cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Incidence and predictors of occult preoperative deep vein thrombosis at radical cystectomy for urothelial carcinoma

Introduction: Patients undergoing radical cystectomy are at high perioperative risk for deep vein thrombosis due to age, malignancy, recent transurethral resection, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy. We, therefore, evaluated the incidence and predictors of occult preoperative deep vein thrombosis prior to radical cystectomy for urothelial carcinoma. Methods: We prospectively screened 52 asymptomatic patients with urothelial carcinoma undergoing radical cystectomy at our institution with lower extremity ultrasound and D-dimer assay within two weeks prior to surgery. Patients with a prior history of deep vein thrombosis and those on systemic anticoagulation were excluded. Results: We identified 4/52 patients (7.7%) with preoperative asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis prior to radical cystectomy. Median D-dimer for patients with and without preoperative deep vein thrombosis was 787 ng/ml (interquartile range [IQR] 365– 1257) and 260 ng/ml (IQR 158–498), respectively. A D-dimer threshold of >250 ng/ml had a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 50%, resulting in a negative predictive value of 100% and positive predictive value of 14.8% for preoperative deep vein thrombosis. Increasing the D-dimer threshold to >1000 ng/ml created a sensitivity of 50% and specificity of 85%, resulting in a negative predictive value of 92% and positive predictive value of 33%. D-dimer values did not significantly vary with neoadjuvant chemotherapy or days since transurethral resection. Conclusions: Approximately 8% of patients had an occult deep vein thrombosis prior to radical cystectomy. D-dimer can provide sensitive diagnostic utility for deep vein thrombosis in the preradical cystectomy setting and could help guide use of preoperative lower extremity ultrasound in this high-risk patient population.
A Nodal Model for Tokamak Burning Plasma Space-Time Dynamics

Fusion alpha heating introduces new phenomena into plasma dynamics and control. On the worrisome side is the well-known fact that the συfus≃Tion2 dependence of the predominantly central fusion heat...
Multi-Objective Grid Scheduling for Battery Exchange Stations in Battery Consolidation Systems

In this paper, we study the grid scheduling problem in a battery exchange station (BES) as a part of the battery consolidation system (BCS). We define the grid scheduling problem as the BES's service scheduling to exchange batteries of electric vehicles (EVs), the battery exchange price scheduling, and the electricity buying scheduling for a day ahead. We mathematically formulate the problem as a multi-objective optimization problem which aims at maximizing the BES's income and EVs' satisfaction, subject to the constraints of servicing all EVs arrived in the BES during a day, the limitation on the amount of buying electricity, and the limitation on the available full batteries at the beginning of the day. The stated problem is non-convex. To construct a convex problem, we apply the McCormick envelopes method. Subsequently, we solve the problem by CVX. Our simulation outcomes show that the BES can efficiently schedule the service, the battery exchange price, and the electricity buying based on the electricity price and the EVs' arrival distributions for a day ahead by applying our proposed method.
Kv2 channel/AMIGO β-subunit assembly modulates both channel function and cell adhesion molecule surface trafficking.

The Kv2 channels encode delayed rectifier currents that regulate membrane potential in many tissues. They also have a non-conducting function to form stable junctions between the endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membranes, creating membrane contact sites that mediate functions distinct from membrane excitability. Therefore, proteins that interact with Kv2.1 and Kv2.2 channels can alter conducting and/or non-conducting channel properties. One member of the AMIGO family of proteins is an auxiliary β-subunit for Kv2 channels and modulates Kv2.1 electrical activity. However, the AMIGO family has two additional members of ∼50% similarity that have not yet been characterized as Kv2 β-subunits. In this work we show that the surface trafficking and localization of all three AMIGOs are controlled by their assembly with both Kv2 channels. Additionally, assembly of each AMIGO with either Kv2.1 or Kv2.2 hyperpolarizes the channel activation midpoint by -10 mV. However, only AMIGO2 significantly slows inactivation and deactivation, leading to a prolonged open state of Kv2 channels. The co-regulatory effects of Kv2s and AMIGOs likely fine-tune both electrical and non-electrical properties of cells in which they are expressed.
Infant Vaccination Does Not Predict Increased Infant Mortality Rate: Correcting Past Misinformation

Abstract Despite extensive scientific research supporting the safety and effectiveness of approved vaccines, debates about their use continue in the public sphere. A paper prominently circulated on social media concluded that countries requiring more infant vaccinations have higher infant mortality rates (IMR), which has serious public health implications. However, inappropriate data exclusion and other statistical flaws in that paper merit a closer examination of this correlation. We re-analyzed the original data used in Miller and Goldman’s study to investigate the relationship between vaccine doses and IMR. We show that the sub-sample of 30 countries used in the original paper was not a random sample from the entire dataset, as the correlation coefficient of 0.49 reported in that study would only arise about 1 in 100,000 times from random sampling. Next, we show IMR as a function of countries’ actual vaccination rates, rather than vaccination schedule, and show a strong negative correlation between vaccination rates and IMR. Finally, we analyze United States IMR data as a function of Hepatitis B vaccination rate to show an example of increased vaccination rates corresponding with reduced infant death over time. From our analyses, it is clear that vaccination does not predict higher IMR as previously reported.
Vitamin D Supplement Use and Risk of Breast Cancer by Race-Ethnicity.

