cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Memantine for the treatment of ischemic stroke: experimental benefits and clinical lack of studies

Stroke is an important cause of mortality and disability worldwide. Immediately after stroke onset, the ischemic cascade initiates and deleteriously affects neural cells. Time to reperfusion therapy is a critical determinant of functional recovery in stroke patients. Although recent trials have shown the significant efficacy of endovascular thrombectomy, either alone or with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator, in improving the functional outcomes of stroke patients with large vessel occlusion, hours can pass before patients receive reperfusion therapy. Moreover, many patients do not meet the eligibility criteria to receive reperfusion treatments. Therefore, an adjunct and alternative agent that can protect ischemic neuronal tissue during the hyperacute phase until reperfusion therapy can be administered may prevent further brain damage and enhance functional recovery. Memantine is a US Food and Drug Administration approved drug for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Memantine blocks overstimulated N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors and prevents neurotoxicity caused by massive glutamate release. Preclinical studies show that memantine decreases infarction volume and improves neurologic outcomes. However, few clinical studies have evaluated the safety and efficacy of memantine in stroke patients. This review article summarizes the current evidence for the role of memantine in the treatment of ischemic stroke and highlights areas for future research.
Comparison of Vocalization Patterns in Piglets Which Were Crushed to Those Which Underwent Human Restraint.

Though many studies focused on piglet crushing utilizing piglet vocalizations to test sow response, none have verified the properties of test vocalizations against actual crushing events. Ten sows were observed 48 h after parturition, and crushing events were recorded from all sows. When a crushing event occurred, a second piglet within the same litter was used to solicit a vocalization through manual restraint to compare restrained piglets’ call properties to those of crushed piglets’. A total of 659 Restrained calls and 631 Crushed calls were collected. Variables were gathered at the loudest point in a call, and as an average across the entire call. Crushed piglets had a lower fundamental frequency (p < 0.01; Crushed: 523.57 ± 210.6 Hz; Restrained: 1214.86 ± 203.2 Hz) and narrower bandwidth (p < 0.01; Crushed: 4897.01 ± 587.3 Hz; Restrained: 6674.99 ± 574.0 Hz) when analyzed at the loudest portion of a call. Overall, piglets which were crushed had a lower mean peak frequency than those which were restrained (p = 0.01; 1497.08 ± 239.4 Hz and 2566.12 ± 235.0 Hz, respectively). Future research should focus on measuring sow reactivity to Crushed and Restrained piglets to continue to improve research practices.
Hydrodynamic disassembly and expansion of electron-beam-heated warm dense copper

Cu foils, $200\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ in thickness, were heated in two stages by a $\ensuremath{\sim}100$-ns-long monoenergetic electron bunch at 19.8 MeV and a current of 1.7 kA ($8.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{14} {e}^{\ensuremath{-}}$) in a 2-mm-spot to ${T}_{e}\ensuremath{\sim}1$ eV. After 45 ns of isochoric heating, the pressure in the foil builds up to $g20$ GPa (200 kbar), it begins to hydrodynamically disassemble, and a velocity spread is measured. Near the end of the electron pulse, the 1550 nm probe is cut off or absorbed. Photonic Doppler velocimetry measurements were made to quantify the expansion velocity, hydrodynamic disassembly time, and pressure of the foil prior to cutoff. Measurements indicate foil motion begins the instant electrons pass through the foil and continues until the particle velocity approaches the ambient sound velocity of Cu and the bulk density exceeds the critical density of the probe. Once the density of the plasma drops below the critical threshold and begins reflecting again, an expansion velocity of the classical plasma is also measured, similar to the point-source solution.
Human Rights in Nigeria's External Relations: Building the Record of a Moral Superpower by Philip C. Aka

Aka, Philip C. Human Rights in Nigeria’s External Relations: Building the Record of a Moral Superpower . Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2017.
Understanding the structural complexity of dissolved organic matter: isomeric diversity.

In the present work, the advantages of ESI-TIMS-FT-ICR MS to address the isomeric content of dissolved organic matter are studied. While the MS spectra allowed the observation of a high number of peaks (e.g., PAN-L: 5004 and PAN-S: 4660), over 4× features were observed in the IMS-MS domain (e.g., PAN-L: 22 015 and PAN-S: 20 954). Assuming a total general formula of CxHyN0–3O0–19S0–1, 3066 and 2830 chemical assignments were made in a single infusion experiment for PAN-L and PAN-S, respectively. Most of the identified chemical compounds (∼80%) corresponded to highly conjugated oxygen compounds (O1–O20). ESI-TIMS-FT-ICR MS provided a lower estimate of the number of structural and conformational isomers (e.g., an average of 6–10 isomers per chemical formula were observed). Moreover, ESI-q-FT-ICR MS/MS at the level of nominal mass (i.e., 1 Da isolation) allowed for further estimation of the number of isomers based on unique fragmentation patterns and core fragments; the later suggested that multiple structural isomers could have very closely related CCS. These studies demonstrate the need for ultrahigh resolution TIMS mobility scan functions (e.g., R = 200–500) in addition to tandem MS/MS isolation strategies.
Review: Modern Coliseum: Stadiums and American Culture, by Benjamin D. Lisle, and Architecture on Ice: A History of the Hockey Arena, by Howard Shubert

