cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cord blood stem cell expansion is permissive to epigenetic regulation and environmental cues.

Objective Augmentation of the number of cord blood (CB) hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) present in a unit is required before it can be considered as an alternative graft for hematopoietic reconstitution for adult patients. In order to further optimize strategies to augment HSC numbers, we examined whether expansion of HSC mediated by epigenetic mechanisms remains permissive to external environmental cues. Materials and Methods The chromatin-modifying agents 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5azaD) and trichostatin A (TSA) were used to ameliorate epigenetic alteration of CB cells during ex vivo culture by adding various cytokines. After culture, CD34 + CD90 + cell numbers, their division history, in vitro clonogenic potential, and in vivo hematopoietic reconstitution potential and frequency were determined. Results 5azaD/TSA-treated, CD34 + CD90 + cells were greatly influenced in terms of their degree of expansion, clonogenic potential, cell-division rate, and transplantability by the combination of cytokines used in culture. Furthermore, our current results verify that the sequential addition of 5azaD followed by TSA is crucial for expansion of HSC. We demonstrate that following 5azaD/TSA treatment, the rate of CD34 + CD90 + cell division is also dependent on the cytokine cocktail and that this is associated with functional changes, including alteration of in vitro clonogenic potential and in vivo reconstitution potential. Conclusions Our studies indicate there are interactions between intrinsic factors influenced by epigenetic mechanisms and external environmental signals in the regulation of HSC expansion. Epigenetic influences on HSC can be accentuated by environmental factors. Regulation of the rate of divisions may be a critical determinant for the maintenance of HSC functional potency during ex vivo expansion.
More Benign Synthesis of Palladium Nanoparticles in Dimethyl Sulfoxide and Their Extraction into an Organic Phase

We present the successful synthesis and stabilization of 3.5 nm Pd nanoparticles (standard deviation of 0.49 nm) within dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) via fast, homogeneous reduction of a Pd salt using ...
A Hec of a microtubule attachment.

The central function of kinetochores is to grasp a dynamic microtubule. Structural, biochemical and cell biological approaches have converged to uncover a microtubule-binding activity within the Ndc80/HEC1 complex, providing a satisfying answer to a question that has puzzled biologists for the last century.
Synthesis and Characterization of Reactive End-Capped Poiymide Oligomers

Abstract A series of reactive, end-capped, polyimide oligomers has been prepared for possible use as planarizing coatings in the electronics industry. Thus, 1,3-bis(3-aminophenoxy)benzene was treated with various excess amounts of 2,2-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoro-propane dianhydride in m-cresol containing toluene and isoquinoline. The resulting anhydride-terminated amic-acid oligomers were thermally imidized and then allowed to react with 3-aminophenylethyne, 1-phenyl-4-(3-aminophenyl)buta-1-ene-3-yne, 1-phenyl-4-(3-amino-phenyl)-1,3-butadiyne, 2-aminobiphenylene, or 1-phenyl-2-(3-amino-phenyl)ethyne. Thermal imidization of these intermediates produced the corresponding end-capped polyimide oligomers. The white oligomers were soluble in organic solvents, such as diglyme, and had glass transition temperatures (Tg's) between 95 and 145°C. The Tg of an ethynyl-terminated oligomer was reduced from 105 to 62°C upon the incorporation of 20 wt % of the reactive plasticizer bis[2-(3-ethynylphenoxy)ethyl]eth...
PREVENTION OF SUXAMETHONIUM-INDUCED CHANGES IN SERUM POTASSIUM CONCENTRATION BY HEXAFLUORENIUM Is their combined use justified?

Sixty patients, none of whom was suffering from renal failure, received neurolept anaesthesia. They were divided into six groups of 10 patients each. Groups I and IV, II and V, and III and VI were given suxamethonium 0.2, 0.6 and 1.0 mg kg−1 respectively. Groups IV–VI were pretreated with hexafluorenium 0.3 mg kg"1. The serum potassium concentration decreased significantly after the induction of anaesthesia and also following the administration of hexafluorenium. Neither suxamethonium 0.2 mg nor 0.6 mg kg"1 with or without hexafluorenium restored the potassium concentration to the control value. Suxamethonium 1.0 mg kg−1 alone caused the serum potassium to increase to values greater than control; hexafluorenium attenuated this effect. The combination of hexafluorenium and suxamethonium may be of benefit in patients who are anephric or are in chronic renal failure.
Artificial viscosity proper orthogonal decomposition

We introduce improved reduced-order models for turbulent flows. These models are inspired from successful methodologies used in large eddy simulation, such as artificial viscosity, applied to standard models created by proper orthogonal decomposition of flows coupled with Galerkin projection. As a first step in the analysis and testing of our new methodology, we use the Burgers equation with a small diffusion parameter. We present a thorough numerical analysis for the time discretization of the new models. We then test these models in two problems displaying shock-like phenomena. Of course, since the Burgers equation does not model turbulence, we next need to test our new models in realistic turbulent flow settings. This is the subject of a forthcoming report.
Left Coset Invariance and Relativistic Invariance

