cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Deconditioning after "Moving On" rehabilitation.

291Background: “Moving On” is a 12-week physical rehabilitation program that is offered to patients following cancer treatment. Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is considered a more aggressive cancer treatment due to myeloablative doses of chemotherapy. Our previous research has shown that deconditioning at the time of referral to Moving On is not significantly different in HSCT patients and non-HSCT cancer patients. Our objective here is to determine how deconditioning after Moving On completion compares in HSCT and non-HSCT groups, as well as by age. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data from Moving On referrals made between March 2013 and March 2016 (N = 1,057) who completed the Moving On program (N = 322). This includes patients with solid or hematologic malignancies, some of whom received HSCT. Brief Fatigue Inventory scores and 6-minute timed walk (6-MTW) distances were recorded to assess deconditioning. Results: We found 296 of 615 (48%) non-HSCT patients evaluated for ...
Techno-optimism and ocean governance: New trends in maritime monitoring

Abstract Monitoring marine activities has always been a difficult task due to the vastness of the world's oceans. This inability to properly monitor both high seas and territorial zones alike has meant that illegal activities at sea have been able to flourish, from illegal fishing to human rights violations to maritime piracy. Lately, however, the rise of new methods of technological monitoring – from satellites to UAVs – has increased optimism that a better, technologically-aided method of ocean monitoring and governance may help to diminish the proliferation of these and other illegal activities. This paper considers the ways in which technological innovation has been proposed to help ocean monitoring and governance, and analyzes the extent to which the optimism over these new techniques is warranted.
Activation of Natural Killer (NK) Cells and Mechanism of Their Cytotoxic Effects

Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphoid cells with spontaneous activity against a wide variety of tumor cell lines and against primary or metastatic tumor cells (1–3). It is now possible to isolate highly enriched populations of NK cells and demonstrate that this cytotoxic activity is mediated predominantly, if not solely, by a small subpopulation of lymphocytes, morphologically identified as large granular lymphocytes (LGL). In addition, a large proportion of LGL have NK activity (3,4). NK activity has been found to be positively regulated by a variety of agents, with the interferons and interleukin 2 (IL-2) being identified as the principal cytokines mediating this stimulation of reactivity (5).
Gaussian Process Regression for numerical wind speed prediction enhancement

Abstract This paper studies the application of Multi-Task Gaussian Process (MTGP) regression model to enhance the numerical predictions of wind speed. In the proposed method, a Support Vector Regressor (SVR) is first utilized to fuse the predictions from Numerical Weather Predictors (NWP). The purpose of this regressor is to map the numerical predictions at coarse geographical nodes to the desired turbine location. In subsequent analysis, this SVR prediction output is further enhanced by the MTGP regression model. Based on the validation results on the real-world data from large-scale off-shore wind farm, the prediction accuracies of the NWP are significantly improved at both the short-term horizons (1–6 h ahead) and the long-term horizons (7–24 h ahead) by employing the proposed method. More importantly, the short-term prediction accuracy after enhancement is found comparable or even better than the cutting-edge statistical models for short-term extrapolations.
Global landscape and genetic regulation of RNA editing in cortical samples from individuals with schizophrenia.

RNA editing critically regulates neurodevelopment and normal neuronal function. The global landscape of RNA editing was surveyed across 364 schizophrenia cases and 383 control postmortem brain samples from the CommonMind Consortium, comprising two regions: dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex. In schizophrenia, RNA editing sites in genes encoding AMPA-type glutamate receptors and postsynaptic density proteins were less edited, whereas those encoding translation initiation machinery were edited more. These sites replicate between brain regions, map to 3′-untranslated regions and intronic regions, share common sequence motifs and overlap with binding sites for RNA-binding proteins crucial for neurodevelopment. These findings cross-validate in hundreds of non-overlapping dorsolateral prefrontal cortex samples. Furthermore, ~30% of RNA editing sites associate with cis-regulatory variants (editing quantitative trait loci or edQTLs). Fine-mapping edQTLs with schizophrenia risk loci revealed co-localization of eleven edQTLs with six loci. The findings demonstrate widespread altered RNA editing in schizophrenia and its genetic regulation, and suggest a causal and mechanistic role of RNA editing in schizophrenia neuropathology. Breen et al. map RNA editing profiles in cortical samples from individuals with schizophrenia and controls, and find links between altered RNA editing in glutamatergic and postsynaptic density genes and schizophrenia genetic risk architecture.
Cost-effectiveness of a preoperative pelvic MRI in pelvic organ prolapse surgery.

