cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Passive immunization against nicotine prevents nicotine alleviation of nicotine abstinence syndrome

Abstract Passive immunization against nicotine interferes with its locomotor and pressor effects. The current study determined whether immunization could prevent another nicotine action: the reversal of nicotine abstinence syndrome. IgG containing 4.4–5.6% nicotine-specific antibody was isolated from rabbits immunized with 3′-amino-methyl-nicotine conjugated to a carrier protein. Twenty rats were rendered dependent by 7 days of subcutaneous infusion of 3.15 mg/kg/day nicotine (expressed as the base). Upon termination of nicotine infusion, each rat was injected intraperitoneally with 150 mg of IgG from normal serum ( n =13) or from nicotine antiserum ( n =7). Twenty-two and one-half hours later, all rats were observed over 15 min for baseline nicotine abstinence signs. Two and one-half hours after baseline observations, seven of the 13 rats pretreated with control IgG and all seven rats pretreated with nicotine-specific IgG were then challenged by 0.12 mg/kg (sc) nicotine. The remaining six rats pretreated with control IgG were challenged with saline alone. All rats were then observed again for abstinence signs. Nicotine injection caused significantly less reduction of abstinence signs in the immunized rats. The nicotine effect in immunized rats was comparable to the saline effect in nonimmunized rats. Immunization also significantly reduced free serum nicotine concentration and nicotine distribution to the brain. These results raise the possibility that immunization might prevent nicotine consumption from relieving the discomforts of smoking cessation.
The regulation of megakaryocytopoiesis

The process of megakaryocytopoiesis begins with the commitment of a pluripotent hematopoietic stem cell to a differentiation pathway that culminates in the release of mature platelets into the circulation. A variety of megakaryocyte precursor cells have been identified after stem cell commitment has occurred and these may be recognized by their morphologic or immunophenotypic characteristics. Megakaryocytopoiesis is regulated by a number of cytokines with either stimulatory or inhibitory effects and by a variety of cell-cell interactions. Some factors potentiating platelet development promote the proliferation of megakaryocyte progenitor cells, while others result in their maturation. Thrombopoietin, a cytokine with specific megakaryocyte maturational activity recently has been identified as the c-Mpl ligand, and it will be evaluated as a therapeutic agent in the setting of thrombocytopenia due to impaired megakaryocytopoiesis.
Classical representation of a quantum system at equilibrium: Theory

A quantum system at equilibrium is represented by a corresponding classical system, chosen to reproduce thermodynamic and structural properties. The motivation is to allow application of classical strong-coupling theories and molecular dynamics simulation to quantum systems at strong coupling. The correspondence is made at the level of the grand-canonical ensembles for the two systems. An effective temperature, local chemical potential, and pair potential are introduced to define the corresponding classical system. These are determined formally by requiring the equivalence of the grand potentials and their functional derivatives. Practical inversions of these formal definitions are indicated via the integral equations for densities and pair correlation functions of classical liquid theory. Application to the ideal Fermi gas is demonstrated, and the weak-coupling form for the pair potential is given. In a companion paper two applications are described: the thermodynamics and structure of uniform jellium over a range of temperatures and densities and the shell structure of harmonically bound charges.
Studies on the reduction of elastin. Biosynthesis and stability of the aldol condensation product of α-aminoadipic acid-δ-semialdehyde

Abstract 1. 1. Elastin isolated from chick-embryo aortas, which had been grown in tissue culture in the presence of [ 14 C]lysine, showed significant incorporation of lysine into residues of α-aminoadipic acid-δ-semialdehyde and its aldol condensation product. The presence of β-aminopropionitrile inhibited the incorporation of lysine into these residues. 2. 2. Reduction of an elastase digest of elastin yielded significantly less quantities of α-aminoadipic acid-δ-semialdehyde and its aldol condensation product when compared to a digest of elastin which had been reduced with NaBH 4 before digestion. 3. 3. Pretreatment of elastin with alkali according to the procedure of Lansing et al. 1 caused a significant decrease in the content of the aldol condensation product when compared to an elastin preparation which had not been pretreated with alkali.
Somatic mitoses of Drosophila melanogaster

The chromosomes of D. melanogaster have been followed through the entire cycle of mitosis in ganglion cells. Primary constrictions exist at about the middle of the second and third chromosomes, at a sub-median position in the Y, at a sub-terminal in the X, and probably also at a sub-terminal position in the fourth chromosome. Secondary constrictions, in addition to those reported by Bridges, are sub-terminal in the arms of the second and third chromosomes. A pronounced sub-median secondary constriction in the left limb of the second chromosome offers a criterion for distinguishing between the second and third chromosomes, and between right and left arms of the second chromosome. The proximal secondary constriction in the X-chromosome and that in the short arm of the Y are associated with the normal development of the nucleolus. Anaphase chromosomes are longitudinally double, the split following the turns of the chromonemata. Metaphase and anaphase chromosomes are essentially isodiametric from end to end, except at the constrictions or indentures. Somatic pairing of chromosomes reaches its maximum expression during late prophases, both in male and female ganglion cells. The four chromatids of the tightly appressed homologues open out in two planes giving distinct chiasma-like configurations. Separation of the paired chromosomes is completed in late prophase, so that at metaphase the homologous chromosomes are not in contact.
Allometry and the geometry of leaf-cutting in Atta cephalotes

