cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of forms of immunoreactive somatostatin in sensory neuron and normal and deafferented spinal cord

In order to determine the contribution made by primary sensory afferents and supraspinal projections to the immunoreactive somatostatin (IRS) content of the spinal cord, measurements were made of the concentration of IRS in the dorsal and ventral halves of the cord in cats subjected to unilateral lumbosacral dorsal rhizotomy (L1-S3) alone or combined with spinal cord transection. The molecular forms of IRS (characterized by gel chromatography) in L7 lumbar spinal cord, L6-S1 dorsal roots, ventral roots and dorsal root ganglia, and sciatic nerve were also determined. S14 was the predominant form in all tissues examined, but two additional molecular forms corresponding to S28 and S11.5 kdalton were present in dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord; S28 but not S11.5 kdalton was detected in both dorsal roots and sciatic nerves. These results indicate that S14 and S28 are transported along the central and peripheral processes of dorsal root ganglia, but that spinal cord S11.5 kdalton originates in the central nervous system. IRS in the dorsal horn was reduced by ca. 40% following dorsal root section. Neither disruption of descending pathways by spinal transection nor surgical isolation of the lumbar segments lowered cord somatostatin content below that produced by dorsal root section, indicating that most of the somatostatin within the cord arises from the dorsal root and from neurons in local spinal segments. Although the total content of IRS in the dorsal horn was reduced by ca. 40% following dorsal rhizotomy, the pattern of molecular forms was not changed accordingly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The influence of pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and human immunodeficiency virus perceived susceptibility patterns on sexual risk reduction for adolescent females

Risky sexual behavior can lead to pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Our study of 300 adolescent females takes an integrative approach by incorporating these multiple outcomes to assess the influence of risk perceptions on sexual behavior by (1) identifying subgroups of perceived susceptibility to pregnancy, STDs, and HIV using cluster analysis and (2) comparing subgroups on demographics, sexual history, sexual risk behavior over time, and subsequent STD acquisition. Results demonstrated five perceived susceptibility clusters (no susceptibility; high HIV; high pregnancy; high STD; and high multisusceptibility) that differed in three important ways: demographic and sexual history profiles, current sexual risk behavior, and subsequent STDs. Young women in the no susceptibility cluster had the lowest sexual risk and those in the high multisusceptibility cluster had the highest sexual risk and the highest number of subsequent STDs. There were no significant changes in sexual risk over time, regardless of cluster. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 33: 313–331, 2005.
Liver nuclear DNA synthesis in mice following carbon tetrachloride administration or partial hepatectomy.

Long-term, continuous (twice per week) administration of CCl/sub 4/ to male mice resulted in a high incidence of liver nodules which appear to be resistant to the necrotizing effects of CCl/sub 4/ but showed no features of malignant neoplasia. Liver nuclear DNA synthesis was compared in mice given CCl/sub 4/ and in mice subjected to partial hepatectomy (PH). Mice were given by gavage corn oil or CCl/sub 4/ in corn oil for periods of 2 to 25 weeks and several mice were subjected to PH after 12 and 25 weeks of corn oil treatment. Mice were given (/sup 3/H)TdR during liver regeneration and newly synthesized liver nuclear DNA was isolated and separated by BND-cellulose chromatography. Greater than 85% of the labeled DNA from PH mice eluted from BND-cellulose columns as double-stranded (ds) DNA with single-stranded (ss) regions or ends and less than 15% as ds DNA. When mice were treated with CCl/sub 4/ for 8 weeks or longer a significantly greater portion of liver nuclear DNA eluted as ds DNA. Administration of HU and 5-FU with (/sup 3/H)TdR decreased (/sup 3/H)TdR incorporation into DNA to low levels incompatible with unscheduled DNA synthesis. Single doses of CCl/sub 4/ given to micemore » treated with corn oil for 2 to 12 weeks provided newly synthesized DNA which was primarily (>80%) ds DNA with ss regions or ends, but after 25 weeks of corn oil administration, a single dose of CCl/sub 4/ resulted in newly synthesized DNA with a greater proportion of ds DNA. The high labeling of ds DNA in mice treated with CCl/sub 4/ may have resulted from an alternate pathway of DNA synthesis catalyzed by the enzymes or enzyme complexes associated with semiconservative DNA synthesis or from proliferation of nonparenchymal cells with a rapid turn-over rate.« less
Provision of specific preconception care messages and associated maternal health behaviors before and during pregnancy

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between receipt of specific preconception care messages before pregnancy and maternal behaviors before and during pregnancy. Study Design Data were from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System 2009-2010. Only women who reported receiving general preconception care were asked questions about specific health messages that they received before pregnancy (32.2% of the total sample; N = 10,267). Preconception care messages that were received and corresponding behaviors that were examined included taking vitamins with folic acid before pregnancy, dieting to lose weight or exercising before pregnancy (for women who were overweight or obese before pregnancy), and smoking and drinking alcohol during pregnancy (for women who reported smoking or alcohol use in the past 2 years). Separate weighted multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the association between receipt of specific preconception care messages and maternal behaviors before and during pregnancy. Results Women who reported receiving the message about taking vitamins with folic acid before pregnancy reported taking vitamins more often in the month before pregnancy compared with women who did not receive the message (77% vs 40%; P P = .58; aOR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.77–1.47]; exercising: 43% vs 40% [ P = .42; aOR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.81–1.51]). Among smokers, women who received the message regarding smoking during pregnancy smoked more often during the last 3 months of pregnancy than women who did not receive the message (47% vs 27%; P P = .86; aOR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.65–1.38). Conclusion Our study found that counseling on folic acid was associated with greater vitamin use, although counseling on dieting, exercising, drinking, and smoking among women who were at high risk was not associated with behaviors before or during pregnancy.
Effects of wall electrodes on Hall effect thruster plasma

