cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Teratogenesis, toxicity, and bioconcentration in frogs exposed to dieldrin.

Teratogenesis, acute and chronic toxicity, growth and bioconcentration were investigated in various life stages (embryos, tadpoles, juveniles, adults) of the frogsXenopus laevis (African clawed frog),Rana catesbeiana (bullfrog) andRana pipiens (leopard frog) exposed to aqueous dieldrin in static-renewal and flow-through systems in a study on the development of wildlife-based water quality criteria.R. catesbeiana was the most sensitive tadpole in acute tests;X. laevis was the most sensitive in embryo-larval and chronic tadpole tests. Tadpole 96-h LC50s ranged from 40.4 to 49.5 μg/L dieldrin forX. laevis, from 8.7 to 30.3 μg/L forR. catesbeiana and was 71.3 μg/L forR. pipiens. The 24-day LC50 forX. laevis tadpoles was 5.5 μg/L dieldrin; the 28-day LC50 forR. pipiens tadpoles was 8.3 μg/L. AdultR. pipiens had a 28-day LC50 of 53.4 μg/L dieldrin. Gross spinal deformities in embryo-larval tests were observed at dieldrin concentrations as low as 1.3 μg/L after 10-days exposure toX. laevis and at 25.4 μg/L for a 21-day exposure toR. catesbeiana. MeanX. laevis 14 to 21-day LOAEL (Lowest Observed Adverse Effect Level) and NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) values for embryo-larval tests (25.5 and 11.0 μg/L dieldrin, respectively) were virtually the same as the 21-day single test values obtained forR. catesbeiana (25.1 and 11.0 μg/L dieldrin). Mean 14 to 24-dayX. laevis LOAEL and NOAEL values for tadpole chronic tests (1.6 and <1.4 μg/L dieldrin, respectively) were lower than the 28-day single test values obtained forR. pipiens (4.1 and 1.9 μg/L, respectively).
Histoire naturelle de la marche et de la posture chez l'Homme. Partie 2. Hanche et cuisse

Resume En ce qui concerne les mammiferes, les fossiles humains sont parmi les plus complets. Une espece ancestrale de base, l'Australopithecus afarensis, montre un squelette postcrânien bien preserve qui permet la reconstitution d'evenements importants de l'evolution de notre squelette locomoteur. Compare a ceux des grands singes vivants et des Hommes, il apporte un eclairage sur l'origine et la conception du cadre humain moderne. Les aspects evolutifs de la hanche et de la cuisse humaines sont passes en revue ; ils incluent l'etude de la structure corticotrabeculaire inhabituelle du femur proximal humain ainsi que l'etude de notre membre inferieur considerablement allonge. On fait l'hypothese selon laquelle cet allongement pourrait etre plus en rapport avec la capacite de parturition qu'avec la locomotion.
Numerical simulation and prediction of the performance of a direct injection turbocharged diesel engine

Increases in fuel prices are constraining car manufacturers to produce highly efficient engines, noting greater regulation in terms of pollutant emissions. The greater complexity of modern engines has rendered the prototyping phase long and expensive. This is where engine modeling has in recent years become extremely useful and an indispensable tool when developing new engine concepts. This study deals with the numerical simulation and performance prediction for a turbocharged diesel engine with direct injection. To predict engine performance we developed a computer program for simulating the operation of a turbocharged diesel engine, and used the commercial software GT-Power to validate the simulation results. We then carried out a comparative study of indicated mean effective pressure, mean effective pressure, power, torque and brake specific fuel consumption obtained by an analytical model for thermodynamic cycle simulation of a turbocharged diesel engine using a computer program developed in Fortran and GT-Power. The Fortran program that was developed is currently used for modeling and the simulation of engine performance.
Fluorescent derivative of cysteine-10 reveals thyroxine-dependent conformational modifications in human serum prealbumin.

Abstract Fluorescence studies on the N-(iodoacetyl)-N′-(5-sulfo-1-naphtyl)ethylenediaminelabeled cysteine-10 residue of human prealbumin were carried out to detect conformational changes induced by the binding of the ligand thyroxine to the two structurally identical binding sites. A red shift of the spectrum was observed and the total change was confined to the first ligand. This was interpreted as resulting from a conformational change which increases the exposure of the fluorescent probe moiety. Thyroxine also alters the effect of the collisional quencher, acrylamide, confirming the greater exposure of the probe. This modification in structure is associated with changes in relaxation time which indicate that when thyroxine is bound there is an increase in the rotational freedom of the segment or domain of prealbumin which contains the fluorescent probe.
Generative teaching and personality characteristics of student teachers

