cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of styrene and styrene oxide on glutathione-related antioxidant enzymes.

Styrene is both hepatotoxic and pneumotoxic in mice. Its mode of action is not clear, but it may be related to oxidative stress including a very large decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH). The current studies evaluated if: (1) the more toxic R-styrene oxide had a greater effect on reduced GSH levels than the less toxic S-styrene oxide, (2) the ratio of reduced to oxidized forms of glutathione was altered by styrene or styrene oxide, (3) other enzymes involved in the oxidant status of the cell, namely glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase and γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase were altered, and (4) lipid peroxidation, as measured by the determination of malondialdehyde, increased. R-Styrene oxide (300 mg/kg, ip) caused greater decreases in mouse liver and lung GSH than did S-styrene oxide (300 mg/kg, ip). Styrene (600 mg/kg, ip) caused decreases in both GSH and GSSG in both liver and lung. Styrene and styrene oxide did not cause significant increases in lipid peroxidation in either liver or lung. Styrene and styrene oxide had minimal effects on glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase in liver and lung. Styrene increased γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase activity. The results suggest that while styrene and its metabolite styrene oxide cause significant decreases in GSH levels, they have little effect on the enzymes glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase and that in response to decreased glutathione levels there is an increase in its synthesis via induction of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase activity.
Cholecystoappendicostomy in a child with alagille syndrome

The authors performed a partial biliary diversion on a 10-month-old child with Alagille syndrome using the appendix vermiformis as a conduit between the gallbladder and the abdominal wall skin. Three years later the patient is well, and his previously severe pruritus is controlled. The appendix has a lumen closer to that of the biliary tree, does not accumulate significant amounts of bile, and provides a smaller stoma. The small bowel is undisturbed, and there is less interference with a possible future liver transplant.
A survey of ballistic Mars-mission profiles.

Trajectory characteristics of high thrust Mars missions and effect on other aspects of mission planning
Numerical Simulations of the Response of the Marine Atmosphere to Ocean Forcing

Abstract The effect of a stable internal boundary layer (IBL) on the cloud-capped marine boundary layer is investigated using a one-dimensional second-order closure model. A stable IBL forms if there is a reversal in the surface buoyancy flux when warm air flows over colder water. These conditions exist in the vicinity of Ocean fronts where sea surface temperature discontinuities of about 2°C in 5 km have been observed. There is a balance between the buoyant consumption and inertial production of kinetic energy so that the layer remains weakly turbulent and can deepen due to shear-driven mixing. The stability of the layer limits momentum exchange with the air above so that there is a significant reduction in the surface stress in the IBL and an acceleration of the flow aloft. There are important implications for cloud development in regions of large ocean temperature gradients because a stable IBL can limit the vertical transfer of moisture from the surface to the upper part of the boundary layer. In addi...
The organization of synaptic junctions in cat putamen.

Summary The morphology and organization of synaptic contacts along neurons in the cat putamen have been studied by electron microscopy, utilizing routine methods of preparation and en bloc E-PTA staining of osmicated and unosmicated tissue. In routine preparations, the ultrastructure of neurons and synaptic junctions in the putamen and caudate nucleus 3 is similar although neurons in the putamen are slightly larger. Most synaptic junctions are type 1 and occur on dendritic spines and small dendrites in the neuropil. Presynaptic endings contain circular to slightly oval profiles of clear synaptic vesicles and one or two dense core vesicles. Type 2 synaptic junctions are found on cell bodies, proximal dendrites and initial axonal segments. Profiles of synaptic vesicles in endings associated with type 2 junctions vary considerably in size and degree of flattening and some circular profiles are found in these endings. The selective staining by E-PTA of the paramembranous and intermembranous components of synaptic junctions and of the spine apparatus supports our impression of a predominantly axospinous connectivity in the neostriatum. It is suggested that quantitative variations in the synaptic organization rather than morphological differences in the synaptic inputs to neostriatal neurons underlie the kinds of activities which can be evoked in this region.
Demonstrating a lightweight data provenance for sensor networks

The popularity of sensor networks and their many uses in critical domains such as military and healthcare make them more vulnerable to malicious attacks. In such contexts, trustworthiness of sensor data and their provenance is critical for decision-making. In this demonstration, we present an efficient and secure approach for transmitting provenance information about sensor data. Our provenance approach uses light-weight in-packet Bloom filters that are encoded as sensor data travels through intermediate sensor nodes, and are decoded and verified at the base station. Our provenance technique is also able to defend against malicious attacks such as packet dropping and allows one to detect the responsible node for packet drops. As such it makes possible to modify the transmission route to avoid nodes that could be compromised or malfunctioning. Our technique is designed to create a trustworthy environment for sensor nodes where only trusted data is processed.
Association of Prostate Cancer Risk Variants with Gene Expression in Normal and Tumor Tissue

