cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inactivation and Injury of Listeria monocytogenes under Combined Effect of Pressure and Temperature in UHT Whole Milk

Inactivation and injury of Listeria monocytogenes was studied under the combined effect of high pressure and temperature. Three pressure levels (400, 500 and 600 MPa) and three temperature levels (27, 43 and 60C) were chosen. In total, seven combinations were tested: (1) 400 MPa at three temperature levels; and (2) 500 and 600 MPa at 27 and 43C, i.e., the treatment times at 60C were too short ( 0.05). Injury of L. monocytogenes was evaluated in terms of log reduction value, which was obtained from nonselective and selective media. Treatment temperature played an important role on injury of L. monocytogenes specifically at lower pressure level. At 400 MPa, the injured log reduction values obtained at 27 and 43C were 2.10 and 3.46, respectively, for 15-min treatment time, whereas at 60C, it was 4.58 for 1 min. This study showed that 6 log10 reductions could be obtained in <2 min using low pressure (400 MPa) and high temperature (60C), which would have industrial relevance in reducing the cost related to high pressure processing of food. Practical Applications Listeria monocytogenes is responsible for many foodborne illnesses. Because of its psychrotrophic nature, L. monocytogenes is a potential threat to milk and dairy products as it has the ability to grow under refrigeration temperatures. Inactivation of L. monocytogenes in milk under high pressure has been studied widely. However, few studies have been done to evaluate the injury of the microorganisms, which were limited to low pressure and temperature. Quantification of injured population of L. monocytogenes is important; i.e., after high pressure treatment the sublethally injured cells can recover in the milk medium during the storage period. Hence, there is a great need of quantification of injured population of L. monocytogenes in addition to the inactivation over a wide range of pressure and temperature conditions. The kinetic data on both inactivation and injury of microorganisms will help to establish the safe processing conditions for milk during high pressure and temperature treatment.
Globally Optimal Trajectory Planning for Redundant Manipulators using State Space Augmentation Method

The off-line global trajectory planning for kinematically redundant manipulators is formulated as an optimization problem whose solution is obtained by applying the Pontryagin’s Maximum Principle. The state space augmentation method is developed to obtain a set of optimal joint trajectories corresponding to a singularity-free Cartesian path which avoids joint limits and conserves joint configuration in cyclic motion. Results of computer simulation conducted on a three-degree-of-freedom planar manipulator are presented and discussed.
The value of electroencephalography in the prognostication and prognosis of post-traumatic epilepsy.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 1. In two series of patients having post-traumatic epilepsy, the EEGs made within 6 months of injury and 5 years or more after injury have been reviewed and the findings correlated with the cessation of attacks for at least two years, and the continuance of attacks. 2. No statistically significant correlation could be found between the latter factors and normalcy or abnormalcy of the electroencephalographic records. 3. In a small group (45 cases) no correlation could be demonstrated between the above mentioned factors and improvement in the electroencephalographic records over a period of years. 4. It is concluded that in post-traumatic epilepsy the EEG is not a significantly sensitive indicator to foretell the course of the condition. RESUME ET CONCLUSIONS 1. De deux series de malades ayant une epilepsie post-traumatique on a examine les E.E.G.'s enregistres dans les six mois qui ont suivi une lesion, et ensuite ceux pris 5 ans ou plus apres le trauma. Les resultats ont ete mis en correlation avec la cessation des attaques pendant deux ans au moins, et avec la persistance des attaques. 2. Il n'a pas ete constate de correlation significative, dans le sense de la statistique, entre les deux derniers facteurs et la normalite ou l'anormalite des enregistrements electroencephalographiques. 3. On n'a pu constater en un petit groupe (45 cas) aucune correlation entre les facteurs susmentionnes et l'amelioration des enregistrements electroencephalographiques durant une periode de plusieurs annees. 4. La conclusion est que dans l'epilepsie post-traumatique l'E.E.G. n'est pas un indicateur significatif quant au pronostic de la condition.
Stability of piecewise Linear Generalized Volterra discrete diffusion systems with patches

Abstract The primary objective of this paper is to extend the results obtained by Habetler and Haddad [1] for the global asymptotic stability of a nonnegative equilibrium to a generalized Volterra-type system involving m species in n homogeneous patches and allowing diffusion between patches. The solution of the steady-state problem is shown to be equivalent to finding the solution to the Generalized Linear Complementarity Problem.
Ion pair and phonon-induced relaxation mechanisms in Ho 3+ and other RE 3+ ions in LaCL 3

Summary form only, as given. When a rare earth ion is excited to a given Stark manifold, it may relax to a lower level by an ion pair or a phonon induced transition if the energy gap is propitious. Barasch and Dieke have shown that for energy gaps of less than about 1000 cm-1 phonon-induced relaxations dominate.
Regulation of the stress-like protein adenotin in PC 12 cells by ethanol exposure

