cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison and Overview of Currently Available Neurotoxins

Clostridium botulinum is a Gram-positive bacterium first identified more than 100 years ago. It produces a neurotoxin that has been studied extensively since its discovery. Today, seven antigenically different serotypes have been identified, two of which are used clinically: serotypes A and B. Serotype A (BTX-A) appears to be the most potent subtype among them.1 In 1980, Scott published the landmark paper describing the clinical use of botulinum toxin type A for the treatment of strabismus.2 In 1987, Carruthers and Carruthers noticed that patients treated with botulinum toxin for blepharospasm experienced improvement in glabellar lines.3 Since then, BTX-A has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a variety of cosmetic and noncosmetic applications, including strabismus, blepharospasm, cervical dystonia, hyperhidrosis, glabellar rhytides, and, most recently, urinary incontinence from detrusor overactivity. Botulinum toxin’s most common cosmetic application is in the treatment of upper facial rhytides and dynamic lines, namely glabellar lines, horizontal forehead wrinkles, and crow’s feet. In the lower face, the use of botulinum toxin was initially controversial because results were considered unpredictable. While the demarcation between the upper and lower face is somewhat arbitrary, the utility of botulinum toxin in the lower face is becoming increasingly apparent. However, the medical literature on use of botulinum toxin in the lower face and neck is sparse with most publications limited to clinician experiences only.4
Stochastic Differential Equations

In this chapter, we consider stochastic differential equations (SDE’s) of the form $$dX\left( t \right) = \sigma \left( {X\left( t \right)} \right)dB\left( t \right) + b\left( {X\left( t \right)} \right)dt$$ (10.1) , or equivalently in coordinate form $$d{X_i}\left( t \right) = \sum\limits_{j = 1}^r {{\sigma _{ij}}} \left( {X\left( t \right)} \right)d{B_j}\left( t \right) + {b_i}\left( {X\left( t \right)} \right)dt, for i = 1, \ldots ,d,$$ (10.2) where B = (B 1 …, B r ) is an r-dimensional Brownian motion (r ≥ 1) starting from the origin, and σ : IR d → IR d ⊗ IR r and b: IR d → IR d are Borel measurable functions. Here IR d ⊗ IR r , d ≥ 1, r ≥ 1, denotes the space of d × r real-valued matrices with the norm $$parallel A\parallel = {\left( {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^d {\sum\limits_{j = 1}^r {A_{ij}^2} } } \right)^{\frac{1}{2}}}$$ (10.3) for A ∈ IR d ⊗ IR r .
A rule-based language for deductive object-oriented databases

A deductive rule-based language for object-oriented databases is presented. A deductive rule in this language derives new patterns of associations among objects of some selected classes if these objects fall in certain 'base' on other derived patterns. The patterns of object associations derived by a rule are held in a subdatabase whose intention consists of some selected classes and their associations. In other words, the structure of a derived subdatabase is represented using the structural constructs provided by the object-oriented data model and hence can be uniformly operated on by other rules to further derive new subdatabases. Therefore, the world of subdatabases is closed under this rule-based language. >
Statistical assessment of geographic areas of compliance with air quality standards

[1] A statistical method is developed to classify geographical regions according to the air quality standards for criteria pollutants. A geographic location is designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as an area of nonattainment when it does not meet the air quality standard for one of the criteria pollutants. A statistical model for air pollution is presented. This model is used to interpolate ground measurements of pollution levels at locations where there are no air quality monitors with the objective of determining the geographic areas of nonattainment. The approach presented here for interpolation takes into account that spatial patterns of air pollutants change with location. Estimates of probabilities of nonattainment are also provided, and they are used to classify the nonattainment areas by degree of severity. The approach is applied using available data from 513 sites throughout the eastern USA where ground-level ozone is measured hourly.
Rates of Production of Individual Volatile Fatty Acids in the Rumen of Lactating Cows

The rumen fermentation rates in individual lactating cows were measured in four different experiments. The results disclosed that the amounts and proportions of volatile acids formed could vary widely. In one case, a marked difference in the proportions of the acids produced arose within the experiment and correlated with a difference in the proportion of methane formed. The average rate of production per day was 10.5 moles butyric acid, 12.8 moles propionic acid, and 40 moles acetic acid. Manometric estimations of rate gave lower results than those obtained by the zero-time method, due to delay after sampling and to failure of the acids to liberate stoichiometric quantities of carbon dioxide. For those experiments in which zero-time rates were estimated, the average specific absorption rates, i.e., the amount absorbed per hour per micromole of acid in the rumen, were 0.37 for butyric acid, 0.38 for propionic acid, and 0.26 for acetic acid. The carbon dioxide, acids, and microbial cells produced in the rumen fermentation are estimated to account for about 90% of the carbon found in the milk and respiratory CO(2) of the cows. The carbon dioxide from the fermentation was about 27% of the carbon dioxide exhaled.
Importance of Bicarbonate to the Progesterone‐initiated Human Sperm Acrosome Reaction

