cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Kwashiorkor and an acrodermatitis enteropathica-like eruption after a distal gastric bypass surgical procedure.

Objective: To describe a case of kwashiorkor and an acrodermatitis enteropathica-like eruption associated with zinc deficiency after a distal gastric bypass surgical procedure.Methods: A case repor...
Effects of phospholipid or cholesterol enrichment of rat intestinal brush border membrane on membrane order and transport of calcium.

Abstract Calcium uptake by brush border membrane vesicles from rat small intestine measured under initial rate conditions comprises both saturable and nonsaturable components. Because the brush border is a lipid bilayer and may be sensitive to changes in membrane lipid, vesicles were treated with liposomes to enrich phospholipid (PL) or cholesterol (C) content above that of the control (Reference) vesicle. The effects of the changes in lipid composition on membrane fluidity were determined from fluorescence anisotropy (r) of diphenylhexatriene. Compared with Reference vesicles, liposome-treated vesicles showed decreased V max for saturable and K D for nonsaturable uptakes. Liposome treatment changed vesicle phospholipid composition compared with Reference vesicles. Liposome-treated vesicles had similar phospholipid composition but differed in greater cholesterol content of C- compared with PL-vesicles. Mean V max and K D were lower in C-than PL-vesicles, but the difference did not reach statistical significance, although fluidity was significantly lower in C- than PL-vesicles. The mechanism of inhibition of saturable calcium uptake in PL- and C-vesicles was uncompetitive. Thus, lipid composition is crucial for determining calcium uptake: any change from native lipid composition decreased transport. Fluidity, measured by the conventional probe diphenylhexatriene, did not correlate with calcium uptake by Reference compared with liposome-treated vesicles.
Tissue Penetration and Pharmacokinetics of Tigecycline in Diabetic Patients with Chronic Wound Infections Described by Using In Vivo Microdialysis

Tissue penetration of systemic antibiotics is an important consideration for positive outcomes in diabetic patients. Herein we describe the exposure profile and penetration of tigecycline in the interstitial fluid of wound margins versus that of uninfected thigh tissue in 8 adult diabetic patients intravenously (IV) administered 100 mg and then 50 mg of tigecycline twice daily for 3 to 5 doses. Prior to administration of the first dose, 2 microdialysis catheters were inserted into the subcutaneous tissue, the first within 10 cm of the wound margin and the second in the thigh of the same extremity. Samples for determination of plasma and tissue concentrations were simultaneously collected over 12 h under steady-state conditions. Tissue concentrations were corrected for percent in vivo recovery by the retrodialysis technique. Plasma samples were also collected for determination of protein binding at 1, 6, and 12 h postdose for each patient. Protein binding data were corrected using a fitted polynomial equation. The mean patient weight was 95.1 kg (range, 63.6 to 149.2 kg), the mean patient age was 63.5 ± 9.4 years, and 75% of the patients were males. The mean values for the plasma, thigh, and wound free area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h (fAUC(0-24)) were 2.65 ± 0.33, 2.52 ± 1.15, and 2.60 ± 1.02 μg·h/ml, respectively. Protein binding was nonlinear, with the percentage of free drug increasing with decreasing serum concentrations. Exposure values for thigh tissue and wound tissue were similar (P = 0.986). Mean steady-state tissue concentrations for the thigh and wound were similar at 0.12 ± 0.02 μg/ml, and clearance from the tissues appeared similar to that from plasma. Tissue penetration ratios (tissue fAUC/plasma fAUC) were 99% in the thigh and 100% in the wound (P = 0.964). Tigecycline penetrated equally well into wound and uninfected tissue of the same extremity.
A simple and rapid method to assess lycopene in multiple layers of skin samples.

Topical application of lycopene is a convenient way to restore antioxidants depleted from the skin by UV radiation and achieve protection against premature aging and cancer. In this study, a simple, rapid and reproducible method to quantify lycopene in different skin layers was developed, validated and employed to assess this compound after skin penetration studies. Lycopene was extracted from the stratum corneum (SC) and viable epidermis and dermis (ED) by vortex homogenization and bath sonication in a mixture of acetonitrile and methanol (52:48, v/v). Lycopene was assayed by HPLC using a C18 column, and acetonitrile:methanol (52:48, v/v) as mobile phase. The quantification limit of lycopene in samples of SC and ED was 35 ng/mL and the assay was linear from 35 to 2000 ng/mL. Within-day and between-days assays coefficients of variation and relative errors (indicative of precision and accuracy) were less than 15% (or 20% for the limit of quantification). Lycopene recovery from SC and ED was dependent on the spiked concentration: for 50 ng/mL, recoveries were 88.3 and 90.5%; for 100–1000 ng/mL, recoveries were 68.6–74.9%. This method has a potential application for lycopene quantification during formulation development and evaluation in the dermatological field. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modeling of the Growth Kinetics of Occult Breast Tumors: Role in Interpretation of Studies of Prevention and Menopausal Hormone Therapy

