine the safety and tolerability of IV and oral levetiracetam monotherapy for seizures in brain tumor patients following resection. Brain tumor patients undergoing neurosurgery with ≥1 seizure within the preceding month prior to surgery were enrolled to receive intravenous levetiracetam for a minimum of 48 h, transitioned to oral levetiracetam at the same dose, and followed for 1-month after discharge. Patients were assessed daily in the hospital, provided with a seizure diary, and supplied with 30 days of levetiracetam upon discharge. Study patients were telephoned weekly to assess their cognitive status and seizure frequency. Of the 17 patients enrolled, the baseline seizure types were tonic clonic, partial, and complex partial with secondary generalization. The most common type of tumor was glioblastoma multiforme. Levetiracetam was well tolerated with no medication discontinuation during the study period. Adverse effects reported were somnolence, nausea/vomiting, headache, and insomnia. Eleven patients were evaluable for TICS scores (64.7%) with an average score of 33.3. Two patients were deemed to be cognitively impaired (18.2%). Eleven of twelve patients (91.7%) that completed the study period achieved a ≥50% reduction in their number of seizures. A total of 92 drug interactions were avoided (P = 0.0016) with dexamethasone, acetaminophen, and fentanyl being the most common. Levetiracetam monotherapy was found to be safe and tolerable in this patient population. Nearly all patients achieved a ≥50% reduction in seizure frequency post-op with levetiracetam monotherapy. Levetiracetam also has the potential for less drug interactions compared to phenytoin in these patients.
Generalized symmetries of nonlinear partial differential equations

We propose a rigorous definition of the generalized infinitesimal symmetries using the notion of k-vector fields, and we derive an algorithm for their determination. We show that Backlund transformations between evolution equations are differential operators having prescribed symmetries.
Treatment of Neuroendocrine Tumor Liver Metastases

In the care of patients with hepatic neuroendocrine metastases, medical oncologists should work in multidisciplinary fashion with surgeons, interventional radiologists, and radiation oncologists to assess the potential utility of liver-directed and systemic therapies. This paper addresses the various roles and evidence basis for cytoreductive surgery, thermal ablation (radiofrequency, microwave, and cryoablation), and embolization (bland embolization (HAE), chemoembolization (HACE), and radioembolization) as liver-directed therapies. Somatostatin analogues, cytotoxic chemotherapy, and the newer agents everolimus and suntinib are discussed as a means for controlling intra- and extrahepatic disease, along with peptide receptor radiotherapy (PRRT). Finally, the experience with orthotopic liver transplant for neuroendocrine tumors is described.
Algorithm 875: DSDP5—software for semidefinite programming

DSDP implements the dual-scaling algorithm for semidefinite programming. The source code for this interior-point algorithm, written entirely in ANSI C, is freely available under an open source license. The solver can be used as a subroutine library, as a function within the Matlab environment, or as an executable that reads and writes to data files. Initiated in 1997, DSDP has developed into an efficient and robust general-purpose solver for semidefinite programming. Its features include a convergence proof with polynomially bounded worst-case complexity, primal and dual feasible solutions when they exist, certificates of infeasibility when solutions do not exist, initial points that can be feasible or infeasible, relatively low memory requirements for an interior-point method, sparse and low-rank data structures, extensibility that allows applications to customize the solver and improve its performance, a subroutine library that enables it to be linked to larger applications, scalable performance for large problems on parallel architectures, and a well-documented interface and examples of its use. The package has been used in many applications and tested for efficiency, robustness, and ease of use.
Differentiability with respect to parameters of weak solutions of linear parabolic equations

We consider the differentiability of weak solutions of linear parabolic equations with respect to parameters and initial data. Under natural assumptions, it is shown that solutions possess as much differentiability with respect to the data as do the terms appearing in the equation. The derivatives are shown to satisfy the appropriate sensitivity equations. The theoretical results are illustrated with an example.
Demonstration of recurrent dedifferentiated liposarcoma of the spermatic cord by FDG-PET

