cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
AMS 700™ inflatable penile prosthesis with InhibiZone®

Inflatable penile prostheses are the definitive therapy for erectile dysfunction refractory to medical therapy. For years mechanical malfunction was the most common cause of device failure, but recent advances in design have largely eliminated this, and now infection is the most significant problem with these implants. Antibiotic-coated medical devices, such as central venous and bladder catheters, have proven effective in reducing bacterial colonization and biofilm formation, leading to decreased rates of infection. In 2001, American Medical Systems (AMS) released its AMS 700 series penile prosthesis impregnated with a proprietary combination of the antibiotics rifampin and minocycline, called InhibiZone. Multiple studies have found that this device significantly reduces infection rates in men receiving penile prostheses. In July 2009, the US FDA approved the AMS 700 with InhibiZone as the only inflatable penile prosthesis with clinical evidence showing significant reduction in the rate of revision surgery due to infection.
Interrenal activity during metamorphosis of the tiger salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum.

Abstract Plasma corticosterone concentrations were low in premetamorphic tiger salamander larvae (Norman Stage I; M. F. Norman (1985) Anat. Rec. 211 , 102–109). Corticosterone levels were significantly elevated at midmetamorphosis (Norman Stage IV) but decreased at the end of metamorphosis (Norman Stage VII). Corticosterone levels remained low 2 weeks after metamorphosis. Interrenal 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity was low in premetamorphic larvae (Norman Stage I) but was significantly elevated by midmetamorphosis (Norman Stage IV) and remained elevated at the end of metamorphosis (Norman Stage VII). There were no significant changes in interrenal cell nuclear size during metamorphosis. There was a significant decrease in body weight as well as a significant increase in hematocrit accompanying metamorphosis. The increase in plasma corticosterone concentration seen during metamorphosis of the tiger salamander is accompanied by an increase in interrenal steroidogenesis.
Sex-Related Differences in the Schematization of the Behavioral Environment

This study investigated sex differences in the per ception of the behavioral environment along personalization, social, and affect dimensions. The interaction of sex with type of environment described (university or home) was also examined. Subjects were 102 freshmen residents of university housing at the University of Texas. Results of the study showed significant sex differences cn a composite measure and on measures of personaliza tion and social emphasis, with females scoring higher than males. Significant interactions between sex and environment were also found.
Regional determinants of research and development institutions in India

This paper provides an understanding of the regional determinants of research and development (R&D) institutions in India. R&D facilities locate across regions in response to factors such as: science and technology manpower availability, banking facilities, transport infrastructure, favorable real estate prices, state domestic product, patents, literacy, quality engineering colleges, higher education institutions, and investment via research and development expenditure. Further, R&D location brings regional change via industry location, employment and investment leading to regional economic development. The Indian government has pursued a balanced regional development strategy since the inception of planning in the 1950s. This strategy would need a dispersed location in geographical space. This policy changed to a market-oriented approach beginning in 1991. Various technology policy documents have emphasized upon ‘promotion of science and technology research’, ‘attainment of technological competence’, ‘enlarging investment in R&D’, and ‘synergize science, technology and innovation’. To examine the trends of R&D this paper addresses the following four questions: (1) what are the regional patterns of R&D distribution in India? (2) what are the sector patterns of R&D distribution in India? (3) What determines the regional distribution of patents? (4) What determines the regional distribution of R&D in India during the periods 1988–1989, 1998–1999 and 2009–2010? Multiple regression models are run to estimate the determinants of R&D in geographical space.
The vanishing of ϕ in the massive Schwinger model

Within the framework of the massive Schwinger model Coleman has considered the possibility of including in the vector potential ac-number term which gives rise to a uniform background electric field. This additional term (the so-called ϕ-parameter) is shown necessarily to vanish by the requirement of translational invariance, thereby leaving the electric charge and the fermion mass as the sole adjustable quantities in the theory.
Gender differences in the relationship of anti-parvovirus B19 IgG with antinuclear antibody and C-reactive protein in clinical adult serum samples.

Human parvovirus B19 (B19) infection is often suspected as an etiologic agent in a variety of rheumatologic diseases. It has been hypothesized that this virus potentially induces immune dysregulation by abnormal cytokine expression in susceptible hosts. The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between anti-parvovirus B19 IgG antibody (B19 IgG) and two common markers of immune dysregulation—antinuclear antibody (ANA) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in clinical sera. Qualitative B19 IgG antibody and levels of high-sensitivity CRP were determined in adult serum samples submitted to a university hospital clinical laboratory for ANA testing. Prevalence of B19 IgG was compared among groups by ANA status and CRP tertile. B19 IgG was detected in 72.3% of 318 samples. Among women above the first quartile of age (>38 years), presence of B19 IgG was associated with CRP tertile rank (P = 0.008) and CRP levels ≥1 mg/L (P = 0.001) independent of age and ANA status. B19 IgG was less frequent in ANA-positive than ANA-negative women ≤38 years of age (P = 0.009). Viral antibody was not associated with either biomarker in men. These data suggest parvovirus B19 infection may be associated with chronic inflammation in some women after the third decade of life.
Morphology and permeability of blood vessels in the prenatal rhesus monkey eye: How plasma components diffuse into the intraocular fluids during development

