cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Futility by Any Other Name. The Texas 10 Day Rule

This commentary examines the ethics and law in the United States as they relate to the foregoing of life sustaining treatment when such treatment is deemed medically inappropriate. In particular the article highlights the procedural approach when there is disagreement between physicians and surrogates or patients as exemplified in Texas Law. This approach, although worthy in concept, may in practice invite opposition and dissatisfaction as it may be perceived as coercive and pitting the weak against powerful adversaries and interests, in addition to discouraging the exercise of professional virtues. Too inflexible an approach erodes trust, and furthermore the Texas law allows hospital ethics committees to move from an advisory non judgmental role to a quasi legal court with real legal power but no credentialing or oversight.
Efficient Algorithm for Discovering Potential Interesting Patterns with Closed Itemsets

A pattern discovered from a collection of data is usually considered potentially interesting if its information content can assist the user in their decision making process. To that end, we have defined the potential interestingness of a pattern based on whether it provides statistical knowledge that is able to affect one’s belief system. In previous work, we proposed two novel algorithms, Discovering All Potentially Interesting Patterns (DAPIP) and All-Confidence Discovery of Potentially Interesting Patterns (ACDPIP), designed to discover potentially interesting patterns from a collection of data. Results of experimental investigations show that the application of these two algorithms is limited to non-dense datasets. In response, we propose a new algorithm, referred to as ACDPIP-Closed, designed to discover potential interesting patterns from dense datasets. We show empirically that ACDPIP-Closed is able to effectively and efficiently discover potentially interesting patterns from dense datasets. Additional contributions provided by the paper include a definition of a frequent closed itemset based on an all-confidence threshold and a theorem stating that, under the assumption of a particular ordering of items, an itemset is support based closed if and only if it is all-confidence based closed.
ULTRASTRUCTURE OF MUCOCYSTS AND PELLICLE OF TETRAHYMENA PYRIFORMIS

Tetrahymena pyriformis GL was fixed with glutaraldehyde and/or OsO4 for a study of cytoplasmic ultrastructure. Many small vacuoles 0.05 to 0.5 µ in diameter were found to contain each a dense particle enveloped by a limiting membrane. This membrane is continuous with the membrane of the vacuole. The particles are irregular in shape and size, but similar to the mucocysts in the appearance of the matrix. It is suggested that they are the first morphologically distinguishable stages in the development of mucocysts. In the course of this development, amorphous material becomes crystalline with a longitudinal period of 150 A and a lateral period of 100 A. The mature mucocysts are rather uniform in size and have a spheroidal shape. During discharge, the crystalline pattern disappears and the mucocysts assume a spherical configuration. The inner limiting membrane of a mucocyst seems to disintegrate during the process of discharge while the outer membrane becomes continuous with the outermost pellicular membrane; the inner pellicular membrane is continuous with the cytoplasmic membrane. Rows of few to 15 or more microtubules were found either between the cytoplasmic membrane and the ectoplasmic layer (longitudinal fibrils) or underneath the ectoplasmic layer (transverse fibrils). The outer and inner pellicular membranes are uniformly spaced and connected by "cross-bridges." Details of these structures are described.
Multiple Factors in Airways Obstruction

1 Laurel CB, Eriksson 5: The electrophoretic A,-globulin pattern of serum in A1-antitrypsin deficiency. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 15:132-140, 1963 2 Lieberman J: Frequency of heterozygous and homozygous alpha,-antitrypsin deficiencies in patients with pulmonary emphysema. Clin Res 17:165, 1969 3 Lieberman J, Mittmnan C, Schneider AS: Screening for homozygous and heterozygous alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency. JAMA 210:2055, 1969 4 Kueppers F, Fallat R, Larson RK: Obstructive lung disease and alpha,-antitrypsin deficiency gene heterozygosity. Science 165-899, 1969 5 Mittman C: The PiMZ phenotype: Is it a significant risk factor for the development of chronic obstructive lung disease? Am Rev Respir Dis 118:649-652, 1978 6 Lebowitz MD, Knudsen RJ, Morse JO, et al: Closing volume and flow abnormalities in alpha1-antitrypsin phenotype groups in a community population. Am Rev Respir Dis 117:179, 1978 7 Webb DR, Hyde RW, Schwartz RH, et al: Serum alpha,antitrypsin variants: Prevalence and clinical spirometry. Am Rev Respir Dis 108:918, 1973 8 Klayton R, Fallat R, Cokes AB: Determinants of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in patients with intermediate levels of alpha,-antitrypsin. Am Rev Respir Dis 112:71, 1975 9 Cox DW, Hoeppner VH, Levison H: Protease inhibitors in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: The alpha,-antitrypsin heterozygote controversy. Am Rev Respir Dis 113:601, 1976 10 Cooper DM, Hoeppner V, Cox D, et al: Lung function in alpha,-antitrypsin heterozygotes (Pi type MZ). Am Rev Respir Dis 110:708, 1974 11 Enjeti 5, Hazeiwood B, Permutt S, et al: Pulmonary function in young smokers male-female differences. Am Rev Respir Dis 118:667, 1978 12 Cohen BH, Ball WC Jr, Brashears 5, et al: Risk factors in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Am J Epidemiol 105:223-231, 1977 13 Cohen BH, Menkes H, Beas W, et al: Multiple factors in airway obstruction. Chest 77:257, 1980
Imaging of angiogenesis using Cadence™ contrast pulse sequencing and targeted contrast agents

