cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Are all biopsies created equal? comparison of extended sextant prostate biopsies performed with and without MRI-TRUS fusion biopsy system.

117Background: Extended sextant systematic prostate biopsies have the inherent risk of under-sampling prostate cancer. Fusion guided multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) biopsies have been employed to better represent the disease and guide treatment. We sought to determine if due to heightened suspicion of cancer and/or visualization of mpMRI there were any discrepancies between systematic biopsies done with a Fusion System as compared to those done without (TRUS alone). Methods: From a prospectively collected database, we performed a review collecting age, race, clinical stage, PSA, and time until repeat systematic biopsy as part of fusion guided biopsy (IB). We also collected pathology results reported as Gleason Score (GS), for both the patients’ OB and our IB. Patients were stratified into groups based on time between OB and IB/fusion biopsy ( < 6 months, < 1 year and < 2 years). Results: 69 patients with a previous OB underwent combined fusion and IB within our designated time intervals...
Developing Case Management as a Practice Model

Case management integrates aspects of all the traditional methods of social work practice: casework, group work, and community organization. In order to implement a case-management practice model, ...
Entertainment as Crime Prevention: Evidence from Chicago Sports Games

The concern that mass media may be responsible for aggressive and criminal behavior is widespread. Comparatively little consideration has been given to its potential diversionary function. This paper contributes to the emerging body of literature on entertainment as a determinant of crime by analyzing Chicago by-the-minute crime reports during major sporting events. Sports provide an exogenous infusion of TV diversion that we leverage to test the effect of entertainment on crime. Because the scheduling of a sporting event should be random with respect to crime within a given month, day of the week, and time, we use month-time-day-of-week fixed effects to estimate the effect of the sporting events on crime. We compare crime reports by the half hour when Chicago’s NFL, NBA, or MLB teams are playing to crime reports at the same time, day, and month when the teams are not playing. We conduct the same analysis for the Super Bowl, NBA Finals, and MLB World Series. The Super Bowl generates the most dramatic declines: total crime reports decrease by approximately 25 percent (roughly 60 fewer crimes). The decline is partially offset by an increase in crime before the game, most notably in drug and prostitution reports, and an uptick in reports of violent crime immediately after the game. Crime during Chicago Bears Monday night football games is roughly 15 percent lower (30 fewer crimes) than during the same time on non-game nights. Our results show similar but smaller effects for NBA and MLB games. Except for the Super Bowl, we find little evidence for temporal crime displacement before or after the games. In general, we find substantial declines during games across crime types – property, violent, drug, and other – with the largest reductions for drug crime. We believe fewer potential offenders on the streets largely explain the declines in crime.
HYDRODYNAMIC CHROMATOGRAPHY OF LATEX PARTICLES

ABSTRACT Hydrodynamic chromatography (HDC) is a method developed by Small (1) for the measurement of the particle sizes of colloidal sols. The diluted colloidal sol is injected into an eluant stream, which is pumped through a series of beds packed with solid spheres. The larger colloidal particles pass through the beds faster than the smaller particles, and the separation achieved is detected turbidimetrically. This paper describes a mathematical model of the flow dynamics of the colloidal particles within the packed beds. This model is based on the analysis of flow of colloidal particles through a collection of equal-size parallel capillaries which are connected in series by mixing regions. The model takes into account the disturbance of the eluant flow profile by the particles and the forces (electrostatic repulsion and London-van der Waals attraction) between the colloidal particles and the bed packing. The predictions of the model are in excellent agreement with data for monodisperse polystyrene latexes reported by Small (1) and obtained in our laboratory, except for large particles and eluants of low ionic strength. The reasons for these discrepancies are outlined.
Hydrocarbons and Gold Mineralization in the Hot-Spring Deposit at Cherry Hill, California

Hydrothermal solutions carrying gold and organic matter formed the veinlets which comprise the Cherry Hill hot-spring deposit. Solid bitumen and/or primary fluid inclusions containing oil occur in Stages I–II and VII–XI of 12 paragenetic stages. Stages during which gold was deposited in some cases trapped bitumen and/or oil (IX) and in other cases did not (V and VI). Homogenization temperatures (Th) of primary oil inclusions in general de-crease from Stage VIII to Stage XI, following the same trend as aqueous inclusions. As Th drops, the transmitted light color of the oils changes from orange/brown to light yellow to colorless and the UV-excited fluorescence emission changes from yellow/orange to blue, whereas the blue light-excited emission changes from weak orange to intense yellow/green. Oils were analyzed by crushing 1–7 mg samples in the inlet of a capillary column gas chromatograph. The column was programmed from –20 to 300°C and a flame ionization detector was used. All samples are dominated by an “unresolved hump” in the carbon number (Cn) range from about C15 to C28. Most samples have no n-alkanes and only traces of hydrocarbons in the range C1–C14. Four samples of Stage IX bitumen (trapped during a gold-precipitating stage) and one sample of Stage I bitumen (trapped during a nongold-bearing stage) were hand-picked, dissolved in a polar solvent mixture, and both soluble and insoluble fractions were analyzed for trace metals (including Au, As, Sb, S, Fe, and V) by neutron activation. Gold contents of the soluble fraction ranged from 4 to 120 ppb but were always below the solvent blank (280 ppb). The insoluble fractions contain up to 47 ppm gold and consist of insoluble organic matter, needles of valentinite (Sb2O3) and iron oxide.
A novel single particle study of steam gasification kinetics of a coal-derived char at high temperatures and pressures