Background: Autopsy studies report a reservoir of small, occult, undiagnosed breast cancers in up to 15.6% of women dying from unrelated causes. The effective doubling times (EDT) of these occult neoplasms range from 70 to 350 days and mammographic detection threshold diameters from 0.88 to 1.66 cm. Modeling of the biologic behavior of these occult tumors facilitates interpretation of tamoxifen breast cancer prevention and menopausal hormone therapy studies. Methods: We used iterative and mathematical techniques to develop a model of occult tumor growth (OTG) whose parameters included prevalence, EDT, and detection threshold. The model was validated by comparing predicted with observed incidence of breast cancer in several populations. Results: Iterative analysis identified a 200-day EDT, 7% prevalence and 1.16 cm detection threshold as optimal parameters for an OTG model as judged by comparison with Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) population incidence rates in the United States. We validated the model by comparing predicted incidence rates with those observed in five separate population databases, in three long-term contralateral breast cancer detection studies, and with data from a computer-simulated tumor growth (CSTG) model. Our model strongly suggests that breast cancer prevention with anti-estrogens or aromatase inhibitors represents early treatment not prevention. In addition, menopausal hormone therapy does not primarily induce de novo tumors but promotes the growth of occult lesions. Conclusions: Our OGTG model suggests that occult, undiagnosed tumors are prevalent, grow slowly, and are the biologic targets of anti-estrogen therapy for prevention and hormone therapy for menopausal women. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 1–11. ©2012 AACR .
A modelling study of the impact of cirrus clouds on the moisture budget of the upper troposphere

Abstract. We present a modelling study of the effect of cirrus clouds on the moisture budget of the layer wherein the cloud formed. Our framework simplifies many aspects of cloud microphysics and collapses the problem of sedimentation onto a 0-dimensional box model, but retains essential feedbacks between saturation mixing ratio, particle growth, and water removal through particle sedimentation. The water budget is described by two coupled first-order differential equations for dimensionless particle number density and saturation point temperature, where the parameters defining the system (layer depth, reference temperature, amplitude and time scale of temperature perturbation and inital particle number density, which may or may not be a function of reference temperature and cooling rate) are encapsulated in a single coefficient. This allows us to scale the results to a broad range of atmospheric conditions, and to test sensitivities. Results of the moisture budget calculations are presented for a range of atmospheric conditions (T: 238–205 K; p: 325–180 hPa) and a range of time scales τT of the temperature perturbation that induces the cloud formation. The cirrus clouds are found to efficiently remove water for τT longer than a few hours, with longer perturbations (τT≳10 h) required at lower temperatures (T≲210 K). Conversely, we find that temperature perturbations of duration order 1 h and less (a typical timescale for e.g., gravity waves) do not efficiently dehydrate over most of the upper troposphere. A consequence is that (for particle densities typical of current cirrus clouds) the assumption of complete dehydration to the saturation mixing ratio may yield valid predictions for upper tropospheric moisture distributions if it is based on the large scale temperature field, but this assumption is not necessarily valid if it is based on smaller scale temperature fields.
The MC159 Protein from the Molluscum Contagiosum Poxvirus Inhibits NF-κB Activation by Interacting with the IκB Kinase Complex

Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) causes persistent neoplasms in healthy and immunocompromised people. Its ability to persist likely is due to its arsenal of viral immunoevasion proteins. For example, the MCV MC159 protein inhibits TNF-R1–induced NF-κB activation and apoptosis. The MC159 protein is a viral FLIP and, as such, possesses two tandem death effector domains (DEDs). We show in this article that, in human embryonic kidney 293 T cells, the expression of wild-type MC159 or a mutant MC159 protein containing the first DED (MC159 A) inhibited TNF-induced NF-κB, or NF-κB activated by PMA or MyD88 overexpression, whereas a mutant protein lacking the first DED (MC159 B) did not. We hypothesized that the MC159 protein targeted the IκB kinase (IKK) complex to inhibit these diverse signaling events. Indeed, the MC159 protein, but not MC159 B, coimmunoprecipitated with IKKγ. MC159 coimmunoprecipitated with IKKγ when using mouse embryonic fibroblasts that lack either IKKα or IKKβ, suggesting that the MC159 protein interacted directly with IKKγ. MC159-IKKγ coimmunoprecipitations were detected during infection of cells with either MCV isolated from human lesions or with a recombinant MC159-expressing vaccinia virus. MC159 also interacts with TRAF2, a signaling molecule involved in NF-κB activation. However, mutational analysis of MC159 failed to reveal a correlation between MC159–TRAF2 interactions and MC159’s inhibitory function. We propose that MC159–IKK interactions, but not MC159–TRAF2 interactions, are responsible for inhibiting NF-κB activation.
High frequency force sensing with piezoresistive cantilevers

We present the design, fabrication and characterization of sub-micron piezoresistive silicon cantilevers for high frequency force detection. The cantilevers are fabricated by a simple three-mask process and doped using POCl 3 diffusion, which enables high doping levels and negligible lattice damage. Devices have a force resolution of 298 pN from 1 Hz – 50 kHz (f 0 =187 kHz) and 678 pN up to 100 kHz (f 0 =419 kHz), the highest combination of force resolution and measurement bandwidth to date.
Fractionation of perforin and granzymes by immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC)