Progesterone, a putative in vivo initiator of the human sperm acrosome reaction (AR), has previously been shown to act at the sperm plasma membrane to initiate the AR in vitro. Here, we have investigated whether bicarbonate (HCO 3 ) was required for the progesterone-initiated human AR and whether HCO 3 -dependent cAMP activation might be involved. Capacitated human sperm were suspended in the presence of high (25 mM) or low (1 mM) HCO 3 media. The AR was assayed using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conconavalin A with sperm fixed 5 minutes after progesterone or solvent control addition. Progesterone initiated the AR in both high and low HCO 3 - media, but the percentage of AR was significantly lower in the latter medium. In the presence of high HCO 3 - , 20-minute preincubation with 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS), a blocker of HCO 3 - transport, inhibited the progesterone-initiated AR in a dose-dependent manner. The maximum inhibition (85%) was obtained with 18 μM DIDS. Inhibition by DIDS was reversed by washing sperm after treatment. Preincubation of sperm with dibutyryl cAMP (0.1 μM-1 mM) plus DIDS almost completely eliminated the inhibition of the progesterone-initiated AR by DIDS. Dibutyryl cAMP alone did not have a stimulatory effect on the progesterone-initiated AR, when high HCO 3 - was present, but it was able to partially overcome the reduction of AR by low HCO 3 - . These results are the first to demonstrate the importance of HCO 3 - to : 1) mammalian AR initiation by the putative physiological initiator progesterone, and 2) the human sperm AR. Furthermore, they suggest that HCO 3 - transport and HCO 3 - stimulation of adenylate cyclase are involved in the mechanism of the progesterone-initiated human AR.
Transforming Pedagogy: Changing Perspectives from Teacher-Centered to Learner-Centered

This study used an online-structured interview methodology to examine the impact of an intensive field experience in facilitating problem (PBL) and project-based learning (PjBL) on teachers’ pedagogy. The purpose of the study was to determine to what extent the field experience had transformed their teaching. Data were collected in the form of online interviews with 36 participants who completed the gifted education licensure program at a regional state university in the southeast. The online interviews were followed up with telephone interviews with four of the participants. The resulting themes can be grouped under the major categories of teacher-related and student-related themes. This article will focus on the teacherrelated themes, the most important being the change in the teachers’ pedagogy. The article will further discuss the obstacles that stood in the way of the teachers’ successful implementation of PBL and PjBL.
Compact Physical Model for Crosstalk in Spin-Wave Interconnects

We propose a formalism of a compact physical model for crosstalk noise analysis between two coplanar backward volume spin-wave interconnects. Comparing the amplitudes of the signal in the active line and the noise in the victim line, we introduce a figure of merit for crosstalk—the longitudinal or line-to-line coupling. It is shown that the crosstalk becomes prohibitively high as the edge-to-edge spacing between the lines goes down, and thus putting a limitation on the routing and placement in a spin-wave bus network. The position of the peak crosstalk noise coupling for different spacings and frequencies of excitation reveals a new limitation to the maximum interconnect length. Furthermore, the technique of superposition analogous to $RLC$ interconnects is exploited to explain the complicated nature of crosstalk noise and develop a mechanism for modeling crosstalk. Finally, a compact physical model is derived using analytical expressions, which demonstrate a reasonably good agreement with the actual full micromagnetic simulation results.
Pre-transplant antibodies to Kα1 tubulin and collagen-V in lung transplantation: Clinical correlations

Background Immune responses to lung-associated self-antigens (SAgs) have been implicated in chronic lung allograft rejection. The goals of this study were to determine the prevalence of pre-existing antibodies (Abs) to the SAgs in pulmonary diseases and the association between pre-existing Abs to SAgs and the development of primary graft dysfunction (PGD), donor-specific antibodies (DSA), and chronic rejection. Methods Pre- and post-transplant sera were analyzed from 317 lung transplant (LTx) recipients between 2000 and 2011 with diagnosis of chronic obstructive disease ( n = 161), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF; n = 50), cystic fibrosis (CF; n = 55), and others ( n = 51). Samples were analyzed for Abs to SAgs by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and DSA and cytokines by Luminex. The clinical diagnosis of PGD and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) was based on International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation guidelines. Results The overall prevalence of Abs to SAgs was 22.71%, including 18% in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( p = 0.033), 34% in IPF ( p = 0.0006), 29% in CF ( p = 0.0023), and 19.6% in other diagnoses ( p = 0.044). The incidence of PGD (88% vs 54%, p p p Conclusions Patients with IPF and CF have the highest prevalence of Abs to SAgs. Patients with pre-existing Abs to SAgs are at increased risk for development of PGD, DSA, and BOS. Strategies to remove pre-existing Abs to SAgs should be considered to improve lung allograft outcome.
Testing Einstein's faux formula: fast computers+slow humans=creative brilliance