-matrix provides a means, using only kinematic transformations, to establish the existence of an underlying representation of the Poincare group.
Do we need a single standard of value for institutional assessment? An essay response to Asao Inoue's “community-based assessment pedagogy”

Abstract Inoue [Inoue, A. B. (2005). Community-based assessment pedagogy. Assesing Writing: An International Journal, 3, 208–238] sets up a radically experimental writing class as a kind of laboratory of assessment. He seeks to avoid the standard situation where a teacher unilaterally assesses and grades student writing, using only his or her own criteria or standard. His premise is that value in writing is socially constructed, and so he gets students to enact a social, communal process to work out the criteria for effective writing. In this way he gets students to take full responsibility for assessing and even grading each other. But when he requires his students to agree on a single model of good writing (a “rubric” with various dimensions), I think he misunderstands how value is actually socially constructed. In fact we live in a world with various models of good or effective writing. Given, however, that he is working in an institutional setting, his approach seems readily understandable. How can feedback be coherent or final grades be fair if they are based on multiple and competing models of goodness? This sounds like a rhetorical question, but in fact I use this essay to argue that it is not only feasible but desirable to use multiple models of value in an institutional setting.
The electrophysiologic profile of Dejerine-Sottas disease (HMSN III)

Electrophysiologic studies in 11 patients with Dejerine-Sottas disease (hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy type III, HMSN III) showed median and ulnar motor nerve conduction velocities less than 6 m/sec in all but 1 patient. Marked temporal dispersion without conduction block was present in all patients. Uniform slowing in adjacent motor nerves was consistent with other studies of inherited neuropathies, although marked temporal dispersion may make HMSN III more difficult to distinguish from acquired neuropathies than other hereditary conditions. The electrophysiologic features of HMSN III patients were significantly different from a series of patients with other hereditary neuropathies chosen because of very slow nerve conduction velocity.
Service Matters in Education

A review of service related literature was coupled with exploratory research to better understand the concept of service in an educational setting. Results indicated that school leaders believed that a variety of attributes of service are important and were receptive to the concepts of hospitality service as it can be applied to educational environments. The following four factors emerged through exploratory factor analysis: public relations, indefinables, receptiveness, and constancy. The pilot study showed that determining the important attributes of service in education is complex and further research is recommended.
N-methylation of nicotine enantiomers by human liver cytosol

Incubation of human liver cytosol with either R-(+)-[3H-N'CH3]nicotine or S-(-)-[3H-N'CH3]nicotine results in the formation of the corresponding N-methyl quaternary ammonium metabolite. A substrate stereoselectivity was observed in that the turnover number for the methylation of the S-(-)-isomer was 0.25 pmol mg-1 protein h-1, whereas that for the R-(+)-isomer was 2.11. The latter substrate exhibited an apparent Km value of 20.1 microM. Nicotine N-methylation appears to be species-dependent, since rat liver homogenates contained no 'nicotine N-methyltransferase' activity, whereas with guinea-pig liver homogenates, a substrate specificity for only R-(+)-nicotine was observed.
Imaging of pancreatic β-cell mass by PET

SUMMARY Success in the noninvasive and quantitative imaging of pancreatic islet β-cell mass (BCM) has been made possible by the inherent sensitivity of PET and the development of radiotracers for β-cell enriched peptide targets. This article briefly discusses the methodological considerations that can impact upon the accuracy of measuring BCM, and approaches to optimize BCM measurements in the face of these potential limitations. The current status of two peptide receptors that show promise for imaging BCM will be discussed: glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor and vesicular monoamine transporter type 2.
ROADM optimization in WDM ring networks

Abstract Reconfigurable optical add–drop multiplexers (ROADMs) and tunable transceivers play an important role in optical network reconfigurability and cost saving. ROADMs provide support to dynamic traffic demands, enable new services, and save capital expenditure (CapEx) along with the operational expenditure (OpEx). Limiting the range of wavelengths that can be accessed at a node reduces costs, and possibly reduces flexibility in reconfigurability. The limited range (band size) of wavelengths is a result of the limited add/drop range of the ROADMs and/or limited tuning range of transceivers. In either case, limited reconfigurability introduces a new constraint in the wavelength assignment of connections called as the wavelength termination constraint. Limited ROADMs (L-ROADMs) can add and drop only a subset of (contiguous) wavelengths (a waveband) and are less costly than fully reconfigurable OADMs (F-ROADMs). In order to quantify the trade-offs between the number of L-ROADMs and their band sizes and compare those with F-ROADMs, optimization solutions must be obtained. In this paper, we consider two models of L-ROADMs and present optimization problems specific to each model under all-to-all traffic for ring networks. We consider two ring topologies, uni- and bi-directional rings. We give integer linear programming formulations and present heuristic solutions to minimize the worst-case band size and the total number of wavebands for the two L-ROADM types. For the uni-directional ring in the first model, we present a lower bound of ⌈ ( W + 2 ) / 2 ⌉ for the band size of ROADMs, where W is the number of wavelengths. For the upper bound, our results show that the worst-case band size of L-ROADMs is only about 65% of the full range for large network sizes. For the bi-directional ring of N nodes, our heuristic algorithm, Algorithm-Min-Bi , produces a worst-case band size of b ( w ) = N 2 − 4 N + 19 8 . This produces a reduction of 10% to 20% in the band size for typical network sizes. When the band size b s is fixed under the second model, we observe the trade-off between the total band size of L-ROADMs and the number of L-ROADMs. For both uni- and bi-directional ring networks, our results are close to optimal. We also examine the performance of our models under dynamic traffic.
Ring-opening photoreactions of 5-methylcytosine with 3-mercaptopropionic acid and other thiols.