Benjamin D. Lisle Modern Coliseum: Stadiums and American Culture Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2017, 328 pp., 76 b/w illus. $34.95 (cloth), ISBN 9780812249224 Howard Shubert Architecture on Ice: A History of the Hockey Arena Montreal: McGill-Queens University Press, 2016, 328 pp., 160 color illus. $49.95 (cloth), ISBN 9780773548138 Over the past two decades, the stadium as a building type has undergone a profound transformation. For most of the twentieth century, it was the preserve of builders and engineers far more than of architects. Indeed, the most prolific designer of stadia, not just in those years but perhaps ever, Archibald Leitch, was trained, depending on your historical research, as either a mechanical engineer or a “factory architect.”1 In the past century, the stadium generally was regarded as a project of modest architectural but specific commercial ambitions (with some rare, but notable, exceptions). Much has changed recently, owing to circumstances largely exogenous to design per se but central to the powerhouse role that sports play in the economies of cities around the world. In our present moment, a stadium is likely the single largest, most technologically complex, and, perhaps most important, expensive building in any given city. In addition to large, corporate-structured firms well known for their stadium designs (Populous, HKS, GMP Architekten, AECOM), there are now Pritzker Prize–winning architects (Herzog & de Meuron, Zaha Hadid Architects, Eduardo Souto de Moura, Peter Eisenman, RCR Arquitectes) designing stadia, often more than one. This transformation is global in scope, with novel, formally ambitious, and bespoke projects going up not just in the former stadia redoubts of Europe and the Americas but in East Asia, Africa, and nearly everywhere else as well. And yet, in spite of the scale, cost, and complexity of stadia, architectural historians have largely ignored them. Simon Inglis, author of two definitive guides to stadia in Great Britain and Europe, commented on this lack of attention more than three decades ago, noting that Nikolaus Pevsner's “multi-volumed Buildings of England , the most comprehensive survey of British architecture ever accomplished, mentions only two grounds in passing—Wembley and Hillsborough.”2 …
Prediction of GIB Using R2 CHA2DS2 VASc Risk Score

Purpose Continuous flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) support has been associated with high rates of gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB). We analyzed the ability of the R2CHA2DS2 VASc scoring system to predict GIB in patients on CF-LVAD support. Methods We performed a retrospective review of 526 patients who underwent implantation of CF-LVADs from November 2003 through March 2016 at our center. The R2 CHA2DS2 VASc score was calculated preoperatively for each patient, and logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were performed to determine whether this risk score predicted GIB. Additional analyses were performed using the R2 CHA2DS2 VASc score to identify etiologies and locations of GIB. Results R2CHA2DS2 VASc score was calculated for 519 patients; 7 patients were excluded due to incomplete data. Average score was 5.1±1.4 (Figure). A total of 218 GIB event occurred in 140 patients; 48 experienced a recurrent GIB. Median time to GIB event was 78 days (interquartile range = 36.5-2298.75 days). The most common etiology was atriovenous malformations (72 events in 50 patients). The R2 CHA2DS2 VASc score successfully predicted GIB (Odds ratio [OR]=1.4, p=0.001) and was especially significant for GIB from ulcers (OR=1.4, p=0.002) and AVMs (OR=1.5, p=0.001) in the stomach (OR=1.3, p=0.004) and duodenum (OR=1.5, p=0.02; Table). ROC curve analysis resulted in an area under the curve of 0.63. Conclusion The R2 CHA2DS2 VASc risk score accurately predicted GIB events in CF-LVAD recipients from AVMs and ulcers in the stomach and duodenum. This may be useful in the selection and management of patients being considered for LVAD implantation.
Two-fluid dynamics of one-dimensional quantum liquids in the absence of Galilean invariance

Luttinger liquid theory of one-dimensional quantum systems ignores exponentially weak backscattering of particles. This endows Luttinger liquids with superfluid properties. The corresponding two-fluid hydrodynamic description available at present applies only to Galilean-invariant systems, whereas most experimental realizations of one-dimensional quantum liquids lack Galilean invariance. Here we develop the two-fluid theory of such quantum liquids. In the low-frequency limit the theory reduces to single-fluid hydrodynamics. However, the absence of Galilean invariance brings about three new transport coefficients. We obtain expressions for these coefficients in terms of the backscattering rate.
Loss of Slug Compromises DNA Damage Repair and Accelerates Stem Cell Aging in Mammary Epithelium.