Cytotoxic lymphocytes and natural killer cells kill their targets by releasing pore-forming granules or by Fas ligand-Fas initiated death. The granules contain the pore-forming protein perforin, proteoglycan and multiple serine proteases termed granzymes. In this paper we describe two options for isolating perforin and granzymes. Both options separate the proteins by their ability to bind to immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) columns. The first option, with Cu2+ as the metal (Cu2+-IMAC), separates both perforin and granzymes while the second, with Co2+ as the metal (Co2+-IMAC), separates only perforin. After Cu2+-IMAC perforin is > 20-fold enriched with excellent recovery of lytic activity. Only two proteins are substantial contaminants. After Cu2+-IMAC, the perforin is dilute and requires concentration before additional steps of purification. The second option, with Co2+ as the metal Co2+-IMAC), yields perforin that is concentrated in a sharp peak. The concentrated perforin is immediately suitable for further purification. The first option, with Cu2+, isolates the granzymes while the second option, Co2+-IMAC, does not. After isolation, the perforin lytic and granzyme activities are stable for weeks at 4 degrees C, an advantage to previous isolation methods for these proteins. The excellent recoveries of perforin and granzymes also indicate that these proteins are less than 4% and 15% of the total lymphocyte granule protein, respectively.
Care Delivery for Filipino Americans Using the Neuman Systems Model

Filipino Americans are at risk of coronary heart disease due to the presence of multiple cardiometabolic factors. Selecting a framework that addresses the factors leading to coronary heart disease is vital when providing care for this population. The Neuman systems model is a comprehensive and wholistic framework that offers an innovative method of viewing clients, their families, and the healthcare system across multiple dimensions. Using the Neuman systems model, advanced practice nurses can develop and implement interventions that will help reduce the potential cardiovascular problems of clients with multiple risk factors. The authors in this article provides insight into the cardiovascular health of Filipino Americans and has implications for nurses and other healthcare providers working with various Southeast Asian groups in the United States.
Cooperativity in axonemal motion: analysis of a four-state, two-site kinetic model.

Abstract A kinetic model for axonemal motion based upon a four-state mechanochemical cycle of dynein with two active sites is described. Our model analysis determines the pseudo-steady-state concentrations of enzyme species for specified rate constants, most of which are experimentally determined, with given substrate and product concentrations. The proportion of enzyme species in which both active sites are detached from the microtubule (denoted as "both detached"), numerically calculated from the model, appears to be proportional to experimental observations of flagellar beat frequency. This correlation between beat frequency and the both-detached enzyme species is maintained over a wide range of substrate concentrations and exhibited an apparent positive cooperativity at low substrate concentrations, which we call "obligate cooperativity." The unusual obligate cooperativity exhibited by flagellar beat frequency parallels that seen in the calculated proportion of the both-detached enzyme species and is interpreted as a requirement for a molecule of substrate to bind to each active site in a multimeric dynein in order to produce oscillatory motion. Furthermore, the proportion of the both-detached enzyme species correlates with experimentally observed changes in beat frequency with a nucleotide analog and with product inhibition.
Dimensions of child punishment in two Central American countries: Guatemala and El Salvador

OBJECTIVE: Severe physical punishment of children is an important issue in international child health and welfare. This study examines such punishment in Guatemala and El Salvador. METHODS: Data came from nationally representative surveys of women aged 15-49 and men aged 15-59 residing in Guatemala (2002) and El Salvador (2002-2003). The surveys included questions about punishment experienced during childhood, with response options ranging from verbal scolding to beating. In Guatemala, parents were asked how they disciplined their children; questions allowed them to compare how they were punished in their childhood with how they punished their own children. Bivariate and multivariate analyses are presented. RESULTS: In Guatemala, 35% of women and 46% of men reported being beaten as punishment in childhood; in El Salvador, the figures were 42% and 62%, respectively. In both countries, older participants were relatively more likely than younger participants to have been beaten as children. Witnessing familial violence was associated with an increased risk of being beaten in childhood. In Guatemala, having experienced physical punishment as a child increased the chance that parents would use physical punishment on their own children. Multivariate analyses revealed that women who were beaten in childhood were significantly more likely in both countries to be in a violent relationship. CONCLUSIONS: The use of beating to physically punish children is a common problem in Guatemala and El Salvador, with generational and intergenerational effects. Its negative and lingering effects necessitate the introduction of policies and programs to decrease this behavior.
Use of facial composite systems in US law enforcement agencies

Facial composite images are often used in the criminal investigation process to facilitate the search for and identification of someone who has committed a crime. Since the use of facial composite images is sometimes relied upon as an integral part of an investigation, it is important to ascertain information about the various decisions made and procedures implemented by law enforcement regarding the use of composites. A 39-item survey was developed to examine the prevalence of a number of procedures related to composite production, including the systems implemented, criteria for selecting systems, law enforcement training, satisfaction with systems, legal challenges, and procedural issues with respect to interviewing multiple witnesses and the distribution of composite images. Surveys were distributed to 1637 city, state and county law enforcement agencies nationwide; 163 completed surveys were returned. This paper summarizes our survey results and discusses the implications for investigative procedures, law enforcement training, and future research needs.
Cation and Anion Retention by Natural and Synthetic Allophane and Imogolite

