cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Laser welding: an alternative method of venous repair.

Abstract This study compared the histology, biochemistry, tensile strength, and extensibility of Nd:YAG laser-welded and sutured venotomies. Two-centimenter-length bilateral canine femoral or jugular venotomies were evaluated with one vessel (control) closed with interrupted 6-0 polypropylene sutures, and the contralateral vessel (experimental) welded with the Nd:YAG laser (1 W power and 30- to 40-sec exposure). Specimens were removed and examined immediately after fashioning (t0) and at 1, 4, or 5 weeks post-operatively to compare the progression of healing. Histologic examination of the 4- and 5-week sutured wounds had granulomatous reaction around the sutures with areas of excessive collagen accumulation. In contrast, the laser-welded wounds had minimal inflammatory response, near normal collagen content, and minimal residual disorientation and break in the elastic fiber continuity. The rate of collagen synthesis in laser-welded wounds was approximately twice that of sutured wounds at 1, 4, and 5 weeks, and correlated with increased tensile strengths of lasered wounds. The extensibility of the 5-week specimens was 0.19 for sutured and 0.29 for laser-welded wounds as compared to 0.29 for normal vein. These preliminary data suggest that laser welding of venotomies may have several advantages over conventional suture techniques.
The Metabolic Regulation and Vesicular Transport of GLUT4, the Major Insulin-Responsive Glucose Transporter

I. Introduction GLUCOSE is the primary energy source for the brain under normal physiological circumstances and is acutely taken up by other mammalian cells for immediate use as metabolic energy or for storage as glycogen in liver and muscle. It also serves as a precursor to a variety of metabolites in many, if not all, tissues. Glucose is released into circulation from the liver in the fasting state as a result of glycogen breakdown and is used (oxidized) for the energetic needs of contraction in skeletal muscle. The entry of glucose into the blood is a function of the nutritional state of the mammalian organism, and the postprandial clearance of glucose from the circulation is tightly regulated by insulin. The mechanism of this regulation is the focus of this review. Since the cell membrane is impermeable to glucose, it is transported by specific carrier proteins or transporters that span the cell membrane and allow the binding and transfer of glucose across the hydrophobic lipid bilayer. Two general cl...
Using Library Skills Sets to Design a Staff Development Program

Abstract The objective of developing a tailored staff development program was to address the specific skills that library staff need to accomplish their jobs. At the Eskind Biomedical Library, all library staff are required to meet a common set of skills. These skills form sets upon which staff evaluations are based. The library staff, therefore, need time, opportunities and the means to develop the necessary skills. The Staff Development Committee-an all-volunteer inter-departmental committee-sponsored skills-based programs from training needs identified through a library-wide questionnaire. The result was a set of programs sponsored by the Committee that were well-attended and met the training needs of a large number of the staff. Tailoring a staff development program to meet specific training needs allows library staff to successfully develop skills needed in their jobs and to demonstrate skills competence in the evaluation process.
Monogamous male mice bias behaviour towards females according to very small differences in kinship

To the extent that relatedness between mates predicts their reproductive success, individuals are expected to bias their behaviours towards opposite-sex conspecifics according to differences in kinship. Here we show that monogamous male oldfield mice, Peromyscus polionotus rhoadsi, bias their social behaviour towards unfamiliar, distantly related females according to an average 1.3% difference in their kinship to these potential mates. Males in the present study favoured less-related females. Previous empirical investigations have not demonstrated behavioural biases based on such small kinship differences. Consequently, these small differences in kinship have been considered inadequate to drive the evolution of mate choice, particularly by males. Even a small incremental difference in mate quality, however, may significantly affect male reproductive success, especially for monogamous species or those that require maternal care. This study has demonstrated that the social preferences of male oldfield mice are distributed between females according to small differences in their kinship to these potential mates. Copyright 2003 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour
1294 LUNG WATER IN VENTILATED, IMMATURE FETAL LAMBS

The rate and mechanism of fetal alveolar liquid clearance and the change in extra-alveolar lung water was studied during the initial 4 hours of positive pressure ventilation in 15 exteriorized fetal lambs, 125-135 days gestation, with negative lung liquid bubble stability tests, and intact umbilical circulation. Alveolar liquid volume was calculated from dilution of 57Co-cyanocobalamin mixed with alveolar after periods of ventilation. Extra-alveolar lung water was determined from wet/dry weights, corrected for residual alveolar liquid, at sacrifice. Alveolar liquid was rapidly absorbed, 71±6% in 15 minutes, > 90% in 1 hour. Large tracer solutes, 131I-albumin and 125I-cytochrome C, were not retained in the alveolar space by lung epithelial sieving, but absorbed at the same rate of water. Rapid absorption of alveolar liquid was not associated with its retention in the lung. Wet/dry ratio was 4.3±0.3 at 1 hour and 4.5±0.3 after 2 hours. At 4 hours it was significantly greater, 5.5±0.4. Positive pressure ventilation of immature lambs produces a much more rapid initial absorption of fetal alveolar liquid than previously measured in spontaneously breathing mature lambs, > 90% in the 1st hour vs 25%. Molecular sieving of alveolar liquid solutes typical of term fetuses was absent. The expected accumulation of excess lung water in immature lungs occurred only after completion of clearance of fetal alveolar liquid from the lungs. The edema of immature lungs is not retention of fetal alveolar liquid in the lung but a later phenomenon and of defferent origin. (Supported by Grant HL22552).
Winter wheat vegetation indices calculated from combinations of seven spectral bands

