cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metagenomic analysis indicates that stressors induce production of herpes-like viruses in the coral Porites compressa

During the last several decades corals have been in decline and at least one-third of all coral species are now threatened with extinction. Coral disease has been a major contributor to this threat, but little is known about the responsible pathogens. To date most research has focused on bacterial and fungal diseases; however, viruses may also be important for coral health. Using a combination of empirical viral metagenomics and real-time PCR, we show that Porites compressa corals contain a suite of eukaryotic viruses, many related to the Herpesviridae. This coral-associated viral consortium was found to shift in response to abiotic stressors. In particular, when exposed to reduced pH, elevated nutrients, and thermal stress, the abundance of herpes-like viral sequences rapidly increased in 2 separate experiments. Herpes-like viral sequences were rarely detected in apparently healthy corals, but were abundant in a majority of stressed samples. In addition, surveys of the Nematostella and Hydra genomic projects demonstrate that even distantly related Cnidarians contain numerous herpes-like viral genes, likely as a result of latent or endogenous viral infection. These data support the hypotheses that corals experience viral infections, which are exacerbated by stress, and that herpes-like viruses are common in Cnidarians.
Determination of sulfanilamide and sulfisoxazole in drug preparations by quantitative high performance TLC

Abstract A densitometric TLC method was developed for quantification of sulfanilamide and sulfisoxazole in creams, supppositories, and tablets. The sulfas were extracted into acidic ethanol, diluted to an appropriate volume, and separated by silica gel HPTLC. The fluorescence quenching of the sulfa zones in samples and standards was compared by in situ scanning. Recoveries of the drugs from authentic samples ranged from 96–105%. Recoveries from products with old expiration dates were low. Identity of the sulfa drugs in products was confirmed by application of fluorescamine and Bratton-Marshall detection reagents.
A Self-Tuning Protocol for Optimal Bandwidth Allocation in Wireless Networks

We consider a wireless system in which a base station allocates bandwidth to users, based on their bandwidth requests in time frames. We design a self-tuning mechanism for the case when users may cheat by requesting more bandwidth than what they truly need, in order to relieve congestion for themselves when the system is overloaded. Our self-tuning mechanism guarantees that the system will automatically converge to the optimal throughput and fairness, even if cheating users are present. According to our results, it is possible to design an uncheatable allocation mechanism, in which self-tuning guarantees that the best strategy for each user is to play honestly.
Estimation of Ice Hydrometeor Types and Shapes from Radar Polarization Measurements

Abstract An approach to distinguish between various types of ice hydrometeors and to estimate their shapes using radar polarization measurements is discussed. It is shown that elevation angle dependencies of radar depolarization ratios can be used to distinguish between planar crystals, columnar crystals, and aggregates in reasonably homogeneous stratiform clouds. Absolute values of these ratios depend on the reflectivity-weighted mean particle aspect ratio in the polarization plane. Circular depolarization ratios depend on this ratio, and linear depolarization ratios depend on this ratio and particle orientation in the polarization plane. The use of nearly circular elliptical polarization provides a means of measuring depolarization for low reflectivity scatterers when the circular polarization fails due to low signal level in one of the receiving channels. Modeling of radar backscattering was applied to the elliptical depolarization ratios as measured by the Ka-band radar developed at the NOAA Environme...
Childhood optic chiasm gliomas: radiographic response following radiotherapy and long-term clinical outcome

Purpose: In children with chiasmal gliomas, radiation therapy can arrest progressive visual and neurologic impairment. We examined the radiographic response and clinical outcomes after irradiation. Methods and Materials: Forty-two children (median age at diagnosis, 6.6 years) with chiasmal gliomas were managed as follows: 11 asymptomatic patients with neurofibromatosis-1 (NF-1) were observed only; 2 patients, less than 3 years old, underwent surgery and chemotherapy to delay irradiation; and 29 patients with progressive disease received radiation with or without prior surgery or chemotherapy. Time to radiographic response, long-term tumor control and late sequelae were reviewed for the 29 irradiated patients. Results: The probability of at least 50% radiographic response at 24 months after irradiation was 18.1% and increased to 38.2% by 48 months and 45.9% by 60 months. By actuarial analysis, the median time for such radiographic response was 62 months. For the 29 irradiated patients, the IO-year freedom from progression and overall survival rates were 100% and 89%, respectively (median follow-up for surviving patients, 108 months). Stabilization or improvement in vision occurred in 81% of 26 evaluable irradiated patients. Conclusions: Notable radiographic response may be observed years after irradiation. Radiation therapy provides excellent long-term tumor control and vision preservation or improvement in the majority of patients with progressive chiasmal gliomas. 0 1997 Elsevier Science Inc. Optic chiasm, Glioma, Radiotherapy, Magnetic resonance imaging.
Ethnographic Study of On-Hold Caller Multitasking Behavior

