cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Treatment of Hemodialysis Patients With Nifedipine on Metabolism and Function of Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes

Abstract Both animals and patients with chronic renal failure have impaired phagocytosis, which is most likely due to elevated basal levels of cytosolic calcium ([Ca 2+ ]i) and reduced adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content of their polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs). In animals with chronic renal failure, these derangements are prevented or reversed by their treatment with a calcium channel blocker. This observation may have important clinical implications if these drugs exert a similar effect in humans with chronic renal failure. We examined the basal levels [Ca 2+ ]i, ATP content, and phagocytosis in PMNLs from 11 normal subjects, 18 hemodialysis patients (seven of whom had diabetes mellitus), and 18 hemodialysis patients treated with nifedipine (eight of whom had diabetes mellitus). The basal levels of the [Ca 2+ ]i content of the PMNLs in hemodialysis patients without nifedipine therapy were significantly ( P 2+ ]i toward normal values in both the nondiabetic (51 ± 4.5 nmol/L) and diabetic (54 ± 2.5 nmol/L) hemodialysis patients. The ATP content of PMNLs from hemodialysis patient was significantly ( P P 7 PMNLs/min; diabetic patients, 77 ± 4.8 μg oil/10 7 PMNLs/min). Nifedipine therapy returned the impaired phagocytosis toward normal (nondiabetic patients, 133 ± 2.5 μg oil/10 7 PMNLs/min; diabetic patients, 129 ± 6.4 μg oil/10 7 PMNLs/min). The effect of nifedipine on the metabolism and function of PMNLs in hemodialysis patients occurred despite the elevated blood levels of parathyroid hormone. These data indicate that the calcium channel blocker interferes with the parathyroid hormone-induced increase in [Ca 2+ ]i of PMNLs from hemodialysis patients and consequently improves their metabolism and function. If confirmed in other human cells, these observations would provide for a rational therapeutic approach to ameliorate the signs and symptoms of uremia.
Modeling the Impact of Biometric Security on Millennials' Protection Motivation

Security researchers and managers would like to know the best ways of introducing new innovations and motivating their use. This study applies Protection Motivation Theory to model the coping and threat appraisals that motivate Millennials, who are early technology adopters, to adopt or resist biometric security for system access. One hundred fifty-nine Millennials were given a hypothetical scenario in which system access would be enhanced by biometric security to strengthen user authentication. The authors model the results with PLS and find that Protection Motivation Theory provides a good explanation of the user's perceptions of biometric security. The model suggests that the users' protection motivation is influenced directly by the Perceived System Response Efficacy of the biometric system and indirectly by Perceived Effort Expectancy, Perceived Computer Self-Efficacy, Perceived Privacy Invasion and Perceived System Vulnerability. Implications and limitations of the model are discussed.
Inactivation of the Human Papillomavirus E6 or E7 Gene in Cervical Carcinoma Cells by Using a Bacterial CRISPR/Cas RNA-Guided Endonuclease

High-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs), including HPV-16 and HPV-18, are the causative agents of cervical carcinomas and are linked to several other tumors of the anogenital and oropharyngeal regions. The majority of HPV-induced tumors contain integrated copies of the normally episomal HPV genome that invariably retain intact forms of the two HPV oncogenes E6 and E7. E6 induces degradation of the cellular tumor suppressor p53, while E7 destabilizes the retinoblastoma (Rb) protein. Previous work has shown that loss of E6 function in cervical cancer cells induces p53 expression as well as downstream effectors that induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Similarly, loss of E7 allows increased Rb expression, leading to cell cycle arrest and senescence. Here, we demonstrate that expression of a bacterial Cas9 RNA-guided endonuclease, together with single guide RNAs (sgRNAs) specific for E6 or E7, is able to induce cleavage of the HPV genome, resulting in the introduction of inactivating deletion and insertion mutations into the E6 or E7 gene. This results in the induction of p53 or Rb, leading to cell cycle arrest and eventual cell death. Both HPV-16- and HPV-18-transformed cells were found to be responsive to targeted HPV genome-specific DNA cleavage. These data provide a proof of principle for the idea that vector-delivered Cas9/sgRNA combinations could represent effective treatment modalities for HPV-induced cancers. Importance: Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are the causative agents of almost all cervical carcinomas and many other tumors, including many head and neck cancers. In these cancer cells, the HPV DNA genome is integrated into the cellular genome, where it expresses high levels of two viral oncogenes, called E6 and E7, that are required for cancer cell growth and viability. Here, we demonstrate that the recently described bacterial CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided endonuclease can be reprogrammed to target and destroy the E6 or E7 gene in cervical carcinoma cells transformed by HPV, resulting in cell cycle arrest, leading to cancer cell death. We propose that viral vectors designed to deliver E6- and/or E7-specific CRISPR/Cas to tumor cells could represent a novel and highly effective tool to treat and eliminate HPV-induced cancers.
Predation on walleye pollock (Theragra chakograrnma) eggs and yolk‐sac larvae by pelagic crustacean invertebrates in the western Gulf of Alaska