This paper investigates the physical mechanisms that cause beneficial and detrimental performance effect observed to date in Hall effect thrusters with wall electrodes. It is determined that the wall electrode sheath can reduce ion losses to the wall if positioned near the anode (outside the dense region of the plasma) such that an ion-repelling sheath is able to form. The ability of the wall electrode to form an ion-repelling sheath is inversely proportional to the current drawn—if the wall electrode becomes the dominant sink for the thruster discharge current, increases in wall electrode bias result in increased local plasma potential rather than an ion-repelling sheath. A single-fluid electron flow model gives results that mimic the observed potential structures and the current-sharing fractions between the anode and wall electrodes, showing that potential gradients in the presheath and bulk plasma come at the expense of current draw to the wall electrodes. Secondary electron emission from the wall electrodes (or lack thereof) is inferred to have a larger effect if the electrodes are positioned near the exit plane than if positioned near the anode, due to the difference in energy deposition from the plasma.
Re: Detection of JC virus sequences in colorectal cancers in Japan.

To the Editors: We read “Detection of JC virus DNA sequences in colorectal cancers in Japan” by Hori et al. with great excitement. These authors offer convincing evidence that polyoma T antigen may be integrated into the cellular genome of colon carcinoma tissues, although the T-antigen protein is not expressed [4]. We enthusiastically agree with their conclusions and would like to offer additional data to advance this discussion. First, we have investigated the presence of polyomavirus (PV) T antigen in tumors by immunohistochemistry (IHC), using a primary antibody that reacts with the large T antigen of both the JC and BK viruses [1, 5]. T antigen was not detected in any of 50 cases of colon carcinoma, 18 cases of gastric cancer, or 15 cases of bladder carcinoma. In addition, we examined by IHC the presence of T antigen in six cases of polyoma virus nephropathy (PVN) in renal transplant patients. In all of these six patients, robust nuclear staining specific for T antigen was observed in scattered tubular cells. The infected tubular cells were characterized by distinct cytopathological features, including anisonucleosis, hyperchromasia with clumped chromatin, and intranuclear inclusions. Such cellular changes represent a “permissive” infection, i.e., a state of viral replication. These histopathological features are absent in our 83 cases of carcinoma. We agree with these authors that if PV is present in tumors, it is likely to be integrated into the cellular genome, representing a “nonpermissive” infection in which viral replication does not occur. We conclude that future IHC studies of tumors are likely to be uninformative because we fail to detect viral antigens in nonpermissive infections, which are precisely the category of infections hypothesized to drive oncogenesis. Although recent studies have detected T antigen by IHC in esophageal [2] and colon [3] carcinoma, it remains to be seen whether these data truly represent evidence for a viral etiology in these tumors, or, alternatively, a sequelae of the patient’s immunocompromised state. We look forward to hearing the results of future studies from Dr. Hori’s team.
Cone-specific c-wave in the turtle retina.

Abstract The c-wave of the ERG was thought to be rod specific. We monitor the extracellular K + , [K + ] o , in the photoreceptor layer of the turtle retina (1) by K + electrodes and (2) by intraceilular recording from pigment epithelial cells which act as K + electrodes. Light-induced changes in [K + ] o give rise to a cone specific “fast c-wave ” as shown (a) by light-dependent changes in [K + ] o with spectral sensitivities matching green- and red-sensitive cones and (b) by the presence of the “fast c-wave ” in the ERG when the b-wave is selectively depressed. We propose an analogue electrical model of the photoreceptors by means of which both the rod- and. cone-specific c-waves are accounted for.
Free-electron laser tissue-soldering in vitro with an albumin solder

The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of using a free-electron laser (FEL) to photothermally coagulate an albumin solder for laser-assisted incision closure. A 50%(w/v) bovine serum albumin solder was used to repair an incision in bovine aorta. The solder was coagulated by targeting absorption peaks in the solder infrared absorption spectrum using the FEL. Acute breaking strengths of repaired incisions were measured and the data analyzed by one-way ANOVA (P < 0.05). Multiple comparisons of means were performed using the Newman-Keuls test. The solder absorption spectrum from 2 - 10 microns was similar to water with an additional peak at 6.45 microns (amide II) due to the albumin. Preliminary results indicated that wavelengths at or very close to the absorption peaks were excessively absorbed, resulting in only the top surface of the solder being coagulated. Using wavelengths at points of weak absorption on the water absorption curve yielded better results.
CD44 Keeps Tumor Killers Polarized

