cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Lamina I Projection Neurons: Physiology and Anatomy

The primary afferent input to the most superficial part of the dorsal horn has been shown to originate from slowly conducting (Aδ and C) fibers. Recordings from individual slowly conducting myelinated (Burgess and Perl, 1967; Perl, 1968) and unmyelinated (Bessou and Perl, 1969; Beitel and Dubner, 1976; Kumazawa and Perl, 1977) fibers demonstrated that a large proportion of these small fibers required high threshold cutaneous stimulation for their activation and could be classified as various types of nociceptors. Thus, it follows that regions in which small diameter afferents terminate play a role in pain mechanisms. Christensen and Perl (1970), in a study designed specifically to discover cells responding to high-threshold mechanoreceptors, found a concentration of such cells in the marginal zone (lamina I) of the cat. Their report concluded that lamina I represents a specialized sensory nucleus containing neurons important for nociception and for detection of thermal changes in the skin (Christensen and Perl, 1970). Although some lamina I neurons appear to receive primary afferent input exclusively from nociceptors, others receive convergent input from a variety of peripheral receptors (Willis et al, 1974; Price and Browe, 1975; Cervero et al, 1976 Price et al 1976).
Separating metric perturbations in near-horizon extremal Kerr spacetimes

Linear perturbation theory is a powerful toolkit for studying black hole spacetimes. However, the perturbation equations are hard to solve unless we can use separation of variables. In the Kerr spacetime, metric perturbations do not separate, but curvature perturbations do. The cost of curvature perturbations is a very complicated metric-reconstruction procedure. This procedure can be avoided using a symmetry-adapted choice of basis functions in highly symmetric spacetimes, such as near-horizon extremal Kerr. In this paper, we focus on this spacetime and (i) construct the symmetry-adapted basis functions; (ii) show their orthogonality; and (iii) show that they lead to separation of variables of the scalar, Maxwell, and metric perturbation equations. This separation turns the system of partial differential equations into one of ordinary differential equations over a compact domain, the polar angle.
New onset of asthma and job status change among world trade center responders and workers.

Background Despite the high rates, the consequences of new onset asthma among the World Trade Center (WTC) responders in terms of the change in job status have not been studied. Methods This study consists of a cohort of 8132 WTC responders out of the total 25 787 responders who held a full-time job at the baseline visit, and participated in at least one follow-up visit. Results Overall, 34% of the study cohort changed their job status from full-time at a follow-up visit. Multivariable models showed that asthmatics were respectively 27% and 47% more likely to have any job status change and get retired, and twice as likely to become disabled as compared to non-asthmatics. Conclusions With asthma incidence from WTC exposure, negative job status change should be considered as a potential long-term consequence of WTC exposure.
Pediatric pain intervention in the PACU.

This article presents an overview of the concept of pediatric pain, postoperative pain assessment tools, and available pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions for the management of pediatric postoperative pain. Understanding and assessing the postoperative pain of each individual patient and striving to provide optimal, well-rounded management of that pain are stressed in the article.
Deformation in Hot-Pressed Polycrystalline Spinel

Magnesium aluminate spinel may be hot pressed to essentially theoretical density, and with a wide range of grain sizes. High-temperature deformation behavior may be deduced from two temperature-dependent properties, yield stress and viscosity, applicable to Bingham solids. These terms have been calculated from the densification data and are compared with similar data for beryllia and alumina. Strength and deformation at fracture of transversely loaded small beams cut, ground, and lapped from hot-pressed spinel blanks have been determined at room temperature, and are reported as functions of surface finish, state of oxidation, and microstructure. The effect of a second-phase graphite addition, from 0.001 to 10 wt.%, on micro-structure and deformation of spinel is described and related to the problem of anion stoichiometry in oxide ceramics. Polycrystalline spinel, when cyclically strained at room temperature, shows some small evidence of permanent deformation before failure. Fractography of cyclically failed specimens reveals occasional plastically deformed grains—demonstrating slip or twinning on (111) planes—among the predominantly brittle fracture markings.
Caregivers of Medically Ill Persons

Baum, A., & Andersen, B. L. (Eds.) (2001). Psychosocial interventions for cancer. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Jacobsen, P. B., & Hann, D. M. (1998). Cognitive–behavioral interventions. In J. C. Holland (Ed.), Psycho-oncology (pp. 717–729). New York: Oxford University Press. Nezu, A. M., Lombardo, E., & Nezu, C. M. (in press). Cancer. In A. R. Kuczmierczyk & A. Nikcevic (Eds.), A clinician’s guide to behavioral medicine: A case formulation approach. London: BrunnerRoutledge. Nezu, A. M., Nezu, C. M., Friedman, S. H., Faddis, S., & Houts, P. S. (1998). Helping cancer patients cope: A problem-solving approach. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Defining, Assessing, and Treating Adolescent Insomnia and Related Sleep Problems

