cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interaction of photic and olfactory stimuli in mediating pineal-induced gonadal regression in adult female rats.

Abstract Whereas neither blinding nor olfactory bulb removal alone appreciably altered the reproductive organs of adult female rats, when animals were subjected to both operations, the sexual organs were macroscopically and microscopically hypotrophic within 8 weeks; the frequency of pregnancy also was reduced greatly in the doubly deprived rats. Furthermore, adrenal and pituitary weights were characteristically smaller in rats deprived of their eyes and olfactory bulbs. Pinealectomy reversed all the effects which followed dual sensory deprivation. No statistically significant differences in the pineal levels of hydroxyindole- O -methyltransferase activity were found.
Examining Equality of Influence in Group Decision Support System Interaction

This article explores the assumption that most group decision support systems (GDSSs) tend to equalize influence in groups. Several past studies suggest that random groups interacting in a computer-mediated environment have more equal influence than face-to-face groups. This study, however, examined variations in perceived influence and communicative influence strategies among individual members of an intact group using a GDSSfor decision making. Although results indicate that perceived influence is more equal during GDSS interaction than immediately prior to such interaction, other results question the claim of equal influence. Findings suggest that historically high- and low-influence individuals are still perceived as such even in the GDSS meetings; furthermore, historically high- and low-influence members all use influence messages, but they use different tactics and employ them in varied amounts. Thesefindings question the influence equalization assumption of GDSSs.
Catalyzed Radical Polymerization of Styrene Vapor on Nanoparticle Surfaces and the Incorporation of Metal and Metal Oxide Nanoparticles within Polystyrene Polymers

We present a novel approach to polymerize olefin vapors on the surfaces of metallic and semiconductor nanoparticles. In this approach, a free radical initiator such as AIBN is dissolved in a volatile solvent such as acetone. Selected nanoparticles (prepared separately using the laser vaporization-controlled condensation method) are used to form initiator-coated nanoparticles placed on a glass substrate. The olefin (styrene) vapor is polymerized by the thermally activated initiator on the nanoparticle surfaces. Our approach also provides structural and mechanistic information on the early stages of catalyzed gas-phase polymerization, which can be used to correlate the gas-phase structural properties with the bulk properties and the performance of the polymer nanocomposites. This correlation is the key step in controlling the properties of the polymer nanocomposites. Our results clearly demonstrate the success of this method in preparing polymer coated nanoparticles for a variety of interesting applications. The precise control of the chemical functionality, thickness, and morphology of the polymer film and the size, size distribution, and properties of the core nanoparticles (photoluminescence, magnetic) may lead to major technological breakthroughs in a variety of applications including drug delivery, ultrasensitive detectors, and chemical and biological sensors.
Disruption of sphingolipid homeostasis by myriocin, a mycotoxin, reduces thymic and splenic T-lymphocyte populations

Myriocin is a naturally occurring fungal metabolite possessing potent immunosuppressive properties. The biochemical mechanism of action of this compound is inhibition of serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT), the key rate limiting enzyme in sphingolipid biosynthesis, intermediates of which are important mediators of immune signaling. Previous studies have shown that myriocin strongly suppressed immune function with T-lymphocyte functions being most sensitive. To further our understanding of the mechanisms of this effect, we investigated the impact of subacute treatment with myriocin on lymphocyte populations in the thymus and spleen of male BALB/c mice following intraperitoneal injection of myriocin at 0, 0.1, 0.3, and 1.0 mg/kg daily for 5 consecutive days. Cellular analysis of the thymus demonstrated that total cellularity was dose-dependently reduced and the reduction was significant in mice treated with 1.0 mg/kg myriocin. Phenotyping showed that CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ double positive lymphocyte populations were sensitive to myriocin. No change in total cellularity of the spleen was noted but there was a significant reduction in the CD4+ lymphocyte population in mice treated with 1.0 mg/kg myriocin. There was a strong positive correlation between total CD4+ lymphocytes in the thymus and those in the spleen. Analysis of sphingolipid levels showed a dose-dependent reduction of sphinganine in the thymus, which were positively correlated with all reductions in lymphocyte populations. These results suggest that the immunosuppressive properties of myriocin may be due to diminished T-lymphocyte populations likely related to inhibition of SPT and disruption of sphingolipid homeostasis.
Colloidal stability of silver nanoparticles in biologically relevant conditions

Understanding the colloidal stability of nanoparticles (NPs) plays a key role in phenomenological interpretation of toxicological experiments, particularly if single NPs or their aggregates or agglomerates determine the dominant experimental result. This report examines a variety of instrumental techniques for surveying the colloidal stability of aqueous suspensions of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), including atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and colorimetry. It was found that colorimetry can adequately determine the concentration of single AgNPs that remained in solution if morphological information about agglomerates is not required. The colloidal stability of AgNPs with various surface capping agents and in various solvents ranging from cell culture media to different electrolytes of several concentrations, and in different pH conditions was determined. It was found that biocompatible bulky capping agents, such as bovine serum albumin or starch, that provided steric colloidal stabilization, as opposed to purely electrostatic stabilization such as with citrate AgNPs, provided better retention of single AgNPs in solution over a variety of conditions for up to 64 h of observation.
Immunogenetic studies of multiple sclerosis patients in Caithness County, Scotland.

