cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Changing Attitudes About Pain and Pain Control in Emergency Medicine

Oligoanalgesia continues to be a large problem in the ED. An attitude of suspicion, a culture of ignoring the problem, and an environment that is not conducive to change in practice combine to present formidable obstacles for effective pain management in the emergency setting. Overcoming these obstacles for effective analgesia in the ED is not beyond the capabilities of the individual ED, the emergency physician, or the specialty of emergency medicine. Changing the attitudes of emergency medical providers about pain assessment and management will require attention in several areas of research, education and training. Oligoanalgesia remains a global problem within emergency medicine; however, this awareness is often not felt to be present "in my ED." Individual ownership of the problem may contribute to improvements in pain control. The last 15 years have seen a substantial increase in ED research focused on pain and pain management. Continued research efforts and focused clinical application of these efforts are still required. A better understanding of patient needs and expectations for pain relief, as well as continued efforts at patient education regarding pain, will also improve our treatment of pain in the ED. Recognition by providers of the ethnic, cultural, and gender differences in the expression, reporting, and expectations for treatment of pain should also continue to be a priority in changing attitudes toward pain and pain control. These goals must be realistic within the chaotic and unpredictable environment that defines emergency medicine. Practical and time-sensitive approaches to pain and pain management will continue to bea challenge to enact and enforce in our EDs. The stigma of opioids, in combination with the transient nature of the emergency physician/patient relationship, may be the largest hurdles to overcome for effective pain management not only in the ED, but also following ED discharge. Improvement in provider education of the realities, myths, and misunderstandings of opioid management may provide insight into this problem. The consequences of oligoanalgesia in the ED are not insignificant. To improve our treatment of pain in the ED, a fundamental change in attitude toward pain and the control of pain is required. This is unlikely to occur until pain is adequately addressed and treated appropriately as a true emergency.
Viscoelastic and Dynamic Properties of Soft Liners and Tissue Conditioners

The creep compliance and dynamic modulus of two tissue conditioners and five soft liners were determined after storage in water at 37 C. Under static conditions the tissue conditioners functioned like viscous liquids, whereas the soft liners were more elastic. In general, linear viscoelasticity was not observed. Under dynamic conditions, the materials were stiffer.
Cross-Layer Routing and Dynamic Spectrum Allocation in Cognitive Radio Ad Hoc Networks

Throughput maximization is one of the main challenges in cognitive radio ad hoc networks, where the availability of local spectrum resources may change from time to time and hop by hop. For this reason, a cross-layer opportunistic spectrum access and dynamic routing algorithm for cognitive radio networks is proposed, which is called the routing and dynamic spectrum-allocation (ROSA) algorithm. Through local control actions, ROSA aims to maximize the network throughput by performing joint routing, dynamic spectrum allocation, scheduling, and transmit power control. Specifically, the algorithm dynamically allocates spectrum resources to maximize the capacity of links without generating harmful interference to other users while guaranteeing a bounded bit error rate (BER) for the receiver. In addition, the algorithm aims to maximize the weighted sum of differential backlogs to stabilize the system by giving priority to higher capacity links with a high differential backlog. The proposed algorithm is distributed, computationally efficient, and has bounded BER guarantees. ROSA is shown through numerical model-based evaluation and discrete-event packet-level simulations to outperform baseline solutions, leading to a high throughput, low delay, and fair bandwidth allocation.
Social and moral relationships with robotic others

This work investigates the social and potentially moral relationships that humans have with what we refer to as robotic others. Our investigation begins by responding to some recent work in the literature that seeks to carve out the construct of "social robots". The construct is intriguing, yet in our view it may not be optimally framed to address two central issues. The first issue involves the ontological status of robots, of whether they currently are or in the future can actually be social. The second issue focuses psychologically on the nature of the human-robotic relationship, about how humans can and often do respond quickly and powerfully in social terms to robots, but also how the relationship is psychologically impoverished, may be fundamentally, especially from a moral perspective. To advance our argument, we draw on our research over the last few years on people's relationships with Sony's robotic dog AlBO, particularly one of our studies that analyzes the type of issues that people discuss in AIBO online discussion forums. Finally, building on our conceptual and empirical analyses, we offer five central considerations toward framing the human relationship with robotic others.
Multipole accelerated capacitance calculation for structures with multiple dielectrics with high permittivity ratios

This paper describes a new boundary integral formulation for the three-dimensional capacitance calculation of structures with multiple dielectrics. Unlike the existing equivalent-charge formulation, the new approach allows accurate numerical approximations when the permittivity ratios of the dielectrics are large. A multipole-accelerated algorithm based on this approach is described, and numerical results of its implementation are presented.
Outcome and expansion rate of 57 thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms managed nonoperatively