To investigate the cost-effectiveness of preoperative pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in identifying women at high risk of surgical failure following apical repair for pelvic organ prolapse (POP). A decision tree (TreeAgePro Healthcare software) was designed to compare outcomes and costs of screening with a pelvic MRI versus no screening. For the strategy with MRI, expected surgical outcomes were based on a calculated value of the estimated levator ani subtended volume (eLASV) from previously published work. For the alternative strategy of no MRI, estimates for surgical outcomes were obtained from the published literature. Costs for surgical procedures were estimated using the 2008–2014 National Inpatient Sample (NIS). A cost-effectiveness analysis from a third-party payer perspective was performed with the primary measure of effectiveness defined as avoidance of surgical failure. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed to assess how robust the calculated incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was to uncertainty in decision tree estimates and across a range of willingness-to-pay values. A preoperative MRI resulted in a 17% increased chance of successful initial surgery (87% vs. 70%) and a decreased risk of repeat surgery with an ICER of $2298 per avoided cost of surgical failure. When applied to annual expected women undergoing POP surgery, routine screening with preoperative pelvic MRI costs $90 million more, but could avoid 39,150 surgical failures. The use of routine preoperative pelvic MRI appears to be cost-effective when employed to identify women at high risk of surgical failure following apical repair for pelvic organ prolapse.
An Enhanced Time-Domain Simulator of Transient Stability in Power Systems

Time-domain simulations can be used to study and verify the operation of an electrical network, whether large or small, fast or slow. In this study a classic 9-bus system is modeled in detail. The quantities of interest in this simulation are generator states, generator currents and node voltages. A differential-algebraic system of equations (DAE) is formulated. The generator states are dynamic while all other variables are algebraic. Important numerical techniques are highlighted: an implicit integration method with a technique to re-use prior information to speed up the simulation. A detailed analysis of several key state variables follows. The time evolution is discussed for different variables of interest in the synchronous machine models and network. This detailed model, coupled with an enhanced implicit integration method, yields numerical stability and stability in the model.
A Generalization of the One-Seventh Ellipse

Using the digits from the decimal expansion of 1/7, namely 142857, and forming six points in the plane—(1,4),(4,2),(2,8),(8,5),(5,7),(7,1)—one finds, surprisingly, that these six points lie on an e...
Diuresis-Related Weight Loss Reflects Interstitial Compartment Decongestion with Minimal Impact on Intravascular Volume Expansion or Outcomes in Post-Acute Heart Failure: Metrics of Decongestion and Volume Status.

Abstract Background Findings from heart failure (HF) studies linking diuresis-related weight loss to clinical decongestion and outcomes are mixed. Differential responses of interstitial and intravascular volume compartments to diuretic therapy and heterogeneity in volume profiles may confound the clinical interpretation of weight loss in patients with HF. Methods and Results Data were prospectively collected in hospitalized patients requiring diuresis. Plasma volume (PV) was measured using I-131-labelled albumin indicator-dilution methodology. The cohort was stratified by tertiles of weight loss and analyzed for interstitial fluid loss relative to changes in PV and HF-related morality or first rehospitalization. Among 92 patients, the admission PV was expanded +42% (4.7 ± 1.2 L) above normal with significant variability (14% normal PV, 18% mild-moderate expansion, and 68% with large PV expansion [>+25% above normal]). With diuresis there were proportional decreases in interstitial volume (–6.5 ± 4.4%) and PV (–7.5 ± 11%); however, absolute decreases in the PV (–254 mL, interquartile range –11 to –583 mL) were less than 10% of interstitial volume loss (–5040 mL, interquartile range –2800 to –7989 mL); greater interstitial fluid loss did not translate into better outcomes (log-rank P = .430). Conclusions Diuresis-related decreases in weight reflect fluid loss from the interstitial compartment with only minor changes in the PV and without an impact on outcomes. Further, the degree of PV expansion at hospital admission does not drive the magnitude of the diuresis response, even with a wide spectrum of body weights; interstitial fluid overload is preferentially targeted and PV relatively preserved. Therefore, greater interstitial fluid loss reflects clinical decongestion, but not better outcomes, and a limited association with intravascular volume profiles potentially confounding weight loss as a prognostic metric in HF.
Identifying pediatric patients with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children presenting to a pediatric emergency department.

Abstract Objective To compare clinical and laboratory features of children with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) to those evaluated for MIS-C in the Emergency Department (ED). Methods We conducted a retrospective review of the medical record of encounters with testing for inflammatory markers in an urban, tertiary care Pediatric ED from March 1, 2020 to July 31, 2020. We abstracted demographic information, laboratory values, selected medications and diagnoses. We reviewed the record for clinical presentation for the subset of patients admitted to the hospital for suspected MIS-C. We then used receiver operating curves and logistic regression to evaluate the utility of candidate laboratory values to predict MIS-C status. Results We identified 32 patients with confirmed MIS-C and 15 admitted and evaluated for MIS-C but without confirmation of SARS CoV-2 infection. We compared these patients to 267 encounters with screening laboratories for MIS-C. Confirmed MIS-C patients had an older median age, higher median fever on presentation and were predominantly of Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black race/ethnicity. All children with MIS-C had a C-reactive protein (CRP) >4.5 mg/dL, were more likely to have Brain Natriuretic Peptide >400 pg/mL (OR 10.50, 95%CI 4.40–25.04), D-Dimer >3 μg/mL (7.51, [3.18–17.73]), and absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) 4.5 mg/dL and ALC Conclusions We identified that elevated CRP and lymphopenia was 86% sensitive and 91% specific for identification of children with MIS-C.
Application of a Verification, Validation and Uncertainty Quantification Framework to a Turbulent Buoyant Helium Plume