Robertson P., Ward P., Brostoff J., Pack S., Festenstein H., Sacks J., Rosenberg R.A., Peters E., Stenning P. & Zabriskie J.B. (1980) Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology 6, 299–305 Immunogenetic studies of multiple sclerosis patients in Caithness County, Scotland The present report indicates that there is an increased frequency of HLA-B7 in multiple sclerosis patients compared to unrelated controls and unaffected siblings. HLA-A3 was not significantly increased. The increased frequency of certain HLA antigens was not reflected in increased titres of serum measles antibodies in this group. In contrast to our previous studies, there were only minimal differences in the cellular response to measles antigen in multiple sclerosis patients as compared to siblings and unrelated controls.
Newtonian and non-Newtonian liquids rotating adjacent to a stationary surface

The interaction of a rotating flow and a stationary surface is discussed for a second-order non-Newtonian liquid. Similarity solutions of the governing partial differential equations are obtained for the case of the outer flow in solid-body rotation. The results for the Newtonian case are compared with Bodewadt's series solution of this problem. The non-Newtonian solutions indicate that for certain values of the parameters characterizing the non-linear viscous response and normal stress effects a larger secondary flow is induced in the boundary layer than in the Newtonian case.
DNA polymerase III proofreading mutants enhance the expansion and deletion of triplet repeat sequences in Escherichia coli.

The influence of mutations in the 3′ to 5′ exonucleolytic proofreading e-subunit of Escherichia coliDNA polymerase III on the genetic instabilities of the CGG·CCG and the CTG·CAG repeats that cause human hereditary neurological diseases was investigated. The dnaQ49 ts and themutD5 mutations destabilize the CGG·CCG repeats. The distributions of the deletion products indicate that slipped structures containing a small number of repeats in the loop mediate the deletion process. The CTG·CAG repeats were destabilized by thednaQ49 ts mutation by a process mediated by long hairpin loop structures (≥5 repeats). The mutD5 mutator strain stabilized the (CTG·CAG)175 tract, which contained two interruptions. Since the mutD5 mutator strain has a saturated mismatch repair system, the stabilization is probably an indirect effect of the nonfunctional mismatch repair system in these strains. Shorter uninterrupted tracts expand readily in themutD5 strain, presumably due to the greater stability of long CTG·CAG tracts (>100 repeats) in this strain. When parallel studies were conducted in minimal medium, where the mutD5strain is defective in exonucleolytic proofreading but has a functional MMR system, both CTG·CAG and CGG·CCG repeats were destabilized, showing that the proofreading activity is essential for maintaining the integrity of TRS tracts. Thus, we conclude that the expansion and deletion of triplet repeats are enhanced by mutations that reduce the fidelity of replication.
Pre-Service Teachers and Technology Integration with Smart Boards

This study explores pre-service teachers' experiences integrating SMART Board technology into their teaching practice. The results suggest that pre-service teachers found the technology mentoring process to be useful in preparing them to integrate instructional technology into their lessons. The pre-service teachers developed high interest in integrating SMART board technology within their own practice. They also reported the technology mentoring process to be useful in preparing them to integrate instructional technology into their teaching. This article highlights the need for teacher educators to create a better curriculum aimed at preparing teachers who can selectively, purposely, and effectively integrate appropriate educational technologies into classroom instruction.
S-, N-, and O-glycosyl derivatives of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-glucose with hydrophobic aglycons as potential chemotherapeutic agents and N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase inhibitors

S-, N-, and O-Glycosyl derivatives of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose with hydrophobic aglycons have been obtained as potential, plasma-membrane active agents. 2-Acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-1-thio-beta-D-glucopyranose (6) was converted into benzyl, diphenylmethyl, triphenylmethyl, and other thioglycosides. Acylation of 6 gave adamantoyl and haloacetyl derivatives. A similar series of N- and O-glycosyl derivatives was obtained from the corresponding NH2-1 and OH-1 analogs of 6, such as O- and N-dinitrophenyl, O- and N-adamantoyl, and N-4-methylbenzylidene derivatives. Several N- and S-glycosyl derivatives were found to inhibit mouse mammary adenocarcinoma (TA3) cells in vitro as well as N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase from beef liver.
Dopamine transporter, alcoholism and other diseases

The discovery of dopamine transporter density difference in alcoholics has implications for mechanisms of vulnerability and relapse (pages 654–657).
Selective suppression of endothelial cell activation by arachidonic acid