Abstract The effects of chronic ethanol exposure on the stress-like protein adenotin were investigated using the radioligand [ 3 H]-5′-N- ethylcarboxamidoadenosine ([3H]NECA). A 4-day exposure to 150 mM ethanol increased both the KD and the density of [3H]NECA binding sites. These changes were not due to residual ethanol as the acute addition of ethanol did not alter [3H]NECA binding. Chronic ethanol exposure of A126-1B2-1 cells, which are a mutant PC 12 cell line deficient in protein kinase A (PKA), increased the cellular density of adenotin, but did not affect the KD for the radioligand. Conversely, when PC 12 cells were exposed to 10 μM forskolin for either 2 or 4 days, the cellular density of adenotin was not altered, but the affinity of adenotin for [3H]NECA was reduced significantly. An increase in KD was not observed after a 1-hr exposure of PC 12 cells to forskolin, indicating that the reduction in affinity for the radioligand was not due simply to a PKA-mediated phosphorylation of adenotin. The present study demonstrated that chronic ethanol regulates adenotin through two different mechanisms. The ethanol-induced increase in the density of adenotin does not involve PKA, while the reduction in affinity appears to involve a cAMP-dependent mechanism.
Nuclear design and analysis of a magnetic fusion production reactor

Tandem-mirror- and tokamak-based magnetic fusion production reactors are predicted to have tritium breeding ratios of 1.67 and 1.49, respectively. The latter value replaces one (1.56) that is used elsewhere in the sequence of papers in this issue. Blanket energy multiplication for both is predicted to be about 1.3. With the tandem mirror operating in the plutonium production mode, the net plutonium-plus-tritiurn breeding ratio is 1.74. Blanket energy multiplication for the plutonium mode is predicted to be 2.4 at a plutonium-uranium ratio of 0.7% and a uranium volume fraction of 3%.
Adaptive optics retinal imaging in the living mouse eye

Correction of the eye’s monochromatic aberrations using adaptive optics (AO) can improve the resolution of in vivo mouse retinal images [Biss et al., Opt. Lett. 32(6), 659 (2007) and Alt et al., Proc. SPIE 7550, 755019 (2010)], but previous attempts have been limited by poor spot quality in the Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor (SHWS). Recent advances in mouse eye wavefront sensing using an adjustable focus beacon with an annular beam profile have improved the wavefront sensor spot quality [Geng et al., Biomed. Opt. Express 2(4), 717 (2011)], and we have incorporated them into a fluorescence adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscope (AOSLO). The performance of the instrument was tested on the living mouse eye, and images of multiple retinal structures, including the photoreceptor mosaic, nerve fiber bundles, fine capillaries and fluorescently labeled ganglion cells were obtained. The in vivo transverse and axial resolutions of the fluorescence channel of the AOSLO were estimated from the full width half maximum (FWHM) of the line and point spread functions (LSF and PSF), and were found to be better than 0.79 μm ± 0.03 μm (STD)(45% wider than the diffraction limit) and 10.8 μm ± 0.7 μm (STD)(two times the diffraction limit), respectively. The axial positional accuracy was estimated to be 0.36 μm. This resolution and positional accuracy has allowed us to classify many ganglion cell types, such as bistratified ganglion cells, in vivo.
Substance use and abuse among Native Americans.

Abstract Native Americans, the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States, are marked by cultural diversity and by considerable variation in the use of alcohol and other substances. In general, however, substance abuse has been cited by the U.S. Indian Health Service as the most significant and urgent problem facing Native Americans. This paper examines some of the epidemiological, clinical, and social issues related to the use of alcohol, marijuana, inhalants, and other drugs by Native Americans.
DEVELOPMENTAL CHANGES OF GASTRIC MYOELECTRICAL ACTIVITY IN PRETERM INFANTS. 688

Regular 3 cycles per minute (cpm) gastric myoelectrical activity (GME) is recorded in healthy adults and children older than 6 months. Our previous study indicated an absence of the regular 3 cpm waves in newborns. The aim of this study was to investigate the developmental change of GME in newborns.Methods: The study was performed in 4 preterm infants (mean gestation age at birth: 33 weeks) at the birth age of one week and one month. GME was recorded by placing 3 electrodes on the abdomen, a technique called electrogastrography (EGG). The EGG recording was made for a continuous period of 12 hours, from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m., using an ambulatory EGG recorder(Synectics Medical, Irving, TX). The EGG data were analyzed using the spectral analysis method after the deletion of recording periods contaminated by motion artifacts. The percentage of normal GME was assessed by computing the percentage of time during which 2-4 cpm waves were found in the power spectrum of the EGG. Results: The percentage of normal GME increased from 31.2 ± 5.7% at one week to 56.1 ± 11.3% at one month. Gastric arrhythmia (no rhythmic waves) dominated the recording in three of the four subjects at one week but remarkably decreased at one month (38.4 ± 8.9% vs 24.5 ± 6.3%). Tachygastria at about 6 cpm was found in the other infant at one week and changed to a normal rhythm of 3.5 cpm at one month.Conclusion: These data suggest that there is a maturing process of GME in preterm newborns. Further studies are being undertaken in more subjects to investigate the effects of gestation age, birth age, and feeding methods on the maturation of GME.
Commercial shrimp ponds versus seminatural mudflats as wading bird foraging habitat in northwest Ecuador.

