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Aim: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk of postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) following major abdominal surgery. The pathogenesis is multifactorial and not fully understood. A combination of pathophysiology, patient and surgical risk factors increase the risk of postoperative VTE in these patients. Despite being at increased risk, IBD patients are not regularly prescribed extended pharmacological thromboprophylaxis following colorectal surgery. Currently, there is a paucity of evidence‐based guidelines. Thus, the aim of this review is to evaluate the role of extended pharmacological thromboprophylaxis in IBD patients undergoing colorectal surgery. Method: A search of Ovid Medline, EMBASE and PubMed databases was performed. A qualitative analysis was performed using 10 clinical questions developed by colorectal surgeons and a thrombosis haematologist. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale was utilized to assess the quality of evidence. Results: A total of 1229 studies were identified, 38 of which met the final inclusion criteria (37 retrospective, one case–control). Rates of postoperative VTE ranged between 0.6% and 8.9%. Patient‐specific risk factors for postoperative VTE included ulcerative colitis, increased age and obesity. Surgery‐specific risk factors for postoperative VTE included open surgery, emergent surgery and ileostomy creation. Patients with IBD were more frequently at increased risk in the included studies for postoperative VTE than patients with colorectal cancer. The risk of bias assessment demonstrated low risk of bias in patient selection and comparability, with variable risk of bias in reported outcomes. Conclusion: There is a lack of evidence regarding the use of extended pharmacological thromboprophylaxis in patients with IBD following colorectal surgery. As these patients are at heightened risk of postoperative VTE, future study and consideration of the use of extended pharmacological thromboprophylaxis is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an optical model for thin-film silicon solar cells (both single and multijunction) with nanorough surfaces/interfaces. For these cells, the optical absorptance within each layer and the total reflectance are computed taking into account roughness, angular distribution of scattered light, thicknesses, and optical constants of all layers. In the model, we combine coherent approach, scattering theory, and Monte Carlo tracing method. Results of the model are shown to be in good agreement with the experimentally measured spectral response and the total reflectance of solar cells. Some predictions of the ultimate solar cell performance based on the model are presented as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Establishing the etiology of invasive fungal infections is important to guide therapeutic options and for epidemiologic purposes. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue specimens from patients with proven invasive fungal infections are valuable to determine the etiology of systemic fungal infections. We compared different polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification strategies from FFPE tissue blocks to identify agents of invasive fungal infections. We found that specific PCR assays show superior sensitivity in the identification of DNA of Mucorales and Aspergillus and mixed infections caused by both as compared to broad-range PCR assays. Shorter amplicon lengths and less detection of contaminating fungal DNA are potential factors involved. However, detection of fungal DNA by highly sensitive specific PCR assays in the absence of demonstration of fungal elements in tissue suggests that PCR results should be interpreted in the context of the histopathology and clinical findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six dimensions of administrative climate (viz., pathology, impotence, futility, flexibility, effectiveness, and responsiveness) were identified and refined empirically through factor analysis of interview items about perceptions of the work environment in programs to improve rice production in Indonesia, Korea, the Philippines, and Thai- land. Analyses utilized within-nation variance in responses rather than the pooled variance across nations. Identification of the relationships between dimensions in each program provided insight into the shared perceptions of their administrative systems held by officials in the four programs. A preliminary analysis of sources of perceptions of administrative climate (viz., social back- grounds, personal attitudes, administrative careers, and administrative relations) strongly suggests that the concept of administrative climate is an amalgam of these motivational and structural elements in a perceived environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Absorption losses at a nanorough silver back reflector of a solar cell were measured with high accuracy by photothermal deflection spectroscopy. Roughness was characterized by atomic force microscopy. The observed increase of absorption, compared to the smooth silver, was explained by the surface plasmon absorption. Two series of silver back reflectors (one covered with thin ZnO layer) were investigated and their absorption related to surface morphology. © 2004 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Frontal aslant tract (FAT) is a white matter bundle connecting the pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA) and the supplementary motor area (SMA) with the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the anatomical variability of FAT.Materials and Methods: Total number of fibres and the lateralisation index (LI) were calculated. We attempted to find factors contributing to the diversity of FAT regarding IFG terminations to the pars opercularis (IFG-Op) and to the pars triangularis (IFG-Tr). Magnetic resonance imaging of adult patients with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) with total number of 98 hemispheres composed a cohort. V-shaped operculum was the most common (60.5%).Results: Total number of FAT fibres had widespread and unimodal distribution (6 to 1765; median: 160). Left lateralisation was noted in 64.3% of cases and was positively correlated with total number of FAT fibres and the bundle projecting to IFG-Op (p < 0.01). LI correlated with total number of FAT fibres (r = 0.43, p < 0.01). FAT projected predominantly to IFG-Op (88.9%; 88 of 99). Only in 3 (3.1%) cases more fibres terminated in IFG-Tr than in IFG-Op. Total number of FAT fibres and number of fibres terminating at IFG-Op did not correlate with the ratio of fibre numbers: FAT/IFG-Op, FAT/IFG-Tr and IFG-Op/IFG-Tr (p > 0.05). The greater total number of fibres to IFG-Tr was, the higher were the ratios of IFG-Tr/ /FAT (r = 0.57, p < 0.01) and IFG-Tr/IFG-Op (r = 0.32, p = 0.04).Conclusions: Among the IFG, the major termination of FAT is IFG-Op. Whereas the IFG-Tr projection seems to be related to the expansion of the entire FAT bundle regardless of side, domination and handedness. Nevertheless, FAT features a significant anatomical variability which cannot be explained in terms of DTI findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the phase shift induced by Laue transmission in a perfect Si crystal blade in unprecedented detail. This `Laue phase' was measured at two wavelengths in the vicinity of the Bragg condition within a neutron interferometer. In particular, the sensitivity of the Laue phase to the alignment of the monochromator and interferometer (rocking angle) and beam divergence has been verified. However, the influence of fundamental quantities, such as the neutron-electron scattering length, on the Laue phase is rather small. The fascinating steep phase slope of 5.5° [(220) Bragg peak] and 11.5° [(440) Bragg peak] per 0.001 arcsec deviation from the Bragg angle has been achieved. The results are analysed using an upgraded simulation tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anesthesiologists have a well-known increased risk of substance abuse including the intravenous administration of opioids and propofol. However, katamnestic reports from the point of view of propofol-addicted anesthesiologists themselves are missing which would aid a better understanding of the dynamics and progress of addiction. This article presents an interview with a formerly addicted female anesthesiologist who after long-term abuse with oral tilidine combined with naloxone switched to intravenous administration of fentanyl and later on propofol. Several life-threatening incidents occurred but after some severe setbacks occupational rehabilitation outside the field of anesthesiology was successful following inpatient treatment. This case shows exemplarily in accordance with the current literature that warning signs in addicted physicians are often ignored by colleagues and supervisors and rehabilitation is possible under professional therapy and continuous surveillance. Additionally, this case emphasizes the necessity of controlling the distribution of propofol to reduce the life-threatening professional risk to anesthesiologists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Nasal polyposis frequently occurs within the clinical picture of aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease ( AERD). A derailed arachidonic acid metabolism is regarded to be part of the pathophysiology of AERD, and aspirin desensitization is the only causal therapeutic option, so far. The optimal maintenance dose of aspirin desensitization to prevent nasal polyp recurrence on the one hand and to minimize aspirin-related side-effects, on the other hand, is still a matter of debate. The aim of this trial was to investigate the efficacy and safety of a low-dose aspirin desensitization protocol. Methods After sinus surgery, 70 individuals with AERD were randomly allocated to a prospective double-blind placebo-controlled aspirin desensitization protocol with a maintenance dose of 100 mg daily. The primary outcome was polyp relapse after 36 months. Nasal endoscopy status, quality of life, and patients' symptom score as well as aspirin-related side-effects were monitored. Results Due to the high dropout rate, only 31 individuals were evaluated. After 36 months, nasal polyp relapse was less frequent ( P = 0.0785) and the polyposis score was lower ( P = 0.0702) in the therapy group. Quality of life obviously improved ( P = 0.0324), clinical complaints ( P = 0.0083) were significantly reduced, and no severe aspirin-related side-effects were observed. Conclusion Aspirin desensitization with a maintenance dose of 100 mg daily has a positive impact on nasal polyp relapse and seems to be a safe and suitable therapy to improve clinical complaints and the quality of life of individuals with AERD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Anaesthesist is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

