cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phenotypic characterization of skin-infiltrating T cells in cutaneous T- cell lymphoma: comparison with benign cutaneous T-cell infiltrates

Using a panel of monoclonal antibodies, we have studied cell surface antigens of infiltrating mononuclear cells in skin biopsies from patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) and compared them with the T-cell surface phenotype seen in benign cutaneous T-cell infiltrations (e.g., contact dermatitis, delayed hypersensitivity skin tests, granuloma annulare) and in dermal infiltrates of lymphomatoid granulomatosis patients. We found that unlike circulating CTCL (Sezary) cells, CTCL cells infiltrating skin epidermis frequently expressed the T-cell antigen 3A1. Cutaneous infiltrates in 10 patients with mycosis fungoides (MF) and 1 patient with Sezary syndrome were OKT4 (inducer T cell), OKT8 (suppressor/cytotoxic T cell); 2 patients with MF were OKT4-, OKT8; and one MF patients's skin T cell were OKT4-, OKT8+. Similar to CTCL infiltrating cells, most of the benign skin T-cell infiltrates were usually 3A1+. OKT4+, and OKT8-. Our study shows the complex nature of T-cell antigen patterns in inflammatory and malignant skin T-cell infiltrations. We demonstrated that the CTCL the skin epidermal infiltrating T-cell phenotype is not invariate, and in many cases, is similar to the phenotype of clinically benign cutaneous T-cell infiltrations.
Yaba Tumor Poxvirus Synthesis In Vitro II. Adsorption, Inactivation, and Assay Studies

Yohn, David S. (Roswell Park Memorial Institute, Buffalo, N.Y.), Fanny R. Marmol, Victoria A. Haendiges, and James T. Grace, Jr. Yaba tumor poxvirus synthesis in vitro. II. Adsorption, inactivation, and assay studies. J. Bacteriol. 91:1953–1958. 1966.—Means to increase the efficiency of the Yaba tumor poxvirus assay in BSC-1 cell cultures were sought. A method was devised wherein 0.4 ml of each virus dilution was layered onto BSC-1 cells in 80-mm Leighton tubes and permitted to adsorb at 25 C for 18 hr prior to incubation at 35 C. The diluent found most reliable was medium 199 containing 50% bovine amniotic fluid adjusted to 2.0 mm calcium and 1.0 mm magnesium at pH 7.0. These modifications yielded highly reproducible titrations with a greater than twofold increase in assay sensitivity. Irreversible adsorption of Yaba virus by BSC-1 cells proceeds comparatively slowly at 25 to 33 C. Although the process is more rapid at 35 or 37 C, the increased thermal lability of the virus at these temperatures results in lower titers than with virus adsorbed at 25 C for longer periods of time. Yaba poxvirus appears to be 5 to 10 times more sensitive to thermal inactivation than vaccinia poxvirus.
Consequence of a Comparison of Numerical e Folds for a Non Singular Initial Cosmology Bounce Versus e Folds in the Classical GR Case, Combined with Friedman Equation Evolution of the Inflaton, in the Case of a ‘quantum Bounce’ .Tie in with DM Suggested

Abstract. This document goes to the Friedman equation and initially gives an argument as to a quantum bounce , for a modified consideration of the inflaton. Once an inflaton for a non zero initial starting point is established we look at the ratio of the Numerical E folds for when there is a quantum bounce, to the Numerical E folds for when classical GR is assumed. This rests upon looking at M. Bojowald’s reformation of the Friedman equation, with some profound physics coming from a defined length, as given by Banerjee and Date, as of 2005. A tie in with initial production of DM is suggested as a compliment to work L. Randall and others have initiated with the synthesis of DM.
G2P Conversion of Proper Names Using Word Origin Information

Motivated by the fact that the pronunciation of a name may be influenced by its language of origin, we present methods to improve pronunciation prediction of proper names using word origin information. We train grapheme-to-phoneme (G2P) models on language-specific data sets and interpolate the outputs. We perform experiments on US surnames, a data set where word origin variation occurs naturally. Our methods can be used with any G2P algorithm that outputs posterior probabilities of phoneme sequences for a given word.
PRECURSORS OF ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION: PULMONARY FUNCTION, HEART RATE, URIC ACID, SERUM CHOLESTEROL, AND OTHER SERUM CHEMISTRIES

Exploratory analyses were conducted in a nested case-control study of 1,031 incident cases of essential hypertension and 1,031 persistently normotensive controls from the Kaiser Permanente Multiphasic Health Checkup cohort in Northern California. Previous analyses have confirmed hypotheses that baseline weight, subsequent weight gain, alcohol consumption, parental history of hypertension, excessive use of salt, and centralized body fat distribution are predictive of developing hypertension. In the present study, pulmonary function tests, several serum chemistries, and heart rate were strongly predictive in univariate analyses. Adjusting for the risk factors mentioned above, forced vital capacity (p less than 0.001), serum uric acid (p = 0.003), serum cholesterol (p = 0.012), and heart rate (p = 0.014) remained independently predictive. Further adjustment for baseline blood pressure completely explained the association of heart rate with hypertension, and reduced the association with serum cholesterol to borderline significance. Forced vital capacity remained a strong, inverse predictor (odds ratio, fifth vs. first quintile = 0.22, 95% confidence interval (Cl) 0.11-0.46). Uric acid remained positively related to risk (odds ratio, fifth vs. first quintile = 2.19, 95% Cl 1.20-3.98). Although neither association is presently understood, both forced vital capacity and serum uric acid are closely linked to development of hypertension and may be markers of susceptibility or intermediate steps in pathways leading to hypertension.
Trends in olive fruit handling previous to its industrial transformation