Abstract A novel single particle experiment was developed to allow for detailed char gasification measurements in pure steam at temperatures from 1000 °C to 1400 °C and pressures from 1 bar to 15 bar. A coal-derived activated carbon was thoroughly characterized with respect to its composition, physical structure, and reactivity revealing properties consistent with chars reported in the literature. The single particle approach allowed for the boundary and initial conditions to be well known and for the mass of the particle to be accurately measured before and after testing to provide high-quality conversion data. The resulting conversion data were analyzed using the random pore model and the shrinking core model, of which the random pore model provided the best fit. Apparent activation energies were calculated using the random pore model which provided values ranging from 57.1 kJ/mol to 129 kJ/mol which are nominally half of the magnitude of the values reported in the literature under kinetically controlled conditions, thus demonstrating that regime II conditions were present. Additionally, the activation energies decreased with increasing temperature further demonstrating the presence of regime II conditions. The calculated reaction order ranged from 0 to 0.5 and decreased with increasing pressure agreeing well with literature values and trends.
Adenoidectomy With Balloon Catheter Sinuplasty: A Randomized Trial for Pediatric Rhinosinusitis

Objectives/hypothesis To compare treatment outcomes in pediatric patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) using adenoidectomy and maxillary sinus irrigation with or without balloon catheter sinuplasty (BCS). Methods Prospective, randomized, and blinded. Patients between 2 and 12 years who met clinical and computed tomography criteria for CRS unresponsive to maximal medical therapy and no prior sinus- or adenoid-related procedures were eligible. Twenty-five patients were randomized, had surgery, and completed the follow-up. The control group underwent adenoidectomy with maxillary sinus irrigation alone; the treatment group underwent the same, with the addition of maxillary BCS for the maxillary sinus irrigation. Patients and parents were blinded to group assignment throughout the follow-up time frame. A validated questionnaire, the Sinus and Nasal Quality of Life Survey (SN-5), was used to measure health status changes and quality of life (QOL) at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months postintervention. Data was analyzed using t tests and multivariate linear regression. Results There were 12 patients in the BCS group and 13 in the control group. Other than a higher atopic history in the control group (P = 0.047), there were no significant differences (P = 0.07) in the two groups (demographics and baseline SN-5 scores). Following surgery, both groups demonstrated similar improvement in QOL scores and median SN-5 scores in all domains (number of sinus infections, nasal obstruction, allergy symptoms, emotional distress, and activity limitations). Conclusion The addition of BCS to adenoidectomy/maxillary sinus irrigation did not provide additional QOL and sinonasal symptom improvement in the surgical treatment of pediatric CRS. Level of evidence 1b Laryngoscope, 128:2893-2897, 2018.
Does Chronic Ankle Instability Influence Knee Biomechanics of Females during Inverted Surface Landings

The primary purpose of the study was to determine whether atypical knee biomechanics are exhibited during landing on an inverted surface. A seven-camera motion analysis system and two force plates were used to collect lower extremity biomechanics from two groups of female participants: 21 subjects with chronic ankle instability (CAI) and 21 with pair-matched controls. Subjects performed ten landings onto inverted and flat platforms on the CAI/matched and non-test limbs, respectively. Knee and ankle joint angles, joint angular displacements, joint moments and eccentric work were calculated during the landing phase and/or at the initial contact. Paired t-tests were used to compare between-group differences (p<0.05). We observed that CAI group displayed a significantly increased knee flexion angle, knee flexion displacement, peak knee extension moment and internal rotation moment, and eccentric work in the sagittal plane, possibly due to altered ankle biomechanics. Participants with CAI employed some compensatory strategy to improve their ankle and postural stability during landing onto the tilted surface. The increased knee extension and internal rotation moments of CAI participants could potentially result in a greater ACL loading. In future studies, it may be worthwhile to measure or estimate the ACL loading to confirm whether CAI could relate to the mechanism of ACL injury.
Pharmacokinetics and efficacy of orally administered polymeric chloroquine as macromolecular drug in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract with poor understanding of its pathogenesis and no effective cure. The goal of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of orally administered non-degradable polymeric chloroquine (pCQ) to locally reduce colon inflammation. The pCQ was synthesized by radical copolymerization of N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide with methacryloylated hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). The anti-inflammatory activity of orally administered pCQ versus HCQ was tested in a mouse model of colitis induced by Citrobacter rodentium (C. rodentium). Single-dose pharmacokinetic and biodistribution studies performed in the colitis model indicated negligible systemic absorption (p ≤ 0.001) and localization of pCQ in the gastrointestinal tract. A multi-dose therapeutic study demonstrated that the localized pCQ treatment resulted in significant reduction in the colon inflammation (p ≤ 0.05). Enhanced suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 (p ≤ 0.01) and IL1-β and opposing upregulation of IL-2 (p ≤ 0.05) recently reported to be involved in downstream anti-inflammatory events suggested that the anti-inflammatory effects of the pCQ are mediated by altering mucosal immune homeostasis. Overall, the reported findings demonstrate a potential of pCQ as a novel polymer therapeutic option in inflammatory bowel disease with the potential of local effects and minimized systemic toxicity.
Extracellular Vesicles: A Potential Novel Regulator of Obesity and Its Associated Complications