This study considers the relationship of both leg length and the geometry of leaf-cutting to load-size determination by the highly polymorphic leaf-cutting ant Atta cephalotes. A. cephalotes workers anchor on the leaf edge by their hind legs and pivot around them while cutting arcs from leaves. I tested the hypothesis that, for an ant cutting a semicircular leaf fragment, fragment area is determined by a fixed “reach” while cutting. This “reach hypothesis” predicts that ants should cut the same fragment-area for at all leaf types. Also, if the radius of the semicircular fragment is proportional to hind leg length, this hypothesis predicts that leaf area should be proportional to hind-leg length squared. The field work was carried out in March–April 1990 and June 1991 in Heredia Province, Costa Rica. I measured hind-leg length for workers of different masses. I then measured leaf-fragment area and mass for workers cutting semicircular fragments from leaves of different densities (mass/area). The logarithmic relationship between ant mass (Ma) and hind-leg length L accelerated negatively (Fig. 1). As a result of this “complex” allometry, relative leg length (L/Ma0.33) increased with ant mass up to a mass of 7.4 mg. Above 7.4 mg, relative leg length decreased. For foragers cutting semicircular fragments, the area cut by an ant of a given size showed no significant difference among leaves of different densities (Fig. 2). Leaf area (A) increased as a function of leg length to the 1.9 power (Fig. 4), an exponent not significantly different from the square function expected if the radius of a fragment is determined by the ant's “reach”. As a result of this consistent mode of fragment-area determination, the mass of fragments cut by an ant of a given size was significantly greater when cutting denser leaves (Fig. 3) and relative area (A/Ma) cut decreased with increasing ant mass. However, because larger ants generally cut denser leaves (Table 1), the increased density of thick leaves was offset by the reduced relative area cut by the larger ants. Overall, 93% of the foragers cut fragments weighing between 1.5 and 6 times their own body mass (Table 1). Earlier studies found that this broad load-mass range maximized the biomass-transport rate (mass/distance/time) and transport efficiency (mass/distance/energy cost). Thus, A. cephalotes does not solve the problem of matching ant mass and load mass at leaves of different densities with flexibility in the leaf-cutting behavior of individual ants. Instead, individual ants employ a single simple behavioral rule, but workers of different sizes and body proportions tend to cut leaves of different densities.
Quantitative Endovascular Fluorescence-based Molecular Imaging through Blood of Arterial Wall Inflammation

Purpose: To evaluate an author-developed normalization algorithm for quantitative imaging of optical molecular probes through blood and to assess, in the rat aorta after focal aortic injury, the feasibility of measuring protease activity by using this method. Materials and Methods: This study was performed according to a protocol approved by the institutional animal care committee. A Monte Carlo simulation was used to determine the pair of near-infrared (NIR) dyes that was best suited for the normalization algorithm. The authors tested the correction method in vitro and in vivo by injecting free dye mixtures intramurally in the aortas of four rats. The potential clinical utility was then evaluated by applying the method to the endovascular measurement of protease activity in a rat model of focal aortic injury. Results: When the Monte Carlo simulation was used in the normalization algorithm, it was predicted that the intensities of signals from two NIR dyes would vary ±3% across 1 mm of blood compared with the intensity of the raw fluorochrome signal, which would vary ±60%. This result was validated in vitro. Endovascular imaging of free dye collections revealed that clinically relevant, uncontrollable differences in the amount of blood intervening between the imaging catheter and the dye collection precipitated dramatic variations in raw NIR fluorescence. However, use of the correction method resolved these variations such that the measured signal intensity correlated well with the different dye concentrations in the different animals. Moreover, endovascular imaging of the focal aortic injury model enabled successful measurement of enzyme activity in the walls of the rat aortas. Conclusion: The authors implemented a correction method for quantitative real-time endovascular imaging of fluorescence that enables one to resolve the attenuating effects of blood on NIR signal. © RSNA, 2009
Effects of acute tryptophan depletion on mood in bulimia nervosa

Abstract Background: The present study investigated the role of serotonin in the pathophysiology of bulimia nervosa (BN) by studying the affective and appetitive responses of women ill with BN to an acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) paradigm. Methods: Twenty-two women with BN and 16 healthy control women (CW) were studied on 2 separate days during the follicular stage of the menstrual cycle. Participants drank a control mix of essential amino acids (100 g + 4.6 g tryptophan) on one day and a tryptophan deficient (100 g − 4.6 g tryptophan) mixture (ATD) on the other in a double-blind fashion. Mood/appetite ratings and blood samples were taken at baseline and at intervals up to 420 minutes. Participants were then presented with an array of foods and were allowed to binge and vomit if they desired. Results: CW and BN women had a similar and significant reduction in plasma tryptophan levels and the tryptophan:LNAA ratio after ATD. After ATD, the BN women had a significantly greater increase in peak (minus baseline) depression, mood lability, sadness and desire to binge compared to the CW. BN subjects and CW had similar peak changes in mood after the control amino acid mixture. BN subjects and CW consumed similar amounts of food after the two amino acid treatments. Conclusions: Women with BN seem more vulnerable to the mood lowering effects of ATD, suggesting they have altered modulation of central 5-HT neuronal systems.
Modeling of hot isostatic pressing and hot triaxial compaction of Ti–6Al–4V powder

