cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bone Health in Men Receiving Androgen Deprivation Therapy for Prostate Cancer

Purpose: Patients with recurrent or metastatic prostate cancer generally receive androgen deprivation therapy, which can result in significant loss of bone mineral density. We explored androgen deprivation therapy related bone loss in prostate cancer, current treatments and emerging therapies.Materials and Methods: Literature published on the pathogenesis and management of androgen deprivation therapy related bone loss was compiled and interpreted. Recent drug therapy findings were reviewed, including treatment guidelines.Results: Men with prostate cancer often present with bone loss and the initiation of androgen deprivation therapy can trigger further rapid decreases. This results in an increased fracture risk, and greater morbidity and mortality. Early detection of osteoporosis through androgen deprivation therapy screening and prompt initiation of therapy are critical to prevent continued decreases. Lifestyle changes such as diet, supplementation and exercise can slow the rate of bone loss. Pharmacolo...
Robotic versus laparoscopic resection of liver tumours

Background There are scant data in the literature regarding the role of robotic liver surgery. The aim of the present study was to develop techniques for robotic liver tumour resection and to draw a comparison with laparoscopic resection.
Assessment of the relationship between diagnoses of ASD and caregiver symptom endorsement in adults diagnosed with intellectual disability.

Abstract Individuals diagnosed with an intellectual disability (ID) share overlapping traits with those diagnosed with both ID and an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if caregivers’ reports of symptoms of ASD are of value (i.e., when comparing them to clinical diagnoses of ASD) and to determine which symptoms of ASD best differentiate those with ASD from those with ID only. It was hypothesized that a subset of items would emerge using the Autism Spectrum Disorders-Diagnostic for Adults (ASD-DA) which would differentiate the two groups utilize in this study. One hundred eighty-six adults diagnosed with ID with and without diagnosis of ASD were assessed for core symptoms and other behavioral differences using the ASD-DA. Most of the individuals in the ID group ( n = 93) and the ID plus ASD group ( n = 93) were in the profound range of ID. The items which were most likely to distinguish individuals with ASD were in socialization domain. Furthermore, adults with ASD were more likely to be male and to be non-verbal.
The Effect of Metronidazole on Human Periodontal Disease: A Clinical and Bacteriological Study

Fifteen female subjects undergoing treatment for nonspecific vaginitis with metronidazole 250 mg q.i.d. for 7 days were studied. Clinical and microbiological evaluations were carried out initially and at 2 and 4 weeks. The following parameters were measured in two quadrants: plaque index, sulcular bleeding index, pocket depth, attachment level and amount of gingival fluid. Dark field microscopy was used to quantitate the plaque constituents. One quadrant was subjected to root planing at the initial visit; the other quadrant received no therapy. No oral hygiene instructions were given. All the clinical parameters were significantly reduced in all areas. Gingival fluid, sulcular bleeding index and pocket depth showed greater improvement in the root-planed quadrant compared to the nonroot-planed quadrant. Dark field microscopy showed decreases in fusiforms, curved rods and spirochetes in all areas with a concomitant increase in cocci. The root-planed quadrant showed no significant differences in microbiologi...
Adsorption of dextrans on spherical TiO2 particles

The adsorption of dextrans of three molecular masses on TiO2 (anatase) was investigated. The effects of ionic strength, dihydrogenphosphate and urea on the adsorption of dextran were determined. The insensitivity of the dextran adsorption to pH over the range 4 to 10, the reduction of adsorption by increasing ionic strength and the competitive adsorption of dihydrogenphosphate are consistent with a ligand-exchange mechanism dominating the adsorption.
Resolvability in Topology and in Topological Groups

: A space is resolvable if it contains complementary dense subsets. Among the results proved here, are these. Let Gi (1 ≤i≤ 6) be nondiscrete Hausdorff topological groups with Gi Abelian (1 ≤i≤ 4), G3 locally bounded, G4 a Baire group, and G5 totally bounded and uncountable. Then G1×G2, G3, G4, G5, and G6×G6 are resolvable.
Chemical contents of male mandibular glands of three Centris species (Hymenoptera:Anthophoridae) from Costa Rica

Abstract 1. 1. The chemical content of male mandibular glands of three sympatric Costa Rican Centris bees was determined by GC-MS. 2. 2. Centris aethiocesta and C. flavofasciata , both of which occur in beach habitat and differ morphologically only in leg colour, could be differentiated by the presence of linalool ( x = 9.8% of total) and nerol ( x = 13.4% ) in C. aethiocesta glands and their absence in C. flavofasciata , and the presence of geranial in glands of male C. flavofasciata ( x = 9.7% ) but its absence from C. aethiocesta gland extracts. 3. 3. Centris flavifrons and C. flavofasciata glands both contained neral, geranial, geranyl acetate and geraniol; however, they could be distinguished as geraniol was the most abundant volatile chemical in glands of C. flavifrons ( x = 77.0% ), whereas neral was most abundant in C. flavofasciata ( x = 56.7% ).
RNase II structure completes group portrait of 3′ exoribonucleases