Abstract Spectral reflectance data were obtained for winter wheat over a full growing season. Four irrigation treatments, applied to six genotypes, provided a variety of crop growth conditions. Leaf area index, green ground cover, total wet and total dry phytomass, and leaf phytomass measurements were taken monthly during the winter and biweekly during the spring. Reflectance measurements were made with a radiometer having three visible, two near-IR and two mid-IR bands. Vegetation indices, calculated from various band combinations, were linearly related to the five plant parameters. Of the 1240 vegetation indices formed, ratio indices had the higher (0.79–0.86) coefficients of determination (r2) than N-space greenness (0.61–0.81) when related to the plant parameters. The commonly used IR/red ratio produced considerably lower r2 values than many of the other ratio indices. The mid-IR bands appeared more frequently in the ratio indices than in the greenness indices. The results show the relative merits of the seven bands, when combined into vegetation indices, to estimate various plant parameters.
Measurement of Sebum Output Using a Lipid Absorbent Tape

Abstract A sebum absorbent tape is introduced as a reproducible and convenient method for estimation of sebaceous gland output. We have tested the reproducibility of this method by serial measurements of sebum excretion rates (SER) of 10 individuals over a 6-week period, and in addition we have correlated this method with the conventional hexane extraction technique. The sebum absorbent tapes gave consistent values for the SERs, and within subjects variation over the 6-week period was statistically nonsignificant. A coefficient of variation for the tapes was calculated as 16.25 ± 6.78% based on these serial measurements. Furthermore, the amount of total lipid collected using this technique (n = 16) correlated well with the hexane extraction technique, r = 0.89. Free fatty acids ( r = 0.87), triglycerides ( r = 0.92), wax and cholesterol esters ( r = 0.83), and squalene ( r = 0.88) also showed a good correlation. Cholesterol occasionally suffered from incomplete separation on thin-layer chromatograms; however, a sample cleanup procedure was developed for tape extracts that removed interfering materials and allowed complete separation of all sebum components.
Mitigating Local Causes of Ocean Acidification with Existing Laws

As the level of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) continues to rise, so too does the amount of CO2 in the ocean ( 1 , 2 ), which increases the ocean's acidity. This affects marine ecosystems on a global scale in ways we are only beginning to understand: for example, impairing the ability of organisms to form shells or skeletons, altering food webs, and negatively affecting economies dependent on services ranging from coral reef tourism to shellfish harvests to salmon fisheries ( 3 – 5 ). Although increasing anthropogenic inputs drive acidification at global scales, local acidification disproportionately affects coastal ecosystems and the communities that rely on them. We describe policy options by which local and state governments—as opposed to federal and international bodies—can reduce these local and regional “hot spots” of ocean acidification.
Meeting Practice Needs: Conceptualizing the Open-Ended Group

(2005). Meeting Practice Needs: Conceptualizing the Open-Ended Group. Social Work with Groups: Vol. 28, No. 3-4, pp. 49-68.
Justification for the lognormal distribution as a model for blood pressure.

Abstract Empirical evidence suggests that the lognormal distribution is an appropriate form to characterize the age-specific frequency distribution of blood pressure values. Theoretical constructs that underlie this observation are developed in this paper. Epidemiological determinants of blood pressure variation are summarized and risk cycles are defined to express the intensity of risk factors that operate on an individual over time. This provides specific biological orientation for the hypothesized “risk cycle” concept used in the theoretical model development. By viewing the cumulative effects on an individual's blood pressure as multifactorial and progressive in nature, this paper provides biological and statistical justification for the apparent lognormal distribution of blood pressure observed in population samples drawn in this country and elsewhere. An example using recent nationwide survey data from the National Center for Health Statistics is shown to bear out the claim that the frequency distribution of blood pressure values for a specific age group follow the lognormal distribution. This paper now supplies some theoretical rationale for its use.
Low dose decitabine in very high risk relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukaemia in children and young adults

Low-dose decitabine has encouraging activity and tolerability in adults with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), but paediatric experience is lacking. We report our retrospective experience with decitabine in eight children and young adults (median age 4 years) with refractory/relapsed AML, who had failed multiple regimens or were not candidates for standard retrieval regimens due to prior toxicities. Three of eight patients (38%) had complete response (CR; 1 each of CR, CR with incomplete platelet recovery and CR with incomplete count recovery). Best responses were observed after a median of 2.5 cycles (range 1-4 cycles). Four patients received subsequent allogeneic stem cell transplant, and two remain in long-term CR.
Introduction to This Special Issue: Complex Thought and Construction of Identity

This Introduction summarizes the rationale for three Special Issues in the Journal of Adult Development. The first, the present Special Issue, is on the themes of complex thought and the construction of identity. Summaries of the six empirical and theoretical articles in this first Special Issue appear below. The argument is made that work in this area adds to our knowledge about the complex network of factors present in and intersecting with adult development.
Regional variation in capillary permeability of ventricular myocardium.