The photoproducts from reaction of thymine with cysteine, an amino acid containing a sulfhydryl group, have been studied in detail, whereas results of less extensive studies have been reported for the uracil–cysteine system. However, products arising from corresponding reactions of cytosine and related compounds with compounds containing a sulfhydryl group have not been similarly studied. We report here the results of our study of the photoreaction of 5-methylcytosine (5MeCyt), a minor base occurring in mammalian DNA, with 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3MP), a model compound for cysteine. We found that this reaction proceeds at pH 7 to yield N-(N'-(2′-carboxyethyl)thiocarbamoyl)-3-amino-2-methylacrylamidine (Ia) as a primary photoproduct. A secondary thermal product, identified as 3-(2′-carboxyethylthio)-2-methylacrylamidine (IIa), appears if photoreacted solution is allowed to stand for appreciable times prior to workup; this latter compound is formed via an intermediate product. Heating of purified Ia at 100°C or standing at lower temperatures produces 3-amino-2-methylacrylamidine (IId); similarly, irradiation of Ia with UVB light in aqueous solution converts it into IId. Results from exploratory studies suggest that 5MeCyt similarly reacts with other thiols (2-mercaptoethanol, 2-mercaptoacetic acid) to form analogs of Ia and IIa. Other preliminary results suggest that 5-methyl-2′-deoxycytidine and 1,5-dimethylcytosine photoreact with 3MP to form compounds similar to Ia.
The flagellar apparatus of Entocladia viridis motile cells, and the taxonomic position of the resurrected family Ulvellaceae (Ulvales, chlorophyta).

The flagellar apparatuses of the quadriflagellate zoo-spores and biflagellate female gametes of the marine chaetophoracean alga Entocladia viridis Reinke are significantly different from those of algae belonging to Chaetophoraceae sensu stricto, but closely resemble those of ulvacean genera. These differences permit the taxonomic reassignment of certain marine chaetophoracean genera and an evaluation of the flagellar apparatus features used to characterize the class Ulvophyceae. Critical features of the zoospore include arrangement of the four basal bodies into an upper and a lower pair with the proximal ends of the upper basal bodies overlapping, terminal caps, proximal sheaths connected to one another by striated bands, and a cruciate microtubular rootlet system having a 3-2–3-2 alternation pattern and striated microtubule-associated components that accompany the two-membered rootlets. An indistinct distal fiber occurs just anterior to the basal bodies, and is closely associated with the insertion into the flagellar apparatus of the three-membered rootlets. The flagellar apparatus demonstrates 180° rotational symmetry, and its components show counterclockwise absolute orientation when viewed from above. Newly described features include the prominently bilobed structure of the terminal caps on the upper basal body pair, and the presence of both a granular zone and an additional single microtubule anterior to each of the four rootlets, an arrangement termed the “stacked rootlet configuration.” Rhizoplasts were not observed and are presumed to be absent. The gamete is identical, except for the absence of the lower basal body pair and the presence of an electron-dense membrane associated structure that resembles the mating structure found in Ulva gametes. These findings, correlated with life history data, sporangial and gametangial structure and developmental patterns, chloroplast pigment arrays, and vegetative cell ultrastructural features, compel the removal of Entocladia viridis and similar members of the marine Chaetophoraceae to a separate family, the Ulvellaceae. The latter is referred to the order Ulvales of the Ulvophyceae. The counterclockwise absolute orientation of components, and terminal caps, may be the most consistent flagellar apparatus features of ulvophycean green algae, while variations in other features previously considered diagnostic for the Ulvophyceae may serve instead to identify discrete lineages within this class.
The structure of G.P. zones in an AlCuZn alloy

Abstract An Al-46 at.% Cu-2.20 at.% Zn crystal was quenched and aged at 353 K for 24 h. Anomalous dispersion was used to separate the effects of Cu and Zn in the diffuse scattering by measuring the diffuse scattering in absolute units at two different energies for each respective absorption edge. The scattering contrast between these two conditions near each edge was analyzed to get the short range order parameters for AlCu and AlZn pairs. Via computer simulation with these parameters the Cu was found to lie in small {100} plates and the Zn in short 〈110〉 strings that probably lie on planes adjacent to the Cu plates.
Dynamic Kinematic and Plantar Pressure Changes Following Cheilectomy for Hallux Rigidus: A Mid-Term Followup:

Background: Hallux rigidus leads to significant loss of first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint motion. Cheilectomy surgery aims to increase motion, decrease pain, and facilitate a return to activity. Limited data exist regarding restoration of dynamic kinematics and loading responses following cheilectomy. This prospective study assessed three-dimensional in vivo first MTP joint kinematics and loading characteristics following cheilectomy. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients were evaluated prior to undergoing cheilectomy for hallux rigidus. Fifteen subjects returned for mid-term followup at 1.7 years. Eleven subjects were surveyed at 6 years. Plantar pressure data were acquired during barefoot walking. Comparisons of average pressures were determined for 4 different regions of the foot. Pressure differences were compared within, and between symptomatic and asymptomatic feet. First MTP joint dorsiflexion and abduction were assessed during standing, active motion and gait. Results: Only four out of 15 pat...
Intracellular fate of fibrinogen Bβ chain expressed in COS cells

Full-length fibrinogen B beta cDNA was subcloned into an expression vector, pBC12BI, and transfected into COS cells. B beta chain expression was measured by pulse-labelling cells with L-[35S]methionine, immunoprecipitating the B beta chain with antibody to fibrinogen and separating the nascent radioactive protein by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). B beta chain was expressed in transfected COS cells but was not secreted into the medium. Treatment with endoglycosidase H showed that non-secreted B beta chain contains mannose-rich carbohydrates rather than the complex form of carbohydrate which occurs in plasma fibrinogen and indicates that B beta chain is not transported to the Golgi apparatus. In transfected COS cells, antibody to fibrinogen co-immunoprecipitated B beta chain and 78 kDa immunoglobulin-binding protein (BiP) and antibody to BiP immunoprecipitated BiP and nascent B beta chains. Non-secreted B beta chain was degraded intracellularly with a half-life of 5 h by enzymes which were not affected by incubating transfected cells with NH4Cl, which indicates a non-lysosomal pathway of degradation. These studies indicate that B beta chain by itself does not contain the signal for fibrinogen secretion and that non-secreted B beta chain is associated with BiP and degraded in the rough endoplasmic reticulum.
Circulation phenomena in stefan diffusion

Abstract Coupled diffusion and Navier-Stokes equations are used to analyze Stefan diffusion. Numerical solutions of the diffusion and hydrodynamic equations show the existence of circulation patterns for the “stagnant” species in a binary system. These results establish that the frequently made simplifying assumption that the non-volatile species in Stefan diffusion is stagnant is invalid. Results are presented showing how the flux and velocity profiles depend on the dimensions of the system.
Two-year-olds use distributional cues to interpret transitivity-alternating verbs

Two-year-olds assign appropriate interpretations to verbs presented in two English transitivity alternations, the causal and unspecified-object alternations (Naigles, 1996). Here we explored how they might do so. Causal and unspecified-object verbs are syntactically similar. They can be either transitive or intransitive, but differ in the semantic roles they assign to the subjects of intransitive sentences (undergoer and agent, respectively). To distinguish verbs presented in these two alternations, children must detect this difference in role assignments. We examined distributional features of the input as one possible source of information about this role difference. Experiment 1 showed that in a corpus of child-directed speech, causal and unspecified-object verbs differed in their patterns of intransitive-subject animacy and lexical overlap between nouns in subject and object positions. Experiment 2 tested children's ability to use these two distributional cues to infer the meaning of a novel causal or unspecified-object verb, by separating the presentation of a novel verb's distributional properties from its potential event referents. Children acquired useful combinatorial information about the novel verb simply by listening to its use in sentences, and later retrieved this information to map the verb to an appropriate event.
OPC model data collection for 45-nm technology node using automatic CD-SEM offline recipe creation

Optical and Process Correction in the 45nm node is requiring an ever higher level of characterization. The greater complexity drives a need for automation of the metrology process allowing more efficient, accurate and effective use of the engineering resources and metrology tool time in the fab, helping to satisfy what seems an insatiable appetite for data by lithographers and modelers charged with development of 45nm and 32nm processes. The scope of the work referenced here is a 45nm design cycle "full-loop automation", starting with gds formatted target design layout and ending with the necessary feedback of one and two dimensional printed wafer metrology. In this paper the authors consider the key elements of software, algorithmic framework and Critical Dimension Scanning Electron Microscope (CDSEM) functionality necessary to automate its recipe creation. We evaluate specific problems with the methodology of the former art, "on-tool on-wafer" recipe construction, and discuss how the implementation of the design based recipe generation improves upon the overall metrology process. Individual target-by-target construction, use of a one pattern recognition template fits all approach, a blind navigation to the desired measurement feature, lengthy sessions on tool to construct recipes and limited ability to determine measurement quality in the resultant data set are each discussed as to how the state of the art Design Based Metrology (DBM) approach is implemented. The offline created recipes have shown pattern recognition success rates of up to 100% and measurement success rates of up to 93% for line/space as well as for 2D Minimum/Maximum measurements without manual assists during measurement.
X-ray fluorescence analysis of lead in teeth of urban children in situ: Correlation between the tooth lead level and the concentration of blood lead and free erythroporphyrins