Childhood obesity continues to be a major public health concern. Obesity causes various metabolic complications, including insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular disease. However, currently, we have a limited understanding of the pathophysiology in the development of these processes. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nano-sized vesicles secreted by different cell types that travel to various organ systems carrying molecular and genetic information. These vesicles have been proposed as a novel intercellular communication mode in systemic metabolic regulation and in several pathophysiologic processes. In particular, recent studies indicate that EVs play a critical role in the pathogenesis of obesity and its metabolic complications. In this study, we reviewed the current literature that supports the role of EVs in the regulation of metabolic homeostasis and pathogenesis of obesity and its associated metabolic complications, with a short discussion about future directions in the EV research field.
A review of surrogate motherhood regulation in south American countries: pointing to a need for an international legal framework

Advances in science and technology coupled with globalization are changing access to and utilization of reproductive health services. This includes the transnational phenomenon of families who use surrogate mothers to reproduce, with forms of altruistic and commercial surrogacy becoming more commonplace. Simultaneously, changes in law, regulation, and policy are necessary to protect surrogates, intended parents, and resulting children. These developments have been slow to adapt to challenges inherent to surrogacy arrangements, most specifically in low-and middle-income countries, including in South American countries. We conducted an interdisciplinary non-systematic literature review and legal analysis of existing and pending policy, laws, and regulations related to commercial surrogacy arrangements in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. The review focused on articles that discussed topics of domestic and international law, policy, regulation, and governance related to commercial surrogacy. We queried PubMed, JSTOR, and Google Scholar for Spanish and English-language articles limited to those published between 2000 and 2016. Our literature and legal review found a wide variance in how different countries address the issue, including two (Brazil and Uruguay) that have issued guidance attempting to clarify the legality of commercial surrogacy, others who have introduced surrogacy-specific legislation, and a final group with no specific legal mechanisms in place. Our extracted legal case studies also indicate that courts have a hard time interpreting existing law and its applicability to surrogacy. The influence of Catholicism also played a role in the adoption of surrogacy and other advanced reproductive technology (ART)-related legislation. Changes in global infertility rates, the emergence of new family structures, and advancement of ART are factors that will influence future development of legal frameworks addressing surrogacy in South America. Despite a growing transnational market for commercial surrogacy in many of the countries examined, the current patchwork of policy does little to clarify what forms of surrogacy are legally permissible, nor do they adequately protect surrogates, intended parents, or the children themselves. This points to an urgent need for regional legal and policy harmonization specifically designed to align with public health and human rights principles.
Protein refinement with GSAS-II

The General Structure Analysis System (GSAS)-II software package is a fully developed, open source, crystallographic data analysis system written almost entirely in Python. For powder diffraction, it encompasses the entire data analysis process beginning with 2-dimensonal image integration, peak selection, fitting and indexing, followed by intensity extraction, structure solution and ultimately Rietveld refinement, all driven by an intuitive graphical interface. Significant functionality of GSAS-II also can be scripted to allow it to be integrated into workflows or other software. For protein studies, it includes restraints on bond distances, angles, torsions, chiral volumes and coupled torsions (e.g. Ramachandran Φ/Ψ angles) each with graphical displays allowing visual validation. Each amino acid residue (and any ligands) can be represented by flexible rigid bodies with refinable internal torsions and optionally fully described TLS thermal motion. The least-squares algorithm invokes a Levenberg-Marquart minimization of a normalized double precision full matrix via Singular Value Decomposition providing fast convergence and high stability even for a large number of parameters. This paper will focus on the description of the flexible rigid body model of the protein and the details of the refinement algorithm.
Role-Playing Activity to Demonstrate the Electron Transport Chain

The role of the electron transport chain, its associated proteins, and carrier molecules can be difficult for introductory biology students to understand. Role-playing activities provide a simple, active, cost-effective method for demonstrating and comprehending complex biological processes. This role-playing activity was designed to help introductory biology students learn the role of the electron transport chain in the synthesis of ATP. The activity can be completed within a single class period and, when combined with a post-activity writing assignment, can enhance student understanding of how the electron transport chain functions.
Ketamine Versus Etomidate and Peri-intubation Hypotension: A National Emergency Airway Registry Study.