We present a rare case of recurrent dedifferentiated liposarcoma of the spermatic cord which was clearly depicted by FDG-PET imaging. Preceding the FDG study, it was difficult to discriminate whether a mass detected by CT was recurrent tumor or postradiation necrosis. The FDG-PET finding was informative in relation to the extent of a viable tumor. We suggest that FDG-PET seems to be useful in differentiating recurrent tumor from radiation necrosis in patients with liposarcoma after therapy.
Outside the box: the changing shape of the computing world

Something happened to computing while many of us were busy practicing or teaching our craft, and computing is not quite the same thing we learned. We can ignore this change and others will take our place and teach about it, but they will not have the context and the skill to understand the technology behind it and to carry it forward to the success it should have. And if others carry that torch, computer science will be stunted because we didn't recognize and respond to the opportunity.
Effect of reactive gas dopants on the MgO surface in ac plasma display panels

Experimental results are presented for the influence of controlled levels of important reactive impurities (N2, O2, H2O, CO2) on the aging characteristics of the operating voltages of ac plasma display panels. Details are also given of a novel method of modifying the electronic properties of MgO surfaces by discharge processing in an oxygen-doped Ne-0.1% Ar Penning mixture.
Assay and purity evaluation of 5-chlorooxindole by liquid chromatography

5-Chlorooxindole (5-CO) is a starting material for tenidap sodium, a pharmaceutical drug candidate produced by Pfizer. To insure potency and purity of the drug substance, it is necessary to demonstrate that commercial supplies of 5-CO are free from elevated levels of chemical analogs that could be carried through the synthetic scheme. This is accomplished using a single highly specific normal-phase chromatographic system that allows the quantitation of 5-CO concomitantly with all of its potential positional isomers. This paper describes the chromatographic system and its supportive validation data.
Endovascular Retrieval of Inferior Vena Cava Filter Penetrating Into Aorta: An Unusual Presentation of Abdominal Pain

Inferior vena cava filters are commonly used in patients with contraindications to or failures of treatment with anticoagulation. However, these are not without complications. Serious complications include penetration of the filter struts into adjacent structures, including the aorta. The design of permanent filters makes retrieval in the instance of life-threatening complication complex, often requiring extensive surgical exploration. Retrievable filters may be more easily removed via endovascular methods, reducing the morbidity of surgical approaches.
Prenatal choline supplementation increases NGF levels in the hippocampus and frontal cortex of young and adult rats.

Abstract Female Sprague–Dawley rats received ∼300 mg/kg per day of choline chloride through their drinking water on days 11 of pregnancy through birth and the level of nerve growth factor (NGF) in the hippocampus and frontal cortex of their male offspring was measured at 20 and 90 days of age. Prenatal choline supplementation caused significant increases in hippocampal NGF levels at 20 and 90 days of age, while levels of NGF in the frontal cortex were elevated in choline-supplemented rats at 20 days of age, but not 90 days of age. These results suggest that increases in NGF levels during development or adulthood may be one mechanism underlying improvements in spatial and temporal memory of adult rats exposed to elevated levels of choline chloride perinatally.
Rapid development of dependable applications over Ad hoc networks

Advances in wireless communication and network computing technologies make possible new kinds of applications involving transient interactions among physical components that move across a wide range of spaces, from the confines of a room to the airspace across an ocean, and require no fixed networking infrastructure to communicate with one another. Such components may come together to form ad hoc networks for the purpose of exchanging information or in order to engage in cooperative task-oriented behaviors. Ad hoc networks are assembled, reshaped and taken apart as components move in and out of communication range; all interactions are transient; computations become highly decoupled and rely on weak forms of data consistency; disconnections are frequent and unpredictable; and component behavior is sensitive to changes in location, context, quality of service, or administrative domain.Our objective is to develop software engineering methods and an associated software infrastructure that will facilitate rapid development of dependable mobile applications executing over ad hoc networks.
Calcium stimulation of the 5-lipoxygenase from RBL-1 cells.