Background: Numerous germline genetic variants are associated with prostate cancer risk, but their biologic role is not well understood. One possibility is that these variants influence gene expression in prostate tissue. We therefore examined the association of prostate cancer risk variants with the expression of genes nearby and genome-wide. Methods: We generated mRNA expression data for 20,254 genes with the Affymetrix GeneChip Human Gene 1.0 ST microarray from normal prostate ( N = 160) and prostate tumor ( N = 264) tissue from participants of the Physicians' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study. With linear models, we tested the association of 39 risk variants with nearby genes and all genes, and the association of each variant with canonical pathways using a global test. Results: In addition to confirming previously reported associations, we detected several new significant ( P < 0.05) associations of variants with the expression of nearby genes including C2orf43 , ITGA6 , MLPH , CHMP2B , BMPR1B , and MTL5 . Genome-wide, five genes ( MSMB , NUDT11 , RBPMS2 , NEFM , and KLHL33 ) were significantly associated after accounting for multiple comparisons for each SNP ( P < 2.5 × 10−6). Many more genes had an FDR <10%, including SRD5A1 and PSCA , and we observed significant associations with pathways in tumor tissue. Conclusions: The risk variants were associated with several genes, including promising prostate cancer candidates and lipid metabolism pathways, suggesting mechanisms for their impact on disease. These genes should be further explored in biologic and epidemiologic studies. Impact: Determining the biologic role of these variants can lead to improved understanding of prostate cancer etiology and identify new targets for chemoprevention. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 24(1); 255–60. ©2014 AACR .
Self-consistent energy bands in aluminum: An improved calculation

The band structure of aluminum has been calculated self-consistently using a linear combination of Gaussian orbitals method with a basis set of 60 wave functions. Many improvements have been made in computational methods with respect to the previous work of Tawil and Singhal, particularly in regard to the exchange potential. The resulting band structure is in much better agreement with experiment in several significant aspects.
AN ACOUSTIC METHOD FOR CLINICAL EXAMINATION OF THE EAR.

An objective acoustic method is suggested for diagnostic examination of the ear. It provides supplementary information to the otoscopic and audiometric examinations. The acoustic method is based on...
Assay dilution factors confound measures of total antioxidant capacity in polyphenol-rich juices.

Abstract: The extent to which sample dilution factor (DF) affects total antioxidant capacity (TAC) values is poorly understood. Thus, we examined the impact of DF on the ORAC, FRAP, DPPH, and total phenols (TP) assays using pomegranate juice (PJ), grape juice (GJ), selected flavonoids, ascorbic acid, and ellagic acid. For ORAC, GJ was comparable to PJ at DF 750, but at DF 2000, the ORAC value of GJ was 40% more than PJ. Increasing DF increased GJ and PJ, DPPH, TP, and FRAP values 11% and 14%, respectively. Increased test concentrations of quercetin and catechin resulted in 51% and 126% greater ORAC values, but decreased naringenin by 68%. Flavonoids, but not ellagic acid or ascorbic acid, may contribute to the dilution effect on the variation of final TAC values. Thus, reporting TAC or TP using a single DF may introduce uncertainty about the confidence of TAC assay values, especially when comparing different juices. These results underscore the importance of using compatible test standards for reporting TAC values. Practical Application: Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) values such as the ORAC assay are increasingly used for comparison of polyphenol-rich foods and beverages. Choice of standards and test concentrations, even within the linear range of standards, may introduce variation probably due to synergy/antagonism between antioxidant and thereby, confound final TAC values. Thus, test concentration or dilution factors of samples should be considered in the design of TAC assays and interpretation of their results.
Evaluation of dibromonitrosobenzene sulfonate as a spin trap in biological systems

Abstract In the present study dibromonitrosobenzene sulfonate (DBNBS) was examined for its suitability for spin trapping for ESR detection of superoxide radicals in biological systems. This nitroso spin trap recently has been reported to yield very persistent spin adducts with O 2 − · as well as with various carbon-centered radicals. In the present work the possible toxicity of DBNBS, the partitioning of its spin adducts into cells, and the stability of the adducts and the parent compound inside cells were studied. no significant toxicity was found. In cellular systems, however, DBNBS did not produce detectable adducts with O 2 − ·; it also did not detectably trap superoxide generated in the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system. Both DBNBS and a DBNBS adduct preformed extracellularly and then added to cell suspensions were rapidly metabolized by cells. Intracellular spin adducts were not detected under any condition. Evidently, in spiute of its promising features, DBNBS will not be useful for spin trapping radicals in cellular systems or for detecting superoxide radicals in any biological system.
Levers for Thermoelectric Properties in Titania-Based Ceramics