Background The hemodynamic impact of induction agents is a critically important consideration in emergency intubations. We assessed the relationship between peri-intubation hypotension and the use of ketamine versus etomidate as an induction agent for emergency department (ED) intubation. Methods We analyzed ED intubation data for patients aged >14 years from the National Emergency Airway Registry performed in 25 EDs during 2016 through 2018. We excluded patients with preintubation hypotension (systolic blood pressure Results There were 738 encounters with ketamine and 6,068 with etomidate. Patients receiving ketamine were more likely to have difficult airway characteristics (effect size difference = 8.8%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 5.3% to 12.4%) and to undergo intubation with video laryngoscopy (8.1%, 95% CI = 4.4% to 12.0%). Peri-intubation hypotension incidence was 18.3% among patients receiving ketamine and 12.4% among patients receiving etomidate (effect size difference = 5.9%, 95% CI = 2.9% to 8.8%). Patients receiving ketamine were more likely to receive treatment for peri-intubation hypotension (effect size difference = 6.5%, 95% CI = 3.9% to 9.3%). In logistic regression analyses, patients receiving ketamine remained at higher risk for peri-intubation hypotension (aOR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.2 to 1.7) and treatment for hypotension (aOR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.4 to 2.0). There was no difference in the aOR of hypotension between patients receiving ketamine at doses ≤1.0 mg/kg versus >1.0 mg/kg or patients receiving etomidate at doses ≤0.3 mg/kg versus >0.3 mg/kg. Conclusions Pending additional data, our results suggest that clinicians should not necessarily prioritize ketamine over etomidate based on concern for hemodynamic compromise among ED patients undergoing intubation.
Cytogenetics and Blast Count Determine Transplant Outcomes in Patients with Active Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients not in remission and beyond first or second complete remission are considered allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT) candidates. We present 361 patients who underwent SCT from matched related or unrelated donors between 2005 and 2013. The purpose was to identify a subgroup of patients with active disease at the time of transplant that benefit. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used for univariate and multivariate analyses to predict overall survival (OS). Variables considered were age, sex, SWOG cytogenetic risk group, bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB) blast percentage, regimen intensity, and type of AML. At a median of 26 months after transplantation, OS, progression-free survival (PFS), non-relapse mortality, and relapse rates were 26, 24, 23, and 48%, respectively. In a univariate analysis, risk cytogenetics (p 4% (p = 0.006) or any blasts in PB (p < 0.001) indicated worse OS. In a multivariate analysis, patients with <5% BM blasts or absence of circulating blasts and good or intermediate risk cytogenetics had significantly superior OS (46%), PFS (44%), and disease progression at 3 years. Based on these findings, patients not in remission with good or intermediate risk cytogenetics and low blast counts should be considered for SCT.
Changing the Clinical Paradigm of Hydroxyurea Treatment for Sickle Cell Anemia Through Precision Medicine.

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a common and devastating inherited blood disorder, affecting millions of people across the world. Without treatment, SCA results in tremendous morbidity and early mortality. Hydroxyurea is the primary and most well-established pharmacologic therapy with proven benefits to ameliorate the clinical course of SCA, primarily due to its ability to increase the expression of fetal hemoglobin (HbF), which prevents sickling of red blood cells. The optimal induction of HbF depends upon selection and maintenance of the proper dose that maximizes benefits and minimizes toxicity. Due to the significant interpatient variability in hydroxyurea pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and dosing, most patients treated with hydroxyurea receive suboptimal doses and have only modest treatment responses. Recognizing this variability, using a precision medicine approach, we developed and prospectively evaluated an individualized dosing model for children with SCA, designed to optimize the hydroxyurea dose and clinical response. We utilize novel laboratory methods and a sparse sampling strategy requiring only 10 μL of blood collected 15 minutes, 60 minutes, and 180 minutes after a test dose. We use Bayesian adaptive control to estimate hydroxyurea exposure and to select an individual, optimal starting dose. This dosing model has resulted in HbF responses >30-40%, levels beyond what is achieved with traditional weight-based dosing and trial and error dose escalation. This hydroxyurea dosing strategy, if widely implemented, has the potential to change the treatment paradigm of hydroxyurea therapy and improve outcomes for the millions of patients with SCA across the world.
Acute Heart Failure From Coronary Cameral Fistula: Diagnostic Challenge and Therapeutic Opportunity

A 40-year-old African American woman presented with dyspnea, orthopnea, weight gain, and ankle edema. She was admitted for acute decompensated heart failure. Coronary angiography revealed coronary cameral fistula. We used multiple imaging modalities to confirm the fistula's pathway. Her left ventricular systolic function improved after repair of coronary cameral fistula. (Level of Difficulty: Beginner.).
GaAs Solar Cell Grown by Dynamic Hydride Vapor Phase Epitaxy Using Nitrogen Carrier Gas