Immunological detection of yolk protein was used to assess predation by pelagic amphipods (gammarid and hyperiid), mysids, and euphausiids on eggs and yolk-sac larvae of walleye pollock Theragra chalcogramma during 1988 and 1989. Consumption estimates were made on the basis of frequency of positive immunoassays, assay detection times (gut clearance time), predator abundance, and spatial overlap of predators and prey. From our results gammarid amphipods and euphausiids were important predators on eggs and yolk-sac larvae, respectively. Gammarid amphipods alone consumed about 14% of the standing stock of pollock eggs in 1989. These results were compared with those from clearance rate experiments of predators feeding on pollock eggs in 300-1 bags. In general, clearance rate estimates of egg consumption were lower than those determined from gut contents.
Effect of exogenous estradiol-17beta on plasma vitellogenin levels in male and female Chrysemys and its modulation by testosterone and progesterone.

Abstract Injection of estradiol-17β into the freshwater turtle, Chrysemys picta induced hormone-specific and dose-dependent vitellogenic responses in both sexes. However, both the time course of induction and the magnitude of the responses showed marked sexual differences. No vitellogenin was detected in untreated males. Following a single injection of estradiol-17β (100 μg/100 g body wt) vitellogenin was first detected in the plasma 8 hr postinjection. Maximal levels (3.1 ± 0.8 mg/ml, n = 5) were obtained by Day 6. Multiple injections of estradiol-17β into males raised plasma vitellogenin levels to 10–20 mg/ml. The initial increases during the first 6 days post-hormone treatment were independent of the dose. Nonvitellogenic females have basal levels of 1–2 mg/ml vitellogenin in circulation. Female turles receiving equal amounts of estradiol-17β (100 μg/100 g body wt) as males demonstrated a response 10 times greater (32.6 ± 3.9 mg/ml, n = 5). Maximum levels were reached in 12–14 days. Multiple injections of the hormones brought plasma vitellogenin levels to concentrations attained during the natural vitellogenic season (40 mg/ml). When progesterone or testosterone were administered to male turtles in conjunction with estradiol-17β, both hormones inhibited the estrogen-induced vitellogenesis. The antagonistic effect of progesterone on estrogen was directly dose dependent; in contrast, the testosterone effect appeared to be inversely related to dose. Since both progesterone and testosterone concentrations reach high levels during the periovulatory phase of the gonadal cycle, it is suggested that these hormones may be of physiological significance in modulating vitellogenin level in the plasma.
Classical strongly coupled quark-gluon plasma. I. Model and molecular dynamics simulations

We propose a model for the description of strongly interacting quarks and gluon quasiparticles at T=(1-3)T{sub c} as a classical and nonrelativistic colored Coulomb gas. The sign and strength of the interparticle interactions are fixed by the scalar product of their classical color vectors subject to Wong's equations. The model displays a number of phases as the Coulomb coupling is increased ranging from a gas, to a liquid, to a crystal with antiferromagnetic-like color ordering. We analyze the model using molecular dynamics simulations and discuss the density-density correlator in real time. We extract pertinent decorrelation times, diffusion, and viscosity constants for all phases. The classical results when extrapolated to the strongly coupled quark-gluon plasma suggest that the phase is liquid-like, with a diffusion constant D{approx_equal}0.1/T and a shear viscosity to entropy density ratio {eta}/s{approx_equal}1/3.
Pre-ATPG path selection for near optimal post-ATPG process space coverage

Path delay testing is becoming increasingly important for high-performance chip testing in the presence of process variation. To guarantee full process space coverage, the ensemble of critical paths of all chips irrespective of their manufacturing process conditions needs to be tested, as different chips may have different critical paths. Existing coverage-based path selection techniques, however, suffer from the loss of coverage after ATPG (automatic test pattern generation), i.e., although the pre-ATPG path selection achieves good coverage, after ATPG, the coverage can be severely reduced as many paths turn out to be unsensitizable. This paper presents a novel path selection algorithm that, without running ATPG, selects a set of n paths to achieve near optimal post-ATPG coverage. Details of the algorithm and its optimality conditions are discussed. Experimental results show that, compared to the state-of-the-art, the proposed algorithm achieves not only superior post-ATPG coverage, but also significant runtime speedup. Categories and Subject Descriptors B.7.2 [Integrated Circuits]: Design Aids General Terms Algorithms, Design, Theory
Proteins secreted by vascular smooth muscle cells as substrates of lysyl oxidase.