Abstract The accuracy of a hybrid continuum–micromechanical model for predicting the rate-dependent consolidation of metal powder was established using measurements from hot isostatic pressing (HIP) and hot triaxial compaction (HTC) experiments. The experiments were performed with PREP® Ti–6Al–4V powder encapsulated in thin-walled containers and yielded relative density vs time and height vs relative density data for direct comparisons with model predictions. The model was found to underpredict the densification rate in HIP, primarily during the early stages of consolidation, and the degree of consolidation during HTC. Adjustments to the values of the strain-rate sensitivity or a state variable representing the geometric structure of powder compacts resulted in good agreement between hybrid model predictions and measurements. The physical basis for discrepancies between predictions and measurements and justification for the postulated/required parameter adjustments were attributed to two factors: (1) differences in microstructure between the unconsolidated powder and the fully consolidated material used in the compression testing to obtain the material coefficients for the model; and (2) interparticle bonding characteristics/particle sliding effects not taken into account in determining the material properties for the model.
Oligogalacturonide trans-eliminase of Erwinia carotovora.

Abstract An enzyme, oligogalacturonide trans-eliminase (OGTE), which degrades O-(4-deoxy-β- l -5-threo-hexopyranos-4-enyluronic acid)-(1 → 4)- d -galacturonic acid (“unsaturated digalacturonic acid”) into two molecules of 4-deoxy-5-hexoseulose uronic acid, has been purified from cell-free extracts of Erwinia carotovora. This enzyme also cleaves normal digalacturonic acid to one molecule of d -galacturonic acid and one molecule of the deoxyketuronic acid, indicating an eliminase (“lyase”) reaction. Polygalacturonic acid is attacked by purified OGTE at 1 400 the rate of unsaturated digalacturonic acid. The rate of attack by OGTE on oligogalacturonides varies inversely with the chain length of the substrate. The monomer, galacturonic acid, is not converted to the deoxyketuronic acid by OGTE. Erwinia OGTE has a pH optimun of approximately 7.2, and it does not require calcium ions for maximum activity. In the presence of Erwinia cell-free extracts and NADH, the deoxyketuronic acid is converted to 2-keto-3-deoxy- d -gluconic acid, presumably with the intermediate formation of 3-deoxy- d -glycero-2,5-hexodiulosonic acid. Two pathways are thus involved in the metabolism of pectic substances by Erwinia carotovora: one route through galacturonic acid (involving galacturonic acid isomerase), and the other through unsaturated digalacturonic acid (involving OGTE) with the formation of 4-deoxy-5-hexoseulose uronic acid. Both pathways yield 2-keto-3-deoxy- d -gluconic acid as a common product.
Fourier analysis on the Heisenberg group.

Abstract We obtain a usable characterization of the (group) Fourier transform of 𝒮(Hn) (Schwartz space on the Heisenberg group). The characterization involves writing elements of [Formula: see text] as asymptotic series in Planck's constant. In the process, we derive a new “discrete” version of spherical harmonics, and elucidate the theory of group contractions. We give an application to Hardy space theory.
An update on the role of translesion synthesis DNA polymerases in Ig hypermutation

Several years have passed since the discovery of activation-induced cytosine deaminase (AID), the molecule responsible for triggering hypermutation of Ig genes. We now know that AID deaminates cytosines in the DNA encoding the variable portion of the Ig receptor, although an additional role in deaminating a regulatory mRNA transcript has not been ruled out. A major question that remains unanswered is how AID, a cytosine deaminase, causes mutations at both G:C and A:T base pairs. Mounting evidence suggests the involvement of a group of error-prone DNA polymerases known to bypass DNA lesions: the translesion synthesis (TLS) DNA polymerases. In this Review, we discuss the evidence for a role of TLS DNA polymerases in Ig hypermutation and argue that a major remaining challenge in our understanding of this mechanism is the recruitment of TLS DNA polymerases to the Ig locus following AID-mediated cytosine deamination.
The Moisture Budget over the Northeastern Arabian Sea during Premonsoon and Monsoon Onset, 1979

Abstract Moisture budgets are calculated for premonsoon and monsoon onset conditions in the northeastern Arabian Sea during summer 1979 from kinematic analysis of aircraft dropsonde, ship and island radiosonde, and satellite-derived winds. Dramatic changes are observed between the premonsoon and monsoon onset mean kinematic and moisture fields. Specific humidity increased as much as 5 g kg−1 in much of the middle troposphere between 29 May and 17 June 1979. This is apparently due to deep convection during the monsoon onset period and mid-level advection of moisture during the premonsoon period. Flux of moisture through the budget boundaries is comparable to previous estimates for the Arabian Sea. It is shown that the loss of moisture through cirrus outflow accounts for only 1–3% of the total budget flux. Evaporation from the sea surface is 3 to 4 times higher during the onset period and was greatest south of 12°N. Maps of precipitation as a residual of the moisture budget computations agree remarkably wel...
Reactions of Laser-Ablated Niobium, Tantalum, and Rhenium Atoms with Nitrogen Atoms and Molecules. Infrared Spectra and Density Functional Calculations of the Metal Nitride and Dinitride Molecules

Laser-ablated niobium, tantalum, and rhenium atoms have been reacted with nitrogen atoms and molecules during condensation in excess argon and in pure nitrogen gas. Metal nitride molecules NbN, TaN, ReN, and their dinitrogen complexes were trapped and identified by nitrogen isotopic shifts and DFT frequency calculations. The NbN2 and TaN2 dinitride molecules were produced on annealing in solid nitrogen and on deposition and increased on photolysis in solid argon. Metal dinitrogen complexes were also observed for each metal.
Pregnancy: not a disease but still a health risk.