Adolescence is a time of change with many of these changes influencing sleep intrinsically and volitionally. Neuroendocrine and structural changes to the brain result in adolescents experiencing a delay in their circadian phase. Despite their intrinsic delay and progressively later bedtimes, adolescents’ sleep need of 9.2 h remains stable as they develop. Female adolescents experience an increased risk for insomnia following menarche onset. Associations between the menstrual cycle and sleep disturbances have been found in studies of adult women, but more research needs to fully explore this relationship in adolescent females. Along with biological changes, adolescents experience an increase in social demands and responsibilities as they mature. The result is adaptation of the “typical” adolescent sleep schedule. For many adolescents, this new schedule results in a truncation of their sleep time that creates a sleep debt never fully repaid on the weekends. Numerous studies note a reduction in total sleep time following the transition into adolescence, particularly during the school year. The numerous factors that present during adolescence place adolescents at a greater risk for sleep disorders like insomnia, delayed sleep phase disorder, inadequate sleep hygiene, and behavioral sleep restriction. These disorders are associated with daytime consequences like daytime sleepiness, depressed mood, attention/concentration difficulties, and academic difficulties. The current chapter highlights insomnia, delayed sleep phase disorder, inadequate sleep hygiene, and behavioral sleep restriction with a focus on defining, assessing, differentiating, and treatment.
A generative approach to lexicalization: speech-act frankly in the history of English

This paper is a case study of frankly, an example of the category of speech-act adverb, one of the types of sentence adverb frequently found in modern English. It examines frankly from synchronic and diachronic perspectives. Although previous studies have characterized sentence adverbs as resulting from grammaticalization processes, this paper analyzes the rise of sentence-adverb frankly as an example of lexicalization instead. In addition, the paper follows the tradition of using generative grammar as a way to understand diachronic linguistics. Rather than modeling lexicalization from the viewpoint of generative minimalism, however, linguistic cartography is utilized as a structure from which to study adverbial change in language. This study makes use of data from diachronic and synchronic English corpora to show the recent shift and the semantic association of frankly with verbs of speech.
Nuclear Spin Relaxometry of $$^3$$ 3 He Atoms Confined in Mesoporous MCM-41

MCM-41 is a unique mesoporous material with cylindrical-like pores that provide an ideal platform to study 1D properties of adsorbed atoms (Boninsegni and Moroni in J Low Temp Phys 118(1):1, 2000). In this research, we use pulsed NMR to measure the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation times ( $$T_1$$ ) of $$^3$$ He adsorbed onto $$^4$$ He-preplated MCM-41 over a wide range of temperatures for a line density that would lead to a Fermi temperature of 200 mK. The temperature dependence of the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation time for $$ 0.025<T< 3.5 $$ K exhibited a pronounced peak at 195 mK, qualitatively similar to that calculated for the spin relaxation of 1D Fermi systems.
Recent trends of bariatric surgery in adolescent population in the state of New York.

Abstract Background In the United States the percentage of adolescents with obesity has reached an alarming level of 21%. Bariatric surgery has emerged as a successful intervention in the weight loss for adolescents. Objective To compare bariatric procedures performed in adolescent and adult populations. Setting University Hospital, United States. Methods Using the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) database, records from the adolescent (age 12-21years) and adult populations undergoing bariatric surgery during 2005-2014 were examined. Patients’ demographics, surgery type (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), Sleeve Gastrectomy (SG), Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB), length of stay (LOS), complications and comorbidities were analyzed. Results The annual adolescent bariatric cases increased from 150 in 2005 to 406 in 2014. In the adolescent population, increasing utilization trends were noted in the Hispanic population (RR=1.08, p-value Conclusion Bariatric surgery procedure rates have increased in the adolescent population with increasing trend of using LSG. The data from our study supports that bariatric surgery is safe in adolescents with significantly lower complication risk and shorter length of stay as compared to the adult population.
TREAT Restart Project

The Resumption of Transient Testing Program was created to re-establish transient testing capability in the United States, specifically at the Transient Reactor Test (TREAT) Facility, located at th...
Disease Tolerance in Toxoplasma Infection

Toxoplasma gondii is a successful protozoan parasite that cycles between definitive felid hosts and a broad range of intermediate hosts, including rodents and humans. Within intermediate hosts, this obligate intracellular parasite invades the small intestine, inducing an inflammatory response. Toxoplasma infects infiltrating immune cells, using them to spread systemically and reach tissues amenable to chronic infection. An intact immune system is necessary to control life-long chronic infection. Chronic infection is characterized by formation of parasite cysts, which are necessary for survival through the gastrointestinal tract of the next host. Thus, Toxoplasma must evade sterilizing immunity, but still rely on the host's immune response for survival and transmission. To do this, Toxoplasma exploits a central cost-benefit tradeoff in immunity: the need to escalate inflammation for pathogen clearance vs. the need to limit inflammation-induced bystander damage. What are the consequences of sustained inflammation on host biology? Many studies have focused on aspects of the immune response that directly target Toxoplasma growth and survival, commonly referred to as "resistance mechanisms." However, it is becoming clear that a parallel arm of the immune response has evolved to mitigate damage caused by the parasite directly (for example, egress-induced cell death) or bystander damage due to the inflammatory response (for example, reactive nitrogen species, degranulation). These so-called "disease tolerance" mechanisms promote tissue function and host survival without directly targeting the pathogen. Here we review changes to host metabolism, tissue structure, and immune function that point to disease tolerance mechanisms during Toxoplasma infection. We explore the impact tolerance programs have on the health of the host and parasite biology.
Vesicular GABA-transporter neurons in the zona incerta are maximally active during non rapid-eye movement (NREM) and rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep

Abstract Sleep and wake are opposing behavioral states controlled by the activity of specific neurons. The neurons responsible for sleep/wake control have not been fully identifed due to the lack of in-vivo high throughput technology. We use the deep-brain calcium (Ca2+) imaging method to identify activity of hypothalamic neurons expressing the vesicular GABA transporter (vGAT), a marker of GABAergic neurons. vGAT-cre mice (n=5) were microinjected with rAAV-FLEX-GCaMP6M into the lateral hypothalamus and 21d later the Ca2+ influx in vGAT neurons (n=372) was recorded in freely-behaving mice during waking (W), NREM and REM sleep. Post-mortem analysis revealed the lens tip located in the zona incerta/lateral hypothalamus (ZI-LH) and the change in fluorescence of neurons in the field of view was as follows: 54.9% of the vGAT neurons had peak fluorescence during REM sleep (REM-max), 17.2% were NREM-max, 22.8% were wake-max while 5.1% were both wake+REM max. Thus, three quarters of the recorded vGAT neurons in the ZI-LH were most active during sleep. In the NREM-max group Ca2+ fluorescence anticipated the initiation of NREM sleep onset and remained high throughout sleep (NREM and REM sleep). In the REM-max neurons Ca2+fluorescence increased before the onset of REM sleep and stayed elevated during the episode. Activation of the vGAT NREM-max neurons in the zona incerta and dorsal lateral hypothalamus would inhibit the arousal neurons to initiate and maintain sleep.
Specific Reactions of RSNO, HSNO, and HNO and Their Applications in the Design of Fluorescent Probes

Nitric oxide (NO)-derived species play essential roles in regulating cellular responses. Among these species, S-nitrosothiols (including RSNO and HSNO) and nitroxyl (HNO) are especially interesting. Owing to their high reactivity and short survival time, the detection of these molecules in biological settings can be challenging. In this regard, much effort has been invested in exploring novel reactions of RSNO/HSNO/HNO and applying these reactions to develop fluorescence probes. Herein, reported specific reactions of RSNO/HSNO/HNO are summarized and strategies used in the design of fluorescent probes are illustrated. The properties and potential problems of representative probes are also discussed.
Surgical anatomy and nuances of the expanded endonasal transdorsum sellae and posterior clinoidectomy approach to the interpeduncular and prepontine cisterns: a stepwise cadaveric dissection of various pituitary gland transpositions.

Excelsior knowledge of endoscopic anatomy and techniques to remove the natural barriers preventing full endonasal access to the interpeduncular and prepontine cisterns determines the ease of transposing the pituitary gland (hypophysiopexy) preserving the glandular function without manipulating the optic apparatus and the oculomotor nerves. Throughout stepwise cadaveric dissections, we describe the expanded endonasal approach (EEA) to the interpeduncular and prepontine cisterns with special references to the intricate anatomy of the region and techniques for hypophysiopexy and posterior clinoidectomies. This article illustrates sellar-diaphragmatic dural incisions and various “pituitary gland transpositions” techniques performed via extradural (lifting the gland still covered by both dural layers), interdural (transcavernous), and intradural (between the medial wall of the cavernous sinus and the pituitary tunica) to access the prepontine and interpeduncular cisterns.
Abstract 16313: Islands of Organized 1:1 Conduction Within Atrial Fibrillation as Potential Targets for Ablation

Introduction: Organized regions in atrial fibrillation (AF) substrate are well known, but how they are defined and if they can be used to improve ablation are unclear. We hypothesized that large is...
Evaluating the performance of the MMPI-3 over-reporting scales: sophisticated simulators and the effects of comorbid conditions.

OBJECTIVE We examined the utility of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (MMPI-3) to detect feigned over-reporting using a symptom-based coaching simulation design across a control group and three diagnostic conditions: posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), minor traumatic brain injury (mTBI), and comorbid PTSD and mTBI. METHOD Participants were310 college students who wererandomly assigned to one of the four conditions. For participants in the feigning conditions, they were provided with a descriptionof their respective disorder condition throughout the duration of the session and asked to feign according to their condition while completing the MMPI-3. RESULTS MMPI-3 over-reporting scales perform well at classifying feigning. There is low sensitivity, high specificity, and effect magnitudes are medium to large range (1.12 - 2.47). There are no differences in scales assessing over-reporting between diagnostic conditions with dissimilar symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Findings provide initial support for the use of the MMPI-3 overreporting scales for detecting feigned PTSD, mTBI, and comorbid PTSD and mTBI. Further, individuals feigning different disorders, namely PTSD, mTBI, and comorbid PTSD and mTBI, feign predominantly general psychopathological symptoms, making Fp the strongest scale in terms of detecting these feigned disorders. Future research will benefit from establishing relevant diagnostic comparison groups to contrast with this study and utilizing known-group designs withboth PVT and SVT administration.
Diaphragm Appearance: A Clue to the Diagnosis of Pulmonary and Extrapulmonary Pathology