Abstract This study determined the relations between generative teaching and student teachers' social maturity, receptivity to criticism and ability to incorporate criticism. Additionally, the “more effective” and ‘less effective” student teachers were compared with respect to these personality characteristics and generative teaching. The subjects were 97 elementary student teachers. At the end of student teaching assignment, the subjects' generative teaching as well as their personality characteristics were evaluated. Results showed that personality characteristics accounted for 56.8% and 56.6% of the variance in the preactive and interactive generative teaching. The “more effective” student teachers were significantly more generative, more mature, and more receptive; they also incorporated criticism more often than the “less effective” ones.
The Adsorption Behavior of a Ruthenium‐Based Sensitizing Dye to Nanocrystalline TiO2 Coverage Effects on the External and Internal Sensitization Quantum Yields

The adsorption of the ruthenium‐based dye molecules, cis‐di(thiocyanato)bis(2,2'‐bipyridyl‐4,4'‐dicarboxylate)ruthenium(II) (N3), to nanocrystalline (anatase) was studied. Adsorption and desorption kinetics were measured. Effective adsorption isotherms and desorption isotherms were then obtained. A two‐step dye adsorption mechanism is postulated where initial binding of N3 is with one carboxylate, with subsequent binding of two or more carboxylate groups. Dye (N3) coverage effects on the photon‐to‐current conversion efficiencies were investigated by measuring the photocurrent action spectra and the optical absorbance of nanocrystalline films sensitized with various N3 coverages. The incident photon‐to‐current efficiency (IPCE) and the absorbed photon‐to‐current efficiency (APCE) showed abrupt increases at a coverage just above 0.3 monolayers. In order to explain the nonlinear increases in the IPCE and the APCE, the onset of a hole‐hopping mechanism was proposed where at greater than 30% coverage hole transfer between adjacent N3 molecules becomes possible. This percolation of holes through the N3 network facilitates the regeneration of oxidized N3 molecules by the redox species in the matrix of the nanoporous structure, resulting in the sudden increases in the IPCE and the APCE. Other mechanisms for this effect, including a role of N3 clusters in two‐electron oxidation of I‐, are also discussed. © 1999 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.
Concept discrimination learning by preschool children using facial stimuli differing in age, sex, race, and eyeglasses.

Summary In two experiments, the relative salience of the variables age, sex, race, and eyeglasses was determined with the use of a discrimination learning task and preschool-age Ss. The stimuli for the task were 112 frontal head and shoulder color photographs arranged in pairs. In both experiments, sex discrimination was the easiest to learn, followed by race and age, which did not differ from each other. Each of the variables of sex, age, and race, however, proved to be more salient than glasses which was not learned by any of the 19 Ss who were given a glasses discrimination problem in Experiment 1. Interestingly, specific cue salience may be a more valid concept than dimensional salience for preschool children. This was indicated by the asymmetry in performance on the black and white racial discrimination problems and on the male and female sexual discrimination problems: both black and male were significantly easier to learn.
Progression after radical prostatectomy for men in their thirties compared to older men

OBJECTIVE To assess the biochemical outcome after radical prostatectomy (RP) specifically for men aged 30–39 years, as previous studies suggest that prostate cancer in young men might be more aggressive. PATIENTS AND METHODS From a large (15 899) database of RPs (1975–2007) we identified 42 men aged 30–39, 893 aged 40–49, 4085 aged 50–59, 3766 aged 60–69, and 182 men aged ≥70 years old. The clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes were compared between men aged 30–39 years and older men. RESULTS Among the men in their thirties, 81% had organ-confined disease in the RP specimen, vs 62% of men aged ≥40 years. At a mean follow-up of 5 years, there was biochemical progression in 4.8% of men in their thirties and 16.1% of men age ≥40 years (P = 0.055). The corresponding 5-year biochemical progression-free survival estimates were 95% for men in their thirties and 83% for men aged ≥40 years (P = 0.045). On multivariate analysis, increasing age was a significant independent predictor of biochemical progression. CONCLUSION Contrary to earlier reports, in the present study men in their thirties did not have more aggressive disease. Instead, they had more favourable pathological features and progression-free survival rates than their older counterparts. After controlling for other prognostic variables on multivariate analysis, being in the fourth decade was independently associated with a lower risk of biochemical progression. These results suggest that early aggressive treatment for these patients with a long life-expectancy is associated with favourable long-term biochemical outcomes.
Underwater Acoustic Instrumentation for Multi-Element Arrays

Defence Research Establishment Atlantic (DREA) is engaged in a continuing program in underwater research in the oceans. As part of this program, a requirement exists to study the spatial coherence of sound fields. This paper discusses the design rationale and presents the typical specifications achieved with current DREA electronic data acquisition systems. These systems were developed and constructed at DREA for use with multi-element arrays of acoustic sensors. The electronics is used with various mechanical configurations which are necessary to achieve specific acoustic characteristics. Included in the design are data handling interfaces and provision for storage and replay of the raw data for subsequent analysis.
Toughening of impenetrable interfaces by monodisperse tethered polymer chains: effect of areal attachment density

