Pharmacokinetics of hyperimmune anti-human immunodeficiency virus immunoglobulin in persons with AIDS

Hyperimmune anti-human immunodeficiency virus immunoglobulin (HIVIG) is an intravenous immunoglobulin prepared from HIV-infected asymptomatic donors with a CD4 cell count greater than 400 cells/microl and a high titer of antibody to HIV-1 p24 protein. Twelve persons with AIDS received four doses of HMG (two at 50 mg/kg of body weight and then two at 200 mg/kg) every 28 days. Pharmacokinetics were evaluated by measurement of anti-p24 antibody. HIVIG was well tolerated, and all participants completed the study. Three subjects who were not receiving Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) prophylaxis developed PCP. The mean value for HIVIG clearance was 3.02 ml/kg/day at 50 mg/kg and 3.65 ml/kg/day at 200 mg/kg (P = 0.027); the mean trough antibody titers (reciprocal units) were 1,442 and 4,428, respectively. This study indicates that high titers of anti-p24 antibody can be maintained with a monthly administration schedule of HIVIG and that short-term safety is acceptable. Comparisons to evaluate the therapeutic potential of HIVIG are justified.     

Effects of feeding whole cottonseed to lactating dairy cows on glucose and palmitate metabolism

Eight lactating Holstein dairy cows were fed corn silage-based diets with or without whole cottonseed at 18.5% of the dietary dry matter. At 42 days postpartum, a pulse injection of 100 mg glucose/kg body weight was given intravenously and plasma glucose concentration was monitored for 45 min. At 50 d postpartum, biopsies of adipose tissue and mammary tissue were taken and tissue slices were incubated in vitro with either uniform carbon-14 glucose or 1-carbon-14 palmitate. Basal concentration of plasma glucose was not affected by diet, although apparent distribution volume of glucose did seem to decrease due to feeding whole cottonseed. Feeding whole cottonseed decreased uptake of glucose and palmitate in both adipose tissue and mammary tissue and also decreased oxidation of glucose to carbon dioxide in both tissues. Palmitate oxidation was not affected by diet. Incorporation of carbon-14 from glucose into adipose tissue lipids was decreased in cows fed whole cottonseed. Results indicate that fat supplementation in the form of whole cottonseed may decrease palmitate incorporation and glucose utilization for glycerol and reducing equivalent synthesis in both adipose tissue and mammary tissue of lactating dairy cows.     

Validation of the Lifestress Inventory for people with a mild intellectual disability

The Subjective Stress Scale (SSS; Bramston & Bostock, 1994) was developed to measure stress in people with a mild intellectual disability. In previous research, the SSS was found to measure two broad dimensions of stress (a) a General Worry factor and (b) a factor that tapped concerns about Negative Interpersonal Relations (Bramston & Fogarty, 1995). The present study sought to continue this line of research by introducing a slightly modified form of the SSS, to be known as the Lifestress Inventory (LI) and examining the psychometric properties of the scale when administered to a new sample of 221 people with mild intellectual disabilities. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that three underlying factors corresponding to General Worry, Negative Interpersonal Relations, and Coping were sufficient to account for the correlations among the items in the LI. Rasch analysis indicated some improvements to the scoring format for the LI and also showed that the most easily experienced stressors were associated with the Negative Interpersonal Relations dimension. The refinements introduced by the LI and the further demonstration that some of the broad stress dimensions identified in the general population can also be found in people with an intellectual disability represent important milestones for researchers interested in exploring reactions to stress among this population.     

Investigation of the Anti-Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Activity of (+)-Tanikolide- and (+)-Malyngolide-Based Analogues Prepared by Asymmetric Synthesis

Herein, we report antibacterial and antifungal evaluation of a series of previously prepared (+)-tanikolide analogues. One analogue, (4S,6S)-4-methyltanikolide, displayed promising anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus activity with a MIC of 12.5 µg/mL. Based on the antimicrobial properties of the structurally related (−)-malyngolide, two further analogues (4S,6S)-4-methylmalyngolide and (4R,6S)-4-methylmalyngolide bearing a shortened n-nonyl alkyl side chain were prepared in the present study using a ZrCl₄-catalysed deprotection/cyclisation as the key step in their asymmetric synthesis. When these were tested for activity against anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, the MIC increased to 50 µg/mL.     