Summary DNA damage activates checkpoints that limit the replicative potential of stem cells, including differentiation. These checkpoints protect against cancer development but also promote tissue aging. Because mice lacking Slug/ Snai2 exhibit limited stem cell activity, including luminobasal differentiation, and are protected from mammary cancer, we reasoned that Slug might regulate DNA damage checkpoints in mammary epithelial cells. Here, we show that Slug facilitates efficient execution of RPA32-mediated DNA damage response (DDR) signaling. Slug deficiency leads to delayed phosphorylation of ataxia telangiectasia mutated and Rad3-related protein (ATR) and its effectors RPA32 and CHK1. This leads to impaired RAD51 recruitment to DNA damage sites and persistence of unresolved DNA damage. In vivo , Slug/ Snai2 loss leads to increased DNA damage and premature aging of mammary epithelium. Collectively, our work demonstrates that the mammary stem cell regulator Slug controls DDR checkpoints by dually inhibiting differentiation and facilitating DDR repair, and its loss causes unresolved DNA damage and accelerated aging.
Expected euler characteristic of excursion sets of random holomorphic sections on complex manifolds

We prove a formula for the expected euler characteristic of excursion sets of random sections of powers of an ample bundle (L, h), where h is a Hermitian metric, over a Kahler manifold (M, ω). We then prove that the critical radius of the Kodaira embedding ΦN : M → CPn given by an orthonormal basis of H0( M, LN) is bounded below when N → ∞. This result also gives conditions about when the preceding formula is valid.
Semiparametric regression using empirical likelihood with shape information

The empirical likelihood is a popular tool in statistics and many other fields, including regression analysis. It has the advantage of robustness against model specification and can incorporate sid...
Electromechanical Characterization of 3D Printable Conductive Elastomer for Soft Robotics

Soft, stretchable sensors, such as artificial skins or tactile sensors, are attractive for numerous soft robotic applications due to the low material compliance. Conductive polymers are a necessary component of many soft sensors, and this work presents the electromechanical characterization of 3D-printable conductive polymer composites. Dog-bone shaped samples were 3D printed using a digital light processing (DLP)-based 3D printer for characterization. The 3D printable resin consists of monomer, crosslinker, conductive nano-filler, and a photo-initiator. The characterization was performed in two tracks. First, the effect of two different crosslinkers was investigated with different compositions and second, the effect of concentration of conductive nano-fillers was explored. Crosslinkers were chosen by referring to previous studies, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were utilized as conductive nano-fillers. The samples were 3D printed and characterized using an electromechanical test setup. To demonstrate utility for 3D printed soft robotics, a capacitance-based joystick sensor composed of both conductive and non-conductive resins was 3D printed.
Ultrarapid EGFR Mutation Screening Followed by Comprehensive Next-Generation Sequencing: A Feasible, Informative Approach for Lung Carcinoma Cytology Specimens With a High Success Rate.

Abstract Introduction For patients with advanced NSCLC, cytologic samples may be the only diagnostic specimen available for molecular profiling. Although both rapid and comprehensive assessment are essential in this setting, an integrated multitest approach remains an important strategy in many laboratories, despite the risks and challenges when working with scant samples. In this study, we describe our experience and high success rate in using a multitest approach, focusing on the clinical validation and incorporation of ultrarapid EGFR testing using the Idylla system followed by comprehensive next-generation sequencing (NGS). Methods Cytology samples received for routine molecular testing were included in this study. The performance characteristics of the EGFR Idylla assay were assessed; tissue suitability parameters and interpretation criteria to supplement automated mutation calling were established. The assay performance was monitored for 1 year, comparing the results with those of concurrent NGS testing by MSK-IMPACT (primarily) or MSK-AmpliSeq and MSK-Fusion solid panel in a subset of cases. Results Overall, 301 samples were studied; 83 samples were included in validation (60.2% [50 of 83] were positive for EGFR mutations). Concordance with the reference method was 96.4% (80 of 83) of the samples with excellent reproducibility. The limit of detection was variable depending on the total tissue input and the specific mutation tested. Unextracted tissue inputs that maintained total EGFR cycle of quantification at less than 23 allowed all mutations to be detected if present at greater than 5% variant allele frequency. Mutations could be detected at 1% variant allele frequency with total EGFR cycle of quantification of 18. During the clinical implementation phase, 218 NSCLC samples were tested by Idylla (24.3% [53 of 218] were EGFR mutation positive). Concurrent NGS testing was requested on 165 samples and successfully performed on 96.4% (159 of 165) of the samples. The Idylla automated results were concordant with those obtained by NGS in 96.2% (153 of 159) of cases and improved to 98.7% (157 of 159) after incorporation of manual review criteria to supplement automated calling, resulting in a diagnostic sensitivity of 95.6% (95% confidence interval: 84.9%–99.5%). In general, 9% (14 of 159) of the cases tested by NGS had EGFR mutations not covered by the Idylla assay, primarily insertions in exon 19 and 20 and minor mutations co-occurring with canonical sensitizing mutations. Conclusions Comprehensive molecular testing is feasible and has a high success rate in NSCLC cytology samples when using a multitest approach. Testing with the Idylla system enables rapid and accurate determination of the EGFR status without compromising subsequent NGS testing.
Early detection of SARS-CoV-2 from staging PET-CT

SARS-CoV-2 infection may manifest with minimal or no clinical symptoms. However, signs of infection may appear on routine imaging obtained in the care of patients with cancer. The management of patients planned for chemoradiation with asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection is uncertain. Here, we present a case study of a mildly symptomatic patient with anal cancer diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 from a staging PET-CT scan. PET-CT scan for anal cancer staging demonstrated pulmonary avidity suspicious for an infectious, rather than malignant, process. In the setting of these imaging findings and new-onset anosmia, viral polymerase chain reaction was ordered and found to be positive for SARS-CoV-2. To avoid myelosuppression in the setting of active infection, planned chemoradiation was delayed until cessation of viral shedding. In the COVID-19 era, oncologists obtaining routine staging imaging should have high diagnostic suspicion for subclinical SARS-CoV-2 infection. To avoid precipitating severe pneumonia and hospitalization, multidisciplinary discussion with risk-benefit analysis is recommended before initiating immunosuppressive therapies such as chemoradiation.
The Challenges of Jesuit Global Education: Responses to Poverty and Displacement.