Abstract 5-lipoxygenases have recently attracted attention because of their involvement in synthesis of leukotrienes. The role of divalent cations in 5-lipoxygenase activation was investigated using purified enzyme from rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-1) cells. Dilute solutions of enzyme were activated by Ca 2+ (0.5 mM concentrations or higher) but not Mg 2+ or Mn 2+ . The dilute enzyme had a molecular weight of about 90,000 by gel filtration chromatography and SDS polyacrylamide electrophoresis which increased to about 180,000 in the presence of Ca 2+ , consistent with a non covalent, monomer-dimer interaction. When both forms of the enzyme were present only the high molecular weight species was active.
Biochemical composition and heterogeneity of heparan sulfates isolated from AH-130 ascites hepatoma cells and fluid.

The glycosaminoglycan composition of AH-130 ascites hepatoma cells and fluid were examined using enzymatic digestion, electrophoresis, and sequential partition fractionation. The cell-associated glycosaminoglycans were found to consist of 93% heparan sulfate, with the remainder consisting primarily of chondroitin sulfate. The glycosaminoglycans isolated from the ascitic fluid were found to consist of 58% heparan sulfate, 26% hyaluronic acid and 16% chondroitin sulfate. Dermatan sulfate was not detected in either cells or fluid. The heparan sulfate isolated from AH-130 cells is low-sulfate and highly heterogeneous with respect to biochemical composition. Fractions isolated by partition fractionation varied from 0.14 mol sulfate/mol uronic acid to 0.6 mol sulfate/mol uronic acid. Of the total sulfate 70–80% is N-sulfate in the former and 50% in the latter. Electrophoresis in 0.1 M HCl showed a highly heterogeneous material with mobility between that of hyaluronic acid and beef lung heparan sulfate. The heparan sulfate isolated from the fluid was similar to that isolated from the cells but was, however, somewhat more homogeneous with respect to charge.
Degradation of PCE in an anaerobic waste gas by biofiltration

Abstract Simulated landfill gas, consisting of an equimolar mixture of carbon dioxide and methane and containing tetrachloroethylene (PCE) as a model impurity compound, was treated in a biofilter under anaerobic conditions. The PCE concentrations ranged from 30 to 100 ppm. Sucrose was added as an additional energy and carbon source. Tetrachloroethylene was dechlorinated completely. The final end-product of biodegradation could not be identified, but chlorinated hydrocarbons (vinyl chloride, dichloroethylene and trichloroethylene) were excluded. After an acclimation period the biofilter’s PCE removal efficiency was higher than 98%. Granular activated carbon (GAC) was chosen as the support material for the biomass. GAC is a good sorbent, and PCE sorption probably played a major role in the successful biodegradation. The experiments, on the other hand, all indicate that tetrachloroethylene removal was due to metabolic degradation rather than sorption on the activated carbon. The removal rate was estimated to be 4.1 g PCE/(hm 3 biofilter volume). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting PCE biodegradation in an anaerobic, waste-gas environment.
Resurrection and the Replica Objection

Resurrection has been used as the conceptual basis for attempted solutions to two problems that occur in the context of western theism, the problem of cognitive meaning and the problem of theodicy. Because John Hick has proposed resurrection as a solution to both problems so extensively, and because Antony Flew and Terence Penelhum have examined those solutions so strenuously, I will use their writings to lay out the problem. My aim is to improve upon Hick by overcoming a weakness in his defence of resurrection. My narrower focus will be on resurrection and the ‘replica objection’, rather than the wider use of resurrection to solve problems of evil or the meaningfulness of theistic discourse, but some brief remarks on the wider problems will be necessary to set the stage.
The Raman spectrum and hydrolysis studies on hydrogen fluoride solutions of xenon oxide tetrafluoride

Abstract The Raman spectrum of xenon oxide tetrafluoride as a solute in hydrogen fluoride is similar to that of pure liquid xenon oxide tetrafluoride. When a small amount of water is added to the solution, no new hydrogen fluoride soluble species is observed. An unstable white precipitate is formed, probably xenon trioxide.
Comparison of ropivacaine and bupivacaine toxicity in human articular chondrocytes.

