cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rehabilitation of anterior cruciate ligament insufficiency in a dancer using the clinical reformer and a balanced body exercise method.

Severe ligamentous knee injuries are uncommon in dance, but partial instability can be disabling. Because of the aesthetics required, use of a brace is not practical. The balanced body approach of exercise and rehabilitation can maximize the physiologic stabilizers of the knee and allow return to dance. While derived from the original principles of Joseph H. Pilates, current practitioners apply modern biomechanical and medical knowledge. The Reformer, a spring loaded exercise device first used by J.H. Pilates, can provide both a simulated environment for dance technique while allowing rest of the injured part and a method of cross training.
A Tool for Programming Embarrassingly Task Parallel Applications on CoW and NoW

Embarrassingly parallel problems can be split in parts that are characterized by a really low (or sometime absent) exchange of information during their computation in parallel. As a consequence they can be effectively computed in parallel exploiting commodity hardware, hence without particularly sophisticated interconnection networks. Basically, this means Clusters, Networks of Workstations and Desktops as well as Computational Clouds. Despite the simplicity of this computational model, it can be exploited to compute a quite large range of problems. This paper describes JJPF, a tool for developing task parallel applications based on Java and Jini that showed to be an effective and efficient solution in environment like Clusters and Networks of Workstations and Desktops.
How Do Quality Information and Cost Affect Patient Choice of Provider in a Tiered Network Setting? Results from a Survey

Tiered provider networks are implemented by health plans to encourage consumers to seek care from “preferred” physicians while permitting wide choice of physician. In a tiered provider network: (1) physicians in plans' networks are sorted into tiers according to their performance on cost-efficiency and quality measures, and (2) patients are given information about physician tier rankings along with a financial incentive (higher copayments are charged for visits with physicians in lower performing tiers) to encourage them to choose top-tiered physicians. This network design aims to improve the efficiency and quality of the health care system both by encouraging consumer choice of higher tiered physicians and by motivating providers to attain a higher tier ranking. The use of tiered provider networks raises important and largely unanswered questions. Do tiered physician networks influence consumer choice of physician, and how do consumers respond when the quality information provided through tiered provider networks conflicts with that from other trusted sources? Does consumer response vary with the copayment differential across tiers or physician specialty? Do individual characteristics affect how consumers respond to tiered provider networks? This information could help health plans design effective tiered physician networks and payers and policy makers consider whether to support the implementation of tiered physician networks more broadly. This paper reports on a survey of consumers enrolled in a health plan with a tiered physician network. The survey was designed to ascertain awareness and experience with the tiered network,1 and also to delve into how cost and quality information would affect consumer choice of physicians in a tiered network setting. The survey included an experiment in which respondents were randomly assigned to one of six sets of hypothetical tiered physician networks; hypothetical tiers varied according to the type of specialist that was tiered and the copayment differential between the tiers. Respondents were asked about their choice of physician from among the tiers both with and without quality information on physicians from additional sources. The results are informative not only about the likely impact of tiered networks but also the cost required to entice consumers to choose a physician in their health plan's preferred tier when they have disconfirming information from friends, family, or a referring physician on the quality of a physician in a lower rated tier.
Lactic Acid Utilization by the Cutaneous Micrococcaceae

Abstract Human cutaneous staphylococci and micrococci utilized lactic acid as an energy source on a minimal medium. Propionic acid was not utilized, but l(+)-lactic acid and pyruvic acid could replace ld-lactic acid as a substrate. Selected strains of cocci were inhibited more by the l(+) and d(−) forms of lactic acid than the balanced ld form, particularly at pH 5.6. With proper dilution of substrate, lactic acid was utilized by selected strains in the presence of 10 μg of oleic and palmitic acids per ml.
Olfactory learning and memory in the disease vector mosquito Aedes aegypti

Olfactory learning in blood-feeding insects, such as mosquitoes, could play an important role in host preference and disease transmission. However, standardised protocols allowing testing of their learning abilities are currently lacking, and how different olfactory stimuli are learned by these insects remains unknown. Using a Pavlovian conditioning paradigm, we trained individuals and groups of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to associate an odorant conditioned stimulus (CS) with a blood-reinforced thermal stimulus (unconditioned stimulus; US). Results showed, first, that mosquitoes could learn the association between L-lactic acid and the US, and retained the association for at least 24 h. Second, the success of olfactory conditioning was dependent upon the CS – some odorants that elicited indifferent responses in naive mosquitoes, such as L-lactic acid and 1-octen-3-ol, were readily learned, whereas others went from aversive to attractive after training ( Z -3-hexen-1-ol) or were untrainable (β-myrcene and benzyl alcohol). Third, we examined whether mosquitoes9 ability to learn could interfere with the action of the insect repellent DEET. Results demonstrated that pre-exposure and the presence of DEET in the CS reduced the aversive effects of DEET. Last, the nature of the formed memories was explored. Experiments using cold-shock treatments within the first 6 h post-training (for testing anaesthesia-resistant memory) and a protein synthesis inhibitor (cycloheximide; to disrupt the formation of long-term memory) both affected mosquitoes9 performances. Together, these results show that learning is a crucial component in odour responses in A. aegypti , and provide the first evidence for the functional role of different memory traces in these responses.
Evidence linking programmed cell death in the blastocyst to polyamine oxidation.