Until the 1940s, when production economics and labor shortages became pressing, olives around the world were hand harvested. Despite 60 years of research, mechanical. There are two major reasons for this. First, trees over 20 years old are too tall and poorly structured for mechanical harvesting. Second, mechanical harvesting research for table olive production has not been sufficiently focused on the final goal, processed fruit quality. For oil olives, which are physiologically mature at harvest and require less removal force, advances in both trunk shaking and picker head technology are advancing rapidly. Also, as olive oil is enjoying a renaissance around the world new orchards are being planted in the hedgerows that facilitate mechanical harvesting. For table olives however, mechanical harvesting is still in the developmental stage. The research being done now, unlike earlier work, focuses on the parallel goals of efficient fruit removal and final processed product quality. Within 10 years most olive oil orchards of suitable tree size and shape will be mechanically harvested. When table olives will be routinely harvested mechanically cannot be predicted.
The Development of American Television as an Advertiser‐supported Medium — as seen by the Contemporary American Press

Television became a possible medium for advertising in the late 1930s but its emergence as a major medium dates from 1947. Arguments about the likely effectiveness of television as a source of entertainment attracting large numbers of viewers were coloured by fears of responses to ill‐devised uses by advertisers of the presentation of products or services. The profitability of television selling was forshadowed in 1947.
Effect of prior birth and miscarriage frequency on the prevalence of acquired and congenital uterine anomalies in women with recurrent miscarriage: a cross-sectional study

Objective To determine whether a prior live birth or an increase in number of miscarriages impacted the prevalence of congenital or acquired uterine anomalies in women with predominantly early recurrent miscarriage (RM). Design Single-center, cross-sectional study. Setting Patients with RM at a private practice. Patient(s) Eight hundred seventy-five women who had two or more consecutive miscarriages. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Frequencies of congenital uterine anomalies (bicornuate, didelphic, septate, t-shaped, and unicornuate uteri) and acquired uterine anomalies (fibroids, polyps, and adhesions). Result(s) A uterine anomaly was identified in 169 (19.3%) of the patients. Patients with primary RM were more likely to have congenital anomalies than patients with secondary RM, particularly septa. The occurrence of a prior live birth, however, did not influence the frequency of acquired uterine anomalies, which were detected in equal frequencies in patients with three or more miscarriages when compared with patients with only two miscarriages. Conclusion(s) Although RM patients with a prior viable birth are less likely to have a uterine anomaly than those who have never given birth, our results support a recommendation for diagnostic imaging of the uterus after two losses in women with secondary RM as well as for those with primary RM.
Toxicity and Accumulation of the Insecticide Imidan in Freshwater Invertebrates and Fishes

Abstract Toxicity tests showed that aquatic invertebrates and fish have a broad range of sensitivities to Imidan, an organophosphate insecticide applied agriculturally and possibly to forests. Invertebrate 48-h EC50's (concentration immobilizing 50% of the test organisms) or LC50's (concentration lethal to 50% of the test organisms) ranged from 2.4 μg/liter for amphipods (Gammarus pseudolimnaeus) to 3,200 μg/liter for larval midges (Chironomus plumosus). Among fish tested, chinook salmon (Onchorhynchus tshawytscha) and smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieui) were the most sensitive (96-h LC50, 150 μg/liter) and channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) the most resistant (96-h LC50, 11,000 μg/liter). Toxicities of the active ingredient to fishes were similar for the technical grade Imidan and the 50% wettable powder formulation. Toxicities to fish increased with the increasing temperature and decreasing pH, but were unaffected by water hardness. Eyed eggs and yolk-sac fry of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) we...
Thrombin Inhibition with Dabigatran Protects against High-Fat Diet–Induced Fatty Liver Disease in Mice

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the hepatic manifestation of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Robust coagulation cascade activation is common in obese patients with NAFLD. We identified a critical temporal relationship between thrombin generation and the manifestation of hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and injury in C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 1, 2, and 3 months. Mice fed a HFD exhibited dramatic increases in hepatocellular injury and inflammation over time. Hepatic fibrin deposition preceded an increase in serum alanine aminotransferase, and the most dramatic changes in liver histopathology occurred in conjunction with a detectable increase in plasma thrombin-antithrombin levels at 3 months. To directly determine whether thrombin activity promotes NAFLD pathogenesis, mice were fed a HFD and simultaneously treated with the direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran etexilate for 3 months. Notably, dabigatran treatment significantly reduced hepatic fibrin deposition, hepatic inflammation, hepatocellular injury, and steatosis in mice fed a HFD. Of interest, dabigatran treatment also significantly attenuated HFD-induced body weight gain. Gene expression analysis suggested that thrombin potentially drives NAFLD pathogenesis by altering the expression of genes associated with lipid metabolism and bile acid synthesis. Collectively, the results suggest that thrombin activity is central to HFD-induced body weight gain, liver injury, and inflammation and provide the proof-of-principle evidence that pharmacological thrombin inhibition could be effective in limiting NAFLD and associated pathologies.
Concoqtion: indexed types now!