Background: It has been shown that bupivacaine, the most commonly used local anesthetic for postoperative intra-articular use, is cytotoxic to bovine articular chondrocytes in vitro. Ropivacaine is as effective as bupivacaine for intra-articular analgesia and has less systemic toxicity. We compared the in vitro viability of human articular chondrocytes after exposure to bupivacaine, ropivacaine, and saline solution control. Methods: Macroscopically normal human articular cartilage was harvested from the femoral head or tibial plateau of five patients. Full-thickness cartilage explants and cultured chondrocytes isolated from these patients were treated with 0.9% normal saline solution, 0.5% ropivacaine, or 0.5% bupivacaine for thirty minutes. Twenty-four hours after treatment, chondrocyte viability was measured with use of the LIVE/DEAD Viability/Cytotoxicity Kit for cartilage explants and with use of the CellTiter-Glo Luminescent Cell Viability Assay for cultured chondrocytes. Results: Chondrocyte viability in cartilage explants was significantly greater after treatment with ropivacaine as compared with bupivacaine (94.4% ± 9.0% compared with 78% ± 12.6%; p = 0.0004). There was no difference in viability after treatment with ropivacaine as compared with saline solution (94.4% ± 9.0% compared with 95.8% ± 5.7%; p = 0.6). The viability of cultured chondrocytes was significantly greater after treatment with ropivacaine as compared with bupivacaine (63.9% ± 19% as compared with 37.4% ± 12% of the value in the saline solution group; p < 0.0001). Conclusions: In vitro, 0.5% ropivacaine is significantly less toxic than 0.5% bupivacaine in both intact human articular cartilage and chondrocyte culture. Clinical Relevance: Although bupivacaine is the most commonly used local anesthetic for intra-articular analgesia, the demonstrated toxicity to human articular chondrocytes is cause for concern. The present study demonstrated that ropivacaine is less chondrotoxic than bupivacaine and, therefore, may be safer for intra-articular analgesia.
High-grade dural arteriovenous fistula causing subarachnoid hemorrhage with CT angiographic detection of a discrete draining venous outpouching consistent with the rupture site.

Dural arteriovenous fistulae (dAVF) are rare vascular anomalies epresenting an abnormal connection between the dural arteial supply and venous drainage. DAVF account for 10–15% of all ntracranial vascular abnormalities [1]. Intracranial rupture and emorrhage is seen in 15% of cases of dAVF and are commonly ntra-parenchymal or subarachnoid in location [2]. Although conentional angiography remains the gold standard for diagnosing AVF, CT angiography (CTA) is now a widely available and lowisk modality that has emerged as the initial vascular imaging odality of choice in the workup of intracranial hemorrhage. We eport a case of left sylvian subarachnoid hemorrhage surroundng a discrete sylvian venous outpouching which directly drained a igh-grade dAVF. We also illustrate that the treatment objective is o close the fistulous shunt rather than occluding the rupture site tself. Lastly, this report documents the presence of two separate AVFs in the same patient (Figs. 1 and 2).
Novel strategies for transporting cellular hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers in the systemic circulation

SUMMARY This review focuses on innovative chemical and biomolecular design strategies for engineering cellular hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers with prolonged systemic circulatory half-lives. Traditional lipid formulations used in the self-assembly of liposome encapsulated hemoglobin dispersions are discussed in light of newly designed liposome, nanoparticle and polymersome encapsulated hemoglobin dispersions. The clinical transfusion potential of these cellular HBOCs is discussed in terms of key design parameters such as: particle size distribution, hemoglobin encapsulation efficiency, methemoglobin level, oxygen affinity, cooperativity coefficient, circulation kinetics and biodistribution.
Iron-sulfur cluster biosynthesis: characterization of a molten globule domain in human NFU.