In a landmark decision to advance public health, the Obama to modern medical care, about 1/10,000 US births results in a Administration accepted an Institute of Medicine recommendation to include contraceptive care as a critical preventive service in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act [1]. Private health insurance plans in the US are now required to include contraceptive care without out-of-pocket costs. This requirement has incited controversy, with some opponents arguing that contraceptive care is not a preventive service because pregnancy is not a disease. Yet, the promotion of public health addresses many conditions that are not diseases, including pregnancy and childbirth, because they entail substantial health risks. Contraceptives are not without risk, but they are far safer than pregnancy and childbirth and are fundamental to protecting the health of women and infants.
Reduced metabolic response of the rat brain to haloperidol after chronic treatment

Abstract Local cerebral glucose utilization (LCGU) was determined, using the quantitative autoradiographic [ 14 C]2-deoxy- d -glucose technique, in 47 brain regions of awake rats, after acute and chronic haloperidol (HAL) administration (1 mg/kg or 1 mg/kg/day). LCGU was reduced in fewer regions after chronic HAL (19%) than after acute HAL (72%); the average reduction for all regions was smaller (8% and 25%, respectively). The reduced metabolic effect of chronic HAL is not due to a lower brain concentration of the drug, since similar effects on LCGU were found in rats which received an acute i.p. injection of HAL (as in the acutely treated animals) after chronic administration of HAL for 3 weeks. Futhermore, continuous infusion of HAL for 3 weeks or 1 day resulted in similar tolerance to the metabolic effect of HAL. Tolerance was not observed in the mesocortical dopamine (DA) system. The present findings show that tolerance develops to the effect of HAL on cerebral metabolism, even after 1 day of HAL treatment. Lack of tolerance in the mesocortical pathway may implicate this system in the neuroleptic effect of chronic HAL.
Sensitivity analysis for hygrostress crack formation in cylindrical food during drying

A parametric analysis was performed to examine the influence of several factors on stress crack formation in cylindrical food during drying using a previously developed, validated simulation method. They included initial food moisture (W o ), air humidity (R h ) and temperature (T a ), convective surface mass transfer coefficient (h m ), convective surface heat transfer coefficient (h,), moisture diffusivity (D W ), and initial food diameter (d o ). R h influenced most strongly drying time for crack formation (t cf ), followed by T a and W o . The other 4 parameters in descending order of influence were h m , h t , d o and D w . The influence of all parameters, except W o , was due to their influence on mass transfer Biot number, Bi m , that was closely related to moisture concentration gradient in food. The influence of W o was due to increased critical stress for crack formation with a reduced moisture level.
A remark on the definition of angular velocity

It is shown how the classical geometrical and modern algebraic conceptions of angular velocity can be unified by making use of a relative rotation tensor that takes the current configuration of a rigid body as a reference configuration.
Evidence for constitutively-active adenosine receptors at mammalian motor nerve endings

A study was made to determine if constitutively active adenosine receptors are present at mouse motor nerve endings. In preparations blocked by low Ca(2+)/high Mg(2+) solution, 8-cyclopentyl-1,3,dipropylxanthine (CPX, 10-100 nM), which has been reported to be both an A(1) adenosine receptor antagonist and inverse agonist, produced a dose-dependent increase in the number of acetylcholine quanta released by a nerve impulse. Adenosine deaminase, which degrades ambient adenosine into its inactive congener, inosine, failed to alter the response to 100 nM CPX. 8-Cyclopentyltheophylline (CPT, 3 μM), a competitive inhibitor at A(1) adenosine receptors, prevented the increase in acetylcholine release produced by CPX. At normal levels of acetylcholine release, neither adenosine deaminase nor CPX affected acetylcholine release at low frequencies of nerve stimulation in (+)-tubocurarine blocked preparations. The results suggest that a proportion of the acetylcholine release process is controlled by constitutively active adenosine receptors at murine motor nerve endings, providing the first evidence for constitutive activity of G-protein-coupled receptors that modulate the function of mammalian nerve endings.
Lack of Correlation Between Duration of Osteonecrosis of the Jaw and Sequestra Tissue Morphology: What It Tells Us About the Condition and What It Means for Future Studies

An increasing number of studies have begun to investigate properties of tissue obtained from patients with osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). Due to the relatively low incidence of ONJ, these studies necessitate the use of specimens from patients who have had ONJ for various durations. The goal of this study was to determine if properties, specifically bone morphology assessed by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), were influenced by the duration of ONJ. Sequestra from 31 patients with confirmed ONJ for between 3 weeks and 42 months prior to obtaining the tissue were scanned using micro-CT to determine bone volume/tissue volume (BV/TV) and bone surface/volume (BS/TV). There was no significant correlation between the sequestra bone morphology (either BV/TV or BS/TV) and the duration of ONJ. We interpret this as evidence that studies should not be concerned about assessing tissue properties from patients that have had ONJ for different durations. Furthermore, the lack of difference in morphology with continued duration of ONJ suggests that the majority of changes to the bone tissue occur early on in the disease progression.
A water-activated pump for portable microfluidic applications.