Background: The prognosis of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs) managed nonoperatively is unknown. Patients and methods: To determine the risk of rupture and survival, we retrospectively reviewed the clinical course and computed tomographic data of 57 patients who were evaluated for degenerative, nondissecting TAAAs. Nonoperative management was decided initially for all patients. Data on aneurysm expansion rate were available in 29 patients who underwent 2 or more scans. Follow-up was complete in 52 (91%) patients and averaged 37 months (range 1 to 82). Results: Thirty-four of the 57 (60%) patients died during follow-up, including 3 of 15 patients who underwent subsequent repair of their aneurysm. Two- and 5-year survival rates for the entire group were 69% and 39%, with repair-free survival rates of 52% and 17%, respectively. Eight (14%) aneurysms ruptured, accounting for 24% (834) of the deaths. Two- and 4-year risks of rupture were 12% and 32%, respectively. The median expansion rate was 0.2 cm/y and was greater in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P 5 cm in diameter. Aneurysms with a diameter >5 cm at diagnosis had a higher rupture rate than those with a diameter ⩽5 cm (P <0.05). Expansion rate did not predict rupture. Conclusions: Mortality of patients with TAAAs preselected for nonoperative management is high, with an overall survival rate of 39% and repair-free survival rate of only 17% at 5 years. Expansion rate of TAAAs (0.2 cm/y) is similar to that of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Our data support nonoperative management for patients with TAAAs 5 cm.
Maternal sex chromosome non-disjunction: evidence for X chromosome-specific risk factors

Human trisomy is attributable to many different mechanisms and the relative importance of each mechanism is highly chromosome specific. The association between altered recombination and maternal non-disjunction is well documented: reductions in recombination have been reported for maternal meiosis I (MI) errors involving chromosomes 15, 16, 18 and 21 and increased recombination has been reported for meiosis II (MII) errors involving chromosome 21. We therefore investigated maternal X chromosome non-disjunction, to determine whether the effects of recombination are unique to the X chromosome or similar to any of the autosomes thus far studied. We genotyped 45 47,XXX females and 95 47,XXY males of maternal origin. Our results demonstrate that 49% arose during MI, 29% during MII and 16% were postzygotic events; a further 7% were meiotic but could not be assigned as either MI or MII because of recombination at the centromere. Among the MI cases, a majority (56%) had no detectable transitions and so absent recombination is an important factor for X chromosome non-disjunction. However, similar to trisomy 15 and unlike trisomy 21, we observed a significant increase in the mean maternal age of transitional MI errors compared with nullitransitional cases. In our studies of MII errors, recombination appeared normal and there was no obvious effect of maternal age, distinguishing our results from MII non-disjunction of chromosomes 18 or 21. Thus, surprisingly, the risk factors associated with both MI and MII non-disjunction appear to be different for virtually every chromosome that has been adequately studied.
Effect of beta blockers on central aortic pressure in African-Americans.

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the vascular effects of heart rate (HR) reduction with BB therapy in African Americans (AA). Beta-blockers (BB) offer less cardiovascular protection than other hypertensive drugs. Studies of Caucasian subjects suggest this may be due to an adverse effect of HR lowering on arterial wave reflection. We studied 506 subjects (age 63 ± 14 years, 52% were treated with BB). Central systolic (C-SBP) and pulse pressure (C-PP), augmented pressure (AP), and augmentation index (AI) were obtained via applanation tonometry (Sphygmocor). On univariate analysis, HR correlated inversely with BB use, C-SBP, AP, and AI (all P 2 = 0.95). Generalized linear model analysis showed higher C-SBP ( P P = .04), but similar P-SBP ( P = .24) in the BB group. After HR adjustment, differences in C-SBP, C-PP, AI, and AP were attenuated, suggesting HR to be a determinant of C-SBP. BB use is associated with higher C-SBP and lower PPA in hypertensive AA despite similar P-SBP. C-SBP is HR-dependent. HR reduction with BB accounts for less effective central blood pressure control in AA, similar to that reported in Caucasians.
Arctic Transitions in the Land–Atmosphere System (ATLAS): Background, objectives, results, and future directions

[1] This paper briefly reviews the background, objectives, and results of the Arctic Transitions in the Land–Atmosphere System (ATLAS) Project to date and provides thoughts on future directions. The key goal of the ATLAS Project is to improve understanding of controls over spatial and temporal variability of terrestrial processes in the Arctic that have potential consequences for the climate system, i.e., processes that affect the exchange of water and energy with the atmosphere, the exchange of radiatively active gases with the atmosphere, and the delivery of freshwater to the Arctic Ocean. Three important conclusions have emerged from research associated with the ATLAS Project. First, associated with the observation that the Alaskan Arctic has warmed significantly in the last 30 years, permafrost is warming, shrubs are expanding, and there has been a temporary release of carbon dioxide from tundra soils. Second, the winter is a more important period of biological activity than previously appreciated. Biotic processes, including shrub expansion and decomposition, affect snow structure and accumulation and affect the annual carbon budget of tundra ecosystems. Third, observed vegetation changes can have a significant positive feedback to regional warming. These vegetation effects are, however, less strong than those exerted by land–ocean heating contrasts and the topographic constraints on air mass movements. The papers of this special section provide additional insights related to these conclusions and to the overall goal of ATLAS.
High-Pressure Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy

We demonstrate that a novel high-pressure cell is suitable for fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). The pressure cell consists of a single fused silica microcapillary. The cylindrical shape of the capillary leads to refraction of the excitation light, which affects the point spread function of the system. We characterize the influence of these beam distortions by FCS and photon-counting histogram (PCH) analysis and identify the optimal position for fluorescence fluctuation experiments in the capillary. At this position within the capillary, FCS and photon-counting histogram experiments are described by the same equations as used in standard FCS experiments. We report the first experimental realization of fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy under high pressure. A fluorescent dye was used as a model system for evaluating the properties of the capillary under pressure. The autocorrelation function and the photon count distribution were measured in the pressure range from 0 to 300 MPa. The fluctuation amplitude and the diffusion coefficient show a small pressure dependence. The changes of these parameters, which are on the order of 10%, are due to the pressure changes of the viscosity and the density of the aqueous medium.
Regional Adiposity and Insulin Resistance

It is well recognized that persons with generalized obesity suffer from a high risk of insulin resistance and its metabolic complications, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertriglyceridemia, low levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol, hypertension, hepatic steatosis, hyperuricemia, and atherosclerotic vascular disease (1–3). However, whether accumulation of adipose tissue in a particular anatomical compartment (regional adiposity) confers an excess risk of insulin resistance and its complications remains controversial. This controversy at the clinical and molecular level has been discussed in several recent review articles (4 –9). This article focuses on the clinical evidence related to impact of regional adiposity on insulin resistance. From an anatomical standpoint, the most peculiar regional adipose tissue is present inside the abdominal cavity (intraabdominal fat). Based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), it has been estimated that the men and women may contain about 15–18% and 7– 8% of their total body fat, respectively within the abdominal cavity (10). In contrast, only minor amounts of body fat are contained within the thoracic cavity. The intraabdominal adipose tissue can be further subdivided into ip and retroperitoneal adipose tissue compartments. The venous drainage of the ip adipose tissue is unique; it drains directly into the liver through the portal vein compared with the retroperitoneal adipose tissue, which drains into the systemic circulation. Thus, it is likely that free fatty acids (FFA), glycerol and other adipocytokines released from the ip adipose tissue may have peculiar effects on hepatic metabolism of glucose, triglycerides, insulin, and other substrates and hormones. Another clear anatomical distinction exists between the sc adipose tissue located centrally in the truncal region and that in the peripheral region in the upper and lower extremities and in the hips. Although both the central and peripheral sc adipose tissue depots drain into the systemic circulation, accumulation of fat in these depots may confer different susceptibilities to developing insulin resistance. The total amount of fat present in the truncal region, called truncal fat, constitutes both the intraabdominal and intrathoracic fat depots as well as sc fat present in the thoracic and abdominal regions.
Orientation Invariance and Geometric Primitives in Shape Recognition

Although it is generally assumed that vision is orientation invariant, that is, that shapes can be recognized regardless of viewing angle, there is little evidence that speaks directly to this issue, and what evidence there is fails to support orientation invariance. We propose an explanation for the previous results in terms of the kinds of shape primitives used by the visual system in achieving orientation invariance: Whereas contours are used at stages of vision that ore not orientation invariant, surfaces and/or volumes are used at stages of vision that are orientation invariant. The stimuli in previously reported studies were wire forms, which can represented only in terms of contour. In four experiments, testing both short-term and long-term memory for shape, we replicated the previous failures of orientation invariance using wire forms, but found relatively good or perfect orientation invariance with equivalently shaped surfaces.
PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF THE EVOLUTION OF THE NICHE IN LIZARDS OF THE ANOLIS SAGREI GROUP

Recent advances in ecological niche modeling (ENM) algorithms, in conjunction with increasing availability of geographic information system (GIS) data, allow species' niches to be predicted over broad geographic areas using environmental characteristics associated with point localities for a given species. Consequently, the examination of how niches evolve is now possible using a regionally inclusive multivariate approach to characterize the environmental requirements of a species. Initial work that uses this approach has suggested that niche evolution is characterized by conservatism: the more closely related species are, the more similar are their niches. We applied a phylogenetic approach to examine niche evolution during the radiation of Cuban trunk-ground anoles (Anolis sagrei group), which has produced 15 species in Cuba. We modeled the niche of 11 species within this group using the WhyWhere ENM algorithm and examined the evolution of the niche using a phylogeny based on approximately 1500 base pairs of mitochondrial DNA. No general relationship exists between phylogenetic similarity and niche similarity. Examination of species pairs indicates some examples in which closely related species display niche conservatism and some in which they exhibit highly divergent niches. In addition, some distantly related species exhibit significant niche similarity. Comparisons also revealed a specialist-generalist sister species pair in which the niche of one species is nested within, and much narrower than, the niche of another closely related species.
Remarks on the the circumcenter of mass

of the resulting system of point masses. That the resulting point, CM(P ), does not depend on the triangulation, is a consequence of the Archimedes Lemma: if an object is divided into smaller objects, then the center of mass of the compound object is the weighted average of the centers of mass of the parts, with the weights equal to the respective areas. Replace, in the above construction, the centroids of the triangles by their circumcenters. The resulting weighted average is called the circumcenter of mass of the polygonP , denoted byCCM(P ). This point is well dened, that
Series of problems in Arabic algebra: The example of ʿAlī al-Sulamī