The diaphragm is often overlooked or incompletely evaluated when interpreting chest radiographs. Alterations in the appearance of the diaphragm on chest radiographs such as elevation, contour abnormalities, adjacent lucency, and calcifications can offer clues to pulmonary and extrapulmonary pathology. Familiarity with common causes of these alterations facilitates the appropriate selection of additional imaging and leads to the diagnosis of both benign and life-threatening processes. This article reviews normal variations in the appearance of the diaphragm as well as those associated with pulmonary and extrapulmonary pathology.
Smith–Lemli–Opitz syndrome: pathogenesis, diagnosis and management

Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS) is a malformation syndrome due to a deficiency of 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR7). DHCR7 primarily catalyzes the reduction of 7-dehydrocholesterol (7DHC) to cholesterol. In SLOS, this results in decreased cholesterol and increased 7DHC levels, both during embryonic development and after birth. The malformations found in SLOS may result from decreased cholesterol, increased 7DHC or a combination of these two factors. This review discusses the clinical aspects and diagnosis of SLOS, therapeutic interventions and the current understanding of pathophysiological processes involved in SLOS.
MANIFESTATIONS OF FOOD ALLERGY: EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT

The term "food allergy" refers to adverse immunologic reactions to food. Food allergy is usually mediated by IgE antibody directed to specific food proteins, but other immunologic mechanisms can also play a role. The primary target organs for food allergic reactions are the skin, the gastrointestinal tract and the respiratory system. Both acute reactions (hives and anaphylaxis) and chronic disease (asthma, atopic dermatitis and gastrointestinal disorders) may be caused or exacerbated by food allergy. The foods most commonly causing these reactions in children are milk, egg, peanuts, soy, wheat, tree nuts, fish and shellfish; in adults, they are peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish and fish. The diagnosis of food allergy requires a careful search for possible causes, confirmation of the cause(s) with supporting tests, including specific tests for IgE (i.e., prick skin tests, radioallergosorbent tests) and, in some cases, oral food challenges. Treatment consists of elimination of the causal food(s) along with medical treatment, including the prompt self-administration of epinephrine in the event of a serious reaction.
Inhomogeneous Relativistic Electron Systems: A Density‐Functional Formalism

Mise au point. Formalisme de la fonctionnelle densite ou densite de spin pour les systemes relativistes. Theorie formelle. Exemples de calcul pour des atomes lourds et les energies de correlation
Pilon fractures of the proximal interphalangeal joint

A pilon fracture is an uncommon intraarticular fracture of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint resulting in comminution, central depression, and splay, sagittally and coronally, of the articular surface of the base of the middle phalanx. This study reviews three treatment methods and results in 20 patients. Injury was produced by an axial load and occurred primarily to the ulnar digits. Clinical and radiographic follow-up averaged 25 months. Treatment was divided into three categories: splint (four patients), skeletal traction through the middle phalanx (seven patients), and open reduction with Kirschner pins (nine patients). Anatomic restoration of PIP articular contour was not achieved, regardless of technique. No patient regained full mobility at either interphalangeal joint. Treatment by immobilization is undesirable. Open reduction should be approached cautiously and may result in significant complications. Skeletal traction is safe and gives results that are radiographically and clinically comparable to those achieved with open reduction.
Structural study of evaporated amorphous As4S4 films by x-ray-absorption fine structure.

X-ray-absorption fine-structure data show that films prepared by flash evaporation from As{sub 4}S{sub 4} source material possess the cagelike As{sub 4}S{sub 4} molecular structure. These As{sub 4}S{sub 4} molecular structures, especially in the as-deposited film, are quite disordered as compared to those in {ital c}-As{sub 4}S{sub 4}. The As{sub 4}S{sub 4} molecules in the films are either randomly packed or at least have a much lower correlation than in {ital c}-As{sub 4}S{sub 4}. After photosoaking of the annealed films, the structure does not show any significant changes, which indicates any structural modifications after photosoaking in nonstoichiometric {ital a}-As{sub {ital x}}S{sub 1{minus}{ital x}} (0.4{le}{ital x}{le}0.5) are not directly related to the presence of As{sub 4}S{sub 4} molecules.
Agent-Based Soft Computing Society Applied in the Research of Reservoir Sedimentary Facies in Oil Fields

The type of sedimentary facies in oil fields is a primary factor affecting the performance of the reservoir accumulation. The sedimentary facies research is the indispensable foundation work in process of exploring and developing the oil fields, which is determined by the many kinds of generalized analysis methods such as the geology, the earthquake, the oil well logging and so on. The technology of Agent is a new method that applies the agent-based Hybrid Intelligent Methodology, which is suitable for studying the integrative system. This paper presents a multi-Agent-based soft computing society model by methodology of Gaia, based on the research of Reservoir Sedimentary Facies.
Nonstationary temporal response of mountain hemlock growth to climatic variability in the North Cascade Range, Washington, USA