The mixture of proteins secreted by neonatal rat aorta smooth muscle cells cultured in the presence of β-aminopropionitrile was readily oxidized and polymerized upon incubation with purified or crude preparations of lysyl oxidase. Western blot analysis indicated that these substrates included 30–60 kDa protein bands reactive with anti-elastin, presumed to be fragments derived from tropoelastin. Thus, truncated, elastin-like as well as other proteins accumulate in the media of these cultures which, in toto, can serve as a conveniently prepared, highly efficient substrate for the routine assay of lysyl oxidase activity.
Measurements of238U,234U and230Th in impure carbonates for age determination

The carbonate cements of conglomeritic deposits of late Pleistocene age have been leached with 0.2N hydrochloric acid and analyzed radiochemically. The leachate and the residue fractions were separately measured for238U,234U and230Th, using isotope-dilution and alpha-spectrometric techniques. The data are used to estimate the isotopic activities of uranium and thorium in the carbonate phase. These activities give age information for the carbonate cementation. Ages in the range of 185–320·103 years were obtained for the samples studied.
The influence of ImuVert, a biological response modifier, on the growth and ganglioside composition of murine neural tumors

ImuVert is a biological response modifier (BRM) that has antitumor effects in humans and rats. The influence of ImuVert on the ganglioside composition of two experimental brain tumors, ependymoblastoma and CT-2A, was studied in C57BL/6J mice. Gangliosides are expressed on plasma membranes and can serve as markers to distinguish neural cells from nonneural cells in mouse brain tumors.N- acetylneuraminic (NeuAc) is the predominant sialic acid in mouse neural cells, whereasN-glycolylneuraminic (NeuGc) is a major sialic acid in nonneural cells, e.g., macrophages and lymphocytes. ImuVert treatment increased the NeuGc ganglioside concentration in the ependymoblastoma, but had no effect on the sialic acid concentration in the CT-2A brain tumor. ImuVert also had a slight inhibitory effect on the growth of both brain tumors.
Imaging coherent transport in graphene (Part I): Mapping universal conductance fluctuations

Graphene provides a fascinating testbed for new physics and exciting opportunities for future applications based on quantum phenomena. To understand the coherent flow of electrons through a graphene device, we employ a nanoscale probe that can access the relevant length scales?the tip of a liquid-He-cooled scanning probe microscope (SPM) capacitively couples to the graphene device below, creating a movable scatterer for electron waves. At sufficiently low temperatures and small size scales, the diffusive transport of electrons through graphene becomes coherent, leading to universal conductance fluctuations (UCF). By scanning the tip over a device, we map these conductance fluctuations versus scatterer position. We find that the conductance is highly sensitive to the tip position, producing ?G ~ e2/h fluctuations when the tip is displaced by a distance comparable to half the Fermi wavelength. These measurements are in good agreement with detailed quantum simulations of the imaging experiment and demonstrate the value of a cooled SPM for probing coherent transport in graphene.
An ultrastructural study of the macrophages of the carrageenan‐induced granuloma in the rat lung

The intralobular injection of 0.17 ml of 2 per cent. carrageenan into the rat lung induced an inflammatory granulomatous response. This inflammation was characterized in the early stages by immediate polymorphonuclear (PMN) leucocyte infiltration into the alveoli. Within 2 days the PMN's began to disappear and were replaced by carrageenan-containing macrophages. Alveolar macrophages actively phagocytised the injected carrageenan and were the dominant cell type in the alveoli for the length of this study (365 days). These low-turnover alveolar macrophages, which with light microscopy stained pinkish-red metachromatically with toludine blue due to their carrageenan content, underwent changes in vacuole morphology as well as changes in size and shape. Throughout the course of this inflammation, these macrophages had carrageenan-containing vacuoles which could be seen undergoing fusion to form larger vacuoles which at times constituted half the size of the entire macrophage cytoplasm. The carrageenan in the vacuoles was an amorphous flocculent appearing material for the initial 14 days but changed to a more fine filamentous form for the remainder of the study. This was probably due to its partial digestion by lysosomal enzymes. The general composition of the cytoplasm remained fairly constant during the 365 days. Pinocytotic vesicles and free ribosomes were abundant and the many mitochondria were small and rounded. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum lysosomes, and Golgi apparati, although not prominent, were present but the most striking feature of the cytoplasm was the presence of numerous lamellar bodies (phagocytosised surfactant). Some of the macrophages increased greatly in overall size (five to seven times) compared to their initial size. A few isolated macrophages could be seen degenerating but no general necrosis was seen. Except for one isolated case, no epithelioid cells were observed in this carrageenan inflammation. Fibrosis, if present at all, was very localised and was only evident at day 340 post-injection. This fibrosis generally involved one or two carrageenan-containing macrophages encapsulated by a few collagen fibres. No widespread fibrosis was ever observed in this study which confirmed earlier histological and biochemical investigations.
Input substitutability and vertical integration

Input substitutability in final production is a well-known motive for noncompetitive input producers to integrate with their customers. In models that characterize the noncompetitive input industry as a pure monopoly, whether such integration would increase or decrease final production is ambiguous. The analysis here breaks the total output effect into factor substitution and market power components and discovers that the output ambiguity is sensitive to the specific model of noncompetitive equilibrium assumed. For the empirically most important cases of industrial organization, the sole effect of input substitutability on output is likely to be an unambiguous output increase.
CHARACTERIZATION OF LOW-BARRIER HYDROGEN BONDS. 8. SUBSTITUENT EFFECTS ON THE STRENGTH AND GEOMETRY OF THE FORMIC ACID-FORMATE ANION MODEL SYSTEM. AN AB INITIO AND DFT INVESTIGATION