Endothelial cell (EC) activation plays a key role in inflammation, thrombosis and organ rejection. Normally, EC are in a quiescent state in which their function is to prevent coagulation and thrombosis, and to participate in the regulation of leukocyte migration from the bloodstream into the tissue. Upon activation with cytokines or other stimuli, EC up-regulate a number of genes, including E-selectin (ELAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-8, tissue factor (TF), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), MCP-1 (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1) and endothelial cell inducible gene (ECI-6). Arachidonic acid (AA) is produced by several cell types, including EC, and acts on various cells. We report here that AA inhibits the up-regulation of some, but not all genes that are induced with EC activation in a dose-dependent manner. AA suppresses TNF-alpha, IL-1 alpha, LPS or PMA-induced E-selectin expression, as well as mRNA accumulation of E-selectin, ICAM-1 and IL-8 stimulated by TNF-alpha. The inhibition appears to be at the level of transcription. At the same time under the same conditions AA does not, repress mRNA accumulation for PAI-1, ECI-6, MCP-1 and VCAM-1. We suggest that the induced expression of AA with EC activation may result in a negative feedback loop regulating further activation.
Ecological inference in the social sciences

Ecological inference is a problem of partial identification, and therefore reliable precise conclusions are rarely possible without the collection of individual level (identifying) data. Without such data, sensitivity analyses provide the only recourse. In this paper we review and critique approaches to ecological inference in the social sciences, and describe in detail hierarchical models, which allow both sensitivity analysis and the incorporation of individual level data into an ecological analysis. A crucial element of a sensitivity analysis in such models is prior specification, and we detail how this may be carried out. Furthermore, we demonstrate how the inclusion of a small amount of individual level data can dramatically improve the properties of such estimates.
A CHARACTERIZATION OF THE FLUORESCENT PROPERTIES OF CIRCULATING HUMAN EOSINOPHILS

— This paper presents a characterization of the fluorescence properties of human eosinophils isolated from peripheral blood of normal donors over a wide range of excitation and emission wavelengths. Circulating eosinophils possess three fluorescence excitation emission maxima: one at 280 nm excitation, 330 nm emission, attributable to tryptophan fluorescence, and currently unassigned peaks at 360 nm excitation, 440 nm emission and 380 nm excitation, 415 nm emission. Fluorescence microscopy studies show that the Huorescence of eosinophils may be site dependent; specifically, when observed at 365 nm excitation, circulating eosinophil Huorescence appears blue-violet, while the fluorescence of tissue-dwelling eosinophils appears amber-gold. These results should be considered in developing an optical biopsy technique to identify eosinophils in human tissue.
Feature selection via decision tree surrogate splits

CARTpsilas ldquovariable rankingrdquo provides a quick estimate of the importance of an individual feature in a decision tree, and it is based on surrogate splits. We extend this estimate to arbitrary subsets. We have applied our estimate (called ldquodIrdquo) to three datasets. The performance of dI as an importance estimate is very dependent on the underlying performance of the tree used to generate the surrogate splits.
Final-state Coulomb interactions for intermediate-mass fragment emission

Information about the space-time characteristics of intermediate-mass fragment emission processes is contained in the shape of two-fragment correlation functions at small relative momenta. A classical approximation to the Koonin-Pratt formula is derived which allows the calculation of correlations resulting from the Coulomb interaction between the two detected fragments. Distortions in the Coulomb field of heavy reaction residues are evaluated by means of three-body Coulomb trajectory calculations.
Motility and arousal in near miss sudden infant death syndrome

Developmental sleep patterns were compared in infants at known risk for "near-miss" sudden infant death syndrome and age-matched normal infants. Near-miss SIDS infants had significant differences suggestive of a temporary developmental delay. They retained rapid eye movement (REM) sleep at neonatal proportions, and stage 2 non-REM sleep appeared later. They also had a significantly increased apnea index. Twenty-four-hour recordings of sleep and respiratory patterns in near-miss SIDS infants from 3 weeks through 6 months of age showed a significant reduction in number of body movements in REM, non-REM, and total sleep time and in percentage of movement time at 3 weeks through 3 months of age. These findings can be used to address the role of arousal threshold in infants at risk for SIDS.
Self-rating versus neuropsychological performance of moderate versus severe head-injured patients.

Head-injured patients frequently appear to be inaccurate in judging their cognitive functioning. To examine this clinical impression, self-ratings were compared with neuropsychological test performances. The sample was comprised of 28 patients with severe and 28 with mild-moderate head injuries, and these two groups were further subdivided according to chronicity, i.e. less than or equal to 1 year versus greater than 1 year between the date of injury and the evaluation. The control group of 31 adults was matched according to age and education. Head-injured patients rated themselves lower than normals regardless of severity of injury. Chronicity affected only the self-rating of learning and memory. The severely head-injured were generally less accurate when comparing self-ratings to test performance. However, this was not uniform across cognitive domains. Recommendations for self-assessment in neuropsychology are discussed.
Murine cytomegalovirus DNA in peripheral blood of latently infected mice is detectable only in monocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Abstract Cytomegalovirus (CMV), as do other herpesviruses, establishes a lifelong latent infection in its natural host. While in immunologically intact hosts most CMV infections are subclinical, clinical disease follows severe immunosuppression and immunodeficiency. In these situations CMV may produce serious life-threatening disease, and virus reactivated from the latent state is often responsible. Essential to understanding this virus and its pathogenesis is the need to define particular tissue and cell types harboring viral DNA. We searched for viral DNA and RNA in subpopulations of blood cells from mice latently infected with murine CMV by using differential centrifugation and fluorescent antibody cell sorting followed by polymerase chain reaction analysis. Following intravenous inoculation, the viral DNA was found to be present in the buffy coat at and after 21 days postinfection, and both granulocytes and peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (PBML) were reservoirs. Further analysis of the PBML fraction by separation into Mac-1 + and Mac-1 − cells revealed that monocytes harbored the DNA while lymphocytes were not sites of persistence. We conclude that in buffy coat of latently infected mice the viral DNA is present only in cells of the myeloid lineage. The relationship of this DNA to the latent infection is discussed.
Proposal for a pathway to mediate the metabolic effects of insulin

