cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Coil Embolization With Absorbable Gelatin Sponge Appears Superior to Traditional Cyanoacrylate Injection for the Treatment of Gastric Varices.

INTRODUCTION Gastric variceal (GV) bleeding is a feared complication of cirrhosis. Traditional endoscopic treatment with cyanoacrylate (CYA) injection can be challenging. Alternatively, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided delivery of hemostatic coils has shown high therapeutic success without the complications profile of CYA alone. Our aim was to compare the clinical outcomes of EUS-guided coil embolization with endoscopic CYA injection for the treatment of GV. METHODS We performed a matched cohort study using a prospective registry involving 2 tertiary centers. A total of 10 patients undergoing EUS-based coil therapy were matched in 1:3 fashion to 30 patients who underwent CYA injection. The matching criteria included type of GV, Charlson comorbidity index, and bleeding severity. Primary outcomes were technical success and complications. Secondary outcomes were rebleeding rates, reinterventions rates, total transfusion requirements, and time-to-event analysis (rebleeding, reintervention, and transfusion). RESULTS Technical success was 100% for EUS coil therapy vs 96.7% for CYA injection (P = 1.0). Complication rates were 10% in the EUS coil group vs 20% in the CYA group; P = 0.65. At 9 months, no EUS coil patient had rebled compared with 38% of the CYA group. No EUS coil patient required blood transfusion for GV rebleed, whereas over 50% of CYA patients did. Ten percent of EUS coil patients required reintervention compared with 60% of CYA patients. The EUS coil group had superior time to reintervention, GV rebleed, and transfusions (all P < 0.05). DISCUSSION Compared with CYA, EUS-guided coil injection appears superior for the treatment of GV and should be considered initial endoscopic treatment of choice in centers with interventional EUS expertise.
Seeing and Responding: How Students Perceive School Personnel to Fail to Respond to Bullying

Although research has shown that students and school personnel believe that adults respond to bullying at different rates, it is unclear why these differences occur. Using open-ended survey responses from 189 students, this study investigates why students perceive that school personnel fail to respond to bullying. Students articulated a variety of reasons for school personnel’s lack of response, including ways in which they could fail to see, notice, or respond to the bullying. In turn, students used their agency to understand and counteract school personnel’s lack of response. Theoretical and policy implications are discussed.
Gut Inflammation Induced by Dextran Sulfate Sodium Exacerbates Amyloid-β Plaque Deposition in the AppNL-G-F Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

Background Although it is known that the brain communicates with the gastrointestinal (GI) tract via the well-established gut-brain axis, the influence exerted by chronic intestinal inflammation on brain changes in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is not fully understood. We hypothesized that increased gut inflammation would alter brain pathology of a mouse model of AD. Objective Determine whether colitis exacerbates AD-related brain changes. Methods To test this idea, 2% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) was dissolved in the drinking water and fed ad libitum to male C57BL/6 wild type and AppNL - G - F mice at 6-10 months of age for two cycles of three days each. DSS is a negatively charged sulfated polysaccharide which results in bloody diarrhea and weight loss, changes similar to human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Results Both wild type and AppNL - G - F mice developed an IBD-like condition. Brain histologic and biochemical assessments demonstrated increased insoluble Aβ 1-40/42 levels along with the decreased microglial CD68 immunoreactivity in DSS treated AppNL - G - F mice compared to vehicle treated AppNL - G - F mice. Conclusion These data demonstrate that intestinal dysfunction is capable of altering plaque deposition and glial immunoreactivity in the brain. This study increases our knowledge of the impact of peripheral inflammation on Aβ deposition via an IBD-like model system.
Load and Renewable-Following Control of Linearization-Free Differential Algebraic Equation Power System Models.

Electromechanical transients in power networks are mostly caused by mismatch between power consumption and production, causing generators to deviate from the nominal frequency. To that end, feedback control algorithms have been designed to perform frequency and load/renewables-following control. In particular, the literature addressed a plethora of grid- and frequency-control challenges with a focus on linearized, differential equation models whereby algebraic constraints (i.e., power flows) are eliminated. This is in contrast with the more realistic nonlinear differential algebraic equation (NDAE) models. Yet, as grids are increasingly pushed to their limits via intermittent renewables and varying loads, their physical states risk escaping operating regions due to either a poor prediction or sudden changes in renewables or demands -- deeming a feedback controller based on a linearization point virtually unusable. In lieu of linearized differential equation models, the objective of this paper is to design a simple, purely decentralized, linearization-free, feedback control law for NDAE models of power networks. The objective of such controller is to primarily stabilize frequency oscillations after a large, unknown disturbance in renewables or loads. Although the controller design involves advanced NDAE system theory, the controller itself is as simple as a decentralized proportional or linear quadratic regulator in its implementation. Case studies demonstrate that the proposed controller is able to stabilize dynamic and algebraic states under significant disturbances.
FMO rewires metabolism to promote longevity through tryptophan and one carbon metabolism

