cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tragic and sudden death. Potential and proven mechanisms causing sudden infant death syndrome.

The death of a child is probably the most traumatic event any parent can experience. This tragedy is made worse if the child dies in its sleep, apparently for no reason. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) inevitably strikes horror into parents' hearts; it usually happens at night and occurs in complete silence—there is no fight for life or breath to warn parents that something is horribly wrong. Indeed, infants who have died of SIDS look rather peaceful, which makes it even worse for parents who wake up in the morning to find their child dead. > SIDS […] continues to thwart the efforts of scientists and physicians to prevent it, or at least to identify those children who are at risk SIDS is not only a traumatic and devastating event for parents and medical examiners, it is also a cause of death that continues to thwart the efforts of scientists and physicians to prevent it, or at least to identify those children who are at risk. Indeed, the term SIDS was coined to provide a convenient diagnosis for a medical examiner to label an otherwise unexplainable death. It is only during the past few years that scientists and epidemiologists have been able to identify environmental and metabolic factors that combine to cause SIDS. In particular, epidemiological research has identified some important environmental risk factors—notably when children sleep on their stomachs or under heavy blankets, or whether the parents smoke. One resulting recommendation is to encourage parents to turn infants on their backs; the ‘Back to Sleep’ campaign that started in 1994 in the USA and similar educational campaigns in other countries have led to a considerable drop in SIDS deaths. Nevertheless, the prevalence of SIDS is still approximately 0.5% in the USA, or 50 deaths per 100,000 live births, and it …
Auditory Priming for Nonverbal Information: Implicit and Explicit Memory for Environmental Sounds

Three experiments examined repetition priming for meaningful environmental sounds (e.g., clock ticking, tooth brushing, toilet flushing, etc.) in a sound stem identification paradigm using brief sound cues. Prior encoding of target sounds together with their associated names facilitated subsequent identification of sound stems relative to nonstudied controls. In contrast, prior exposure to the names alone in the absence of the environmental sounds did not prime subsequent sound stem identification performance at all (Experiments 1 and 3). Explicit and implicit memory were dissociated such that sound stem cued recall was higher following semantic than nonsemantic encoding, whereas sound priming was insensitive to manipulations of depth of encoding (Experiments 2 and 3). These results extend the findings of long-term repetition priming into the auditory nonverbal domain and suggest that priming for environmental sounds is mediated primarily by perceptual processes.
Methylaluminoxane/haloalkane as initiator system for styrene polymerization

Styrene polymerization was initiated by methylaluminoxane in the presence of haloalkane. The propagating species are shown by trapping experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance to be both radicals and cations.
Long-Term Survival After Aortic Valve Replacement Among High-Risk Elderly Patients in the United States Insights From the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database, 1991 to 2007

Background—Surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) remains the standard of care for the treatment of operable, symptomatic aortic valve disease; however, to date, there are limited national data on the contemporary long-term outcomes after AVR in older individuals. Methods and Results—We examined long-term survival among 145 911 AVR patients ≥65 years of age undergoing AVR at 1026 centers with participation in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database from 1991 to 2007. In-hospital complications and long-term survival were stratified by age, Society of Thoracic Surgeons perioperative risk of mortality, and several comorbidities. The median patient age was 76 years; 16% had chronic lung disease, 6% had preoperative renal failure, 38% had heart failure, and 12% had prior cardiac surgery. The median survival in patients 65 to 69, 70 to 79, and ≥80 years of age undergoing isolated AVR was 13, 9, and 6 years, respectively. For AVR plus coronary artery bypass graft procedures, median survi...
Suppression of mRNA accumulation by the duck hepatitis B virus reverse transcriptase.

Abstract Hepadnaviruses establish chronic liver infections, but the mechanisms of persistence and immune evasion are poorly understood. We previously found that the duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) and hepatitis B virus reverse transcriptases (P protein) unexpectedly accumulate in the cytoplasm where they could affect function(s) beyond viral DNA synthesis, such as gene expression. Therefore, we measured effects of DHBV P on gene expression from reporter constructs and the viral genome. P reduced reporter expression at the mRNA level to ∼30–40%, independent of reporter tested. Accumulation of the viral pregenomic RNA from its native promoter was suppressed three-to four-fold by P, and accumulation of the capsid protein and intracellular core particles was similarly suppressed because the pregenomic RNA encodes the capsid protein. Therefore, suppression of the pregenomic RNA by DHBV P creates a negative feedback loop to limit viral antigen accumulation and replication, possibly contributing to maintenance of chronic infection.
Relations Between Resistance Distances of a Graph and its Complement or its Contraction

Abstract. The resistance distance between two vertices of a connected graph is defined as the net effective resistance between them when each edge of the graph is replaced by a resistor. In this paper, it is shown that the product of resistance distances between any pair of vertices in a simple graph and in its connected complement is less than or equal to 3. Meanwhile, a relation between resistance distances of a graph and its contraction is obtained in a special case. (doi: 10.5562/cca2318) Keywords: resistance distance, graph complement, graph contraction, Rayleigh's short-cut principle INTRODUCTION Two decades ago, a novel distance function on graphs was identified by Klein and Randic. 1 They viewed a connected graph as an electrical network by imagining that fixed resistors are assigned to each edge. Then they proved that the effective resistance between pairs of vertices is a distance function on the graph and named this new distance function resistance distance . As a central component of electric circuit theory, effective resistance have long been studied in physics and engineering, dating back to Kirchhoff
Clients Nearing Death: Behavioral Treatment Perspectives:

