cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Advocacy at the End of Life: Meeting the Needs of Vulnerable Latino Patients

This research explores health care professionals' understanding of the problems that arise in managing a terminal condition impacting the Latino population and conceptualizes the components of patient advocacy that address gaps in end-of-life care for patients and their family members. Limited research exists regarding patient advocacy from the perspectives of health care providers working with vulnerable Latino populations utilizing a public sector health care system. Forty-six semi-structured interviews were conducted with providers from different disciplines including medicine, nursing, social work, and chaplaincy. Although roles and responsibilities vary among health providers, it is imperative that all providers become aware of the need for patient advocacy. Doing so is not only in the best interest of vulnerable Latino populations but also has overarching financial benefits and positive outcomes for patients, administrators, and public health care systems. Social workers are the ideal professionals ...
Variability in Antithrombotic Therapy Regimens Peri-TAVR: A Single Academic Center Experience

Introduction The aim of this study was to describe peri-procedural antithrombotic use in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) at a single academic medical center.
Inducible cytochrome P450 activities in renal glomerular mesangial cells: biochemical basis for antagonistic interactions among nephrocarcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

BACKGROUND: Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), anthracene (ANTH) and chrysene (CHRY) are polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) implicated in renal toxicity and carcinogenesis. These PAHs elicit cell type-specific effects that help predict toxicity outcomes in vitro and in vivo. While BaP and ANTH selectively injure glomerular mesangial cells, and CHRY targets cortico-tubular epithelial cells, binary or ternary mixtures of these hydrocarbons markedly reduce the overall cytotoxic potential of individual hydrocarbons. METHODS: To study the biochemical basis of these antagonistic interactions, renal glomerular mesangial cells were challenged with BaP alone (0.03 - 30 microM) or in the presence of ANTH (3 microM) or CHRY (3 microM) for 24 hr. Total RNA and protein will be harvested for Northern analysis and measurements of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, respectively, to evaluate cytochrome P450 mRNA and protein inducibility. Cellular hydrocarbon uptake and metabolic profiles of PAHs were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS: Combined hydrocarbon treatments did not influence the cellular uptake of individual hydrocarbons. ANTH or CHRY strongly repressed BaP-inducible cytochrome P450 mRNA and protein expression, and markedly inhibited oxidative BaP metabolism. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that antagonistic interactions among nephrocarcinogenic PAHs involve altered expression of cytochrome P450s that modulate bioactivation profiles and nephrotoxic/ nephrocarcinogenic potential.
The limits to complexity: A thermodynamic history of bioenergy

The history of civilization is biased toward the use of bioenergy because of the biophysics of life and the structure of our natural environment. Energy physically drives the creation and maintenance of complex systems, which is shown here from simple molecular structures to empires. Only a fraction of the complexity currently supported by fossil fuels can be maintained using the energy in plant biomass alone, which is limited by global net primary productivity. From the dawn of civilization, agricultural land has always been used for energy for transportation, via feed for animals, and there has always been a trade-off between ‘food, fuel, and environment’. The United States (USA), Germany, and Brazil now use roughly 12% of agricultural land for biofuels, but energy efficiency improvements by 2050 could require only 11% of US agricultural land or 15% of forest land for biofuels to support all modes of US transportation. Despite its limitations, bioenergy has been extensively used for thousands of years and probability theory suggests it will continue to be a critical energy resource. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Geometric identities in lattice theory

An Arguesian identity is an identity in Grassmann?Cayley algebras with certain multi-linear properties of expressions in joins and meets of vectors and covectors. Many classical theorems of projective geometry and their generalizations to higher dimensions can be expressed as simple and elegant Arguesian identities. In a previous work we showed that an Arguesian identity can be unfolded with respect to a vector variable to obtain a lattice inequality, which holds in various lattices. In this paper, we extend this technique to an arbitrary variable. We prove that for any variable v of an Arguesian identity I, a lattice inequality can be obtained by unfolding I with respect to the variable v. This inequality and its dual are valid in the class of linear lattices if the identity is of order 2, and in the congruence variety of Abelian groups if the identity is of a higher order. Consequently, we obtain a family of lattice identities which are self-dual over the class of linear lattices. In particular, all the inequalities obtained by this method are valid in the lattice of subspaces of a vector space, which are characteristic-free and independent of dimensions.
Effect of the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin a on the responsiveness of rat hepatocytes to dioxin