Flavin containing monooxygenases (FMOs) are promiscuous enzymes known for metabolizing a wide range of exogenous compounds. In C. elegans, fmo-2 expression increases lifespan and healthspan downstream of multiple longevity-promoting pathways through an unknown mechanism. Here, we report that, contrary to its classification as a xenobiotic enzyme, fmo-2 expression leads to rewiring of endogenous metabolism principally through changes in one carbon metabolism (OCM). Using computer modeling, we identify decreased methylation as the major OCM flux modified by FMO-2 that is sufficient to recapitulate its longevity benefits. We further find that tryptophan is decreased in multiple mammalian FMO overexpression models and is a validated substrate for FMO enzymes. Our resulting model connects a single enzyme to two previously unconnected key metabolic pathways and provides a framework for the metabolic interconnectivity of longevity-promoting pathways such as dietary restriction. FMOs are well-conserved enzymes that are also induced by lifespan-extending interventions in mice, supporting a conserved and critical role in promoting health and longevity through metabolic remodeling.
Yeast artificial chromosome modification and manipulation.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) modification and manipulation. Two types of YAC modification systems have been developed that take advantage of this property to target recombination to highly repetitive DNA elements within YAC DNA inserts. Vectors that integrate into YACs can be used to produce chromosome-specific libraries from somatic cell hybrids or to introduce deletions, mutations, or mammalian selectable markers into YAC cloned segments. A second vector system facilitates analysis of the large inserts in YACs by fragmenting them, generating nested deletion derivatives. A polyethylene glycol-mediated fusion procedure has been described that can be used to introduce appropriately modified YACs into cultured mammalian cells. This combination of vectors and procedures provides a system for realizing the full potential of YACs in structural and biological analysis of the genome.
A new multi-input three-level integrated DC/DC converter for renewable energy systems

This paper proposes a new multi-input isolated three-level converter for renewable and sustainable energy systems. Multiple dc sources are integrated to the three-level dc/dc converter, resulting in reduced part-count and allowing flexibility in transformer design and dc link voltage selection. The proposed architecture eliminates two boost switches which are present in the two-stage counterpart, and enables utilizing low voltage switches. The input inductors are operated in DCM sharing the same duty cycle. Thus, power can be shared between input sources with proper selection of input inductors. A low voltage prototype has been designed to serve as a proof of concept.
ONTIC: A Knowledge Representation System for Mathematics

ONTIC, the interactive system for verifying "natural" mathematical arguments that David McAllester describes in this book, represents a significant change of direction in the field of mechanical deduction, a key area in computer science and artificial intelligence.ONTIC is an interactive theorem prover based on novel forward chaining inference techniques. It is an important advance over such earlier systems for checking mathematical arguments as Automath, Nuprl, and the Boyer Moore system. The first half of the book provides a high-level description of the ONTIC system and compares it with these and other automated theorem proving and verification systems. The second half presents a complete formal specification of the inference mechanisms used.McAllester's is the only semi automated verification system based on classical Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory. It uses object oriented inference, a unique automated inference mechanism for a syntactic variant of first order predicate calculus. The book shows how the ONTIC system can be used to check such serious proofs as the proof of the Stone representation theorem without expanding them to excessive detail.David A McAllester is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at MIT. "ONTIC: A Knowledge Representation System for Mathematics" is included in the Artificial Intelligence series, edited by Patrick Henry Winston and Michael J. Brady.
Prostaglandin E2 Inhibits Alveolar Macrophage Phagocytosis through an E-Prostanoid 2 Receptor-Mediated Increase in Intracellular Cyclic AMP

Prostaglandin E(2) is a potent lipid mediator of inflammation that effects changes in cell functions through ligation of four distinct G protein-coupled receptors (E-prostanoid (EP)1, EP2, EP3, and EP4). During pneumonia, PGE(2) production is enhanced. In the present study, we sought to assess the effect of endogenously produced and exogenously added PGE(2) on FcRgamma-mediated phagocytosis of bacterial pathogens by alveolar macrophages (AMs), which are critical participants in lung innate immunity. We also sought to characterize the EP receptor signaling pathways responsible for these effects. PGE(2) (1-1000 nM) dose-dependently suppressed the phagocytosis by rat AMs of IgG-opsonized erythrocytes, immune serum-opsonized Klebsiella pneumoniae, and IgG-opsonized Escherichia coli. Conversely, phagocytosis was stimulated by pretreatment with the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin. PGE(2) suppression of phagocytosis was associated with enhanced intracellular cAMP production. Experiments using both forskolin (adenylate cyclase activator) and rolipram (phosphodiesterase IV inhibitor) confirmed the inhibitory effect of cAMP stimulation. Immunoblot analysis of rat AMs identified expression of only EP2 and EP3 receptors. The selective EP2 agonist butaprost, but neither the EP1/EP3 agonist sulprostone nor the EP4-selective agonist ONO-AE1-329, mimicked the effects of PGE(2) on phagocytosis and cAMP stimulation. Additionally, the EP2 antagonist AH-6809 abrogated the inhibitory effects of both PGE(2) and butaprost. We confirmed the specificity of our results by showing that AMs from EP2-deficient mice were resistant to the inhibitory effects of PGE(2). Our data support a negative regulatory role for PGE(2) on the antimicrobial activity of AMs, which has important implications for future efforts to prevent and treat bacterial pneumonia.
Workstation-Server-Datenbanksysteme für Ingenieuranwendungen: Anforderungen, Probleme, Lösungsmöglichkeiten