The literature on the relationship between psychosocial events and dying and death is reviewed from a behavioral perspective. Individual control for predictability of endogenous and exogenous events is identified as an intervening construct in the relationship between the timing of death and a variety of psychosocial factors. It is then argued that behavioral self-management is a potentially useful therapeutic tool for working with clients who are nearing death.
Heart disease in patients with stroke: Incidence, impact, and implications for rehabilitation part 1: Classification and prevalence

Heart disease is found in about 75% of patients who have suffered a stroke. Cardiovascular diseases can be risk factors, etiologic mechanisms, associated conditions, or direct consequences of stroke. Cardiac comorbidity may delay initiation of rehabilitation, complicate the course and care of the patient with stroke, inhibit participation in a therapeutic exercise program, limit functional outcomes, and contribute to early mortality in the individual with cerebrovascular disease. Part 1 of this two-part article describes the various forms of heart disease that may be seen in stroke patients, and reviews the incidence figures for each type of associated cardiac condition.
Characteristics of useful evaluation data: an example from community mental health centers.

The results o fan empirical study of the use of evaluation data in community mental health centers are reported. A mailed survey on evaluation use was conducted among the directors of 164 community mental health centers in 19 states; 140 completed questionnaires were returned. Results indicate that certain types of data have important impacts in a majority of centers. Systems resources management data were most highly used, followed by need assessment data, and client utilization data. Least used were data on outcomes of intervention and community impact. Data use appears closely tied to the utility of the data in carrying out priority management tasks in a center. Findings have important implications for community psychologists who plan, administer, or evaluate mental health services. The broader role of evaluation in community psychology is also discussed.
A "modified Whitehead" hemorrhoidectomy.

Is there a place for the “modified White-head” hemorrhoidectomy? Some factors have been found to mitigate against the procedure: 1) inadequate extent of hemorrhoidal disease; 2) excess scar from previous disease or operation; 3) concurrent abscess or fistula: 4) unusually thin, tight anoderm (or conversely, moderately healthy anoderm with some tissue resiliency is an important factor in healing); 5) irritable-bowel disease. However, there is no greater discomfort or disability with this technique than with lesser procedures. We have found acceptable incidences of postoperative wound complications and have created no “wet anus.” We are aware that definitive measures directed toward alleviating postoperative urinary retention are indicated. Attention is being directed to this. We have not had “recurrent” hemorrhoids with this circumferential procedure, which removes all hemorrhoid-bearing tissue and leaves a smooth, unbunched anal canal. Therefore, we feel that this is the surgical procedure of choice for the patient who has advanced hemorrhoidal disease.
The value of the initial post-EVAR computed tomography angiography scan in predicting future secondary procedures using the Powerlink stent graft.

Objective Current long-term surveillance after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) is based on high-resolution contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scans at scheduled, lifelong intervals. The cancer and nephrotoxicity risks of interval CT scanning and prolonged radiation exposure are concerning. We sought to determine if surveillance CT angiography (CTA) can be safely reduced. Methods From July 2000 to November 2007, 345 patients were enrolled in U.S. Food and Drug Administration trials of the Powerlink System (Endologix, Irvine, Calif). An independent core laboratory analyzed 1519 post-EVAR CT scans (N = 1519) to 5 years to evaluate aneurysm size, migration, presence of endoleak, and evidence of graft obstruction. Analyses were conducted to determine the value of the initial CTA scan in predicting future secondary procedures in enrolled patients. Results At any time during follow-up, CTA identified endoleak in 123 patients (36%), with 95% of endoleaks being type II. In addition, 49 patients underwent 72 secondary procedures at a mean of 22 ± 21 months (range, 2-2007 days) after initial EVAR. These were based on clinical identification of limb ischemia in 13 interventions (18%) or core laboratory identification of abnormal CT finding in 58 interventions (81%). Of the 58 core laboratory identified findings, the inciting abnormality was present on the initial postoperative scan in 49 (84%). Of the remaining nine CT-driven procedures, three (5.2%) were due to late sac expansion attributed to type II endoleak (n = 2) or endotension (n = 1); two (3.4%) were for prophylactic reasons in the absence of endoleak; and four (6.8%) were in patients with type II endoleak not observed by the core laboratory and without sac expansion. The negative predictive value of the initial postoperative CTA for the need for a secondary procedure is therefore 96.4%, which can be improved to 97.6% with duplex ultrasound surveillance to detect sac expansion. Thus, a negative initial postoperative CTA is highly predictive of long-term freedom from secondary intervention. Conclusions Among enrolled patients with suitable anatomy for EVAR, most abnormalities that result in a secondary procedure are detected on the initial postoperative CTA or present with clinical symptoms. Long-term surveillance CTA may therefore be replaced by duplex ultrasound imaging if the initial postoperative CTA shows no abnormalities.
Abstract 2534: Anti-LOXL2 conjugated gold nanoparticles: therapeutic probes for pancreatic cancer

