cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preparation and use of Leadfluor-1, a synthetic fluorophore for live-cell lead imaging

Leadfluor-1 (LF1) is a small-molecule fluorescent sensor for detecting lead in biological and environmental samples, including live cells. This dye uses a xanthenone fluorescent scaffold coupled to a dicarboxylate pseudocrown ether receptor to achieve selective detection of Pb2+ in the presence of biologically relevant metal ions, including divalent calcium, magnesium and zinc. LF1 fluorescence increases by up to 18-fold on binding Pb2+. In this protocol, we describe the synthesis and application of LF1 to imaging lead accumulation within live cells. The preparation of LF1 is anticipated to take 14–21 d, and the imaging assays can be performed in 1–2 d with cultured cells.
Epitaxial Electrodeposition of Prussian Blue Thin Films on Single-Crystal Au(110)

Epitaxial Prussian blue (PB) films are deposited electrochemically onto a Au(110) substrate. High-resolution X-ray diffraction shows that the PB films have a [111] out-of-plane orientation. The very large lattice mismatch of 148% is reduced to about 1% by the formation of (1 x 2)PB(111)[onemacr;10]//(6 x 5)Au(110)[onemacr;10] and (1 x 2)PB(111)[01onemacr;]//(6 x 5)Au(110)[onemacr;10] epitaxial relationships. Peaks in the cyclic voltammogram of PB on Au(110) are sharper than those on polycrystalline Au, consistent with higher structural order and a single out-of-plane orientation. The development of epitaxial films of PB and PB analogues will allow the measurement of the orientation-dependent properties of these molecular magnets. It will also open the door to the development of novel molecular spintronic devices, such as those which exhibit spin-dependent electron transfer.
Intracranial and systemic effects of osmotic and oncotic therapy in experimental cerebral edema

✓ Experiments were carried out to compare the effectiveness of oncotic and osmotic therapy in dogs with experimental cerebral edema caused by a left parietal cold lesion. Animals were divided into five groups and treated for 6 hours with either crystalloid (control group), or mannitol, albumin, furosemide, or albumin/furosemide (treatment groups). The cerebral effects of therapy were evaluated by intracranial pressure (ICP) measurements and by postmortem evaluations of water content, using computerized tomography (CT) density measurements and wet-dry weight measurements. The ICP was significantly reduced by all treatments except albumin alone, and was reduced equally by mannitol, furosemide, and albumin/furosemide. The CT density of the lesion area was significantly increased by all treatments. The density of the contralateral nonlesioned hemisphere was significantly increased by all treatments except albumin. The water content of the lesion area was significantly decreased by all treatments; water conten...
Wnt signaling during cochlear development

Wnt signaling is a hallmark of all embryonic development with multiple roles at multiple developmental time points. Wnt signaling is also important in the development of several organs, one of which is the inner ear, where it participates in otic specification, the formation of vestibular structures, and the development of the cochlea. In particular, we focus on Wnt signaling in the auditory organ, the cochlea. Attempting to dissect the multiple Wnt signaling pathways in the mammalian cochlea is a challenging task due to limited expression data, particularly at proliferating stages. To offer predictions about Wnt activity, we compare cochlear development with that of other biological systems such as Xenopus retina, brain, cancer cells and osteoblasts. Wnts are likely to regulate development through crosstalk with other signaling pathways, particularly Notch and FGF, leading to changes in the expression of Sox2 and proneural (pro-hair cell) genes. In this review we have consolidated the known signaling pathways in the cochlea with known developmental roles of Wnts from other systems to generate a potential timeline of cochlear development.
Pyrographies: Photography and the good death

This essay theorizes the ethical potential of photography or what I call “pyrography” by enacting a version of care for death in attending closely to a sort of rehearsal for the deathbed in French photographer and writer Herve Guibert's photo-novel Suzanne and Louise first published by Gallimard in 1980, the same year as Roland Barthes's famous essay on photography, Camera Lucida. The essay develops the transformative ethical possibilities of and queer political potentialities of pyrography by reading Guibert's project with his two elderly aunts in relation to the work of two of Guibert's intimates: Michel Foucault's “The Social Triumph of the Sexual Will” and Roland Barthes's Camera Lucida and Mourning Diary. In Mourning Diary, Barthes describes the plan for Camera Lucida as an ephemeral monument to his dead mother whose loss he calls, following the last work of psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott: “the catastrophe that has already occurred.” Through its own writing with fire of the death we fear that has alr...
A pilot randomized controlled trial of a commercial diet and exercise weight loss program in minority breast cancer survivors