Datenbanksysteme spielen schon seit Jahren in den verschiedensten Anwendungsbereichen — vor allem betriebswirtschaftlicher Art — eine entscheidende Rolle. In letzter Zeit ist daruber hinaus ein deutlicher Trend dahingehend zu erkennen, Datenbanksysteme verstarkt auch in technischen Anwendungsgebieten, etwa im Konstruktionsbereich (CAD) einzusetzen. Dort werden typischerweise dezentrale Arbeitsplatzrechner (Workstations) benutzt, von denen aus zur Datenverwaltung bei Bedarf ein Zugriff zum Zentralrechner (Server) und zur dort befindlichen Datenbank erfolgt. Die heute ublichen und als Produkt erhaltlichen Datenbanksysteme sind fur solche Ingenieuranwendungen in Workstation-Server-Umgebungen kaum geeignet, da sie u.a. keine hinreichende Entkopplung zwischen Workstation und Server (Workstation-Autonomie) aufweisen, keine geeigneten Mechanismen fur die Check-Out- und Check-In- Verarbeitung bieten, Versionskonzepte nur unzureichend unterstutzen etc. Im vorliegenden Papier werden die Anforderungen an Workstation-Server-Datenbanksysteme zusammengestellt und diskutiert, und es wird auf die Probleme in diesem Umfeld hingewiesen. Entsprechende Losungsmoglichkeiten werden herausgearbeitet, wobei grostenteils auf Konzepte des Advanced Information Management Prototype (AIM-P) zuruckgegriffen werden kann.
Governmental Marks: What Souvenirs Say About Speech and Sovereignty

“Governmental marks” are words or phrases which involve the identity of a social group that is partly defined in terms of its citizenship in a government-institution. The power to name a social group (especially one from which exit is difficult) confers enormous power over the group’s members. Legally classifying such words as trademarks commodifies them, increasing the namer’s power: both by giving the word monetary value and by providing the mark-holder with the legal right to prevent others from manipulating the word’s meaning. Destination marketing employing governmental marks has become ubiquitous. The municipal governments of both New York City and Las Vegas used the courts to prevent local businesses from selling unlicensed souvenirs decorated with trademarks referring to their respective cities. The courts treated these disputes as no different from litigation over shoe-brands; even if the courts had classified the disputed marks as governmental, they could have ruled for the plaintiffs by invoking the doctrine of government speech. This article argues against allowing mark-rights in governmental marks. It weaves together marketing literature, examples of recent marketing campaigns by various public-appearing entities, concepts from trademark law, free speech literature, and critiques of government accountability to illuminate the conceptual slippages demonstrated by these cases and by current marketing practices. First, most governmental marks lack a basic requirement for trademark-status; such marks generally do not signify one unique source. Furthermore, even if commercial practice led a substantial percentage of the public to perceive a unique source, legal recognition of such a source is incompatible with liberal, representative government. Additionally, the current practices in which governmental marks are embedded are counter-productive because they decrease citizen-control of government. For a fuller discussion of these issues see Patriotism for Profit and Persuasion, 100 Trademark Reporter 1181 (2010).
Estimating Income Tax Salience

I develop a procedure for estimating how accurately people perceive their income tax schedules. Using Survey of Income and Program Participation data on hourly-paid workers, I reject the hypothesis of fully salient taxes. Younger workers seem particularly prone to misperceiving their taxes. Even for younger workers, however, the welfare losses associated with this less than full salience appear to be small.
Accumulation of low density lipoprotein associated cholesterol in calcifying vesicle fractions correlates with intimal thickening in thoracic aortas of juvenile rabbits fed a supplemental cholesterol diet

It has been shown that calcifying vesicles play an important role in aortic calcification and that cholesterol content in the isolated vesicle fraction is increased when rabbits are fed supplemental cholesterol diets. Whether lipoprotein-associated cholesterols and other lipids are also increased in the vesicle fraction and whether the increase correlates with atherosclerosis remain unknown. Fourteen juvenile male rabbits fed an atherogenic diet containing 0.5% cholesterol and 2% peanut oil for 3 months developed varying degrees of hypercholesterolemia and intimal thickening in the ascending thoracic aorta. The correlation between these two parameters was insignificant, and likely attributable to the use of small numbers of rabbits in this study. Despite this lack of correlation, we demonstrate that the accumulation of cholesterol in calcifying vesicle fractions obtained from the collagenase-digested aorta fragments correlates well with intimal thickening (r2 = 0.98, p < 0.0001). To a smaller degree, the correlation was also significant between intimal thickening and the cholesterol accumulation in the microsomal and post-vesicle fractions. The cholesterol supplemental diet increased the low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) content in calcifying vesicle fractions by 3-fold but did not affect the triglyceride content. High density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLD-C) were absent in calcifying vesicle fractions. When limited numbers of rabbits are used, LDL-C accumulation in calcifying vesicle fractions is a better biomarker for atherosclerosis than LDL-C levels in the serum. The close association of LDL-C with calcifying vesicles may play an important role in atherosclerosis and calcification.
Al Control in High Titanium Ferro with Low Oxygen Prepared by Thermite Reaction

