cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In vitro steroid metabolic studies in human testes. II: Metabolism of cholesterol, pregnenolone, progesterone, androstenedione and testosterone by testes of an estrogen-treated man.

Abstract The effect of long-term in vivo estrogen treatment on in vitro steroidogenesis by the testes of a young man was investigated. In vitro incubation of testicular tissue of this man with 3H-pregnenolone, 3H-progesterone, 3H-androstenedione and 3H-testosterone demonstrated suppression of 17-hydroxylase activity, with little or no effect of the treatment on Δ5-3β-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase, 5a-reductase and aromatase. Increased 20α-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase activity was observed. Determination of intratesticular steroid concentrations led to similar conclusions.
Racial differences in the academic library experiences of undergraduates

The College Student Experiences Questionnaire (CSEQ) is an effective instrument to measure differences in the academic library experiences of two different racial groups. Results indicate that African American undergraduate students used the academic library services and resources more frequently than White undergraduate students.
Increasing Hard Winter Wheat Yield Potential via Synthetic Wheat: I. Path-Coefficient Analysis of Yield and Its Components

Synthetic hexaploid wheat, created from a cross between durum [Triticum turgidum L. (syn. Triticum durum Desf.)] and Aegilops tauschii Coss., is a good source of new genes for bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) improvement. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the potential and performance of synthetic wheat in Texas. Ten elite primary synthetics from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center(CIMMYT) were backcrossed to two Texas cultivars, TAM 111 and TAM 112. Populations were bulked and "modified bulked" to advance generations. Yield-related agronomic traits were measured on the BCF 4 and BCF 5 populations across five Texas locations. Improvement was observed in South Texas and the Blacklands, which had more disease pressure and fewer intermittent dry spells than locations in the Texas Rolling and High Plains. Selected bulks were not superior to nonselected bulks. Head number per unit area had the highest correlation with yield. Similar to crosses with spring wheat, synthetics contributed to yield through an increase in seed weight. Synthetic populations that produced higher grain yield than both TAM 111 and TAM 112 maintained their large seed size and weight but had increased number of heads and grains per head. Poorer performance in environments with harsh winters could be because of a lack of winter-hardiness in the primary synthetics. Improved yield could result from selecting for increased number of heads per unit area and grains per head in lines derived from these populations.
Iron requirements for dinitrogen- and ammonium-supported growth in cultures of Trichodesmium (IMS 101): Comparison with nitrogen fixation rates and iron: carbon ratios of field populations

We quantified the relationships among the specific growth rate, intracellular iron content, and steady state iron uptake rate for cultures of the marine diazotrophic cyanobacterium Trichodesmium (IMS 101) grown under differing conditions of Fe and N availability. The Fe quotas necessary to support a moderately Fe-limited growth rate (70% mmax) of 0.1 d−1 under diazotrophy and ammonium were 38 and 8 µmol mol−1, indicating a fivefold increased Fe cost for diazotrophy. This increased demand reflects the influences of both the ninefold lower marginal use efficiency and the greater maintenance Fe :C requirement at zero growth rate under diazotrophy (13.5 versus 5.2 µmol mol−1). For diazotrophic growth at µ = 0.1 d−1, we estimate that 19%–53% of the cellular Fe is bound in nitrogenase. Trichodesmium is capable of luxury uptake of at least 13-fold greater amounts of Fe than needed for moderately Fe-limited growth. At least half of the populations sampled from the continental shelf of northern Australia had Fe :C ratios within the range of iron limitation of laboratory cultures. Bottle incubations showed that, after 3–4 d with added iron, a low Fe :C population (21 µmol mol−1) had higher N2 fixation rates than controls, whereas a high Fe :C population (78 µmol mol−1) showed no response. The cellular N: P quotas and N2 fixation rates were compared to those previously reported for the Atlantic Ocean. Empirically, these data suggest a critical N: P ratio ~40–50 for the onset of P limitation of growth. Only 10% of the Trichodesmium populations from coastal Australia had N: P ratios within the putative P-limitation range (>40), whereas 40% the Atlantic populations fell within this range. These comparisons, along with those for N fixation versus colony Fe :C ratio, suggest that Fe limitation is more prevalent in the Australia Trichodesmium populations, while P limitation predominates in the Atlantic populations.
Detection and reproducibility of mental stress—induced myocardial ischemia with Tc-99m sestamibi SPECT in normal and coronary artery disease populations