In his introductory book on algebra ʿAlī al-Sulamī (10th c.) pays careful attention to the arrangement of his 78 worked-out problems, balancing his borrowings with his overall structure. His collection is put into context by comparing it with the problems in the books of three other early Arabic algebraists. It is shown that unlike al-Khwārizmī and Abū Kāmil, al-Sulamī orders his problems carefully. He gives a global ordering based on equation type that is an inversion of the local ordering of his predecessors, and he exhibits a local ordering that is a consequence of his appropriation of diverse problem types within his collection.
Salpingectomy and Ovarian Cancer Prevention

Ovarian cancer is a major health concern for women. Women are often diagnosed late in the course of the disease, making the mortality rate high. Currently, screening methods for ovarian cancer are limited and, therefore, prevention methods remain an area of focus for researchers. Recent research has examined the salpingectomy and tubal ligation/sterilization as a prevention method for ovarian cancer. This column takes a second look at two recent research studies that examine salpingectomy and tubal ligation/sterilization as a method of ovarian cancer risk reduction.
LUMBOSACRAL FACETECTOMY FOR POST-FUSION PERSISTENT SCIATICA

1. A sciatic neuritis is usually the late stage of a sciatic neuralgia. 2. The pain in a neuralgia and the nerve changes in a neuritis are usually confined to the distribution of the fifth lumbar nerve segment. 3. The pain and nerve changes are most commonly the result of irritation of the fifth lumbar nerve root, caused by a subluxation of the articular facets of the fifth lumbar and first sacral vertebrae and, therefore, a constriction of the neural foramina formed by these bodies. 4. Fixation of the lumbosacral joint by fusion will give relief of symptoms in the vast majority of cases. 5. A lumbosacral facetectomy, after fusion had been accomplished, gave complete relief of symptoms in the one case in this series which failed to get relief from a lumbosacral fusion.
Thermal Resistance of Mitochondrial Respiration: Hydrophobic Interactions of Membrane Proteins May Limit Thermal Resistance

The resistance of mitochondrial respiration and enzymatic activity to elevated temperatures differs among species in parallel with differences in their maximal body temperatures. To examine the causes of thermal disruption of mitochondrial respiration, we have measured rates of succinate-supported respiration and activities of the mitochondrial enzymes cytochrome c oxidase, succinic dehydrogenase, and malate dehydrogenase in mitochondria from the hydrothermal vent tube worm Riftia pachyptila and the coastal bivalve Solemya reidi. Intact mitochondria and mitochondrial membrane preparations were incubated for 10 min at temperatures between 0° and 70° C, and function was examined at 20° C (R. pachyptila) or 15° C (S. reidi). Incubation at similar elevated temperatures caused inactivation of respiration and caused the activities of several mitochondrial enzymes to either increase or decrease sharply. Fluorescence polarization measurements using the hydrophobic probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene showed that n...
Optimizing Cascades of Endo-Reversible Heat Engines

The endo-reversible (or finite time) model of thermal power plant is extended to a cascade. A first optimization gives the condition for maximizing the power output from a given design and is a generalization of previous results for one unit. A second optimization similarly generalizes results for one unit over the allotment of the irreversible heat transfer components either side of the Carnot reversible engine. This optimization itself is generalized from conditions of fixed total heat transfer capability to allow for varying cost and varying effectiveness in the most general case. Lagrange multipliers are given that show the change in optimized output for a change in constraints of area, cost or effectiveness. Explicit results are given for the temperature distribution in the two-component cascade which indicates the optimum distribution of power: two parts from the topping unit, one part from the bottoming unit. It is shown that in a given case one should seek therefore to operate with as few units as...
Candling Errors (Overpull) in California Shell-Egg Processing Plants

Abstract Rejecting good eggs by placing them as undergrads (overpull) is a common error among candlers, costing egg processing plants in the U.S. millions of dollars annually. This study of twelve egg cartoning plants in California evaluated overpull problems and searched for possible reasons for candling errors which lead to overpull. It revealed that at a machine speed of up to 240 cases/hr, egg candlers were pulling 82.7% eggs correctly as undergrads; however, 17.3% which they pulled as undergrads were good eggs without any detectable defects. Among those eggs labeled “undergrads,” most of the common defects were cracked eggs (70.7%), dirties (6.2%), shell defects (3%), stains (1.3%), B Grade eggs (1.3%), and blood spots (0.2%). The most common reason for overpull was wire marks (42.5%), other reasons included minor shell deformities (11.9%), body checks (11.7%), floating air cells (3.2%), and unknown reasons (30.6%). The literature suggests that false identification of defects can be reduced by extensive training of egg candlers. However, when using higher speed packing equipment, automatic detection devices or additional candlers will be required to perform the basic function of reject detection and to minimize the amount of overpull.
Investigation of the Shape of InGaAs/GaAs Quantum Dots