Abstract The tooth lead level of 30 lead-exposed children was measured in situ using an X-ray fluorescence technique. The tooth lead concentration divided by the child's age correlated with the free erythroporphyrin (FEP) (r = 0.51) and the blood lead levels (r = 0.31). The mean tooth lead concentrations of 10 Class IV children (FEP⩾ 190 μg/100 ml; blood lead 30–80 μg/100 ml) was 14.5 ± 5.5 ppm/year. Reexamination of the histories of children who had been classified as Class II or III, but who had tooth lead concentrations within 1 SD of the Class IV level, indicated that many of these children could also be considered to be Class IV children. When the x-ray fluorescence technique was used to screen an urban population of 300 children, the tooth lead values indicated that 72% of the children had been exposed to low levels of environmental lead. Six percent of the children were found to have tooth lead concentrations in excess of 9 ppm/year and within 1 SD of the mean value exhibited by Class IV children. These children were considered to have a high body lead burden. The percentage of children having an elevated tooth lead level is similar to the number previously reported using exfoliated deciduous teeth.
Buoyancy Effects on Three-Dimensional Convection Flow Adjacent to Backward-Facing Step

Conclusions In this study, the Godunov-projection method has been used to solve for the viscous incompressible e ow with heat transfer in a lid-driven cavity. This projection method circumvents the problem arising from the lack of the time dependency of the density in the continuity equation. The energy equation is included with the momentum equations to solve the temperature e eld. The comparison betweenthenumericalresultsandtheexperimentaldatashowsgood agreement thereby demonstrating the feasibility of using this algorithm for e uid e ows with heat transfer. The maximum percentage error is about 10% and is mostly due to the large conduction error at the bottom of the cavity. The numerical simulation of the cavity e ow reveals clearly the viscous effects at the wall boundaries and theshearforceatthemovinglidboundary.Gridconvergencestudies indicate that a grid size of 168 £56£28 and above is required to obtain numerical results that are within 1.25% of the experimental results. The present study has only focused on the feasibility of the numerical scheme to study steady-state convective e ows. Future work will address the more general unsteady cavity e ow in which perturbations will be imposed on the boundary conditions to simulate unsteady thermal and e ow effects and the steady-state solutions obtained here will be used as the initial conditions to capture the evolving unsteady e owe elds. The assumption of constant e uid properties will be discarded, and the governing equations will be modie ed to take into account the temperature dependency by way of coupling.
PERTURBATIONS OF THE SOUL AND PAINS OF THE BODY: Augustine on Evil Suffered and Done in War

Many contemporary scholars debate whether war should be conceived as a relative evil or a morally neutral act. The works of Augustine may offer new ways of thinking through the categories of this debate. In an early period, Augustine develops the distinction between evil done and evil suffered. Augustine's early treatments of war locate the saint as detached sage doing only good, and immune from evil suffered. In a middle period, he develops a richer picture of the evil suffered on the occasion of the loss of historical goods but fails to develop the implications of this picture as concerns war. Finally, without abandoning emphasis on the avoidance of doing evil, Augustine comes to highlight how evil suffered in war prevents us from speaking simply of good wars. Augustine's ability to hold together senses of evil and their moral significance provides a useful avenue for new thought on this issue.
A randomized trial of interpersonal therapy versus supportive therapy for social anxiety disorder

Seventy patients seeking treatment for social anxiety disorder (SAD) were randomly assigned to 14 weekly individual sessions of interpersonal therapy (IPT) or supportive therapy (ST). We hypothesized that IPT, a psychotherapy with established efficacy for depression and other psychiatric disorders, would lead to greater improvement than ST. Patients in both groups experienced significant improvement from pretreatment to posttreatment. However, improvement with IPT was not superior to improvement with ST. Mean scores on the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale decreased from 67.7 to 46.9 in the IPT group and 64.5 to 49.8 in the ST group. There were also no differences in proportion of responders between IPT and ST. Only for a scale measuring concern about negative evaluation (Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale) was IPT superior. Limitations of this initial controlled trial of IPT include a nonsequential recruitment strategy and overlap in the administration of the two therapies. It is recommended that future studies of IPT for SAD include a more carefully defined control therapy condition, different therapists administering each therapy, a larger sample, and a more rigorous strategy for long-term follow-up assessments.
Partial sliding along a planar crack weakened by the presence of fluid

Abstract Partial sliding along a infinite planar crack that is locally weakened by the presence of fluid is analyzed. Under uniformly applied normal and shear loads the crack surface generates non-uniform frictional resistance that has a local minimum within a penny-shaped fluid-filled domain. After the applied shear load reaches the resistance minimum a circular sliding zone initiates and then spreads around as the applied shear load is gradually increased. The primary focus of this work is to analyze sliding evolution as a function of the applied loads and the induced fluid pressure. The growth of the sliding zone is studied based on the criterion that shear stress intensity factors are zero along the zone boundary. An analytical relation between the radius of the sliding zone and the applied shear load is determined.
An estimate of the effect of acute exsanguination on catecholamine and glucoregulatory hormone concentrations in the newborn rat