Abstract This review seeks to assemble recent discoveries about insulin receptor/kinase, guanine nucleotide-binding proteins, phosphatidyl inositol metabolism, and protein phosphatases to provide a mechanistic pathway by which insulin would alter carbohydrate and fat metabolism. It proposes a hypothetical chain of events that leads from the insulin receptor to protein phosphatase-1. The sequence starts with insulin binding to its receptor, activating the intrinsic receptor/kinase activity. The insulin receptor phosphorylates a guanine nucleotide-binding protein, which activates a particular phospholipase C. This in turn stimulates the production of two lipid-derived messengers: inositol-phospho-glucosamine and diacylglycerol. These messengers trigger the effects of insulin. The diacylglycerol produced by insulin is thought to be analogous to the diacylglycerol produced by alpha-adrenergic stimulation, which activates protein kinase C. Activation of this kinase could account for increases in phosphorylation of certain proteins. The inositol-phospho-glucosamine is the cytosolic messenger for insulin. Extracts containing this messenger activate various enzymes, thus mimicing the effects of insulin. One of the enzymes activated by insulin is protein phosphatase type-1. It is known that the phosphatase decreases phosphorylation of certain target enzymes. In response to insulin, activation of protein phosphatase type-1 occurs with a stable conformational change that may involve rearrangement of disulfide bonds. Rearrangement is either directly in response to the cytosolic messenger or is catalyzed by an isomerase activated by the insulin messenger. Ultimately, protein phosphatase type-1 and/or the disulfide isomerase may together mediate the pleiotropic effects of insulin on carbohydrate and fat metabolism.
Two phytoalexins from sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris) leaves

Abstract Two phytoalexins have been isolated from the leaves of sugarbeet infected with Cercospora beticola and their structures have been shown to be 2′,5-dimethoxy-6,7-methylenedioxyflavanone (1) and 2′-hydroxy-5-methoxy-6,7-methylenedioxyisoflavone (2).
Intravascular US-guided direct intrahepatic portacaval shunt with a PTFE-covered stent-graft: feasibility study in swine and initial clinical results.

PURPOSE To determine the feasibility of the creation of a direct intrahepatic inferior vena cava (IVC)-to-portal-vein shunt with puncture guided by a transfemorally placed intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) probe and use of a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-covered stent-graft. MATERIALS AND METHODS In five swine, transjugular access was used to perform a direct puncture from the IVC to the portal vein with use of a modified Rosch-Uchida Portal Access set directed with real-time IVUS (9 MHz) introduced from a transfemoral venous approach. The direct intrahepatic portocaval shunt (DIPS) was then created with single or overlapping PTFE-covered Palmaz stents placed through a 10-F sheath and dilated to a diameter of 8 mm. Follow-up was performed with transhepatic portography at 2, 4, and 8 weeks. Animals were killed when shunts occluded or at the termination of the study at 8 weeks. Gross and microscopic histologic study was performed on sacrificed animals. A similar technique was used to create DIPS in five patients with intractable ascites, with follow-up by US and venography. RESULTS All experimental DIPS created in swine were created without complications. Portal vein punctures were achieved in four of five swine on the first or second pass of the needle. Follow-up transhepatic portography at 2 weeks demonstrated occlusion of two shunts, both explained by technical reasons at sacrifice. At 4 and 8 weeks, the remaining three shunts were patent on portography. Histology showed a thin neointimal lining with no significant tissue ingrowth or hyperplasia. Clinically, in five patients, successful puncture of the portal vein from the IVC was achieved in one to three passes. Creation of DIPS led to a reduction of mean portosystemic gradient from 18–29 mm Hg (mean, 24 mm Hg) to 9–10 mm Hg (mean, 9 mm Hg). One patient died of liver failure 2 days after creation of DIPS. The other four patients were doing well 2–15 months (mean, 8 months) after the procedure, with patency confirmed by US and venography. CONCLUSION Creation of DIPS is technically feasible, and the direct IVC-to-portal-vein puncture can be done accurately with real-time IVUS guidance. Further studies and longer follow-up are necessary to determine if the short length of the PTFE-covered stent-graft and avoidance of the hepatic vein will increase the long-term patency compared to standard transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt creation.
Anesthetic considerations for patients post-organ transplantation