The structure of Escherichia coli RNase II is the first in the broadly conserved RNB family of exoribonucleases. It explains the catalytic properties of RNase II itself and provides insight into an important eukaryotic RNA degradation and processing complex, the exosome.
Emerging roles of PDGF-D signaling pathway in tumor development and progression

Platelet-derived growth factor-D (PDGF-D) can regulate many cellular processes, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, transformation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis. Therefore PDGF-D signaling has been considered to be important in human malignancies, and thus PDGF-D signaling may represent a novel therapeutic target, and as such suggests that the development of agents that will target PDGF-D signaling is likely to have a significant therapeutic impact on human cancers. This mini-review describes the mechanisms of signal transduction associated with PDGF-D signaling to support the role of PDGF-D in the carcinogenesis. Moreover, we summarize data on several PDGF-D inhibitors especially naturally occurring “chemopreventive agent” such an indole compound, which we believe could serve as a novel agent for the prevention of tumor progression and/or treatment of human malignancies by targeted inactivation of PDGF-D signaling.
A photo-electric nucleus counter with size discrimination

A variation of theNolan-Pollak photo-electric nucleus counter for size discrimination is described. Instead of applying an over-pressure, the sample in fog-tube of the new instrument starts at atmospheric pressure and expands into two evacuated containers. The expansion into the first container is as rapid as possible and this determines the maximum supersaturation. The expansion into the second is slow enough to permit the growth of water drops to limit the supersaturation below the initial value, and yet fast enough so that the expansion is essentially adiabatic. The calibration is essentially the same as long as the sum of the two volumes is constant, and only those particles smaller than the size determined by the initial supersaturation contribute to the reading.
Applications of the Chiral U ( 6 ) ⊗ U ( 6 ) Algebra of Current Densities

Consequences of the local commutation relations of vector and axial currents proposed by Gell-Mann are explored: (1) A recipe for detecting and isolating Schwinger terms in the commutators, proportional to derivatives of the δ function, is discussed. (2) Under assumptions of smooth asymptotic behavior of form factors for forward scattering of the isovector current from a proton, we show that the U(3)⊗U(3) algebra for the time components of the currents implies the U(6)⊗U(6) algebra for space components, at least for spin-averaged diagonal single-particle states. (3) The derivation of the Adler-Weisberger formula for GAGV is sharpened by giving arguments that, at fixed energy, the forward π−p Green's function satisfies an unsubtracted dispersion relation in the pion mass. (4) A lower bound for inelastic electron-nucleon scattering at high momentum transfer is derived on the basis of U(6)⊗U(6). (5) The contribution of very virtual photons to the hyperfine anomaly in hydrogen is shown to be related to an equal-time commutator of currents; this contribution is crudely estimated to be <4 parts per million (ppm). (6) The logarithmically divergent part of electromagnetic mass differences of hadrons is shown to be proportional to matrix elements of the equal-time commutator of the electromagnetic current with its time derivative. It is suggested that this "divergent" part be identified with the Coleman-Glashow "tadpoles"; this suggestion is discussed in the framework of a simple quark model. (7) The logarithmically divergent part of the electromagnetic correction to the process π−→π0+e−+ν¯ is, on the basis of the U(6)⊗U(6) current algebra, shown to be nonvanishing, and is computed. (8) A speculative argument is presented that the rate e++e−→hadrons is comparable to the rate e++e−→μ++μ− in the limit of large energies.
Supervision in Public Sector Behavioral Health: A Review

Supervision plays a key role in the provision of health and human services. An extensive literature exists on supervision as an element of professional development in behavioral health care. However, much less attention has been given to the practice of supervision in publicly funded systems of care for persons with mental and substance use conditions. This article provides a comprehensive review of the literature on supervision in the public sector, highlighting its current status, definition, functions, competencies, applicable standards and requirements, training approaches, and outcomes. Recommended strategies for restoring and advancing supervision as an essential practice in systems of care are discussed.
Solvation of Nucleosides in Aqueous Mixtures of Organic Solvents: Relevance to DNA Open Basepairs

Toward the goal of understanding how open basepairs in DNA interact with their heterogeneous environment, we have studied the steady-state intrinsic fluorescence properties of the purine and pyrimidine deoxynucleosides in organic solvents in the presence of small amounts of water. The organic solvents used in the present study were: n-butanol, acetonitrile, methanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, and isobutanol. For n-butanol and acetonitrile, which have a high degree of amphiphilicity and weak hydrogen bonding ability, respectively, the fluorescence spectral properties of the purines are found to depend on the sequence of steps in which the aqueous mixtures were formed. By contrast, no such dependence was observed in the mixtures with any of the other solvents used in the present study. Moreover, no such dependence was observed for the pyrimidines. These findings suggest that the final solvation network around the purines is dependent on the nature of the environment to which they were initially exposed. This would tend to present an impediment to the closing of AT or GC basepairs in DNA that become open as a result of structural fluctuations, DNA bending, or protein-DNA interactions.
Reduced cerebral blood flow, oxygen delivery, and electroencephalographic activity after traumatic brain injury and mild hemorrhage in cats.