Three samples of self-assembled In0.44Ga0.56As quantum dots (QDs) grown on (001) GaAs by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) were studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in order to characterize the height, faceting, and densities of the QDs. The cross-sectional TEM images show both pyramidal dots and dots with multiple side facets. Multiple faceting has been observed only in dots more than 8.5 nm in height and allows increased dot volume without a substantial increase in base area. Addition of a GaAs capping layer is found to increase the diameter of the QDs from roughly 40 nm to as much as 200 nm. The areal QD density is found to vary up to 50 % over the central 2 cm x 2 cm section of wafer and by as much as 23 % on a length scale of micrometers.
PAX-8 expression in renal tumours and distant sites: A useful marker of primary and metastatic renal cell carcinoma?

Aims Immunohistochemical stains have greatly improved the diagnostic accuracy of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) for primary and distant tumours. We evaluate a marker that has recently been incorporated in clinical practice, PAX-8, in primary and metastatic RCCs. Methods Two distinct tissue microarrays were used, one consisting of over 334 renal tumours, 294 with adjacent normal kidney and the other with 40 matched nephrectomy and metastatic sites of RCC. PAX-8 expression was assessed by a method of quantitative immunofluorescence. Results PAX-8 was positive in 96% (146/152) of normal renal tissue and 83% (227/272) of renal tumours. PAX-8 staining was positive in clear cell, papillary and chromophobe tumours in 80% (165/207), 95% (39/41) and 100% (6/6) of samples, respectively. Overall, intensity of PAX-8 expression was significantly higher in RCC metastatic sites than in the primary site (p=0.0047), however, in matched sites there was no statistically significant difference in the proportion of positive versus negative specimens (p=0.274). Conclusions As the role of molecular markers expands in the diagnostic algorithm, this study confirms that PAX-8 expression is a useful diagnostic marker for RCC. PAX-8 expression was found in the primary tumour and distant sites. Compared with normal tissue and other histological types, clear cell RCC has lower PAX-8 expression and is less frequently positive, therefore, the lack of expression does not exclude a tumour of renal origin.
Temperature-dependent Development Rates for Four Strains of Pectinophora gossypiella

The rate of development of the larval and pupal stages of the pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders), was determined at different constant temperatures from 15— 37° C. Development of 3 laboratory strains was compared with that of a field strain. When the laboratory rates were utilized in a computer program (WATBUG) to simulate development under field conditions, they provided a good estimate.
Polymorphism in BaPb 1 − x Bi x O 3 at the superconducting composition

Using a combination of high-resolution and high-sensitivity neutron and x-ray diffraction measurements, it is shown that BaPb${}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}$Bi${}_{x}$O${}_{3}$ is dimorphic for the critical superconducting composition regime of $x$ between 0.2 and 0.3. The system is not chemically phase separated; the simultaneous existence of tetragonal and orthorhombic polymorphs of the same composition is demonstrated. The polymorphs differ fundamentally in the distortion and tilting of the octahedra, such that they cannot be obtained from each other via a second-order phase transition. It is established that the tetragonal symmetry polymorph is the superconducting phase.
A Note on Kabak's “Some Aspects of Optimal Design”

Abstract Kabak in (1) considers a system's steady-state availability with mean uptime of U and mean downtime of D. He then formulates a model of total system cost of: as an approximation to the actual model which may be written as: The approximation is used because it is assumed that D << U. In the above formulas K 1 U a is the cost of equipment that has a mean uptime of U; and K 2 D −b is the cost of equipment that has a mean downtime of D. The downtime costs are assumed to be proportional to the downtime and are therefore given by the last term in the above equations. Kabak solves the first equation, (the approximation), with geometric programming because, he points out that the exact model “does not lend itself to solution by geometric programming.” However, this author asserts that the “necessary” conditions for the solution of any geometric program can show that the exact model's geometric programming solution is tightly bounded and gives considerable information as to the effect of approximating the...
NUMERICAL PREDICTION OF BREAKING WAVES AND CURRENTS WITH A BOUSSINESQ MODEL