Abstract Programmed cell death occurs in the inner cell mass during blastulation concomitant with the loss of its trophectodermal potential, and blastocele fluid kills malignant inner cell mass cells with trophectodermal potential (ECa 247) but spares those with embryonic potential (P19). A previous study had shown that blastocele-like fluid from embryoid bodies of the teratocarcinoma C44 contains a low-molecular-weight cytotoxin that exhibits the same target-cell selectivity as normal blastocele fluid. The current paper shows that the preferential killing of cells with trophectodermal potential is caused by hydrogen peroxide generated during the oxidation of polyamines in the cyst fluid by amine oxidases. The greater resistance of cells with embryonic potential to hydrogen peroxide is due to glutathione-dependent mechanisms. These data lead to the conclusion that an amine oxidase in the blastocyst oxidizes polyamines in blastocele fluid, generating hydrogen peroxide which causes programmed cell death of normal and malignant cells with trophectodermal potential.
RNA aptamers to the peptidyl transferase inhibitor chloramphenicol

Abstract Background : The problem of how macromolecules adopt specific shapes to recognize small molecules in their environment is readily addressed through in vitro selections (the SELEX protocol). RNA-antibiotic interactions are particularly attractive systems for study because they provide an opportunity to expand our understanding of molecular recognition by RNA and to facilitate ribosomal modeling. Specifically, the antibiotic chloramphenicol (Cam) naturally binds bacterial ribosomes in the ‘peptidyl transferase loop' of 23S ribosomal RNA to inhibit peptide bond formation. Results : We identified Cam-binding RNA molecules (‘aptamers') from two independent initial random RNA populations. Boundary determinations, ribonuclease S 1 sensitivity analyses and the activity of truncated minimal RNAs identified a structural motif that is shared by sequences from both selections. The pseudosymmetric motif consists of a highly conserved central helix of five to six base pairs flanked by A-rich bulges and additional helices. Addition of Cam prior to ribonuclease S 1 protected nucleotides in the conserved cores from cleavage. Reselection from a pool of mutated variants of the minimal aptamer further refined the sequence requirements for binding. Finally, we used proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to establish a 1:1 RNA: Cam stoichiometry of the complex. Both the protection and NMR data both show that Cam stabilizes the active fold of this aptamer. Conclusions : There are many different RNA sequences that can bind Cam. The Cam aptamers that we examined have a well-defined secondary structure with a binding pocket that appears to be stabilized by Cam. This RNA motif superficially resembles the Cam-binding site in 23S rRNA, although further work is needed to establish the significance of these similarities.
A phase 1/1b study of satraplatin (JM-216) in combination with docetaxel in patients with advanced solid tumors and metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer.

Abstract Background Satraplatin is an oral platinum with potential advantages over other platinum agents. This study investigated the combination of satraplatin and docetaxel in a phase 1 study of patients with advanced solid tumor malignancies followed by a phase 1b study in men with chemotherapy naive metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Methods In this single institution phase 1/1b study, patients received docetaxel on day 1 and satraplatin on days 1–5 of a 21-day cycle ± granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF). For phase 1b, prednisone 10 mg daily was added. Results Twenty-nine patients received treatment. Based on 3 dose limiting toxicities (DLT) (grade 4 neutropenia) in 13 patients at dose levels 1 and −1 (docetaxel 60 mg/m 2 plus satraplatin 40 mg/m 2 and docetaxel 60 mg/m 2 plus satraplatin 50 mg/m 2 ) GCSF was administered with subsequent cohorts. A dose level of docetaxel 60 mg/m 2 plus satraplatin 50 mg/m 2 with GCSF was the starting dose level for phase 1b. At the highest dose in the phase 1b (docetaxel 75 mg/m 2 plus satraplatin 50 mg/m 2 ) there were no DLTs. Conclusion The combination of satraplatin and docetaxel is feasible in solid tumor malignancies. In advanced malignancies, the recommended phase 2 dose is docetaxel 60 mg/m 2 IV day 1 with satraplatin 40 mg/m 2 /d PO days 1–5, without G-CSF, and Docetaxel 70 mg/m 2 IV day 1 with Satraplatin 50 mg/m 2 /day PO days 1–5, with G-CSF support, repeated in 3-week cycles. For patients with CRPC the recommended phase 2 dose is docetaxel 75 mg/m 2 IV day 1 with satraplatin 50 mg/m 2 /d PO days 1–-5, with G-CSF and prednisone 10 mg daily, repeated in 3-week cycles.
Within-pod variation in the sound production of a pod of killer whales, Orcinus orca.