The authors investigated the effects of transient, mild hemorrhagic hypotension after fluid-percussion traumatic brain injury on intracranial pressure, cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral oxygen delivery (CBF x arterial O2 content), and electroencephalographic (EEG) activity. Adult mongrel cats were anesthetized with 1.6% isoflurane in N2O:O2 (70:30) and prepared for trauma and for radioactive microsphere CBF measurement. Isoflurane concentration was decreased to 0.8%, and the cats were randomly assigned to one of four control groups or to an experimental group. Animals in the four control groups underwent either mild hemorrhage (18 ml.kg-1) immediately followed by resuscitation with equal volumes of 10% Hetastarch (eight cats), mild hemorrhage followed by replacement of shed blood (six cats), isovolemic hemodilution with 18 ml.kg-1 of Hetastarch (six cats), or moderate (2.2 atm) trauma alone (eight cats). The experimental group received a combination of trauma and mild hemorrhage followed by resuscitation with Hetastarch (eight cats). Mild hemorrhage produced no significant changes in CBF, renal blood flow, or cardiac output. Following resuscitation from mild hemorrhage, mean arterial blood pressure, cardiac output, renal blood flow, and CBF were not significantly different from baseline; cardiac output and renal blood flow did not differ significantly from baseline 2 hours after Hetastarch resuscitation. Neither hemorrhage nor trauma alone produced significant decreases in CBF or in EEG activity, but trauma followed by hemorrhage and resuscitation produced significant (p less than 0.01) decreases in CBF, cerebral oxygen delivery, and EEG score. These data demonstrate that, following traumatic brain injury, even mild hemorrhagic hypotension is associated with significant deficits in cerebral oxygen availability and neurological function.
Impact of acidification on the methylmercury cycle of remote seepage lakes

Concentrations of monomethylmercury [CH3Hg] were measured in the water and seston of five nearly pristine Wisconsin lakes, which span a range of pH from about 4.6 to 7.2. Previous studies had established a clear inverse relationship between [CH3Hg] in fish and the pH of lakes in this region. Here, we examined the pH dependency of [CH3Hg] in lake water and explored the partitioning of CH3Hg between water, seston, and fish as a function of pH. Results indicate that [CH3Hg] in lake water tends to increase as pH decreases, but that seasonal and spatial variability of [CH3Hg] in individual lakes confounds a simple analysis of the relationship. The partitioning of CH3Hg was related only weakly, if at all, to pH. Average partitioning coefficients (log kd=log (Cp/Cw)) were higher for yearling yellow perch (6.0 to 6.5) than for seston (5.5 to 6.0) but did not vary significantly between lakes. This suggests that acidification has a stronger effect on the supply of CH3Hg to the ecosystem than on specific rates of uptake by the biota.
Antipsychotics and the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Children and Youth

Importance The increased prescribing of antipsychotics for children and youth has heightened concerns that this practice increases the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Objective To compare the risk of type 2 diabetes in children and youth 6 to 24 years of age for recent initiators of antipsychotic drugs vs propensity score–matched controls who had recently initiated another psychotropic medication. Design, Setting, and Participants Retrospective cohort study of the Tennessee Medicaid program with 28 858 recent initiators of antipsychotic drugs and 14 429 matched controls. The cohort excluded patients who previously received a diagnosis of diabetes, schizophrenia, or some other condition for which antipsychotics are the only generally recognized therapy. Main Outcomes and Measures Newly diagnosed diabetes during follow-up, as identified from diagnoses and diabetes medication prescriptions. Results Users of antipsychotics had a 3-fold increased risk for type 2 diabetes (HR = 3.03 [95% CI = 1.73-5.32]), which was apparent within the first year of follow-up (HR = 2.49 [95% CI = 1.27-4.88]). The risk increased with cumulative dose during follow-up, with HRs of 2.13 (95% CI = 1.06-4.27), 3.42 (95% CI = 1.88-6.24), and 5.43 (95% CI = 2.34-12.61) for respective cumulative doses (gram equivalents of chlorpromazine) of more than 5 g, 5 to 99 g, and 100 g or more ( P P Conclusions and Relevance Children and youth prescribed antipsychotics had an increased risk of type 2 diabetes that increased with cumulative dose.
Blended Learning in Teacher Preparation Programs: A Literature Review

This paper reviews relevant literature on the concept and design of blended learning in Teacher Preparation Programs TPPs. First, the authors define blended learning in this context and explained an activity system as an analytical framework. Second, the authors describe the method for choosing the studies in this literature review. Third, the authors present some findings through the lens of an activity system. Finally, the authors discuss how the activity system can analyze the effectiveness of blended learning. The activity system framework is very useful to examine the effectiveness of blended learning because the framework explains what components should be included and examined by research. This review could offer some guideline for the nature of blended learning in TPPs for future study.
A simple method for recording hippocampal theta in the freely moving rat

A method is described for recording hippocampal theta electrical activity in the freely moving rat. Bipolar recording electrodes are constructed by soldering two insulated stainless steel wires to male connectors and then twisting the two wires together. The electrodes are implanted into the rat’s brain and are fastened to the skull with machine screws and plastic modeling material. A small cap is built up around the electrodes with plastic cement so that only the male connectors protrude from the electrode assembly. Female leads are connected to an EEG machine by means of microdot cable. A typical hippocampal theta recording obtained with this method is presented. This recording technique has been applied to the classical fear condtiioning technique. Preliminary results suggest that hippocampal theta may drop out after only two or three classical fear conditioning trials.
Infrared and Raman spectra of spiro[2.4]hepta-4,6-diene and [1,2-2H4]spiro[2.4]hepta-4,6-diene