Abstract An on-chip micropump for portable microfluidic applications was investigated using mathematical modeling and experimental testing. This micropump is activated by the addition of water, via a dropper, to ionic polymer particles that swell due to osmotic effects when wetted. The resulting particle volume increase deflects a membrane, forcing a separate fluid from an adjacent reservoir. The micropump components, along with the microfluidic components, are fabricated using the contact liquid photolithographic polymerization (CLiPP) method. The maximum flow rate achieved with this pump is 17 μL per minute per mg of dry polymer particles of 355–425 μm in diameter. The pump flow rate may be controlled by adjusting the particle size and amount, the membrane properties, and the channel dimensions. The experimental results demonstrate good agreement with an analytical model describing the particle swelling and its coupling with resistive forces from the bending membrane, viscous flow in the microchannel, and interfacial effects. Key features of this micropump are that it can be placed directly on a microdevice, and that it requires only a small amount of water and no external power supply to function. Therefore, this pumping system is useful for applications in which a highly portable device is required.
Infrared absorption and magnetic circular dichroism of Cs2ZrCl6:Ir4+

Abstract The E″ g ( 2 T 2g ) a U′ g ( 2 T 2g ) transition of Ir 4+ in Cs 2 ZrCl 6 is observed in the infrared energy range 5000–6000 cm −1 by absorption and magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy. The resolved vibrational structure provides detailed information about the change in vibrational frequencies on excitation and the transition intensity mechanism. The energy of the transition requires the Ir 4+ spin-orbit coupling parameter ζ to be ≈ 2800 cm −1 .
Biased Signaling Pathways in β2-Adrenergic Receptor Characterized by 19F-NMR

Extracellular ligand binding to G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) modulates G protein and β-arrestin signaling by changing the conformational states of the cytoplasmic region of the receptor. Using site-specific 19F-NMR (fluorine-19 nuclear magnetic resonance) labels in the β2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR) in complexes with various ligands, we observed that the cytoplasmic ends of helices VI and VII adopt two major conformational states. Changes in the NMR signals reveal that agonist binding primarily shifts the equilibrium toward the G protein–specific active state of helix VI. In contrast, β-arrestin–biased ligands predominantly impact the conformational states of helix VII. The selective effects of different ligands on the conformational equilibria involving helices VI and VII provide insights into the long-range structural plasticity of β2AR in partial and biased agonist signaling.
Herpes Simplex Viruses

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections of humans have been documented since the advent of writing. The spectrum of disease was expanded to include primary and recurrent infections of mucous membranes (gingivostomatitis, herpes labialis, and genital HSV infections), keratoconjunctivitis, neonatal HSV infection, visceral HSV infections of the immunocompromised host, HSV encephalitis, Kaposi's varicella-like eruption, and an association with erythema multiforme. Cumulative experience suggests that factors associated with pregnancy may place both the mother and fetus at increased risk for severe infection, possibly because of altered cell-mediated immunity. The major risk to the fetus is with primary or initial genital HSV infection of the mother. PCR evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid can be utilized to monitor therapeutic outcome in patients with herpes simplex encephalitis. The use of HSV for gene therapy heralds a new era of herpes biology, the conversion of a hazardous foe into a user-friendly surgical tool. Asymptomatic shedding of virus can continue despite clinically effective suppression with acyclovir, so the possibility of person-to-person transmission persists. Newborns with HSV infections can be classified as having disease that is localized to the skin, eyes, and mouth; affects the central nervous system (CNS); or is disseminated. Drug resistance was considered rare and resistant isolates were thought to be less pathogenic until a series of acyclovir-resistant HSV isolates from patients with AIDS were characterized. The risk of nephrotoxicity can be minimized by administering acyclovir by slow infusion and ensuring adequate hydration.
Hippocampal Neuro-Networks and Dendritic Spine Perturbations in Epileptogenesis Are Attenuated by Neuroprotectin D1