Background Vitamin D has anticarcinogenic properties, but a relationship between vitamin D supplement use and breast cancer is not established. Few studies have accounted for changes in supplement use over time or evaluated racial-ethnic differences. Methods The Sister Study is a prospective cohort of 50,884 women with 35-74 years of age who had a sister with breast cancer, but no breast cancer themselves at enrollment (2003-2009). We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between vitamin D supplement use and incident breast cancer (3,502 cases; median follow-up 10.5 years). Results Vitamin D supplement use was common, with 64% reporting ever use (at least once per month) in the year before enrollment. Considering supplement use over time, ever use of vitamin D supplements was not meaningfully associated with breast cancer (HR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.88, 1.0), relative to never use. However, after adjusting for prior use, recent use of vitamin D supplements ≥1/month was inversely associated with breast cancer (HR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.78, 1.0), relative to nonrecent use. The inverse association was stronger for ductal carcinoma in situ (HR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.52, 0.87) than invasive breast cancer (HR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.72, 1.1, p-for-heterogeneity = 0.02). Supplement use was less common among African American/Black (56%) and non-Black Hispanic/Latina (50%) women than non-Hispanic White women (66%), but there was limited evidence of racial-ethnic differences in HRs (p-for-heterogeneity = 0.16 for ever use, P = 0.55 for recent). Conclusions Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that recent vitamin D use is inversely associated with breast cancer risk.
Biochemical Adaptation of Skeletal Muscle to Prolonged Physical Exercise

It is now well documented that regularly performed endurance exercise, such as long distance running, results in major biochemical adaptations in skeletal muscle [2, 8, 21, 22, 29, 35, 36, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 50, 63]. The various components of this adaptive response have, to a large extent, been characterized over the past 8 years and will be described in this review. Those aspects of this adaptation that have been reviewed in detail recently [30, 31, 34, 37] will be covered only briefly.
Nearly-grazing optimal trajectories for aeroassisted orbital transfer

In the present treatment of optimal control problems arising in the study of coplanar aeroassisted orbital transfer, the hybrid combination of propulsive parameters in space and aerodynamic maneuvers employing lift modulation in the sensible atmosphere indicates that the optimal energy-viewpoint solution is the grazing trajectory; this trajectory is characterized by favorable values of the peak heating rate and the peak dynamic pressure. Numerical solutions are obtained by means of the sequential gradient restoration algorithm for optimal control problems. It is found that nearly-grazing trajectories yielding the least-square value of the path inclination have desirable characteristics from the standpoints of energy, heating rate, and dynamic pressure.
Gene linkage by RNA-DNA hybridization. II. Arrangement of the redundant gene sequences for 28 s and 18 s ribosomal RNA.

Abstract The arrangement of the multiple sequences homologous with 28 s and 18 s ribosomal RNA has been studied in the genome of Xenopus laevis . Two tests were used to determine whether the nucleotide sequences homologous to 28 s and 18 s RNA are present on the same DNA molecule in DNA preparations of different molecular weights. First, in native DNA greater than 6 × 10 6 daltons, the sequences homologous to 28 s and 18 s RNA both band at 1.724 g/cm 3 , whereas they separate in low-molecular weight DNA preparations banding at about 1.721 and 1.715 g/cm 3 , respectively. The higher buoyant density of 28 s and 18 s DNA in higher-molecular weight preparations suggests the presence of non-homologous sequences intermingled with 28 s and 18 s DNA in the same molecules. Second, the DNA's were hybridized with 28 s or 18 s RNA, followed by centrifugation to equilibrium in CsCl. When the two genes were present on the same molecule of DNA, prehybridization with one gene product (28 s or 18 s RNA) altered the buoyant density of DNA homologous to the other gene product (18 s or 28 s RNA). The experiments reported here are sensitive enough to show that, on the average, sequences homologous to 28 s RNA do not extend for more than the length equivalent to two contiguous 28 s genes before a sequence homologous with 18 s RNA begins. Also, more than two complete repeating sequences of 18 s DNA do not occur before being interrupted by sequences homologous with 28 s RNA. Since DNA fragments large enough to code for a single 40 s rRNA precursor molecule contain sequences homologous to both 28 s and 18 s RNA, each precursor molecule must contain at least one 28 s and one 18 s RNA sequence. The linkage experiments described in this paper and the known mechanism of rRNA precursor metabolism in vivo support a model in which the redundant 28 s and 18 s genes alternate but are interspersed with DNA which is not homologous to either gene. There are 450 of these repeating units in each redundant cluster of the X. laevis genome. The 40 s rRNA is a transcript of one of these units. Similar analyses permit the conclusion that the 5 s ribosomal RNA is not transcribed as part of the same 40 s RNA precursor molecules. This physical method should be applicable to the measurement of linkage between any two genes the RNA products of which can be isolated.
Historiography of the Structure and Functioning of the Portuguese Inquisition in Colonial Brazil