A framework for verification and validation/uncertainty quantification of large-scale, highly coupled, complex processes is presented. Steps in the framework include code and solution verification, development of an input/uncertainty map, definition of evaluation criteria, development of a surrogate model, performance of a consistency analysis (a mathematical statement limiting error), and the feed forward and feedback of information gain from the analysis. This framework is applied to a turbulent, buoyant, 1 m diameter helium plume. Experimental measurements are obtained from Sandia National Laboratory while the helium plume simulations are performed using Large Eddy Simulation. Both parameter and experimental uncertainty associated with the helium plume are reduced by requiring consistency.
Smokeless tobacco use among addiction patients: a brief report.

Abstract Introduction: The prevalence and treatment outcome of smokeless tobacco (ST) use among hospitalized addiction patients is unclear. Methods: Using initially a retrospective and then a prospective study design, data were collected about patients who described “other tobacco use.” The data examined included demographics, medical disorders, psychiatric conditions, nicotine treatment and outcome. Results: The data from the two samples were consistent. All subjects were Caucasian males, mean age 38.5 years, with daily ST use for at least one year. Most had alcohol dependence. The prevalence rate was 3% retrospectively and 7% prospectively. Interventions included nicotine gum and patches. All subjects abstained from ST use during hospi-talization but follow-up data were limited. Conclusion: These observations are consistent with reports of ST use being more common in males in the general population and its association with alcohol dependence. Further research is needed into effective long-term treatment...
High-Throughput Cytotoxicity Screening by Propidium Iodide Staining

This unit describes a system for the automated high-throughput analysis of cell cytotoxicity in 96-well and 384-well microplates. Discrete cell cultures are analyzed at rates of 40/min (∼2.5 min/96 wells, ∼10 min/384 wells) and cytotoxicity is quantified on the basis of a combination of propidium iodide (PI) fluorescence analysis and cell counting performed by the flow cytometer. Only 2 µl is aspirated from a culture for analysis so that assays can be performed in small volumes to minimize reagent cost and usage. Keywords: high-throughput screening; cytotoxicity; propidium iodide; cell viability assay
Library and Information Literacy for Distance Education Students

In the late 1980s, the University of Alaska committed itself to providing rural students with an opportunity to earn a baccalaureate degree via distance education. Shortly thereafter, the University of Alaska Fairbanks established a core undergraduate curriculum in which library and information literacy was included as an essential component, the intent being to help students establish a base upon which more specialized knowledge and skills could be built. Recent and ongoing technological advances have revolutionized access to information and provided distance education students with unique opportunities for conducting research, as well as affording them greater participation in the academic experience. This article reviews the literature on library services and instruction for distance education students, describes the development of the core course for distance education students, and looks at the first year of implementation. Vers la fin des annees quatre-vingts, la University of Alaska s'est engagee a offrir aux etudiants des regions rurales la possibilite d'obtenir un baccalaureat a distance. Peu apres, la University of Alaska a Fairbanks mettait sur pied un programme d'etudes de premier cycle de base comprenant des cours d'informatique et de techniques de recherche obligatoires auxquels on pouvait ajouter des connaissances et des aptitudes plus specialisees. Les progres technologiques des dernieres annees ont revolutionne l'acces a l'information et donne aux etudiants en education a distance des possibilites uniques de recherche et de participation plus active a la vie universitaire. Cet article fait le bilan des publications sur les services de bibliotheque et les cours disponibles aux etudiants a distance, decrit le processus d'elaboration des cours de base et examine le deroulement de la premiere annee du programme.
Family planning in india with comments on the role of Indo-American cooperation☆

Abstract In many parts of the world, the provision of family planning services arose originally out of official concern over rapid population growth. India typifies this historical approach to population control, which has generated intense debate over the relative merits of different approaches to changing national fertility patterns. This paper describes the role of family planning in India's population control effort and the significance of Indo-American cooperation in the field of reproductive medicine. It is based on the personal experience of the author as Medical Advisor to the Office of Population, United States Agency for International Development/New Delhi from October 1971, to December,1972.
Use of a Fluorescent Brightener to Demonstrate Cellulose in the Cellular Slime Molds

