cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Antitumor alkylating agents: in vitro cross-resistance and collateral sensitivity studies

Cell lines resistant to five antitumor alkylating agents (CDDP, PAM, 4-HC, HN2, and BCNU) were developed from five parental human tumor lines representative of solid tumors with a range of sensitivities to antitumor alkylating agents. The parental cell lines were SCC-25 squamous carcinoma of the head and neck, MCF-7 breast carcinoma, SW2 small-cell lung cancer, SL6 non-small-cell lung carcinoma, and G3361 melanoma. Survival curves using colony formation as the endpoint were generated for each of the 25 cell lines to each of the five alkylating agents. Comparison of the drug concentrations that reduced the survival of the alkylating agent-resistant cell lines by 90% (IC90 values) with the IC90 values obtained for the corresponding parental cell lines was used as a measure of the resistance/sensitivity of the alkylating agent-resistant lines to each drug tested. Although cross-resistance among the alkylating agents was generally uncommon, several patterns of response emerged. Cross-resistance occurred in 27 of the 105 determinations and occurred most frequently in the cell lines in which resistance was developed to PAM (57%) or BCNU (38%). Cross-resistance to HN2 occurred most frequently. Collateral sensitivity was equally as common, occurring in 25 of the 105 determinations. Collateral sensitivity occurred most frequently in the cell lines made resistant to 4-HC. The 4-HC-resistant cell lines were most frequently collaterally sensitive to PAM and to BCNU. Cross-resistance developed most frequently in the MCF-7 breast carcinoma and SCC-25 squamous-cell carcinoma cell lines, whereas collateral sensitivity developed most frequently in the SW2 small-cell lung cancer line and the G3361 melanoma cell line and least frequently in the MCF-7 breast carcinoma cell line and the SL6 non-small-cell lung cancer cell line. The implication of these findings for the development of strategies for clinical treatment are discussed.
A Practical Method for Identifying Significant Change Scores

The current literature on measuring "change" contains several methods for estimating difference scores for pretest-posttest designs. While the significance of group difference scores obtained with these techniques can be evaluated using standard statistical tests, the researcher in applied settings is frequently more concerned with identifying individuals who are most (or least) influenced by a particular treatment. This paper presents a simple, easy-to-apply test of significance for identifying such individuals. The technique requires as input 3 pieces of information: true difference scores, the reliability of the obtained differences, and their standard error of measurement. Selection can then be done on the basis of visual inspection of the distribution of difference scores.
Laboratory Detection of the Carbon Chains HC15N and HC17N

The linear cyanopolyynes HC -->15N and HC -->17N were detected in the laboratory by Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. Enough rotational lines of each species were measured in the 5-11 GHz frequency range so that precise values for the rotational and centrifugal distortion constants can be determined and the entire rotational spectra of both molecules predicted to better than 1 km s -->−1 in equivalent radial velocity over the range of interest to radio astronomy. Although there is a nearly constant decrement in line intensity from HC -->3N to HC -->9N of about seven, the decrement decreases by at least a factor of 2 on reaching HC -->17N, and as a result the lines of HC -->17N are nearly an order of magnitude stronger than predicted by extrapolation from the shorter cyanopolyynes. With a molecular weight of 219 amu and a rotational constant of slightly more than 50 MHz, HC -->17N is the longest carbon chain identified to date by high-resolution spectroscopy.
Botulinum toxin type B in upper-limb poststroke spasticity: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Abstract Brashear A, McAfee AL, Kuhn ER, Fyffe J. Botulinum toxin type B in upper-limb poststroke spasticity: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2004;85:705-9. Objective To determine whether botulinum toxin type B (BTX-B) is effective in controlling upper-limb spasticity. Design A single-site, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial and open-label study. Setting Outpatient. Participants Subjects with an Ashworth Scale score of 2 or more at the elbow, wrist, and fingers. Interventions Subjects were injected with 10,000U of BTX-B or placebo at the elbow, wrist, and finger flexors. Main outcome measures Measures recorded at weeks 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16, with a 12-week open-label study. Ashworth Scale score, a global assessment of change (GAC), adverse events and mouse neutralization antibody testing. Results BTX-B did not decrease muscle tone in the elbow, wrist, or finger flexors at 10,000U over the 16-week period. A decrease in Ashworth Scale score for the BTX-B patient group was present at the wrist at week 2 of the double-blind study ( P =.003) but was not statistically significant at other visits. In the open-label study, improvement was noted at week 4 for the elbow ( P =.039), wrist ( P =.002), finger ( P =.001), and thumb flexors ( P =.002). In the double-blind study, the Physician GAC did not reach significance. Dry mouth was reported by 8 of 9 BTX-B subjects in the double-blind study. Mouse neutralization antibodies were negative. Conclusions Our study does not show a significant decrease in tone from 10,000U of BTX-B. Dry mouth was common.
RESPONSE OF NEWBORN LAMB TO ISOPROTERONOL INFUSION