Jesuit higher education takes place today in an increasingly globalised world. These reflections will focus on the implications of the commitment to justice for such education. The challenge of res...
How Closely Related Are Parent and Child Reports of Child Alexithymia

Alexithymia is a subclinical trait involving difficulty describing and identifying emotions. It is common in a number of psychiatric conditions. Alexithymia in children is sometimes measured by parent report and sometimes by child self-report, but it is not yet known how closely related the two measures are. This is an important question both theoretically and practically, in terms of research design and clinical practice. We conducted a preliminary study to investigate this question in a sample of 6- to 11-year-old neurotypical children and their parents (N = 29 dyads). Parent and child reports were not correlated, and 93% of parents under-estimated their child's level of alexithymia relative to the child's self-report. Based on these results, we hypothesize that when asked to report on the child's alexithymia, children and parents may not be reporting on the same phenomenon, and thus these two measures may not be interchangeable. These provocative findings, however, must be considered preliminary: our analyses were sufficiently powered to detect a strong relation between the two types of report had one existed, but our analyses were not sufficiently powered to distinguish between a small relation and no relation at all.
Value-Based Costing of Anti-Cancer Drugs: An Ethical Perspective Grounded in Catholic Teachings on Human Dignity and the Common Good

Americans have benefited from a declining cancer incidence and improving prognosis over the past two decades, during which time rising prices for anti-cancer drugs have proportionally outstripped rising expenditures for overall cancer care and total national health expenditures. To meet the economic challenges, remedies have been proposed to base compensation on relative survival measurements perhaps taking into account associated drug toxicities, disabilities, and disease progression. While there are advantages for knowing the economic costs determined from so-called, "value-based" methodologies, it must be recognized that the measured values are impersonal, incomplete, and always biased. This article examines value-based costing of anti-cancer drugs in an individual and societal framework and advocates grounding decisions regarding cancer care and pharmaceutical costs on the ethical principles of human dignity and the common good.
Restarted Pulay mixing for efficient and robust acceleration of fixed-point iterations

Abstract We present a variant of the restarted Pulay's Direct Inversion in the Iterative Subspace (DIIS) method for efficiently and robustly accelerating the convergence of fixed-point iterations. Specifically, we propose a simple modification of DIIS without any additional parameters, which we refer to as the r-Pulay method. We demonstrate the efficacy of r-Pulay in the context of the Jacobi iteration for solving large linear systems of equations, as well as in the Self Consistent Field (SCF) approach for Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. Overall, we find r-Pulay to be an attractive version of the restarted DIIS method.
CORNEAL ANGIOGENIC PRIVILEGE: ANGIOGENIC AND ANTIANGIOGENIC FACTORS IN CORNEAL AVASCULARITY, VASCULOGENESIS, AND WOUND HEALING (AN AMERICAN OPHTHALMOLOGICAL SOCIETY THESIS)

Purpose To determine the molecular basis of corneal avascularity during wound healing and determine the role of angiogenic and antiangiogenic factors in corneal vasculogenesis.
Photonics teaching development at California Polytechnic State University

California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) is one of 23 campuses comprising the California State University, the nation's largest four-year comprehensive public undergraduate university system. Cal Poly has a photonics program, photonics student club, and photonics laboratory within the Electrical Engineering Department that dates back to 1985. This laboratory is dual-use for both teaching and as a photonics center of excellence for the newly established Project-Based Learning Institute (PBLI) (http://pbl.calpoly.edu/). Our photonic education program at Cal Poly emphasizes four main educational tools. A. Lecture Classes. B. Photonics Laboratory Classes C. Student Photonics Club, and D. PBLI Design Projects. In this paper, we will describe the above four aspects with emphasizing on our new initiatives for part B and D.
HOW MANY IMPULSIVITIES? A DISCOUNTING PERSPECTIVE

People discount the value of delayed and uncertain outcomes, and how steeply individuals discount is thought to reflect how impulsive they are. From this perspective, steep discounting of delayed outcomes (which fails to maximize long-term welfare) and shallow discounting of probabilistic outcomes (which fails to adequately take risk into account) reflect the same trait of impulsivity. Despite the fact that a hyperboloid function describes the discounting of both delayed and probabilistic outcomes, there is considerable evidence that the two kinds of discounting involve different processes as well as separate impulsivity traits. Several manipulations differentially affect delay and probability discounting, and correlational studies show that how steeply one discounts delayed rewards is relatively independent of how steeply one discounts probabilistic rewards. Moreover, people's discounting of delayed money and health outcomes are uncorrelated as are discounting of real, consumable rewards and hypothetical money. These results suggest that even within delay discounting, there may be multiple 'impulsivities,' each of which may be important for understanding a different aspect of decision making. Taken together, the pattern of findings reviewed here argues for a more nuanced view of impulsivity than that which is usually assumed in discounting research.
Age, growth and mortality of greater amberjack from the southeastern United States

