cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improved diabetic wound healing through topical silencing of p53 is associated with augmented vasculogenic mediators

Diabetes is characterized by several poorly understood phenomena including dysfunctional wound healing and impaired vasculogenesis. p53, a master cell cycle regulator, is upregulated in diabetic wounds and has recently been shown to play a regulatory roles in vasculogenic pathways. We have previously described a novel method to topically silence target genes in a wound bed with small interfering (si)RNA. We hypothesized that silencing p53 results in improved diabetic wound healing and augmentation of vasculogenic mediators. Paired 4-mm stented wounds were created on diabetic db/db mice. Topically applied p53 siRNA, evenly distributed in an agarose matrix, was applied to wounds at postwound day 1 and 7 (matrix alone and nonsense siRNA served as controls). Animals were sacrificed at postwound days 10 and 24. Wound time to closure was photometrically assessed, and wounds were harvested for histology, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence. Vasculogenic cytokine expression was evaluated via Western blot, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The ANOVA/t-test was used to determine significance (p≤ 0.05). Local p53 silencing resulted in faster wound healing with wound closure at 18±1.3 d in the treated group vs. 28±1.0 d in controls. The treated group demonstrated improved wound architecture at each time point while demonstrating near-complete local p53 knockdown. Moreover, treated wounds showed a 1.92-fold increase in CD31 endothelial cell staining over controls. Western blot analysis confirmed near-complete p53 knockdown in treated wounds. At day 10, VEGF secretion (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) was significantly increased in treated wounds (109.3±13.9 pg/mL) vs. controls (33.0±3.8 pg/mL) while reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction demonstrated a 1.86-fold increase in SDF-1 expression in treated wounds vs. controls. This profile was reversed after the treated wounds healed and before closure of controls (day 24). Augmented vasculogenic cytokine profile and endothelial cell markers are associated with improved diabetic wound healing in topical gene therapy with p53 siRNA.
On the geodetic control systems

In this article the local, nation-wide and world-wide geodetic control systems will be treated as well as the advantage and limitation of the geodetic adjustments of large triangulation nets, and the additional observations needed before the second adjustment of the European triangulation. The fundamental significance of the gravimetric method for establishing the world-wide geodetic system, for the control of small scale maps beginning from 1∶100.000 for determining of the super control points for the long-range triangulations and particulary for checking the earth's dimensions will be emphasized.
Certification—The Gold Standard

ABSTRACT • THE CNOR CERTIFICATION represents professional achievement, excellence in practice, and commitment to continuing education. • REASONS FOR BECOMING CERTIFIED include monetary rewards, personal satisfaction, and recognition from peers and other health care providers. • THIS ARTICLE PROVIDES insight into the development of the CNOR examination and information about certifying and recertifying. AORN J 80 (September 2004) 544–552.
Simulation tool for flexible manufacturing system

ABSTRACT As a result of the proliferation of powerful and low cost computer systems, traditional tools of manufacturing are now imbedded in an environment of automated subsystems. The focus is now on utilizing computer technology forcomputer integrated manufacturing and managing these integrated subsystems.2. INTRODUCTION In Gilbreth and Taylor's day, manufacturing was viewed primarily as a series of physical transformations of rawmaterials. At that time, to improve the efficiency of a manufacturing environment, the systern was subjected to thestrategies of methods analysis, time and motion theories, facilities layout techniques and managerial span-of-control considerations. Today,with the help of computer technology manufacturers are able to reduce lead time, provide faster responses to constantly changing customer demands, and ensure accurate communications with customers and suppliers. These are competitive advantages which are critical to the success of manufacturing enterprises. A proposed definition
“And then a miracle occurs” — weak links in the chain of argument from punctuation to hierarchy

Weak links, in the form of inadequacies in both reasoning and supporting evidence, exist at several critical steps in the derivation of an hierarchical concept of evolution from punctuated equilibria. Punctuation itself is predicated on a distorted reading of phyletic change as phyletic gradualism, and of allopatric speciation as the instantaneous formation of unchanging typological taxa. The concept of punctuation is further confounded by the indescriminate employment of the same term to denote both a causal explanation for evolutionary change and an outcome of substantiated evolutionary processes. Even when the intended usage for the term is specified, each denotation of punctuation entails respective drawbacks. As a causal explanation, punctuation clearly belongs to the class of quantum theories with all their attendant impedimenta, including special salsatory non-adaptive mechanisms of evolutionary change. Redefinition of punctuation as a pattern of morphologic change reduces it to one possible outcome of known microevolutioanry processes, thus obviating any need for an hierarchical explanation of macroevolution. While vacillation between usages has preserved the term in the literature, the end result of this obfuscation has been a circle of faulty reasoning in which the pattern of punctuation is invoked as its own proof. Widespread confusion concerning what constitutes an adequate test of punctuation is directly attributable to imprecision in both the original and revised formulations of the concept.
Failure to Report Financial Disclosure Information