M. Kapp, M. Schargus, T. Deuchert, J. Springer, F. Wendel, J. Loeffler, G.U. Grigoleit, O. Kurzai, W. Heinz, H. Einsele, G. Stuhler. Endophthalmitis as primary clinical manifestation of fatal fusariosis in an allogeneic stem cell recipient. Transpl Infect Dis 2011: 13: 374-379. All rights reserved Abstract: The occurrence of infections due to previously rare opportunistic pathogens is increasing despite the use of novel treatment strategies for immunocompromised patients. Here, we report the case of a patient presenting with fever, muscle pain, and bilateral endophthalmitis after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Fusarium solani was isolated from peripheral blood samples and identified as the cause of gradual bilateral vision loss, despite appropriate antifungal prophylaxis, and therapy including vitrectomy and intraocular instillation of antifungal agents. The patient became comatose; basal meningitis involving both optic nerves was suspected based on magnetic resonance tomography. The patient died 8 days later due to septic multi-organ failure. Autopsy revealed that both kidneys, but no other organs, were infiltrated by Fusarium. No fungus was found in cerebral tissues or cerebrospinal fluid. Our case demonstrates some of the typical clinical features of systemic fusariosis and its potentially fatal outcome. The clinical observations reported here may help clinicians caring for immunocompromised patients to accelerate diagnosis and initiate treatment early at the onset of this fatal complication, and highlight the urgent need for interdisciplinary management of invasive fusariosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenomenon of a neutron phase shift due to Laue transmission in a perfect crystal blade is discussed. Quantitative measurements of this phase shift are presented in the vicinity of the Bragg condition well in agreement with numerical calculations. The phase shift shows a strong angular sensitivity and might constitute an interesting opportunity for precision measurements of fundamental quantities like the neutron--electron scattering length or gravitational short-range interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study adds to the limited research on the potential importance of the quality of the relationship between adult prevention service providers and youth participants in enhancing social skills and strengthening prevention outcomes. Study subjects were drawn from seven prevention programs funded under a Youth Mentoring Initiative by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. These programs maintain a relationship-based service focus but use a variety of one-on-one, group, volunteer, and paid staff service formats. Study results showed that youth who perceived a higher level of trust, mutuality and empathy in their relationship with providers experienced significantly greater improvements in social skills (i.e., cooperation, self-control, assertiveness, and empathy) than program participants who perceived a lower quality relationship with adult providers. These findings underscore the importance of recruitment, training and supervisory practices that promote staff and volunteer skills in achieving high quality relationships with youth participants regardless of the specific intervention strategy. Editors' Strategic Implications: Practitioners and policymakers should review the authors' findings about the importance of individual adult skills in building protective mentoring relationships. The impact of relationship quality, rather than setting, suggests that the scope of effective prevention practice can be broadened beyond the confines of formal prevention programming to any place in which caring and skilled adults interact with youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background An induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is characteristic for inflammation but the exact pathways have not been identified for allergic airway diseases so far. Objective The aim of this study was to characterize the role of the tachykinin NK-1 receptor on ROS production during allergen challenge and subsequent inflammation and remodelling. Methods Precision-cut lung slices of ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized mice were cultivated and ROS-generation in response to OVA challenge (10 μg/mL) was examined by the 2′,7′-dichloroflourescein-diacetate method. Long-term ROS effects on epithelial proliferation were investigated by 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine incorporation (72 h). In vivo, the results were validated in OVA-sensitized animals which were treated intra-nasally with either placebo, the tachykinin neurokinin 1 (NK-1) receptor antagonist SR 140333 or the anti-oxidant N-acetylcystein (NAC) before allergen challenge. Inflammatory infiltration and remodelling were assessed 48 h after allergen challenge. Results ROS generation was increased by 3.7-fold, which was inhibited by SR 140333. [Sar9,Met11(O2)]-Substance P (5 nm) caused a tachykinin NK-1 receptor-dependent fourfold increase in ROS generation. Epithelial proliferation was decreased by 68% by incubation with [Sar9,Met11(O2)]-SP over 72 h. In-vivo, treatment with SR 140333 and NAC reduced epithelial damage (91.4% and 76.8% vs. placebo, respectively, P<0.01) and goblet cell hyperplasia (67.4% and 50.1% vs. placebo, respectively, P<0.05), and decreased inflammatory cell influx (65.3% and 45.3% vs. placebo, respectively, P<0.01). Conclusion