cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
44 ATTEMPTS TO USE SOMATIC CELLS ISOLATED FROM FROZEN BOVINE SEMEN FOR NUCLEAR TRANSFER

Somatic cells in semen are a potential source of nuclei for nuclear transfer to produce genetically identical animals. This is especially important when an animal has died and the only viable genetic material available is frozen semen. In our previous studies, epithelial cells were cultured from fresh ovine and bovine ejaculates and blastocyst stage embryos were produced using these cells (Liu J et al. 2007 Biol. Reprod. special issue, 177; Liu J et al. 2008 Reprod. Fertil. Dev. 20, 102). However, growing cells from frozen semen can be difficult. We hypothesized that nuclei of the somatic cells in frozen semen can be used for nuclear transfer even though the cell membrane and cytoplasm are damaged during the semen freezing process. Electrical fusion or piezo assisted direct injection was applied to introduce nuclei of somatic cells isolated from frozen bovine semen (not cultured) into enucleated bovine oocytes. With electrical fusion, only 5 of the 64 (7.8%) recombined couplets fused, which is lower than our normal fusion rate of approximately 70%. Of the 5 fused embryos, one cleaved and developed to a 4-cell stage embryo. Staining with propidium iodide indicated that less than 10% of somatic cells isolated from frozen bovine semen were viable. These results suggest that it might not be practical to introduce nuclei of the cells in frozen semen into oocytes by fusion due to the high proportions of dead cells. Membranes of the cells in frozen semen were hard and difficult to break by piezo pulses or drawing in and out of the injection pipette. Therefore, whole cell intracytoplasmic injection was applied. After couplet recombination, activation was induced by applying two 0.3 kV cm–1, 55 μs direct-current pulses delivered by an Eppendorf Multiporator (Eppendorf, North America) in activation medium that was composed of 0.28 m Mannitol (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA), 0.1 mm CaCl2 (Sigma-Aldrich), and 0.1 mm MgSO4 (Sigma-Aldrich), followed by incubation in 10 μg mL–1 cycloheximide (Sigma-Aldrich) and 5 μg mL–1 cytochalasin B (Sigma-Aldrich) for 5 h in a humidified 5% CO2, 5% O2, and 90% N2 gas mixture at 38.5°C. Of the 299 recombined embryos, 82 (27.4%) either cleaved or were fragmented. Of the 82 embryos, 48 were examined and 42 (87.5%) were determined to be fragmented (contained intact donor cells). Low cleavage rates were observed in embryos produced by direct injection (4.5%), but no further embryonic development occurred. Cells cultured from fresh bovine semen were used as positive controls for whole cell intracytoplasmic injection. Of the 74 recombined embryos, 73 (98.6%) cleaved and 4 developed into blastocysts. These results highlight the difficulty of obtaining viable embryos by employing nuclear transfer and somatic cells obtained from frozen semen samples. Additional research is warranted given the potential value of this approach for recovering lost genetics.
Compressively strained 1.55-um InxGa1-xAsyP1-y/InP quantum well laser diodes grown by MOCVD with tertiarybutylarsine (TBA) and tertiarybutylphosphine (TBP)

Recent progress on the use of liquid organometallic sources for replacing the group V compressed gases looks particularly encouraging. We have grown both strained and unstrained InxGa1-xAsyP1-y/InP and In0.53Ga0.47As/InP quantum well materials and devices in a non-hydride metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) system using liquid group V sources, tertiarybutylarsine (TBA) and tertiarybutylphosphine (TBP). Very low threshold current strained InGaAsP/InP quantum well laser diodes have been grown using TBA and TBP for the first time. Single 90 angstrom InGaAsP quantum well lasers emitting at 1.55 micrometers displayed threshold current densities of 121 A/cm2 for a 1.6% compressively strained SQW, and 249 A/cm2 for an unstrained SQW at a cavity length of 3500 micrometers . Unstrained ternary (In0.53Ga0.47As) single quantum well laser diodes exhibited extremely low threshold current densities (Jth equals 220 A/cm2 for broad area devices 3.5 mm in cavity length). These values indicate that TBA and TBP are viable replacements for the more hazardous compressed gases, arsine and phosphine.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The ν6 parallel band of cyclopropane at 3100 cm−1☆

Abstract The ν 6 fundamental of cyclopropane has been recorded on a 4.5-m vacuum spectrometer. Deconvolution of the spectrum has revealed considerably more detail than found in previous investigations. New information of a qualitative nature has been learned about the highly perturbed upper state and improved values of the band center and the upper-state rotational constant have been obtained. A lower-state combination-difference analysis using J values up to J = 23 has resulted in values of B ″ and D ″ J which are in excellent agreement with recent investigations. The following values of molecular constants, in wavenumber units (cm −1 ), have been determined: B ″ = 0.67023, D ″ J = 0.93 × 10 −6 , ν 0 = 3101.529, and B ′ − B ″ = −0.0019. The present data have been used with data from recent Raman and infrared spectra of C 3 H 6 in a combined least-squares fit to the ground-state constants.
Anomalies of high-temperature superconductivity

Abstract Gd 2−z Ce z CuO 4 and Ba 2 GdRu 1−u Cu u O 6 do not superconduct because the Gd has L=0 and breaks Cooper pairs in the adjacent (potentially superconducting) layer. Ca-doped Pb 2 Sr 2 AmCu 3 O 8 and Pb 2 Sr 2 CeCu 3 O 8 do not superconduct because Am and Ce are Am +4 and Ce +4 , and make the materials n -type, but n -type oxides do not exhibit high-temperature superconductivity. Tests are in progress of whether Nd 2−z Ce z CuO 4 superconducts because of p -type doping by interstitial oxygen paired with Ce.
Ultra-stable temperature control in EPR experiments: thermodynamics of gel-to-liquid phase transition in spin-labeled phospholipid bilayers and bilayer perturbations by spin labels.