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of areal attachment density of monodisperse tethered chains on the toughness of an impenetrable interface. The interfacial toughness was found to be sensitive to the areal attachment density, with a reduction in attachment density enhancing the toughness. These findings are consistent with the notion that when the tethered chains are in the stretched conformation, the areal attachment density must be reduced to permit mixing with the matrix free chains. We conclude that the observed improvements in interfacial toughness were a result of increased mixing, i.e. molecular level interaction, between tethered and matrix chains.
Sexual refractoriness and locomotion effects on brain monoamines in the male rat

Serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA), dopamine (DA), dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), and norepinephrine (NE) concentrations in seven brain regions were compared in sexually refractory, physically active, and inactive male rats. Also examined were 5-HIAA/5-HT and DOPAC/DA concentration ratios. Sexually refractory males were permitted uninterrupted copulation with successive receptive females until they failed to mount or ejaculate in a set period. Physically active males ran in motor-driven activity wheels except during the postejaculatory refractory periods of experimental animals, and inactive males remained alone in testing arenas. Significant group differences were found only in monoamine concentrations in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) and the medial forebrain bundle (MFB). In the MPOA, 5-HT concentration was elevated in sexually refractory males, as was DA in both refractory and active animals. In the MFB, 5-HT concentration was increased in active males. MFB DOPAC levels of sexually refractory rats significantly correlated inversely with their ejaculation totals, as did MFB and dorsal raphe (DR) NE levels. The results suggest that the MPOA is a forebrain target for inhibitory influences on male rat sexual behavior of ascending serotonergic fibers and that increased MFB 5-HT and MPOA DA may be associated with general activity.
Application of ceramic membrane in molten salt electrolysis of CaO-CaCl2

Calciothermic reduction of radioactive metal oxides and halides produces calcium compounds as the by-product which require subsequent processing to mitigate and control a potential source of waste generation. Attempts to recover elemental calcium by direct molten salt electrolysis of calcium compounds using carbon anodes have met with very limited success due to severe process limitations and stringent cell design requirements. A feasible process to win calcium in a modified cell is discussed where a porous anodic diaphragm has been used around the carbon anode. The effective diffusion coefficient for steady state cell operation has been estimated and is found to depend on the porosity and morphology of the anode sheath. An expression for the maximum electrowinning rate, incorporating an effective diffusion coefficient, has been developed and can be used to determine the limiting current density under steady-state conditions. The possibility of enhancing the current efficiency to an acceptable level by in situ application of calcium as a reductant is suggested.
Bioflocculation of Hematite Suspensions with Products from Yeast Cell Rupture

The flocculation of −38 mm hematite aqueous suspensions by the yeast Candida parapsilosis, and by products derived from the ultrasonic rupture of this microorganism was studied. Results obtained are compared to the flocculation of comparable suspensions by cooked corn starch and a polyacrylamide (average molecular weight 106.
Computed tomography stage, allergy testing, and quality of life in patients with sinusitis.

Abstract Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis is a common disease associated with significant morbidity. CT has been a poor predictor of the extent of symptoms among these patients. Allergic rhinitis is frequently associated with chronic rhinosinusitis. This study examines CT stage, allergic sensitivity, and sinus-related symptoms. Methods: Forty-eight patients with chronic rhinosinusitis underwent CT scanning and skin end-point titration (SET). They also completed the Rhinosinusitis Disability Index (RSDI), a measure of sinus-related disability. Results: No association was noted between CT stage and severity of sinus-related symptoms. There was a significant correlation between CT stage and SET mean end point and between SET mean end point and RSDI physical scale score, as well as between significance on the RSDI emotional scale score and overall score. Conclusion: The degree of allergic disease is a better indicator of symptom severity and impairment in quality of life among patients with chronic rhinosinusitis than CT stage. Careful evaluation and treatment of allergic disease is critical in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2000;123:389-92.)
Crew System Assessment Methods Applied to Derivative Fighter Cockpits

Representatives from five Air Force Laboratories were tasked to perform an assessment of conceptual cockpit designs being considered for a derviative, dual role fighter weapon system. An in-cockpit "role playing" exercise, demonstrating the tasks of a composite weapon system mission scenario, was employed in obtaining expert subject opinion data. Language: en
Clinical Variability in Approaches to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Abstract Study Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate methods of initial diagnosis and management of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) among members of the North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (NASPAG) to assess the degree of practice heterogeneity among specialist providers of adolescent care. Design Cross-sectional, anonymous, internet survey Participants NASPAG membership (N = 326; Respondents = 127 (39%)) Results Percentage of respondents who incorporated specific tests at initial diagnosis was highly variable ranging from 87% (thyroid stimulating hormone) to 17% (sex hormone binding globulin). Oral contraceptives and diet modification/exercise were the most common therapies recommended by 98% and 90% of respondents respectively. Conclusion Considerable practice heterogeneity was present with regards to diagnostic testing for suspected PCOS. Recommendations for first-line therapy were more consistent. Future studies should clarify the clinical utility of specific diagnostic tests for adolescents, such that selection of diagnostic testing is evidence based.
OLLS: The On-Line Logical Simulation System