High-level ab initio and density functional theory calculations have been used to investigate the relationship between pKa mismatch and hydrogen bond strength in a typical low-barrier hydrogen bond system. It is found that a difference of 1 pKa unit between the pKa values of the two substituted formate anions vying for a proton in the substituted formic acid−formate anion complex will result in a weakening of the corresponding hydrogen bond by approximately 1.8 kcal/mol. This suggests that small differences in pKa values (i.e. 1−2 pKa units) of proton donors and proton acceptors in enzyme active sites should not preclude the importance or significance of LBHBs during the reactions catalyzed by many enzymes. On the other hand, larger differences in relative pKa values (on the order of 5−6 pKa units) should be sufficient to cause a considerable weakening of any purported SSHB that might be formed during such an enzyme reaction. It is thus concluded that, just as Gerlt and Gassman suggested in their original...
Comparison of Temperature Conditions in Direct Liquefaction of Selected Low-Rank Coals

The direct liquefaction of one lignitic and two subbituminous coals was studied in laboratory-scale microautoclave reactors. The principal focus of this work was to investigate the effects of three strategies for employing temperature: single-staged liquefaction at one temperature; temperature-staged liquefaction involving rapid heat-up between low- and high-temperature reaction stages; and temperature-programmed liquefaction, with slow heat-up between stages. Both the temperature-staged and temperature-programmed conditions are advantageous relative to the single-staged reaction, particularly for coals that are less easily converted. The benefits of using temperature-staging or programming appear to derive from both physical and chemical processes related to the catalyst and solvent, such as allowing more time for the catalyst precursor to transform into an active form and enhancing solvent−coal interactions. For a highly reactive coal, single-stage conditions appear to be sufficient. In single-stage re...
Evaluation of industrial modernization programs: The field agent's perspective

This article provides a field agent's perspective on the factors that influence the success of industrial modernization services. We begin with an overview of the field agent's role in the industrial extension system and discuss the technical assistance services typically provided by a field agent. The field agent's role is differentiated from that of other stakeholders such as legislators, agency staff, and program managers. We then consider pre- and post-project perspectives of positive outcomes from industrial extension services. The article argues that the field agent's perspective is closely connected to that of the manufacturing customer. Implications for shared communication among stakeholders and improving program outcomes are discussed. The article draws on the experiences of the authors in the manufacturing extension program in Georgia-the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Alliance (GMEA).
Investigation of physical mechanisms in coupling photonic crystal waveguiding structures

We explain the fundamental physical mechanisms involved in coupling triangular lattice photonic crystal waveguides to conventional dielectric slab waveguides. We show that the two waveguides can be efficiently coupled outside the mode gap frequencies. We especially focus on the coupling of the two structures within the mode gap frequencies and show for the first time that the diffraction from the main photonic crystal structure plays an important role on the reflection of power back into the slab waveguide. The practical importance of this effect and possible strategies to modify it are also discussed.
Re-formation of mycorrhizal symbioses on Mount St Helens, 1980–1990: interactions of rodents and mycorrhizal fungi

The three major types of disturbed habitats resulting from the eruption of Mount St Helens were a sterile pyroclastic flow site, a blast zone with all of the vegetation destroyed and tephra deposited on the surface, and a high ashfall region with deposited tephra over surviving plants. We present data assessing the fate of the invading mycorrhizal fungi and their associated plants by characterizing vesicular-arbuscular and ectomycorrhizal fungi from soil and root samples from sites within the three disturbance zones over the decade following the 1980 eruption. We also assess the importance of gopher-dispersed old soil containing VA mycorrhizal inoculum. Both ecto- and VA mycorrhizas re-established in disturbed areas primarily through inoculation from the buried old soils, a process probably facilitated by gophers. Mycorrhizas always formed at a quicker rate in the less disturbed areas of the eruption site. Detailed observations on the sterilized pumice plain indicated that, through 1990, the ectomycorrhizas were poorly developed and no fruiting structures were seen. Three possible hypotheses are proposed for the slow development of ectomycorrhizas despite their being wind-dispersed on to the site, and may be related to either slow soil development and/or compatibility restrictions. These results indicate that the magnitude of the disturbance regulates the rate of recovery not only of the vegetation, but also of both the VA and ectomycorrhizal fungi.
Rethinking Implementation of the Least Restrictive Environment Policy of the IDEA Educational Leaders in the Forefront

In a qualitative study of the implementation of the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) policy of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), one singular finding stood out: Where significant change was taking place, it was educational leaders who were making it happen. Through a clear focus on values, a thorough knowledge of the system, and having the conceptual, theoretical, and practical skills involved in sophisticated organizational change, these administrators spoke enthusiastically and confidently of their efforts. Individuals and associations outside this administration-dominated group played relatively nominal roles in effecting change.
Intra- and inter-familial behaviour of Glaucomys volans (rodentia) following parturition.