Abstract. The conservation of wading birds is increasingly dependent upon determining the ability of human-modified habitats to serve as surrogates for natural habitats. The suitability of commercial shrimp farms and seminatural estuarine mudflats in Northwest Ecuador as foraging habitat for wading birds was assessed by observing the foraging efficiency, diet and behavior of Great (Ardea alba) and Snowy (Egretta thula) Egrets, censusing wading birds, and measuring prey availability (i.e. prey density, standing crop, water depth and diversity). Mean annual wading bird density was greatest in shrimp ponds, but was greater on mudflats during the breeding season when energy demands are most critical. Foraging efficiency (capture/strike) was greater on average in shrimp ponds than on mudflats, and both Great and Snowy Egrets captured significantly larger prey items (in both length and mass) there than on mudflats. However, intake rates (g/minute) were significantly greater on seminatural mudflats than in shrim...
Vertical Structure of the Ocean Current Response to a Hurricane

Abstract During the passage of hurricane Norbert in 1984, the Hurricane Research Division of NOAA conducted a Planetary Boundary Layer Experiment that included the deployment of Airborne eXpendable Current Profilers (AXCP). A total of. 16 AXCPs provided for the fist time high-resolution vertical profiles of currents and temperatures in hurricane wind conditions. This study focuses on the vertical structure of the near-inertial baroclinic current excited by the passage of this hurricane. The transient hurricane-induced currents are isolated from the AXCP profiles in Norbert by subtracting a spatially-averaged current. Near the center of hurricane Norbert, the WKBJ-scaled vertical wavenumber spectra are a decade greater than the Garrett-Munk spectra (GM75). The fist ten linear, baroclinic free modes are calculated from the spatially-averaged Brunt–Vaisala frequency. To allow a more direct comparison with the AXCP observations in the current wind regime, the near-inertial response for the three dimensional v...
Thermodynamics of lanthanide-organic ligand complexes

Abstract Some aspects of lanthanide-organic ligand interaction in aqueous solutions are reviewed. Thermodynamic parameters ( ΔG , ΔH and ΔS ) of complexation are interpreted in terms of hydration, inner versus outer sphere character, stability versus chelate ring size and ligand charge polarization.
Voltammetry and surface analysis of AISI 316 stainless steel in chloride-containing simulated concrete pore environment

Abstract The study of passive layers grown on AISI 316 stainless steel in solutions that simulate concrete pore environments contaminated with Cl − is presented. Model solutions of saturated Ca(OH) 2 and cement extract (CE) with and without the addition of 5 g/L of NaCl are compared. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) shows different electrochemical responses of passive layers grown on samples immersed in these solutions under open circuit potential (ocp). A more resistive passive film was found on the samples exposed to the CE solution. The different voltammetric responses suggest differences in composition of the passive layers formed on each solution. XPS spectra confirm the dissimilarity in atomic composition. Optical microscope images and AFM images of the pits formed on the samples illustrate the differences of AISI 316 surface topography after exposure to model solutions. Because of these differences, it is recommended to use CE solution as a model solution and ocp passivation to simulate concrete environments.
Determination of the asymptotic D- to S-state ratio of the deuteron wave function

Cross sections and tensor analyzing powers in $\mathrm{dp}$ elastic scattering, measured at 35 and 45 MeV, are used to determine the asymptotic $D$- to $S$-state ratio of the deuteron wave function. The results agree with the value determined at lower energies and provide a considerably more precise averaged value: ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{D}=0.0263\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0013$.
Neutron Research Community

The News & Comment article “U.S. neutron scientists settle for less” by Andrew Lawler ([9 Aug., p. 728][1]) provides a sobering assessment of the current status of neutron facilities in the United States and prospects for new ones. I take issue, however, with the description of the neutron research community as “small and fractious.” The “fractious” aspects of our community (as Lawler amply demonstrates) are mainly within the U.S. Department of Energy and its competing national laboratories, not among neutron researchers, the large majority of whom come from universities and industries. Nor is our community “small.” Well over 1000 physicists, chemists, materials scientists, and engineers participate in research in the United States every year using neutron beams, and this number has doubled in the last decade. As an example, researchers using the reactor at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which has recently developed the only internationally competitive cold neutron research facility (CNRF) in the United States, have tripled since the opening of the CNRF in 1990. Moreover, these numbers do not reflect broad and critical U.S. needs for isotopes and irradiation facilities applied to medicine and technology, which also require modern neutron sources. Unfortunately, our community has not benefited from development of a totally new neutron source in this country for more than 25 years, and we are continuing to fall behind our international competitors, a point clearly documented by Lawler. We must find a way to meet the increasing neutron research needs of modern U.S. science and technology. Even in the face of tight budgets, we in our field must unite to make a coherent case and set priorities for critically needed investments for a new neutron source and for upgrades to existing neutron facilities. This effort must be less concerned with the needs of any particular national laboratory than with providing the best capabilities for the nation. Failure to succeed in this mission could lead to a loss of any chance for the United States to be competitive in vital neutron measurements, nuclear medicine, and related technologies, as we move into the next century. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.273.5276.728
Small sample behavior of robust stochastic approximation and iterated weighted least squares estimates for location

