cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tracking and analysis of cine-delayed enhancement MR

Cine-DEMR is a new cardiac imaging technique which combines aspects of Cine and Delayed Enhancement MR. Like Cine, it displays the heart beating over time allowing for the detection of motion abnormalities. Like DEMR, non-viable (dead) tissues appear with increased signal intensity (it has been shown that the extent of non-viable tissue in the left ventricle (LV) of the heart is a direct indicator of patient survival rate). We present a technique for tracking the myocardial borders in this modality and classifying myocardial pixels as viable or non-viable. Tracking is performed using an affine deformed template of borders manually drawn on the first phase of the series and refined using an ASM-like approach. Classification employs a Support Vector Machine trained on DEMR data. We applied our technique on 75 images culled from 5 patient data sets.
Biased sex ratios, mating frequency and Nosema prevalence in European corn borer, at low population densities

The widespread adoption of transgenic Bt maize in the Midwestern Uni- ted States has led to historically low populations of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner). Reduced population densities might influence mating and/or disease dynamics in O. nubilalis, potentially amplifying or diminishing the benefits of areawide suppression. We hypothesized that O. nubilalis mating success and infection by the micros- poridium Nosema pyrausta Paillot would be decreased in areas of low pest density. Over 2 years (2009, 2010), we collected moths from black-light traps, evaluating sex ratio, mating status and infection by Nosema .W e found several locations that exhibited female-biased sex ratios: to our knowledge, this is the first report of female-biased sex ratios in O. nubilal- is in the Midwestern United States. Despite this bias and subsequent rare- ness of males, proportion mating was still high (>90%) in most locations, and there were no statistically significant relationships among population density (as measured by black-light trap catch), sex ratio and proportion of female moths that were mated. Nosema prevalence was highly variable among locations, ranging from 0% to 87% of female moths infected. Nosema infection was not significantly related to population density in either year, but was positively associated with sex ratio in 2009. It is pos- sible that Nosema or some other microbe may be manipulating reproduc- tion in O. nubilalis. Regardless of mechanism, our results indicate that Nosema is being maintained in O. nubilalis, which is an encouraging indi- cation that this important natural enemy may continue to provide biolog- ical control to complement transgenic technology. Additional surveys are warranted to better understand the extent of female-biased sex ratios in low-density populations of O. nubilalis. Population models developed for studying the risk of Bt resistance in this pest should consider the possible impact of female-biased sex ratios (vs. the conventional 1 : 1 sex ratio).
Circulating melanoma cells as a predictive biomarker.

The prognosis of patients with metastatic melanoma has improved significantly with targeted therapeutic agents and immunotherapies. Detection of early melanoma recurrence after treatment will be beneficial to switch patients who fail on one therapy to different modalities. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are cancer cells released by a tumor into the peripheral blood. These cells hold potential as prognostic, predictive, and pharmacodynamic biomarkers for treatment. In this issue, Khoja et al. report that melanoma CTCs can be detected using Melcam and high molecular weight melanoma–associated antibody. They found that in 101 stage IV melanoma patients, CTC numbers ranged between 0 and 36/7.5ml blood; 26% of the patients had ≥2 CTCs at baseline. The CTC number (≥2 CTCs) at baseline was significantly prognostic for median overall survival (OS) in univariate and multivariate analysis. Patients receiving treatment where CTC numbers remained ≥2 CTCs during their treatment had shorter median OS than those who maintained P =0.015). The implications of this work are substantial in counseling patients about their prognosis and in helping to assess responses to systemic therapies.
SU‐E‐I‐56: An Overview of a CT Protocol Optimization Process at a Major University Hospital Medical Center; Including Details On Physics Support, IT Support, and a Radiologist Based Quality Assurance Program

Purpose: Modern CT departments with multiple scanner architectures can easily have hundreds of different protocols for different size patients and clinical requirements. Unless a systematic approach is taken to the optimization and quality assurance of these protocols, care to the patient in the form of image quality, dose, and clinical usability of the CT exams can be compromised. The purpose of this study is to present the model that has been put into a operational form after being organically developed by the medical physicists, radiologists, IT staff, and CT technologists at our over the last several years. Methods: The process of CT protocol formation will be covered including: assessment of the CT scanner technology by the medical physicist, clinical protocol requirements determined by clinicians, optimization of protocols parameters by the medical physicist, final review of the protocols by the entire protocol optimization team, and the subsequent clinical application of the protocols. After implementation, a clinical quality assurance program enables radiologists to score CT exams while reading them on a standard PACS workstation and concurrently the medical physics team monitors the radiation dose (patient size specific) and reviews image quality concerns made by radiologists. The IT infrastructure for this QA assurance process will also be presented. Results: We have successfully gone through several iterations of the CT protocol optimization procedure presented in this study at our institution. The incorporation of new technologies was reviewed and fit into our protocol optimization process as well. The operational procedures defined in this study have greatly increased the efficiency with which we manage and optimize protocols at our institution. Conclusion: CT protocol optimization is an ongoing process; constant monitoring of patient dose and image quality, incorporation of new scanner technologies, and changing clinical requirements all necessitate an organized approach to CT protocols optimization. Equipment grant from GE healthcare.
Bariatric Surgery and the Changing Current Scope of General Surgery Practice: Implications for General Surgery Residency Training