Since histone acetylation has been implicated in the facilitation of specific gene transcription, we investigated the effect of increasing historic acetylation through inhibition of historie deacetylase on 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) induction of P4501A activity in cultured rat hepatocytes. Inhibition of histone deacetylation was accomplished with addition of trichostatin A (TSA) to the incubation medium, and P4501A activity was measured spectrofluorometrically by determination of the rate of resorufin formation by ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD). While TSA alone (5–200 ng/mL) had no effect on EROD activity, TSA potentiated the effect of various concentrations (10−12 to 10−10 M) of TCDD. Addition of 200 ng TSA/mL with TCDD resulted in an increased EROD activity of ~200% compared with TCDD alone. When TSA was removed from the cells after various incubation times (2, 6, 24 hr) by successive washings with TSA-free medium, it was determined that TSA was required for 24 hr in order to potentiate the effects of a 48-hr incubation with TCDD. In addition to measurement of EROD activity, P4501A1 and 1A2 microsomal protein were determined by western immunoblotting analysis. While neither P4501A1 nor 1A2 was detectable in the presence of TSA alone, P4501A1 was present after incubation of cells with TCDD in the presence or absence of TSA. TCDD plus TSA also resulted in the formation of P4501A2. The results of this study suggest an important role for histone acetylation in the action of TCDD on induction of P4501A enzymes.
Superfluid helium in porous media

The superfluid properties of 4He absorbed in porous media are discussed. Emphasis is given to the nature of the superfluid transition for helium contained in a variety of different porous structures. Recent heat capacity and superfluid measurements for helium in Vycor glass and other porous media are presented in some detail. The onset of superfluidity as a function of adsorbed helium coverage at zero temperature, or “boson localization,” is touched on briefly. The problem of dissipation of superflow in porous media, especially in the vicinity of the superfluid transition, is discussed.
Understanding the nature and consequences of children's exposure to violence: research perspectives.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has a long history of supporting research to enhance the scientific understanding of and effective interventions for a range of problems associated with children’s exposure to violence. Recently, funded research has improved our understanding of the nature and consequences of children’s exposure to violence. This article describes an NIH initiative for research on children’s exposure to violence, examples of projects supported by the initiative, and emerging research topics for this important scientific area.
Photo-induced hydrogen outgassing of glass

Storage of high-pressure hydrogen in hollow glass microspheres has been revisited with emphasis on improving the hydrogen release rates, a detriment to further development of this long-proposed, safe and efficient hydrogen storage technology. A possible solution to the poor hydrogen release rates has been realized with the discovery of photo-induced outgassing, in which a high-intensity infrared light is used to elicit hydrogen release in selectively doped glasses. This process results in much faster response times for the release of hydrogen in glasses than can be obtained by normal heating and may provide a path to superior performance for hydrogen storage in glass microspheres. The current study compares the outgassing of hydrogen-saturated glasses by use of radiation from a high-intensity lamp with the results obtained by heating using a furnace. Results show the effect of base glass composition, dopant species, and infrared radiation intensity on the relative outgassing response of samples exposed to light with those heated by a furnace and are discussed in the context of the hydrogen storage application.
Permeability of cell junction depends on local cytoplasmic calcium activity

MANY kinds of cells are coupled by junctions consisting of membrane channels through which molecules of a certain size range can flow freely from one cell interior to another1. It has been proposed that the permeability of the junctional channels depends on the concentration of free ionised calcium in cytoplasm ([Ca2+]i) (ref. 2). This hypothesis is supported by two classes of experiments. In one, the interior of a coupled cell system is allowed ito exchange freely with a known [Ca2+] in the exterior, through a hole in the (non-junctional) membrane; junctional conductance is reduced (uncoupling) when the [Ca2+]i is above 5–8 × 10−5 M (ref. 3). In the other class, uncoupling ensues when the (closed) cell system is treated with inhibitors of energy metabolism or with Ca2+ ionophores5, or on exposure for long periods to Ca,Mg-free medium or to Li medium6; in these conditions a rise in [Ca2+]i, may be expected because of known properties of cellular Ca metabolism7,8. Here, we demonstrate the changes in [Ca2+]i together with those in coupling in three of these conditions, using aequorin to display the distribution of Ca2+ in the cell. It will be shown that the uncoupling is, indeed, in each case associated with a rise in [Ca2+]. Furthermore, by local injection of Ca2+ into the cells, it will be shown that uncoupling ensues when the rise in [Ca2+]i occurs at the junction, but not when it occurs at other regions in the cell.
On the controllability of distributed parameter systems

The reachable states of distributed parameter systems where the magnitude of the control energy is constrained are found. The systems considered are described by linear partial differential equations on a bounded domain. The controls may be either distributed or at the boundary and are required to satisfy a constraint in the magnitude of their norm. The results are then used to find conditions for null controllability.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 overexpression in the subfornical organ prevents the angiotensin II-mediated pressor and drinking responses and is associated with angiotensin II type 1 receptor downregulation.

We recently reported the presence of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)2 in brain regions controlling cardiovascular function; however, the role of ACE2 in blood pressure regulation remains unclear because of the lack of specific tools to investigate its function. We hypothesized that ACE2 could play a pivotal role in the central regulation of cardiovascular function by regulating other renin–angiotensin system components. To test this hypothesis, we generated an adenovirus expressing the human ACE2 cDNA upstream of an enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) reporter gene (Ad-hACE2-eGFP). In vitro characterization shows that neuronal cells infected with Ad-hACE2-eGFP (10 to 100 multiplicities of infection), but not Ad-eGFP (100 multiplicities of infection), exhibit dose-dependent ACE2 expression and activity. In addition, an active secreted form was detected in the conditioned medium. In vivo, Ad-hACE2-eGFP infection (2×106 plaque-forming units intracerebroventricularly) produced time-dependent express...
Pneumocystis Carinii pneumonia complicating corticosteroid therapy in acute severe alcoholic hepatitis

Pneumocystis Carinii pneumonia complicating corticosteroid therapy in acute severe alcoholic hepatitis
On the Essential Relations between Education and Work.