Telephone users frequently engage in multitasking while on hold. While these multitasking behaviors are significant for the research and application of effective on-hold stimuli, they have not been thoroughly studied. The current study examines on-hold multitasking behavior with a naturalistic ethnographic method, and describes these behaviors for callers in their home environment. The data show that callers do indeed engage in a variety of multitasking behaviors, including web browsing, e-mail, and item manipulation. However, callers are not necessarily aware of these behaviors and self-reported data may not be completely accurate. Furthermore, the diverse nature of these secondary tasks presents unique challenges for system engineers seeking to implement effective telephone interactions.
Effect of Oxygen Concentration on Aging of Rubber Vulcanizates. II. Effect of Partial Pressure of Oxygen on Changes in Physical Properties Accompanying Oxidation

Abstract The over-all rate of deterioration of physical properties increases with the oxygen concentration, as would be expected from the increased rate of oxygen absorption: The nature of the deterioration resulting from a given amount of oxygen absorbed is influenced also by changes in the partial pressure of oxygen in the aging atmosphere. It appears that chain scission is favored at higher oxygen concentrations, while cross-linking becomes of greater relative importance at lower oxygen concentrations. These data suggest that R⋅ radicals are more effective than RO2⋅ radicals in reacting with double bonds to form crosslinks. Heat aging in the absence of oxygen, as observed by heating a vulcanizate in lamp-grade nitrogen, results in considerable stiffening, particularly in the case of a GR-S black stock. This effect is observed primarily in the first few hours of heating, and may account for some of the erratic behavior observed in the early stages of aging when changes in physical properties are compare...
Tolerance following the repeated administration of high doses of phencyclidine: No relation to central catecholamine depletion

The tolerance which develops following the repeated administration of phencyclidine has been attributed to both pharmacological and behavioral adaptations. In the present study, the possibility that neurochemical alterations induced by the repeated administration of phencyclidine might account for some portion of the observed tolerance was examined. Specifically, it was postulated that the repeated administration of high doses of phencyclidine might result in long lasting depletion of central catecholamine stores and that this neurochemical perturbation might result in tolerance to the drug's effects. It was observed that phencyclidine disrupted the performance of rats on a fixed-interval schedule maintained by water presentation. The repeated administration of high doses of phencyclidine (but not of a comparable volume of saline) during a period when subjects were not engaged in the fixed-interval task resulted in the development of a long lasting tolerance, but this tolerance could not be accounted for in terms of a depletion of central catecholamine stores.
Stress, appraisal, and coping: a comparison of HIV-infected women in the pre-HAART and HAART eras.

Abstract Background It has been widely suggested that highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has improved the psychosocial aspects of living with HIV/AIDS. Method A sample of 79 women living with HIV/AIDS in the pre-HAART era (1994–1996) were compared with a matched sample of 79 women with HIV/AIDS from the HAART era (2000–2003) on measures of stress, illness appraisals, and coping strategies. Results Contrary to expectations, HIV-infected women in the HAART era were significantly more likely than women in the pre-HAART era to report health-related stress, to report stress from stigma and disclosure, to view HIV as having caused them harm, to report that their health is due to chance, and to report more use of maladaptive forms of coping (e.g., escape-avoidant coping). Conclusion Although HAART may have extended survival for many HIV-infected individuals, they have not resulted in equivalent psychosocial improvements. Thus, efforts are needed to address the psychosocial difficulties that HIV-infected women in the HAART era continue to experience.
A Raman spectral study of hydrated vanadium sulfate (VSO5) phases

Abstract Raman spectra were measured for various hydrated VSO 5 materials. Spectral differences were noted and interpreted for α-VSO 5 , VSO 5 · H 2 O possessing vanadium atoms bonded to H 2 O molecules in the interlayers, and other hydrated phases which involve broken VOS linkages.
Dissociation Dynamics and Thermochemistry of Energy-Selected CpCo(CO)2+ Ions

Photoelectron photoion coincidence (PEPICO) spectroscopy has been used to investigate the dissociation dynamics of the cyclopentadienyl cobalt dicarbonyl ion, CpCo(CO)2+. The dissociation proceeds by the sequential loss of the two CO molecules. Both reactions proceed with no reverse activation energies and are slow near their dissociation onset. The 0 K onset was determined by modeling the measured dissociation rate constants with RRKM theory utilizing the variational transition state theory to locate the transition states. The ionization energy of CpCo(CO)2 was measured from the threshold photoelectron spectrum to be 7.35 eV, which agrees with the literature value. The neutral CpCo(CO)2+ gas-phase heat of formation of −117 ± 10 kJ/mol was determined from the liquid value by measuring the heat of vaporization of 52.12 ± 0.68 kJ/mol. The first Co−CO bond energy in the CpCo(CO)2+ was found to be 1.53 ± 0.02 eV (148.1 ± 2 kJ/mol), giving a 298 K gas phase heat of formation of 857 ± 10 kJ/mol for CpCoCO+. The...
Can TRUS guidance reduce the incidence of positive margins during laparoscopic radical prostatectomy

Can TRUS guidance reduce the incidence of positive margins during laparoscopic radical prostatectomy?
Age-related differences in diagnoses within the elderly population