We have determined the effect of acute exsanguination on plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, glucagon, dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine in neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats. This was done by comparing concentrations of these substances in aliquots of blood obtained within 10 s of the initial bleeding to those in blood obtained over the next 50 s of the blood drawing process. Concentrations of glucose and insulin showed no change between early and late samples. Glucagon concentrations showed variable responses dependent upon the age of the animal. Concentrations were unchanged at birth, but increased 22% and 58% at 1 and 6 h of age respectively. Catecholamine concentrations increased greatly (57 to 215%) between blood aliquots regardless of age at the time of sampling. These findings indicate that hormonal responses occur during the relatively brief period of blood drawing in Sprague-Dawley rats, pointing out further limitations inherent in the use of small animals for acute metabolic and hormonal studies.
Milankovitch tuning of deep-sea records: Implications for maximum rates of change of sea level

Abstract The analysis of several stacked and tuned records from the deep-sea floor yields two rather different sets of values for rates of sea-level rise. One of these reflects “regular” growth and decay and the other represents rapid decay of polar ice. Typical rise rates during rapid decay are near 1.2 m per century; with higher values seemingly following an abundance distribution that may be described by a standard deviation of 0.4 m per century (one third of the typical value). Distributions are based on a millennium resolution, leaving room for higher values for selected centuries within any millennium. Nevertheless, rise values beyond 5 m per century seem highly unusual. The quality of the match between deep-sea record (taken as differential) and Milankovitch forcing is excellent for the last 400,000 years (that is, the time since the “mid-Brunhes Event,” a period that may be referred to as the “Emiliani Chron”) but is poor in certain time spans before that. Difficulties associated with precise dating and a changing level of instability of polar ice prevent identification of trigger events for deglaciation. What is observable is that during periods of rapid decay, once sea level started to rise, it kept doing so for millennia (presumably till suitable ice masses were used up). Thus, it seems that a rise of sea level is itself a positive feedback on rapid melting of ice. Negative feedback, if real (as assumed in certain hypotheses about the origin of the Younger Dryas) is an unexpected exception that presumably relies on a high threshold value of sea-level rise.
Bothronotoxenus Eldredge, a New Genus of Aleocharinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) from Arizona, U.S.A.

ABSTRACT Bothmnotoxenus tishechkini Eldredge, new genus and new species (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae: Lomechusini), is described from the state of Arizona (USA). Habitus photographs, illustrations of diagnostic characters, and a new key to the genera of North American Lomechusini are provided.
The relationship between anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody levels and neuromuscular function in chronically myasthenic rats.

Abstract Rats immunized with acetylcholine receptor protein (AChR) purified from Torpedo electric organ develop defects of neuromuscular function closely mimicking those of myasthenia gravis. These rats are easily fatigued, have reduced neuromuscular transmission, and high titers of anti-AChR antibody. Contrary to previous findings however, the present study finds a very good correlation between the development of the anti-rat AChR antibody levels and subsequent decreases in neuromuscular function in experimentally myasthenic animals. This result supports the hypothesis that anti-AChR antibody levels play a central role in the development of experimental myasthenia. The relevance of these findings to the pathology of myasthenia gravis is considered.
Enamel pearls as a contributing factor in periodontal breakdown

The importance of early recognition o f the enamel pearl in prevention of periodontal disease is emphasized. Removal and treatment of an enamel pearl, a contributing factor to periodontal disease because of its anatomy and location, are described.
Scenarios: A Model of Non-Determinate Computation

Many researchers have sought a semantic theory that extends the history function model of determinate networks to a history relation model of non-determinate networks. By demonstrating that history relations are a fundamentally incomplete characterization of non-determinate computation, we have shown that no such extension exists. This demonstration was accomplished by constructing two networks which, though indistinguishable by history relations, cannot be substituted for each other in a larger network without changing the history relation of the larger network.
Electric potential distribution in nanoscale electroosmosis: from molecules to continuum

Electric potential distribution in nanoscale electroosmosis has been investigated using the nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD), whose results are compared with the continuum based Poisson–Boltzmann (PB) theory. If the bin size of the MD simulation is no smaller than a molecular diameter and the focusing region is limited to the diffusion layer, the ionic density profiles on the bins of the MD results agree well with the predictions based on the PB theory for low and moderate bulk ionic concentrations. The PB equation breaks down at high bulk ionic concentrations, which is also consistent with the macroscopic description.
SINGULARITIES IN THE PERTURBATIVE QCD TREATMENT OF THE PHOTON STRUCTURE FUNCTIONS

Abstract The perturbative QCD expansion for the calculable part of the Bjorken limit photon structure functions is shown to be affected by power singularities at x = 0 which spoil its convergence. Limitations on the calculability of the structure functions due to such singularities are discussed.
Insights into the future of gastric acid suppression