Abstract The transcapillary exchange of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) has been investigated in the principal layers of rat ventricular myocardium. Cardiac arrest was induced in rats by the intravenous (iv) administration of KCl at intervals of 4–180 sec after the iv injection of HRP. The coronary arteries of non-working hearts were perfused with peroxidase for 90–300 sec. Sections from both ventricles were processed for light and electron cytochemistry, and thin sections examined by electron microscopy. The capillaries in the subendocardial and intermediate regions of both ventricles exhibit greater permeability than the subepicardial capillaries, as manifested by the more rapid extravascular passage of HRP. This permeability gradient is detectable for at least 15 sec after iv injection of the tracer, and for as long as 5 minutes when the enzyme is perfused. The observations suggest that permeability differences in subendocardial and subepicardial capillaries have an ultrastructural basis and provide further evidence for the functional heterogeneity of ventricular myocardium.
Properties of the 2' and 2” states in 106, 112, 114Cd

Abstract Angular correlations have been measured between γ-rays from the 2 → 2 → 0 cascades in 106,112,114 Cd and the beam of 11.0 MeV α particles effecting Coulomb excitation. Multipole admixtures for the 2 → 2 transitions, as deduced from these correlations, when combined with earlier results establish their B (E2) and B (M1) values. For the transitions from the 1312 and 1208 keV states in 112,114 Cd the B (E2) values in single-particle units are 18±4 and 24±7. These values are typical for transitions from “two-quadrupole-phonon” states in this mass region whereas that of the 1718 keV transition in 106 Cd has the smaller value of 7.0±2.3. The B (E2) values of the 2 → 2 transitions in 112,114 Cd from the 1468 and 1363 keV states are B (M1) values of all five transitions are ≈ 10 −2 ( e h 2Mc ) 2 .
THE TIME OF SYNTHESIS AND THE CONSERVATION OF MITOSIS-RELATED PROTEINS IN CULTURED HUMAN AMNION CELLS

p-Fluorophenylalanine (PFPA), an analogue of phenylalanine which may be incorporated into proteins, increases the duration of mitosis. In the present experiments, based upon quantitative analyses of time-lapse cinemicrographic films, brief treatments of cells with PFPA are shown to affect the duration of metaphase in only those cells which enter division during or shortly after treatment. The offspring of cells with prolonged metaphases also tend to have prolonged metaphases. Analyses of the kinetics of the appearance of prolonged metaphases indicate that some protein specifically associated with mitosis is synthesized primarily during a period which corresponds closely to G2. The manner in which the defect is passed on to daughter cells indicates that the protein involved is conserved and reutilized by daughter cells for their subsequent divisions. Comparable experiments performed with low concentrations of puromycin indicate that the major effect of PFPA is due to its incorporation into protein rather than its ability to inhibit protein synthesis. The fact that puromycin-induced effects can also be passed on to daughter cells is interpreted to mean that cells make only specific amounts of some mitosis-associated proteins and that if a cell "inherits" a deficiency in such protein it is not able to compensate for the deficiency.
Imaging-Based Screening: Understanding the Controversies

OBJECTIVE. The goals of this article are to provide an overview of controversial aspects of imaging-based screening and to elucidate potential risks that may offset anticipated benefits. CONCLUSION. Current controversial topics associated with imaging-based screening include false-positive results, incidental findings, overdiagnosis, radiation risks, and costs. Alongside the benefits of screening, radiologists should be prepared to discuss these additional diagnostic consequences with providers and patients to better guide shared decision making regarding imaging-based screening.
The mutagenicity of thymidine glycol in Escherichia coli is increased when it is part of a tandem lesion.