Abstract Rings on 323 sectioned otoliths (sagittae) were used to determine the ages of greater amberjack, Seriola dumerili, sampled from headboats and commercial handline vessels operating out of ports from North Carolina through the Florida Keys. Age and growth determinations were difficult. Rings were identified and counted on 71% of the samples, but measurements could be made on only 48%. The oldest fish examined was 17 years old and was 1552 mm total length (TL). Back-calculated mean lengths at annulus formation were 366, 873, 1207 and 1471 mm TL for ages 1, 5, 10 and 15, respectively. The von Bertalanffy equation describing theoretical growth for TL was Lt = 1648(1 − e−0.119(t + 1.230)), where t = years. The equation using fork lengths (FL) was Lt = 1514(1 − e−0.115(t + 1.178)). The weight-length relationship for greater amberjack was W = 7.2 × 10−8L2.700, where W is the whole fish weight (in kg), and L is the total length (in mm). Conversion of total length to fork length may be obtained using the equation: FL = −4.807 + 0.887(TL), and fork length to total length: TL = 20.110 + 1.111(FL). Greater amberjack are fully recruited to the fishery by age 8. Estimates of total instantaneous mortality (Z) ranged from 0.60 to 0.65 depending on the year.
Non-faradaic impedance characterization of an evaporating droplet for microfluidic and biosensing applications

We have developed a general numerical/analytical theory of non-faradaic impedance of an evaporating droplet, and validated the model by experiments involving droplets of various analyte concentrations deposited on a surface defined by coplanar electrodes. The impedance of the droplet Z(n0,t,f) is analyzed as a function of the concentration (n0) of the ions in the solution, the measurement frequency (f) and the evaporation time (t). We illustrate the versatility of the model by determining the sensitivity enhancement α(t) of the droplet-based impedimetric nano-biosensor under different regimes of operation. The model should have broad applications in the characterization/optimization of droplet-based systems, especially lab-on-chip components involving digital microfluidics.
EMIC waves observed at geosynchronous orbit during solar minimum: Statistics and excitation

[1] We identified 1875 wave events in magnetic field data from geosynchronous orbit. Most of these events were transverse with respect to the background magnetic field, left-hand polarized, and were observed in the post-noon magnetic local time sector at frequencies just below the helium gyrofrequency. Combined, these observations strongly suggest that most of these events are Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron (EMIC) waves. Average wave amplitudes are presented, binned by frequency, geomagnetic activity and magnetic local time. The amplitude increases with increasing geomagnetic activity; increased activity also narrows the local time sector in which the waves are observed. A superposed epoch analysis of solar wind parameters and geomagnetic activity indices shows that 12 hours before wave onset the AE and Kp index increased, indicating storm and substorm activity that injects hot ion populations needed to drive the EMIC instability and providing ample time for those populations to drift into the post-noon local time sector. Just before wave onset a sudden enhancement in the AE index and the solar wind dynamic pressure are observed, indicating that a final perturbation of the magnetosphere is needed to excite EMIC wave growth. EMIC waves are thought to cause loss of relativistic particles in the radiation belt. Large solar wind densities have been associated with low flux of relativistic particles during the recovery phase of geomagnetic storms. We show that EMIC waves are preferentially generated during intervals of large solar wind density, indicating that such conditions drive EMIC waves which in turn cause enhanced loss of relativistic particles.
Flaxedil (Gallamine Triethiodide): Evidence for a Central Action

A central action of gallamine triethiodide has been demonstrated in cats with permanently implanted electrodes that permit direct repetitive stimulation and recording of afterdischarges from cerebral cortex. Systemically administered gallamine produced a consistent and reproducible augmentation of duration of afterdischarge at doses just sufficient to produce skeletal muscle paralysis. Simultaneous examination of expiratory carbon dioxide, blood pressure, body temperature, blood glucose, and direct cortical response to brief single stimuli failed to reveal any consistent peripheral change to which the centrally observed effecte Could be attributed.
Reusing single-use devices in hospitals: a case study

Traditionally, Single Use Devices (SUDs) have been used and discarded, as the name suggests. These SUDs include operating room devices used in areas such as arthroscopy and laparoscopy, devices such as catheters in cardiovascular surgery and in endoscopy, and other general products. However, many of these devices can be remanufactured. Hospitals face challenges in reducing costs. They are increasingly turning to reusing these SUDs. The use of SUDs by a local hospital is examined with the focus on the savings achieved through the program, as well as problems encountered in the process of implementing the program. Various aspects of the remanufacture and use of such devices, including the economics, quality, and customer perception are examined, as well as medical users attitudes. The success of the current program, and its viability in the future are also examined.
Volumetric descriptions from dynamic scenes

A dynamic scene analysis system for the derivation of volumetric descriptions is presented. The description is referred to as the 'volume segment' representation. The structures that implement the representation are described along with several techniques to modify and use the representation.
A rate study of the hydrolysis of the hexafluoroarsenate(V) ion