Purpose Limbic epileptogenesis triggers molecular and cellular events that foster the establishment of aberrant neuronal networks that, in turn, contribute to temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Here we have examined hippocampal neuronal network activities in the pilocarpine post-status epilepticus model of limbic epileptogenesis and asked whether or not the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-derived lipid mediator, neuroprotectin D1 (NPD1), modulates epileptogenesis. Methods Status epilepticus (SE) was induced by intraperitoneal administration of pilocarpine in adult male C57BL/6 mice. To evaluate simultaneous hippocampal neuronal networks, local field potentials were recorded from multi-microelectrode arrays (silicon probe) chronically implanted in the dorsal hippocampus. NPD1 (570 μg/kg) or vehicle was administered intraperitoneally daily for five consecutive days 24 hours after termination of SE. Seizures and epileptiform activity were analyzed in freely-moving control and treated mice during epileptogenesis and epileptic periods. Then hippocampal dendritic spines were evaluated using Golgi-staining. Results We found brief spontaneous microepileptiform activity with high amplitudes in the CA1 pyramidal and stratum radiatum in epileptogenesis. These aberrant activities were attenuated following systemic NPD1 administration, with concomitant hippocampal dendritic spine protection. Moreover, NPD1 treatment led to a reduction in spontaneous recurrent seizures. Conclusions Our results indicate that NPD1 displays neuroprotective bioactivity on the hippocampal neuronal network ensemble that mediates aberrant circuit activity during epileptogenesis. Insight into the molecular signaling mediated by neuroprotective bioactivity of NPD1 on neuronal network dysfunction may contribute to the development of anti-epileptogenic therapeutic strategies.
Engineering flow states with localized forcing in a thin Marangoni-driven inclined film

Numerical simulations of lubrication models provide clues for experimentalists about the development of wave structures in thin liquid films. We analyze numerical simulations of a lubrication model for an inclined thin liquid film modified by Marangoni forces due to a thermal gradient and additional localized forcing heating the substrate. Numerical results can be explained through connections to theory for hyperbolic conservation laws predicting wave fronts from Marangoni-driven thin films without forcing. We demonstrate how a variety of forcing profiles, such as Gaussian, rectangular, and triangular, affect the formation of downstream transient structures, including an $N$ wave not commonly discussed in the context of thin films. Simulations employing a controlled approximation of a compressive-undercompressive wave pair demonstrate possibilities for applications of localized forcing as microfluidic valve. In the simulations, localized forcing provides a control parameter that can be used to determine mass flux and film profiles.
Effectiveness of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy for skin disease other than toxic epidermal necrolysis: A retrospective review of Mayo Clinic experience

OBJECTIVE To examine retrospectively the use and effectiveness of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment of various skin diseases, primarily immunobullous disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS We identified patients who had received IVIg therapy for skin disease between 1996 and 2003 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn, Scottsdale, Ariz, and Jacksonville, Fla, and retrospectively reviewed their medical records. RESULTS Eighteen patients were treated with IVIg for various skin diseases: immunobullous disease in 11 adults (pemphigus vulgaris [7 patients], bullous pemphigoid [3], and cicatricial pemphigoid [1]); dermatomyositis (2); mixed connective tissue disease (1); chronic urticaria (1); scleromyxedema (1); leukocytoclastic vasculitis (1); and linear IgA bullous disease (1). Responses of patients by type of disease were as follows: pemphigus vulgaris, 1 partial response (PR) and 6 no response (NR); bullous pemphigoid, 1 complete response (CR) and 2 NR; cicatricial pemphigoid, 1 NR; dermatomyositis, 1 CR and 1 PR; mixed connective tissue disease, 1 CR; chronic urticaria, 1 CR; scleromyxedema, 1 CR; leukocytoclastic vasculitis, 1 PR; and linear IgA bullous disease, 1 CR. Six patients (33%) experienced CR, 3 (17%) had PR, and 9 (50%) had NR to IVIg therapy. All 9 nonresponders were adult patients with immunobullous disease. CONCLUSION Although this was a retrospective study of a small cohort of a mixture of patients, the findings emphasize that our experience with IVIg treatment for skin disease, particularly immunobullous disease, is less favorable than that reported previously. Further studies are needed to verify the efficacy of IVIg for skin disease.
Favorable pregnancy outcome in diethylstilbestrol-exposed patients with multiple gestation managed with a high-risk obstetric protocol

Objective: To compare obstetric outcome of multiple gestations in pregnant women exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) with a non–DES-exposed multiple gestation population. Study design: Five-year retrospective review of triplets (n = 5) and twins (n = 15) in DES-exposed patients, managed by a standard protocol of early cerclage, decreased physical activity, frequent cervical evaluations by sonography, and monitoring for uterine activity. This group was matched to a control multiple-gestation population (29 triplets and 98 twins) managed by the same protocol, but without cerclage. Results: Diethylstilbestrol-exposed triplets delivered at 33.8 ± 0.9 weeks, compared with triplet controls at 32.0 ± 2.7 weeks (P = 0.22). Exposed twins delivered at 33.9 ± 3.3 weeks, compared with twin controls at 35.2 ± 2.4 weeks (P = 0.08). There was no difference in gestational age at delivery for DES triplets with a T-shaped uterine cavity (2/5) versus normal uterine cavity. For twins with a T-shaped uterine cavity (6/15), gestational age of delivery was 32.7 ± 4.1 weeks versus 34.8 ± 2.7 weeks for twins with normal uterine cavity (P = 0.3). There were no perinatal deaths for the DES triplets, and only 1 of 15 for DES twins after selective reduction for fetal anomaly during the second trimester. Conclusions: Multiple gestations in DES-exposed women have comparable obstetric outcome with multiple gestations in a controlled population. T-shaped uterine cavities are not a contraindication to multiple gestation. This information could be helpful for counseling DES-exposed patients carrying a multiple gestation.
A rubber transfer gasket to improve the throughput of liquid-liquid extraction in 96-well plates: application to vitamin D testing.