Based on the pre-works, this paper proposed a new short stage process of the intensify aluminothermy reduction by the stage to prepare high titanium ferroalloy with low O and Al contents. We investigated the effects of Al and Ca and Si combination reduction agent, slag type and step-up reduction conditions on the Al content and distribution in the alloy. The results show that the step-up reduction can not only reduce effectively the oxygen content in the alloy, but also reduce effectively Al content. For instance, the oxygen content in high titanium ferroalloy is within 1%∼4%, and the Al content is within 1%∼5%. Its quality reaches the requirement of high titanium ferroalloy prepared by remelting process.
Criteria importances in OWA aggregation: an application of fuzzy modeling

In this work we focus on the issue of the inclusion of importances in the ordered weighted averaging (OWA) aggregation process. We first look at the ways in which importances have been included in some notable examples of OWA operators. We see that in these cases the importance is used to transform the scores into some effective score. Using this knowledge we build, using a fuzzy systems model, a general transform operator for the inclusion of importances.
The Labor Market Effects of the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics

The local, state, and federal governments, along with the Salt Lake City Organizing Committee, spent roughly $1.9 billion in direct costs related to planning and hosting the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. In this paper, we investigate whether these expenditures increased employment. At the state level, we find strong evidence it increased leisure related industries in the short run and potentially in the long run. However, the results indicate it had no long term impact on trade or total employment.
Photoaffinity labeling of β-adrenergic receptors: Identification of the β-receptor binding site(s) from turkey, pigeon, and frog erythrocyte

Abstract The β-adrenergic receptors in the erythrocyte membranes from turkey, pigeon, and frog have been identified in situ utilizing the photoaffinity label ±[ 125 I]-iodoazidobenzylpindolol, ±[ 125 I]IABP. The molecular weights determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis are the following: turkey, 43,500; pigeon, 53,500, 46,000, and 45,000 [labeled in a ratio of 5 (53,500):2 (46,000 plus 45,000)]; and frog, a broad 60,000 to 67,000 dalton band. The data identify the binding site subunit(s) of these β-adrenergic receptors and suggest that the receptor structure from different β-receptor subtypes and different sources may be different. These biochemical differences may contribute to the pharmacologically observed distinction of β-receptor subtypes.
Behaviour of no. 2 fuel oil in the water column of controlled ecosystems

Abstract Four experiments were carried out to determine the effect of different temperatures, light levels and biological activities on the residence times of petroleum hydrocarbons. No. 2 fuel oil was added as a seawater dispersion to give an initial concentration of 150 to 300 μg/litre in the water columns of large, outdoor marine microcosms. Hydrocarbons in water samples fractionated on passage through glass fibre filters (0·3 μm pore size) according to the solubilities, so that 80–90 % of the aromatics entered the filtrate while all of the saturates were trapped by the filter. The removal of oil compounds from the water columns was exponential, with rates which appeared to be determined chiefly by the temperature. The half life of total hydrocarbons varied from more than 10 days in March to ∼30 h in July and September. Volatilisation was hypothesised to be an important removal mechanism for the 40–60% of the saturates which were not sedimented with suspended particulate matter. In warm water, the residence times of normal alkanes were increased up to 50 % by poisoning the water column, but no similar increase was noted for the bulk of the F 1 hydrocarbons. Aromatic (F 2 ) hydrocarbons appeared to be removed slowly volatilisation from cold water ( t 1 2 > 200 h ) and rapidly by biodegradation from warm water ( t 1 2 ).
Charging Damage and Product Impact in a Bulk CMOS Technology

In this paper, we tabulate the characteristics of antennas in several real designs in a 180-nm technology, and show data indicating that the product is not as susceptible to charging damage as the test structures used to control the process line. The experiment consisted of evaluating a large (500 pieces) sample of parts with considerable process-induced antenna damage - and yet no measurable degradation in product performance, yield, or reliability was found
Site preferences of indium impurity atoms in intermetallics having Al3Ti or Al3Zr crystal structures

Site-fractions of indium impurity probe atoms occupying up to three inequivalent Al-sites in Al3Ti, Al3V and Al3Zr phases were measured using perturbed angular correlation of gamma rays (PAC). Sites were identified via characteristic nuclear quadrupole interactions. Ratios of site-fractions were measured in thermal equilibrium in the range 600 to 1,210 K. Arrhenius plots of the ratios were fitted with thermally activated expressions, yielding differences in vibrational entropies and site-enthalpies. Enthalpy differences were greatest for Al3Zr, ~0.22 eV, and smaller for Al3Ti and Al3V, which is correlated with the excess volume of the transition-metal atom over the Al-atom. Vibrational entropy differences were small, in the range 0 to −0.25 kB.
Time and Injustice: Reconceptualizing Race and School Violence in the Wake of Sandy Hook

On December 14, 2012, Adam Lanza, a young man whom United States and international media accounts often—and oddly—characterized as “a genius,” murdered 20 children and 6 adults at Sandy Hook Elemen...
The use of iodine as a visualization reagent for some common psychoactive agents