While the beneficial impact of nanostructural engineering on thermoelectric performance has been demonstrated for many semiconducting materials (SiGe, skutterudites, PbTe2, etc.), no significant advantages have been reported for oxide nanomaterials. In this study, titania is used as a model material to compare the impact of grain size, doping and substitution, second-phase nanodispersion, and crystallographic defects on the electronic and thermal properties. It is shown that the lattice thermal conductivity can be most efficiently reduced by high densities of crystallographic planar defects in the Magneli phases, while modification of grain size or introduction of second phases on length scales of 20 nm to 100 nm introduces only minor improvement. For the electronic properties, donor dopants such as niobium provide improvement of the power factor, but are not able to compete with the enhanced carrier concentration that is reached through oxygen vacancy introduction.
Information system design for communication: The use of genre as a design element

An information system is not merely a container for documents; through the ways that resources are selected, organized, and made available to users, information systems themselves work as expressive media, enabling the communication of a specific point of view on the collected materials. By analyzing information systems themselves as documents, we can better understand how information systems communicate these perspectives more and less persuasively, and we can use this understanding to facilitate the design of information systems for communicative purposes. This study examines one communicative mechanism available to information systems: the selective adaptation of genre conventions. Using theories of genre developed in rhetoric, composition, and applied linguistics, I show how two systems for organizing information, the Prelinger Library and the Warburg Institute classification, exhibit deviations from typical genre conventions for libraries, and I show how these deviations work as rhetorical tools to facilitate effective communication. I then demonstrate, using the creation of a prototype, how this understanding of genre as a communicative mechanism for information systems might be translated into the design context. By creating designs that incorporate an enhanced conceptual grasp of genre and other rhetorical properties of information systems, we can facilitate the construction of information systems that systematically and purposefully communicate original, creative points of view regarding their assembled collections, and so enable learning, discovery, and critical engagement for users.
Extinction debt in naturally contracting mountain meadows in the Pacific Northwest, USA: varying responses of plants and feeding guilds of nocturnal moths

Fire suppression and climate change are leading to habitat fragmentation in temperate montane meadows across the globe, raising concerns about biodiversity loss. Restoration strategies may depend on the rate and nature of species response to habitat loss. We examined the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on plants and nocturnal moths in natural montane meadows in the western Cascades, Oregon, USA, using generalized additive mixed models, non-metric multidimensional scaling, and multiple response permutation procedure. Historic (1949) rather than current (2005) meadow size explained species richness of herbaceous plants and herb-feeding moths and meadow plant community structure, indicating that loss of meadow species may be delayed by many decades following loss of meadow habitat, resulting in an extinction debt. In contrast, abundance of herb-feeding moths and species richness and abundance of woody plant-feeding moths were related to recent meadow configuration: as meadows are invaded by woody plants, abundance of meadow species declines, and woody plants and associated moths increase. Despite decades of fire suppression and climate change, montane meadows in many temperate mountain landscapes may still be amenable to restoration.
The influence of parents’ marital dissolutions on children’s attitudes toward family formation

We investigate the influence of parents' martial dissolutions on their children's attitudes toward several dimensions of family formation. Hypotheses focus on the role of patients' attitudes as a mechanism linking parents' behavior to their children's attitudes. We test these hypotheses using intergenerational panel data that include measures of children's attitudes taken directly from children. Results demonstrate strong effects of parental divorce, remarriage, and widowhood on children's attitudes toward premarital sex, cohabitation, marriage, childbearing, and divorce. The results also show that parents' own attitudes link their behavior to their children's attitudes, although substantial effects of parental behavior remain after controlling for parents' attitudes.
Sexual dysfunction resulting from drug side effects.

Abstract Some sexual dysfunctioning may be due to a drug side effect. This paper cites 118 brand name drugs that have sexual side effects. These drugs (primarily psychotropic) are presented in chart form for easy reference. In Section I, drugs are listed alphabetically by brand name, along with the sexual side effect(s), and possible medical use. Section II, lists alphabetically, the generic and chemical names of the brand name drugs found in Section I. This provides a listing of all brand name drugs having the same basic chemical components.
Effect of Perceived Clothing Deprivation on High School Students' Social Participation

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect ofperceived clothing deprivation on social participation of adolescents. A questionnaire was developed to measure perceived clothing deprivation and social participation. The sample was comprised of 338 high school students enrolled in ninth through twelfth grades at six high schools. Factor analysis generated two clothing deprivation factors: Inability to Buy and Clothing Deprivation Relative to Peers. Two social participation factors were also generated: Social Competence and Social Participation. Results indicated that clothing deprivation had a significant effect on social participation. A multivariate analysis of variance revealed significant main effects for both Inability to Buy and Clothing Deprivation Relative to Peers. Univariate F tests revealed significant main effects for both clothing deprivation factors on both social participation factors.
RESISTIVITY ANALYSIS FOR MODELS OF A SPHERE IN A HALF‐SPACE WITH BURIED CURRENT SOURCES*