Abstract Background The unmitigated rise in demand for the assessment of vitamin D status has taxed the ability of clinical mass spectrometry laboratories to preserve turn-around times. We aimed to improve the throughput of liquid–liquid extraction of plasma/serum for the assay of 25-hydroxy vitamin D. Methods We designed and fabricated a flexible rubber gasket that seals two 96-well plates together to quantitatively transfer the contents of one plate to another. Using the transfer gasket and a dry-ice acetone bath to freeze the aqueous infranatant, we developed a novel liquid–liquid extraction workflow in a 96-well plate format. We applied the technology to the mass spectrometric quantification of 25-hydroxy vitamin D. Results Cross-contamination between wells was ≤0.13%. The interassay imprecision over 132 days of clinical implementation was less than 10%. The method compared favorably to a standard liquid–liquid extraction in glass tubes (Deming slope = 1.018, S x|y = 0.022). The accuracy of the assay was 102–105% as assessed with the recently released control materials from NIST. Conclusions The development of a plate-sealing gasket permits the liquid–liquid extraction of clinical specimens in a moderate-throughput workflow and the reliable assay of vitamin D status. In the future, the gasket may also prove useful in other sample preparation techniques for HPLC or mass spectrometry.
Role-based access to facilities lifecycle information on RFID tags

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) based systems have been used in different applications in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Owner and Operator (AECOO) industry. Applications are mainly designed for specific lifecycle stage of the facility and serve the needs of only one of the stakeholders. This would increase the cost and the labor for adding and removing tags and eliminate the chance of using shared resources. In this paper, the usage of tags permanently attached to components is proposed where the memory of the tags is used during the lifecycle by different stakeholders for data storage and handover. A Building Information Model (BIM) database is used for tackling the interoperability issues allowing different users to access and share the data. To securely and efficiently store data on RFID tags in ifcXML format, multi-level encryption together with role-based access control is applied on the data stored on RFID tags. Each user is assigned a certain role and can only access the part of data for which he has authorization according to a predefined role and the Access Control Policy. To explore the technical feasibility of the proposed approach, a case study considering both facilities management and emergency management has been implemented and tested at Concordia University.
Effects of concurrent subchronic treatments with desmethylimipramine and propranolol on beta-adrenergic and serotonin2 receptors in rat brain.

The effects of seven consecutive daily injections of desmethylimipramine (DMI 20 mg/kg) and propranolol (PRO 10 mg/kg) on3H-dihydroalprenolol (3H-DHA) and3H-ketanserin (3H-KET) binding in rat brain were examined. Analyses of saturation binding data using the iterative, nonlinear curve-fitting program LIGAND revealed that PRO increased, while DMI reduced,3H-DHA binding site density in cerebral cortex without altering receptor affinity, as previously reported. DMI reduced3H-KET binding site density without changing affinity, and PRO produced the same effect. In cerebral cortex and probably in hippocampus and striatum, DMI and PRO administered together increased the density of3H-DHA binding sites (beta-adrenergic receptors) and reduced their affinity. This combination of drugs reduced the density of3H-KET binding sites (5-HT2 receptors) in cerebral cortex, but did not change their affinity. These findings indicate a need for additional studies on the interactions of DMI and PRO and related drugs because of implications for the treatment of depressed patients with cardiovascular disorders.
Calcified ascending aorta and coronary artery disease

An elderly woman with severe coronary artery disease and calcified ascending and transverse aorta had a left internal thoracic artery graft to the first marginal branch of the circumflex artery and a right internal thoracic artery graft to the left anterior descending artery. It was performed using the "no-touch" technique to the ascending and transverse aorta, cardiopulmonary bypass with an arterial inflow to the left common femoral artery, a beating, warm, and vented heart, and bradycardia induced by a short-acting beta 1-blocker. The latter two were used to decrease myocardial oxygen consumption and facilitate construction of the internal thoracic artery to coronary artery anastomoses.
Compressive-Sensing-Based High-Resolution Polarimetric Through-the-Wall Radar Imaging Exploiting Target Characteristics

In this letter, we consider high-resolution through-the-wall radar imaging (TWRI) using compressive sensing (CS) techniques that exploit the target and sensing characteristics. Many TWRI problems can be cast as inverse scattering involving few targets and, thus, benefit from CS and sparse reconstruction techniques. In particular, recognizing that most indoor targets are spatially extended, we exploit the clustering property of the sparse scene to achieve enhanced imaging capability. In addition, multiple polarization sensing modalities are used to obtain increased observation dimensionality within the group sparsity framework. The recently developed cluster multitask Bayesian CS approach is modified to effectively solve the formulated group and clustered sparse problem. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate the superiority of the proposed approach.
Modeling Middle East Security: A Formal Assessment of Regional Responses to the Iraq War