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL PURPOSE: Multi-functional gold nanoparticles may play an important role in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of using these anti-LOXL2 conjugated gold nanoparticles (anti-LOXL2@GoldMag) as therapeutic probes for the treatment of human pancreatic cancer cells. MATERIALS & METHODS: Human pancreatic cancer cell lines (PANC-1, BxPC-3 and Capan-1 cells) was used in this study. Western blot of LOXL2 expression in three cell lines were analyzed and compared to EGFR proteins. GoldMag, the hybrid gold shell and iron oxide core nanoparticles were purchases and their imaging characteristics (R2 and R2* relativity) was measured. Anti-LOXL2@GoldMag probes were constructed according to the instruction and the coupling efficacy of anti-LOXL2 antibodies with GoldMag were tested using a mass spectrophotometer. The specific targeting efficacy of anti-LOXL2@GoldMag was tested using immunofluorescence staining and electronic microscope. Pancreatic cancer cells were treated with anti-LOXL2@GoldMag at the concentrations of 0, 35, 70, 140 and 280 μg/ml and compared to anti-LOXL2 treatment alone at the same dosing concentration. After allowing for 48 hours incubation, the remaining number of viable cells was counted using trypan blue staining; cell proliferation percentage was calculated based on the total number of viable cells after treatment compared to the controls. RESULTS: The therapeutic efficacy of anti-LOXL2@GoldMag demonstrated similar therapeutic efficacy at both lower dose (18-51% reduced total viable cells) and enhanced therapeutic efficacy at the higher dose (86-99% reduced total viable cells) when compared to LOXL2 antibody alone. This suggests that binding of the LOXL2 antibodies to the GoldMag nanoparticles doesn't inhibit immunotherapeutic efficacy. MRI studies demonstrated that R2 and R2* measurements were well correlated to GoldMag probe concentrations. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrated significant anti-neoplastic efficacy in three different human pancreatic cancer cell lines. MRI could serve as a non-invasive imaging method to monitor the biodistribution of gold nanoparticles. Further pre-clinical investigations are now warranted in animal models of pancreatic cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2534. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2534
The effect of multiple delamination on postbuckling behavior of laminated composite plates

Abstract When a laminated composite is subjected to compressive loads a delaminated region may buckle. This causes high interlaminar stresses at the delamination front and the delamination may grow. In this study, the effect of multiple delaminations on the postbuckling behavior of laminated rectangular plates is studied experimentally. In the experimental study extensive strain gauging is involved to obtain a thorough investigation of the behavior of the distribution of the surface strains on the plate. Results of the experimental investigation are compared with the theory developed by Chai.
Erythropoietin critically regulates the terminal maturation of murine and human primitive erythroblasts

Primitive erythroid cells, the first red blood cells produced in the mammalian embryo, are necessary for embryonic survival. Erythropoietin and its receptor EpoR, are absolutely required for survival of late-stage definitive erythroid progenitors in the fetal liver and adult bone marrow. Epo- and Epor-null mice die at E13.5 with a lack of definitive erythrocytes. However, the persistence of circulating primitive erythroblasts raises questions about the role of erythropoietin/EpoR in primitive erythropoiesis. Using Epor-null mice and a novel primitive erythroid 2-step culture we found that erythropoietin is not necessary for specification of primitive erythroid progenitors. However, Epor-null embryos develop a progressive, profound anemia by E12.5 as primitive erythroblasts mature as a synchronous cohort. This anemia results from reduced primitive erythroblast proliferation associated with increased p27 expression, from advanced cellular maturation, and from markedly elevated rates of apoptosis associated with an imbalance in pro- and anti-apoptotic gene expression. Both mouse and human primitive erythroblasts cultured without erythropoietin also undergo accelerated maturation and apoptosis at later stages of maturation. We conclude that erythropoietin plays an evolutionarily conserved role in promoting the proliferation, survival, and appropriate timing of terminal maturation of primitive erythroid precursors.
Search for Magnetically Charged Particles Produced in $e^+ e^-$ Annihilations at $\sqrt{s}=10$.6-{GeV}

Energetic particles carrying magnetic charge can be identified by their trajectory in a magnetic field. We report here the first application of this property to a search in e/sup +/e/sup -/ annihilations. By tracking the paths of particles in the CLEO magnetic spectrometer at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring we place upper limits on the production of magnetically charged particles with mass m<5 GeV/c/sup 2/.
p38 MAPK and NF-κB Collaborate to Induce Interleukin-6 Gene Expression and Release EVIDENCE FOR A CYTOPROTECTIVE AUTOCRINE SIGNALING PATHWAY IN A CARDIAC MYOCYTE MODEL SYSTEM