Abstract Pod-specific calling behaviour of resident killer whales has been shown to include: discrete call types not shared among pods, different production rates of shared call types, and differences in the detailed structure of shared call types. To investigate the mechanisms leading to pod-specific calling, we compared the repertoire and structure of calls produced by three different matrilineal units within the same pod, and described call features encoding matrilineal-unit distinctiveness. The three matrilineal units had different production rates of shared calls, including one call type used almost exclusively by one matrilineal unit. Cross-validated discriminant function analyses revealed matrilineal-unit distinctive structure in five of the six shared call types examined, with duration of the terminal component being the most distinctive feature for all call types containing a terminal component. Calls generally consist of low- and high-frequency components that may follow different time-frequency contours. In our sample, a particular high-frequency contour was consistently paired with a particular low-frequency contour, both contours had roughly equal overall variability, and each contained independent matrilineal-unit distinctive information. The only call type that did not differ structurally between matrilineal units is reportedly used more in interpod meetings than in intrapod contexts. The differences in calling behaviour between matrilineal units were similar in form to previously described differences between pods, although more subtle. These results suggest that pod-specific calling behaviour in resident killer whales arises primarily as a consequence of accumulated drift or divergence between highly cohesive matrilineal units as they gradually separate into different pods.
Using Groundwater Data Sondes to Produce High-Quality In Situ Tide and Wave Hydrographs along Wallops Island, Virginia

ABSTRACT Oakley, A.; Cornell, S.; Bochicchio, C.; Carney, J., and Sabetta, M., 2015. Using groundwater data sondes to produce high-quality in situ tide and wave hydrographs along Wallops Island, Virginia. The challenges to coastal regions posed by rising sea levels will differ from community to community. In situ wave and tide time-series data are vital for calibrating numerical coastal models used to predict and mitigate the effects of coastal flooding and high-energy erosive waves and to inform coastal engineering projects. However, for many communities, local, high-quality data sets do not exist. Here, we present a proof-of-concept study for a new method to collect local, low-cost, and high-quality, nearshore hydrographs that can be used to calibrate and test coastal models. In 2011, we deployed self-contained pressure sensors at ocean- and bay-side locations along Wallops Island, Virginia, home of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Wallops Flight Facility. We used a linear array of data...
Inherent Dynamic Problems with On-Demand Control Structures

There are two basic control structures for chemical plants: fixed feeds and fixed products. In the former, liquid levels are controlled by manipulating flows leaving individual units down through ...
Morphology of the Braincase in the Broadnose Sevengill Shark Notorynchus (Elasmobranchii, Hexanchiformes), Based on CT Scanning

Abstract A detailed description is presented of the neurocranium in the hexanchiform shark Notorynchus cepedianus, a primitive modern elasmobranch (neoselachian). The study is based on high-resolution CT scanning and digital imaging, which revealed both the external and internal morphology of a wax-impregnated braincase. Besides providing new data concerning Notorynchus and neoselachians generally, the investigation also provides a control for establishing the reliability of morphological observations of fossil elasmobranch braincases based on CT scans. Many of the features described here have considerable phylogenetic potential, although comparative CT scan data are still unavailable for most modern and extinct elasmobranchs.
Biomimetic photocatalytic reactor with a hydrogel-embedded microfluidic network

We present a light driven biomimetic reactor where photocatalytic TiO2 nanoparticles are embedded into water-based gels. Uniform supply of the reactants and extraction of the products is accomplished via a microfluidic channel network in a permeable hydrogel, broadly similar to the vein structure of live leaves. Quantitative analysis shows that the microvascular reactor has high quantum efficiency per mass of the catalyst.
Outlook: Cloudy with a Chance of Security Challenges and Improvements

Cloud computing is the topic in this paper. Cloud computing is the latest wave in systems architectures. The cloud realizes computing as a utility-that is, customers submit their computing tasks to the cloud, which provides the resources necessary to execute those tasks. Security is a major concern that could limit the cloud computing paradigm's impact. The factors affecting security in cloud computing, as well as the improvements made were mentioned and discussed.
Detection and quantification of low-molecular-weight aldehydes in pharmaceutical excipients by headspace gas chromatography.

Abstract The adverse effect of reactive chemical residues on the quality of drug products has necessitated the determination of low-molecular-weight aldehydes in pharmaceutical excipients. An analytical methodology for the detection of trace amounts of C1–C8 aliphatic aldehydes and benzaldehyde in excipients is described. The proposed procedure is based on the derivatization of aldehydes in aqueous solution with O-2,3,4,5,6-(pentafluorobenzyl) hydroxylamine hydrochloride (PFBHA), followed by static headspace gas chromatographic (SHS-GC) analysis of PFBHA aldehyde oximes with negative chemical ionization (NCI) MS detection. The method developed was demonstrated to be simple, selective, sensitive, and was successfully applied to the screening of aldehydes at sub-μg/g levels in over 30 typical excipients. The most abundant aldehydes found in the samples were formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, for which a rapid and reliable routine quantification method by readily available SHS-GC instrumentation coupled with flame-ionization detection was also developed and validated.
The rise and fall of Japanese nonsubject honorifics: The case of ‘o-Verb-suru’☆

