cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhancement of the morphological transformation of Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cells by reducing incubation time of the target cells.

Abstract Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cell transformation has been used for many years to study chemical carcinogenesis in vitro. It has been shown that this assay is probably the most predictive short-term test system for identifying rodent carcinogens. Although most of the operational difficulties encountered in the early stage of application of this assay have been overcome by culturing the SHE cells under slightly acidic conditions (pH 6.7), a relatively low level of induction of morphological transformation (MT) by known carcinogens still occurs for many cell isolates. In order to improve the response of this assay system to known carcinogens, the effect of incubation time of target SHE cells on the frequency of morphological transformation induced by benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) was investigated. It was shown that the morphological transformation frequency induced by BaP increased significantly (1.4–2.5-fold) when the incubation time of target cells was reduced from the usual 24 h to less than 6 h prior to seeding onto feeder layers. This improvement in sensitivity was consistent for different cell isolates. In addition, the enhanced response appeared to be a property of carcinogens because treatment with two non-carcinogens, l -ascorbic acid and 4-nitro- o -phenylenediamine, did not induce significant increases in the transformation frequency under the shortened incubation period for target cells. These results suggest that the response of the SHE cell transformation assay may be improved by optimizing the incubation time of the target SHE cells. In addition, the results of the present study provide further evidence to support the idea that morphological transformation of SHE cells results from a block of cellular differentiation of stem or stem-like cells.
The relationships among hydrodynamics, sediment distribution, and chlorophyll in a mesotidal estuary

Abstract Tidal bars and tidal flats in shallow, mesotidal estuaries are subject to the action of tidal currents and waves. This complex forcing gives rise to large variations in bottom sediments and related benthic ecosystems. In this research we study the spatial relationships among tidal currents, waves, sediment characteristics, chlorophyll a, and pheophytin in the shallow bars and flats of Plum Island Sound, Massachusetts, USA. Waves and tides have a mild effect on the sand grain size and percent of silt and mud of these shallow deposits. Average wave conditions are more important than extreme events, like Nor’easters, in sediment sorting. The spatial distribution of pheophytin, an indicator of dead microphytobenthos, mimics that of silt and mud whereas chlorophyll a, a proxy for the live microphytobenthos stock, is greatest in sandy areas characterized by intermediate values of tidal velocity.
Germination initiation and outgrowth of spores of Bacillus brevis strain Nagano and its gramicidin S-negative mutant.

Bacillus brevis strain Nagano and its gramicidin S-negative mutant, BI-7, were compared with respect to germination of their spores produced in several media. Germination initiation occurred in the presence of nutrient broth orL-alanine but not with inosine, glucose, glycerol or fructose; the process was activated by heat. Parental and mutant spores behaved similarly in these experiments. During outgrowth, parental spores remained in this phase of germination much longer than did mutant spores, but only when the parental spores had been harvested from a sporulation medium where significant gramicidin S synthesis had occurred. When parental spores were extracted or treated with an enzyme that hydrolyzes gramicidin S, rapid outgrowth occurred. Adding exogenous gramicidin S or the extract from parental spores to mutant spores lengthened the outgrowth in a dose-dependent manner. The uptake of labeledL-alanine by parental spores was delayed compared to mutant spores in the presence or absence of chloramphenicol. These data suggest a mechanism of action for gramicidin S whereby it interferes in membrane function, such as transport or energy metabolism, in outgrowing spores.
Statistical research needs in mechanistic modelling for carcinogenic risk assessment

If the broad spectrum of mechanistic research conducted on an environmental carcinogen is to be used in quantifying cancer risks, statisticians must play a key role. Statistical methods are critically needed for a scientifically valid analysis of a complicated series of linked experimental findings. This will require a greater understanding of the underlying biology than is common in statistical consulting, aiding in the development of complicated mechanistically based mathematical descriptions of mean response and in the creation of statistical methods for the estimation of model parameters (e.g. likelihoods) able to use both the underlying model and much of the available data.
The Nomenclature and Taxonomic Status of the Mosquitoes of the Anopheles Maculipennis Complex

The mosquitoes of the Anopheles maculipennis group have been the subject of many hundreds of papers since the publication, in 1920 and 1921, of the theories of Roubaud, Wesenberg-Lund, and Grassi to account for the absence of malaria in regions where maculipennis is abundant. Roubaud thought that there were two “physiological races,” one adapted to feeding on man, the other on large domestic animals. Wesenberg-Lund thought that in Denmark the species had changed its food habits, becoming adapted to large domestic animals. Grassi, like Roubaud, thought there was a “biological race” that did not bite man. The search for the explanation of this problem of “anophelism without malaria” has made maculipennis one of the most thoroughly studied of all insects, and has uncovered a situation that is of considerable general biological interest from the point of view of the “species problem.”
Engineering vascularized tissue