MOBILIZATION OF SLUDGE IN HORIZONTAL CYLINDRICAL TANKS WITH SUBMERGED NOZZLES

Over 378,000 m³ (100 million gal) of radioactive waste is being stored in hundreds of tanks at several U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) sites. The environment within the tanks is highly radioactive and chemically harsh. The waste typically consists of a heterogeneous sludge layer covered by a layer of supernatant. A few of the tanks have leaked to the environment, while others are corroding. Removing the waste from the tanks and processing it to a stable final form are desired to prevent any additional contamination of the environment. The tanks vary in size and geometric shape and do not have systems for removing the sludge waste.

Mobilization and mixing studies were conducted with a surrogate sludge (e.g., kaolin clay) using submerged jets in two sizes of horizontal tanks with nominal capacities of 0.87 m³ (230 gal) and 95 m³ (25,000 gal). Mobilization efficiencies and mixing times were determined for single and bidirectional jets in both tanks with the discharge nozzles positioned at various locations in the tanks. Approximately 80% of the surrogate sludge was mobilized in the 95-m³ tank using a fixed bidirectional jet (inside diameter = 0.035 m) and a jet velocity of 6.4m/s (21 ft/s). The effective cleaning length, which is defined as the distance between the jet and the edge of the remaining sludge bank, was approximately 3.2 m (10 ft) on each side of the bidirectional jet.     

Fermi surface and extended van Hove singularity in the non-cuprate layered perovskite superconductor Sr2RuO4

With high-resolution (22 meV) angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, the Fermi surface of the first copper free layered-perovskite superconductor, Sr₂RuO₄, was determined. We observed three bands to cross the Fermi energy in qualitative agreement with LDA band structure calculations; one electron-like surface encircling the point in the projected Brillouin zone, and two hole-like surfaces around the point. The most striking aspect of the measurements is the observation of an extended van Hove singularity. It is located 17 meV below the Fermi energy and extends around the point for about 0.2 Å^–1 along both the — — and the — — directions.These observations demonstrate that van Hove singularities near the Fermi surface are a more generic feature of layered oxides, and call for a clarification of their exact role in oxide superconductivity.We are grateful to D. Singh for making available his band structure calculations. D. H. Lu thanks the VW Foundation for financial support.     

Development of categorical representations for above and below spatial relations in 3- to 7-month-old infants.

A series of experiments examined the abilities of infants to form categorical representations for the spatial relations above and below. Exp 1 provided evidence that 3–4 mo olds can form categorical representations for above and below when a diamond shape was presented above or below a horizontal bar. Exps 2 and 3 showed that 3- and 4-mo olds did not form categorical representations for above and below when a number of discriminably different shapes (e.g., a diamond, a triangle, a dot) appeared above or below the bar. These more abstract categorical representations for above and below were formed by 6- to 7-mo olds (Exp 4). The findings suggest an experientially or maturationally based trend, from concrete to abstract, in the categorical representation of common spatial relations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Form,interpretation, and the uniqueness of content: Response to Morris

In response to Michael Morris, I attempt to refute the crucial second premise of the argument, which states that the formality condition cannot be satisfied non-stipulatively in computational systems. I defend the view of representation urged in Meaning and Mental Representation against the charge that it makes content stipulative and therefore irrelevant to the explanation of cognition. Some other reservations are expressed.     

Precooked sorghum flour as proper vehicle of ACE-I and DPP-IV inhibitory sorghum peptides

Sorghum flour was heat treated for producing an instant dispersion ingredient. The precooked sorghum flour was added with ACE-I and DPP-IV inhibitory sorghum peptides (3.0 g peptide 100 g⁻¹). The product was reconstituted in water, and peptide bioaccessibility was evaluated by equilibrium dialysis method after simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Total peptide dialysability of precooked sorghum flour added with sorghum peptides was higher than those obtained for precooked sorghum flour (315.9 ± 14.8 vs. 45.2 ± 5.6 µmol, respectively) (P < 0.05). The ACE-I and DPP-IV-IC₅₀ values of the bioaccessible peptides from the bioactive product were lower than those obtained for precooked sorghum flour ingredient (1.04 ± 0.12 vs. 1.82 ± 0.09 and 0.86 ± 0.02 vs. 2.12 ± 0.08 mg protein mL⁻¹, for ACE-I and DPP-IV, respectively) indicating a higher activity. Precooked sorghum flour was a good vehicle since it did not affect the bioaccessibility of ACE-I and DPP-IV inhibitory peptides provided by sorghum protein hydrolysate.