Abstract The nature of the appropriate relationship between education and the workplace has been the topic of lively debate for nearly a century. The present paper is an attempt to synthesize the research and discussion concerning the nature and quality of the connection between education and employment, and to highlight the critical questions which appear to have guided this body of inquiry. The paper concludes with a discussion of methodological considerations and a critique of current research practice.
Fault localization and failure modes in microsystems-enabled photovoltaic devices

Microsystems-enabled photovoltaic (MEPV) technology is a promising approach to lower the cost of solar energy to competitive levels. This paper describes current development efforts to leverage existing silicon integrated circuit (IC) failure analysis (FA) techniques to study MEPV devices. Various FA techniques such as light emission microscopy and laser-based fault localization were used to identify and characterize primary failure modes after fabrication and packaging. The FA results provide crucial information used in provide corrective actions and improve existing MEPV fabrication techniques.
Allograft colonization and infections with pseudomonas in cystic fibrosis lung transplant recipients.

Objective To assess the incidence of pseudomonal infection, colonization, and inflammation in the allograft of lung transplant recipients with cystic fibrosis (CF) as compared with recipients with other end-stage lung disease. Design Retrospective review. Setting University medical center transplant service. Patients All patients with CF and chronic pseudomonal infection (n=62) and patients with nonseptic end-stage lung disease (n=52) receiving a double lung transplant between October 1983 and March 1996. Results Fifty lung transplant recipients with CF survived beyond postoperative day (POD) 15 and were subject to sequential bronchoscopy with BAL. Forty-four CF lung transplant recipients had Pseudomonas isolated from the allograft by median POD 15 as compared with 21 non-CF lung transplant recipients (p 6 cells vs 3.46±4.73×10 6 ) (p 6 cells vs 0.21±0.18×10 6 ) (p Conclusions Isolation of Pseudomonas from the lung allograft occurs more frequently and earlier after transplantation in recipients with CF. While infections related to Pseudomonas also occur more frequently in recipients with CF, there is no increase in mortality. There is an intense inflammatory response in the lung allograft associated with the isolation of Pseudomonas in recipients with and without CF.
Greenhouse gas mitigation economics for irrigated cropping systems in northeastern Colorado.

Recent soil and crop management technologies have potential for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions; however, these management strategies must be profitable if they are to be adopted by producers. The economic feasibility of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions in irrigated cropping systems was evaluated for 5 yr on a Fort Collins clay loam soil (a fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Aridic Haplustalf). Cropping systems included conventional tillage continuous corn (Zea mays L.) (CT-CC), no-till continuous corn (NT-CC), and no-till corn-bean (NT-CB) including 1 yr soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] and 1 yr dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The study included six N fertilization rates ranging from 0 to 246 kg ha -1 . Results showed highest average net returns for NT-CB, exceeding net returns for NT-CC and CT-CC by US$182 and US$228 ha -1 , respectively, at economically optimum N fertilizer rates. Net global warming potential (GWP) generally increased with increasing N fertilizer rate with the exception of NT-CC, where net GWP initially declined and then increased at higher N rates. Combining economic and net GWP measurements showed that producers have an economic incentive to switch from CT-CC to NT-CB, increasing annual average net returns by US$228 ha -1 while reducing annual net GWP by 929 kg CO 2 equivalents ha -1 . The greatest GWP reductions (1463 kg CO 2 equivalents ha -1 ) could be achieved by switching from CT-CC to NT-CC while also increasing net returns, but the presence of a more profitable NT-CB alternative means NT-CC is unlikely to be chosen without additional economic incentives.
Modeling and Characterizing Power Variability in Multicore Architectures

Parameter variation due to manufacturing error is an unavoidable consequence of technology scaling in future generations. The impact of random variation in physical factors such as gate length and interconnect spacing have a profound impact on not only performance of chips, but also their power behavior. While circuit-level techniques such as adaptive body-biasing can help to mitigate mal-fabricated chips, they cannot completely alleviate severe within die variations forecasted for near future designs. Despite the large impact that power variability have on future designs, there is a lack of published work that examines architectural implications of this phenomenon. In this work, we develop architecture level models that model power variability due to manufacturing error and examine its influence on multicore designs. We introduce VariPower, a tool for modeling power variability based on an microarchitectural description and floorplan of a chip. In particular, our models are based on layout level SPICE simulations and project power variability for different microarchitectural blocks using statistical analysis. Using VariPower: (1) we characterize power variability for multicore processors, (2) explore application sensitivity to power variability, and (3) examine clustering techniques that can appropriately classify groups of processors and chips that have similar variability characteristics
Socioeconomic Drivers of Deforestation in the Northern Ecuadorian Amazon