An experiment was designed for the purpose of testing the proposition that creative decision-making can be greatly improved by making use of the personal computer to solve a set of word anagrams serving as hints to a surprise phrase. The authors hypothesised that the experimental condition of students using various unscramble word jumble websites would significantly outperform the control group of students who attempted to unscramble the words and solve the surprise answer by hand. Results were mixed and the authors conclude that certain types of creative problem solving exercises might benefit more from the innate abilities and talents of the participants rather than the speed and accuracy of the computer.
Comparison of anonymous student ballots with student debriefing for faculty evaluations

Introduction Yearly evaluation of academic faculty teaching is required by institutions for advancement purposes and continued employment. The method in which these evaluations are collected may influence the outcome of that evaluation. We compared the results of three different data collection methods of faculty ratings. Methods Diagnostic radiology residents evaluated four behaviour categories of faculty in three different ways during the 1995–96 academic year. The individual anonymous ballot was compared to two student debriefing techniques. Results Ratings in individual categories and rankings of several of the faculty changed considerably depending upon the data gathering method. Individual anonymous ballots produced a higher average rating in all four categories evaluated. The average ratings were lowest in the closed meeting group. Discussion The method in which evaluation of faculty are collected influences both the numerical value of the rating as well as the ranking of the teachers within the group. Evaluation outcomes are highly dependent upon the method of data collection.
Application of cusum technique and beta-binomial model in monitoring adverse drug reactions ∗

The cumulative sum (CUSUM) technique is applied to monitor spontaneous reports of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). The beta-binomial model, as suggested by Moussa (2), was used to fit the observed proportion of upper gastrointestinal perforation, and ulcer (UGIBPU) for drug A, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). ADRs reported directly by physicians and manufacturers from the third quarter of 1982 through the fourth quarter of 1985 were analyzed. The model estimates the proportion of UGIBPUs for drug A expressed as a fraction of all UGIBPUs for NSAIDs. To illustrate the procedure, estimated mean proportion of UGIBPUs for drug A and all NSAIDs was computed for directly reported physician and manufacturer ADRs. The beta-binomial
CNS Aspects of Prenatal Drug Exposure: Drugs of Abuse, Toxins, and Corticosteroids

Studies of the effects of prenatal exposure (to drugs or environmental factors) on postnatal brain morphology and function have an important role in assessing adverse effects of prenatal administration of corticosteroids in obstetrics, in studying the impairment of the offspring due to maternal drug abuse, as well as in studies of the influence of other environmental factors (such as toxins or stress). Timing, duration, and dose of the prenatal exposure play a significant role in the postnatal expression of the impact. However, data interpretation may be complicated by additional factors. As mixed litters of prenatally exposed subjects are evaluated, significant differences between males and females may occur. Additionally in females, cyclical changes in ovarian steroids may interfere with the effects of prenatal impact. Developmental differences may be also present, and data from infant, juvenile, prepubertal, and adult individuals cannot be simply compared. Finally, prenatal treatment is a stressful event and may present itself as prenatal stress, misguiding the interpretation. Postnatal environmental factors in raising the offspring, such as housing, maternal care, light-dark cycle, and weaning age can also change the data in such a way, which makes comparisons between different research laboratories impossible.
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors in Uteroplacental Tissues in Term Pregnancy before and after the Onset of Labor

Using saturation binding assays and Scatchard analyses, we determined the concentrations and binding affinities of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors in human myometrium (n = 13) and decidua (n = 10) before and during labor and in placenta (n = 15), chorion (n = 17), and amnion (n = 17) before labor, during labor, and after vaginal delivery. Each tissue was individually assayed. In myometrium and chorion, EGF receptors increased significantly from 5.6 +/- 0.8 and 13.5 +/- 1.7 fmol/mg protein (mean +/- SEM) before labor to 11.1 +/- 2.8 and 26.7 +/- 3.0 fmol/mg protein, respectively, after the onset of labor (P < 0.05). In amnion, EGF receptors increased from 12.8 +/- 2.7 fmol/mg protein before labor to 33.0 +/- 2.3 fmol/mg protein during labor, but decreased significantly (5.9 +/- 1.2 fmol/mg protein) with vaginal delivery (P < 0.05). Decidual and placental concentrations of EGF receptors did not change significantly with labor. The binding affinity of EGF receptors in all tissues studied did not change significantly with labor, as reflected by their respective association and dissociation constants. Up-regulation of EGF receptors in myometrium, chorion, and amnion with spontaneous labor may enhance stimulation of prostanoid production and stimulate uterine activity.
3D reconstruction of the material surface shape from stereo images of electron micrographs

Shape reconstruction from stereo images of fracture surfaces, which are obtained by scanning electron microscopy, is applied to research in micromechanics and fracture mechanics. The shape is reconstructed by matching the corresponding points on a pair of stereo images. To deal with the problem of false-target matching and to reduce computation time, the `interesting points', which usually are pixel locations of important features in each pair of images, are determined first, and the matching is only performed on these `interesting points'. Two algorithms are used for finding the `interesting points'. The first one selects the pixels that have the maximum value of local entropy. The second one selects pixels having the local maximum gray scale value after the image has been processed by a Laplacian of Gaussian filter. In order to reduce the effects of shadows, the logarithm of intensity is calculated before the image is filtered. The algorithm of matching corresponding points in the stereo images is based on the theory of cross correlation. To reduce the false-matching, a coarse and fine matching algorithm is developed. Finally, the height of the surface is calculated by applying stereo triangulation theory.
Kinetics of Aluminum in Rats I: Dose-Dependent Elimination from Blood after Intravenous Administration

