cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Case study: child with global developmental delay

PURPOSE. This case study focused on the care of a child with global developmental delay. DATA SOURCES. Data were obtained through the author's clinical practice in long-term care pediatric rehabilitation and literature sources. DATA SYNTHESIS. NANDA-International Classifications, the Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC), and Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) were used to identify the appropriate nursing diagnosis, nursing interventions, and patient outcomes. CONCLUSIONS. This case study provides the pertinent nursing diagnoses, interventions, and outcomes for a child with global developmental delay. The interdisciplinary team approach and family involvement is addressed. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING. Use of NANDA, NIC, and NOC outcomes constructs for enhancing the care of a child with global developmental delay.
Near-Infrared H-Band Features in Late O and B Stars

We examine the spectral characteristics of normal OB stars with high–signal-to-noise ratio (>120) H-band (1.6 μm) spectra at a resolution of 2000. We find that several atomic lines vary smoothly with stellar temperature, as first shown by Blum et al. However, we find a previously unreported, significant variation in the strength of some of these lines with stellar luminosity. B supergiant stars show stronger He I and weaker Br 11 as compared with low-luminosity B dwarf stars of the same spectral class. It is for this reason that luminosity class must also be determined to obtain an accurate spectral type for a given star using H-band spectra. We suggest a method for estimating the spectral type and luminosity of an OB star over the wavelength range from 1.66 to 1.72 μm using hydrogen Br 11 at 1.681 μm, He I at 1.700 μm, and He II at 1.693 μm. The use of the near-infrared spectral range for classification has obvious advantages over optical classification when applied to heavily reddened stars, such as in star-forming regions or deeply embedded lines of sight within the plane of the Galaxy, such as the Galactic center. Furthermore, the H band is less likely to be contaminated by infrared excess emission, which is frequently seen around massive young stellar objects beyond 2 μm.
Active contour model guided image metamorphosis for inter-slice interpolation of medical images

This paper presents an interpolation method that uses the contours of organs as the control parameters to recover the intensity information in the physical gaps of serial cross-sectional medical images. In this method, active contour models are used for generating the control lines required for the field morphing algorithm, which were previously manually specified. Contour information derived from this segmentation pre-process is then further processed and used as control parameters to warp the corresponding regions in both input data slices into compatible shapes. In this way, the reliability of correspondence to locate different segments of the same organs is improved and the intensity information for the interpolated intermediate slices can be derived more faithfully, To reduce the high time complexity for calculating the image warp in the field morphing process, a hierarchical decomposition process is proposed. In comparison with the existing intensity interpolation algorithms, which only consider corresponding points in a small physical neighborhood, this method warps the data images into similar shapes according to contour information to provide more meaningful correspondence relationships. The results show that this method generates more realistic and less blurred interpolated images especially when the lcoal intensity variation is significant.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Interpersonal communication as an agent of normative influence: a mixed method study among the urban poor in India.

Background Although social norms are thought to play an important role in couples’ reproductive decisions, only limited theoretical or empirical guidance exists on how the underlying process works. Using the theory of normative social behavior (TNSB), through a mixed-method design, we investigated the role played by injunctive norms and interpersonal discussion in the relationship between descriptive norms and use of modern contraceptive methods among the urban poor in India.
Supramolecular triads of free-base porphyrin, fullerene, and ferric porphyrins via the "covalent-coordinate" binding approach: Formation, sequential electron transfer, and charge stabilization

Supramolecular triads composed of free-base porphyrin, fullerene, and ferric porphyrin were constructed by using “covalent-coordinate” binding strategy. For this, a free-base porphyrin was covalently linked to a fullerene entity bearing a pyridine ligand, and was subsequently utilized to coordinate ferric porphyrins bearing different peripheral substituents. The newly formed triads were characterized by spectral methods and the structures were deduced from DFT B3LYP/3-21G(*) methods. Free-energy calculations performed with use of the redox potential and emission data suggested the occurrence of sequential electron transfer from singlet excited free-base porphyrin to the covalently linked fullerene, followed by an electron transfer from fullerene anion radical to ferric porphyrin, ultimately generating free-base porphyrin cation radical and ferrous porphyrin as the electron-transfer products, anticipating the generation of long-lived charge-separated species as a consequence of distant separation between t...
Comparisons among the reinforcing effects provided by various silica-based fillers in a siloxane elastomer

Abstract Filled networks of poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) were prepared using the following wide variety of materials and techniques: (1) incorporating a commercial silica which had been treated with hexamethyldisilazane; (2) incorporating ‘wet-process’ silica which had been precipitated from a silicate in an aqueous dispersion with PDMS; (3) precipitating silica directly into PDMS during its curing; (4) precipitating silica directly into a swollen PDMS network after it was cured; (5) incorporating silica prepared from tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and containing some PDMS, and (6) incorporating silica prepared from partially hydrolysed TEOS and also containing some PDMS. The resulting filled elastomers showed the largest values of the ultimate strength in the case of methods (4) and (6), and the largest value of the rupture energy for method (4).
Chronic exercise modulates RAS components and improves balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the brain of SHR