In cardiac myocytes, the stimulation of p38 MAPK by the MAPKK, MKK6, activates the transcription factor, NF-kappaB, and protects cells from apoptosis. In the present study in primary neonatal rat cardiac myocytes, constitutively active MKK6, MKK6(Glu), bound to IkappaB kinase (IKK)-beta and stimulated its abilities to phosphorylate IkappaB and to activate NF-kappaB. MKK6(Glu) induced NF-kappaB-dependent interleukin (IL)-6 transcription and IL-6 release in a p38-dependent manner. IL-6 protected myocardial cells against apoptosis. Like IL-6, TNF-alpha, which activates both NF-kappaB and p38, also induced p38-dependent IL-6 expression and release and protected myocytes from apoptotis. While TNF-alpha was relatively ineffective, IL-6 activated myocardial cell STAT3 by about 8-fold, indicating a probable role for this transcription factor in IL-6-mediated protection from apoptosis. TNF-alpha-mediated IL-6 induction was inhibited by a kinase-inactive form of the MAPKKK, TGF-beta activated protein kinase (Tak1), which is known to activate p38 and NF-kappaB in other cell types. Thus, by stimulating both p38 and NF-kappaB, Tak1-activating cytokines, like TNF-alpha, can induce IL-6 expression and release. Moreover, the myocyte-derived IL-6 may then function in an autocrine and/or paracrine fashion to augment myocardial cell survival during stresses that activate p38.
Enhanced CD28 signaling may be a common mechanism underlying resistance to regulation.

Enhanced CD28 signaling may be a common mechanism underlying resistance to regulation - Reply
Solar photocatalytic and electrokinetic studies of TiO2/Ag nanoparticle suspensions

Abstract Composites of TiO 2 and Ag nanoparticles were used to study photodegradation of aqueous Rhodamine B under natural sunlight exposure. The addition of Ag powder resulted in a ∼45% increase of the photocatalytic activity of TiO 2 after 30 min, which is attributed to the suppression of the photo-generated electron–hole pair recombination. Electrokinetic studies on TiO 2 , Ag, and TiO 2 /Ag aqueous solutions address the question of how the electron transfer occurs. It was found that the TiO 2 and TiO 2 /Ag zeta potential versus pH behavior is virtually identical which suggests that the Ag particles are encapsulated by the TiO 2 particles, allowing the electron transfer across the ‘static’ semiconductor–metal interface.
INVARIANT STRUCTURE OF THE HIERARCHY THEORY OF FRACTIONAL QUANTUM HALL STATES WITH SPIN

We describe the invariant structure common to Abelian fractional quantum Hall effect systems with spin. It appears in a generalization of the lattice description of the polarized hierarchy that encompasses both partially polarized and unpolarized ground-state systems. We formulate, using the spin-charge decomposition, conditions that should be satisfied so that the description is SU(2) invariant. In the case of the spin-singlet hierarchy construction, we find that there are as many SU(2) symmetries as there are levels in the construction. Various formalisms used before for hierarchies (field-theoretic, algebraic, and wave functions) are also used to show the existence of a spin and charge lattice for the systems with spin. The ``gluing'' of the charge and spin degrees of freedom in their bulk is described by the gluing theory of lattices. The low-energy field theories and corresponding quantum Hall lattices should serve as a starting point for the discussion of the stability of these systems.
The transformation of research in the health professions at the University of South Carolina.

Abstract During the past six years, there has been a remarkable transformation of research, faculty, and interdepartmental, interinstitutional collaboration in the health professions at the University of South Carolina (USC). The author describes the context in which this transformation has occurred and the factors that caused the USC medical school to move from a position of relative insularity from the other colleges within the university—conducting little extramural research, and regarding its relationship with its teaching hospitals as distal, associated institutions—to a position of full integration into the Division of Health Sciences with very significant growth in externally funded research and closer-than-ever-before working relationships with its two teaching hospitals. The author hopes that the model of interinstitutional collaboration USC is developing throughout the region will be thought worthy of emulation elsewhere. In this article, the author reviews the transformation of research in the school of medicine and the other health professions schools—specifically, nursing, pharmacy, public health, and social work—at USC during the past six years. He explains how these changes were effected while the school continued to support its original mission.
MODIS‐derived NDVI Characterisation of Drought‐Induced Evergreen Dieoff in Western North America

Vegetation stress or mortality can be the result of many factors including drought-induced water deficit, insect infestations and failures of, or fluctuations in, precipitation sources typical to an area. Reduction of cover and reduced health are identifiable in remotely-sensed multispectral satellite images. A suite of images from NASA's MODIS sensor was used to calculate the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) during the 2000–2006 North American growing seasons. Fluctuations in NDVI over this period show a significant decline in vegetative health in the region with specific areas showing changes linked to moisture sources, prevailing wind patterns, slope aspect and solar radiation receipt. Ground-truthing of these areas has confirmed the extent and magnitude of the dieoff signal. Historically, dieoff has been reversed through regeneration as climate conditions return to a normal regime. However, quantification of recent vegetative change in western North America suggests that the degree of change may be too severe for regrowth to occur and may have far-reaching impacts on a scale unseen in modern times. The loss of vegetative habitat and native species in semi-arid regions and lack of regeneration in these marginal ecosystems due to prolonged drought are growing global problems. Similar drought stress impacts on marginal ecotypes have also been observed in semi-arid regions of Australia, South America, Asia and Africa. Observations of the spatial pattern of temperate forest vegetation globally can be used to develop a precise picture of vegetative health in these regions and how they are reacting to global climate change.
Modification of microsomal 11β-HSD1 activity by cytosolic compounds: Glutathione and hexose phosphoesters