The “On-Line Logical Simulation System” (OLLS) is a complete software package which permits a logic designer to interactively design, layout and simulate large digital systems using the IBM 2250 CRT. The user communicates with OLLS through a set of interactive displays using the light-pen, keyboard and programmed-function buttons. The major subsystems include file handling, device definition, drawing manipulation, simulation and input-output. OLLS is unique in its freedom of device definition, generality and adaptability. Its major contributions to the design process are fast, precise system documentation and accurate logic simulation.
Surgery duration predicts urinary retention after inguinal herniorrhaphy: a single institution review

Background Inguinal hernia repair, laparoscopic or open, is one of the most frequently performed operations in general surgery. Postoperative urinary retention (POUR) can occur in 0.2–35 % of patients after inguinal hernia repair. The primary objective of this study was to determine the incidence of POUR after inguinal hernia repair. As a secondary goal, we sought to determine whether perioperative and patient factors predicted urinary retention.
Cardiovascular Autophagy: Crossroads of Pathology, Pharmacology and Toxicology

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death worldwide, despite the significant advances in medicine. Autophagy, a process of self-cannibalization employed by mammalian cells for the recycling of cellular contents, is altered not only in a number of CVDs, but in other diseases, as well. Many FDA-approved drugs are known to induce autophagy-mediated side effects in the cardiovascular system. In some cases, such drug-induced autophagy could be harnessed and used for treating CVD, greatly reducing the duration and cost of CVD treatments. However, because the induction of autophagy in cardiovascular targets can be both adaptive and maladaptive under specific settings, the challenge is to determine whether the changes stimulated by drug-induced autophagy are, in fact, beneficial. In this review, we surveyed a number of CVDs in which autophagy is known to occur, and we also address the role of FDA-approved drugs for which autophagy-mediated side effects occur within the cardiovascular system. The therapeutic potential of using small molecule modulators of autophagy in the management of CVD progression is discussed.
Timing Analysis for nMOS VLSI

TV and IA are timing analysis programs for nMOS VLSI designs. Based on the circuit obtained from existing circuit extractors, TV determines the minimum clock duty and cycle times. It calculates the direction of signal flow through all transistors before the timing analysis is performed. The timing analysis is breadth-first (block-oriented) and pattern independent, using the values stable, rise, fall, as well as information about clock qualification. TV has fast running time, small user input requirements, and the ability to offer the user valuable advice. IA (TV's Interactive Advisor) allows the user to quickly experiment with ways to increase circuit performance. Several delay models can be used; when compared to circuit simulation and fabricated chips, accuracies within 20% for most critical paths have been achieved.
Analysis of Interstrain Variation in a Putative Immediate-Early Region of Human Herpesvirus 6 DNA and Definition of Variant-Specific Sequences

Sequences of a 2.6- to 2.9-kb open reading frame in a putative immediate-early region of the human herpesvirus 6 (HHV6) genome were determined and compared in three reference and six local isolates of HHV6. The sequences segregated into two variant groups (A and B) having only 75% nucleotide homology and 62% peptide homology, in part because of deletions in the variant A strains. Among the variant B isolates, further sequence grouping was evident; two clinical isolates segregated with reference strain Z29 into a cluster that had 96.6% nucleotide homology and 92.6% peptide homology when compared to a second variant B cluster of four isolates. Within each cluster of variant B isolates, nucleotide homology was 99.4% or more. Two pairs of isolates had identical sequences. The marked divergence of variants A and B permitted the design of variant-specific oligonucleotide primers that could detect in a single polymerase chain reaction the presence of either or both variant A and B HHV6 DNA. Variation in this gene region of HHV6 is more extensive than in the envelope glycoprotein (gB and gH) coding regions and could be related to known biological differences between variant groups.
Two Decades of Structure Building.

During the past decade I have been developing a very simple framework for describing the cognitive processes and mechanisms involved in discourse comprehension. I call this framework the Structure Building Framework, and it is based on evidence provided during the first decade of discourse processing research. According to the Structure Building Framework, the goal of comprehension is to build coherent mental representations or structures. Comprehenders build each structure by first laying a foundation. Comprehenders develop mental structures by mapping on new information when that information coheres or relates to previous information. However, when the incoming information is less related, comprehenders shift and attach a new substructure. The building blocks of mental structures are memory nodes, which are activated by incoming stimuli and controlled by two cognitive mechanisms: suppression and enhancement In this article, first I review the seminal work on which the Structure Building Framework is bas...
Advanced noninvasive imaging of spinal vascular malformations