Importance The scope of general surgery practice has evolved tremendously in the last 20 years. However, clinical experience in general surgery residency training has undergone relatively little change. Objective To evaluate the current scope of academic general surgery and its implications on surgical residency. Design, Setting, and Participants The University HealthSystem Consortium and Association of American Medical Colleges established the Faculty Practice Solution Center (FPSC) to characterize physician productivity. The FPSC is a benchmarking tool for academic medical centers created from revenue data collected from more than 90 000 physicians who practice at 95 institutions across the United States. Main Outcomes and Measures The FPSC database was queried to evaluate the annual mean procedure frequency per surgeon (PFS) in each calendar year from 2006 through 2011. The associated work relative value units (wRVUs) were also examined to measure physician effort and skill. Results During the 6-year period, 146 distinctCurrent Procedural Terminologycodes were among the top 100 procedures, and 16 of these procedures ranked in the top 10 procedures in at least 1 year. The top 10 procedures accounted for more than half (range, 52.5%-57.2%) of the total 100 PFS evaluated for each year. Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass was consistently among the top 10 procedures in each year (PFS, 18.2-24.6). The other most frequently performed procedures included laparoscopic cholecystectomy (PFS, 30.3-43.5), upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy (PFS, 26.5-34.3), mastectomy (PFS, 16.5-35.0), inguinal hernia repair (PFS, 15.5-22.1), and abdominal wall hernia repair (PFS, 21.6-26.1). In all years, laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass generated the highest number of wRVUs (wRVUs, 491.0-618.2), and laparoscopic cholecystectomy was regularly the next highest (wRVUs, 335.8-498.7). Conclusions and Relevance A significant proportion of academic general surgery is composed of bariatric surgery, yet surgical training does not sufficiently emphasize the necessary exposure to technical expertise and clinical management of the patient undergoing bariatric surgery. As the scope of general surgery practice continues to evolve, general surgery residency training will need to better integrate the exposure to bariatric surgery.
Latent Class Choice Model of Heterogeneous Drivers' Route Choice Behavior Based on Learning in a Real-World Experiment

This paper presents a route choice model of latent class heterogeneous drivers that is based on learning in a real-world experiment. Previous publications have presented findings about personal differences in route-switching aggressiveness among drivers. These differences were described by behavior (or driver) types reflecting aggressiveness in route-switching behavior. Behavior types were predictable from driver demographics and from personality traits, as well as from choice situation characteristics. In addition, the behavior types were significant in predicting route choice behavior. This paper does not use the hierarchical procedure that models behavior type on one level and then models route choice at a second level on the basis of behavior type. Instead, both models are estimated simultaneously. In the estimated latent class choice models, the latent classes represent the behavior types, and the choice model is the route-switching behavior. The models developed in this paper are based on a sample o...
Mathematical deficiencies of numerically simplified dynamic robot models

It is determined that the underlying deficiency of numerically simplified models is that they ignore classical mechanics and lead to models that do not characterize any realizable manipulator. It is shown that numerically simplified models can violate fundamental physical principles and destroy the structure of robot fundamental dynamics. The controller is then required to drive a nonsense mechanism through large corrective torques that can saturate the actuators. Robot dynamics and the associated nomenclature are reviewed. The need for simplified dynamic robot models and a systematic simplification procedure are discussed. A practical example is given. >
Video Journaling as a Method of Reflective Practice.

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine seven school counseling students’ experiences of creating reflective video journals during their first internship course. Specifically, this study focused on capturing the essence of the experiences related to personal reactions, feelings, and thoughts about creating two video journal entries. Qualitative analysis revealed that reflection as a developmental process, authenticity, parallel process, and apprehension with the process were significant themes related to the video journaling experience. Implications for counselor education and training and directions for future research are presented.
Development of UHPC Pi-Girder Sections for Span Length up to 41 m