Few people outside of Portugal and Brazil know that the Inquisition reached its tentacles across the Atlantic and took hold in Portugal’s Brazilian colonies. Not only did it take hold, but it played a significant role in the formation of Luso-Brazilian society and the exercise of power in the colonies. Research on the structure and functioning of the Inquisition in Brazil continues to demonstrate that this institution and the records that it kept can tell us much about the creation, use and abuse of power, daily life, social hierarchies, sexuality, concepts of honor and prestige, ethnic discrimination, and competing forms of religiosity.
Effect of Erythropoietin on DNA Synthesis by Erythroblasts in Vitro

The tentative interpretations about the action of erythropoietin in vitro, based on consideration of our present studies, are (1) that erythropoietin increases heme synthesis in bone marrow cultures as a whole, and probably in individual erythroblasts as well, and (2) that erythropoietin induces DNA synthesis by erythroblasts. On the basis of these limited data we cannot make a statement about the relation between these two effects.
Chapter Two - The Evolution of Phenolics in Plants

The basic functions of phenolics in plants involve support, transport, and protection within the individual plant by lignin and attraction of insects and animals for pollination of flowers and seed dispersal, as well as defense against microbial pathogens and animals by flavonoids and lignans. Signals between the organism and the environment—including the microbe, animal, and the host—are important aspects in both the attraction and defense functions of phenolics. The functions of these are variable and include actions such as phytoalexins, toxins, tannins, resins, antioxidants, protein precipitation capabilities, and ultraviolet (UV) and visible light screening for specific wavelength effects as signals. Flavonoids and lignin–lignans are the major phenolics in the bryophyte–tracheophyte complex of land plants. Much biochemical and enzymatic work related to both the structural and regulatory genes being studied with molecular techniques still needs to be done. A comparison of the evolution of phenolics and their functions in all types of land plants is a primary need.
Region and edge-adaptive sampling and boundary completion for segmentation

Edge detection produces a set of points that are likely to lie on discontinuities between objects within an image. We consider faces of the Gabriel graph of these points, a sub-graph of the Delaunay triangulation. Features are extracted by merging these faces using size, shape and color cues. We measure regional properties of faces using a novel shapeadaptive sampling method that overcomes undesirable sampling bias of the Delaunay triangles. Instead, sampling is biased so as to smooth regional statistics within the detected object boundaries, and this smoothing adapts to local geometric features of the shape such as curvature, thickness and straightness. We further identify within the Gabriel graph regions having uniform thickness and orientation which are grouped into directional features for subsequent hierarchical region merging.
Regulation of Transaminase C Synthesis in Escherichia coli: Conditional Leucine Auxotrophy

The regulation of synthesis of the valine-alanine-α-aminobutyrate transaminase (transaminase C) was studied in Escherichia coli mutants lacking the branched-chain amino acid transaminase (transaminase B). An investigation was made of two strains, CU2 and CU2002, each carrying the same transaminase B lesion but exhibiting different growth responses on a medium supplemented with branched-chain amino acids. Both had the absolute isoleucine requirement characteristic of ilvE auxotrophs, but growth of strain CU2 was stimulated by valine, whereas that of strain CU2002 was markedly inhibited by valine. Strain CU2002 behaved like a conditional leucine auxotroph in that the inhibition by valine was reversed by leucine. Results of enzymatic studies showed that synthesis of transaminase C was repressed by valine in strain CU2002 but not in strain CU2. Inhibition by valine in strain CU2002 appears to be the combined effect of repression on transaminase C synthesis and valine-dependent feedback inhibition of α-acetohydroxy acid synthase activity, causing α-ketoisovalerate (and hence leucine) limitation. The ilvE markers of strains CU2 and CU2002 were each transferred by transduction to a wild-type genetical background. All ilvE recombinants from both crosses resembled strain CU2002 and were inhibited by valine in the presence of isoleucine. Thus, strain CU2 carries an additional lesion that allows it to grow on a medium containing isoleucine plus valine. It is concluded that conditional leucine auxotrophy is characteristic of mutants carrying an ilvE lesion alone.
Reduced order WECC modeling for frequency response and energy storage integration

This paper presents a simple reduced order model of the western grid interconnect (WECC) that includes interconnect inertia, load frequency response, and generation primary frequency response. The model is validated against detailed power flow and transient response studies and recreates the WECC frequency response to a large generator outage to within 0.01 Hz RMSE, with the same frequency nadir and settling frequency. To properly capture the generation primary response, three classes of generation are used: slow, medium, and fast. The slow group responds with a time constant of 27 seconds, the medium group with a time constant of 19 seconds, and the fast group with a time constant of 0.5 seconds. The model is used to investigate the usage of domestic water heaters to assist in primary frequency response and reduce the impact of sudden load or generation changes. It is shown that even a very small-scale implementation of demand response via domestic hot water heaters (about 1 %) can improve the frequency nadir by 10 %, from 59.666 Hz to 59.697 Hz. The settling frequency is improved from 59.768 Hz to 59.789 Hz.
Design curves for predicting fast-neutron-induced resistivity changes in silicon