Investigations of land use/land cover (LULC) change and forest management are limited by a lack of understanding of how socioeconomic factors affect land use. This lack also constrains the predictions of future deforestation, which is especially important in the Amazon basin, where large tracts of natural forest are being converted to managed uses. Research presented in this article was conducted to address this lack of understanding. Its objectives are (a) to quantify deforestation in the Northern Ecuadorian Amazon (NEA) during the periods 1986-1996 and 1996-2002; and (b) to determine the significance and magnitude of the effects of socioeconomic factors on deforestation rates at both the parroquia (parish) and finca (farm) levels. Annual deforestation rates were quantified via satellite image processing and geographic information systems. Linear spatial lag regression analyses were then used to explore relationships between socioeconomic factors and deforestation. Socioeconomic factors were obtained, at the finca level, from a detailed household survey carried out in 1990 and 1999, and at the parroquia level from data in the 1990 and 2001 Ecuadorian censuses of population. We found that the average annual deforestation rate was 2.5% and 1.8%/year for 1986-1996 and 1996-2002, respectively. At the parroquia level, variables representing demographic factors (i.e., population density) and accessibility factors (i.e., road density), among others, were found to be significantly related to deforestation. At the farm level, the factors related to deforestation were household size, distance by road to main cities, education, and hired labor. The findings of this research demonstrate both the severity of deforestation in the Northern Ecuadorian Amazon and the array of factors affecting deforestation in the tropics.
Simvastatin, a competitive inhibitor of HMG‐CoA reductase, lowers cholesterol saturation index of gallbladder bile

We tested the possibility that simvastatin, a competitive inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase related to mevinolin, might alter cholesterol saturation of gallbladder bile. Ten patients with Type IIa or IIb hypercholesterolemia underwent bile sampling before, and again after, treatment with 20 or 40 mg per day simvastatin for 7 to 13 weeks. Mean cholesterol saturation index of gallbladder bile fell from 1.01 to 0.77 during simvastatin treatment (p < 0.01). This finding strongly suggests that treatment with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors will not predispose to development of cholesterol gallstones. Indeed, it raises the possibility that such inhibitors might have a future role to play in treatment of gallstones.
Depth dose characteristics of 24-MV x-ray beams at extended SSD.

Depth dose characteristics of 24‐MV beams from a medicallinear accelerator at various SSDs have been measured. The dose buildup, percent depth dose (PDD), and output were measured using ionization chambers and a diode detector under full scatter. Surface dose ranged from 8% to 51% depending upon the collimator setting at 100‐cm SSD. It decreased by 10%–15% as distance was increased to 200 cm, but remained unchanged beyond this distance. The d max migrated rapidly toward the surface with increasing field size at 100‐cm SSD. At extended SSD, the d max occurred at greater depths and shifted a little toward the shallow depths with increasing field size. Large field PDDs measured at extended SSD agreed well with those predicted from 100‐cm data. The output followed the 1/(distance)2 relationship quite well. The extended SSD beam data are clinically useful when treating hemibody or performing total body irradiation (TBI) procedures.
Accessing long-lived nuclear singlet states between chemically equivalent spins without breaking symmetry

Short nuclear spin–lattice relaxation times have long been a challenge for magnetic resonance imaging. The alternative of using long-lived nuclear spin states has so far required symmetry breaking, but a method of controlling these states without breaking the symmetry of the spin system has now been demonstrated.
The surface chemistry of some perovskite oxides

The surface hydroxyl concentrations of BaTiO3, SrTiO3, and LaCoO3 were determined by exchange with D2 as a function of the dehydroxylation temperature. The results suggest that the surface chemistry of these materials resembles that of certain other oxide systems such as alumina and titania. Values approaching the number of hydroxyls required to terminate the lattice (1.4 × 1015/cm2) were obtained for samples evacuated at room temperature, but these values fell by about an order of magnitude as the pretreatment temperature was increased to 450 °C and by another factor of about 2 at 600 °C. In this way coordinatively unsaturated centers were produced. The experimental procedure was complicated somewhat by the fact that all three oxides were reduced to a greater or lesser extent when contacted with D2 at elevated temperatures. This amount was negligibly small at 450 °C (the temperature required for equilibration) with BaTiO3 and SrTiO3 but it amounted to about 1e/mole for LaCoO3 (e = electrons). The former two oxides could be reduced by about 0.4e/mole at 1200 °C. In all cases an amount of H2O equivalent to that of the H2 consumed was produced in the reduction step and the oxygen removed could be readily replaced on contact with O2 at the same temperature. LaCoO3 could be reduced by up to 3 e/mole at 500 °C and the oxygen again replaced stoichiometrically. X-Ray patterns of the parent perovskites were in good agreement with literature values. The pattern for LaCoO3 changed slightly when it was reduced by 1 e/mole, but returned to that of the parent sample on reoxidation at 450 °C. The pattern of La2O3 appeared when the sample was reduced by 3e/mole, but it again became nearly identical with that of the parent perovskite upon reoxidation. Lines for metallic Co did not appear at 500 °C but became evident when the reduced sample was sintered in He at 800 °C. In the latter case the perovskite lines returned only very slowly as Co3O4 reacted with La2O3 at this temperature. The catalytic implications of these observations are briefly discussed.
Online Sheet Music Projects and Metadata from a Public Service Perspective