We present a single-junction GaAs solar cell grown by dynamic hydride vapor phase epitaxy using nitrogen carrier gas at a growth rate of $30\ \mu\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{h}$ . The V OC of 1.05 V is comparable to the V OC of solar cells grown in our reactor with a hydrogen carrier, indicating that high material quality can be obtained with a nitrogen carrier.
Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Activity Behavior Across Domains and Settings

Background: COVID-19 restrictions and alterations to daily living (e.g. working from home, caregiving responsibilities) necessitated changes in physical activity (PA) behavior. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to understand how PA within specific domains and behavior settings changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An e-survey, conducted April-June 2020, examined changes in PA across domains and settings in a national sample of adults (N=805; M age=38.7 ± 14.9 yrs; 78.0% female). Results: Respondents reported domain-specific increases in household and recreational PA, but decreases in active transportation, occupational PA, and public transportation use. Weekly minutes of PA changed significantly across all behavior settings, with reported increases in home-based, neighborhood, parks/trails, and total PA, and decreases in PA through recreational sports and fitness facilities. Total weekly PA minutes increased by 10.6% (Z= 4.428, p < .000). Those with caregiving responsibilities reported increases in household PA (2=9.82, p=0.007) and PA frequency (2=8.21, p=0.02). Those without caregiving responsibilities were more likely to report increases in sitting (2=20.55, p<0.001). Those working from home reported a larger increase in neighborhood PA (F(1,638)=4.93, p=.027). Those working at a jobsite that also had caregiving responsibilities reported less weekly PA, while those working from home with caregiving responsibilities reported greater weekly PA (F(1, 646) = 4.23, p = .04).
TH‐F‐304‐00: Task Group 158: Measurement and Calculation of Doses Outside the Treatment Volume From External‐Beam Radiation Therapy Treatment

The introduction of advanced techniques and technology in radiotherapy has greatly improved our ability to deliver highly conformal tumor doses while minimizing the dose to the adjacent organs at risk. Despite these tremendous improvements there remains a general concern about doses to normal tissues outside the target volume. As patients live longer after treatment, there is increased opportunity for late effects including second cancers and cardiac toxicity to manifest. Complicating the management of these issues, there are unique challenges with measuring, calculating, and reducing non-target doses that many medical physicists may have limited experience with. Task Group (TG) 158, measurement and calculation of doses outside the treatment volume from external-beam radiation therapy was created to provide guidance for physicists in terms of assessing and managing non-target doses. This education session would highlight the major topics included TG-158. The principal objective for this session will be to provide guidance for medical physicists in terms of assessing and managing non-target doses. Learning Objectives: 1. To highlight major concerns with non-target radiation and provide a rough estimate of doses associated with different treatment approaches in clinical practice. 2. To discuss (a) uses of dosimeters and phantoms for measuring photon, electron, and neutron doses and (b) the use of calculation techniques (including Monte Carlo) for dosimetric evaluations. 3. To highlight techniques that may be considered for reducing non-target doses and summarize TG158 recommendations for both clinical and research practice.
Free-Flight Investigation of the Full-Scale Hughes Falcon Missile, D Configuration, to Determine Aileron Effectiveness and Damping in Roll

Report discussing an investigation to determine the aileron effectiveness and damping in roll of the Hughes Falcon missile, D configuration at several Mach numbers. Information about the rolling-moment coefficient, damping-in-roll derivative, and drag coefficient is provided.
Systems Vaccinology: Using Functional Signatures To Design Successful Vaccines

Analyzing the functional signatures of vaccines aids vaccine development in two ways: (i) by monitoring the efficacy of vaccines as they are refined and (ii) by revealing the mechanisms of vaccine action, such that they can be applied to the development of future vaccines. Vaccines operate by stimulating the innate immune system to develop acquired immune responses. Professional antigen presenting cells such as macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) are key orchestrators of this process. Simple standardized methods to measure the antibody responses include antibody titers measured through ELISAs (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and hemagglutination inhibition and functional measures of activity such as neutralization and opsonophagocytosis. Functional signatures may not only help in the design of protective vaccines but may also help to limit the deleterious side effects. Recent discoveries have identified alternative ways to stimulate the immune system than using alum by studying the natural adjuvants found in pathogens. The chapter presents a study with an aim to apply systems biological approaches to: (i) obtain novel biological insights about the mechanism of action of YF-17D vaccine and; (ii) to determine whether it was possible to identify molecular signatures early after vaccination, which could predict the later immunogenicity of the vaccine. The systems biological approaches used with YF-17D may be broadly applicable in vaccinology in the identification of molecular signatures of vaccine efficacy.
Enterocyte respiration rates in feline small intestine exposed to graded ischemia