Abstract Experimental analysis and observational data on retrieving behaviour in female flying squirrels, Glaucomys volans , indicate that the retrieving drive is very strong, that females prior to 40 days post partum do not distinguish between their own young and those of other females (provided the babies are less than 40 days old), and that extra-familial young are usually attacked after 40 days post partum. Younger babies were retrieved by females more frequently than older ones (when the age difference was 18 to 19 days), regardless of whether they were intra- or extra-familial. Experimental evidence. although limited, suggests that odour is important in the female's ability to distinguish (1) between her own and extra-familial young over 40 days old, and (2) extra-familial young of any age after 40 days post partum. Females that had litters during the annual intensive food storing period retrieved nuts, when these were presented in lieu of babies, and placed them in their nests. Females sometimes ‘stored’ their babies when these were presented after a sequence of nut retrieving.
New Image Processing Technique for Evaluating Breast Microcalcifications A Comparative Study

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to evaluate a new commercial image processing technique (MicroPure; Toshiba America Medical Systems, Tustin, CA) for identifying breast microcalcifications compared to gray scale ultrasound imaging (US) using mammography as the reference standard. METHODS Twenty women, with breast calcifications identified mammographically, underwent gray scale US and MicroPure examinations of the breast. Still images and digital clips of the target area were acquired using gray scale US and MicroPure (at 3 different sensitivity levels: 0, 1, and 2). The images were analyzed by 4 independent and blinded readers (2 radiologists and 2 physicists) to determine the number of calcifications as well as to score image quality and artifacts. RESULTS For all 4 readers, there were significantly more calcifications seen with MicroPure (at the 2 highest sensitivity levels) compared to gray scale US (P < .009). Agreement between readers consistently increased from gray scale US to MicroPure imaging (gray scale intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.02-0.44; versus MicroPure intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.34-0.71). The agreement improved between mammography and MicroPure (13.2%-28.3%) when compared with mammography and gray scale US (1.7%-5.2%); the 2 radiologists saw a bigger improvement. Two readers preferred the MicroPure image quality over gray scale US (P < .001) and vice versa for the other 2 readers(P < .001). All 4 readers saw fewer artifacts with MicroPure (at level 2) than with gray scale US (P < .02). CONCLUSIONS MicroPure imaging identified significantly more breast microcalcifications than gray scale US.
The break-up of axisymmetric liquid sheets

The break-up mechanism of axisymmetric liquid sheets formed by the impingement of two co-axial jets has been examined. Three break-up regimes in the Weber number range from 100 to 3 × 104 are reported. In the first break-up regime, droplets are formed through successive mergings of liquid beads along the nearly circular periphery of the sheet. The formation of beads is caused by Rayleigh instability. In the transition regime, Taylor's cardioid wave pattern prevails in the first half of this regime, while the sheet begins to flap in the second half.In the second break-up regime, antisymmetric waves on the sheet grow radially. A semi-empirical equation has been deduced to predict the break-up radius of the sheet. The motion of an axisymmetric vibrating membrane with radially decreasing thickness has been studied to include Helmholtz instability as an analogue of the wave motion of the expanding circular sheet. A distorted progressive wave equation has been solved by the WKBJ method to indicate the effect of cylindrical geometry. The calculated wave speed agrees fairly well with experimental data at low Weber numbers.
Variations of blood pressures in lean Zucker rats fed low or high fat diets

The purpose of this study was to deter mine whether lean (Fa/7) Zucker rats which exhibit greater metabolic efficiency in response to a high (48%) fat diet also exhibit hypertension. Twenty-nine lean (Fa/ ?) and eleven obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats were fed low (12% energy) and high (48% energy) fat diets. Food intake and weight change were recorded weekly to ob tain an index of energy efficiency. After 6 wk, direct intra-arterial blood pressure was measured in con scious, unrestrained animals. Arterial blood was col lected for analyses of plasma insulin and glucose. The high fat diet had no effect on blood pressure in obese rats, although obese animals fed both diets had signif icantly higher blood pressure than lean siblings. High fat feeding in lean rats unmasked a heterogeneity in blood pressure. Blood pressure in this group was sig nificantly correlated with weight change, energy effi ciency ratio and plasma glucose concentration. Lean rats fed the high fat diet with blood pressures above the group median exhibited significantly greater plasma insulin (P < 0.02) and glucose (P < 0.01) concentration and energy efficiency ratios (P < O.O1)than those with lower blood pressures. Thus, it appears that there were two groups of lean animals present, one of which was more phenotypically sensitive to high fat feeding than the other. This suggests a possible gene dosage effect of the fa alA­ele in the Zucker rat model. J. Nutr. 125: 2618-2622, 1995.
The Best Relevant Articles in Pediatric Hospital Medicine

