cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sleep moderates the association between arterial stiffness and 24-hour blood pressure variability

Abstract Background Arterial stiffness and increased blood pressure variability (BPV) are important subclinical cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Evidence is accumulating that poor sleep is associated with subclinical CVDs. The purpose of our study was to investigate how sleep was related to arterial stiffness and BPV. We also explored whether sleep moderated the association between arterial stiffness and BPV. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study including 78 healthy adults aged between 35 and 64 years. Variables of interest were: 1) objective seep characteristics, assessed with a wrist actigraphy for two consecutive nights; 2) arterial stiffness, measured by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV); and 3) BPV, measured using an ambulatory blood pressure monitor over 24 h and estimated by average real variability. Results Lower sleep efficiency was an independent predictor of higher cfPWV and higher systolic BPV, while longer wake after sleep onset (WASO) was an independent predictor of higher cfPWV only. In addition, cfPWV showed a positive relationship with systolic BPV, and this relationship was moderated by sleep efficiency and WASO, respectively. The relationship between cfPWV and systolic BPV became stronger among individuals who had a level of sleep efficiency lower than 84% and who had WASO higher than 67 min, respectively. Conclusion Our study showed that poor sleep not only directly linked with arterial stiffness and BPV but also moderated the relationship between these two subclinical CVDs. These findings suggest that improving sleep quality could be a target intervention to promote cardiovascular health in clinical practice.
The magnetic resonance enterography imaging features of symptomatic Meckel’s diverticulum in pediatric patients: a retrospective observational study of 31 cases

Background The aim of this study was to explore the magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) imaging manifestations of a symptomatic Meckel's diverticulum (MD) in pediatric patients in order to provide a reference for the diagnosis of the condition. Methods The medical records of 31 pediatric patients with MD from May 2014 to October 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The inclusion criteria were patients with MD accompanied by unexplained gastrointestinal bleeding, anemia (except hematological diseases), chronic persistent abdominal pain, repeated intussusception, or intussusception in older pediatric patients during surgery. The clinical variables (age, sex, and hemoglobin) and imaging, surgical, and pathological findings were recorded. Results MD was definitively identified in 28 patients, with the following characteristics: a blind-ending fluid-filled and/or gas-filled structure (n=23), an elongated shape (n=1), a dumbbell shape (n=1), and a solid mass (n=3). The diverticula were located in the right lower quadrant (n=16), the right abdomen at the level of the umbilicus (n=3), the right upper quadrant (n=2), the left upper quadrant (n=2), and the midline lower abdomen (n=5). Supply arteries were visualized in nine cases. In all cases, mural enhancement was comparable to that of the adjacent small-bowel (SB). Extravasation of the intravascular contrast medium was seen in two cases. Peripheral structural abnormalities included mesenteric fat stranding (n=7), hemorrhage in the adjacent lumen (n=3), free intraperitoneal gas (n=1), abnormal fluid retention (n=2), intestinal obstruction (n=1), and lymph node enlargement (n=7). A normal appendix was identified in 18 cases. Conclusions MRE is an appropriate method of diagnosing symptomatic MD in pediatric patients and is particularly useful in the assessment of complications.
COVID-19 Incidence and Hospitalization Rates are Inversely Related to Vaccination Coverage Among the 112 Most Populous Counties in the United States

We tested whether COVID-19 incidence and hospitalization rates were inversely related to vaccination coverage among the 112 most populous counties in the United States, each with a population exceeding 600,000, and together with a combined total population of 147 million persons. We measured vaccination coverage as the percent of the total population fully vaccinated as of July 15, 2021, with the exception of 11 Texas counties, where the cutoff date was July 14, 2021. We measured COVID-19 incidence as the number of confirmed cases per 100,000 population during the 14-day period ending August 12, 2021. We measured hospitalization rates as the number of confirmed COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population during the same 14-day period. COVID-19 incidence was significantly higher among counties in the lower half of the distribution of vaccination coverage (incidence 543.8 per 100,000 among 56 counties with mean coverage 42.61%) than among counties in the upper half of the distribution of coverage (incidence 280.7 per 100,000 among 56 counties with mean coverage 57.37%, p < 0.0001). Hospital admissions were also significantly higher among counties in the lower half of the distribution (55.37 per 100,000) than in the upper half of the distribution (20.48 per 100,000, p < 0.0001). In log-linear regression models, a 10-percentage-point increase in vaccination coverage was associated with a 28.3% decrease in COVID-19 incidence (95% confidence interval, 16.8 - 39.7%), a 44.9 percent decrease in the rate of COVID-19 hospitalization (95% CI, 28.8 - 61.0%), and a 16.6% decrease in COVID-19 hospitalizations per 100 cases (95% CI, 8.4 - 24.8%). Higher vaccination coverage is associated not only with significantly lower COVID-19 incidence, but also significantly less severe cases of the disease.
Shock Induced Stress Wave Propagation in Sand