Recently, exercise has been recommended as a part of lifestyle modification for all hypertensive patients; however, the precise mechanisms of its effects on hypertension are largely unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the mechanisms within the brain that can influence exercise-induced effects in an animal model of human essential hypertension. Young normotensive WKY rats and SHR were given moderate-intensity exercise for 16 weeks. Blood pressure was measured bi-weekly by tail-cuff method. Animals were then euthanized; paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), important cardiovascular regulatory centers in the brain, were collected and analyzed by real-time RT-PCR, Western blot, EIA, and fluorescent microscopy. Exercise of 16-week duration attenuated systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure in SHR. Sedentary SHR exhibited increased pro-inflammatory cytokines (PICs) and decreased anti-inflammatory IL-10 levels in the PVN and RVLM. Furthermore, SHRsed rats exhibited elevated levels of ACE, AT1R, and decreased levels of ACE2 and receptor Mas in the PVN and RVLM. Chronic exercise not only prevented the increase in PICs (TNF-α, IL-1β), ACE, and AT1R protein expression in the brain of SHR, but also dramatically upregulated IL-10, ACE2, and Mas receptor expression in SHR. In addition, these changes were associated with reduced plasma AngII levels, reduced neuronal activity, reduced NADPH-oxidase subunit gp91phox and inducible NO synthase in trained SHRs indicating reduced oxidative stress. These results suggest that chronic exercise not only attenuates PICs and the vasoconstrictor axis of the RAS but also improves the anti-inflammatory defense mechanisms and vasoprotective axis of the RAS in the brain, which, at least in part, explains the blood pressure-lowering effects of exercise in hypertension.
Psychopathic traits predict startle habituation but not modulation in an emotional faces task

The psychophysiological correlates of psychopathic traits in normal-range samples have been a topic of recent interest in studies of the biological basis of personality. It is well established that psychopaths demonstrate abnormal patterns of startle potentiation while viewing emotionally evocative pictures, but this effect has not been demonstrated using pictures of facial affect. Recent research has also indicated that an individual’s rate of habituation to an acoustic startle probe may be a reliable correlate of certain personality traits; however, this has not been investigated with psychopathic personality traits. We measured psychopathic personality traits in non-incarcerated young adults and investigated startle physiology while participants viewed pictures of facial affect. We found that psychopathic personality traits had no effect on startle modulation by emotional face category; however, the antisocial dimension of psychopathic traits was strongly associated with slower rates of habituation to the startle probe. This finding highlights the relevance of psychopathy’s underlying constructs of emotional functionality and behavioral inhibition, and suggests a relationship between basic sensory habituation and the broader concept of inhibition as it relates to personality and behavior.
Electron-correlation effects in one-dimensional large-bipolaron formation

We study the effects of electron correlation on the ground state of a one-dimensional large singlet bipolaron. The electron-lattice interaction is taken to be the short-range interaction of Holstein's molecular-crystal model. We represent the Coulomb repulsion with the Hubbard short-range repulsion. This adoption of the Hubbard model is equivalent to replacing a strict one-dimensional system that has a short-range logarithmic divergence of the Coulomb repulsion energy between overlapping charges, with a quasi-one-dimensional system of finite width. Two types of electronic correlation are considered. With ``in-out'' correlation, we permit one of the two self-trapped carriers of the bipolaron to have a larger radius than the other. With ``left-right'' correlation, we permit the centroids of the self-trapped carriers to be displaced from one another. For both types of correlation, variational calculations are performed to determine the magnitudes of the correlation effects in the ground state. There are three parameters in the model: the electronic bandwidth parameter t, the electron-lattice coupling strength ${\mathit{E}}_{\mathit{b}}$, and the Hubbard repulsion, ${\mathit{V}}_{\mathit{c}}$. The electron-lattice interaction provides an indirect intercarrier attraction that fosters the coalescence of the two carriers. In opposition, the carriers' Coulomb repulsion and the kinetic energy required for carrier confinement foster the carriers spreading. With bipolaron formation the intercarrier attraction dominates the Coulomb repulsion.
Postmenopausal Hormone Use and Risk for Colorectal Cancer and Adenoma

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that postmenopausal hormone use may decrease the risk for colorectal cancer. Objective: To examine the relation of postmenopausal hormone therapy to color...
Dioxygen Activation and Methane Hydroxylation by Soluble Methane Monooxygenase: A Tale of Two Irons and Three Proteins