Background. Mental stress-induced ischemia, as detected by radionuclide studies, has yielded reversible ischemia in only 30% to 60% of patients with exercise-induced ischemia. Little is known about the reproducibility of myocardial perfusion imaging in detecting mental stress-induced ischemia. The purpose of this study was to further evaluate the occurrence and reproducibility of mental stress-induced ischemia in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and in normal control subjects with a low likelihood of CAD by using sestamibi single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging. Methods and Results. A total of 40 patients were enrolled in this study: 19 patients with CAD and typical angina or reversible ischemia (positive exercise treadmill study or positive adenosine thallium study) and 21 normal control subjects underwent mental stress testing as well as myocardial perfusion imaging. The subjects were given a speaking task, and SPECT imaging was subsequently performed. Two experienced readers compared mental stress imaging with a resting image using a 20-segment cardiac model. Hemodynamic changes in blood pressure and heart rate with mental stress were also measured in all subjects. Each patient with CAD also underwent repeat mental stress testing and myocardial imaging approximately 2 weeks later. Of the 19 patients with CAD and typical angina or with evidence of reversible ischemia, 16 (84%) demonstrated ischemia with mental stress, as detected by sestamibi SPECT imaging. The mean number of new or worsened perfusion defects attributable to mental stress was 3.5, with a mean severity of 1.7. These results were also reproducible. With repeated mental stress testing and myocardial imaging, 12 of the 16 CAD patients (75%) demonstrated evidence of myocardial ischemia. None of the 21 normal control subjects had evidence of mental stress—induced myocardial ischemia. Mental stress also induced reproducible and significant hemodynamic changes in CAD patients. Conclusions. In patients with known CAD with typical angina or with evidence of reversible ischemia despite taking medications, mental stress was very effective in inducing myocardial ischemia, as detected by sestamibi SPECT imaging. Mental stress was also found to elicit significant hemodynamic responses. Furthermore, these findings demonstrated good reproducibility. (J Nucl Cardiol 2003;10:56-62.)
Current Status and Recent Advances in the Radiotherapy of Lung Cancer

T he most effective cytoreductive agent known for treating cancer, short of the surgeon’s knife, is radiotherapy; however, all too often, surgery or radiotherapy or both can markedly reduce or completely eliminate a local tumor but still not save the patient with lung cancer. An analysis of 617 patients with lung cancer who were treated with radiotherapy and surgery has provided us some explanations for the dismal results with these methods, to which Morton et al (see page 640) and Holmes (see page 643) have alluded elsewhere in this symposium. Too often the radiotherapist may fail to appreciate the extent of the primary lesion and its likely nodal metastases and may be intimidated by the grim prognosis, so that he treats the patient with portals that are far too small and doses that are far too low to reasonably achieve more than limited palliation. For treatment with curative intent, it is important to administer the radiotherapy with adequate portals, which must include the nodal draining areas. Ordinarily, this means the mediastino-supraclavicular and cervical areas are to be included, along with radiation to the site of the primary neoplasm. Overlooked almost invariably in the past has been involvement in the upper abdomen and the epigastric area. Observations at surgery and at postmortem examination show a high percentage of involvement of the upper abdominal lymph nodes in patients with lung cancer, a percentage equal to or exceeding that in the cervical and supraclavicular areas. Lymphangiograms, arteriograms, and scanning with radioactive gallium help to tell us when to treat the upper abdomen. On the other hand, great care must be exercised when giving high doses to large portals, so that we do not exceed the patient’s tolerance to radiation. The problem centers on devising an optimum therapeutic regimen which produces a pattern of doses of radiation adequate to control the primary lesion and the disease in the nodes and yet does not exceed the tolerance of normal tissue. Hopefully, the treatment will not be worse than the disease and ideally should produce little, if any, adverse reactions and discomfort. One method of achieving ade-
Towards an integrated optical and wireless access architecture

While fiber-optic technologies have been traditionally deployed in backbone networks, they are also finding niche applications in the access domain (e.g., in the form of Passive Optical Networks or PONs). Meanwhile, RF-based wireless technologies have already changed the way we communicate, and yet the demands for higher bandwidth, longer reach and better interoperability remain strong. In this talk, I will briefly outline a vision for an integrated optical and wireless access, with a focus on architectural issues. I will also discuss the cost benefit of such an integrated system based on a combination of PON and WiMAX, for example, as well as its flexibility in terms of resource allocation and load balancing among multiple ldquocellsrdquo.
Temperature-aware routing in 3D ICs

3D integrated circuits (3D ICs) provide an attractive solution for improving circuit performance. Such solutions must be embedded in an electrothermally-conscious design methodology, since 3D ICs generate a significant amount of heat per unit volume. In this paper, we propose a temperature-aware 3D global routing algorithm with insertion of "thermal vias" and "thermal wires" to lower the effective thermal resistance of the material, thereby reducing chip temperature. Since thermal vias and thermal wires take up lateral routing space, our algorithm utilizes sensitivity analysis to judiciously allocate their usage, and iteratively resolve contention between routing and thermal vias and thermal wires. Experimental results show that our routing algorithm can effectively reduce the peak temperature and alleviate routing congestion.
The not-so-simple HDL story: Is it time to revise the HDL cholesterol hypothesis?