We studied 6 chronically instrumented newborn lambs during normoxia (N) and hypoxia (H) on alternating days during infusion of isoproteronol (I) from .062 to 2.5 mcg/kg/min while measuring PAP, LAP, SAP, pulmonary flow (QP) heart rate (HR) and blood gases. Pulmonary (PVR) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and PVR/SVR were calculated. Infusion during N resulted in decreased SAP, PVR, SVR and increased HR, QP, and PVR/SVR. During H+I compared to N base, SAP, and SVR decreased and PAP, PVR, HR, QP, and PVR/SVR increased. QP increased significantly during H alone, and did not increase further with I infusion. Changes from N base to H base were not increased further when H+I was compared to H base except for HR which rose from 271±8 to 320±19 ml/kg/min.
The Importance of Basic Science and Research Training for the Next Generation of Physicians and Physician Scientists

Now more than ever, medical educators at all levels are tasked with delivering foundational concepts and content necessary for the next generation of physicians and physician scientists to incorporate evidence-based medicine into their clinical practice and research. Physicians need the skills to evaluate the quality and relevance of content that they are incorporating to their expanding medical knowledge database. The emphasis of modern medical education should therefore focus on acquiring, interpreting, and applying new knowledge rather than committing old (and rapidly outdated) knowledge to memory. Whether encountering a patient with an unfamiliar set of symptoms and numerous comorbidities or a gap in mechanistic understanding of a complex biological or physiological process, medical and scientific knowledge must be applied appropriately to be effective. Furthermore, assessments of the outcomes of that application to the patient or an experimental observation must be robust if conclusions are to be reached that advance our understanding of patient care or fundamental biological processes. However, instruction or training in evidence-based medicine presents a challenge to medical educators, because the depth of mechanistic understanding of physiological and pathophysiological process has exploded. Quantum leaps have been made in our understanding of human biology advanced by the solving of DNA structure in 1953 and sequencing of the first human genome in 2003. The depth in our understanding of fundamental processes in human biology and disease is seen at every level, genetic, molecular, cellular, and system wide. However, despite this explosion of scientific knowledge, the time devoted to basic science instruction in most medical school curricula has been shrinking rather than expanding. We should all expect more from our medical students than a snap-chat, wikiknowledge level of basic science processes. Moreover, we must recognize that the process of knowledge acquisition is equally as important, if not more so, than the actual knowledge acquired. Because the recall of stored content can be so rapid and effortless in the digital age, how can we expect the current generation of students to be excited and inspired by delivery of content merely for content’s sake? In 1910 (1), Abraham Flexner published his report on the state of medical education in the United States and Canada that fundamentally reformed medical schools in North America with curricular and policy recommendations that remain essentially intact in today’s landscape of medical education. Flexner himself was instrumental in the founding of one of the first American medical schools (ie, the
Vforce: An Extensible Framework for Reconfigurable Supercomputing

Reconfigurable supercomputer architectures require new programming tools that support application portability. The Vforce framework, based on the object-oriented VSIPL++ standard, encapsulates hardware-specific implementations behind a standard API, thus insulating application-level code from hardware-specific details
Observations of Stick-Slip Friction in Velcro®

Friction, and in particular stick-slip friction, occurs on every length scale, from the movement of atomic force microscope tips at the nanoscale to the movement of tectonic plates of the Earth’s crust. Even with this ubiquity, there still appears to be outstanding fundamental questions, especially on the way that frictional motion varies generally with the mechanical parameters of a system. In this study, the frictional dynamics of the hook-and-loop system of Velcro® in shear is explored by varying the typical parameters of driving velocity, applied load, and apparent contact area. It is demonstrated that in Velcro® both the maximum static frictional force and the average kinetic frictional force vary linearly with apparent contact area (hook number), and moreover, in the kinetic regime, stick-slip dynamics are evident. Surprisingly, the average kinetic friction force is independent of velocity over nearly two-and-a-half orders of magnitude (~2 × 10−4 to ~6 × 10−2 m/s). The frictional force varies as a power law on the applied load with an exponent of 0.28 and 0.24 for the maximum static and kinetic frictional forces, respectively. Furthermore, the evolution of stick-slip friction to more smooth sliding, as controlled by contact area, is demonstrated by both a decrease in the spread of the kinetic friction and the spread of the fluctuations of the average kinetic friction when normalized to the average kinetic friction; these decreases follow power-law behaviors with respect to the increasing contact area with exponents of approximately −0.3 and −0.8, respectively. Lastly, we note that the coefficients of friction μs and μk are not constant with applied load but rather decrease monotonically with power-law behavior with an exponent of nearly −0.8. Phenomenologically, this system exhibits interesting physics whereby in some instances it follows classical Amontons–Coulomb (AC) behavior and in others lies in stark contrast and hopefully will assist in the understanding of the friction behavior in dry surfaces.
Identification of a Hoxd10-regulated transcriptional network and combinatorial interactions with Hoxa10 during spinal cord development