Objective: Obesity is associated with poorer breast cancer outcomes and losing weight postdiagnosis may improve survival. As Hispanic and black women have poorer breast cancer prognosis than non-Hispanic whites diagnosed at similar age and stage, and have higher rates of obesity, effective weight loss strategies are needed. We piloted a randomized, waitlist-controlled, crossover study to examine the effects and feasibility of the commercial Curves weight loss program among Hispanic, African American and Afro-Caribbean breast cancer survivors. Design and Methods: Women with stage 0–IIIa breast cancer ≥6 months posttreatment, sedentary, and BMI ≥25 kg/m2 were randomized to the immediate arm (IA): 6 months of the Curves program followed by 6 months of observation; or the waitlist control arm (WCA): 6 months of observation followed by 6 months of the Curves program. The Curves program uses a 30-min exercise circuit and a high-vegetable/low-fat/calorie-restricted diet. Results: A total of 42 women enrolled (79% Hispanic, 21% black), mean age 51 (range 32–69) and mean BMI 33.2(±5.9) kg/m2; 91% were retained at month 12. At month 6, women in the IA lost an average 3.3% (±3.5%) of body weight (range: 1.7% gain to 10.6% loss), as compared with 1.8% (±2.9%) weight loss in the WCA (P = 0.04). At month 12, on average women in the IA regained some but not all of the weight lost during the first 6 months (P = 0.02). Conclusions: Minority breast cancer survivors were recruited and retained in a weight loss study. Six months of the Curves program resulted in moderate weight loss, but weight loss was not maintained postintervention. Future interventions should identify methods to increase uptake and maintenance of weight loss behaviors.
Management and outcome of pneumatosis intestinalis.

BACKGROUND: Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI), infiltration of gas into the bowel wall, has traditionally been associated with immediate operative intervention and a high mortality rate. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the diagnosis and management of pneumatosis in an attempt to characterize the disease, and examined management strategies. RESULTS: Ninety-seven patients had a computed tomography (CT) diagnosis of pneumatosis. The location of pneumatosis was as follows: 46% colon, 27% small bowel, 5% stomach, and 7% both small and large bowel. Fourteen patients also had portal venous gas and 6 (43%) of these patients died. Management strategy was non-operative in 52%, operative in 33%, and futile care in 15%. The overall mortality rate was 22% (16% operative, 6% non-operative, and 87% futile). Patients who died had a higher mean APACHE II score (25 vs 11, P <.001). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 50% of patients with pneumatosis can be successfully managed non-operatively. The combination of PI and portal venous gas may confer a higher mortality rate.
Angiotensin, Vasopressin, and Atrial Natriuretic Peptide in the Rat Eye

AbstractAngiotensin (Ang), vasopressin (VP) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) were assayed in the anterior uvea and retina from eyes of decapitated rats and rats perfused through the heart with phosphate buffered saline to remove peptides from blood and ocular fluids. All peptides were detected, and ANP was the most abundant. Uveal content of each peptide was greater than the retina. Perfusion did not affect ANP or VP content, but Ang was eliminated. Washout may explain the lack of immunohis-tochemical localization in the eye for Ang, but not VP. Also, washout does not account for available immunohistochemical data describing the localization of ANP in ocular tissue.
COMPARATIVE STUDIES OF THE NODAL AND VASCULAR ANATOMY IN THE NEOTROPICAL CYATHEACEAE. II. SQUAMATE GENERA

A B S T RA CT Vascular tissue development in the mature stems of the six squamate genera (those with scales as stem and petiole indument) of the Cyatheaceae is described. All squamate genera possess an erect stem, although Cnemidaria approaches an acaulescent condition. The majority of the species studied possesses a spiral phyllotaxy, although a whorled condition predominates in certain species. Adventitious roots arise from the leaf bases and, at irregular intervals, from the stem. Adventitious buds occur in the genera Alsophila and Nephelea and show the same ontogenetic changes as occur in the young sporophytes of tree ferns. Mature stems have a dictyostele with overlapping leaf gaps; this consists of individual meristeles, each surrounded by sclerenchymatous tissue. All genera possess medullary bundles, whereas cortical bundles are found only in certain genera and species. The origin, course, and function of these accessory vascular bundles are discussed. The squamate genera in the Cyatheaceae show striking similarities in both anatomical and morphological characters, and constitute a natural grouping. TREE FERNS were once a dominant part of the world's flora, and today still form a conspicuous part of the vegetation of the tropical rain forests of the world. During the Carboniferous Period
Effects of varying dietary ratios of magnesium, calcium and phosphorus in growing chicks.

Abstract THE nutritional interrelationships of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium have been the object of numerous scientific reports, many of which are contradictory. It is becoming evident, however, that the dietary requirement and physiological role of any one of these ions is influenced by the relative proportion of the others in the diet. Several authors have shown nutritional interrelationships among calcium, phosphorus and magnesium in rats (Forbes, 1963; and Toothill, 1963), in dogs (Bunce et al., 1963) and in guinea pigs (Morris and O’Dell, 1963). Alder (1927) and Buckner et al. (1932) reported better bone formation and egg production in laying hens when the magnesium content of the limestone added to the diet was low. Other reports (Tully and Franke, 1934; Branion, 1947; Supplee, 1963; Staller and Sunde, 1964; and Mehring and Johnson, (1965) indicated, however, that the addition of magnesium to the diet had no adverse effect on laying hens, and …
Renal artery stenosis: a cardiovascular perspective.