In order to identify the structures which allow blood-borne macromolecules to penetrate into the ocular chambers during development, we investigated the vasculature of prenatal rheusus monkey eyes, 30–160±2-days-old. The morphology of the blood vessels was examined with light microscopy, conventional electron microscopy, and the freeze-fracturing technique; the permeability properties of the vessels were tested with intravascular injections of horseradish peroxidase. The vessels of the prenatal intraocular blood system (the hyaloid artery, the vasa hyaloidea propria, the tunica vasculosa lentis and the pupillary membrane) and the developing retinal vessels are lined by a continuous endothelium whose cells are joined by zonular tight junctions. They are all impermeable to circulating horserdish peroxidase. In contrast, the uveal vessels are fenestrated as soon as they are formed, their endothelial cells are joined by open junctions and they are highly permeable to the tracer which diffuses throughout the uveal mesenchyme. Furthermore, fenestrated vessels of uveal origin, by extending around the margin of the optic cup, penetrate into the forming ocular chambers; we have termed these vessels intracameral uveal vessels. As the anterior segment matures, the intracameral fenestrated vessels slowly recede into the iris until, by birth, they reach no further than the root of the iris. Horseradish peroxidase diffuses into the ocular fluid both from the intracameral uveal vessels and from the connective tissue spaces of the uveal mesenchyme at the angle which freely communicate with the anterior chamber. This leakage, initially pronounced, ceases shortly before birth. We conclude (1) that diffusion from leaky uveal vessels explains the presence of large amounts of plasma components in the ocular fluids of the immature eye and (2) that the transient existence of permeable vessels at the angle contributes to the changing composition of the aqueous humor during development.
Tyrosyltubulin ligase activity in brain, skeletal muscle, and liver of the developing chick

Abstract The developmental course of tyrosyltubulin ligase activity has been measured in three tissues of the embryonic chick: skeletal muscle; whole brain; and liver. There is a sharp peak in enzyme activity in muscle at day 13 when myotube formation is proceeding rapidly. In brain, high activities are maintained over a prolonged period. Liver has relatively little activity which decreases steadily over the entire developmental period that was examined. The possible relationship between high levels of tyrosyltubulin ligase activity and morphological changes dependent upon microtubule formation is discussed.
The use of neonatal palliative care: Reducing moral distress in NICU nurses

Abstract The ethical dilemmas faced by nursing professionals can lead to moral distress and the abandonment of nursing as a career. This is especially true in intensive care nursing where mortality is more prevalent. Neonatal nurses face a particularly high rate of moral distress when dealing with the treatment and loss of critical infants. This distress is compounded when nurses feel that the care they are providing is not in the best interest of the infant. Providing palliative care at the end-of-life may alleviate some of this distress, but only if palliative care is implemented consistently and effectively. Several barriers exist to implementing effective palliative care. The primary barrier is the lack of education of neonatal staff in the correct definition and application of end-of-life comfort care. This includes education in communication, assessment of needs, and implementation. A neonatal-specific palliative care team (or individual palliative care nurse) can fill this gap in education to accommodate effective care. A consistent, effective neonatal palliative care program is essential. Such a program affords the opportunity for compassionate communication with the family, a decrease in moral distress for nurses, and the provision of quality end-of-life care for the neonate.
Fluorescence measurements of the labile iron pool of sickle erythrocytes

Sickle erythrocytes have increased ferritin and increased molecular iron on the inner membrane leaflet, and we postulated that cytosolic labile iron is also elevated. We used the fluorescent metal-losensor, calcein, and a permeant Fe2+ chelator to estimate labile cytoslic Fe2+, and calcein plus an Fe3+ chelator to estimate total cytosolic labile iron (Fe2+ + Fe3+). We measured membrane nonheme iron by its reactivity with ferrozine. As estimated by calcein and Fe2+ chelator, the mean ± SD labile Fe2+ concentration was significantly lower in hemoglobin (Hb) SS (n = 29) than hemoglobin AA (n = 17) erythrocytes (0.56 ± 0.35 μM versus 1.25 ± 0.65 μM; P < .001). In contrast, as estimated by calcein and Fe3+ chelator, total erythrocyte labile iron was similar in hemoglobin SS (n = 12) and hemoglobin AA (n = 10) participants (1.75 ± 0.41 μM versus 2.14 ± 0.93 μM; P = .2). Mean membrane nonheme iron levels were higher in hemoglobin SS cells than hemoglobin AA cells (0.0016 × 10-4 versus 0.0004 × 10-4 fmol/cell; P = .01), but much lower than the mean amounts of total labile iron (1.6-1.8 × 10-4 fmol/cell) or hemoglobin iron (18 000-19 000 × 10-4 fmol/cell). Both membrane iron and total labile iron were much less than the mean amount of iron potentially present in erythrocyte ferritin as calculated from results of other investigators (15 × 10-4 versus 34 × 10-4 fmol/cell in HbAA versus HbSS erythrocytes). We conclude that cytosolic labile iron is not elevated in hemoglobin SS erythrocytes and that elemental membrane iron is present in only trace amounts. (Blood. 2003;102:357-364)
Groundwater Remediation Design Using Multiscale Genetic Algorithms