Hoxd10 is expressed in the posterior spinal cord and hindlimbs of the mouse. Hoxd10, along with other Hox transcription factors, is thought to regulate the activity of genes involved in nervous system patterning and motor neuron development, but little is known about the downstream targets regulated by this gene. cDNA microarrays were used to investigate the transcriptional network regulated by Hoxd10 in homozygous knockout animals. Sixty-nine genes were identified with altered expression levels in mutant spinal cords. Among these were genes involved in such diverse cellular events as cellular communication, cell cycle control, development and differentiation, and neuronal survival. The expression of some of these genes was investigated using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and in situ hybridization. Nine genes showed changes in expression of the same sign and similar magnitude using RT-PCR in Hoxd10 single mutant animals, with additional changes in expression seen in Hoxa10/Hoxd10 double mutant animals. In situ hybridization studies also demonstrated changes in expression consistent with microarray results. Analysis of putative promoter regions for Hox protein binding sites suggested that some genes may be direct Hoxd10 targets, whereas others likely are regulated through intermediate steps. Using cDNA microarrays to study a single gene knockout during critical developmental stages has identified a large number of genes regulated by Hoxd10, many of which would not have been approached as candidates for Hox gene regulation based on function or expression. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Pull-in Analysis of Scanners Actuated by Electrostatic Vertical Combdrives

This paper presents an analysis of pull-in due to in-plane twist in MEMS scanners actuated by vertical combdrives with general comb gap arrangements and cross-sections. The analysis is based on a 2-DOF actuator with a single voltage control. A closed-form pull-in deflection angle expression is obtained by accurately modeling the capacitance between the movable and fixed combs. The analysis results are in good agreement with simulations, and allow optimization of scanner designs by combining pull-in deflection angle, capacitance maximum angle, and available torque.
Transplantation of the cockroach circadian pacemaker

Surgical removal of the optic lobes of the cockroach Leucophaea maderae followed by transplantation of the optic lobes from another individual led to a restoration of the circadian activity rhythm in 4 to 8 weeks. The free-running period of the restored rhythm was determined by the period of the donor rhythm before surgery. The results suggest that the transplanted optic lobe contains a circadian clock that regenerates those neural connections with the host brain that are necessary to drive the circadian rhythm of activity.
Personal Strategic Plan Development: Getting Ready for Changes in Our Professional and Personal Lives

Daily challenges for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants are changing work environments and the desire to address the needs of their clients. This article highlights the need for occupational therapy practitioners to create personal strategic plans to prepare for their rapidly changing futures. Although AOTA's Centennial Vision responds to the profession's future, practitioners must focus on their personal and professional roles and responsibilities. They also must engage in individual strategic planning. Sound individual strategic planning provides a means for practitioners to merge their fantasized views of occupational therapy with the reality of today's practice.
Maternal metabolic perturbations elicited by high-fat diet promote Wnt-1-induced mammary tumor risk in adult female offspring via long-term effects on mammary and systemic phenotypes

Many adult chronic diseases are thought to be influenced during early life by maternal nutrition; however, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Obesity-related diseases may be due partly to high fat consumption. Herein, we evaluated mammary tumor risk in female mouse mammary tumor virus-Wnt-1 transgenic (Tg) offspring exposed to high-fat diet (HFD) or control diet (CD) (45% and 17% kcal from fat, respectively) during gestation and lactation, with CD provided to progeny at weaning. In Tg offspring, maternal HFD exposure increased mammary tumor incidence and decreased tumor latency without affecting tumor volume. Tumor risk was associated with higher tumor necrosis factor-α and insulin and altered oxidative stress biomarkers in sera and with early changes in mammary expression of genes linked to tumor promotion [interleukin 6 (Il6)] or inhibition [phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (Pten), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2)]. Corresponding wild-type progeny exposed to maternal HFD displayed accelerated mammary development, higher mammary adiposity, increased insulin resistance and early changes in Pten, Bcl2 and Il6, than CD-exposed offspring. Dams-fed HFD showed higher serum glucose and oxidative stress biomarkers but comparable adiposity compared with CD-fed counterparts. In human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, sera from maternal HFD-exposed Tg offspring elicited changes in PTEN, BCL2 and IL6 gene expression, mimicking in vivo exposure; increased cell viability and mammosphere formation and induced measures [insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), IRS-2] of insulin sensitivity. Serum effects on IRS-1 were recapitulated by exogenous insulin and the PTEN-specific inhibitor SF1670. Hyperinsulinemia and PTEN loss-of-function may thus, couple maternal HFD exposure to enhanced insulin sensitivity via increased mammary IRS-1 expression in progeny, to promote breast cancer risk.
O-acetylation of disialoganglioside GD3 by human melanoma cells creates a unique antigenic determinant

Monoclonal antibody Mab D1.1 recognizes on human melanoma cells a ganglioside antigen characterized by an alkali-labile O-acetylated sialic acid residue. Immunochemical analysis showed that this molecule is an O-acetylated product of the neuroectoderm-associated disialoganglioside GD3. Controlled chemical O-acetylation of purified GD3 resulted in the generation of this same epitope. Lysates of human melanoma cells were found to contain O-acetyltransferase activity capable of generating the antigenic epitope recognized by Mab D1.1. Thus, the addition of a single O-acetyl group to a common cell surface-associated ganglioside can create a potentially tumor-specific antigen.
Osteitis Deformans a Systemic Disease with Oral Manifestations: Report of Case