Almost twenty years after the pioneering efforts of Cardelli, the programming languages community is vigorously pursuing ways to incorporate Fω-style indexed types into programming languages. This paper advocates Concoqtion, a practical approach to adding such highly expressive types to full-fledged programming languages. The approach is applied to MetaOCaml using the Coq proof checker to conservatively extend Hindley-Milner type inference. The implementation of MetaOCaml Concoqtion requires minimal modifications to the syntax, the type checker, and the compiler; and yields a language comparable in notation to the leading proposals. The resulting language provides unlimited expressiveness in the type system while maintaining decidability. Furthermore, programmers can take advantage of a wide range of libraries not only for the programming language but also for the indexed types. Programming in MetaOCaml Concoqtion is illustrated with small examples and a case study implementing a statically-typed domain-specific language.
A novel immune-to-CNS communication pathway: cells of the meninges surrounding the spinal cord CSF space produce proinflammatory cytokines in response to an inflammatory stimulus.

Pain is enhanced in response to elevations of proinflammatory cytokines in spinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), following either intrathecal injection of these cytokines or intrathecal immune challenge with HIV-1 gp120 that induces cytokine release. Spinal cord glia have been assumed to be the source of endogenous proinflammatory cytokines that enhance pain. However, assuming that spinal cord glia are the sole source of CSF cytokines may be an underestimate, as the cellular composition of the meninges surrounding the spinal cord CSF space includes several cell types known to produce proinflammatory cytokines. The present experiments provide the first investigation of the immunocompetent nature of the spinal cord meninges. Here, we explore whether rat meninges are responsive to intrathecal gp120. These studies demonstrate that: (a) intrathecal gp120 upregulates meningeal gene expression of proinflammatory signals, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and (b) intrathecal gp120 induces meningeal release of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. In addition, stimulation of isolated meninges in vitro with gp120 induced the release of TNF-α and IL-1β, indicating that the resident cells of the meninges are able to respond without immune cell recruitment. Taken together, these data document that the meninges are responsive to immunogenic stimuli in the CSF and that the meninges may be a source of immune products detected in CSF. The ability of the meninges to release to proinflammatory signals suggests a potential role in the modulation of pain.
Changes in fatty acid compositions of mitochondria during embryonic development

1. A general trend among biomembranes of hepatocytes in the developing avian embryo is to display increasing percentages of unsaturated fatty acids, especially oleic acid (C18:1). 2. However, once increasing amounts of thyroxine appear in the plasma, mitochondria begin to exhibit increasing percentages of saturated fatty acids, primarily stearic acid (C18:0). 3. Increasing saturation of mitochondrial membrane lipids can be inhibited by exposure of embryonated eggs to 500 R of X-irradiation. 4. Injection of embryonated eggs with estrone increases the proportion of oleic acid (C18:1) in mitochondrial membranes but a balancing increase in palmitic acid (C16:0) enables their lipids to remain more saturated than unsaturated.
Sponges with covalently tethered amines for high-efficiency carbon capture

The most common carbon dioxide-capture technology is solution-based amine scrubbing, which suffers from high operational costs. Here, the authors report a family of solid amine sorbents, formed via cationic polymerization of oxazolines, and evaluate their carbon dioxide sorption performance.
Dynamic Fatigue Behavior of Dental Porcelain Modified by Surface Deposition of a YSZ Thin Film

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the basic fatigue parameters of a dental porcelain modified by deposition of a yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) thin film and to compare the data to that of an unmodified control. Methods: Two hundred bars (2 × 2 × 15 mm3) were cut from ProCAD blocks. Specimens were wet-polished with 1200-grit SiC abrasive. One surface of each bar was sandblasted with 50 μm Al2O3 abrasive (50 psi). Half the specimens were further modified through deposition of a 3-μm YSZ thin film on the sandblasted surface. Depositions were performed using an radio frequency magnetron sputter system (working pressure of 15 mT, 150°C, 30:1 Ar:O2 gas ratio). Specimens were tested at different stressing rates: 5.0, 0.1, and 0.01 MPa/s (n = 25/group) in deionized water (37°C), and inert strength was determined in air (25°C, 70 MPa/s). All strength measurements were carried out by three-point bending (span = 10 mm) in a servo-electric test system. Results: The mean flexural strength values (MPa) and standard deviation for the uncoated sandblasted group were: 98.6 (5.5), 90.7 (5.9), and 84.2 (8.5), and for the sandblasted + YSZ thin film group: 125 (9.4), 119.3 (7.8), and 102.8 (7.0), for the highest to the lowest stressing rates, respectively. The fatigue parameters n and lnB were calculated by linear regression of dynamic fatigue data. For the uncoated group, n = 38 and lnB = 4.7 MPa2/s, and for the coated group, n = 33 and lnB = 10.8 MPa2/s. Weibull analysis was also performed showing that the characteristic parameter (σo) was 113.3 and 125.7 MPa for the uncoated and coated group, respectively. Conclusions: There was an increase in strength for specimens modified by application of a YSZ thin film. It is hypothesized that thin-film application modifies flaws or residual surface stress states.
Analysis of body surface area as a determinant of impedance during radiofrequency catheter ablation in adults and children