Background Renal artery stenosis (RAS) is an important clinical entity that can lead to uncontrolled hypertension and progressive renal failure. The most common causes of RAS are atherosclerosis and fibromuscular dysplasia. Because the diagnosis of renovascular hypertension is established only when revascularization of a stenosed renal artery results in cure or improvement in patients hypertension, establishment of a causal relationship between RAS and hypertension continues to present a challenge. Therefore, a high index of suspicion is essential in the diagnosis of this condition. Methods Multiple tests, both invasive and noninvasive, are available as screening methods. Angiography remains the gold standard for diagnosis of RAS. Besides its value in establishing the diagnosis, it provides anatomic information regarding the site and severity of stenoses and appropriate revascularization strategies. Magnetic resonance angiography and duplex ultrasonography are the most promising and accurate noninvasive screening tests available, even in the presence of renal insufficiency. With advances in percutaneous transluminal angioplasty techniques, including renal artery stenting, many more patients are eligible for less invasive and effective revascularization strategies compared with the traditional surgical procedures. Results Revascularization of a stenosed renal artery is associated with preservation of renal function and better control of hypertension, unstable angina, and congestive heart failure. Because atherosclerotic RAS is associated with generalized atherosclerosis, aggressive risk factor modification and antiplatelet therapy are integral in the management of RAS regardless of the revascularization strategy. (Am Heart J 2002;143:559-64.)
Resilient control system execution agent (ReCoSEA)

In an increasingly connected world, critical infrastructure systems suffer from two types of vulnerability. The first is the traditionally recognized problem of monitoring the systems for faults and failures, recognizing and analyzing data, and responding with real understanding to the problems of the system. Increasingly complex systems create the opportunity for single points of failure to cascade when inaccurate assessment of system health increases response time or leads to faulty analysis of the problems involved. A second problem involves vulnerability to cyber intrusion, in which malignant actors can mask system degradation or present false data about system status. A resilient system will protect stability, efficiency, and security. To ensure these three states, the system must react to changing conditions within the system with coordination: no one component of the system can be allowed to react to problems without real consideration of the effects of that action on other components within the system. Systems with multi-agent design typically have three layers of action, a management layer, a coordination layer, and an execution layer. A resilient multi-agent system will emphasize functions of the execution layer, which has the responsibility of initiating actions, monitoring, analyzing, and controlling its own processes, while feeding information back to the higher levels of management and coordination. The design concept of a resilient control system execution agent (ReCoSEA) grows out of these underpinnings, and through the use of computational intelligence techniques, this paper suggests an associated design methodology.
Carpal bone postures and motions are abnormal in both wrists of patients with unilateral scapholunate interosseous ligament tears.

Abstract Purpose The recent ability to measure 3-dimensional in vivo carpal kinematics has facilitated the noninvasive study of complex carpal bone motion. Methods In this study we examined the flexion/extension carpal kinematics of both wrists in 8 patients with unilateral scapholunate interosseous ligament (SLIL) tears by using computed tomographic (CT) imaging and a markerless bone registration technique. Carpal bone neutral posture and flexion/extension motion of both wrists of the injured patients were compared with the same parameters in wrists of 10 uninjured male and female volunteers (normals). Results The neutral posture of the injured scaphoid and lunate were significantly more extended than those of normals. In these patients, however, the postures of the scaphoid and lunate in the contralateral uninjured wrists also were abnormal and were similar to those of the injured wrist. In addition, extension of the lunate and flexion of the scaphoid in both the injured and uninjured wrist were significantly different from normal but not different from each other. Conclusions This study was unable to attribute altered carpal posture and motion to SLIL tears because abnormalities were found in both wrists of patients with unilateral injury. The etiology of abnormal wrist kinematics in the asymptomatic wrist of patients with unilateral tears of the scapholunate ligament is not known.
Coordinate generation with precise controls over mesh properties

Powerful local controls have been developed for mesh generation with the class of multisurface coordinate transformations. The controls come from local piecewise linear interpolants, and the resulting coordinates have continuous first derivatives. At the boundaries, the mesh controls provide the capability of joining distinct coordinate systems together with continuous derivatives. Away from boundaries, a local region can be given a particular mesh form to model internal objects or to simplify a problem. Applications of the controls are illustrated with a sequence of two-dimensional examples. For simplicity, each is generated about a NACA0012 airfoil which is of unit length and with leading edge pointed in a negative x-direction.
Thermodynamic and Kinetic Characterization of the Interaction between N-Butylamine and ∼1 nm CdSe Nanoparticles†