The negative surface charge of synthetic allophanes with a range of Si/Al ratios decreased and positive charge increased with increasing alumina content at a given pH. The phosphate adsorption capacity also increased with increasing Al content. That this relationship between composition and chemical reactivity was not found for the soil allophanes is attributed to the presence of specifically adsorbed organic or inorganic anions on the natural material. Both synthetic and natural imogolites had a much lower capacity to adsorb phosphate than the allophanes and adsorbed anomalously high amounts of Cl− and ClO4− at high pH. It is proposed that intercalation of salt occurs in imogolite, although electron spin resonance studies using spin probes failed to reveal the trapping of small organic molecules in imogolite tubes. These spin probes in the carboxylated form did, however, suggest an electrostatic retention of carboxylate by imogolite and a more specific adsorption by allophane involving ligand exchange of surface hydroxyl. The results illustrate the inherent differences in charge and surface properties of allophane and imogolite despite the common structural unit which the two minerals incorporate.
The Genetic Determinants of Smoking

Dependence on tobacco, like many other drug dependencies, is a complex behavior with both genetic and environmental factors contributing to the variance. The heritability estimates for smoking in twin studies have ranged from 46 to 84%, indicating a substantial genetic component to smoking. Candidate gene studies have detected functional polymorphisms in genes coding for the cytochrome P450 enzymes, and variations in these genes that lead to more rapid nicotine metabolism have been implicated in smoking. Similarly, smoking has been associated with polymorphisms in dopaminergic genes that may influence the dopamine receptor number and/or function. Animal experiments have localized specific subunits of the nicotinic receptors that may mediate the reinforcing properties of nicotine and have investigated their role in nicotine dependence. However, environmental factors have also been found to contribute to the risk of initiation and persistence of smoking. We review the scientific evidence that supports a role for genetic influences on smoking, discuss the specific genetic and neurobiological mechanisms that may mediate susceptibility to nicotine dependence, identify possible gene/environmental interactions that may be important in understanding smoking behavior, and suggest directions for future research. Insights into the genetic contributions to smoking can potentially lead to more effective strategies to reduce smoking.
Application of command shaping to a convoy of ground vehicles

This paper documents the effect that command shaping has on the inter-vehicular spacing performance of autonomous convoys. The control method is based only on distance measurements between vehicles in the platoon. The lead vehicle's longitudinal controller was developed to follow a given velocity. The follower vehicles maintain the desired spacing using distance measurements to the preceding and following vehicles. Three overall control schemes were experimentally tested: PD control without lead vehicle velocity information, PD control with lead vehicle velocity information and PID control without lead vehicle velocity information. In all cases adding command shaping led to improved performance. This approach leads to more physically realizable controller efforts for the follower vehicles and helps maintain and improve string stability.
Trends in HPV cervical and seroprevalence and associations between oral and genital infection and serum antibodies in NHANES 2003–2012

HPV infects multiple sites in the epithelium, including the genitals and oral cavity. The relation between genital and oral infections and serum antibodies can help explain the natural history and epidemiology of HPV. We analyzed HPV data from NHANES derived from self-collected vaginal swabs (women ages 14–59, 2003–12), oral rinses (men and women 14–69, 2009–12), and serum (men and women 14-59, 2003–10). Type-concordance of cervicogenital and oral infections in women was found to vary widely by age. Prevalence of oral infections with type-concordant antibodies was low but varied by sex: 0.2 % (95 % CI 0.0–0.8) for women vs 0.8 % (95 % CI 0.4–1.3) for men. Vaccination was associated with a reduced risk of cervicogenital infection for vaccine genotypes among ages 14–17 (0.2 (95 % CI 0.1–0.8)) and 18–24 (0.2 (95 % CI 0.1–0.3). Seroprevalence trends in women showed a dramatic increase for recent birth cohorts, likely due to vaccination. By contrast, trends for men remained relatively constant. Age-specific cervicogenital prevalence showed a consistent peak in the late teens and twenties. Relative cervicogenital prevalence has largely been decreasing since the 1940–50 birth cohort. There are complex patterns in HPV prevalence trends and type-concordance across infection sites and serum antibodies. A multisite sampling scheme is needed to better understand the epidemiology and natural history of HPV.
Oxytocin neuron activation prevents hypertension that occurs with chronic intermittent hypoxia/hypercapnia in rats