The most common diagnoses of elderly patients in the emergency department (ED) were compared among three age subgroups: 65 to 74, 75 to 84, and 85 and older. The computerized billing records for patient visits to 10 northern New Jersey hospital EDs for the years 1985 to 1991 were retrospectively analyzed. The most frequently occurring ICD-9-CM codes for elderly patients were compared among the three age subgroups. Elderly persons comprised 174, 146 (14% of the total) patient visits. The 176,146 patient visits were assigned 259,440 ICD-9-CM codes. The most common ICD-9-CM codes for medical diagnoses included chest pain, cardiac dysrhythmias, congestive heart failure, syncope, abdominal pain, and dyspnea. Fractures, particularly of the lower limb and upper limb; contusions; open wounds, particularly of the head, neck, and trunk; and falls were among the most common trauma diagnoses. The proportions in the three age subgroups of each diagnosis were statistically significantly different, except for cardiac arrest and contusions of the trunk and of multiple sites. The diagnoses with clinically significant higher relative risks in older age subgroups were atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, syncope, hypovolemia/dehydration, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, dyspnea, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, cerebrovascular accident, septicemia, urinary tract infection, fractures, and open wounds of the head, neck, trunk, particularly the scalp, and falls. Clinically significant lower relative risks were found in older age subgroups for chest pain, acute myocardial infarction, hypertension, angina, chronic airway obstruction not elsewhere classified, epistaxis, contusions of the upper limb, and open wounds of the finger.
Mapping the free-swimming attack volume of a planktonic copepod, Euchaeta rimana

The ability of planktonic copepods to detect and pursue remote prey is well documented, but there are no empirical descriptions of their three-dimensional (3D) sensory fields. In this study, the attack volume of females of Euchaeta rimana Bradford, a planktonic calanoid copepod, was mapped by plotting the positions of attacked prey within a standardized 3D coordinate system defined by the body axes of E. rimana. This analysis was performed using videotaped observations of predatory interactions between free-swimming E. rimana and smaller copepod species. Attack by E. rimana was an oriented response, accurately directed toward remote prey within an ellipsoidal volume anterior to its paired first antennules. This attack volume enveloped the large mechanosensory setae projecting anteriorly from the first antennules, with attack distances averaging 1.5 mm, or less than one body length of the predator. E. rimana attacked a larger prey species, Acartia fossae, at significantly longer distances than it attacked a smaller species, Acrocalanus inermi, reflecting prey-specific perceptive volumes. Such perceptual biases may underlie the selective feeding patterns observed in E. rimana and other copepod species. These observations are consistent with mechanosensory mechanisms of prey identification and localization, suggesting that fluid disturbances provide the releasing and directing stimuli for E. rimana during predatory interactions. Electronic supplementary material to this paper can be obtained by using the Springer LINK server located at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00227-001-0735-z.
Exact and stable interior ROI reconstruction for radial MRI

MRI applications often require high spatial and/or temporal resolution within a region of interest (ROI) such as for perfusion studies. In theory, both spatial resolution and temporal resolution can be significantly improved using a ROI-focused MRI data acquisition scheme. However, in radial MRI, there is no such acquisition-based solution available. Traditional reconstruction methods to image the ROI by reducing the field of view produce aliasing artifacts when the dataset becomes truncated. Here we propose an interior MRI methodology to perform ROI reconstruction without artifacts. Methods: In contrast to the conventional wisdom that the interior problem does not have a unique solution, interior tomography has been recently proposed as an exact and stable solution to this longstanding problem. In this project, a ROI-focused radial MRI data acquisition scheme was developed, aided by a dedicated digital filter. We implemented this method in a 4T 90 cm bore Oxford magnet with a GE phantom and a transceiver TEM head coil. The parameters were 4 gauss/cm sonata gradients, 5 mm slice thickness, TE=30 ms, TR=200 ms, FOVs of 40 cm and 12 cm respectively. Results: Both numerical simulation and phantom experiments have demonstrated that the proposed interior MRI method can exactly reconstruct a ROI with increased spatial resolution (~4 fold) while keeping the same temporal resolution. The image artifacts from truncated projections are effectively eliminated. No crosstalk with the outside ROI region is involved using the proposed method. Conclusions: Our interior radial MRI method can be used for zoomed-in and fast views of a particular ROI, which can be translated into significant advantages in clinical and pre-clinical applications of many types.
Phosphorylation of human vitamin D receptor serine-182 by PKA suppresses 1,25(OH)2D3-dependent transactivation.