Water resources optimization models often use spatial numerical models to approximate the physics of natural systems. The discretization of the numerical grids can affect their search for optimal solutions, in terms of both solution reliability and computational costs. Computational costs are particularly significant for population-based optimization techniques such as genetic algorithms (GAs), which are being applied to water resources optimization. To overcome these bottlenecks, this paper proposes multiscale strategies for GAs that evaluate designs on different spatial grids at different stages of the algorithm. The strategies are initially tested on a hypothetical groundwater remediation problem, and then the best approach is used to solve a field-scale groundwater application at the Umatilla Chemical Depot in Oregon. For the Umatilla case, the multiscale GA was able to save as much as 80% of the computational costs (relative to the GA that used only the fine grid) with no loss of accuracy, thus exhibiting significant promise for improving performance of GA-based optimization methodologies for water resources applications.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Prevention: Strategies for Clinicians

The complexity of the epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has made the creation of effective prevention programs an evolving and challenging task. Prevention of new HIV infections is an issue of increasing importance as the prevalence of HIV infection continues to increase. The integration of prevention and clinical care is recognized as a key element of future prevention activities. Prevention of HIV infection should extend beyond the traditional public health model to the clinical care site. The clinical care setting offers a unique opportunity to bring people with HIV disease into care and to establish relationships, thus creating a foundation for prevention-related activities. However, the expertise and energy that clinicians currently dedicate to diagnosis and treatment far exceeds that directed toward prevention. We review details about and the efficacies of specific prevention efforts of relevance in clinical practice, and we conclude with practical recommendations regarding the most simple and efficient ways of integrating both behavioral counseling and medical interventions as prevention tools into clinical practice.
Sol–gel preparation of macroporous silica films by templating with polystyrene microspheres

Polystyrene microspheres have been used as templating entities to fabricate thin macroporous silicate films with controllable porosity for catalysis and chemical sensing-related applications.
Does service learning promote adult development? Theoretical perspectives and directions for research

Within the context of adult development, theories are highlighted that suggest research on the impact of service learning on adults.
The cognitive implications of virtual locomotion with a restricted field of view

A study was conducted to examine the impact, in terms of cognitive demands, of a restricted field of view (FOV) on semi-natural locomotion in virtual reality (VR). Participants were divided into two groups: high-FOV and low-FOV. They were asked to perform basic movements using a locomotion interface while simultaneously performing one of two memory tasks (spatial or verbal) or no memory task. The memory tasks were intended to simulate the competing demands when a user has primary tasks to perform while using an unnatural interface to move through the virtual world. Results show that participants remembered fewer spatial or verbal items when performing locomotion movements with a low FOV than with a high FOV. This equivalent verbal and spatial detriment may indicate that locomotion movements with a restricted FOV require additional general cognitive resources as opposed to spatial or verbal resource pools. This also emphasizes the importance of this research, as users of a system may allow primary task performance to suffer when performing locomotion. Movement start and completion times were also measured to examine resource requirements of specific aspects of movements. Understanding specific performance problems resulting from concurrent tasks can inform the design of systems.
Epoetin alfa in anaemic children or adolescents on regular dialysis.

Eighteen patients aged 5–18 years on regular dialysis had a packed cell volume (PCV)<0.27. On treatment with epoetin alfa (EA) PCV increased by 0.05 or more in all patients. Iron supplementation was necessary in 13 patients with a ferritinaemia <300 μg/l before study. During treatment, plasma potassium increased significantly and more vigorous antihypertensive measures were required in 8 patients, 5 of them being already on antihypertensive drugs before EA. Iliofemoral thrombosis occurred in 1 patient 10 days after renal transplant. The data indicate that EA ameliorates the anaemia of chronic renal disease. The main concerns arising during treatment with EA are hyperkalaemia, arterial hypertension and possibly thrombosis.
Effectiveness of abdominal radiographs in visualizing chewable iron supplements following overdose.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical effectiveness of visualizing chewable and nonchewable iron supplements remaining in the gastrointestinal tract following an overdose. A 5-year retrospective review of 93 pediatric patients who had ingested potentially toxic amounts of an iron supplement found that 58% had abdominal radiographs taken. Fifty-five percent of these patients had ingested chewable multiple vitamins with iron and 40% had ingested nonchewable tablets. After radiographic review, radiopaque densities could be marginally visualized in only one case of ingestion of a chewable iron supplement. The mean serum iron level of patients who had ingested a chewable form of iron was 270 μg/dL. An in vitro study was performed to determine the radiopacity of various chewable multiple vitamins with iron. It was concluded that although chewable multiple vitamins with iron are radiopaque in vitro, clinical radiographic visualization is unlikely.
Physical properties of CVD-grown Se—carbon films