Hypertension is a common outcome associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a prevalent yet poorly treated cardiovascular disease. Recent studies showed oxytocin (OXT), released from hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) neurons, activates cardiac vagal neurons in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMNX) and may blunt cardiovascular responses to stress. This study tests whether the release of OXT from PVN fibers in the DMNX is diminished with chronic intermittent hypoxia-hypercapnia (CIH/H) exposure, an animal model of OSA, and whether activation of PVN OXT neurons restores OXT release in the DMNX and prevents the hypertension resulting from CIH/H. To assess OXT release from PVN fibers, Chinese hamster ovarian (CHO) cells were engineered to be highly sensitive to OXT by stable expression of the human recombinant OXT receptor and the calcium indicator R-GECO1. PVN fibers in the DMNX were selectively photoactivated in vitro by expression of channelrhodopsin. The release of OXT onto CHO cells in the DMNX was blunted in rats exposed to 21 days of CIH/H. Chronic activation of PVN OXT neurons in vivo, using designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs, restored the release of OXT onto CHO cells in the DMNX. Chronic PVN OXT neuron activation in vivo also prevented the hypertension that occurred in conscious unrestrained telemetry-equipped sham rats exposed to 3 wk of CIH/H. These results demonstrate that chronic activation of OXT neurons restores the release of OXT from PVN fibers in the DMNX and prevents the hypertension that occurs with 3 wk of CIH/H exposure.
Weinstock's Analogy

Weinstock's (1984) brief communication concerning the comparability of South American and Southeast Asian swidden systems makes two interesting substantive points and one significant conceptual error. I treat the error first because it is only by recognizing it as such that one can appreciate the value of Weinstock's substantive points. Weinstock holds that the articles in Human Ecology (Beckerman, 1983a,b; Boster, 1983; Hames, 1983; Stocks, 1983; Vickers, 1983) "revolve around a false issue." That issue is the contrast of these "South American findings with those of Geertz (1963) and Conklin (1957). Such comparisons are analogous to comparing apples and bananas as fruit and wondering why one is round and the other is not." Weinstock asserts the analogy works because (most importantly among several differences) the South American swiddens are primarily root crop systems, while the Southeast Asian cases are grain crop swiddens. There is indeed a difference here, and the apples and bananas analogy is instructive. The shape as well as the size of cultivated fruits is a character in which human intervention is highly apparent. To the extent to which the wild characteristics are still present in a cultivar, the shape of a fruit (a detachable reproductive package of some kinds of higher plants) represents the results of selective forces for dispersal and seedling establishment as they act on archetypic constraints of the genetics and development of the parent plant. To the extent to which wild characteristics have been modified by human action, a fruit is a record of the interaction of human choice and genetic variability in the ancestral population(s). The question of why some fruits are round and others are not is a fundamental and interesting biological ques-
New mud turtles (Kinosternidae, Kinosternon) from the middle—late Miocene of the United States

Abstract. Kinosternon Spix, 1824, was widespread in xeric to savanna associated paleowetlands across North America during the middle—late Miocene and steadily diversified following its first occurrences in the Hemingfordian. In the middle Miocene, Kinosternon rincon n. sp. occurred in the late Barstovian Cerro Conejo Formation of north central New Mexico, perhaps concurrently with Kinosternon pojoaque Bourque 2012a from the Tesuque Formation. Subsequent late Miocene kinosternine fossils indicate that at least three potentially contemporaneous species existed throughout the Clarendonian. These are Kinosternon pannekollops n. sp., from the Ogallala Formation of northern Texas; Kinosternon wakeeniense, n. sp., from the Ogallala Formation of northwestern Kansas and Ash Hollow Formation of south-central Nebraska; and Kinosternon notolophus n. sp., from the Alachua and Statenville formations of northern Florida. Kinosternon rincon is phylogenetically nested between the Kinosternon flavescens (Agassiz, 1857) gro...
Optimization of growth medium for Sporosarcina pasteurii in bio-based cement pastes to mitigate delay in hydration kinetics

Microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation has been identified as a novel method to improve durability and remediate cracks in concrete. One way to introduce microorganisms to concrete is by replacing the mixing water with a bacterial culture in nutrient medium. In the literature, yeast extract often has been used as a carbon source for this application; however, severe retardation of hydration kinetics has been observed when yeast extract is added to cement. This study investigates the suitability of alternative carbon sources to replace yeast extract for microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation in cement-based materials. A combination of meat extract and sodium acetate was identified as a suitable replacement in growth medium for Sporosarcina pasteurii; this alternative growth medium reduced retardation by 75 % (as compared to yeast extract) without compromising bacterial growth, urea hydrolysis, cell zeta potential, and ability to promote calcium carbonate formation.
Biodistribution and Efficacy of Low Temperature-Sensitive Liposome Encapsulated Docetaxel Combined with Mild Hyperthermia in a Mouse Model of Prostate Cancer