The purpose of our study was to investigate the changes in enterocyte cellular and mitochondrial respiration rates subsequent to ischemia of graded duration. The small intestine of anesthetized adult cats was assigned to one of five treatment regimens: control or ischemia of 15-, 30-, 60-, or 90-min duration. Cellular and mitochondrial respiration was measured using a Clark-type O2 electrode at 0 and 4 h postharvest. Ischemia of increasing duration caused a progressive decrease in cellular and mitochondrial respiration in enterocytes at 0 h postharvest. By 4 h postharvest, cellular and mitochondrial respiration rates for the 15-, 30-, and 60-min ischemic groups had recovered to near control levels, whereas the 90-min group showed minimal recovery. These data suggest that ischemia suppresses cellular and mitochondrial respiration of intestinal epithelial cells, the magnitude of which is related to the ischemic duration. The ischemia-induced suppression in cellular respiration primarily reflects a reduction in mitochondrial respiration.
Generation of SNCA Cell Models Using Zinc Finger Nuclease (ZFN) Technology for Efficient High-Throughput Drug Screening

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by loss of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra. The hallmark of PD is the appearance of neuronal protein aggregations known as Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites, of which α-synuclein forms a major component. Familial PD is rare and is associated with missense mutations of the SNCA gene or increases in gene copy number resulting in SNCA overexpression. This suggests that lowering SNCA expression could be therapeutic for PD. Supporting this hypothesis, SNCA reduction was neuroprotective in cell line and rodent PD models. We developed novel cell lines expressing SNCA fused to the reporter genes luciferase (luc) or GFP with the objective to enable high-throughput compound screening (HTS) for small molecules that can lower SNCA expression. Because SNCA expression is likely regulated by far-upstream elements (including the NACP-REP1 located at 8852 bp upstream of the transcription site), we employed zinc finger nuclease (ZFN) genome editing to insert reporter genes in-frame downstream of the SNCA gene in order to retain native SNCA expression control. This ensured full retention of known and unknown up- and downstream genetic elements controlling SNCA expression. Treatment of cells with the histone deacetylase inhibitor valproic acid (VPA) resulted in significantly increased SNCA-luc and SNCA-GFP expression supporting the use of our cell lines for identifying small molecules altering complex modes of expression control. Cells expressing SNCA-luc treated with a luciferase inhibitor or SNCA siRNA resulted in Z’-scores ≥ 0.75, suggesting the suitability of these cell lines for use in HTS. This study presents a novel use of genome editing for the creation of cell lines expressing α-synuclein fusion constructs entirely under native expression control. These cell lines are well suited for HTS for compounds that lower SNCA expression directly or by acting at long-range sites to the SNCA promoter and 5’-UTR.
Reduced Oral Ethanol Avoidance in Mice Lacking Transient Receptor Potential Channel Vanilloid Receptor 1

Ethanol is a known oral trigeminal stimulant and recent data indicate that these effects are mediated in part by transient receptor potential channel vanilloid receptor 1 (TRPV1). The importance of this receptor in orally mediated ethanol avoidance is presently unknown. Here, we compared orosensory responding to ethanol in TRPV1-deficient and wild type mice in a brief-access paradigm that assesses orosensory influences by measuring immediate licking responses to small stimulus volumes. TRPV1−/− and control mice were tested with six concentrations of ethanol (3, 5, 10, 15, 25, 40%), capsaicin (0.003, 0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.3, 1 mM), sucrose (0.003, 0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.3, 1 M), and quinine (0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3 mM) and psychophysical concentration-response functions were generated for each genotype and stimulus. TRPV1 knockouts displayed reduced oral avoidance responses to ethanol regardless of concentration, insensitivity to capsaicin, and little to no difference in sweet or bitter taste responding relative to wild type mice. These data indicate that the TRPV1 channel plays a role in orosensory-mediated ethanol avoidance, but that other receptor mechanisms likely also contribute to aversive oral responses to alcohol.
Invertebrate drift in the Snake River, Wyoming

Drifting invertebrates were collected hourly during 24-hour sampling periods at two stations in the Snake River. The greatest number of invertebrates was collected on 8 and 15 July 1966 at station 1 between 9:00 p. m. and 12 midnight, then the numbers gradually decreased until the low daylight drift rate was reached at dawn. On 26 and 27 August 1966 at station 2, the diel periodicities of drifting invertebrates were different than at station 1. Many species increased their drift rates slightly during the first hour of darkness but also exhibited a higher drift peak later in the night.
Modeling of Metal Transfer in Short Circuiting Arc Welding

The short-circuiting metal transfer during gas metal arc welding (GMAW) is simulated by a numerical model. To the best of our knowledge, for the first time the energy equation and the Marangoni convection are considered in analyzing the short-circuiting time. A front-tracking free surface method is applied to explicitly track the bridge profile. To benchmark this method, effects of the density and viscosity ratios between different phases are investigated by simulating a drop driven by surface tension. The temporal profile of the drop is compared to that computed by a Volume of Fluid (VOF) model, and very good agreement is found. The model is then applied to simulate GMAW short-circuiting transfer. The velocity, pressure, temperature and electromagnetic fields are calculated. Effects of welding current and Marangoni shear stress on short-circuiting time are examined. It is shown that the Marangoni effect plays an important role in GMAW short-circuiting transfer.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Genomic structure and sequence variation of a 3.3-kb repeat DNA element of the kangaroo rat, Dipodomys ordii.