Abstract A novel chemical vapor deposition (CVD) approach based on the thermal decomposition of an aromatic hydrocarbon in the presence of Se vapor is used to grow films of layered Se—carbon compounds. In principle, this technique can produce a wide variety of new carbon-based materials, for example, graphite intercalation compounds (GICs) which, for kinetic reasons, cannot be made if the intercalant vapor has to diffuse large distances into a pre-existing graphitic host. In particular, homogeneous oriented submicron films of either pure stage-3 (Se 24 C) or mixed-stage Se—carbon layer compounds have been successfully grown on Ni substrates in evacuated sealed quartz tubes. X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman scattering and the c -axis electrical transport measurements are discussed in terms of both covalent Se—carbon bonding and an ionic model assuming the formation of an acceptor-type Se—GIC with electron transfer from carbon to Se. Our CVD-grown Se—carbon films exhibit the largest thermoelectric power reported in the open literature among carbon-based compounds. However, the value is at least a factor of 10 less than reported for these materials in patents by Sharp Corp.
Dynamics of the U.S. interstate migration system, 1975-1992.

. This note is an empirical study that further develops existing analysis by McHugh and Gober published in this journal (1992). The note follows McHugh and Gober by using annual state-to-state migration flow data from Internal Revenue Service records and measures of migration efficiency in analyzing the U.S. interstate migration system. It extends the analysis to a longer period, however—1975 to 1992. This note enhances McHugh and Gober's analysis by extending our knowledge of changes in U.S. migration patterns into the 1990s. But it also suggests modifications to some of their conclusions. First, the note concludes that the emergence of a new pattern of population redistribution in the U.S. in the 1980s, as reported by McHugh and Gober, was indeed significant, but that it was transitory. Second, the note's analysis does not support McHugh and Gober's conclusion of a fairly strong inverse relationship between migration effectiveness and economic expansions and contractions.
Comparison of diary-derived bladder and sleep measurements across OAB individuals, primary insomniacs, and healthy controls.

Introduction and hypothesis Can diary-derived bladder and sleep measurements differentiate individuals with overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) from individuals with primary insomnia and healthy controls?
Combined Peano scan and VQ approach to image compression

In order to achieve high compression ratios, while maintaining visual quality, a new approach combining Peano scanning and vector quantization is proposed. The Peano scan technique clusters highly correlated pixels, and a vector quantization scheme is developed to exploit interblock correlation. An efficient scan technique serves as a useful preprocessing unit in image compression. In this work, Peano curves are used locally to transform the original image into one containing clustered bands of correlated data. The Peano scan results in a much lower mean absolute difference between neighboring blocks than the Raster scan (almost 50% reduction) i.e., better reordering/clustering is achieved. A codebook is formed using the LBG algorithm. The clustered image is subdivided into blocks of 4 X 4 and vector quantized using the codebook. The pattern of indices of codevectors chosen for successive blocks is exploited. Due to clustering achieved, frequently the same codevector is used to encode a series of successive blocks. Transmission of the same codevector index for each block is inefficient. A method of assigning additional bits to encode the repeat pattern is proposed. This causes an overall reduction in bit-rate. Another technique employs dynamic partitioning of the codebook into a large passive part and a smaller active part. If the mean squared difference between successive blocks is below a predetermined threshold, only the active part is searched. This leads to lowering of bit-rate and search time. The combined approach suggested exploits interblock correlation in an image, using an efficient scan technique. It leads to lower bit-rates than conventional VQ methods, at comparable visual quality.
An empirical taxonomy of youths' fears: Cluster analysis of the American fear survey schedule

Fears profiles among children and adolescents were explored using the Fear Survey Schedule for Children-American version (FSSC-AM; J.J. Burnham, 1995, 2005). Eight cluster profiles were identified via multistage Euclidean grouping and supported by homogeneity coefficients and replication. Four clusters reflected overall level of fears (i.e., very low, below average, moderate, and multiple), and four others exhibited specific peaks associated with school-related fears, medical fears, and scary things. Demographic characteristics associated with cluster profile membership revealed variability primarily based on gender and age, with some differences associated with community type. Comparisons with prior results on earlier fear surveys and implications for school refusal behavior provide a useful context for discussion. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 43: 673–683, 2006.
Addressing gender equity pipeline issues with a workshop for high school mathematics and science teachers