Spinal vascular malformations (SVMs) are an uncommon, heterogeneous group of vascular anomalies that can render devastating neurological consequences if they are not diagnosed and treated in a timely fashion. Imaging SVMs has always presented a formidable challenge because their clinical and imaging presentations resemble those of neoplasms, demyelination diseases, and infection. Advancements in noninvasive imaging modalities (MR and CT angiography) have increased during the last decade and have improved the ability to accurately diagnose spinal vascular anomalies. In addition, intraoperative imaging techniques have been developed that aid in the intraoperative assessment before, during, and after resection of these lesions with minimal and/or optimal use of spinal digital subtraction angiography. In this report, the authors review recent advancements in the imaging of SVMs that will likely lead to more timely diagnoses and treatment while reducing procedural risk exposure to the patients who harbor these uncommon spinal lesions.
Lung cancer and inflammation: interaction of chemokines and hnRNPs

The association between chronic inflammation and lung cancer has been extensively reported. Despite the differences in the clinical manifestations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) compared with lung cancer, the underlying inflammatory pathogenesis of these two diseases may involve shared biological features. Identifying the mechanisms that regulate specific inflammatory mediators shared by both diseases will represent a major breakthrough. Chemokines play an important role in the inflammatory response. Recent evidence suggests that post-transcriptional regulation, through control of mRNA stability, could be an important mechanism of regulation of chemokine expression. Therefore, it would be important to study the role of RNA-binding proteins, such as hnRNPs, in chemokine expression after initial inflammatory response. HnRNPs have shown the ability to modulate inflammatory mediators expression by affecting mRNA stability of COX-2, TNFalpha and IL-1beta and iNOS. Moreover, overexpression of hnRNPs has been reported in cancer, for example, hnRNP A2/B1 in lung cancer. Thus, investigating the role of hnRNPs in chemokine expression may allow us to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of the inflammatory response before its progression to chronic inflammation and/or tumor development.
Bi-directional actions of estrogen on the renin-angiotensin system

Estrogen stimulates the renin-angiotensin system by augmenting both tissue and circulating levels of angiotensinogen and renin. We show, however, that angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity in the circulation and in tissues is reduced in two animal models of postmenopausal chronic hormone replacement. We observed a reduction of ACE activity in association with a significant increase in plasma angiotensin I (Ang I) and hyperreninemia in ovariectomized monkeys treated with Premarin (conjugated equine estrogen) replacement for 30 months. Plasma angiotensin II (Ang II) levels were not increased in monkeys treated with estrogen, suggesting that the decrease in ACE curtailed the formation of the peptide. The Ang II/Ang I ratio, an in vivo index of ACE activity, was significantly reduced by estrogen treatment, further supporting the biochemical significance of estrogen's inhibition of ACE. In ovariectomized transgenic hypertensive (mRen2)27 rats submitted to estrogen replacement treatment for 3 weeks, ACE activity in plasma and tissue (aorta and kidney) and circulating Ang II levels were reduced, whereas circulating levels of angiotensin-(1-7) (Ang-(1-7) were increased. Ang-(1-7), the N-terminal fragment of Ang II, is a novel vasodilator and antihypertensive peptide. Thus, the net balance of these effects of estrogen on the renin-angiotensin vasoconstrictor/vasodilator system is to promote the antihypertensive effect.
Liaison equivalence classes

We will work in IP", n > 2, over an algebraically closed field. The notion of liaison among subvarieties of IP" was introduced in [3]. We will consider here liaison in codimension two, generalizing results in [4]. Recall, therefore, that two subschemes V 1, V 2 of IP" that are locally CohenMacaulay and equidimensional of codimension two, are said to be linked algebraically (via the complete intersection X of two hypersurfaces, denoted: V l ~ V z via X ) if d e v . / J x ~ v ~ r ( O v , , ~ x ) , t ~ j . They are said to be linked geometrically if I/1 and V2 in the above definition have no components in common. According to [4, Theorem 1.7], the two notions of linkage generate the same equivalence relation among those subschemes V which are also generically locally complete intersections. We will hence consider only algebraic linkage.
IL-1α accelerates stratum corneum formation and improves permeability barrier homeostasis during murine fetal development

Abstract Background The ontogenesis of the epidermal permeability barrier is complex and incompletely understood. Previously we showed that IL-1 and TNFα regulate permeability barrier homeostasis in adult mice. Object We determined whether IL-1 and TNFα also regulate fetal barrier development. Methods Messenger RNA and protein levels in epidermis were determined by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Epidermal ultra-structure was examined by electron microscopy. Results The protein expression of IL-1α/β and TNFα peaked in fetal rat epidermis at gestational age d19–20, a time point that coincides with the formation of a competent barrier. Treatment of fetal rat explants with IL-1 or TNFα accelerates barrier formation in a time- and dose-related fashion, evidenced by a decrease in transepidermal water loss attributable to the presence of mature morphology and an increase in the expression of cornified envelope proteins. Using single receptor KO mice, we demonstrated a delay in both barrier formation and cornified envelope protein expression, paralleled with immature lamellar membranes in epidermis of IL-1R KO, but not TNFR KO vs. wild-type at day 17, differences that disappeared in later gestational stages and immediately after birth. Using TNF receptor and IL-1 receptor double knock out (D-KO) mice, we further demonstrated that a transient delay in barrier development consistently occurs in epidermis of D-KO mice. Conclusion IL-1 plays a role in regulating the late stages of SC formation and permeability barrier ontogenesis.
Simultaneous analysis of oxidized and reduced glutathione in cell extracts by capillary zone electrophoresis.