Methanotrophic bacteria are capable of using methane as their sole source of carbon and energy. The first step in methane metabolism, the oxidation of methane to methanol, is catalyzed by a fascinating enzyme system called methane monooxygenase (MMO). The selective oxidation of the very stable C-H bond in methane under ambient conditions is a remarkable feat that has not yet been repeated by synthetic catalysts and has attracted considerable scientific and commercial interest. The best studied MMO is a complex enzyme system that consists of three soluble protein components, all of which are required for efficient catalysis. Dioxygen activation and subsequent methane hydroxylation are catalyzed by a hydroxylase enzyme that contains a non-heme diiron site. A reductase protein accepts electrons from NADH and transfers them to the hydroxylase where they are used for the reductive activation of O(2). The third protein component couples electron and dioxygen consumption with methane oxidation. In this review we examine different aspects of catalysis by the MMO proteins, including the mechanisms of dioxygen activation at the diiron site and substrate hydroxylation by the activated oxygen species. We also discuss the role of complex formation between the different protein components in regulating various aspects of catalysis.
PRENATAL ANTECEDENTS OF CHILD MALTREATMENT

Child maltreatment remains a major problem in the United States, the etiology of which is complicated by contributions from biological and social factors. To further clarify the antecedents of child maltreatment, 100 consecutive mothers seen in an urban community hospital obstetric clinic for indigent women (80% medicaid) were studied to determine prenatal and perinatal biological and social factors related to a subsequent report to a department of social services (DSS) for suspected child maltreatment. Fourteen mothers from this study group were referred to DSS before their child was 24 months old. Of the 24 variables assessed, 7 were associated with referral to DSS. 1) Maternal smoking during pregnancy, 2) C-section, 3) NICU admission, and prenatal maternal feelings of: 4) inadequate daily task-sharing among family members, 5) dissatisfaction with visits from extended family, 6) dissatisfaction with male support, 7) dissatisfaction with other support figures. An index was constructed with each of these factors scored “1” when present and “0” when absent. Using this index 86% of mothers referred to DSS vs 43% of mothers not referred to DSS had scores ≤ 3 (p<.01). These data support the findings of previous work on the antecedents of child maltreatment. They emphasize the relationship between prenatal maternal dissatisfaction with support networks, perinatal biological difficulties and subsequent parent-child interaction problems.
Instability of the Anomalies in the One-Dimensional Anderson Model at Weak Disorder

We study the asymptotic behavior of the invariant measure, the Lyapunov exponent, and the density of states in the weak disorder limit in the case where the single-site potential distributionμ is not centered and for the special energiesE=cos(πp/q). We also prove that in general the above quantities can be continuously extended to zero disorder as continuous functions in the disorder parameter for all energiesE∈(−1, 1).
Solid state NMR study of carbon bonding in amorphous hydrogenated carbon films

Carbon bonding environments in hydrogenated amorphous carbon films (a-C:H) deposited from an rf-biased methane plasma onto various substrates have been quantified by application of solid state13C NMR. A family of films were prepared by systematically varying the substrate bias voltage. Quantitative data on carbon chemistry in these films is required for modeling the impact of structure on mechanical and optical properties. A variety of NMR acquisition pulse sequences have been investigated to determine the conditions under which quantitative13C NMR data can be acquired in this system. The results indicate that data acquisition from this material requires different protocols than for the study of polymeric hydrocarbon films. With proper experimental design, NMR is an excellent technique for structural studies of these materials.
The alien hand: cases, categorizations, and anatomical correlates.

The clinical characteristics and neuroanatomical damage reported in more than 50 published cases of observed “alien-hand” signs are reviewed. The terms alien-hand sign and alien-hand syndrome describe phenomena experienced by patients in which an upper limb performs complex motor activities outside of volitional control. The categories of frontal and callosal subtypes and their relation to behavior and neuropathology are evaluated with reference to the dual premotor system theory, which emphasizes the role of the supplementary motor areas in alien-hand phenomena. Detailed consideration is given to the more recently described posterior subtype, which is purported to result from damage to the parietal lobe or other posterior brain areas. The lack of uniformity in reported assessment methods (behavioral tests, neuroimaging) in published cases contributes to the difficulty in establishing clear subtypes of alien-hand phenomena. Suggestions are made regarding current categorizations and available assessment me...
Effect of Chiral and Achiral Perturbations on the Crystallization of 4,4‘-Dimethylchalcone from Ethyl Acetate

4,4‘-Dimethylchalcone is an achiral molecule that crystallizes from ethyl acetate in the chiral space group P212121. Herein we report the effect of beta radiolysis and circularly and linearly polarized light on the crystallization of 4,4‘-dimethylchalcone from ethyl acetate. Exposure of the evaporating solution to energetic beta particles from a Sr-90 source generated a random distribution of (+) and (−) crystals. Irradiation of the evaporating solution by intense right- or left-circularly polarized light (1064 nm) from a Nd:YAG laser afforded results that were comparable to the results of the beta radiolysis experiments. Linearly polarized light (LPL), on the other hand, had a profound influence on the distribution of crystals, yielding in this instance a large bifurcation of (+) and (−) crystals. A likely cause of this outcome may be due to the optical Kerr effect. The anisotropic polarizability of the chalcone molecule causes a preferential alignment in the direction of the E field when using LPL. This...
Simulation of protein-folding pathways: lost in (conformational) space?