Experiments were conducted to investigate air shock-induced stress waves in bars of dry sand confined under constant lateral pressure. Stresses were measured at a number of cross sections by means of embedded gages. Information was obtained on wave velocity, peak stress attenuation, and reflected stresses. The observed change in wave shape was bending over of the front and a lengthening of the period. It was demonstrated that the nonlinear, inelastic theory based on the static stress-strain characteristics of the sand could be used to predict all of the significant features of the observed wave, but to provide correct quantitative prediction of change in shape and wave velocity it was necessary to hypothesize some time-dependent stress-strain behavior.
Uniform Convergence of Empirical Measures

For independent sampling from a distribution function F, the strong law of large numbers tells us that the proportion of points in an interval (−∞, t] converges almost surely to F(t). The classical Glivenko-Cantelli theorem strengthens the result by adding that the convergence holds uniformly over all t. The strong law also tells us that the proportion of points in any fixed set converges almost surely to the probability of that set. The strengthening of this result, to give uniform convergence over classes of sets more interesting than intervals on the real line, and its further generalization to classes of functions, will be the main concern of this chapter.
Left atrial volume predicts the risk of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery: a prospective study.

Left Atrial Volume Predicts the Risk of Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery: A Prospective StudyMartin Osranek, Kaniz Fatema, Fatema Qaddoura, Ahmed Al-Saileek, Marion E. Barnes, Kent R. Bail...
Traveling Home: Sacred Harp Singing and American Pluralism

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Kiri Miller Year: 2007 Pages: 272 Publisher: University of Illinois Press ISBN: 978-0-252-03214-1 (hard cover). Prices: $45.00 USD(hard cover).
Formation of gamma-guanidinobutyric acid in pine tissue.

IN several experiments in which arginine uniformly labelled with carbon-14 was fed to various tissues of pines, one unidentified compound was found to contain most of the radioactivity incorporated into alcohol-soluble products. When tissue extracts were cleared for chromatography following the ion-exchange procedure of Plaisted1, the unknown was eluted from ‘Dowex 50’ resin with the acidic and neutral amino-acids. However, the RF of the unidentified compound on paper chromatography did not correspond with the RF of any common amino-acid. Subsequent tests indicated that the radioactive unknown was γ-guanidinobutyric acid, previously found in several species of higher plants, as well as in insects and mammals, by Irreverre et al.2.
Some Limitations of Feature-Based Recognition in Case-Based Design

A crucial part of Case-Based Reasoning is retrieving cases that are similar or otherwise relevant to the problem at hand. Traditionally, this has been formulated as a problem of indexing and accessing cases based on sets of predictive features. More generally, however, we can think of retrieval as a problem of recognition. In this light, several limitations of the feature-based approach become apparent. What constitutes a feature? What makes a feature predictive? And how is retrieval possible when the structure of an input is predictive, but its components are not?
Interpretation of the Helix Planetary Nebula using Hydro-Gravitational Theory

Wide angle Hubble Space Telescope (HST/ACS) images of the Helix Planetary Nebula (NGC 7293) are interpreted using the hydro-gravitational theory (HGT) of Gibson 1996-2000 that predicts the baryonic dark matter and interstellar medium (ISM) consists of Mars-mass primordial-fog-particle (PFP) frozen H-He planets. The new ACS images confirm and extend the O'Dell and Handron 1996 WFPC2 images showing thousands of cometary globules, which we suggest are cocoons of PFP and Jupiter frozen-gas-planets evaporated by powerful beamed radiation from the hot central white dwarf and its companion. The atmosphere mass of the largest cometary globules is ~ 3x10^{25} kg with spacing ~ 10^{14} m, supporting the prediction of HGT that the mass density of the ISM in Galaxy star forming regions should match the large baryonic primordial value at the time of first structure formation (10^{12} s or 30,000 years), with \rho ~ (3-1)x 10^{-17} kg m^{-3}.
Retirement in a Defined Contribution Era: Making the Money Last

As a result of federal legislation enacted in 2001, there is now almost total portability of assets between all types of defined contribution plans. Therefore, the main focus of attention is to increase the number of employees who are covered by a defined contribution plan, to increase account balances, particularly for middle and low income employees, and to reduce the amount of pre-retirement leakage from the retirement system.This article addresses these issues and explains why they present problems. Additionally, the article proposes new ideas for policy makers to consider.
Cellular energy metabolism during fetal development: IV. Fatty acid activation, acyl transfer and fatty acid oxidation during development of the chick and rat☆