Glutathione (GSH) and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) levels in cells constitute a thiol redox system. They can be used as an indicator of oxidative stress of the cell. In this study, a capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method is described that enables quantitation of GSH and GSSG from cellular extracts. The CZE buffer used was 20 mM ammonium acetate containing 5% (v/v) acetic acid at pH 3.1 in conjunction with a polybrene coated capillary operated in reverse polarity mode. Effects of different acids used to prepare cell samples were investigated on CZE performance. The acids include meta phosphoric acid (MPA), trichloroacetic acid (TCA), phosphoric acid (PA) and sulfosalicylic acid (SSA) and are used to stabilize GSH and GSSG before performing CZE analysis. The method features a limit of detection of 4 microM and a limit of quantitation of 12 microM for both GSSG and GSH and recoveries of 94% for GSH and 100% for GSSG. Quantitative analysis of GSSG and GSH in HaCaT cell extracts (5% SSA, w/v) was performed with this method and changes in the ratio of GSH to GSSG in N-ethylmaleimide treated cell sample was observed by comparing with control cell samples.
Laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy of pathologically enlarged prostate gland in vitro

The authors investigate the laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy of prostate tissue.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Psychosocial difficulties in children referred to pediatric urology: a closer look.

Objective To assess rates of psychosocial difficulties in children seen in a pediatric urology clinic to determine whether all patients should be screened for psychosocial problems, and to use standardized measures to determine whether the severity of voiding dysfunction and/or enuresis in children is related to their degree of psychosocial difficulties. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted to collect the Pediatric Symptom Checklist from all children referred to an outpatient urology clinic over a 6-month period. In addition, scores from the child's Dysfunctional Voiding Scoring System were collected for patients referred for voiding dysfunction and/or enuresis. Results Caregivers of 600 children completed the Pediatric Symptom Checklist as part of their child's outpatient clinic paperwork. Overall, 15.2% of the patients met the clinical cut-off for significant psychosocial difficulties. However, children with voiding dysfunction and/or enuresis were at increased risk for these problems, with the severity of their psychosocial difficulties being related to the severity of their urologic condition. Conclusion It is unnecessary to screen all pediatric urology patients, although those referred for voiding dysfunction and/or enuresis should be screened for psychosocial difficulties. Children at greatest risk for psychosocial problems were those who were male, had a high body mass index, had nocturnal enuresis, had an elevated Dysfunctional Voiding Scoring System score, and/or reported frequent episodes of wetting or soaking their underwear when they wet. Importantly, children appear to be most concerned with "wetness."
Performance Technology--Not a One-Size-Fits-All Profession.

Note: This commentary is part of an ongoing dialogue that began in the October 2011 Performance Improvement special issue entitled Exploring a Universal Performance Model for HPT: Notes From the Field.
Food Insecurity After Leaving SNAP

Households that have recently left the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are more likely to be food insecure than those who remained on the program. We analyze data from the Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement to find reasons for this seeming anomaly. Analysis of a 2-year panel sample of households interviewed in 2 successive years found different conditions in 2 distinct groups. One third of households that left SNAP in one year returned in the following year and were more likely to have had very low food security in both years. Households that left SNAP in 1 year and remained off through the following year were also more likely than current recipients to have had very low food security in the first year, but by the end of the following year, the prevalence of very low food security was lower than among those still on the program. Logistic regression analysis indicates that, for households with very low food security, leaving SNAP was strongly associated with higher income a...
Where Are All the Intelligent Agents

There has been much research and talk about intelligent agents, but few real-world implementations.
Reduction of Aneurysm Pressure and Wall Stress After Endovascular Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in a Canine Model

A canine model was designed to evaluate the changes in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) pressure and wall stress after endovascular repair. Eight canines underwent laparotomy and creation of an AAA. The aneurysm was then excluded with a transluminally placed endovascular graft (TPEG) inserted through the right femoral artery and deployed across the AAA to exclude the infrarenal aortic branches from aortic perfusion. Blood pressure and flow data were recorded for 6 hours. The AAA blood pressure decreased from 135 ± 9.3 mm Hg before exclusion to 45 ± 17.6 mm Hg at 10 minutes after exclusion ( p p p
Empirical model for the temporally resolved temperatures of post-detonation fireballs for aluminized high explosives