The presence and location of cellulose in different stages of the life cycles of the cellular slime molds can be demonstrated by use of the disodium salt of 4,4′-bis(4-anilino-6-bis (2-hydroxyethyl)-amino-s-triazin-2-ylamino)-2,2′ -stilbene disulfonic acid, a fluorescent brightener. It may be used successfully as a direct stain at a concentration of 0.1% in half-normal saline at pH 6; and it may be incorporated into growth media as a vital stain at a concentration of 0.0025% with no inhibitory effect at any developmental stage. Vegetative myxamoebae contain no cellulose and show no fluorescence in the presence of this brightener when viewed with ultraviolet light. In later stages of the life cycle, the time and sites of cellulose formation can be demonstrated with the brightener because of its fluorescence. e.g., in the slime covering of the pseudoplasmodia, in the sorophore sheath, in the walls of stalk cells and spores, in the walls of microcysts, and in the walls and sheath material of macrocysts. The brightener appears to be a very sensitive indicator for cellulose, and it has certain advantages over other cellulose stains, since the staining reaction (fluorescence) is very intense, long-lasting, and not obscured by unstained cellulose-free myxamoebae if such are present.
Spin-labeling studies of rat liver NADPH-cytochrome p450 reductase: conformation and function relationship.

Abstract ESR spin-labeling studies designed to yield information regarding the relationship between function and conformation of rat liver NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (EC 1.6.4.2) were carried out. The purified enzyme was spin labeled by a nitroxide derivative of p-chloromercuribenzoate. Two conditions for spin labeling were employed: (i) the presence of NADP+, yielding an active site-protected spin-labeled reductase, and (ii) the absence of NADP+, yielding completely spin-labeled reductase. Reductase in which the active site was protected by binding NADP+ and then spin-labeled retains most of its enzymatic activity; on the other hand, completely spin-labeled reductase is devoid of any enzymatic activity. Completely spin-labeled reductase yields a two-component resolved ESR spectrum that reflects two classes of spin-labeled binding sites, a strongly immobilized (S) and a weakly immobilized (W) site. The ratio of W S provides a valuable parameter for studying the relationship between function and conformation. Structural perturbants, such as urea, KCl, and pH, were employed to determine their effects on the activity of the enzyme and their relationship to changes in the conformational state of the reductase. It was further observed that the enzymatically active spin-labeled derivative generated superoxide radical in the presence of NADPH and cytochrome c, which in turn reduced completely the attached spin-label.
Bayesian age–period–cohort models with versatile interactions and long‐term predictions: mortality and population in Finland 1878–2050

Age-period-cohort (APC) models are widely used for studying time trends of disease incidence or mortality. Model identifiability has become less of a problem with Bayesian APC models. These models are usually based on random walk (RW1, RW2) smoothing priors. For long and complex time series and for long predicted periods, these models as such may not be adequate. We present two extensions for the APC models. First, we introduce flexible interactions between the age, period and cohort effects based on a two-dimensional conditional autoregressive smoothing prior on the age/period plane. Our second extension uses autoregressive integrated (ARI) models to provide reasonable long-term predictions. To illustrate the utility of our model framework, we provide stochastic predictions for the Finnish male and female population, in 2010-2050. For that, we first study and forecast all-cause male and female mortality in Finland, 1878-2050, showing that using an interaction term is needed for fitting and interpreting the observed data. We then provide population predictions using a cohort component model, which also requires predictions for fertility and migration. As our main conclusion, ARI models have better properties for predictions than the simple RW models do, but mixing these prediction models with RW1 or RW2 smoothing priors for observed periods leads to a model that is not fully consistent. Further research with our model framework will concentrate on using a more consistent model for smoothing and prediction, such as autoregressive integrated moving average models with state-space methods or Gaussian process priors.
Phenylalanine-780 near the C-terminus of the mouse glucocorticoid receptor is important for ligand binding affinity and specificity.

Site-directed mutagenesis was employed to make two single amino acid substitutions for highly conserved amino acid residues near the C-terminus of the 783-amino acid mouse glucocorticoid receptor. Substitution of leucine for histidine-781 caused little or no change in the concentration of dexamethasone required for half-maximal activation of a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene expressed from a mouse mammary tumor virus promoter. However, when phenylalanine-780 was changed to alanine, the half-maximal concentrations of various agonists were increased as follows, compared with the wild-type glucocorticoid receptor: triamcinolone acetonide by 7-fold, dexamethasone by 25-fold, and hydrocortisone and deoxycorticosterone by more than 150-fold. Binding of labeled steroids by the mutant receptor in vitro and in vivo was also decreased. In contrast, this mutation caused a small decrease in the concentration of RU486 required for antagonist or partial agonist activity. Thus, the phenyl group of phenyl...
PROBING SURFACE MICROTHERMAL PROPERTIES BY SCANNING THERMAL MICROSCOPY