This paper describes the extension of a comprehensive numerical model for simulating the propagation and transformation of ocean waves in coastal regions and harbours to include wave breaking, runup and breaking-induced currents. The numerical model is based on a time-domain solution of a fully nonlinear set of Boussinesq-type equations for wave propagation in intermediate and shallow water depths. The equations are able to describe most of the phenomena of interest in the nearshore zone including shoaling, refraction, diffraction, reflection, wave directionality and nonlinear wave-wave interactions. The Boussinesq model is extended to the surf and swash zones by coupling the mass and momentum equations with a one-equation model for the temporal and spatial evolution of the turbulent kinetic energy produced by wave breaking. The waves are assumed to start breaking when the horizontal component of the orbital velocity at the wave crest exceeds the phase velocity of the waves. Numerical and experimental results are presented for the shoaling and runup of regular and irregular waves on a constant slope beach and wave-induced currents behind a detached breakwater.
A fluorescent antibody assay for hyphae and glomalin from arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Studies on the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in soil have been aided by the use of a monoclonal antibody that detects a molecule common to all isolates of these fungi studied to date. The molecule, glomalin, is a glycoprotein that forms on hyphae, but apparently sloughs off and adheres to soil particles or imbedded plastic mesh. An indirect immunofluorescence (IF) assay is described for detection of glomalin on hyphae attached to roots, in roots, on hyphae traps and on the surface of soil aggregates. Small sieves are used to process hyphae attached to roots and soil aggregates. Glomalin on hyphae and glomalin attached to plastic or nylon are assayed on a 1 cm2 section of meshes. Examples of IF assay results are shown and discussed.
Challenges in Predicting Protein-Protein Interactions from Measurements of Molecular Diffusivity

Dynamic light scattering can be used to measure the diffusivity of a protein within a formulation. The dependence of molecular diffusivity on protein concentration (traditionally expressed in terms of the interaction parameter kD) is often used to infer whether protein-protein interactions are repulsive or attractive, resulting in solutions that are colloidally stable or unstable, respectively. However, a number of factors unrelated to intermolecular forces can also impact protein diffusion, complicating this interpretation. Here, we investigate the influence of multicomponent diffusion in a ternary protein-salt-water system on protein diffusion and kD in the context of Nernst-Planck theory. This analysis demonstrates that large changes in protein diffusivity with protein concentration can result even for hard-sphere systems in the absence of protein-protein interactions. In addition, we show that dynamic light scattering measurements of diffusivity made at low ionic strength cannot be reliably used to detect protein conformational changes. We recommend comparing experimentally determined kD values to theoretically predicted excluded-volume contributions, which will allow a more accurate assessment of protein-protein interactions.
Targeting inflammatory monocytes in human metastatic colorectal cancer.

605Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common gastrointestinal malignancy. 60% of CRC patients are diagnosed with metastatic CRC (mCRC) and the 5-year survival is < 20%. CCR2+ inflammat...
Highly efficient delivery of potent anticancer iminoquinone derivative by multilayer hydrogel cubes.

Abstract We report a novel delivery platform for a highly potent anticancer drug, 7-(benzylamino)-3,4-dihydro-pyrrolo[4,3,2-de]quinolin-8(1H)-one (BA-TPQ), using pH- and redox-sensitive poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) hydrogel cubes of micrometer size as the encapsulating matrix. The hydrogels are obtained upon cross-linking PMAA with cystamine in PMAA/poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) multilayers assembled within mesoporous sacrificial templates. The BA-TPQ-loaded hydrogels maintain their cubical shape and pH-sensitivity after lyophilization, which is advantageous for long-term storage. Conversely, the particles degrade in vitro in the presence of glutathione (5 mM) providing 80% drug release within 24 h. Encapsulating BA-TPQ into hydrogels significantly increases its transport via Caco-2 cell monolayers used as a model for oral delivery where the apparent permeability of BA-TPQ-hydrogel cubes was ∼2-fold higher than that of BA-TPQ. BA-TPQ-hydrogel cubes exhibit better anticancer activity against HepG2 (IC50 = 0.52 µg/mL) and Huh7 (IC50 = 0.29 µg/mL) hepatoma cells with a 40% decrease in the IC50 compared to the non-encapsulated drug. Remarkably, non-malignant liver cells have a lower sensitivity to BA-TPQ-hydrogel cubes with 2-fold increased IC50 values compared to those of cancer cells. In addition, encapsulating BA-TPQ in the hydrogels amplifies the potency of the drug via down-regulation of MDM2 oncogenic protein and upregulation of p53 (a tumor suppressor) and p21 (cell proliferation suppressor) expression in HepG2 liver cancer cells. Moreover, enhanced inhibition of MDM2 protein expression by BA-TPQ-hydrogel cubes is independent of p53 status in Huh7 cells. This drug delivery platform of non-spherical shape provides a facile method for encapsulation of hydrophobic drugs and can facilitate the enhanced efficacy of BA-TPQ for liver cancer therapy. Statement of Significance Many potent anticancer drugs are hydrophobic and lack tumor selectivity, which limits their application in cancer therapy. Although cubical hydrogels of poly(methacrylic acid) exhibit excellent biocompatibility and versatility, they have not been investigated for hydrophobic drug delivery due to poor mechanical stability and incompatibility between hydrophobic drugs and a hydrophilic hydrogel network. In this study, we provide a facile method to prepare a multilayer hydrogel-based platform with controlled nanostructure, cubical shape and redox-responsiveness for delivery of highly potent anticancer therapeutics, hydrophobic BA-TPQ. The BA-TPQ-hydrogel cubes have exceptional structural stability upon lyophilization which is advantageous for a long-term storage. The greatly enhanced trans-epithelial permeability and amplified anti-tumor activity of BA-TPQ are achieved by encapsulation in these hydrogel cubes. Furthermore, the anticancer BA-TPQ-hydrogel platform retains the selective activity of BA-TPQ to hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Overall, the produced BA-TPQ-hydrogel cubes demonstrate a high potential for clinical liver cancer therapy.
Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor α Contributes to Human Hepatic Stellate Cell Proliferation and Migration