Since most radiofrequency (RF) generators used for catheter ablation approximate a constant voltage output, applied power is inversely proportional to the impedance load of the system. Knowledge of the expected impedance load for a patient may facilitate selection of safer and more effective voltage output. Preliminary observations suggest that in adults, impedance is directly proportional to body surface area (BSA), thus prompting this study to determine whether this relation was maintained in smaller patients undergoing RF catheter ablation. Prospective analysis of impedance from 949 RF deliveries in 76 patients (BSA, 0.69-2.3 m2) revealed the mean impedance for all deliveries to be 103 +/- 8 ohms. Two-phase linear regression analysis revealed a significant, direct correlation between impedance and BSA in patients with a BSA > or = 1.5 m2 (P = .001); however, for patients with a BSA < 1.5 m2 there was no correlation. These results indicate that as patient size decreases below 1.5 m2, impedance is constant. Radiofrequency catheter ablation procedures in children may require selection of a voltage output similar to that used in adults in order to produce effective RF lesions.
Making Sense of “Conflicting Observations”: Teachers, Tests, and the Power of Collaborative Inquiry in Urban Schools

When testing dominates decisions about instruction in public schools, complex interactions significant to how students actually learn are often ignored. Teachers who critically interrogate conflicts between institutional policies and practices, such as testing and instruction, position themselves as informed, active, and professionally responsible to students. Here, the work of a collaborative inquiry group of four novice urban elementary teachers and a university partner supports such a stance. Through critical reflection on test practices, these teachers developed “knowledge of practice,” and made productive use of uncertainty and diversity to encourage inclusive instruction in their local contexts.
What is the mechanism of the atrial arrhythmia in a patient after orthotopic heart transplantation

Atrial arrhythmias are quite common in patients after heart transplantation; they can occur via focal or reentrant mechanisms and are amenable to curative therapy with catheter ablation. Integration of the individual patient's surgical anatomy with the arrhythmia pattern on 12-lead electrocardiogram can help both to narrow the potential arrhythmia diagnoses and to facilitate therapeutic decision making. This case highlights the differential diagnosis and management of such a patient. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23, pp. 225-227, February 2012)
Alterations in carboxylate ligation at the active site of photosystem II.

Photosystem II (PSII) is the photosynthetic enzyme catalyzing the oxidation of water and reduction of plastoquinone (Q). This reaction occurs at a catalytic site containing four manganese atoms and cycling among five oxidation states, the Sn states, where n refers to the number of oxidizing equivalents stored. Biochemical and spectroscopic techniques have been used previously to conclude that aspartate 170 in the D1 subunit influences the structure and function of the PSII active site (Boerner, R. J., Nguyen, A. P., Barry, B. A., and Debus, R. J. (1992)Biochemistry 31, 6660–6672). Substitution of glutamate for aspartate 170 resulted in an assembled manganese cluster, which was capable of enzymatic turnover, but at lower steady-state oxygen evolution rates. Here, we obtained the difference (light-minus-dark) Fourier transform IR spectrum associated with the S2Q−-minus-S1Q transition by illumination of oxygen-evolving wild-type and DE170D1 PSII preparations at 200 K. These spectra are known to be dominated by contributions from carboxylic acid and carboxylate residues that are close to or ligating the manganese cluster. Substitution of glutamate for aspartate 170 results in alterations in the S2Q−-minus-S1Q spectrum; the alterations are consistent with a change in carboxylate coordination to manganese or calcium. In particular, the spectra are consistent with a shift from bridging/bidentate carboxylates in wild-type PSII to unidentate carboxylate ligation in DE170D1 PSII.
Mutually consistent estimates of upper mantle composition from seismic velocity contrasts at 400 km depth

Seismologically determined properties of the 400 km discontinuity may be compared to experimentally determined properties of the associated phase transformation in order to place constraints upon upper mantle bulk composition. Disagreement among previous studies is commonly ascribed to differences in elastic equations of state (especially to assumptions about pressure and temperature derivatives) between studies. However, much of the disparity between studies is actually due to the selection of different seismic data functionals (P-wave velocity,S-wave velocity, etc.) for comparison to minnral clasticity calculations, rather than to the differences in elasticity data sets and equations of state. Within any given study, bulk sound velocity comparisons generally yield more olivine-rich compositional estimates than doP-wave velocity comparisons, which in turn indicate more olivine thanS-wave velocities. Indeed, such variation in compositional estimates within a given study (arising from choice of data functional) exceeds the variation between studies (arising from elastic equation of state approx mations). it can be argued that bulk sound velocities are better constrained seismologically than densities and, being independent of assumptions about shear moduli, should provide more reliable compositional estimates thanP-orS-wave velocities. Using recently measured bulk and shear moduli equations of state, mutually consistent estimates of upper mantle olivine content can be obtained fromP-wave,S-wave, and bulk sound velocity contrasts at 400 km only if ∂ ln μ/∂T of β has a value of about−2×10−4K−1, yielding approximately 52% olivine by volume. A value of ∂ ln μ/∂T smaller in magnitude would require reassessment of several underlying assumptions.
Effects of forskolin analogs, phosphodiesterase inhibitors and 8-bromo cyclic AMP on plasma exudations induced with bradykinin and prostaglandin E1 in rat skin