Scanning thermal microscopy (SThM) was used for probing surface microthermal properties of a wide range of materials from polymers to metals. We demonstrated that SThM measurements in contact mode can provide unique capabilities of unambiguous measurements of localized thermal conductivity of a wide variety of surfaces with sensitivity better than 0.05 W m-1 K-1 and lateral resolution in the range from 0.03 μm for hard materials to 1 μm for compliant materials. Variation of surface microthermal conductivity correlates fairly well with known bulk values for hard materials. For compliant materials, significant contribution of local deformation to measured values of thermal response is noted.
Coulomb energy of quasiparticle excitations in Chern–Simons composite fermion states

Abstract The attachment of flux tubes to electrons by a Chern–Simons (CS) singular gauge transformation of the wavefunction opened up the field theoretical description of the fractional quantum Hall effect (FQHE). Nevertheless, in Jain's composite fermion (CF) theory, quasiparticles are believed to be vortices carrying a fractional charge in addition to the winding phase of the CS flux tubes. The different structure of the wavefunction in these two cases directly affects the excitation energy gaps. By using a simple ansatz we were able to evaluate analytically the Coulomb excitation energies for the mean-field level CS wavefunction, thus allowing a direct comparison with corresponding numerical results obtained from Jain's CF picture. The considerable difference between the excitation energies found in these two cases demonstrates in quantitative terms the very different impact that the internal structure of the wavefunction has in these two approaches, often used interchangeably to describe the FQHE.
Enhanced radial dispersion in open tubular column chromatography

Radial diffusion of solutes in the mobile phase limits the practical linear velocities that can be used to increase speed of analysis in conventional open tubular column chromatography. Several methods have been devised to enhance radial dispersion that do not depend only on molecular radial diffusion. In this review, the methods of enhancing dispersion found in the chromatographic literature are discussed. These methods include the use of deformed columns, and spinning band and static mixer columns. These techniques have been found to be of little value in analytical chromatography. Electroosmotic flow has been used to generate a plug-like flow profile in LC and generates one to two orders of magnitude lower plate height than produced at laminar flow conditions. Turbulent and secondary flow have been used to enhance radial diffusion in open tubular columns for gas, liquid, and supercritical fluid chromatography. These techniques are described from their theoretical and practical aspects. Turbulent flow has been investigated as a means for enhancing radial dispersion in open tubular column chromatography for several years. At low linear velocities (Reynolds numbers < 2000), the Golay equation accurately predicts that increasing velocities generate higher plate heights. However, turbulent flow experimental results have shown that unretained solutes have decreasing plate heights with increasing velocity after a critical velocity is achieved. Up to this time, turbulent flow chromatography has not been shown to be useful for retained solutes, and applications in analytical separations are absent in the literature. Secondary flow has also been studied by several investigators for the enhancement of radial dispersion. A circular, radial flow profile can be generated by centrifugal forces in tightly coiled columns, and after a critical velocity is achieved, columns coiled to appropriate aspect ratios yield lower plate heights than straight columns for unretained solutes as the velocity is increased. Although retained solutes yield higher plate heights in coiled rather than conventional straight columns in some cases due to the resistance to mass transfer at the interphase region, higher speeds of analysis are obtained. Secondary flow chromatography has been successfully applied in gas and supercritical fluid chromatography for the rapid separation of alkanes having low retention. Nevertheless, applications using secondary flow in chromatographic separations are limited.
Constraints on biological effects of weak extremely-low-frequency electromagnetic fields.

Concerns have been raised over the possibility that extremely-low-frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields are carcinogenic and leukegenic. An examination of the physical interaction of such fields with the body shows that such interactions are too weak to have a significant effect on human biology at the cell level. Because of the high electrical conductivity of tissues, the coupling of external electric fields in air to tissue in the body is such that the effects of the internal fields on cells is smaller than thermal noise. Static magnetic fields smaller than the earth's field of 50 \ensuremath{\mu}T and varying fields weaker than the 4-\ensuremath{\mu}T 60-Hz fields that are equivalent in effect to that from walking in the earth's field, cannot be expected to generate significant biological effects. Moreover, the interactions of such weak fields at the cell level are also small compared to thermal noise. These conclusions would be modified by 60-Hz cell resonances. But such resonances are shown to be incompatible with cell characteristics and the requirement from equipartition that the mean resonance energy must be kT. Hence, any biological effects of weak ELF fields on the cellular level must be found outside of the scope of conventional physics.
Neuronal intermediate filament protein alpha-internexin facilitates axonal neurite elongation in neuroblastoma cells.