Abstract An ultra-stable variable temperature accessory for EPR experiments with biological samples has been designed and tested. The accessory is comprised from a digitally controlled circulator bath that pumps fluid through high-efficiency aluminum radiators attached to an EPR resonator of a commercial X-band EPR spectrometer. Temperature stability of this new accessory after a 15 min re-equilibration is at least ±0.007 K. For a standard 1-cm-long capillary sample arranged inside an EPR tube filled with silicon oil, the temperature variations do not exceed ±0.033 K over the sample temperature range from 283 to 333 K. This new accessory has been tested by carrying out a comparative spin-labeling EPR and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) study of the gel-to-liquid phase transition in multilamellar vesicles (MLV) composed of a synthetic phospholipid 1,2-dimyristoyl- sn -glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DMPC). We demonstrate that the gel-to-liquid phase transition temperatures of MLV DMPC measured by EPR and DSC agree within ±0.02 K experimental error even though the sample for EPR study was labeled with 1 mol% of 5PC (1-palmitoyl-2-stearoyl-(5-doxyl)- sn -glycero-3 phosphocholine). Cooperative unit number measured by EPR, N = 676 ± 36, was almost 50% higher than that obtained from DSC ( N = 458 ± 18). These high values of N indicate that (i) the lipid domains should include at least several spin-labeled lipid molecules and (ii) the spin-probe 5PC molecules are not excluded into domains that are different from the bulk lipid phase as was speculated earlier. Overall, our data provide DSC and EPR evidence that in studies of the gel-to-liquid phase transition, the effect of bilayer perturbation by spin-labeled lipids is negligible and therefore thermodynamic parameters of the phase transition can be accurately measured by spin-labeling EPR. This might serve as an indication when spin-labeled molecules with structures similar to those of lipids are introduced at low concentrations, they are easily accommodated by fluid phospholipid bilayers without significant losses of the lipid cooperativity.
Parent-reported benefits of flupirtine in juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (Batten disease; CLN3 ) are not supported by quantitative data

Juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (JNCL; CLN3 disease; Batten disease) is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disease of childhood that typically presents at school age with vision loss followed by progressive cognitive decline, motor dysfunction, seizures, and behavior problems. No therapy has been shown to slow the progression of disease in JNCL patients, and all current treatments are symptomatic. Flupirtine has been shown in vitro to reduce apoptosis in CLN3 lymphocytes. Based on that preclinical study, several children with JNCL were given flupirtine by their parents. The purpose of this study was to determine if there was evidence of attenuated disease progression in any JNCL symptom domain. We administered a survey to parents of JNCL children to qualitatively assess flupirtine efficacy. We used the Unified Batten Disease Rating Scale (UBDRS) to determine specific aspects of disease progression and investigated three age-related factors: loss of independent ambulation, loss of intelligible speech, and loss of ability to perform independent activities of daily living. The median scores for the UBDRS physical, behavior, and capability subscales were determined in flupirtine-exposed subjects and compared to age-, sex-, and genotype-matched subjects who had never taken flupirtine. Twenty-one percent of survey responders reported administering flupirtine to their JNCL child, and 56% of these families perceived beneficial changes that they attributed to flupirtine. However, our quantitative, prospectively obtained data did not show any change in JNCL disease progression that could be attributed to flupirtine. This study highlights the need for prospective experimental therapeutic research.
Variable denture-limiting structures of the edentulous mouth: Part I. Maxillary border areas

Abstract The limiting structures of the edentulous maxillary arch are discussed in terms of potential spaces to be occupied by the denture base. The value of a digital, as well as visual examination of the limiting and supporting structures, is emphasized. Numerous examples of altered structural relationships are indicated. These variables include: (1) the position of the vibrating line in relation to the junction of the hard and soft palate, (2) the position of the pterygoid hamulus in relation to the maxillary tuberosity, (3) the length and direction of the pterygomaxillary notch, (4) the effect of the coronoid process on the retrozygomatic space during opening and excursive mandibular movements, (5) the shape of the anterior segment of the maxillary residual ridge, (6) the consistency and height of attachment of the labial alveolar mucosa, and (7) the size, form, and consistency of the labial, buccal, and pterygomandibular folds.
No relationship between foot posture and frontal knee alignment in healthy adolescents