Abstract The human vitamin D receptor (hVDR), which is a substrate for several protein kinases, mediates the actions of its 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 (1,25(OH) 2 D 3 ) ligand to regulate gene expression. To determine the site, and functional impact, of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA)-catalyzed phosphorylation of hVDR, we generated a series of C-terminally truncated and point mutant receptors. Incubation of mutant hVDRs with PKA and [γ- 32 P]ATP, in vitro, or overexpressing them in COS-7 kidney cells labeled with [ 32 P]orthophosphate, revealed that serine-182 is the predominant residue in hVDR phosphorylated by PKA. An aspartate substituted mutant (S182D), incorporating a negative charge to mimic phosphorylation, displayed only 50% of the transactivation capacity in response to 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 of either wild-type or an S182A-altered hVDR. When the catalytic subunit of PKA was overexpressed, a similar reduction in wild-type but not S182D hVDR transactivity was observed. In a mammalian two-hybrid system, S182D bound less avidly than wild-type or S182A hVDR to the retinoid X receptor (RXR) heterodimeric partner that co-mediates vitamin D responsive element recognition and transactivation. These data suggest that hVDR serine-182 is a primary site for PKA phosphorylation, an event that leads to an attenuation of both RXR heterodimerization and resultant transactivation of 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 target genes.
Strategies for Resolution of Intraprofessional Conflict Related to the Role of the Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant

The certified occupational therapy assistant's role continues to be of concern to our profession. Occupational therapy personnel have identified the same issues, especially role confusion and inadequate supervision, as problems without clear solutions for almost two decades. The author addresses these and other problems and proposes use of de Bono's lateral thinking style for problem analysis and resolution.
N2O decomposition over iron-exchanged mordenite

Abstract The decomposition of N 2 O was studied over FeM and comparison was made with similar studies for FeY. Neither NaM nor NaY was a catalyst. The Fe 2+ cations of the reduced form of FeY and FeM were oxidized rapidly to Fe 3+ above 250 °C, producing N 2 as the sole product. Following this oxidation, N 2 O decomposition proceeded at a lower steady-state rate producing N 2 and O 2 in the expected stoichiometric ratio. Interestingly, this reaction was more rapid over FeM than over FeY in spite of the fact that the latter has a more accessible three-dimensional pore system and a redox capacity more than three times higher. The same rate law was obtained, however, for both catalysts, viz., rate = kP N 2 O . Neither catalyst effected the decomposition of NO at temperatures up to 700 °C nor was the N 2 O decomposition inhibited by O 2 . The kinetic data conformed to a redox mechanism limited by the rate of reduction by removal of carried oxygen by reaction with N 2 O to produce the product molecules. Experiments were made using 18 O-labeled catalysts in hopes of better defining the nature of the oxygen-carrying sites. These results did not conform to expectation. They suggested that only a small portion of the redox capacity of the zeolite is used so that 32 O 2 appeared as the primary product from the decomposition of N 2 O over an exhaustively 18 O-oxygenated catalyst rather than 34 O 2 as anticipated from the kinetic results. Possibly diffusion plays an important role in disguising the reaction mechanism.
Ungrammatical grammar in pattern recognition

Abstract Various contentions of the grammatical approach to pattern recognition are critically examined. The most general tenet of this school of thought is that a pattern should be considered as composed of components of known types arranged in a certain fashion. One of the most specific assumptions is that the rules governing the arrangement of components form a “finite” phrase structure grammar. There is a whole gamut of viewpoints between these two poles. Their grammatical theories, however, are usually ungrammatical in some strict sense. We introduce two examples of structure description, one of pictorial patterns with a set of group-theoretical rules and the other a set of rules for linearization of chemical structural formulae. They are both grammatical in the sense that they are based on production rules. But the first is ungrammatical because it is so strongly Gestalt-forming that no local substitution is allowed. The second is ungrammatical because the grammaticalness here cannot define the set of actually existing molecules.
Posttraumatic seizures in children with severe traumatic brain injury

Purpose Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains a leading cause of childhood death and disability worldwide. Seizures are a common complication of TBI and they are particularly common in pediatric populations. The proper management of children sustaining severe TBI is still controversial. Our study aims to share our experience contributing to build evidence for better care.
New fluorescent probes for the measurement of cell membrane viscosity.

Abstract Background: Molecular rotors are fluorescent molecules that exhibit viscosity-dependent fluorescence quantum yield, potentially allowing direct measurements of cell membrane viscosity in cultured cells. Commercially available rotors, however, stain not only the cell membrane, but also bind to tubulin and migrate into the cytoplasm. We synthesized molecules related to 9-(dicyanovinyl)-julolidine (DCVJ), which featured hydrocarbon chains of different length to increase membrane compatibility. Results: Longer hydrocarbon chains attached to the fluorescent rotor reduce the migration of the dye into the cytoplasm and internal compartments of the cell. The amplitude of the fluorescence response to fluid shear stress, known to decrease membrane viscosity, is significantly higher than the response obtained from DCVJ. Notably a farnesyl chain showed a more than 20-fold amplitude over DCVJ and allowed detection of membrane viscosity changes at markedly lower shear stresses. Conclusions: The modification of molecular rotors towards increased cell membrane association provides a new research tool for membrane viscosity measurements. The use of these rotors complements established methods such as fluorescence recovery after photobleaching with its limited spatial and temporal resolution and fluorescence anisotropy, which has low sensitivity and may be subject to other effects such as deformation.
Molecular Aspects of the Fatigue and Fracture of Rubber