From experimental observations, resistivity-fluence design curves have been determined for reactor neutrons in silicon at room temperature.
Matrix metalloproteinase 2 is required for ovulation and corpus luteum formation in Drosophila

Ovulation is critical for successful reproduction and correlates with ovarian cancer risk, yet genetic studies of ovulation have been limited. It has long been thought that the mechanism controlling ovulation is highly divergent due to speciation and fast evolution. Using genetic tools available in Drosophila, we now report that ovulation in Drosophila strongly resembles mammalian ovulation at both the cellular and molecular levels. Just one of up to 32 mature follicles per ovary pair loses posterior follicle cells (“trimming”) and protrudes into the oviduct, showing that a selection process prefigures ovulation. Follicle cells that remain after egg release form a “corpus luteum (CL)” at the end of the ovariole, develop yellowish pigmentation, and express genes encoding steroid hormone biosynthetic enzymes that are required for full fertility. Finally, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (Mmp2), a type of protease thought to facilitate mammalian ovulation, is expressed in mature follicle and CL cells. Mmp2 activity is genetically required for trimming, ovulation and CL formation. Our studies provide new insights into the regulation of Drosophila ovulation and establish Drosophila as a model for genetically investigating ovulation in diverse organisms, including mammals.
Nutrient intake of nursing-home residents receiving pureed foods or a regular diet.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate (1) the nutrient content of menus planned for regular consistency meals and pureed meals in a long-term care facility and (2) to assess nutrient intakes of women consuming these meals. DESIGN: A descriptive survey. SETTING: A nursing home facility in central Pennsylvania. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-one female nursing home residents were chosen randomly. Thirty-one received a regular diet and 20 received a pureed diet. MEASUREMENTS: Demographic and health variables were collected from medical records. Nutrient variables were calculated for regular and pureed consistency meals, as served. Nutrient intake data for each woman were based on seven consecutive days of food intake and nutrient supplement use. MAIN RESULTS: Energy and nutrient values for regular diet menus (i.e., food served) were higher than for pureed menus, but both had values exceeding recommended allowances for most nutrients. Average energy and nutrient intakes were similar for both groups of women (t test, P < 0.05). Data showed that many women in both groups had lower than the recommended intakes of iron, zinc, calcium, and Vitamin D. CONCLUSIONS: Both regular and pureed consistency diets provided to residents met current recommended allowances. Diet consistency did not affect nutrient intakes. Intakes were adequate overall; however, a low intake of the same nutrients generally occurred in both groups.
Percutaneous endoscopic recanalization of the catheter: a new technique of proximal shunt revision.

Objective Proximal ventricular catheter obstruction by the choroid plexus is a frequent occurrence in children with shunted hydrocephalus. In some cases, the flow is obstructed owing to membranous occlusion by a small amount of tissue. It has been shown that only a few of the multiple catheter openings need be patent to maintain adequate shunt function. Recent advances in technology have improved our ability to perform intraluminal endoscopic catheter dissection and minimize the morbidity associated with shunt maintenance. Methods Percutaneous endoscopic shunt recanalization was performed in 20 cases (18 children) under institutional review board study protocol. The mean age was 32 months, and all children had signs and symptoms of shunt malfunction, confirmed by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging and verified by shunt taps. Under aseptic conditions in the operating room, the Rickham reservoir was entered with a 16-gauge intravenous catheter, and the obstruction was visualized with a fiber endoscope (0.5-0.8 mm). Intraluminal dissection using electrocautery was performed with endoscopic guidance to visualize the catheter and flushing of the valve. Results At a mean follow-up time of 20 months (range, 15-29 mo), the children are doing well, with computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging confirmation of adequate ventricular decompression in the 17 successful cases (85%). There were three failures in the study, necessitating a standard open shunt revision. Conclusion The percutaneous endoscopic shunt recanalization procedure can be used successfully to treat proximal shunt malfunction.
The state‐of‐the‐art: NCSU Libraries Learning Commons

Purpose – This paper seeks to document and provide detailed information about physical space, technology resources and the service model for the NCSU Libraries' Learning Commons (LC). The LC was scheduled to open on March 12, 2007 and will be a state‐of‐the‐art facility. The objective is to share information and best practices with academic libraries developing their own Commons.Design/methodology/approach – The article includes a brief overview of the East Wing Renovations Project at the D.H. Hill Library as well as a profile of and interview with Joe Williams, Director of the Learning Commons at the NCSU Libraries.Findings – Creative design of space, technology resources and services makes academic libraries central to the learning and research process.Research limitations/implications – The piece is representative of one library only.Practical implications – The article will encourage academic libraries to rethink their role in the learning process. The piece also provides practical information about t...
The Spatial Dependence of Spin and Charge Correlations in a One-Dimensional, Single Impurity, Anderson Model