Aluminum (Al) kinetics after intravenous bolus administration were studied in the rat. The animals received either 0.1 or 1.0 mg/kg (n = 6 at each dose) of elemental Al as the sulfate salt. The Al content of serial blood samples was determined by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Blood and plasma Al–time profiles after both doses were monoexponential in most cases. Increasing the administered dose increased the elimination half-life (mean ± SD) from 1.20 ± 0.25 to 2.41 ± 0.26 h. A corresponding decrease in systemic clearance was observed (49.6 ± 11.0 to 18.4 ± 4.6 mL/kg.h). Both changes were significant (p < 0.05). Significant differences were also observed in the volume of distribution, the values of which were 78.3 ± 17.2 and 58.9 ± 8.5 mL/kg at the low and high doses, respectively. At both doses, blood:plasma ratios ranged from 0.8 to 1.0, indicating considerable uptake/binding of the element by blood cells.
Aggressive versus nonaggressive antisocial behavior: Distinctive etiological moderation by age.

Research has supported the existence of distinct behavioral patterns, demographic correlates, and etiologic mechanisms for aggressive (AGG) versus nonaggressive but delinquent (DEL) antisocial behavior. Though behavioral genetic studies have the potential to further crystallize these dimensions, inconsistent results have limited their contribution. These inconsistencies may stem in part from the limited attention paid to the impact of age. In the current study, the authors thus examined age-related etiological moderation of AGG and DEL antisocial behavior in a sample of 720 sibling pairs (ranging in age from 10 to 18 years) with varying degrees of genetic relatedness. Results reveal that the magnitude of genetic and environmental influences on AGG remained stable across adolescence. By contrast, genetic influences on DEL increased dramatically with age, whereas shared environmental influences decreased. Subsequent longitudinal analyses fully replicated these results. Such findings highlight etiological distinctions between aggression and delinquency, and offer insights into the expression of genetic influences during development.
A real-time assessment of work stress in physicians and nurses.

Objective: This study adapted ecological momentary assessment methods to: (a) examine differences in work stress between nurses and physicians, and (b) to study relationships between work stress, work activity patterns, and sleep. Design: A total of 185 physicians and 119 nurses (206 women, 98 men) working in four teaching hospitals participated in an observational study of work stress. Main Outcome Measures: Participants carried handheld computers that randomly prompted them for work activity, patient load, and work stress information. Results: Participants completed more than 9,500 random interval surveys during the study (an average of 30.8 surveys per person-week). Approximately 85% of all surveys were completed in full (73.3%) or partially (11.6%). Emotional stress scores among physicians were nearly 50% higher (26.9[19.0]) than those of nurses (18.1[14.9], r[302] .37, p .001). Direct and indirect care activities were associated with higher stress reports by both clinician groups (rs[159] .14-.26, ps .01). Sleep quality and quantity were predictors of work stress scores (ps .05). Finally, higher work stress and lower sleep quality were also associated with poorer memory performance (r[302] .12, .17, ps 05). Conclusions: The findings identify patterns of work stress in relationship to work activities, sleep habits, and provider differences that may be used to assist ongoing hospital work reform efforts.
Plasma membrane hyperpolarization by cyanide in chromaffin cells: role of potassium channels.

Exposure of rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells to cyanide produces elevation of cytosolic calcium, impaired Na+−H+ exchange, membrane lipid peroxidation and release of neurotransmitters. Since these observations suggested cyanide alters plasma membrane function, the present study examined the effect of NaCN on the membrane potential of undifferentiated PC12 cells in suspension. In PC12 cells loaded with the voltage sensitive fluorescent dye, bis-oxonol, cyanide (2.5–10 mM) elicited an immediate (within seconds), concentration related decrease in fluorescence, indicating hyperpolarization of the plasma membrane. Increasing extracellular K+ concentration to 20 mM blocked the effect of cyanide (5 mM), suggesting cyanide increased K+ efflux. Pretreatment with quinine blocked the cyanide-induced hyperpolarization, whereas glyburide had little effect, showing the hyperpolarization produced by cyanide was due to activation of Ca2+ sensitive K+ channels. Removal of Ca2+ from the media did not influence cyanide-induced hyperpolarization. However, buffering intracellular Ca2+ by loading cells with the Ca2+ chelators, Quin II or BAPTA, abolished the cyanide effect, showing cytosolic Ca2+ is a key factor. These findings suggest that cyanide mobilizes Ca2+ from intracellular stores which leads to hyperpolarization via the activation of Ca2+ sensitive K+ channels.
A simple model of copyright levies: implications for harmonization