In this issue of Immunity, Mrass et al. (2008) report that CD44 critically contributes to the stabilization of polarity in migrating cytotoxic T lymphocytes by anchoring cytoskeletal proteins to the cell membrane at their uropods.
Gastrointestinal Bacterial and Methanogenic Archaea Diversity Dynamics Associated with Condensed Tannin-Containing Pine Bark Diet in Goats Using 16S rDNA Amplicon Pyrosequencing

Eighteen Kiko-cross meat goats (n = 6) were used to collect gastrointestinal (GI) bacteria and methanogenic archaea for diversity measures when fed condensed tannin-containing pine bark (PB). Three dietary treatments were tested: control diet (0% PB and 30% wheat straw (WS); 0.17% condensed tannins (CT) dry matter (DM)); 15% PB and 15% WS (1.6% CT DM), and 30% PB and 0% WS (3.2% CT DM). A 16S rDNA bacterial tag-encoded FLX amplicon pyrosequencing technique was used to characterize and elucidate changes in GI bacteria and methanogenic archaea diversity among the diets. Proteobacteria was the most dominant phylum in goats with mean relative abundance values ranging from 39.7 (30% PB) to 46.5% (control) and 47.1% (15% PB). Other phyla individually accounted for fewer than 25% of the relative abundance observed. Predominant methanogens were Methanobrevibacter (75, 72, and 49%), Methanosphaera (3.3, 2.3, and 3.4%), and Methanobacteriaceae (1.2, 0.6, and 0.7%) population in control, 15, and 30% PB, respectively. Among methanogens, Methanobrevibacter was linearly decreased (P = 0.05) with increasing PB supplementation. These results indicate that feeding PB selectively altered bacteria and methanogenic archaeal populations in the GI tract of goats.
Mechanical Circulatory Support as a Bridge to Transplant or for Destination Therapy

Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) frequently is used to treat medically refractory end-stage heart failure. Initially designed to be a bridge to transplantation, MCS also has proven itself as a durable therapy for patients who are not transplant candidates. As outcomes for patients with MCS have improved, research interest in device development has flourished, with many new device types under investigation. In addition to improvement of MCS devices, investigational work continues to achieve appropriate patient selection and complication management.
Effect of cutting edge geometry and workpiece hardness on surface generation in the finish hard turning of AISI 52100 steel

Abstract An experimental investigation was conducted to determine the effects of tool cutting edge geometry and workpiece hardness on the surface roughness and cutting forces in the finish hard turning of AISI 52100 steel. Cubic boron nitride inserts with various representative cutting edge preparations and through-hardened AISI 52100 steel bars were used as the cutting tools and workpiece material, respectively. This study shows that the effect of edge geometry on the surface roughness and cutting forces is statistically significant. Specifically, large edge hones result in higher average surface roughness values than small edge hones, due to increase in the extent of ploughing compared to shearing. The effect of the two-factor interaction of the edge geometry and workpiece hardness on the surface roughness is also found to be important. Additionally, large edge hones result in higher forces in the axial, radial, and tangential directions than small edge hones. It is also shown that the effect of workpiece hardness on the axial and radial components of force is significant, particularly for large edge hones.
Impact of Quantization Energy and Gate Leakage in Bilayer Tunneling Transistors

The effect of quantum mechanical confinement in recently proposed thin-body double-gate electron-hole bilayer tunneling transistors is examined. In such devices, a vertical electric field, which is produced by oppositely biased double gates, induces vertical band-to-band tunneling across the intrinsic semiconductor channel. It is found that reducing body thickness in order to increase tunneling probability, i.e., source-drain current drive, considerably increases confinement energy, requiring a large gate and semiconductor electric field, and therefore voltage, to reach electron and hole eigenstate alignment. Furthermore, large electric fields across the gate dielectrics are expected to cause substantial gate leakage current. Design limits based on this analysis are discussed.
Effect of palmitylcarnitine on ouabain binding to Na, K-ATPase.

Abstract Palmitylcarnitine, an endogenous long-chain fatty acyl ester, inhibited cardiac Na, K-ATPase activity and binding of [ 3 H]ouabain to the enzyme. The inhibitory effects on enzyme hydrolytic activity and drug binding were time and concentration dependent, but also dependent upon the ratio of palmitylcarnitine to protein. Palmitylcarnitine inhibitory effects were irreversible, but could be prevented by bovine serum albumin. In the presence of Mg 2+ + ATP or Mg 2+ + Pi, [ 3 H]ouabain binding was fully inhibited by 100 μ m palmitylcarnitine. The addition of sodium, or sodium plus potassium to the drug-binding medium reduced the inhibitory effect. The protective action of Na + was concentration dependent and was optimal at 75 μ m palmitylcarnitine. Equimolar amounts of choline chloride did not have the same protective effect as sodium chloride. Binding of ouabain to the enzyme in the absence of palmitylcarnitine prevented the protective effect of Na + . Inhibition of Na, K-ATPase functional properties occurred at a concentration range of palmitylcarnitine reported to occur in the cytosol of ischemic cells during episodes of experimental myocardial ischemia. It is suggested that elevated levels of palmitylcarnitine in ischemic myocardium may play a role in altering cellular function as well as the inotropic response of ischemic cardiac muscle to digitalis glycosides.
A Bayesian Spatial Scan Statistic