Objectives Low-power multipulse contrast ultrasound imaging provides a promising tool to quantify angiogenesis noninvasively when used with contrast agents targeted to vascular markers expressed by the angiogenic endothelium. Targeted ultrasound contrast agents, with a diameter on the order of micrometers, cannot extravasate and therefore are targeted solely to receptors expressed by the vascular endothelium. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of a low-power multipulse imaging sequence, CadenceTM contrast pulse sequencing (CPS), combined with targeted contrast agents to quantify angiogenesis. Material and Methods Targeted microbubbles were prepared by conjugating echistatin via biotin–avidin linkage to the surface of a phospholipid microbubble shell. The density of echistatin present on the shell was confirmed with flow-cytometry and quantified by total fluorescence. The binding of targeted microbubbles was evaluated in vitro by quantifying the adherence of targeted microbubbles to rat aortic endothelial cells, compared with control (nontargeted) microbubbles. The circulation time and adherence of targeted microbubbles was evaluated in vivo in a Matrigel model in rats and compared with control microbubbles using CPS in addition to a destructive ultrasound pulse. Results Using only the low-power CPS pulse, the echo intensity produced in the neovasculature of the Matrigel pellet was significantly greater with targeted microbubbles than with the control contrast agent (p < 0.001). Combining CPS with the destructive pulse, the processed image was significantly different in intensity (p < 0.001) and spatial extent between targeted and control agents (p < 0.001). When the morphology of the histological sample and ultrasound image correlated, the microvessel density count and the percentage of the circular area enhanced by ultrasound were correlated (p < 0.05). Conclusion Low-power multipulse imaging in combination with targeted echistatin-bearing microbubbles facilitated a noninvasive, quantitative evaluation of early angiogenesis during real-time imaging. The addition of high-intensity destructive pulses facilitated estimation of the spatial extent of angiogenesis. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Selective digestion of mouse metaphase chromosomes

Metaphase chromosomes prepared from colcemid-treated mouse L929 cells by non-ionic detergent lysis exhibit distinct heterochromatic centromere regions and associated kinetochores when viewed by whole mount electron microscopy. Deoxyribonuclease I treatment of these chromosomes results in the preferential digestion of the chromosomal arms leaving the centromeric heterochromatin and kinetochores apparently intact. Enrichment in centromere material after DNase I digestion was quantitated by examining the increase in 10,000xg pellets of the 1.691 g/cc satellite DNA relative to main band DNA. This satellite species has been localized at the centromeres of mouse chromosomes by in situ hybridization. From our analysis it was determined that DNase I digestion results in a five to six-fold increase in centromeric material. In contrast to the effect of DNase I, micrococcal nuclease was found to be less selective in its action. Digestion with this enzyme solubilized both chromosome arms and centromeres leaving only a small amount of chromatin and intact kinetochores.
Graduate student unions.

The Random Samples item “Union moves shake two campuses” (7 Dec., p. 2087) describes a 2-day strike by graduate students at my university, the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). However, use of the word “shake” is rather misleading, given the number of students who participated. Out of my fellow 5000 graduate students, there were no more than 50 people demonstrating at any one time, and many of those were outside community members and national union leaders. UIUC continues to strive to be a world leader in facilities and research, but this will be significantly hindered by the presence of a union that apparently only ~1% of graduate students on campus support. UIUC already has mechanisms in place to work on behalf of graduate students for higher pay, better benefits, and clearer grievance procedures. Our Graduate Employees' Organization will not release their membership numbers on campus nor their funding sources. Until there is full disclosure of members and funding, it is hard to believe that the organization is truly working for graduate students on this campus.
Genetics or environment in drug transport: the case of organic anion transporting polypeptides and adverse drug reactions

Introduction: Organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) uptake transporters are important for the disposition of many drugs and perturbed OATP activity can contribute to adverse drug reactions (ADRs). It is well documented that both genetic and environmental factors can alter OATP expression and activity. Genetic factors include single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that change OATP activity and epigenetic regulation that modify OATP expression levels. SNPs in OATPs contribute to ADRs. Environmental factors include the pharmacological context of drug–drug interactions and the physiological context of liver diseases. Liver diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cholestasis and hepatocellular carcinoma change the expression of multiple OATP isoforms. The role of liver diseases in the occurrence of ADRs is unknown. Areas covered: This article covers the roles OATPs play in ADRs when considered in the context of genetic or environmental factors. The reader will gain a greater appreciation fo...
College student attitudes concerning the sexuality of persons with mental retardation: Development of the perceptions of sexuality scale

As persons with mental retardation become increasingly integrated into community settings, their right to sexual expression is an ever more important focus of education and habilitation. The perceptions of service providers of the sexual behavior of persons with mental retardation can have a significant impact on access to these services. Thus, the Perceptions of Sexuality Scale (POS) was developed as a measure of the attitudes of service providers. Data are presented regarding a factor analysis of the POS; ratings of acceptability of the sexual behavior of college students and persons with mental retardation; and the relation of those ratings to certain demographics, general attitudes, and interpersonal contact variables. Suggestions for the use of the POS are made.
Electrocardiographic Changes of Hyperkalemia