Formation of plaques in artery walls, or atherogenesis, is known to lead to cardiovascular disease risk and heart disease. Low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), which deliver cholesterol to inflammatory cells in blood vessels, are linked to disease, which is commonly managed using cholesterol-lowering therapies. Whether increasing levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDLs), which remove cholesterol from the circulation, can be cardioprotective has not been clear, despite early clinical studies showing evidence for a positive effect in cardiovascular disease. In 'Bench to Bedside', Daniel J. Rader and Alan R. Tall discuss how the field should focus on promoting reverse cholesterol transport that would result in cholesterol efflux from macrophages to biliary excretion rather than simply trying to increase HDL cholesterol levels. Understanding how different molecular mechanisms operate in this 'HDL flux hypothesis' will uncover ways to develop HDL-targeted therapeutics that will protect from cardiovascular and heart disease. In 'Bedside to Bench', Jay W. Heinecke peruses clinical studies to propose better and simpler ways to measure reverse cholesterol transport in the clinic. Genetic alterations and factors involved in HDL functionality may be useful for quantifying HDL function and finding effective drugs to lower cardiovascular disease risk.
Shot Interpolation For Radon Multiple Suppression

Decreased CMP fold, such as that found in multi-source acquisition geometries, can hinder processing steps which benefit from well sampled CMP gathers, such as radon transforms. In two steps of linear least squares, multiscale prediction-error filters can estimate local dips from the recorded data and then use the dip information to fill in unrecorded shot or receiver gathers. In this paper I use multiscale, volumetric prediction-error filters to interpolate sparse, multiple-contaminated data. The increase in fold improves multiplesuppression results.
The future in the past: Hollywood and the art deco utopia

Howard Mandelbaum and Eric Myers. Screen Deco: A Celebration of High Style in Hollywood. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1985. ix + 209 pp. $24.95 cloth; $15.95 paper. Donald Albrecht. Designing Dreams: Modern Architecture in the Movies. New York: Harper and Row (in collaboration with Museum of Modern Art), 1986. ix + 203 pp. $19.95 cloth.
From Error to Error: Logic Debugging in the Many-Core Era

Design and manufacturing of present day Multi-Core microprocessors has to overcome major technology obstacles, particularly in the areas of Power and Validation. More specifically, the state of the Art in the area of validation is such that upwards of 30% of the human resources in a modern microprocessor Design Team are dedicated to it. The term Validation Productivity Gap has been introduced to describe exactly these ever increasing resource requirements. Formal Verification techniques offer one of the technological approaches for addressing many aspects of this validation gap. Therefore it is of paramount importance to develop technologies and methodologies for reducing the time it takes to debug and rectify Logic Errors that are detected by Formal Verification Techniques. Such developments would offer a much needed productivity improvement both in pre- and post-Silicon validation activities.
On the iterative averaging technique for subgrid modelling in large eddy simulation

Abstract The iterative averaging (IA) technique for subgrid modelling is critically examined both as regards its predictions on the eddy viscosity and on its own self-consistency.
Logic design based on negative differential resistance characteristics of quantum electronic devices

New quantum electronic devices such as resonant tunnelling diodes and transistors have negative differential resistance characteristics that can be exploited to design novel high-speed circuits. The high intrinsic switching speed of these devices, combined with the novel circuit structures used to implement standard logic functions, leads to ultrafast computing circuits. The new circuit structures presented here provide extremely compact implementations of functions such as carry generation and addition. The most significant impact of these circuits on the field of logic design is the introduction of a totally new set of relative costs of various basic gates; reevaluation of the logic in the light of these new cost functions leads to ultrafast and compact designs.
Vibrational structure in electron scattering by O2

Abstract Measurements of the total cross section for the scattering of low-energy electrons (0–1.2 eV) by O 2 reveal structure resulting from the formation of the compound negative ion O 2 − X 2 Π g . From these observations the spectroscopic constants (2 hc ω e x e = 3 ± 1 mV, hc ω e = 141 mV) are deduced.
Substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines as Cryptosporidium hominis thymidylate synthase inhibitors.

Abstract Cryptosporidiosis, a gastrointestinal disease caused by a protozoan Cryptosporidium hominis is often fatal in immunocompromised individuals. There is little clinical data to show that the existing treatment by nitazoxanide and paromomycin is effective in immunocompromised individuals. 1,2 Thymidylate synthase (TS) and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) are essential enzymes in the folate biosynthesis pathway and are well established as drug targets in cancer and malaria. A novel series of classical antifolates, 2-amino-4-oxo-5-substituted pyrrolo[2,3- d ]pyrimidines have been evaluated as Cryptosporidium hominis thymidylate synthase ( Ch TS) inhibitors. Crystal structure in complex with the most potent compound, a 2′-chlorophenyl with a sulfur bridge with a K i of 8.83 ± 0.67 nM is discussed in terms of several Van der Waals, hydrophobic and hydrogen bond interactions with the protein residues and the substrate analog 5-fluorodeoxyuridine monophosphate. Of these interactions, two interactions with the non-conserved residues (A287 and S290) offer an opportunity to develop Ch TS specific inhibitors. Compound 6 serves as a lead compound for analog design and its crystal structure provides clues for the design of Ch TS specific inhibitors.
Computed tomography evaluation of fatty tumors of the somatic soft tissues: Clinical utility and radiologic-pathologic correlation