Abstract The rate of hydrolysis of the AsF6− was examined over a wide range of both acidic and basic conditions in aqueous solutions. No hydrolysis was detected in basic solutions, but it was possible to follow the rate of decomposition in concentrated sulfuric acid. The rate equation found was that for a first-order reversible reaction in hexafluoroarsenate with a dependence of this rate constant on the acidity. The rate constant correlated with the H_ acidity function, as would be expected for a reaction in which the protonation of the AsF6− ion was prior to the rate determining step. The rate law was thus of the form d[[AsF 6 − ] dt = k′[AsF 6 − ]10 H− The reaction sequence proposed for this hydrolysis consists of the steps: AsF 6 − + H 2 SO 4 ⇋ HAsF 6 + HSO 4 − HAsF 6 + H 2 O ⇋ HAsF 5 (OH) + HF The reversibility of this sequence was demonstrated by the formation of hexafluoroarsenate(V) from AsF5(OH)− by the addition of fluoride to its solutions in concentrated sulfuric acid.
A priori Identification of Configurational Deadwood

Abstract A method is given for the a priori assessment of those terms in a configuration interaction expansion that can be deleted if a given error in the energy is tolerated. The truncations are performed independently for the quadruple, quintuple and sextuple excitations on the basis of information derived from the double and triple excitations. The effectiveness of the method is illustrated by application to SDTQ56-CI wavefunctions of the molecules HNO, N 2 and NCCN.
Eddy-jet interaction theorems for piecewise constant potential vorticity flows

Abstract Integral constraints governing interactions between jets and detached eddies are discussed for quasigeostrophic flows with piecewise uniform potential vorticity. Building on the work of Dritschel ( Journal of Fluid Mechanics , 191: 575–581 (1988b)), we use conservation of pseudomomentum to predict the propagation direction of eddies (closed fronts) or place bounds on their excursions. The piecewise uniform condition also allows for a simple interpretation of a well-known eddy-mean flow interaction theorem. Specifically, it is shown that mean zonal velocity is equal to its undisturbed value plus a weighted sum of displaced areas (or volumes) under fronts which have crossed the latitude line in question. All results are valid regardless of the amplitude or shape of frontal disturbances.
From (Un)Willingness to InvolveMENt: Development of a Successful Study Brand for Recruitment of Diverse MSM to a Longitudinal HIV Research.

Background. HIV continues to be a major concern among MSM, yet Black MSM have not been enrolled in HIV research studies in proportionate numbers to White MSM. We developed an HIV prevention research brand strategy for MSM. Methods. Questionnaires and focus groups were conducted with 54 participants. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analyses were performed and qualitative data were transcribed and content analyzed to identify common themes. Results. Formative research results indicated that younger Black MSM (18–29 years) were less likely to think about joining prevention studies compared to older (≥30 years) Black MSM (, ). Qualitative and quantitative results indicate four prominent themes related to brand development: (1) communication sources (message deliverer), (2) message (impact of public health messaging on perceptions of HIV research), (3) intended audience (underlying issues that influence personal relevance of HIV research), and (4) communication channels (reaching intended audiences). Conclusion. The findings highlight the importance of behavioral communication translational research to effectively engage hard-to-reach populations. Despite reservations, MSM in our formative study expressed a need for active involvement and greater education to facilitate their engagement in HIV prevention research. Thus, the brand concept of “InvolveMENt” emerged.
Primary Care of the Patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease—Part 2: Pharmacologic Treatment Across All Stages of Disease

Abstract National guidelines for the pharmacologic treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be clarified for busy primary care practitioners who must deal with dozens of such treatment algorithms. MEDLINE searches and reviews of national evidence-based guidelines identified clinical trials and meta-analyses with relevant information on the stage-by-stage pharmacologic treatment of COPD. After formal presentations to a panel of pulmonary specialists and primary care physicians, key messages to assist in the implementation of guideline-based care in the primary care setting were identified and integrated into this article, the second in a 4-part mini-symposium. Main points of the roundtable consensus were as follows: (1) Spirometry is required for the diagnosis and staging of patients with COPD before treatment initiation; (2) all patients with COPD should be counseled to stop smoking, encouraged to start regular physical activity, and given a yearly influenza vaccination; (3) severity-based drug treatment of mild or moderate COPD, which accounts for 95% of all COPD cases, generally involves long-acting ≥1 bronchodilator because of their effectiveness and convenience; (4) patient response in terms of dyspnea, exercise ability, and side effects should be the primary guide for monitoring therapy; and (5) proper treatment of COPD can relieve patient symptoms, boost exercise capacity, reduce the number and severity of exacerbations, and improve the overall quality of life. We conclude that implementation of a relatively simple evidence-based treatment algorithm can be applied to that vast majority of the COPD population seen only in primary care.
Surface electrical stimulation of skeletal muscle after spinal cord injury.