Abstract This paper seeks to describe the pragmatic content of a particular honorific form in Japanese, i.e., the productive o -Verb (stem)- suru form of nonsubject honorific. The account demonstrates the pragmatic variables that determine the acceptability of a form that is still often considered to be fully determined by ‘syntactic’ rules. In identifying what representation of the world is necessarily implied by that form, the paper claims that the determination of the target of honorification depends not only on the socially perceived relative position but also on the consonance of the action or state that is described in the sentence with a pragmatic notion of benefactivity; more specifically, with a notion of benefit transfer. At least in the conventional use of the o -V- suru form, there is an implied relationship of benefit between the two participants, in which the exalted nonsubject referent is either the beneficiary or the source of benefit, depending on the predicate and on the context. This pragmatic account also serves as a starting point for analyses of the social meaning of the use of the form in various contexts, and it is shown that certain ‘deviant’ usages suggest the outlines of the emerging pattern.
Effect of neonatal thymectomy on experimental autoimmune thyroiditis in guinea pigs

Abstract These studies examined the effect of neonatal thymectomy on the induction of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) in the guinea pigs. Thymectomy was found to result in a consistent and profound inhibition of the development of lesions of EAT in both strain 2 and strain 13 guinea pigs. Thymectomized guinea pigs also had reduced antibody titers to guinea pig thyroglobulin (GPTG), while delayed hypersensitivity reactions to GPTG were less markedly affected by thymectomy. Thymectomized guinea pigs had significant functional peripheral T cells as evidenced by normal responses of lymph node cells to T cell mitogens. These results indicate that a T cell subpopulation which is sensitive to neonatal thymectomy is required for the development of EAT and antithyroglobulin antibody in the guinea pig.
The Effect of Trabeculectomy on Intraocular Pressure of the Untreated Fellow Eye in the Collaborative Initial Glaucoma Treatment Study

Purpose To describe the intraocular pressure (IOP) of the untreated fellow eye after unilateral trabeculectomy in the Collaborative Initial Glaucoma Treatment Study (CIGTS). Design Data collected from a prospective, multicenter, randomized clinical trial. Participants Three hundred patients with newly diagnosed open-angle glaucoma enrolled at 14 centers in the United States who were randomized to initial trabeculectomy. Methods After baseline evaluation and randomization to initial trabeculectomy in the study eye, patients were evaluated at 3 and 6 months and at 6-month intervals thereafter. The IOP was measured by Goldmann applanation tonometry. All eyes included in the analysis were untreated fellow eyes, and the data were censored for potential IOP-lowering events in the fellow eye, including trabeculectomy, argon laser trabeculoplasty, or cataract extraction. Predictive factors for IOP response in the fellow eye to initial trabeculectomy in the study eye were analyzed using a linear mixed model. Main Outcome Measures Intraocular pressure in the untreated fellow eye during follow-up. Results Although the IOP in the fellow eye was lower than baseline at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after trabeculectomy in the study eye, this decrease was statistically significant only at month 12 (mean decrease from baseline, 0.73±3.37 mmHg; P = 0.0134). Predictive associations with higher IOP in the fellow eye during follow-up included higher baseline IOP ( P P = 0.0129), time ( P = 0.0005), and the presence of other vascular disease ( P = 0.0069). Patients who ultimately required fellow eye trabeculectomy ( P P P = 0.4597) in the fellow eye, had lower IOPs during follow-up after these procedures. Conclusions There was no evidence of a substantial effect of trabeculectomy on the IOP of the untreated fellow eye during follow-up. Trabeculectomy does not seem to decrease the mean IOP of the fellow eye, as suggested by some previous studies. Financial Disclosure(s) Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.
Sensitivity of cosmic gamma-ray telescopes

Abstract A simple Monte Carlo program which enables a detailed analysis of the sensitivities of high-energy (⩾ 50 MeV) gamma-ray telescopes is described. Results obtained using this method on operational telescopes are in good agreement with measurements made using a tagged photon beam. Advantages of this technique are assessed.
Determination of DNA composition and concentration by spectral analysis

A number of methods, based on earlier theoretical developments, are presented for the determination of the base composition and concentration of unknown DNA samples using the spectra of native or denatured material, or hyperchromic spectra. The calculations have been reduced to simple routines that can be performed easily with a desk calculator. In the case of the spectra of denatured material and hyperchromic spectra, measurements are required at only four wavelengths, and the calculation takes about five minutes. The base compositions obtained are accurate to within ± 0·03 mole fraction A-T. To demonstrate other applications of these methods, analyses are presented of the fractions of native and denatured DNA in an unknown sample and of the base composition and concentration of a bacterial episome in the presence of the main DNA component.
A multi-omics strategy resolves the elusive nature of alkaloids in Podophyllum species