Figure 1. A 42-year-old woman with end-stage renal disease from recurrent nephrolithiasis was admitted to the hospital for placement of an arteriovenous fistula for permanent hemodialysis access. While she was undergoing dissection of the brachial artery with local anesthesia, her heart rhythm converted from normal sinus rhythm to complete heart block with a ventricular escape (approximately 25 beats per minute) (Panel A). Two ampules of calcium gluconate (9.2 mEq) were administered intravenously. An electrocardiogram revealed sinus tachycardia with profound prolongation of the QRS interval (left-bundle-branch morphology), first-degree atrioventricular block, and “peaked” T waves (Panel B). The serum potassium concentration was . . .
Aryloxide ligand modification : New classical catalytic systems for olefin metathesis

The AM1-calculated partial oxygen charge of several phenoxide anions, potential ligands for tungsten-based classical catalytic systems for olefin metathesis, has been used as an indication of their electronwithdrawing ability. Based on the modeled set, a number of bis(aryloxide) derivatives of tungsten (VI) oxychloride have been synthesized by refluxing the parent phenol and WOCl 4 in toluene, and we have explored their ability to catalyze various metathesis applications. The studied complexes are precursors to active metathesis catalysts when heated in the presence of Bu 4 Sn, and experimental conditions for the catalysis of ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP), acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymerization, and ring closing metathesis (RCM) are reported. The catalytic ability of the studied complexes cannot be predicted based on a single structural or electronic parameter since ligand substitution also seems to affect other features such as solubility and chemical stability of the complex. Crystal data for bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)tungsten (VI) oxychloride (7): Space group: P 1 , triclinic. a = 7.8459(5) A, α = 94.100(1)°, b = 8.8504(5) A, β = 92.687(1)°, c = 14.2994(9) A, γ = 95.359(1)°, V = 984.64(10) A 3 , R 1 = 0.0258 and wR 2 = 0.0628.
Small volume hyperosmolar abdominal CT in acute small bowel obstruction

Purpose: Identification of the degree of small bowel obstruction (SBO) is helpful in patient management decisions since the treatment of partial SBO is nonoperative, whereas the treatment of complete SBO requires surgical intervention. We describe a technique providing the benefits of CT and enteroclysis together, which allows the radiologist to determine the degree of the SBO and thereby to distinguish partial from complete SBO. Methods and materials: Abdominal CT scans were performed on 21 patients. Patients were given 200 ml concentrated oral contrast medium. Serial radiographs followed the progression of contrast at 1, 3, and 5 h in order to optimize the timing of the abdominal CT. A partial SBO was diagnosed if the oral contrast reached the colon at or before the 5-h film, and a complete SBO if the oral contrast did not reach the colon by the 5-h abdominal radiograph. The CT was performed when the contrast reached the colon or after the 5-h film. Results: CT findings demonstrated complete obstruction in eight patients, all of whom required surgical treatment. Partial SBO was demonstrated in 13 patients. Ten of the 13 patients with partial SBO had an uncomplicated transition zone, probably due to adhesions, and were treated medically. Nine of these patients were managed with nasogastric tube decompression and were discharged without surgical intervention. One patient failed to respond to a 12-h course of nasogastric tube decompression and underwent lysis of adhesions. Three of the 13 patients had a complicated transition zone, due to an intussusception and two hernias, which were responsible for the SBO. Two were treated surgically and one medically. Conclusion: The use of small-volume hyperosmolar abdominal CT allows the radiologist to determine the degree of the SBO. This additional information is very useful in patient management because uncomplicated partial SBO is often treated successfully via tube decompression, whereas complete SBO requires surgical intervention.
The Thermal Structure of Triton's Middle Atmosphere

The atmospheric structure of Triton in the altitude range 25-150 kilometers shows an unexpectedly steep thermal gradient of 0.26 K per kilometer above 50 kilometer altitude, with a nearly isothermal profile below. The upper part of the profile can be explained by downward conduction of heat deposited by magnetospheric electrons and solar UV. However, the atmospheric temperature below 50 kilometers is too cold for identified radiative processes to dispose of the inferred heat flux (0.0012 erg per square centimeter per second) from the upper atmosphere. This implies that either the atmosphere is not in a steady state and/or an unidentified cooling mechanism is at work in the altitude range 25-50 kilometers. When extrapolated to the surface, the inversion results yield a pressure of 19.0 sup (+1.8) sub (-1.5), mubar, about 5mubar greater than that observed by Voyager.
Acute effects of exercise on cognition in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Prior data indicate positive effects of long-term exercise interventions for cognitive functioning among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but no prior studies have examined acute effects of individual bouts of exercise among patients with COPD. This study evaluated acute effects of exercise on cognitive performance in a community-based sample of patients with COPD and a healthy control group, matched by age, sex, and education. Twenty-nine older adults with COPD (mean age = 67.8 yr [ ± 7.4]; range: 56–85; 17 women) and 29 matched healthy control subjects (mean age = 68.7 yr [ ± 6.0] ) were recruited from the community. All participants completed a 20-min exercise session in which they exercised to a peak level and a video control condition in which they were provided information about exercise and cholesterol. Conditions were separated by a 1-wk interval, and order of participation in conditions was randomly assigned. Assessments of cognitive performance (Trail Making Test, Digi...
Direct detection of Salmonella Typhimurium on fresh spinach leaves using phage-based magnetoelastic biosensors