We propose a new Bayesian method for spatial cluster detection, the "Bayesian spatial scan statistic," and compare this method to the standard (frequentist) scan statistic approach. We demonstrate that the Bayesian statistic has several advantages over the frequentist approach, including increased power to detect clusters and (since randomization testing is unnecessary) much faster runtime. We evaluate the Bayesian and frequentist methods on the task of prospective disease surveillance: detecting spatial clusters of disease cases resulting from emerging disease outbreaks. We demonstrate that our Bayesian methods are successful in rapidly detecting outbreaks while keeping number of false positives low.
Preserved Pancreatic β-Cell Development and Function in Mice Lacking the Insulin Receptor-Related Receptor

Receptors of the insulin/insulinlike growth factor (IGF) family have been implicated in the regulation of pancreatic beta-cell growth and insulin secretion. The insulin receptor-related receptor (IRR) is an orphan receptor of the insulin receptor gene (Ir) subfamily. It is expressed at considerably higher levels in beta cells than either insulin or IGF-1 receptors, and it has been shown to engage in heterodimer formation with insulin or IGF-1 receptors. To address whether IRR plays a physiologic role in beta-cell development and regulation of insulin secretion, we have characterized mice lacking IRR and generated a combined knockout of Ir and Irr. We report that islet morphology, beta-cell mass, and secretory function are not affected in IRR-deficient mice. Moreover, lack of IRR does not impair compensatory beta-cell hyperplasia in insulin-resistant Ir(+/-) mice, nor does it affect beta-cell development and function in Ir(-/-) mice. We conclude that glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and embryonic beta-cell development occur normally in mice lacking Irr.
Leukoencephalopathy in a Cat Due to Accidental Cyanide Poisoning

There are relativcly few reports on the pathologic effects of cyanide poisoning (GREENFIELD et ULE and PRIBILLA~~), despite the frequency of poisoning by cyanide salts or vapor in humans and by cyanogenctic plants in herbivorous animals. There may bc survival without apparent sequelae or rapid death beforc lesions can develop. The characteristic cncephalopathy of cyanide poisoning is seen only in cascs of severe intoxication that have a sufficiently prolongcd survival to permit development of pathologic changes. Instances of this sort are probably even less common among domestic animals than among humans, and we have been unablc to find any specific reference to accidental poisoning of animals by cyanide salts (BLOOD and HENDERSON~ ; JURB and I<ENNEDY~; INNES and sAUNDERS4; NIEBERLB and COIIRS~~); RADELEIT~~ ; Svrrii and JONESI~). Therefore, the present report has certain unique features which contribute to our lcnowlcdge about cyan idc leulcoencephalopathy.
Unknown input and sensor fault estimation using sliding-mode observers

Sliding-mode observers are used to construct unknown input estimators. Then, these unknown input estimators are combined with sensor fault estimation schemes into one architecture that employs two sliding-mode observers for simultaneously estimating the plant's actuator faults (part of the unknown input) and detecting sensor faults. Closed form expressions are presented for the estimates of unknown inputs and sensor faults. A benchmark example of a controlled inverted pendulum system from the literature is utilized in the simulation study. The study shows that the observers analyzed in this paper generate good estimates of the unknown input and sensor faults signals in noisy environments for nonlinear plants.
Demographic Inference Using Spectral Methods on SNP Data, with an Analysis of the Human Out-of-Africa Expansion

We present an implementation of a recently introduced method for estimating the allele-frequency spectrum under the diffusion approximation. For single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) frequency data from multiple populations, the method computes numerical solutions to the allele-frequency spectrum (AFS) under a complex model that includes population splitting events, migration, population expansion, and admixture. The solution to the diffusion partial differential equation (PDE) that mimics the evolutionary process is found by means of truncated polynomial expansions. In the absence of gene flow, our computation of frequency spectra yields exact results. The results are compared to those that use a finite-difference method and to forward diffusion simulations. In general, all the methods yield comparable results, although the polynomial-based approach is the most accurate in the weak-migration limit. Also, the economical use of memory attained by the polynomial expansions makes the study of models with four populations possible for the first time. The method was applied to a four-population model of the human expansion out of Africa and the peopling of the Americas, using the Environmental Genome Project (EGP) SNP database. Although our confidence intervals largely overlapped previous analyses of these data, some were significantly different. In particular, estimates of migration among African, European, and Asian populations were considerably lower than those in a previous study and the estimated time of migration out of Africa was earlier. The estimated time of founding of a human population outside of Africa was 52,000 years (95% confidence interval: 36,000–80,800 years).
Towards an intelligent acoustic front-end for automatic speech recognition: built-in speaker normalization (BISN)

Much effort has transpired over the past three decades in the formulation of "ideal" acoustic features which represent the speech signal in a discriminative and compact manner while being robust to adverse conditions and invariant to speaker differences. A good way of making ASR systems invariant to speaker differences is to perform speaker normalization on the input features. The most popular speaker normalization technique is the vocal tract length normalization (VTLN). However, its implementation requires immense computational resources and is not practically applicable in real-time/embedded ASR systems. In this paper, we propose a new speaker normalization algorithm entitled built-in speaker normalization (BISN) which is performed on-the-fly within the newly proposed PMVDR acoustic front-end and reduces computational resources significantly enabling its use within contemporary ASR systems. Evaluations using an in-car extended digit recognition task showed that on-the-fly implementation of the BISN algorithm produced a relative word error rate (WER) reduction of 24% compared to a no speaker normalization baseline.
Deletion and replacement of the mouse adult beta-globin genes by a "plug and socket" repeated targeting strategy.