The creation in vitro of vascularized skeletal muscle represents a first step to the engineering of more complex tissue architectures.
Atmospheric Infrared Sounder on the Earth Observing System

Recent breakthroughs in IR detector array and cryocooler technology have made it possible to convert the concepts of optimum, passive, IR sounding to a practical satellite-borne instrument: the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), a grating array IR spectrometer temperature sounder. AIRS, together with the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit and the Microwave Humidity Sounder, will form a complementary sounding system for the Earth Observing System to be launched in the year 2000. The three instruments are expected to become the new operational sounding system for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
THE EFFECT OF SOLUBLE EGG JELLY ON THE FERTILIZABILITY OF ACID-DEJELLIED SEA URCHIN EGGS*

Acid-dejellied Lytechinus pictus eggs bind few sperm and show decreased fertilizability. Addition of solubilized egg jelly increases sperm binding and fertilizability, presumably by increasing the frequency of the acrosome reaction. However, dejellied Strongylocentrotus purpuratus bind more sperm and show increased fertilizability in the complete absence of soluble egg jelly. Addition of soluble egg jelly greatly decreases fertilizability in S. purpuratus. Such species differences may be the basis for the controversy between Lillie and Tyler on the one hand, who believed that egg jelly increased egg fertilizability; while Loeb and Hagstrom on the other hand, believed jelly had no effect on, or actually decreased egg fertilizability. 125I-labeling of dejellied S. purpuratus egg surfaces and immunofluorescent studies show that egg jelly persists on the surfaces of acid-dejellied eggs. Egg jelly appears to be a non-removable component of the vitelline layer of this species.
The service‐enabled customer experience: a jump‐start to competitive advantage

Purpose – Today, almost all manufacturers provide after sales support services. But these services are usually the same across all of a company's product segments, and warranty terms and product support services are typically the same across the industry. Executives believe that if they invest in upgrading services, competitors would follow and eventually customers would no longer see differentiation or value, while the firm is left with higher costs. As such, service operation is not considered strategic to company.Design/methodology/approach – The article defines what is meant by service enabled customer experience. Each of the six stages of customer buying processes – demand generation, browse and research, configure and quote, shop and transact, fulfill and support, and optimize experience are examined to assess services role – and their effects on loyalty and advocacy are examined. A case study and lessons learned form implementing Service Enabled Customer Experience (SECE) are provided.Findings – Ma...
Fluid and Particle Transport in an In-Vitro Model of an Expanding/Contracting Human Alveolus

Inhaled particulate matter from the environment can produce adverse health effects on the human respiratory system. Conversely, inhalable therapeutics can be delivered to the respiratory tract to treat local and systemic ailments. Both of these fields of study require the accurate prediction of particle transport and deposition in the lung, particularly in the acinar region. A necessary first step to predict particle trajectories is to characterize the airflow in which the particles are suspended. Only particles smaller than 5 μm reach the acinar region [1], hence it can be assumed that such particles will closely follow the fluid streamlines. The current work focuses on the fluid mechanics of the acinar region of the lung to infer particle transport and deposition.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Coding image sequences for interactive retrieval

An image coding technique for digital storage of motion picture information is presented that is optimated for use in interactive systems where high quality still frames, random access, and database linkages are required.
Object vs. Objectless Motion

Previous research has provided evidence for the existence of two processing pathways, one for the perception of object motion (based on the detection of counterchange) and the other for the perception of objectless motion (based on the detection of motion energy). Counterchange mechanisms flexibly respond to oppositely signed changes in any feature at two locations. Motion energy mechanisms are dedicated to the detection of spatiotemporal changes in luminance. Demos are provided to illustrate both kinds of motion.
Spontaneous production of Interleukin-1 by human alveolar macrophages

A culture system was developed in which human peripheral blood mononuclear cells depleted of monocytes did not proliferate in response to the lectin mitogen phytohemagglutinin (PHA). The response of these cells to PHA was reconstituted with both autologous and heterologous alveolar macrophages. In addition, a partial restoration of PHA responsiveness was seen when the monocyte-depleted cells (MDC) were cultured with supernatants from purified alveolar macrophages, indicating the presence of Interleukin-1 (IL-1) activity in these supernatants. This is the first evidence suggesting the production of IL-1 by tissue macrophages from normal human subjects. In contrast to previous studies of IL-1 production by blood macrophages, it was found to be unnecessary to stimulate the alveolar macrophages in vitro to generate soluble factor activity. It was also found that alveolar macrophages produced active supernatants after only 2 hr in culture, whereas previous studies have indicated that blood monocytes must be cultured for at least 24 hr before active supernatants are produced. These differences may provide evidence that macrophages within the alveolar spaces are in an activated state.
Hemispheric differences are found in the identification, but not the detection, of low versus high spatial frequencies.

