cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Laser ablation is effective for temporal lobe epilepsy with and without mesial temporal sclerosis if hippocampal seizure onsets are localized by stereoelectroencephalography

Objective Selective laser amygdalohippocampotomy (SLAH) using magnetic resonance-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (MRgLITT) is emerging as a treatment option for drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). SLAH is less invasive than open resection, but there are limited series reporting its safety and efficacy, particularly in patients without clear evidence of mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS). Methods We report seizure outcomes and complications in our first 30 patients who underwent SLAH for drug-resistant MTLE between January 2013 and December 2016. We compare patients who required stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) to confirm mesial temporal onset with those treated based on imaging evidence of MTS. Results Twelve patients with SEEG-confirmed, non-MTS MTLE and 18 patients with MRI-confirmed MTS underwent SLAH. MTS patients were older (median age 50 vs 30 years) and had longer standing epilepsy (median 40.5 vs 5.5 years) than non-MTS patients. Engel class I seizure freedom was achieved in 7 of 12 non-MTS patients (58%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 30%-86%) and 10 of 18 MTS patients (56%, 95% CI 33%-79%), with no significant difference between groups (odds ratio [OR] 1.12, 95% CI 0.26-4.91, P = .88). Length of stay was 1 day for most patients (range 0-3 days). Procedural complications were rare and without long-term sequelae. Significance We report similar rates of seizure freedom following SLAH in patients with MTS and SEEG-confirmed, non-MTS MTLE. Consistent with early literature, these rates are slightly lower than typically observed with surgical resection (60%-80%). However, SLAH is less invasive than open surgery, with shorter hospital stays and recovery, and severe procedural complications are rare. SLAH may be a reasonable first-line surgical option for patients with both MTS and SEEG confirmed, non-MTS MTLE.
"Hopefully This Will All Make Sense at Some Point": Meaning and Performance in Illness Blogs.

Aims: To analyze the narratives of illness blogs created by parents of children with cancer. Background: The profound effects of the childhood cancer experience on family members and the turn to the Internet by parents for help in the process are gaining research attention. Design: The qualitative study design involved secondary narrative analysis of 14 illness blogs: 9 by the parents of children with neuroblastoma and 5 by the parents of children with leukemia. Daily blog entries were analyzed as individual units of illness experience expression and in relation to one another to identify thematic and linguistic similarities. Methods: The initial analysis of these illness blogs resulted in identification of the quest for balance as a primary theme. Narratives in parents’ childhood cancer illness blogs illustrated themes of performance. During this initial analysis, however, the author repeatedly asked, “Why are they writing this? And why publish this?” A second analysis of the data answered these question...
Mushrooms and Mercuries

James and Guido Frezzo are mushroom farmers in Avondale, Pennsylvania. They inherited this business from their father, who began it in the 1930s after he decided to give up quarrying in western Pennsylvania. Since then all family members have been mushroom farmers or have been married to mushroom farmers.
Outline of Treatment of Lymphoma Based on Hematologic and Clinical Stage with Expected End Results

The non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas are clinically and pathologically a heterogeneous group of malignancies. The commonly used New Working Formulation to classify lymphomas represents an empirical oversimplification of this heterogeneity, but allows pathologists to separate lymphomas, somewhat imperfectly, into lymphomas with an indolent clinical course (low-grade lymphomas), and those with a more aggressive clinical course (intermediate- and high-grade lymphomas). Although uncontrolled studies over the last 20 years have suggested that more dose-intense regimens may be associated with higher cure rates, a recent randomized trial suggests that most of the improvement associated with newer regimens is an artefact of patient selection. Thus, there may be no significant differences between the combination chemotherapy regimens commonly used during the past two decades with respect to their ability to cure intermediate- and high-grade lymphomas.
Preoperative PROMIS Scores Predict Postoperative PROMIS Score Improvement for Patients Undergoing Hand Surgery

Background: Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) can be used alongside preoperative patient characteristics to set postsurgery expectations. This study aimed to analyze whether preoperative scores can predict significant postoperative PROMIS score improvement. Methods: Patients undergoing hand and wrist surgery with initial and greater than 6-month follow-up PROMIS scores were assigned to derivation or validation cohorts, separating trauma and nontrauma conditions. Receiver operating characteristic curves were calculated for the derivation cohort to determine whether preoperative PROMIS scores could predict postoperative PROMIS score improvement utilizing minimal clinically important difference principles. Results: In the nontrauma sample, patients with baseline Physical Function (PF) scores below 31.0 and Pain Interference (PI) and Depression scores above 68.2 and 62.2, respectively, improved their postoperative PROMIS scores with 95%, 96%, and 94% specificity. Patients with baseline PF scores above 52.1 and PI and Depression scores below 49.5 and 39.5, respectively, did not substantially improve their postoperative PROMIS scores with 94%, 93%, and 96% sensitivity. In the trauma sample, patients with baseline PF scores below 34.8 and PI and Depression scores above 69.2 and 62.2, respectively, each improved their postoperative PROMIS scores with 95% specificity. Patients with baseline PF scores above 52.1 and PI and Depression scores below 46.6 and 44.0, respectively, did not substantially improve their postoperative scores with 95%, 94%, and 95% sensitivity. Conclusions: Preoperative PROMIS PF, PI, and Depression scores can predict postoperative PROMIS score improvement for a select group of patients, which may help in setting expectations. Future work can help determine the level of true clinical improvement these findings represent.
Robot Button Pressing in Human Environments