Tandem lesions are comprised of two contiguously damaged nucleotides. Tandem lesions make up the major family of reaction products generated from a pyrimidine nucleobase radical, which are formed in large amounts by ionizing radiation. One of these tandem lesions contains a thymidine glycol lesion flanked on its 5′-side by 2-deoxyribonolactone (LTg). The replication of this tandem lesion was investigated in Escherichia coli using single-stranded genomes. LTg is a much more potent replication block than thymidine glycol and is bypassed only under SOS-induced conditions. The adjacent thymidine glycol does not significantly affect nucleotide incorporation opposite 2-deoxyribonolactone in wild-type cells. In contrast, the misinsertion frequency opposite thymidine glycol, which is negligible in the absence of 2-deoxyribonolactone, increases to 10% in wild-type cells when LTg is flanked by a 3′-dG. Experiments in which the flanking nucleotides are varied and in cells lacking one of the SOS-induced bypass polyme...
Cyberspace Pornography: Problems with Enforcement

Considers that, in addition to all the positive attributes of the Internet, negatives are bound to emerge. Negative influences include the ability of children to access information that is not suitable for their age and the absence of laws or legal legislation to limit this access to the material. Laws are in existence prohibiting young people under the age of 18 years from accessing sexually explicit or sexually deviant materials. The problem with the Internet is the fact that there is no sanction limiting people from posting material of this kind. Warns that as an increasing number of children get online, solutions to these controversial issues must be discussed openly.
Comparative Noise Performance of Photographic Emulsions in Holographic and Conventional Imagery

An analysis of an idealized film-grain model suggests that any photographic emulsion may be significantly more sensitive in holographic imagery than in conventional imagery. Experiments with Kodak Plus-X emulsion show that such an improvement of sensitivity can indeed be realized.
Plastic deformation of polypropylene. VI. mechanism and properties

Abstract Small- and wide-angle X-ray investigation of drawing and annealing of polypropylene quenched films in wide ranges of draw ratio (λ = 1-20) and of temperature (20°-150°C) shows the discontinuity of the elementary act of transformation in the microneck of the original lamella of the microspherulitic into the microfibrils of the final fiber structure. The long period, the orientation, and the crystalline disorder change abruptly. The continuity of macroscopical deformation in the neck is a consequence of superposition of the effects of a great many microneck zones which are more or less randomly scattered over the whole neck area. In the first stages of plastic deformation before the appearance of micronecks the lamellae parallel to the draw direction are compressed and those perpendicular to the draw direction become physically separated. This was checked by noting the drastic reduction of scattering after the introduction of dodecane which fills the holes between lamellae created in the initial st...
Solubility- and temperature-driven thin film structures of polymeric thiophene derivatives for high performance OFET applications

It has been shown that high charge mobility in solution-processible organic semiconductor-based field effect transistors is due in part to a highly parallel π-π stacking plane orientation of the semiconductors with respect to gate-dielectric. Fast solvent evaporation methods, generally, exacerbate kinetically random crystal orientations in the films deposited, specifically, from good solvents. We have investigated solubility-driven thin film structures of thiophene derivative polymers via spin- and drop-casting with volatile solvents of a low boiling point. Among volatile solvents examined, marginal solvents, which have temperature-dependent solubility for the semiconductors (e.g. methylene chloride for regioregular poly(3-alkylthiophene)s), can be used to direct the favorable crystal orientation regardless of solvent drying time, when the temperature of gate-dielectrics is held to relatively cooler than the warm solution. Grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy strongly support that significant control of crystal orientation and mesoscale morphology using a "cold" substrate holds true for both drop and spin casting. The effects of physiochemical post-modificaiton on film crystal structures and morphologies of poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-co-bithiophene) have also been investigated.
α-Adrenergic mediation of the tail skin temperature response to naloxone in morphine-dependent rats

Studies were undertaken to evaluate the role of central noradrenergic neurons in the tail skin temperature (TST) surge that accompanies morphine withdrawal in the rat. A 5 degrees C increase in TST and a 1-2 degrees C decrease in rectal temperature (Tr) was observed following administration of a dose of naloxone HCl (NAL, 1 mg/kg, s.c.) which precipitated withdrawal in morphine-dependent rats. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of clonidine HCl, a partial alpha 2-adrenergic agonist did not alter TST in morphine-dependent animals. However, clonidine (10 or 50 micrograms/rat, i.c.v.) given 10 min prior to the administration of NAL completely blocked the TST response to the opiate antagonist in the morphine-dependent animals. Although NAL and clonidine reduced Tr to a similar extent in morphine-dependent rats, their effects were not additive when the drugs were administered sequentially. Treatment with the alpha-adrenergic antagonist phentolamine (11.9 or 60 micrograms/rat, i.c.v.) failed to alter TST when administered alone, but the highest dose significantly reduced the TST response to naloxone in the morphine-dependent rat. In addition, phentolamine, at high doses only, moderately reduced Tr, but the alpha-adrenergic antagonist failed to modify the decline in Tr associated with NAL-precipitated morphine withdrawal. Collectively, these data indicate that brain noradrenergic neurons play a role in the TST surge which accompanies NAL-precipitated morphine withdrawal, and that the TST and Tr responses can be dissociated in the morphine-dependent rat.
Rheological Behavior of Aqueous Polyurethane Dispersions: Effects of Solid Content, Degree of Neutralization, Chain Extension, and Temperature