The processing of sine-wave gratings presented to the left and right visual fields was examined in four experiments. Subjects were required either to detect the presence of a grating (Experiments 1 and 2) or to identify the spatial frequency of a grating (Experiments 3 and 4). Orthogonally to this, the stimuli were presented either at threshold levels of contrast (Experiments 1 and 3) or at suprathreshold levels (Experiments 2 and 4). Visual field and spatial frequency interacted when the task required identification of spatial frequency, but not when it required only stimulus detection. Regardless of contrast level (threshold, suprathreshold), high-frequency gratings were identified more readily in the right visual field (left hemisphere), whereas low-frequency gratings showed no visual field difference (Experiment 3) or were identified more readily in the left visual field (right hemisphere) (Experiment 4). Thus, hemispheric asymmetries in the processing of spatial frequencies depend on the task. These results support Sergent’s (1982) spatial frequency hypothesis, but only when the computational demands of the task exceed those required for the simple detection of the stimuli.
Determination of Water-soluble Atmospheric Aerosols Using Ion Chromatography

A field study was established to investigate the chemical composition of atmospheric aerosols in Chicago, IL. One goal of this study was to determine the influence of precursor trace gases and local meteorology on concentrations of secondary aerosol ionic species. This paper describes the method details, shows the method is analytically valid, and reports overall as well as some specific results found during the field study. Two particulate air samples were collected per day onto quartz fiber filters at the Loyola University Chicago Air Station during the summer months in 2002-2004. In parallel, mixing ratios of ozone and nitrogen oxides were monitored and weather parameters were recorded. Particulates were extracted from the filter substrates and the subsequent solutions were analyzed by ion chromatography for anions, including low molecular weight organic acids, and cations. A washing procedure was implemented to reduce the high background values of the quartz fiber filters. Method validation showed that the collection method was efficient for all ions with exception of nitrate, whose efficiency of 70% indicated losses caused by volatilization. The extraction method also proved efficient for both field and laboratory samples, and the repeatability of the method was high with relative standard deviations less than 10% for all ions. Reproducibility of the results was determined by comparison of sulfate to sulfur analyzed by total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and proved to be high as well. Concentrations differed significantly between the three summer studies due to varying levels of precursor species as a consequence of distinct temperatures and wind direction profiles.
A vacuum furnace for electrical conduction studies up to 2000° C

Abstract Constructional details and performance characteristics of a vacuum furnace, suitable for studies of properties of matter and operable to 2000° C., are given. By virtue of a relatively high impedance design, the unit may be operated on d.c. thereby avoiding troublesome a-c. pick-up in measuring circuits. The volume of the hot zone is approximately 3 cm. in diameter and 12 cm. long; power required for 2000° C. is approximately 6 kilowatts.
The chemical synthesis of dinitrophenyl derivatives of serine and ethanolamine.

Summary The chemical synthesis of fluorodinitrophenylethanolamine, fluorodinitrophenylserine, seryldinitrophenylethanolamine, dinitrophenylbis-ethanolamine and dinitrophenylbis-serine has been achieved. These dinitrophenyl derivatives were synthesized to serve as reference compounds for the study of nearest neighbor analysis of amino-phospholipids in the erythrocyte membrane.
Increased risk of venous thromboembolism is associated with genetic variation in heme oxygenase-1 in Blacks

Background Venous thromboembolism (VTE) affects as many as 1 in 1000 individuals in the United States. Although Blacks are disproportionately affected by VTE, few genetic risk factors have been identified in this population. The inducible heme oxygenase-1 (HMOX1) gene encodes a key cytoprotective enzyme with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticoagulant activity acting in the vascular system. A (GT)n microsatellite located in the promoter of the HMOX1 gene influences the level of response.
K-SHELL AUGER AND RADIATIVE TRANSITIONS IN THE CARBON ISOELECTRONIC SEQUENCE, 6 ≤Z≤ 54

K-shell energies and transition rates for the Auger and radiative decays in carbon-like ions with 1s2s{sup m}2p{sup n} (m + n = 5) configurations have been calculated using the multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock method including Breit interaction and quantum electrodynamic corrections. Seventeen ions with atomic numbers 6 {le} Z {le} 54 were considered. Transition rates were evaluated in intermediate coupling with configuration interaction within the same complex. Line fluorescence yields were also computed. 14 refs., 2 tabs.
Population Development of Acarus siro Reared at Three Temperatures Following Gamma Irradiation

Adults of the grain mite, Acarus siro L., were exposed 10 sublethal doses of gamma irradiation (0-10 kR) then reared at temperatures of 5, 15, or 25°C. The composition of the population at each temperature was counted every 8 days for 60 days, There was a negative correlation between the total mite population at 60 days and both rearing temperature and irradiation. Interaction between temperature and irradiation was significant, with temperature being over 800 limes more effective than irradiation in reducing the mile population. An increase in population occurred at dose levels of 1-5 kR in the F1 or F2 generation. However, a significant detrimental long-range (F4 or more) effect resulted from the sublethal irradiation dose of the Fp generation.
High methane formation during the temperature-programmed decomposition in flowing hydrogen of supported mononuclear and polynuclear carbonyl complexes