Podophyllum hexandrum and, to a much lesser extent P. peltatum, are sources of podophyllotoxin, extensively used as a chemical scaffold for various anti-cancer drugs. In this study, integrated omics technologies (including advanced mass spectrometry/metabolomics, transcriptome sequencing/gene assemblies, and bioinformatics) gave unequivocal evidence that both plant species possess a hitherto unknown aporphine alkaloid metabolic pathway. Specifically, RNA-seq transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics guided gene assemblies/analyses in silico suggested presence of transcripts homologous to genes encoding all known steps in aporphine alkaloid biosynthesis. A comprehensive metabolomics analysis, including UPLC-TOF-MS and MALDI-MS imaging in situ, then enabled detection, identification, localization and quantification of the aporphine alkaloids, magnoflorine, corytuberine and muricinine, in the underground and aerial tissues. Interestingly, the purported presence of alkaloids in Podophyllum species has been enigmatic since the 19th century, remaining unresolved until now. The evolutionary and phylogenetic ramifications of this discovery are discussed.
Surfactant Proteins Induce Channel-Mediated Transport in Artificial Membranes• 1558

Aim: We have confirmed that natural surfactant, Survanta® (SUR) - containing small, hydrophobic proteins - induces channel-mediated transport of Na+ and K+ in artificial membranes (planar lipid bilayers). Synthetic surfactant, Exosurf® - lacking proteins - does not. The possible participation of SUR proteins in observed channel activities is also suggested by their a-helical structures and mode of insertion in lipid bilayers. We hypothesize that SUR proteins contribute to channel structure as oligomeric complexes. To investigate, SUR proteins were extracted and subsequently tested for the insertion of channels in artificial membranes.Methods: Pooled SUR was extracted with CHCl3: MeOH:H2O(2:2:1.8) by modified Folch method. SUR proteins were separated from SUR lipids by elution through Sephadex LH-20 with CHCl3:MeOH (2:1). Eluents were analyzed by SDS-PAGE confirming one protein band at ≈5kD. Planar lipid bilayers employing phospholipids (1:1 phosphatidylethanolamine(PE):phosphatidylserine (PS)) were painted across an aperture (250mm) connecting solutions of buffered (pH 7.4) NaCl (50-500 mM) with 1mM Ca++. Extracted SUR proteins (EXTR)were introduced to PE:PS bilayers by either: a) direct addition of EXTR to PE:PS mixture (1:1000 protein:lipid) prior to painting the aperture; or b) reconstitution of EXTR with 7:2:1 dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC):phosphatidylglycerol (PG):palmitic acid(PA) (5:1000 protein:lipid) for suspension in one of the NaCl solutions bathing the PE:PS lipid bilayer. Holding potentials (-90 to +90 mV) were applied across the bilayer and currents indicative of salt transport measured.Results: Currents were not observed in the absence of EXTR (DPPC:PG:PA - EXTR). By contrast, both direct addition of EXTR to PE:PS bilayer and suspension of DPPC:PG:PA + EXTR in NaCl solution independently induced cationic current flow characterized by: 1) gating between open and closed channel states; 2) slope conductances = 46±7 pS; 3) sensitivity of open state probability to applied voltage; and 4) Ca++ dependence.Conclusions: SUR proteins extracted from SUR lipids induce channel-mediated transport in lipid bilayers. We speculate that surfactant proteins SP-B and SP-C play key roles in the clearance of lung fluids.Funded by Children's Health Foundation
Biotin-hydrazide derivatives for the development of steroid enzyme-linked immunoassays

We are describing the synthesis and use of biotinamidocaproyl-derivatives of 18-oxocortisol-3-carboxymethoxylamine for the development of enzyme labels using the avidin-peroxidase system for the design of enzyme-linked immunoassays (ELISA). An ELISA for 18-oxocortisol and -hydroxycorticosterone was devised which showed improved sensitivity and specificity in comparison to an RIA using a tritiated tracer. The system is easy to prepare and offers the possibility to design immunoassays when no tritiated tracer is available.
Gain-Scheduled Fault Tolerance Control Under False Identification

An active fault tolerant control (FTC) law is generally sensitive to false identification since the control gain is reconfigured for fault occurrence. In the conventional FTC law design procedure, dynamic variations due to false identification are not considered. In this paper, an FTC synthesis method is developed in order to consider possible variations of closed-loop dynamics under false identification into the control design procedure. An active FTC synthesis problem is formulated into an LMI optimization problem to minimize the upper bound of the induced-L2 norm which can represent the worst-case performance degradation due to false identification. The developed synthesis method is applied for control of the longitudinal motions of FASER (Free-flying Airplane for Subscale Experimental Research). The designed FTC law of the airplane is simulated for pitch angle command tracking under a false identification case.
Interactions among ascorbate, dehydroascorbate and glucose transport in cultured hippocampal neurons and glia