Ultrahigh performance concrete (UHPC) presents many superior properties, such as advanced strength, durability, and long-term stability. The use of existing cross section geometries for materials with advanced properties results in inefficient designs and less cost-effective solutions. This study focused on developing a series of finite-element optimized sections of pi-girders to effectively utilize the superior mechanical properties of UHPC over span lengths of up to 41 m (135 ft). The research was performed using a finite-element model that has been calibrated and verified against experimental results. The optimization was progressively conducted at local, element, and structural levels. At the local level, the focus of the investigation was to find the optimal deck thickness and prevent transverse bending failure of the deck. At the element level, sectional parameters, including girder height, bulb size, web thickness, and strand layouts, were investigated to find the minimal sectional size that accommodates standard loads for a span length of 23 m (75 ft) or above. At the structural level, deflection under a live load was checked such that the bridge system using the proposed sections can meet the deflection requirements specified in guidelines. Four cross sections based on the second generation pi-girder were proposed, and a design chart was provided to facilitate preliminary design for bridge engineers.
Electrostatic control of photoisomerization in the photoactive yellow protein chromophore: Ab initio multiple spawning dynamics

The excited state dynamics of an anionic model photoactive yellow protein (PYP) chromophore have been investigated using the ab initio multiple spawning (AIMS) method. We observe two isomerization products, differing in the bond about which isomerization takes place. We also carried out AIMS simulations including a single point charge to mimic the Arg52 residue which is present in the protein environment. We show that a single point charge is sufficient to change the photoproduct distribution such that isomerization is restricted to only one of the two bonds where isomerization is observed in the isolated chromophore. These results corroborate recent speculations concerning the role of Arg52 in the photocycle of PYP.
Horizontal versus vertical block resection for early floor of mouth carcinoma

Although the literature affirms the superiority of block resection over local excision for the surgical treatment of early squamous cell carcinoma of the anterior floor of the mouth, the best method of block resection is not certain. Two methods are in widespread use; a horizontal procedure (HB) and a vertical procedure (VB). This retrospective study compares these two procedures according to outcome in separate series of patients treated between 1970 and 1984. Patients were followed for a minimum of 3 years with an average follow-up of 6 years. Twenty-five patients underwent HB while 27 underwent VB. Control at the primary site was 100% for HB and 74% for VB. Neck metastasis and distant metastasis occurred with equal frequency. Determinate survivals at 3 and 5 years were 96% and 91% for the HB group and 93% and 65% for the VB group. Local recurrence correlated with tumor growth posteriorally toward the ventrum of the tongue, suggesting an explanation for the difference in outcome between the two procedures. We conclude that the HB procedure is the preferable surgical procedure for stage I and II disease.
Seeking Answers on the Quest for Effective Nonsurgical Treatment of Peyronie's Disease

The quest for an effective nonsurgical treatment for Peyronie’s disease is ongoing. Since the time of de la Peyronie, who prescribed the use of Barage spa water in 1743, hundreds of nonsurgical approaches have been proposed worldwide and still we are without a reliable cure. This is mostly because we do not fully understand the pathophysiology of this disorder. It is further confounded by the fact that once a scar is established anywhere in the body there is no known reliable, nonsurgical treatment to eradicate the scar. It is hoped that once we have a better understanding of the etiology and pathophysiology of Peyronie’s disease that more effective treatment options will emerge. In the meantime, we are left with a good deal of ‘voodoo’ being practiced by our patients as they seek answers on the Internet. We also find that many physicians are reluctant to offer any treatment due to the misconception that this disorder has a reasonable likelihood of spontaneous resolution. In fact, the most current natural history studies on Peyronie’s disease suggest that no more than 5–13% of men will have spontaneous resolution of their curvature and that up to 50% will have progression until the disease stabilizes [1–3]. Over the past 10– 15 yr, intralesional therapies with verapamil and more recently interferon a-2b have emerged as the most scientifically sound treatments to stabilize or even reduce the deformity [4–8]. The rationale for using verapamil comes from work done many years
Suppression of repetitive surface exfoliation of Inconel 625 implanted sequentially with helium ions of different energies (20–100 keV)☆

Studies were conducted to explore if the surface exfoliation of Inconel 625, typical for 100 keV 4He+ irradiations can be reduced by pre-irradiating the surfaces with helium ions sequentially over the energy range 20 to 50 keV. Polished, polycrystalline Inconel 625 samples were irradiated at 298K and 573K with 4He+ at six different energies in the range from 20 to 50 keV in an order of decreasing energies. For each energy the dose was 0.13 C/cm2, resulting in a total dose of 0.89 C/cm2. Subsequently, these samples were implanted with 100 keV 4He+ to a dose of 1.0 C/cm2 or 2.0 C/cm2. The results reveal that the low energy 4He+ implants prior to the 100 keV 4He+ implant reduce significantly the erosion yield typical for 100-keV 4He+ irradiations alone. For 573K these reduced yields are still about one order of magnitude greater than physical sputtering yields.
From theory to practice: using new science concepts to create learning organizations