Recent advances in Monte Carlo algorithms for systems of interacting electrons have made possible the detailed study of the spatial dependence of spin and charge correlations in the Anderson single impurity model. The hamiltonian for this model [1] $$H=\sum\limits_{ks}{{{\varepsilon }_{k}}+{{n}_{ks}}+\sum\limits_{k}{({{v}_{kd}}c_{ks}^{+}{{c}_{ds}}+v_{dk}^{*}c_{ds}^{+}{{c}_{ks}})}}+{{\varepsilon }_{d}}\sum\limits_{s}{{{n}_{ds}}}+U{{n}_{d\uparrow }}{{n}_{d\downarrow }}$$ (1) has a non-degenerate impurity state with energy ed hybridized with strength Vkd to energy states ek of some conduction band. In addition it has a Coulomb interaction U between electrons with oppositely paired spins that try to occupy the impurity state.
The Monophasic Action Potential in Clinical Cardiology

Summary: For more than 30 years, the monophasic action potential has been used as an experimental tool for the study of myocardial repolarization. With recent improvements in catheter design, the utility of the tool as a means to identify the bases for ventricular arrhythmias in humans has been greatly improved. Abnormalities of repolarization leading to ventricular arrhythmia formation can be identified and specific pharmacologic therapies may be evaluated. Further evaluation of the technique by cardiac electrophysiologists may improve both the diagnosis and the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias dependent upon afterdepolarization formation (acquired and familial long QT syndromes).
A simple method to determine body segment masses in vivo: reliability, accuracy and sensitivity analysis.

Abstract Objective. To show that force plates can be used to quickly acquire subject-specific segment mass data. Design. In vivo measurements were performed on subjects belonging to three populations: female varsity swimmers, female varsity volleyball players, and male college students. Segmental masses were measured using a force plate technique, and were compared with published data. Background. Patients from populations for which data from the literature are not applicable (e.g. pathological, aging females, obese, children, etc.) would benefit from a direct measure of inertial parameters for accurate joint moment calculations. Methods . Eight female varsity volleyball players, 17 female varsity swimmers, and 10 male college students were measured anthropometrically. They then lay on a board placed on a force plate and the center of pressure was recorded while the subjects adopted various prescribed limb positions. Their limb masses were subsequently calculated from the center of pressure data given estimated center of mass locations. Results . The method was highly reproducible with an average reliability coefficient of 0.83 and yielded results similar to those of published methods. Significantly different mass distributions were found between the two female populations tested ( P Conclusions . The method can quickly provide subject-specific limb segment mass information. Relevance Measuring subjects’ segment masses individualizes clinical assessments and may be necessary for those from special populations to avoid erroneous biomechanical conclusions.
Compressive creep of flexible polyurethane foam

The compressive creep rate of polyurethane foams was found to be a complex function of deflection and time. The complexity has been shown to be related to the buckling of the cell struts as the foam is compressed. Of the parameters normally varied in the foam formulation, both the polyol molecular weight and the water content of the foam formulation seemed to have a measureable effect on the creep rate.
Equations of motion for rotational motion in liquids

The equations of motion corresponding to master equations describing rotational relaxation in liquids are shown to be purely deterministic and, in general, nonlocal in time.
Pathological effects of in utero methylmercury exposure on the cerebellum of the golden hamster. 1. Early effects upon the neonatal cerebellar cortex.

Abstract Pregnant golden hamsters ( Mesocricetus auratus ) were given either a single dose of 10 mg methylmercury/kg on gestational day 10 or daily doses of 2 mg/kg on gestational days 10–15. Cerebella of experimental and control offspring were examined by light and electron microscopy during the first month of postnatal life. Degenerative changes, characterized by accumulations of lysosomes and areas of floccular cytoplasmic degradation, were frequently observed in neuroblasts of the external granular layer (EGL) as well as in more differentiated neural elements in the molecular and internal granular layers. Pyknotic nuclei were seen singly and in groups throughout the EGL of treated animals. Developing dendrites appeared particularly sensitive to methylmercury. Affected dendrites were swollen and packed with degenerating cytoplasmic material. Astrocytes and perivascular macrophages also contained large aggregates of irregular electron-opaque debris, lysosomes, and large lipid droplets. Pathological alterations in the cerebellum were most pronounced during the first 15 days of postpartum life.
Differential sensitivity of naïve and subsets of memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells to hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis.