Low temperature sensitive liposome (LTSL) encapsulated docetaxel were combined with mild hyperthermia (40–42°C) to investigate in vivo biodistribution and efficacy against a castrate resistant prostate cancer. Female athymic nude mice with human prostate PC-3 M-luciferase cells grown subcutaneously into the right hind leg were randomized into six groups: saline (+/− heat), free docetaxel (+/− heat), and LTSL docetaxel (+/− heat). Treatment (15 mg docetaxel/kg) was administered via tail vein once tumors reached a size of 200-300 mm3. Mice tumor volumes and body weights were recorded for up to 60 days. Docetaxel concentrations of harvested tumor and organ/tissue homogenates were determined by LC-MS. Histological evaluation (Mean vessel density, Ki67 proliferation, Caspase-3 apoptosis) of saline, free Docetaxel and LTSL docetaxel (+/− heat n = 3–5) was performed to determine molecular mechanism responsible for tumor cell killing. LTSL/heat resulted in significantly higher tumor docetaxel concentrations (4.7-fold greater compared to free docetaxel). Adding heat to LTSL Docetaxel or free docetaxel treatment resulted in significantly greater survival and growth delay compared to other treatments (p 10% and were not statistically different from each other. Molecular markers such as caspase-3 were upregulated, and Ki67 expression was significantly decreased in the chemo-hyperthermia group. Vessel density was similar post treatment, but the heated group had reduced vessel area, suggesting thermal enhancement in efficacy by reduction in functional perfusion. This technique of hyperthermia sensitization and enhanced docetaxel delivery has potential for clinical translation for prostate cancer treatment.
The Cult of Efficiency

Efficiency! It pervades our thinking. How can we get the most output of goods and services for the least input of energy, labour and materials? What is the most ‘efficient’, the most ‘economical’ way of doing things? When ‘wealth’ is the supreme goal, the more efficiently wealth is produced, the better. For the sake of efficiency, we subordinate human values that in other times, in other societies, in other worldviews, had far higher priority. The origin, development and logical consequences of our modern devotion to wealth and efficiency are the subjects of this chapter.
Molecular beam epitaxy of HgCdTe and HgTe-CdTe superlattices for infrared uses

Molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) has been successfully employed to prepare HgCdTe alloy films and HgTe-CdTe superlattices for use in IR applications. Details of the MBE systems at NCSU, designed specifically for growing Hg-based materials, are discussed. Double-crystal x-ray diffraction has been used to evaluate the structural perfection of the epilayers and to determine layer thicknesses of superlattices.
HSD2 neurons in the hindbrain drive sodium appetite

Sodium-depleted animals develop an appetite for aversive concentrations of sodium. Here we show that chemogenetic activation of aldosterone-sensitive neurons that express 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (HSD2) in the nucleus of the solitary tract is sufficient to drive consumption of sodium-containing solutions in mice, independently of thirst or hunger. These HSD2-positive neurons are necessary for full expression of sodium appetite and have distinct downstream targets that are activated during sodium depletion.
Relationship between vancomycin tolerance and clinical outcomes in Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia.

Background: Previous data have demonstrated the clinical importance of vancomycin MIC values in Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB); however, the impact of vancomycin tolerance (VT) is unknown. Objectives: To compare the frequency of clinical failure between patients with VT and non-VT isolates in SAB. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with SAB, excluding treatment <48 h or polymicrobial bacteraemia. The primary outcome was clinical failure (composite of 30 day mortality, non-resolving signs and symptoms, and 60 day recurrence). Vancomycin MIC and MBC were determined by broth microdilution. The association between VT (MBC/MIC ≥32) and clinical failure was evaluated by multivariable Poisson regression. Results: Of the 225 patients, 26.7% had VT isolates. VT was associated with clinical failure (48.0% overall) in unadjusted analysis [68.3% (n = 41/60) versus 40.6% (n = 67/165); P < 0.001] and this relationship persisted in multivariable analysis (adjusted risk ratio, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.36-2.24; P < 0.001). The association between VT and clinical failure was also consistent within strata of methicillin susceptibility [methicillin susceptible (n = 125, risk ratio, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.20-2.32; P = 0.002); methicillin resistant (n = 100, risk ratio, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.14-2.51; P = 0.010)]. Among methicillin-susceptible SAB cases treated with β-lactam therapy, VT remained associated with clinical failure (risk ratio, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.19-2.61; P = 0.004). Conclusions: VT was associated with clinical failure in SAB, irrespective of methicillin susceptibility or definitive treatment. VT may decrease the effectiveness of cell-wall-active therapy or be a surrogate marker of some other pathogen-specific factor associated with poor outcomes. Future research should evaluate if bactericidal non-cell-wall-active agents improve outcomes in VT SAB.
Learning to Extract Events from Knowledge Base Revisions

Broad-coverage knowledge bases (KBs) such as Wikipedia, Freebase, Microsoft's Satori and Google's Knowledge Graph contain structured data describing real-world entities. These data sources have become increasingly important for a wide range of intelligent systems: from information retrieval and question answering, to Facebook's Graph Search, IBM's Watson, and more. Previous work on learning to populate knowledge bases from text has, for the most part, made the simplifying assumption that facts remain constant over time. But this is inaccurate -- we live in a rapidly changing world. Knowledge should not be viewed as a static snapshot, but instead a rapidly evolving set of facts that must change as the world changes. In this paper we demonstrate the feasibility of accurately identifying entity-transition-events, from real-time news and social media text streams, that drive changes to a knowledge base. We use Wikipedia's edit history as distant supervision to learn event extractors, and evaluate the extractors based on their ability to predict online updates. Our weakly supervised event extractors are able to predict 10 KB revisions per month at 0.8 precision. By lowering our confidence threshold, we can suggest 34.3 correct edits per month at 0.4 precision. 64% of predicted edits were detected before they were added to Wikipedia. The average lead time of our forecasted knowledge revisions over Wikipedia's editors is 40 days, demonstrating the utility of our method for suggesting edits that can be quickly verified and added to the knowledge graph.
Fluorine-18-fluorodihydroxyphenylalanine Positron-emission Tomography Scans of Neuroendocrine Tumors (Carcinoids and Pheochromocytomas).