Boundary-value problems in steady-state current flow were solved numerically in bispherical coordinates for a sphere of arbitrary conductivity in a half-space. Solutions for the potential on the surface of the half-space were examined for the cases where both current sources were on the surface, one source on the surface and the second between the surface and the sphere, and one source on the surface and the other in the sphere. Results show a great similarity with the layered case when the buried electrode is placed between the surface and the conducting region. Such a buried electrode configuration makes it possible to obtain an accurate measurement of the depth to the conductor in both cases. A model with the current electrode placed in a conductive sphere is compared with a three-layered model with the source in a conductive intermediate layer, and results indicate that the lateral extent of a finite anomalous zone can be estimated using these limiting curves. The validity of these theoretical calculations for buried spheres was confirmed experimentally by tests conducted on an analog model.
Finite element analysis of tube inversion process with radiused dies

The extended rmin technique has been incorporated in the incremental updated Lagrangian formulation (ULF) of an elasto-plastic finite element computer code in order to handle the contact boundary condition when analyzing the axisymmetric tube inversion process with a quarter fillet die radius. A fillet die applies an axial compressional load onto a thin tube so that the inside or outside of the tube inverts totally making the central axis of the original tube the same as a new double-walled tube. This is called an inside-out or outside-in inversion process. This study employs an elasto-plastic finite element method to simulate and analyze inside-out inversion. The objective is to examine how different process factors, such as the geometry and material modulus, influence metal tube inversion. This study also simulates a quarter fillet radius of the die to analyze the tube forming condition and range that can be applied in engineering under these requirements. In addition, the axial compressional load under inside-out inversion stability to be suitable for a personal computer, so it can be effectively analyzed and evaluated on line instantaneously.
Human transfer functions for multi-axis and multi-loop problems

Pilot response to multiaxis and multiloop problems by transfer function analysis - human information processing capacity
College Students' Perceptions of Fast Food Restaurant Menu Items on Health

Background: Examining the beliefs about fast food and health, especially the consequences of fast food intake (FFI) on health, among college students will be a crucial factor in turning the tide on current morbidity and mortality statistics. Purpose: This article examines the results of a survey among Midwestern college-aged students about their fast food restaurant menu item selection and how they perceive that these choices are affecting their health as a means to direct university curriculum. Methods: Researchers used SurveyMonkey to disseminate a questionnaire to currently enrolled college students from 3 area tertiary educational institutions. The survey was analyzed using SPSS for mean, standard deviation, and chi-square. Results: Statistical differences were found between male (N = 110) and female (N = 389) college students in terms of number of fast food visits (P = 0.032), consumption of diet soda (P = 0.009), consumption of hamburgers (P = 0.000), and what is considered harmful FFI (P = 0.032; e...
Incidence and Characteristics of Pseudoprecocious Puberty Because of Severe Primary Hypothyroidism

Severe primary hypothyroidism is a presumed rare cause of pseudoprecocious puberty (PsPP). Here, we report a 24% incidence of PsPP among 33 children with profound hypothyroidism. Those with PsPP were older and trended toward a higher thyroid stimulating hormone. Increased awareness of PsPP can hasten diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Joint transform optical correlation applied to sub-pixel image registration

The binary joint transform correlator (BJTC) can provide sub-pixel correlation location accuracy for a pair of almost identical inputs, as is the case when computing the registration offset between two overlapping images from the same sensor. Applications include noise cancellation, motion compensation, super-resolution processing, and image splicing. We experimentally demonstrated sub-pixel registration and image co-addition. Our results show a resolution improves by a factor of almost two compared to normal integration. This paper details early results in an ongoing project.
An Exact Elastoplastic Solution for the Plane Wedge Problem of an Elastic Linear-Hardening Material

A closed-form elastoplastic solution is presented for a plane wedge of elastic linear-hardening material subjected to an arbitrary concentrated force at its vertex. Hencky's deformation theory and von Mises's yield criterion are used to describe the constitutive relations. Solutions are derived for both plane stress (thin) and (incompressible) plane strain (thick) wedges, and they are given for both the elastic and plastic zones. The solution is general in the sense that it contains three adjustable parameters. Solutions of two typical half-plane problems are obtained by applying the general solution directly
The Jaw Adductor Resultant and Estimated Bite Force in Primates

We reconstructed the jaw adductor resultant in 34 primate species using new data on muscle physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA) and data on skull landmarks. Based on predictions by Greaves, the resultant should (1) cross the jaw at 30% of its length, (2) lie directly posterior to the last molar, and (3) incline more anteriorly in primates that need not resist large anteriorly-directed forces. We found that the resultant lies significantly posterior to its predicted location, is significantly posterior to the last molar, and is significantly more anteriorly inclined in folivores than in frugivores. Perhaps primates emphasize avoiding temporomandibular joint distraction and/or wide gapes at the expense of bite force. Our exploration of trends in the data revealed that estimated bite force varies with body mass (but not diet) and is significantly greater in strepsirrhines than in anthropoids. This might be related to greater contribution from the balancing-side jaw adductors in anthropoids.
Dynamic response of oceanic hydrate deposits to ocean temperature change

The dynamic response of oceanic hydrate deposits to ocean temperature change Matthew T. Reagan and George J. Moridis Earth Sciences Division Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 1 Cyclotron Rd. Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Effect of forced deflation maneuvers upon measurements of respiratory mechanics in ventilated infants.