Copyright levies are used as a way of compensating rightholders for the private use made of their protected works. This paper builds a simple model of copyright levies and investigates welfare implications of the harmonization of levy rates. The result is that, when the policy-maker places sufficient weight on the interests of collecting societies, harmonization could reduce social welfare. When countries are asymmetric, the country with a larger proportion of foreign consumption and more inefficient tax system loses more from harmonization. A calibration exercise using European data shows that harmonization would increase aggregate social welfare. However, in some countries, policy-makers are worse off although consumers are better off with harmonization. Especially, when larger countries have higher decision weights, the policy-makers are worse off overall, and hence would not agree to harmonize the levy rates.
922 THE INHIBITORY EFFECT OF TIN PROTOPORPHYRIN (SN-P) ON HEME DEGRADATION

Sn-P is a potent competitive inhibitor of heme oxygenase, the enzyme which converts heme to bile pigment and carbon monoxide (CO), and has been used to suppress hyperbilirubinemia in experimental animals and man. These experiments were performed to determine which heme pools are affected by Sn-P. Hepatic heme(s) were labeled with delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-5-14C, which does not label hemoglobin heme in the rat. The “free” heme pool was tested by injecting heme prepared in vivo from glycine-2-14C Adult (300g) rats were injected either with Sn-P (50uM/kg sq) or saline one hour before injection with either 10uCi ALA-5-14C or 0.9mg hemin (specific activity 3×104 DPM/mg in 1ml alkalinized rat plasma). Expired 14CO was then collected over the next 24 hours. Results were: These experiments indicate that a single injection of Sn-P significantly inhibits the degradation of hepatic (non-erythropoietic) hemes for 12 hours and exogenous heme for an even longer period. They further suggest that Sn-P may exert different degrees of inhibition of bilirubin (and CO) formation depending upon the heme pool(s) involved.
Suppression of bacterial cell–cell signalling, biofilm formation and type III secretion system by citrus flavonoids

Aim: This study investigated the quorum sensing, biofilm and type three secretion system (TTSS) inhibitory properties of citrus flavonoids. Methods and Results: Flavonoids were tested for their ability to inhibit quorum sensing using Vibrio harveyi reporter assay. Biofilm assays were carried out in 96-well plates. Inhibition of biofilm formation in Escherichia coli O157:H7 and V. harveyi by citrus flavonoids was measured. Furthermore, effect of naringenin on expression of V. harveyi TTSS was investigated by semi-quantitative PCR. Differential responses for different flavonoids were observed for different cell–cell signalling systems. Among the tested flavonoids, naringenin, kaempferol, quercetin and apigenin were effective antagonists of cell–cell signalling. Furthermore, these flavonoids suppressed the biofilm formation in V. harveyi and E. coli O157:H7. In addition, naringenin altered the expression of genes encoding TTSS in V. harveyi. Conclusion: The results of the study indicate a potential modulation of bacterial cell–cell communication, E. coli O157:H7 biofilm and V. harveyi virulence, by flavonoids especially naringenin, quercetin, sinensetin and apigenin. Among the tested flavonoids, naringenin emerged as potent and possibly a nonspecific inhibitor of autoinducer-mediated cell–cell signalling. Naringenin and other flavonoids are prominent secondary metabolites present in citrus species. Therefore, citrus, being a major source of some of these flavonoids and by virtue of widely consumed fruit, may modulate the intestinal microflora. Significance and Impact of the Study: Currently, a limited number of naturally occurring compounds have demonstrated their potential in inhibition of cell–cell communications; therefore, citrus flavonoids may be useful as lead compounds for the development of antipathogenic agents.
Synaptic membrane antigens: detection and characterization

Analysis of the antigenic components of synaptic membranes presents several problems caused by detergents required to solubilize the proteins. These problems involve detection of the reaction between antibodies and proteins in the detergent extract as well as characterization of the individual antigens after further purification. We found a satisfactory solution for analysis of rat synaptic membranes by using rocket immunoelectrophoresis with an intermediate gel containing 0.5% berol to sequester sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and an antibody gel containing 0.1% berol to maintain the solubility of the proteins. With antiserum prepared against a highly purified synaptic membrane fraction, these conditions gave rocket heights proportional to protein concentration (for the major rocket) and showed no reactions with membrane extracts of liver, kidney and spleen. By separation on gradient slab gels containing SDS, 4 antigenic polypeptides were found in Berol extracts of synaptic membrane, having apparent molecular sizes of 56,000, 58,000, 62,000 and 66,000 daltons. The SDS extract of the berol insoluble residue contained 3 antigenic polypeptides (12,500; 15,000, 16,500 daltons). The combined use of gradient slab gel electrophoresis in SDS and rocket immunoelectrophoresis with an intermediate gel to remove SDS provides a sensitive and rapid method for definitive identification of individual antigenic components in detergent extracts of membrane and for further purification of these antigens.
1631 PULMONARY CHANGES IN NEONATAL GUNN RATS EXPOSED TO O 2 AND PHOTOTHERAPY