There is an increasing recognition of the damaging role played by oxygen radicals in mediating necrotic neuronal injury. As such, it becomes important to understand the transport mechanisms that help maintain appropriate levels of small molecule antioxidants such as ascorbate in the brain. It has long been known that the transport of dehydroascorbate (DHA) into a variety of cell types is accomplished through the Glut-1 glucose transporter. In this paper, we characterize interactions among the transports of ascorbate, DHA and glucose in hippocampal cultures. We find: (a) sodium-dependent transport of ascorbate in mixed neuronal/glial, pure glial, and neuron-enriched hippocampal cultures; in contrast, we observed no such transport of DHA; (b) such ascorbate transport appeared to be independent of the glucose transporter, in that glucose did not compete for such transport, and overexpression of the Glut-1 glucose transporter did not alter ascorbate uptake; (c) in contrast, ascorbate, at concentrations ranging from 1 to 20 mM inhibited 2-dexogyglucose transport in mixed, glial and enriched neuronal hippocampal cultures; (d) potentially, ascorbate, by acting as an electron donor, could impair the function of molecules involve in the transport or metabolism of glucose. We observed mild inhibition of glucose transport by one unrelated electron donor (glutathione). Moreover, transport was also inhibited by an ascorbate analog which is not an electron donor. Thus, we conclude that ascorbate transport in hippocampal neurons and glia occurs independent of the glucose transporter but that, nevertheless, ascorbate, at concentrations generally thought to be supraphysiological, has the potential for disrupting glucose transport.
Guided acoustic emission waves in a thick composite plate

In this paper, an efficient and accurate semi-analytical method based on the wavenumber integral representation of the elastodynamic field is described to calculate the surface responses produced by localized dynamic loads in a relatively thick composite plate. Two types of loads are considered: a pencil lead break source located on the surface and a localized shear delamination within the interior of the plate. In the case of the pencil lead break source, the calculated results for the surface motion are compared with those obtained in laboratory experiments on a 4.4 mm thick 32 layered cross-ply graphite/epoxy using high-fidelity broad band transducers. The waveforms consist of both flexural and extensional modes; the amplitude variations of these modes are found to be strongly dependent on their propagation direction. For the delamination source at the mid plane, the results from the exact calculation are compared with those from an approximate laminate theory with shear correction factor and moment tensor representation of the source. The results obtained by the two methods are shown to have excellent agreement in the low frequency ranges. Although, the motion due to the delamination is dominated by flexural waves of lower frequency in both thin and thick plates, the presence of extensional waves are observed in thicker laminates. The acoustic emission waveforms from the initiation of a shear delamintaion source at various interfaces are also calculated. It is found that the amplitude of the flexural modes decreases and that of the extensional modes increases as the source moves farther away from the mid plane.
Purification of thymidine kinase by affinity chromatography with an enzyme inhibitor as the ligand

Abstract An affinity column for the purification of thymidine kinase is described. The ligand in this column is a glycoprotein isolated from rat kidney. This glycoprotein inhibits phosphorylation of thymidine in cultured cells and in a cell-free assay system. With an affinity column containing the glycoprotein as a ligand, a 24-fold purification of thymidine kinase from an ammonium sulfate fraction of a crude tissue extract can be obtained. Thymidine kinase eluted from the affinity column migrates as one major band on polyacrylamide and as one diffuse major band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide. The affinity column, with thymidine kinase bound to the inhibitor, can also be used as an assay system. When the glycoprotein is covalently attached to Sepharose, it retains its binding capacity for thymidine kinase but has apparently lost its ability to inhibit the enzyme. Thymidine kinase eluted from the affinity column is again sensitive to the glycoprotein. It seems to be a carbohydrate moiety of the glycoprotein that is responsible for the inhibition.
Parallel adaptive simulations of dynamic fracture events

Finite element simulations of dynamic fracture problems usually require very fine discretizations in the vicinity of the propagating stress waves and advancing crack fronts, while coarser meshes can be used in the remainder of the domain. This need for a constantly evolving discretization poses several challenges, especially when the simulation is performed on a parallel computing platform. To address this issue, we present a parallel computational framework developed specifically for unstructured meshes. This framework allows dynamic adaptive refinement and coarsening of finite element meshes and also performs load balancing between processors. We demonstrate the capability of this framework, called ParFUM, using two-dimensional structural dynamic problems involving the propagation of elastodynamic waves and the spontaneous initiation and propagation of cracks through a domain discretized with triangular finite elements.
Properties of the solutions of a class of dynamical hereditary systems

Abstract A general class of dynamical systems with hereditary behavior is formulated mathematically. Fundamental properties of the exact solutions to the corresponding initial value problem are presented as four theorems. Existence, uniqueness, and boundedness of solutions is examined.
Cancer Metabolism and Elevated O-GlcNAc in Oncogenic Signaling *

O-Linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) is a carbohydrate post-translational modification on hydroxyl groups of serine and/or threonine residues of cytosolic and nuclear proteins. Analogous to phosphorylation, O-GlcNAcylation plays crucial regulatory roles in cellular signaling. Recent work indicates that increased O-GlcNAcylation is a general feature of cancer and contributes to transformed phenotypes. In this minireview, we discuss how hyper-O-GlcNAcylation may be linked to various hallmarks of cancer, including cancer cell proliferation, survival, invasion, and metastasis; energy metabolism; and epigenetics. We also discuss potential therapeutic modulation of O-GlcNAc levels in cancer treatment.
Information governance in NHS's NPfIT: a case for policy specification.