Abstract The i.r. spectra of spiro[2.4]hepta-4,6-diene and of [1,2-2H4]spiro[2.4]hepta-4,6-diene have been measured for gas and liquid samples, for carbon disulfide and carbon tetrachloride solutions, and for samples matrix isolated in argon, krypton or nitrogen. The Raman spectra with depolarization ratios were determined for both isotopic molecules. Vibrational assignments for all fundamental modes of both molecules are proposed based upon polarizations of Raman lines, isotopic frequency shifts, and group frequencies in comparison with vibrational assignments of cyclopentadiene, cyclopropane and d6-cyclopropane.
Effects of herpes simplex virus on human oral cancer cells, and potential use of mutant viruses in therapy of oral cancer

The herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) might be useful in treatment of oral cancer because it is strongly cytolytic, and its natural target tissue is the source of oral squamous cell carcinomas. Use of a wild-type virus would be limited by its spread and neurotoxicity, but it might be possible to develop mutants whose range could be restricted to oral cancers. Thus we have investigated the effects of HSV-1 on human oral cancer cells and have used both wild-type virus and a mutant that lacks UL42--an essential gene of the virus. Growth of the oral cancer cell line 686LN was readily inhibited by wild-type HSV-1, with only 10(2) plaque forming units (pfu) per milliliter required for 50% inhibition. In contrast, the mutant HSV-1 required a titer of 10(6) pfu/ml for 50% inhibition of growth. The mutant virus did, however, inhibit cell growth through the activation of ganciclovir and thus might be able to amplify its cytotoxicity through a bystander effect. When wild-type HSV-1 was injected into 686LN cells which were growing as tumors in nude mice, the virus spread through the tumor. Treated tumors were smaller, of lower weight, and significantly more necrotic than either untreated tumors or tumors which had been treated with the mutant virus. The wild-type virus spread to the skin and nervous system of most animals causing zosteriform skin rash, neurological symptoms and death, while the mutant virus produced none of these side-effects. These results show that HSV-1 might be used to treat oral cancer if its replication could be limited to the tumor cells, and that controlled expression of the UL42 gene would be one way to obtain that limitation.
Diphenylamine and pre-slicing storage effects on the responses of apple slices to elevated CO2 atmospheres

Abstract The effect of treatment with diphenylamine (DPA) and duration of postharvest storage of whole apple fruit on the responses of fresh-cut apple slices to elevated CO 2 storage atmospheres has been investigated. On the day of harvest, ‘McIntosh’, ‘Empire’ and ‘Delicious’ apples were untreated or dipped in DPA, and were held at 0.5 °C overnight or for 6 weeks before slicing. Slices were then stored at 0, 15, 30, 45 or 60% CO 2 in 1% O 2 (balance N 2 ), atmospheres. Color, firmness and accumulation of acetaldehyde, ethanol and ethyl acetate of the slices were measured. Generally slices were lighter (higher L * values) when stored in elevated CO 2 atmospheres, but atmosphere and DPA effects varied by cultivar and were affected by pre-slice storage time. Slices prepared from stored fruit were softer compared with slices prepared at harvest. Slice firmness was not affected consistently by CO 2 or DPA concentration, whether they were prepared at harvest or after storage. The effects of increasing CO 2 concentration on acetaldehyde and ethanol accumulations were variable, being affected by cultivar and storage period. DPA treatment did not affect acetaldehyde accumulation of any cultivar, or ethanol accumulation of slices prepared from fruit at harvest. However, DPA-treated ‘Empire’ and ‘Delicious’ apples stored before slicing accumulated less ethanol compared with untreated fruit. Storage of apples before processing increased the accumulation of fermentation volatile compounds by cut apples under storage atmosphere conditions.
Enhanced on-Die RC Characterization Methodology

This paper focuses on the power delivery network (PDN) characterization of high speed IC; particularly focusing on the on-die decoupling capacitance (Cdie) and on-die resistance and on die metal grid resistance (Rdie+Rgrid) characterization. For accurate modeling of Cdie, Rdie and Rgrid, two different measurements are studied by means of ‘On-chip’ and ‘On package’ measurement. As the ‘On package’ measurement approach' is a known valid approach established and relied on for many years, it is used as a benchmark to guide us in the relatively new approach of ‘On chip’ in order to derive the right model for Cdie/Rdie/Rgrid. As both measurement setups are different, one as a direct on-chip measurement, while the other has an additional package substrate, the paper will describe a methodology to compensate the package parasitic from the model extracted; so that the final model is a standalone Cdie/Rdie/Rgrid model without the contribution of added parasitic from the package substrate. To ensure consistency, a wafer structure which consist only the power grid structure is measured and correlated with the power grid modeling tool to confirm that both modeling methodology and measurement methodology are correlated and accurate before applying the Rgrid model. The new method has shown a good correlation to the existing method to within 95% accuracy.
Decomposition of tableaus annihilated by zero-dimensional ideals