Background Foot posture has been suggested to be related to the development of lower-limb musculoskeletal conditions because of its potential influence on the mechanical alignment and dynamic function of the lower limb. During most weight bearing activities, the posture and motion of the foot and knee are coupled within a closed kinematic chain. The exact relationship, however, between them in healthy individuals is not known. The purpose of this study was therefore to investigate if foot posture was related with frontal knee alignment in healthy adolescents.
Short Note: Artificial boundary conditions for axisymmetric slow viscous flow

Exact and approximate artificial boundary conditions are derived for computing axially symmetric Stokes flow around an axisymmetric body.
Inner Asian States and Empires: Theories and Synthesis

By 200 B.C. a series of expansive polities emerged in Inner Asia that would dominate the history of this region and, at times, a very large portion of Eurasia for the next 2,000 years. The pastoralist polities originating in the steppes have typically been described in world history as ephemeral or derivative of the earlier sedentary agricultural states of China. These polities, however, emerged from local traditions of mobility, multiresource pastoralism, and distributed forms of hierarchy and administrative control that represent important alternative pathways in the comparative study of early states and empires. The review of evidence from 15 polities illustrates long traditions of political and administrative organization that derive from the steppe, with Bronze Age origins well before 200 B.C. Pastoralist economies from the steppe innovated new forms of political organization and were as capable as those based on agricultural production of supporting the development of complex societies.
Effective eye-gaze input into Windows

The Eye-gaze Response Interface Computer Aid (ERICA) is a computer system developed at the University of Virginia that tracks eye movement. To allow true integration into the Windows environment, an effective methodology for performing the full range of mouse actions and for typing with the eye needed to be constructed. With the methods described in this paper, individuals can reliably perform all actions of the mouse and the keyboard with their eye.
Pitches of concurrent vowels

When two vowels on different fundamental frequencies (F0’s) are presented concurrently, listeners can often report which vowel has the higher pitch. However, when the duration of the vowels is brief, listeners are more likely to misidentify the vowels and/or rank their pitches incorrectly. Four experienced listeners matched the pitches evoked by pairs of concurrent vowels whose durations were either 200 or 50 ms. The reference stimuli were pairwise combinations of the vowels /i/, /a/, /u/, /ae/, and /hooked backward eh/. One F0 was 100 Hz; the other was 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, or 4 semitones higher. When the F0 difference was less than one semitone, the majority of listeners’ matches clustered around the mean of the two F0’s, and they generally reported only one pitch. With larger F0 differences, 50‐ms vowels generated more variable matching histograms than 200‐ms stimuli. With 200‐ms stimuli, listeners were more likely to report two pitches and their matches were more often clustered around the two F0’s. Howe...
Application of transonic slender body theory to bodies of varying complexity

Transonic flows over several bodies of varying complexity including a simple wing-body combination and the Shuttle Orbiter have been modeled with the use of slender body theory. Flows with various angles of attack have been considered. Also some off-body flow calculations were conducted. For attached flows, the calculations predicted the pressure results with good accuracy.
An individualized intervention to improve asthma management among urban Latino and African-American families.

We hypothesized that an educational intervention based on a readiness model would lead to improved health outcomes among patients with asthma. Within a randomized control design in an urban Latino and African-American community, we conducted an intensive three-month pediatric intervention. A Family Coordinator provided patient education based on a readiness-to-learn model, and facilitated improved interactions between the patient and the doctor. Family education addressed the most basic learning needs of patients with asthma by improving their perception of asthma symptom persistence using asthma diaries and peak flow measures. The physician intervention focused clinicians’ attention on patients’ diary records and peak flow measures, and encouraged physicians to use stepped action plans. Patients were also tested for allergic sensitization and provided strategies to reduce contact with allergens and other asthma triggers. The results showed significant improvements by intervention group families on measur...
Countries and their products: A cognitive structure perspective

This research reports on consumers’ cognitive structures for countries and their products. In-depth personal interviews identified respondents’ knowledge, beliefs, myths, and other relevant cognitions related to a diverse set of 11 countries and their products. Derived cognitive dimensions were analyzed via correspondence analysis, and the 11 countries were subsequently grouped into five sets, or cognitive categories. In addition to the empirical findings, the article introduces the concept of country equity as a new way of thinking about global brands and discusses managerial implications related thereto.
Mechanisms of ligand replacement in square planar nickel(II) complexes. II: Reaction of cyanide with nickel(II) complexes of two methyl-substituted ethylenediamine ligands

The kinetics of the reaction of cyanide with the square planar complexes Ni(tetmeen)22+ and Ni(ibn)22+ to form square planar Ni(CN)42− have been studied in aqueous solution at 25 °C, I = 0.10 (NaClO4). The reactions of both complexes proceed via very stable mixed-ligand intermediates NiL(CN)2. The spectra and stability constants of these intermediates are reported and discussed. The rates of formation on NiL(CN)2 from NiL22+ or of Ni(CN)42− from NiL(CN)2 are first order in nickel(II) complex and, depending on cyanide concentration, pH and ligand, can be either first or second order in cyanide. The order with respect to protons is either zero, one or two depending on conditions. A mechanism for the reactions is proposed.
The design of polyvalent scaffolds for targeted delivery.