Involvement of teeth, periodontal membrane and jaws may be first evidence of Paget’s disease.
High-speed target detection using image compression functions

Functions that typically perform image compression are used to improve and simplify the accuracy of automated target detection. Since image compression functions are used to perform this target detection, fast (real time speed) target detection hardware already exists. The accuracy improvements are demonstrated to (1) reduce the target misclassification rate (i.e., false alarm rate) and (2) enhance the detection of low contrast or reduced signature targets. This paper specifically addresses pixel by pixel template matching for multi-spectral imagery, but a previous UNISYS paper performed an analogous function for radar and monochrome imagery using spacial template matching.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A note on bounds for the derivatives of continued fractions

Although it is difficult to differentiate analytic functions defined by continued fractions, it is relatively easy in some cases to determine uniform bounds on such derivatives by perceiving the continued fraction as an infinite composition of linear fractional transformations and applying an infinite chain rule for differentiation.
Daily Intragroup Contact in Diverse Settings: Implications for Asian Adolescents' Ethnic Identity

This study examined the daily-level association between contact with same-ethnic others and ethnic private regard among 132 Asian adolescents (mean age = 14 years) attending four high schools ranging in ethnic composition diversity. The data suggest a positive daily-level association between contact with same-ethnic others and ethnic private regard for adolescents, who were highly identified with their ethnic group and who attended predominantly White or ethnically heterogeneous schools. In addition, using time lag analyses, contact with same-ethnic others yesterday was positively related to ethnic private regard today, but ethnic private regard yesterday was unrelated to contact with same-ethnic others today, suggesting that adolescents' identity is responsive to their environments. The implications of these findings for the development of ethnic identity are discussed.
Modulation of ion channels: a "current" view of AKAPs.

Given the central importance of ion channels in neuronal excitability, it is not surprising that several layers of regulation contribute to their tight control. While neurotransmitter binding or membrane depolarization are the primary stimuli for ligand-gated and voltage-gated ion channels, respectively, it is now clear that kinases and phosphatases play a prominent role in modulating the activity of these channels.In addition, it appears that this fine tuning of channel activity is facilitated by the molecular organization of signaling enzymes with ion channels. This is where AKAPs and phosphatase targeting subunits play their part. AKAP15/18 and AKAP79 have been linked to several types of ion channels, although neither has yet been shown to bind directly to a specific channel subunit. As both anchoring proteins are targeted to submembrane sites through protein–lipid interactions, they maintain anchored pools of PKA close to ion channels. This might explain why these anchoring proteins appear to be functionally interchangeable in heterologous expression systems (6xGao, T., Yatani, A., Dell'Acqua, M.L., Sako, H., Green, S.A., Dascal, N., Scott, J.D., and Hosey, M.M. Neuron. 1997; 19: 185–196Abstract | Full Text | Full Text PDF | PubMed | Scopus (378)See all References, 5xFraser, I.D.C., Tavalin, S.J., Lester, L.B., Langeberg, L.K., Westphal, A.M., Dean, R.A., Marrion, N.V., and Scott, J.D. EMBO J. 1998; 17: 2261–2272Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (213)See all References).In contrast, yotiao binds directly to C1 exon–containing NR1 subunits of NMDA receptors (Figure 1BFigure 1B; Westphal et al. 1999xWestphal, R.S., Tavalin, S.J., Lin, J.W., Alto, N.M., Fraser, I.D.C., Langeberg, L.K., Sheng, M., and Scott, J.D. Science. 1999; 285: 93–96Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (385)See all ReferencesWestphal et al. 1999). Potentially, this may allow for greater precision in regulation, as the anchored pool of kinase and phosphatase are directed to a specific substrate. Such a sophisticated level of molecular organization may be particularly relevant for the precise control of synaptic transmission. Since NMDA receptors have been shown to be clustered at the postsynaptic density with other ion channels, physical association of the yotiao signaling complex with C1 exon–containing receptors would enhance preferential modulation of these channels. However, an equally important property of yotiao may be to restrict access of PKA and PP-1 to other potential glutamate receptor substrates clustered nearby through interaction with PDZ domain–containing proteins such as PSD-95, Homer, and GRIP. We anticipate that the role of AKAPs in the modulation of ion channels will be clarified as our understanding of the molecular architecture supporting channel function improves.*To whom correspondence should be addressed (e-mail: scott@ohsu.edu).
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension: associations with coagulation disorders and polycystic-ovary syndrome