The role of computed tomography (CT) in the evaluation of fatty tumors of the somatic soft tissues was investigated. Six surgically proven cases of fatty tumors were studied preoperatively by CT and standard radiographic means — conventional radiographs, xeroradiography, and angiography. Our case material included a simple lipoma, two infiltrative lipomas, an angiolipoma, and two liposarcomas. The radiologic-pathologic correlation was evaluated with respect to the various imaging modalities. The unique tissue characteristics of fatty tumors makes them particularly adaptable to CT scanning. In addition to its ability to define accurately tissue densities, the facility of CT in depicting depth, size, and extent of the lesion in the axial plane was found to be most useful in the preoperative evaluation of our case metarial.
TriVax-HPV: an improved peptide-based therapeutic vaccination strategy against human papillomavirus-induced cancers.

Therapeutic vaccines for cancer are an attractive alternative to conventional therapies, since the later result in serious adverse effects and in most cases are not effective against advanced disease. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for several malignancies such as cervical carcinoma. Vaccines targeting oncogenic viral proteins like HPV16-E6 and HPV16-E7 are ideal candidates to elicit strong immune responses without generating autoimmunity because: (1) these products are not expressed in normal cells and (2) their expression is required to maintain the malignant phenotype. Our group has developed peptide vaccination strategy called TriVax, which is effective in generating vast numbers of antigen-specific T cells in mice capable of persisting for long time periods. We have used two HPV-induced mouse cancer models (TC-1 and C3.43) to evaluate the immunogenicity and therapeutic efficacy of TriVax prepared with the immunodominant CD8 T-cell epitope HPV16-E749-57, mixed with poly-IC adjuvant and costimulatory anti-CD40 antibodies. TriVax using HPV16-E749-57 induced large and persistent T-cell responses that were therapeutically effective against established HPV16-E7 expressing tumors. In most cases, TriVax was successful in attaining complete rejections of 6–11-day established tumors. In addition, TriVax induced long-term immunological memory, which prevented tumor recurrences. The anti-tumor effects of TriVax were independent of NK and CD4 T cells and, surprisingly, did not rely to a great extent on type-I or type-II interferon. These findings indicate that the TriVax strategy is an appealing immunotherapeutic approach for the treatment of established viral-induced tumors. We believe that these studies may help to launch more effective and less invasive therapeutic vaccines for HPV-mediated malignancies.
Reading comprehension programs in a statistical-language-processing class

We present some new results for the reading comprehension task described in [3] that improve on the best published results - from 36% in [3] to 41% (the best of the systems described herein). We discuss a variety of techniques that tend to give small improvements, ranging from the fairly simple (give verbs more weight in answer selection) to the fairly complex (use specific techniques for answering specific kinds of questions).
Monitoring the Dynamics of T Cell Clonal Diversity Using Recombinant Peptide:MHC Technology

The capacity to probe antigen specific T cells within the polyclonal repertoire has been revolutionized by the advent of recombinant peptide:MHC (pMHC) technology. Monomers and multimers of peptide: MHC molecules can enrich for and identify antigen specific T cells to elucidate the contributions of T cell frequency, localization and T cell receptor (TCR) affinity during immune responses. Two-dimensional (2D) measurements of TCR-pMHC interactions are at the forefront of this field because the biological topography is replicated such that TCR and pMHC are membrane anchored on opposing cells, allowing for biologically pertinent measures of TCR antigen specificity and diversity. 2D measurements of TCR-pMHC kinetics have also demonstrated increased fidelity, compared to the 3-dimensional surface plasmon resonance data, and are capable of detecting T cell affinities that are below the detection level of most pMHC multimers. Importantly, 2D techniques provide a platform to evaluate affinity and antigen specificity against multiple protein epitopes within polyclonal T cell populations directly ex vivo from sites of ongoing immune responses. This review will discuss how antigen specific peptide:MHC molecules, with a focus on 2D technologies, can be used as effective tools to evaluate the range of TCR affinities that comprise an immune response and more importantly how the breadth of affinities determine functional outcome against a given exposure to antigen. kin
Intelligent information-sharing systems

The Information Lens system is a prototype intelligent information-sharing system that is designed to include not only good user interfaces for supporting the problem-solving activity of individuals, but also good organizational interfaces for supporting the problem-solving activities of groups.
Identification of early pregnancy landmarks by transvaginal sonography: analysis by logistic regression

Objective: To assess the feasibility of logistic regression analysis for determining the gestational ages at which detection of early pregnancy landmarks first can be observed. Design: Retrospective analysis. Setting: University-based tertiary care clinic. Patient(s): Eighty-two women with viable singleton pregnancies in whom ovulation had been achieved by an injection of hCG. Intervention(s): Two hundred fifteen transvaginal sonographic scans. Main Outcome Measure(s): Logistic regression was used to estimate the probability of detection of sonographic findings as a function of gestational age. Result(s): We found that the likelihood of visualization of a gestational sac or fetal heart motion could be represented accurately by logistic equations. Gestational age at which there was 95% probability of visualization was 35.5 days for the gestational sac and 44.5 days for fetal cardiac activity. The probability of detecting fetal cardiac activity was 95% when the mean gestational sac diameter was 1.6 cm and was 99% at 1.9 cm. Conclusion(s): The sonographic appearance of developmental landmarks in early pregnancy occurs within well-defined gestational time periods, and the probabilities for visualization can be closely approximated using a logistic model. Our results suggest that the number of sonographic examinations required to document infertility treatment success can be minimized by surveillance at standardized gestational ages.
Effect of calcium-channel blockade on the aldosterone response to sodium depletion and potassium loading in man.