On a cool fall morning in a San Antonio courtyard, I stared into the bottom of my thick, white porcelain hotel mug wondering if more caffeine would enlighten me, perhaps even help me to establish a path toward a meaningful career. It was 2003, I was <6 months out of residency, and I had somehow found myself alongside 70 other pediatricians at the first official Pediatric Hospital Medicine (PHM) Conference. This town of the Wild West, shaped by trailblazers riding the wave of western expansion, framed the spirit of the participants and their conversations remarkably well. These were some enthusiastic hospital-based cowboys and cowgirls, and they were set on improving the care for hospitalized children. The future of hospital medicine was clearly beginning and so was my career, but the trail was not well marked, and it was fraught with uncertainty. By the end of the conference, I was convinced, however, and I decided to saddle up and ride out toward the horizon with this posse. Mixed with the din of the convention center dishes being put away, I could almost hear the faint echo of birds cawing against a bright orange mesa canyon wall as I looked forward to the future. Early on, the posse was aware of an outlaw standing in the way. As residents, we all witnessed the wide variability in how attending physicians managed the care of the hospitalized child. Tests that are “certain” to aid in diagnosis are ordered by 1 attending only to be cancelled or ignored by the attending rotating onto the service the next day. “Life-saving treatments,” such as antibiotics or nebulized solutions, are given by 1 attending but are soon deemed unnecessary and cancelled by the next. Patients are admitted and told they will receive 2 weeks of intravenous therapy by …
Neutrophils influence melanoma adhesion and migration under flow conditions.

We have studied human melanoma cell (C8161) adhesion and migration in response to stimulation by soluble collagen IV (CIV) using a modified Boyden chamber. In this modified chamber, shear flow can be introduced over the cell-substrate interface, affecting tumor cell chemotactic migration through a microporous filter. A relatively high level of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) was found on C8161 cells. In contrast, levels of β2-integrins (e.g., LFA-1 and Mac-1), the molecules that would be necessary for C8161 stable adhesion to the endothelium substrate, were found to be very low on these melanoma cells. As a result, C8161 transendothelial migration under a flow condition of 4 dyn/cm2 decreased by 70% as compared to static migration. When human neutrophils (PMNs) were present in the tumor cell suspension, C8161 migration recovered by 85% over C8161 cells alone under the 4 dyn/cm2 flow condition. Blocking ICAM-1 on C8161 cells or Mac-1 on PMNs significantly inhibited C8161-PMN adhesion and subsequent C8161 migration through the endothelium under flow conditions. In addition, increased interleukin-8 production and Mac-1 expression by PMNs were detected when they were co-cultured with C8161 melanoma cells. These results suggest that transmigration of C8161 cells under flow conditions can be influenced by PMNs, mediated by Mac-1/ICAM-1 adhesive interactions and enhanced by altered cytokine production. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Source Separation Using Sparse Discrete Prior Models

In this paper we present a new source separation method based on dynamic sparse source signal models. Source signals are modeled in frequency domain as a product of a Bernoulli selection variable with a deterministic but unknown spectral amplitude. The Bernoulli variables are modeled in turn by first order Markov processes with transition probabilities learned from a training database. We consider a video conferencing scenario where the mixing parameters are estimated by the video system. We obtain the MAP signal estimators and show they are implemented by a Vitterbi decoding scheme. We validate this approach by simulations using TIMIT database, and compare the separation performance of this algorithm with our previous extended DUET method.
A case study of a reusable component collection

Software reuse is the use of existing software knowledge or artifacts to build new software. There are many types of software reuse (W. Frakes and C. Terry, 1996). The reuse described in the paper is ad-hoc, black box, compositional, code reuse. Ad hoc means that the reuse is not part of a repeatable mandated organizational process. The paper is concerned with code from a book on data structures and algorithms for information retrieval (IR) systems (W. Frakes and R. Baeza-Yates, 1992). Information retrieval systems retrieve textual documents from a database in response to queries submitted to the system by users.
Arrival, Reversal, and Departure of Neurofilaments at the Tips of Growing Axons

We have investigated the movement of green fluorescent protein-tagged neurofilaments at the distal ends of growing axons by using time-lapse fluorescence imaging. The filaments moved in a rapid, infrequent, and asynchronous manner in either an anterograde or retrograde direction (60% anterograde, 40% retrograde). Most of the anterograde filaments entered the growth cone and most of the retrograde filaments originated in the growth cone. In a small number of cases we were able to observe neurofilaments reverse direction, and all of these reversals occurred in or close to the growth cone. We conclude that neurofilament polymers are delivered rapidly and infrequently to the tips of growing axons and that some of these polymers reverse direction in the growth cone and move back into the axon. We propose that 1) growth cones are a preferential site of neurofilament reversal in distal axons, 2) most retrograde neurofilaments in distal axons originate by reversal of anterograde filaments in the growth cone, 3) those anterograde filaments that do not reverse direction are recruited to form the neurofilament cytoskeleton of the newly forming axon, and 4) the net delivery of neurofilament polymers to growth cones may be controlled by regulating the reversal frequency.
Lower Bounds for the Gibbs Sampler over Mixtures of Gaussians

The mixing time of a Markov chain is the minimum time t necessary for the total variation distance between the distribution of the Markov chain's current state Xt and its stationary distribution to fall below some e > 0. In this paper, we present lower bounds for the mixing time of the Gibbs sampler over Gaussian mixture models with Dirichlet priors.
Systemic and Developmental Toxicity of Dermally Applied Syntower Bottoms in Rats