This paper presents the first detailed study of the temperature-programmed decomposition (TPDE) in flowing hydrogen of every element which forms a stable carbonyl. The investigation shows that these systems have an unexpectedly high propensity to form methane. The parameters affecting the yield of methane are described and this stoichiometric reaction is compared to catalytic methanation. (AT)
Desmosterol Deposition in Human and Experimental Atherosclerosis

The role of desmosterol in the production of atherosclerotic plaques has been studied. By means of gas chromatographic analysis, it has been possible for the first time to show that in patients treated with triparanol, even for short periods of time, desmosterol does contribute to the sterol deposition. Furthermore, in the induced atherosclerotic plaques of rabbits desmosterol has been found to deposit at least as readily as does cholesterol. It is concluded from these observations that the replacement of serum cholesterol with desmosterol does not seem to offer a rational approach to the treatment of atherosclerosis.
Prevention of l-Dopa-Induced Growth Hormone Stimulation by Hyperglycemia

ABSTRACT We have reported inhibitory effects of hyperglycemia upon l-dopa-induced growth hormone (GH) stimulation in normal subjects and in hyperglycemic patients due to diabetes mellitus. Ten normal subjects whose GH rose greater than 10 ng/ml following 1.0 g of l-dopa orally were given an iv glucose injection and a continuous infusion to maintain hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia prevented the rise of GH following administration of the same dose of l-dopa. Five diabetic subjects who were hyperglycemic also failed to respond to l-dopa. These results show that hyperglycemia prevents l-dopa-induced GH stimulation.
Evolving Trends in the Epidemiology, Resource Utilization, and Outcomes of Pregnancy-Associated Severe Sepsis: A Population-Based Cohort Study

Background: Infections are a well-known complication of pregnancy. However, pregnancy-associated severe sepsis (PASS) has not been as well-characterized, with limited population-level data reported to date. We performed a population-based study of the evolving patterns of the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, resource utilization, and outcomes of PASS in Texas over the past decade. Methods: The Texas Inpatient Public Use Data File was used to identify pregnancy-associated hospitalizations and PASS hospitalizations for the years 2001 - 2010. The Texas Center for Health Statistics reports of live births, abortions and fetal deaths, and a previously reported population-based, age-specific linkage study on miscarriage were used to derive the annual total estimated pregnancies (TEPs). The incidence, demographics, clinical characteristics, resource utilization and outcomes of PASS were examined. Logistic regression modeling was used to explore the predictors of PASS and its associated mortality. Results: There were 4,060,201 pregnancy-associated hospitalizations and 1,007 PASS hospitalizations during study period. The incidence of PASS was increased by 236% over the past decade, rising from 11 to 26 hospitalizations per 100,000 TEPs. The key changes between 2001 - 2002 and 2009 - 2010 within PASS hospitalizations included: admission to ICU 78% vs. 90% (P = 0.002); development of ≥ 3 organ failures 9% vs. 35% (P < 0.0001); and inflation-adjusted median hospital charges (2,010 dollars) $64,034 vs. $89,895 (P = 0.0141). Hospital mortality (11%) remained unchanged during study period. Chronic liver disease (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 41.4) and congestive heart failure (CHF) (aOR 20.5) were associated with the highest risk of PASS, in addition to black race, poverty, drug abuse, and lack of health insurance. The highest risk of death was among women with HIV infection (aOR 45.5), need for mechanical ventilation (aOR 4.5), drug abuse (aOR 3.0), and lacking health insurance (aOR 2.9). Conclusions: The incidence, severity, and fiscal burden of PASS rose substantially over the past decade. Case fatality was lower than that for severe sepsis in the general population. Chronic liver disease and CHF pose especially high risk of PASS. Pregnant women with history of drug abuse and lacking health insurance are at high risk of both developing and dying with PASS, requiring extra vigilance for early diagnosis and targeted intervention. J Clin Med Res. 2015;7(6):400-416 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jocmr2118w
Computers and crystals on the connection between materials physics computing

Abstract We argue that first principles calculations are about to have a significant impact on the design of new materials. This will happen because of advances in hardware and algorithms which make possible the consideration of larger, more complex systems than had been studied previously. This will, in turn lead to interesting new fundamental physics and chemistry.
OPTION PRICING WITH FEEDBACK EFFECTS

The paper provides a continuous time model for order-driven stock market. The model allows to derive a nonlinear PDE as a modification of Black–Scholes equation for option pricing with a local volatility as a function of the stock price. The solution can be expanded in series in the parameter, which relates to the size of option market. The first-order correction for the option price increases the price of a European call. The second-order correction for volatility allows to describe the "volatility smile".
Failure to Isolate the First N-Nitrosiminium Cation