To the Editor: The analysis of prostate cancer–specific and overall survival by Dr Lu-Yao and colleagues concluded that primary androgen deprivation therapy (PADT) offered no benefit compared with conservative management in elderly men with localized prostate cancer. Since their comparison was based on epidemiologic data rather than those obtained in a prospective randomized trial, there is a possibility that confounding variables may have influenced patient outcomes. Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has been shown to be an independent predictor of outcome in newly diagnosed patients and may often be used by clinicians to choose recommended therapy. It seems likely that men with higher PSA levels (and thus worse prognoses) were those who were given PADT. However, the study by Lu-Yao et al does not include an analysis of PSA data and their possible influence on treatment recommendations. In the absence of this information, it is not possible to conclude that PADT confers no benefit, especially to a high–PSA-level subpopulation of patients.
Numerically efficient procedures for dynamic contact problems

The solution of dynamic contact (elastic impact) problems is complicated by the changing nature of the contact area. If a finite element approach is used, the system matrices vary with the contact area. If the problem is properly formulated, such changes are rank one. Rank one changes produce easily determinable changes in the LDLT decompositions of the system matrices. This renders a class of dynamic contact problems soluble with the same accuracy and computational effort as is associated with the solution of any dynamic problem using finite element procedures. Consideration of an example problem involving the impact of spring–mass systems confirms this claim.
Hydrogen - Transporting Mixed Conductors

Hydrogen has been found to exhibit high mobility in several classes of solids, which also have appreciable electronic conduction. The structure and properties of such mixed -conductor materials will be dicussed. In addition, several types of applications, based upon their special properties, will be described.
Trophic relationships of the freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbyi Lankester 1880

The medusae of the hydrozoan Craspedacusta sowerbyi appear in September in a variety of ponds and lakes in Wisconsin. Short term laboratory feeding trials in about 1 liter of water indicate that the medusae (11.6-mm diam) consume zooplankton ranging in size from about 0.2 to 2.0 mm and kill but do not eat nekton up to 8.8 mm long. Clearance rate coefficients are as high as 0.9 litcremedusa -‘*d-l for ingested prey and up to 64 liters-medusa-‘*d-l for larger nekton which were killed but not ingested. Neither invertebrate planktonic predators nor fish eat the medusae. Crayfish readily eat medusae which are resting on the bottom of an aquarium. The medusae probably do not reduce zooplankton stocks enough to compete with fish. If Cruspedacusta has an effect on zookplankton stocks, it is by reducing the density of other invertebrate predators such as the rotifer Asplanchna.
Multiple blood donations and iron deficiency in patients with restless legs syndrome.

nation is associated with induction or perpetuation of RLS [restless legs syndrome] due to iron deficiency with or without coexisting anemia.” Although we readily acknowledge the reported association between RLS and decreased iron stores as indicated by abnormally low serum ferritin values, it is notable that in a study of 245 consecutive RLS patients, the researchers found 8 patients with iron deficiency who said that they had donated blood at least 3 times a year for the preceding 3 years. Did the researchers check blood bank records to determine the actual frequency of donations or duration of donation history? This is not apparent in the article. Interestingly, this rate of 8 of 245 patients (3.26%) is remarkably similar to the blood donation rate in the general population of the United States (5%), 2 suggesting that regular blood donation is no more frequent among patients with RLS than in the general population. We also noted that of the 8 patients cited, 2 had RLS before they became blood donors and therefore from a causality standpoint should have been omitted from the study. The authors appropriately urge caution in using their data “to calculate the frequency of the problem in an RLS population.” We heartily concur with this sentiment and suggest that an appropriately designed epidemiological study would be required to resolve this issue. We hope to perform such a study among our blood donor population. The researchers suggest that “physicians treating RLS should question patients regarding blood donation and counsel them appropriately.” We agree in principle but would like to know what the authors consider “appropriate” counsel. If patients with RLS are shown to be anemic or deficient in iron stores (decreased serum ferritin), they clearly should not donate blood while in this condition. However, if patients with RLS are not iron deficient, we do not believe that the presence of RLS alone should preclude them from donating blood if they so choose. However, we do not concur with the researchers’ recommendation that staff at donor sites be trained to question potential donors about RLS and that serum ferritin tests be performed even if the screening hemoglobin concentration is normal. Blood-donation staff do not have the appropriate training and background to diagnose the nuances of RLS symptomatology. In addition, determination of predonation ferritin levels would be impractical as a donor screening test because of the lack of a rapid point-of-care instrument to perform this test. Clearly, we want to prevent iron-deficient persons from donating blood but believe that the researchers’ suggested approach is not the way to do so. We all must be concerned with the welfare of both blood donors and recipients. Treating the blood-donation process as
Growth Hormone Therapy in Children after Cranial/Craniospinal Radiation Therapy: Sexually Dimorphic Outcomes