Abstract We describe a two-step strategy to alter any mouse locus repeatedly and efficiently by direct positive selection. Using conventional targeting for the first step, a functional neo gene and a nonfunctional HPRT minigene (the "socket") are introduced into the genome of HPRT- embryonic stem (ES) cells close to the chosen locus, in this case the beta-globin locus. For the second step, a targeting construct (the "plug") that recombines homologously with the integrated socket and supplies the remaining portion of the HPRT minigene is used; this homologous recombination generates a functional HPRT gene and makes the ES cells hypoxanthine-aminopterin-thymidine resistant. At the same time, the plug provides DNA sequences that recombine homologously with sequences in the target locus and modifies them in the desired manner; the plug is designed so that correctly targeted cells also lose the neo gene and become G418 sensitive. We have used two different plugs to make alterations in the mouse beta-globin locus starting with the same socket-containing ES cell line. One plug deleted 20 kb of DNA containing the two adult beta-globin genes. The other replaced the same region with the human beta-globin gene containing the mutation responsible for sickle cell anemia.
The Preparation and Characterization of Two New Heteropolyoxofluorotungstate Anions [CuW11O38F2H6]4- and [MnW11O38F2H6]4-

Abstract The tetramethylammonium salts of [CuW11O38F2H6]4- and [MnW11O38F2H6]4- have been isolated in the crystalline form. Evidence from analytical results, FABMS, spectroscopy (Vis., IR), and cyclic voltammetry has shown that the structures are a modification of the well known “Keggin” structure. The transition metal ion in each compound is thought to occupy the octahedral site vacated by the missing tungsten atom; two protons might occupy the inner tetrahedral cavity. The magnetic susceptibility per gram of [N(CH3)4]4CuW11O38F2H6·10H2O is 0.28 × 10−6, and that of [N(CH3)4]4MnW11O38F2H6·10H2O is 3.95 × 10−6, indicating around five unpaired electrons present in the latter. The FABMS shows that the formula weights of the anhydrous salts are 2908 and 2907 for the Cu and Mn compounds, respectively.
Detectors of the Cryogenic Dark Matter Search: Charge Transport and Phonon Emission in Ge 100 Crystals at 40 mK

The Cryogenic Dark Matter Search (CDMS) measures both the ionized charge and the energy in athermal phonons created by particle interactions in ultra- pure germanium and silicon crystals at a temperature of 40 mK. Charge collection potentials must remain at only a few volts, else emitted phonons from drifted carri- ers will dominate the phonons of the original interaction. At these drift fields, there are practically no thermal phonons and carrier transport is determined by phonon emission. We present results for drift-limited carrier dynamics and rates of phonon emis- sion in � 100� germanium. As these transport conditions represent an extreme limit, a Monte Carlo technique was used to bypass analytical assumptions commonly used in solving the Boltzmann transport equation. This work will assist us in understanding phenomena found in our detectors.
Nicotine impairs endothelium-dependent dilatation in human veins in vivo.

Background Cigarette smoking is associated with impaired endothelium-dependent dilatation in human veins and arteries. An in vivo study in animals suggests that nicotine may contribute to this abnormality. We tested the hypothesis that local administration of nicotine at a dose reproducing the plasma concentration observed during smoking would impair endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in human veins in vivo. Methods We studied 11 healthy nonsmokers with the dorsal hand vein compliance technique. After 70% to 80% preconstriction with phenylephrine, endothelium-dependent venous relaxation was assessed by infusion of bradykinin (1 to 278 ng/min), a potent vasodilator acting primarily in this model through endothelial release of nitric oxide and prostanoids. Sodium nitroprusside (0.0001 to 3166 ng/min) was used to test endothelium-independent relaxation. Dose-response curves were constructed before and during nicotine coinfusion at a rate of 40 ng/min, reproducing a plasma concentration of 15 ng/mL. Results After a 10-minute preinfusion, nicotine administration was associated with a loss in sensitivity to bradykinin (P < .001). After 30 and 60 minutes of preinfusion with nicotine, the venorelaxant effect of bradykinin was further reduced (P < .001). A similar inhibition of the response to bradykinin by nicotine persisted in the presence of indomethacin (INN, indometacin). Coinfusion of nicotine did not attenuate sodium nitroprusside–induced venodilation. Conclusion The results show that acute local exposure to nicotine in vivo is associated with an impaired response to endothelium-derived nitric oxide in human veins. This finding may provide further insight into the pathophysiology of smoking-induced endothelial dysfunction. (Clin Pharmacol Ther 2000;67:391-7.) Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2000) 67, 391–397; doi: 10.1067/mcp.2000.105153
Cultural rhetoric in coming‐out narratives: Witi Ihimaera's The Uncle's Story