Allergen challenge induces ROS in a tachykinin NK-1 receptor-dependent manner. Inhibition of the tachykinin NK-1 receptor reduces epithelial damage and subsequent remodelling in vivo. Therefore, patients may possibly benefit from treatment regime that includes radical scavengers or tachykinin NK-1 receptor antagonists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research regarding prevention strategies for Hispanic youth stress the importance of family interventions because of the particular importance of family as a protective factor within the Hispanic community. Starting in 1995, the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention conducted the National Cross-Site Evaluation of High Risk Youth Programs, a 5-year drug and alcohol prevention study with a sample of approximately 10,500 youth, including nearly 3,000 Hispanic youth. Youth were surveyed regarding their alcohol use patterns and risk and protective factors, with several measures of family relationships, including family connectedness, family supervision, and parental attitudes toward their child's alcohol use. Analyses indicate that family factors are highly linked to alcohol use among Hispanics, particularly among Hispanic females. Longitudinal growth curve analyses indicate that improving the connections that young Hispanic females have to their parents can have positive long-term effects on delaying or reducing their alcohol use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Histamine receptors play an important role in the pathogenesis of nasal allergy. Activation of histamine receptor 1 (H1R) and 2 (H2R) can cause allergic symptoms which can be blocked effectively by antihistamines. H1R and H2R transcript levels have been found to be up-regulated in perennial – but not in seasonal – allergic rhinitis (AR). The present study aimed to explore H1R and H2R expression in complex tissues of the nasal mucosa of perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR). Methods Ten patients with PAR and 13 non-AR subjects were recruited for the study by medical history, physical examination and laboratory screening tests. In this study, we have analysed single cells dissected from the nasal mucosa biopsies by laser-assisted microdissection. H1R mRNA expression was analysed in different cell types such as epithelial, endothelial, mucus and inflammatory cells isolated from the nasal mucosa of PAR in comparison with non-AR subjects. Results H1R mRNA gene expression level was significantly increased in the nasal mucosa of PAR in comparison with non-AR ( P<0.0001). H1R mRNA was significantly elevated in epithelial ( P<0.001) and mucus cells ( P<0.05) of PAR in comparison with non-AR whereas H1R gene expression levels in endothelial cells between both groups were not changed ( P=0.23). Interestingly, inflammatory cells in the nasal mucosa of PAR patients were also strongly expressed H1R mRNA ( P<0.001). Conclusion The present study indicates that PAR alters the expression of H1R mRNA in epithelial, mucus and inflammatory cells of the nasal mucosa and but not in endothelial cells. Therefore, epithelial, mucus and inflammatory cells may play an important role in histamine-mediated allergic airway inflammation in PAR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multidisciplinary intervention approaches are needed for meeting service needs for families in which substance abuse and mental health disorders may be interfering with child-rearing. Experiences from the Starting Early Starting Smart (SESS) initiative, a 12-site national collaborative investigation of integrating behavioural health services in early childhood and primary health care service settings for children aged 0–5 years and their families and caregivers, are described. This 4-year applied research initiative was co-funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the US Department of Health and Human Services and Casey Family Programs, a private operating foundation. SESS, which was developed and implemented in 12 geographically and culturally diverse cities in the USA during 1997–2001, encouraged federal, state, and local public/private partnerships. Opportunities and challenges in using an inclusive, consensus-based, stakeholder model to maximize study relevance and utility for researchers, practitioners, and fiscal sponsors are discussed, and lessons for multidisciplinary, multisite research collaborations are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The National Cross-Site Evaluation is a large multisite evaluation (MSE) of 48 substance abuse prevention programs, 5,934 youth participating in programs, and 4,539 comparison youth programs. Data included a self-report questionnaire administered at 4 points in time, detailed dosage data on over 217,000 program contacts, and detailed site visit information. In a pooled analysis, the programs did not demonstrate significant positive effects on a composite outcome measure of tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use in the previous 30 days. However, disaggregated analyses indicated that 1) sites in which comparison groups had strong opportunity to participate in prevention programs suppressed observed effects; 2) youth who had already started using before they entered programs reduced use significantly more than comparison youth who had started using; and 3) both males and females who participated in programs significantly reduced use relative to comparisons, but in very different patterns. Combining these