In order to conduct many desirable functions, service robots will need to actuate buttons and switches that are designed for humans. This paper presents the design of a robot named SwitchIt that is small, relatively inexpensive, easily mounted on a mobile robot, and actuates buttons reliably. Its operating characteristics were developed after conducting a systematic study of buttons and switches in human environments. From this study, we develop a categorization of buttons based on a set of physical properties relevant for robots to operate them. After a human calibrates and annotates buttons in the robot's environment using a hand-held tablet, the system automatically recognizes, pushes, and detects the state of a variety of buttons. Empirical tests demonstrate that the system succeeds in operating 95.7% of 234 total buttons/switches in an office building and a household environment.
Parent Empowerment in Pediatric Healthcare Settings: A Systematic Review of Observational Studies

Parent empowerment is often an expressed goal in clinical pediatrics and in pediatric research, but the antecedents and consequences of parent empowerment are not well established. The objective of this systematic review was to synthesize potential antecedents and consequences of parent empowerment in healthcare settings. The inclusion criteria were (1) studies with results about parent empowerment in the context of children’s healthcare or healthcare providers; and (2) qualitative studies, observational studies, and systematic reviews of such studies. We searched the databases of PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar (2006–2017) and reference lists. Forty-four articles met the inclusion criteria. We identified six themes within consequences of empowerment: increased parent involvement in daily care, improved symptom management, enhanced informational needs and tools, increased involvement in care decisions, increased advocacy for child, and engagement in empowering others. Six themes summarizing antecedents of empowerment also emerged: parent–provider relationships, processes of care, experiences with medical care, experiences with community services, receiving informational/emotional support, and building personal capacity and narrative. We synthesized these findings into a conceptual model to guide future intervention development and evaluation. Non-English articles were excluded. Parent empowerment may enhance parent involvement in daily care and care decisions, improve child symptoms, enhance informational needs and skills, and increase advocacy and altruistic behaviors. Parent empowerment may be promoted by the parent–provider relationship and care processes, finding the right fit of medical and community services, and attention to the cognitive and emotional needs of parents. PROSPERO 2017:CRD42017059478
Ultrasound Thrombolysis with Magnetic Microbubbles Under a Rotational Magnetic Field

Thrombosis is a severe clinical condition that blood clot forms in a blood vessel and blocks the flow of blood through the cardiovascular system. Previous ultrasound thrombolysis methods using microbubbles often have a relatively low lysis efficiency due to the low microbubble concentration at clot region caused by blood flow in the vessel. To solve this problem, the magnetic microbubbles (microbubbles coated with 50 nm magnetic nanoparticles) that can be manipulated by a magnetic field are introduced in the study. The rationale of this study was to investigate whether magnetic microbubble can be a useful adjuvant to improve the sonothrombolysis treatment efficiency. Here we report the development of a new method using the rotational magnetic field to trap and vibrate the magnetic microbubbles at target clot region and then using an intravascular forward-looking ultrasound transducer to activate them acoustically. The in-vitro intravascular sonothrombolysis testing results indicated that by oscillating magnetic microbubbles, a vortex-like microstreaming in clot region will enhance microbubble cavitation and exhibit a higher lysis rate (1.5 $\pm$ 0.06%/min) than the previous (0.7 $\pm$ 0.15%/min)microbubble alone sonothrombolysis technique.
Synthetic studies towards batrachotoxin 2. Formation of the oxazepane ring system via a Michael reaction

Abstract The oxazepane ring system present in batrachotoxin has been synthesized within the framework of an advanced intermediate via a novel Michael reaction.
Breadth of the thermal response captures individual and geographic variation in temperature-dependent sex determination