For the past ten years the management literature has increasingly discussed the concept of learning organizations. Yet, more that a decade later, few organizations have figured out how to create the structures and processes necessary to assure continuous learning. This article purports that this problem can be attributed to the mental models of those leading contemporary organizations. Learning organizations quite simply cannot be created by those who either consciously or unconsciously operate under the traditional, mechanistic organizational paradigm. If leaders are to create authentic learning organizations, they must adapt a new way of viewing reality – a new paradigm or mental model. The authors suggest that the new science theories of chaos, complexity, and quantum mechanics provide the foundation for a new way of thinking about organizations. They demonstrate the relevance of these theories for those who wish to create learning organizations and present a new‐science‐based skill set that enables twenty‐first‐century leaders to move beyond organizational adaptation to proactive change and continuous learning.
Macrophage activation syndrome and reactive hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: the same entities?

Purpose of the review One of the most perplexing features of systemic-onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is the association with macrophage activation syndrome, a life-threatening complication caused by excessive activation and proliferation of T cells and macrophages. The main purpose of the review is to summarize current understanding of the relation between macrophage activation syndrome and other clinically similar hemophagocytic disorders. Recent findings Clinically, macrophage activation syndrome has strong similarities with familial and virus-associated reactive hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. The better understood familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is a constellation of rare, autosomal recessive immune disorders. The most consistent immunologic abnormalities in patients with familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis are decreased natural killer and cytotoxic cell functions. In approximately one third of familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis patients, these immunologic abnormalities are secondary to mutations in the gene encoding perforin, a protein that mediates cytotoxic activity of natural killer and cytotoxic CD8 + T cells. Several recent studies have suggested that profoundly depressed natural killer cell activity and abnormal levels of perforin expression may be a feature of macrophage activation syndrome in systemic-onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis as well. Although it has been proposed that in both hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and macrophage activation syndrome, natural killer and cytotoxic cell dysfunction may lead to inadequate control of cellular immune responses, the exact nature of such dysregulation and the relation between macrophage activation syndrome and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis still remain to be determined.
The Odorant Receptor Co-Receptor from the Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius L

Recently, the bed bug, Cimex lectularius L. has re-emerged as a serious and growing problem in many parts of the world. Presence of resistant bed bugs and the difficulty to eliminate them has renewed interest in alternative control tactics. Similar to other haematophagous arthropods, bed bugs rely on their olfactory system to detect semiochemicals in the environment. Previous studies have morphologically characterized olfactory organs of bed bugs’ antenna and have physiologically evaluated the responses of olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) to host-derived chemicals. To date, odorant binding proteins (OBPs) and odorant receptors (ORs) associated with these olfaction processes have not been studied in bed bugs. Chemoreception in insects requires formation of heteromeric complexes of ORs and a universal OR coreceptor (Orco). Orco is the constant chain of every odorant receptor in insects and is critical for insect olfaction but does not directly bind to odorants. Orco agonists and antagonists have been suggested as high-value targets for the development of novel insect repellents. In this study, we have performed RNAseq of bed bug sensory organs and identified several odorant receptors as well as Orco. We characterized Orco expression and investigated the effect of chemicals targeting Orco on bed bug behavior and reproduction. We have identified partial cDNAs of six C. lectularius OBPs and 16 ORs. Full length bed bug Orco was cloned and sequenced. Orco is widely expressed in different parts of the bed bug including OR neurons and spermatozoa. Treatment of bed bugs with the agonist VUAA1 changed bed bug pheromone-induced aggregation behavior and inactivated spermatozoa. We have described and characterized for the first time OBPs, ORs and Orco in bed bugs. Given the importance of these molecules in chemoreception of this insect they are interesting targets for the development of novel insect behavior modifiers.
Influence of culture medium and in vitro conditions on shoot regeneration in Solanum phureja monoploids and fertility of regenerated doubled monoploids

Incorporation of monoploids in practical breeding requires an efficient method of producing homozygous diploids. This study investigated factors for efficient regeneration of doubled monoploid (DM) potato, crossability of DMs and their field performance. Incorporation of silver thiosulphate (STS) in propagation medium for in vitro monoploid plantlets of Solanum phureja did not affect the frequency of cells with diploid (2x) nuclei but increased those with monoploid (1x) and decreased those with 4x nuclei. Higher shoot regeneration was obtained from leaf explants compared with stem explants. Induction of shoots from callus was affected neither by light during incubation nor by overnight treatment with a benzyl adenine pulse. Female fertility based on seed set after pollination of DMs with heterozygous diploid clones varied among DMs but encouraged their utilization in practical breeding.
Kernel-Based Weighted Abundance Constrained Linear Spectral Mixture Analysis