The solvent CH2Cl2 was dried by distillation from CaH2. NOCl was generated according to the procedure of Schenk.3 The SbCl5 and NOBF4 were used as obtained from Aldrich Chemical Co. (Milwaukee, WI). Slow addition to NOCl (0.56 g, 8.4 mmol), eq 1, in 20 mL of CH2Cl2 at -30 °C of 1 equivalent of imine (1 g, 8.4 mmol, in 10 mL of CH2Cl2) followed by addition of SbCl5 (2.54 g, 8.4 mmol, in 5 mL of CH2Cl2) gave a faintly yellowed whitish precipitate, as reported.1 This was filtered and washed with additional CH2Cl2 and dried under vacuum. 1H-NMR (CD3CN) δ 3.59 (3H, d); 7.67 (2H, m); 7.90 (3H, m); 8.78 (1H, d); 10.4-11.25 (1H, t (br)). 13C-NMR (CD3CN) δ 39.70, 127.47, 131.05, 132.46, 138.73, 173.50. C, H, N analysis found: C, 21.09; H, 2.22; N, 3.04. Calcd for SbCl6 salt of 1: C, 19.87; H, 1.88; N, 5.79. Calcd for SbCl6 salt of 2: C, 21.13; H, 2.22; N, 3.08.
Anisotropic intrasignal coupling in photorefractive linbo3

Intrasignaling coupling in a LiNbO3 photorefractive crystal is studied. It is shown that the anisotropy nature of the effective electrooptic coefficient of this crystal results in an orientation-dependent intrasignal coupling. Analytical solutions for one-dimensional intrasignal coupling are derived for a-axis and b-axis orientations, which enables us to estimate the maximum beam field angle and the maximum crystal thickness for a given intensity distortion due to the coupling. The results are thus illustrative to applications of this crystal in areas such as holographic data storage, interconnection, spatial mode conversion, et cetera. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Sociopolitical Instability, Volatility, and the Bid-Ask Spread: Evidence from the Free Market for Dollars in Poland

This paper provides empirical evidence that the weekly bid-ask spread in the Polish free foreign exchange market is heavily affected by the intensity of sociopolitical unrest in this country. A GARCH model is estimated to study the volatility of the free market for dollars in Poland from the third week of October 1988 to the fourth week of January 1990. This period is interesting and important because it includes social and political events under two different government regimes. Empirical evidence suggests that significant sociopolitical turmoil appears to increase the volatility of the market and consequently create substantial changes in the spread. The results of this paper may represent valuable information for other reforming countries.
Neutrophils and acute lung injury.

Objective: Neutrophils are an important component of the inflammatory response that characterizes acute lung injury (ALI). This discussion aims to review the contribution of neutrophils to the development and progression of ALI and to highlight the major intracellular signaling pathways that are involved in neutrophil activation in the setting of ALI. Data Sources: MEDLINE, original research papers, and review papers. Study Selection: Relevant laboratory and clinical studies. Data Extraction: Systemic review. Data Synthesis: Activated neutrophils appear to play a central role in the development of most cases of ALI. In experimental models, the elimination of neutrophils markedly decreases the severity of ALI. Furthermore, in neutropenic patients with lung injury, deterioration of pulmonary function as neutropenia resolves has been well described. The neutrophils that accumulate in the lungs in models of ALI demonstrate increased activation of the kinases Akt and p38; increased nuclear accumulation of the transcriptional regulatory factor, nuclear factor-κB; and increased production of proinflammatory cytokines, particularly those whose transcription is dependent on nuclear factor-KB. Decreased apoptosis among neutrophils in the lungs is also characteristic. Inhibiting p38, Akt, or nuclear factor-KB activation diminishes the severity of endotoxin- or hemorrhage-induced ALI. Conclusions: The accumulation of activated neutrophils in the lungs is an early step in the pulmonary inflammatory process that leads to ALI. Although experimental models indicate that the activation of p38, Akt, and nuclear factor-KB in neutrophils contributes to ALI, the relative importance of these pathways in critically ill patients remains to be determined. Nevertheless, modulation of the activation of p38, Akt, and nuclear factor-κB in neutrophils appears to be an appropriate therapeutic target in severely ill patients with ALI.
Reliable aggressive signalling in swamp sparrows

Whether aggressive displays are reliable predictors of attack is an important, unresolved issue in animal communication research. Here we test the extent to which vocal and visual displays predict subsequent attack in territorial male swamp sparrows, Melospiza georgiana. A brief playback of swamp sparrow song was used to provoke aggressive signalling from a territorial male, and the subject's displays were recorded for 5 min. A taxidermic mount of a male swamp sparrow was then revealed, coupled with additional playback, and the subject was given 14 min to attack while we continued to record its displays. Of 40 subjects, nine attacked the mount and 31 did not. For both the initial recording period and the 1 min before attack, attackers produced significantly more low-amplitude ‘soft songs’ and more bouts of wing waving than did nonattackers. Attackers and nonattackers did not differ significantly in song type-switching frequency or in numbers of broadcast songs, matching songs, wheezes or rasps. In discriminant function analyses, soft song was consistently the display that best predicted subsequent attack. Different acoustic forms of soft song were found, all of which appeared to be equally aggressive. Combinations of displays predicted attack better than did single displays. The overall reliability of swamp sparrow displays as predictors of aggression was impressively high.
Glial cells mediate toxicity in glutathione-depleted mesencephalic cultures.