The development of effective acid-suppression therapy (particularly PPIs) has revolutionized the treatment of acid-related diseases. Despite the overall effectiveness of these agents, they have some shortcomings, including a delayed onset of action, incomplete acid suppression in the majority of patients, and the need for ingestion before a meal to achieve maximal efficacy. Attempts to overcome these issues have included the development of isomeric PPIs (such as esomeprazole), alterations in drug delivery (such as delayed-release dexlansoprazole), and combined therapy with nonenterically coated PPIs and antacids (such as 'naked' omeprazole combined with sodium biocarbonate). Other acid-suppression agents in development or in late-phase trials include potassium-competitive acid blockers, new histamine receptor 2 antagonists, and gastrin antagonists. Although these agents could potentially achieve complete gastric acid suppression, risks may be associated with this level of suppression, including enteric infections and malabsorption of nutrients such as vitamin B(12), iron and calcium. This Review provides an update on the status of acid-suppression therapy and discusses directions for future research.
Modeling Linked Watershed and Lake Processes for Water Quality Management Decisions

Evaluation des tendances dans la qualite de l'eau des lacs et estimation de l'impact de meilleures pratiques de gestion et d'utilisation des sols agricoles sur la qualite de l'ensemble des eaux des bassins versants
Community program therapist adherence and competence in motivational enhancement therapy.

The extent to which clinicians in addiction treatment programs can implement empirically validated therapies with adequate fidelity that can be discriminated from standard counseling has rarely been evaluated. We evaluated the treatment adherence and competence of 35 therapists from five outpatient community programs who delivered either a three-session adaptation of motivational enhancement therapy (MET) or an equivalent number of drug counseling-as-usual sessions to 461 clients within a National Institute on Drug Abuse Clinical Trial Network multi-site effectiveness protocol. MET therapists were carefully prepared to implement MET using a combination of expert-led intensive workshop training followed by program-based clinical supervision. Independent rating of sessions demonstrated that the adherence and competence items were very reliable (mean interclass correlation coefficients for adherence = .89 and competence = .81) and converged to form two a priori defined skill factors conceptually related to motivational interviewing. Moreover, the factors discriminated between MET therapists and those who delivered drug counseling-as-usual sessions in predicted ways, and were significantly related to in-session change in client motivation and some client treatment outcomes (percent negative drug urine screens). These findings demonstrate the reliability and validity of evaluating motivational interviewing fidelity and suggest that the combination of expert-led workshops followed by program-based clinical supervision may be an effective method for disseminating motivational interviewing in community treatment programs.
Generic expert systems for management application: the operations advisor and the management advisor

The Operations Advisor and the Management Advisor are AI-based executive decision support systems. The Operations Advisor (OA) enables managers to improve manufacturing strategy. It makes possible manufacturing policies that take full advantage of strategic interactions among capacity utilization, inventories, lead times, and unit costs. The Management Advisor (MA) values strategic business proposals (building a new plant, developing a new product, etc.). It helps managers assess the attractiveness of new business opportunities, and the impact of proposed changes in existing business policy. Artificial intelligence methodologies in the MA and the OA allow us to combine conventional analytic techniques with expert knowledge and experience. They also provide an extremely high level or user facilitation, control, and freedom from error, thus substantially improving overall business productivity. We begin with a description of the design strategy underlying these two generic AI-based management applications. Then we consider how this strategy is realized in the OA and the MA, and the productivity benefits it provides to users.
An Assessment of Gas Foil Bearing Scalability and the Potential Benefits to Civilian Turbofan Engines

Over the past several years the term oil-free turbomachinery has been used to describe a rotor support system for high speed turbomachinery that does not require oil for lubrication, damping, or cooling. The foundation technology for oil-free turbomachinery is the compliant foil bearing. This technology can replace the conventional rolling element bearings found in current engines. Two major benefits are realized with this technology. The primary benefit is the elimination of the oil lubrication system, accessory gearbox, tower shaft, and one turbine frame. These components account for 8 to 13 percent of the turbofan engine weight. The second benefit that compliant foil bearings offer to turbofan engines is the capability to operate at higher rotational speeds and shaft diameters. While traditional rolling element bearings have diminished life, reliability, and load capacity with increasing speeds, the foil bearing has a load capacity proportional to speed. The traditional applications for foil bearings have been in small, lightweight machines. However, recent advancements in the design and manufacturing of foil bearings have increased their potential size. An analysis, grounded in experimentally proven operation, is performed to assess the scalability of the modern foil bearing. This analysis was coupled to the requirements of civilian turbofan engines. The application of the foil bearing to larger, high bypass ratio engines nominally at the 120 kN (approx.25000 lb) thrust class has been examined. The application of this advanced technology to this system was found to reduce mission fuel burn by 3.05 percent.
The Relative Effectiveness of Three Methods of Teaching Principles of Economics.