Population‐scale responses of key ecological traits to local environmental conditions provide insight into their adaptive potential. In species with temperature‐dependent sex determination (TSD), short‐term, individual developmental responses to the incubation environment have long‐term consequences for populations. We took a model‐based approach to study within‐ and among‐population variation in the physiological components of TSD in 12 populations of painted turtles (Chrysemys picta). We used laboratory and field incubation data to quantify variation in thermal reaction norms at both population and clutch scales, focusing on the pivotal temperature that produces a 1:1 sex ratio (P) and the transitional range of incubation temperatures (TRTs) that produce mixed sex ratios. Defying theoretical expectations, among‐population variation in P was not convincingly explained by geography or local thermal conditions. However, within some populations, P varied by >5°C at the clutch scale, indicating that the temperature sensitivity of gonadal differentiation can vary substantially among individual nesting females. In addition, the TRT was wider at lower latitudes, suggesting responsiveness to local incubation conditions. Our results provide a potential explanation for discrepancies observed between constant‐temperature experimental results and outcomes of fluctuating incubation conditions experienced in natural nests, exposing important knowledge gaps in our understanding of local adaptation in TSD and identifying shortcomings of traditional laboratory studies. Understanding individual variation and the timing of gonadal differentiation is likely to be far more useful in understanding local adaptation than previously acknowledged. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) (Willis–Ekbom disease) is characterized by an urge to move while at rest relieved by movement and worse in the evening and at night. The prevalence of clinically significant RLS is 1.5–2.7%. RLS has a genetic basis with linkages noted to several chromosomal sites and associations described with a number of genes. Iron deficiency in the basal ganglia and low dopamine may play a role in pathogenesis. Dopamine agonists are the most commonly used drugs for treatment, but may result in augmentation, hypersomnia, and impulse control disorders. Alternative therapies include calcium channel ligands, opioids, and benzodiazepines.
Lack of health insurance is associated with delays in PrEP initiation among young black men who have sex with men in Atlanta, US: a longitudinal cohort study

INTRODUCTION Delays between receiving a PrEP prescription and taking a first dose increase the risk of HIV infection. This is especially relevant in populations with high HIV incidence, such as young black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) in the United States. Additionally, YBMSM have relatively low levels of health insurance. We investigated whether lack of health insurance and reliance on PrEP funding through the manufacturer assistance programme (MAP) leads to delays in initiation of PrEP. METHODS HIV-negative YBMSM were offered PrEP as part of a prospective cohort. Enrolment began in June 2015 with follow-up through February 2019. Interested participants attended a PrEP clinician visit and received a prescription. Those with health insurance received a copay assistance card; those without insurance accessed PrEP using the MAP. The primary outcome was the days between prescription and initiation. The effect of insurance status on this delay was modelled using a Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The median delay between receipt of a PrEP prescription and taking a first dose was 12 days (IQR 3 to 32). Compared to uninsured participants, the adjusted hazard ratio for PrEP initiation for those with insurance was 2.72 (95% CI 1.82 to 4.06). The adjusted median time to initiation for insured participants was 5 days versus 21 days for those without insurance (p < 0.0001). Older age and STI diagnosis were also associated with faster PrEP initiation. Despite equivalent access to PrEP provided by the study, YBMSM without insurance had longer delays in initiation after receipt of a prescription. Overall, the observed delay in PrEP initiation increases the chances of HIV infection and the possibility of PrEP initiation after undetected seroconversion. CONCLUSIONS The extended time period between PrEP prescription and taking a first dose increases the risk of HIV transmission. Younger YBMSM and those without health insurance had longer delays in PrEP initiation. Immediate PrEP initiation programmes could decrease the likelihood of this occurrence and mitigate the disparity in initiation between those with and without health insurance. Clinical Trial Number: NCT02503618.
Individualized Modeling to Distinguish Between High and Low Arousal States Using Physiological Data

With wearable, relatively unobtrusive health monitors and smartphone sensors, it is increasingly easy to collect continuously streaming physiological data in a passive mode without placing much burden on participants. At the same time, smartphones provide the ability to survey participants to provide “ground-truth” reporting on psychological states, although this comes at an increased cost in participant burden. In this paper, we examined how analytical approaches from the field of machine learning could allow us to distill the collected physiological data into actionable decision rules about each individual’s psychological state, with the eventual goal of identifying important psychological states (e.g., risk moments) without the need for ongoing burdensome active assessment (e.g., self-report). As a first step towards this goal, we compared two methods: (1) a k-nearest neighbor classifier that uses dynamic time warping distance, and (2) a random forests classifier to predict low and high states of affective arousal states based on features extracted using the tsfresh python package. Then, we compared random-forest-based predictive models tailored for the individual with individual-general models. Results showed that the individual-specific model outperformed the general one. Our results support the feasibility of using passively collected wearable data to predict psychological states, suggesting that by relying on both types of data, the active collection can be reduced or eliminated.
Her Voice: Engaging and Preparing Girls With Disabilities for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Careers

Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) related fields comprise the top 30 occupations expected to grow the fastest by 2026. This increase in job opportunities, coupled with the evolution of technology, is creating higher demands for diversity in the labor market. Currently all student require innovative training and support from a young age to pursue STEM careers successfully. However, women and girls with disabilities face unique barriers along the STEM education pipeline. In this paper, we report the current and projected labor market trends inthe United States. We then consider how this labor market information can be used by elementary educators to engage girls with disabilities in STEM-related learning effectively. Finally, through our analysis of labor market needs and the available assessment and intervention literature, we present a science-informed framework for intervention.
Switching On/Off Negative Capacitance in Ultrathin Ferroelectric/Dielectric Capacitors

Ferroelectric (FE) and dielectric (DE) insulator bilayer stacks provide a promising gate for low-power microelectronic devices. To fully realize the FE polarization switching, the DE layer must be ...
Proteomic analysis of salicylic acid regulation of grain filling of two near-isogenic rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties under soil drying condition.