Simulations of protein folding using simplified models can reproduce many of the qualitative features of natural protein-folding pathways. In many ways, simulations complement conventional experimental techniques for studying protein folding, as they can be used to probe processes that are otherwise inaccessible with current techniques. Manipulating simulation parameters can provide information on the origins of specific folding behaviors; however, some stages of the folding process remain difficult to model with available methods.
The oxidation of the calcium probe quin2 and its analogs by prostaglandin H synthase.

Abstract Quin2 and its analogs BAPTA, 5,5′-dimethyl BAPTA, 5,5′-difluoro BAPTA, fura-2, and indo-1 were developed to measure intracellular calcium concentrations. In this study we investigated whether quin2 and its analogs are susceptible to peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation. The hydroperoxidase activity of prostaglandin H synthase, like other peroxidases, is capable of oxidizing a wide variety of substrates. It was found that quin2 and its analogs served as reducing cofactors for the hydroperoxidase activity of prostaglandin H synthase, undergoing oxidation in the process. Furthermore, arachidonic acid metabolism was stimulated. Oxidation of quin2 and its analogs resulted in the formation of a carbon-centered radical, as could be detected by ESR, and in the formation of formaldehyde. Quin2 fluorescence decreased upon addition of arachidonic acid and prostaglandin H synthase. Furthermore, addition of calcium no longer resulted in an increase in quin2 fluorescence, as was observed prior to the addition of arachidonic acid and the enzyme. This indicates that one or more of the groups, which are responsible for the binding of calcium, were oxidized by the hydroperoxidase. Since prostaglandin H synthase is present in many cellular systems in which calcium concentrations are modulated, oxidation of the calcium probe might not only affect the measurement of intracellular calcium but could activate arachidonic acid metabolism as well.
Removal of proteoglycans increases efficiency of retroviral gene transfer.

We have previously shown that medium conditioned by virus producer cells inhibits retrovirus transduction, and that a portion of the inhibitory activity is sensitive to chondroitinase ABC. In this study, we have quantitatively evaluated the fraction of the inhibitory activity that is due to chondroitinase ABC-sensitive material and partially characterized the inhibitors. The kinetics of chondroitinase ABC digestion of glycosaminoglycans and virus inhibitory activity in cell culture medium were measured, and the results used to estimate the amount of the chondroitinase ABC-sensitive virus inhibitory activity that was initially in the medium. We found that up to 76% of the inhibitory activity of medium conditioned by packaging cells derived from NIH 3T3 cells is sensitive to chondroitinase ABC. The remainder of the inhibitory activity is not sensitive to other glycosaminoglycan lyases (heparitinase I or heparinase I), which suggests that substances other than glycosaminoglycans or proteoglycans are present in virus stocks and inhibit transduction. To further characterize the inhibitors, proteoglycans from conditioned medium were purified by batch anion exchange and size exclusion chromatography. Two major size groups (100 kDa and 950 kDa) of proteoglycans were isolated. Transduction was inhibited 50% by 0.6 μg/mL of the high-molecular-weight proteoglycan or by 1.7 μg/mL of the low-molecular-weight proteoglycan. Significantly, the proteoglycans, because of their large size and poor sieving properties, coconcentrated with virus particles concentrated by ultrafiltration and prevented any significant increases in transduction efficiency. Transduction efficiencies of virus stocks were increased more than tenfold by ultrafiltration, but only when the concentrated virus was treated with chondroitinase ABC. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 58:23–34, 1998.
Diagnosis and management of bile leaks after blunt liver injury.

Background Nonoperative management (NOM) of blunt liver injuries (BLIs) is common, but little data exist on the management of complications related to NOM. Furthermore, bile leaks are emerging as frequent complications of NOM. The goal of this study was to determine which BLI patients are at greatest risk for bile leaks and how to manage this complication. Methods Patients treated with NOM, including angiographic embolization (AE) and observation, were compared with those undergoing operation (OR). Mortality, hospital length of stay, liver-related complications, and severity of liver injury were compared among the groups. Results Two hundred eighty-one patients sustained a BLI from 1997 through 2004. The Injury Severity Score and age of the groups were similar. The mortality rate of the OR patients was higher ( P = .02). All bile leaks occurred in patients with a liver Abbreviated Injury Score (AIS) of ≥4. For survivors of more than 4 days, 71% of OR, 50% of AE, and 17% of observed patients developed bile leaks. For the OR and AE groups, HIDA scanning detected all leaks, leading to earlier drainage procedures. Detection of a bile leak in NOM patients before 5 days of hospitalization led to shorter HLOS, P = .02. No patient with a negative HIDA scan developed a subsequent bile leak. Conclusions NOM of BLIs is associated with lower mortality, but significant complications. Bile leaks are more common in patients with higher liver AIS, and in this study presented in only those with liver AIS ≥4. HIDA scanning successfully diagnosed all patients with bile leaks and led to less invasive drainage procedures over time and shorter HLOS.
Practical techniques for pediatric chest computed tomography.