There has been scientific evaluation of televised versus live conventional instruction and also analogous evaluation of conventional instruction versus programmed learning. What about a simultaneous comparison of all three methods? Paden and Moyer tackle this complex question with attention to both student learning (cognition) and affect. Their results should help to guide teachers of economics in their selection and evaluation of media.
Detrimental effects of discectomy on intervertebral disc biology can be decelerated by growth factor treatment during surgery: a large animal organ culture model.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Lumbar discectomies are common surgical interventions that treat radiculopathy by removing herniated and loose intervertebral disc (IVD) tissues. However, remaining IVD tissue can continue to degenerate resulting in long-term clinical problems. Little information is available on the effects of discectomy on IVD biology. Currently, no treatments exist that can suspend or reverse the degeneration of the remaining IVD. PURPOSE: To improve the knowledge on how discectomy procedures influence IVD physiology and to assess the potential of growth factor treatment as an augmentation during surgery. STUDY DESIGN: To determine effects of discectomy on IVDs with and without transforming growth factor beta 3 (TGFb3) augmentation using bovine IVD organ culture. METHODS: This study determined effects of discectomy with and without TGFb3 injection using 1-, 6-, and 19-day organ culture experiments. Treated IVDs were injected with 0.2 mg TGFb 3i n 20 mL phosphate-buffered salineþbovine serum albumin into several locations of the discectomy site. Cell viability, gene expression, nitric oxide (NO) release, IVD height, aggrecan degradation, and proteoglycan content were determined. RESULTS: Discectomy significantly increased cell death, aggrecan degradation, and NO release in healthy IVDs. Transforming growth factor beta 3 injection treatment prevented or mitigated these effects for the 19-day culture period. CONCLUSIONS: Discectomy procedures induced cell death, catabolism, and NO production in healthy IVDs, and we conclude that post-discectomy degeneration is likely to be associated with cell death and matrix degradation. Transforming growth factor beta 3 injection augmented discectomy procedures by acting to protect IVD tissues by maintaining cell viability, limiting matrix degradation, and suppressing NO. We conclude that discectomy procedures can be improved with injectable therapies at the time of surgery although further in vivo and human studies are required. 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Hyoscyamine and proline accumulation in water-stressed Hyoscyamus muticus ‘hairy root’ cultures

The patterns of hyoscyamine and proline accumulation were studied in Agrobacterium-transformed ‘hairy root’ cultures of Hyoscyamus muticus to determine if proline is a metabolic precursor of hyoscyamine. Root cultures were stressed osmotically with mannitol and the subsequent growth, hyoscyamine levels, and proline levels were measured after each transfer to fresh experimental medium for a total of four transfers. H. muticus ‘hairy roots’ were also treated with [U-14C] proline or [1,4-14C] putrescine and analyzed for radioactive hyoscyamine. Growth of ‘hairy root’ cultures was reduced by up to 90% in 0.4 M mannitol, and this inhibition persisted for at least four transfers. ‘Hairy root’ cultures of H. muticus accumulated hyoscyamine and free proline (up to 6-fold and 25-fold, respectively) when osmotically stressed with mannitol, and this effect also persisted for four transfers when grown in the same mannitol concentration. Because the total production of hyoscyamine was also increased by twofold, we conclude that the elevated hyoscyamine concentration results from increased hyoscyamine synthesis and not from reduced growth. H. muticus ‘hairy roots’ incorporated radioactivity from [1,4-14C] putrescine efficiently into hyoscyamine in both treatments, but failed to convert [U-14C] proline into hyoscyamine. We thus conclude that accumulated proline does not serve as a precursor for hyoscyamine.
Chlamydia Conjunctivitis and Central Retinal Vein Occlusion

Purpose To report a case of coexistent Chlamydia conjunctivitis and central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) in which both problems improved significantly after oral doxycyline. Design Interventional case report. Methods A healthy 39-year-old man presented with follicular and papillary conjunctivitis, unresponsive to topical antibiotic therapy, and a CRVO. The patient had serum IgG titers of 1:256 to both Chlamydia pneumonia and Chlamydia trachomatous . Results Treatment with oral doxycyline (100 mg orally twice daily for 2 weeks) resulted in complete resolution of the conjunctivitis and rapid improvement of the CRVO. Conclusions Because of its ability to cause chronic vascular endothelial infection and localized inflammation, Chlamydia has been implicated in the development of arterial vascular disease. The positive Chlamydia serology, conjunctivitis, CRVO, and excellent response to doxycycline in this patient suggest that Chlamydia may have contributed to his vascular occlusion. Further studies investigating a possible association between Chlamydia and CRVO may be indicated.
Behavior analysis and revaluation.

Revaluation refers to phenomena in which the strength of an operant is altered by reinforcer-related manipulations that take place outside the conditioning situation in which the operant was selected. As an example, if lever pressing is acquired using food as a reinforcer and food is later paired with an aversive stimulus, the frequency of lever pressing decreases when subsequently tested. Associationist psychology infers from such findings that conditioning produces a response-outcome (i.e., reinforcer) association and that the operant decreased in strength because pairing the reinforcer with the aversive stimulus changed the value of the outcome. Here, we present an approach to the interpretation of these and related findings that employs neural network simulations grounded in the experimental analysis of behavior and neuroscience. In so doing, we address some general issues regarding the relations among behavior analysis, neuroscience, and associationism.