: The novel The Uncle's Story by New Zealand Maori Witi Ihimaera tells a story within a story, recounting the coming out narratives of two Maori gay men who lived 25 years apart in the same family. The novel is examined in light of Bacon's (1998) discussion of the possibility of a cultural rhetoric of the queer movement for liberation. Representations of self in the two Maori gay men's stories both challenge and sustain essential notions of sexual identity and contemporary theories of rhetorical practice. Ihimaera's fictional representations of coming out capture the complexity and nuance of coming-out experiences in a way that expressivist accounts of actual coming-out stories may obliterate or obscure. In this novel Ihimaera extends the artistic representation of gay culture he presented in Nights in the Gardens of Spain in a way that does not fall apart under close scrutiny because it does not oversimplify what happens in the same way that truth-telling often does.
Multi-discipline, multi-scale modeling of microsystems: an overview

Increasing integration levels are the driving force towards systems-on-a-chip. Designing microsystems is an emerging discipline facing specific challenges, resulting from the heterogeneous nature of the components to be integrated. A successful model and a useful simulation must be able to encompass several disciplines, and to adequately describe the coupling among heterogeneous phenomena. The functionality often depends on phenomena taking place at largely different scales, both in space and in time, making multi-scale simulation a necessity. Adequate multi-scale, multi-discipline modeling is a pre-requisite for closed loop optimizers, automating microsystems design. This paper contains an overview of some recent developments in this area.
Some unconventional signal processing applications of multirate techniques

Some recently developed unconventional applications of multirate concepts are reviewed, and their usefulness in developing efficient signal processing systems is discussed. The structural subband decomposition of a sequence is described, and some of its applications, such as the efficient design and implementation of FIR (finite impulse response) digital filters, the development of computationally efficient decimators and interpolators, subband adaptive filtering, and the fast computation of discrete transforms are outlined. >
Sequenced subset operators: definition and implementation

Difference, intersection, semi join and anti-semi-join may be considered binary subset operators, in that they all return a subset of their left-hand argument. These operators are useful for implementing SQL's EXCEPT, INTERSECT, NOT IN and NOT EXISTS, distributed queries and referential integrity. Difference-all and intersection-all operate on multi-sets and track the number of duplicates in both argument relations; they are used to implement SQL's EXCEPT ALL and INTERSECT ALL. Their temporally sequenced analogues, which effectively apply the subset operator at each point in time, are needed for implementing these constructs in temporal databases. These SQL expressions are complex; most necessitate at least a three-way join, with nested NOT EXISTS clauses. We consider how to implement these operators directly in a DBMS. These operators are interesting in that they can fragment the left-hand validity periods (sequenced difference-all also fragments the right-hand periods) and thus introduce memory complications found neither in their non-temporal counterparts nor in temporal joins and semijoins. We introduce novel algorithms for implementing these operators by ordering the computation so that fragments need not be retained in main memory. We evaluate these algorithms and demonstrate that they are no more expensive than a single conventional join.
Multiple statistical validations for sensor networks optimization

We introduce multiple validations (MV), a statistical paradigm that can be applied to a variety of large-scale optimization problems in sensor networks (SNs). MV works by resampling the underlying space of the optimization inputs, multiple optimization runs, and clustering the output solutions. We discuss the degree of freedom in resampling the inputs, so as not to change the combinatorial aspects of the optimization problem. As a driver example, we show how MV can be effectively applied to location discovery in SNs, where it is used for not only finding the nodes' locations, but also for outlier rejection, finding the confidence interval of the locations and finding the nodes' trust indices. We show how the approach is robust, while amenable to optimizations in distributed settings. Experimental evaluations on location and distance measurements from a variety of SN testbeds show the effectiveness of the approach. For example, MV-based localization almost completely removes outliers for more than 50 runs of the algorithm in presence of 20% noise.
Phosphorylation of α6-Tubulin by Protein Kinase Cα Activates Motility of Human Breast Cells

Engineered overexpression of protein kinase Cα (PKCα) was previously shown to endow nonmotile MCF-10A human breast cells with aggressive motility. A traceable mutant of PKCα (Abeyweera, T. P., and Rotenberg, S. A. (2007) Biochemistry 46, 2364–2370) revealed that α6-tubulin is phosphorylated in cells expressing traceable PKCα and in vitro by wild type PKCα. Gain-of-function, single site mutations (Ser → Asp) were constructed at each PKC consensus site in α6-tubulin (Ser158, Ser165, Ser241, and Thr337) to simulate phosphorylation. Following expression of each construct in MCF-10A cells, motility assays identified Ser165 as the only site in α6-tubulin whose pseudophosphorylation reproduced the motile behavior engendered by PKCα. Expression of a phosphorylation-resistant mutant (S165N-α6-tubulin) resulted in suppression of MCF-10A cell motility stimulated either by expression of PKCα or by treatment with PKCα-selective activator diacylglycerol-lactone. MCF-10A cells treated with diacylglycerol-lactone showed strong phosphorylation of endogenous α-tubulin that could be blocked when S165N-α6-tubulin was expressed. The S165N mutant also inhibited intrinsically motile human breast tumor cells that express high endogenous PKCα levels (MDA-MB-231 cells) or lack PKCα and other conventional isoforms (MDA-MB-468 cells). Comparison of Myc-tagged wild type α6-tubulin and S165N-α6-tubulin expressed in MDA-MB-468 cells demonstrated that Ser165 is also a major site of phosphorylation for endogenously active, nonconventional PKC isoforms. PKC-stimulated motility of MCF-10A cells was nocodazole-sensitive, thereby implicating microtubule elongation in the mechanism. These findings support a model in which PKC phosphorylates α-tubulin at Ser165, leading to microtubule elongation and motility.
Effect of Bariatric Surgery Versus Intensive Medical Management on Diabetic Ophthalmic Outcomes