Angiotensin II (Ang II) and potassium (K+) increase aldosterone (Aldo) production in vitro via Ca2+-dependent mechanisms. To determine the effects of Ca2+ antagonism in vivo, we examined the influence of nifedipine on the Aldo response to Na+ depletion and K+ loading in 11 healthy subjects. On the fifth day of a low-Na+/high-K+ diet (10 mmol Na+/100 mmol K+) the subjects were randomly given either nifedipine 30 mg po or placebo, and on the sixth day they received the alternative drug. KCl in 5% glucose was infused on days 5 and 6 from 10:00 to 12:00 AM (0.6 mmol/kg over 2 hours). Dexamethasone was given to suppress adrenal corticotrophic hormone. Plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma Aldo were determined every 20 minutes. Nifedipine induced a rise in heart rate at 60 minutes but did not change blood pressure. During KCl/glucose infusions, plasma glucose increased significantly, but plasma K+ remained stable. PRA, but not baseline plasma Aldo, was stimulated by nifedipine. KCl provoked a significant and similar Aldo rise (P less than .01) under placebo and nifedipine. Baseline Aldo/PRA ratio was reduced under nifedipine when compared to placebo (P less than .01), whereas during KCl infusions this ratio was similarly elevated under placebo and nifedipine. We conclude that acute inhibition of slow Ca2+ channels does not interfere with K+-induced Aldo secretion in man, suggesting that adaptive mechanisms operate in vivo.
Sensory Properties of Whey and Soy Proteins

ABSTRACT: Whey and soy proteins are valuable dried ingredients with applications in numerous foods. Characterization and comparison of the flavor properties of these value-added ingredients are needed to interpret analytical flavor chemistry results and to identify specific ingredient applications and marketing strategies. The goals of this study were to develop a sensory lexicon for whey and soy proteins, and to subsequently identify and compare the descriptive sensory properties of whey and soy proteins. Consumers also filled out a survey to probe their opinions and attitudes to dairy and soy products. Twenty-four descriptive sensory attributes were identified to evaluate appearance, flavor, and texture/mouthfeel of rehydrated proteins. Twenty-two samples (14 whey proteins and 8 soy proteins) were selected for descriptive sensory analysis. Proteins were rehydrated (10% solids, [w/v]) and evaluated in triplicate by a highly trained sensory panel (n= 10) trained to use the developed language. Both whey and soy proteins were differentiated using the identified language (P < 0.05). Each protein type displayed sensory variability, but different sensory attributes distinguished whey proteins from soy proteins. Consumers (n= 147) perceived distinct health benefits associated with dairy and soy products, respectively. These results will enhance ongoing research and product development with these nutritional and functional ingredients.
Is There a Role for Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Select Postmenopausal Women

Although the US Preventive Services Task Force and other contemporary guidelines recommend that Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) not be used for prevention of chronic conditions, its use for prevention of cardiovascular disease remains controversial. The Women’s Health Initiative and the Heart and Estrogen/progestin Replacement Study explored the benefits and risks of MHT for cardiovascular disease, primary and secondary prevention respectively, but challenges to these data include suboptimal hormone therapy adherence and the advanced age of the women at initiation of MHT. Here we discuss the recent literature impacting MHT management of the peri- and post-menopausal women who are concerned about cardiovascular disease risk.
Identification of the enol tautomer of imidazolone propionate as the urocanase reaction product

A fluorescent product was transiently formed during catalysis by urocanase from Pseudomonas putida. The fluorophore showed an emission maximum at 430 nm when excited at 330 nm, essentially identical to that exhibited by the enol tautomer of imidazolone propionate. The keto isomer was not fluorescent under these conditions. In aqueous acid solutions where imidazolone propionate is relatively stable, an equilibrium mixture of tautomeric forms contained approximately 1% of the enol isomer. In ethanolic solutions, the equilibrium concentration of enol tautomer increased to approximately 25%. The differing content of imidazolone propionate tautomers as a function of solvent conditions permitted a comparison of the keto and enol forms as substrates for the reverse reaction. This revealed an almost complete preference for the enol tautomer. These results are taken as direct proof that enol imidazolone propionate is the true urocanase reaction product.
Electrocardiogram of the athlete: An analysis of 289 professional football players