A stationary response of tree radial growth to climatic variables is assumed as a basis for climatic reconstructions and future growth projections in response to climate change. Mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana (Bong.) Carriere) trees on the western slopes of the North Cascade Range (Washington, USA) were examined for stability in growth response to climatic influences at a small spatial scale. Moving correlation functions demonstrate that climate–growth interactions are nonstationary over time, alternating between periods of significant and nonsignificant responses. Correlations between growth and winter precipitation have weakened, becoming statistically insignificant in the last decade, but correlations with spring temperature and previous-year summer temperature have strengthened, becoming statistically significant. The Pacific Decadal Oscillation influences patterns in climate–growth correlations but does not seem to account for the most recent changes in correlation strength. At an interannual sc...
Dose responsive suppression of myointimal hyperplasia by dexamethasone.

Abstract The effect of increasing doses of dexamethasone on the development of myointimal hyperplasia in the rabbit carotid artery was studied by use of a balloon catheter injury model. Seventy New Zealand white rabbits underwent a standardized 2F balloon catheter stripping of the left carotid intima. The animals were randomly assigned to one of seven groups, each receiving daily injections of either saline (group I, N = 10) or graded doses of dexamethasone: 0.025 mg/kg (group II, N = 10); 0.050 mg/kg (group III, N = 10); 0.075 mg/kg (group IV, N = 10); 0.100 mg/kg (group V, N = 10); 0.125 mg/kg (group VI, N = 10); 0.150 mg/kg (group VII, N = 10). Injections were started 2 days before the intimal injury and continued daily, five times a week, for 8 weeks. The vessels were harvested 12 weeks after injury, and the ratio of the absolute area of intimal hyperplasia to the normalized area enclosed by the internal elastic lamina was measured as an index of myointimal hyperplasia. Also, at the time of harvest, blood flow (ml/min) was measured and the resistance ΔP/flow (mm Hg/ml/min) calculated for each vessel in vivo. Twelve-week patency rates were 60% in the control group I, 90% in groups II and III, and 100% in groups IV, V, VI, and VII. The value for the intimal hyperplasia/internal elastic lamina index, expressed as a percent, was 22.2 ± 3.7 for control group I, 17.7 ± 2.1 group II, 14.8 ± 3.0 group III, 12.8 ± 2.4 group IV, 11.5 ± 1.8 group V, 5.4 ± 1.3 group VI, and 3.9 ± 1.1 for group VII. The calculated values for the ΔP/flow in mm Hg/ml/min were 51.6 ± 3.7, 47.4 ± 4.5, 19.3 ± 6.7, 20.2 ± 7.4, 6.2 ± 4.1, 5.1 ± 1.9, and 8.3 ± 6.5 for groups I to VII, respectively. The observed decrease in the intimal hyperplasia/interval elastic lamina index by dexamethasone is dose related. The lowest dose at which this decrease reaches statistical significance, compared with control, is group III (0.050 mg/kg, p
Lamin B Counteracts the Kinesin Eg5 to Restrain Spindle Pole Separation during Spindle Assembly

Lamin B is a component of the membranous spindle matrix isolated from Xenopus egg extracts, and it is required for proper spindle morphogenesis. Besides lamin B, the spindle matrix contains spindle assembly factors (SAFs) such as Eg5 and dynein which are known to regulate microtubule organization and SAFs known to promote microtubule assembly such as Maskin and XMAP215. Because lamin B does not bind directly to microtubules, it must affect spindle morphogenesis indirectly by influencing the function of spindle matrix-associated SAFs. Using different assays in Xenopus egg extracts, we found that depleting lamin B caused formation of elongated and multipolar spindles, which could be reversed by partially inhibiting the kinesin Eg5, revealing an antagonistic relationship between Eg5 and lamin B. However, lamin B only very weakly antagonizes Eg5 in mediating poleward microtubule-flux based on fluorescence speckle microscopy. Depleting lamin B led to a very small but statistically significant increase in flux. Furthermore, flux reduction caused by partial Eg5 inhibition is only slightly reversed by removing lamin B. Because lamin B does not bind to Eg5, our studies suggest two nonexclusive mechanisms by which lamin B can indirectly antagonize Eg5. It could function in a network that restricts Eg5-driven microtubule sliding only when microtubules come into transient contact with the network. Lamin B could also function to sequester microtubule polymerization activities within the spindle. Without lamin B, increased microtubule assembly caused by the released SAFs would lead to excessive microtubule sliding that results in formation of elongated and multipolar spindles.
Avascular necrosis of the wrist and hand excluding the scaphoid and lunate

Abstract A review of unusual forms of avascular necrosis in the hand and wrist, excluding that seen in the scaphoid and lunate, is presented. A summary of the literature findings and treatment options is reviewed although, in nearly all types, limited data are available.
Aspartate and glutamate as possible transmitters of excitatory hippocampal afferents

IN the rat hippocampal formation, the major excitatory inputs possess a remarkable degree of physiological and morphological plasticity. Long lasting potentiation has been reported1–3 and, at least in the dentate gyrus, the synaptic loss consequent on removal of one afferent is compensated by formation of additional synapses by intact afferents4,5. These phenomena must involve profound alterations of synaptic biochemistry, but the requisite biochemical studies cannot be performed until the transmitters used by these inputs are known.
Physicochemical determinants of the sensitizing effectiveness for photooxidation of nerve membranes by fluorescein derivatives.