Summary In summary, considerations should be paid to the functional status of the transplanted organ, rejection, infection, and drug toxicity when taking care of previously transplanted patients. These special concerns will be more relevant in the general practice of anesthesiology as the number of transplanted patients increase and their survival improves.
Step-down maximum power point tracker for photovoltaic systems

Abstract A design of a simple, inexpensive, and efficient maximum power point tracker (MPPT) is presented. This design calls for a fixed voltage and a pilot cell to track the maximum power point voltage (Vmp). The tracking is done by changing the duty cycle of a step-down chopper, which is controlled by a direct feedback analog circuit. The control voltage of the tracker is the open circuit voltage (Voc) of the pilot cell multiplied by a constant. This constant is preadjusted so that it tracks the Vmp of the array in response to any changes due to temperature or insolation. This MPPT can also function as a voltage regulator for battery charging.
Quantum information and accounting

Abstract The paper employs quantum probabilities to demonstrate that double entry information processing is efficient in a two-agent control setting. Quantum probabilities differ from classical probabilities as a result of quantum interference. Double entry information processing emerges naturally when interference is combined with quantum correlation or entanglement to produce a reduced set of potential performance measures. That is, both agents’ performances are evaluated based on the same information signal, and this compact information system is more incentive-efficient than evaluating each agent on his or her own signal.
RE: Lessons from the selenium and vitamin E cancer prevention trial (SELECT).

If the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT)1 demonstrated anything, it is that the long-term supplementation of vitamin E at pharmacological dosages is ineffective for cancer pre...
Modern civilization and human survival

(1972). Modern civilization and human survival. The Philosophy Forum: Vol. 12, No. 1-2, pp. 1-27.
Problems of background contamination in the analysis of open ocean biota for chlorinated hydrocarbons.

Abstract Contamination from chemicals, materials and equipment used in the analysis of open ocean samples for chlorinated hydrocarbons in the part ber billion range is a serious problem. Where applicable, heating the materials, equipment and chemicals at 300–350° overnight was effective in removing the contaminants responding to the electron capture detector. With this and other precautions, background contamination can be reduced to an extremely low level and this permits more accurate determination of the chlorinated hydrocarbons in open ocean samples.
Broadband group-velocity anomaly in transmission through a terahertz photonic crystal slab

We have measured the complex transmission coefficient of a two-dimensional photonic crystal slab for propagation perpendicular to the slab, using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. At high frequencies, where the lattice parameter exceeds the wavelength, we find that the group delay is equal to that of empty space despite the fact that the volume-weighted average dielectric of the slab is ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{\mathrm{ave}}\ensuremath{\sim}3.8$. In contrast to most other examples of anomalous group delay effects, this unusual phase transparency persists over a very broad spectral bandwidth, demonstrating that such anomalies do not require the presence of a nearby isolated resonance. Our results are consistent with finite-difference time-domain simulations.
Proton nmr studies of annealed plasma-deposited amorphous Si:H films

Abstract Proton magnetic resonance data are presented for plasma-deposited amorphous Si:H as a function of annealing temperature up to 650°C. The data indicate that hydrogen diffuses internally before major evolution occurs, that transfer of hydrogen occurs from a heavily clustered phase to a dilute phase coincident with evolution and that evolution occurs initially from the heavily clustered phase. Comparison with infrared data indicates that the heavily clustered phase can be either SiH x ( x = 2,3) or SiH.
The formal darwinism project in outline

The formal darwinism project aims to provide a mathematical framework within which important fundamental ideas in large parts of biology can be articulated, including Darwin's central argument in The Origin (that mechanical processes of inheritance and reproduction can give rise to the appearance of design), modern extensions of evolutionary theory including ESS theory and inclusive fitness, and Dawkins' synthesis of them into a single structure. A new kind of argument is required to link equations of motion on the one hand to optimisation programs on the other, and a major point is that the biologist's concept of fitness maximisation is not represented by concepts from dynamical systems such as Lyapunov functions and gradient functions. The progress of the project so far is reviewed, though with only a brief glance at the rather complicated mathematics itself, and the centrality of fitness maximisation ideas to many areas of biology is emphasised.
Selection of hydrologic modeling approaches for climate change assessment: A comparison of model scale and structures