Abstract 11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase1(11β-HSD1) can serve either as an oxo-reductase or dehydrogenase determined by the redox state in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). This bidirectional enzyme governs paracrine glucocorticoid production. Recent in vitro studies have underscored the key role of cytoplasmic glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) in controlling the flux direction of 11βHSD-1 by altering the intraluminal ER NADPH/NADP ratio. The hypothesis that other hexose phosphoesters or the plentiful cellular oxidative protector glutathione could also regulate microsomal 11βHSD-1 activity was tested. Fructose-6-phosphate increased the activity of 11β-HSD1 reductase in isolated rat and porcine liver microsomes but not porcine fat microsomes. Moreover, oxidized glutathione (GSSG) attenuated 11β-HSD1 reductase activity by 40% while reduced glutathione (GSH) activated the reductase in liver. Fat microsomes were unaffected because they lack glutathione reductase. Nonetheless, another oxidizing agent, hydrogen peroxide (0.5 mM), inhibited both fat and liver 11β-HSD1 reductase. Consistent with the major role of the redox state, 2.5 mM GSSG and hydrogen peroxide augmented the 11β-HSD1 dehydrogenase, antithetical to the reductase, by 20–30% in liver microsomes. Given the key role of reactive oxygen species and hexose phosphate accumulation in the pathoetiology of obesity and diabetes, these compounds might also modify 11β-HSD1 in these conditions.
The Drosophila gene 2A5 complements the defect in mitochondrial F1-ATPase assembly in yeast lacking the molecular chaperone Atp11p.

Abstract Assembly of mitochondrial F1-ATPase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae requires the molecular chaperone, Atp11p. Database searches have identified protein sequences from Schizosaccharomyces pombe and two species of Drosophila that are homologous to S. cerevisiae Atp11p. A cDNA encoding the putative Atp11p from Drosophila yakuba was shown to complement the respiratory deficient phenotype of yeast harboring an atp11::HIS3 disruption allele. Furthermore, the product of this Drosophila gene was shown to interact with the S. cerevisiae F1 β subunit in the yeast two-hybrid assay. These results indicate that Atp11p function is conserved in higher eukaryotes.
Compressions, Graphs, and Hyperreflexivity

Abstract In this note we extend the ideas in [11] to prove reflexivity and especially hyperreflexivity results that pertain to compressions rather than summands. These results in turn are relevant for some remarkable classes of operators.
Strain and temperature dependence of the insulating phases of VO2 near the metal-insulator transition

In addition to its metal-insulator transition (MIT), VO${}_{2}$ exhibits a rich phase behavior of insulating monoclinic (M1,M2) and triclinic (T) phases. By using micro-Raman spectroscopy and independent control of temperature and uniaxial strain in individual single-crystal microbeams, we map these insulating phases with their associated structural changes as represented by their respective phonon frequencies. The competition between these structural forms is dictated by the internal strain due to differing lattice constants, the experimentally applied external strain, and the temperature-dependent phase stability. We identify the nature of the triclinic phase as a continuously distorted variant of the M1 monoclinic phase, while a discontinuous transition into the M2 phase occurs from both the M1 and T phases. The results suggest that understanding the driving forces that determine the interplay between M1, M2, and T phases near the MIT could be critical for the identification of the underlying mechanism behind the MIT itself.
Facilitated transport of olefins in Ag+-containing polymer membranes

Abstract Synthesis of new poly(vinyl alcohol)-containing silver nitrate membranes is described. The membrane showed high olefin flux and olefin/paraffin selectivity. For this membrane, the effects of water saturation, silver nitrate content, total retenate pressure and permeate partial pressure on butene fluxes were investigated. For the facilitated transport of butenes and propylene in the membrane, we determined the mass transfer resistances due to complexation and decomplexation and thus obtained the “true” permeability which is independent of membrane thickness. Based on the mass transfer resistances and permeability, a transport model can be used to relate flux and selectivity to separation process conditions. Also investigated was the stability of the membrane.
Calcium-enhanced exocytosis of gold nanoparticles

This paper examines the exocytosis of nanoparticles, an important but rarely documented aspect of cell responses to engineered nanomaterials. Specifically, HT-29 mammalian cells were labeled with a lipophilic Laurdan dye, and the membrane fluidity in the presence of goldnanoparticles was evaluated by the generalized polarization (GP) values derived from the fluorescence spectra of the dye. The concentration of excreted goldnanoparticles increased with increasing extracellular calcium, directly demonstrating exocytosis of nanoparticles and corroborating the inference made from the GP values of the Laurdan dye. This study provides additional information for understanding the fate of nanomaterials in biological systems.
Charge transfer in ion collisions with circular Rydberg atoms