Abstract A (1-dimensional) linear recursive sequence s over a field K decomposes in the following canonical way. Let I ⊂ K [ x ] be the annihilator ideal of s . Since K [ x ] is a principal ideal domain, I = fK [ x ] for some polynomial f , which can be factored as f 1 ⋯ f r where the f i are coprime. Thus s can be uniquely written as a sum of sequences s i having annihilator ideals I i = f i K [ x ]. Furthermore, each f i is a power of an irreducible polynomial f i =( g i ) e i . Each sequence s i can be uniquely written as a e i -fold sum of pointwise products of a “binomial” sequence with a sequence annihilated by g i . Finally, a sequence annihilated by an irreducible polynomial g i is given by a trace formula. See, for instance, [N. Zierler, W.H. Mills, J. Algebra 27 (1973) 147–157]. We show that a completely analogous decomposition (which subsumes the 1-dimensional case) holds for n -dimensional linear recursive sequences, i.e., tableaus annihilated by zero-dimensional ideals of K [ x 1 ,…, x n ].
Ceramide Induces Cell Death in the Human Prostatic Carcinoma Cell Lines PC3 and DU145 but Does Not Seem to Be Involved in Fas-Mediated Apoptosis

Treatment of cells with synthetic C2-ceramide has been reported to induce apoptosis in several cell systems, and endogenously formed ceramide has been proposed to act as a second messenger, activating signaling pathways which contribute to the execution of apoptotic cell death after Fas ligation or tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 ligation. In this study, we examined the effect of exogenously administered C2-ceramide on the human prostatic carcinoma cell lines PC3 (Fas-sensitive) and DU145 (Fas-resistant). In both cell lines, C2-ceramide induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner, whereas a structural analog, C2-dihydroceramide, did not. The pan-caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk did not prevent C2-ceramide-induced cell death but did prevent C2-ceramide-induced DNA fragmentation, indicating that apoptotic and non-apoptotic mechanisms are involved in C2-ceramide-induced death. Interestingly, cycloheximide prevented C2-ceramide-induced DNA fragmentation, indicating that ceramide-induced apoptosis in PC3 and DU145 requires new protein synthesis. In addition, because cycloheximide converts Fas-resistant DU145 to Fas-sensitive as assessed by DNA fragmentation, ceramide does not seem to play a major role in the Fas-mediated pathway in this cell line. We also determined the levels of endogenous sphingomyelin after Fas ligation in PC3. No decrease of sphingomyelin levels could be detected after Fas activation. We conclude that sphingomyelinase-generated ceramide does not play a role in Fas-mediated apoptosis in PC3, and that there are fundamental differences in the mechanisms of cell death induced by C2-ceramide and Fas ligation.
Effect of thyroid hormone on concentrations of plasma calcitonin in broiler chicks.

Abstract The purpose of these studies was to determine the effect of thyroidectomy (Tx), and thyroid hormone (T 3 /T 4 ) treatment on concentrations of plasma CT in chicks. In addition, the turnover of CT in Tx- and T 3 /T 4 -treated chicks was estimated using a novel nonradioactive salmon CT preparation. One-week-old broiler chicks ( Gallus domesticus ) ( n =75) were divided into three groups. Group I was sham-injected daily (i.m. saline), Group II was injected with 50 μ g/day of T 3 /T 4 while Group III was injected with the goitrogen, methimazole, (150 mg/kg BW per day) for 8 weeks. Chicks (8–9 weeks old) were implanted with catheters in the brachial wing vein and administered ruthenium-labeled salmon CT. Blood samples were collected at 30 s, 1, 2, 4, 8, 20 min, and 3 h after injection. Results showed that concentrations of plasma CT were decreased in T 3 /T 4 -injected birds. There was no significant effect of methimazole on circulating concentrations of plasma CT. The half-life of CT was significantly increased ( P 3 /T 4 -injected ( n =6; 1.34±0.16 min) and goitrogen-treated birds ( n =2; 5.81±2.83 min) compared to controls ( n =7; 54±3 s) The results demonstrate that changes in concentrations of plasma thyroid hormones can significantly affect concentrations of plasma CT.
Triplet-triplet nonlinear absorption dynamics in C60

Nonlinear absorption dynamics are studied in C60 solutions by measuring the nonlinear energy transmittance and transmitted temporal profiles of Q-switched doubled Nd:YAG pulses. The rate equations are solved for a five level system using a combination of analytical and numerical techniques via Mathcad with model parameters taken from the literature. Very good agreement is found with the nonlinear energy transmittance. The slight disagreement between the calculated and temporal profiles is discussed.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Some safety considerations in laser-controlled thermonuclear reactors

Abstract The potential safety problems which might be encountered in laser-driven controlled thermonuclear reactors (LCTR) have been examined and compared with previous studies of magnetically-confined systems. In several significant ways, including tritium hazards and some blanket cooling functions, laser-driven systems appear to differ only in quantitative ways from magnetic systems. Several aspects of safety of laser-driven systems are distinctive to them. These include cooling means designed to handle the pulsetile energy deposition from pellet explosions, and various equipment and containment penetrations associated with the lasers. Specify safety analyses have been performed for a loss-of-flow accident (LOFA) in a wetted-wall LCTR, and failure modes for laser penetrations are considered in detail to ascertain appropriate component placement and design criteria.
Effect of carbon source on the replication and transmission of yeast mitochondrial genomes.