Rheological behavior of waterborne polyurethane dispersions was investigated with small-amplitude oscillatory shear flow experiments over wide ranges of concentration, degree of neutralization, chain extension, and temperatures to accelerate efforts to understand their film formation characteristics. The rheological properties of these environmentally friendly dispersions were found to be dependent on composition and degree of postneutralization. But the chain extension and degree of preneutralization were observed to have little effect on the rheological behavior of the dispersions at a constant polyurethane (PU) concentration. The complex viscosity of the polyurethane dispersions increased dramatically at a critical concentration of polyurethane (φ = 0.43), below which the viscosity increased slightly with composition. At this critical concentration the particles are crowded, and the observed viscosity increase is ascribed to the hydrodynamic interaction between the different particles. Furthermore, bot...
Fractals and self-organized criticality in dissipative dynamics

Abstract Motivated by recent models of Bak, Tang and Wiesefneld, we study fractal structures arising from dissipative transport in open systems. A simple continuum equation is constructed to describe fluctuations around a steady-state in a flowing “sandpile”. Formation of fractals is understood in terms of a conservation law in dynamics. A dynamic renormalization-group calculation allows us to determine fractal dimensions and various critical exponents exactly in all dimensions.
Computed Tomography of the Brain Stem with Intrathecal Metrizamide. Part II: Lesions in and around the Brain Stem

The practical usefulness of computed tomography with intrathecal metrizamide in imaging the brain stem is illustrated in six examples where the lesions were misdiagnosed on intravenously enhanced computed tomography, angiography, or air study. Focal and diffuse atrophic changes of the brain stem were demonstrated in symptomatic patients where none of the other radiographic or clinical investigations were conclusive. Metrizamide computed tomography is probably the most sensitive method for imaging lesions in and around the brain stem and cerebellopontine angle.
Observations on the Nature of Human Relatedness.

The concept of human relatedness was reexamined in the context of a standardized evaluation of 55 boys and 13 girls referred with a diagnosis of childhood psychosis. Human relatedness was hypothesized to be a multidimensional complex construct which could be analyzed in terms of simpler, more basic functions. All children were evaluated on a 14-point diagnostic scale. Analysis of diagnostic data generated three factors, one of which comprised a cluster of variables representing a measure of human relatedness and various perceptual functions. The hypothesis was supported by factor loadings. Also, a multiple regression analysis indicated that most of the variance in human relatedness could be accounted for by perceptual variables. It is suggested that impairment of human relatedness is largely due to impaired perceptual functions, and that much inappropriate maternal behavior is in response to such functions.
Computational methods for alternative splicing detection using RNA-seq

RNA-seq technology promises a comprehensive picture of transcriptome. The traditional way of studying differential expression gene is questionable because it fails to consider alternative transcription and post-transcriptional modification. Although some studies have shown that transcript variants from a gene are predominantly generated from alternative transcription, including alternative promoters and transcriptional terminations, rather than splicing mechanisms, more computation methods focus on alternative splicing detection and quantification. Here we are only interested in methods which are able to detect condition-specific difference using RNA-seq and we categorize them into two major classes: Region Quantification (RQ) and Isoform Quantification (IQ). RQ breaks down the gene structure into"horizontally parallel pieces", exon units for example, and quantifies the expression in these "small pieces" and compares them across different conditions. While IR seeks to separate gene expression into "vertically parallel isoform", which itself is a challenging task but is more biologically meaningful, and compares a gene's isoform compositions across different conditions. In addition, based on their ability to localize significantly different regions we can further classify them into "gene-centric" or "exon-centric" method. The combination of two classification strategies yields 4 categories and we choose one representative for each category. These four representatives are Cufflinks-Cuffdiff package, DEXSeq, DiffSplice and SplicingCompass. We evaluate their performance on alternative splicing analysis using three experiments. The first experiment uses a published RNA-seq data of Arabidopsis under cold condition (NCBI SRA009031). The second experiment is a simulation study using a custom simulator by which we adopt negative binomial model to account for variability across biological replicates. The last experiment makes use of RT-PCR to evaluate the results from different methods.
CB7-04: Generalized Anxiety and Depression Among Chronic Pain Patients on Opioid Therapy are Associated With Higher Pain Impairment, Increased Service Utilization and Poorer Health Status.

Background/Aims Chronic pain patients on prescription opioids are thought to be at risk for multiple co-morbidities, including mood and anxiety disorders, which can complicate patient care.
Consumer vulnerability in the context of direct-to-consumer prescription drug

Direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) of prescription drugs is a controversial practice where pros and cons have been documented by research. Past research has advocated considering DTCA from the consumer perspective, especially its effects on vulnerable consumers. This paper provides a review of prior research and examines consumer vulnerability in the context of DTCA.
Prevention of the acute ethanol-induced fatty liver by antihistamines and stimulants of hepatic microsomal enzyme activity