Nature makes extensive use of polyvalency—the simultaneous binding of multiple ligands to multiple complementary receptors. The concept of polyvalency can also be used to design synthetic scaffolds for applications ranging from the design of inhibitors for toxins and pathogens to delivery and imaging. This article reviews recent developments in the design of polyvalent constructs suitable for targeted delivery. Specifically, we will discuss recent developments in the design of scaffolds, the identification of ligands for targeting, and the presentation of ligands on the scaffold to optimize affinity and specificity for the target.
Improving Fluency in Spoken French Through a Study of Native Pause Behavior

Pauses are often thought to detract from fluency in French when spoken by foreigners. However, proper pause behavior, if modeled after that of educated native speakers, is actually a definite mark of authentic-sounding and well-controlled speech. This article reviews the different categories of native pauses and suggests techniques for incorporating them cautiously into the spoken French of anglophones, especially Americans.
Clinical, Histologic, and Molecular Analysis of Differences Between Erythematotelangiectatic Rosacea and Telangiectatic Photoaging.

Importance Facial erythema and telangiectasia are commonly associated with the erythematotelangiectatic subtype of rosacea (ETR). It is important for clinicians to recognize that these findings can also be associated with a subtype of photoaging, which we term telangiectatic photoaging (TP). Objective To demonstrate that ETR and TP are distinct dermatologic disorders. Design A case-control observational study comparing clinical, histologic, and gene expression features of 26 participants with ETR, 20 with TP, and 11 age- and sex-matched controls in the Program for Clinical Research in Dermatology at University of Michigan. Main Outcomes and Measures Findings of clinical history and examination, light and electron microscopy, immunohistochemical analyses, and real-time quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction gene expression. Results Transient erythema was greater in the ETR group (38% graded moderate to severe) than in the TP (0%; P P = .002). Nontransient erythema was also greater in the ETR group (50% graded moderate to severe) than in the TP (25%; P = .03) and control groups (0%; P P P = .01). Histologically, there was less evidence of photodamage in ETR than in TP, which had wispy collagen and solar elastosis surrounding blood vessels. Immunohistologic analysis demonstrated greater geometric mean immunostained area by mast cell tryptase staining in ETR samples (0.018%) than in TP (0.004%; P = .01) or control samples (0.001%; P P = .004) and 5-fold higher than in control samples ( P = .004). Gene expression of the neuropeptides calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP-α) and substance P was significantly increased in ETR compared with TP (9-fold [ P P = .002], respectively) and control samples (10-fold [ P P Conclusions and Relevance Telangiectatic photoaging is characterized by less transient and nontransient erythema, a more lateral distribution of erythema and telangiectasia, less neurogenic mast cell activation, and less MMP-mediated matrix remodeling than ETR. These data demonstrate that TP is a distinct clinical entity from ETR that can be distinguished on the basis of clinical, histologic, and gene expression findings.
Fracture of the radial neck in children. A long-term follow-up study of 43 cases.

A series of 43 radial neck or head fractures in children was analysed with respect to the type of fracture and whether conservative or surgical treatment had been employed. Thirty-seven patients were examined after a follow-up period of 1–18 years (average 8 years). Tilting of the radial head, the length of the radius and the size of the radial head were measured roentgenologically to evaluate any growth disturbances. The results were good in 24, fair in 10 and poor in 3 cases. In the 14 patients treated surgically results were good in five, fair in six and poor in three cases. All but two of these patients had an angulation of the radial head of 30° or more. The result was good in 20 of the 23 patients who were treated conservatively because the angulation was less than 30° after reduction. In fair and poor cases the function was impaired by the limitation of motion. Disturbances in growth were generally slight, but an enlargement of the radial head was observed in 16 cases at the follow-up.
Overcoming barriers in macromolecular simulations: non-Boltzmann thermodynamic integration

A new combination of non-Boltzmann sampling (umbrella sampling) and thermodynamic integration for the computation of free energies of flexible systems is described and compared with other methods in terms of its accuracy, efficiency, and viability for simulations of macromolecules. The non-Boltzmann sampling is achieved through the definition of a surrogate potential function that uniformly reduces barriers between energy minima of a given molecule while retaining the overall features of its torsional profile. The influence of the surrogate potential on the free energy calculation is taken into account by a correction similar to umbrella sampling. This work is tested by computation of the free energy of hydration difference between butane and propanol. The free energy difference converges to the experimentally measured value in one tenth of the computer time required for a simulation employing conventional thermodynamic integration without the umbrella potential. Moreover, the deviations of the computed free energies for similar sampling periods are greatly reduced with the new method. Finally, an accurate free energy difference is obtained in one third of the number of simulations that are necessary for the multi-state isomeric method.
Cost-effective therapy for acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis.

