cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Application of a telomerase-based circulating tumor cell (CTC) assay in bladder cancer patients receiving postoperative radiation therapy: a case study.

Background Muscle invasive bladder carcinoma is an often lethal disease that requires aggressive treatment. Improved assays would contribute to better risk prediction and clinical management of this disease. A telomerase-based assay to detect circulating tumor cells (CTCs) may usefully fulfill this role. Methods Two patients (C1 and C2) were enrolled onto an IRB-approved bladder biomarker study before initiating post-operative radiation therapy (RT) for muscle invasive bladder carcinoma. Blood samples were taken at predefined intervals: before, during, and after RT and then retrospectively correlated with imaging studies and disease course. Results C1 began RT for positive resection margins on surgical pathology, at which time CTCs were undetectable and pelvic imaging demonstrated no evidence of disease. However, following the completion of treatment, the patient’s CTC count was found to have increased to 202 CTCs/mL, and MRI demonstrated new abdominal and pelvic masses consistent with progressive disease. C1 ultimately died of disease with distant and local failure. Conversely, C2 was found to have 632 CTCs/mL before the initiation of RT for positive surgical margins, although imaging demonstrated no visible masses. At the conclusion of RT, repeat imaging showed changes that were indeterminate for either tumor recurrence or post-radiation effects. However, the patient’s CTC count had dropped to 184 CTCs/mL. Furthermore, a second follow-up assay performed 6 months later revealed no detectable CTCs and repeat imaging showed complete resolution of worrisome imaging changes, thus excluding tumor progression. Conclusions To our knowledge this is the first report of a telomerase-based assay to identify CTCs in bladder cancer patients. Further studies are required to fully determine the ultimate clinical utility of this assay. However, the two patient vignettes described here illustrate how serial CTC assays may track the disease course and inform the management of bladder cancer patients undergoing adjuvant RT and potentially chemotherapy.
Viral CNS infections: role of glial pattern recognition receptors in neuroinflammation

Viruses are the major causative agents of central nervous system (CNS) infection worldwide. RNA and DNA viruses trigger broad activation of glial cells including microglia and astrocytes, eliciting the release of an array of mediators that can promote innate and adaptive immune responses. Such responses can limit viral replication and dissemination leading to infection resolution. However, a defining feature of viral CNS infection is the rapid onset of severe neuroinflammation and overzealous glial responses are associated with significant neurological damage or even death. The mechanisms by which microglia and astrocytes perceive neurotropic RNA and DNA viruses are only now becoming apparent with the discovery of a variety of cell surface and cytosolic molecules that serve as sensors for viral components. In this review we discuss the role played by members of the Toll-like family of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) in the inflammatory responses of glial cells to the principle causative agents of viral encephalitis. Importantly, we also describe the evidence for the involvement of a number of newly described intracellular PRRs, including retinoic acid-inducible gene I and DNA-dependent activator of IFN regulatory factors, that are thought to function as intracellular sensors of RNA and DNA viruses, respectively. Finally, we explore the possibility that cross-talk exists between these disparate viral sensors and their signaling pathways, and describe how glial cytosolic and cell surface/endosomal PRRs could act in a cooperative manner to promote the fulminant inflammation associated with acute neurotropic viral infection.
Red-emitting cerium-based phosphor materials for solid-state lighting applications

Abstract The discovery of phosphor materials that can be excited around 380 or 460 nm is essential for improving the efficiency and light quality of LED-based solid-state lighting devices. We have found, for the first time, a luminescent cerium compound emitting bright red light. CaSiN 2 :Ce 3+ is a new phase in the calcium silicon nitride ternary system that crystallizes in a face-centered cubic unit cell with a lattice parameter of a = 14.8822(5) A. This compound can be used for white light applications: (i) to enhance the light quality of the system based on a blue LED with a yellow/green phosphor, (ii) as the red phosphor in the UV LED plus three RGB phosphors setup or (iii) directly as a yellow phosphor with a 460 nm LED due to the emission/excitation band shift with chemical substitution.
On the multiplicity of hadrons in QCD jets

Abstract A three-loop calculation is presented for the jet multiplicity of produced slightly-off-shell gluons for a pure Yang-Mills theory. Planar and non-planar graphs are found to be equally important in an axial gauge. If the three-loop calculation is indicative of what happens at higher orders n (Q 2 ) ∝ exp {[( 2C A πb ) 1 n Q 2 ] 1 2 } where CA = 3 and b = (33 − 2n f ) 12π in QCD.
Copy detection mechanisms for digital documents