Radiation therapy (RT) to the craniospinal region in childhood affects final height. The use of GH treatment (GHRx) in children after cranial or craniospinal RT results in variable improvement in final height. Nineteen children (12 males and 7 females) with tumors of the head, treated with cranial or craniospinal RT and subsequently with GHRx, were assessed for final height. Two outcome measures of efficacy of GHRx were used: Y1 = final height SD score (SDS) corrected for genetic potential, using midparental sex-adjusted target height (SATH) SDS, and Y2 = change in height SDS from predicted final height SDS pre-GHRx to actual final height SDS post-GHRx. The median age at diagnosis was 5.4 yr, the median RT to the hypothalamic-pituitary axis was 40 Gy, the median spinal RT dose in 13 of 19 of the subjects treated was 36 Gy, and the median years post-RT to GHRx was 4.8 yr. Adjuvant chemotherapy was used in 12 of 19 patients. All but one (optic glioma) had a lesion anatomically distant from the suprasellar region. The effects of age at diagnosis, sex, L-T4 or GnRH agonist use, conventional vs. hyperfractionated RT, spinal RT, dose of spinal or cranial RT, chemotherapy, peak stimulated GH, dose and duration of GHRx, age at GHRx, time interval between RT and GHRx initiation, bone age, and height SDS at the start of GHRx were also assessed. Y1girls best correlated with younger age at diagnosis and im vs. sc GHRx. Y2girls best correlated with delayed bone age and younger age at diagnosis [Y1girls = -9.95 + 0.38 (age in years at diagnosis) + 3.11[GH method (1 = i.m.; 2 = s.c.)]; r2 = 0.898; P = 0.02; Y2girls = -3.54 + 1.8 (bone age - age in years) + 0.334 (age at diagnosis in years); r2= 0.956; P = 0.02]. Both Y1boys and Y2boys were strongly associated with spinal RT and younger age at diagnosis or treatment [Y1boys = -11.22 + 4.65 [spinal RT (1 = yes; 2 = no)] + 0.396 (age in years at diagnosis); r2= 0.64, P = 0.01; Y2boys = -6.32 + 0.23 (age in years at GH start) + 1.75 [spinal RT (1 = yes; 2 = no)]; r2= 0.646; P < 0.01]. This small historical cohort underscores that final stature is significantly reduced when immature bones are exposed to ionizing radiation. Intramuscular vs. sc use of GHRx is likely to be simply a surrogate marker for earlier methods of treatment. Of note, spinal RT did not significantly impact girls' final heights, whereas in boys, spinal RT strongly predicted ultimate short stature and a reduced response to GHRx. This sexually dichotomous response may be due in part to the greater percentage of spinal growth remaining for boys vs. girls throughout childhood.
The Repoliticization of Collective Action After Neoliberalism in Peru

Examining the popular uprising against the privatization of electric service in Arequipa and other revolts against foreign direct investment in Peru, this article explores the changing basis of antigovernment mobilizations against economic liberalization. It suggests that the transition from Fujimori to Toledo led to a major shift in the political opportunity structure, creating a more conducive environment for greater levels of mobilization while increasing the leverage of challengers, along with their chances to achieve positive goals. These new forms of collective resistance are geographically segmented or territorialized; they present concrete demands; and they often involve unexpected actors, yet they resonate at the national level. These results confirm the expectations from recent repoliticization literature insofar as collective actors remain acutely responsive to market reforms in more democratic settings.
Macropartisanship in California

Political scientists have devoted considerable, well-justified attention to changes in macropartisanship at the national level but have generally ignored movement in aggregate party identification at the American state level. The case of California is especially interesting for a number of reasons, most notably because of the potential impact of rapid ethnic change on aggregate political attitudes. In this article we assess macropartisanship in the Golden State from 1980 through 2001, drawing on Field Polls of California adults. We find that essentially there have been two eras in recent state history: a period of increasing Republican identification up to 1991 and an era of increasing Demo? cratic identification thereafter. Some of this apparent movement to the Democrats among Californians as a whole is attributable to the increas? ing Latino share of the Field Poll samples and the decision to offer the survey in Spanish. However, there has also been movement toward the Democratic Party within ethnic and racial subgroups. This movement can be found to some degree in all major groups (except for African Americans, who were already overwhelmingly identified with the Dem? ocratic Party), but it has been especially pronounced among Latinos and Asian Americans. We consider possible reasons and discuss potential implications.
Bound cations significantly stabilize the structure of multiprotein complexes in the gas phase.