Abstract Pharmacoeconomic analysis involves the measurement of a ratio determining the extra costs required to achieve an additional unit of clinical benefit. Various techniques including modeling studies, retrospective analysis of databases, "piggy-back" economic analysis of prospective randomized clinical trials, and prospective randomized pharmacoeconomic trials have been developed to aid in economic and health decisions. In acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, it is possible to identify a group of patients that are at high risk of treatment failure from routine antimicrobial therapy, hospitalization, respiratory failure, and death. The cost of therapy for this relatively small group of patients is extraordinarily high. Data from a variety of approaches have suggested that aggressive antimicrobial therapy may lead to improved outcomes in these patients. The corollary is that aggressive therapy directed toward patients with either acute bronchitis (mainly a viral infection) or exacerbations of trivial chronic obstructive lung disease leads to emergence of resistance and increased costs.
On the Exponentiation of Infrared Logarithms in Massless (φ3)6-theory

We investigate the relation between the coefficients of the perturbative series for the propagator in massless theories and the coefficients of the perturbative series of the renormalization group quantities. This enable us to prove, that the concept of exponentiation in the sense introduced by POGGIO is valid in massless theories to arbitrary high order at the leading log level, but breaks down if nonleading log's are included. Uber die Exponentiation der Infrarot-Logarithmen in der masselosen (φ3)6-Theorie Wir untersuchen die Beziehung der Koeffizienten der storungstheoretischen Reihe fur den Propagator in masselosen Theorien zu den Entwicklungskoeffizienten der Renormierungsgruppengrosen nach der Kopplungskonstante. Das erlaubt uns zu zeigen, das das Konzept der Exponentiation, wie es von POGGIO eingefuhrt wurde, in masselosen Theorien fur die dominanten Logarithmen in jeder Ordnung der Storungstheorie gultig, aber bei der Einbeziehung der nichtdominanten Logarithmen nicht mehr anwendbar ist.
The consistency of sentence intelligibility across three types of signal distortion.

Purpose To examine the extent to which sentences retain their levels of spoken intelligibility relative to other sentences in a set (the sentence effect) across different types of signal distortion...
Acute hyperthermia following stereotactic radiosurgery for pituitary adenoma

A 71-year-old male presented with a large pituitary adenoma with superior extension into the optic chiasm and suprasellar cistern. He was treated with stereotactic radiosurgery to a dose of 16 Gy. Approximately 1 h after radiosurgery he developed fever; his temperature peaked at 105.1 degrees F and normalized about 20 h later. This case demonstrates that acute hyperthermia is a potential complication following high dose stereotactic radiosurgery for large pituitary tumours.
Perceptual linearization of video-display monitors for medical image presentation

The perceptual linearization of video display monitors plays a significant role in medical image presentation. First, it allows the maximum transfer of information to the human observer. Second, for an image to be perceived as similarly as possible when seen on different displays, the two displays must be standardized. Third, perceptual linearization allows us to calculate the perceived dynamic range of the display device, which allows comparison of the maximum inherent contrast resolution of different devices. This paper provides insight into the process of perceptual linearization by decomposing it into the digital driving level to monitor luminance relationship, the monitor luminance to human brightness perception relationship, and the construction of a linearization function derived from these two relationships. We compare and contrast the results of previous work with recent experiments in our laboratory and related work in vision and computer science. Based on these analyses we give recommendations for using existing methods when appropriate, and propose new methods or suggest additional work where the current methods fall sort. Finally, we summarize the significant issues from all three component areas.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Hypnotherapy for Warts (Verruca Vulgaris): 41 Consecutive Cases with 33 Cures

Published, controlled studies of the use of hypnosis to cure warts are confined to using direct suggestion in hypnosis (DSIH), with cure rates of 27% to 55%. Prepubertal children respond to DSIH almost without exception, but adults often do not. Clinically, many adults who fail to respond to DSIH will heal with individual hypnoanalytic techniques that cannot be tested against controls. By using hypnoanalysis on those who failed to respond to DSIH, 33 of 41 (80%) consecutive patients were cured, two were lost to follow-up, and six did not respond to treatment. Self-hypnosis was not used. Several illustrative cases are presented.
In vivo kinematics of the rabbit knee in unstable models of osteoarthrosis

The effects of osteoarthrosis inducing surgery on the kinematics of the rabbit knee were evaluated in vivo. A video motion analysis system was used to track reflective markers attached to two pins fixed in both femur and tibia, and from these data knee kinematics were computed. The control for all measurements was the gait after pins were implanted, but the knee was unaltered. Both a release of the anterior cruciate ligament and a partial medial meniscectomy were then performed, and the animals' gait was recorded at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after knee surgery. Knee kinematics were described by three translations and three rotations and were analyzed in terms of maximum and minimum values and range of motion. Statistical comparisons of these data between control and operated knees were made using Wilcoxon's signed rank test. Results showed an initial increase in maximum anterior displacement which returned to normal after 12 weeks. In addition there was a persistent increase in knee adduction and an increase in the minimum value of external rotation over the 12 week period. At 12 weeks after surgery there was no change in range of any measurable kinematic parameter. Overall, the changes in joint kinematics following partial medial meniscectomy and release of the anterior cruciate ligament were small, suggesting that altered joint kinematics might not be a critical factor in the development of osteoarthrosis in this animal model.
32-fibre 127 μm-pitch array and mirror-finish dicing technology for compact splitter module

We have successfully employed the high density 32-fibre 127 μm-pitch array assembly technology in the development of the compact splitter modules. In addition, an highly efficient mirror-finish dicing process has also been implemented.
Optimal anisotropic meshes for minimizing interpolation errors in $L^p$-norm