Objectives: Conventional methods of imaging neuroendocrine tumors with computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, indium-111-octreotide, or radiolabeled metaiodobenzilguanidine scintigraphy have limitations. This pilot study tried to improve the localization of these tumors with fluorine-18-fluorodihydroxyphenylalanine (F-DOPA) positron-emission tomography (PET) scanning. Materials and Methods: We studied 22 patients, the majority of whom were referred with clinical diagnosis or suspicion of carcinoid ( n = 11), neuroendocrine tumors ( n = 7) or pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma (PGL) ( n = 4). The comparison was made with the prior conventional imaging. Results: The F-DOPA findings were compared with the results of subsequent surgery (2), endoscopy (1), or a long-term follow-up (mean duration, 49 months) for 17 patients. Two patients were lost to follow-up. Foci of F-DOPA deposition were detected in eight patients (final diagnosis of carcinoid in six, of neuroendocrine tumors in one, and of PGL in another). Comparison with the final diagnoses revealed concordance in 16 of the 22 patients. F-DOPA results appeared superior to those obtained with conventional imaging. Despite the small number and diagnostic heterogeneity, in a substantial fraction of patients F-DOPA PET added information relevant to clinical management. Conclusion: F-DOPA scanning added prognostic value, particularly when multiple abnormal foci versus a negative examination were considered.
Detection of text-based social cues in adults with traumatic brain injury.

Objectives: Written text contains verbal immediacy cues—word form or grammatical cues that indicate positive attitude or liking towards an object, action, or person. We asked if adults with moderat...
Predictive AECMS by Utilization of Intelligent Transportation Systems for Hybrid Electric Vehicle Powertrain Control

Information obtainable from intelligent transportation systems (ITS) provides the possibility of improving safety and efficiency of vehicles at different levels. In particular, such information also has the potential to be utilized for the prediction of driving conditions and traffic flow, which allows Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) to run their powertrain components in corresponding optimum operating regions. This paper proposes to improve the performance of one of the most promising realtime powertrain control strategies, called adaptive equivalent consumption minimization strategy (AECMS), using predicted driving conditions. In this paper, three real-time powertrain control strategies are proposed for HEVs, each of which introduces an adjustment factor for the cost of using electrical energy (equivalent factor) in AECMS. These factors are proportional to the predicted energy requirements of the vehicle, regenerative braking energy, and the cost of battery charging and discharging in a finite time window. Simulation results using detailed vehicle powertrain models illustrate that the proposed control strategies improve the performance of AECMS in terms of fuel economy, number of engine transients (ON/OFF), and charge sustainability of the battery.
Diversity for vitamin and amino acid content in grass pea(Lathyrus sativus L.)

This study was conducted to determine vitamin A, B, C, b-carotene and amino acid profile in 18 genotypes and four grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) varieties which have low b-ODAP. Present results indicated that retinol, b-carotene, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothene, pyridoxine, folic acid and ascorbic acid ranged from 25.6 to 44.1 µg/kg; 240.8 to 410.1 µg/kg, 3.74 to 5.44; 1.86 to 2.76; 12.37 to 20.25; 14.43 to 22.41; 4.92 to 6.62; 4.04 to 6.77 and 33.4 to 58.2 mg/kg, respectively in seeds. In addition to, the amino acid profile of the genotypes differed significantly and total amino acid amounts were found to be 19.69 to 23.48 g/100 g seeds. A large and significant variation was observed among these genotypes with low b-ODAP content in respect to the quality of the nutrient content. This variability will be useful to breeders for utilization in grass pea improvement.
Current Concepts in Meniscus Tissue Engineering and Repair

The meniscus is the most commonly injured structure in the human knee. Meniscus deficiency has been shown to lead to advanced osteoarthritis (OA) due to abnormal mechanical forces, and replacement strategies for this structure have lagged behind other tissue engineering endeavors. The challenges include the complex 3D structure with individualized size parameters, the significant compressive, tensile and shear loads encountered, and the poor blood supply. In this progress report, a review of the current clinical treatments for different types of meniscal injury is provided. The state-of-the-art research in cellular therapies and novel cell sources for these therapies is discussed. The clinically available cell-free biomaterial implants and the current progress on cell-free biomaterial implants are reviewed. Cell-based tissue engineering strategies for the repair and replacement of meniscus are presented, and the current challenges are identified. Tissue-engineered meniscal biocomposite implants may provide an alternative solution for the treatment of meniscal injury to prevent OA in the long run, because of the limitations of the existing therapies.
Density Functional Calculations on Special Clusters