When butylamine (0.1−0.25 M) is added to a colloidal solution of CdSe nanoparticles (NPs) that are 1−2 nm in diameter, the band gap absorption changes from a broad, relatively weak band centered at 445 nm to a narrow, relatively strong absorption centered at 414 nm. The effect of concentration on the observed spectrum shows an isobestic point, suggesting an equilibrium between two species. Thermodynamic and kinetic studies of this process were carried out. The transition was found to be exothermic, with a size-dependent heat of reaction that suggests that there is a direct proportionality between the NP size and the exothermicity of the interaction. The decay kinetics of the original peak were studied and compared to the rise kinetics of the 414 nm peak. The decay of the original NPs was biexponential, with a lifetime that depends on the NP size, concentration of reactants, and the temperature. The rise in the 414 nm peak was found to be multiexponential, reflecting transformations from the ensemble havin...
Relativistic and quantum electrodynamics corrections to the binding energies of the ( J =1,ν=1) states of ddμ and dtμ

The relativistic shift, including the corrections to the binding energy due to vacuum polarization, the hyperfine splitting, and nuclear finite-size effects have been calculated for the (J=1,\ensuremath{\nu}=1) states of dd\ensuremath{\mu} and dt\ensuremath{\mu}. The corrections have been determined by first-order perturbation theory using the nonrelativistic wave functions determined by Alexander and Monkhorst [S. A. Alexander and H. J. Monkhorst, Phys. Rev. A 38, 26 (1988)]. The results show rapid convergence with basis-set size. The overall convergence of the calculations is better than 0.01 meV. The accuracy of the total correction to the binding energies is estimated to be \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.5 meV.
New Approaches to Lipid Bilayer Fabrication: Microfluidic Solvent Extraction and Hydrogel Encapsulation

Membrane channel proteins play crucial roles in governing the transport of material and energy across every cellular membrane. Accordingly, they are the subjects of interest for science and medicine as well as major targets of drug discovery efforts. Recent work has also shown their potential as highly rapid and sensitive single molecule sensors. However, techniques conventionally used to measure the electrical transport through these proteins can be problematic to form and are extremely fragile, limiting the range and scope of possible studies. We have developed two new technologies which alleviate these shortcomings: in situ encapsulation of lipid membranes in hydrogels and automated microfluidic formation. The hydrogel encapsulated membranes are mechanically robust and long-lived as a result of the intimate contact between the hydrogel and the membrane, enabling measurements of single channel currents for a week or longer. The automated microfluidic formation apparatus enables the creation and manipulation of lipid membranes and the incorporation and measurement of channel proteins in these membranes through an entirely computer controlled process. We are working to apply these technologies toward DNA sequencing, drug discovery, and single molecule biophysics.
Medical-legal considerations related to symptom duration and patient outcome after bacterial meningitis.

Bacterial meningitis is one of the most serious common pediatric infections. The case fatality rate is between 5% to 10%. 1 Morbidity, primarily in the form of long-term neurological sequelae, occurs in 30% of newborn and very young infants and 15% to 20% of older children. 1 These sequelae can result from cranial and peripheral nerve dysfunction (causing ataxia, paresis, spasticity, hypertonicity, or visual/ hearing deficit), increased intracranial pressure (causing hydrocephalus), and parenchymal central nervous system (CNS) injury (causing cognitive deficits, seizure disorder, learning disabilities, behavioral problems). ~,2 Specifically, bacterial meningitis has been recognized as one of the leading causes of acquired deafness in children in the United States. 3 Multiple studies have reported a postinfectious incidence of significant hearing deficit ranging between 5% to 20%.4-8 Lawsuits charging that medically negligent practice contributed to adverse patient outcome with bacterial meningitis are among the most common type of claim filed against pediatricians and emergency medicine physicians. The basis for such claims is often an assumed relationship between duration of patient symptoms and outcome of bacterial meningitis. This article reviews the medical literature assessing this relationship and discusses some of the medical-legal implications of these data.
Muscle contributions to specific biomechanical functions do not change in forward versus backward pedaling.

Abstract Previous work had identified six biomechanical functions that need to be executed by each limb in order to produce a variety of pedaling tasks. The functions can be organized into three antagonistic pairs: an Ext/Flex pair that accelerates the foot into extension or flexion with respect to the pelvis, an Ant/Post pair that accelerates the foot anteriorly or posteriorly with respect to the pelvis, and a Plant/Dorsi pair that accelerates the foot into plantarflexion or dorsiflexion. Previous analyses of experimental data have inferred that muscles perform the same function during different pedaling tasks (e.g. forward versus backward pedaling) because the EMG timing was similar, but they did not present rigorous biomechanical analyses to assess whether a muscle performed the same biomechanical function, and if so, to what degree. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine how individual muscles contribute to these biomechanical functions during two different motor tasks, forward and backward pedaling, through a theoretical analysis of experimental data. To achieve this objective, forward and backward pedaling simulations were generated and a mechanical energy analysis was used to examine how muscles generate, absorb or transfer energy to perform the pedaling tasks. The results showed that the muscles contributed to the same primary biomechanical functions in both pedaling directions and that synergistic performance of certain functions effectively accelerated the crank. The gluteus maximus worked synergistically with the soleus, the hip flexors worked synergistically with the tibialis anterior, and the vasti and hamstrings functioned independently to accelerate the crank. The rectus femoris used complex biomechanical mechanisms including negative muscle work to accelerate the crank. The negative muscle work was used to transfer energy generated elsewhere (primarily from other muscles) to the pedal reaction force in order to accelerate the crank. Consistent with experimental data, a phase shift was required from those muscles contributing to the Ant/Post functions as a result of the different limb kinematics between forward and backward pedaling, although they performed the same biomechanical function. The pedaling simulations proved necessary to interpret the experimental data and identify motor control mechanisms used to accomplish specific motor tasks, as the mechanisms were often complex and not always intuitively obvious.
Electrochemical Deposition and Evaluation of Conductive Polymer Coating on Biodegradable Magnesium Implants for Neural Applications