Abstract Various agents that are either stimulants of hepatic microsomal enzyme activity or contain a benzyl carbon atom or other radical capable of complexing with free radicals were evaluated for their ability to protect against the fatty liver produced by intubation with either 6 g/kg or 3 g/kg of ethanol. Of the drugs tested, only chlorcyclizine, promethazine, and SKF 525-A were effective. Promethazine was effective when administered shortly prior to intubation, and chlorcyclizine and SKF 525-A were effective when administered daily for 3 days prior to intubation of ethanol. In addition to reducing the severity of the fatty liver produced by 6 g/kg of ethanol, chlorcyclizine completely prevented the fatty liver following 3 g/kg of ethanol, and the drug-treated rats manifested lower blood alcohol concentrations than the control group throughout the first 4 hours after intubation with 3 g/kg. Chlorcyclizine contains a benzyl carbon atom, and SKF 525-A does not. Since both drugs were of similar effectiveness in reducing the severity of the fatty liver, it appeared the protective effect of these agents was not related to their ability to act as scavengers of free radicals but was more likely related to their ability to stimulate the activity of hepatic microsomal enzymes.
Pathogenic and potentially pathogenic fungi isolated from beach sands and selected soils of Oahu, Hawaii.

SUMMARY Fungi capable of causing mycoses in man are known to occur in many types of soils and natural habitats, but their occurrence in Hawaii has not been studied comprehensively to date. Two known sources served as the basis for this initial Hawaiian survey: 1) sands taken from beaches of low and high swimmer-density and, 2) soils associated with avian droppings. A total of 361 sand samples representing Oahu's supratidal and intertidal zones was screened. More pathogenic or potentially pathogenic fungi were isolated from areas where the swimmer-density was very high and, conversely, few were isolated from low swimmer-density areas. Fifty-four colonies of these fungi were isolated. Among them were 10 genera with 13 species, including notably Candida albicans, Cladosporiuml werneckii, Epidermophyton floccosum, Geotrichum candidum, Microsporum canis, M. gypseum, Nocardia asteroides, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. rubrum, and Trichosporon cutancum. Sixty-one isolates of Cryptococcus neofornuans were obtained from 170 bird droppings associated with major types of soils present on Oahu. Forty-three isolates were recovered on diphenyl agar and 33 by mouse inoculation. In the latter group 18 were not recovered on diphenyl agar and 15 isolates were obtained from mice sacrificed after 6 weeks. Histoplasma capsulatum was not isolated.
In vivo gene transfer via intravenous administration of cationic lipid–protamine–DNA (LPD) complexes

A novel LPD formulation has been developed for in vivo gene transfer. It involves the interaction of plasmid DNA with protamine sulfate, a cationic polypeptide, followed by the addition of DOTAP cationic liposomes. Compared with DOTAP/DNA complexes, LPD offers better protection of plasmid DNA against enzymatic digestion and gives consistently higher gene expression in mice via tail vein injection. When a luciferase reporter gene was employed, gene expression was found in all tissues examined including lung, heart, spleen, liver and kidney with the highest expression in the lung. The in vivo efficiency of LPD was dependent upon charge ratio and was also affected by the lipid used. Increasing the amount of DNA delivered induced an increase in gene expression. The optimal dose was approximately 50 micrograms per mouse at which concentration approximately 20 ng luciferase protein per milligram extracted tissue protein could be detected in the lung. Increasing the DNA to 100 micrograms per mouse resulted in toxicity and death of the animal. Gene expression in the lung was detected as early as 1 h after injection, peaked at 6 h and declined thereafter. High expression was also found in the spleen 6 h after injection but dropped very rapidly thereafter. The in vivo gene expression by LPD was dependent upon the route of administration since intraportal injection of LPD led to about a 100-fold decrease in gene expression in the lung as compared with i.v. injection. Using lacZ as a reporter gene, it was shown that endothelial cells were the primary locus of transgene expression in both the lung and spleen. No sign of inflammation in these organs was noticed. Since protamine sulfate has been proven to be nontoxic and only weakly immunogenic in humans, this novel vector may be useful for clinical gene therapy.
Transforming growth factor-β induces contraction of activated hepatic stellate cells

Abstract Background/Aims Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a cytokine produced in abundance during liver injury. Recognizing the prominent roles that hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and TGF-β play in portal hypertension and fibrogenesis, respectively, we sought to evaluate the effect of TGF-β on the contractility of activated HSCs. Methods Spontaneous immortalized cell lines of HSC origin were used in this study. Cells were grown in three-dimensional collagen gel lattice, transferred to 60 mm dishes and exposed to varying concentrations of TGF-β1 in serum-free medium at 37 °C for up to 120 h. The area of the floating gels was measured using a Fluor S-MultiImager (Biorad), the cellular smooth muscle-α actin (SMA) content quantified and PKC activation studies conducted. Results TGF-β1 induced a time- and dose-dependent decrease in lattice area up to 40% of control ( P P P Conclusions TGF-β induces contraction of activated HSCs via an increase in SMA content and a PKC-e-mediated pathway.
Conformational mechanics of stimulus-responsive polypeptides