Mass spectrometry (MS) has revealed the composition, stoichiometry, connectivity, and dynamics of many multiprotein complexes that remain challenging for other structural biology tools.[1] More recently, ion mobility (IM), a gas-phase separation technology that operates to resolve protein ions according to their size and charge,[2] coupled with MS (IM-MS) has been used to generate 3D structure information from such samples.[3] Information from many such gas-phase technologies[4] can be combined to overcome challenging aspects of protein structure characterization. Even though such methods are proving to be useful, their development is not devoid of experimental challenges. Chief among these is establishing a general correlation between gas-phase measurements and protein structures in solution. Several reports have observed significant rearrangements of protein structure upon desolvation and ionization,[5] although recent data suggest that these examples may be in the minority.[6] Despite this, general protocols aimed at protecting protein structure upon the removal of bulk solvent will undoubtedly enable biomolecular structure characterization through gas-phase structural biology approaches, like IM-MS.
Adaptive gossip-based energy conservation for wireless ad hoc routing

Recently, we have proposed to employ gossiping to place nodes in an ad hoc network in an energy saving sleep state via a gossip-based sleep protocol (GSP). A gossiping node employs a random variable (p) to decide whether or not to enter a sleep mode. Our observation is that in a well connected ad hoc network there are usually many paths existing between a source and a destination, so a percentage (1 - p) of the nodes may be in an energy conserving sleep mode without losing network connectivity. In this paper, we extend the GSP to a non-uniform deployed network, where the node density is not a network-wide constant. The value of p for every node is determined by its local information without incurring much overhead.
RADIOISOTOPIC STUDY OF CALCIFICATION IN THE ARTICULATED CORALLINE ALCA BOSSIELLA ORBIGNIANA1

SUMMARY Calcification in Bossiella orbigniana (Corallinaceae) is characterized by a series of features which, vary according to the age of the segment (intergeniculum). From the youngest segment at the branch tip to older, more basal segments: (1) weight and degree of mineralization increase, while rate of weight gain decreases; (2) rate and stability of calcium-45 labeling decrease; (3) effect of light on calcium-45 labeling rate decreases, while effect of light on stability of label increases; however, for all segments, calcium-45 labeling is more rapid and more stable in the light than in the dark; (4) rate of calcium-45 labeling in killed controls decreases. Comparative studies with the tropical coralline alga Amphiroa yielded similar results. Characteristics of the gradients in calcification and effect of light in these coralline algae are very similar to those found, in a reef-building coral containing symbiotic algae, and the data suggest that organic products of photosynthesis may be of general importance to calcification.
High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatographic Analysis of Neutral Lipids in the Urine of Humans and BALB/c Mice

HPTLC analysis has been used to compare neutral lipid profiles in the urine of humans and mice. Neutral lipids and ubiquinone were extracted from urine with chloroform-methanol, 2:1, and determined on silica gel plates with 19 lanes and a concentration zone that were developed with petroleum ether-diethyl ether-glacial acetic acid, 80:20:1. Separated zones were detected with phosphomolybdic acid reagent and quantified by visible mode slit-scanning densitometry at 610 nm. Specific detection reagents were used to confirm the identity of particular lipid classes. The studies confirmed the presence of free sterols, free fatty acids, and triacylglycerols in both human and mouse urine. Methyl esters were found in mouse but not human urine. Hydrocarbons and ubiquinone were present in both human and mouse urine, but were not quantified. Similarities in the urinary neutral lipid profiles of humans and mice suggest that mice may serve as effective models for studies of the effects of infectious and metabolic diseas...
Surfactant protein A enhances Mycobacterium avium ingestion but not killing by rat macrophages.

Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is a significant cause of opportunistic infection in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syn- drome. Although the major route of entry of MAC is via the gastrointestinal tract, MAC can infect humans through the respiratory tract and eventu- ally encounter alveolar macrophages within the lung. Once in the lung, MAC can potentially inter- act with surfactant protein A (SP-A), an important component of the pulmonary innate-immune re- sponse. Previous work on other pulmonary patho- gens including Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) suggests that SP-A partici- pates in promoting efficient clearance of these or- ganisms by alveolar macrophages. In the present study, we investigated the role of SP-A in clearance of MAC by cultured rat macrophages. SP-A bound to MAC organisms and enhanced the ingestion of the mycobacteria by macrophages. Infection of macrophages with SP-A-MAC complexes induced the production of nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-. However, intracellular survival of MAC was not altered by preopsonization with SP-A. In addition, inhibitors of inducible NO syn- thase did not alter MAC clearance. These results suggest that SP-A can bind to and enhance the uptake of MAC by alveolar macrophages, similar to previous findings with BCG and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, unlike BCG and other pul- monary pathogens that are cleared effectively in the presence of SP-A via a NO-dependent pathway, macrophage-mediated clearance of MAC is not en- hanced by SP-A. J. Leukoc. Biol. 74: 523-530; 2003.
Surface attachment of Salmonella typhimurium to intestinal epithelia imprints the subepithelial matrix with gradients chemotactic for neutrophils.