Summary A wide variety of approaches to hydrologic (rainfall–runoff) modeling of river basins confounds our ability to select, develop, and interpret models, particularly in the evaluation of prediction uncertainty associated with climate change assessment. To inform the model selection process, we characterized and compared three structurally-distinct approaches and spatial scales of parameterization to modeling catchment hydrology: a large-scale approach (using the VIC model; 671,000 km2 area), a basin-scale approach (using the PRMS model; 29,700 km2 area), and a site-specific approach (the GSFLOW model; 4700 km2 area) forced by the same future climate estimates. For each approach, we present measures of fit to historic observations and predictions of future response, as well as estimates of model parameter uncertainty, when available. While the site-specific approach generally had the best fit to historic measurements, the performance of the model approaches varied. The site-specific approach generated the best fit at unregulated sites, the large scale approach performed best just downstream of flood control projects, and model performance varied at the farthest downstream sites where streamflow regulation is mitigated to some extent by unregulated tributaries and water diversions. These results illustrate how selection of a modeling approach and interpretation of climate change projections require (a) appropriate parameterization of the models for climate and hydrologic processes governing runoff generation in the area under study, (b) understanding and justifying the assumptions and limitations of the model, and (c) estimates of uncertainty associated with the modeling approach.
Stationary risk-sensitive LQG control and its relation to LQG and H-infinity control

A method is introduced for the analysis of the infinite-time risk-sensitive linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) control problem. A stationary form of the infinite-time cost functional is derived, and optimal conditions in the form of a Bellman equation are derived. A simple solution is presented for the state-feedback case. The relationship between risk-sensitive LQG control and LQG and H-infinity control is explained. The approach is based on the theory of large deviations from the invariant measure. >
A forward body-biased low-leakage SRAM cache: device, circuit and architecture considerations

This paper presents a forward body-biasing (FBB) technique for active and standby leakage power reduction in cache memories. Unlike previous low-leakage SRAM approaches, we include device level optimization into the design. We utilize super high Vt (threshold voltage) devices to suppress the cache leakage power, while dynamically FBB only the selected SRAM cells for fast operation. In order to build a super high Vt device, the two-dimensional (2-D) halo doping profile was optimized considering various nanoscale leakage mechanisms. The transition latency and energy overhead associated with FBB was minimized by waking up the SRAM cells ahead of the access and exploiting the general cache access pattern. The combined device-circuit-architecture level techniques offer 64% total leakage reduction and 7.3% improvement in bit line delay compared to a previous state-of-the-art low-leakage SRAM technique. Static noise margin of the proposed SRAM cell is comparable to conventional SRAM cells.
Temporary complementation of temperature-sensitive mutants of the cell cycle by transfection with a wild-type or a mutant cDNA of ADP/ATP translocase.

A number of cell-cycle-specific temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants have been isolated from animal cells, especially Syrian hamster cells. These ts mutants, like cell cycle ts mutants of yeast, can be complemented by specific genes, some of which have been molecularly cloned. We have isolated a cDNA clone that complements TK− ts13 cells, but only temporarily. This clone, called B1, differs from a previously isolated clone (Sekiguchi et al.: EMBO Journal7: 1683–1687, 1988) that specifically complements ts13 cells. In addition, B1 also complemented temporarily three other ts mutants of the cell cycle, tsAF8, ts694, and ts550C cells. These mutants have different mutations since, in cell fusion experiments, they complement each other. Sequencing of the B1 cDNA clone revealed that it was a mutant of human ADP/ATP translocase in which some human sequences at the 5′ end have been replaced by SV40 sequences. The wild-type translocase was less effective but could still increase the survival time of cell cycle ts mutants at the restrictive temperature. Using the polymerase chain reaction, it was possible to demonstrate that the B1 plasmid is expressed in TK−ts13 cells undergoing temporary complementation.
Thermo-responsive systems for controlled drug delivery

Controlled drug delivery systems represent advanced systems that can be tightly modulated by stimuli in order to treat diseases in which sustained drug release is undesirable. Among the many different stimuli-sensitive delivery systems, temperature-sensitive drug delivery systems offer great potential over their counterparts due to their versatility in design, tunability of phase transition temperatures, passive targeting ability and in situ phase transitions. Thus, thermosensitive drug delivery systems can overcome many of the hurdles of conventional drug delivery systems in order to increase drug efficacies, drug targeting and decrease drug toxicities. In an effort to further control existing temperature-responsive systems, current innovative applications have combined temperature with other stimuli such as pH and light. The result has been the development of highly sophisticated systems, which demonstrate exquisite control over drug release and represent huge advances in biomedical research.
Glutathione levels and cytotoxicity of a thiol activated alkylating agent in human and mouse cells

Abstract The effects of cellular GSH levels on the cytotoxicity of MNNG and mitomycin C were examined in normal and BSO treated mouse C3H10T12 cells. MNNG was less cytotoxic in the GSH depleted cells (
Virtual colonoscopy (CT and MR colonography).