CD4+ and CD8+ memory T cells are identified into central and effector memory subsets, which are characterized by distinct homing patterns and functions. In this investigation, we show that naive and central memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are sensitive to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced apoptosis, whereas effector memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are relatively resistant to H2O2-induced apoptosis. Apoptosis in naive and central memory CD4+ and CD8+ is associated with the release of cytochrome c and activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3, upregulation of Bax and voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) expression, and decreased intracellular glutathione (GSH). In vitro GSH and a superoxide dismutase mimetic Mn(III) tetrakis (1-methyl-4-pyridyl) porphyrin inhibited H2O2-induced apoptosis in both naive and central memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, VDAC inhibitor 4,4'-diisothiocynostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid blocked H2O2-induced apoptosis. These data demonstrate that H2O2 induces apoptosis preferentially in human naive and central memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells via the mitochondrial pathway by regulating intracellular GSH and the expression of Bax and VDAC.
Adsorption and Desorption of Mercury on Sorbents at Elevated Temperatures

The adsorption/desorption characteristics of mercury on various sorbents at elevated temperatures were experimentally investigated in 25.4mm (I“) ID fixed bed absorber. The mercury compounds involved were mercury chloride and elemental mercury, and the sorbents tested included bauxite, zeolite, lime, alumina and activated carbon. Experimental parameters were air flow rate, vaporization temperature, sorbent bed temperature, sorbent bed height, and sulfur impregnation. The Toxicity Characteristics Leaching Procedure (TCLP) tests were also performed to evaluate the leachability of the retained mercury. The results indicated that different sorbents have different mercury sorption capacity. Bauxite and activated carbon were found to be more effective than other tested sorbents for mercury retention. Besides experimental investigations, potential mercury reactions during the experiments were identified through equilibrium simulations and a model based on the mass transfer control mechanism was proposed to simul...
Comprehensive Quantification of Triacylglycerols in Soybean Seeds by Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry with Multiple Neutral Loss Scans

Soybean seeds are an important source of vegetable oil and biomaterials. The content of individual triacylglycerol species (TAG) in soybean seeds is difficult to quantify in an accurate and rapid way. The present study establishes an approach to quantify TAG species in soybean seeds utilizing an electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry with multiple neutral loss scans. Ten neutral loss scans were performed to detect the fatty acyl chains of TAG, including palmitic (P, 16:0), linolenic (Ln, 18:3), linoleic (L, 18:2), oleic (O, 18:1), stearic (S, 18:0), eicosadienoic (20:2), gadoleic (20:1), arachidic (20:0), erucic (22:1), and behenic (22:0). The abundance of ten fatty acyl chains at 46 TAG masses (mass-to-charge ratio, m/z) were determined after isotopic deconvolution and correction by adjustment factors at each TAG mass. The direct sample infusion and multiple internal standards correction allowed a rapid and accurate quantification of TAG species. Ninety-three TAG species were resolved and their levels were determined. The most abundant TAG species were LLL, OLL, LLLn, PLL, OLLn, OOL, POL, and SLL. Many new species were detected and quantified. This shotgun lipidomics approach should facilitate the study of TAG metabolism and genetic breeding of soybean seeds for desirable TAG content and composition.
Quantitative Identification of Disturbance Thresholds in Support of Aquatic Resource Management

The identification of disturbance thresholds is important for many aspects of aquatic resource management, including the establishment of regulatory criteria and the identification of stream reference conditions. A number of quantitative or model-based approaches can be used to identify disturbance thresholds, including nonparametric deviance reduction (NDR), piecewise regression (PR), Bayesian changepoint (BCP), quantile piecewise constant (QPC), and quantile piecewise linear (QPL) approaches. These methods differ in their assumptions regarding the nature of the disturbance-response variable relationship, which can make selecting among the approaches difficult for those unfamiliar with the methods. We first provide an overview of each of the aforementioned approaches for identifying disturbance thresholds, including the types of data for which the approaches are intended. We then compare threshold estimates from each of these approaches to evaluate their robustness using both simulated and empirical datasets. We found that most of the approaches were accurate in estimating thresholds for datasets with drastic changes in responses variable at the disturbance threshold. Conversely, only the PR and QPL approaches performed well for datasets with conditional mean or upper boundary changes in response variables at the disturbance threshold. The most robust threshold identification approach appeared to be the QPL approach; this method provided relatively accurate threshold estimates for most of the evaluated datasets. Because accuracy of disturbance threshold estimates can be affected by a number of factors, we recommend that several steps be followed when attempting to identify disturbance thresholds. These steps include plotting and visually inspecting the disturbance-response data, hypothesizing what mechanisms likely generate the observed pattern in the disturbance-response data, and plotting the estimated threshold in relation to the disturbance-response data to ensure the appropriateness of the threshold estimate.
Reduction of S-T segment elevation with infusion of nitroprusside in patients with acute myocardial infarction