Abstract Chest computed tomography (CT) is an excellent modality for evaluation of the chest wall, mediastinum, and pulmonary parenchyma in infants and children. Computed tomography of infants and children requires meticulous technique as well as a knowledge of pediatric disease. The potential indications, practical techniques, unique problems, and radiation considerations for pediatric chest CT are discussed and illustrated.
Short-baseline opportunities and challenges at a neutrino factory

Abstract The exciting possibility of a neutrino source created by decays of muons in a storage ring has been proposed as a second-generation source for long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments. However, the enormous neutrino fluxes available at such a “neutrino factory” are also ideal for high-rate studies of neutrino interactions in detectors near the storage ring. I summarize the parameters of likely near-detector experiments at a neutrino factory and discuss some of the physics opportunities possible at such facilities.
Microprobe technique for determining the thickness of thin metal films in multilayered structures

Abstract The microprobe technique applies to metal or alloy film composites in which the chemical composition is uniform. Film thicknesses of such structures are determined on the basis of characteristic X-ray intensities detected for each layer. Composite standards with layers arranged in the same sequence as in the samples are required to minimize or eliminate backscattering and secondary fluorescence effects. The absorption correction, however, is built into the method. The technique was developed using Cu/Ni composites in which Cu was used as a tracer element at various depths in a Ni matrix. It was then applied to Al/SiO 2 structures with several thickness ratios ranging from 1.0 to 2.0. Routine analyses achieved an accuracy of ±5%. To determine thickness the ionization curves had to be expressed analytically as a function of depth and accelerating potential, and an expression was derived for the detected intensity. The X-ray intensity of each layer, from the surface down, was processed through a computer program so that thickness information determined for the first layer was input information for the second, and so on. The technique can also be used to determine a contaminant density in any of the layers.
Small mammal heavy metal concentrations from mined and control sites

Abstract Total body concentrations of zinc, copper, cadmium, lead, nickel, mercury and arsenic were determined for Peromyscus maniculatus and Microtus pennsylvanicus from an active zinc-copper mine near Timmins, Ontario, Canada, and a proposed zinc-copper mine near Crandon, Wisconsin, USA. Metal concentrations were evaluated with respect to area, species, sex and age groups. Metal concentrations in Peromyscus from the proposed mine site were not different from those collected in a third area where no mine or deposit exists. This is probably due to the 30 m of glacial material over the proposed mine site deposit. A statistical interaction between area, species, sex and age was observed for zinc and copper concentrations in small mammals we examined. Peromyscus from the mine site had consistently higher metal concentrations than Peromyscus from the control site. Greater total body cadmium and lead concentrations in adult—compared with juvenile— Peromyscus collected at the mine site suggests age-dependent accumulation of these toxic metals. Microtus did not exhibit this age-related response, and responded to other environmental metals more erratically and to a lesser degree. Differences in the response of these two species to environmental metal exposure may be due to differences in food habits. Nickel, mercury and arsenic concentrations in small mammals from the mine site were not different from controls. Heavy metal concentrations are also presented for Sorex cinereus, Blarina brevicauda and Zapus hudsonicus without respect to age and sex cohorts. Peromyscus may be a potentially important species for the monitoring of heavy metal pollution.
Ethical and practical aspects of human studies.

Abstract Increasingly, genetic information holds the promise of prevention, earlier detection, and better treatment for cancer and other genetically related diseases. Laboratory markers are giving insight into the role of measurable genetic changes; however, there is often difficulty in translating laboratory data into practical use in human populations. Human populations can be difficult to study, and, correctly, there are strict regulations regarding the use of humans as study subjects for many kinds of research activities. Various study designs have a differential ability to prove cause and effect relationships, and will similarly have a differential ability in validating the usefulness of genetic markers. Just as conducting bench research has a traditional set of problems, working with human populations has its own set of potential difficulties. In reality, workers and others are often exposed to carcinogenic substances, usually without their knowledge, and without their informed consent. As genetic information becomes more readily available, and in finer detail, there is a great risk of misuse by employers, insurance companies and others. Placing blame on someone’s genetic make-up may once again put into vogue a “blame-the-victim” mentality instead of continuing efforts to clean up workplaces and the environment, or restricting the use of hazardous products. No genetic information should ever be used to deny employment or modify insurance rates. Individuals should be able to maintain personal control over their genetic information. Positive aspects of the use of genetic information can be used to decrease disease and make environments safer.
Pyramidal cells accumulate chloride at seizure onset.