Genetic crosses were made using strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae which carried cytoplasmically inherited markers conferring resistance to erythromycin, oligomycin and chloramphenicol. The frequency of transmission of these mitochondrial loci to diploid progeny was found to be influenced by the physiological state of the haploid parents, and was not affected by the cis or trans configuration of the three resistance markers. No recombinational polarity was seen in any of the crosses. Growth of a haploid parental strain to stationary phase in a yeast extract peptone medium containing glycerol as a carbon source resulted in a high level of transmission of mitochondrial markers when crossed with a strain grown to stationary phase in the same medium but with glucose as carbon source. When cells were grown under the same conditions as those used in the genetic crosses they were found to contain more mitochondrial DNA relative to nuclear DNA when glycerol was used as a carbon source than when glucose was used. Two criteria were used to determine the amount of mitochondrial DNA present: i) incorporation of radioactive precursors into the different DNA species; and ii) measurement of the mass of DNA from amounts of ultraviolet-absorbing material at the appropriate buoyant densities in isopycnic CsCl gradients. It is proposed that the two to three fold difference in the ratio of mitochondrial DNA to nuclear DNA in stationary phase cells grown in the presence of glycerol compared to glucose reflects an increased number of mitochondrial genomes in derepressed mitochondria. This difference, by a “genome dosage” effect, could account for the variations in the genetic parameter of the frequency of transmission, i.e., strains grown with glycerol as a carbon source contain more mitochondrial genomes than glucose-grown strains and thus will contribute more mitochondrial markers to the zygote.
Effects of container geometry on granular convection

In this work we use computer simulations to examine the effects of boundary conditions on convection in vibrated granular systems. A two-dimensional model reproduces experimental results on the form of the convective velocities and the reversal of the convection rolls. We then look in detail at the role of the wall preparation and discuss a possible mechanism to account for the range of observed behaviors.
Brain, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid distribution of a zidovudine chemical delivery system in rabbits.

Abstract Improved brain delivery of zidovudine (AZT) was shown to occur after iv dosing of a chemical delivery system (CDS) for the modified deoxynucleoside. Specifically, administration of a 25-mg/kg dose of 5’-[(1-methyl-l,4-dihydropyridin-3-yl)carbonyl]-3’-azido-3’-deoxythymidine (AZT-CDS) generated higher and more sustained levels of AZT in brain tissue of rabbits than did dosing with AZT itself. The significant increase in the area under the AZT brain concentration-time curve occurred with lower AZT present in the systemic circulation and with similar AZT levels in cerebrospinal fluid. These results, as well as previously published reports examining AZT-CDS in mice, rats, and dogs, indicate that this delivery system may be beneficial in the treatment of AIDS-related encephalopathy.
Effect of cardiotoxic doses of adrenergic amines on myocardial cyclic AMP

Abstract The role of beta-adrenergic activation in the cardiotoxicity of adrenergic amines was assessed by measuring rat myocardial cyclic AMP at various times after subcutaneous injection of necrosis-inducing amounts of isoproterenol, phenylephrine or epinephrine in the presence and in the absence of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor aminophylline. The β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol (5.25 mg/kg) increased myocardial cyclic AMP at 1 h to 147% of control and in the presence of aminophylline (75 mg/kg) to 261% of control as compared to 146% for aminophylline alone. Propranolol (6.25 mg/kg) blocked isoproterenol-induced increases in cyclic AMP. Neither the α-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine (15 mg/kg) nor epinephrine (4 mg/kg), which has both α- and β-adrenergic properties, increased myocardial cyclic AMP above control levels even in the presence of aminophylline. With α-adrenergic blockade by tolazoline (15 mg/kg) or phenoxybenzamine (2 mg/kg), combined administration of epinephrine and aminophylline caused an increase of the myocardial cyclic AMP content to 163% and 173%, respectively, of that of control rats. These results suggest that in the intact rat, cyclic AMP-mediated myocardial stimulation is an important factor in the cardiotoxicity of isoproterenol but not of phenylephrine, while the beta-adrenergic component of epinephrine cardiotoxicity is unmasked only in the presence of α-adrenergic blockade.
Prevalence of anatomic variations encountered in elective carpal tunnel release.

Abstract Purpose: To determine the prevalence of aberrant or unexpected anatomic structures within one surgeon's elective experience of carpal tunnel releases and their association with pathologic compression. Methods: A total of 31 anomalies of median nerve, muscle, and tendon, median artery persistence, and ulnar nerve were documented in 30 hands during the course of 526 elective carpal tunnel releases in one surgeon's practice. The data collected were reviewed retrospectively. All carpal tunnel releases were performed open, exposing the median nerve from the palmar arch to the proximal wrist crease. Anomalies were categorized into those involving the median nerve and its motor and sensory branches, the ulnar nerve, a persistent median artery, and anomalies of muscle/tendon units traversing the carpal tunnel area. Results: Seven hands were noted to have aberrant muscle/tendon variations within the carpal tunnel region (1.3%). Anomalies of the median nerve or its palmar cutaneous or motor branches were observed in 5 hands (1.0%). An anomaly of the ulnar nerve with an aberrant branch crossing the carpal tunnel incision occurred in one hand. A persistent median artery (≥1 mm) was noted in 18 hands (3.4%). One hand had 2 anomalies present. One anomaly was high bifurcation of the median nerve and the second anomaly was an anomalous muscle to the long finger superficialis. Conclusions: The specific anatomic variations described may be anticipated and more readily recognized by hand surgeons during such open surgery, thus increasing the efficacy and safety of this common procedure.
Venacavoscopy during nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena caval thrombus.