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of death due to cancer in the United States. Most colorectal cancers arise from pre-existing benign adenomatous polyps. Detection and removal of these polyps has been found to significantly decrease the subsequent development of colon carcinoma.1 However, the majority of individuals who are recommended to undergo colorectal cancer screening do not participate in testing and compliance rates remain low. Current colorectal cancer screening options include fecal occult blood testing, flexible sigmoidoscopy, air-contrast barium enema, and fiberoptic colonoscopy. Fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) is noninvasive and is the most widely available and least expensive test, but has suboptimal sensitivity and prevents the fewest cancers. Fiberoptic colonoscopy is very sensitive for colorectal lesions, but is the most invasive and costly. Virtual colonoscopy, also known as CT colonography, is a relatively noninvasive imaging tool first introduced in 1994 that allows visualization of the entire colon. It is currently under investigation as a potential screening test for colorectal polyps and cancer that may be more acceptable to patients. The remarkable evolution of helical CT technology over the past 10 years has led to the ability to rapidly acquire thin-section CT data. CT colonography applies advanced graphical software to the volumetrically acquired helical CT data to generate both 2dimensional and 3-dimensional images of the colon. The dynamic and interactive viewing of the 3dimensional images at a computer workstation simulates navigation through the lumen of the colon similar to fiberoptic colonoscopy. Data from an increasing number of studies are becoming available comparing the performance of CT colonography with conventional colonoscopy. Results of the larger and more recent studies have found equivalent sensitivity for both tests for the detection of clinically significant polyps measuring 10 mm or larger. Magnetic resonance (MR) data may also be used as the source data to generate 2- and 3-dimensional images of the colon for virtual colonoscopy and is termed MR colonography.
BioMEMS: state-of-the-art in detection, opportunities and prospects

In recent years, the biological and biomedical applications of micro- and nanotechnology (commonly referred to as Biomedical or Biological Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems [BioMEMS]) have become increasingly prevalent and have found widespread use in a wide variety of applications such as diagnostics, therapeutics, and tissue engineering. While research and development activity in this field stays intense, some applications have also been commercialized. This article reviews the recent advances in this very exciting and important field and presents a summary of the state of the art in the area of BioMEMS focusing on diagnostics, sensing, and detection. The areas of therapeutics and hybrid bio/artificial devices will be presented in more detail elsewhere [Biomedical Nanotechnology, Vol. I-IV, Maruo Ferrari (Ed.), Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2004, in press.] and here are discussed briefly in terms of future directions and prospects.
Hyporeninemic Hypoaldosteronism in Diabetes Mellitus: Studies of the Autonomic Nervous System's Control of Renin Release

The proposal that neurogenic mechanisms may contribute to suppressed plasma renin activity in diabetic patients with hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism was examined. Five hyperkalemic, diabetic patients with mild to moderate renal insufficiency and evidence of autonomic or peripheral neuropathy were studied. Mean plasma renin (1.1 ± 0.2 ng/ml/h)andaldosterone(2.8 ± 0.8 ng/dl) values were low and showed minimal increase after a low-sodium diet. Sequential renin responses during 4 h upright posture were significantly diminished in all patients compared with control subjects. The normal increment in plasma norepinephrine after upright posture and exercise was also blunted in the patients. Infusion of the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol at a dose to augment pulse rate by 20% of baseline produced a rapid twofold increase in renin in control subjects. The patients had no renin response to isoproterenol infusion at doses that elicited similar cardiovascular responses in both groups. These findings suggest that in hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism associated with diabetes mellitus and neuropathy, an alteration in sympathetic nervous system activity may contribute to the decreased plasma renin levels. The diminished catecholamine response to upright posture could lead to a blunting of renin response during orthostasis and other maneuvers. Secondly, loss of renin response to isoproterenol infusion in the face of normal cardiovascular responses is consistent with a localized intrarenal defect at the beta-adrenergic receptor level or at more distal sites in patients with hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism.
High expression of the stem cell marker nestin is an adverse prognostic factor in WHO grade II-III astrocytomas and oligoastrocytomas.

Infiltrating astrocytomas and oligoastrocytomas of low to anaplastic grade (WHO grades II and III), in spite of being associated with a wide range of clinical outcomes, can be difficult to subclassify and grade by the current histopathologic criteria. Unlike oligodendrogliomas and anaplastic oligodendrogliomas that can be identified by the 1p/19q codeletion and the more malignant glioblastomas (WHO grade IV astrocytomas) that can be diagnosed solely based on objective features on routine hematoxylin and eosin sections, no such objective criteria exist for the subclassification of grade II–III astrocytomas and oligoastrocytomas (A+OA II–III). In this study, we evaluated the prognostic and predictive value of the stem cell marker nestin in adult A+OA II–III (n = 50) using immunohistochemistry and computer-assisted analysis on tissue microarrays. In addition, the correlation between nestin mRNA level and total survival was analyzed in the NCI Rembrandt database. The results showed that high nestin expression is a strong adverse prognostic factor for total survival (p = 0.0004). The strength of the correlation was comparable to but independent of the isocitrate dehydrogenase 1/2 (IDH 1/2) mutation status. Histopathological grading and subclassification did not correlate significantly with outcome, although the interpretation of this finding is limited by the fact that grade III tumors were treated more aggressively than grade II tumors. These results suggest that nestin level and IDH 1/2 mutation status are strong prognostic features in A+OA II–III and possibly more helpful for treatment planning than routine histopathological variables such as oligodendroglial component (astrocytoma vs. oligoastrocytoma) and WHO grade (grade II vs. III).
Molecular Detection and Quantitation of the Red Tide Dinoflagellate Karenia brevis in the Marine Environment