Yellow hyaline membrane (YHM) have been correlated with hyperbilirubinemia (HBILI) and with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Also data have suggested a protective effect of HBILI on O2 damage to lungs and a role of phototherapy (P) in the development of lung damage. To test the relationship of P, HBILI and high FIO2, and to develop a model for study 7 to 13 day old GUNN rats (jj and Jj phenotypes) were exposed to four experimental conditions for 24 to 72 hours: I) FIO2 > .75+P, II) FIO2 > .75 without P, III) FIO2 .21+ P and IV) FIO2 .21 without P. Hct. Indirect Bili were measured. The lungs were examined in a masked fashion. Lung Path = Pulmonary hemmorrhage ± hyaline membranes. The Data indicate no effect of O2 and P in acute phase lung damage but suggest a protective effect of HBILI. Additional study with longer exposure and larger numbers are needed.
Origins and control of polarization effects in single-mode fibers

The polarization state of light in single-mode fibers is very sensitive to any perturbation which is not symmetric about the fiber axis. While this is a source of noise, drift, or signal fading in some applications, it can also be exploited in novel guided-wave devices. The basic birefringences that couple the two modes and change the polarization state along the fiber are reviewed. The three cases of uniform, phase-matched, and random coupling are considered. Polarization preservation in both low- and high-birefringence fibers is achieved by reducing this coupling. In addition to polarization-state changes, bireftingent fibers can quickly reduce the polarization degree of nonmonochromatic light if both modes are excited, a characteristic that greatly simplifies evaluation of the degree of polarization preservation in these fibers. Current evaluations of the birefringence and the polarization-holding ability of state-of-the-art fibers are discussed, and it is concluded that fibers with good polarization-holding properties are becoming available.
Neutrophil chemiluminescence in response to Fusobacterium nucleatum.

During the interaction of bacteria or other particles with neutrophils, oxygen consumption is increased, and unstable reduction products are produced. Chemiluminescence is the light energy produced in the neutrophil by the generation of unstable oxygen radicals. These oxygen radicals are thought to be important in the destruction of bacteria as well as host tissues. Therefore, we wanted to investigate the ability of Gram-negative plaque bacteria to stimulate neutrophil chemiluminescence in vitro. The major groups of bacteria examined were Fusobacterium, Bacteroides, Capnocytophaga. Selenomonas. and Trcponema. Of these bacteria, Fusobacterium nucleatum had by far the greatest ability to stimulate neuirophil chemiluminescence in the absence of serum. Our results suggest that stimulation of neutrophil chemiluminescence by F. nucleatum is mediated by a protein moiety on the bacterial cell surface. This conclusion is supponed by experiments demonstrating significant inhibition of neuirophil chemiluminescence by heat, 2% formalin, or trypsin pre-treatment of F nucleatum. Also, neutrophil chemiluminescence was stimulated in a similar fashion with intact F. nucleatum only by the cellassociation centrifugation pellet of sonicated F. nucleatum. The monosaccharide D-galactose. which is a component of erythrocyte glycoproteins and F. nucleatum lipopolysaccharide. caused significant inhibition of neutrophil chemiluminescence at 100 mM final concentration. The unusual and pronounced ability of Fusobacterium nucleatum to stimulate neuirophil chemituminescence in the absence of serum might be important in the pathogenicity and/or host defense in periodontal disease.
Diffraction phase microscopy with white light (wDPM)

wDPM is a quantitative phase imaging method that combines the single shot capability of off-axis methods, high temporal phase stability of common path geometries, and high spatial phase sensitivity due to the white light illumination.
Analysis of biomedical spectra and images: from data to diagnosis

Abstract While it is now clear that both infrared spectroscopy and spectroscopic imaging can play roles in providing medically relevant information, the raw spectral or imaging measurement seldom reveals directly the property of clinical interest (i.e. is this tissue cancerous? What is the blood glucose concentration? Is tissue perfusion adequate?) Instead, pattern recognition algorithms, clustering methods, regression, and other theoretical methods provide the means to distill diagnostic information from the original measurements. This article discusses the role of these approaches in the discovery of diagnostically relevant spectral and spatial patterns.
Experimental infectious pancreatic necrosis infections: propagative or point-source epidemic?

Abstract Experimentally initiated epidemics of infectious pancreatic necrosis in rainbow-trout fry were analyzed using a modification of the standard mathematical model for a simple propagative epidemic. Contrary to expectations, the value of the transmission parameter (β) was inversely related to initial density of susceptible hosts. This anomaly can be explained if we assume that the experimental epidemics were point-source rather than propagative epidemics. The implications of this conclusion for modeling experimental and natural epidemics are discussed.
Diabetes and the nervous system