To better understand potentially reversible causes of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), also known as pseudotumor cerebri, and an apparent association of IIH with polycystic-ovary syndrome (PCOS), we assessed associations of IIH with coagulation disorders and with PCOS in 38 women with well-documented IIH. Fifteen women were found to have PCOS; 14 of them were obese, with a body-mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m(2), and 10 were extremely obese (BMI > or = 40). Factor VIII concentration was high (>150%) in 9 of 38 (24%) IIH cases, compared with 0 of 40 healthy adults controls (P(f) =.0009). Familial aggregation of high concentrations of factor VIII, associated with thrombophilia, was documented in all 5 of the 9 high-level factor VIII probands' families who were sampled. Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) was prolonged (> or =31.5 seconds) in 10 of 38 (26%) IIH cases, compared with 1 of 32 (3%) controls (P(f) =.009) and, in 4 of these cases, was accompanied by the lupus anticoagulant. Plasminogen activator inhibitor activity (PAI-Fx) was high (>21.1 U/mL) in 9 of 38 cases (24%), compared with 1 of 40 controls (3%) (P(f) =.006). Lipoprotein A was high (> or =35 mg/dL) in 13 of 37 cases (35%), compared with 5 of 40 controls (13%) (P(f) =.03). IIH cases did not differ (P >.05) from controls for homocysteine, proteins C and S, free S, antithrombin III, ACLAs IgG and IgM, dilute Russell's viper venom time, Factor XI, factor V Leiden G1691A, G20210A prothrombin, C677T MTHFR, plasminogen activator inhibitor 4G/5G, or platelet glycoprotein PL A1A2 mutations. Exogenous estrogens (n = 23), clomiphene (n = 1), or pregnancy (n = 4) accompanied the first appearance of IIH in 28 women. PCOS and coagulation disorders, often augmented by exogenous estrogens or pregnancy, are associated with IIH.
Microcalorimetry of microorganism metabolism of monosaccharides and simple aromatic compounds

Heat conduction solution enable rapid determination of the heats of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism of substrate by microorganisms. Aliquots of 1.0 ml cell suspension, 5 × 109 cell/ml, were mixed with a few dozen nmol substrate contained in 0.5 ml, under a controlled atmosphere of air, O2, or N2. At these substrate concentration, with adapted microorganisms, metabolism and its heat generation are usually complete within 300 to 600 sec. The raw data yield ΔHapp values. The ΔHapp were determined in the range 0.001 to 0.010% substrate, and extrapolated (limit substrate concentration →0), to yield Δ0H, the limiting differential molar heat of metabolism. The Δ0H values express the heat generated when there is rapid metabolism but little new growth, minimal contribution by H+ transfer from metabolites, and maintenance of aerobicity or anaerobicity as specified. Escherichiacoli B/5 was used for aerobic and anaerobic combustion of eight sugars. Pseudomonas multivorans, and an Acinetobacter, strain B-1, were used for aerobic metabolism of benzene, toluene, naphthalene, and a methylnaphthalene. The larger heats of combustion of the hydrocarbons enable the use of aqueous solutions of hydrocarbons well below their solubility limits. The quotient Δ0H/n (n = atoms carbon/molecule substrate) varies from (-)36 to (-)67 kcal/mol carbon for the sugars. The most reduced sugar yields the largest exothermic heats. The quotient varies from (-)27 to (-)81 kcal/mol carbon for the aromatic hydrocarbons. Comparison of the calorimetric heats of metabolism of those from total aerobic combustion in aquo (where available) give measure of the efficiencies with which the heat contents of the aqueous substrate are used by the bacteria.
Braille: A Language for Severe Dyslexics:

Braille is suggested as an alternative language for the severely learning disabled student; it is a ready-made language and it uses a completely different pathway than that of auditory/visual input. The apparent success using this technique with a 15-year-old girl who could neither read nor write seems to justify consideration of this radical approach to teaching a method of communication to the severe dyslexic. Instruction in Braille began for this girl in September 1973, and within four months she had exceeded her highest previous reading achievement. In June 1974, she began fourth-grade studies in Braille, and a whole new world of information was opened to her through her newly found skills and the Talking Books and tape-recorded information which accompanied her Braille program.
Aids, drugs of abuse and the immune system: A complex immunotoxicological network

Two of the most interesting questions often asked about AIDS is why many people do not become immunodeficient or get complicating disease when first infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and what are the “risk factors” making some individuals more susceptible to the disease. A large majority of people with AIDS have a well established history of drug and alcohol abuse. Both drugs of abuse and alcohol have immunotoxic properties as evidenced by a number of studies. These include marked changes in the cellular, humoral and other components of the immune defense mechanism. Such a compromise of the immune system can render it susceptible to the development of AIDS after HIV infection. This paper reviews the evidence suggesting possible links between substance abuse and its immunotoxicology, and their possible roles in the pathogenesis of AIDS.
Salt seeking by means of food and fluid selection in adrenalectomized rats

An experiment involving several changes in the salt content of food and solutions investigated the generality of salt-seeking behavior in adrenalectomized rats. Salt-solution intake varied as a function of NaCl concentration. The intake of sodium is relatively unaffected by the concentration of NaCl in the food as long as NaCl in solution is available. But when the salt solution is removed, salt seeking and sodium regulation takes place by way of salt in the food.
Collaborative Planning: Building Consensus and Building a Distinct Model for Practice

Collaborative planning is an interactive process of consensus building and implementation using stakeholder and public involvement. Based on research of twenty case studies in the United States and...
Disappearance of oxytetracycline resistance genes in aquatic systems