In an attempt to develop conductive, biodegradable, mechanically strong, and biocompatible nerve conduits, pure magnesium (Mg) was used as the biodegradable substrate material to provide strength while the conductive polymer, poly(3,4ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) was used as a conductive coating material to control Mg degradation and improve cytocompatibility of Mg substrates. This study explored a series of electrochemical deposition conditions to produce a uniform, consistent PEDOT coating on Mg substrates. The microstructure and morphology of the coating and Mg were visualized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The elemental composition of the surface was quantified using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Adhesion strength of the coating was measured using the tape test following the ASTM-D 3359 standard. The SEM results showed uniform and consistent PEDOT coating, and EDS analysis confirmed the elemental composition of PEDOT. The adhesion strength of PEDOT coating was within the classifications of 3B to 4B.
Role of Fibronectin in Infective Endocarditis

It is now generally accepted that adherence of microorganisms to various components of cardiac valve surfaces is an important early event in the pathogenesis of infective endocarditis. Several lines of evidence suggest that fibronectin may have a role in this adherence process. Fibronectin is an important component of the extracellular matrix of endothelium and fibroblasts and is exposed when these tissues are injured. Fibronectin binds to platelets and fibrin and thereby contributes to the thrombogenicity of surfaces. Because the structure of fibronectin consists of multiple functional domains, fibronectin can bind simultaneously and specifically to microorganisms and various tissue elements such as collagen and cells and may facilitate the uptake of microorganisms by endothelial cells and fibroblasts. Subinhibitory concentrations of certain antibiotics interfere with the expression of bacterial fibronectin receptors and inhibit the binding of Staphylococcus aureus to collagen matrices; this interaction may have implications for antibiotic prophylaxis of infective endocarditis.
Isotropic fiber coarsening in unidirectionally solidified eutectic alloys

A theory of coarsening has been developed for the case of fibers of circular cross section in unidirectionally solidified eutectic alloys. The fibers are assumed to be randomly distributed throughout the unoccupied space in the matrix (uniformly distributed), and diffusion of solute is assumed to occur under steady-state conditions with cylindrical symmetry. The theory predicts that the cube of the average fiber radius increases linearly with time for all fiber volume fractions. As the volume fraction increases, the coarsening rate increases and the theoretical distribution of fiber radii becomes broader. It is shown that isotropic fiber coarsening occurs at approximately half the rate at which the same phase would coarsen if it were in the form of spherical precipitates for volume fractions up to 0.6. It is also demonstrated that the fibers will coarsen at a faster rate when they are uniformly distributed than when they are arranged on an hexagonal lattice.
Clinical significance of anti-asparaginase antibodies in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) of childhood and adolescence has become curable in 80% of cases. Since more than thirty years, when the in vitro antileukemic activity of guinea pig serum led to its development as an antileukemic drug, the enzyme L-Asparaginase (L-Asp), naturally not present in humans, is an essential component of multidrug regimens against childhood ALL [1]. Its mechanism is based on the enzymatic hydrolysis of the nonessential amino acids asparagine and glutamine to aspartic and glutamic acid, thus depleting the circulating pool of asparagine and glutamine. Leukemic blast cells, unable to synthesize adequate amounts of asparagine de novo, depend on serum asparagine as a source for protein synthesis. Accordingly, asparagine depletion results in a selective starvation of the blast cells. The role of L-Asp in the treatment of ALL is underlined by the documentation of different treatment results using different preparations, dosages and ways of delivery, or, as a surrogate parameter, of different levels of minimal residual disease in dependence of the time point of usage [2]. The targeted antileukemic activity is attractive as it lacks intensive cytostatic side effects. Undesired consequences occur by altered protein synthesis leading to dys- and hypoproteinemia, alterations of coagulation parameters, hepatopathy and signs of pancreatitis. Moreover, the formation of antibodies against the bacterial protein L-Asp occurring in about 30 – 60% of patients repeatedly exposed to this drug represents a fundamental problem. Antibody formation may lead to overt hypersensitivity reactions, ranging from transient urticaria to systemic anaphylaxia in up to 50% of patients [3,4]. Additionally, neutralizing antibodies induce a faster clearance rate of the drug hampering its activity. To avoid serious anaphylactic complications and to ensure therapeutic efficacy, after overt clinical allergy alternative formulations are usually recommended. Anti-L-Asp antibodies may induce an immunologic inactivation without clinically apparent allergy [5]. This phenomenon, termed silent inactivation, might expose the patient to a potential risk of inferior treatment outcome.
Fitbit®: An accurate and reliable device for wireless physical activity tracking.