Seizures are thought to originate from a failure of inhibition to quell hyperactive neural circuits, but the nature of this failure remains unknown. Here we combine high-speed two-photon imaging with electrophysiological recordings to directly evaluate the interaction between populations of interneurons and principal cells during the onset of seizure-like activity in mouse hippocampal slices. Both calcium imaging and dual patch clamp recordings reveal that in vitro seizure-like events (SLEs) are preceded by pre-ictal bursts of activity in which interneurons predominate. Corresponding changes in intracellular chloride concentration were observed in pyramidal cells using the chloride indicator Clomeleon. These changes were measurable at SLE onset and became very large during the SLE. Pharmacological manipulation of GABAergic transmission, either by blocking GABAA receptors or by hyperpolarizing the GABAA reversal potential, converted SLEs to short interictal-like bursts. Together, our results support a model in which pre-ictal GABAA receptor-mediated chloride influx shifts EGABA to produce a positive feedback loop that contributes to the initiation of seizure activity.
White matter integrity and executive abilities following treatment with tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) in individuals with phenylketonuria

Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH(4)) lowers blood phenylalanine (Phe) in individuals with PKU who are responders, but its effects on the brain and cognition have not been explored thoroughly. We examined blood Phe, microstructural white matter integrity, and executive abilities in 12 BH(4) responders before (i.e., baseline) and after (i.e., follow-up) six months of treatment with BH(4). Compared with baseline, Phe in these responders decreased by 51% during a 4 week screening period after initiation of treatment and remained lowered by 37% over the 6 month follow-up period. Significant improvements in white matter integrity, evaluated by mean diffusivity from diffusion tensor imaging, were also found following six months of treatment. Improvements in executive abilities were not identified, although six months may have been a period too brief for changes in cognition to follow changes in the brain. To our knowledge, our study is the first to explore relationships among Phe, white matter integrity, executive abilities, and BH(4) treatment within a single study.
Bialaphos selection of stable transformants from maize cell culture

Stable transformed Black Mexican Sweet (BMS) maize callus was recovered from suspension culture cells bombarded with plasmid DNA that conferred resistance to the herbicide bialaphos. Suspension culture cells were bombarded with a mixture of two plasmids. One plasmid contained a selectable marker gene, bar, which encoded phosphinothricin acetyl transferase (PAT), and the other plasmid encoded a screenable marker for β-glucuronidase (GUS). Bombarded cells were selected on medium containing the herbicide bialaphos, which is cleaved in plant cells to yield phosphinothricin (PPT), an inhibitor of glutamine synthetase. The bialaphos-resistant callus contained the bar gene and expressed PAT as assayed by PPT inactivation. Transformants that expressed high levels of PAT grew more rapidly on increasing concentrations of bialaphos than transformants expressing low levels of PAT. Fifty percent of the bialaphos-resistant transformants tested (8 of 16) expressed the nonselected gene encoding GUS.
New Uses for Existing Tools? A Call to Study On-line Management Instruction and Instructors

We present this essay as a call to attract new scholars to the study of management learning and education. Using the context of on-line management instruction as an example, we identify areas where...
Applications of the metal pyridine thiocyanate reaction to qualitative analysis

Summary The reaction of pyridine with certain cations can be used as a quick means of detecting the latter, based upon the color of the chloroform extract of the metal pyridine thiocyanate. The copper-pyridine complex (e.g., sulfate solution) can also be used as a reagent for the detection of several anions that give reactions similar to that of thiocyanate. A saturated solution of copper thiocyanate is a sensitive reagent for the detection of pyridine, and for differentiating tertiary amines from primary and secondary amines.
The dynamic Peierls instability

A mean-field model of a one-dimensional conductor is shown in the presence of a fixed total current to exhibit a dynamic charge-density-wave (CDW) solution which can propagate without Landau damping at a temperature higher than ${T}_{c}$, the transition temperature for the static instability. However, the free energy of the moving CDW state becomes less than that of the undistorted state with the same current at a temperature only below ${T}_{c}$. The phase transition at this lower temperature is first-order. There exists a critical current above which the free energy of the CDW state is always higher than that of the undistorted state.
Cell form mutants inMicrasterias

Two cell form mutants ofMicrasterias thomasiana have been isolated and have remained stable in culture for over two years. One mutant lacks the centrally located polar lobe and the other is a abnormally small cell.
Further examination of the selective toxicity of CCl4 in rat liver slices.

Abstract Lipid peroxidation and loss of enzymes located predominantly in either periportal or centrilobular hepatocytes were investigated in precision-cut liver slices from male Sprague-Dawley rats. Pretreatment of animals with 80 mg/kg phenobarbital for the site-specific enzyme studies enhanced and accelerated CCl 4 toxicity in slices resulting from increased radical formation. Liver slices were exposed to 0.57 m m CCl 4 by vaporization using a roller incubation system at 37°C for a total of 9 hr. Conjugated diene formation, an index of lipid peroxidation, was detected 15 min following CCl 4 administration and increased over time. Loss of cytochrome P450 occurred in a time-dependent manner relative to controls where levels in treated slices were 42% of controls at 9 hr. A 48-hr fast prior to termination increased intracellular K + leakage relative to that present in slices from fed animals. Significant leakage of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and β-glucuronidase from centrilobular hepatocytes occurred 9 hr following CCl 4 administration. The content of the periportal enzymes (lactate dehydrogenase and sorbitol dehydrogenase) was unchanged in the same slices over the duration of the experiment. Reduction of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, a mitochondrial selective dye and indicator of viability, was significantly lower in treated slices from phenobarbital-treated animals at 9 hr relative to controls. These studies demonstrate that precision-cut slices are an ideal in vitro system for mechanistic studies and the investigation of site-specific toxicants since the integral architecture of the liver and cellular identity are maintained.
Pebble segregation and bed lenticularity in wave‐worked versus alluvial gravel*