Abstract: We have examined the role of glial cells in the toxicity that results from inhibition of reduced glutathione (GSH) synthesis by L-buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) in mesencephalic cell cultures. We show that GSH depletion, to levels that cause total cell loss in cultures containing neurons and glial cells, has no effect on cell viability in enriched neuronal cultures. An increase in the plating cell density sensitizes glia-containing cultures to GSH depletion-induced toxicity. This suggests that cell death in this model is the consequence of events that are induced by GSH depletion and are mediated by glial cells. The antioxidant ascorbic acid and the lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid (1-10 μM) provide full protection from BSO toxicity, indicating that arachidonic acid metabolism through the LOX pathway and the generation of reactive oxygen species play a role in the loss of cell viability. In contrast, inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) synthase affords only partial protection from BSO toxicity, suggesting that increased NO production cannot entirely account for cell death in this model. Our data provide evidence that GSH depletion in the presence of glial cells leads to neuronal degeneration that can be prevented by inhibition of LOX. This may have relevance to the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease, where glial activation and depletion of GSH have been found in the substantia nigra pars compacta.
Analysis of Copper in an Aqueous Solution by Ion‐Exchange Concentrator and Laser‐Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy in composition analysis of materials has many advantages over other analytical methods. Its simple-or-no sampling procedure is a key advantage. The LIBS has been applied to liquid samples, although direct analysis of liquids is difficult because of weak plasma generation. An ion exchange membrane is used in this work to develop a real time monitoring method of metal ions in water. The chelating-resin based filter membrane was used to capture and concentrate copper ions from water. The samples were filtered under reduced pressure for faster filtration. The captured copper ions on the membrane were analyzed by LIBS. A series of copper solutions and mixtures were examined to establish the proper analytical conditions. The plasma emission intensity of copper generated from the thin layer of the membrane was investigated to determine the spectroscopic parameters for a practical real-time water monitoring. The copper ion collected on the membrane can be free of matrix effect from other ions in the original samples, and has provided the consistent analytical results in the mg/L concentration range. The laser power of each ablating pulse is very critical to obtain a proper analytical dynamic range, especially when the copper captured layer is thicker than the depth of one pulse laser can ablate. Tap water was used to analyze and evaluate the feasibility of this method. The amount of copper in the tap water was shown to depend on the retention time of water in copper pipes of the building pluming system.
Tests of the Algorithm for the Calculation of Scattering by a Multilayered Sphere

For numerical tests of the calculational procedure for scattering by a multilayered sphere, absorption of visible light by graphitic carbon (soot) mixed with nonabsorbing or weakly absorbing material like water is calculated. Three cases of mixing within the framework of the multilayered model are considered: (1) carbon exists as a tiny core within a water droplet, (2) carbon exists as a thin shell on the outside of the water droplet, and (3) carbon exists as a thin shell within the water droplet (double-layered case). Numerical calculation of absorption cross sections is performed, treating the carbon content in each case as a perturbation in the Mie scattering of light by a homogeneous sphere of water. The results obtained agree perfectly with those obtained directly by the use of algorithms based on the exact expressions.
Coral Growth Related to Resuspension of Bottom Sediments

THE determination of coral skeletal growth, from both a biological and a geological standpoint, has long presented difficulties in ease and accuracy of measurement. As a consequence, factors which limit growth are only beginning to be investigated. Radiometric methods using natural radioactive series nuclides have recently been used to determine the growth rate of certain corals1,2. In addition, X radiographs coupled with 90Sr-induced autoradiographs have demonstrated that at least some hermatypic corals record annual growth bands in their skeletons3,4. Once annual banding is confirmed, measurement of band widths allows precise determination of yearly growth increments. It is thus possible to compare inter- and intraspecific coral growth rates from different areas with pertinent environmental variables and to educe possible correlations. We describe here an investigation of the effects of resuspension of bottom sediments on the growth rate, as determined by a 228Ra technique and X radiography of Montastrea annularis in different parts of Discovery Bay, Jamaica. Such a study is unique both because the annual nature of growth bands is established for the most important reef-forming coral in the Caribbean5 and because radiometric and radiographic techniques are extended to measure growth rates as a function of environmental parameters.
An investigation of thundersnow and deep snow accumulations