Abstract— Fluorescein and 8 of its halogenated derivatives were employed as sensitizers for the photochemical block of sodium channels on giant nerve axons from lobsters. Axons were voltage clamped using a double sucrose gap technique and illuminated by filtered light from a Xe arc following exposure to sensitizer at concentrations of 5 µM or less dissolved in the external bath. An assay for the magnitude of sensitizing effectiveness was developed consisting of the rate constant for block of channels during illumination scaled to the rate of photon capture in a thin layer of bathing solution. The kinetics for development of effectiveness during pre-illumination periods of up to 16-min duration varied widely for different derivatives despite similarities in molecular structure. At a standard 8-min pre-illumination exposure, the relative effectiveness extended over a 30,000-fold range. A model system consisting of octanol and the artificial sea-water (ASW) bathing solution was compared with the axon membrane and its environment. Octanol/ASW partition coefficients were measured for each sensitizer as well as the relative absorption in the 2 solvents at equal concentrations. Predicted values of relative sensitizing effectiveness based on the product of partition coefficient, relative absorption in octanol and mol wt of the substituents on the fluorescein skeleton were found to correlate highly with measured values. The diffusion kinetics prior to illumination correlated inversely with partition coefficients, suggesting that the more permeable sensitizers may penetrate into diffusion sinks, thus slowing the rise in concentration at sites for modification. It is concluded that sensitizers must penetrate into the membrane in order to sensitize and that the photochemistry appropriate for a low polarity environment controls the degree of membrane modification following photon capture.
Arsenic exposure of rural populations from the Rift Valley of Ethiopia as monitored by keratin in toenails.

Arsenic (As) contamination of drinking water is a worldwide phenomenon whose effect among vulnerable and rural communities in the Rift Valley of Ethiopia in eastern Africa is not well studied. This study examines As exposure and bioaccumulation from drinking water by monitoring human keratin in the form of toenails from exposed populations. Groundwater samples from drinking water wells (n=34) were collected along with toenail samples (n=58) from local communities and were analyzed for trace metals including As by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Of the total number of wells tested, 53% had As level above the WHO maximum contamination level of 10 p.p.b. Arsenic in toenails was significantly correlated to corresponding drinking water (r=0.72; R(2)=0.52; P<0.001). This correlation improves for drinking water with As concentrations above 2 p.p.b. (r=0.74; R(2)=0.54; P<0.001). Male minors (<18 years old) were found to have greater nail-As concentrations compared with adults consuming equal amounts of As (P<0.05). Estimated As dose specifically from drinking water sources was also associated with nail concentrations (P<0.01). We suggest that As measurement in nails could be a reliable method for detecting As exposure in residents living in rural areas.
Auditory orienting and inhibition of return in mild traumatic brain injury: A FMRI study

The semiacute phase of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is associated with deficits in the cognitive domains of attention, memory, and executive function, which previous work suggests may be related to a specific deficit in disengaging attentional focus. However, to date, there have only been a few studies that have employed dynamic imaging techniques to investigate the potential neurological basis of these cognitive deficits during the semiacute stage of injury. Therefore, event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to investigate the neurological correlates of attentional dysfunction in a clinically homogeneous sample of 16 patients with mTBI during the semiacute phase of injury (<3 weeks). Behaviorally, patients with mTBI exhibited deficits in disengaging and reorienting auditory attention following invalid cues as well as a failure to inhibit attentional allocation to a cued spatial location compared to a group of matched controls. Accordingly, patients with mTBI also exhibited hypoactivation within thalamus, striatum, midbrain nuclei, and cerebellum across all trials as well as hypoactivation in the right posterior parietal cortex, presupplementary motor area, bilateral frontal eye fields, and right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex during attentional disengagement. Finally, the hemodynamic response within several regions of the attentional network predicted response times better for controls than for patients with mTBI. These objective neurological findings represent a potential biomarker for the behavioral deficits in spatial attention that characterize the initial recovery phase of mTBI.
Tissue Engineering of the Intervertebral Disc

Tissue engineering is a rapidly growing field of research that aims to repair damaged tissues within the body. Among tissue engineering approaches is the use of scaffolds to help regenerate lost tissues. Scaffolds provide structural support for specific areas within the body, namely load bearing regions, and allow for cells to be seeded within the scaffold for tissue regeneration. Scaffolds that specifically replicate the properties and/or composition of native tissues are referred to as biomimetic scaffolds.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Economic aspects of Gracilaria culture in Taiwan