Abstract Purpose The National Health Service's (NHS's) National Programme for Information Technology (NPfIT) in the UK with its proposed nation-wide online health record service poses serious technical challenges, especially with regard to access control and patient confidentiality. The complexity of the confidentiality requirements and their constantly evolving nature (due to changes in law, guidelines and ethical consensus) make traditional technologies such as role-based access control (RBAC) unsuitable. Furthermore, a more formal approach is also needed for debating about and communicating on information governance, as natural-language descriptions of security policies are inherently ambiguous and incomplete. Our main goal is to convince the reader of the strong benefits of employing formal policy specification in nation-wide electronic health record (EHR) projects. Approach Many difficulties could be alleviated by specifying the requirements in a formal authorisation policy language such as Cassandra. The language is unambiguous, declarative and machine-enforceable, and is based on distributed constrained Datalog. Cassandra is interpreted within a distributed Trust Management environment, where digital credentials are used for establishing mutual trust between strangers. Results To demonstrate how policy specification can be applied to NPfIT, we translate a fragment of natural-language NHS specification into formal Cassandra rules. In particular, we present policy rules pertaining to the management of Clinician Sealed Envelopes, the mechanism by which clinical patient data can be concealed in the nation-wide EHR service. Our case study exposes ambiguities and incompletenesses in the informal NHS documents. Conclusions We strongly recommend the use of trust management and policy specification technology for the implementation of nation-wide EHR infrastructures. Formal policies can be used for automatically enforcing confidentiality requirements, but also for specification and communication purposes. Formalising the requirements also reveals ambiguities and missing details in the currently used informal specification documents.
Commentary: Thinking bigger: scaling up innovative practice models.

The story of TigerPlace at the University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing is one for the nursing community to celebrate and reflect upon together. In their continuing evaluation of an important experiment in aging in place (AIP), Rantz et al. have provided us with a textbook case of translating meaningful research into sustainable practice. The vision for TigerPlace was created almost 2 decades ago and has been carefully crafted through an interprofessional program of research, business partnerships, and networking with state policy makers. Although the heart of this project is about improving long-term care and care coordination for an aging population, it has unfolded in ways that speak volumes about leadership, perseverance, research, and grant writing expertise and political acumen. The results have substantial implications for expanding alternatives to assisted living and nursing home care for older adults as their health care needs increase. In this commentary, we focus on the implications of this project for health care policy and the role of the nursing community in scaling up innovative practice models. Rantz et al.’s article “The Continued Success of RN Care Coordination in a State Evaluation of Aging in Place in Senior Housing” is the second in a series of studies evaluating quality and cost outcomes for nurse-led AIP models of care in Missouri. The first article published in Nursing Outlook in 2010 described the development and first 4 years of evaluation of two AIP facilities, including TigerPlace. The research team found that the program of health promotion and education and nurse care coordinationwith a standardized protocol for regular functional assessment, early intervention, and assistance with access to supportive direct care services enabled residents to maintain their independence and saved substantial cost for nursing homeeeligible residents. The evaluation of the
Invited commentary: Minimally invasive follicular thyroid carcinoma.

THE INTERESTING ARTICLE in this issue by Saadi et al from the Cleveland Clinic discusses appropriate conservative management in patients with intrathyroidal well-differentiated follicular carcinoma of the thyroid. The authors have reviewed the prognostic factors and concluded that a conservative procedure of lobectomy in these low-risk
2,6-dansyl azide as a fluorescent probe for hydrogen sulfide

A second-generation sulfonyl azide-based fluorescent probe, 2,6-DNS-Az, has been developed for the quantitative detection of H2S in aqueous media such as phosphate buffer and bovine serum. Compare to the first-generation 1,5-DNS-Az probe, this probe shows both high sensitivity in phosphate buffer without the need for addition of surfactant and selectivity for sulfide over other anions and biomolecules, and thus can be used as a useful tool for detection of H2S in the biological system.
Coronary heart disease: Intervention for intimate relationship issues