The electrocardiogram (EGG) of athletes reflects physiologic cardiovascular adaptations that occur in well-conditioned individuals. To more clearly define electrocardiographic changes seen in predominantly power-trained athletes, the ECGs of 289 apparently healthy professional football players were analyzed in detail. The players, aged 21 to 35 years, one-third of whom were black, had a mean body surface area of 2.24 m2, a mean heart rate at rest of 56 ± 9 beats/min (with 77% (223) having a rate of less than 60 beats/min), and a mean P axis of 30 ± 25 °. A wide QRS-T angle (>60 °) was present in 14% (41 players) of the group. The mean PR interval was 0.18 ± 0.02 second (>0.21 in 9% [26 players]). Although two-thirds of the players had a QRS duration of 0.10 second, only 1 had right bundle branch block and none had left bundle branch block. The sum of S in lead V1 plus R in lead V5 averaged 37 ± 9 mm, with 35% (101 players) demonstrating voltage criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy. The S + R value varied inversely with weight (r = −0.27, p < 0.002). The maximum T height in any lead had a mean of 8.6 ± 3 mm, with 22% (64 players) having a T height ≥11 mm. U waves were universally present. ST-T changes mimicking ischemia were noted in 39 of 289 players (13%), 22 (58%) of whom were black (p < 0.001). The maximal J-point elevation in any lead averaged 1.9 ± 0.9 mm. These findings confirm that the ECGs of power-trained athletes show changes similar to those of endurance-trained athletes. These changes most likely reflect the increased vagal tone and ventricular mass observed in conditioned athletes. Large body size masks the voltage changes expected with increased left ventricular mass. Ischemic-like ST-T-wave deviations were found predominantly in black athletes.
Anodized titania nanotube array microfluidic device for photocatalytic application: Experiment and simulation

Abstract Microfluidic photocatalytic reactors have advantages over conventional bulk reactors such as large surface-area-to-volume ratio and high control of fluid flow. Although titania nanotubular arrays (TNA) have shown enhanced photocatalytic degradation compared to nanoparticle films in a batch reactor configuration, their application in a microfluidic format has yet to be explored. The photocatalytic performance of a microfluidic reactor with TNA catalyst was compared with the performance of microfluidic format with TiO 2 nanoparticulate (commercial P25) catalyst. The microfluidic device was fabricated using non-cleanroom based soft lithography, making it suitable for economical large scale manufacturing. The photocatalytic performance was evaluated at different flow rates ranging from 25 to 200 μL/min. The TNA microfluidic system demonstrated enhanced photocatalytic performance over microfluidic TiO 2 nanoparticulate layers, especially at higher flow rates (50–200 μL/min). For instance, 12 μm long TNA was able to achieve 82% fractional conversion of 18 mM methylene blue in comparison to 55% conversion in case of the TiO 2 nanoparticulate layer at a flow rate of 200 μL/min. A computational model of the microfluidic format was developed to evaluate the effect of diffusion coefficient and rate constant on the photocatalytic performance. The improved performance of the TNA photocatalyst over the nanoparticle film can be attributed to higher generation of oxidizing species.
Excitotoxic neuronal death: mechanisms and clinical relevance

Abstract The neurotoxic properties of glutamate were first appreciated 25 years ago. At that time, most investigators believed that the phenomenon was of little interest to anyone other than a toxicologist. The recognition that glutamate is the major fast excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, and strong evidence linking endogenous glutamate with several important human neurological diseases have dramatically altered our interpretation of glutamate neurotoxicity over the last decade. There is now a strong incentive to utilize recent findings on the molecular biology, biophysics and neuropharmacology of glutamate receptors to improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of glutamate neurotoxicity. This knowledge should have direct implications for the treatment of illnesses that have proven resistant to existing therapies.
Folding of Insulin Receptor Monomers Is Facilitated by the Molecular Chaperones Calnexin and Calreticulin and Impaired by Rapid Dimerization

Many complex membrane proteins undergo subunit folding and assembly in the ER before transport to the cell surface. Receptors for insulin and insulin-like growth factor I, both integral membrane proteins and members of the family of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), are unusual in that they require homodimerization before export from the ER. To better understand chaperone mechanisms in endogenous membrane protein assembly in living cells, we have examined the folding, assembly, and transport of the human insulin receptor (HIR), a dimeric RTK. Using pulse-chase labeling and nonreducing SDS-PAGE analysis, we have explored the molecular basis of several sequential maturation steps during receptor biosynthesis. Under normal growth conditions, newly synthesized receptor monomers undergo disulfide bond formation while associated with the homologous chaperones calnexin (Cnx) and calreticulin (Crt). An inhibitor of glucose trimming, castanospermine (CST), abolished binding to Cnx/Crt but also unexpectedly accelerated receptor homodimerization resulting in misfolded oligomeric proreceptors whose processing was delayed and cell surface expression was also decreased by ∼30%. Prematurely-dimerized receptors were retained in the ER and more avidly associated with the heat shock protein of 70 kD homologue binding protein. In CST-treated cells, receptor misfolding followed disordered oligomerization. Together, these studies demonstrate a chaperone function for Cnx/Crt in HIR folding in vivo and also provide evidence that folding efficiency and homodimerization are counterbalanced.
Is cerebral asymmetry of function a dynamic process? Implications for specifying degree of lateral differentiation.