Linear Spectral Mixture Analysis (LSMA) is a theory developed to perform spectral unmixing where three major LSMA techniques, Least Squares Orthogonal Subspace Projection (LSOSP), Non-negativity Constrained Least Squares (NCLS) and Fully Constrained Least Squares (FCLS) for this purpose. Later on these three techniques were further extended to Fisher's LSMA (FLSMA), Weighted Abundance Constrained-LSMA (WAC-LSMA) and kernel-based LSMA (KLSMA). This paper combines both approaches of KLSMA and WACLSMA to derive a most general version of LSMA, Kernel-based WACLSMA (KWAC-LSMA) which includes all the above-mentioned LSMAs as its special cases. The utility of the KWAC-LSMA is further demonstrated by multispectral and hyperspectral experiments for performance analysis.
Studies of the vaccine virus isolated during a trial with an attenuated poliovirus vaccine prepared in a human diploid cell strain, including use of a strain-specific bovine serum inhibitor

The characteristics of CHAT attenuated poliovirus grown in the WI-26 strain of human diploid fibroblasts were compared with the virus strains isolated from the feces of children who had received this vaccine.
Radium separation through complexation by aqueous crown ethers and extraction by dinonylnaphthalenesulfonic acid

Abstract The extraction of alkaline earth cations by xylene solutions of dinonylnaphthalenesulfonic acid (HDNNS) from aqueous hydrochloric acid solutions containing various aqueous-soluble unsubstituted crown ether ligands (15-crown-6 (15C5), 18-crown-6 (18C6) and 21-crown-7 (21C7)) has been investigated. The extraction results indicate that the extraction of the larger alkaline earth cations by HDNNS is strongly synergized by the presence of the crown ethers in the aqueous phase. Promising results for intra-Group-IIa cation separations have been obtained with each of the three crown ethers investigated. Separation factors for the radium–calcium couple of at least 10 2 are obtained under a number of conditions, while the separation factors within the radium–barium–strontium series are much lower. Possible problems in developing an extraction chromatographic resin for radium separation and preconcentration based on the extraction data are discussed.
The price of competitiveness in competitive pricing

This study examines how pricing decisions might be improved. We test the hypothesis that managers have a tendency to overcompete by comparing the performance of managers with the performance of computerized strategies in a Prisoner’s Dilemma pricing experiment. We find that the subjects in our study obtain lower profits than matched computer strategies. The subjects appear to value relative performance against competitors, even when they are explicitly instructed to maximize profits and are compensated based on profits. The implication for managers is that pricing to maximize profits may require tolerating the strong performance of competitors, even to the point of accepting a lower profit than some or all the competitors. If competitiveness means an adversarial, “zero-sum game” view of one’s competitors, then the price of competitiveness in competitive markets such as those in our experiment may be lower profits. Being less competitive may be more profitable.
A theoretical analysis of the binding of palmitate by human serum albumin

Abstract The distribution of palmitate between the form bound by human serum albumin and the free form in plasma was calculated by use of 12 stepwise equilibrium constants and a computer program. Computations were carried out for molar ratios of palmitate to serum albumin of 0.5, 1,2,3, and 4. At most 0.0003% of the palmitate would be in the unbound form, and the remainder distributed among different complexes with albumin. At low molar ratios, the complexes with 1 to 2 moles of palmitate/albumin would predominate while at the highest ratio the complexes of 3 and 4 moles of palmitate/albumin would be most abundant. In the delivery of palmitate to tissues the relative contribution of the different complexes would change, as the molar ratio of fatty acid to albumin changed.
Neural methods for dynamic branch prediction

This article presents a new and highly accurate method for branch prediction. The key idea is to use one of the simplest possible neural methods, the perceptron, as an alternative to the commonly used two-bit counters. The source of our predictor's accuracy is its ability to use long history lengths, because the hardware resources for our method scale linearly, rather than exponentially, with the history length. We describe two versions of perceptron predictors, and we evaluate these predictors with respect to five well-known predictors. We show that for a 4 KB hardware budget, a simple version of our method that uses a global history achieves a misprediction rate of 4.6p on the SPEC 2000 integer benchmarks, an improvement of 26p over gshare. We also introduce a global/local version of our predictor that is 14p more accurate than the McFarling-style hybrid predictor of the Alpha 21264. We show that for hardware budgets of up to 256 KB, this global/local perceptron predictor is more accurate than Evers' multicomponent predictor, so we conclude that ours is the most accurate dynamic predictor currently available. To explore the feasibility of our ideas, we provide a circuit-level design of the perceptron predictor and describe techniques that allow our complex predictor to operate quickly. Finally, we show how the relatively complex perceptron predictor can be used in modern CPUs by having it override a simpler, quicker Smith predictor, providing IPC improvements of 15.8p over gshare and 5.7p over the McFarling hybrid predictor.
Distribution of codeposited metals on the graphite divertor surfaces of DIII-D