Abstract The cultivation of Gracilaria is described, costs and returns of the operation are analyzed, and the market demand is evaluated. Gracilaria culture is a labor-intensive operation. However, annual productivity and profit are high. The increasing demand and rising price of raw Gracilaria, and agar derived from it, are likely to encourage Gracilaria cultivation not only in Taiwan but also in other developing countries with sites suitable for its cultivation.
Monte Carlo simulation of head-to-head, tail-to-tail polypropylene and its mixing with polyethylene in the melt

Simulations have been performed at 473 K for one-component melts of polyethylene (PE) and head-to-head, tail-to-tail polypropylene (hhPP) as well as a mixture of the two species. The densities are 0.760, 0.753, and 0.756 g/cm3 for these three NVT simulations, respectively. The Monte Carlo simulation uses coarse-grained representations of the chains on a sparsely occupied high coordination lattice. The short-range intramolecular interactions are controlled by rotational isomeric state models for the two types of chains, and the intermolecular interactions are represented by a discretized version of Lennard-Jones potential energy functions. Equilibrated coarse-grained replicas are reverse-mapped to atomistically detailed models in continuous space. The pair correlation functions clearly demonstrate the onset of demixing for the two-component melt, which is qualitatively consistent with the conclusion from small-angle neutron scattering reported by Jeon et al. [Macromolecules 1998, 31, 3340]. Analysis of the...
Preparing for Disaster: Response Matrices in the USA and UK

Disasters, whether man-made or naturally occurring, require complex responses across multiple government agencies and private sector elements, including the media. These factors mandate that, for effective disaster management and because of the unpredictability of such events, response structures must be in place in advance, ready to be activated on short notice, with lines of responsibility clearly delineated and mechanisms for coordination of efforts already established. Disaster response experiences in the USA and the UK were reviewed at a conference convened by the New York Academy of Medicine and the Royal Society of Medicine in June 2007. Lessons to be drawn from these comparisons were sought. The importance of careful advance planning, clear delineation of spheres of responsibility and response roles, effective mechanisms for communication at all levels, and provision for adequate communication with the public were all identified as key elements of effective response mechanisms.
An endangered species in the stomach

This article examines whether the decline of Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium living in the human stomach since time immemorial, is good or bad for public health. Helicobacter pylori is one of humanity's oldest and closest companions, and yet it took scientists more than a century to recognize it. Just as scientists were learning the importance of H. pylori, however, they discovered that the bacteria are losing their foothold in the human digestive tract. Whereas nearly all adults in the developing world still carry the organism, its prevalence is much lower in developed countries such as the U.S. Epidemiologists believe that H. pylori has been disappearing from developed nations for the past 100 years thanks to improved hygiene, which blocks the transmission of the bacteria, and to the widespread use of antibiotics. The possibility that this bacterium may actually protect people against diseases of the esophagus has significant implications. For instance, current antibiotic treatments that eradicate H. pylori from the stomach may have to be reconsidered to ensure that the benefits are not outweighed by any potential harm. To fully understand H. pylori's effects on health, researchers must investigate the complex web of interactions between this remarkable microbe and its hosts. Ultimately, the study of H. pylori may help us understand other bacteria that colonize the human body, as well as the evolutionary processes that allow humans and bacteria to develop such intimate relations with one another. INSET: Overview/A Microbe's Effects.
Feasibility of supercritical fluid extraction with on-line coupling of reversed-phase liquid chromatography for quantitative analysis of polymer additives

An on-line analytical method for determining polymer additives which incorporates (a) sample preparation and concentration, (b) chromatographic separation, and (c) UV detection is presented. The on-line system which combines supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and high-performance liquid chromatography (LC) allows analytes to first be extracted and transferred to the SFE sorbent trap, then desorbed from the trap and presented to the LC system. No UV detector interference from residual dissolved CO2 in the mobile phase was observed since CO2 is eliminated by a pre-wash of the sorbent trap with a small amount of water. Reversed-phase LC with a mobile phase gradient of acetonitrile-water was employed. The described method allows a complete analysis to be processed in less than 30 min.
Hemifacial Microsomia in Pediatric Patients: Asymmetric Abnormal Development of the First and Second Branchial Arches

1523 emifacial microsomia is the second most common developmental craniofacial anomaly after cleft lip and palate and affects one of every 5600 live births [1]. More than 15 terms, including Goldenhar’s syndrome and oculoauriculovertebral dysplasia, have been applied to this disease, with each term representing the perspectives of different specialists. Diagnostic imaging is important in the presurgical evaluation of patients with this anomaly; however, the broad spectrum of abnormalities encountered in patients with hemifacial microsomia can be confusing. Hemifacial Microsomia in Pediatric Patients: Asymmetric Abnormal Development of the First and Second Branchial Arches Raymond W. Sze 1 , Angelisa M. Paladin 1 , Samson Lee 2 , Michael L. Cunningham 3
TEXTURE ANALYSIS / A CARTOGRAPHIC APPROACH AND ITS APPLICATIONS IN PATTERN RECOGNITION