To determine the effect of forced deflation maneuvers on respiratory mechanics and to assess the reproducibility of such measurements in intubated infants with lung disease. Prospective study in the pediatric intensive care unit of a university children's hospital. Ten clinically stable infants requiring mechanically assisted ventilation for acute pulmonary disease, mean age 5.9 months (1–18), mean weight 5.8 kg (3.2–13). Two sets of measurements of compliance (Crs) and resistance (Rrs) were obtained at 20-min intervals both before and after +40/−40 cmH2O forced deflation maneuvers. Forced deflation measurements were repeated at the end of the study. Forced deflation caused a significant increase in Crs from 0.53±0.09 and 0.58±0.11 ml/cmH2O/kg to 0.71±0.11 and 0.68±0.11 ml/cmH2O/kg. Rrs measurements did not differ. The low coefficients of variation for repeated measures of the baseline measurements (Crs 4.2±0.5%, Rrs 7.1±0.8%, for forced vital capacity 8.6±2.5%, maximum expiratory flows at 25% vital capacity 16.0%±3.3%) confirmed the good reproducibility during stable conditions. Inflation and deflation maneuvers affect subsequent measurements of respiratory system compliance but not measurements of maximum expiratory flow-volume relationships in intubated infants, probably through recruitment of lung volume. Careful interpretation and planning of the sequence of infant pulmonary function testing is necessary to reassure that changes are not related to short-term alterations in volume history.
Foxl1 is a marker of bipotential hepatic progenitor cells in mice

The liver contains a population of small bipotential facultative progenitor cells that reconstitute liver function when mature hepatocytes or cholangiocytes are unable to proliferate. Mesenchymal markers, including members of the forkhead transcription factor gene family, have been detected in hepatic progenitor cells. The winged helix transcription factor Foxl1 localizes to mesenchymal cells in the intestine; however, its expression in the liver has not been reported. We found that Foxl1 is expressed in rare cells in the normal liver but is dramatically induced in the livers of mice that have undergone bile duct ligation or were fed a 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC)-containing or choline-deficient, ethionine-supplemented diet. In addition, we employed genetic lineage tracing using a Foxl1-Cre transgenic mouse crossed with the Rosa26R lacZ reporter line to demonstrate that Foxl1-Cre-expressing cells are present within the periportal region shortly after injury. These cells give rise to both hepatocytes [marked by hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha (HNF-4α) expression] and cholangiocytes (marked by CK19 expression), indicating that these cells are derived from Foxl1-Cre–expressing cells. Foxl1-Cre–expressing cells are distinct from hepatic stellate cells, portal fibroblasts, and myofibroblasts, although they are located in close proximity to portal fibroblasts. These results demonstrate that the early Foxl1-Cre lineage cell gives rise to both cholangiocytes and hepatocytes after liver injury and suggest the potential for progenitor-portal fibroblast cell interactions. Conclusion: We propose that Foxl1 is a bona fide marker of the facultative progenitor cell in the mouse liver. (HEPATOLOGY 2009.)
Effects of light intensity and nutrient availability on diel patterns of cell metabolism and growth in populations of synechococcus spp

Between July 21 and August 8, 1984, phytoplankton were collected from the surface (2 m) and/or chlorophyll maximum of a neritic front, warm-core eddy 84-E and Wilkinson's Basin in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean and incubated up to 38 h in 200-liter vats. Effects of light intensity and nutrient availability on diel patterns of cell metabolism were analyzed in a 0.6- to 1-μm fraction, where Synechococcus spp. represented 80 to 100% of the total photoautotrophs. Populations held under in situ conditions exhibited daytime peaks in photosynthetic potential (Pmax) that were an order of magnitude higher than nighttime Pmax values. Daytime phasing of Pmax peaks had no relationship to asynchronous fluctuations in cellular activities of ribulose 1,5 bisphosphate carboxylase (RUBPCase) or phosphoenol pyruvate carboxylase (PEPCase), or to variations in chlorophyll content. Daytime Pmax peaks were about 12 h out of phase with nighttime maxima in the frequency of dividing cells (FDC). The phase relationship between Pmax and FDC could be altered by manipulating environmental conditions. High light exposure of depp populations did not affect timing of the Pmax peak, but its magnitude increased and coincided with increased RUBPCase activity and chlorophyll photobleaching. In the eddy population, a major shift in the timing of peak Pmax was induced when increased light intensity was accompanied by nutrient enrichment. This change coincided with major increases in cellular chlorophyll and carboxylating enzyme activity. Lowering irradiance and/or increasing nutrient availability elicited different diel pattern in cellular metabolism in surface populations from the eddy and from Wilkinson's Basin that appeared linked to differences in the nutrient status of the cells. Rates of cell division estimated from the percentage of dividing cells in preserved samples were 0.83 divisions d-1 in surface warm-core eddy populations, supporting the view that carbon and nitrogen turnover rates in oligotrophic waters can be sufficient to promote near optimal growth of Synechococcus spp.
Hypothermic Nerve-sparing Radical Prostatectomy: Rationale, Feasibility, and Effect on Early Continence