This investigation applies an expected utility (EU) analysis to assess the impact of the 2003 U.S. intervention in Iraq on the security perceptions of states in the Persian Gulf region, and to determine how shifts in the distribution of preferences among self-interested actors might influence the formation of coalitions in the Middle East. The outcome suggests that concerns for an incumbent leader's political survival may create a set of values that prevents states from forming coalitions in response to a commonly perceived threat. Of particular interest is the finding that while challengers such as Iran may not forge an anti-U.S. coalition, by maintaining its current position Tehran could foreclose bargaining opportunities that would result in an outcome more favorable to the U.S.
Evaluation of laminin peptide fragments labeled with indium-111 for the potential imaging of malignant tumors

The laminin peptide fragments GYIGSR-NH2 and CDPGYIGSR-NH2 are known to bind to a 67-kDa laminin receptor. This receptors is understood to be expressed at higher than normal levels in malignant tumor cells, particularly those of breast and colon carcinomas. Peptides DTPA-GYIGSR-NH2 (1), DTPA-(GYIGSR-NH2)2 (2), DTPA-CDPGYIGSR-NH2 (3), DTPA-(CDPGYIGSR-NH2)2 (4), and negative control DTPA-GAGAGA-NH2 (5) were prepared by solid-phase peptide synthesis. All five DTPA-conjugated peptides were subsequently radiolabeled with 111In and their tissue distribution evaluated in mice bearing C3H tumors. 111In-3 and 111In-4 showed the highest specific tumor localization. These preliminary data support further study of radiolabeled petide fragments for the potential detection of malignant tumors of the breast and other organs.
Spectroscopic studies of carbons. XV. The pyrolysis of a lignin

Abstract A purified lignin, composed mainly of guaiacyl units and prepared by the Kraft process, was pyrolyzed in vacuo at temperatures up to 700°C. Infrared spectra of the chars at various stages of formation were recorded with Fourier transform photothermal beam deflection spectroscopy. The spectra indicate that the pyrolysis occurred in two stages. In the 20–450°C range small fragments were evolved and the discrete aromatic rings originally present in the precursor fused to form units much like polynuclear aromatics. Above 450°C, these units fused further to form larger polyaromatic domains. The pyrolysis of the lignin is compared with that of pure cellulose.
Adverse events, negligence in hospitalized patients: Results from the Harvard Medical Practice Study

In summary, we reviewed a random sample of 30,000 medical records from New York State in 1984, analyzing them for the presence of adverse events and substandard care. We believe that our findings indicate that there are certain risk factors, many definable, for the occurrence of adverse events and negligence.
A Review of Counseling for Wellness: Theory, Research, and Practice

Book reviewed in this article: Jane E. Meyers and Thomas J. Sweeney, Eds. (2005). Counseling for Wellness: Theory, Research, and Practice.
Defining the Role of the Tension Sensor in the Mechanosensitive Channel of Small Conductance

Mutations that alter the phenotypic behavior of the Escherichia coli mechanosensitive channel of small conductance (MscS) have been identified; however, most of these residues play critical roles in the transition between the closed and open states of the channel and are not directly involved in lipid interactions that transduce the tension response. In this study, we use molecular dynamic simulations to predict critical lipid interacting residues in the closed state of MscS. The physiological role of these residues was then investigated by performing osmotic downshock assays on MscS mutants where the lipid interacting residues were mutated to alanine. These experiments identified seven residues in the first and second transmembrane helices as lipid-sensing residues. The majority of these residues are hydrophobic amino acids located near the extracellular interface of the membrane. All of these residues interact strongly with the lipid bilayer in the closed state of MscS, but do not face the bilayer directly in structures associated with the open and desensitized states of the channel. Thus, the position of these residues relative to the lipid membrane appears related to the ability of the channel to sense tension in its different physiological states.
QUANTIFYING ENDSCRAPER REDUCTION IN THE CONTEXT OF OBSIDIAN EXCHANGE AMONG EARLY PASTORALISTS IN SOUTHWESTERN KENYA

AbstractMobile strategies are foundational components of nomadic pastoralist socio-economic organization in East Africa. Beginning around 3,000 BP, nomadic herders in southwestern Kenya had integrated the regular transport of obsidian across a 200 km landscape into these strategies. Pastoral Neolithic groups in the region relied on obsidian for the production of blade based toolkits. Viewed through an organization approach, the patterns of tool reduction and discard in the archaeological record may be used to infer dimensions of obsidian access, as perceived by early herding communities. In order to begin assessing the social and economic factors structuring obsidian access and use in this region, this study examines the intensity of obsidian endscraper reduction as a correlate for overall stresses on pastoralist obsidian supply. Several excavations in the 1970s and 1980s produced lithic assemblages from southwestern Kenya that were reexamined and sampled for this analysis. Using methods developed in fora...
Photoionisation of atomic sulphur

The photoionisation spectrum of atomic sulphur prepared by the reaction of H atoms with H2S, is presented from its ionisation threshold to 925 AA. Autoionisation peaks assigned to quasidiscrete levels . . . (2D degrees )nd3S degrees , 3P degrees are sharp, whereas those designated . . . (2D degrees )nd 3D degrees are broad. This latter feature parallels the discontinuity observed between first-row and heavier elements in the noble gases and halogens. There is evidence for severe perturbation in the . . , (2D degrees )nd 3P degrees series, which could conceivably be attributed to a proximate 3s3p5 3P degrees state.