Abstract We have investigated developmental profiles of ATP-dependent palmityl-CoA synthetase, acetyl-CoA synthetase, palmitylcarnitine transferase, and fatty acid oxidation in heart and liver of developing chicks and rats. Palmityl-CoA synthetase activity of rat liver and heart homogenates increased 6- to 10-fold during the first postnatal week. Chick embryo heart activity peaked between 13 and 16 days of development. The activity of embryonic chick livers was bimodal with highest activity seen at 7 and 16 days of development. Posthatching values were approximately 50–75% of the peak embryonic levels. Acetyl-CoA synthetase activity of rat liver and heart homogenates was low but also showed developmental increases following birth. Acetyl-CoA synthetase activity of chick embryonic hearts was greatest at 16 days of development. Palmitylcarnitine transferase activity of rat liver and heart homogenates showed a striking increase during the first week of life. Chick heart activity was similar to that observed for palmityl-CoA synthetase with a peak between 13 and 16 days of embryonic development. Coincident with the postnatal rise in fatty acid activation and palmitylcarnitine transferase activity in developing rats, the oxidation of palmityl-CoA plus carnitine and of palmitylcarnitine increased from barely measurable levels at birth to adult levels by 30 days of age. The increases that we observe probably relate to changes in the specific activity of the enzymes as well as to an increase in the absolute number of mitochondria during development.
Reduced form estimation and prediction from uncertain structural models: a generic approach

Abstract This paper proposes a direct hierarchical model for the analysis of the reduced forms (RF) of the classical linear simultaneous equations models (SEM). The mean of the prior p.d.f. on RF coefficients is partially assessed with the aid of the traditionally exact a priori restrictions. Its variance may be partially specified to reflect degrees of model uncertainty and reliability of inferences that are asymptotically valid. Bayes or ‘maximum joint probability’ estimates are derived for both the RF and the ‘structural’ parameters. One variant of the RF estimator is shown to have desirable limiting and finite sample properties. It performs well in an empirical example which incorporates some elements of the two real-life problems of concern to us: simultaneous presence of different types of misspecification and small sample sizes.
Honor and The Performance of Roman State Identity

Principate. 1 The argument advanced proposes the Roman world was ensconced by a metavalue of honor that significantly shaped the personal identities of Rome’s aristocratic decision-making classes. Competition for honor subsumed aristocratic life and shaped not only the personal identities of the elite, but also the persona of the Roman state. The Romans extrapolated their psychological framework, in which the stratification of domestic society rested on personal identities of honor, to their outlook on foreign policy. Akin to their domestic lives, those executing foreign policy conceptualized Rome as engaged in a status competition for honor with the polities existing its world system. Preserving and enhancing one’s honor relative to others was fundamental in domestic life, and this was also the state’s primary objective in relation to all others. The identity of the Roman state, therefore, was an aggressive status seeker. A survey of historical world systems reveals a variety of cultural and institutional environments. The way historically situated actors conceptualize the nature of international relations often depends upon these contexts, as is the content of legitimate foreign policy. Reus-Smit (1997, 1999) argues that historical world systems are embedded in constitutional structures. These are normative complexes comprising metavalues that provide foundations for the fundamental institutions operating in differing world systems. For instance, those undergirding multilateralism in the modern era and the system of dispute arbitration among the ancient Greek city-state system. This article builds on Reus-Smit’s basic insight that cultural environments shape institutional type. However, instead of fundamental institutions, the focus here explores how cultural environments influence personal and subsequently state identity. Constructivists have advanced the field of International Relations (IR) regarding the sources and dynamics of state identity. State identity is fundamental because it indicates how we should expect states to act and makes intelligible the types of policies they pursue. Constructivists locate the sources of state identity in many places, including national discourses, international norms and practices, and the collective notions of Self shared among states. However, constructivists 1
Long term expansion of cytomegalovirus-specific T cell lines in the absence of antigen or antigen-presenting cells. Use of monosized polystyrene particles coated with agonistic antibodies.

Abstract Functional and molecular studies of T lymphocytes involved in normal and abnormal immune responses, i.e., cells infiltrating tissues affected by autoimmune processes, require their previous in vitro expansion. Problems such as unavailability of specific antigen(s) and/or the requirement of large amounts of autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) as feeder cells, demand the development of alternative expansion methods. Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-primed PBMNCs from several seropositive subjects were expanded for 5–6 weeks by stimulation with anti-CD3 coated onto polysterene beads plus interleukin-2 (IL-2) with a similar efficiency than when the MAb was presented by autologous MNCs. Beads coated with anti-CD4, but not with anti-CD8, were also able to maintain the long term growth of CMV-primed populations of T cells. The expanded T cells of one of these polyclonal populations were cloned by limiting dilution using anti-CD3 or CMV, and autologous PMMNCs as stimuli. 16 and 11 clones, respectively, were obtained and grown to several million cells for 1–2 months by weekly stimulations with anti-CD3-coated beads and IL-2. Proliferation assays performed with most of the clones generated with anti-CD3 stimulation showed that all the tested clones had retained the CMV and the class II MHC restriction specificities for at least 3–4 months after the initial CMV stimulation. All the tested clones secreted IL-2 in response to CMV and were CD3 + , CD4 + and CD8 − . Comparison of the growth of two of these clones by stimulation with: (a) anti-CD3-coated beads and IL-2; (b) anti-CD3, autologous MNCs and IL-2; or (c) CMV, autologous MNCs and IL-2, showed that the first combination was at least as efficient as the other two in expanding these T cell clones. We conclude that polystyrene monosized particles coated with agonistic antibodies can induce the long term growth of antigen-specific T cell lines in the absence of specific antigen and feeder cells, often unavailable specially in the context of human autoimmune studies.
Multilevel anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with and without rhBMP-2: a comparison of dysphagia rates and outcomes in 150 patients