Abstract Grain filling is the final determinant of yield, and this process is susceptible to abiotic stresses. Salicylic acid (SA) regulates grain filling in rice plants. A comparative proteomic study was conducted to understand how SA mediates grain filling under soil drying (SD) condition. Zhefu802 and its near-isogenic line (NIL) were planted in pots in an artificial chamber. SA (100 mg L−1) was applied, followed by SD treatment (with a water potential of −30 to −35 kPa) at anthesis. The results showed that the grain yield and grain weight significantly decreased under SD in Zhefu802, but not in its NIL variety. SD also decreased expression of photosynthesis-related proteins in grains of Zhefu802, which resulted in its poorer drought resistance. Furthermore, the decreased grain filling rate rather than the grain size explained the observed decreased grain weight and grain yield under SD. Interestingly, these reductions were reversed by SA. Expression of proteins involved in glycolysis/TCA circle, starch and sucrose metabolism, antioxidation and detoxication, oxidative phosphorylation, transcription, translation, and signal transduction, were significantly down-regulated under SD and were significantly up-regulated in response to SA. The expression of these proteins was examined at transcriptional level and similar results were obtained. Inhibited expression of these proteins and related pathways contributed to the observed decrease in the grain filling rate of Zhefu802, and application of SA up-regulated expression of these proteins to improve grain weight. The findings of this study provide new insights into grain filling regulation by SA, and offer the scientific foundation for cultivation practice.
Can the lack of fibrillar form of alpha-synuclein in Lewy bodies be explained by its catalytic activity?

Abstract Finding the causative pathophysiological mechanisms for Parkinson’s disease (PD) is important for developing therapeutic interventions. Until recently, it was believed that Lewy bodies (LBs), the hallmark of PD, are mostly composed of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) fibrils. Recent results (Shahmoradian et al., Lewy pathology in Parkinson’s disease consists of crowded organelles and lipid membranes, Nature Neuroscience 22 (2019) 1099-1109) demonstrated that the fibrillar form of α-syn is lacking from LBs. Here we propose that this surprising observation can be explained by the catalytic activity of the fibrillar form of α-syn. We assumed that α-syn fibrils catalyze the formation of LBs, but do not become part of them. We developed a mathematical model based on this hypothesis. By using the developed model, we investigated the consequences of this hypothesis. In particular, the model suggests that the long incubation time of PD can be explained by a two-step aggregation process that leads to its development: (i) aggregation of monomeric α-syn into α-syn oligomers and fibrils and (ii) clustering of membrane-bound organelles, which may cause disruption of axonal trafficking and lead to neuron starvation and death. The model shows that decreasing the rate of destruction of α-syn aggregates in somatic lysosomes accelerates the formation of LBs. Another consequence of the model is the prediction that removing α-syn aggregates from the brain after the aggregation of membrane-bound organelles into LBs has started may not stop the progression of PD because LB formation is an autocatalytic process; hence, the formation of LBs will be catalyzed by aggregates of membrane-bound organelles even in the absence of α-syn aggregates. The performed sensitivity study made it possible to establish the hierarchy of model parameters with respect to their effect on the formation of vesicle aggregates in the soma.
The Role of Action Potential Waveform in Failure of Excitation Contraction Coupling

Excitation contraction coupling (ECC) is the process by which electrical excitation of muscle is converted into force generation. Depolarization of skeletal muscle resting potential contributes to failure of ECC in diseases such as periodic paralysis, ICU acquired weakness and possibly fatigue of muscle during vigorous exercise. When extracellular K+ is raised to depolarize the resting potential, failure of ECC occurs suddenly, over a range of several mV of resting potential. While some studies have hypothesized the sudden failure of ECC is due to all-or-none failure of excitation, other studies suggest failure of excitation is graded. Intracellular recordings of action potentials (APs) in individual fibers during depolarization revealed that APs do not fail in an all-or-none manner. Simultaneous imaging of Ca2+ transients during depolarization revealed failure over a narrow range of resting potentials. An AP property that closely correlated with the sudden failure of the Ca2+ transient was the integral of AP voltage with respect to time. We hypothesize the close correlation is due to the combined dependence on time and voltage of Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The quantitative relationships established between resting potential, APs and Ca2+ transients provide the foundation for future studies of depolarization-induced failure of ECC in diseases such as periodic paralysis.
Authentic Use of Hattie’s Meta-analyses to Frame Educational Research: a Researcher’s Reflection