The disappearance of selected tetracycline resistance genes was investigated in different simulated receiving waters to determine conditions that maximize resistance gene loss after release. Wastewater from an operating cattle feedlot lagoon was provided to four pairs of duplicate 3-L flasks, and tet(O), tet(W), tet(M), tet(Q), and 16S rRNA gene levels were monitored over 29 days using real-time PCR. Treatments included simulated sunlight with 0, 25, and 250 microg L(-1) nominal oxytetracycline (OTC) levels, respectively, and 'dark' conditions. Gene disappearance rates were always highest when light was present, regardless of OTC level. First-order loss coefficients (k(d)) for the sum of resistance genes were 0.84, 0.75, and 0.81 day(-1) for 0.0, 25, and 250 microg L(-1) OTC treatments over the first 7 days after release, respectively, whereas k(d) was 0.49 day(-1) under dark conditions, which is significantly lower (P<0.10). k(d) varied fourfold among the four individual genes, although disappearance patterns were similar among genes. Results suggest that light exposure should be maximized in receiving waters in order to maximize resistance gene loss rate after release.
Modeling fixed-bed coal gasifiers

In this paper, a one-dimensional model of countercurrent fixed-bed coal gasification is developed, and results are compared to experimental data from commercial-scale gasifiers. The steady-state model considers separate gas and solid temperatures, axially variable solid and gas flow rates, variable bed void fraction, coal drying, devolatilization based on chemical functional group composition, oxidation and gasification of char, and partial equilibrium in the gas phase. Generalized treatment of gas-phase chemistry and accounting for variable bed void fraction were necessary to predict realistic axial temperature and pressure profiles in an atmospheric fixed-bed gasifier. Model evaluation includes sensitivity of axial temperature profiles to model options, model parameters and operational parameters. Model predictions agree reasonably well with experimental temperature and pressure profile data for gasification of eight coal types ranging from lignite to bituminous. The relative importance of char oxidation resistances to bulk film diffusion, ash diffusion, and chemical reaction is identified.
Relationship between chronic kidney disease and metabolic syndrome: current perspectives

Both metabolic syndrome (MetS) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are increasing in incidence and lead to significant cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The relationship between these two entities is complex. Individual components of the MetS are known risk factors for incident kidney disease, but it is not clear how the clustering of these components is linked to the development and progression of kidney disease. Cross-sectional studies show an association of the MetS and prevalent CKD; however, one cannot draw conclusions as to which came first - the MetS or the kidney disease. Observational studies suggest a relationship between MetS and incident CKD, but they also demonstrate the development of MetS in patients with established CKD. These observations suggest a bidirectional relationship. A better understanding of the relationship between components of the MetS and whether and how these components contribute to progression of CKD and incident cardiovascular disease could inform more effective prevention strategies.
Clonal growth of Entamoeba histolytica and other species of Entamoeba in agar.

SYNOPSIS. This is the first description of a method for growing axenized Entamoeba histolytica as colonies from single cells in agar suspension. Factors affecting the efficiency of colony formation included unknown characteristics of the amebal strain, age of cells used, and the type and concentration of agar employed. Colony formation was dependent upon filling deep vessels (culture tubes or tissue culture flasks) with agar, probably to maintain reduced oxygen tension, and upon solidifying the agar rapidly at 0 C. It was demonstrated in a study with the drug metronidazole that the agar colony method was useful for quantifying cell viability in drug testing. Eleven of 12 E. histolytica strains tested, as well as one Entamoeba terrapinae, one Entamoeba barreti, and 3 Entamoeba invadens strains formed colonies in agar suspension. E. histolytica-like amebae (Laredo type) and E. moshkovskii formed only tiny colonies in agar.
P4F-1 Contrast-Transfer Improvement for Electrode Displacement Elastography

Electrode displacement elastography is a strain imaging method that can be used for in-vivo imaging of radiofrequency ablation-induced lesions in abdominal organs such as the liver and kidney. In this technique, tissue motion or deformation is introduced by displacing the same electrode used to create the lesion. Minute displacements (on the order of a fraction of a millimeter) are applied to the thermal lesion through the electrode, resulting in localized tissue deformation. Ultrasound echo signals acquired before and after the electrode-induced displacements are then utilized to generate strain images. However, these local strains depend on the modulus distribution of the tissue region being imaged. Therefore, a quantitative evaluation of the conversion efficiency from modulus contrast to strain contrast in electrode-displacement elastograms is warranted. The contrast-transfer efficiency is defined as the ratio (in dB) of the observed elastographic strain contrast and the underlying true modulus contrast. It represents a measure of the efficiency with which elastograms depict the underlying modulus distribution in tissue. In this paper we develop a contrast-transfer efficiency formalism for electrode displacement elastography (referred to as contrast-transfer improvement). Changes in the contrast-transfer improvement as a function of the underlying true modulus contrast and the depth of the inclusion in a simulated phantom are studied. We present finite element analyses obtained using a 2-D mechanical deformation and tissue motion model. The results obtained using finite element analyses are corroborated using experimental analysis and an ultrasound simulation program so as to incorporate noise artifacts.
Thrombin Aivation of the 9E3/CEF4 Chemokine Involves Tyrosine Kinases Including c-src and the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor

The 9E3/CEF4 gene codes for a chemokine that is highly homologous to human interleukin-8 and melanoma growth-stimulating activity/groα. These chemokines belong to a family of molecular mediators that are importantly involved in inflammation, wound healing, tumor development, and viral entry into cells. On the chorioallantoic membrane the 9E3 protein is chemotactic for monocyte/macrophages and lymphocytes and is angiogenic. In cultured chicken embryo fibroblasts, which have many of the properties of wound fibroblasts, the gene is stimulated by a variety of agents including oncogenes, growth factors, phorbol esters, and thrombin. The strong stimulation of 9E3 by thrombin in culture correlates well with the observation that in young chicks this gene is stimulated to very high levels in fibroblasts upon wounding and remains high throughout wound repair. Activation of 9E3 by thrombin: (i) occurs very rapidly, one minute exposure to thrombin is sufficient to initiate the signals necessary for gene activation; (ii) is independent of mitogenesis; (iii) operates through the proteolytically activated receptor for thrombin; (iv) is mediated by tyrosine kinases, including c-src and the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor, rather than Ser/Thr kinases such as protein kinase C and protein kinase A. Inhibition of either c-src or the EGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibits the stimulation of 9E3 by thrombin. We show here for the first time that activation of the EGF receptor through a cell-surface receptor that does not have tyrosine kinase activity can lead to expression of an immediate early response gene which encodes for a secreted protein, a chemokine. This rapidly activated tyrosine kinase pathway may be a general stress response by which in vivo a localized cell population reacts to emergency situations such as viral infection, wounding, or tumor growth.
Esculetin induces mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Adipose tissue mass is determined by the volume and the number of adipocytes and is subjected to homeostatic regulation involving cell death mechanisms. We investigated the effects of esculetin, a coumarin compound, on apoptotic signaling in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Esculetin treatment induced an increase in expression of Bax with a concomitant decrease of Bcl-2 in a time-dependent manner. Esculetin treatment also resulted in translocation of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol and cleavage of 116 kDa poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)-1, resulting in the accumulation of an 85 kDa cleavage product in a caspase-dependent manner. Furthermore, esculetin selectively altered the phosphorylation state of members of the MAPK superfamily, causing dephosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulating kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and hyperphosphorylation of c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK). In addition, an inhibitor of the JNK MAP kinase pathway, SP600125, reduced esculetin-induced cytochrome c release. These results indicate that esculetin mediated adipocyte apoptosis involves the mitochondrial pathway. Esculetin thus decreases adipocyte number by initiating this apoptotic process in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
The regulation of renal ammoniagenesis in the rat by extracellular factors. II. Ammoniagenesis by rat kidney slices incubating in normal acidotic sera

Abstract Kidney slices from normal rats incubating in 100% v/v rat serum produce less ammonia than slices incubating in medium containing comparable amounts of glutamine. When lactate in concentration, expected in serum, is added to medium containing glutamine, ammoniagenesis by rat renal slices is similar in magnitude to ammoniagenesis by rat renal slices incubating in serum. In contrast, ammonia production by slices from acidotic rats is near similar whether incubation takes place in glutamine, glutamine plus lactate, or in serum (100% v/v). The source of the serum used for incubation does not matter. For the most part, ammonia production by renal slices from the same rats (control or acidotic) was indistinguishable whether the serum came from a control or acidotic rat. Based upon the similarity between findings with serum and with medium containing lactate, we feel that lactate and other oxidizable substrates in serum decrease glutamine ammoniagenesis. This hypothesis was strengthened when it was shown that ultrafiltrates of sera act similarly to whole sera, while dialysis of sera, to a great extent, removes many of the inhibitors. We further conclude that circulating oxidizable substrates in sera have less effect on renal ammoniagenesis by acidotic slices, and this relative insensitivity to the circulating depressors could be important in adaptive ammoniagenesis.
Establishing a geochemical heterogeneity model for a contaminated vadose zone — Aquifer system

A large set of sediment samples from a 1600 m² experimental plot within a 2.2 km² vadose zone and groundwater uranium (VI) plume was subject to physical, chemical, and mineralogic characterization. The plot is being used for field experimentation on U(VI) recharge and transport processes within a persistent groundwater plume that exists in the groundwater-river interaction zone of the Columbia River at the U.S. DOE Hanford site. The samples were obtained during the installation of 35 tightly spaced (10 m separation) groundwater monitoring wells. The characterization measurements for each sample included total contaminant concentrations (U and Cu primarily), bicarbonate extractable U(VI), sequential ²³⁸U(VI) contaminant desorption Kd, ²³³U(VI) adsorption K(d), grain size distribution, surface area, extractable poorly crystalline Fe(III) oxides, and mineralogy. The characterization objective was to inform a conceptual model of coupled processes controlling the anomalous longevity of the plume, and to quantify the spatial heterogeneity of the contaminant inventory and the primary properties effecting reactive transport. Correlations were drawn between chemical, physical, and reaction properties, and Gaussian simulation was used to compute multiple 3-D realizations of extractable U(VI), the ²³³U(VI) adsorption K(d), and the distribution of the reactive <2 mm fraction. Adsorbed contaminant U(VI) was highest in the vadose zone and the zone of seasonal water table fluctuation lying at its base. Adsorbed U(VI) was measureable, but low, in the groundwater plume region where very high hydraulic conductivities existed. The distribution of adsorbed U(VI) displayed no apparent correlation with sediment physical or chemical properties. Desorption [²³⁸U(IV)] and adsorption [²³³U(VI)] K(d) values showed appreciable differences due to mass transfer controlled surface complexation and the effects of long subsurface residence times. The ²³³U(VI) adsorption K(d), a combined measure of surface complexation strength and site concentration, was relatively uniform throughout the domain, displaying correlation with fines distribution and surface area. The characterization results revealed U(VI) supplied to the groundwater plume through spatially heterogeneous recharge from residual contamination in the zone of seasonal water table fluctuation, and transport of U(VI) controlled by weak, kinetically-controlled surface complexation in the coarse-textured saturated zone. Geostatistical relationships for the adsorbed contaminant U distribution in the characterization domain allow an extrapolation to inventory at the plume scale, a critical unknown for remedial action.
High Price for Change: Privatization in Mexico