In this paper, we present a new optimal interpolation error estimate in L p norm (1 < p ≤ ∞) for finite element simplicial meshes in any spatial dimension. A sufficient condition for a mesh to be nearly optimal is that it is quasi-uniform under a new metric defined by a modified Hessian matrix of the function to be interpolated. We also give new functionals for the global moving mesh method and obtain optimal monitor functions from the viewpoint of minimizing interpolation error in the L p norm. Some numerical examples are also given to support the theoretical estimates.
Outcomes of Placing Short Dental Implants in the Posterior Mandible: A Retrospective Study of 124 Cases

Purpose The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the overall success of short dental implants (8 mm in length) placed in the partially or completely edentulous posterior mandible restored with fixed and removable prostheses. Patients and Methods A total of 124 patients had 335 8-mm-long implants placed from May 2005 until June 2007. Of the 124 total patients, 35 were men and 89 were women, with a median age of 56 years and an age range of 18 to 80 years at the time of implant surgery. There were 112 patients who were partially edentulous and 12 who were completely edentulous. Of the patients, 32 had a single implant placed whereas the other 92 had multiple implants placed. One patient had the implants immediately provisionally loaded. All of the implants were restored by use of fixed prostheses. Of these fixed prostheses, 245 were splinted together whereas 75 were restored individually. Results A total of 335 short dental implants were placed in 124 patients. Of the 335 implants placed, 331 integrated successfully. In the 2 cases that failed, the sites were grafted with porous hydroxyapatite and platelet-rich plasma. The implants were replaced at 5 months after the initial failure in the first patient and at 7 months in the second patient. These replacement implants integrated and have been restored and in function for more than 16 months. There was 1 fracture of an implant with a restoration. The implant had been restored with an individually fabricated fixed restoration, with the fracture occurring at the head of the implant, requiring removal. The implant and restoration had been in function for 10 months before fracture.There were no other fractures of implants or restorative hardware noted in this study. The survival rate for 8-mm implants placed in the mandible was 99% from stage I surgery to a functional prosthesis for up to 2 years. Conclusions Placement of short dental implants is a predictable treatment method for patients with decreased posterior mandibular bone height.
Purification, crystallization and preliminary X‐ray diffraction of a complex between IL‐10 and soluble IL‐10R1

A complex between interleukin-10 and the extracellular domain of its high-affinity receptor (sIL-10R1) has been crystallized from polyethylene glycol solutions. Crystals suitable for diffraction analysis required the modification of the NXS/T glycosylation sites on sIL-­10R1 by site-directed mutagenesis and inclusion of the detergent cyclohexyl-methyl-β-d-maltopyranoside in the crystallization experiments. The crystals belong to space group P3212 or its enantimorph P3112, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 46.23, c = 307.78 A, α = β = 90, γ = 120°, and diffract X-rays to ∼2.9 A. The IL-10 dimer is positioned on a crystallographic twofold, resulting in one IL-10 chain and one sIL-10R1 chain in the asymmetric unit, which corresponds to a solvent content of approximately 44%.
Osmium(II)-, Rhenium(I)-, and Tungsten(0)-Promoted Dipolar Cycloaddition Reactions with Pyrroles: Exploiting the Azomethine Ylide Character of This Heterocycle

Complexes of the form TpRe(CO)(MeIm)(η2-pyr) and TpW(NO)(PMe3)(η2-pyr) (where pyr = 1-methylpyrrole, 2-methylpyrrole, and 2,5-dimethylpyrrole) were prepared and combined with a range of potential dipolarophiles. In several cases a dipolar cycloaddition resulted in the formation of 7-azanorbornene complexes (one crystal structure for each metal is presented), but attempts to develop a general route to the organic bicyclic system were unsuccessful. Using the complex [Os(NH3)5(η2-pyrrole)]2+ an organic cycloadduct was successfully prepared with dimethyl fumarate, and this complex was elaborated into advanced synthons to several naturally occurring pyrrolizidines.
Comparative Pharmacokinetics of Coumarin Anticoagulants XXIX: Elimination Kinetics and Anticoagulant Activity of (S) - (−) - Warfarin in Rats before and after Chronic Administration

Abstract The kinetics of elimination and the anticoagulant effect of ( S )-(−)-warfarin were determined in adult male rats before and after daily drug administration for 13 days. There was a small but statistically significant ( p S )-(−)-warfarin (from 4.84 to 4.37 ml/hr/kg) and an increase in the serum free fraction of racemic warfarin (added to serum in vitro) from 0.00850 to 0.0107 ( p S )-(−)-warfarin in serum at which the synthesis rate of prothrombin complex activity is one-half of the prewarfarin rate increased from 0.532 to 0.655 μ g/ml on the average (p
A neutron scattering study of the vibrational and diffusional motions of deuterium in the α and β phases of VD.5