Human NFU (also known as HIRIP5) has been implicated in cellular iron-sulfur cluster biosynthesis. Bacterial and yeast forms are smaller than the human protein and are homologous to the C-terminal domain of human NFU. This C-terminal domain contains a pair of redox active cysteines and demonstrates thioredoxin-like activity by both binding to and mediating persulfide bond cleavage of sulfur-loaded IscS; the sulfide donor for [2Fe-2S] cluster assembly on ISU-type scaffold proteins. Herein, human NFU is shown to possess a novel combination of a molten-globule type C-terminal domain and an N-terminal domain with a fully-folded regular tertiary structure. The molten globule characteristics of the C-terminal domain have been evaluated by ANS binding, the kinetics of trypsin digestion, and HSQC NMR studies. Human NFU is a functionally competent reducing agent for cysteinyl persulfide bond cleavage, releasing inorganic sulfide for incorporation into the ISU-bound [2Fe-2S] cluster, a reactivity that might be facilitated by the flexibility of the C-terminal domain.
East coast earthquake

[1] Shaking from a 23 August magnitude 5.8 earthquake that occurred in the Central Virginia Seismic Zone 135 kilometers southwest of Washington, D. C., was recorded all the way from Georgia to New England, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The earthquake caused property damage near the epicenter and also damage to a number of other structures including the Washington Monument and Washington National Cathedral. There was no damage to the AGU headquarters building in downtown Washington, according to building engineer Matthew Boyd. The strongest earthquake ever recorded in Virginia was a magnitude 5.9 quake in 1897. For more information, see http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/.
Tiam1 regulates cell adhesion, migration and apoptosis in colon tumor cells

The guanine nucleotide exchange factor Tiam1 regulates numerous biologic properties including migration and invasion. We demonstrated previously that colon tumor cells biologically selected for increased migration were increased in Tiam1 expression. Cells selected for increased Tiam1 expression or that ectopically overexpress Tiam1 were increased in metastatic potential. Here, we demonstrate that Tiam1 regulates additional functions associated with metastasis, including reduced cellular adhesion and resistance to anoikis. Tiam1 effects on cellular migration are mediated through its downstream substrate, Rac. Increased Tiam1 expression also leads to anoikis-resistance, whereas decreasing Tiam1 expression by siRNA sensitizes cells to this form of apoptosis; however, Tiam1's regulation of anoikis is Rac-independent. Staurosporine sensitivity is also Rac-independent, suggesting Tiam1's effects on apoptosis require other effectors. As many of the observed phenotypes are characteristic of a transition of transformed epithelial cells to a mesenchymal-like phenotype, we also examined biochemical properties associated with an EMT. We demonstrate an increase in vimentin expression in cell lines that overexpress Tiam1 and have a more metastatic phenotype. Concomitant with this increase, we observe a decrease in E-cadherin expression in these cells. Lastly, we stained a panel of human colorectal specimens and adjacent normal tissue, and demonstrate that Tiam1 is overexpressed in a subset of human colorectal tumors. In summary, in colon tumor cells, Tiam1 affects multiple properties associated with acquisition of the metastatic phenotype, and may represent a marker of colon tumor progression and metastasis in a subset of tumors.
“Data reporting norms for 40Ar/39Ar geochronology” – Comment

Abstract The guidelines set out by Renne et al. (2009) offer a start to potentially removing numerous problems often associated with the reporting of 40 Ar 39 Ar ages in the literature. Herein, some recommendations are made concerning aspects of how, in what form, and with what “corrections”, supporting argon isotopic data should be published.
QUANTITATION OF PYRIMIDINE DIMERS BY IMMUNOSLOT BLOT FOLLOWING SUBLETHAL UV‐IRRADIATION OF HUMAN CELLS

An immunoslot blot assay was developed to detect pyrimidine dimers induced in DNA by sublethal doses of UV (254 nm) radiation. Using this assay, one dimer could be detected in 10 megabase DNA using 200 ng or 0.5 megabase DNA using 20 ng irradiated DNA. The level of detection, as measured by dimer specific antibody binding, was proportional to the dose of UV and amount of irradiated DNA used. The repair of pyrimidine dimers was measured in human skin fibroblastic cells in culture following exposure to 0.5 to 5 J m-2 of 254 nm UV radiation. The half-life of repair was approximately 24, 7 and 6 h in cells exposed to 0.5, 2 and 5 J m-2 UV radiation, respectively. This immunological approach utilizing irradiated DNA immobilized to nitrocellulose should allow the direct quantitation of dimers following very low levels of irradiation in small biological samples and isolated gene fragments.
X-ray diffraction and high resolution transmission electron microscopy of 3C-SiC/AlN/6H-SiC(0001)