[1] A comparison of 30 years of hourly surface weather observations (1960–1991) from first-order stations and 24-hour snowfall data from climate network stations over the upper Midwestern United States reveals an indirect association between the relatively rare occurrence of thundersnow ( 15 cm) in 19 of 22 cases identified. Although no direct relationship is found between the location of thundersnow and the deepest 24-hour snow totals, significant snow accumulations frequently occurred in proximity (<1° latitude) to thundersnow events. The presence of thundersnow tended to indicate a parent extratropical cyclone capable of producing significant snowfall totals; should thundersnow be anticipated, the operational meteorologist can have much greater confidence in forecasting deeper snow totals.
Bridge database for the I-5 corridor in the pacific northwest

Abstract A database for the 950 highway, railway, and pedestrian bridges on and over interstate highways I-5, I-205, and I-405 in western Washington State and northwestern Oregon was developed. The data recorded for each bridge will assist future database users in estimating bridge replacement costs, in performing finite element seismic analyses, and in other research and engineering activities. To develop this multipurpose database, multiple records were used for each bridge. The total number of records used for a given bridge was based on the larger of the number of spans, deck cross-sections, deck segments, supports, joints, soil borings, or bridge geometric datapoints. This technique of using multiple records per bridge permitted the storage of detailed information for a variety of bridges including several long viaducts in Seattle and Portland, some of which have 100 or more spans. This new bridge database structure should facilitate future development of comprehensive bridge inventories and databases for other highway networks in the United States and other countries.
The effects of long term administration of psychotrophic drugs on human sleep. IV. The effects of chlorpromazine.

This paper reports on the effects of the daily administration of chlorpromazine (50 mg) to normal young males. Effects on laboratory recorded sleep, home sleep, and mood were studied. Chlorpromazine significantly increased total sleep and decreased waking, especially on the first days, but to some extent throughout administration. Slow-wave sleep, D-time, and the stages of sleep considered individually were unchanged. Chlorpromazine had considerable effects on home sleep and mood variables. Some subjects clearly disliked chlorpromazine at this dose, and this was reflected by significant increases in the tension-anxiety, anger-hostility, and fatigue factors of the Psychiatric Out-patient Mood Scale (POMS). Overall what was most striking was the lack of effect on laboratory sleep measures in view of the effects on mood and home sleep reports.
Analysis of the Intrinsic Bend in the M13 Origin of Replication by Atomic Force Microscopy

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been used to image a 471-bp bent DNA restriction fragment derived from the M13 origin of replication in plasmid LITMUS 28, and a 476-bp normal, unbent fragment from plasmid pUC19. The most probable angle of curvature of the 471-bp DNA fragment is 40–50°, in reasonably good agreement with the bend angle determined by transient electric birefringence, 38° ± 7°. The normal 476-bp DNA fragment exhibited a Gaussian distribution of bend angles centered at 0°, indicating that this fragment does not contain an intrinsic bend. The persistence length, P, was estimated to be 60 ± 8 and 62 ± 8 nm for the 471- and 476-bp fragments, respectively, from the observed mean-square end-to-end distances in the AFM images. Since the P-values of the normal and bent fragments are close to each other, the overall flexibility of DNA fragments of this size is only marginally affected by the presence of a stable bend. The close agreement of AFM and transient electric birefringence results validates the suitability of both methods for characterizing DNA bending and flexibility.
Lipids and Lp(a) lipoprotein levels and coronary artery disease in subjects with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Objective To determine whether increased Lp(a) lipoprotein levels are associated with either non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with NIDDM and to examine the relationship between Lp(a) levels and glycemic control. Design We conducted a cross-sectional study of subjects with NIDDM who were participants in the Rochester Diabetic Neuropathy Study and healthy control subjects from the population of Rochester, Minnesota. Material and Methods Lipids and Lp(a) lipoprotein levels were compared in 227 subjects with NIDDM and 163 control subjects and, among the subjects with NIDDM, in those with (N = 96) and without (N = 131) CAD. The correlation between Lp(a) levels and glycosylated hemoglobin was investigated. Results Subjects with NIDDM had higher triglyceride and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels than did control subjects. Subjects with NIDDM and CAD had higher total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels than did subjects with NIDDM without CAD. Subjects with NIDDM had significantly higher Lp(a) levels than did control subjects, but subjects with NIDDM and CAD did not have significantly higher Lp(a) levels than did those without CAD. Among subjects with NIDDM, the level of Lp(a) was not significantly correlated with glycosylated hemoglobin. Conclusion Although subjects with NIDDM have higher Lp(a) levels than do control subjects, Lp(a) does not seem to be associated with CAD in subjects with NIDDM. In this study, no association was found between Lp(a) level and glycemic control.
Improved solution stability and spinnabilitiy of concentrated polyaniline solutions by using DMPU solvent