Stimulus-responsive polymers and polypeptides (SRPs) experience a significant entropic response when exposed to an environemental stimulus, such as a change in temperature. This phase transition directly affects polymer conformation and can potentially be harnessed for force generation in actuation devices on nano- and micro-scales. While interfacial applications of SRPs have been prototypically demonstrated, a systematic investigation of the phase transition behavior at the solid-liquid interface and on the single-molecule level is lacking. In this paper we present results from force-spectroscopy measurements probing the force-extension and conformational behavior of one SRP, elastin-like polypeptides (ELP), below and above their transition temperature. The results indicate that there is no signficant difference in the force extension behavior at intermediate and large extensions, but the behavior is dramatically different at small extensions. Results also demonstrated that above the phase transition temperature large, unspecific adhesion forces often gave way to constant force steps upon extension, indicating a collapsed, potentially entangled, hydrophobic state of the ELP. The extension behavior below the phase transition temperature, however, closely followed that of random polymer coil, without any significant unspecific adhesion forces. The excellent fit of a simple extended freely jointed chain model to the data at intermediate and large extension suggests that the ELP is in a random conformational state without significant secondary structure. Forces associated with a phase transition therefore arise likely from entropic conformational changes associated with a hydrophobic collapse.
Application of surface-based bed load transport equations to a desert gravel-bed stream

Bed load measurements during low flow in a desert gravel-bed stream, LasVegasWash, were used to evaluate fractional bed load transport equations. Since the stream is an urban perennial channel that conveys primarily treated waste effluent, bed load transport is limited by the supply of transportable bed material. The Parker, Wilcock and Crowe, and Wu et al. surface-based fractional bed load transport equations were evaluated against the field data. The ratio between the calculated and measured bed load transport rate (C/O) as well as the data correlation coefficient with respect to each formula were calculated to judge the applicability of these equations to this field data set. Comparisons showed that both the Parker and Wu et al. equations satisfactorily predicted the transport rate, while theWilcock and Crowe equation has a larger scatter. The apparent success of Parker and Wu et al. equations can be attributed to two factors: a hiding function based on physical mechanism of the particle hiding and exp...
Surface characterization of imidazolium-based ionic liquids with cyano-functionalized anions at the gas–liquid interface using sum frequency generation spectroscopy

Advancement in the field of ionic liquid technology requires a comprehensive understanding of their surface properties, as a wide range of chemical reactions occur mainly at interfaces. As essential media currently used in several technological applications, their accurate molecular level description at the gas-liquid interface is of utmost importance. Due to the high degree of chemical information provided in the vibrational spectrum, vibrational spectroscopy gives the most detailed model for molecular structure. The inherently surface-sensitive technique, sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy, in combination with bulk-sensitive vibrational spectroscopic techniques such as FTIR and Raman, has been used in this report to characterize the surface of cyano-containing ionic liquids, such as [BMIM][SCN], [BMIM][DCA], [BMIM][TCM] and [EMIM][TCB] at the gas-liquid interface. By structural variation of the anion while keeping the cation constant, emphasis on the molecular arrangement of the anion at the gas-liquid interface is reported, and its subsequent role (if any) in determining the surface molecular orientation of the cation. Vibrational modes seen in the C-H stretching region revealed the presence of the cation at the gas-liquid interface. The cation orientation is independent of the type of cyano-containing anion, however, a similar arrangement at the surface as reported in previous studies was found, with the imidazolium ring lying flat at the surface, and the alkyl chains pointing towards the gas phase. SFG results show that all three anions of varying symmetry, namely, [DCA](-) (C(2v)), [TCM](-)(D(3h)) and [TCB](-) (T(d)) in ionic liquids [BMIM]DCA], [BMIM][TCM] and [EMIM][TCB] are significantly tilted from the surface plane, while the linear [SCN](-) in [BMIM][SCN] exhibited poor ordering, as seen in the absence of its C-N stretching mode in the SFG vibrational spectra.
Variation in inpatient diagnostic testing and management of bronchiolitis

Objectives. We know little about the variation in diagnosis and management of bronchiolitis. The objectives of this study were (1) to document variations in treatment and diagnostic approaches, lengths of stay (LOSs), andreadmission rates and (2) to determine which potentially modifiable process of care measures are associated with longer LOSs and antibiotic usage. Methods. We used the Pediatric Health Information System, which includes demographic, diagnostic, and detailed patient-level data on 30 large children's hospitals. We examined infants who were younger than 1 year and hospitalized for bronchiolitis (October 2001-September 2003). Multivariate analysis of variance was used to determine whether the variance in the outcomes was hospital related after controlling for other covariates. Linear regression was used to model predictors of increased LOS. Logistic regression was used to model antibiotic usage. Analyses were stratified by age group (<3 months and 3-11 months). Results. A total of 17 397 patients were included in the analysis. The mean LOS was 2.97 days; 72% of patients received chest radiographs, 45% received antibiotics, and 25% received systemic steroids. The mean LOS varied considerably across hospitals (range: 2.40-3.90 days), and hospital remained a significant contributor to LOS variation after controlling for our covariates. Variations in the use of diagnostic tests and medications as well as readmission rates also existed and also remained significant after controlling for covariates. The factors associated with the greatest increases in LOS in the regression analyses included higher severity scores and use of antibiotics, bronchodilators, and corticosteroids. The strongest predictors of antibiotic use in the logistic regression analyses were higher severity scores and receipt of a blood or cerebrospinal fluid culture. Receiving a chest radiograph was a significant predictor of antibiotic use in older but not younger infants. Conclusions. Considerable, unexplained variation exists in the inpatient management of bronchiolitis. The development of national guidelines and controlled trials of new therapies and different management approaches are indicated.
Ultraviolet radiative feedback during the advanced stages of reionization