ABSTRACT As historic sheet music collections enter the public domain, they are becoming increasingly popular as content for digital library projects. This newfound plethora of sheet music citations and images online has generated many patron inquiries. Patrons often cannot, or do not, distinguish sources that are found in the online catalog from those found through a Google search. To them the results are all “on the web.” It is oftentimes the Reference Librarian's job to redirect the patron to the correct citation or even another library. Since library staff members answering reference queries about sheet music may or may not be the same ones involved in creating the online sheet music collections, knowledge of how these online collections are structured and metadata applied can be helpful in addressing reference queries. This article gives an overview of how issues related to patron discovery of and access to both the collections and their contents are directly related to the quantity and quality of the...
Classical/non-classical cannabinoid hybrids; Stereochemical requirements for the southern hydroxyalkyl chain

We have synthesized a range of hybrid classical/non-classical cannabinoids (CC/NCCs) combining the hexahydrocannabinol dibenzopyran structure with the hydroxyalkyl chain found in CP-55940, in order to investigate the role of the hydroxyalkyl pharmacophore in cannabimimetic activity. This was achieved by synthesizing CC analogs in which the 6 alpha- and 6 beta-methyl groups were modified to the corresponding hydroxyethyl groups. Our binding data indicated that beta position was the preferred orientation for the hydroxyalkyl moiety, affinity for the CB1 receptor being 20-fold greater for the 6 beta-hydroxyethyl than the corresponding 6 alpha-analog. Further studies using 6 beta-hydroxyalkyldibenzopyran analogs varying the southern aliphatic chain length from 6 beta-hydroxymethyl to 6 beta-hydroxyethyl to 6 beta-hydroxypropyl demonstrated little potency change with chain length. Therefore, we concluded that whilst the hydroxyalkyl pharmacophore was strongly affected by its configuration relative to the dibenzopyran ring, the chain length of the hydroxyalkyl moiety (up to the n = 3 homolog) was not critical.
The future of the proposition

Abstract A primary aim of this research is to show that the foundational term ‘proposition’ tends to be used in different ways by different factions, in recent debates surrounding the semantics/pragmatics interface. First, I give a brief sketch of some relevant background terrain. Next, I investigate the extent to which different senses of the term 'proposition' are associated with differing theoretical orientations toward the S/P interface. I close by bringing these lessons to bear toward the end of disentangling terminological from substantive differences, in the case of certain ongoing disputes.
Flexible Microfluidic Devices for Both Generation and Absorption of Carbon Dioxide Gas and Liquid Perfusion

We present a method of fabrication and applications of flexible microfluidic devices with three-dimensional (3D) interconnected microporous walls based on treatment using a solvent/non-solvent mixture at room temperature. The complete fabrication process from device design concept to working device can be completed in less than an hour in a regular laboratory setting without the need of expensive equipment. Microfluidic devices were used to demonstrate gas generation and absorption reactions by acidifying water with carbon dioxide (CO2) gas. By selectively treating the microporous structures with oxygen plasma, acidification of water by acetic acid (distilled white vinegar) perfusion was also demonstrated with the same device design.
Isolation of a soluble cadmium-binding protein from pulmonary macrophages.

Abstract A soluble cadmium-binding protein, with properties similar to metallothionein, has been isolated from rabbit alveolar macrophages. The macrophages were cultured in Medium 199 with Earle's salts for 24 hr in the presence of 10 μ m CdCl2 and carrier-free 109Cd as a tracer. The isolation procedure began with application of a 100,000 g cell supernatant to a column of Sephadex G-75 Fine. The fraction containing the greatest amount of cadmium was eluted at a relative elution volume, V e V o , of 1.87. A molecular weight determination performed following Sephadex chromatography indicated that the apparent molecular weight of the impure protein was approximately 11,000. The fractions containing cadmium were pooled and purification procedures were applied, including acetone fractionation, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. DEAE-Cellulose chromatography following acetone fractionation indicated the presence of two forms of metalloprotein as has been demonstrated previously in the isolation of cadmium-thionein from liver and kidney. The two forms of metalloprotein were subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and, although separation was incomplete, bands obtained corresponded to those typically observed in rat liver.
Fluorescein gonioangiography of the normal canine eye using a dSLR camera adaptor