Object Reported complications of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein–2 (rhBMP-2) use in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) cases include dysphagia and cervical swelling. However, dysphagia often occurs after multilevel ACDF procedures performed with allograft (without BMP) as well. To date, there has been no large study comparing the dysphagia rates of patients who have undergone multilevel ACDF using allograft spacers with those who underwent ACDF using polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cages filled with rhBMP2. The authors report one of the first such comparisons between these 2 patient cohorts. Methods The authors retrospectively reviewed 150 patient records. Group 1 (BMP group) consisted of 100 patients who underwent multilevel ACDF with PEEK cages filled with rhBMP-2 and instrumented with a cervical plate. Group 2 (allograft group) included a matched control cohort of 50 patients who underwent multilevel ACDF with allograft spacers and anterior plate fixation (without rhBMP-2). Patient...
Allopregnanolone-induced rise in intracellular calcium in embryonic hippocampal neurons parallels their proliferative potential

Factors that regulate intracellular calcium concentration are known to play a critical role in brain function and neural development, including neural plasticity and neurogenesis. We previously demonstrated that the neurosteroid allopregnanolone (APα; 5α-pregnan-3α-ol-20-one) promotes neural progenitor proliferation in vitro in cultures of rodent hippocampal and human cortical neural progenitors, and in vivo in triple transgenic Alzheimer's disease mice dentate gyrus. We also found that APα-induced proliferation of neural progenitors is abolished by a calcium channel blocker, nifedipine, indicating a calcium dependent mechanism for the proliferation. In the present study, we investigated the effect of APα on the regulation of intracellular calcium concentration in E18 rat hippocampal neurons using ratiometric Fura2-AM imaging. Results indicate that APα rapidly increased intracellular calcium concentration in a dose-dependent and developmentally regulated manner, with an EC50 of 110 ± 15 nM and a maximal response occurring at three days in vitro. The stereoisomers 3β-hydroxy-5α-hydroxy-pregnan-20-one, and 3β-hydroxy-5β-hydroxy-pregnan-20-one, as well as progesterone, were without significant effect. APα-induced intracellular calcium concentration increase was not observed in calcium depleted medium and was blocked in the presence of the broad spectrum calcium channel blocker La3+, or the L-type calcium channel blocker nifedipine. Furthermore, the GABAA receptor blockers bicuculline and picrotoxin abolished APα-induced intracellular calcium concentration rise. Collectively, these data indicate that APα promotes a rapid, dose-dependent, stereo-specific, and developmentally regulated increase of intracellular calcium concentration in rat embryonic hippocampal neurons via a mechanism that requires both the GABAA receptor and L-type calcium channel. These data suggest that APα-induced intracellular calcium concentration increase serves as the initiation mechanism whereby APα promotes neurogenesis.
Preliminary Evidence of the Validity of the WISC-III for African American Students Undergoing Special Education Evaluation

Two studies were conducted to evaluate the validity of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Third Edition (WISC-III) with African American students undergoing special education evaluations. In Study 1, correlations between Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Revised (WISC-R) and WISC-III scores were examined for 31 African American students undergoing 3-year reevaluations for special education. The correlations obtained were comparable to those reported in the WISC-III manual, but WISC-III scores were lower than scores on the WISC-R. In Study 2, the factor structure of the WISC-III was investigated for 58 African American students undergoing initial special education evaluations. Although unrotated factors supported the validity of the WISC-III, some problems arose following varimax rotation.
Mechanism of Action of RNase T: II. A STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL MODEL OF THE ENZYME *

A detailed structural and functional model of E. coli RNase T was generated based on sequence analysis, homology modeling, and experimental observation. In the accompanying article, three short sequence segments (nucleic acid binding sequences (NBS)) important for RNase T substrate binding were identified. In the model, these segments cluster to form a positively charged surface patch. However, this patch is on the face of the RNase T monomer opposite the DEDD catalytic center. We propose that by dimerization, the NBS patch from one subunit is brought to the vicinity of the DEDD center of the second monomer to form a fully functional RNase T active site. In support of this model, mutagenetic studies show that one NBS1 residue, Arg(13), sits at the catalytic center despite being on the opposite side of the monomer. Second, the complementarity of the RNase T subunits through the formation of homodimers was demonstrated by reconstitution of partial RNase T activity from monomers derived from two inactive mutant proteins, one defective in catalysis and one in substrate binding. These data explain why RNase T must dimerize to function. The model provides a detailed framework on which to explain the mechanism of action of RNase T.
Identifying Winter Forage Triticale (× Triticosecale Wittmack) Strains for the Central Great Plains

Triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmack) is mainly used as a forage crop in the central Great Plains. A successful triticale cultivar should have high forage yield with good quality, and also high grain yield so the seed can be economically produced. The purpose of this study was to evaluate existing triticale cultivars and experimental strains for their relative value in the central Great Plains as an annual hay crop primarily for feeding to beef cattle. Two experiments (one for forage yield and one for grain yield) were planted at two locations (one representing the arid Great Plains and the second representing the or higher rainfall central Great Plains) for 2 yr. Twenty-nine triticale cultivars and strains were evaluated for forage yield and quality, and grain yield. In both experiments, year effects were signifi cant (P < 0.05) for all traits except grain yield; location effects were signifi cant for forage yield, neutral detergent fi ber (NDF), and acid detergent fi ber. There was no location × strain or year × location × strain interaction for all the quality traits indicating that triticale forage quality was stable across environments. Triticale strains differed signifi cantly for forage yield, grain yield, NDF, acid detergent lignin, and relative feed value. However, forage of all strains had good feed quality. Three strains had high grain and forage yield, and very good relative feed value suggesting that triticale improvement for both grain and forage traits is possible.
Coarsening and the mean shape of three-dimensional dendritic crystals

The mean shape of free dendritic crystals of ${\mathrm{NH}}_{4}$Cl growing in three dimensions from solution is determined. The mean width w\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{} of the dendrites in the plane of the sidebranches is found to scale with the distance z from the tip according to w\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}/\ensuremath{\rho}\ensuremath{\sim}(z/\ensuremath{\rho}${)}^{0.74\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.06}$, where \ensuremath{\rho} is the tip radius. This is significantly different from the exponent of 1/2 that would be expected if the mean shape corresponded to a parabolic steady-state solution, as was found in two-dimensional growth [Y. Couder et al., Phys. Rev. A 42, 3499 (1990)]. Estimates of the axially averaged three-dimensional shape and possible implications for steady-state theories of dendritic growth are also discussed.
Templating of Mesoporous Molecular Sieves by Nonionic Polyethylene Oxide Surfactants

Mesoporous silica molecular sieves have been prepared by the hydrolysis of tetraethylorthosilicate in the presence of low-cost, nontoxic, and biodegradable polyethylene oxide (PEO) surfactants, which act as the structure-directing (templating) agents. This nonionic, surfactant-neutral, inorganic-precursor templating pathway to mesostructures uses hydrogen bonding interactions between the hydrophilic surfaces of flexible rod- or worm-like micelles and Si(OC 2 H 5 ) 4-x (OH) x hydrolysis products to assemble an inorganic oxide framework. Disordered channel structures with uniform diameters ranging from 2.0 to 5.8 nanometers have been obtained by varying the size and structure of the surfactant molecules. Metal-substituted silica and pure alumina mesostructures have also been prepared by the hydrolysis of the corresponding alkoxides in the presence of PEO surfactants. These results suggest that nonionic templating may provide a general pathway for the preparation of mesoporous oxides.
Membrane Regulation and Signal Transduction by Annexin A5

Annexins are an abundant family of proteins well known for their Ca2+-dependent membrane binding ability. Though they've been implicated in numerous membrane processes their method of action and signal integration is largely unknown. Here we propose a mechanism for annexin to integrate information regarding Ca2+ concentration and resting distribution of lipid and cholesterol in one leaflet, and transduce that information across the bilayer. In a system poised near random distribution, such as lipids of the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane, order can be imposed through even weak interactions. We've previously shown annexin's weak Ca2+-independent membrane binding acts to create a cooperative Ca2+ binding response. In this work we demonstrate not only annexin's ability to respond to and integrate information of membrane composition; but also its ability change and regulate that distribution. Protein interactions with membranes can induce membrane order and domain formation if the protein has specificity for individual lipids distributed non-ideally, or even randomly throughout the membrane. A protein that preferentially binds a free component of the membrane alters the amount of that component within other membrane domains. Annexin perturbs membrane distribution through its preferential binding and sequestration of phosphatidylserine headgroups (PS). Cholesterol perturbs phospholipid physical properties and preferentially forms complexes with PS. Then the local sequestering of PC-cholesterol complexes, and annexin-induced membrane domain formation upon Ca2+ influx, can act as the driving force for cholesterol redistribution across the bilayer. Using ITC as well as fluorescent probes such as DHE (cholesterol analogue) and carboxyfluorescein encapsulating LUVs. We show annexin's binding of cholesterol-PS complexes induces differential Ca2+ binding sites, and redistributes cholesterol throughout the bilayer without disrupting membrane permeability. Together this suggests that annexin has the capacity to redistribute cholesterol across the bilayer in a calcium-ion and membrane composition dependent manner.
Preparation of polyacrylamide gel-filled capillaries for capillary electrophoresis

A procedure for preparing polyacrylamide gel-filled capillaries, for use in capillary gel electrophoresis, is decribed. The method involves the principle of isotachophoretic polymerization, in which the polymerization initiator is introduced by electromigration to promote gradual polymerization of the acrylamide in a sequential manner along the length of the capillary. This procedure has been found to be superior to other methods for polymerizing gels inside of small-bore (i.e., 50-μm i.d.) capillaries, because of the reduced formation of bubbles in the gels during polymerization. The method described is simple, reproducible, and several capillaries can be prepared simultaneously. A preliminary result showing the use of 50-μm i. d. gel-filled capillaries for SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of proteins is shown.
Immunotherapy and gene transfer in the treatment of the oncology patient: Role of transfusion medicine