Platelet-derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRα), a tyrosine kinase receptor, is up-regulated in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) during chronic liver injury. HSCs mediate hepatic fibrosis through their activation from a quiescent state partially in response to profibrotic growth factors. HSC activation entails enhanced expression of profibrotic genes, increase in proliferation, and increase in motility, which facilitates migration within the hepatic lobule. We show colocalization of PDGFRα in murine carbon tetrachloride, bile duct ligation, and 0.1% 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine models of chronic liver injury, and investigate the role of PDGFRα on proliferation, profibrotic gene expression, and migration in primary human HSCs (HHSteCs) using the PDGFRα-specific inhibitory monoclonal antibody olaratumab. Although lacking any effects on HHSteC transdifferentiation assessed by gene expression of ACTA2 , TGFB1 , COL1A1 , SYP1 , and FN1 , olaratumab specifically reduced HHSteC proliferation (AlamarBlue assay) and cell migration (transwell migration assays). Using phospho-specific antibodies, we show that olaratumab attenuates PDGFRα activation in response to PDGF-BB, and reduced phosphorylation of extracellular signal–regulated kinase 1 and 2, Elk-1, p38, Akt, focal adhesion kinase, mechanistic target of rapamycin, C10 regulator of kinase II, and C10 regulator of kinase-like, suggesting that PDGFRα contributes to mitogenesis and actin reorganization through diverse downstream effectors. Our findings support a distinct contribution of PDGFRα signaling to HSC proliferation and migration and provide evidence that inhibition of PDGFRα signaling could alter the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis.
Recent advances in cardiopulmonary resuscitation: cardiocerebral resuscitation.

Cardiocerebral resuscitation (CCR) is a new approach for resuscitation of patients with cardiac arrest. It is composed of 3 components: 1) continuous chest compressions for bystander resuscitation; 2) a new emergency medical services (EMS) algorithm; and 3) aggressive post-resuscitation care. The first 2 components of CCR were first instituted in 2003 in Tucson, Arizona; in 2004 in the Rock and Walworth counties of Wisconsin; and in 2005 in the Phoenix, Arizona, metropolitan area. The CCR method has been shown to dramatically improve survival in the subset of patients most likely to survive: those with witnessed arrest and shockable rhythm on arrival of EMS. The CCR method advocates continuous chest compressions without mouth-to-mouth ventilations for witnessed cardiac arrest. It advocates either prompt or delayed defibrillation, based on the 3-phase time-sensitive model of ventricular fibrillation (VF) articulated by Weisfeldt and Becker. For bystanders with access to automated external defibrillators and EMS personnel who arrive during the electrical phase (i.e., the first 4 or 5 min of VF arrest), the delivery of prompt defibrillator shock is recommended. However, EMS personnel most often arrive after the electrical phase—in the circulatory phase of VF arrest. During the circulatory phase of VF arrest, the fibrillating myocardium has used up much of its energy stores, and chest compressions that perfuse the heart are mandatory prior to and immediately after a defibrillator shock. Endotracheal intubation is delayed, excessive ventilations are avoided, and early-administration epinephrine is advocated.
Preparing adolescents for success in school : A school-based indicated prevention model for adolescents in the alternative high school setting

Adolescents enrolled in alternative school settings evidence risk behaviors at a higher rate compared to students attending regular high schools. Histories of substance use, juvenile delinquency, high school expulsion, poor school attendance, and HIV-risk behaviors are typical. These youth are particularly vulnerable to HIV-risk behaviors and substance use. This paper describes a school-based indicated prevention model for adolescents in the alternative high school setting. Preparing Adolescents for Success in School (PASS) combines the indicated programs Reconnecting Youth and Street Smart and adapts them for use in this setting. Program goals include reducing substance use, delinquent behavior, HIV-risk behaviors, school problems, and negative mood states and increasing decision-making skills, coping skills, social support, and knowledge of HIV prevention.
Are these friends also “friends of the court”?: examining minority legal advocacy organization coalitions in amicus brief filings

ABSTRACTIncreased social diversity generally, and in the minority legal advocacy group environment specifically, the significance of Supreme Court decisions, and the ability to analyze inter-minori...
Cooperativity and Allostery

The problem of enzyme regulation and control has commanded a great deal of attention in recent years. There are many facets to this general area of enzymology; however, this discussion will be limited to two regulatory phenomena: allostery and cooperativity. A certain amount of confusion has arisen regarding the relationship between enzyme cooperativity and allostery. Suffice it to say, cooperativity and allostery are separate events; however, a given enzyme system may exhibit either one or both phenomena.
Prospective, randomized controlled comparison of a flash-tip catheter and a traditional intravenous catheter in an urban emergency department.