A class of robuet estimates of location uses the Robbins-Monro stochastic approximation algorithm as a basis. These estimates, called SA-estimates, have been proposed by Martin (1972), who established an asymptotic min-max result like that of P. Huber (1964) for M-estimates. Here we study in detail the small sample behavior of robust SA-estimates for location at sample sizes N = 10, 20, 40 using Monte Carlo swindle techniques. Results are presented for point estimate efficiencies and for error rates and expected confidence interval lengths obtained by studentizing through use of the natural estimate of the asymptotic variance formula. Unlike M-estimates, SA-estimates are not invariant under permutations of the data order. Thus our study included one-step M-estimates and iterated- weighted least squares estimates. This was done not only for comparison purposes, but also because the latter are of interest in their own right. The results show that SA-estimate losses due to the lack of invariance under permut...
Heat–transfer effects of coalescence of bubbles from various site distributions

A boilingheattransfer study with controlled coalescence of bubbles has been performed by producing dual or multiple individual bubbles from microheaters (0.27 mm 0.27 mm). The effects of separation distances between the bubbles and the number of bubbles participating in the process were investigated with various heater configurations. Each heater is kept at a nominally constant temperature during the experiment so that the time and spaceresolved heat flux can be measured at a frequency of ca. 4500 times per second. In each case, the heaters were set at the same superheat and the superheat was varied from 35 to 85 K. Based on the heat fluxes measured by the dataacquisition system, we found that the heattransfer enhancement rate becomes higher as the separation distances increase between the bubbles. The bubblingcycle duration decreases with the separation distance. The heattransfer enhancement is attributed to rewetting of the dry heater surface and turbulent mixing effects. Also, together with visualizati...
The V(D)J recombination signal sequence and χB binding protein Rc binds DNA as dimers and forms multimeric structures with its DNA ligands

The murine DNA binding protein Rc binds to the heptamer motif of the V(D)J recombination signal sequences and to the kappa B motif of the immunoglobulin enhancer. Bacterial fusion proteins for Rc and DNA ligands of Rc form multiple protein-DNA complexes in electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA). Large complexes formation is favored by an increased Rc concentration. In order to determine the architecture of these complexes, the apparent molecular weights of the protein-DNA complexes were first determined by their gel mobilities. The data suggest that Rc binds to its DNA ligands as dimers, tetramers, and multiples of tetramers. The inference that Rc binds DNA as dimers was substantiated by the formation of chimeric complexes when two electrophoretically distinguishable Rc proteins were employed in EMSA. Methylation interference experiments show that there are no contiguous protein binding sites evident in the DNA of the larger complexes. Apparently, multimerization occurs via protein-protein interactions. Such interaction was demonstrated by the formation of Rc dimers and tetramers in a chemical crosslinking experiment. Significantly, the multimerization of DNA-bound Rc could be involved in bringing the variable region gene segments together for the somatic V(D)J recombination.
Discovery of antagonists of tick dopamine receptors via chemical library screening and comparative pharmacological analyses.

Abstract Ticks transmit a wide variety of disease causing pathogens to humans and animals. Considering the global health impact of tick-borne diseases, there is a pressing need to develop new methods for vector control. We are exploring arthropod dopamine receptors as novel targets for insecticide/acaricide development because of their integral roles in neurobiology. Herein, we developed a screening assay for dopamine receptor antagonists to further characterize the pharmacological properties of the two D1-like dopamine receptors (Isdop1 and Isdop2) identified in the Lyme disease vector, Ixodes scapularis, and develop a screening assay for receptor antagonists. A cell-based, cyclic AMP luciferase reporter assay platform was implemented to screen the LOPAC1280 small molecule library for Isdop2 receptor antagonists, representing the first reported chemical library screen for any tick G protein-coupled receptor. Screening resulted in the identification of 85 “hit” compounds with antagonist activity at the Isdop2 receptor. Eight of these chemistries were selected for confirmation assays using a direct measurement of cAMP, and the effects on both Isdop1 and Isdop2 were studied for comparison. Each of these eight compounds showed antagonistic activity at both Isdop1 and Isdop2, although differences were observed regarding their relative potencies. Furthermore, comparison of the pharmacological properties of the tick dopamine receptors with that of the AaDOP2 receptor from the yellow fever mosquito and the human dopamine D1 receptor (hD1) revealed species-specific pharmacological profiles of these receptors. Compounds influencing dopaminergic functioning, such as the dopamine receptor antagonists discovered here, may provide lead chemistries for discovery of novel acaricides useful for vector control.
Specific interactions of chromatin with the nuclear envelope: positional determination within the nucleus in Drosophila melanogaster.