During intestinal disease induced by Salmonella typhimurium transepithelial migration of neutrophils (PMN) rapidly follows attachment of the bacteria to the epithelial apical membrane. Among the events stimulated by these interactions is the release of chemotaxins that guide PMN through the subepithelial matrix and subsequently through the epithelium itself (McCormick, B.A., S.P. Colgan, C. Delp-Archer, S.I. Miller, and J.L. Madara. 1993. J. Cell Biol. 123:895-907). Given the substantial volume flow that normally characterizes matrix compartments underlying transporting epithelia, it is unclear how such transmatrix signaling is sustained. Here we show that when underlying matrices are isolated from biophysically confluent polarized monolayers of the human intestinal epithelial cell line T84, they fail to support substantial transmatrix migration of PMN unless an exogenous chemotactic gradient is imposed. In contrast, such matrices isolated from confluent monolayers apically colonized with S. typhimurium support spontaneous transmatrix migration of PMN. Such chemotactic imprinting of underlying matrices is resistant to volume wash and is paralleled by secretion of the known matrix-binding chemokine IL-8. Chemotactic imprinting of the matrix underlying S. typhimurium-colonized monolayers is dependent on epithelial protein synthesis, is directional implying the existence of a gradient, and is neutralized by antibodies either to IL-8 or to the IL-8 receptor on PMN. An avirulent S. typhimurium strain, PhoPc, which attaches to epithelial cells as efficiently as wild-type S. typhimurium, fails to induce basolateral secretion of IL-8 and likewise fails to imprint matrices. Together, these observations show that the epithelial surface can respond to the presence of a luminal pathogen and subsequently imprint the subepithelial matrix with retained IL-8 gradients sufficient to resist washout effects of the volume flow that normally traverses this compartment. Such data further support the notion that the primary role for basolateral secretion of IL-8 by the intestinal and likely other epithelia is recruitment of PMN through the matrix to the subepithelial space, rather than directing the final movement of PMN across the epithelium.
Dysfunction of brain pericytes in chronic neuroinflammation

Brain pericytes are uniquely positioned within the neurovascular unit to provide support to blood brain barrier (BBB) maintenance. Neurologic conditions, such as HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorder, are associated with BBB compromise due to chronic inflammation. Little is known about pericyte dysfunction during HIV-1 infection. We found decreased expression of pericyte markers in human brains from HIV-1-infected patients (even those on antiretroviral therapy). Using primary human brain pericytes, we assessed expression of pericyte markers (α1-integrin, α-smooth muscle actin, platelet-derived growth factor-B receptor β, CX-43) and found their downregulation after treatment with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) or interleukin-1 β (IL-1β). Pericyte exposure to virus or cytokines resulted in decreased secretion of factors promoting BBB formation (angiopoietin-1, transforming growth factor-β1) and mRNA for basement membrane components. TNFα and IL-1β enhanced expression of adhesion molecules in pericytes paralleling increased monocyte adhesion to pericytes. Monocyte migration across BBB models composed of human brain endothelial cells and pericytes demonstrated a diminished rate in baseline migration compared to constructs composed only of brain endothelial cells. However, exposure to the relevant chemokine, CCL2, enhanced the magnitude of monocyte migration when compared to BBB models composed of brain endothelial cells only. These data suggest an important role of pericytes in BBB regulation in neuroinflammation.
Assessment of Cardiac Rate and Rhythm in Fetuses with Arrhythmia via Maternal Abdominal Fetal Electrocardiography

Objective This study aims to report our experience using the Monica AN24 (Monica Healthcare Ltd., Nottingham, United Kingdom), a maternal transabdominal fetal electrocardiographic monitor, in a case series of fetuses with arrhythmias. Study Design We recorded fetal electrocardiograms (fECGs) on subjects with fetal arrhythmias diagnosed by fetal echocardiogram. Fetal heart rate and rhythm were determined via manual fECG analysis. Results Overall, 20 fECGs were recorded from a pool of 13 subjects. Fetal heart rate acquisition was determined to be high, medium, and poor quality in 10, 3, and 7 tracings, respectively. High-quality tracings were obtained in 9 of 11 subjects with gestational age 34 weeks. P waves were detectable in five tracings. Conclusion In subjects 34 weeks' gestational age, there was reasonable success in fetal heart rate acquisition. Further study is warranted to determine the potential role of this device in the monitoring of subjects with fetal arrhythmias.
Areas for Future Research

A movement to improve the quality of colonoscopy has gained considerable momentum. While efforts to improve adherence to current quality measurements are very important, numerous aspects of the quality process need further refinement. The adenoma detection rate may be replaced by a measurement such as adenomas per colonoscopy. Higher levels of adenoma detection by endoscopists will be expected in the future. Many of the proposed process measures must be validated by demonstrating that they improve outcomes. A variety of potential methods to correct low-level detection must be proven to be effective. Many aspects of colonoscopy technique, particularly polypectomy techniques, have not yet been sufficiently studied to establish best practice and create quality targets.
Biocrime - A New Concept