Recent experimental measurements of charge transfer in ion collisions with circular-state Rydberg atoms (for which [ital m]=[ital l]=[ital n][minus]1) can be qualitatively reproduced using an elementary atomic model consisting of a classical electron in a circular orbit with an arbitrary axis of rotation defined by experiment. Contributions to capture are further separated into one-swap and three-swap charge transfers, revealing the relative importance of a Thomaslike mechanism for charge transfer at ion velocities of 1.00, 1.65, and 2.00 times the velocity of the target electron. The model is extended to estimate charge-transfer cross sections for ions incident on elliptic-state Rydberg atoms of specific eccentricity.
15-Deoxy-Δ12,14-Prostaglandin J2-Glycerol, a Putative Metabolite of 2-Arachidonyl Glycerol and a Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ Ligand, Modulates Nuclear Factor of Activated T Cells

2-Arachidonyl glycerol (2-AG) is an endogenous arachidonic acid derivative released on demand from membrane precursors. 2-AG-mediated suppression of interleukin (IL)-2 depends on cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) metabolism and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) activation. 15-Deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2-glycerol ester (15d-PGJ2-G), a putative COX-2 metabolite of 2-AG, acts as a PPARγ ligand and produces IL-2 suppression in activated Jurkat T cells, in part, by decreasing nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) transcriptional activity. The objective of the present studies was to investigate the mechanism by which 15d-PGJ2-G modulates NFAT activity to suppress IL-2. 15d-PGJ2-G treatment decreased phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)/calcium ionophore (Io)-induced NFAT DNA binding to the human IL-2 promoter and nuclear NFAT2 accumulation. It is noteworthy that 15d-PGJ2-G treatment increased active nuclear HDM2 (human homolog of the oncoprotein and E3 ubiquitin ligase murine double minute 2) expression, whereas there was no change in the expression of glycogen synthase kinase 3β, both of which regulate NFAT. 15d-PGJ2-G and other PPARγ agonists, such as rosiglitazone and ciglitazone, decreased PMA/Io-mediated elevation in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in activated Jurkat cells. We were surprised to find that the PPARγ antagonists 2-chloro-5-nitro-N-4-pyridinylbenzamide (T0070907) and 2-chloro-5-nitrobenzanilide (GW9662) also decreased the PMA/Io-mediated elevation in [Ca2+]i in activated T cells. In addition, the presence of T0070907 plus 15d-PGJ2-G produced an additive decrease in PMA/Io-mediated elevation of [Ca2+]i, suggesting that the 15d-PGJ2-G effects on calcium might be either PPARγ-independent or -dependent on occupation of the PPARγ ligand binding domain. Collectively, our findings suggest that 15d-PGJ2-G increases active nuclear HDM2, which could lead to a decrease in NFAT2 and IL-2 suppression.
A new classification for facial pain.

Purpose A patient-oriented classification scheme for facial pains commonly encountered in neurosurgical practice is proposed. Concept This classification is driven principally by the patient's history. Rationale The scheme incorporates descriptions for so-called "atypical" trigeminal neuralgias and facial pains but minimizes the pejorative, accepting that the physiology of neuropathic pains could reasonably encompass a variety of pain sensations, both episodic and constant. Seven diagnostic labels result: trigeminal neuralgia Types 1 and 2 refer to patients with the spontaneous onset of facial pain and either predominant episodic or constant pain, respectively. Trigeminal neuropathic pain results from unintentional injury to the trigeminal nerve from trauma or surgery, whereas trigeminal deafferentation pain results from injury to the nerve by peripheral nerve ablation, gangliolysis, or rhizotomy in an intentional attempt to treat either trigeminal neuralgia or other facial pain. Postherpetic neuralgia follows a cutaneous herpes zoster outbreak (shingles) in the trigeminal distribution, and symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia results from multiple sclerosis. The final category, atypical facial pain, is synonymous with facial pain secondary to a somatoform pain disorder. Atypical facial pain can be suspected but not diagnosed by history and can be diagnosed only with detailed and objective psychological testing. Conclusion This diagnostic classification would allow more rigorous and objective natural history and outcome studies of facial pain in the future.
Worldwide trends and shortcomings in the treatment of hypertension

Despite advances in the availability and quality of antihypertensive medications and the institution of national programs to educate people about the seriousness of hypertension, much remains to be done. The percentages of people who are aware of their disease, are being treated for it, and are achieving adequate control of their blood pressure (BP) are disconcertingly low worldwide; surveys in numerous countries have consistently shown that fewer than 60% of affected people are being treated for hypertension and fewer than 30% have their BP adequately controlled. Reluctance on the part of many physicians to use antihypertensive therapy aggressively may be an impediment to improving these numbers. Further clinical trials are needed to assess the extent to which BP could be lowered safely and effectively with both single-agent and combination therapies.
gp120- and TNF-α–induced modulation of human B cell function: Proliferation, cyclic AMP generation, Ig production, and B-cell receptor expression