Abstract This short review highlights molecular mechanisms controlling the fracture of rubber and rubber reinforcement, with emphasis on the importance of mechano-chemistry. The manuscript is an extension and update of a previous short review published in Rubber Chemistry and Technology in 1991. All solids, including vulcanizates, contain inevitable ubiquitous flaws of various shapes and sizes. When a solid is subjected to a global stress, the local stresses at the tips of these flaws are magnified and can be many times larger than the average applied stress. Generally, there will be a single flaw at which the stress is magnified to the greatest degree and where fracture begins. Macroscopic fracture of vulcanized rubber is a process in which network chains are broken and new free surface area is created as a result of mechanical loading. Loading may be continuously increasing up to fracture (monotonic fracture) or it may be applied periodically, typically at much lower levels, until fracture ensues (fatig...
Determination of trace elements in ambient aerosol samples

Abstract A microwave-assisted digestion procedure using HNO 3 , HF, and H 2 O 2 has been developed for analysis of elements in ambient particulate matter (PM). The samples are collected on cellulose filters and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The ICP-MS is calibrated with external standards, and recovery of analytes is tested with NIST SRM 1648 Urban Dust. This method has been used to quantify the airborne concentrations of a large number of elements, including Ag, As, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Ga, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Se, Sb, Sr, Ti, Tl, V, and Zn. For the majority of these elements, recovery of the NIST SRM is within 15% of the certified values.
Silver Nanoscale Antisense Drug Delivery System for Photoactivated Gene Silencing

The unique photophysical properties of noble metal nanoparticles contribute to their potential as photoactivated drug delivery vectors. Here we demonstrate the synthesis and characterization of 60–80 nm silver nanoparticles (SNPs) decorated with thiol-terminated photolabile DNA oligonucleotides. In vitro assays and fluorescent confocal microscopy of treated cell cultures show efficient UV-wavelength photoactivation of surface-tethered caged ISIS2302 antisense oligonucleotides possessing internal photocleavable linkers. As a demonstration of the advantages of these novel nanocarriers, we investigate properties including: enhanced stability to nucleases, increased hybridization activity upon photorelease, and efficient cellular uptake as compared to commercial transfection vectors. Their potential as multicomponent delivery agents for oligonucleotide therapeutics is shown through regulation of ICAM-1 (Intracellular Adhesion Molecule-1) silencing. Our results suggest a means to achieve light-triggered, spati...
Carbon Interstitial in the Diamond Lattice

Linear-combination-of-atomic-orbitals-molecular-orbitals cluster calculations using the extended H\"uckel theory are carried out for the interstitial carbon in the diamond lattice. The results suggest that the interstitial configuration is not the tetrahedral or hexagonal site, as has been previously assumed, but is instead an "interstitialcy" configuration, i.e., either a split- 〈100〉 interstitial (which our results favor) or a bond-centered interstitial. The predicted minimum-energy configuration changes with charge state, suggesting that the interstitial in the diamond lattice is a possible example of the Bourgoin mechanism of athermal migration of a defect in the presence of ionizing radiation.
Mechanosensing in T Lymphocyte Activation

Mechanical forces play an increasingly recognized role in modulating cell function. This report demonstrates mechanosensing by T cells, using polyacrylamide gels presenting ligands to CD3 and CD28. Naive CD4 T cells exhibited stronger activation, as measured by attachment and secretion of IL-2, with increasing substrate elastic modulus over the range of 10-200 kPa. By presenting these ligands on different surfaces, this report further demonstrates that mechanosensing is more strongly associated with CD3 rather than CD28 signaling. Finally, phospho-specific staining for Zap70 and Src family kinase proteins suggests that sensing of substrate rigidity occurs at least in part by processes downstream of T-cell receptor activation. The ability of T cells to quantitatively respond to substrate rigidly provides an intriguing new model for mechanobiology.
An intestinal threadworm as a reservoir and intermediate host for Swine influenza virus : a confirmation and amplification of shope's syndrome.

A laboratory model exemplifying Shope's concept of virus carriage by helminths was developed using Strongyloides ratti (Sandground, 1925), swine influenza virus, and caesarean-originated, barrier-sustained (COBS) mice and rats. It was shown that S. ratti can act as a carrier of swine influenza virus and infect mice, despite the fact that the nematode has undergone a complete life cycle after exposure to virus in infected rats. COBS rats were inoculated with the virus via the intranasal route and subsequently infected with S. ratti. The larvae and eggs found in the feces collected from these rats were allowed to develop in vitro. These second generation filariform larvae were then inoculated subcutaneously into COBS mice. At necropsy, 5-8 days postinoculation, swine influenza virus was isolated from 15% of the mouse lungs. In control studies, swine influenza virus was not isolated from the feces of the COBS rats which served as a source of both unexposed and exposed S. ratti. Swine influenza virus was recovered in vitro from S. ratti homogenates. It is suggested that this laboratory model be used to study more closely the various aspects of the ecology of virus-helminth relationships in vertebrate hosts.
Injection of allogeneic bone marrow cells into the portal vein of swine in utero