Abstract The purpose of this study was to describe fluorescein gonioangiography (FGA) of the normal canine eye using a digital single lens reflex (dSLR) camera adaptor. Dogs were anesthetized using intravenous propofol. Imaging was performed using a Lovac Barkan goniolens, dSLR camera, dSLR camera adaptor, camera lens, and accessory flash. Twelve dogs with a mean age of 2.0 +/− 0.8 years were imaged. No characteristic angiographic phases were observed. Leakage from the peri-limbal capillary network was a common finding and occurred 7.7 +/− 2.2 s post injection in 9 (75%) dogs. In 3 (25%) dogs, filling of the circumferential ciliary artery was observed 10.3 +/− 2.8 s post injection. Dye leakage within the iris base and into the aqueous humor was demonstrated in 4 (33%) and 6 dogs (50%) respectively. No adverse events were noted. This study demonstrates FGA findings in normal canine eyes using a cost effective dSLR camera adaptor.
Experimental determination of enhancement factors from supercritical-fluid chromatography

Abstract An experimental technique is described which involves the application of SCF chromatography to predicting enhancement factors in supercritical fluids at elevated pressures. We consider an important step in the development of this application: the determination of solute fugacities in the stationary phase of the chromatograph column. Experimental results are presented for chromatographic retention times of several aromatic hydrocarbons in a column with supercritical CO 2 as the carrier fluid and a stationary phase of octadecylsilica particles. The measurements are used to determine the mechanism of solute retention in the column, and to develop a thermodyanmic correlation for predicting solute fugacities in the stationary phase.
Counter-examples to Johnson's LQR propriety limits

The question of the range of applicability of the optimal linear regulator results is addressed. In particular, Johnson's recently reported expanded limits are investigated. It is shown that while it may be possible to expand these original limits to some degree, the limits presented by Johnson are too broad and are easily disproved using simple counter-examples.
Effective use of a common problem-solving process as an integral part of TQM.

Many organizations implement TQM programmes, but it is estimated that only 25 per cent of them can be classified as successful in terms of delivering the benefits that should be expected from them. Failure to create the conditions through systems and procedures which highlight problems in the organization and provide common approaches to solving them (such as an “in‐company” problem‐solving process) is often a main reason for such a low success rate. The benefits of successfully implementing the extensive use of a common problem‐solving process and adopting a management style at all levels that supports, allows and encourages employees to use it are enormous. The problem‐solving process should be an integral part of the TQM initiative and supported by ongoing training and facilitation, and used by management at all levels.
Gas sensing by graphene/silicon hetrostructure

Graphene, a two-dimensional material with a very high charge carrier concentration, is ideal for sensing chemical species based upon charge exchange. The sensitivity of graphene is shown to improve many folds by using graphene/semiconductor heterostructure. A new amperometric chemical sensing paradigm based upon transport across graphene/p-Si Schottky diode under reverse bias is demonstrated in this work. The reported very high sensitivity of graphene/p-Si heterostructure is in direct agreement with small change in Schottky barrier height due to molecular adsorption on graphene causing large change in reverse saturation current due to exponential dependence of later on the former.
Inhibition of NF-kappa B augments sensitivity to 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid in colon cancer.

Abstract Background 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), the most common antimetabolite used for the treatment of colorectal cancer, exerts its cytotoxic effects through the induction of apoptosis. Folinic acid potentiates the effect of 5-FU. Drug activity is currently limited as a result of inducible chemoresistance. Limited research suggests that the transcription factor nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), which has antiapoptotic properties, may play a major role in inducible chemoresistance. Materials and methods SW48 colon cancer cells were used for all experiments. Cell growth was determined by cell proliferation assay. Apoptosis was assessed by measuring caspase 3 activity. Activation of NF-κB was ascertained by electrophoretic mobility shift assay, luciferase reporter assay, and Western blot analysis. Results Treatment with 5-FU (0.001–10 m m ), not only inhibited growth and induced apoptosis but significantly activated NF-κB in SW48 cells. Folinic acid alone (0.01–100 mg/L) did not inhibit growth but improved the cytotoxic effect of 5-FU in a dose-dependent manner. Likewise, folinic acid alone did not activate NF-κB or induce apoptosis but enhanced 5-FU-mediated NF-κB activation and cell apoptosis. Transfection with adenovirus IκBα super-repressor strongly inhibited constitutive activation of NF-κB and significantly enhanced 5-FU and 5-FU/Folinic acid-mediated growth inhibition (P Conclusions Treatment with 5-FU activates NF-κB. Folinic acid enhances 5-FU-mediated activation of NF-κB. Inhibition of NF-κB enhances the cytotoxic effect of 5-FU with or without Folinic acid in colon cancer cells.
The brain tissue response to implanted silicon microelectrode arrays is increased when the device is tethered to the skull