The quasi-elastic and inelastic scattering of cold neutrons (E0 = 5 meV) from VD.5 in the α and β phases have been measured. In agreement with earlier results for vanadium hydrides, the broadening due to diffusion in the β phase is too small to be measured. In the α phase, the diffusive broadening in the quasi-elastic region compared to vanadium hydride is consistent with the ratio of the square root of the masses of the two isotopes. The local mode frequencies observed for both the α and β phases are also consistent with a square root of mass dependence, compared to earlier results for vanadium hydride. The observed similarities show that, for this concentration, the hydride and deuteride of vanadium are analogous, in spite of known differences in the phase diagrams for the two isotopes.
Two-dimensional axisymmetric formulation of high order spherical harmonics methods for radiative heat transfer

Abstract The spherical harmonics (PN) method is a radiative transfer equation solver, which approximates the radiative intensity as a truncated series of spherical harmonics. For general 3-D configurations, N ( N + 1 ) / 2 intensity coefficients must be solved from a system of coupled second-order elliptic PDEs. In 2-D axisymmetric applications, the number of equations and intensity coefficients reduces to ( N + 1 ) 2 / 4 if the geometric relations of the intensity coefficients are taken into account. This paper presents the mathematical details for the transformation and its implementation on the OpenFOAM finite volume based CFD software platform. The transformation and implementation are applicable to any arbitrary axisymmetric geometry, but the examples to test the new formulation are based on a wedge grid, which is the most common axisymmetric geometry in CFD simulations, because OpenFOAM and most other platforms do not have true axisymmetric solvers. Two example problems for the new axisymmetric PN formulation are presented, and the results are verified with that of the general 3-D PN solver, a Photon Monte Carlo solver and exact solutions.
4,6,4′-Trihydroxyaurone and other flavonoids from Limonium

Abstract A new aurone isolated from flowers of Limonium cv. 'Gold Coast' was characterized by co-chromatography, absorption spectra, and the mass spectral fragmentation pattern as 4,6,4′-trihydroxyaurone (I). Other yellow pigments present were 4,6,3′,4′-tetrahydroxyaurone (II) (auresidin), and its 4-glucoside (III) (cernuoside) and 6-glucoside (IV) (aureusin) as well as the 3,4,2′,4′,6′-pentahydroxychalcone (V). Other flavonoids isolated were apigenin, luteolin, isoorientin, quercetin, quercitrin and myricetin 3′-rhamnoside.
IEX-1L, an Apoptosis Inhibitor Involved in NF-κB-Mediated Cell Survival

Transcription factors of the nuclear factor–κB/rel (NF-κB) family may be important in cell survival by regulating unidentified, anti-apoptotic genes. One such gene that protects cells from apoptosis induced by Fas or tumor necrosis factor type α (TNF), IEX- 1L, is described here. Its transcription induced by TNF was decreased in cells with defective NF-κB activation, rendering them sensitive to TNF-induced apoptosis, which was abolished by transfection with IEX- 1L. In support, overexpression of antisense IEX- 1L partially blocked TNF-induced expression of IEX -1L and sensitized normal cells to killing. This study demonstrates a key role of IEX- 1L in cellular resistance to TNF-induced apoptosis.
The Unitary Event Underlying Multiquantal EPSCs at a Hair Cell's Ribbon Synapse

EPSCs at the synapses of sensory receptors and of some CNS neurons include large events thought to represent the synchronous release of the neurotransmitter contained in several synaptic vesicles by a process known as multiquantal release. However, determination of the unitary, quantal size underlying such putatively multiquantal events has proven difficult at hair cell synapses, hindering confirmation that large EPSCs are in fact multiquantal. Here, we address this issue by performing presynaptic membrane capacitance measurements together with paired recordings at the ribbon synapses of adult hair cells. These simultaneous presynaptic and postsynaptic assays of exocytosis, together with electron microscopic estimates of single vesicle capacitance, allow us to estimate a single vesicle EPSC charge of approximately −45 fC, a value in close agreement with the mean postsynaptic charge transfer of uniformly small EPSCs recorded during periods of presynaptic hyperpolarization. By thus establishing the magnitude of the fundamental quantal event at this peripheral sensory synapse, we provide evidence that the majority of spontaneous and evoked EPSCs are multiquantal. Furthermore, we show that the prevalence of uniquantal versus multiquantal events is Ca 2+ dependent. Paired recordings also reveal a tight correlation between membrane capacitance increase and evoked EPSC charge, indicating that glutamate release during prolonged hair cell depolarization does not significantly saturate or desensitize postsynaptic AMPA receptors. We propose that the large EPSCs reflect the highly synchronized release of multiple vesicles at single presynaptic ribbon-type active zones through a compound or coordinated vesicle fusion mechanism.
SONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF URINARY BLADDER WALL THICKNESS IN NORMAL DOGS

Urinary bladder wall thickness was evaluated by ultrasonography in 16 normal dogs. Sterile saline solution was administered via urinary catheters to control the degree of bladder distention. Bladder wall thickness was measured on static ultrasound images in 4 locations and at 3 degrees of bladder distention (minimal, mild, and moderate). Four randomized distention sequences with 3 distentions per sequence were performed on each dog and the data were analyzed using Williams' balanced Latin square. Mean bladder wall thickness was 2.3 mm in minimally distended bladders (0.5 ml/kg saline), 1.6 mm in mildly distended bladders (2 ml/kg saline) and 1.4 mm in moderately distended bladders (4 ml/kg saline). Mean bladder wall thickness increased significantly with increasing body weight and with decreasing bladder distention. The caudoventral measurement location produced a statistically significant smaller measurement, with a difference of 0.3 mm. Sex did not affect bladder wall thickness. Distention sequence and repetition of distentions did not affect bladder wall thickness.
The influence of alterations in room temperature on skin blood flow during contrast baths in patients with diabetes.