Abstract The use of I2 as a reagent for the visualization of a number of narcotics and psychoactive drugs was found to be equivalent, or superior, to three of the commonly used visualization reagents with regard to sensitivity, expense, availability, and shelf life. Generally, I2 was found to be a nondestructive reagent. The rate of visualization can be used as an aid in identification, yet allows a sequential series of other spray reagents to be used. In most cases, I2 does not alter the migration of drugs examined so that subsequent two-dimensional chromatography may be performed, allowing further identification; or further in situ reaction chromatography may be employed if desired.
Cationic Zirconocene and Hafnocene Aryl Complexes

Cationic (C5H4R)2ZrAr+ aryl species (2a−d: R = H; Ar = o-tolyl (a), 2-Me-4-F-C6H3 (b), 3-F-C6H4 (c), Ph (d); 2e: R = Me, Ar = Ph) are generated by the reaction of a 1:1 mixture of (C5H4R)2ZrAr2 and (C5H4R)2ZrMe2 with 2 equiv of [CPh3][B(C6F5)4] via methide abstraction and ligand exchange steps. Complex 2d and the Cp2HfAr+ analogues (2f,g: Ar = o-tolyl (f), Ph (g)) are generated by the reaction of Cp2MAr2 with [C6Me6H][B(C6F5)4]. NMR studies suggest that these metallocene aryl cations exist as (C5H4R)2M(Ar)(RCl)+ solvent adducts in chlorocarbon solution. NMR and DFT studies show that the (C5H4R)2Zr(Ar)(RCl)+ species contain β-C−H−Zr agostic interactions involving an ortho-aryl hydrogen. The “endo” isomers, in which the β-agostic interaction occupies the central coordination site, are ca. 5 kcal/mol more stable than the “exo” isomers, in which the β-agostic interaction occupies a lateral site. The aryl agostic interactions are weaker for Hf than Zr, and Cp2Hf(Ph)(C6D5Cl)+ (2g·C6D5Cl) does not contain an ...
The Significance of Bilateral Bundle Branch Block in the Preoperative Patient : A Retrospective Electrocardiographic and Clinical Study in 30 Patients

Thirty patients with electrocardiographic evidence of bilateral bundle branch block (BBBB) underwent 36 surgical procedures. Despite an 83 percent incidence of significant cardiac disease, the overall mortality was 10 percent. In no case was death attributable to complete heart block, though one patient was found at postmortem to have suffered acute myocardial infarction. Patients with previous syncopal episodes showed no increased incidence of arrhythmias and no patient had a documented Stokes-Adams attack. It would appear that the routine use of temporary cardiac pacemakers is not justified in the preoperative patient with presumed BBBB. However, since the factors that ultimately cause complete heart block are not known in patients with BBBB, constant cardiac monitoring is mandatory in the intraoperative and immediate postoperative period.
Prolonged exposure to intermittent alcohol vapors decreases the ACTH as well as hypothalamic nitric oxide and cytokine responses to endotoxemia.

BACKGROUND Prolonged exposure to alcohol blunts the response of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to various stressors, including the systemic injection of a lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We previously showed that decreased synthesis of the hypothalamic peptides corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and vasopressin (VP) played a central role in this phenomenon. However, the mechanisms that lead to decreased hypothalamic neuronal activity have not been identified. In the present work, we tested the hypothesis that alcohol decreased signals that are elicited by LPS and that stimulate hypothalamic CRF and VP synthesis, namely nitric oxide (NO) and the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). METHODS Adult male rats were exposed to intermittent (5 hr/day) alcohol vapors for 5 days. Control animals were kept in comparable chambers but not exposed to the vapors. On day 6, the animals received an injection of LPS through permanent indwelling intravenous cannulae. The dependent variables were plasma ACTH levels measured by IRMA (immunoradiometric assay); pituitary and hypothalamic TNF-alpha and IL-6 mRNA levels measured by RNase protection assay; basal activity of neuronal NO synthase measured by conversion of [14C]arginine to [14C]citrulline, the constitutive enzyme that synthesizes NO and modulates the influence of this gas on LPS-induced HPA axis activity; and basal and LPS-induced levels of citrulline (an index of NO formation) in the hypothalamus, measured by immunocytochemistry. RESULTS After injection with LPS, rats that were pretreated with alcohol exhibited a significantly (p < 0.01) decreased release of ACTH, compared with controls. There was no difference in basal NO synthase activity or hypothalamic citrulline levels. In contrast, LPS-induced hypothalamic citrulline levels were significantly (p < 0.01) lower in alcohol-exposed rats, as were pituitary TNF-alpha and IL-6 transcripts. In the hypothalamus, the TNF-alpha but not IL-6 response to LPS was also reduced. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that prolonged exposure to alcohol decreases the ACTH, hypothalamic NO and TNF-alpha, and pituitary TNF-alpha and IL-6 responses to LPS. This suggests that altered NO and proinflammatory cytokine levels in the brain may modulate the inhibitory influence exerted by alcohol on the HPA axis response to endotoxemia.
Poly(arylene ether)s derived from N-alkyl-N-phenyl-3,5-difluorobenzene sulfonamides: Effect of alkyl chain length on the glass transition temperature