Abstract The effects of forskolin analogs, phosphodiesterase inhibitors and 8-bromo cyclic AMP on plasma exudations induced with bradykinin and prostaglandin E 1 in rat skin were investigated using [ 125 I] bovine serum albumin ( 125 I-BSA). Forskolin, forskolin 7-ethyl carbonate and 7-desacetylforskolin, which are potent activators of adenylate cyclase, greatly potentiated the bradykinin-induced plasma exudation and inhibited the prostaglandin E 1 -induced response. On the other hand, 14, 15-dihydroforskolin and 1,9-dideoxyforskolin, which are weak or inactive as activators of adenylate cyclase, did not have any significant effect on bradykinin and prostaglandin E 1 -induced plasma exudations. The phosphodiesterase inhibitors, ZK 62711, dipyridamole, HL 725, and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine potentiated the bradykinin-induced plasma exudation and inhibited the prostaglandin E 1 -induced response. Papaverine had biphasic effects on the bradykinin-response and slight inhibitory effects on the prostaglandin E 1 -response. 8-Bromo cyclic AMP in the doses of 0.01 to 1 μg potentiated the bradykinin-induced plasma exudation, but had no effect at doses of 10 and 100 μg. 8-Bromo cyclic AMP at all doses significantly inhibited the prostaglandin E 1 -induced response. The results suggest that the effects of forskolin and its analogs on plasma exudations induced with bradykinin and prostaglandin E 1 in rat skin derive from activation of cyclic AMP-generating systems.
Coronary angiography in complicated acute myocardial infarcts.

Left ventriculography with selective coronary angiography was performed on 13 patients with acute myocardial infarcts complicated by cardiogenic shock or left ventricular failure and hypotension. Twelve patients (92.3%) tolerated the procedure well. Irreversible ventricular fibrillation resulting in death occurred in one patient (7.7%) during the opacification of the left coronary artery. Seven (87.5%) of the eight patients treated surgically and two (50%) of the four patients treated medically died. This study shows that although acute myocardial infarction increases the risk of coronary angiography, it is justifiable if surgical therapy is contemplated.
An enzymatic method for preparation of dissociated murine Peyer's patch cells enriched for macrophages

Abstract Enzyme (Dispase ®) dissociation of murine Peyer's patches (PP) 3 yields a cell population rich in T and B lymphocytes and containing 5–9% macrophages (MO) as defined by morphology and esterase staining. Cell yields by this method are 3–4 times greated than with conventional mechanical methods and viability of cells always exceeds 95%. The virtual absence of IgA plasma cells (
Anomalies and curvature of W manifolds

We study the holomorphic structure of certain complex manifolds associated withW∞ algebras, namely, the flag manifoldsW∞/T∞ andW1+∞/T1+∞, and the spacesW∞/SL(∞),R) andW1+∞/GL(∞,R), whereT∞ andT1+∞ are the maximal tori inW∞ andW1+∞. We compute their Ricci curvature and show how the results are related to the anomaly-freedom conditions forW∞ andW1+∞. We discuss the relation of these manifolds with extensions of universal Teichmuller space.
Optofluidic ring resonator switch for optical particle transport

In this work, we demonstrate an optofluidic switch using a microring resonator architecture to direct particles trapped in the evanescent field of a solid-core waveguide. When excited at the resonant wavelength, light inserted into the bus waveguide becomes amplified within the ring structure. The resulting high optical intensities in the evanescent field of the ring generate a gradient force that diverts particles trapped on the bus to the ring portion of the device. We show that this increase in optical energy translates to an increase of 250% in the radiation pressure induced steady-state velocity of particles trapped on the ring. We also characterize the switching fraction of the device, showing that 80% of particles are diverted onto the ring when the device is at an on-resonance state. The optofluidic switch we present here demonstrates the versatility in exploiting planar optical devices for integrated particle manipulation applications.
Socioeconomic forces affecting medicine: Times of increased retrenchment and accountability

Costs of health care are increasing at a rapid rate, but both access to care and costs of care have become focal points for current national and local debates. Access issues relate not only to those who have no insurance but also to those who are underinsured. Cost issues relate most directly to radiology and nuclear medicine through their impact on coverage and payment. Increasing scrutiny is paid to criteria used for these purposes, and major changes at the federal and private level can be expected in the next decade. Finally, the ubiquitous development of practice guidelines and their expected use in physician profiles will influence the practice of medicine significantly in the future.
Robust and efficient surface reconstruction from contours