We examined the localization and role of alpha-IN vs. other neuronal intermediate filaments before and during differentiation. Vimentin but not alpha-IN localized within filopodia-like neurites of undifferentiated cells. During differentiation, alpha-IN immunoreactivity accumulated within axonal neurites following vimentin but, as previously describe in neurons in situ, before the appearance of NF-L. We therefore manipulated alpha-IN synthesis, accumulation, and function in attempts to determine whether or not this intermediate filament species played a role in axonal development. Intracellular delivery of anti-alpha-IN antisense oligonucleotides and antibodies was permissive for neuritogenesis, yet compromised neurite elongation; this effect was further reflected in diminished levels of stabilized axonal microtubules. These data suggest that alpha-IN plays a role in the development of neuronal polarity. Relatively more alpha-IN than NF-L accumulated within the plastic axonal neurites induced following serum-deprivation, while stable, dbcAMP-induced neurites treatment contained equivalent levels of each. Protease inhibition increased NF-L and NF-H but not alpha-IN immunoreactivity within serum-deprived neurites, suggesting that proteolysis restricts NF-L accumulation pending neurite stabilization. To test the possibility that NF-H accumulation is dependent upon NF-L and cannot be mediated by alpha-IN, we examined levels of NF-H co-precipitated from cells with alpha-IN and NF-L. Virtually all newly synthesized NF-H co-precipitated with NF-L, while only a small percentage co-precipitated with alpha-IN. Finally, NF-H or NF-M were absent from the axon hillock or perikaryal area at the base of neurites, where alpha-IN immunoreactivity is prominent. These data extend earlier cell-free demonstrations that NF-H preferentially associates with NF-L rather than alpha-IN.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia in injured patients: do you trust your Gram's stain?

Background: The results of sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid Gram's stain have been used to guide presumptive antibiotic therapy for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in injured patients, despite reported variability in sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy. Our aim was to evaluate the utility of Gram's stain of BAL fluid in the diagnosis of VAP. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of all mechanically ventilated trauma patients who developed pneumonia over a 5-year period in whom Gram's stain and final culture data were available. Results: One hundred fifty-five records with complete data sets were reviewed. VAP was diagnosed by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria and confirmed by BAL and quantitative culture in all patients. Overall accuracy of Gram's stain in diagnosing VAP for any organism was 88% (137 true-positives). When assessed for the ability to predict pneumonia caused by a specific organism, the accuracy decesased significantly, with only 63% of Gram-negative VAPs and 72% of Gram-positive VAPs accurately identified by Gram's stain. However, the absence of Gram-positive organism of Gram's stain excludes Gram-positive VAP in 80% of patients. Conclusion: All trauma patients should be covered presumptively for gram-negative organisms, as they encompass 70% of infections, but are not reliably identified by Gram's stain. As 88% of VAP can be identified by the presence of any organism on Gram's stain, it may be useful in the early diagnosis of VAP but cannot reliably be used to guide presumptive therapy.
Similarities and differences in ablative and non-ablative iron oxide nanoparticle hyperthermia cancer treatment

The use of hyperthermia to treat cancer is well studied and has utilized numerous delivery techniques, including microwaves, radio frequency, focused ultrasound, induction heating, infrared radiation, warmed perfusion liquids (combined with chemotherapy), and recently, metallic nanoparticles (NP) activated by near infrared radiation (NIR) and alternating magnetic field (AMF) based platforms. It has been demonstrated by many research groups that ablative temperatures and cytotoxicity can be produced with locally NP-based hyperthermia. Such ablative NP techniques have demonstrated the potential for success. Much attention has also been given to the fact that NP may be administered systemically, resulting in a broader cancer therapy approach, a lower level of tumor NP content and a different type of NP cancer therapy (most likely in the adjuvant setting). To use NP based hyperthermia successfully as a cancer treatment, the technique and its goal must be understood and utilized in the appropriate clinical context. The parameters include, but are not limited to, NP access to the tumor (large vs. small quantity), cancer cell-specific targeting, drug carrying capacity, potential as an ionizing radiation sensitizer, and the material properties (magnetic characteristics, size and charge). In addition to their potential for cytotoxicity, the material properties of the NP must also be optimized for imaging, detection and direction. In this paper we will discuss the differences between, and potential applications for, ablative and non-ablative magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia.
Surveillance transbronchial biopsies in infant lung and heart-lung transplant recipients

There are limited published data on surveillance TBB for the identification of allograft rejection in infants after lung or heart-lung transplantation. We performed a retrospective review of children under one yr of age who underwent lung or heart-lung transplant at our institution. Since 2005, four infants were transplanted (three heart-lung and one lung). The mean age (±s.d.) at the time of transplant was 5.5 ± 2.4 (range 3-8) months. A total of 16 surveillance TBB procedures were completed in both inpatient and outpatient settings, with a range of 3-7 performed per patient. A minimum of five acceptable tissue pieces with expanded alveoli were obtained in 81% (13/16) of TBB procedures and a minimum of three pieces in 88% (14/16). There was no evidence of acute allograft rejection in 88% (14/16) of TBB procedures. One TBB procedure yielded two tissue specimens demonstrating A2 acute allograft rejection. One TBB procedure failed to yield tissue with sufficient alveoli. Additionally, B-grade assessment identified B0 in 50% (8/16), B1R in 12% (2/16), and BX (ungradeable or insufficient sample) in 38% (6/16) of biopsy procedures, respectively. In conclusion, TBB may be safely performed as an inpatient and outpatient procedure in infant lung and heart-lung transplant recipients and may provide adequate tissue for detecting acute allograft rejection and small airway inflammation.
Model Development and Simulation of Bioremediation in Soil Beds with Aggregates