The influence of tethering silicon microelectrode arrays on the cortical brain tissue reaction was compared with that of untethered implants placed in the same location by identical means using immunoflourescent methods and cell type specific markers over indwelling periods of 1-4 weeks. Compared with untethered, freely floating implants, tethered microelectrodes elicited significantly greater reactivity to antibodies against ED1 and GFAP over time. Regardless of implantation method or indwelling time, retrieved microelectrodes contained a layer of attached macrophages identified by positive immunoreactivity against ED1. In the tethered condition and in cases where the tissue surrounding untethered implants had the highest levels of ED1+ and GFAP+ immunoreactivity, the neuronal markers for neurofilament 160 and NeuN were reduced. Although the precise mechanisms are unclear, the present study indicates that simply tethering silicon microelectrode arrays to the skull increases the cortical brain tissue response in the recording zone immediately surrounding the microelectrode array, which signals the importance of identifying this important variable when evaluating the tissue response of different device designs, and suggests that untethered or wireless devices may elicit less of a foreign body response.
Endogenous Market Segmentation for Lemons

Information asymmetry between sellers and buyers often prevents socially desirable trade. This article presents a new mechanism that mitigates the inefficiencies caused by information asymmetry. I consider decentralized markets under adverse selection and show that such markets can be endogenously segmented in a way that improves social welfare. Endogenous segmentation is driven by low-quality sellers’ incentive to attract more buyers by separating from high-quality sellers. The mechanism helps us understand the roles of several real-world institutions, such as multiple marketplaces, costless advertisements, and nonbinding list prices.
Visualizing calcium signaling in astrocytes.

Astrocytes are nonneuronal cells in the brain (glia) that do not generate electrical impulses but communicate by chemical signaling. This communication can be observed under a microscope with fluorescent calcium indicators that glow more brightly when the concentration of calcium increases inside the cell. Astrocytes release adenosine 5′-triphosphate and other cell signaling molecules that excite membrane receptors on other astrocytes to cause an increase in intracellular calcium in the recipient cell. Many of the substances released by astrocytes also excite neurons, and astrocytes have on their own cell membrane many of the same neurotransmitter receptors used by neurons to communicate across synapses. This allows astrocytes to respond to neural impulse activity, communicate among other astrocytes, and influence neuronal communication by taking up or releasing neurotransmitters from synapses.
Distinctive features of the biological catch bond in the jump-ramp force regime predicted by the two-pathway model.

The receptor-ligand unbinding in the biological catch bond is analyzed within a simple model that comprises a single bound state and two unbinding pathways. This model is investigated in detail for the jump-ramp force regime, where the pulling force quickly jumps to a finite value and then is ramped linearly with time. Two qualitative criteria are identified that distinguish the catch bond from the slip bond. First, the rupture force probability density of the catch-bond exhibits a maximum-minimum pair, which develops at finite forces. In contrast, the slip bond produces a maximum that first appears at zero force. Second, the catch bond can be identified over a wide range of ramp rates by high rupture probabilities at low forces relative to the probability at the maximum, in contrast to the slip bond, where the probability at the maximum always corresponds to the most likely rupture force. Both distinctive features of the catch bond are masked by large jump forces, indicating that the catch bond is best identified in experiments with moderate loading rates and small jump forces. The catch-bond lifetime in the constant force regime is related to the probability density in the jump-ramp regime, allowing one to determine the bond lifetime for a constant force by measuring the initial probability density in the jump-ramp experiments with different jump forces and a fixed ramp rate. The key analytic results are illustrated with the $P$-selectin/$P$-selectin glucoprotein ligand-1 bond.
Titration and viscosity studies of two copolymers of maleic acid

Abstract 1. 1. Measurements of the titration with alkali and of the solution viscosities in dioxane-water mixtures containing various concentrations of acid and salt have been made for the 1:1 copolymers of maleic acid with styrene and vinyl ethyl ether, respectively. 2. 2. In each copolymer the carboxyls dissociate in two distinct pH ranges. The first class of carboxyls has a relatively sharp distribution of dissociation constants and is about equal in strength in the two polymers. The second class has a very wide distribution of dissociation constants and is much weaker in the styrene than in the vinyl ethyl ether copolymer. 3. 3. A minimal concentration of dioxane and/or hydrochloric acid is required to obtain a finite intrinsic viscosity extrapolation for either copolymer. 4. 4. Above this minimal concentration, the intrinsic viscosity of the vinyl ether copolymer depends very little on the concentration of either dioxane or hydrochloric acid and is not far from the value for the corresponding anhydride (non-polyelectrolyte) copolymer in pure dioxane. 5. 5. The intrinsic viscosity of the styrene copolymer varies in a complicated manner with dioxane and hydrochloric acid concentrations, and in certain concentration regions this polymer is insoluble. 6. 6. The differences between the two polymers, and in particular the complicated behavior of the styrene copolymer, are explained by the hydrophobic character of the phenyl group.
Determinants of diagnostic accuracy in pulmonary scintigraphy for pulmonary capillary protein leak associated with adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): a technical note.