A gender gap in science, a foundational subject area for engineering, begins to emerge in middle and early high school. This gap can negatively impact females' education and career decisions about science and engineering due to environmental and affective factors in the classroom. In order to identify, strategize, and address these gender equity issues, a workshop was held for high school math and science teachers in an NSF math science partnership project. Interactive, team-based discussions and reports were made after short presentations on gender issues of environmental factors of stereotypes and "chilly learning climates" and affective factors of self-efficacy and societal relevance of engineering. Teachers' recorded their reflections based on the factors of awareness, personal experience, literature findings, underlying causes, and possible ameliorative strategies and actions. The qualitative data was analyzed using Bandura's social learning theory of self efficacy to interpret the significance of the observations. Based on the workshop information and discussions, and their own experience, the teachers developed strategies and actions that they could apply in their own classrooms. There was a strong response to the importance of female role models and for tinkering activities for females as young as possible both inside and outside of the classroom.
Fixed-point fixed-precision dynamic kernel function FFT processor for wideband signal detection

A 2.048 GSPS fixed-point fixed-precision dynamic kernel function FFT processor with variable truncation scheme (VTS) is proposed and implemented for real-time wideband signal detection. Using Xilinx System Generator, single-signal detection is demonstrated for a bandwidth of 912 MHz with 16 MHz channelization and output throughput rates of 62.5 ns. The proposed design has an averaged single-signal spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) of 26 dB and the ability to detect a weak input signal utilizing only the often truncated least significant bits of the analog-to-digital converter. This is possible for a fixed-precision FFT design due to the embedded variable truncation scheme to extend the total dynamic range (DR) while preserving the SFDR relationship. Additional case studies utilizing different dynamic kernel function and inter-stage precision shows important area and performance trade-offs when utilized in a high-speed wideband FFT processor without the use of decimators.
Attentional set effects on spinal and supraspinal responses to pain

The effects of attentional set on subjective magnitude ratings, spinal reflexes, and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) elicited by innocuous and painful sural nerve stimulation were investigated in 24 subjects. Cuing stimuli informed subjects as to whether a visual identification or a somatosensory rating task would follow. Twenty percent of the trials were invalidly cued, where the subjects were expecting a visual stimulus but were given a sural nerve stimulus and vice versa. Subjective magnitude ratings were lower in the invalidly cued condition than the validly cued condition. Attentional set had no effect on innocuous-related spinal or early cortical responses, nor on the spinal nociceptive withdrawal reflex. The pain-related negative difference potential (NDP) and P2 component of the SEP were largest in the invalidly cued condition. These results provide further support for our hypothesis that the NDP is generated in part by the anterior cingulate, and suggest that the anterior cingulate response to pain reflects non-pain-specific cognitive processes (e.g., orienting attention towards important stimuli in the environment and/or response competition) and not some aspect of the pain experience. The effects of attentional set on the pain-related P2 suggests that it might correspond to the P3a event-related potential. If this is the case, the pain-related P2 could serve as a useful index of neural processes involved in the cognitive-evaluative aspect of pain.
Selective antagonism of acute ethanol-induced motor disturbances by centrally administered Ro 15-4513 in mice.

Abstract Results of the present investigation demonstrated that Ro 15-4513 when given ICV selectively antagonized ethanol-induced motor distrubances at doses that did not produce motor incoordination and lacked proconvulsant activity. Ro 15-4513 in 10-, 15-, and 22-ng doses antagonized, roughly in a dose-dependent manner, ethanol-induced motor incoordination. The 10-ng dose produced an optimal effect with nearly complete antagonism within 30 min postethanol. The higher, 15 and 22 ng, doses of Ro 15-4513 antagonized, as well as probably reversed, ethanol-induced motor incoordination. The stimulation and inhibition of spontaneous motor activity by 1 and 2 g/kg IP ethanol, respectively, were also selectively antagonized by Ro 15-4513. Neither an alteration in the latency and/or duration of pentylenetetrazol-induced convulsions nor an antagonism to sodium pentobarbital-induced motor incoordination and inhibition of spontaneous motor activity by Ro 15-4513 at dose levels that showed antiethanol effects were observed. Only the 150-ng dose of Ro 15-4513, which exhibited intrinsic activity as proconvulsant, attenuated sodium pentobarbital-induced motor incoordination. When given alone at doses higher than those used in motor coordination experiments, Ro 15-4513 markedly increased spontaneous motor activity dose dependently.
Scale-Dependent Newton's Constant G in the Conformal Newtonian Gauge