T HE PRACTICE of transfusion medicine and the role of the blood bank have seen considerable evolution in the last decade from supplying components predominately derived from whole blood donation, to the acquisition, processing, quality monitoring, and provision of a large range of plasma-derived acellular, and apheresis-derived cellular, components (Table 1). Indeed, many basic, preclinical, and clinical studies now support the use of these cellular components in the treatment of neoplastic (and nonneoplastic) diseases via bone marrow transplantation, adoptive immunotherapy, and gene transfer therapy. A detailed discussion of all relevant advances in these fields is beyond the scope of this review. However, data supporting the clinical utility of these therapies have increased rapidly in the past 10 years and have had a growing impact on transfusion services and blood banks. Herein, the authors review some of the key studies related to the development of these therapeutic modalities and the role of the transfusion medicine service in their provision. Bone marrow transplantation (BMT), immunotherapy, and gene transfer therapies are linked, in part, by their use of mononuclear cells of hematolymphopoietic origin. Parallels between BMT, immunotherapy, and gene transfer therapy are common, and discussion of these fields overlaps in several areas. For example, allogeneic BMT, in addition to reconstituting hematopoiesis after highdose chemotherapy, has the potential to react immunologically against the patient's leukemia cells, an antitumor effect termed graft-versusleukemia (GVL). Indeed, the induction of GVL via buffy-coat or T-cell infusions derived from the original bone marrow donor has been used to treat leukemic relapse following B M T . 1-3 This, then, is a form of cancer immunotherapy in BMT. Additionally, early work with gene transfer modalities used the insertion of a marker gene into bone marrow cells so that their progeny could be "tracked" and followed post-BMT. 4 A third similarity is that apheresis-derived mononuclear cell (MNC) preparations can be used for BMT (as peripheral blood stem cells), adoptive immunotherapy (as lymphokine-activated killer cells [LAK]), or in gene therapy programs (as a vehicle for a tumoricidal molecule). Thus, it is not unexpected that the transfusion medicine specialist would have a role in these three programs with a focus on cell acquisition, current good manufacturing practice (cGMP)level processing, storage, and transfusion of these products. This review provides an overview of each field, cell-processing methodologies, current clinical protocols and studies, and the role of the blood bank/transfusion medicine scientist for BMT, immunotherapy, and gene transfer therapies.
Decision aids from genetics to treatment of breast cancer: long-term clinical utility or temporary solution?

EDICAL SCIENCE IS A VICTIM OF ITS OWN SUCcess. Clinical and translational investigation has resulted in a bounty of relevant and specialized knowledge that is adopted into routine clinical use. While this 21st-century science is hurtling quickly into the clinical arena, the relative growth of clinicians in some specialized areas, who are facile in using 21st-century scientific knowledge to practice 21st-century medicine, has not increased at a rate to keep pace with that of recent scientific advances. Compounded with the growing trend of viewing patients as partners in medical decision making, necessitating educating and helping patients withchoicesinafieldthatchangesweekly,themedicalcommunity is facing a crisis. Two articles published in this issue of JAMA try to address this problem by exploring the utility and limitations of patient decision aids in breast can
Bioavailability and intracellular pharmacokinetics of azithromycin in patients with cystic fibrosis

Background Azithromycin (AZM) significantly improves pulmonary function in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Our hypothesis is that the absorption of AZM may be altered in CF due to pancreatic insufficiency. Additionally, MDR1 and CFTR are coordinatley regulated which may alter the intracellular disposition of P-gp substrates. The objective is to compare the bioavailability and intracellular (IC) concentrations of AZM in patients with CF and healthy volunteers (HV). Methods A prospective, randomized, controlled crossover study involving 12 CF patients and 11 age-matched HV. In period I, all subjects received either a single PO or IV dose of AZM followed by crossover with one week washout. In period II, all patients received AZM QOD×3d. Blood and PBMC samples were obtained at specified times, and were assayed using LC-MS/MS. PK analysis was performed using a 3-compartment model with ADAPT II. Differences between groups were determined using Mann-Whitney test. Results The rate and extent of absorption did not differ between the two groups. Distribution to the peripheral compartment was greater in the HV which may be attributed to greater adipose when compared with the CF patients. AZM demonstrates significant penetration into PBMCs in both groups. No significant differences in IC PK between groups were noted. Conclusion No alteration in dosage of AZM is necessary in patients with CF taking pancreatic enzymes. The prolonged intracellular half-life supports the current QOD dosing strategy. (see Table) Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2005) 77, P38–P38; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2004.12.040 Table 1. PK results Median (SD) CF HV P Ka (h-1) 0.48 (0.88) 0.45 (0.27) 0.60 F (%) 34.8 (13.5) 40.1 (17.8) 0.34 Cserum 52h (ng/ml) 19.3 (10.3) 21.9 (9.7) 0.61 CPBMC 72h (mcg/ml) 9.7 (8.9) 13.3 (7.3) 0.55 T 1/2 PBMC (h) 77.0 (37.0) 92.0 (23.1) 0.85
The U.S. Army atmospheric profiler research facility - A preliminary view