Abstract It is proposed that the product-moment correlation between a subject's trial-to-trial performance and sensory half-field in which a stimulus appears be employed as an index of functional differentiation of the cerebral hemispheres, both when reaction time is the dependent variable and when accuracy is the dependent variable. This proposal is based on a model of hemispheric functioning in which the difference in competencies of the two sides of the brain, rather than being a static and unchanging dimension of an individual subject, is seen to vary from moment to moment, a variability that is just as characteristic of the cerebral hemispheres and their relationship as is the mean level of performance for each side. The relative degrees of asymmetry inferred for different subjects differ for laterality indices based on the static assumption versus correlational indices based on the dynamic assumption.
Effects of in-vitro neutralization on the composition of the nondialyzable components of human gastric juice

The first 30-min. gastric juice specimen following augmented histamine stimulation was collected from 32 patients. After measuring the volume and pH, each sample was divided into 2 equal parts, and one half was neutralized to pH 7.0. The paired samples were individually dialyzed and lyophilized, and their weight, hexose and nitrogen content, proteolytic enzyme activity, and B12 binding capacity were determined. When the paired samples were compared, in-vitro neutralization and dialysis reduced the concentration of the proteolytic enzyme activity and increased the concentration of hexoses and B12binding materials. In-vitro neutralization and dialysis reduced the weight of the samples and the total proteolytic enzyme activity, while the total B12 binding material was increased. The nitrogen concentration was reduced also by in-vitro neutralization and dialysis.
Electrophilic substitution of primary alkylboranes

Abstract Electrophilic substitution of a primary alkylborane can proceed with inversion of configuration at carbon. This stereochemical result is obtained even when the electrophile can coordinate to the boron. These results suggest that the stereochemistry of electrophilic cleavage of carbon—metal bonds is affected by the type of carbon attacked as well as by the nature of the electrophile and the metal. The stereochemical results obtained in this systems are contrasted with those obtained in other systems.
Environmental analysis of telework: What we know, and what we do not know and why

It is commonly believed that telework is good for the environment because it saves energy through reduced commuting. Millions are teleworking worldwide. Some peer-reviewed publications in the last decade have shown that the principles of life-cycle assessment (LCA) have to be applied to telework (just like to other products and services) in order to arrive at a comprehensive assessment of all the facets of telework: transportation, building use (heating, cooling, lighting), electrical and electronic equipment use, and information and communication technology. Through the lens of LCA, telework may still turn out to be beneficial, but not everywhere and on every occasion. Indeed, it has been found that it depends on the individual or collective scenarios and modes of implementation whether telework can bring environmental benefits for an individual, company, or state. However, a critical mass of studies is still missing. A brief review is presented of the literature and state of knowledge about the environmental performance of telework, with areas noted where knowledge is scant and research is needed.
Fetal Risk in Diagnostic Radiology

It is not uncommon to encounter situations in which radiologic examinations are necessary for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of an expectant mother. The potential deleterious health consequences to the developing embryo and fetus from in utero irradiation include fetal death, congenital malformations, growth retardation, and carcinogenic and mutagenic effects. The likelihood of each effect is greatly dependent on the radiation dose and the gestational age of the conceptus at the time of exposure. In general, the average fetal doses from diagnostic imaging are <50 mGy (5 rad) and have not been associated with any significant adverse fetal effects. However, each case should be evaluated on an individual basis, and the risks should be explained to the patient before the examination. In addition, every effort should be made to reduce the fetal dose to as low as reasonably achievable. The biological effects of in utero radiation exposure, estimated fetal doses from various radiologic examinations, and general guidelines regarding diagnostic imaging during pregnancy will be discussed in this article.
Hypotensive effects of the renin inhibitor (RI-78) and the converting enzyme inhibitor (teprotide) in conscious monkeys.

Effects of the pentapeptide renin inhibitor (RI-78; Phe(4Cl)-Phe-Val-Tyr-Lys-NH2) and the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor (teprotide) on mean arterial pressure (MAP) were examined in conscious monkeys (M. fascicularis). In salt depleted normotensive monkeys with a MAP of 95±4 mmHg and plasma renin activity (ERA) of 15.9±2.7 ngAI/ml/h, a bolus injection of a dose of 375 Mg/kg of RI-78 caused a prompt hypotensive effect. Maximal hypotensive action was seen within 1 min, and MAP returned to the basal level within 15 min. With this dose, MAP was reduced by 20+6 mmHg. Teprotide (1 mg/kg) decreased MAP and reached a nadir after 13 min. There was no significant difference between maximal hypotensive responses seen with RI-78 (375 μ/kg) and with teprotide (1mg/kg). Hypotensive effects of RI-78 and teprotide were also examined in acute renal hypertensive monkeys with a MAP of 1 25±5 mmHg and a PRA of 27.1 ±5.7 ngAI/ml/h. Again, similar hypotensive effects were observed. We conclude that antihypertens...
How Industry Dynamics Influence the Internationalization–Performance Relationship: Evidence From Technology-Intensive Firms