In classical gravity deviations from the predictions of the Einstein theory are often discussed within the framework of the conformal Newtonian gauge, where scalar perturbations are described by two potentials φ and ψ. In this paper we use the above gauge to explore possible cosmological consequences of a running Newton’s constant G(✷), as suggested by the nontrivial ultraviolet fixed point scenario arising from the quantum field-theoretic treatment of Einstein gravity with a cosmological constant term. Here we focus on the effects of a scale-dependent coupling on the so-called gravitational slip functions η = ψ/φ − 1, whose classical general relativity value is zero. Starting from a set of manifestly covariant but nonlocal effective field equations derived earlier, we compute the leading corrections in the potentials φ and ψ for a nonrelativistic, pressureless fluid. After providing an estimate for the quantity η, we then focus on a comparison with results obtained in a previous paper on matter density perturbations in the synchronous gauge, which gave an estimate for the growth index parameter γ, also in the presence of a running G. Our results indicate that, in the present framework and for a given G(✷), the corrections tend to be significantly larger in magnitude for the perturbation growth exponents than for the conformal Newtonian gauge slip function.
Menaquinone (vitamin K2) biosynthesis: evidence that the Escherichia coli menD gene encodes both 2-succinyl-6-hydroxy-2,4-cyclohexadiene-1-carboxylic acid synthase and alpha-ketoglutarate decarboxylase activities.

The formation of 2-succinyl-6-hydroxy-2,4-cyclohexadiene-1-carboxylic acid (SHCHC), the first identified intermediate in the menaquinone biosynthetic pathway, requires two reactions. They are the decarboxylation of alpha-ketoglutarate by an alpha-ketoglutarate decarboxylase, which results in the formation of succinic semialdehyde-thiamine PPi (TPP) anion, and the addition of the succinic semialdehyde-TPP anion to isochorismate carried out by the enzyme SHCHC synthase. Evidence is provided to support the conclusion that both enzymatic activities are encoded by an extended menD gene which is capable of generating a bifunctional 69-kDa protein. Consistent with the requirement for TPP in the decarboxylation of alpha-ketoglutarate, the translated amino acid sequence contains the characteristic TPP-binding motif present in all well-characterized TPP-requiring enzymes. Images
Preservation of Watershed Regime for Low-Impact Development through Detention

Low-impact development (LID) allows for greater development potential with less environmental impacts using on-site distributed storm-water controls that achieve a good balance among conservation, growth, ecosystem protection, and public safety. The qualitative statement of the ultimate goal for LID can serve as guidance for engineering designs, but it is inadequate for comparison and selection among the innovative alternatives. This paper presents an innovative method by which the long-term runoff statistics are employed as the basis to quantify the impact of the development on the watershed hydrologic regime. In this study, the standard LID detention volume is defined by the storm-water storage volume required to preserve the predevelopment mean and standard deviation for runoff volume population. Consequently, a detention basin is considered oversized if the after-detention runoff volume population has a lower mean flow while the undersized counterpart produces a mean runoff volume higher than that und...
Surgical management of biliary gallstone disease during pregnancy.

Abstract Background: Biliopancreatic gallstone disorders (BPD) manifesting during pregnancy are relatively rare. The management of these conditions remains controversial. Although perioperative problems and fetal loss have been reported, recent publications have advocated an early surgical approach. Patients and methods: Thirty-two pregnant women underwent operation for BPD between January 1993 and December 1997. The mean age was 29 years and ranged from 18 to 41 years. Results: Twelve patients underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), and 20 open cholecystectomies (OC), including two conversions from laparoscopic. Seven of the OC patients required additional open CBD exploration and intraoperative choledochoscopy for CBD stones. No maternal mortality was observed. A single fetal demise (3%) occurred for a patient with gallstone pancreatitis who underwent open cholecystectomy during her 14th week of gestation. Conclusions: Early involvement of the obstetric team, with preoperative and postoperative fetal monitoring, and adequate management of anesthetic and tocolytic agents make cholecystectomy a safe procedure at any stage of pregnancy.
Bifidobacteria in feces and environmental waters.

Bifidobacteria have been recommended as potential indicators of human fecal pollution in surface waters even though very little is known about their presence in nonhuman fecal sources. The objective of this research was to shed light on the occurrence and molecular diversity of this fecal indicator group in different animals and environmental waters. Genus- and species-specific 16S rRNA gene PCR assays were used to study the presence of bifidobacteria among 269 fecal DNA extracts from 32 different animals. Twelve samples from three wastewater treatment plants and 34 water samples from two fecally impacted watersheds were also tested. The species-specific assays showed that Bifidobacterium adolescentis, B. bifidum, B. dentium, and B. catenulatum had the broadest host distribution (11.9 to 17.4%), whereas B. breve, B. infantis, and B. longum were detected in fewer than 3% of all fecal samples. Phylogenetic analysis of 356 bifidobacterial clones obtained from different animal feces showed that ca. 67% of all of the sequences clustered with cultured bifidobacteria, while the rest formed a supercluster with low sequence identity (i.e., 97% similarity) contained 53 fecal sequences from seven different animal hosts, suggesting the cosmopolitan distribution of members of this clade. In contrast, two clades containing B. thermophilum and B. boum clustered exclusively with 37 and 18 pig fecal clones, respectively, suggesting host specificity. Using species-specific assays, bifidobacteria were detected in only two of the surface water DNA extracts, although other fecal anaerobic bacteria were detected in these waters. Overall, the results suggest that the use of bifidobacterial species as potential markers to monitor human fecal pollution in natural waters may be questionable.
Enhancing the privacy of web-based communication