The ionizing ultraviolet background (UVB) during reionization can suppress the gas content of low-mass galaxies, even those capable of efficient atomic cooling (i.e. with virial temperatures T vir ≥ 10 4 K). This negative radiative feedback mechanism can thus reduce the star formation efficiencies of these haloes, which may delay the completion of reionization. In this work, we explore the importance of UV radiative feedback on T vir ≥ 10 4 K haloes during the middle and late stages of reionization. We do not try to self-consistently model reionization; instead, we explore a large parameter space in an attempt to draw general, robust conclusions. We use a tiered approach. Using one-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations, we model the ability of gas to collapse on to haloes of various masses under UVBs of various intensities. We then generate realistic, parametrized maps of the inhomogeneous UVB, using large-scale semi-numeric simulations. By combining these results, we find that under all reasonably conservative scenarios, UV feedback on atomically cooled haloes is not strong enough to notably delay the bulk of reionization. Such a delay is only likely if ionizing efficiencies of z ≥ 10 sources are much higher (over two orders of magnitude) than z ∼ 6 data seem to imply. Towards the end of reionization, star formation can be quenched only in haloes in a narrow mass range close to the atomic-cooling threshold. This result depends only weakly on the intensity of the UVB: quenching star formation in haloes just twice as massive requires an order of magnitude increase in source ionizing efficiencies. This implies that the natural time-scale for the bulk of reionization is the growth of the global collapsed fraction contained in T vir ≥ 10 4 K haloes. Thus, the likely reionization scenario would involve a small HII filling factor 'tail' extending to high redshifts, governed by more complicated feedback on T vir ≤ 10 4 K objects, followed by a period of relatively rapid evolution in the H II filling factor. Furthermore, our results underscore the importance of extended dynamic ranges when modelling reionization. Simulations must be capable of resolving haloes with mass ≥ 10 8 M ⊙ , even when modelling the late stages of reionization, while at the same time being large enough to capture H II regions several tens of Mpc in size.
26Al in the interstellar medium

Abstract Several different lines of physical reasoning have converged on the importance of the radioactive nucleus 26Al. The sciences of meteoritics, nucleosynthesis, gamma-ray astronomy, galactic chemical evolution, solar system formation, and interstellar chemistry all place this nucleus in a central position with possible profound implications. Perhaps more importantly the study of this radioactivity can unite these diverse fields in a complicated framework which will benefit all of them. This review traces the evolution of ideas concerning 26Al in the context of these disciplines. 26Al was first discussed for the possibility that its decay energy could melt meteorite parent bodies, and its daughter, 26Mg, was later found in meteorites with enhanced abundance. It was also among the first radioactivities expected to be synthesized in interestingly large quantities in nucleosynthetic events. The first definitive detection of gamma-rays from an interstellar radioactivity is that of 1.809 MeV gamma-rays from 26Al. This discovery has many implications, some of which are outlined here. The whole problem of isotopic anomalies in meteorites is greatly influenced by the specific issues surrounding excess 26Mg, whether it represents in situ decay of 26Al or memory of conditions of the ISM. The relationships among these ideas and their implications are examined.
Understanding the molecular basis of sperm capacitation through kinase design

Thirty years ago, on July 25, Steptoe and Edwards reported the birth of Louise Joy Brown, the first successful “Test-Tube” baby (1). This achievement followed a lack of success of in vitro fertilization experiments for almost 80 years since the first attempts in 1878. These early failures were due mainly to a lack of comprehension of sperm physiology. In the early 1950s, Chang (2) and Austin (3) demonstrated independently that sperm had to be in the female reproductive tract for a finite period before acquiring fertilizing capacity. This phenomenon is known as sperm capacitation. What made this finding a necessary step for the consequent development of in vitro fertilization was the understanding that certain factors in the female were needed for the sperm to become fertile. A logical follow-up of the discovery of sperm capacitation occurred some years later when Chang demonstrated mammalian in vitro fertilization conclusively by showing that eggs from a black rabbit fertilized in vitro by capacitated sperm from a black male, and transferred to a white female, resulted in the birth of a litter of black offspring (4).