Abstract Background: It is well known that HIV-1 infection induces profound alterations in the immune system, including hyperactivation of B cells. TNF-α induces HIV-1 replication and immunodysregulation, including polyclonal B-cell activation. Objective: We sought to determine the effects of surface-binding HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (gp120) and TNF-α on human B-cell function. Methods: HIV-1 seronegative peripheral blood human B cells were purified and activated by CD40 mAb and IL-4. In vitro studies of B-cell proliferation, cyclic AMP (cAMP) generation, receptor expression, and Ig production were performed. Results: gp120, an Ig superantigen, stimulated HIV-1 seronegative and HIV-1 seropositive human B-cell cAMP generation, proliferation, and Ig production. These gp120-induced B-cell responses were demonstrated to be specific as evidenced by the abrogation of the stimulatory response in the presence of anti-gp120 mAb, blocking of CD4 resulting in no change on gp120-induced B-cell responses, and the binding of gp120 in these B cells. TNF-α also stimulated cAMP generation, proliferation, and Ig production in B cells, and the binding of gp120 to these B cells stimulated by TNF-α further enhanced cell proliferation, cAMP generation, and Ig production. Antigenic expression of the B-cell receptor CD79b was down-regulated by gp120 but was not altered by the addition of TNF-α. Conclusion: gp120 modulation of TNF-α–induced B-cell receptor- and cAMP-mediated signal transduction events may be involved in the B-cell abnormalities observed in HIV-1 infection. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2000;105:975-82.)
Consequences of Big Data and Formalization on Accounting and Auditing Standards

SYNOPSIS: Accounting and auditing standards help manage a compromise between users' desire for more information and the costs to prepare and transmit that information. Previously forced to manage ...
Creativity, task complexity, and intuitive versus analytical problem solving.

Using 40 Ss the relative effectiveness of intuitive and analytical problem solving was determined as a function of creativity and task complexity. A three-way analysis of variance yielded a signifi...
Combining Structural and Functional Measurements to Improve Estimates of Rates of Glaucomatous Progression

Purpose To evaluate whether a combination of topographic optic disc measurements and visual field data may improve the estimation of rates of structural and functional progression in glaucoma and the prediction of future outcomes in the disease. Design Observational cohort study. Methods The study included 242 eyes of 179 glaucoma patients followed for an average of 6.4 ± 1.1 years. Subjects were longitudinally monitored with standard automated perimetry (SAP) and confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (CSLO). Slopes of functional and structural change over time were evaluated by the parameters mean deviation (MD) and rim area, respectively. For each eye, the follow-up time was divided into 2 equal periods: the first half was used to obtain the slopes of change and the second period was used to test the predictions. Slopes of change were calculated using 2 methods, the conventional approach of ordinary least squares linear regression and a Bayesian joint regression model integrating structural and functional information. The mean square error (MSE) of the predictions was used to compare the predictive performance of the different methods. Results Bayesian slopes were more accurate than those obtained by the ordinary least squares method in predicting future MD (MSE: 5.13 vs 11.2, respectively; P P Conclusion A Bayesian joint regression model combining structure and function resulted in more accurate and precise estimates of slopes of change compared to the conventional method of ordinary least squares linear regression.
Importance of protein quality versus quantity in alternative host plants for a leaf-feeding insect

The nutritional value of alternative host plants for leaf-feeding insects such as caterpillars is commonly measured in terms of protein quantity. However, nutritional value might also depend on the quality of the foliar protein [i.e., the composition of essential amino acids (EAAs)]. A lack of comparative work on the EAA compositions of herbivores and their host plants has hampered the testing of this hypothesis. We tested the “protein quality hypothesis” using the tree-feeding caterpillars of Lymantria dispar (gypsy moth) and two taxonomically unrelated host plants, red oak (Quercus rubra) and sugar maple (Acer saccharum). Because L. dispar has higher fitness on oak than on maple, support for the hypothesis would be found if protein were of higher quality from oak than from maple. The whole-body EAA composition of L. dispar larvae was measured to estimate its optimum dietary protein composition, which was compared with the EAA compositions of oak and maple leaves. Contrary to the protein quality hypothesis, the EAA compositions of oak and maple were not significantly different in the spring. The growth-limiting EAAs in both tree species were histidine and methionine. Similar results were observed in the summer, with the exception that the histidine composition of oak was between 10 and 15 % greater than in maple leaves. The two main factors that affected the nutritional value of protein from the tree species were the quantities of EAAs, which were consistently higher in oak, and the efficiency of EAA utilization, which decreased from 80 % in May to <50 % in August. We conclude that the relative nutritional value of red oak and sugar maple for L. dispar is more strongly affected by protein quantity than quality. Surveys of many wild herbaceous species also suggest that leaf-feeding insects would be unlikely to specialize on plants based on protein quality.
Editorial: T cell memory, bone marrow, and aging: the good news.