Texture is an important element of pattern analysis in cartography and remote sensing. A positive relationship exists between human perceptual discrimination and machine/ mathematical discrimination of certain textural attributes of images and mapped data. Map-based and image-based statistical surfaces can be used in automated cartography. Cartography and remote sensing are both concerned with the analysis of the information on statistical surfaces and should be considered as an integrated discipline. La texture est un element important de l'analyse des configurations en cartographie et en teledetection. Il y a une relation certaine entre le discernement perceptif humain et le discernement automatique et mathematique pour certaines qualites de textures des images et des donnees representees sur carte. Les surfaces statistiques fondees sur les cartes et les images peuvent etre utilisees en cartographie automatisee. La cartographie et la teledetection sont toutes les deux concernees par l'analyse des rensei...
Double diffusive natural convection of CO2 in a brine saturated geothermal reservoir: Study of non-modal growth of perturbations and heterogeneity effects

Abstract In a recent study (Islam et al., 2013) double diffusive natural convection of CO 2 in brine saturated homogeneous permeable geothermal reservoir was investigated. Here we have shown the study of heterogeneous reservoirs. Firstly, we present the non-modal stability theory to analyze time-dependent double diffusive convection. Linear stability analysis is performed and the maximum amplification of perturbations optimized over the entire space of initial perturbations is examined. These provide us onset time of convection (or the critical time) and the structure of the most-amplified perturbations. Secondly, we investigate numerical simulation of an anisotropic and layered reservoir with permeability variations, which is impervious from the sides, and is open to CO 2 at the top. We show the propagation of CO 2 plumes over long period of time by analyzing different combination of problem parameters: solutal Rayleigh number (100 ≤ Ra s ≤ 10,000), the buoyancy ratio (2 ≤ N ≤ 100), Dykstra-Parsons coefficient (0 ≤ V dp ≤ 0.85) and a fixed Lewis number. How permeability variation in vertical ( k z ) to horizontal ( k x ) direction affects the CO 2 dissolution is discussed for different ratios of k z / k x (0.1 ≤ k z / k x ≤ 0.8). Results of different cavity aspect ratios (0.5 ≤ A ≤ 2) are also presented. It is found that heterogeneous porous reservoir renders better mass transfer of CO 2 than the homogeneous one. CO 2 dissolution is enhanced with increasing both Ra s and V dp . N , which represents geothermal effect, has minor impact on overall dissolution process. The results have implications in enhanced oil recovery and CO 2 based geothermal systems.
On Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics methods inspired by Tsallis statistics: Methodology, optimization, and application to atomic clusters

Generalized Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics algorithms which provide enhanced sampling of the phase space in the calculation of equilibrium thermodynamic properties is presented. The algorithm samples trial moves from a generalized statistical distribution derived from a modification of the Gibbs–Shannon entropy proposed by Tsallis. Results for a one-dimensional model potential demonstrate that the algorithm leads to a greatly enhanced rate of barrier crossing and convergence in the calculation of equilibrium averages. Comparison is made with standard Metropolis Monte Carlo and the J-walking algorithm of Franz, Freeman and Doll. Application to a 13-atom Lennard-Jones cluster demonstrates the ease with which the algorithm may be applied to complex molecular systems.
Efflux of Cholesterol from Different Cellular Pools

Free cholesterol is very efficiently removed from cells by 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrins. The efflux of cholesterol occurs from two distinct kinetic pools: the half-times (t1/2) for the two pools in CHO-K1 cells are 15 ± 5 s and 21 ± 6 min and they represent 25% ± 5% and 75% ± 5% of the readily exchangeable cell cholesterol, respectively. In this study we have determined that the fast pool and the majority of the slow kinetic pool for cholesterol efflux are apparently present in the plasma membrane. Numerous agents that inhibit intracellular cholesterol trafficking are unable to affect either the size or the t1/2 for efflux of either kinetic pool. In contrast, treatment of the cells with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), exogenous lipases such as sphingomyelinase and phospholipase C, calcium ionophore A23187, or heat resulted in the dramatic increase in the size of the fast kinetic pool of cholesterol. These changes in the kinetics of cholesterol efflux are not specific to the nature of the extracellular accepto...
Expanded C9ORF72 Hexanucleotide Repeat in Depressive Pseudodementia

IMPORTANCE Expanded hexanucleotide repeats in C9ORF72 are a common genetic cause of frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Repeat expansions have also been detected infrequently in other disorders, including Alzheimer disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and parkinsonian disorders. OBSERVATIONS A consecutive series of 31 cases from the brain bank for neurodegenerative disorders at Mayo Clinic was screened to assess the incidence of the expanded C9ORF72 repeat in cases of depressive pseudodementia. The presence of the hexanucleotide repeat was established using immunohistochemistry with a highly disease-specific antibody (C9RANT), and was further validated in carriers using repeat-primed polymerase chain reaction and Southern blotting. Two individuals harbored the C9ORF72 repeat expansion. Both patients were men with refractory depression. One patient experienced drug-induced parkinsonism and sudden-onset dementia, while the other patient had a more insidious disease course suspected to be Alzheimer disease. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This report increases the range of clinicopathologic presentations of C9ORF72 expanded hexanucleotide repeat to include psychiatric disorders such as depressive pseudodementia.