The effect of infusion of sodium nitroprusside on S-T segment elevation was evaluated in 12 patients with acute anterior myocardial infarction. Precordial 35 lead S-T segment maps were obtained in each patient immediately before and 10 minutes after infusion of 53 mug/min (range 20 to 100 mug/min) of nitroprusside. The following measurements were made from each S-T map: sigmaST (total S-T elevation in all leads), NST (number of leads with S-T elevation greater than 1 mm) and ST (average (S-T elevation in leads with more than 1 mm elevation). After administration of mitroprusside, evidence of myocardial ischemic injury as assessed by S-T mapping decreased in association with reduction of the myocardial oxygen consumption index of pressure-time per minute. Group mean values diminished significantly for sigmaST (41.7 to 28.6 mm, P less than 0.001), NST (20.3 to 14.6, P less than 0.001) and ST (1.6 to 1.2 mm, P less than 0.005). Pressure-time per minute decreased from 2,690 to 2,372 mm Hg-sec/min (P less than 0.001). Because there was no significant relation (P less than 0.05) between reductions in S-T elevation and lower indexes of myocardial oxygen consumption, it is suggested that nitroprusside may possess a separate action of augmenting regional blood flow to ischemic myocardium. Evaluation with the precordial S-T mapping technique suggested that intravenous administration of nitroprusside was associated with evidence of reduced ventricular ischemic injury in patients with acute myocardial infarction. This effect appears to be related to reduction of myocardial oxygen demand by the peripheral cardiac unloading mechanisms of nitroprusside as well as to a possible direct action of the drug in improving regional blood flow to ischemic heart muscle.
Role of surface glycoproteins in mate-guarding of the marine harpacticoid Tigriopus japonicus

Surface glycoproteins serve as mate- and gamete-recognition molecules in some marine animals such as rotifers and sea urchins. We investigated the role of contact chemoreception of surface glycoproteins in mate recognition, mate-guarding, and spermatophore transfer in the marine harpacticoid Tigriopus japonicus Mori. Adult males accurately distinguished immature females from a pool of mixed-sex juveniles, and their behavior towards both live and dead females is described. A survey of the binding sites of twelve lectins to the surface of juvenile and adult females, and adult males demonstrated localized lectin-binding at sites considered important in mating behavior of each sex/age class. Treating adult males with the Triticum vulgaris lectin sharply inhibited normal mate recognition and guarding behavior, as did the monosaccharide glucosamine. Treatment of males with protease and detergents destroyed their mate-guarding behavior without affecting swimming behavior. These results suggest that protein receptors on the antennules of the males detect glycoprotein signals on the surface of females, recognizing carbohydrate moieties of glycoproteins to identify appropriate partners for guarding or mating. Surface glycoproteins may function as a common mechanism of sexual communication in many marine zooplankters.
Application of the mean spherical approximation and ion association to describe the activity coefficients of aqueous 1:1 electrolytes

Abstract The unrestricted version of the mean spherical approximation has been applied to describe the concentration dependence of the mean ionic activity coefficients for 12 aqueous electrolyte solutions for which extensive permittivity data are also available. By using the actual solvent permittivity rather than that of the pure solvent, it is shown that this primitive model fits the experimental data in almost all cases to the maximum concentrations for which the permittivity can be described by the use of three adjustable parameters, namely, an effective ionic diameter, σ + or σ − , the effective ion pair diameter σ ip , and the association constant K as for ion pair formation. The values of K as obtained are discussed with respect to results from experiments reported in the literature.
Morphology of a class of kinetic-growth models

We study a class of local probabilistic growth processes that includes the kinetic-growth algorithm for generating percolation clusters. The shapes of the growing clusters are controlled by $p$, the probability of growth. For $pg{p}_{c}$, the shapes are scale invariant with time and show interesting morphological features including both smoothly curved sections and straight facets. The facets are shown to be related to the problem of directed percolation and disappear below the directed-percolation threshold. A simple random-walk model for computing the shapes of our clusters is described.
Mathematical Modeling and Validation of Glucose Compensation of the Neurospora Circadian Clock

Autonomous circadian oscillations arise from transcriptional-translational feedback loops of core clock components. The period of a circadian oscillator is relatively insensitive to changes in nutrients (e.g., glucose), which is referred to as “nutrient compensation”. Recently, a transcription repressor, CSP-1, was identified as a component of the circadian system in Neurospora crassa. The transcription of csp-1 is under the circadian regulation. Intriguingly, CSP-1 represses the circadian transcription factor, WC-1, forming a negative feedback loop that can influence the core oscillator. This feedback mechanism is suggested to maintain the circadian period in a wide range of glucose concentrations. In this report, we constructed a mathematical model of the Neurospora circadian clock incorporating the above WC-1/CSP-1 feedback loop, and investigated molecular mechanisms of glucose compensation. Our model shows that glucose compensation exists within a narrow range of parameter space where the activation rates of csp-1 and wc-1 are balanced with each other, and simulates loss of glucose compensation in csp-1 mutants. More importantly, we experimentally validated rhythmic oscillations of the wc-1 gene expression and loss of glucose compensation in the wc-1ov mutant as predicted in the model. Furthermore, our stochastic simulations demonstrate that the CSP-1-dependent negative feedback loop functions in glucose compensation, but does not enhance the overall robustness of oscillations against molecular noise. Our work highlights predictive modeling of circadian clock machinery and experimental validations employing Neurospora and brings a deeper understanding of molecular mechanisms of glucose compensation.
Correlation effects on frequency dependent conductivity: Application to superionic conductors