Radionuclide assessment of pulmonary capillary protein leak using [99mTc] human serum albumin (99mTc-HSA) was first reported from our laboratory. In this study we investigated the impact of 1) sampling time post tracer injection, and 2) lung region assignment, on diagnostic accuracy between 2 groups (controln=20 and ARDSn=20). Each patient received 370 MBq99mTc-HSA i.v. and was imaged for 45 min. The slope index (SI) [change in lung: heart activity ratio/min] was calculated from 11 computer assigned lung regions for intervals of 5–15 (early [E]) and 15–45 (late [L]) min. The diagnostic accuracy of E vs L SI calculations for the 11 regions was evaluated by stepwise logistic regression. E SI data and L SI data from the lower 1/3 of the lung did not achieve significance for inclusion in the discriminant model (P<0.05). In the nine remaining regions L SI was significant. Optimal discrimination was achieved from L SI data obtained from a region confined to the lateral half of the mid 3rd of the lung field (sensitivity 81%, specificity 85%, accuracy 83%). The results confirm that: 1) a late (15–45 min) sampling period and 2) proper region assignment are necessary to maximize accuracy of this technique.
P‐50: The Temperature Compensated VCOM Calibrator Improves LCD Screen Quality

This paper will discuss the temperature compensated VCOM calibrator to minimize the flickering and the image sticking of LCD over the entire ambient temperature range. The VCOM calibrator adjusts the VCOM voltage through an I2C compatible interface and provides the temperature compensation by simple external NTC thermistor network. The temperature compensated VCOM calibrator enables the LCD to have the best screen quality and the minimized flicker and image sticking over the entire ambient temperature range.
Cortical ensemble activity increasingly predicts behaviour outcomes during learning of a motor task

When an animal learns to make movements in response to different stimuli, changes in activity in the motor cortex seem to accompany and underlie this learning. The precise nature of modifications in cortical motor areas during the initial stages of motor learning, however, is largely unknown. Here we address this issue by chronically recording from neuronal ensembles located in the rat motor cortex, throughout the period required for rats to learn a reaction-time task. Motor learning was demonstrated by a decrease in the variance of the rats' reaction times and an increase in the time the animals were able to wait for a trigger stimulus. These behavioural changes were correlated with a significant increase in our ability to predict the correct or incorrect outcome of single trials based on three measures of neuronal ensemble activity: average firing rate, temporal patterns of firing, and correlated firing. This increase in prediction indicates that an association between sensory cues and movement emerged in the motor cortex as the task was learned. Such modifications in cortical ensemble activity may be critical for the initial learning of motor tasks.
LT-IIc, a new member of the type II heat-labile enterotoxin family, exhibits potent immunomodulatory properties that are different from those induced by LT-IIa or LT-IIb

A plethora of human pathogens invade and/or colonize mucosal surfaces. Elaboration of strong, protective immune responses against those pathogens by mucosal vaccination, however, is hampered by endogenous regulatory systems in the mucosae that dampen responses to foreign antigens (Ags). To overcome those natural barriers, mucosal adjuvants must be employed. Using a mouse mucosal immunization model and AgI/II, a weak immunogen from Streptococcus mutans, LT-IIc, a new member of the type II subgroup of the heat-labile enterotoxin family, was shown to have potent mucosal adjuvant properties. In comparison to mice intranasally immunized only with AgI/II, co-administration of AgI/II with LT-IIc enhanced production of Ag-specific IgA antibodies in the saliva and vaginal fluids and Ag-specific IgA and IgG in the serum. Secretion of IL-2, IL-6, IL-17, IFN-γ, and TNF-α was enhanced in cultures of AgI/II-stimulated splenic cells isolated from mice that had received LT-IIc as a mucosal adjuvant. In contrast, secretion of IL-10 was suppressed in those cells. This pattern of cytokine secretion suggested that LT-IIc stimulates both Th1 and Th2 immune responses. In contrast to LT-IIa and LT-IIb, the original members of the type II subgroup that also are mucosal adjuvants, LT-IIc dramatically enhanced secretion of IL-1α and IL-1β in peritoneal macrophages that had been co-cultured with LPS. Furthermore, the B pentameric subunit of LT-IIc augmented uptake of Ag by bone marrow-derived dendritic cells to levels that exceeded those attained by use of LPS or by the B pentamers of LT-IIa or LT-IIb. These data confirmed that LT-IIc is a strong mucosal adjuvant with immunomodulatory properties that are distinguishable from those of LT-IIa and LT-IIb and which has immunomodulatory properties that may be exploitable in vaccine development.
Normal approximation to the hypergeometric distribution in nonstandard cases and a sub-Gaussian Berry–Esseen theorem

Abstract In this paper, we consider simple random sampling without replacement from a dichotomous finite population. We investigate accuracy of the Normal approximation to the Hypergeometric probabilities for a wide range of parameter values, including the nonstandard cases where the sampling fraction tends to one and where the proportion of the objects of interest in the population tends to the boundary values, zero and one. We establish a non-uniform Berry–Esseen theorem for the Hypergeometric distribution which shows that in the nonstandard cases, the rate of Normal approximation to the Hypergeometric distribution can be considerably slower than the rate of Normal approximation to the Binomial distribution. We also report results from a moderately large numerical study and provide some guidelines for using the Normal approximation to the Hypergeometric distribution in finite samples.