One method of remediating contaminated soil and ground water is through management of the subsurface environment so that indigenous microorganisms can biodegrade organic contaminants. Modeling and simulation offer promising means of assessing the migration and attenuation of such contaminants being treated in situ in the subsurface. In this paper, a macropore flow model has been developed to account for bioremediation in the interstitial spaces among soil aggregates. This model has been combined with another bioremediation model which accounts for diffusion and Biodegradation in the micropores and soil particles in the aggregates. The combined model comprises a system of six coupled equations, of which three are nonlinear ordinary differential equations and three are nonlinear partial differential equations. Dimensional analysis of these equations has yielded useful dimensionless parameters for evaluating the relative significance of each mechanism in remediation. Numerical experiments have been conducted to evaluate the effects of initial contaminant concentration, aggregate size, and soil-water partition factor. The total time of remediation has been found to depend on the rate at which contaminants are consumed within the large aggregates which, in turn, depends on the Biodegradation kinetics and the rates of diffusion of substrate and oxygen in the aggregates. For soil with aggregates whose radius is 1 cm or larger, the results of simulation indicate that the remediation time for the aggregates is significantly longer compared to the corresponding result for homogeneous soil. For contaminants with large partition coefficients, the estimated time for remediation achieved through microbial oxidation in situ is much shorter than that achieved through purely diffusional transport of the contaminants out of the soil bed.
[in the Spotlight] - Spintronics

This paper comments on the applications that are relevant to the signal processing community, technical challenges, status, and perspectives of spintronics
A rat serum protein related to reproduction, tissue synthesis and lactation.

DARCY1,2 has demonstrated by immunoelectrophoresis the presence of a protein in the sera of fœtal, neonatal, pregnant, tumour-bearing and regenerating rats not found in the sera of healthy, non-pregnant adults of either sex. More recently, Beaton et al.3,4 and Heim5 have shown, in the sera of pregnant and neonatal rats, the existence of a distinct protein component in the electrophoretic pattern obtained by starch-gel electrophoresis which is absent from the patterns of sera from healthy, non-pregnant, adult rats. Beaton et al.4 also demonstrated this component in certain pathological conditions and Heim5 found it in sera from fœtal and lactating rats. The presence or absence of the new component, hereinafter termed reproduction-associated protein, has now been determined over most of the life-cycle of the rat and under certain experimental conditions. A hypothesis of identity of the reproduction-associated protein with the protein discovered by Darcy1 is suggested.
Scheduling a Flexible Manufacturing System with Tooling Constraints: An Actual Case Study

Material handling and the provision of supporting resources, particularly tools, in flexible manufacturing systems FMSs can constrain production. To improve the productivity for an existing FMS, we first developed a simulation model that included constraints arising from material handling and tool management. Detailed simulations of the FMS showed that a simple set of heuristic rules could produce several alternative schedules of nearly optimum performance. They also showed that when the flow of tooling was considered the FMS was operating near or over capacity. The goal of the study-to generate slack production time for the manufacture of additional parts-was unachievable. Clearly companies must consider the constraints arising from material handling and the flow of supporting resources in scheduling, yet these constraints have seldom been considered in simulations of FMSs.
Validating an Index of Adolescent Sexual Behavior Using Psychosocial Theory and Social Trait Correlates

Using a web-based survey of adolescents 14–16 years of age, a hierarchical index of heterosexual behavior was developed with excellent psychometric properties. The easiest sexual behavior to perform was “deep kissing” and the most difficult was “receiving anal sex” for females and “giving anal sex” for males. The index was validated with data that show increased sexual activity with being older and of minority status, with social traits such as physical development, having a romantic partner, and sensation seeking, and with psychosocial variables known to be associated with sexual behavior such as attitudes, norms, self-efficacy and intentions.
Metabotropic glutamate receptors and the generation of locomotor activity: Interactions with midbrain dopamine

Interactions between excitatory amino acid (EAA) and dopamine (DA) pathways in the basal ganglia have been known for some time to contribute importantly to the generation of motor behaviors. In particular, the role played by ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) in such interactions and in the production of locomotion has received considerable attention, particularly in brain areas such as the ventral tegmental area (VTA) where EAA afferants are known to modulate the activity of DA neurons and the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) where descending EAA projections and ascending DA mesencephalic projections come in close apposition to each other and co-innervate intrinsic neurons projecting to motor output regions. Recently, the growing importance of the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) in the generation of motor behaviors and various forms of plasticity has begun to emerge. The known coupling of the mGluR to second messenger systems and its demonstrated role in the long-term modulation of synaptic transmission make it a logical candidate not only for the generation of locomotion involving EAA-DA interactions, but also for the induction and expression of locomotor plasticity involving these neurotransmitters. In this review, we examine the evidence supporting a role for mGluRs in the generation of DA-dependent locomotion as well as in one form of locomotor plasticity: the sensitization of locomotor activity by psychomotor stimulant drugs.
Learning why by being told what: interactive acquisition of justifications