Using N-phenyl-3,5-difluorobenzene sulfonamide, prepared in one-step from 3,5-difluorobenzenesulfonyl chloride, as the starting material a series of N-alkyl-N-phenyl-3,5-difluorobenzene sulfonamide monomers, with chain lengths of 1–12 carbon atoms was synthesized. The monomers were subjected to meta-activated nucleophilic aromatic polycondensation reactions, with Bisphenol-A as the nucleophilic reaction partner, to convert them to the corresponding poly(arylene ether)s. The polymer structures were characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. The effect of alkyl chain length on the thermal stability and glass transition temperatures, Tg, values was determined. The thermal stability of the polymers was not very sensitive to the nature of the alkyl group as degradation onset temperatures ranged from 359 to 370 °C. The Tg values covered a much wider range with the methyl and dodecyl derivatives displaying values of 122 and 46 °C, respectively.
Systematic design of profile control chemistry. Control of gelation of mixed poly(vinyl alcohol-co-vinylamine) crosslinked with dialdehydes

Abstract Quantitative chemistry and modeling allow us to predict the behavior of a new, environmentally friendly, non-heavy-metal-containing profile control agent as a function of well-bore conditions. We present an analysis of the kinetics and mechanism of gelation delay for dialdehyde crosslinking of mixed poly(vinyl alcohol-co-vinylamine) (PVA-VAM) copolymers. In the present system, gelation at 90–110°C takes place within minutes at pH below 6.5 and not at all at pH above 7.5 when the crosslinking agent is the acetal-protected form of the dialdehyde. We exploit this sharp pH transition by buffering to pH 9–12 and then allowing the pH to drop by in situ hydrolysis of triethyl phosphate. The fact that a pH much below 7 is not needed for gelation means that consumption of acid by carbonate rock will not be a problem as far as gelation is concerned. In fact, neutralization by rock carbonate after gelation can be expected to promote gel stability. The kinetics of the gelation are determined by the hydrolysis kinetics of triethyl phosphate and the stability of the dialdehyde. Triethyl phosphate hydrolysis has both base-catalyzed and uncatalyzed kinetics so it is advantageous to avoid a high pH in order to extend the gel time. It is also important to avoid a high pH in order to minimize the attack of clay minerals. Gelation systems using NaOH, Na 4 EDTA, and Na 3 PO 4 at initial pH below 10 were developed along with a mathematical model which satisfactorily predicts their gelation times. Spectroscopic analysis indicates that the crosslinks formed initially in the mixed polymer system are different from those in poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). In PVA the crosslinks are hemiacetal and 1,3-dioxane groups formed from adjacent OH groups but in PVA-VAM the amine function is more reactive and the crosslinks are hemiaminal and dihydro-1,3-oxazine groups. These are potentially more stable than the crosslinks in PVA. We have not determined the nature of the crosslinks formed after aging, but there is some evidence that the oxazine linkages convert to dioxane links. Gels stable at 110°C for 40 weeks have been demonstrated.
Modification of adrenergic reactivity in rat tail artery by dietary lipids and calcium channel antagonists

Abstract 1. 1. The antiatherosclerotic activity of dihydropyridines (DHP), potent calcium antagonists, was studied with respect to prevention of hypercontractility of perfused rat tail arteries. 2. 2. Used for 1 month, atherogenic diet increased pressor responses to norepinephrine (NE) in Ca 2+ free physiological salt solution (PSS), and PSS containing Ca 2+ . 3. 3. When nifedipine (NIF) or nitrendipine (NIT) was administered simultaneously with an atherogenic diet, the contractile activity of NE in Ca 2+ -free PSS was attenuated. Moreover, vasoconstrictor responses to NE in PSS containing Ca 2+ were inhibited after 1-month treatment with NIT and nimodipine (NIM). 4. 4. NIF, NIT and NIM prevented atherosclerosis-induced vascular hyperreactivity to α-adrenoceptor agonists in rat tail artery.
Modeling the principal amorphous halo in quiescent melts of polyethylene and ethylene copolymers using wide‐angle X‐ray scattering and its implications

Wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) studies of the melts of polyethylenes indicate that the low-angle amorphous halo (LAH) retains sensible information regarding the liquid state, which can be used to model the amorphous fraction in the semicrystalline state. The LAH was found to consist of a temperature-independent and a temperature-dependent region. A linear relationship was observed for the temperature dependence of the LAH peak value below 135 °C in branched ethylene copolymers, and was found dependent on comonomer concentration. When combined with group contribution theory, a simple model of average intermolecular separation determined from the WAXS-LAH peak value is consistent with free volume considerations, both with respect to predicting T g (∞) and the free volume expansion coefficient. The polyethylene, without branches, shows a different behavior in the region 131-160 °C. A semiquantitative method is proposed to model the scattering from the LAH for use in the phase analysis of the copolymers through the separation of the temperature-dependent (intermolecular) and temperature-independent (intramolecular) fractions.
Identification of nitrogen sources and transformations within karst springs using isotope tracers of nitrogen