This paper presents an investigation into the use of phage-based magnetoelastic (ME) biosensors for the direct detection of Salmonella Typhimurium on fresh spinach leaves. The biosensors used in this investigation are composed of a freestanding, strip-shaped ME resonator (2 mm × 0.4 mm × 15 μm) immobilized with a landscape phage that possesses high binding affinity for S. Typhimurium. These biosensors were, due to their wireless, freestanding nature, directly placed on wet leaf surfaces pre-spiked with various concentrations of S. Typhimurium. The change in the resonant frequency of the biosensors caused by the selective binding of S. Typhimurium was, then, measured wirelessly and compared with that of control sensors (without phage). The presented methodology requires no pre-test sample preparation (i.e., washing of leaf surfaces and collection of Salmonella-containing liquid samples, followed by purification and concentration), and hence, a total test time of 45 min was realized. The limit of detection was determined from dose response plots to be 1.24 × 103 cells/mm2 and 1.29 × 103 cells/mm2 for the adaxial and abaxial surfaces of spinach leaves, respectively. In addition, the topography of leaf surfaces was characterized in terms of mean roughness and flatness along with their associated periodicity, all of which are anticipated to affect the physical contact between the placed biosensors and Salmonella cells on the leaf surface. The results indicate that the use of sufficiently small biosensors with a proper number may be the key to improving the limit of detection.
AlAs/GaAs Schottky-collector resonant-tunnel-diodes

Abstract The Schottky-collector resonant-tunnel-diode (SRTD) is an resonant-tunnel-diode with the normal N + collector layer and ohmic contact replaced by direct Schottky contact to the space-charge layer, thereby eliminating the associated parasitic series resistance R ins. By scaling the Schottky collector contact to submicron dimensions, the device periphery-to-area ratio is increased, decreasing the periphery-dependent components of the parasitic resistance, and substantially increasing the device's maximum frequency of oscillation. We report measured d.c. and microwave parameters of planar SRTDs fabricated with 1 μm-geometries in AlAs/GaAs.
Equivalent crack formation by propagating cracks under tension

Abstract A hybridized displacement discontinuity element and indirect boundary element (or fictitious stress) procedure is being used to model crack propagation in cases involving one, two and three cracks in a two-dimensional linear elastic medium under tension or partial tension/ compression. By comparing with published results, the simulation results are found to be satisfactory and the hybridized procedure (called FROCK) is verified. It is interesting to discover that in each of the cases involving one, two and three cracks, an equivalent crack perpendicular to the direction of maximum tension is formed through propagation of the outer and inner crack tips. An important capability of FROCK is shown in a complicated case with applied compression and tension in which parts of the crack and crack extensions open up while the rest remain closed with shear resistance acting on the closed crack surfaces.
Development of an Organizational Diversity Needs Analysis (ODNA) Instrument

Researchers have suggested that diversity is beneficial in organizational settings under conditions in which managers can manage it effectively. The goal of the current paper was to develop a general, theoretically anchored measure of diversity needs. Such an instrument could be used to evaluate the existing diversity climate in an organization. Once the climate is assessed, managers can, if necessary, develop, implement, and assess a customized training program to improve their institution's diversity-management practices. A two-study approach is used to examine, determine, and test an eight-dimension instrument, designated the Organizational Diversity Needs Analysis survey.
Evaluating web lectures: a case study from HCI

We present research using web lectures to enhance the classroom learning experience in an introductory HCI course. By using web lectures to present lecture material before class, more in-class time can be spent engaging students with hands-on learning activities. A quasi-experiment was conducted over a 15-week semester with 46 students in two sections of the same course: one section using web lectures and one using traditional lectures. Many control measures were in place, including each section being taught by the same instructor and blind grading. The web lecture section's grades were significantly higher than the traditional lecture section, and web lecture students reported increasingly strong positive attitudes about the intervention. Our twofold contribution is a novel use of existing technology to improve learning, and a longitudinal study of its use within the context of HCI education.
Are rabbits a suitable model to study sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever in susceptible hosts?