Background Contrast baths (CB) have been used for over two thousand years. But it only was recently that CB were shown to improve limb circulation to a greater extent than that which can be seen after continuous exposure to a warm, constant temperature, bath. However, other studies show that this type of response to temperature can be impaired if the sympathetic nervous system applies vasoconstriction to the blood vessels. Therefore the purpose of the present investigation was to examine the relationship between sympathetic outflow on the magnitude of the change of blood flow (BF) during contrast baths in controls and with people diabetes. Sympathetic vasoconstriction activity was altered by global heating. Material/methods Fourteen patients with type 2 diabetes were compared to 14 age-matched controls. BF was measured during 16 minutes of serial contrast baths of the foot following 3 minutes of warm water and 1 min of cold immersion at 2 different room temperatures, 19 and 32 deg C. Results When subjects were exposed to global heating (warm room) there is a greater response to CB than when subjects were initially in a cooler room. However, for both temperatures, subjects with diabetes had a response that was over 50% less than that seen in control subjects. Conclusions Removing sympathetic vasoconstrictor tone by global heating benefits subjects with diabetes and control subjects in their response to CB. For subjects with diabetes, global heating may be necessary to increase blood flow to acceptable levels for effective therapy.
A Classroom Activity to Illustrate the Demographic Transition.

A discussion of the Demographic Transition is included in many Environmental Biology or Environmental Science classes. The Demographic Transition occurs as a nation becomes more urban and wealthy, and was widely observed in the twentieth century. The phenomenon includes decreasing family size (fewer children) across generations. In this classroom exercise, students provide numbers of children in past and future generations in their own families, and then the class analyzes the pooled data and hypothesizes why and how this change in human population biology occurs.
Maximizing Peptide Identification Events in Proteomic Workflows Using Data-Dependent Acquisition (DDA)

Current analytical strategies for collecting proteomic data using data-dependent acquisition (DDA) are limited by the low analytical reproducibility of the method. Proteomic discovery efforts that exploit the benefits of DDA, such as providing peptide sequence information, but that enable improved analytical reproducibility, represent an ideal scenario for maximizing measureable peptide identifications in “shotgun”-type proteomic studies. Therefore, we propose an analytical workflow combining DDA with retention time aligned extracted ion chromatogram (XIC) areas obtained from high mass accuracy MS1 data acquired in parallel. We applied this workflow to the analyses of sample matrixes prepared from mouse blood plasma and brain tissues and observed increases in peptide detection of up to 30.5% due to the comparison of peptide MS1 XIC areas following retention time alignment of co-identified peptides. Furthermore, we show that the approach is quantitative using peptide standards diluted into a complex matrix. These data revealed that peptide MS1 XIC areas provide linear response of over three orders of magnitude down to low femtomole (fmol) levels. These findings argue that augmenting “shotgun” proteomic workflows with retention time alignment of peptide identifications and comparative analyses of corresponding peptide MS1 XIC areas improve the analytical performance of global proteomic discovery methods using DDA.
Pediatric surgical complications of major genitourinary reconstruction in the exstrophy–epispadias complex

Abstract Purpose Urinary continence is the goal of exstrophy–epispadias complex (EEC) reconstruction. Patients may require a continent urinary diversion (CUD) if they are a poor candidate for bladder neck reconstruction or are receiving an augmentation cystoplasty (AC) or neobladder (NB). This study was designed to identify the incidence of surgical complications among various bowel segments typically used for CUD. Methods A prospectively kept database of 1078 patients with EEC at a tertiary referral center from 1980 to 2012 was reviewed for major genitourinary reconstruction. Patient demographics, surgical indications, perioperative complications, and outcomes were recorded. Results Among reviewed EEC patients, 134 underwent CUD (81 male, 53 female). Concomitant AC was performed in 106 patients and NB in 11. Median follow up time after initial diversion was 5 years. The most common CUD bowel segments were appendix and ileum. The most common surgical complications after CUD were small bowel obstruction, post-operative ileus, and intraabdominal abscess. There was a significantly increased risk in the occurrence of pelvic or abdominal abscess when colon was used as a conduit compared to all other bowel segments (OR = 16.7, 95% CI: 1.16–239) and following NB creation compared to AC (OR = 39.4, 95% CI: 3.66–423). At postoperative follow-up, 98% of patients were continent of urine via their stoma. Conclusion We report the largest series to date examining CUD in the EEC population. The increased risk of abdominal and pelvic abscesses in patients who receive a colon CUD and undergo NB compared to AC indicates that while surgical complications following major genitourinary reconstruction are rare, they do occur. Practitioners must be wary of potential complications that are best managed by a multi-disciplinary team approach.