We propose a new approach for surface recovery from planar sectional contours. The surface is reconstructed based on the so-called “equal importance criterion,” which suggests that every point in the region contributes equally to the reconstruction process. The problem is then formulated in terms of a partial differential equation, and the solution is efficiently calculated from distance transformation. To make the algorithm valid for different application purposes, both the isosurface and the primitive representations of the object surface are derived. The isosurface is constructed by means of a partial differential equation, which can be solved iteratively. The traditional distance interpolating method, which was used by several researchers for surface reconstruction, is an approximate solution of the equation. The primitive representations are approximated by Voronoi diagram transformation of the surface space. Isosurfaces have the advantage that subsequent geometric analysis of the object can be easily carried out while primitive representation is easy to visualize. The proposed technique allows for surface recovery at any desired resolution, thus avoiding the inherent problems of correspondence, tiling, and branching.
Submicrogram serum copper quantification by spectrophotometry with bis(1-piperidylthiocarbonyl) disulfide

Abstract The Submicro determination of copper in a protein-free centrifugate of serum is accomplished with a commercially available disulfiram derivative, bis(1-piperidylhiocarbonyl) disulfide. The large molar absorptivity 37 500 for the sensitive, metal ligand complex which develops in 5.83 M acetic acid, makes it possible to perform analyses routinely on a 500-μ1 specimen. The increased sensitivity over conventional techniques as well as selectivity which appears excellent in specimens from a biological source should make this method especially valuable to the smaller hospital laboratory where atomic absorption equipment may not be available.
Effects of cost and gain ratios, and probability of outcome on ratings of alternative choices

Abstract On each of 45 trials, subjects were required to choose between two events and to rate the strength of their choice along a 9-point rating scale. The events on each trial represented a different combination of gain ratio, cost ratio, and probability of occurrence. The experimental design provided for the control of effects due to repeated presentation of options, and no exchange of chips or money took place. An analysis of variance of the rating scale data showed all main and interaction effects to be significant (p Two decision models are discussed in relation to their predictive power for the present data. A model based on the concept of regret accurately described not only the rank ordering of the mean ratings but also the pattern of all main and interaction effects.
Dynamic Regulation of a Metabolic Multi-enzyme Complex by Protein Kinase CK2

The reversible association and dissociation of a metabolic multi-enzyme complex participating in de novo purine biosynthesis, the purinosome, was demonstrated in live cells to respond to the levels of purine nucleotides in the culture media. We also took advantage of in vitro proteomic scale studies of cellular substrates of human protein kinases (e.g. casein kinase II (CK2) and Akt), that implicated several de novo purine biosynthetic enzymes as kinase substrates. Here, we successfully identified that purinosome formation in vivo was significantly promoted in HeLa cells by the addition of small-molecule CK2-specific inhibitors (i.e. 4,5,6,7-tetrabromo-1H-benzimidazole, 2-dimethylamino-4,5,6,7-tetrabromo-1H-benzimidazole, tetrabromocinammic acid, 4,4′,5,5′,6,6′-hexahydroxydiphenic acid 2,2′,6,6′-dilactone (ellagic acid) as well as by silencing the endogenous human CK2α catalytic subunit with small interfering RNA. However, 4,5,6,7-tetrabromobenzotriazole, another CK2-specific inhibitor, triggered the dissociation of purinosome clusters in HeLa cells. Although the mechanism by which 4,5,6,7-tetrabromobenzotriazole affects purinosome clustering is not clear, we were capable of chemically reversing purinosome formation in cells by the sequential addition of two CK2 inhibitors. Collectively, we provide compelling cellular evidence that CK2-mediated pathways reversibly regulate purinosome assembly, and thus the purinosome may be one of the ultimate targets of kinase inhibitors.
A locking rod and tube connector

Two methods for interlocking the segments of fixed splints are advocated: (1) solderless joints where the connector occurs between adjacent abutment teeth and (2) a locking rod and tube attachment when the connector occurs in a pontic space. The locking rod and tube attachment was described. It allows complete independence of each segment. If problems occur in any segment of the splint, only that segment must be removed to make a repair. Other splinting techniques were presented along with their advantages and disadvantages.
Early detection of bone infection and differentiation from post‐surgical inflammation using 2‐deoxy‐2‐[18F]‐fluoro‐D‐glucose positron emission tomography (FDG‐PET) in an animal model

Diagnosing bone infection in the context of post-surgical inflammation is problematic since many of the early signs of infection are similar to normal post-surgical changes. We used a rabbit osteomyelitis model to evaluate the use of 2-deoxy-2-[18F]-fluoro-d-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) as a means of detecting post-operative infection in the context of post-surgical inflammation. Comparisons were made between infected and non-infected rabbits in which infection with Staphylococcus aureus was initiated at the time of surgery. Weekly PET scans were obtained 30 and 60 min after the introduction of FDG and analyzed based on standardized uptake values (SUV) at the surgical site and visual assessment of the presence or absence of infection. Concurrent X-rays were taken immediately prior to scanning. At 4 weeks post-operatively, animals were sacrificed for histologic and bacteriologic confirmation of infection. Uptake of FDG was evident in the bone of all rabbits on day 1 post-surgery, however, SUV comparisons from the surgical site could not be used to distinguish between the infected and uninfected groups until day 15. Visual analysis of FDG-PET scans revealed a significant difference (p < 0.01) between the infected and uninfected groups as early as day 8. This was due in part to the ability to visualize regional lymph nodes by FDG-PET.
Intestinal maturation: calcium transport by basolateral membranes.