Although physicians recognize the importance of physical activity in the prevention and maintenance of chronic diseases,1 few incorporate physical activity counseling into routine clinic visits.2 One major barrier has been the paucity of means to objectively assess patient’s long-term physical activity patterns.3 We investigated if the Fitbit®, one of the most common wireless physical activity trackers in the consumer market, met reasonable validity and reliability standards such that they could be used by primary care physicians to monitor their patient’s physical activity objectively between clinic visits.
Defining the roles of IL-33, thymic stromal lymphopoietin, and IL-25 in human asthma.

It is clear that a hyperactive type 2 immune response contributes to the pathogenesis of asthma in at least a subgroup of patients. Blood, sputum, and airway biomarkers of increased IL-13 activity (CLCA1, periostin, serpinB2, and MUC5AC) and IL-5 activity (eosinophilia) can identify those with a so-called “Th2-high” type of disease. The utility of molecular subtyping in asthma is buoyed by recent clinical trials demonstrating that some “TH2-high” asthmatics may respond favorably to therapies that block these pathways (1, 2). However, asthma is much more than a T cell–mediated disease, and innate epithelial and immune cell functions are critical in its pathogenesis (3). A better approach may to distinguish asthma subtypes based on the upstream innate factors that drive IL-13 and IL-5 production. In this context, three leading candidates have been identified in mouse models of airway disease (IL-33, thymic stromal lymphopoietin [TSLP], and IL-25), but their importance in the pathogenesis of human asthma has only recently been explored.
WIND ENVIRONMENT: Theme Introduction and Report on Preprint Papers Not Included in Proceedings

Publisher Summary An environment is a physical property or condition that surrounds and influences the object that it envelops. Therefore, wind environment is to be identified with the properties of naturally flowing air that affect objects, the receptors, that it surrounds. The primary receptors of wind-engineering concern are buildings, towers, long-span structures, people, and vegetation. Wind engineering has, as its origin, and still the major component, tried to relate wind forces on buildings and structures to wind characteristics. Accordingly, mean wind speed, wind direction, and turbulence have been the main wind properties considered to describe the wind environment. However, physical properties of the surrounding medium other than air motion have significant influence on the objects of interest to wind engineers. This chapter presents data on effects of a variety of factors on wind properties. Substantial effort should be made to develop correlations between various wind properties to provide a more complete description of wind environments for many wind-engineering applications. Clarification of wind-description terminology should be made.
Inter-rater Agreement in Scoring Home Cardiorespiratory Tracings • 1790

Although there are numerous reports of cardiorespiratory patterns in infants on home monitors, there are no data to determine if experts actually agree on the description of these patterns. To assess agreement among observers in describing cardiorespiratory variables, four senior investigators and five trained technicians each independently assessed physiologic tracings recorded in the homes of 18 infants enrolled in a multicenter study. The monitor utilized respiratory inductance plethysmography and recorded a tracing(75 s. preceding the onset and 30 s. following resolution of events) whenever it detected apnea ≥16 s. or a heart rate 0.90 for technicians). Agreement in measurement of apnea duration was initially relatively low (intra-class correlation (ICC) 0.33), but following additional training ICC increased to 0.83. Agreement in measurement of bradycardia duration was consistently excellent (ICC 0.86-0.99). Agreement in measurement of the lowest heart rate during a bradycardia was better for technicians than investigators (ICC 0.77 vs. 0.65). With additional training there was total agreement among technicians (ICC 1.0). When classifying apnea as including ≥1, ≥2 or≥3 out-of-phase breaths, agreement was low for investigators (kappas 0.33, 0.22 and 0.11), while the technicians following training were able to achieve better agreement especially in categorization of apneas with ≥3 out-of-phase breaths (kappa 0.67). While researchers and clinicians commonly describe events based on cardiorespiratory recordings, agreement amongst experienced individuals may be poor. This lack of agreement between experts may seriously impair comparison of studies and mandates careful definition of variables, intensive training and demonstrated reliability in the conduct of studies. (NICHD HD 29067 29071 28971 29073 29060 29056 34625)
Arctic sea ice characteristics and associated atmosphere — Ice interactions in summer inferred from SMMR data and drifting buoys: 1979–1984

SMMR-derived sea ice concentrations for November 1978 – October 1984 in the Canada Basin are examined to determine temporal and spatial scales of variability in ice concentration and extent. Large regions of reduced-concentration ice are observed in late summer in four of the six years studied. Examination of the brightness temperature patterns and comparison of the SMMR-derived concentrations with visible-band imagery and drifting buoy temperatures support the interpretation of these features as true reductions in ice concentration. The observed areas of reduced concentration appears as a mixture of big floes andrazvodye, or open water areas of irregular shape and indefinite duration. Comparison with buoy-measured surface pressure and winds suggests that reduced ice concentrations are associated with regions of strong winds and divergence beneath low pressure systems.
Longitudinal evaluation of left ventricular performance in dogs following nonpenetrating cardiac trauma