A profiling adversary is an adversary whose goal is to classify a population of users into categories according to messages they exchange. This adversary models the most common privacy threat against web based communication.We propose a new encryption scheme, called stealth encryption, that protects users from profiling attacks by concealing the semantic content of plaintext while preserving its grammatical structure and other non-semantic linguistic features, such as word frequency distribution. Given English plaintext, stealth encryption produces ciphertext that cannot efficiently be distinguished from normal English text (our techniques apply to other languages as well).
Spinal Mediators of Hyperalgesia

Neuronal plasticity associated with altered sensations arising from tissue damage involves both established (e.g. substance P and excitatory amino acids) and novel (e.g. nitric oxide and metabolites of arachidonic acid) mediators released from terminals of primary afferent neurons or synthesised in the spinal cord. These and other mediators lead to activity-dependent synaptic plasticity and enhanced sensitivity to noxious stimuli (hyperalgesia). Activation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor results in a calcium-dependent production of nitric oxide, while activation of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-5-propionate (AMPA)- and 1,3-trans-1-amino-cyclopentyl-1,3-dicarboxylate (trans-ACPD)-sensitive glutamate receptors results in a phospholipase A2 (PLA2)-mediated production of different intracellular mediators, including arachidonic acid.
Testosterone and the Cardiovascular System: A Comprehensive Review of the Basic Science Literature

An increasing number of elderly men are receiving exogenous testosterone to treat hypogonadism, low libido, and general weakness.[1][1] The impact of testosterone on the cardiovascular system is controversial. Elderly men are typically at higher risk for adverse cardiovascular events than age-
Primary vs. secondary decision making: a proposed expansion of model management systems research

Discusses the evolution of the use of models in DSS (decision support systems) and reviews work to date on the development of model management systems. In any but the most narrow DSS, model integration and model interactions necessitate determining the optimal scope of individual solution techniques and of the overall DSS. The authors identify several broad areas in model selection and integration which need to be addressed in future model management systems research especially DSS scope determination. A detailed example is included to help illustrate the research issues and problems discussed in the earlier sections. >
Novel Activities of Select NSAID R-Enantiomers against Rac1 and Cdc42 GTPases.

Rho family GTPases (including Rac, Rho and Cdc42) collectively control cell proliferation, adhesion and migration and are of interest as functional therapeutic targets in numerous epithelial cancers. Based on high throughput screening of the Prestwick Chemical Library® and cheminformatics we identified the R-enantiomers of two approved drugs (naproxen and ketorolac) as inhibitors of Rac1 and Cdc42. The corresponding S-enantiomers are considered the active component in racemic drug formulations, acting as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with selective activity against cyclooxygenases. Here, we show that the S-enantiomers of naproxen and ketorolac are inactive against the GTPases. Additionally, more than twenty other NSAIDs lacked inhibitory action against the GTPases, establishing the selectivity of the two identified NSAIDs. R-naproxen was first identified as a lead compound and tested in parallel with its S-enantiomer and the non-chiral 6-methoxy-naphthalene acetic acid (active metabolite of nabumetone, another NSAID) as a structural series. Cheminformatics-based substructure analyses—using the rotationally constrained carboxylate in R-naproxen—led to identification of racemic [R/S] ketorolac as a suitable FDA-approved candidate. Cell based measurement of GTPase activity (in animal and human cell lines) demonstrated that the R-enantiomers specifically inhibit epidermal growth factor stimulated Rac1 and Cdc42 activation. The GTPase inhibitory effects of the R-enantiomers in cells largely mimic those of established Rac1 (NSC23766) and Cdc42 (CID2950007/ML141) specific inhibitors. Docking predicts that rotational constraints position the carboxylate moieties of the R-enantiomers to preferentially coordinate the magnesium ion, thereby destabilizing nucleotide binding to Rac1 and Cdc42. The S-enantiomers can be docked but are less favorably positioned in proximity to the magnesium. R-naproxen and R-ketorolac have potential for rapid translation and efficacy in the treatment of several epithelial cancer types on account of established human toxicity profiles and novel activities against Rho-family GTPases.
Analysis of Glass-Filled Nylon in Laser Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing

At the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), glass bead-filled polyamide (a.k.a. nylon) (GFN) is being used frequently for functional parts and systems, built using a laser-based powder bed fusion (PBF) additive manufacturing (AM) system. Since these parts have performance requirements, it is important to understand the mechanical properties of the additively-made GFN as a function of build orientation and build parameters. In addition, the performance of the AM system used to manufacture these parts must be evaluated in order to understand its capabilities, especially in order to determine the dimensional precision and repeatability of features built with this system. This paper summarizes recent APL efforts to characterize the GFN powder, the mechanical properties of parts made with GFN, and the performance of the laser PBF machine while running GFN using an AM test artifact.
American Sovereigns: The People and America's Constitutional Tradition Before the Civil War (Prologue)