The ability to safely manipulate the immune system of the developing fetus carries the hope of effective treatment strategies for certain congenital disorders that can be diagnosed during gestation. One possible intervention is the induction of specific transplantation tolerance to an adult donor who could provide tissue after birth without the need for immunosuppression. Although the introduction of allogeneic stem cells to a developing immune system has been shown to result in hematopoietic chimerism, donor-specific transplantation tolerance has not been demonstrated in a large animal model. In previous reports of in utero stem-cell transplantation, the cells were injected into the fetus by an intraperitoneal route. We sought to improve upon this technique of cell transplantation by developing a method for the safe delivery of allogeneic stem cells directly into the hepatic circulation of fetal swine. In the second phase of our study, we determined if adult allogeneic bone marrow cells delivered to the fetus by this intravascular route could result in result in hematopoietic chimerism and donor-specific transplantation tolerance. A method of successful intravascular injection was designed in which a laparotomy was performed on a sow at midgestation (50-55 days) to administer 1 cc of inoculum into the portal vein of each fetus using transuterine ultrasound guidance and a 25-gauge spinal needle. In one sow, 10 piglets were injected with saline to test safety, and 8 piglets were born. For transplantation of stem cells to the fetuses, donor bone marrow was harvested from a genetically defined miniature swine. In one sow the marrow was injected without T-cell depletion resulting in abortion. In the third sow, the marrow was depleted of T-cells to less than 0.01% using magnetic beads conjugated to anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies. No chimerism was detected in these offspring. Only in the fourth sow where the T-cell depletion was reduced to about 1% of the cells in the inoculum did one animal demonstrate chimerism. This piglet showed reproducible blood chimerism (0.95% donor cells) detected by flow cytometry measurement of monoclonal antibodies to the donor MHC. In addition, this animal demonstrated hyporesponsiveness to donor lymphocytes in an MLR assay while reacting strongly to third-party stimulator cells. A split-thickness skin graft from the donor was accepted, and a third-party graft was rapidly rejected.
To Reform U.S. Health Care, Start with Systematic Reviews

With passage of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111–148), the United States has taken an important step toward health care for all. But can “good” health care for all be achieved? The United States has lagged behind Canada, Europe, Australia, and now China ( 1 ) in making a national commitment to creating and utilizing research evidence on “what works” as an integral part of clinical practice and health policy ( 2 ). This approach, termed “evidence-based health care,” has been defined as “the integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values” ( 3 ). Evidence-based health care is not without its critics. Some have rejected it as “cookbook medicine” ( 4 , 5 ), apparently ignoring that evidence is not the only ingredient in the approach and that the alternative ignores the scientific underpinnings of medicine.
Hypocalcemia in children with septic shock

Ionized calcium is essential for maintenance of myocardial function and vascular tone. Ionized hypocalcemia is seen frequently in critically ill patients and is associated with poorer prognosis. It is unclear whether calcium administration is beneficial in these patients.
The stable and metastable Ti-Nb phase diagrams

The phase transformations which occur in the Ti-Nb binary alloy system have been discussed in two recent papers. The phase relationships were investigated by varying alloy composition and thermal history. In this paper, these results are summarized in complete and thermodynamically consistent calculations of the stable and metastable phase diagrams. The calculations of the metastable equilibria are relevant to the Ti-V and Ti-Mo systems, as well as to several other titanium and zirconium-based transition metal alloy systems.
On the asymptotic convergence of sequences of analytic functions

We consider sequences {fn} of analytic self mappings of a domain \(\Omega\subset{\mathbb{C}}\) and the associated sequence {Θn} of inner compositions given by \(\Theta_n = f_1 \circ f_2 \circ \cdots\circ f_n, n = 1, 2, \cdots\). The case of interest in this paper concerns sequences {fn} that converge assymptotically to a function f, in the sense that for any sequence of integers {nk} with n1 < n2 < ... one has that \({{\rm lim}_{k\rightarrow\infty}}(f_{n_k}\circ f_{n_{k}+1}\circ\cdots\circ f_{n_{k+1}-1}-f^{n_{k+1}-n_k})=0\) locally uniformly in Ω. Most of the discussion concerns the case where the asymptotic limit f is the identity function in Ω.
Presence and regulation of trehalose in the body of adult Phormia regina

Trehalose, the major blood sugar of Phormia regina, is present within its tissues in an amount exceeding that in the total blood volume. A major part of the reserve is found in the abdominal fat body. An investigation of trehalose regulation, pursued with the use of a trehalose tolerance test, indicates that within a period of 4 h the adult fly can remove from its blood amounts of this sugar in excess of twice its normal level. The surplus is dealt with in an as yet unknown way, being either sequestered in the tissues (not as trehalose or glucose), metabolized, or excreted in a form other than trehalose or glucose. The process is regulated by the head, and a link between the body and the head must be maintained throughout the entire period of activity.
Dapsone analogs as potential polyamine binding site modulators of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor complex