To investigate the temporal changes of global left ventricular function following nonpenetrating cardiac impact, studies were performed in ten purpose-bred dogs. Under full anesthesia and after hemodynamic and angiographic measurement, a midline thoracotomy was performed and a 12 m/sec blunt impact was delivered to the anterior surface of the heart in eight dogs with an air-pressurized impactor. Two dogs were sham operated and did not undergo trauma. After closing the chest, the hemodynamic measurements were repeated at 3 hours, 3 days, 2 weeks, and 5 weeks after impact. Hemodynamic measurements included left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and peak left ventricular positive and negative rates of change of pressure. Left ventricular ejection fraction was calculated from ventriculograms obtained with the dog positioned on its right side. All indices of left ventricular performance in dogs that underwent trauma were depressed at 3 hours after impact and recovered gradually to near normal levels at 2 to 5 weeks after trauma. Recovery of left ventricular function occurred in spite of residual patchy scarring of the left ventricular myocardium in the region of impact. No variability of left ventricular function indices was observed over the course of the study in the two sham-operated dogs. The results indicate that blunt cardiac impact can cause depression of left ventricular performance in the immediate post-impact period, but near complete recovery of function occurs within 2 to 5 weeks after the injury, in spite of residual scarring.
Tournament incentives and match outcomes in women's professional tennis.

Our research examines the effect of prize money differentials in women's professional tennis tournaments on the probability that the favoured player wins the match. This study adds to the existing literature on tournament theory through its focus on Rosen's (1986) elimination-style, match play tournament model. We estimate a standard probit model using a unique data set containing detailed information on prize money, player-specific characteristics, and match play outcomes for all tournaments played during the 2004 tour sponsored by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA). Our results support predictions by Rosen's tournament model. Larger prize money differentials have a positive, statistically significant effect on the favoured player's probability of winning the match. In addition, the number of stages remaining has a significant, negative effect on winning, consistent with tournament theory predictions associated with the number of contestants in a tournament.
Exhaust Emissions from Four-Stroke Lawn Mower Engines

Emissions were characterized from 10 four-stroke lawn mower engines. The ages of the engines ranged from new to 15 years, and each was tested using two gasoline fuels: a 1990 national average blend and a reformulated gasoline. Reformulated gasoline usage resulted in lower organic and carbon monoxide emissions that contributed to lower reactivity-weighted emission rates. Aggregate toxic emissions were also reduced because benzene emissions were lower. On the other hand, increases in nitrogen oxide emission rates were observed with the reformulated gasoline. Compared to the newer engines, older engines had dramatically higher organic and carbon monoxide and lower nitrogen oxide emissions.
Myocardial signal response to dipyridamole and dobutamine: Demonstration of the BOLD effect using a double-echo gradient-echo sequence

The purpose of this study was to examine the differential myocardial signal responses due to the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) effect in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) under differing conditions of myocardial oxygen supply and demand. The signal response was measured when myocardial blood flow was increased in excess of oxygen demand or when flow was increased in response to increased myocardial oxygen demand. Normal volunteers were studied using a segmented, interleaved, double-echo, gradient-echo sequence at baseline conditions and during pharmacological stress with either dipyridamole (n = 5) or dobutamine (n = 6). Changes in T2* in the myocardium during stress were calculated. Peak coronary flow velocity was measured at rest and during stress using a breath-hold phase contrast technique. Administration of dipyridamole induced a 124 +/- 27% increase in coronary blood flow which resulted in a 46 +/- 22% increase in T2*, consistent with a decrease in myocardial venous deoxyhemoglobin concentration as myocardial oxygen supply exceeds demand. In contrast, the administration of dobutamine resulted in a 41 +/- 25% increase in coronary blood flow but no significant change in T2* (-5 +/- 19%), consistent with a lack of change in myocardial venous deoxyhemoglobin concentration and balanced oxygen supply and demand. Thus, alterations in the relationship between myocardial oxygen supply and demand appear to be detectable using BOLD MRI.
Taking Sex Seriously: Challenges in Teaching about Sexuality