Objectives To report the first application of preemptive local hypothermia during robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (hRLP) to attenuate inflammation. Surgical excision of the prostate during radical prostatectomy causes inflammatory damage to the surrounding neuromuscular tissues that could affect urinary continence. Methods Of 50 consecutive patients undergoing nerve-sparing hRLP (case numbers 668-717; 3 were excluded—2 underwent radiotherapy and 1 was withdrawn because of balloon failure), 47 were prospectively compared with a standard RLP cohort (case numbers 1-667). Pelvic cooling was achieved using cold irrigation and an endorectal cooling balloon cycled with 4°C saline. The intracorporeal temperatures were measured. Continence was defined as 0 urinary pads. The Kaplan-Meier analysis of the time to 0 pads and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to examine the group differences in continence after adjusting for the baseline characteristics. Results The median temperature was 29.0°C (endorectal cooling balloon only, range 24.4°-35.9°C) and 25.5°C (endorectal cooling balloon plus irrigation, range 19.4°-34.0°C). The time to 0-pad status was determined in 590 of 667 controls (88%). The 3-month hRLP 0-pad rate was 86.8% ± 5.8% and was 68.6% ± 2.0% for the controls. The return to continence was faster for hRLP vs controls: median 39 days (range 0-110) vs 59 days (range 1-720), respectively ( P = .002, log-rank test). A multivariate analysis adjusting for factors, including age, American Urological Association symptom score, abbreviated International Index of Erectile Function-5, body mass index, prostate weight, stage, nerve-sparing, and learning curve demonstrated a faster return to continence for the hRLP group relative to the control group (hazard ratio 1.66, 95% confidence interval 1.11-2.49, P = .014). Conclusions This study represents the initial application of local hypothermia to reduce the traumatic inflammatory sequela of RLP. Hypothermia was easily induced and safe and resulted in a statistically significant improvement in early postoperative continence.
Photon to pseudoscalar conversion in the interstellar medium

Abstract We investigate the mixing of the photon with a massless pseudoscalar coupled to the electromagnetic field through a gφF F coupling in the presence of a background magnetic field. Proper consideration of the plasma effects have been included, including effects coming from variations in the electron density. We find that previous work involving photon prepagation across a background magnetic field only limits the inverse coupling to be greater than about 105 GeV. We also suggest a simple method that could constraints this inverse coupling to be greater than about 109 GeV.
How cytokines leave their mark: the role of the placenta in developmental programming of brain and behavior.

Every year pregnant women are urged to receive their ‘‘flu’’ vaccines, as immune changes during pregnancy may lend them especially vulnerable to infection. Prior to the twentieth century, the primary causes of death and morbidity were infectious diseases, notably influenza and tuberculosis. With modern medicine, these deadly diseases have been steadily replaced with chronic diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g., depression). Accordingly, a large shift in biomedical research has changed the focus away from communicable pathogen transmission and towards the identification of factors that precipitate vulnerability to chronic, costly diseases. Diet, stress, and genetics
Escape over a fluctuating barrier: The white noise limit

The authors examine the problem of diffusion over a fluctuating barrier in the limit where the barrier fluctuations are extremely fast compared with all other timescales in the problem. In the white noise limit, the decay of probability from the metastable state is exponential with a characteristic timescale exhibiting Arrhenius behaviour. For small but finite correlation times for the fluctuating part of the potential, the effective barrier increases with the correlation time. Implications for liquids above the glass transition are discussed.
The generation gap in modern surgery

The March issue of the Archives of Surgery is dedicated to a discussion of the generation gap in modern surgery. In every generation there is a perceived gap discussed ad infinitum by analysts in every discipline. The work ethic, commitment, and vision of the younger generation are questioned, and references are made to a whimsical desire to return to the good old days. The contributors to this issue (medical students, surgery residents, program directors, and department chairs) address the multiple factors that affect the quality of life issues faced by surgery residents. The disappointing results of the 2001 National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) have received the attention of various regulatory and administrative groups. These introductory statements summarize the policy positions of several organizations.
Kinetics of uptake and incorporation of valine in the sea urchin embryo.