A physics-based empirical model is developed to characterize the time varying temperature profile from post-detonation combustion. Fourier-transform infrared signatures are collected from field detonations of RDX-based aluminized high explosives surrounded by an aluminized plastic-bonded spin-cast liner. The rate of change of temperature in the postdetonation combustion fireballs are modeled using a radiative cooling term and a double exponential combustion source term. Optimized nonlinear least-squares fit of the numerical solution of the empirical model to the temperature data yields peak temperatures of 1290-1850. The observed heat released in the secondary combustion is well correlated with the high explosive and liner heat of combustion with an average efficiency of 54%.
Polyimide Nanocomposites Prepared from High-Temperature, Reduced Charge Organoclays

Montmorillonite clays modified with the dihydrochloride salt of 1,3-bis(3-aminophenoxy)benzene (APB) were used in the preparation of polyimide/organoclay hybrid films. Organoclays with varying surface charge based upon APB were prepared and examined for their dispersion behavior in the polymer matrix. High molecular weight poly(amide acid) solutions were prepared in the presence of the organoclays. Films were cast and subsequently heated to 300C to cause imidization. The resulting nanocomposite films, containing 3 wt% of organoclay, were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The clay's cation exchange capacity (CEC) played a key role in determining the extent of dispersion in the polyimide matrix. Considerable dispersion was observed in some of the nanocomposite films. The most effective organoclay was found to have a CEC of 0.70 meq/g. Nanocomposite films prepared with 3-8 wt% of this organoclay were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thin-film tensile testing. High levels of clay dispersion could be achieved even at the higher clay loadings. Results from mechanical testing revealed that while the moduli of the nanocomposites increased with increasing clay loadings, both strength and elongation decreased.
Latent Membrane Protein 1 of EBV Activates Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase to Induce Production of IL-10

EBV is a B lymphotrophic γ-herpesvirus that is associated with multiple human malignancies, including posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder. The EBV-encoded protein, latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1), is required for oncogenic transformation of human B cells by EBV. An important consequence of LMP1 expression in EBV-infected B cells is the induction of cellular IL-10, which acts as an autocrine growth factor for B cell lymphomas. However, the mechanisms by which LMP1 induces IL-10 are incompletely understood. We previously showed that rapamycin, a clinically relevant immunosuppressant and mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor, could suppress IL-10 production by EBV-infected B cell lines. To test the hypothesis that PI3K, which acts upstream of mammalian target of rapamycin, might also be involved in LMP1-dependent IL-10 production, we generated B cell lines expressing signaling-inducible chimeric LMP1. Our results show that induced LMP1 signaling elicits both p38- and PI3K-dependent IL-10 production in EBV − B cells. Moreover, distinct regions of the LMP1 signaling tail are associated with p38- vs PI3K-dependent IL-10 induction. We also demonstrate that the LMP1-dependent p38 and PI3K activation regulates IL-10 induction through discrete mechanisms. Whereas p38 activation is critical for the phosphorylation of the transcription factor CREB, PI3K activation is required for the inactivation of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β), an inhibitory kinase that can regulate CREB function. We find that GSK3β regulates LMP1-dependent IL-10 induction, with GSK3β inhibition by pharmacologic or small interfering RNA strategies enhancing LMP1-induced IL-10 induction. These findings demonstrate that LMP1 uses both p38 and PI3K activation for maximal up-regulation of IL-10.
From River to Lake: Phosphorus partitioning and algal community compositional changes in Western Lake Erie

article The Maumee River is an important source of phosphorus (P) loading to western Lake Erie and potentially a source of Microcystis seed colonies contributing to the development of harmful algal bloomsin the lake.Herein, we quan- tified P forms and size fractions, and phytoplankton community composition in the river-lake coupled ecosystem before (June), during (August), and after (September) a large Microcystis bloom in 2009. Additionally, we deter- mined the distribution and density of a newly emergent cyanobacterium, Lyngbya wollei, near Maumee Bay to es- timate potential P sequestration. In June, dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) was the most abundant P form whereas particulate P (partP) was most abundant in August and September. Green algae dominated in June (44% and 60% of total chlorophyll in river and lake, respectively) with substantial Microcystis (17%) present only in the river. Conversely, in August, Microcystis declined in the river (3%) but dominated (32%) the lake. Lake phy- toplankton sequestered b6% of water column P even during peak Microcystis blooms; in all lake samples b112 μm non-algal particles dominated partP. Lyngbya density averaged 19.4 g dry wt/m 2 , with average Lyngbya Pc ontent of 15% (to 75% maximum) of water column P. The presence of Microcystis in the river before appearing in the lake indicates that the river is a potential source of Microcystis seedcolonies forlater lake blooms,that DOPisan impor- tant component of early summer total P, and that L. wollei blooms have the potential to increase P retention in nearshore areas.
Performance-Based Measures of Functional Skills: Usefulness in Clinical Treatment Studies