Introduction:Safe and efficient intravenous access is paramount to the practice of emergency medicine. We compared the first-stick success rates and blood spillage of two peripheral intravenous cat...
Calcium-mediated chloride secretion in the intestinal epithelium: Significance and regulation

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the significance and regulation of calcium-mediated chloride secretion in the intestinal epithelium. Calcium-dependent chloride secretion by intestinal epithelial cells has unique features that set it apart from the chloride secretory response evoked by agonists that stimulate increases in cellular cyclic nucleotides. The transport event activated by increases in cytosolic calcium is small and transient. It utilizes some membrane transporters in common with the cyclic-nucleotide-mediated mechanisms, but may also depend on the activity of independent transporters, such as apical calcium-activated chloride channels (CLCA) of the CLCA family. Calcium-mediated chloride secretion is also the subject of complex and integrated regulatory mechanisms that may be both positive and negative. The negative signaling mechanisms, which may be activated by calcium-dependent secretagogues themselves or by exogenous factors, such as peptide growth factors, likely account for the transient nature of the calcium-dependent secretory response by serving as a physiological brake on the process. The unique features of the calcium-dependent chloride secretory mechanism may allow it to serve for specific physiological situations in which a transient secretory response in the intestine is desirable.
Fast and scalable algorithms for constructing Solvent-Excluded Surfaces of large biomolecules

Abstract We present algorithms for constructing a level-set representation of the Solvent-Excluded Surface of biomolecules. The algorithms are utilizing Octree Cartesian grids in the paradigm of distributed computing, and are designed to balance the computational load. The method is shown to be fast, scalable and first-order accurate. The procedure is robust, creates a feature-preserving surface and naturally handles any topological difficulty within its mathematical formulation. Several two- and three-dimensional illustrations are provided as well as accuracy and scaling analyses. We show the ability to construct computational grids for moderately large molecules in less than a few seconds when an optimal number of processors is used.
Uninsured Rose in 2003 as Number of Americans With Employment-Based Health Benefits Declined

This paper provides an early look at the effect of a relatively weak labor market, combined with rising health benefit costs, on the number of Americans who have employment-based health benefits, who are covered by public programs, and who are uninsured. Initial findings indicate that the decline in the percentage of Americans with employment-based health benefits was due to erosion of coverage among both workers and nonworkers. In response to the weak labor market and rising health benefit costs, small employers either dropped health benefits or required workers to pay more for health benefits when they were offered. These trends should be expected to continue or accelerate as long as the labor market remains weak and the cost of providing health benefits continues to increase.
RARE DILEPTONIC DECAYS OF Λb IN A QUARK MODEL

Hadronic form factors for the rare weak transitions Λb → Λ(*) are calculated using a nonrelativistic quark model. The form factors are extracted in two ways. An analytic extraction using single-component wave functions (SCA) with the quark current being reduced to its nonrelativistic Pauli form is employed in the first method. In the second method, the form factors are extracted numerically using the full quark model wave function (MCN) with the full relativistic form of the quark current. Although there are differences between the two sets of form factors, both sets satisfy the relationships expected from the heavy quark effective theory (HQET). Differential decay rates, branching ratios (BRs) and forward–backward asymmetries (FBAs) are calculated for the dileptonic decays Λb → Λ(*) l+ l-, for transitions to both ground state and excited daughter baryons. Inclusion of the long distance contributions from charmonium resonances significantly enhances the decay rates. In the MCN model the Λ(1600) mode is the dominant mode in the μ channel when charmonium resonances are considered; the Λ(1520) mode is also found to have a comparable BR to that of the ground state in the μ channel.
In Chronic Inflammation, There Exists an IL-6 Independent Pathway for the Induction of Hepcidin.

The iron regulatory hormone hepcidin is presumed to be the mediator of anemia of inflammation (AI). Patients with hepatic adenomas producing large amounts of hepcidin had severe AI that resolved when the tumors were resected (Weinstein et al, 2002). Patients with disorders associated with AI and mice with acute inflammation also have increased hepcidin. However, hepcidin deficient mice do not develop hypoferremia in response to acute inflammation (Nicolas et al, 2002). We previously showed that IL-6 was necessary for the inflammatory induction of hepcidin and the development of hypoferremia in an acute turpentine model of inflammation (Nemeth et al, 2004). In order to determine whether IL-6 was necessary for the development of AI, we induced chronic peritoneal S. epidermidis abscesses in IL-6 deficient mice (19 with abscesses, 12 controls) and wild type mice with the same genetic background (16 with abscesses, 10 controls). In contrast to our previous results, both IL-6 deficient and wild type mice had a significant rise in hepcidin-1 expression (27.6 vs. 10.9-fold, respectively) but there was no difference between the groups (p=0.939 by 2-way ANOVA). Both IL-6 deficient and control mice demonstrated a similar small but significant fall in hematocrit (49% to 44% vs. 46% to 42%, p=0.538 by 2-way ANOVA) in response to the abscesses. IL-6 is not necessary for the induction of hepcidin or the development of AI in a physiological model of infection. Experiments are underway to define which other inflammatory mediators induce hepcidin.