Discussion on the accumulating evidence that bone marrow in old age is not simply the place where immune cells are generated but the where certain memory cells selectively return to provide a set of distinct immune functions during old age.
Long-Term Consequences Following Conservative Management of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer in an Infertile Patient

A 35-year-old woman with primary infertility underwent an ovarian cystectomy for a 5 x 4 cm left adnexal mass. There was no macroscopic evidence of metastatic disease. The final pathology report revealed a poorly differentiated serous cystadenocarcinoma. Because the patient desired to retain child-bearing capacity, she refused a surgical staging of her ovarian cancer. She elected to receive combination chemotherapy. This was then followed by a negative reassessment laparotomy. The patient was diagnosed with recurrent, metastatic ovarian carcinoma 10 years later.
Tree recruitment in gaps of various size, clearcuts and undisturbed mixed forest of interior British Columbia, Canada

Tree seedling recruitment was monitored after various types of logging in mixed conifer and deciduous forests of northern British Columbia, Canada. Predicting tree seedling recruitment after disturbance is fundamental to understanding forest dynamics and succession and is vital for forest management purposes. Seedling recruitment success in multi-species northern latitude forests varied as a function of mature tree canopy cover, gap size and position in a gap. Recruitment was abundant within canopy gaps across a wide range of gap sizes (20–5000 m 2 ), but recruit numbers dropped off rapidly under the closed forest canopy and in the open conditions of clearcuts. Inside canopy gaps, recruitment was similar by gap position in small gaps (<300 m 2 ) but, in these northern latitude forests, exhibited a trend of increasing density from the sunny north to shady south end of larger gaps. This was true for all tree species regardless of their shade tolerance ranking. There was no evidence of gap partitioning by any of the tree species during the regeneration phase suggesting that adaptation to the subtleties of gap size during early recruitment are not well developed in these tree species. Favorable locations for emergence and early establishment of germinants were less favorable for growth and survival of established seedlings, i.e. the regeneration niches in these forests were discordant. Tree abundance and species diversity appears to be controlled more by differentiation among growth and survival niches than by the regeneration niches. From the perspective of forest management, abundant natural regeneration of all the dominant tree species of these mixed-species forests can be obtained after partial cutting. # 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Microconvective Thermal Conductivity in Disperse Two-Phase Mixtures as Observed in a Low Velocity Couette Flow Experiment

Eddy transport associated with microscopic flow fields in shearing two-phase flows was investigated. Although such microconvective effects are expected to be present in all disperse two-phase flows, usually they are masked by other collateral mechanisms and could not be studied critically. In the present study, effective thermal conductivities of neutrally buoyant solid-fluid mixtures were measured in a rotating Couette flow apparatus. Low Reynolds numbers were used to avoid the effects of turbulence. Significant enhancement in effective thermal conductivity was observed when the Pe/sub d/ = ed/sup 2//..cap alpha../sub f/ where e is the local mean shear rate, d is the particle diameter, and ..cap alpha../sub f/ is the thermal diffusivity of the fluid. Volume fractions employed were phi = 0.15 and 0.30 for polyethylene beads (2.9 mm in diameter) in a mixture of silicone oil and kerosene, and phi = 0.15 for polystyrene particles (0.3 mm in diameter) in a mixture of silicone oil and Freon-113. Single-phase liquid mixtures were also measured in various shear rates to show that the thermal conductivity was independent of shear rate and hence the observed phenomenon was not an instrumental artifact. The dependence of conductivity on particle Peclet number appeared to approach a powermore » law relationship k/sub e/proportionalPe/sub d//sup 1/2/ for high Peclet numbers (300« less
Humoral Agent from Calf Lung Producing Pulmonary Arterial Vasoconstriction

Saline washings obtained in vivo from the lung of young calves produce pulmonary hypertension upon intrayascular (systemic or pulmonary) injection into either the dog or the calf. This pulmonary hypertension is produced by vasoconstriction of small, precapillary pulmonary vessels. The active agent, pulmonary arterial constrictor substance, differs chemically and physiologically from other substances which have been investigated with respect to vasomotor activity in the pulmonary circulation. Although the chemical nature of the active agent is not known it appears to have a relatively large molecular weight. Whether this agent plays a role in the physiological regulation of the pulmonary circulation is not known.
Headache Attributed to Psychiatric Disorder: A Case Series

The association between psychiatric illness and headache is widely recognized. However, cases in which psychiatric disorders are the principal cause of headache are believed to be rare. "Headache attributed to psychiatric disorder" is a new category of secondary headache in the 2004 revision of the International Classification of Headache Disorders. The authors describe six patients in whom a psychiatric disorder is the most plausible cause of headache; most meet the new criteria or candidate criteria for headache attributed to a psychiatric disorder. The revised headache classification system appropriately recognizes headaches attributed to psychiatric disorder as a form of secondary headache.
Representation and Embedding Theorems for Noether Lattices and r-Lattices

The purpose of this article is to discuss Dilworth’s embedding problem for Noether lattices. While this problem does not appear explicitly in Dilworth’s papers, he made it clear in personal interactions [13]. We phrase the problem as follows: Are there significant classes of Noether lattices, defined in lattice theoretic terms, which can be embedded in rings in such a way that their essential structure is inherited from the lattice of ideals of the ring?