The article reviews the book “High Price for Change: Privatization in Mexico,” by Jacques Rogozinski.
How Were Phytoplankton Affected by the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

A literature review demonstrates that crude oil spills can affect phytoplankton, favoring the growth of some while inhibiting the growth of others. Subsequently, the phytoplankton assemblage can change as a result of exposure to crude oil. Studies of phytoplankton responses to the Macondo (Deepwater Horizon) oil spill indicate that the phytoplankton may have been stimulated by the oil spill, although the presence of low-salinity water in the region makes it difficult to discount the importance of riverine-borne nutrients as a factor. A few studies suggest that the oil spill was toxic to some phytoplankton species, whereas others indicate that the degree of tolerance to the oil or to dispersants differs among species. These results generally comply with findings of previous studies, but a lack of published field data analyses prevents further assessment of the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on phytoplankton population dynamics in the northern Gulf of Mexico.
Synthesis of doubly 13C-labelled antalarmin isotopomers for pharmacokinetic studies

Antalarmin (butyl-ethyl-[2,5,6-trimethyl-7-(2,4,6-trimethyl-phenyl)-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yl]-amine) was doubly labelled with carbon-13. The synthesized butyl-[13C2]ethyl-[2,5,6-trimethyl-7-(2,4,6-trimethyl-phenyl)-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yl]-amine (1) and butyl-ethyl-[2-13C]-[2,5,6-trimethyl-7-(2,4,6-trimethyl-phenyl)-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]-[2-13C] pyrimidin-4-yl]-amine, (2) were prepared for use as substrates for pharmacokinetic studies. These compounds were obtained in fair overall yield in a 5 and 6 step synthesis (20–24.5%, respectively) and high isotopic purity (about 99 at% 13C). Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The GuideCane-a computerized travel aid for the active guidance of blind pedestrians

This paper introduces the GuideCane, a novel device designed to help blind or visually impaired travellers to navigate safely and quickly among obstacles and other hazards faced by blind pedestrians. The GuideCane, currently under development at the University of Michigan's Mobile Robotics Lab, comprises of a long handle and a "sensor head" unit that is attached at the distal end of the handle. The sensor head is mounted on a steerable but unpowered two-wheeled steering axle. During operation, the user pushes the lightweight GuideCane ahead of him/her. Ultrasonic sensors mounted on the sensor head detect obstacles and steer the device around it. The user feels the steering command as a very noticeable physical force through the handle and is able to follow the GuideCane's path easily and without any conscious effort.
Passive bilateral teleoperation with constant time delays

We propose a novel control framework for bilateral teleoperation of a pair of multi-degree-of-freedom (DOF) nonlinear robotic systems under constant communication delays. The proposed framework utilizes the simple proportional-derivative (PD) control, i.e. the master and slave robots are directly connected via spring and damper over the delayed communication channels. Using the controller passivity concept, the Lyapunov-Krasovskii technique, and Parseval's identity, we can passify the combination of the delayed communication and control blocks altogether robustly, as long as the delays are finite constants and an upper-bound for the round-trip delay is known. Having explicit position feedback through the delayed P-action, the proposed framework enforces master-slave position coordination which is often compromised in the velocity-based schemes (e.g. conventional scattering-based teleoperation). The proposed control framework provides humans with extended physiological proprioception so that s/he can affect and sense the remote slave environments mainly relying on her/his musculoskeletal systems. Experiments are performed to validate the proposed control framework
Keyword generation for search engine advertising using semantic similarity between terms

An important problem in search engine advertising is key-word1 generation. In the past, advertisers have preferred to bid for keywords that tend to have high search volumes and hence are more expensive. An alternate strategy involves bidding for several related but low volume, inexpensive terms that generate the same amount of traffic cumulatively but are much cheaper. This paper seeks to establish a mathematical formulation of this problem and suggests a method for generation of several terms from a seed keyword. This approach uses a web based kernel function to establish semantic similarity between terms. The similarity graph is then traversed to generate keywords that are related but cheaper.