Abstract The Scher-Lax model for the calculation of a.c. conductivity is modified to allow for temporal and spatial correlations. If, due to, say, lattice relaxation effects, a charge is most likely to continue to move in the same direction (caterpillar mechanism), then the real part of the conductivity will saturate, at large frequencies, below the d.c. level. The reverse will be true if a bounce-back mechanism dominates. These two cases of correlation can be related to the behavior of the superionic conductors AgI and Na β-alumina, respectively. The degree of disorder in the hopping sites determines the distribution of ionic transition rates which in turn governs the details of the conductivity curve. The frequency dependent conductivity due to the motion of an ionic cluster (dimer) is also analyzed.
Measurement of the detective quantum efficiency in digital detectors consistent with the IEC 62220-1 standard: practical considerations regarding the choice of filter material.

As part of a larger evaluation we attempted to measure the detective quantum efficiency (DQE) of an amorphous silicon flat-panel detector using the method described in the International Electrotechnical Commission standard 62220-1 published in October 2003. To achieve the radiographic beam conditions specified in the standard, we purchased scientific-grade ultrahigh purity aluminum (99.999% purity, type-11999 alloy) filters in thicknesses ranging from 0.1 through 10.0 mm from a well-known, specialty metals supplier. Qualitative evaluation of flat field images acquired at 71 kV (RQA5 beam quality) with 21 mm of ultrahigh purity aluminum filtration demonstrated a low frequency mottle that was reproducible and was not observed when the measurement was repeated at 74 kV (RQA5 beam quality) with 21 mm of lower-purity aluminum (99.0% purity, type-1100 alloy) filtration. This finding was ultimately attributed to the larger grain size (approximately 1-2 mm) of high purity aluminum metal, which is a well-known characteristic, particularly in thicknesses greater than 1 mm. The impact of this low frequency mottle is to significantly overestimate the noise power spectrum (NPS) at spatial frequencies ⩽0.2mm-1, which in turn would cause an underestimation of the DQE in this range. A subsequent evaluation of ultrahigh purity aluminum, purchased from a second source, suggests, that reduced grain size can be achieved by the process of annealing. Images acquired with this sample demonstrated vertical striated nonuniformities that are attributed to the manufacturing method and which do not appear to appreciably impact the NPS at spatial frequencies ⩾0.5mm-1, but do result in an asymmetry in the x- and y-NPS at spatial frequencies ⩽0.2mm-1. Our observations of markedly visible nonuniformities in images acquired with high purity aluminum filtration suggest that the uniformity of filter materials should be carefully evaluated and taken into consideration when measuring the DQE.
Model Verification of Mist/Steam Cooling With Jet Impingement Onto a Concave Surface and Prediction at Elevated Operating Conditions

Internal mist/steam blade cooling technology is proposed for advanced gas turbine systems that use the closed-loop steam cooling scheme. Previous experiments on mist/steam heat transfer with a 2-D slot jet impingement onto a concave surface showed cooling enhancement of up to 200% at the stagnation point by injecting approximately 0.5% of mist under low temperature and pressure laboratory conditions. Realizing the difficultly in conducting experiments at elevated pressure and temperature working conditions, CFD simulation becomes an opted approach to predict the potential applicability of the mist/steam cooling technique at real GT operating conditions. In this study, the CFD model is first validated within 3% and 6% deviation from experimental results for the flows of steam only and mist/steam flow cases, respectively. The validated CFD model is then used to simulate a row of multiple holes impinging jet onto a concave surface under elevated pressure, temperature, and Reynolds number condition. The predicted results show an off-center cooling enhancement with a local maximum of 200% at s/d = 2 and an average cooling enhancement of about 150%. The mist cooling scheme is predicted to work better on a concave surface than on the flat surface. The extent of wall jet and the size of 3-D recirculation zones are identified as a major influencing parameter on the curvature effect on mist cooling performance. The mist enhancement from a slot jet is more pronounced than a row of round jets. The effects of wall heat flux and mist ratio on mist cooling performance are also investigated in this study.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Increased cytotoxicity of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck by combining cisplatin with VP-16 and ciprofloxacin

Chemotherapeutic treatment of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck has been largely ineffective because of tumor cell resistance. This study examined combinations of cisplatin, 4' demethylepipodophyllotoxin ethylidene D-glucoside (VP-16), and ciproloxacin, a quinolone antibiotic. VP-16 and ciproloxacin were used in an effort to inhibit DNA repair and increase cytotoxicity. Chemotherapeutic agents often have a direct damaging effect on cellular DNA. Cytotoxicity may be the result of incomplete DNA repair mechanisms; whereas tumor cell resistance to drugs may be due to efficient DNA recovery. A nuclear enzyme especially important to DNA repair and cell growth is topoisomerase II (topo II). Targeted inhibition of topo II by VP-16 and ciproloxacin may cause increased cisplatin cytotoxicity