Specific interactions of chromatin with the nuclear envelope (NE) in early embryos of Drosophila melanogaster have been mapped and analyzed. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization, the three-dime...
Urinary excretion of tertiary amino methoxy methylenedioxy propiophenones as metabolites of myristicin in the rat and guinea pig

Abstract Two nitrogen-containing metabolites of myristicin (1-methoxy-2,3-methylenedioxy-5-allyl benzene) are excreted in the urine of rats and guinea pigs following oral or intraperitoneal administration. The major basic ninhydrin-positive urinary metabolite of myristicin in the rat is 3-piperidyl-1-(3′methoxy-4′,5′-methylenedioxyphenyl)-1-propanone, while the major basic ninhydrin-positive urinary metabolite of the guinea pig is 3-pyrrolidinyl-1-(3′methoxy-4′,5′-methylenedioxyphenyl)-1-propanone. In addition, the rat and guinea pig excrete trace quantities of the pyrrolidinyl ketone and piperidyl ketone, respectively. In contrast to the urinary basic metabolites of safrole, no detectable quantity of the N , N dimethylamino ketone was present in either rat or guinea pig urine after administration of myristicin; the guinea pig upon administration of safrole excreted only the substituted 3- NN -dimethyl amino propiophenone.
Thermodynamic limits of hybrid photovoltaic systems using multiple junction solar cells with carrier transitions at intermediate band

We have proposed the first demonstration of hybrid thermodynamic approach between multiple junction solar cells and the intermediate band solar cells. Because of increasing number of transitions inside each multiple junction from intermediate band, reduced number of stacks in this hybrid solar cell can be possible to increase efficiency compared to more than four stacks of conventional multijunction solar cells. The maximum efficiency of two stacks hybrid solar cells has been enhanced and its value is larger than over 4 stacks of multijunction solar cells. We have also found optimum bandgap of each stack and studied optimum transition of each stack both from valence band to intermediate band and intermediate band to conduction band.
Three Types of Perceived Uncertainty About the Environment: State, Effect, and Response Uncertainty

The research literature on environmental uncertainty is briefly reviewed to illustrate problems and inconsistencies in conceptualizing and measuring the construct. Three types of perceived uncertainty about the environment are described and their implications for the behavior of an organization's administrators are discussed. The failure to differentiate between these types may explain some of the confusion about environmental uncertainty.
The two‐parameter bathtub‐shaped lifetime distribution

The above article (DOI: 10.1002/qre.795) was published online on 23 May 2006 in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). An error was subsequently identified in the first paragraph. Please find the corrected paragraph below. The recent paper by Wu et al.1 claims to have studied a new distribution (originally introduced by Chen2) that exhibits a bathtub-shaped hazard rate function. The cumulative distribution function (CDF) of this new distribution is given as (1) for and . It appears to us that the distribution given by (1) or a more general form of it has appeared before in at least three published papers. The print publication will incorporate the amendments identified by this erratum notice.
Group B Streptococcus induces a caspase-dependent apoptosis in fetal rat lung interstitium

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is an important pathogen and is associated with sepsis and meningitis in neonates and infants. An ex vivo model that facilitates observations of GBS interactions with multiple host cell types over time was used to study its pathogenicity. GBS infections were associated with profound reductions in fetal lung; explant size, and airway branching. Elevated levels of apoptosis subsequent to GBS infections were observed by whole-mount confocal immunofluorescence using activated-caspase-3-antibodies and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assays. The caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK abolished the increase in TUNEL-positive cells associated with GBS infections, indicating that the GBS-induced apoptosis was caspase-dependent. Digital image analyses revealed that both GBS and the active form of caspase-3 were distributed primarily within the lung interstitium, suggesting that these tissues are important targets for GBS. Antibodies to the active form of caspase-3 colocalized with both macrophage- and erythroblast-markers, suggesting that these hematopoietic cells are vulnerable to GBS-mediated pathogenesis. These studies suggest that GBS infections profoundly alter lung morphology and caspase-dependent hematopoietic cell apoptosis within the lung interstitium play roles in GBS pathophysiology in this model.
Design and implementation of the idemix anonymous credential system

Anonymous credential systems [8, 9, 12, 24] allow anonymous yet authenticated and accountable transactions between users and service providers. As such, they represent a powerful technique for protecting users' privacy when conducting Internet transactions. In this paper, we describe the design and implementation of an anonymous credential system based on the protocols developed by [6]. The system is based on new high-level primitives and interfaces allowing for easy integration into access control systems. The prototype was realized in Java. We demonstrate its use and some deployment issues with the description of an operational demonstration scenario.
Utilization of cholecystokinin cholescintigraphy in clinical practice