The structure and crystal quality of epitaxial films of SiC/AlN/6H-SiC(0001) prepared by chemical vapor deposition were evaluated by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and x-ray diffraction techniques. Cross-sectional HRTEM revealed an abrupt AlN layer-6H-SiC substrate junction, but the transition between the AlN and SiC layers was much rougher, leading to the formation of a highly disordered SiC region adjacent to the interface. The AlN layer was relatively defect free, while the SiC layer contained many microtwins and stacking faults originating at the top SiC/AlN interface. The SiC layer was the 3C-polytype, as determined by double crystal x-ray rocking curves. The SiC layers were under in-plane compressive stress, with calculated defect density between 2–4×107 defects/cm−2.
Steady-state and time-resolved phosphorescence of wild-type and modified bacteriophage λcI repressors.

We have measured the steady-state phosphorescence and decay times of wild-type λcI repressor and compared it with that of a modified λcI repressor in which > 95% of the tryptophans were replaced with 5-hydroxy-l-tryptophan (5-OHTrp). The wild-type and 5-OHTrp-λcI repressors are spectroscopically distinct such that we can selectively excite the 5-OHTrp-λcI even in the presence of a 15-fold molar excess ofN-acetyltryptophanamide (NATrpA). The phosphorescence band of wild-type λcI is red-shifted by 3 nm relative to NATrpA, characteristic of buried tryptophan. Similarly, the phosphorescence of 5-OHTrp-λcI repressor is red-shifted relative to the model, 5-OHTrp, showing that according to the phosphorescence, the modified repressor is structurally indistinguishable from the native repressor. While the phosphorescence decay of both NATrpA and 5-OHTrp are single exponentials, the decay of both wild-type and 5-OHTrp-λcI repressors is complex, requiring three decay components whose fractional contributions to the phosphorescence are the same for both repressors. Because the 5-OHTrp phosphorescence can be excited at wavelengths outside the absorbance range of tryptophan and DNA, a protein spectrally enhanced with this emitter will aid the investigations of protein-protein or protein-DNA interactions.
Ultrastructural Correlates of Sulfur Mustard Toxicity

Standardized ultrastructural technology was used to study subcellular effects of sulfur mustard (HD) on human lymphocytes in vitro, human keratinocytes in culture, and the skin of the hairless guin...
Hijacking Dlg1 for Oncogenic Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase Activation in Human Epithelial Cells Is a Conserved Mechanism of Human Adenovirus E4-ORF1 Proteins

The E4-ORF1 gene of human adenoviruses encodes a 14-kDa protein that promotes viral replication as well as cellular metabolic reprogramming, survival, and transformation by constitutively activating cellular phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). We recently reported that the E4-ORF1 protein from subgroup D human adenovirus type 9 upregulates and oncogenically activates PI3K by a novel mechanism involving separate interactions of E4-ORF1 with cellular discs large 1 (Dlg1) and PI3K to form a ternary complex that translocates to the plasma membrane (K. Kong, M. Kumar, M. Taruishi, and R. T. Javier, PLoS Pathog. 10:e1004102, 2014, doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1004102). The current study was carried out to investigate whether other human adenovirus E4-ORF1 proteins share this mechanism of action. The results showed that in human MCF10A epithelial cells, stable expression of E4-ORF1 proteins encoded by representative human adenovirus serotypes from subgroups A to D induce ternary complex formation, Dlg1-dependent PI3K activation, PI3K protein elevation, Dlg1 and PI3K membrane recruitment, and PI3K-dependent cellular transformation. The first three of these E4-ORF1 activities were also observed in MCF10A cells infected with each wild-type human adenovirus from subgroups A to D. Our findings indicate that most, if not all, human adenovirus E4-ORF1 proteins share a conserved molecular mechanism of PI3K activation, which confers a common capacity to promote oncogenic transformation in human epithelial cells. IMPORTANCE PI3K activation by the adenovirus E4-ORF1 protein mediates oncogenic cellular transformation by human adenovirus type 9, augments viral protein expression and replication by human adenovirus type 5, and dysregulates cellular glucose and lipid metabolism by human adenovirus type 36. For the first time, we report that E4-ORF1 proteins from human adenoviruses in subgroups A to D evolved a conserved molecular mechanism to mediate constitutive PI3K activation that can provoke oncogenic transformation in human epithelial cells. The results raise potential safety concerns about the use of vectors encoding the E4-ORF1 gene in human gene therapy and vaccination. Our findings further suggest that the conserved mechanism revealed here may be targeted for development of therapeutic drugs to treat and prevent adenovirus-associated human diseases.
Scanning tunneling microscopy using dynamic laser heating