The relationship between internationalization and performance has been the topic of a significant number of research studies, which report a mixed pattern of findings. However, the incorporation of global industry characteristics in the testing of this relationship has not been a facet of these studies. This article investigates the impact of intrafirm trade and differential market growth of the industry on the relationship between internationalization and performance. It focuses on technology-intensive industries using a sample of 795 firms drawn from five countries. Findings indicate that internationalization has a positive relationship (which is quadratic in nature) with performance. Intrafirm trade and differential growth rates were found to interact with the relationship between internationalization and performance, thereby indicating the benefits of internationalization to be contingent on global industry characteristics. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Online teaching strategies to improve collaboration among nursing students

Collaborative problem-solving is an essential competency for nurses and all health professionals. This paper compares the design characteristics and educational benefits of three online-teaching strategies that nurse educators can use to build the critical thinking and social skills needed for effective collaboration: computer supported collaborative learning, case-based facilitated discussion, and cognitive flexibility hypermedia. These strategies support a critical instructional outcome required for effective collaboration: the ability to examine, assess, and synthesize multiple perspectives to resolve illstructured problems (i.e., problems for which there is no clear-cut solution). Descriptions, examples, and guidelines for implementing each strategy are provided. By integrating these strategies into their online courses, nurse educators can prepare nurses to work effectively with others to solve complex problems in clinical practice and the broader health-care system.
4 Advances in therapy for childhood non-B-lymphoblastic leukaemia

Summary The majority of therapeutic gains for patients with ALL have come from prospectively planned clinical trials. Beginning in the 1970s, series of well-designed protocols have produced valuable information that has permitted the development of curative therapy for more than two-thirds of patients. This success emphasizes the importance of controlled, carefully analysed therapeutic studies, which pay dividends for many years by providing a sound basis for future developments. Experienced biostatisticians should be involved early in the development of clinical trials to ensure that research questions can be reliably answered in terms of the size and composition of the patient sample and in terms of accrual time. Despite extensive pre-planning, a protocol may require early termination due to unexpected results that compromise the integrity of the initial design ( Rivera et al, 1985 ). Thus, periodic treatment assessment of the trial is crucial to a successful outcome. Extended follow-up of patients is a requirement in every leukaemia study since relapses may occur many years after diagnosis, especially if patients have a lower risk of treatment failure ( Rivera et al, 1979 ). The quality of long-term survival must also be well documented because all protocols include toxic therapy ( Ochs and Mulhern 1988 ). Every physician treating children with ALL would like to select therapy that is both effective and well tolerated. Unfortunately, this is not always possible when patients have high-risk features. Secondary AML, deaths in remission and fatal organ toxicity ( Steinherz, 1991c ) are equally devastating complications of current chemotherapy for ALL, and no single protocol can be recommended over any other. Patients with ALL may be equally well served by any of several different protocols. The practice of administering 6MP + MTX alone and usually orally as continuation treatment has been virtually abandoned. Today, most children receive intensified chemotherapy in one schedule or another, including good-risk patients on POG protocols who, although treated largely with antimetabolite-based programmes, receive high-dose chemotherapy during the initial 6 months of treatment. In view of the more favourable results attained with reinduction therapy in recent CCG studies, these investigators also recommend such an approach for children with better-risk ALL. We fully agree. Regrettably, with the success of current regimens for higher-risk ALL, it has not been possible to exclude all toxic agents that may induce serious late complications. Efforts to eliminate the use of CNS irradiation continue; however, children with T-ALL and a high WBC, overt CNS leukaemia at diagnosis and special genotypes are better served with this approach until further improvements in chemotherapy are made. Indications for allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in first remission among patients with pediatric ALL are limited at best.
Sequencing of oligonucleotide phosphorothioates based on solid-supported desulfurization

We described a solid-supported desulfurization procedure allowing easy access to the sequence analysis of oligonucleotide phosphorothioates. The described method is based upon selective removal of the 2-cyanoethyl phosphate protecting groups, followed by iodine-promoted desulfurization of the resulting phosphorothioate diesters. Automatic oxidation of oligonucleotide phosphorothioates, anchored via an ester linkage to a standard solid support (LCAA/CPG), is combined with Maxam-Gilbert solid-support sequencing. The overall procedure allows rapid simultaneous sequence analysis of several oligonucleotide analogs.
MO‐E‐AUD A‐01: From Physical to Biological Optimization (Intro)

Optimization techniques have found their way into radiation treatment planning with the advent of IMRT. Since then, medical physicists and operations researchers(optimization experts) have begun to collaborate more closely and tackled various optimization problems in our field. This symposium will present recent advances and challenges at this interface between medical physics and operations research.