Cholecystokinin-cholescintigraphy (CCK-HIDA) is commonly performed to evaluate patients with upper abdominal pain thought to be biliary in origin and with a normal gallbladder on abdominal ultrasonography. The nomenclature of this disease entity, based on the finding of an abnormally low gallbladder ejection fraction (GBEF) on the CCK-HIDA examination, varies in the literature and has been known as biliary dyskinesia, gallbladder dyskinesia, functional gallbladder disorder, chronic acalculous cholecystitis, and chronic acalculous biliary dysfunction, just to name a few. For the purposes of this review, we will use the term gallbladder dyskinesia because this is the term most referenced in the surgical literature. Cholecystectomy is commonly recommended as the treatment of choice in these patients. 1 Although used commonly in today’s clinical surgical practice, the CCK-HIDA testing methodology, test interpretation, patient selection, and controversies surrounding long-term treatment outcomes pertaining to surgical intervention for gallbladder dyskinesia are controversial and poorly understood by many practicing clinicians. This review details the controversies surrounding the testing methodology, the method of determining normal vs abnormal CCK-HIDA values, and the data both supporting and questioning its clinical use to select patients for cholecystectomy based on the current available literature. In addition, evidence-based recommendations for the use of CCK-HIDA in clinical practice are presented.
Effective page refresh policies for Web crawlers

In this article, we study how we can maintain local copies of remote data sources "fresh," when the source data is updated autonomously and independently. In particular, we study the problem of Web crawlers that maintain local copies of remote Web pages for Web search engines. In this context, remote data sources (Websites) do not notify the copies (Web crawlers) of new changes, so we need to periodically poll the sources to maintain the copies up-to-date. Since polling the sources takes significant time and resources, it is very difficult to keep the copies completely up-to-date.This article proposes various refresh policies and studies their effectiveness. We first formalize the notion of "freshness" of copied data by defining two freshness metrics, and we propose a Poisson process as the change model of data sources. Based on this framework, we examine the effectiveness of the proposed refresh policies analytically and experimentally. We show that a Poisson process is a good model to describe the changes of Web pages and we also show that our proposed refresh policies improve the "freshness" of data very significantly. In certain cases, we got orders of magnitude improvement from existing policies.
Abstract 2300: Overexpression of Snail induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cancer stem cell-like phenotypes in CRC cells

Background: Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical process providing tumor cells with the ability to migrate and escape from the primary tumor and metastasize to distant sites. Recently, EMT has been shown to be associated with the cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotype in breast cancer. Snail is a transcriptional factor that mediates EMT in a number of tumor types. Its aberrant expression has been found in various cancers including colorectal cancer (CRC). The role of Snail in mediating EMT and CSC function in CRC has not yet been fully elucidated. Methods: The human CRC cell lines HT29 and KM12L4 were transduced with a retrovirus containing the pBabe-puro-Snail expression construct or the empty vector. The Snail expressing cells and controls were selected with the medium containing 2µg/ml puromycin. Changes in cell proliferation and chemo-sensitivity were determined by MTT assay. Migration and invasion were determined using in vitro wound healing assay and modified Boyden Chamber assays, respectively. EMT makers (E-cadherin, vimentin) and the putative CSC marker CD133 was analyzed by Western blotting. ALDH1 enzyme activity was analyzed by the Aldefluor assay. Results: Overexpression of Snail in CRC cells induced an EMT phenotype with elevated expression of vimentin and reduced expression of E-cadherin. Snail-induced EMT did not alter cell proliferation but showed enhanced cell motility, in which Snail-expressing cells were 5- to 6-fold more migratory than the control cells. Snail also promoted the CSC-like phenotype demonstrated by increased expression of the CSC markers CD133. The aldefluor positive cell population in the Snail-expressing cells was increased ∼4 fold. Moreover, the Snail-expressing CRC cells showed increased chemoresistance to 5FU by 50%. Conclusion. High level of Snail expression confers the EMT and CSC phenotype in CRC cells, which enhanced cancer cell invasion and chemoresistance. Our data suggest that Snail may be a potential therapeutic target in metastatic colorectal cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2300.
Measurement of ionic concentration profiles in membranes during transport

An analytical technique is developed that allows for the measurement of 137Cs+ concentration profiles in an ion-conducting membrane during transport conditions. The experimental results are compared with a numerical model. The qualitative agreement between theoretical and experimental concentration profiles supports the use of macrohomogeneous mathematical descriptions of transport in perfluorosulfonic acid membranes, which are often used for the simulation of devices containing these materials. Our experimental results indicate that the tortuosity for the perfluorosulfonic acid membrane of this study does not have a strong dependence on the direction of ionic transport, which implies that the polymer-electrolyte system is relatively isotropic with regard to ionic transport. An experimental technique was also developed and implemented to determine if Cs+ adsorbs irreversibly onto the membrane surfaces. Our results show that no such adsorption takes place, which also indicates that neither protons nor other alkali-metal ions adsorb.
Cell Signaling and the Genesis of Neuropathic Pain