Glycemic control improves immediately after gastric bypass in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (1). The American Diabetes Association defines complete remission of diabetes as a return to normal glucose levels (HbA1c < 6%, fasting glucose <5.6 mmol/L) without glucose-lowering medication for at least 1 year after bariatric surgery (2). Prior studies have indicated that a rapid improvement in glycemic control is known to worsen diabetic retinopathy in cases of intense insulin control (3). However, few studies have examined whether undergoing bariatric surgery would significantly alter the prognosis of diabetes microvascular complications in patients with T2DM. The Surgical Therapy and Medications Potentially Eradicate Diabetes Efficiently (STAMPEDE) trial observed the effect of bariatric surgery versus intensive medical management on patients with diabetes and examined the ophthalmic outcomes at 2 years (4). This was a prospective, randomized, nonblinded clinical trial that enrolled 150 patients with the primary outcome of examining the efficacy of intensive medical therapy alone versus surgical management with either Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy for the management of T2DM. As a secondary end point of the trial, patients were assessed with biomicroscopic fundus exam by …
Optimal Change-point Estimation in Inverse Problems

We develop a method of estimating a change-point of an otherwise smooth function in the case of indirect noisy observations. As two paradigms we consider deconvolution and non-parametric errors-in-variables regression. In a similar manner to well-established methods for estimating change-points in non-parametric regression, we look essentially at the difference of one-sided kernel estimators. Because of the indirect nature of the observations we employ deconvoluting kernels. We obtain an estimate of the change-point by the extremal point of the differences between these two-sided kernel estimators. We derive rates of convergence for this estimator. They depend on the degree of ill-posedness of the problem, which derives from the smoothness of the error density. Analysing the Hellinger modulus of continuity of the problem we show that these rates are minimax
A 20-year Experience with Portal and Superior Mesenteric Venous Injuries: Has Anything Changed?

Abstract Objectives To identify predictive factors causing mortality in patients with injuries to the portal (PV) and superior mesenteric veins (SMV). Design Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. Materials and methods Adults admitted with blunt or penetrating PV and SMV injuries at an academic level I trauma center during a 20-year period. Results Of 26,387 major trauma victims admitted from 1987 through 2006, 26 sustained PV or SMV injuries (PV=15, SMV=11). Mechanism of injury was penetrating in 19 (73%) and 20 were in shock. Active hemorrhage occurred in 21. Most patients had associated injuries (2.9±1.8/patient). Mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 27.8±16.8. All PV injuries underwent suture repair and 27% of SMV injuries were ligated. Overall mortality was 46% (PV=47%, SMV=45%). Stab wounds had a lower mortality (31%) compared to gunshot wounds (67%) and blunt injuries (57%). Nonsurvivors had a higher ISS (35.8 vs. 20.9; p =0.02), more associated injuries (3.7 vs. 2.2; p =0.02), were older, and had active hemorrhage. Active hemorrhage ( p =0.04) was independently related to death while shock on admission (odds ratio=6.1, p =0.61) trended toward higher mortality. Conclusion Despite improvements in trauma care, mortality of PV and SMV injuries remains high. Shock, active hemorrhage, and associated injuries were predictive of increased mortality.
Learning unbelievable probabilities

Loopy belief propagation performs approximate inference on graphical models with loops. One might hope to compensate for the approximation by adjusting model parameters. Learning algorithms for this purpose have been explored previously, and the claim has been made that every set of locally consistent marginals can arise from belief propagation run on a graphical model. On the contrary, here we show that many probability distributions have marginals that cannot be reached by belief propagation using any set of model parameters or any learning algorithm. We call such marginals 'unbelievable.' This problem occurs whenever the Hessian of the Bethe free energy is not positive-definite at the target marginals. All learning algorithms for belief propagation necessarily fail in these cases, producing beliefs or sets of beliefs that may even be worse than the pre-learning approximation. We then show that averaging inaccurate beliefs, each obtained from belief propagation using model parameters perturbed about some learned mean values, can achieve the unbelievable marginals.
The interphotoreceptor space: II. Histochemistry of the matrix☆