Purpose: Renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena caval thrombus remains a complex challenge for the urologist. Aggressive surgery to remove all tumor can result in long-term survival. Liver transplant techniques, assistance from cardiac surgeons and bypass techniques can yield optimal vascular control but there is still a blind element inside the inferior vena cava when the thrombus is evacuated. We present data on a technique using a flexible cystoscope to evaluate the lumen of the intrahepatic and suprahepatic inferior vena cava after nephrectomy and tumor thrombectomy.Materials and Methods: Seven patients underwent radical nephrectomy and tumor thrombectomy for renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena caval thrombus. During surgery and after removal of the tumor thrombus a flexible cystoscope was inserted into the venacavotomy for direct inspection of the inferior vena caval lumen. Any residual tumor was manipulated out of the lumen and removed. Patient records were reviewed for data on the time of this...
Optimization of butanol production from tropical maize stalk juice by fermentation with Clostridium beijerinckii NCIMB 8052

Abstract Mixed sugars from tropical maize stalk juice were used to carry out butanol fermentation with Clostridium beijerinckii NCIMB 8052. Batch experiments employing central composite design (CCD) and response surface methodology (RSM) optimization were performed to evaluate effects of three factors, i.e. pH, initial total sugar concentration, and agitation rate on butanol production. Optimum conditions of pH 6.7, sugar concentration 42.2 g/L and agitation rate 48 rpm were predicted, under which a maximum butanol yield of 0.27 g/g-sugar was estimated. Further experiments demonstrated that higher agitation facilitated acetone production, leading to lower butanol selectivity in total acetone–butanol–ethanol (ABE). While glucose and fructose are more preferable by C. beijerinckii, sucrose can also be easily degraded by the microorganism. This study indicated that RSM is a useful approach for optimizing operational conditions for butanol production, and demonstrated that tropical maize, with high yield of biomass and stalk sugars, is a promising biofuel crop.
The Cooking Ape

In their books, Wrangham and Burton present two quite different perspectives on how learning to control fire may have played a crucial role in human evolution.
Necessity of evolution in cosmological γ-ray bursts

RESULTS from the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE)1 on the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory show a relative deficiency of faint γ-ray bursts without any detectable anisotropy. This gives strong support to suggestions that the bursts originate at cosmological distances2, such that cosmic expansion reduces the detectability of faint (and therefore distant) sources relative to a uniformly filled euclidean space. But the Pioneer Venus Orbiter (PVO) observations of brighter bursts show no such deficiency, indicating that the bursts that it sees are at redshifts less than about one. The best-fit cosmological model based on PVO data (peak luminosity L0 = 2 x 1050erg s-1) with no evolution of the source population predicts, when extrapolated to the fainter sources, a factor of 40 more events than BATSE sees. Even the 3a limit from PVO (L0 = 9.1 x 1051 ergs-1) is barely consistent with the BATSE result. Evolution of the cosmological γ-ray burst sources with epoch therefore seems necessary if the PVO and BATSE data are to be reconciled. The required evolutionary trend is for fewer or fainter bursts at larger redshift.
Travelling load response of an axially moving string

Abstract The classical moving load problem in which a mass traverses an elastic structure is extended to systems in which the guideway also has prescribed axial motion. A monocable ropeway, such as a tramway or ski lift, is an example of such a traveling structure-traveling load system, and it is modeled herein as an axially moving string that transports an attached discrete mass between two supports. The Green's function methods for the two constituent systems, the particle and the uniform traveling string, are combined to derive a Volterra integral equation with delay that governs the interaction force in the coupled system. The calculated response of the traveling string-particle system to arbitrary initial conditions and external excitation is compared to that predicted by the derived asymptotic solution for vanishing discrete mass. Repeated scattering by the particle of transverse waves in the string dominates the motion. Transient vibration as the particle is transported between the supports is maximized at a transport speed that can be substantially lower than the critical speed of divergence instability for the uniform traveling string. Agreement between responses measured in the laboratory and those predicted by the traveling structure-traveling load theory supports the analysis.
Immobilized Glucose Oxidase in the Potentiometric Detection of Glucose