Abstract Chemical and kinetic studies of uptake and incorporation of 14 C-valine have been carried out on developmental stages of the sea urchin, Lytechinus . Valine is taken up by active transport as indicated by a concentrative influx of 14 C-valine, saturation kinetics of the Michaelis-Menton type, and a high Q 10 . Back-exchange occurs during early development up to the mid-blastula stage. Radiochromatographs of acid-soluble extracts show 82–90 per cent of the label in valine and the remaining in 4–5 other low molecular weight compounds. Hydrolyzates of acid-insoluble fractions contain 85–90 per cent of the label in valine. A slow loss of label in carbon dioxide indicates an oxidation of pool valine. At all developmental stages the time course of uptake of 14 C-valine is exponential; whereas the time course of incorporation appears to be linear with no appreciable initial lag phase. Uptake and incorporation rates exhibit a nonlinear relationship for different concentrations of exogenous valine, with uptake being more responsive to changing concentration than incorporation rate. Exogenous 12 C-valine, to a degree dependent on the concentration, suppresses incorporation of endogenous pool 14 C-valine. The kinetic data are interpreted as follows. The amino acid pool is not an obligatory intermediate for incorporation of exogenous valine. At concentrations of exogenous valine which incompletely saturate the transport system, valine for incorporation is drawn partially from the pool. With increasing concentration of exogenous valine less valine is drawn from the pool as the incorporating system shifts to using exogenous valine. At sufficiently high concentrations, when the transport system is saturated, pool valine is used very little or not at all and exogenous valine is incorporated directly. Incorporation rates of exogenous valine thus may give absolute values for rates of protein synthesis. Uptake and incorporation rates were measured from early cleavage through gastrulation using concentrations of exogenous valine giving maximal suppression of incorporation of pool valine.
Cultivar variability for the presence of plastid DNA in pollen of Pisum sativum L.: implications for plastid transmission.

The mode of plastid transmission in the garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) was analyzed cytologically using the DNA-fluorochrome 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) in conjunction with epifluorescence microscopy. The reproductive cells of mature pollen obtained from 12 inbred lines and cv “Early Alaska” were examined for the presence or absence of DAPI-stained plastid DNA aggregates. Plastid DNA was detected in all 13 pea lines examined, although there was variability with regard to the percentage of pollen graines showing plastid DNA aggregates of generative cells (ranging from 3% in accession 82-12r to 65% in accession 82-14n). These cytological results may indicate genetic variability for plastic DNA inheritance in the garden pea.
Feasible images and practical stopping rules for iterative algorithms in emission tomography

The discussion of the causes of image deterioration in the maximum-likelihood estimator (MLE) method of tomographic image reconstruction, initiated with the publication of a stopping rule for that iterative process (E. Veklerov and J. Llacer, 1987) is continued. The concept of a feasible image is introduced, which is a result of a reconstruction that, if it were a radiation field, could have generated the initial projection data by the Poisson process that governs radioactive decay. From the premise that the result of a reconstruction should be feasible, the shape and characteristics of the region of feasibility in projection space are examined. With a new rule, reconstructions from real data can be tested for feasibility. Results of the tests and reconstructed images for the Hoffman brain phantom are shown. A comparative examination of the current methods of dealing with MLE image deterioration is included. >
Paleosols and paleoenvironments of early Mars

Fluviolacustrine sediments filling Gale Crater on Mars show two levels of former exposure and weathering that provide new insights into late Noachian (3.7 ± 0.3 Ga) paleoenvironments of Mars. Diagnostic features of the two successive paleosols in the Sheepbed member include complex cracking patterns of surface dilation (peds and cutans), a clayey surface (A horizon), deep sand-filled cracks with vertical lamination (sand wedges), and replacive sulfate nodules aggregated into distinct bands (gypsic By horizon) above bedded sandy layers (sedimentary C horizon). Shallow gypsic horizon, periglacial sand wedges, and limited chemical weathering are evidence of a hyperarid frigid paleoclimate, and this alternated with wetter conditions for the lacustrine parent materials in Gale Crater during the late Noachian. Depletion of phos- phorus, vesicular structure, and replacive gypsic horizons of these Martian paleosols are fea- tures of habitable microbial earth soils on Earth, and encourage further search for definitive evidence of early life on Mars.
Detection and scaling of task-induced fMRI-BOLD response using resting state fluctuations

This study evaluated a calibration technique for scaling the fMRI-BOLD response during a simple motor task. A novel scaling parameter, resting state physiological fluctuation amplitude (RSFA), was tested using previously established scaling factors such as breath hold or 5% CO(2). RSFA was hypothesized to contain vascular reactivity information present in the resting state fMRI signal. Subjects were scanned under various stimulus conditions: (a) rest while breathing room air, (b) bilateral fingertapping, (c) breath holding and (d) moderate hypercapnia (breathing 5% CO(2)+air). In all subjects who breathed 5% CO(2), RSFA correlated highly with the BOLD response amplitude during 5% CO(2) inhalation. Also, RSFA correlated highly with the amplitude of the BOLD response elicited by breath hold. RSFA was therefore used as a hemodynamic scaling factor to calibrate both the amplitude and spatial extent of the fMRI-BOLD response during the motor task (fingertapping). Results revealed that amplitude scaling using RSFA was similar to that using breath hold or 5% CO(2), where the spatial extent of activation diminished by 20-37% over all subjects. Spatial extent of activation changed significantly after scaling and only 30-40% of the activated area overlapped with the unscaled activation. RSFA-scaled task-induced fMRI-BOLD response in both amplitude and spatial extent was comparable to that obtained using breath hold or 5% CO(2). We conclude that RSFA may be used to hemodynamically scale the fMRI-BOLD response and does not require the use of a hypercapnic challenge (which may not be purely non-neural), which can be difficult to implement in special populations.
In-situ high-energy proton irradiation of nonlinear organic modulator materials for space environments