Abstract Sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever (SA-MCF), caused by ovine herpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2), is an often fatal syndrome affecting mainly ruminants. SA-MCF pathogenesis and vaccine studies rely solely on live animals, since OvHV-2 has not been successfully propagated in vitro . Thus, the identification of a laboratory animal model is desirable and necessary to accelerate the identification of virus–host interactions that lead to disease. Rabbits are susceptible to infection with OvHV-2 and the disease can be reliably induced experimentally; however, the viral dynamics and host immune responses in the context of SA-MCF development in rabbits have not yet been evaluated. We addressed these knowledge gaps by experimentally infecting rabbits with OvHV-2 and monitoring viral and host infection parameters. Following intranasal nebulization of OvHV-2 in rabbits, the virus transiently replicates in the lungs inducing only subtle local inflammatory responses; the virus then disseminates systemically and increased levels of viral DNA and transcripts can be detected in multiple tissues as disease develops. The severity of lesions was shown to increase with both viral DNA copy number and expression levels of ORF25, ORF50 and ORF73. The events observed in rabbits following OvHV-2 infection occurred in the same fashion previously reported in bison, a natural clinically susceptible host. The results of this study in conjunction with previous reports demonstrate that rabbits are a valuable model for SA-MCF pathogenesis and vaccine studies.
TH‐A‐210A‐01: Management of Interventional Equipment and Suite: Cradle to Grave

The life of any fluoroscopic imaging device begins with someone's perceived need for it and ends when it is removed from the clinical environment. In between these “cradle and grave” milestones, the machine must meet clinical objectives, provide good image quality, and reduce radiation dose to both patients and personnel. An organized program that achieves cost effective quality improvement is required to achieve these objectives. The first step identifies the clinical requirements of the imager. This identification assists obtaining adequate project funding. One acquires the imager by identifying the vendor of choice, negotiating the purchase, and issuing a purchase contract. One concurrently must plan an effective and efficient supporting facility followed by monitoring of the progress of renovation/construction. After the unit is installed, the owner acceptance tests the imager followed by staff training. A comprehensive program of routine testing, maintenance, repair, and record keeping to assure equipment performance begins after commissioning of the unit and continues throughout its life. Educational Objectives: 1. Understand how to help physicians identify equipment attributes that address clinical needs. 2. Understand important steps in selecting, negotiating, and contracting the purchase of imaging equipment. 3. Understand basic elements of facility design necessary to support selected imaging equipment. 4. Understand the objectives of acceptance testing of state‐of‐the‐art imaging equipment. 5. Understand the basic elements of a program to assure equipment performance after its commissioning.
Characterization of asian and north American avian H5N1

Since the emerge of the highly pathogenic avian H5N1 virus in Asia in 1996, the possibility for this virus to cross species barriers to infect humans and its ability to cause large outbreaks in birds have been a public health concern. This virus has been spreading from Asia to Europe and Africa by migratory birds with North America as its next possible stop. In this study, an ensemble of computational techniques including Random Forests, Informational Spectrum Method, Entropy, and Mutual Information were employed to unravel the distinct characteristics of Asian and North American avian H5N1 in comparison with human and swine H5N1. Critical differences were identified in the HA cleavage and binding sites, the HA receptor selection, the interaction patterns of HA and NA, and NP, PA, PB1, and PB2, and the important sites in the influenza proteins including HA, NA, M1, M2, NS1, NS2, NP, PA, PB1, PB1-F2, and PB2.
Spectral and thermal studies of tetrachlorocobaltate(II) salts of aminopyridinium cations

Caracterisation par spectrometrie de masse et etudes thermiques des tetrachlorocobaltates d'aminopyridinium et amino-2 picolinium
On Effective Convergence of Numerical Solutions for Differential Equations

This article studies the effective convergence of numerical solutions of initial value problems (IVPs) for ordinary differential equations (ODEs). A convergent sequence {Ym} of numerical solutions is said to be effectively convergent to the exact solution if there is an algorithm that computes an N ∈ N, given an arbitrary n ∈ N as input, such that the error between Ym and the exact solution is less than 2-n for all m ≥ N. It is proved that there are convergent numerical solutions generated from Euler’s method which are not effectively convergent. It is also shown that a theoretically-proved-computable solution using Picard’s iteration method might not be computable by classical numerical methods, which suggests that sometimes there is a gap between theoretical computability and practical numerical computations concerning solutions of ODEs. Moreover, it is noted that the main theorem (Theorem 4.1) provides an example of an IVP with a nonuniform Lipschitz function for which the numerical solutions generated by Euler’s method are still convergent.
The System Al 2 O 3 –B 2 O 3

NUMEROUS investigations have been made of the thermal behaviour of alumina–boric oxide mixtures. In 1887 Mallard1 identified a compound believed to be 3Al2O3.B2O3. Later work by Baumann and Moore2 and by Scholze3 indicated the formula to be 9Al2O3.-2B2O3. Scholze3 reported an additional compound, 2Al2O3.B2O3. A third boroaluminate has been recognized as the rare mineral jeremejevite, Al2O3.B2O3 (ref. 4). Data on the stability of these compounds are conflicting, and no serious effort appears to have been made to incorporate them in a conventional phase diagram. We present here a tentative phase diagram for the system Al2O3–B2O3, based on data from more than 100 runs carried out in the range 600°–1,650° C.
Co2+ as a chemical analogue for Fe2+ in high-temperature experiments in basaltic systems