Previous work has shown that glucose oxidase can be immobilized on platinum to give an electrode that responds potentiometrically to glucose over the clinically useful range of about 10–250 mg glucose/100 mL. The present studies were carried out with electrochemically pretreated platinum and with gold or porous graphite substituted for the platinum support. The presence of the enzyme gave a significantly enhanced potentiometric response over that obtained with the bare support for both the pretreated platinum and the porous graphite, but not with gold. However, with platinum the potentiometric response became more negative with increasing glucose concentration. With porous graphite, the potential changed in the positive direction as the glucose concentration was increased. Hysteresis was demonstrated for the platinum-enzyme electrode. Mass transfer measurements with a rotating ring-disc electrode (RRDE) showed measurable diffusional resistances to the transport of a model electroactive compound (potassium ferrocyanide) through a matrix of immobilized enzyme attached to the disc of the RRDE. These results are part of a larger study to define the source of the potentiometric response by examining the roles of the support and the mass transfer resistances through the immobilized enzyme matrix.
Note on a Possible Annihilation Process for Negative Protons

Expressions have been obtained for the annihilation cross sections of proton pairs using weak coupling theory and spin zero mesons. The cross section for annihilation into two charged mesons has a $\frac{1}{v}$ behavior in the limit of very small velocity, $v$, of the negative proton and dominates over the annihilation into two photons. In the laboratory coordinate system it is possible for one of the emitted mesons to emerge in the backward direction with respect to the direction of the incident negative proton even for large incident energies. This may provide a method for distinguishing high energy annihilation events taking place in the cosmic radiation.
Dispersal and Survival of Early Instars of European Corn Borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Field Corn

Cohorts of European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner), from eggs infested on whorl-stage corn ( Zea mays L.), were intensively sampled through fourth instar in 1986 and through fifth instar in 1987. In both years, central plants in plots (4 by 2 m, 55 plants) were infested with European corn borer egg masses to simulate a first-generation infestation. In 1986, one egg mass was placed in each plot, whereas in 1987, plots received one, two, or four egg masses. In both years, >50% of the recovered larvae were on the infested plant. Mean dispersal distance increased linearly with time in both years. However, maximum dispersal distance was independent of time in both years. In 1987, egg mass density had a significant linear effect on maximum dispersal distance but no effect on mean dispersal distance. The radius encompassing 90% of the recovered larvae included the infested plant and two plants on either side within the same row. Mortality occurred mainly within the first 48 h: 75.7% in 1986 and 82.9% in 1987. A logistic regression showed that egg and larval survival were independent of egg mass density. The number of tunnels produced per larva found at 8 d after infestation (considered equivalent to scouting) was 0.592. Knowledge of European corn borer dispersal and survival could be used to improve sampling plans and the calculation of economic thresholds.
Love: a psychometric approach.

A new psychometric instrument, the Love Scale, was developed for measuring feelings and attitudes associated with being in love. A series of items was constructed to provide measures of five compon...
Ionization of Nitrogen Molecules by Nitrogen Molecules

The ionization cross section for ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ molecules on impact with ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ molecules has been measured over the laboratory energy range from 30 to 1000 ev. The incident molecular beam was produced by the technique of ionization by electron impact, electrostatic acceleration and neutralization by charge transfer. The measurements were carried out in a low-pressure parallel plate ionization chamber. Particular attention was paid to the problem of secondary electrons. Ionization was observed a few volts above threshold. Cross sections which were obtained ranged from ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}20}$ to ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}16}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$. The curve of cross section vs incident particle energy showed structure indicative of competing processes.
Dual Function of the Damselfly Penis: Sperm Removal and Transfer

The male of Calopteryx maculata (Beauvois) (Odonata) uses its penis not only to transfer sperm to the female but also to remove sperm deposited in the female's sperm storage organs from previous matings. Apparently, no such sperm removal function has previously been attributed to the intromittent organ of any animal.
Oligodendroglial Differentiation in Glial Primary Cultures: Requirement for Mevalonate

: The oligodendroglial enzyme, 2′,3′-cyclic nucleo-tide 3′-phosphohydrolase (CNP), is a valuable marker for expression of oligodendroglial differentiation in glial primary cultures, and the inducibility of this enzyme by dibu-tyryl-3′,5′-cyclic AMP (dBcAMP) appears to be limited to immature or developing oligodendroglia. To investigate the relationship between the induction of CNP and the sterol biosynthetic pathway, primary cultures of glia dissociated from the brains of newborn rats were maintained in 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) and exposed to 1 mM dBcAMP on day 7 in culture. Cultures so treated for either 48 h or 72 h demonstrated a three- to fourfold induction of CNP specific activity. The magnitude of this induction was not affected when the cholesterol content of the culture medium was reduced by >95% by placing the cultures in 10% lipoprotein-poor serum rather than 10% FCS during the exposure to dBcAMP. Mevinolin (10 μM), a specific inhibitor of 3-hy-droxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme of the sterol biosynthetic pathway, completely inhibited the induction of CNP by dBcAMP, while not affecting either the accumulation of cellular protein per flask or rate of protein synthesis. Simultaneous addition of mevalonate (20 mM) prevented the inhibition of the induction of CNP by mevinolin. However, simultaneous addition of low-density lipoprotein sufficient to increase the cholesterol content of the medium 80-fold failed to correct mevi-nolin's inhibition of the induction of CNP. Thus, these results demonstrate that the presence of mevalonate is obligatory for the induction of CNP in primary cultures of developing glia, and suggest that a critical nonsterol derivative of mevalonate is required for this expression of oligodendroglial differentiation.