The U.S. Army Atmospheric Sciences Laboratory has established a unique atmospheric research facility at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), New Mexico. The Atmospheric Profiler Research Facility (APRF) monitors three primary atmospheric parameters: wind (speed and direction), refractive index structure parameter C-squared(n), and ambient temperature. The APRF includes a suite of high-performance (temporal and spatial resolution) phased-array, multiple reflector, and multiple aperture type atmospheric profilers. Specialized and standard surface and balloon-borne instrumentation are deployed to provide local ground truth, comparison, and calibration data. The Facility achieves a high-resolution height coverage to about 20 km. The products of the APRF support research applications, including research and development testbed analyses, imaging and propagation system design and testing, meteorological and earth-observation satellite ground comparison, and environmental forecasting improvement at WSMR. The design and capabilities of the APRF are described. Preliminary measured and derived atmospheric parameters as well as initial comparisons are presented.
Fast Nearest Neighbor Classification Methods for Multispectral Imagery

Nearest neighbor classifiers have not been widely used by remote sensing practitioners. The lack of acceptance of these classifiers may be partially due to their notoriously slow speed of execution which makes them impractical for the classification of mega-pixel images. However, training data reduction, distance measure optimization, and neighbor searching algorithms based on the modified k-d tree can speed nearest neighbor classification substantially.
Immunologic reactions of rabbit anti-Mycoplasma arthritidis serum with in vitro cultivated rat synovial cells.

The pathogenesis of the intra-articular, arthritic-inflammatory reaction caused byMycoplasma arthritidis in susceptible rats and mice is poorly understood. To investigate this problem, synovial cells from normal Sprague-Dawley rats were cultured and studied in vitro. These cells continued to produce hyaluronic acid as measured by viscosity and chemical assays. Normal synovial cells were treated with rabbit serum specimens taken before and after immunization withM. arthritidis. Cytotoxicity assays indicated that the cells were killed in the presence of rabbit anti-M. arthritidis serum but not with preimmunization serum specimens. The anti-M. arthritidis serum was not cytotoxic to monolayer cultures of HEp-2, Vero, or L-cells. Antiserum produced in response toM. fermentans, M. hominis, andM. pulmonis did not produce a cytotoxic effect on the cultured synovial cells. From immunofluorescence studies it was demonstrated that the interactions occurred between the rabbit anti-M. arthritidis serum and synovial cell surface antigens. Extreme precautions were taken to prevent mycoplasmal contamination of rats and the synovial cells in culture. These observations would appear to support previous reports implicating mycoplasmas as biological triggering mechanisms of autoimmune reactions.
Proangiogenic Role of ephrinB1/EphB1 in Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor-Induced Corneal Angiogenesis

Corneal neovascularization is a vision-threatening condition caused by various ocular pathological conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the function of the ephrin ligands and Eph receptors in vitro and in vivo in corneal angiogenesis in a mouse model. The Eph tyrosine kinase receptors and their ligands, ephrins, are expressed on the cell surface. The functions of Eph and ephrins have been shown to regulate axonal guidance, segmentation, cell migration, and angiogenesis. Understanding the roles of Eph and ephrin in corneal angiogenesis may provide a therapeutic intervention for the treatment of angiogenesis-related disorders. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that ephrinB1 and EphB1 were expressed in basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-induced vascularized corneas. EphB1 was specifically colocalized with vascular endothelial marker CD31 surrounded by type IV collagen. EphrinB1 was expressed in corneal-resident keratocytes and neutrophils. Recombinant ephrinB1-Fc, which induces EphB receptor activation, enhanced bFGF-induced tube formation in an in vitro aortic ring assay and promoted bFGF-induced corneal angiogenesis in vivo in a corneal pocket assay. Synergistically enhanced and sustained activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase was noted in vascular endothelial cell lines after stimulation with ephrin B1 and bFGF combinations. These results suggest that ephrinB1 plays a synergistic role in corneal neovascularization.
What nursing has learned from famous traumas.