Isotope analyses of nitrate and algae were used to gain better understanding of sources of nitrate to Florida’s karst springs and processes affecting nitrate in the Floridan aquifer at multiple scales. In wet years, δ15N and δ18O of nitrate ranged from +3 to +9‰ in headwater springs in north Florida, indicating nitrification of soil ammonium as the dominant source. With below normal rainfall, the δ15N and δ18O of nitrate were higher in almost all springs (reaching +20.2 and +15.3‰, respectively) and were negatively correlated with dissolved oxygen. In springs with values of δ15N-NO3 and δ18O-NO3 greater than +10‰, nitrate concentrations declined 40–50% in dry years and variations in the δ15N and δ18O of nitrate were consistent with the effects of denitrification. Modeling of the aquifer as a closed system yielded in situ fractionation caused by denitrification of 9 and 18‰ for Δ18O and Δ15N, respectively. We observed no strong evidence for local sources of nitrate along spring runs; concentrations declined downstream (0.42–3.3 μmol-NO3 L−1 per km) and the isotopic dynamics of algae and nitrate indicated a closed system. Correlation between the δ15N composition of nitrate and algae was observed at regional and spring-run scales, but the relationship was complicated by varying isotopic fractionation factors associated with nitrate uptake (Δ ranged from 2 to 13‰). Our study demonstrates that nitrate inputs to Florida’s springs are derived predominantly from non-point sources and that denitrification is detectable in aquifer waters with relatively long residence time (i.e., matrix flow).
NO oxidation to NO2 over manganese-cerium mixed oxides

Abstract There is a recognized need for lowering greenhouse gas emissions from mobile sources in order to address concerns regarding global climate change. Diesel engines offer superior fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction potential; however, the highly loaded Pt for converting NO to NO2 in diesel aftertreatment catalysts is one of the major hurdles in the broad implementation of highly fuel efficient diesel engine vehicles. Here, we reported that manganese-cerium mixed oxides coated on monolith substrates demonstrated a superior NO oxidation to NO2 activity, showing a promise for PGM thriftting for diesel or lean burn engines emission control catalysts. The mixed oxide (MnOx-CeO2) shows a much higher NO oxidation to NO2 rate and is nearly 3 and 10 times active of that MnOx and CeO2 at 200 °C, respectively. Significantly lower reduction temperature of the mixed oxide (MnOx-CeO2) compared with MnOx and higher Mn4+ to Mn3+ reduction peak intensity suggest that ceria helps stabilize higher oxidation state of Mn. The MnOx-CeO2 mixed oxide shows higher activity for NO oxidation due to the enhanced rate of nitrites decomposition to NO2. The structure of the MnOx-CeO2 mixed oxide maintained during a cyclic treatment of oxidative/reductive gas conditions at 650 °C. Furthermore, the incorporation of ZrO2 into MnOx-CeO2 mixed oxide not only increased NO oxidation activity but also the sulfur tolerance. About 70% of the activity of the MnOx-CeO2-ZrO2 was recovered via regeneration in a H2 rich stream.
Hepatic stellate cells: a target for the treatment of liver fibrosis.

Hepatic fibrosis is a wound-healing process that occurs when the liver is injured chronically. Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are responsible for the excess production of extracellular matrix (ECM) components. The activation of HSC, a key issue in the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis, is mediated by various cytokines and reactive oxygen species released from the damaged hepatocytes and activated Kupffer cells. Therefore, inhibition of HSC activation and its related subsequent events, such as increased production of ECM components and enhanced proliferation, are crucial goals for intervention in the hepatic fibrogenesis cascade. This is especially true when the etiology is unknown or there is no established therapy for the cause of the chronic injury. This review explores the rationale for choosing HSC as a target for the pharmacological, molecular, and other novel therapeutics for hepatic fibrosis. One focus of this review is the inhibition of two cytokines, transforming growth factor-β and platelet-derived growth factor, which are important in hepatic fibrogenesis. A number of new agents, such as Chinese herbal recipes and herbal extracts, silymarin, S-adenosyl-l-methionine, polyenylphosphatidylcholine, and pentoxifylline are also discussed.
Alternate splice variants of mouse NR2B gene

Two alternate spliced transcripts of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NR2B) gene derived from a common promoter have been reported earlier. In the present study, we have examined the expression of alternative splice variants of NR2B gene using 5' rapid amplification of C terminal end (RACE) in the RNA derived from mouse cortex. RT-PCR was performed to confirm the RACE data. Here we report the occurrence of three transcripts containing a novel alternate spliced exon, we refer to as exon 1'. This new exon is located upstream of the transcription start site identified by Klein et al. [Gene 208 (1998) 259] in the 5' untranslated region (UTR) of NR2B, thus making a new alternate 5' end of the NR2B transcript. The molecular nature of the transcripts containing the new exon appears to be highly heterogeneous. These results are interesting in that they are of potential importance in translational regulation of the NR2B gene.
Read-only transactions in a distributed database

A read-only transaction or query is a transaction which does not modify any data. Read-only transactions could be processed with general transaction processing algorithms, but in many cases it is more efficient to process read-only transactions with special algorithms which take advantage of the knowledge that the transaction only reads. This paper defines the various consistency and currency requirements that read-only transactions may have. The processing of the different classes of read-only transactions in a distributed database is discussed. The concept of R insularity is introduced to characterize both the read-only and update algorithms. Several simple update and read-only transaction processing algorithms are presented to illustrate how the query requirements and the update algorithms affect the read-only transaction processing algorithms.
A necessary and sufficient condition for embedding ranked finite partial lattices into the computably enumerable degrees