Syntower bottoms (STB) was evaluated for subchronic and developmental toxicity. In the subchronic study, undiluted STB was applied on the shaved backs of male and female rats at dose levels of 0, 8, 30, 125, and 500 mg/kg for 13 weeks, 5 days per week. Exposure sites were not covered. In the developmental toxicity study, STB was similarly applied, but to pregnant rats at dose levels of 0, 8, 30, and 125 mg/kg on Gestation Days 0-19. In addition, 4 mg/kg was dosed as 8 mg/kg every other day, starting on Gestation Day 0, and 500 mg/kg was dosed on Gestation Days 10-12. Evidence of toxicity observed in the subchronic study included death, decreased body weights, aberrant serum chemistry and hematology values, altered organ weights, and histopathologic changes in a variety of organs. A no observed adverse effect level for systemic toxicity could not be established. Evidence of maternal toxicity was observed at all exposure levels in the development study. Regardless of the length of the exposure period, STB was toxic to the developing conceptus. Evidence of developmental toxicity observed included increased resorptions with a concomitant decrease in litter size and reduced fetal body weights. Cleft palate was observed in fetuses exposed in utero to STB during Gestation Days 10-12 at 500 mg/kg. No evidence of teratogenicity was observed when the exposure period was throughout gestation. Ossification delays were observed in fetuses exposed in utero to STB at doses in excess of 4 mg/kg. A no observed adverse effect level for maternal and developmental toxicity could not be established.
Training strategies for visual inspection

Airworthiness of the civil fleet is dependent upon the ability of inspectors to identify conditions for repair. As this is primarily a visual activity, the issue of training for visual inspection is critical. The inspection training literature has little detailed advice in this area, so in response to this need, a series of simulator experiments was undertaken for the development of improved training programs. This article briefly reviews each experiment and summarizes the results. Key conclusions drawn from each experiment are then used to demonstrate how they can be applied to enhance training for inspection tasks. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Historic Changes in the High Yield Bond Market

In a history that now stretches about four decades, the high yield (HY) market has experienced growth in issuance and out-standings that is remarkable both for its level (about 13% per annum, with HY bonds now accounting for about 25% of the total corporate bond market) and its cyclicality and sensitivity to the broad economy. The HY market has also experienced a notable shift away from B-rated bonds and toward both lower-risk Ba-rated bonds and, to a lesser extent, more risky Caa-rated bonds. Consistent with this development, studies of the performance of HY bonds show Ba-rated bonds experiencing not only lower risk, but also higher returns than Caa-rated bonds, which have produced surprisingly low average returns along with exceptionally high volatility. At the same time, studies of the correlation of HY bond returns with returns on other major asset classes report that all classes of HY bonds (but particularly the riskier B- and Caa-rated bonds) have consistently stronger relationships with common stocks (especially small-cap stocks) than with Treasuries and investment-grade bonds. Analysis of the volatility of HY bond returns over time shows that during periods of stability in the economy and financial markets, the volatility of HY bond returns has been very similar to that of investment-grade bonds. But during periods of political or economic uncertainty, the volatility of HY bonds has become two or three times that of investment-grade bonds, approaching the volatility of common stocks. The main driver of the significant increase in the risk of the aggregate HY bond market during periods of uncertainty has been Caa-rated bonds, whose risk pattern has been remarkably similar to that of small-cap common stocks. Analysis of the credit risk spread (or CRS) series for both the composite HY bond market and each of its rating categories shows markedly non-normal distributions with significant positive “skewness”—that is, periods of exceptionally high spreads (that are not counterbalanced by periods of exceptionally low spreads). The authors also report a consistently strong relationship of the CRS series with default rates and the general state of the economy, with major peaks occurring during or shortly after economic recessions. Near the end of 2008, however, there was a clear break in this relationship when the CRS reached an historic peak of 2,000 basis points, or more than five standard deviations above its long-term mean, while the default rate (at 4%) was below its long-term average. The authors offer two explanations for this break in CRS-default rate relationship: the jump in the CRS caused by the extreme flight to quality and drop in liquidity for all risky securities during the second half of 2008; and the use of covenant-lite securities and other sources of financial flexibility that appear to have enabled many HY issuers to defer defaults (if not avoid them entirely).
Evidence for a Linear Correlation between the Level of Dietary Tryptophan and Hepatic NAD Concentration and for a Systematic Variation in Tissue NAD Concentration in the Mouse and the Rat

The purpose of the study was to determine the relationship of tryptophan intake (substrate availability) and tryptophan oxygenase (TO) ac tivity to formation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). Mice, both nor mal and adrenalectomized, and young rats were maintained on a 6 AM to 6 PM light, 6 PM to 6 AMdark schedule and fed ad libitum a synthetic amino acid diet containing various amounts of tryptophan, from zero to about three times the normal requirement for growth. Tissue free tryptophan, TO activity, and tissue NAD were measured. The animals displayed a positive linear correlation between level of dietary tryptophan and hepatic NAD concentration which was most evi dent during the dark period. There was some indication of a direct relationship between NAD values and tryptophan oxygenase activity at night. These results suggest that increases in enzyme activity may be necessary at the time of feeding in order to achieve the elevated levels of NAD occasioned by intakes of dietary tryptophan which are in excess of that needed for growth. Additional findings indicate the existence of a systematic variation in liver, heart and spleen NAD concentration and in hepatic NAD/NADH ratio. J. Nutr. 100: 1471-1478, 1970.
Long‐range CH correlation 2D NMR spectroscopy. 4—Complete spectral assignments of the pesticide metabolite S‐(2,3‐dihydroxy‐1‐propyl)glutathione