Abstract High-temperature experiments on ferromagnesian compositions have been hampered by the rapid absorption of up to 95% of the original iron by platinum and 40% by silver-palladium capsules. Molybdenum or iron capsule materials can decrease or alleviate iron loss, but restrict oxygen fugacities to values near the iron-wustite buffer. Because Co 2+ is stable at f O 2 =HM and because the solubility of Co in platinum in this range of f O 2 is ∼0.05% at temperatures to 1350°C, its use as an analogue for Fe 2+ is possible. In addition, experiments simulating various Fe 2+ ratios can be easily performed by choosing appropriate Co 2+ /Fe 3+ ratios. The cobalt phases produced possess brilliant and distinctive colors which are valuable aids in optical identification of minute phases. The cobalt analogue hypothesis was tested with atmospheric pressure experiments in air on the cobalt analogue of the 1921 Kilauea basalt at three simulated Fe 2+ /Fe 3+ ratios. The results were compared with those of R.E.T. Hill (1969) for the natural 1921 basalt. The phase relations were the same, with the cobalt system stability fields systematically shifted by about +50°C. Microprobe analysis of olivines and the coexisting glasses indicate that the distribution of Co 2+ between olivine and melt is independent of temperature and liquid composition. Although the analogue liquid composition differs from the equilibrium composition of the natural system, it may be corrected be employing distribution coefficients (K D = 0.61 for the Co system; K D = 0.33 for the Fe system) to closely approximate what the natural system would yield if iron loss did not occur.
Reaction of N-Acetylglycyllysine Methyl Ester with 2-Alkenals: An Alternative Model for Covalent Modification of Proteins

Among the various reactions of lipid peroxidation products with proteins, 2-alkenals have been shown to react extensively with the epsilon-amino group of lysine residues [Zidek et al. (1997) Chem. Res. Toxicol. 10, 702-710]. To obtain additional information about the kinetic and mechanistic aspects of this modification, a model peptide (N-acetylglycyllysine O-methyl ester) was reacted with 2-hexenal. The reaction products were characterized through a combination of NMR and MS techniques. The structural elucidation efforts have shown the formation of pyridinium salts through the reaction of two or more alkenals with one amino group. Kinetic data were obtained using a continuous infusion of the reaction mixture into an electrospray ionization mass spectrometer. A mechanism is proposed that; offers an alternative model for the formation of stable protein cross-links. The reaction progresses through a Schiff base intermediate to form a dihydropyridine species which can be alternatively reduced to form various 3,4- or 2,5-substituted pyridinium species or react with another Schiff base to form a trialkyl-substituted pyridinium structure. The stoichiometry of this structure (aldehyde/amine) is 3:2, in contrast to the widely accepted 1:2. Therefore, it represents another possible crosslinking mechanism for bifunctional products of lipid peroxidation.
Zidovudine (AZT) treatment suppresses granulocyte-monocyte colony stimulating factor receptor type alpha (GM-CSFRα) gene expression in murine bone marrow cells

Abstract In vitro exposure of murine bone marrow cells to increasing concentrations of zidovudine (AZT, 0.1–50 μM) had a concentration dependent suppressive effect on the growth of granulocyte-monocyte colony forming unit (CFU-GM) derived colonies. In our previous published study, the mechanism of AZT-induced suppression of erythroid colony forming unit (CFU-E) derived colonies was linked to a decrease in erythropoitin receptor (Epo-R) gene expression. In this study, we have observed that AZT exposure also induced a concentration dependent suppressive effect (35–90%) on GM-CSF receptor type alpha (GM-CSFRα) gene expression. The suppression of GM-CSFRα mRNA expression was specific, since AZT caused a much lower decrease (15–22%) on the IL-3 receptor type alpha (IL-3Rα) message level, and had an insignificant effect on glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and c-myc message levels. Erythropoietin (Epo) therapy has been used for reversal of AZT induced erythroid toxicity. Exposure to increasing concentrations (10–500 U/ml) of GM-CSF was unable to override the suppressive effect of AZT on CFU-GM derived colonies, however, treatment in combination with IL-3 (10–250 U/ml) ameliorated the suppressive effects of AZT on CFU-GM and on GM-CSFRα and IL-3Rα gene expression. These findings suggest a mechanism via which AZT may suppress granulocyte-monocyte specific differentiation in murine bone marrow cells. These data also suggest that a combination of GM-CSF and IL-3 may be a superior therapeutic intervention for AZT-induced neutropenia.
Long-range analysis of the internuclear potential of Mg2

Abstract The RKR potential and calculated van der Waals constant C6 for the ground state of Mg2 are combined to yield an improved dissociation energy (D0 = 403.7 ± 0.7 cm−1) and the coefficient of the r−8 correction term (C8 = (0.48 ± 0.08) × 108 cm−1 A8) in the long-range interaction energy.
Clinical Use of Immunosuppressive Drugs: Part II