Summary form only given. It is widely known that polyaniline base is soluble in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP). However, concentrated polyaniline solutions (> 5%) in NMP were recently reported to be highly unstable, forming gels readily at room temperatures. It is found that the solution stability of polyaniline is significantly improved by using N,N'-dimethyl propylene urea (DMPU) as the solvent. In this paper, the solution stabilities and fiber spinnabilities of polyaniline solutions in NMP, DMPU, and LiCL/NMP (0.5 wt% LiCL) are studied and compared by using a cone-and-plate rheometer and wet-spinning processing, respectively. The polyanfline solution in DMPU showed remarkably improved stabilities, e.g. a 20 wt% polyanitine/DMPU solution did not form a gel in a period of 12 hours while a 20 wt% polyaniline/NMP solution formed a gel within a few minutes. All examined polyaniline solutions showed a similar trend in rheological behavior in that the viscosities become more shear-dependent with either increasing concentrations or increasing aging time. The spinnability of polyaniline solutions was also improved by using DMPU as the solvent. The results of these studies and the rheological parameters necessary for successful wet spinning of polyaniline fiber will be discussed.
Evaporation of Water from Milk by Spray Drying

The distinguishing characteristic of spray drying is the large surface area presented to the drying air. Because of the large surface the drying rate is rap id and the drying time very short. Mathematical relationships have been developed for air drying under static conditions such as in t ray drying. The general theory of air drying can be applied to spray drying, but adequate data are difficult to obtain because of the shortness of the drying time. Mathematical treatment of the drying data is complicated because the conditions of drying, such as the humidity and temperature of the air, the moisture content and diameter of the particle, and the relative motion between the particle and the air stream, are constantly changing. Owing to the lack of adequate data on which to base design, spray dryers generally have been built on an empirical basis. Widely different designs have been evolved. The effect of variation in operating conditions on powder characteristics may not be the same in all dryers, and the complexities of dryer operation tend to obscure these relationships even in the same dryer. Spray drying usually is visualized as involving three operations: (a) atomization, (b) evaporation from drops, and (c) flow and mixmg of gases and particles. This paper will include a brief discussion of pert inent aspects of drying theory and a consideration of operational and design factors influencing milk powder quality. Commercial operators are primarily concerned about meeting quality standards at a reasonable production cost. The necessity of minimizing heat damage and at the same time attaining low moisture levels in a heat sensitive, hygroscopic material such as dry milk is at times difficult. Factors which influence heat damage, therefore, such as the temperature and time of drying, and those determining the moisture content of the powder are of pr imary importance. Drying usually occurs in two more or less distinct stages. The first is a period of surface
LRP5 and LRP6 are not required for protective antigen-mediated internalization or lethality of anthrax lethal toxin.

Anthrax toxin (AnTx) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of anthrax. AnTx is composed of three proteins: protective antigen (PA), edema factor, and lethal factor (LF). PA is not toxic but serves to bind cells and translocate the toxic edema factor or LF moieties to the cytosol. Recently, the low-density lipoprotein receptor–related protein LRP6 has been reported to mediate internalization and lethality of AnTx. Based on its similarity to LRP6, we hypothesized that LRP5 may also play a role in cellular uptake of AnTx. We assayed PA-dependent uptake of anthrax LF or a cytotoxic LF fusion protein (FP59) in cells and mice harboring targeted deletions of Lrp5 or Lrp6. Unexpectedly, we observed that uptake was unaltered in the presence or absence of either Lrp5 or Lrp6 expression. Moreover, we observed efficient PA-mediated uptake into anthrax toxin receptor (ANTXR)–deficient Chinese hamster ovary cells (PR230) that had been stably engineered to express either human ANTXR1 or human ANTXR2 in the presence or absence of siRNA specific for LRP5 or LRP6. Our results demonstrate that neither LRP5 nor LRP6 is necessary for PA-mediated internalization or lethality of anthrax lethal toxin.
Planar amplifier array with improved bandwidth using folded-slots

Active antennas on semiconductor substrates often suffer limited bandwidth. We report on a relatively broadband quasi-optical amplifier cell and 4/spl times/4 array using folded-slot antennas, suitable for monolithic power combining. Two orthogonally polarized CPW-fed folded slots are coupled to the input and output ports of a simple resistive feedback MESFET amplifier. The peak effective isotropic power gain in the transmission mode is 11 dB @ 4.3 GHz with 10% bandwidth for the single cell, a factor-of-ten improvement in bandwidth over a similar amplifier cell using patch antennas, and 32 dB @ 4.24 GHz with 8% bandwidth for the array. >
Value-based contraction: a representation result

Sven-Ove Hansson and Erik Olsson studied in [6] the logical properties of an operation of contraction first proposed by Isaac Levi in [11]. They provided a completeness result for the simplest version of contraction that they call Levi-contraction but left open the problem of characterizing axiomatically the more complex operation of value-based contraction or saturatable contraction. In this paper we propose an axiomatization for this operation and prove a completeness result for it. We argue that the resulting operation is better behaved than various rival operations of contraction defined in recent years.