Teaching a course that is about sexuality but also about larger cultural themes, social processes, and political struggles poses many challenges. These include: 1) choosing readings from a sexuality literature that is ever-expanding; 2) negotiating student expectations that the course will focus on the sexual behavior of individuals when much of it is on sexual ideologies and sexual regimes; 3) allowing multiple voices to be heard in class, not just those of sexual libertines, sexual extraverts, and those with nonstigmatized sexual identities; 4) creating a safe classroom climate that allows personal disclosures about sexuality; 5) navigating the emotional intensity of discussing sexual violence and other issues cloaked in normativity, anxiety, and pain; 6) balancing student interest in the local with attention to the historical, comparative, and global; and 7) underscoring the potential for change in sexual scripts, sexual violence, and sexual regimes. This article explores these challenges and some stra...
Advances in Imaging Technologies in the Evaluation of High-Grade Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer ranges from a low-grade variant to high-grade disease. Assessment for treatment depends on white light cystoscopy, however because of its limitations there is a need for improved visualization of flat, multifocal, high-grade, and muscle-invasive lesions. Photodynamic diagnosis and narrow-band imaging provide additional contrast enhancement of bladder tumors and have been shown to improve detection rates. Confocal laser endomicroscopy and optical coherence tomography enable real-time, high-resolution, subsurface tissue characterization with spatial resolutions similar to histology. Molecular imaging offers the potential for the combination of optical imaging technologies with cancer-specific molecular agents to improve the specificity of disease detection.
Adjuvant vincristine, dactinomycin, and cyclophosphamide therapy in stage i uterine sarcomas. A pilot study

Seven patients with Stage I uterine sarcomas (greater than or equal to 10 mitoses/10 high-power fields) were treated with surgery plus adjuvant vincristine, dactinomycin, and cyclophosphamide (VAC) chemotherapy in a pilot study conducted at the University of Kentucky Medical Center from 1978 to 1983. Surgery consisted of total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and para-aortic lymph node sampling. Chemotherapy was begun within 1 week of surgery, and all patients received at least six monthly courses of VAC. This chemotherapeutic regimen was well-tolerated, and toxicity was minimal. Two patients had recurrent sarcoma, and one of them has died of disease. The remaining five patients are alive and well with no evidence of disease 48 to 73 months after therapy. The recurrence rate of patients with Stage I uterine sarcomas treated with adjuvant VAC chemotherapy was significantly (P less than 0.02) less than that for similar patients treated at this institution (1964-1977) by surgery alone or surgery plus pelvic radiation. These results suggest that primary adjuvant chemotherapy is beneficial in patients with Stage I uterine sarcomas.
Levels of prostaglandin E metabolite, the major urinary metabolite of prostaglandin E2, are increased in smokers.

Purpose: Increased levels of cyclooxygenase-2 and prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) have been observed in tobacco-related malignancies of the upper aerodigestive tract. Moreover, exposure to tobacco smoke can stimulate the synthesis of PGE 2 . Recent evidence suggests that urinary PGE metabolite (PGE-M) can be used as an index of systemic PGE 2 production. In this study, we investigated whether levels of urinary PGE-M were increased in smokers and in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Experimental Design: Fifty-eight HNSCC cases and 29 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were prospectively enrolled in the study. A detailed smoking history and single void urine specimen were obtained from each participant. Levels of urinary PGE-M were quantified in a blinded fashion using mass spectrometry and compared with smoking history and tumor status. Results: Adjusted for case-control matching, median urinary PGE-M levels were significantly higher in ever smokers (15.7 ng/mg creatinine) compared with never smokers (9.9 ng/mg creatinine) for the entire study population ( n = 87, P = 0.005). Concentrations of urinary PGE-M were nearly doubled in ever smokers (15.2 ng/mg creatinine) versus never smokers (7.8 ng/mg creatinine) among healthy controls ( P = 0.001). Higher PGE-M levels were observed in current versus former smokers and in those with greater pack-year exposure. A significant difference in amounts of PGE-M was not observed in patients with HNSCC versus healthy controls. Conclusions: Increased levels of urinary PGE-M were observed in smokers. Urinary PGE-M may have use as a noninvasive biomarker of the effects of tobacco smoke exposure.
Chemotaxis mutants of Spirochaeta aurantia.

Abstract Five Spirochaeta aurantia chemotaxis mutants were isolated. One mutant (the che-101 mutant) never reversed, one (the che-200 mutant) flexed predominantly, two (the che-300 and che-400-1 mutants) exhibited elevated reversal frequencies, and one (the che-400 mutant) exhibited chemotactically unstimulated behavior similar to that of the wild-type strain. The che-101 and che-400 mutants were essentially nonchemotactic, whereas the che-200, che-300, and che-400-1 mutants showed impaired chemotactic responses. Protein methylation in response to attractant addition appeared normal in all of the mutants. Compared with the wild type, all of the mutants exhibited significantly altered membrane potential responses to the attractant xylose.
Distributed Noise Emission Spectra

The amplitude of an emission spectrum which is generated by a noise modulated transmitter is properly calibrated in the power spectral density terms of power per bandwidth or watts/kHz. When a photograph is taken of the measured spectrum, it sometimes becomes difficult to determine the power spectral density at a particular point of the distributed spectrum. The relative scale is easily obtainable in dB but the absolute value is seldom if ever given correctly on measured data. The purpose of this paper is to develop a method for determining the largest absolute value of power spectral density for four most used transmission modes in communications; namely, single sideband, amplitude modulation, narrowband and wideband frequency modulation. A single equation is developed which expresses the maximum power spectral density as a function of average power, bandwidth and modulation factor. These three quantities are easily obtainable from manufacturers' information or measured data.