This article is a formative reflection that walks the reader through the experience of taking an existing body of research and then using one aspect of that analytical framework to conduct a new and original study. This reflection presents an account of that research process. Hattie (2009) has conducted extensive research examining influences on student achievement. This article describes how a researcher took the domains he defined to categorize the influences on student achievement and used them to frame the newly developed investigation. This article reflects on the unique application of Hattie’s domains as a lens to examine a K-12 organization. An overview of the study and a summary of the findings are presented to give the reader context. The focus of this article is a detailed reflection on how the research was conceived and formed. The following six questions guide this reflection: 1. Was the experience useful? 2. What was learned? 3. How did this experience facilitate personal growth/development? 4. How was this experience impactful? 5. What would, on reflection, be done differently? 6. Were the research choices well-reasoned? A thoughtful reflection on the process serves to inform decisions critical to formulate potential additional studies. Reflecting on the past process provides thoughtful insights for future research.
Application of Affinity Adsorption in Antibiotic Production

Feedback regulation plays a significant role in controlling both primary and secondary metabolite biosyntheses. Product inhibition, repression, and product degradation are commonly observed in many bioprocesses. They can be avoided if the bioproducts can be separated during their bio-synthesis. We have been investigating various engineering means to separate and concentrate bioproducts in-situ during growth without disrupting their synthesis. In this paper we also discuss the possibility of affinity adsorption using various biospeciflc ligands for in-situ product removal. Cycloheximide and thienamycin synthesis were used as model processes.
The glacial history of the Vosges Mountains

Abstract The map of the end moraines of the Vosges massif presents a summary of 162 years of contributions to the Quaternary geology of central Europe. The investigations in this area have produced two main results: 1) the occurrence of dated Holocene end moraines at low altitude on the eastern side; 2) 10 Be-dated evidence of a moraine predating la Grande Pile bog on the western side.
Using the Cone Calorimeter to Predict FMVSS 302 Performance of Automotive Materials

Eighteen materials from parts used outside the passenger compartment of two motor vehicles were tested according to FMVSS 302. All samples passed the test although the FMVSS 302 test requirements do not apply to exterior materials. The same materials were also tested in the Cone Calorimeter (ASTM E 1354) at three heat fluxes. This paper describes a revised method for using the Cone Calorimeter to predict FMVSS 302 performance. A material is expected to meet the FMVSS 302 test requirements if the peak heat release rate in the Cone Calorimeter at 35 kW/m 2 does not exceed 18 times the ignition time in seconds. Furthermore, flame propagation in the FMVSS 302 test is unlikely if the peak heat release rate in the Cone Calorimeter at a heat flux of 35 kW/m 2 does not exceed 220 kW/m 2 .
Optimizing adoptive cancer immunotherapy with γδ T cells through “pulse” zoledronate stimulation and IL-15 (TUM2P.886)

Human γδ T cells expressing Vγ2Vδ2 TCRs monitor foreign- and self-prenyl pyrophosphate metabolites in isoprenoid biosynthesis to mediate immunity to microbes and cancer cells. Vγ2Vδ2 T cells have been used for adoptive cancer immunotherapy with some partial and complete remissions. Most clinical trials have used zoledronate to expand Vγ2Vδ2 T cells. Zoledronate inhibits farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase causing isopentenyl pyrophosphate to accumulate that then stimulates Vγ2Vδ2 T cells. Because constant zoledronate exposure is toxic, we hypothesized that a short "pulse" of zoledronate would reduce T cell toxicity because the monocytes that function as APC would preferentially take up zoledronate. We now find that "pulse" exposure of PBMC to zoledronate results in more uniform expansion of Vγ2Vδ2 T cells with higher purity and cell numbers along with better preservation of the early memory subsets that are the most effective for cancer immunotherapy. IL-15 was superior to IL-2 because it further preserved early (central) memory subsets. The Vγ2Vδ2 T cells also exhibited increased tumor cytotoxicity. Thus, “pulse” zoledronate exposure and substituting IL-15 for IL-2 maximizes the quantity and quality of expanded Vγ2Vδ2 T cells and represent improvements on the protocols being used in clinical trials. Moreover, because Vγ2Vδ2 T cells exhibit no autoimmunity or alloreactivity, they are potential recipients for the expression of chimeric antigen receptors.
A novel Markov model for the reliability prediction of fault tolerant non-homogenous multipipelines

A novel Markov model for the reliability prediction of fault-tolerant non-homogenous VLSI and WSI multipipeline arrays is presented. The PEs (processing elements) of the array are assumed to fail independently (with a constant failure rate) at different moments and the transition rate between two different error states is constant. A total system failure is reached when the number of working pipelines becomes less than a predetermined number S/sub m/. Thus the reliability of the multipipeline array is defined as the probability of having S(t) greater than or equal to S, where S(t) is the number of survived pipelines at time t, and S/sub m/ is the minimum number of survived pipelines that is needed for the multipipeline to be considered in a working condition. In addition to predicting the reliability, the Markov model can be used in design optimization to determine the best possible design among multiple alternatives. Several experiments are conducted that demonstrate the ability of the proposed Markov model to predict the reliability and to evaluate various design alternatives.
Acoustic Emission Detection and Prediction of Fatigue Crack Propagation in Composite Patch Repairs using Neural Network