Abstract Since the introduction of new graphite tiles on the divertor regions and the center post of DIII-D, beta backscatter measurements have been made of the metals codeposited on these surfaces at three different times. At the first vent (June 1988), the upper and lower portions of the machine appeared very similar, with the average amount of metal on a surface increasing with increasing radius and indications that local tile alignment had an effect on the amount of metal deposited. Measurements made during subsequent vents show that there has been much more metal deposited on the lower divertor than on the upper. Metal seems to be concentrated at radii both less than and greater than that expected for the strike zones. From measurements made during the latest vent (December 1989) there is clear indication that material has been eroded from a position of the outer strike zone, probably to be redeposited at a larger radius.
Chronic intrahypothalamic infusions of insulin or insulin antibodies alter body weight and food intake in the rat

Abstract In Experiment 1, one-week infusion of insulin (0.15, 1.5, or 15.0 μU/hr) into the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) of rats reduced body weight (BW) and nighttime food intake (FI). While 0.15 μU/h decreased daytime FI, 1.5 μU/h increased daytime FI and 15.0 μU/h left daytime FI unchanged. Total daily FI was decreased by the two highest doses. In Experiment 2, intra-VMH infusion of specific insulin antibodies (1.5 μUeq/h) increased BW and FI, while C-peptide antibodies were ineffective. In Experiment 3a, intracerebroventricular infusions of insulin failed to decrease FI and BW comparably to similar intrahypothalamic infusions. In Experiment 3b, intra-VMH insulin was infused via cannulae that bypassed the cerebral ventricles. The decrease in FI and BW was comparable to that observed when insulin was infused via cannulae that penetrated a ventricle. Histology from animals used in Experiments 1–3 indicates that optimum sites for insulin-induced changes in BW and FI in the hypothalamus lie in an area that includes portions of the paraventricular, arcuate, dorsomedial, and ventromedial nuclei.
Inheritance of closed flower in pepper

Progenies of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) crosses between the closed flower pepper line UFBG 8209-1 and cultivars Permagreen and Early Calwonder representing the normal, open flower type, were evaluated in a field experiment. The F1 generation was open flowered. Backcrosses and F2 generations indicated that the closed flower trait was controlled by a single recessive gene.
Submarine Maneuvers Using Direct Overset Simulation of Appendages and Propeller and Coupled CFD/Potential Flow Propeller Solver

This article presents two approaches to simulate maneuvers of a model radio-controlled submarine. In the direct simulation approach, rudders, stern planes, and propellers are gridded and treated as moving objects using dynamic overset technology. The second approach couples the overset computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solver and a potential flow propeller code, with both codes exchanging velocities at the propeller plane and wake, body forces, and propeller forces and moments, whereas rudders and stern planes are still explicitly resolved. It is shown that during the maneuvers, the range of advance coefficients does not deviate much from the design point, making a coupled approach a valid choice for standard maneuvering simulations. By allowing time steps about an order of magnitude larger than for the direct simulation approach, the coupled approach can run about five times faster. The drawback is a loss of resolution in the wake as the direct propeller simulation can resolve blade vortical structures. Open water propeller curves were simulated with both the direct propeller approach and the coupled approach, showing that the coupled approach can match the direct approach performance curves for a wide range of advance coefficients. Simulations of a horizontal overshoot maneuver at two approach speeds were performed, as well as vertical overshoot and controlled turn maneuvers at high speed. Results show that both CFD approaches can reproduce the experimental results for all parameters, with errors typically within 10%.
Serum calcium and magnesium decline during oral glucose tolerance testing in children and adolescents with preclinical diabetes mellitus less than in normals

Changes in serum levels of Ca, Mg, and P during oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) in 54 normal children and adolescents (N) and in 69 with abnormality in glucose tolerance were explored. OGTT classification was based on the range and 2 SD distribution of values in the normal population. Borderline tests (B) were those with a single postingestion level above the criterion but less than 200 mg/dl; a chemical diabetes test (C) was one with two abnormal levels or a single postingestion concentration above 200 mg/dl. Subsequent normal tests in youngsters who had previously had an abnormal glucose tolerance test (N1) were analyzed separately. Mg and Ca declined proportionately in each of the test types. The mean maximal percentage decline in N1, B, and C tests differed from N means at the p < 0.005 level or less. N1 tests, despite glucose levels similar to N tests, had <60% the average Mg and Ca decline. At each test time, patient group means for percentage [Ca] and [Mg] decline from baseline were significantly less than N means, with the exception of 4-hr [Mg] mean declines. Mean [P] decline was greater than N in B and C tests at 12 hr and in C tests at 3 and 4 hr, mirroring the hyperglycemia. Maximum [P] decline, however, did not vary significantly between normal and N1, B, or C tests. Ca and Mg concentrations in serum declined with glucose ingestion to a degree similar to known [P] decline. However, abnormal glucose tolerance and normal tests in persons who previously had abnormality were associated with significant diminution of this effect, while [P] change was not similarly affected.
Overexpression of DM20 messenger RNA in two brothers with pelizaeus‐merzbacher disease

Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease is a rare, sex-linked recessive, dysmyelinating disease of the central nervous system that has been associated with mutations in the myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) gene. Only 25% of patients studied with Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease have exonic mutations in this gene; the underlying cause of the disease in the remaining patients is unknown. The PLP gene encodes two major alternatively spliced transcripts called PLP and DM20. PLP messenger RNA is specifically expressed in central nervous system tissue, whereas DM20 messenger RNA is found in central nervous system, cardiac, and other tissues. We studied cultured skin fibroblasts from 2 brothers with Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease who exhibited no detectable exonic mutation of the PLP gene. Examination of RNA from these cells showed that the level of DM20 messenger RNA is elevated sixfold relative to male control skin fibroblasts. An unrelated female carrier, also with no detectable exonic mutation, showed a threefold increase in DM20 messenger RNA in cultured skin fibroblasts. Our findings suggest that in some patients, Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease is caused by overexpression of PLP gene transcripts, and that in these families a 50% increase of DM20 messenger RNA in females, relative to the increase in affected males, can identify a female carrier.
The interaction of Ca2+/Mg2+ ATPase activator protein and Ca2+ with human erythrocyte membranes.

Abstract This paper presents the first unambiguous demonstration that a unique protein isolated from the hemolysate of human erythrocytes is responsible for increasing both the apparent Ca2+ ion affinity and maximum rate of ATP hydrolysis of the membrane-bound Ca 2+ Mg 2+ ATPase. Unlike previous reports where an unpurified extract from red blood cells was used to activate the ATPase, our results clearly demonstrate that a single protein species, whether initially associated with or added back to the membrane is responsible for the observed changes in ATPase activity.
Inhibition of arachidonic acid incorporation into erythrocyte phospholipids by peracetic acid and other peroxides. Role of arachidonoyl-CoA: 1-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine acyl transferase.

To explore possible mechanisms of the arachidonic acid deficiency of the red blood cell membrane in alcoholics, we compared the effect of ethanol and its oxidized products, acetaldehyde and peracetic acid, with other peroxides on the accumulation of [ 14 C]arachidonate into RBC membrane lipids in vitro. Incubation of erythrocytes with 50 mM ethanol or 3 mM acetaldehyde had no effect on arachidonate incorporation. Pretreatment of erythrocytes with 10 mM hydrogen peroxide, 0.1 mM cumene hydroperoxide or 0.1 mM t -butyl hydroperoxide had little effect on [ 14 C]arachidonate incorporation in the absence of azide. However, pretreatment of cells with N -ethylmaleimide, 0.1 mM peracetic acid or performic acid, with or without azide, inhibited arachidonate incorporation into phospholipids but not neutral lipids. In chase experiments, peracetate also inhibited transfer of arachidonate from neutral lipids to phospholipids. To investigate a possible site of this inhibition of arachidonate transfer into phospholipids by percarbxylic acids, we assayed a repair enzyme, arachidonoyl CoA: 1-palmitoyl- sn -glycero-3-phosphocholine acyl transferase (EC 2.3.1.23). As in intact cells, phospholipid biosynthesis was inhibited more by N -ethylmaleimide and peracetic acid than by hydrogen peroxide, cumene hydroperoxide, and t -butyl hydroperoxide. Peracetic acid was the only active inhibitor among ethanol and its oxidized products studies and may deserve further examination in ethanol toxicity.
New Method for Treating Lattice Point Defects in Covalent Crystals

A new method is proposed for the calculation from first principles of the formation and migration energy of a vacancy or interstitial in covalent crystals. The formation energy of a point imperfection is given by the change in the electrostatic energy of the system of ions arising from the point defect plus the change in energy of the system of valence electrons due to their redistribution associated with the point defect. The redistribution of the valence electrons is determined from a pseudocrystal potential which results from orthogonalizing the valence-electron wave functions to the crystal wave functions of the closed-shell core electrons. The scattering of the valence electrons by the pseudocrystal potential is determined by using the $t$-matrix approximation. The formation energy of an interstitial in diamond, silicon, and germanium turns out to be 1.76, 1.09, and 0.93 eV, respectively; the migration energy of an interstitial is 0.85, 0.51, and 0.44 eV; the formation energy of a vacancy is 3.68, 2.13, and 1.91 eV; and the migration energy of a vacancy turns out to be 1.85, 1.09, and 0.98 eV. The general method presented for treating point defects in covalent crystals can be readily applied to determine the spectrum of localized states at point defects, which is of interest for optical investigations of point defects. Further, the derived expression for the energy of the system of valence electrons can readily be evaluated to show explicitly its dependence on the displacements of the lattice ions resulting from a point defect. Such an expression is needed, for example, for a self-consistent determination of the lattice distortion due to point defects, and furthermore can be used for calculating the elastic constants or lattice force constants from first principles. An approximate expression for the equation of state of the system of valence electrons is given.
Isoniazid‐Induced Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis from isoniazid is a possible side effect to this commonly prescribed antibiotic. The case reported here illustrates that clinicians should be aware of this potentially fatal drug reaction.
Telomestatin, a potent telomerase inhibitor that interacts quite specifically with the human telomeric intramolecular g-quadruplex.