The deaths of three celebrities shed light on where trauma care needs to improve and remind us how far we have already come.
Dangerous to your health the role of chronic drug use in serious injuries and trauma

OBJECTIVES: This study estimated the differential risks of serious injury or trauma for a community-based sample of chronic drug users (CDUs; n = 926) and a matched group of nondrug users (NDUs; n = 553). The study also estimated whether CDUs and NDUs differed in their utilization of health care services for serious injury or trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected in 1996 and 1997 through community outreach activities in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The analysis estimated the effects of drug use on (1) any lifetime serious injury or trauma, (2) any serious injury or trauma during the past 12 months, and (3) utilization of health care services for serious injury or trauma. All analyses were gender specific and the models were also estimated with a measure of problematic alcohol use in addition to CDU. To examine the potential endogeneity of drug use, various specification tests were conducted. RESULTS: For females, CDUs experienced significantly more serious injury, trauma, or both (both lifetime and past year) than nonusers. Drug use status was not a significant predictor of serious injury or trauma (lifetime and past year) for males. Regardless of gender, conditional on experiencing any serious injury or trauma during the past year, CDUs and NDUs did not differ in their utilization of health care services. Various statistical tests determined that CDU was exogenous in all specifications and the findings were largely unchanged when problematic alcohol use was included in the models. CONCLUSIONS: The elevated risk for serious injury or trauma for female CDUs renders these persons vulnerable to severe medical problems. Specific training in substance abuse issues may be necessary if health care providers are to identify, engage, knowledgeably serve, and refer CDUs for appropriate services. Language: en
IRAS: Other planetary systems

The search is on. After IRAS (Infrared Astronomy Satellite) resolved cool (85 K), thermally emitting masses apparently in orbit around the hot (10,000 K) star Vega during the spring of 1983, considerable efforts have been made to identify other solar systems and planets. Right now observers accept any size planets, even 20 μ diameter orbiting particles as in the case of the Vega system, as a step in the direction that could conceivably lead to discovery of a solar system like our own. (See Eos, March 13, 1984, p. 97.) In December 1983, IRAS results had been processed further. Among the many results, IRAS had found another solar system, again probably with only protoplanets. The star Formulhaut, like Vega, a well-known navigational aid, has a similar protoplanetary system.
Physics of chiral symmetry breaking

Abstract This subsection of the “Modeling QCD” Workshop has included five talks. E. Shuryak spoke on “Recent Progress in Understanding Chiral Symmetry Breaking”; below it is split into two parts: (i) a mini-review of the field and (ii) a brief presentation of the status of the theory of interacting instantons. The next sections correspond to the following talks: (iii) K. Goeke et al. , “Chiral Restoration and Medium Corrections to Nucleon in the NJL Model”; (iv) M. Takizawa and K. Kubodera, “Study of Meson Properties and Quark Condensates in the NJL Model with Instanton Effects”; (v) G. Klein and A. G. Williams, “Dynamical Chiral Symmetry Breaking in Dual QCD”; and (vi) R. D. Ball, “Skyrmions and Baryons.”
Reduced HLA Class II Antibody Response to Proteasome Inhibition

Purpose One major function of the 26S proteasome is antigen processing for HLA class I presentation. Following proteasome inhibition with bortezomib (Bzb), one would expect down regulation of class I expression. We explored the differential effect on donor specific and third-party antibodies in Bzb-treated OHT patients. We postulated that compared to class II responses, Bzb is more effective in preventing de novo antibody production to class I alloantigens. Methods and Materials Pearson correlations among Ab per and across patients were performed for patients receiving Bzb desensitization/AMR therapy from August 2010 to January 2012. Hierarchical clustering was used to find antibody groups of similar response. Treatment consisted of plasmapheresis then Bzb (0.7-1mg/m² IV) on days 1, 4, 7, 10 then a 3-day course of plasmapheresis beginning day 13. Anti-HLA antibody mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) was determined via single antigen Luminex® assay. Results Evaluation of the antibody response patterns to Bzb was done on 9 patients. Out of these, 4 patients shared common antibodies, tested multiple times before and after transplantation. Antibody levels are depicted as a heatmap for the intersection of antibody sets. We found that compared to HLA class I locus A and B, HLA class II antibodies demonstrated a significantly decreased response to Bzb. [ figure 1 ] Conclusions We have identified clusters of antibodies with differing degrees of response to Bzb therapy that could be indicative of a class-specific effect. Class I antibodies show a preferential response to bortezomib, while Class II (specifically HLA-DQ) appeared to respond poorly. Our findings suggests that individualized, HLA-specific therapies targeting specific antibody clusters merits further study.
Two-dimensional concurrent HMQC-COSY as an approach for small molecule chemical shift assignment and compound identification

Chemical shift assignment is the first step toward the structure elucidation of natural products and other chemical compounds. We propose here the use of 2D concurrent HMQC-COSY as an experiment for rapid chemical shift assignment of small molecules. This experiment provides well-dispersed 1H–13C peak patterns that are distinctive for different functional groups plus 1H–1H COSY connectivities that serve to identify adjacent groups. The COSY diagonal peaks, which are phased to be absorptive, resemble 1H–13C HMQC cross peaks. We demonstrate the applicability of this experiment for rapidly and unambiguously establishing correlations between different functional groups through the analysis of the spectrum of a metabolite (jasmonic acid) dissolved in CDCl3. In addition, we show that the experiment can be used to assign spectra of compounds in a mixture of metabolites in D2O.
Silicon Micromixers with Infrared Detection for Studies of Liquid-Phase Reactions

We present an integrated microchemical system that combines micromixing, a reaction channel, an IR detection region, and temperature control for monitoring and kinetic studies of liquid-phase react...