Two aspects of bedding may permit visual discrimination between wave-worked and alluvial gravel. Pebbles in gravel worked by waves tend to be better segregated into discrete beds than those in alluvial deposits, and bedding in wave-worked gravel tends to be more laterally regular, or less lenticular, than that in stream gravel. Pebble segregation and lenticularity were quantitatively analysed in twenty-five different marine and fluvial deposits of Quaternary or Tertiary age in southwestern Oregon in order to evaluate their use as environmental indicators. The results indicate that these two factors combined provide a visual criterion for discriminating between many gravels of wave-worked and alluvial origin.
Reduced foveolar choroidal blood flow in eyes with increasing AMD severity.

PURPOSE. In an earlier study, the authors reported that foveolar choroidal blood flow (ChBFlow) decreases in patients with AMD and drusen. To explore further the choroidal circulatory changes in patients with AMD, the relationship between ChBFlow and fundus features associated with increased risk of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) were investigated. METHODS. The study included 26 control eyes of 17 normal subjects and 163 eyes with early AMD characteristics of 123 patients with AMD. The AMD study eyes were divided into three groups according to increasing risk for development of CNV: (1) drusen 63 m, no RPE hyperpigmentary changes in the study eye, and no CNV in the fellow eye; (2) drusen 63 m, RPE hyperpigmentary changes in the study eye, and no CNV in the fellow eye; and (3) eyes with CNV in the fellow eye. Laser Doppler flowmetry was used to assess relative foveolar choroidal blood velocity (ChBVel), volume (ChBVol), and flow (ChBFlow). Differences in the mean circulatory parameters were assessed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and test of linear trend. RESULTS. Mean ChBVel, ChBVol, and ChBFlow decreased with increased risk for CNV (linear trend, P 0.05). The lowest circulatory parameters were observed in the eyes with the highest risk for CNV development. Trends for ChBVel and ChBFlow were still significant after adjustment for multiple factors. CONCLUSIONS. There is a systematic decrease in choroidal circulatory parameters with an increase in the severity of AMD features associated with risk for the development of CNV, suggesting a role for ischemia in the development of CNV. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2005;46:1033‐1038) DOI:10.1167/ iovs.04-1050
Effects of local anesthetic on taste and feed intake.

Abstract Because local anesthetics selectively increase taste thresholds of certain compounds, their effects were tested on intake of feed with .1% quinine, .32% acetic acid, or 2% NaCl. Feed intakes of goats fed a concentrated ration during a 2-day test were reduced 21% (P
Evidence for an early immunosuppressive role for related Campoletis sonorensis venom and ovarian proteins in Heliothis virescens.

Shared epitopes among venom, ovarian, and viral proteins may indicate that related proteins have similar functional roles during parasitization of Heliothis virescens by Campoletis sonorensis. Venom and ovarian proteins are introduced directly into the hemolymph during parasitization where they may target hemocytes or other components of the immune system. Polydnavirus expression has been detected in hemocytes, fat body, and other tissues but has not been detected earlier than 4 h after parasitization. Therefore, effects on hemocytes at times earlier than 4 h may not be caused by polydnavirus proteins synthesized in the parasitized insect. Visualization of hemocyte F-actin with fluorescently labeled phallicidin indicated that a dramatic alteration of plasmatocyte and granulocyte cytoskeletons occurred within 1.5 h after parasitization. The predominant non-viral proteins in the ovary introduced during parasitization were immunologically related to venom and viral envelope proteins. These ovarian proteins persist in the hemolymph. Antisera to the ovarian proteins bound to granulocytes and to plasmatocytes to a lesser degree, suggesting that ovarian proteins may be involved in early suppression of the host's immune response after parasitization. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Differential temporal and spatial regulation of somatostatin receptor phosphorylation and dephosphorylation