This article presents the results of acoustic emission (AE) monitoring of crack propagation in 2024-T3 clad aluminum panels repaired with adhesively bonded octagonal and elliptical boron/epoxy comp...
WRIST RANGE OF MOTION IN ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING

The wrist motion used to perform activities of daily living (ADL) is important to know when evaluating wrist function after trauma or surgical procedures that limit wrist motion. Several studies have examined wrist motion in terms of absolute range and, more important, functional range. Palmer et al.,10 in the most sophisticated study to date, defined the functional range of the wrist to be 30° of extension, 5° of flexion, 10° of radial deviation, and 15° of ulnar deviation. However, these were mean values, obtained by averaging the data of all subjects in all of the activities; the actual motion requirements of each individual task was therefore obscured, and range was actually underestimated.
Incidence, mechanism and prognostic value of activated AKT in pancreas cancer

When activated, the serine/threonine kinase AKT mediates an antiapoptotic signal implicated in chemoresistance of various cancers. The mechanism(s) of AKT activation are unknown, though overexpression of HER-2/neu has been implicated in breast cancer. Therefore, we determined the incidence of activated AKT in human pancreatic cancer, whether HER-2/neu is involved in AKT activation, and if AKT activation is associated with biologic behaviour. HER-2/neu expression and AKT activation were examined in seven pancreatic cancer cell lines by Western blotting. The in vitro effect of HER-2/neu inhibition on AKT activation was similarly determined. Finally, 78 pancreatic cancer specimens were examined for AKT activation and HER-2/neu overexpression, and correlated with the clinical prognostic variable of histologic grade. HER-2/neu was overexpressed in two of seven cell lines; these two cell lines demonstrated the highest level of AKT activation. Inhibition of HER-2/neu reduced AKT activation in vitro. AKT was activated in 46 out of 78 (59%) of the pancreatic cancers; HER-2/neu overexpression correlated with AKT activation (P=0.015). Furthermore, AKT activation was correlated with higher histologic tumour grade (P=0.047). Thus, it is concluded that AKT is frequently activated in pancreatic cancer; this antiapoptotic signal may be mediated by HER-2/neu overexpression. AKT activation is associated with tumour grade, an important prognostic factor.
Local Control of Neurofilament Accumulation during Radial Growth of Myelinating Axons in Vivo: Selective Role of Site-Specific Phosphorylation

The accumulation of neurofilaments required for postnatal radial growth of myelinated axons is controlled regionally along axons by oligodendroglia. Developmentally regulated processes previously suspected of modulating neurofilament number, including heavy neurofilament subunit (NFH) expression, attainment of mature neurofilament subunit stoichiometry, and expansion of interneurofilament spacing cannot be primary determinants of regional accumulation as we show each of these factors precede accumulation by days or weeks. Rather, we find that regional neurofilament accumulation is selectively associated with phosphorylation of a subset of Lys-Ser-Pro (KSP) motifs on heavy neurofilament subunits and medium-size neurofilament subunits (NFMs), rising >50-fold selectively in the expanding portions of optic axons. In mice deleted in NFH, substantial preservation of regional neurofilament accumulation was accompanied by increased levels of the same phosphorylated KSP epitope on NFM. Interruption of oligodendroglial signaling to axons in Shiverer mutant mice, which selectively inhibited this site-specific phosphorylation, reduced regional neurofilament accumulation without affecting other neurofilament properties or aspects of NFH phosphorylation. We conclude that phosphorylation of a specific KSP motif triggered by glia is a key aspect of the regulation of neurofilament number in axons during axonal radial growth.
A New Technique for Measuring Aortic Root Pressure During Infusion of Cardioplegic Solution

Aortic root pressure is an important factor in determining the distribution of cardioplegic solutions. Previously, in order to measure this parameter, it was necessary to insert a separate catheter into the aortic root during cardioplegic infusion. An alternative method for measuring aortic root pressure is described that is both simple and accurate and obviates the need for a second aortic root catheter.
AORTIC THROMBOSIS IN CATHETERIZED NEONATES AND INDICATIONS OF HAEMOSTASIS ACTIVATION. 162