Given that coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in the United States, continuing research on reduction of incidence as well as recovery from a cardiac event is critical. There are multiple risk factors for the development of, and recovery from, a cardiac event, including both physical (e.g., high cholesterol) and psychosocial (e.g., depression, social support). For a number of years the role of social support has been a focus of research, with the conclusion that social support is an important aspect of both the prevention of CHD as well as recovery from a cardiac event. An intimate relationship is obviously a potentially crucial source of social support, and thus the role of an intimate relationship in preventing or aiding in recovery from a cardiac event is explored in the current paper. Clearly there are a number of ways in which an intimate relationship can aid in the recovery of cardiac patients (e.g., emotional support, support for quilling smoking, starting or maintaining exercise program, treatment adherence). In addition, it is likely that a discordant intimate relationship may hinder the recovery of cardiac patients (e.g., social isolation, high conflict, etc.). Thus, interventions for cardiac patients that are focused on couple functioning are likely to be quite useful, both in terms of helping the relationship serve as a source of support, as well as in assuring that the relationship does not serve as an additional source of stress. Specific treatment recommendations are made for cardiac patient interventions that are couple focused.
Transition Metal Intervention for a Classic Reaction: Assessing the Feasibility of Nickel(0)-Promoted [1,3] Sigmatropic Shifts of Bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-enes

Density functional theory calculations (B3LYP/LANL2DZ) were used to evaluate the feasibility of Ni(0)-N-heterocyclic carbene-promoted [1,3] sigmatropic rearrangements of bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-enes t...
Evidence-Based Approaches for the Treatment of Substance Abusers by Involving Family Members:

There is now a variety of replicable, empirically supported family-based treatments for substance use disorders. Unfortunately, the gap between evidence-based substance abuse treatment methods and treatment as usual remains wide. Disseminating evidence-based treatments into practice is of obvious importance as the overall effectiveness of health care depends on transferring best practices into routine standards of care. This article seeks to identify empirically supported interventions to substance use so that practitioners may then seek further information or training in one or more of these modalities. Three approaches to involving family members in substance abuse treatment are identified: community reinforcement and family training, marital/couples therapy, and family therapy.
Systemic mastocytosis in association with chronic lymphocytic leukemia: A rare diagnosis

Systemic mastocytosis may be primary or be associated with other hematological malignancies, most commonly myeloid neoplasms. In contrast, the association of systemic mastocytosis with lymphoid neoplasms is comparatively rare, and in the absence of appropriate clinical vigilance the diagnosis may be missed. We report a case of aggressive systemic mastocytosis associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (SM-CLL), placing particular emphasis on the investigational algorithm used in establishing this diagnosis, and discussing key clinical considerations in the initiation of therapy.
Layout compaction for yield optimization via critical area minimization

This paper presents a new compaction algorithm to improve the yield of IC layout. The yield is improved by reducing the area where the faults are more likely to happen known as critical area. Instead of assuming that the critical area could probably be present everywhere in the layout, the algorithm first finds where this area can actually exist, and then attempts to minimize it. The algorithm takes benefit from a fast multi-layer critical area computation to extract the rectangles that compose it. Afterwards, the extracted rectangles are involved into the layer minimization process which is the second phase of the compaction procedure to minimize their area. A new formulation of the layer minimization problem is used in such a way that the critical area minimization adds neither extra variables nor extra constraints to the original compaction algorithm. The algorithm has been tested on actual layouts.
Effects of Nitrogen Dioxide Exposure on Pulmonary function and Airway Reactivity in Normal Humans

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a product of combustion that has become recognized as a significant component of indoor air in some homes. Despite extensive study, it remains unresolved whether exposures to low levels of NO2 affect airway function or reactivity. These studies were designed to assess effects of various levels and patterns of NO2 exposure on pulmonary function and airway reactivity in normal humans. Normal volunteers screened for the absence of airway hyper-reactivity were exposed for 3 h in an environmental chamber to purified air or NO2, separated by at least 2 wk, according to three protocols: (1) continuous 0.60 ppm NO2, (2) baseline 0.05 ppm NO2 with intermittent peaks of 2.0 ppm, and (3) continuous 1.5 ppm NO2. Subjects exercised for 10 min of each 30 min at a level sufficient to result in a minute ventilation near 40 L/min. Pulmonary function was measured before, during, and after exposure. Airway reactivity to increasing doses of carbachol was assessed 30 min after exposure. NO2 did not d...
Effects of Rearing Broiler Strains Intermingled Versus Separately and Effects of Placement Time on Broiler Performance

Abstract Sixteen chicks of each of four strains were placed in each of three pens: (pen 1) within 4 hours after hatching; (pen 2) 24 hours after hatching; and (pen 3) 48 hours after hatching in 2 experiments. Each of these broiler strains were also reared in separate pens in both experiments. Mortality was progressively higher as more time elapsed before chicks were placed on feed and water. Little difference was found in feed efficiency for the different placement times. In the first experiment chicks placed within 4 hours and 24 hours after hatching were different while in experiment 2 they were similar in 8-week body weight. Chicks placed 48 hours after hatching were lower in 8-week body weight then either of the other placement times in experiment 2, while in experiment 1 they were heavier than chicks placed 24 hours after hatching but were not as heavy as those placed 4 hours after hatching. Broiler strains reared separately were heavier at 8 weeks than those reared intermingled except for one strain in experiment 2. The range of the strain means with their standard errors overlapped except for two strains and the average values in experiment 1. All strains averaged together in experiment 1 were heavier when reared in separate pens.