Researchers have long used beams of particles and/or laser light to bombard surfaces. In vacuum, this bombardment sputters away the surface and affords many techniques for studing the particles that are knocked out of the surface. In a good vacuum most of the particles that are sputtered away are electrically neutral and are individual atoms rather than clusters of atoms. The process of beam bombardment is violent enough, however, that atomic ions are emitted in sufficient abundance that any mass spectrometer becomes a powerful instrument for determining the elemental composition of almost any surface [1]. Special deflection [2,3] and time-of-flight mass spectrometers [4] allow the study of the cluster ions that are emitted as well. Special clusters containing a “magic” number of atoms are produced in unexpected abundances by blasting away at ordinary materials [5,6]. These special clusters must have unusually low surface energy [5]. The discovery of special clusters is adding a new dimension to chemistry and materials science and is presenting major challenges and opportunities for predictive theoretical methods. The challenge is that these interesting new systems are quite large. The opportunity is that the new materials that can be made in abundance must be quite special in many different respects, and thus specialized computational techniques are appropriate.
CHEMISTRY, DEFENSE, AND SURVIVAL: CASE STUDIES AND SELECTED TOPICS

Publisher Summary Insects are abundant, diversely specialized, observable in nature, manageable in the laboratory, and chemically oriented in many of their basic activities. Great technical innovation has taken place in chemistry itself, particularly in the area of organic analytical procedures. The prospects of actual identification of natural products from insects have vastly increased. The whole concept of biological regulation through chemical agents has been brought into focus by the study of hormones. This chapter discusses the growing knowledge of hormones, which helps set in motion the study of the environmental counterparts of hormones. Chemical ecology is a flourishing interdisciplinary field, fostered by a contingent of specialists, including behaviorists, ecologists, physiologists, neurobiologists, biochemists, and chemists. Insects are threatened by predators in every environment and at each stage of their life cycle. The chemical defenses that they have evolved to counter the threat are many and varied and constitute a primary key to their survival.
Air-Water Interfacial Temperature Measurements

Measurements at the air-water interface were made with a high spatial and temporal resolution microthermometer in the Air-Sea Interaction Saltwater Tank (ASIST). ASIST is a linear wind-wave tank of dimensions 15×1×1 m, and is constructed from transparent acrylic sheets. During the experiments, the air-water heat flux was varied by changing the air-water temperature difference (ΔT AW ), and the wind speed was varied with the ASIST fan. The microthermometers were mounted on a J-shaped support, which was attached to a linear servo motor which was driven in the vertical direction. This allowed profiles to be made from a depth of about 13 cm to the surface. Data was acquired for three ΔT AW regimes (−5, +10, and +15°C) with wind speeds from 1 to 9 ms−1. Data for a total of 8 runs were acquired and provided estimates of the boundary layer thickness (δ c ) and the skin-bulk temperature difference (ΔT SD ). We found that the relationship between ΔT SD and wind depended on the ΔT AW regime. There was a clear relationship between δ c and wind (μ), and we derived the empirical expression δ c = 0.35 + 4.9 e −u based on the data. Comparison with previous estimates of δ c based on measurements and rigid wall boundary layer theory showed that our values were lower by a factor of 2 at low wind speeds, but were in good agreement at 10 ms−1.
Randomized study of doxorubicin-based chemotherapy regimens, with and without sildenafil, with analysis of intermediate cardiac markers

Doxorubicin chemotherapy is used across a range of adult and pediatric malignancies. Cardiac toxicity is common, and dysfunction develops over time in many patients. Biomarkers used for predicting late cardiac dysfunction following doxorubicin exposure have shown promise. Preclinical studies have demonstrated potential cardioprotective effects of sildenafil. We sought to confirm the safety of adding sildenafil to doxorubicin-based chemotherapy and assess N-terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) and high sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hsTnI) as early markers of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity. We randomized 27 patients (ages 31–77, 92.3% female) receiving doxorubicin chemotherapy using a blocked randomization scheme with randomly permuted block sizes to receive standard chemotherapy alone or with the addition of sildenafil. The study was not blinded. Sildenafil was dosed at 100 mg by mouth daily during therapy; patients took sildenafil three times daily on the day of doxorubicin. Doxorubicin dosing and schedule were dependent on the treatment regimen. Echocardiography was obtained prior to initiation of treatment and routinely thereafter up to 4 years. NT-proBNP and hsTnI were obtained with each cycle before, 1-3 h after, and 24 h after doxorubicin. Fourteen patients were randomized to receive standard doxorubicin chemotherapy alone (14 treated and analyzed), while 13 patients were randomized to the experimental doxorubicin and sildenafil arm (10 treated and analyzed). No toxicity signal was seen with the addition of sildenafil to doxorubicin-based regimens. There was no statistical difference between the treatment arms in relation to the change of mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) between the first and last evaluation. In both arms, hsTnI levels increased over time; however, elevated hsTnI was not associated with declines in LVEF. Adding sildenafil was safe, but did not offer cardioprotection following doxorubicin treatment. Increases in hsTnI levels were observed over time, but elevations during therapy did not correlate with subsequent decreases in LVEF. This clinical trial ( NCT01375699 ) was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov on June 17, 2011.