The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of aortic thrombosis and correlate the presence of thrombus with various risk factors. Twenty five infants ([horizontal bar over]x gestational age 31.6 ± 7.2 weeks) were examined by high - resolution real - time ultrasonography on the day of umbilical artery catheterization, on day 3 and within 24 hours after catheter's removal (evaluation 1, 2, 3 respectively) to visualize possible aortic thrombosis. Simultaneously, the haemostatic profile of infants was studied, eg: a) coagulation factors I, II, V, VII, VIII, X, b) natural inhibitors: biological activity of AT - III, PC and total PS, c) plasminogen - plg and d) thrombin+antithrombin III complex-TAT, as a marker of thrombin generation, plasmin+a2-antiplasmin-PAP and D-dimers, as markers of plasmin generation. Thirty healthy children ([horizontal bar over]x age 6.2+2.5 years) were used as controls. A significand reduction of vitamin K-dependent factors, natural inhibitors and plg was found in the neonates on evaluation 1. A progressive increase in these parameters was observed during the follow - up period, however AT - III, PC, PS and plg levels were significantly lower than in controls. Aortic thrombosis was documented in 3 neonates (12%), 10 days after catheterization in 2 cases and 12 days in a third case. The thrombus was small and it resolved within a few days, although none of the neonates presented with clinical signs or symptoms of thrombosis or biochemical evidence of liver or renal dysfunction. Nevertheless, indications of coagulation or/and fibrinolytic system activation were found in a high proportion of infants during the follow-up period. Additionally, advanced DIC was observed in 20% of the neonates at catheterization.
Approximate Solutions of the Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation for Ground and Excited States of Bose-Einstein Condensates.

I present simple analytical methods for computing the properties of ground and excited states of Bose-Einstein condensates, and compare their results to extensive numerical simulations. I consider the effect of vortices in the condensate for both positive and negative scattering lengths, a, and find an analytical expression for the large-N0 limit of the vortex critical frequency for a > 0, by approximate solution of the time-independent nonlinear Schrodinger equation.
Genomically linked cellular protein databases derived from two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

In its most useful form a cellular protein database should be genomically based, because it is the genome which determines both the total number of proteins a cell can make and the particular ones that will be made under any given condition. Such a database should trace each protein back to its structural gene, and should account for every structural gene of a cell. Recent advances in molecular biology greatly facilitate the construction of such gene-protein databases. The mapping of genes of unidentified proteins resolved from total cell extracts on two-dimensional gels can now be accomplished by largely biochemical methods, without the necessity of isolating mutants or performing genetic crosses. Other techniques permit one to search gels for the product of any newly discovered gene (or open reading frame) suspected of encoding a protein. Consequently, gene-protein indices can be built independently and simultaneously from either direction – deducing the genetic map from the protein pattern, or finding the protein pattern from information encoded in the genome. A database of this sort is being constructed for the bacterium, Escherichia coli. Given the current pace of DNA nucleotide sequencing, the development of total gene-protein indices for a variety of cells can be anticipated in the near future.
High electrical conductivity and n-type thermopower from double-/single-wall carbon nanotubes by manipulating charge interactions between nanotubes and organic/inorganic nanomaterials

Abstract Single- and double-wall carbon nanotubes were decorated with organic or inorganic nanomaterials in order to obtain desired electrical transport properties such as a high electrical conductivity or an n -type thermopower. For instance, the electrical conductivity of double-wall carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) decorated with tetrafluoro-tetracyanoquinodimethane (F 4 TCNQ) was increased up to 5.9 × 10 5 S/m, and single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were converted from p -type to n -type with a large thermopower (−58 μV/K) by using polyethyleneimine without vacuum or controlled environment. When inorganic nanoparticles made of Fe and Cu were used for decorating nanotubes, the electrical conductance of the nanotube films was decreased with an enlarged thermopower. On the other hand, Au decorations yielded higher electrical conductances with lower thermopowers. The thermoelectric power factors were improved by ∼180% with F 4 TCNQ on DWCNTs and ∼140% with Fe on SWCNTs. We believe these transport property changes can be attributed to charge interactions resulted from the difference between the work functions/reduction potentials of nanotubes and nanomaterials. This study shows a first step toward the synthesis of both n -type and p -type conductors with carbon nanotubes, which are essential to thermoelectric energy conversion applications.
Mechanisms of reduced human vascular cell migration after photodynamic therapy

Restenosis results from intimal hyperplasia and constrictive remodeling following cardiovascular interventions. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been shown to inhibit intimal hyperplasia in vivo by preventing neointimal repopulation of the treated vessel. This study was undertaken in an attempt to further dissect the mechanisms by which PDT acts on secreted and extracellular matrix proteins to inhibit migration of cultured human vascular cells. PDT of three-dimensional collagen gels inhibited invasive human smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration, whereas cell-derived matrix metalloproteinase production remained unaltered. Additionally, PDT generated cross-links in the collagen gels, a result substantiated in an ex vivo model whereby PDT rendered the treated vessels resistant to pepsin digestion and inhibited invasive migration of SMC and fibroblasts. These data support the premise that by inducing matrix protein cross-links, rendering the vessel resistant to degradation, in vivo PDT inhibits repopulation of the vessel and therefore intimal hyperplasia.
Canine rabies vaccination and domestic dog population characteristics in the developing world: A systematic review