An approach to acquiring justification that transforms why-questions into what-questions, borrowing the power of existing techniques, is discussed. The constrained dialogue has been implemented in an interactive tool, called ASK, that interviews experts and builds programs. The approach is applied to two different knowledge-acquisition problems; the acquisition of diagnostic strategy (why this action is chosen in this situation) and the acquisition of design rationale (why this device is designed this way). Generalization of the justification technique and key open problems in justification elicitation are examined. >
Efficient and secure intellectual property (IP) design with split fabrication

Split fabrication, the process of splitting an IC into an untrusted and trusted tier, facilitates access to the most advanced semiconductor manufacturing capabilities available in the world without requiring disclosure of design intent. While researchers have investigated the security of logic blocks in the context of split fabrication, the security of IP blocks, another key component of an SoC, has not been examined. Our security analysis of IP block designs, specifically embedded memory and analog components, shows that they are vulnerable to “recognition attacks” at the untrusted foundry due to the use of standardized floorplans and leaf cell layouts. We propose methodologies to design these blocks efficiently and securely, and demonstrate their effectiveness using 130nm split fabricated testchips.
High sensitivity optical detection methods in hydroxide eluent suppressed anion chromatography via postsuppression ion exchange

Detection by post suppression ion exchange, as an adjunct to suppressed hydroxide eluent ion chromatography, involves exchange of eluting sample anion or concurrently present H/sup +/ for a fluorescent/optically absorbing anion or cation such as anthranilate or Ce/sup 3 +/. Membrane-based post suppression devices permit reliable continuous operation, and detection limits can be better than those attainable by conductivity detection. The anion exchange membrane-anthranilate system also yields excellent detection limits by UV absorption except that membrane degradation is a problem. The ion exchange at the membrane interface is not an equilibrium process. The dependence of the membrane response on an external high frequency electrical field suggests that the transport of the ions through the membrane is not a rate-determining factor.
Normal table of embryonic development in the four-toed salamander, Hemidactylium scutatum.

We present a complete staging table of normal development for the lungless salamander, Hemidactylium scutatum (Caudata: Plethodontidae). Terrestrial egg clutches from naturally ovipositing females were collected and maintained at 15 °C in the laboratory. Observations, photographs, and time-lapse movies of embryos were taken throughout the 45-day embryonic period. The complete normal table of development for H. scutatum is divided into 28 stages and extends previous analyses of H. scutatum embryonic development (Bishop, 1920; Humphrey, 1928). Early embryonic stage classifications through neurulation reflect criteria described for Xenopus laevis, Ambystoma maculatum and other salamanders. Later embryonic stage assignments are based on unique features of H. scutatum embryos. Additionally, we provide morphological analysis of gastrulation and neurulation, as well as details on external aspects of eye, gill, limb, pigmentation, and tail development to support future research related to phylogeny, comparative embryology, and molecular mechanisms of development.
Dystonic reaction associated with dextromethorphan ingestion in a toddler

Introduction Accidental ingestions of cough and cold preparations containing dextromethorphan (DM) are common in the toddler age group and rarely have serious consequences. Even large intentional overdoses by adults seldom lead to serious morbidity. There have been no previous reports of an extrapyramidal reaction due to a DM ingestion. Case report We report a 30-month-old girl who ingested approximately 38 mg/kg dextromethorphan. She presented with opisthotonus, ataxia, and bidirectional nystagmus. There was no change in her status with the administration of naloxone. The child was given diphenhydramine with clearing of her opisthotonus but persistence of her ataxia and nystagmus. Discussion A moderate ingestion of dextromethorphan in a toddler resulted in extrapyramidal symptoms with opisthotonus that responded to diphenhydramine. Dextromethorphan is known to have complex CNS effects and, in sufficient doses, may have dopamine receptor blocking activity resulting in this dystonic reaction.
Anxiety and memory

This study investigates the relationship between the trait of anxiety and memory in a nonclinical population. Thirteen males were each rated by 30 peers for the degree to which they were characterized by the trait of anxiety. The subjects were then tested individually on the Digit Span subtest of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. The correlation between the anxiety and memory scores was.73 (p <.01), indicating a substantial relationship in which the more anxious subjects had better memory scores. The results are contrary to the major assumption about the relationship between anxiety and performance on the Digit Span subtest, although they are consistent with a drive theory of anxiety. Distinction must be made between the trait of anxiety and states of anxiety during testing to better understand the relationship between anxiety and memory.