A high-throughput radioligand binding assay was used to screen a series of dapsone analogs for their capacity to displace [3H]-spermidine and [3H]-MK-801 from their respective binding sites on the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor complex in rat brain homogenates. Dapsone did not alter [3H]-spermidine or [3H]-MK-801 binding, suggesting that the neuroprotective properties that have been attributed to this compound may not be due to modulation of the NMDA receptor complex at the polyamine binding site. In contrast, structural analogs of dapsone, including N-phenyl-1,4-phenyldiamine and 4,4′diaminoazobenzene, effectively displaced [3H]-SPD and [3H]-MK-801. These active dapsone analogs may represent a new class of polyamine binding site ligands that may provide opportunities for the rational design of novel NMDA receptor modulators. Drug Dev. Res. 51:268–272, 2000. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Metabolic and behavioral deficits following a routine surgical procedure in rats

To test the hypothesis that functional metabolic deficits observed following surgical brain injury are associated with changes in cognitive performance in rodents, we performed serial imaging studies in parallel with behavioral measures in control animals and in animals with surgical implants. Memory function was assessed using the novel object recognition (NOR) test, administered 3 days prior to and 3, 7, 14 and 56 days after surgery. At each time point, general locomotion was also measured. Metabolic imaging with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) occurred 28 and 58 days after surgery. Animals with surgical implants performed significantly worse on tests of object recognition, while general locomotion was unaffected by the implant. There was a significant decrease in glucose uptake after surgery in most of the hemisphere ipsilateral to the implant relative to the contralateral hemisphere. At both time points, the most significant metabolic deficits occurred in the primary motor cortex (− 25%; p < 0.001), sensory cortex (− 15%, p < 0.001) and frontal cortex (− 12%; p < 0.001). Ipsilateral areas further from the site of insertion became progressively worse, including the sensory cortex, dorsal striatum and thalamus. These data was supported by a voxel-based analysis of the PET data, which revealed again a unilateral decrease in [18F]FDG uptake that extended throughout the ipsilateral cortex and persisted for the duration of the 58-day study. Probe implantation in the striatum results in a widespread and long-lasting decline in cortical glucose metabolism together with a persistent, injury-related deficit in the performance of a cognitive (object recognition) task in rats.
Large electric fields in the magnetosphere

In several regions of the magnetosphere, perpendicular and/or parallel electric fields are found to be orders-of-magnitude larger than expected from simple considerations. Problems associated with these large fields that may be amenable to study through computer simulations are discussed. Regions in which large electric fields are observed include: a) The auroral ionosphere, where Langmuir soliton-like structures have been measured to contain plasma frequency oscillations as large as 500 mV/m, the envelopes of which have parallel electric fields of ∼100 mV/m lasting for fractions of a millisecond; b) The auroral acceleration region, where electrostatic shocks have been observed to contain perpendicular fields as large as 1000 mV/m and parallel fields as large as 100 mV/m, and where double layers having parallel fields up to 10 mV/m have been observed; c) The high latitude boundary of the plasma sheet, where turbulent electric fields as large as 100 mV/m have been seen along with quasi-static fields of 5–10 mV/m; d) Inside the plasma sheet, where fields of 5–10 mV/m have frequently been observed; e) The bow shock, where turbulent fields as large as 100 mV/m and d.c. fields of ∼5 mV/m normal to the shock have been seen.
Some measurements of abnormal corona

Corona is universally used for charging particles in electrostatic precipitation. In normal corona there is a glow at the active electrode, usually a wire, which supplies ions of one sign to the main charging region. Under some abnormal conditions a glow may exist at points away from the active electrode so that there are ions of both signs in the charging region. These abnormal conditions usually increase the current at a given voltage, and may be quite detrimental in the charging of dust particles. Two types of abnormal corona have been investigated.
Materials Recycling and Reverse Channel Networks: The Public Policy Challenge

Waste is an unavoidable by-product of resource-conversion processes in our economic system. Materials recycling as part of a resource recovery program supporting sustainable development is proposed...
A global optimization algorithm for reliable network design

In this paper, we consider the problem of designing reliable networks that satisfy supply/demand, flow balance, and capacity constraints, while simultaneously allocating certain resources to mitigate the arc failure probabilities in such a manner as to minimize the total cost of network design and resource allocation. The resulting model formulation is a nonconvex mixed-integer 0-1 program, for which a tight linear programming relaxation is derived using RLT-based variable substitution strategies and a polyhedral outer-approximation technique. This LP relaxation is subsequently embedded within a specialized branch-and-bound procedure, and the proposed approach is proven to converge to a global optimum. Various alternative partitioning strategies that could potentially be employed in the context of this branch-and-bound framework, while preserving the theoretical convergence property, are also explored. Computational results are reported for a hypothetical scenario based on different parameter inputs and alternative branching strategies. Related optimization models that conform to the same class of problems are also briefly presented.
A new family of real-time predictor-corrector integration algorithms