The behavior of two nonlinear polymer-modulator materials irradiated by 63.3 MeV protons to a dose of 1 Mrad(Si) is reported. The effects of proton induced ionization and heating in disperse red 1/poly(methylmethacrylate) and in poly(ethylene dioxythiophene)/poly styrene sulphonate/poly(vinyl alcohol) thin films are discussed. Attenuation of the light transmission at an optical wavelength of (lambda) equals 0.6328 micrometers was measured in the polymer films, conductive coatings and their respective substrates. Comparison of these results with a recently reported study of related nonlinear polymer modulator materials exposed to protons is discussed. Conclusions and recommendations regarding the potential application of polymers in the near-Earth space environment are presented.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Churn as a Source of Molds in Butter

Summary 1. Two churns from commercial creameries were studied to determine the presence of mold. 2. Molds of several types were found in various places in both churns, especially in Churn A, which had been known to be giving trouble. 3. The genera of molds present in the churns are listed. 4. It is shown that the churn may be an important source of mold in butter.
Evolving Paradigms of Clinical Pathology Resident Education and Consultation

In the complex arena of medical resident education, real-time tools have become increasingly valuable for documenting medical knowledge and practice-based learning, as well as providing, in some cases, training exercises in and of themselves (1)(2)(3)(4). For clinical pathology in particular, the myriad of consultative activities of the laboratory medicine resident have always been a difficult area for documentation since these consultations are not routinely included in the patient chart in most institutions. Moreover, this lack of a common venue for documentation of direct patient care activities in clinical pathology limits appropriate dissemination of this information among pathology (and other) house staff and similarly can limit “institutional memory” of important clinical principles and facts, especially those that may be quite specific to the particular institution. Residents in clinical pathology rotations should develop and document the ability to handle laboratory methodology issues while carrying out broader clinical diagnostic consultations (5). Clinical pathology residents participate in, and may even direct, therapeutic decisions based on the combination of laboratory and clinical evidence, furthering their own education and the care of those patients served …
Taxicab operating characteristics in the United States

In 1982, a national survey of U.S. taxicab operators was conducted. This survey sought to assess the economic, operational and organizational status of the industry and to determine how these characteristics have been changing in response to rising costs and an economic recession. Two results of this survey are reported in this paper; the size structure and the organization of the industry. Both of these characteristics show that it has recently been undergoing two fundamental changes. These are the rapid switch away from employees as drivers to independent contractor drivers and decreasing average company size.
Attachment and invasion of host cells by Toxoplasma gondii

Recent studies indicate that Toxoplasma gondii attachment is mediated via a parasite ligand-host cell receptor interaction. Lloyd Kosper and Jose Mineo here survey factors involved in the attachment to and penetration and invasion of host cells by T. gondii.
Probabilistic structural analysis using a general purpose finite element program

Abstract This paper presents an accurate and efficient method to predict the probabilistic response for structural response quantities such as stress, displacement, natural frequencies, and buckling loads, by combining the capabilities of MSC / NASTRAN , including design sensitivity analysis and fast probability integration. Two probabilistic structural analysis examples have been performed and ver ified by comparison with Monte Carlo simulation of the analytical solution. The first example consists of a cantilevered plate with several point loads. The random variables are the plate thickness and modulus of elasticity. The quantity of interest is the probabilistic distribution of the tip displacement. The second example is a probabilistic buckling analysis of a simply supported composite plate under in-plane loading. The random variables are the ply material properties, orientation angles, and thickness. The coupling of MSC / NASTRAN and fast probability integration is shown to be orders of magnitude more efficient than Monte Carlo simulation with excellent accuracy.
Channels and Excess Reverse Current in Grown Germanium p-n Junction Diodes

Measurements have been made on grown germanium p-n junction diodes in an attempt to correlate the excess reverse current that occurs under exposure to water vapor with the presence of an n-type surface-conductivity layer, or "channel," on the p-side of the junction. Using an optical method to measure the length of this surface layer, it has been found that (1) no channel is formed on a freshly CP4-etched surface, and that (2) for well-oxidized surfaces, large excess reverse currents occur which are directly proportional to the length of the channel for all measured values of applied voltage and humidity. By combining this observation with the known behavior of the channel conductivity with humidity and voltage, a formula for the excess current as a function of the applied bias is derived. In spite of several oversimplifications in the model, the predicted values agree reasonably well with the experimental results for biases greater than one volt.