ABSTRACT: The overall characteristics of calcium transport across the intestine have been defined using in vivo perfusion techniques and in vitro everted gut sacs. However, calcium transport represents three separate processes: entry at the brush border membranes, movement across the cytoplasm, and exit at the basolateral membranes (BLM). Studies in adult animals indicated that the active step in calcium transport is located at the BLM. The present studies describe for the first time the maturational aspects of calcium transport across the BLM of the enterocyte. We utilized a percoll density gradient to prepare enriched BLMs from suckling and adolescent rats. Calcium uptake into BLMs represented mainly transport into the intravesicular space. Calcium transport in both age groups was driven by ATP; the calcium transport in the presence and absence of ATP was significantly greater in suckling rats compared to adolescent rats. Kinetics of calcium uptake calculated from uptake values in the presence of ATP minus no ATP conditions showed a Km of 0.06 ± 0.01 and 0.03 ± 0.01 μM for adolescent and suckling rats respectively (p < 0.05). Vmax was 1.5 ± 0.1 and 0.8 ± 0.08 nmol/mg protein/min for adolescent and suckling rats respectively (p < 0.01). Calcium/sodium exchange mechanisms was also present in both age groups. However, the magnitude of sodium-dependent calcium exchange was smaller in suckling rats compared to adolescent rats. These data suggest that calcium exit at the BLMs of enterocytes of suckling and adolescent rats occurs by an ATP-dependent and a calcium/sodium exchange mechanism. Both mechanisms exhibit maturational changes.
Management and the multinational business environment

In discussing the implications to the business firm of expanding operations overseas, attention is drawn to the impact on the organization of, and the decision-making process within, the firm. The author employs various analytical devices to show multinational business decision-makers how to structure decision problems.
Comparison of topical clindamycin phosphate, benzoyl peroxide, and a combination of the two for the treatment of acne vulgaris

Patients with moderate to severe acne vulgaris were treated for 10 weeks with either topical clindamycin phosphate (1% solution) twice daily, benzoyl peroxide (5% gel) twice daily, or benzoyl peroxide (5% gel) in the morning and clindamycin phosphate (1% solution) in the evening. The effects of each regimen appeared to vary in decreasing specific types of acne lesions, with the combination therapy showing the greatest decrease when all types of lesions were considered. Cutaneous side-effects were greatest with benzoyl peroxide alone during the early weeks of treatment, while the combination therapy displayed no greater incidence of redness, scaling, or itching than clindamycin phosphate alone. All three regimens produced clinical improvements which did not differ significantly from each other.
Globe rupture with post cataract–surgery safety sunglasses

We report a case of globe rupture associated with the use of post cataract–surgery protective eyewear. The patient had routine cataract surgery 3 months before presentation and had adapted his post cataract–surgery glasses to use on the tennis court. He experienced a large posterior globe rupture after falling directly onto his face during a match. Spectacle torsion is the suspected biomechanical process that led to the rupture. We conclude that although the glasses given to many patients after cataract surgery are protective for most low-impact injuries, patients should be aware they are not designed for activities with a risk for significant impact. Patients should also be counseled to use protective eyewear specifically designed and approved for the sport or activity in which they participate. Financial Disclosure No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
Fabricating Devices Using Nano-Particulates with Direct Write Technology

Nano-particulates are being used in conjunction with Direct Write Technologies for fabrication of electronic devices, sensors, and in tissue engineering. The materials being used in Direct Write Technologies predominately are suspensions, solutions or pastes comprised from nano-particulate metals, oxides or organics. This paper will present a comparison of several nano-particle silver inks being evaluated for use by one of these Direct Write Technologies, Maskless Meso-Scale Material Deposition (M3D) being developed by Optomec, Inc., Albuquerque, NM. USA. The silver inks in this case were deposited by the M3D process and then cured by sintering by both oven and by laser. Optical microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were used to examine the resultant cured material. The surface resistivity of these deposits was determined as a measure of their quality. A soft magnetic inductor material was also fabricated through a combination of nickel and iron oxide nano-particles. The results obtain with this inductor material are also discussed.
Estimates in the corona theorem and ideals of H ∞ : A problem of T. Wolff

The main result of the paper is that there exist functionsf 1,f 2,f inH ∞ satisfying the “corona condition” $$|f_1 (z)| + |f_2 (z)| \geqslant |f(z)|, z \in \mathbb{D},$$ such thatf 2 does not belong to the idealI generated byf 1,f 2, i.e.,f 2 cannot be represented as f2 ≡ f1g1 + f2g2, g1, g2 ∃ H∞. This gives a negative answer to an old question of T. Wolff [10].
The consequences of measurement in quantum mechanics I. An idealized trajectory determination

Abstract An idealized thought experiment is presented which illustrates certain features of the theory of measurement in quantum mechanics. Measurements of momentum and time-of-passage of a particle are proposed which provide information on the previous history of the particle insofar as it can be described by an equation of the form x = x 0 + v 0 t . Particular features of the measurement process that are illustrated are (a) simultaneous measurements of time and energy, limited in precision by a Heisenberg relation; (b) the selection of a portion of the incoming wave-packet by magnetic deflection and a slit system; (c) the approach with increasing resolution of any one of the selected portions towards an eigenstate of momentum; and (d) the irrelevance in this case of Von Neumann's projection postulate and the “reduction of the wave packet” phenomenon because the approach to an eigenstate occurs before the measurement is completed. It is assumed that the operation of a detector aperture can be described in terms of a weight function multiplying the wavefunction in momentum space, the absolute square of which gives the detector efficiency function. Successive measurements are not treated in this paper, which follows the usual quantum-mechanical practice of dealing with the unfolding-in-time of states only between a preparation and a single act of measurement. Three kinds of uncertainty principle are distinguished, dealing, respectively, with independent, simultaneous, and successive measurements.
Discrete time-scale characterization of wideband time-varying systems