In order to reflect the interest that human society showed to the evolution of biotechnology and biomedicine, were adopted a series of juridical instruments with universal vocation, national or international, within were consecrated principles and concepts of special importance and which are considered the base of a legal system of protection that will have to be in a continous improvement.The Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine of 4 April 1997, also known as the “Oviedo Convention” represents the source of creative inspiration of the states internal legislation, which have adopted ratification laws on national level, based on the Convention's articles. Romania is among the states which have adopted a position of recognition of the Convention through the Ratification Law No.17 / 2001.Therefore, on national level were previously adopted many normative acts, having as result the harmonisation between the national and international legislation, both, the civilian and criminal law. We can mention as a very important event, the adoption of the new romanian Civil and Criminal Codes, organic laws, but also the special laws in compliance with the nature of the Oviedo's Convention articles.Among the special laws, we can remind Law No. 95/2006 on healthcare reform and Law No. 39/2003 on preventing and combating organized crime.The chapter "Crimes" from these special laws includes articles that incriminates human trafficking, the procurement of organs that compromise the results of forensic autopsy , organization and/or conducting removal of organs and/or tissues and/or cells of human origin for transplantation , that we can call, without any doubt, Biocrimes.In the Biocrimes article presentation, we will try to define and configurate this concept. In the same time, we strongly believe that the article in question is the initial start in using this new legal term and, why not, in trying to implement a new concept and to codify this type of crimes, which may be considered the subject of a deep study of the criminal law's branch, with great importance for the development of a poorly configurated legal field, of International Criminal Law.
Situation-Specific Expertise and Perceived Control:

To investigate the influence that situation-specific expertise might have on locus of control, 387 student/athletes completed Rotter's locus of control and the Dahlhauser Sports Locus of Control inventory. Analysis supported the hypothesis that subjects' expertise within a situation-specific environment will yield a locus of control score significantly more internalized than scores on the more general Rotter instrument. The authors conclude that personal expertise must be taken into account in research dealing with the construct of control. Further, research tailored more specifically to the situation is needed.
Advances in Thyroid and Parathyroid Care

Several new technologies and techniques have been developed to facilitate thyroid and parathyroid surgery. Molecular testing of indeterminate thyroid nodules has the potential to better discriminate benign from malignant nodules. Advances in imaging of parathyroid glands have permitted a focused minimally invasive parathyroidectomy. Intraoperative adjuncts including recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring and hemostatic devices are available and have gained widespread use among surgeons. Also, minimally invasive techniques have been incorporated with the aim of minimizing the risk of surgery and achieving optimal cosmetic outcomes. This chapter provides an update of the new technology and surgical techniques that are available for thyroid and parathyroid surgery.
Lattice continuum and diffusional creep.

Diffusional creep is characterized by growth/disappearance of lattice planes at the crystal boundaries that serve as sources/sinks of vacancies, and by diffusion of vacancies. The lattice continuum theory developed here represents a natural and intuitive framework for the analysis of diffusion in crystals and lattice growth/loss at the boundaries. The formulation includes the definition of the Lagrangian reference configuration for the newly created lattice, the transport theorem and the definition of the creep rate tensor for a polycrystal as a piecewise uniform, discontinuous field. The values associated with each crystalline grain are related to the normal diffusional flux at grain boundaries. The governing equations for Nabarro–Herring creep are derived with coupled diffusion and elasticity with compositional eigenstrain. Both, bulk diffusional dissipation and boundary dissipation accompanying vacancy nucleation and absorption, are considered, but the latter is found to be negligible. For periodic arrangements of grains, diffusion formally decouples from elasticity but at the cost of a complicated boundary condition. The equilibrium of deviatorically stressed polycrystals is impossible without inclusion of interface energies. The secondary creep rate estimates correspond to the standard Nabarro–Herring model, and the volumetric creep is small. The initial (primary) creep rate is estimated to be much larger than the secondary creep rate.
A Highly Efficacious Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Vaccine Blocks Viral Pathogenesis and Prevents Corneal Immunopathology via Humoral Immunity

ABSTRACT Correlates of immunologic protection requisite for an efficacious herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) vaccine remain unclear with respect to viral pathogenesis and clinical disease. In the present study, mice were vaccinated with a novel avirulent, live attenuated virus (0ΔNLS) or an adjuvanted glycoprotein D subunit (gD-2) similar to that used in several human clinical trials. Mice vaccinated with 0ΔNLS showed superior protection against early viral replication, neuroinvasion, latency, and mortality compared to that of gD-2-vaccinated or naive mice following ocular challenge with a neurovirulent clinical isolate of HSV-1. Moreover, 0ΔNLS-vaccinated mice exhibited protection against ocular immunopathology and maintained corneal mechanosensory function. Vaccinated mice also showed suppressed T cell activation in the draining lymph nodes following challenge. Vaccine efficacy correlated with serum neutralizing antibody titers. Humoral immunity was identified as the correlate of protection against corneal neovascularization, HSV-1 shedding, and latency through passive immunization. Overall, 0ΔNLS affords remarkable protection against HSV-1-associated ocular sequelae by impeding viral replication, dissemination, and establishment of latency. IMPORTANCE HSV-1 manifests in a variety of clinical presentations ranging from a rather benign “cold sore” to more severe forms of infection, including necrotizing stromal keratitis and herpes simplex encephalitis. The present study was undertaken to evaluate a novel vaccine to ocular HSV-1 infection not only for resistance to viral replication and spread but also for maintenance of the visual axis. The results underscore the necessity to reconsider strategies that utilize attenuated live virus as opposed to subunit vaccines against ocular HSV-1 infection.
Neural network based power management of hydraulic hybrid vehicles