A hydrogen passivated Si(100)-2/spl times/1 surface is studied using ultrafast laser excitation with a novel total internal reflection geometry. The incoherent tip and sample heating dynamics are studied, and it is shown that as long as the STM feedback is faster than the heating and cooling processes, atomic scale imaging can be achieved, even in the presence of significant tip and sample expansion and contraction. This opens the door for studies of surface processes on the ultrafast timescale.
Structural soundness of workflow nets is decidable

The problem of deciding whether a given workflow net is k-sound for some k ≥ 1 is known as structural soundness. We prove that structural soundness of workflow nets is decidable.
Nonlinear Model Predictive Control of Integrated Diesel Engine and Selective Catalytic Reduction System for Simultaneous Fuel Economy Improvement and Emissions Reduction

The applications of diesel engines in ground vehicles have attracted much attention over the past decade for the reasons of outstanding fuel economy, power capability, and reliability. With the increasing demand of less greenhouse gas emissions, the current diesel engine fuel efficiency remains unsatisfactory partially due to the conflict between the engine fuel efficiency and engine-out NOx emissions. While advanced aftertreatment systems, such as selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems or lean NOx trap, have been integrated to diesel engines for reducing the tailpipe NOx emissions, the integrated controls for coordinating diesel engine and SCR system to achieve high engine efficiency and low tailpipe emissions are still limited. The purpose of this study is to develop such an integrated diesel engine and SCR system control method using nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) approach with both start of injection (SOI) timing and urea solution injection rate as the control inputs. Control-oriented engine models were developed to quantify the influences of SOI timing on engine efficiency and engine-out NOx emissions. Simulation results under US06 driving cycle demonstrate that, given the same catalyst size in total, the proposed controllers are capable of reducing total engine fuel consumption over the driving cycle by 9.36% and 9.50%, respectively, for lumped SCR system and two-cell SCR system, while maintaining high NOx conversion efficiencies and low tailpipe ammonia slip. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4030252]
Improving verification accuracy by synthesis of locally enhanced biometric images and deformable model

In this paper, we propose a 2-stage preprocessing framework which consists of image enhancement and deformation techniques to increase the verification performance of image-based biometric systems. In the preprocessing framework, first the quality of biometric image is enhanced and then a deformation model is applied to minimize the variation between the two images to be matched. The proposed SVM image quality enhancement algorithm selects good quality regions from different globally enhanced images and combines them to generate a single high-quality feature-rich image. The proposed deformation algorithm is based on phase congruency information and locally minimizes the variations between two images while retaining the features required for recognition. The proposed algorithms are validated using face and iris biometrics as the two case studies. For performance evaluation, different face and iris recognition algorithms are chosen and the verification accuracy is computed using non-homogenous face and iris databases. Experimental results show that the performance of face and iris recognition algorithms are significantly improved when the input images are preprocessed using the proposed enhancement and deformation algorithms.
Rotationally invariant multilevel codes

A method for designing multilevel codes that are rotationally invariant is described. It is shown that these codes can be linear. It is demonstrated that suboptimal decoding can be used with these codes. The complexity of these codes provides a good performance/cost tradeoff. >