A real-time reverse transcription-PCR method targeting the rbcL gene was developed for the detection and quantitation of the Florida red tide organism, Karenia brevis. The assay was sensitive to less than 1 cell per reaction, did not detect rbcL from 38 nontarget taxa, and accurately quantitated K. brevis organisms in red tide samples from around Florida. These studies have resulted in a sensitive and specific method for K. brevis detection in the marine environment.
Larrabee: a many-core intel architecture for visual computing

This talk will describe a many-core visual computing architecture code named Larrabee. Larrabee uses multiple in-order x86 CPU cores that are augmented by a wide vector processor unit, as well as some fixed function logic blocks. The talk will go into an overview of the Larrabee architecture and will cover the LRB Vector ISA in detail. We'll then cover the Larrabee programming model and finally close with how one would target Larrabee for high performance 3D graphics.
Selective molecular adsorption in sub-nanometer cages of a Cu2O surface oxide

In this study the identity of diverse adsorption sites on a 5–7 Cu2O/Cu(111) surface oxide structure has been identified. The 5–7 membered rings formed by a topological defect on stoichiometric Cu2O present different electronic structures from the originating hexagonal rings, as shown by combined bias dependent scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The adsorption of CO as a probe molecule on the 5–7 structure, studied using infrared reflection–absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS), shows the existence of special adsorption sites. By combining experimental and theoretical results, it is determined that CO molecules can be selectively confined inside the 7-membered oxide rings with internal dimensions of ∼0.85 nm, leading to a marked different adsorbate–substrate interaction than in either clean Cu(111) or Cu2O. The implication of these newly discovered sites on the chemistry of copper for catalytic reactions is discussed.
Initial Study on Automatic Identification of Speaker Role in Broadcast News Speech

Identifying a speaker's role (anchor, reporter, or guest speaker) is important for finding the structural information in broadcast news speech. We present an HMM-based approach and a maximum entropy model for speaker role labeling using Mandarin broadcast news speech. The algorithms achieve classification accuracy of about 80% (compared to the baseline of around 50%) using the human transcriptions and manually labeled speaker turns. We found that the maximum entropy model performs slightly better than the HMM, and that the combination of them outperforms any model alone. The impact of the contextual role information is also examined in this study.
Synthesis and reactivity of a uranyl-imidazolyl complex

Treatment of [UO2(Ar2nacnac)Cl]2 with 4 equiv. of Li(C4H5N2) results in the formation of a rare uranyl organometallic complex [Li(MeIm)][UO(μ-O)(Ar2nacnac)(μ-C,N-C4H5N2)2] (2), in moderate yield. Reaction of 2 with 1 equiv. of MCl2 (M = Fe, Co) yields the bimetallic complexes [MCl(MeIm)][UO2(Ar2nacnac)(μ-N,C-C4H5N2)2] (M = Fe, 3; M = Co, 4).
Vasopressin versus a combination of vasopressin and tourniquets: a comparison of blood loss in patients undergoing abdominal myomectomies

Objective: To compare blood loss and need for blood transfusions in women who underwent abdominal myomectomies after receiving vasopressin or combined vasopressin and tourniquet. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed reviewing abdominal myomectomies that took place at our institution. Subjects were divided into three groups: no intervention, vasopressin, or combined vasopressin and tourniquet. Blood loss, need for blood transfusion, and drop in hemoglobin and hematocrit were compared across all groups. Results: One-hundred and thirty-two subjects were included in the study. No statistically significant difference was found between groups in blood loss, drop in hemoglobin or hematocrit, or blood transfusions. Conclusion: Combined vasopressin and tourniquets was not associated with a statistically significant decrease in blood loss or need for blood transfusion.
Dynamic functional lung MRI using hyperpolarized gases

Magnetic resonance imaging using signal from hyperpolarized noble gases, is proving to be an important technique for imaging airway disease. Pulmonary disease results in considerable morbidity and mortality, and techniques that yield high contrast images of the lungs are crucial to its diagnosis and staging. Many of the available imaging modalities, however, lack sensitivity and disease specificity. MRI is noninvasive, and can produce slice selective and 3-D images, but imaging of the lung presents obstacles for conventional proton MRI both because the gas space is water-free, and because protons have an inconveniently short T2* in lung tissue due to the magnetically inhomogeneous environment. After inhalation of a hyperpolarized noble gas, however, the airways and alveolar gas spaces can be imaged with high SNR by MRI. Imaging lung perfusion and lung parenchyma should also be possible. This talk focuses on the development and clinical applications of hyperpolarized gas MRI, reviews the results to date, and discusses future directions of this technique. The first clinical studies indicate that hyperpolarized gas MRI is effective for diagnosis of pulmonary disease. Continued technical improvements, e.g., the production of larger volumes of gas at higher polarization, optimized pulse sequences, and specialized RF coils, should enable /sup 129/Xe imaging of lung perfusion and lung parenchyma and provide improved detection of pulmonary disease.