AbstractEffective power management is key to maximizing the performance and efficiency of hydraulic hybrid powertrains. However, the strong influence of future driving events on the optimal control...
Avoiding the chopping block in curricular reform: reimagining physiology laboratories in the era of integrated medical curricula.

for the past 100 yr or so, the Flexner 2+2 model of medical education has been the dominant paradigm for undergraduate medical curricula ([4][1]). The recognition of disadvantages with this approach has prompted a growing movement of curricular reform, beginning with a focus on pedagogical format
Examining Prefrontal Cortex Activity and Tonic Anxiety in Alcohol Use Disorder Recovery: A Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy Study

ABSTRACTCognitive impairment, emotional reactivity, and circuitry differences have been examined for anxiety using functional magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, and near infrared spectroscopy, with no overwhelming consensus as to the impacted brain regions. In the present study, 32 participants in recovery from alcohol use disorder were administered the Penn State Worry Questionnaire to assess tonic anxiety level and viewed aversive images during functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIR) prefrontal cortex (PFC) assessment. Negative cue examination revealed a positive association between anxiety level and left dorsolateral and dorsomedial PFC activation. Previous alcoholism research demonstrates potential confounds in these dorsolateral and dorsomedial regions, limiting generalizations to addiction-naive populations. However, fNIR presently showed reliability as an imaging technique for assessing anxiety-related PFC activity that could augment standard diagnostic procedures for an...
Experimental results for a narrowband full duplex communications system

Full duplex communications systems may double throughput in a bandlimited channel. Full duplex is especially attractive for relatively simple point-to-point, highly directional links used in satellite communications. A testbed was developed to study the feasibility of achieving sufficient self-interference cancellation for very long distance links. The difficulty with long-distance full duplex links lies in the extreme power difference between the transmitted and received signals. A full-duplex system meant for satellite communications needs to be relatively small, further constraining hardware options. On the other hand, sensitivity to cost of individual components is dramatically lower than for commercial terrestrial systems. In this paper we provide a detailed description of the testbed, including hardware choices and tradeoffs, as well as real-time measurement results. The results presented in this paper match, but do not surpass, the best published to date. This paper presents technical approaches that are not addressed elsewhere and provides a summary of challenges likely to be encountered by other researchers.
Breast Reconstruction with Implant/Tissue Expander

Breast reconstruction with implant/tissue expander may be performed immediately or delayed following mastectomy for carcinoma or for cancer prophylaxis. This chapter describes indications, essential steps, variations, and complications of this procedure. It also provides a detailed template operative note.
An Optical Tweezers Platform for Single Molecule Force Spectroscopy in Organic Solvents

Observation at the single molecule level has been a revolutionary tool for molecular biophysics and materials science, but single molecule studies of solution-phase chemistry are less widespread. In this work we develop an experimental platform for solution-phase single molecule force spectroscopy in organic solvents. This optical-tweezer-based platform was designed for broad chemical applicability and utilizes optically trapped core–shell microspheres, synthetic polymer tethers, and click chemistry linkages formed in situ. We have observed stable optical trapping of the core–shell microspheres in ten different solvents, and single molecule link formation in four different solvents. These experiments demonstrate how to use optical tweezers for single molecule force application in the study of solution-phase chemistry.
A Backward-Lagrangian-Stochastic Footprint Model for the Urban Environment

Built terrains, with their complexity in morphology, high heterogeneity, and anthropogenic impact, impose substantial challenges in Earth-system modelling. In particular, estimation of the source areas and footprints of atmospheric measurements in cities requires realistic representation of the landscape characteristics and flow physics in urban areas, but has hitherto been heavily reliant on large-eddy simulations. In this study, we developed physical parametrization schemes for estimating urban footprints based on the backward-Lagrangian-stochastic algorithm, with the built environment represented by street canyons. The vertical profile of mean streamwise velocity is parametrized for the urban canopy and boundary layer. Flux footprints estimated by the proposed model show reasonable agreement with analytical predictions over flat surfaces without roughness elements, and with experimental observations over sparse plant canopies. Furthermore, comparisons of canyon flow and turbulence profiles and the subsequent footprints were made between the proposed model and large-eddy simulation data. The results suggest that the parametrized canyon wind and turbulence statistics, based on the simple similarity theory used, need to be further improved to yield more realistic urban footprint modelling.
Smart Sensors, Cyborgs, and Cybernetics: A Critical Reading of Smart City Technologies