Damage to the nervous system can cause neuropathic pain, which is in general poorly treated and involves mechanisms that are incompletely known. Currently available animal models for neuropathic pain mainly involve partial injury of peripheral nerves. Multiple inflammatory mediators released from damaged tissue not only acutely excite primary sensory neurons in the peripheral nervous system, producing ectopic discharge, but also lead to a sustained increase in their excitability. Hyperexcitability also develops in the central nervous system (for instance, in dorsal horn neurons), and both peripheral and spinal elements contribute to neuropathic pain, so that spontaneous pain may occur or normally innocuous stimuli may produce pain. Inflammatory mediators and aberrant neuronal activity activate several signaling pathways [including protein kinases A and C, calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase, and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs)] in primary sensory and dorsal horn neurons that mediate the induction and maintenance of neuropathic pain through both posttranslational and transcriptional mechanisms. In particular, peripheral nerve lesions result in activation of MAPKs (p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase) in microglia or astrocytes in the spinal cord, or both, leading to the production of inflammatory mediators that sensitize dorsal horn neurons. Activity of dorsal horn neurons, in turn, enhances activation of spinal glia. This neuron-glia interaction involves positive feedback mechanisms and is likely to enhance and prolong neuropathic pain even in the absence of ongoing peripheral external stimulation or injury. The goal of this review is to present evidence for signaling cascades in these cell types that not only will deepen our understanding of the genesis of neuropathic pain but also may help to identify new targets for pharmacological intervention.
Current treatments of the anxiety disorders in adults.

Abstract The progress in developing effective treatments for the five principal anxiety disorders (ADs) in adults—panic disorder (PD), social phobia (SP), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)—has been rapid in the past 15 years. There are now well-controlled clinical trials documenting effective pharmacological and psychological treatments for all of these disorders, although generally the evidence is better developed for some disorders than for others. Both the pharmacological treatments and the effective psychological treatments for each disorder will be briefly reviewed. The available data for combination treatment will be reviewed and comparisons of the two types of treatment will be made. This review will contain at least brief reviews of what the treatments involve and attempt to describe how well they work. Many studies unfortunately report only the percentage of patients who “improve” without quantifying the clinical significance of those responses. Data underlining clinical response in terms of the percentage of patients who have an “excellent,” “marked,” or “moderate” response, and the percentage of patients with a “clinically significant” response will be reported whenever available. Other clinically relevant issues such as length of treatment-relapse rates upon discontinuation and side effects will be presented. As such, this article should provide a brief but comprehensive review of the treatment of these disorders in adults.
So many controls; so little control: The case of Isaac Henderson, Navy Agent at New York, 1861-4:

The experience of one man, Isaac Henderson, provides the lens through which this study examines the operation during the Civil War of the federal expenditure control system of the USA. This system’s requisitioning, disbursing and auditing activities cannot be disentangled from the patronage system and profiteering that inevitably accompany war. Surging activity levels brought on by the war only aggravated the existing weaknesses. Rigidities, redundancies and formalities within the Treasury Department delayed disbursement processing and the subsequent auditing of those disbursements. Clerks who approved disbursements also audited the same disbursements. The focus on appropriation accounting — rather than on information for planning and control purposes — reflected the view that controls existed primarily to assure Congress and the public that money was spent in conformity with laws and regulations. Improper charges were sometimes intentionally placed against appropriations with available balances. Thus the...
U.S. Geological Survey Marine-Minerals Research

The U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone is an area approximately one and two-thirds the size of the land area of the United States. In this frontier area, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) research in marine minerals is aimed at three objectives: (1) defining geologic settings of potential mineral resources, (2) understanding the processes by which sea-floor nonliving resources form, and (3) estimating the resource potential. Potential resources of primary interest are cobalt-rich manganese sea-floor crusts, polymetallic sulfides in hydrothermal vent areas on the sea floor, and heavy-mineral placer deposits. Research activities include studies of manganese-crust samples from oceanographic-institution archives and a USGS research cruise through the central and southern Pacific. Preliminary results confirm that cobalt is concentrated by as much as 2.5 percent in the manganese crusts at water depths of 1,000-2,600 meters; further research on the precipitation processes and patterns of crust formation will be needed to understand the origin, occurrence patterns, and resource potential of these crusts. Research cruises have revealed a zone of polymetallic sulfide vent deposits a few hundred meters long in the Juan de Fuca spreading center. In September-October 1984, 15 ALVIN dives are scheduled for closeup study of the vent deposits, which will be compared with onshore massive-sulfide deposits. Other cruise data suggest that sulfides should be present in the sediment-filled axial trough of the Gorda Ridge.
Nonspecific binding of monoclonal anti-FLAG M2 antibody in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea)