Abstract Background Human rabies remains a significant problem in many developing countries, where canine rabies is the most common means of transmission. Although vaccination of dogs has been shown to be the most effective method of prevention in humans, dog vaccination is often lacking. Methods This systematic review examined dog rabies vaccination coverage achieved following mass vaccination campaigns and dog ecology/management factors relevant to rabies control in the developing world. We searched a variety of electronic databases for published articles pertaining to dog rabies vaccination or dog ecology where data were collected utilizing a household cluster survey. We reviewed studies published between January 1, 1980 and present and identified 29 articles for inclusion. Results We found the majority of vaccination campaigns were able to achieve the WHO recommended vaccination coverage of ≥70% and calculated weighted mean post-campaign vaccination coverage of 76.5% in urban areas and 73.7% in rural areas. However, we found an absence of studies related to dog vaccination/dog ecology from countries with the greatest burden of rabies such as India, China, and Pakistan. In addition, the majority of dogs in the developing world are very young and short-lived, reducing the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns. Conclusions Future studies on canine ecology should be undertaken in countries with high endemic canine rabies. New methods for improving the longevity of dogs and reducing high dog population turnover need to be investigated. Programs which encourage good dog management and promote responsible pet ownership are essential to eliminating canine and human rabies.
A stimulus—driven model of concept identification

The discrete events assumed to occur in problem solving behavior (where an unpracticed person is trying to identify the rule being used in the binary classification of objects) have been modeled using SNOBOL4. The main assumption of this cognitive simulation is that attention given to unexpected characteristics of succeeding objects drive the behavior of the S (subject). Specifically, the simulated Ss with smaller short-term memories indicated a strong recency effect: rules represented by values occurring in the last positions in the instance were significantly easier to identify. For the largest memory size used, a significant primacy effect was seen.
The lipoxygenase product, 5-hydroperoxy-arachidonic acid, augments chemotactic peptide-stimulated arachidonic acid release from HL60 granulocytes

Abstract The chemotactic peptide N-formyl-Nle-Leu-Phe-Nle-Tyr-Lys stimulates the release of arachidonic acid from endogenous phospholipids of the human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL60. This release of unsaturated fatty acid is augmented by the presence of exogenously added lipoxygenase product, 5-hydroperoxy-arachidonic acid (5-HPETE). Other hydroperoxy- and hydroxy-arachidonic acid derivatives are less potent. In addition, saturated fatty acids and hydrogen peroxide do not possess this ability to augment arachidonic acid release. None of the arachidonic acid derivatives are capable of stimulating the release of arachidonic acid from endogenous phospholipids in the absence of the chemotactic peptide.
Betting on NKT and NK Cells

Natural killer T (NKT) cells, as their name implies, constitutively express markers and receptors first identified on bona fide natural killer (NK) cells, supporting a potential relationship between NKT and NK cells. In this issue of Immunity, Townsend et al. further define this relationship in terms of the transcription factor, T-bet.
Momentum induced coalescence and alloying of Fe-Ni nanoclusters: A molecular dynamics simulation study

Abstract The alloying mechanism of Fe–Ni nanoparticles formed under high impact collisions have been investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. The energetics and dynamics of the coalescence and structural evolution of Fe–Ni alloys during the collision process and subsequent quenching has been studied. The extent of alloy segregation and mixing is established to be strongly correlated to the initial momentum, particle sizes and the alloy composition. The resulting Fe–Ni alloy nanostructures have Fe-rich surface and depending on the alloy composition, show the presence of amorphous or well-defined crystalline phases that are absent in their bulk counterparts. In-line with this observation, the nanoscale phase diagram shows a non-monotonic variation in the melting transition.
Feedback inhibition of NaCl entry in Necturus gallbladder epithelial cells.

WhenNecturus gallbladder epithelium is treated with ouabain the cells swell rapidly for 20–30 minutes then stabilize at a cell volume 30% greater than control. The cells then begin to shrink slowly to below control size. During the initial rapid swelling phase cell Na activity, measured with microelectrodes, rises rapidly. Calculations of the quantity of intracellular Na suggest that the volume increase is due to NaCl entry. Once the peak cell volume is achieved, the quantity of Na in the cell does not increase, suggesting that NaCl entry has been inhibited. We tested for inhibition of apical NaCl entry during ouabain treatment either by suddenly reducing the NaCl concentration in the mucosal bath or by adding bumetanide to the perfusate. Both maneuvers caused rapid cell shrinkage during the initial phase of the ouabain experiment, but had no effect on cell volume if performed during the slow shrinkage period. The lack of sensitivity to the composition of the mucosal bath during the shrinkage period occurred because of apparent feedback inhibition of NaCl entry. Another maneuver, reduction of the Na in the serosal bath to 10mm, also resulted in inhibition of apical NaCl uptake. The slow shrinkage which occurred after one or more hours of ouabain treatment was sensitive to the transmembrane gradients for K and Cl across the basolateral membrane and could be inhibited by bumetanide. Thus during pump inhibition inNecturus gallbladder epithelium cell Na and volume first increase due to continuing NaCl entry and then cell volume slowly decreases due to inhibition of the apical NaCl entry and activation of basolateral KCl exit.