Distal symmetrical polyneuropathy, both sensory and motor, is the most common diabetic neurologic syndrome. Motor and sensory conduction velocities in peripheral nerves may be slowed and electrical signs of denervation may be found even without clinical evidence of neuropathy. The diabetic consistently has greater evidence of neuropathy than age-matched controls. Segmental demyelination is the major pathological change in the distal symmetrical polyneuropathy. Mononeuropathies, radiculopathies and cranial neuropathies occur in diabetics and pathologically appear to be due to small infarcts in nerve roots and peripheral nerves. So called diabetic amyotrophy probably represents only a proximal motor neuropathy. The autonomic neuropathic syndromes may be related to pathological changes within sympathetic ganglia. No specific diabetic myelopathy or myopathy has yet been defined and little evidence exists for a specific diabetic encephalopathy.
Knee Wear Measured in Retrievals: A Polished Tray Reduces Insert Wear

Background Polyethylene wear is often cited as the cause of failure of TKA. Rotating platform (RP) knees show notable surface damage on the rotating surface raising concerns about increased wear compared to fixed bearing inserts.
Template-free TiO2 hollow submicrospheres embedded with SnO2 nanobeans as a versatile scattering layer for dye-sensitized solar cells

Nanobean SnO2-embedded TiO2 hollow submicrospheres are presented as a scattering layer for the first time in dye-sensitized solar cells. This designed mesoporous submicrostructure simultaneously promotes dye adsorption, light harvesting, and electron transport, leading to 28% improvement in the conversion efficiency compared to film-based SnO2.
The effects of hyperosmolarity on the blood-brain barrier. A morphological and physiological correlation.

Abstract The effects of hyperosmolarity on the blood-brain barrier morphology and permeability were studied using light and electron microscopy in the adult rat cerebral cortex. Sucrose was used as the hyperosmolar agent. An extracorporeal rat-head perfusion technique was employed. The general effect was shrinkage of all layers of the arteriolar wall, endothelium, pericyte, and smooth muscle with a concomitant increase in the adventitial spaces. The0.28 M sucrose perfusate caused the entry of a small amount of peroxidase into adventitial cell cytoplasm with none in the spaces. In the0.42 M sucrose perfusates there were large accumulations of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in the adventitial spaces limited by the glial basement membrane. None was seen in the neuropil space. Endothelial tight junctions appeared to be closed to peroxidase in the0.42 M group. Although a small number of pinocytotic vesicles were seen containing peroxidase, they did not seem adequate to account for the apparent transport of sucrose and the large quantity of HRP noted in the0.42 M sucrose-treated animals. We support the suggestion that shrinkage of endothelial cells, caused by the hyperosmolarity of the sucrose perfusate, resulted in a transient opening and closing of the tight junctional complex causing the rapid movement of sucrose and peroxidase into the adventitial spaces.
Patterns of cerebral arterial injury in children with neurological disabilities.

We reviewed the data from 215 consecutively imaged children who were referred because of neurologic disease. We specifically looked for evidence of cerebral arterial infarction in the form of focal brain damage in an arterial vascular distribution. Twenty-eight showed an arterial infarction pattern. All the major cerebral arteries were involved: middle cerebral artery, 17/28; posterior cerebral artery, 7/28; anterior cerebral artery, 2/28; carotid, 2/28; and vertebro-basilar, 1/28. Six of the 28 subjects had disorders reported to be associated with cerebrovascular damage. Another 13 subjects had other associated disorders, including perinatal distress and presumed anoxia, closed head trauma, hydrocephalus, and dehydration with electrolyte imbalance. Despite a careful search of medical records, we were unable to find any evidence of an adverse event or associated illness for more than one third of the children. These data suggest that cerebral arterial infarction is a more common lesion in the static neuro...
PMU-Based Detection of Imbalance in Three-Phase Power Systems

The problem of imbalance detection in a three-phase power system using a phasor measurement unit (PMU) is considered. A general model for the zero, positive, and negative sequences from a PMU measurement at off-nominal frequencies is presented and a hypothesis testing framework is formulated. The new formulation takes into account the fact that minor degree of imbalance in the system is acceptable and does not indicate subsequent interruptions, failures, or degradation of physical components. A generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) is developed and shown to be a function of the negative-sequence phasor estimator and the acceptable level of imbalances for nominal system operations. As a by-product to the proposed detection method, a constrained estimation of the positive and negative phasors and the frequency deviation is obtained for both balanced and unbalanced situations. The theoretical and numerical performance analyses show improved performance over benchmark techniques and robustness to the presence of additional harmonics.
Conformational Studies of Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Through Time-Resolved Fluorometry

We have used time-resolved fluorometry to determine the decay lifetimes of the four tryptophans in soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC). sGC is a heme sensor protein, which is able to be physiologically activated by nitric oxide (NO). Based on our lab's previous work, the binding of NO induces a conformational change, thus activating sGC. Based on this work, a model has been created using steady-state conditions. We are using the time-resolved data, a more sensitive technique to confirm the steady-state model. Time-resolved spectroscopy allows for individual tryptophan identification, as each one has a unique tau value. The unique tau values will allow for testing with the native protein since the tryptophans can be monitored individually. A temperature dependence study was performed to determine whether or not the tau values are temperature sensitive. It was determined that they are very sensitive to temperature, and in order to observe all four tau values, a temperature no higher than 20°C must be used. The four tryptophan's tau values are 0.005 ns, 0.5 ns, 3 ns, and 7 ns. Upon NO binding, although the longest tau value remains unchanged three of the four tau values increase in time. A change in lifetime can indicate multiple changes. Quenching studies are being used to help determine what is happening to the individual tryptophans upon activation. These studies have determined whether the tryptophans are moving farther from the heme or becoming more buried in the protein, providing more information about the conformational change. After the model has been confirmed using NO, the drug activator YC-1 will also be investigated.
PROBABILITY OF A PURE EQUILIBRIUM POINT IN n-PERSON GAMES