Abstract Five histochemical techniques, ruthenium red, Alcian blue, colloidal iron, phosphotungstic acid and silver methenamine, were used to demonstrate at the ultrastructural level the interphotoreceptor matrix of immature and adult mice and rats. The cell coat of all the cells delimiting the interphotoreceptor space was the first and only demonstrable component in the space in the undifferentiated newborn retina. This component continues to be significant throughout life. The possibility that sloughing of cell coat occurs and that it constitutes the sialoglycan component of isolated matrix ( Berman and Bach, 1968 ) is discussed. Stained particles in the pigment epithelium (PE) were identified as various forms of melanosomes and lysosomes that probably have no precursor relationship with similarly stained substances in the interphotoreceptor space. A few other small vesicles in the Golgi region and apical cytoplasm of immature and adult PE and immature photoreceptors may carry cell coat or other matrix constituents to the cell surface. Chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid, the other known components of the matrix, may be lost during preparative procedures. Alternatively, these macromolecules may be loosely bound to the cell coat; their distribution, therefore, may be reflected by these histochemical stains.
Developing Mental Models about Air Using Inquiry-Based Instruction with Kindergartners.

This study examines the development of mental models of air by kindergarten students after completing a series of hands-on, inquiry-based science lessons. The lessons focused on two properties of air: (1) that air takes up space and (2) that it is made of particles (“balls of air”). The students were interviewed about their ideas of air and about phenomena involving air before and after the lessons. From the lessons, the students gained experiences and vocabulary to draw upon to make more sophisticated arguments about phenomena involving air, often employing the “balls of air” model in their explanations.
Self-reported sleep disturbance in patients with advanced cancer: Frequency, intensity, and factors associated with response to outpatient supportive care consultation — A preliminary report

Objectives Self-reported sleep disturbance (SD) is a distressing symptom in patients with advanced cancer. There are limited data on the treatment of SD and predictors to response of SD to outpatient supportive care clinic (OPC) consultation. The aims of our study was to determine the frequency, intensity, and correlates of SD as assessed with the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) sleep item at the time of initial consultation and identify the predictors of improvement in SD at follow-up. Methods We reviewed the records of consecutive patients with advanced cancer presenting to the OPC. ESAS scores were obtained at the initial and subsequent visits between January 2008 and February 2010. All patients underwent screening for SD (0-10 scale: 0 = best sleep, presence of SD defined as ≥ 3) and interdisciplinary assessment and treatment, including drug review, counseling, sleep hygiene review, and drug therapy. A response was defined as a 1-point improvement at the follow-up visit on the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) sleep item score. Baseline patient characteristics, medication use, and ESAS scores were analyzed to determine their association with response. Results The median age was 58 years, and 53% of patients were men. The most common cancer type was head and neck or lung (36%). Of the 442 patients, 330 had baseline SD (score ≥ 3/10, 75%). Median and mean (standard deviation) baseline SD scores were 5 and 5.1 (2.9). The multivariable regression model found the intensity of baseline ESAS sleep item scores to be associated with baseline sedative use, baseline ESAS pain scores, baseline ESAS fatigue scores, baseline ESAS feeling of well-being scores, and sedative use (R 2 = 0.22). Sleep disturbance response at first follow-up was seen in 196 of 330 patients (59%). Moderate to high SD score and anxiety at initial visit with odds ratios (OR) of 2.53 (p = 0.0007) and 1.59 (p = 0.048), respectively, were associated with a response. Significance of results Both the frequency and severity of SD were high. Response to supportive care consultation was substantial. The severity of SD and anxiety at the initial visit predicted a response at first follow-up. Further research is needed.
A Web-oriented architectural aspect for the emerging computational tapestry

An emerging tapestry of computations will soon integrate systems around the globe. It will evolve without central control. Its complexity will be vast. We need new ideas, tools and methods to help map, understand and manage this tapestry. We contribute a light-weight architectural aspect that designers can use without compromising their own architectural preferences. Widespread use could help. The idea is for objects to provide web-based interfaces to object-specific meta-data, state, and monitoring and control services. We discuss applications, implementation, scalability, performance, tradeoffs, and related work.
Room-temperature catalytic oxidation of alcohols with the polyoxovanadate salt Cs5(V14As8O42Cl)

While many known methods for oxidation mediated by polyoxometalates (POMs) employ environmentally friendly co-oxidants, they tend to employ large catalyst loadings (e.g. 40 mol%) and costly high reaction temperatures (~90–135 °C) that potentially contribute to the degradation of the catalyst and reduce their effectiveness. Herein, we present some initial results demonstrating a room temperature catalytic oxidation using the reduced salt-inclusion polyoxometalate, Cs5(V14As8O42Cl), that contains polyoxovanadate (POV) clusters as an efficient catalyst (e.g., 2 mol%) in the transformation of secondary alcohols to their corresponding ketones in very good to quantitative yields. Further, the catalyst can be suspended on celite and recycled.
Gaussian Beam Coupling to Radiating Elements

This chapter contains sections titled: Introduction Expansion in Gaussian Beam Modes: General Considerations Radius of Curvature Beam Radius Beam Waist Location and Complex Amplitudes Gaussian Beam Modes for Feed Elements of Various Types Summary of Fundamental Mode Coupling Coefficients Bibliographic Notes