Recently, attention to the assessment and treatment of functional disability has increased notably. It is widely understood that impairments in everyday living skills, including independent living skills, social functions, vocational functioning, and self-care, are present in people with schizophrenia. It has also become clear recently that assessment of these skills can pose substantial challenges. These challenges include selection of meaningful short-term outcome measures and avoiding bias and reduced validity in the data. Self-report, direct observation, and informant reports of everyday disability all have certain advantages but appear to be inferior to direct assessment of skills with performance-based measures. This review outlines the issues associated with the assessment of functional skills and everyday functioning and provides a description of the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches. We conclude that direct assessment of functional capacity has substantial advantages over other measures and may actually provide a more direct and valid estimate of functional disability than performance on the more distal neuropsychological assessment measures.
802.11 mesh networks with two-radio access points

We propose a mesh (multi-hop) architecture based on two-radio 802.11 access points (AP) and examine achievable aggregate throughput by exploiting spatial reuse and multiple channels. A suitable distributed clustering is used to self-organize the network for channel allocation; all communications between nodes in the same cluster (intra-cluster) use the secondary radio and a common channel whose selection is based on an algorithm that minimizes the cochannel interference (CCI). This dramatically reduces complexity compared to per-packet channel switching approaches. All intercluster communications are performed on a common channel using the default (primary) radio. Backward compatibility is guaranteed by allowing legacy single-channel APs to connect to the new two-radio devices through the common default radio. Simulation results for large-scale IEEE 802.11b networks demonstrate the significant improvement in one-hop aggregate throughput. Specifically, the new two-radio multi-channel mesh solution more than doubles the aggregate throughput compared to the traditional single-radio single-channel mesh.
Optimal design of multilevel modular switched-capacitor dc-dc converter

Magnetic-less multilevel dc-dc converter attracts much attention in automotive application due to its small size and high temperature operation features. Multilevel modular switched-capacitor dc-dc converter (MMSCC) is one of the most promising topologies among them with simple control and reduced switch current stress. This paper presents an optimal design method for MMSCC to achieve the highest efficiency with smallest size. In order to design the converter with the highest efficiency, the analytical power loss equation of MMSCC should be derived. By considering the stray inductance existing in the circuit, the optimal design point should be considered in two cases, over-damped and under-damped. The converter can be designed to achieve the highest efficiency in both cases. However, in under-damped case, small size multilayer ceramic capacitor can be utilized due to the low capacitance requirement. Although higher switching frequency is required in under-damped case due to practical considerations, zero current switching (ZCS) can be achieved for all the devices. Therefore, the optimal design point of MMSCC with the smallest size and the highest efficiency should be chosen at under-damped case with ZCS. Experimental results of designing MMSCC at under-damped case with ZCS are provided to demonstrate the validity of the proposed method.
A high-power millimeter-wave frequency doubler using a planar diode array

A balanced frequency doubler has been built using an integrated planar array of four varactor diodes. The maximum output power of 55 mW at 174 GHz is twice the power available from the previous best multiplier at a nearby frequency and was limited by the available pump source. The peak efficiency is 25% at 150 mW input. Circuit parasitics and device heating do not appear to be significant at the present power levels and carrier velocity saturation effects appear to be reduced due to the series array configuration. >
Acute respiratory distress secondary to posterior mediastinal goiter: a case report

Large posterior mediastinal goiters are extremely rare. Progressive enlargement and possible compression of adjacent structures, as well as malignant potential necessitate that these goiters should be surgically excised. A review of mediastinal tumors, specifically intra-thoracic goiters is presented along with a case report of acute respiratory compromise secondary to tracheal compression by a large posterior goiter.
Divergent marijuana trajectories among men: Socioeconomic, relationship, and life satisfaction outcomes in the mid-30s

BACKGROUND: Given recent changes in marijuana policy in the United States, it is important to understand the long-term effects of marijuana use on adult functioning. We examined whether men who displayed different trajectories of marijuana use from adolescence through emerging adulthood (age ∼15-26) differed in terms of socioeconomic, social, and life satisfaction outcomes in their mid-30s. METHODS: Data came from a longitudinal sample of men who were recruited in early adolescence (N=506) and followed into adulthood. Four trajectory groups based on patterns of marijuana use from adolescence into emerging adulthood were compared on adult outcomes (age ∼36) before and after controlling for co-occurring use of other substances and several pre-existing confounding factors in early adolescence. The potential moderating effect of race was also examined. RESULTS: Although there were initially group differences across all domains, once pre-existing confounds and co-occurring other substance use were included in the model, groups only differed in terms of partner and friend marijuana use. Chronic marijuana users reported the highest proportions of both. Frequent and persistent marijuana use was associated with lower socioeconomic status (SES) for Black men only. CONCLUSIONS: After statistically accounting for confounding variables, chronic marijuana users were not at a heightened risk for maladjustment in adulthood except for lower SES among Black men. Chronic users were more likely to have friends and partners who also used marijuana. Future studies should take into account pre-existing differences when examining outcomes of marijuana use. Language: en