Abstract We define a class of finite partial lattices which admit a notion of rank compatible with embedding constructions, and present a necessary and sufficient condition for the embeddability of a finite ranked partial lattice into the computably enumerable degrees.
Human factors in the design of an interactive library system

ELMS (Experimental Library Management System) is an experimental system for total library management, operating on-line with an IBM 360 through IBM 2260 and 2741 terminals. The system is designed to handle large amounts of highly variable information which it processes on command, giving on-line computer service for all library operations. At the same time, it must accommodate the different needs and skills of a broad range of library users, from new patrons to well-trained librarians. Such a system presents programming problems that will be typical of large, interactive computer systems in the seventies. This paper discusses ELMS features that facilitate user interaction, and may prove useful in similar systems: techniques for tutoring the user (display format, one-question, one-answer displays, and KWIC indexing); adaptability for the experienced user (command chains and a standard set of four-letter mnemonic codes for higher-level control); minimization of keying (line numbers, one-character mnemonic codes used with procedures, and use of default conditions); performance of clerical tasks by exception notification; and collection of operational statistics to help improve the system.
Allocation of service time in a two-server system

Consider a two-server FCFS queueing model where servers are arranged in series. All arrivals join the first service center where they receive a maximum of T units of service. Arrivals with service requirements that exceed the threshold T join the second queue where they receive their remaining service. We show that when the service requirements have hyper-exponential service times with large coefficient of variation our scheme provides better system performance than the standard two parallel server model in the sense of reducing the mean delay per customer in the system. Our model is likely to be useful in systems where high variability is a cause of performance degradation and where numerous service interruptions are not desirable.
Consilient research approaches in studying gene x environment interactions in alcohol research.

This review article discusses the importance of identifying gene-environment interactions for understanding the etiology and course of alcohol use disorders and related conditions. A number of critical challenges are discussed including the fact that there is no organizing typology for classifying different types of environmental exposures, many key human environmental risk factors for alcohol dependence have no clear equivalents in other species, much of the genetic variance of alcohol dependence in human is not “alcohol specific”, and the potential range of gene-environment interactions that could be considered is so vast that maintaining statistical control of Type 1 errors is a daunting task. Despite these and other challenges, there appears to be a number of promising approaches that could be taken in order to achieve consilience and ecologically valid translation between human alcohol dependence and animal models. Foremost among these is to distinguish environmental exposures that are thought to have enduring effects on alcohol use motivation (and self-regulation) from situational environmental exposures that facilitate the expression of such motivations but do not, by themselves, have enduring effects. In order to enhance consilience, various domains of human approach motivation should be considered so that relevant environmental exposures can be sampled as well as the appropriate species to study them in (i.e., where such motivations are ecologically relevant). Foremost among these are social environments which are central to the initiation and escalation of human alcohol consumption. The value of twin studies, human laboratory studies, and pharmacogenetic studies is also highlighted.
Contro scettici e disfattisti. Gli anni di Ciampi, 1992–2006

Carlo Azeglio Ciampi remains one of the most admired Italian men of state of the postwar era. Silveri's volume, is an ‘as he saw it’ contribution to our understanding of the two decades of nearly c...
Measurement of Diffusivities of Small Molecules in Polymers Using FT-IR-ATR

A numerical method is described for obtaining diffusion coefficients (D) of infrared-absorbing species in polymers using attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy. It involves measurement of changes in the integrated intensity of diffusant infrared bands as a function of time while the diffusant moves into or out of the polymer film. The technique is illustrated with latex paint films containing a calcium carbonate extender which diffuses out of the paint films upon exposure to sulfurous acid. The values of D obtained from two different CaCO3 infrared bands were in good agreement with D obtained from independent bulk weight loss measurements. The method should be equally applicable to realtime diffusion analysis and to samples containing “frozen” concentration profiles of diffusant (as studied here). The results obtained in this preliminary study indicate that the method is probably best suited for measurement of diffusion coefficients smaller than 10−9 cm2/s.
A moving ParA gradient on the nucleoid directs subcellular cargo transport via a chemophoresis force

DNA segregation is a critical process for all life, and although there is a relatively good understanding of eukaryotic mitosis, the mechanism in bacteria remains unclear. The small size of a bacterial cell and the number of factors involved in its subcellular organization make it difficult to study individual systems under controlled conditions in vivo. We developed a cell-free technique to reconstitute and visualize bacterial ParA-mediated segregation systems. Our studies provide direct evidence for a mode of transport that does not use a classical cytoskeletal filament or motor protein. Instead, we demonstrate that ParA-type DNA segregation systems can establish a propagating ParA ATPase gradient on the nucleoid surface, which generates the force required for the directed movement of spatially confined cargoes, such as plasmids or large organelles, and distributes multiple cargos equidistant to each other inside cells. Here we present the critical principles of our diffusion-ratchet model of ParA-media...