Abstract The genomic structure and sequence variation of a 3.3-kb repeat DNA element, representing 5% of the genome of the kangaroo rat Dipodomys ordii , has been investigated. Most of the repeats are arranged in tandem arrays of 50 kb or more. Thirteen randomly selected genomic clones have been mapped with twelve restriction enzymes. The frequency of sequence divergence in the genomic clones is 0.5 %. The clone maps and the genomic structure studies have permitted the characterization of a number of variant members of the 3.3-kb repeat family. The genomic organization of the repeat resembles that for repeated DNAs found in large tandem arrays or satellites.
Impact of Cr, Mn and Zr addition on Fe Fischer–Tropsch synthesis catalysis: Investigation at the active site level using SSITKA

Abstract Recently, we reported that Cr, Mn, or Zr promotion of a precipitated Cu-promoted Fe Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) catalyst significantly improves its catalytic activity. In this study, we used steady-state isotopic transient kinetic analysis (SSITKA) of methanation to investigate the activity of these catalysts at the site level, providing insight into how this promotion enhances catalyst activity. We found that the activity of the base Fe catalyst was enhanced by promotion with Cr, Mn, and Zr in varying degrees, depending on the type and concentration of metal added. The addition of these third metals promoted the dispersion of Fe but did not significantly affect either the BET surface area or reducibility. The activities of the reaction sites (estimated by 1 / τ CH 4 = TOF ITK ) were found to be similar regardless of the type of third metal added, suggesting that the active sites for Fe catalysts with or without third-metal promotion were essentially identical. The higher catalyst activities observed for the Cr-, Mn-, and Zr-promoted Fe catalysts were found to be due primarily to an increased number of active surface intermediates leading to hydrocarbon products.
Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: Origins and influences

This 1993 AABT presidential address offers a brief survey of some factors associated with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Highlighted are findings regarding the influence of biological, psychological and cultural factors. The magnitude of the influence of biological factors is illustrated in research on morbidity risk, twin concordance, chromosome localization, brain glucose metabolism, ventricle size, smooth eye movement impairment, and dopamine function. The psychological evidence that is presented emphasizes the data on Expressed Emotion (EE) and includes discussion of cross-cultural research findings. The article concludes with the position that research on origins and influences must examine multiple factors, and offers an attempt to integrate the various findings.
Utilization of d-isomers of the dietary indispensable amino acids by Argyrotaenia velutinana larvae.

Abstract Studies were made of the ability of larvae of the red-banded leaf roller, Argyrotaenia velutinana , to utilize the d -forms of the indispensable amino acids for growth and survival in lieu of their l -isomers using chemically defined diets and axenic conditions, d -phenylalanine, d -methionine, and d -histidine were the only d -amino acids which were readily utilized. On diets containing the complete amino acid mixture, the d -forms of phenylalanine and methionine were utilized more than 80 per cent as effectively as their l -isomers and d -histidine about 50 per cent. However, if l -tyrosine and l -cystine were omitted from the diets, d -phenylalanine and d -methionine were no more than 20 per cent as effective as their l -isomers at equimolar amounts. The optimal dietary levels of d -phenylalanine ( l -tyrosine omitted), d -methionine ( l -cystine omitted), and d -histidine were estimated from graded concentrations and insects were reared for two successive generations on d -phenylalanine and d -methionine and three successive generations on d -histidine at the optimal levels. If the d -forms of phenylalanine, methionine, and histidine were added to a diet simultaneously survival was poor; however, if any two of the three d -amino acids were added simultaneously the growth and survival response was similar to that obtained when the d -amino acids were added individually. The d -forms of threonine and tryptophan significantly stimulated larval growth when fed with suboptimal quantities of their l -isomers. The d -forms of isoleucine, valine, arginine, lysine, and leucine had no significant effect, either stimulatory or inhibitory, on larval growth.
Techniques for Laparoscopic and Robotic Localization of Intraluminal Ureteral Pathology