Wideband time-varying systems can be found in many applications, including underwater acoustics and ultra-wideband technologies. The time variation due to Doppler scaling effects, coupled with dispersive scattering due to multipath propagation, can severely limit the performance of wideband systems. Just as the discrete time-frequency model can efficiently improve narrowband processing, a discrete time-scale system characterization is important in processing wideband time-varying systems. In this paper, a time-scale model is proposed as a discrete characterization of wideband time-varying systems. This representation decomposes a wideband system output into discrete time shifts and Doppler scalings on the input signal, weighted by a smoothed and sampled version of the wideband spreading function. The proposed transform-based approach uses the Mellin transform that is inherently matched to scalings to geometrically sample the scale parameter and the Fourier transform to arithmetically sample the time-delay parameter. Using this proposed model, and by properly designing the signaling and reception schemes using wavelet techniques, a joint multipath-scale diversity can be achieved over a dyadic time-scale framework in wideband wireless systems. The simulation results demonstrate that, based on the proposed model, performance can be increased by exploiting the diversity intrinsically afforded by the wideband system.
Locking out viral replication

Few antimicrobial drugs function by directly targeting RNA. A small molecule that binds the hepatitis C viral genome by 'locking' in a particular RNA conformation to inhibit viral protein production suggests a new paradigm for drug design.
Dual fluorescence of 1-nitro, 4″-amino, p-terphenyl: origin and selective quenching

Abstract Compared with those of p-terphenyl, the absorption and fluorescence spectra of its 1-nitro, 4″-amino derivative in dioxane exhibit additional long-wave bands. These are assigned to transitions involving a series of excited configurations, of increased electron delocalization and lower energy, produced by a successive conformational relaxation of the non-planar Franck—Condon product of absorption in the short-wave band. Assignment of the long-wave fluorescence component origin to the completely delocalized (CD) state, which undergoes reversible relaxation to a non-emissive TICT state, is consistent with both its thermal enhancement and biexponential response. Selective quenching of short- and long-wave fluorescence by CCl4 and by polar additives respectively requires that the emitting states are not coupled to each other.
NH3, H2S, and the Radio Brightness Temperature Spectra of the Giant Planets

Recent radio interferometer observations of Neptune enable comparisons of the radio brightness temperature (TB) spectra of all four giant planets. This comparison reveals evidence for fundamental differences in the compositions of Uranus’ and Neptune’s upper tropospheres, particularly in their ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) mixing ratios, despite those planets’ outward similarities. The tropospheric abundances of these constituents yield information about their deep abundances, and ultimately about the formation of the planets from the presolar nebula (Atreya et al., 1995).
A method for the solubilization of a (1→3)-β-d-glucan isolated from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

This report describes a method for the solubilization of a micro-particulate beta-D-glucan. Insoluble glucan is dissolved in methyl sulfoxide and urea (8M) and partially phosphorylated at 100 degrees. The resulting water-soluble product is called glucan phosphate. The conversion rate is 70%, and the preparation is endotoxin free as determined by the Limulus lysate procedure. Glucan phosphate is composed of 34.66% C, 6.29% H, 42.83% O, and 2.23% P and has a repeating-unit empirical formula of (C6H10O5)7.PO3H2, indicating a phosphate group substitution on every seventh glucose subunit. Molecular-weight averages, polydispersity, and intrinsic viscosity were determined by aqueous high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (s.e.c.) with on-line, multi-angle laser light scattering (m.a.l.l.s.) photometry and differential viscometry (d.v.). Two polymer peaks were resolved. Peak 1 (Mw = 3.57 x 10(6) daltons), represents approximately 2% of the total polymers, while peak 2 (Mw = 1.10 x 10(5) daltons) comprises approximately 98% of polymers. 13C- and 31P-n.m.r. spectroscopy confirmed the beta-1,3 interchain linkage and the presence of a phosphate group. In solution, glucan phosphate polymers self-associate in a triple-helical arrangement. The ability to prepare a immunologically active, non-toxic, water-soluble beta-D-glucan preparation will greatly enhance the clinical utility of this class of compounds.
InAs/InP quantum dot microcavities employing dielectric Bragg mirrors

Abstract We investigate the optical emission characteristics of InAs/InP quantum dot microcavities emitting around λ=1.5 μm . Planar and etched-pillar-type microcavities employing multi-layer dielectric Bragg mirrors are demonstrated. For planar cavities we observe a large increase in the cavity mode emission as a function of increasing temperature above 4 K , which is interpreted in terms of carrier trapping within the wetting layer. Pillar-type microcavities show the discrete mode structure expected for full three-dimensional optical confinement.