The utilization of digital technologies has left traces about their users’ behaviors. Collectively these digital traces reflect the status of cities at any given time point; and the technology users become smart sensors capable of generating and acting upon information. The synergy between people and technology transforms each individual and creates cyborgs. Cities traversed by cyborgs become sensible. In this article, cybernetics as a framework has been applied for examining the implications of this phenomenon. Twitter data are used exemplarily to illustrate the complexity of cyborg identities. Twitter data as one type of many digital traces have helped shed light on spatiotemporal activities, but their producers’ identities are complex. Cybernetics is implemented to formalize the relations between cities and their dwellers as communication and feedback loops. Then second order cybernetics is implemented for a critical reading of smart city technologies.
Molecular weights of nitrogenase components from Azotobacter vinelandii.

Abstract Meniscus depletion sedimentation equilibrium ultracentrifuge experiments were performed on purified MoFe and Fe proteins of Azotobacter vinelandii . The MoFe protein was found to have a molecular weight of 245,000, using an experimentally confirmed partial specific volume of 0.73. The MoFe protein formed one band on sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis and had a subunit molecular weight of 56,000. The subunit molecular weight from ultracentrifuge experiments in 8 M urea was 61,000. The molecular weight of the Fe protein was calculated to be 60,500 in meniscus depletion experiments. Similar experiments in 8 M urea solvent indicated a subunit molecular weight of 30,000. A subunit molecular weight of 33,000 was obtained from sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis experiments.
The Identification of Phosphorylation Sites in Large Membrane Proteins Following Their Isolation by SDS-PAGE

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a study involving the identification of phosphorylation sites in large membrane proteins following their isolation by SDS-PAGE. Rat brain sodium channels were partially purified through the step of wheat germ agglutinin chromatography. A preparation containing 1200 pmol sodium channels was phosphorylated by the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase in the presence of 0.5 mM [γ-32P]ATP for 30 min at 37°C. The reaction was stopped by the addition of SDS-PAGE sample buffer and incubation at 55°C for 15 min. Rabbit skeletal muscle L-type calcium channels were purified, and a preparation containing 500 pmol was phosphorylated for the sodium channel. The primary structure of the rat brain type II sodium channel α subunit predicts six potential cAMP-dependent phosphorylation sites between residues 554 and 687.
Bacterial contamination of platelet units: a case report and literature survey with review of upcoming american association of blood banks requirements.

Abstract The most common transfusion-associated infectious risk in the United States today is bacterial contamination of platelet components. Bacterial contamination is estimated to occur at an incidence of 1:1000 to 1:3000 in platelet units, with severe episodes estimated to occur in about one sixth of contaminated products. Increased awareness and prompt reaction of the medical team can greatly affect the outcome and save a patient's life. The following case history illustrates this issue. A young woman developed chills and rigors while receiving 1 unit of leuko-reduced apheresis platelets for severe thrombocytopenia. The transfusion was stopped, blood cultures were drawn, and the patient developed clinical signs of sepsis. Cultures of both the platelet unit and the patient's blood revealed coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. Microbial susceptibilities in both samples were identical. Pretransfusion blood cultures taken from the patient earlier that day were negative. The platelet unit had been stored for...
Perioperative Management of Pulmonary Circulation in Children With Congenital Cardiac Defects

Congenital cardiac defects and the clinical symptoms they exhibit are affected intimately by the relation they have with pulmonary circulation. Cardiac lesions that increase pulmonary blood flow often occur clinically with signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure, including hepatomegaly, tachycardia, diaphoresis, and feeding difficulties. However, in the neonatal period, pulmonary vascular resistance often remains elevated, decreasing the pulmonary blood flow and, therefore, severity of symptoms. Cardiac lesions that reduce pulmonary blood flow often manifest early in life with clinical signs and symptoms of cyanosis, tachypnea, and acidosis. Finally, cardiac lesions that result in isolated pulmonary blood flow manifest immediately in the neonatal period, with profound cyanosis and acidosis. In all three groups of cardiac anomalies, critical care nurses play a key role in the control of pulmonary vascular resistance and blood flow by collaborating in therapies designed to increase, decrease, or promote mixing to reduce morbidity and mortality.
Cognitive Style and Consumer Ethnocentricism

The greater availability to consumers of foreign goods resulting from the recent globalization of business has increased the need for measures to assess consumer attitudes and preferences for domestic and foreign products. Consumer ethnocentricism was proposed as a construct that may partially explain why consumers evaluate domestic products more favorably than foreign products. The CETSCALE was developed to measure the ethnocentricism construct and has been shown to be valid and reliable. However, its developers pointed out a need to determine whether consumer ethnocentric tendencies operate uniformly across all consumers or whether certain population segments reveal greater ethnocentric tendencies than others. The present study tested whether ethnocentricism varied across cognitive styles.