Telomestatin is a natural product isolated from Streptomyces anulatus 3533-SV4 and has been shown to be a very potent telomerase inhibitor. The structural similarity between telomestatin and a G-tetrad suggested to us that the telomerase inhibition might be due to its ability either to facilitate the formation of or trap out preformed G-quadruplex structures, and thereby sequester single-stranded d[T2AG3]n primer molecules required for telomerase activity. Significantly, telomestatin appears to be a more potent inhibitor of telomerase (5 nM) than any of the previously described G-quadruplex-interactive molecules. In this communication we provide the first experimental evidence that telomestatin selectively facilitates the formation of or stabilizes intramolecular G-quadruplexes, in particular, that produced from the human telomeric sequence d[T2AG3]4. A simulated annealing (SA) docking approach was used to study the binding interactions of telomestatin with the intramolecular antiparallel G-quadruplex str...
Ejection of dust from Jupiter's gossamer ring

ONE of the most intriguing discoveries of the Ulysses mission so far has been the detection of periodic, collimated streams of high-velocity, submicrometre-sized dust particles emanating from Jupiter1,2. To explain the Ulysses data, Horanyi et al. showed3 that electromagnetic forces within Jupiter's magnetosphere can accelerate and eject small dust particles; they proposed a model in which Io is the source of the dust, and the observed periodicity arises from a resonance between the orbital and rotational periods of Io and Jupiter respectively. Here we argue that the masses and velocities of the detected particles are better explained by an origin in Jupiter's gossamer ring. Following their ejection from the magnetosphere, the dust particles are accelerated by the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). We find that it is the temporal evolution of the IMF which primarily determines the particle trajectories, and hence which particles reach the spacecraft. Our model explains three main features observed in the Ulysses data: fewer streams are detected before closest approach than after, the observed periodicity is closely related to the solar rotation period, and an extremely intense dust stream is detected immediately after closest approach.
The effect of eye colour pigments on the action spectrum of Drosophila

Abstract In vivo absorption spectra for Drosophila melanogaster eye colour pigment classes (drosopterins and ommatins) were constructed by subtracting the whole eye electroretinographic (ERG) spectral sensitivities of cn and bw respectively from the sensitivities of white-eyed strains. In situ microspectrophotometric (MSP) absorption spectra were also obtained. Both the ERG and MSP drosopterin spectra show a visible peak at 500 nm compared to the 480 nm peak of in vitro drosopterins. For the ommatins, the ERG absorption spectrum peaks at 450 nm while the MSP spectrum peaks at 400 and 525 nm. The ERG spectrum is similar to the in vitro absorption spectrum of xanthommatin while the MSP spectrum is similar to the in vitro absorption spectrum of reduced xanthommatin. The ERG absorption spectra for the drosopterins and the ommatins yield an accurate prediction of the effect of the combined pigments in wild-type eyes. Newly emerged and 7 day post-emergence bw flies show quantitatively similar pigment absorption effects while the drosopterins depress the sensitivity of newly emerged cn flies to a greater extent than that of cn flies 7 days after emergence.
Reproductive behaviour of the damselfly, Hetaerina americana (Fabricius) (Odonata: Calopterygidae)

Summary Daily and hourly variation in numbers at water and reproductive behaviour of the damselfly, Hetaerina americana were studied under field conditions. Numbers were very similar near noon on 38 days and at each hour on 2 days when hourly counts were obtained. Males probably spent the night at water. Unpaired females were routinely present at the aquatic habitat, and indications of territorial activity in this sex were obtained. Neither sex displayed. Males were inattentive to motionless females but approached them sexually when they flew. Sperm transfer followed each observed seizure, averaged only 7 sec, and occurred while the male held the female in tandem. Copulation quickly followed sperm transfer, averaged 3 min, and was at water. After copulation, pairs flew briefly in tandem, separated without distinctive behaviour, and the female descended to oviposit unaccompanied in willow roots for an average of 27 min. Underwater oviposition seemed obligatory. Each female remained near the site of descent while her mate remained nearby throughout her submergence and exhibited guarding behaviour by flying toward and displacing conspecific male intruders.