American Sovereigns: The People and America's Constitutional Tradition Before the Civil War challenges traditional American constitutional history, theory, and jurisprudence that sees today's constitutionalism as linked by an unbroken chain to the 1787 federal constitutional convention. American Sovereigns examines the idea that after the American Revolution, a collectivity - the people - would rule as the sovereign. Heated political controversies within the states and at the national level over what it meant that the people were the sovereign and how that collective sovereign could express its will were not resolved in 1776, in 1787, or prior to the Civil War. The idea of the people as the sovereign both unified and divided Americans in thinking about government and the basis of the Union. Today's constitutionalism is not a natural inheritance, but the product of choices Americans made between shifting understandings about themselves as a collective sovereign.
Future challenges in the in vitro and in vivo evaluation of biomaterial biocompatibility

As the science and engineering of biomaterials continues to expand with increased emphasis on the development of nanomaterials and tissue engineering scaffolds, emphasis also must be placed on appropriate and adequate approaches to the in vivo and in vitro evaluation of biomaterial biocompatibility/biological response evaluation. This article presents six topic areas that should be addressed by investigators as they move forward in the development of new systems for regenerative medicine. Most certainly, there are other areas that require attention to detail and a more complete understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of various experimental approaches to biomaterial/biological response evaluation. The small number of issues addressed in this article is only meant to bring to the attention of prospective investigators and authors, the importance of the development of adequate and appropriate evaluation techniques that address the unique features of biomaterials utilized in the development of new medical devices.
Rapid acquisition of novel interface control by small ensembles of arbitrarily selected primary motor cortex neurons.

Pioneering studies demonstrated that novel degrees of freedom could be controlled individually by directly encoding the firing rate of single motor cortex neurons, without regard to each neuron's r...
Homologous recombination-dependent initiation of DNA replication from DNA damage-inducible origins in Escherichia coli.

Escherichia coli cells induced for the SOS response express inducible stable DNA replication (iSDR) as an SOS function. Initiation of iSDR is independent of transcription, translation and DnaA protein, which are essential for initiation of DNA replication from oriC. We found that a recA mutant that is defective in recombination but proficient in SOS induction could not elicit iSDR. In contrast, iSDR was enhanced by recD and recJ mutations that inactivate the exonuclease V activity of the RecBCD enzyme and the RecJ exonuclease activity, respectively. A mutation in the ruvC gene that blocks the resolution of recombination intermediates (i.e. Holliday structures) also enhanced iSDR. Furthermore, inhibition of branch migration by recG or ruvAB mutations dramatically increased the iSDR activity. recBC mutants are defective in iSDR induction but the defect was suppressed by a mutation in the sbcA gene. The major product of minichromosomes replicated by iSDR was covalently closed circular monomers. We propose that recombination intermediates (i.e. D-loop structures) created by the action of RecA recombinase and RecBC(D) helicase play a central role in initiation of iSDR.
Numerical simulation analysis and horizontal bearing capacity test of multiple grouting micro-piles

By the horizontal load test and numerical simulation of micro-piles in different construction processes,the major factor for influencing the horizontal bearing capacity of the micro-piles was studied.The influence factors such as multiple grouting process functions in horizontal load-displacement curve form,the critical load,ultimate load,and the horizontal resist forces proportionality coefficient(m) of the soil around pile were investigated.In addition,the influence degree of different grouting amounts and grouting ranges to the horizontal bearing capacity of single pile were analyzed by numerical simulation.Results indicate that multiple grouting process can improve the distortion and the behaviour of micro-piles affected by the horizontal load and enhance horizontal bearing capacity of micro-piles.The horizontal resist force proportionality coefficient(m) of the soil around pile should choose the maximal value provided by the standard during the design of micro-pile.By tests the pile-soil optimalizing stiffness ratio is 100∶1 and the best injected depth is 4D.Finally,the mechanism for enhancing the single pile horizontal bearing capacity by micro-pile multiple grouting process was discussed.
Multilevel approximate Bayesian approaches for flows in highly heterogeneous porous media and their applications

Estimation of quantities related to high-contrast flow problems such as permeability field plays an important role in porous media characterization. A Generalized Multiscale Finite Element Method (GMsFEM) can be used for solving parameter-dependent (or stochastic) flow problems with multiscale nature. A hierarchy of approximations of different resolution can be provided by GMsFEM. Hence, it can be coupled with Multilevel Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MLMCMC) to generate samples in different levels and form the multilevel estimator. KarhunenLoeve Expansion (KLE) is used to parameterize the underlying random field by a function of Gaussian random field. Instead of MCMC, an Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) method can be used within the Multilevel Monte Carlo framework. ABC can be incorporated in different levels to reduce the computational cost and to produce an approximate solution by ensembling different levels.