Study design Survey. Objective Examine muscle contractile activity during electrical stimulation (ES) after spinal cord injury (SCI). Setting General community of Athens, Georgia, USA. Methods Eight clinically complete SCI adults (C6 to T12) 4+/-1 (mean+/-SE) years post injury and eight able-bodied adults were studied. Surface ES was applied to the left m. quadriceps femoris for three sets of 10, 1 s isometric actions (50 Hz trains, 400 micros biphasic pulses, 50 micros phase delay, 1 s: 1 s duty cycle) with 90 s of rest between sets. Current was set to evoke isometric torque that was (1) sufficient to elicit knee extension with 2.3 kg attached to the ankle (low level ES), and (2) intended to equal 30% (mid level ES) or 60% of maximal voluntary torque of able-bodied adults (high level ES, able-bodied only). The absolute and relative cross-sectional area (CSA) of m. quadriceps femoris that was stimulated as reflected by contrast shift in magnetic resonance images and torque were measured. Results Six+/-2, 20+/-2 and 38+/-4% of the average CSA of m. quadriceps was stimulated during low, mid and high level ES, respectively, for able-bodied. Corresponding values for SCI for low and mid level ES were greater (61+/-12 and 92+/-7%, P = 0.0002). Torque was related to the CSA (cm2) of stimulated muscle (Nm = 3.53 x stimulated CSA+13, r2 = 0.68, P = 0.0010), thus ES of a greater per cent of m. quadriceps femoris in SCI was attributed to their smaller muscle (24+/-3 vs 73+/-5 cm2, P = 0.0001). The decline in torque ranged from 9+/-l to 15+/-4% within and over sets for low, mid or high level ES in able-bodied. SCI showed greater (P = 0.0001) fatigue (19+/-3 to 47+/-6%). Conclusion The territory of muscle activation by surface electrical stimulation varies among SCI patients. Given sufficient current, a large portion of the muscle of interest can be stimulated. The resulting torque is modest, however, compared to that attainable in able-bodied individuals due to the small size and limited fatigue resistance of skeletal muscle years after spinal cord injury.
Failure of an adrenergic response to orally administered amino acids in asthma.

Abstract Arginine and glutamic acid, administered parenterally, are both reported to have an adrenergic effect. There are clinical observations attributing improvement in asthma to oral administration of glutamic acid. A preparation containing arginine glutamate and alpha-ketoglutaric acid was given to 12 volunteer asthmatic patients for one week and produced an increase in serum glutamine levels in the 2 patients in whom assays were performed. Treatment failed to produce an increase in catecholamine excretion, reduction in airway resistance, or amelioration of symptoms.
Bar-coded hydrogel microparticles for protein detection: synthesis, assay and scanning

This protocol describes the core methodology for the fabrication of bar-coded hydrogel microparticles, the capture and labeling of protein targets and the rapid microfluidic scanning of particles for multiplexed detection. Multifunctional hydrogel particles made from poly(ethylene glycol) serve as a sensitive, nonfouling and bio-inert suspension array for the multiplexed measurement of proteins. Each particle type bears a distinctive graphical code consisting of unpolymerized holes in the wafer structure of the microparticle; this code serves to identify the antibody probe covalently incorporated throughout a separate probe region of the particle. The protocol for protein detection can be separated into three steps: (i) synthesis of particles via microfluidic flow lithography at a rate of 16,000 particles per hour; (ii) a 3–4-h assay in which protein targets are captured and labeled within particles using an antibody sandwich technique; and (iii) a flow scanning procedure to detect bar codes and quantify corresponding targets at rates of 25 particles per s. By using the techniques described, single- or multiple-probe particles can be reproducibly synthesized and used in customizable multiplexed panels to measure protein targets over a three-log range and at concentrations as low as 1 pg ml−1.
An antibody to a peptide specified by an RNA that is complementary to γ-endorphin mRNA recognizes an opiate receptor

Abstract The putative δ-opiate receptor complex has been identified by a new approach which employed an antibody that is directed against a peptide which binds γ-endorphin and is specified by RNA that is complementary to that of γ-endorphin mRNA. This antibody competes with β-endorphin and naloxone for binding sites on the surface of neuroblastoma × glioma NG108-15 hybrid cells. The opiate receptor complex has an apparent molecular weight of 210 000 and is composed of four noncovalently associated subunits with apparent molecular weights of 68 000, 58 000, 45 000 and 30 000.
The ABCs of floral homeotic genes

Homeotic mutants, that is, mutants with a normal organ in a place where an organ of another type is typically found, were first recognized in plants. The earliest descriptions of mutants in which petals replace stamens, giving double flowers, go back to ancient Greece and Rome. Similar accounts can be found in the botanical literature of China more than a thousand years ago, and in the books of the herbalists of Renaissance Europe (Meyerowitz et al., 1989). The use of such mutants (and similar but noninherited developmental abnormalities) to understand developmental processes in plants is more recent, dating from Linnaeus in the mid-eighteenth century (see Cullen and Stevens, 1990), and from Goethe (1790), who derived the ideas of organ homology and homological comparison from plants showing what was then called abnormal metamorphosis. Our term homeosis dates from Bateson’s work (1894) on organismal variation, in which he expanded Masters’treatment (1889) of abnormal metamorphosis in plants to animals and introduced the term homoeosis as a replacement for the older term. Goethe (1790) used homeotic variation in plants as the basis for a specific model explaining the developmental origin of different organ types in flowers. In his view, the four types of floral organs (sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels) are all modified leaves. As sap rises through developing flowers it is progressively refined, thereby inducing different organ types in different positions.
The role of dopamine in the maintenance and breakdown of synergism