Objectives Improvements in endoscopic technology have made open ureteral surgery uncommon. There remain cases of ureteral disease not amenable to ureteroscopic treatment, but laparoscopy allows even these complicated cases to be treated in a minimally invasive fashion. Laparoscopic and robotic surgical treatment of the ureter requires the ability to localize the diseased segment laparoscopically, even when the defect is within the lumen and cannot be seen externally or palpated as in open surgery. We describe 3 techniques to localize the disease within the ureter during laparoscopy and robotic surgery and the benefits and limitations of each technique. Methods Three cases of laparoscopic and robotic ureteral surgery illustrate 3 different techniques used to localize disease within the ureteral lumen. The first case illustrates a ureteral occlusion balloon catheter used to identify a stricture by distending the collecting system proximal to the obstruction and cinching the balloon against the stricture. The second case illustrates a flexible ureteroscope introduced through a 5-mm port and into the incised ureter to guide excision of extensive polyposis. The third case, involving a polyp and stricture, illustrates a technique involving retrograde ureteroscopy with "cutting to the light" laparoscopically. Results Three techniques are demonstrated to successfully localize intraluminal ureteral disease that could not be identified visually by laparoscopic inspection alone. These techniques also can minimize the extent of ureteral dissection to preserve blood supply. Conclusions Laparoscopy and robotic surgery can be successfully applied to benign ureteral disease not amenable to ureteroscopic treatment. Three cases are presented to illustrate 3 techniques for laparoscopic or robotic localization of intraluminal ureteral disease.
Rheological properties of fine-stranded whey protein isolate gels

Abstract The rheological and fracture properties of fine stranded WPI gels were determined over a range of shear strain rates (0.014–0.69 s−1). All gels had the highest fracture strain when deformed at a strain rate of 0.014 s−1. Fracture stress was relatively constant over all strain rates. These effects were observed at all protein concentrations and suggest a link with molecular or network relaxations. The apparent modulus (stress/strain at any level of strain) exhibited decreasing or linear behavior at low to moderate strains, followed by non-linear strain-hardening behavior at higher strains. As strain rate increased, the gels displayed increased non-linear behavior. The strain where the modulus switched from linear to non-linear behavior decreased as protein concentration or strain rate was increased. Therefore, both strain rate and protein concentration affect the large-strain viscoelastic behavior of WPI gels during deformation and fracture. This observation suggests a link with the molecular relaxation processes occurring in the gel network.
Candidate ionotropic taste receptors in the Drosophila larva

We examine in Drosophila a group of ∼35 ionotropic receptors (IRs), the IR20a clade, about which remarkably little is known. Of 28 genes analyzed, GAL4 drivers representing 11 showed expression in the larva. Eight drivers labeled neurons of the pharynx, a taste organ, and three labeled neurons of the body wall that may be chemosensory. Expression was not observed in neurons of one taste organ, the terminal organ, although these neurons express many drivers of the Gr (Gustatory receptor) family. For most drivers of the IR20a clade, we observed expression in a single pair of cells in the animal, with limited coexpression, and only a fraction of pharyngeal neurons are labeled. The organization of IR20a clade expression thus appears different from the organization of the Gr family or the Odor receptor (Or) family in the larva. A remarkable feature of the larval pharynx is that some of its organs are incorporated into the adult pharynx, and several drivers of this clade are expressed in the pharynx of both larvae and adults. Different IR drivers show different developmental dynamics across the larval stages, either increasing or decreasing. Among neurons expressing drivers in the pharynx, two projection patterns can be distinguished in the CNS. Neurons exhibiting these two kinds of projection patterns may activate different circuits, possibly signaling the presence of cues with different valence. Taken together, the simplest interpretation of our results is that the IR20a clade encodes a class of larval taste receptors.
Gene regulation: Fine-tuned amplification in cells

The transcription factor Myc has been posited to cause a cell-wide increase in gene expression. But two studies show that Myc, when modulated by other transcription factors, can amplify select targets. See Letters p.483 and p.488 The mammalian Myc oncoprotein is a transcription factor that binds to thousands of promoters. Two current models for Myc function propose that it is either a gene-specific regulator of transcription, or a global amplifier of all active genes. Two groups reporting in this issue of Nature present evidence in support of the idea that Myc regulates specific genes. Arianna Sabo et al. analyse Myc genomic distribution and RNA expression profiles during B-cell lymphomagenesis in mice and Susanne Walz et al. compare normal cells and Myc-transformed tumour cells. Although both groups find that Myc overexpression can result in a general increase in gene expression, the effect is an indirect one. Modulated by various other transcription factors, Myc seems to act primarily by regulating specific groups of genes.
Word-retrieval difficulty and disfluent speech in adult anomic speakers.

The relationships existing between measures of disfluency and measures of word-retrieval ability in adult anomic aphasic and adult non-brain-damaged subjects were investigated. Subjects produced si...
Ovarian endomyometrioma with atypias: description of a case

Objective To report on a patient with endomyometrioma with atypias and to review the literature. Design Case report and literature review. Setting Clinical and pathologic. Patient(s) A 33-year-old nulliparous woman with right flank pain and infertility. Main Outcome Measure(s) Accuracy of diagnosis, hypotheses on endomyometrioma pathogenesis. Result(s) A 33-year-old woman with an 8-cm right ovarian mass is reported. An extensive review of the literature on this rare disease revealed only nine well-documented cases with different views on pathogenesis. The final diagnosis required an accurate sampling and the aid of immunohistochemical markers. Conclusion(s) Endomyometrioma is an extremely rare entity. None of the previous cases showed cytologic atypias. The finding of atypias, in analogy with endometriosis, suggests the mullerian metaplastic theory.