Complete 13C and 1H spectral peak assignments of S-(2,3-dihydroxy-1-propyl)glutathione (1) (an in vivo metabolite of the pesticide 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane) were made using various 2D NMR techniques. Long-range CH correlation 2D NMR unambiguously assigned the key methylene resonances adjacent to sulfur. Appropriate delays for optimum cross-peak intensities in the long-range correlation experiment were chosen with response intensity curves, generated using estimated long-range coupling constants. These curves, although generated assuming a first-order coupling network, are useful even in systems with strong second-order couplings as in 1.
Pathways to change: The effect of a web application on treatment interest

Most individuals with drinking problems do not receive treatment, generally because they do not perceive the need for it. It is difficult to access this population of problem drinkers in order to encourage treatment-seeking. A Web-based program was written, designed to increase motivation for change. The program guided non-treatment-seekers through a multi-stage assessment and provided them with feedback. The level of interest in treatment was measured pre-and post-intervention. Compared to baseline, after the intervention, significantly more individuals rated themselves “very interested” in participating in some form of traditional treatment (19% vs. 28%), and their focus on a specific modality increased.
An Early Regulatory Function Required in a Cell Type-Dependent Manner Is Expressed by the Genomic but Not the cDNA Copy of the Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Gene Encoding Infected Cell Protein 0

The alpha 0 genes of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) contain three exons. Earlier studies have shown that the substitution of genomic sequences with a cDNA copy does not alter the capacity of the virus to replicate or establish latent infection. Other studies have demonstrated that HSV-1 may express alternatively spliced forms of alpha 0 transcripts. The studies reported here centered on a mutant HSV-1(vCPc0) strain in which the genomic copies of the alpha 0 gene were replaced with cDNA copies. From our research, we report the following observations. (i) In contrast to events transpiring in cells infected with wild-type virus, the expression of HSV-1(vCPc0) genes was delayed or restricted to alpha genes for many hours in rabbit skin cells and to a lesser extent in HEp-2 cells but not in Vero cells. This delay in the expression of HSV-1(vCPc0) beta or gamma genes was also multiplicity of infection dependent. (ii) Exposure to MG132, a proteasomal inhibitor, before infection with wild-type virus had no significant effect on the accumulation of viral proteins in Vero cells and caused an only slight delay in viral gene expression in rabbit skin cells in a multiplicity of infection-dependent fashion. The drug had no effect when it was added to the medium 3 h after infection. (iii) Rabbit skin or HEp-2 cells exposed to MG132 3 h after infection with the HSV-1(vCPc0) mutant accumulated only alpha proteins. This restriction was cell type dependent but not multiplicity of infection dependent. (iv) Both the delay in the expression of beta and gamma genes and the effect of MG132 added to the medium 3 h after infection were rescued by restoration of the intron 1 sequences in the HSV-1(vCPc0) mutant. However, cells transduced by baculoviruses expressing intron 1 RNA did not complement the HSV-1(vCPc0) mutant, suggesting that the function of intron 1 is in cis rather than in trans. We came to the following conclusions as a result. (i) Post-alpha gene expression requires the involvement of the proteasomal pathway in a cell type-dependent manner. Consistent with this requirement, the proapoptotic functions of MG132 are blocked in cells infected before exposure to the drug but not after exposure. (ii) A function encoded by the alpha 0 gene that is absent from the cDNA copy is required for viral gene expression in a cell type- and multiplicity of infection-dependent fashion. The absence of this master function delays but does not ultimately block viral gene expression in the cell lines tested here.
3D Multilayer Integration and Packaging on Organic/Paper Low-cost Substrates for RF and Wireless Applications

In this paper, solutions for developing low-cost 3D multilayer integration and packaging on the organic substrate liquid crystal polymer (LCP) and the paper substrate have been presented. The key components in RF wireless applications, namely dual band filters, dual-frequency/dual-polarization microstrip antenna arrays and an RFID tag have been designed and fabricated. Test results of the structures show good agreement between the simulation and measurement over their respective bandwidths, demonstrating stable performance of the organic/paper substrates.
EEG and Seizures in Autistic Children and Adolescents: Further Findings with Therapeutic Implications:

The goal of this study was to investigate the incidence of epilepsy and also the EEG findings among children with autism (A), a devastating disorder, and to compare these data to an EEG control group. EEGs were quantified as to the degree of epileptiform activity and also slow wave abnormalities. Abnormal EEGs were found in 75% of the 59 A children and 82% of their 151 EEGs; 46% had clinical seizures. Nearly all children with seizures had epileptiform activity, but almost 20% of those with spike discharges did not have clinical attacks. Slow wave abnormalities were more frequent and of a greater degree of severity in the A group, compared to controls. One new finding was that a greater variability of EEG abnormalities was found in the A group. Therapeutic implications, based on these latter findings, are discussed.