This paper describes a variation of the conventional two-pass explicit Adams- Moulton predictor-corrector integration methods which is suitable for real-time simulation. In this new method the first pass through the state equations uses an Adams-Bash forth type of predictor algo rithm to campute an estimate of the state at the n+1/2 frame instead of the n+1 frame, as is customary. This estimate is then used to compute the derivative at the n+1/2 frame which, along with derivatives at the n, n-1, n-2, ... frames is used in the final corrector pass to calculate the state at the n+1 frame. Unlike conventional two-pass Adams- Moulton methods, these new versions are compatible with real-time inputs. The paper shows that they are also superior based on dynamic accuracy measures and stability measures. A three-pass predictor-corrector integration algorithm compatible with real- time inputs is also presented and shown to yield significantly more accurate results than 3rd-order RK (Runge-Kutta) integra tion.
Perceptions of Scholastic Competence in Relation to Middle-School Achievement:

This follow-up study examined the role of affective variables in predicting academic achievement among middle-school students. In a 1991 study, Sink, Barnett, and Hixon found moderate to strong correlations among self-perceived competence scores, teachers' ratings of students' competence, and Grade 6 achievement. To extend these findings, Grade 7 teachers' ratings, parents' ratings of students' academic competence, and seventh grade achievement test scores were collected from the same sample. Similar positive correlations were found between the students' academic self-concept and achievement in Grades 6 and 7. Parents' and teachers' ratings yielded moderate correlations with academic achievement. Step-wise multiple regression analyses showed teachers' perceptions and fathers' perceptions to be the strongest predictors of Grade 7 students' achievement in three of the four subject areas tested. These results underscore the stability and the importance of affective variables in understanding and predicting m...
Dihydrogen Complexes of Electrophilic Metal Centers: Observation of Cr(CO)5(H2), W(CO)5(H2) and [Re(CO)5(H2)]+

Photolysis of dichloromethane solutions of M(CO)6 (M = Cr, W) at low temperature in the presence of hydrogen gas affords W(CO)5(H2) (1) and Cr(CO)5(H2) (2). Complexes 1 and 2 are characterized as dihydrogen complexes based on short T1 values for the hydride resonances and a large HD coupling of 35.3 Hz (W) and 35.8 Hz (Cr) in the HD derivatives. A cationic analogue, [Re(CO)5(H2)]+ (3), was prepared by reaction of Re(CO)5Cl with [Et3Si][B(C6F5)4] in fluorobenzene under hydrogen. Complex 3-d1 exhibits JHD = 33.9 Hz. Complex 3 is strongly acidic, with complete deprotonation by diethyl ether; complexes 1 and 2 are moderately acidic. Deprotonation of 1 is complete in the presence of one equivalent of triethylamine.
Subnanosecond tunable dye laser pumped by a Nd:YAG microchip laser

We have demonstrated a narrowband Littman configuration dye laser longitudinally pumped by the second harmonic of a 250 Hz pulse repetition frequency microchip laser with up to 50 microjoule pulse energies at 532 nm. Rhodamine 6Gd ye in methanol with a 5 cm cavity length produced 9 microjoule pulses with a slope efficiency of 20% at the peak intensity. The dye laser can be tuned from 550 to 575 nm. A 532 nm pump threshold below 4 microjoules was observed. Adding tunability to compact, economical microchip lasers with a spectrally narrow pulsed dye laser provides ideal characteristics for biotechnological applications.
Modified bovine serum albumin. IV. Characterization and immunochemical studies of the O-acetylated derivative.

Abstract 1. 1. The reaction of bovine serum albumin (BSA) with acetic anhydride in trifluoroacetic acid medium resulted in a product in which about eight tyrosines and five aliphatic hydroxyls were esterified. There was evidence of other side reactions and some irreversible structural changes. 2. 2. Studies on the reaction of the derivative with antibodies produced against native BSA suggest that phenolic groups of BSA may not be necessary for the BSA-anti-BSA interaction. 3. 3. Studies with antibodies produced against O -acetyl BSA reveal that the ester group was not a major determinant in the antibody synthesis. The specificity of the antibodies progressively became broadened with prolonged immunization. 4. 4. The difficulties in evaluating data from immunochemical studies of chemically modified proteins and the bearing of the above findings on the mechanism of interaction of protein antigens with their antibodies are discussed.
Validation of Parylene Coating to Suppress Alpha Contamination on the Copper Surface in CUORE Bolometers

Abstract Background rate reduction is of utmost importance for neutrinoless double beta decay experiments like CUORE (Cryogenic Underground Observatory for Rare Events). A major source of background for CUORE comes from surface contamination from inert materials, mainly degraded alphas from the supporting copper structure of the bolometer modules. We investigated a novel alpha background suppression technique using conformal polymer coating with Parylene in a bolometric validation run. A 50 micron thick layer of Parylene coating on the copper structure surface was chosen to effectively range out degraded alphas. The measured alpha background rate and its implications will be discussed.
Effects of Age on Detection of Emotional Information

Age differences were examined in affective processing, in the context of a visual search task. Young and older adults were faster to detect high arousal images compared with low arousal and neutral items. Younger adults were faster to detect positive high arousal targets compared with other categories. In contrast, older adults exhibited an overall detection advantage for emotional images compared with neutral images. Together, these findings suggest that older adults do not display valence-based effects on affective processing at relatively automatic stages.