The Gi-coupled somatostatin 2A receptor (sst2A) mediates many of the neuromodulatory and neuroendocrine actions of somatostatin (SS) and is targeted by the SS analogs used to treat neuroendocrine tumors. As for other G protein-coupled receptors, agonists stimulate sst2A receptor phosphorylation on multiple residues, and phosphorylation at different sites has distinct effects on receptor internalization and uncoupling. To elucidate the spatial and temporal regulation of sst2A receptor phosphorylation, we examined agonist-stimulated phosphorylation of multiple receptor GPCR kinase sites using phospho-site-specific antibodies. SS increased receptor phosphorylation sequentially, first on Ser-341/343 and then on Thr-353/354, followed by receptor internalization. Reversal of receptor phosphorylation was determined by the duration of prior agonist exposure. In acutely stimulated cells, in which most receptors remained on the cell surface, dephosphorylation occurred only on Thr-353/354. In contrast, both Ser-341/343 and Thr-353/354 were rapidly dephosphorylated when cells were stimulated long enough to allow receptor internalization before agonist removal. Consistent with these observations, dephosphorylation of Thr-353/354 was not affected by either hypertonic sucrose or dynasore, which prevent receptor internalization, whereas dephosphorylation of Ser-341/343 was completely blocked. An okadaic acid- and fostriecin-sensitive phosphatase catalyzed the dephosphorylation of Thr-353/354 both intracellularly and at the cell surface. In contrast, dephosphorylation of Ser-341/343 was insensitive to these inhibitors. Our results show that the phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of neighboring GPCR kinase sites in the sst2A receptor are subject to differential spatial and temporal regulation. Thus, the pattern of receptor phosphorylation is determined by the duration of agonist stimulation and compartment-specific enzymatic activity.
Chondromyxoid fibroma of the nasal septum: Case report and review of literature

Background. Chondromyxoid fibroma (CMF) is a rare bone tumor, accounting for less than 0.5% of all bone tumors, with a predilection for lower extremity bone metaphyses. Involvement of the head and neck is extremely rare, with only 3 cases reported in the nasal septum in world literature. Methods. This is a case report of a CMF in the nasal septum of a 49-year-old woman with a 6-month history of congestion. MRI showed a bilobed mass originating from the nasal septum. Histologic and immunoperoxidase staining as well as electron microscopic studies were performed. A literature review was performed. Results. The patient underwent a midface-degloving approach for surgical resection. The final pathology was prototypic of CMF. The patient was disease-free 16 months postoperatively. Conclusions. CMF is a rare, benign neoplasm occasionally occurring in the head and neck. Surgical resection is often curative. CMF must be differentiated from chondrosarcoma, given the substantial differences in treatment. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2013
Near-IR imaging of interproximal lesions from occlusal surfaces and the influence of stains and plaque

Dental enamel manifests high transparency in the near-IR (NIR). Our previous work demonstrated that NIR light at 1310-nm is ideally suited for the transillumination of interproximal dental caries (dental decay in between teeth) and that it can also be used to image decay in the pits and fissures of the occlusal (biting) surfaces of posterior teeth where most new dental decay occurs. Early occlusal lesions cannot be detected by x-rays during the early stages of lesion development due to the overlapping topography of the crown of the tooth. Stains and non-calcified plaque are not visible in the NIR enabling better discrimination of demineralized areas. We also demonstrate that interproximal lesions can be imaged from the occlusal surface (from above). Moreover, multiple illumination and detector angles can be exploited for optimal contrast between caries and sound tissue. These measurements suggest that NIR imaging offers significant advantages over the conventional visual, tactile and radiographic caries detection methods and other optical caries detection and imaging techniques.
Organic and inorganic crystals for electro-optic modulators with low driving voltage

The focus of this paper is the characterization of electro- optic properties of single crystal thin films of organic material NPP grown by the plate-guided method. Characterization was performed using the longitudinal a.c. modulation technique. Half-wave voltage V(pi ), figure- of-merit F, and electro-optic coefficient r63 were estimated to be 3.24 kV, 0.98x10-10 m/V and 25.8x10-12 m/V respectively. We found that crystalline z-axis is off the normal to the plane of the film at an angle of 7 degree(s). We also proposed a transverse version of a thin film electro-optic modulator with low driving voltage, which is based on a single-arm thin film waveguide interferometer.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Transcription of the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Gene in Macrophages Is Regulated by Liver X Receptors

Macrophages are an important source of angiogenic activity in wound healing, cancer, and chronic inflammation. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a cytokine produced by macrophages, is a primary inducer of angiogenesis and neovascularization in these contexts. VEGF expression by macrophages is known to be stimulated by low oxygen tension as well as by inflammatory signals. In this study, we provide evidence that Vegfa gene expression is also regulated by activation of liver X receptors (LXRs). VEGF mRNA was induced in response to synthetic LXR agonists in murine and human primary macrophages as well as in murine adipose tissue in vivo. The effects of LXR ligands on VEGF expression were independent of hypoxia-inducible factor HIF-1α activation and did not require the previously characterized hypoxia response element in the VEGF promoter. Rather, LXR/retinoid X receptor heterodimers bound directly to a conserved hormone response element (LXRE) in the promoter of the murine and human Vegfa genes. Both LXRα and LXRβ transactivated the VEGF promoter in transient transfection assays. Finally, we show that induction of VEGF expression by inflammatory stimuli was independent of LXRs, because these effects were preserved in LXR null macrophages. These observations identify VEGF as an LXR target gene and point to a previously unrecognized role for LXRs in vascular biology.