A “random” n-person non-cooperative game—the game that prohibits communication and therefore coalitions among the n players—is shown to have with high probability a pure strategy solution. Such a solution is by definition an equilibrium point or a set of strategies, one for each player, such that if n−1 players use their equilibrium strategies then the n-th player has no reason to deviate from his equilibrium strategy. It is shown that the probability of a solution in pure strategies for large random n-person games converges to (1−1/e) for all n≥2.
Static and Dynamic Fluorescence from α,ω-Di(1-pyrenyl)alkanes in Polyethylene Films. Control of Probe Conformations and Information about Microstructure of the Media

Static and dynamic fluorescence from four α,ω-bis(1-pyrenyl)alkanes (PnP, where n, the number of carbons atoms in the alkane chain, is 3, 5, 7, and 12) has been examined in two polyethylene films of 31% (LDPE) and 71% (HDPE) crystallinity. Fluorescence decays of four PnP at ∼10-5 M bulk concentrations, including that of P7P which is monoexponential in hexane, are biexponential in the films (τ1 ∼ 200 ns; τ2 ∼ 40−60 ns). Since 1-ethylpyrene, a monolumophoric model for the PnP, provides monoexponential decays (τ ∼ 200 ns) in both hexane and the films, the PnP interchromophoric interactions in the PE films are intramolecular. Dynamic excimer formation is evident only for P3P in LDPE; static excimeric emissions are observed for P3P in LDPE and HDPE and for P5P in LDPE. Especially in interfacial sites of the PE films, the lumophoric groups of the PnP appear to adopt specific conformations that are not detectable in “normal” isotropic liquid or glassy media. A model to account for these results that involves the...
Evaluating intercepts from demographic models to understand resource limitation and resource thresholds

Understanding resource limitation is critical to effective management and conservation of wild populations, however resource limitation is difficult to quantify partly because resource limitation is a dynamic process. Specifically, a resource that is limiting at one time may become non-limiting at another time, depending upon changes in its availability and changes in the availability of other resources. Methods for understanding resource limitation, therefore, must consider the dynamic effects of resources on demography. We present approaches for interpreting results of demographic modeling beyond analyzing model rankings, model weights, slope estimates, and model averaging. We demonstrate how interpretation of y-intercepts, odds ratios, and rates of change can yield insights into resource limitation as a dynamic process, assuming logistic regression is used to link estimates of resources with estimates of demography. In addition, we show how x-intercepts can be evaluated with respect to odds ratios to understand resource thresholds.
Radiolabeling and In Vivo Behavior of Copper-64-Labeled Cross-Bridged Cyclam Ligands

Macrocyclic chelators and their metal complexes have widespread applications in the biomedical sciences, including radiopharmaceutical chemistry. The use of copper radionuclides in radiopharmaceuticals is increasing. Macrocyclic chelators have been found to have enhanced in vivo stability over acyclic chelators such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA). The currently used chelators of choice for labeling copper radionuclides to biological molecules are analogues of TETA (1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-1,4,8,11-tetraacetic acid); however, recent reports have demonstrated evidence of in vivo instability of the radio-Cu(II)−TETA complexes. A new class of structurally reinforced macrocycles, the “cross-bridged” cyclam derivatives, form highly stable complexes with Cu(II) that are resistant to dissociation in strong acid. Here, we evaluate a series of 64Cu(II) cross-bridged macrocyclic complexes for biological stability and in vivo behavior. The ligands eva...
The XSTAR Atomic Database

We report on the XSTAR atomic database that contains a large quantity of atomic rates for use in spectral modeling of astrophysical plasmas. The database includes atomic energy levels, line wavelengths, radiative transition probabilities, electron impact excitation rates, photoionization cross section, recombination rate coefficients, electron impact ionization rates, and fluorescence and Auger yields. The species considered are all the ions of H, He, C, N, O, Ne, Mg, Si, S, Ar, Ca, Fe, and Ni. The database collects recent data from many sources including CHIANTI, TOPbase, ADAS, NIST, and the IRON Project. Two particular features of the database are the incorporation of photoionization cross sections from the Opacity Project for all levels of every ion, and state-specific recombination rates. State-specific collisional ionization and three-body recombination are also included. The collection of data is used to build excitation-ionization models of each ion for calculation of their spectra for electron densities of up to 1018 cm-3 and temperatures between 100 and 109 K. In addition, every ion model is designed to converge to LTE under appropriate conditions. These models and data are implemented in the photoionization modeling code XSTAR v.2.