patterns produced an apparent null effect. Finally, programs that incorporated at least 4 out of 5 effective intervention characteristics identified in the study significantly reduced use for both males and females relative to comparison youth. The lessons produced by this study attest to the value of MSE designs as a source of applicable knowledge about prevention interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey evaluating the professional characteristics and practice patterns of diabetes educators was distributed across the United States. The specific survey aims were to assess whether (1) there continues to be a growing trend among US health professionals who consider themselves diabetes educators to obtain certification as certified diabetes educators (CDEs), (2) duties/services associated with diabetes self-management training (DSMT) and medical/medication management differ between diabetes educators who are CDEs versus those who are non-CDEs, and (3) educator practice patterns differ across the major geographic regions of the United States. Of the 507 diabetes educators completing the survey, 83% identified themselves as CDEs. Diabetes educators responding to similar surveys done in 1992 and 1999, 51% and 63%, respectively, identified themselves as CDEs. In this survey, a similar percentage of CDEs and non-CDEs employed DSMT practices of relatively low complexity (eg, general diabetes education) whereas a significantly higher percentage (P < .001) of CDEs employed DSMT practices of relatively high complexity (eg, insulin pump training). Significantly (P < .001) more CDEs provided medical/medication management services compared to non-CDEs. Finally, the practice patterns among CDEs were minimally influenced by region of the country. These results suggest that (1) the trend toward increased certification among diabetes educators has continued, (2) certification is associated with a greater likelihood of delivering complex DSMT services and medical/medication management, and (3) this pattern is consistent across the nation as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM: To compare the donor site morbidity after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using ipsilateral and contralateral bone-patellar tendon autograft. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2 PATIENTS and METHOD: Between 1997 and 1999, 100 patients underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with autologous bone-patellar tendon graft. The reconstructions were performed using ipsilateral bone-patellar tendon graft in 52 patients (group Ip) and contralateral bone-patellar tendon graft in 48 patients (group Co). Group Co consisted of 2 subgroups: group CoD consisted of the donor knees (n=48) and group Co-ACL consisted of the anterior cruciate ligament-reconstructed knees (n=48). Mean follow-up was 39.2 months. Donor site morbidity was evaluated with a questionnaire, computerized historical data, KT-2000 arthrometer measurements, the Cincinnati score, and the Tegner score. RESULTS: KT-2000 arthrometer evaluation showed a mean side-to-side difference of 0.6 mm in both groups. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups concerning the Cincinnati and Tegner scores. With regard to local tenderness, a significantly higher rate was found in group Ip (59.6%) and group Co-D (58.3%) compared with group Co-ACL (6.3%). In groups Ip and Co-D, high statistically significant differences were also found according to kneeling pain (69.2% and 70.8%, respectively) and knee-walking pain (76.9% and 70.8%, respectively) compared with group Co-ACL (6.3% and 10.4%, respectively). With regard to numbness, there was no statistical significance between the rates of all 3 groups: group Ip=75%, group Co-D=85.4%, and group Co-ACL=64.6%. There was one rupture of the patellar tendon and one patient with chronic patellar tendinitis, both in the donor knee of group Co-D. CONCLUSION: The contralateral bone-patellar tendon graft appears to present no advantage over the ipsilateral graft, as all symptoms concerning donor site morbidity are shifted from the injured into the healthy knee, and return to activity is not more rapid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is elevated in allergic diseases such as bronchial asthma and can lead to an induction of substance P (SP) and related neuropeptides in guinea-pigs large-diameter, neurofilament-positive airway neurons. In the present study, the effect of NGF on tyrosine kinase receptor trkA and the capsaicin receptor TRPV1 expression in airway-specific vagal sensory neurons located in the jugular–nodose ganglia complex (JNC) of mice was investigated. Using retrograde neuronal tracing in combination with double-labelling immunohistochemistry, SP, trkA- and TRPV1-receptor expression was examined in airway-specific sensory neurons of BALB/c mice before and after NGF treatment. NGF injected into the lower airway was able to induce SP (13.0±2.03% vs. 5.9±0.33%) and trkA expression (78±2.66% vs. 60±2.11%) in larger diameter (>25 μm), capsaicin-insensitive and trkA-positive vagal sensory neurons that were retrograde-labelled with Fast Blue dye from the main stem bronchi. Based on the extent of SP and trkA co-expression in airway-specific neurons by NGF treatment, the present study suggests that, following a peripheral activation of trkA receptor on SP afferent by NGF which is elevated in allergic inflammation, there may be trkA-mediated SP induction to mediate neurogenic airway inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assesses the degree to which culturally specific interventions enhance substance abuse prevention effectiveness for targeted cultural groups. A large and diverse (African American, His- panic, American Indian, and Asian) sample of 10,500 youth across 48 programs was obtained. Youth participating in culturally specific programming showed greater program satisfaction and felt programs were more personally meaningful than youth in non-culturally specific pro- grams. Culturally specific programs for African American youth were also more effective in preventing substance use. This finding may be attributable to the fact that Africentric programs apply a comprehensive and structured approach to substance abuse prevention and that cultural messages are clearly linked to important protective factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuropeptides play an important role in modulating the effects of neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine and noradrenaline in the heart and the vascular system of vertebrates and invertebrates. Various neuropeptides, including substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and FMRFamide, have been localized in the brain in cephalopods and the neuro-secretory system of the vena cava. Previous studies involving cephalopods have mainly focussed on the modern, coleoid cephalopods, whereas little attention was paid to the living fossil Nautilus. In this study, the distributions of the peptides related to tachykinins (TKs) and the high affinity receptor for the best characterized TK substance P (tachykinin NK-1), VIP, as well as FMRFamide were investigated in the heart of Nautilus pompilius L. by immunohistochemistry. TK-like immunoreactivity (TK-LI) was seen associated to a sub-population of hemocytes, VIP-LI glial cells in larger nerves entering the heart, whereas FMRFamide immunoreactivity was distributed throughout the entire heart, including the semilunar atrioventricular valves. The pattern of FMRFamide immunoreactivity matched that of Bodian silver staining for nervous tissue. The NK-1-LI receptor was located on endothelial cells, which were also positive for endothelial nitric oxide synthase-LI (eNOS). The results indicate that neuropeptides may be involved in the regulation of the Nautilus heart via different mechanisms, (1) by direct interaction with myocardial receptors (FMRFamide), (2) by interacting with the nervus cardiacus (VIP-related peptides) and (3) indirectly by stimulating eNOS in the endothelium throughout the heart (TK-related peptides). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calculates the effective mass of [sup3]He at zero temperature using structural information from simulations and from variational ground state calculations. Effective interactions and microscopic structure functions; Density channel dynamics; Spin channel dynamics.

We have developed the optimized Fermi Hypernetted Chain Theory of a single impurity atom in a Fermi liquid, and have applied the theory to a [sup 4]He atom in bulk ³He. Previous applications of the theory for one component have produced excellent agreement with the experimental equation of state of [sup 4]He; the resulting equation of state of bulk ³He is about 0.4 K above the experimental one. Within the same theory, we obtain the pressure dependence of the chemical potential of [sup 4]He in bulk [sup 4]He, ³He in ³He, as well as the chemical potential of a [sup 4]He impurity in ³He. The pressure dependence of the impurity chemical potential agrees well with the experimental data, but we have a constant energy offset of about 1.2 K that disallows conclusive statements. This offset is partly explained by the relative inaccuracy of the ³He equation of state. We then calculate the self-energy of a single [sup 4]He impurity in ³He. Our results for the effective mass m[sup *, sub 4] fall within the experimental error of the best available data; they increase from about m[sup *, sub 4]m[sub 4] ≈ 1.4 at zero pressure, to m[sup *, sub 4]/m[sub 4] ≈ 1.6 at p=20 atm. We show that this effective mass enhancement is, to about equal parts, due to hydrodynamic backflow and to the coupling to particle-hole excitations. When the latter are turned off in the "collective" approximation of the impurity-background correlations one obtains a significantly lower effective mass, m[sup *, sub 4]/m[sub 4] ≈ 1.2 - 1.35. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Airway hyperresponsiveness, a keystone of allergic asthma, is mediated by the extrinsic airway innervation. As pathophysiological stimuli can induce the expression JUN proteins, which belong to the immediate early gene (IEG) family of transcription factors, the expression of c-Jun was examined under basal conditions and allergen challenge in guinea pig paravertebral and prevertebral sympathetic ganglia by quantitative double-labeling immunohistochemistry. C-Jun immunoreactivity was seen in 78.4 ± 3.5% under normal and 82.6 ± 4.6% under allergen-challenged conditions of protein-gene product (PGP) 9.5-positive sympathetic neurons of guinea pig superior cervical ganglia and 73.1 ± 2.8% (normal) and 76.1 ± 3.5% (allergen) of stellate ganglion neurons. In the coeliac-superior mesenteric ganglion, 59.5 ± 5.0% (normal) and 57.5 ± 4.4% (allergen) of the PGP 9.5-positive sympathetic neurons were labeled for c-Jun. The high basal levels of c-Jun expression indicate that the presence of c-Jun is not exclusively related to noxious stimulation such as allergic airway inflammation in the guinea pig. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New chiral photochromic cholesteric comb-shaped acrylic copolymers and low molecular mass dopants containing azobenzene photosensitive fragments and chiral groups based on menthol and menthone were synthesized. For the copolymers and their mixtures with low molecular mass dopants, the phase behaviour and optical properties were studied. Under irradiation with UV and visible light, the untwisting of cholesteric helix takes place, and the selective light reflection maximum is shifted to the long wavelength spectral region. This shift is related to the E-Z isomerization of the azobenzene chiral groups. For the copolymers and mixtures of the cholesteric polymer with the menthyl-containing dopant, this process is thermally reversible. The specific features of the kinetics of the forward and the reverse thermal processes were characterized. It was demonstrated, that the copolymers and mixtures of the cholesteric copolymer with the menthyl-containing dopant may be used for coloured reversible recording of optical information. For such materials, their resistance with respect to the repeated 'recording-erasing' cycles was tested, and the fatigue resistance was shown to be rather high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to add to the knowledge base on prevention programming by explicating the characteristics of 12 programs (out of 47) serving African American youth funded by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP). Findings show that African American youth exhibit lower use rates than most other ethnic and racial groups, but by the time they reach ages 16 to 18, use is prevalent. Data on correlations of risk and protective factors with substance use reveal a very similar pattern of rank order in the strength of correlations for African American youth with youth who are not African American in the CSAP sample. The African American programs integrated Africentric principles and themes into other prevention strategies: education-and-awareness, risk-and-protection, and positive-alternative-interventions. The analysis shows that Africentric programming contributes to higher rates of satisfaction and perceived program importance to youth participating in the African American programs, compared to African American youth in other programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ζ-potential measurements using the streaming potential method were performed on several differently modified jute fibers. The time dependence of the ζ-potential measured in 1 × 10−3 M KCl solution offers the possibility to characterize the water-uptake behavior and the velocity constant of this process for almost all the jute fibers investigated. All the jute fibers contain, as expected, dissociable acidic surface functional groups as could be verified by measuring the pH dependence of the ζ-potential. Remarkably a peak (increase in the negative ζ-potential values) was detected while measuring the ζ–pH dependency. The origin of this peak is still questionable; however, it could be observed that this peak is a function of the degree of surface coverage of additional components, such as fats, waxes or grafted polymers, i.e. the accessibility of ether functions in the jute fiber surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous anodic oxidation was employed to alter the surface chemical properties of carbon fibers. As expected, the wetting behavior by water improved and that of non-polar liquid diiodomethane deteriorated. The calculated surface tensions mirror the changes in the physicochemical surface properties. The zeta (ζ)-potential measurements performed also reflect changes in the surface chemistry of the investigated carbon fibers. A correlation between the measured ζ-potentials and the wetting behavior of water on anodically oxidized carbon fibers was found. The influence of anodic carbon fiber oxidation on the epoxy composite properties was studied by a modified axial tensile test, which allows additionally the measurement of the so-called 'notching force' as a measure of the interfacial composite properties. Common model-composite samples were used to check the reliability of this test. The determined 'notching force' as a measure of adhesion correlates with the increased polar component of the fiber surface tension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new member of the murine origin recognition complex (ORC) related to Saccharomyces cerevisiae ORC3 has been cloned. Transcription of ORC3 is not suppressed in mouse NIH3T3 fibroblasts made quiescent by serum starvation. The transcription level of the ORC3 gene is constantly high in all phases of the cell cycle. Murine ORC3 protein contains a putative nuclear localization signal and a non-basic helix-loop-helix motif. Both motifs are conserved in eukaryotes. A potential dimerization partner of ORC3p in the murine ORC complex is ORC1p which also contains an HLH motif. This HLH motif is also highly conserved in all eukaryotic ORC1 proteins. Comparison of murine ORC3p with other ORC3-related proteins shows high amino acid homology and motif conservation leading to the conclusion that ORC3p is part of the initiation machinery conserved in eukaryotes. The mouse ORC3 gene Orc3 was assigned to mouse chromosome 4A3 by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. Copyright © 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]