In haematological diseases, insufficient data has been accumulated to evaluate the efficacy of immunosuppressive drug treatment in patients with erythroid aplasia or sideroblastic anaemia. Cyclophosphamide may be efficacious in inhibiting circulating anticoagulants in patients who need continued replacement of clotting factors. Azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, cyclophosphamide and vincristine have been used successfully in treating patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, and some patients with auto-immune haemolytic anaemia may benefit from the addition of purine analogues. However, the use of immunosuppressive therapy seems to accelerate the presence of haematological malignancies in patients with macroglobulinaemia. In gastro-intestinal diseases, uncontrolled studies have shown nitrogen mustard, 6-mercaptopurine and azathioprine to be of modest benefit to patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. In a controlled trial azathioprine plus prednisone proved more effective than prednisone alone in sustaining remission in patients with Crohn’s disease. In patients with either chronic active hepatitis or primary biliary cirrhosis, however, there seems to be no benefit from immunosuppressive therapy for primary treatment of these diseases. Cyclophosphamide, azathioprine and methotrexate have all been used with some success in treating patients with uveitis, and in a controlled trial cytarabine has been shown to be beneficial to patients with herpes ophthalmicus. However, no benefit has been shown to patients with the eye changes of Graves* disease with either azathioprine or methotrexate. Patients with Paget’s disease appear to be helped by mithramycin. Cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil and azathioprine are ineffective in treating patients with multiple sclerosis. 6-Mercaptopurine, azathioprine, methotrexate and cyclophosphamide have all produced some benefit in patients with myasthenia gravis, and some patients with idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis have responded to azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine and cyclophosphamide. Alkylating agents have proved useful in treating some patients with asthma and in treating frequent relapsers among children with the nephrotic syndrome. In adults with membrano-proliferative glomerulonephritis some patients have responded to combination therapy with cyclophosphamide, azathioprine and corticosteroids. Immunosuppressive therapy is also indicated in prolonging graft survivals in patients receiving organ transplants. Drug toxicities of immunosuppressive agents are discussed. Their long-term effects, including mutagenic potential, have as yet not been fully elucidated.
EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED ARTHRITIS USING INTRA-ARTICULAR PAPAIN.

Daily injection of a crude papain solution into the knee joint of young rabbits continued over a six day period resulted in a degeneration of the articular cartilage within two weeks. The initial findings were elevation and loosening of the cartilage in the weight bearing area followed by thinning and fibrillation of the remaining surface. Microscopic changes consisted of disruption of the cartilage adjacent to the subchondral bone and loss of the superficial layers. Changes in the articular cartilage were similar to changes seen in clinical forms of degenerative arthritis. Le injection diurne de un solution de papaina crude ad in le articulation genicular de juvene conilios, quando continuate durante sex dies, resultava intra duo septimanas in un degeneration del cartilagine articular. Le constatationes initial esseva elevation e distachamento del cartilagine in le in areas sub pression de peso, sequite de tenuifi cation e fibrillation del remanente superficie. Le alterations microscopic que esseva notate consisteva de disruption del cartilagine adjacente al osso subchondral con perdita del stratos superficial. Alterationes in le cartilagine articular esseva simile a alterationes vidite in formas clinic de arthritis degenerative.
A human homolog of the yeast Ssk2/Ssk22 MAP kinase kinase kinases, MTK1, mediates stress-induced activation of the p38 and JNK pathways

A human homolog of the yeast Ssk2 and Ssk22 mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinases (MAPKKK) was cloned by functional complementation of the osmosensitivity of the yeast ssk2delta ssk22delta sho1delta triple mutant. This kinase, termed MTK1 (MAP Three Kinase 1), is 1607 amino acids long and is structurally highly similar to the yeast Ssk2 and Ssk22 MAPKKKs. In mammalian cells (COS-7 and HeLa), MTK1 overexpression stimulated both the p38 and JNK MAP kinase pathways, but not the ERK pathway. MTK1 overexpression also activated the MKK3, MKK6 and SEK1 MAPKKs, but not the MEK1 MAPKK. Furthermore, MTK1 phosphorylated and activated MKK6 and SEK1 in vitro. Overexpression of a dominant-negative MTK1 mutant [MTK1(K/R)] strongly inhibited the activation of the p38 pathway by environmental stresses (osmotic shock, UV and anisomycin), but not the p38 activation by the cytokine TNF-alpha. The dominant-negative MTK1(K/R) had no effect on the activation of the JNK pathway or the ERK pathway. These results indicate that MTK1 is a major mediator of environmental stresses that activate the p38 MAPK pathway, and is also a minor mediator of the JNK pathway.
Localization and analyses of small drug molecules in rat brain tissue sections.

Traditional detection of drugs in tissue requires tissue homogenization, which precludes the mapping and localization of drugs. The use of autoradiography could compensate for such shortcoming. However, it requires expensive custom-synthesized radioactive drugs. Recent improvement in sample preparation for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) and MALDI-MS/MS provides an alternative approach for in situ drug detection. In this work, rat brains were collected after intracranial injection of chlorisondamine or intraperitoneal injection of cocaine and snap frozen. MALDI matrixes were applied directly to 14-μm brain cryosections and spectra acquired. The identity of the drugs was further confirmed by MS/MS. Careful matrix selection and tissue preparation allows for the successful detection of drugs and the mapping of their relative abundance across various regions of the brain. This new method is simple, safe, accurate, fast, cost-effective, and low in sample consumption and...
Do hermaphrodites of gynodioecious Phacelia linearis (Hydrophyllaceae) trade off seed production to attract pollinators