Chimeric constructs with the hydrophilic octapeptide FLAG epitope (DYKDDDDK) have been widely used as multipurpose tags for identification, detection, and purification of FLAG fusion proteins. Constructs consisting of C-terminal FLAG-tagged genomic and cDNA clones of anArabidopsis phytochelatin synthase gene,AtPCS1, were used in developing transgenic lines of Indian mustard. Presence and expression ofAtPCS1 in transgenic lines were confirmed by using PCR and Northern blot analyses. However, immunoblot analysis revealed strong nonspecific binding of a monoclonal anti-FLAG M2 antibody to an endogenous protein in both shoot and leaf tissues of wild-type Indian mustard (85-kDa) that masked presence of the phytochelatin synthase (PCS) protein of interest (55-kDa). Further analysis revealed absence of a nonspecific protein in root tissues of transgenic plants, thus allowing detection of the FLAG-tagged PCS protein.
Modeling the Small-World Phenomenon with Local Network Flow

The small-world phenomenon includes both small average distance and the clustering effect. Randomly generated graphs with a power law degree distribution are widely used to model large real-world networks, but while these graphs have small average distance, they generally do not exhibit the clustering effect. We introduce an improved hybrid model that combines a global graph (a random power law graph) with a local graph (a graph with high local connectivity defined by network flow). We present an efficient algorithm that extracts a local graph from a given realistic network. We show that the underlying local graph is robust in the sense that when our extraction algorithm is applied to a hybrid graph, it recovers the original local graph with a small error. The proof involves a probabilistic analysis of the growth of neighborhoods in the hybrid graph model.
Serial passage of embryonic human astrocytes in serum‐free, hormone‐supplemented medium

We applied serum-free cell culture methods that allow extended proliferation of mouse astrocyte precursor cells to the multipassage culture of embryonic human brain cells. Cells were cultured in nutrient medium supplemented with insulin, transferrin, epidermal growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, heparin, high-density lipoprotein, and fibronectin. Cultures were maintained for a maximum of 70 population doublings before proliferation ceased. The cells synthesized glial fibrillary acidic protein, an astrocyte marker, and expression of this protein was increased by incubation of the cells with transforming growth factor beta or serum. These results identify extracellular factors important for proliferation and differentiation of embryonic human astrocytes and provide a controlled system for multipassage culture.
Implications concerning rod bundle crossflow mixing based on measurements of turbulent flow structure

Abstract An experimental study was performed to investigate the effect of flow channel geometry on fully developed turbulent flow in “clean” rod bundle flow channels. This information was sought to obtain a better understanding of crossflow mixing between rod bundle subchannels. The experiments were performed in water with a Reynolds number range from 50 000 to 200 000. The experimental flow models considered pitch-to-diameter ratios of 1.25 and 1.125. Axial components of velocity, turbulence intensity and Eulerian autocorrelation function were the primary measurements. The autocorrelation function provided an indication of the dominant frequency of turbulence and an estimate of the longitudinal macroscale by using Taylor's hypothesis. A limited amount of lateral component turbulence intensity data was also obtained. The experimental results show that rod gap spacing (pitch-to-diameter ratio) is the most significant geometric parameter affecting the flow structure. Decreasing the rod gap spacing increases the turbulence intensity, longitudinal macroscale, and the dominant frequency of turbulence. These turbulence parameters are rather insensitive to Reynolds number. The results indicate that macroscopic flow processes exist adjacent to the rod gap. This includes secondary flows and increased scale and frequency of flow pulsations when the rod gap spacing is reduced. When interpreted in terms of crossflow mixing, the results are consistent with present crossflow mixing correlations.
Papillary thyroid cancer in struma testis with malignant transformation in the lung associated with trisomy 17 successfully treated with total thyroidectomy and radioiodine ablation.

Background: Struma testis is a rare entity, and there are only few reports on the malignant transformation of a testicular teratoma to papillary thyroid carcinoma in the literature. In this report, we describe the malignant transformation of struma testis with distant lung metastasis associated with trisomy 17 and a coexisting papillary microcarcinoma in the thyroid. Case Report: A 56-year-old man presented after a left orchiectomy for an undescended left testicle. Pathologic examination identified a monodermal teratoma composed of thyroid parenchyma and associated with a 1.7-cm papillary thyroid carcinoma. Further evaluation showed a pulmonary mass on a chest CT scan. Total thyroidectomy revealed a 0.5-mm focus of papillary thyroid cancer, and removal of the lung mass confirmed metastatic papillary thyroid cancer. Array-comparative genomic hybridization of both tumors showed trisomy 17 in the struma testes and the lung metastasis. The patient responded well to radioactive iodine ablation and has no evidence of cancer 3 years later. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first case of papillary thyroid cancer in struma testes metastatic to the lung. It highlights the difficulties in treating these patients. Surgery to remove cancer foci, followed by radioactive iodine ablation, resulted in an excellent response in our patient. Interestingly, trisomy 17, which has so far been observed only in noninvasive thyroid nodules, was associated with pulmonary metastasis in our patient.