Abstract The neurochemical factors involved in the maintenance and breakdown of dopamine D 1 D 2 receptor synergism were investigated by giving rats various pharmacological treatments that diminish the ability of dopamine to interact with its D1 and/or D2 receptors. Following these treatments, rats were observed for the expression of stereotyped motor behavior in response to independent stimulation of D1 or D2 receptors. Independent D2-mediated responses were observed: (a) 2 h after the last of three daily reserpine (1 mg/kg) injections, (b) 48 h after bilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesions of the mesostriatal pathways, (c) 24 h after a concentrated 48-h regimen (one injection/6 h) of eticlopride (0.5 mg/kg) or eticlopride + SCH 23390 (0.5 mg each), and (d) 2 h after a concentrated 48-h regimen (one injection/6 h) of α-methyl-p-tyrosine (αMPT; 100 mg/kg), but not after control treatments or a concentrated regimen of SCH 23390 alone. By contrast, independent D1-mediated responses were observed only after three daily reserpine injections or 48 h after bilateral 6-OHDA lesions. Independent D1-mediated stereotypy was not observed under control conditions or following a concentrated 48-h regimen of (a) SCH 23390 or eticlopride (0.5 mg/kg each) alone or in combination, (b) a high dose of SCH 23390 (1.0 mg/kg), (c) αMPT (100 mg/kg), or (d) αMPT (100 mg/kg)+SCH 23390 (1.0 mg/kg). Reserpine, bilateral 6-OHDA, and αMPT treatments produced striatal dopamine depletions of 96%, 92%, and 71%, respectively. These data indicate that the breakdown in D 1 D 2 synergism consists of two components: (a) D1 independence from the controlling influence of D2 receptors, and (b) D2 independence from the controlling influence of D1 receptors. The interaction of synaptic DA with its D2 receptors plays a major role in determining whether these receptors can function independently of D1 receptors, whereas reduced DA-D1 activity alone appears insufficient to elicit D1 independence.
Calcium Phosphate Precipitation in Liposomal Suspensions

Artificial lipid vesicles (liposomes) provide an in vitro approach for microencapsulating calcium phosphate precipitation reactions in a manner similar to that which occurs in matrix vesicles, the initial loci for extracellular mineralization in many skeletal tissues. Apatitic precipitates readily form within the aqueous interiors of liposomes prepared from phosphatidylcholine, dicetylphosphate, and cholesterol when the liposomal membranes enclosing pH 7.4 buffered PO4 solutions are made permeable to external Ca2+ with ionophores. If the external Ca solution is rendered metastable with PO4, the apatitic precipitates rapidly expand to outside the liposomes as well. The present paper describes the basic features of liposomal mineralization and presents some specific examples on how compositional alterations in the liposomal membrane and external Ca solution can affect the progress of this mineralization.
Insoluble Interphotoreceptor Matrix in Human Vitreous After Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment

Purpose To determine whether insoluble interphotoreceptor matrix is present in the vitreous of human eyes after rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Methods Vitreous aspirates were collected from 12 eyes of 12 patients during retinal reattachment surgery or membrane peeling for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment-related macular epiretinal membranes between 1 day and 5 months after patients' initial rhegmatogenous retinal detachment symptoms. The aspirates were pelleted by centrifugation, embedded in acrylamide, sectioned, and incubated with fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated peanut agglutinin and an interphotoreceptor matrix-specific polyclonal antibody, designated 1-89B. Results Before surgery, 11 of 12 eyes exhibited pigment in the anterior vitreous (Shafer's sign). Morphologic and histochemical characteristic profiles of insoluble interphotoreceptor matrix domains, bound by fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated peanut agglutinin or polyclonal antibody 1-89B, or both, were identified in vitreous aspirates from 11 of 12 patients. Conclusions The results of this study provide evidence that insoluble interphotoreceptor matrix constituents gain access to the vitreous after rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Furthermore, insoluble interphotoreceptor matrix may remain in the vitreous for several months without being degraded.
13C structuring shifts for the analysis of model β-hairpins and β-sheets in proteins: diagnostic shifts appear only at the cross-strand H-bonded residues

The present studies have shown that 13C=O, 13Cα and 13Cβ of H-bonded strand residues in β-hairpins provide additional probes for quantitating the extent of folding in β-hairpins and other β-sheet models. Large differences in the structuring shifts (CSDs) of these 13C sites in H-bonded versus non-H-bonded sites are observed: the differences between H-bonded and non-H-bonded sites are greater than 1.2 ppm for all three 13C probes. This prompts us to suggest that efforts to determine the extent of hairpin folding from 13C shifts should be based exclusively on the observation at the cross-strand H-bonded sites. Furthermore, the statistics suggest the 13C′ and 13Cβ CSDs will provide the best differentiation with 100 %-folded CSD values approaching −2.6 and +3 ppm, respectively, for the H-bonded sites. These conclusions can be extended to edge-strands of protein β-sheets. Our survey of reported 13C shifts in β-proteins indicates that some of the currently employed random coil values need to be adjusted, particularly for ionization-induced effects.