Abstract Sexual selection theory predicts that hermaphroditic plants might trade off seed production to attract pollinators. This paper reports a test of this prediction in gynodioecious Phacelia linearis (Hydrophyllaceae), a species in which attractiveness to pollinators increases with corolla diameter. The relationship between corolla diameter and seed production was determined in three natural and three experimental populations. Phenotypic selection analysis was used, with lifetime seed production as a surrogate for fitness. Negative directional selection was expected on hermaphrodite corolla diameter. No directional selection (but possibly stabilizing selection) was expected on corolla diameter in females, which have smaller corollas than hermaphrodites. Shoot biomass and flowering time were included in selection analyses so that the effects of corolla size could be assessed independently of these correlated characters. A parent-offspring study of the quantitative genetics of these characters also was performed. High seed production was associated with large shoot biomass (especially in natural populations) and early flowering (especially in experimental populations). The effect of hermaphrodite corolla size on seed production was not as predicted. Directional selection on hermaphrodite corolla diameter was generally positive. Directional selection on female corolla diameter was relatively weak and variable; stabilizing selection was found in one population. Most of the phenotypic selection on corolla diameter was caused by its (environmental) correlation with shoot biomass. Although these findings do not support the hypothesis that hermaphrodites trade off seed production to attract pollinators, a cautious interpretation is warranted. In one natural population, insect herbivory generated positive covariance between hermaphrodite corolla diameter and seed number, leading to a spurious estimate of positive directional selection for corolla diameter. Other, undetected sources of positive covariance between corolla size and seed production also might have obscured the expected tradeoff. Corolla diameter was found to be heritable, but shoot biomass and flowering time were not. The genetic correlation between hermaphrodite corolla diameter and female corolla diameter was positive and significant, but it was significantly less than 1, so corolla size could evolve independently in the two genders.
Total Variation Wavelet Thresholding

We propose using Partial Differential Equation (PDE) techniques in wavelet based image processing to remove noise and reduce edge artifacts generated by wavelet thresholding. We employ a variational framework, in particular the minimization of total variation (TV), to select and modify the retained wavelet coefficients so that the reconstructed images have fewer oscillations near edges while noise is smoothed. Numerical experiments show that this approach improves the reconstructed image quality in wavelet compression and in denoising.
YBa2Cu3Ox toughened by ZrO2 additions

Influence de l'addition de ZrO 2 (1 a 10%) sur la tenacite de YBa 2 Cu 3 O x . Analyse du mecanisme d'augmentation de la tenacite
Upregulation of angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene expression in chronic renovascular hypertension.

Although the renin-angiotensin system has been implicated in the pathogenesis of renovascular hypertension (RVH), blood pressure does not parallel serum levels of renin or angiotensin II (All) in chronic RVH. Upregulation of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (ATI) gene expression may explain this paradox and clarify the pathogenesis of chronic hypertension in RVH. To investigate this hypothesis, we studied changes in AT 1 mRNA levels in rat kidney in a two-kidney, one-clip (2K1C) rat model of RVH. Animals were sacrificed at 1 or 10 weeks postoperatively. Blood pressure was measured with a tail cuff photosensor. Relative gene expression was quantitated by dot blotting total RNA, hybridizing with a cDNA probe for AT 1 , and quantitating signal intensity with scanning densitometry. A significant increase in blood pressure (BP) was observed at 1 week postoperatively (ABP : 2K1C = +24 mm Hg, n = 3 ; controls = +7 mm Hg, n = 3 ; P < 0.05), and at this time relative AT 1 mRNA levels actually decreased in the clipped kidney (P < 0.05). Hypertension intensified 10 weeks postoperatively (ABP : 2K1C = +46 mm Hg, n = 20 ; controls = -17 mm Hg, n = 7 ; P < 0.005) and, remarkably, was paralleled by an almost sevenfold upregulation of AT 1 mRNA levels in the clipped kidney (P < 0.005) and more than eightfold in the unclipped kidney (P < 0.005) of 2K1C animals. Upregulation of renal AT 1 gene expression could lead to increased AT 1 receptor production, hypersensitivity to AII, and chronic hypertension in RVH.
Seasonality in the prehistoric Faiyum based on the incremental growth structures of the Nile catfish (Pisces: Clarias)

Abstract A methodology for constructing a seasonality study based on incremental growth structures of the Nile catfish (Clarias spp.) was developed and applied to an archaeological assemblage from the Faiyum Depression, Egypt. This study reveals that the Nile catfish was collected by terminal Palaeolithic and early Neolithic Faiyum inhabitants at two different periods of the year: late spring/early summer and summer/fall.
Climate-change strategy needs to be robust

Decision-makers need to develop a climate policy acceptable to groups with many different estimates of the likelihood of alternative futures, and may tend to rely on strategies that work reasonably well instead of alternatives across a wide range of plausible scenarios. The authors agreed with a recommendation for use of ensembles of multiple scenarios to capture what is known about the long-term climate future.
Small-Angle X-Ray Scattering Analysis of Nucleation in Glass: I, Matrix Scattering and Sample Surface Effects

Two major sources of experimental error are examined in the analysis of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data from weakly scattering or nearly homogeneous multiphase glasses. The effect of sample surface structure and the importance of a well-polished surface are examined. There is also a contribution to the measured SAXS from the homogeneous matrix or solvent structure of the glass. This contribution arises from short-range frozen-in density fluctuations within the glass. A method for correcting this contribution before analyzing for particulate microstructure is described. In addition, SAXS curves for several commercial glasses are presented.