In a digital library system, documents are available in digital form and therefore are more easily copied and their copyrights are more easily violated. This is a very serious problem, as it discourages owners of valuable information from sharing it with authorized users. There are two main philosophies for addressing this problem: prevention and detection. The former actually makes unauthorized use of documents difficult or impossible while the latter makes it easier to discover such activity.In this paper we propose a system for registering documents and then detecting copies, either complete copies or partial copies. We describe algorithms for such detection, and metrics required for evaluating detection mechanisms (covering accuracy, efficiency, and security). We also describe a working prototype, called COPS, describe implementation issues, and present experimental results that suggest the proper settings for copy detection parameters.
Perception of vowel phonemes in Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada, and Buffalo, New York: an application of synthetic vowel categorization tests to dialectology.

The question of correlation between dialect and perception (that is, categorization) of synthetic vowels by speakers of different dialects of English was investigated experimentally for speakers fr...
The inner membrane protein, YhiM, is necessary for Escherichia coli (E. coli) survival in acidic conditions.

Escherichia coli must be able to survive extreme acidic conditions. We were interested in determining the role of the inner membrane protein YhiM in survival in acidic conditions. Previous data demonstrated that the yhiM gene was upregulated in acidic conditions (Tucker et al. in J Bacteriol. 184:6551–6558, 2002). We therefore tested tn10 insertions into the yhiM gene for their ability to survive at low pH (pH 2.5). We show that YhiM was required for survival at pH 2.5. We also tested the YhiM dependence of the different acid resistance pathways. YhiM was required for the RpoS, glutamine and lysine–dependent acid resistance pathways. In contrast, YhiM was not required for the arginine-dependent acid resistance pathway.
Comparison of real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography to two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography for quantification of mitral valve prolapse in patients with severe mitral regurgitation.

Real-time 3-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) provides more accurate geometric information on the mitral valve (MV) than 2-dimensional (2D) TEE. The aim of this study was to quantify MV prolapse using real-time 3D TEE in patients with severe mitral regurgitation. In 102 patients with severe mitral regurgitation due to MV prolapse and/or flail, 2D TEE quantified MV prolapse, including prolapse gap and width in the commissural view. Three-dimensional TEE also determined prolapse gap and width with the use of the 3D en face view. On the basis of the locations of MV prolapse, all patients were classified into group 1 (pure middle leaflet prolapse, n = 50) or group 2 (involvement of medial and/or lateral prolapse, n = 52). Prolapse gap and prolapse width determined by 3D TEE were significantly greater than those by 2D TEE (all p values
Wavelet transform image sequence coder using nonstationary displacement estimation

In this paper, we present a novel coding technique which makes use of the nonstationary characteristics of an image sequence displacement field to estimate and encode motion information. In addition, we develop a wavelet transform approach using cross-scale vector quantization to encode single frames during periods of high motion and scene changes. The objective of this design is to demonstrate the coding potential of a newly developed motion estimator called the Compound Linearized MAP (CLMAP) estimator. This estimator can be used as a means for producing motion vectors which may be regenerated at the decoder with a coarsely quantized error term created in the encoder. The motion estimator generates highly accurate motion estimates. This permits the elimination of a separately coded displaced frame difference (DFD) and coded motion vectors. We exploit both the advantages of the nonstationary motion estimator and the edge preserving quality of the wavelet based still frame coder to improve the visual quality of reconstructed video-conferencing image sequences, at low bit rates.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
On the space of Cantor subsets of R3

Abstract The space of Cantor subsets of R 3 , denoted C ( R 3 ) , is a Polish space. We prove this space is path connected and locally path connected. The group of autohomeomorphisms of R 3 , denoted Aut ( R 3 ) , acts on C ( R 3 ) naturally. This action gives us natural invariant classes of Cantor sets and we show that these classes are in the lower levels of the Borel hierarchy, in fact they are open, closed, F σ or G δ in C ( R 3 ) . Moreover, we prove that the classification problem of Cantor sets arising from this action is at least as complicated as the classification of countable linear orders.
Handheld Device Review of Abdominal CT for the Evaluation of Acute Appendicitis

Advances in handheld computing now allow review of DICOM datasets from remote locations. As the diagnostic ability of this tool is unproven, we evaluated the ability to diagnose acute appendicitis on abdominal CT using a mobile DICOM viewer. This HIPAA compliant study was IRB-approved. Twenty-five abdominal CT studies from patients with RLQ pain were interpreted on a handheld device (iPhone) using a DICOM viewer (OsiriX mobile) by five radiologists. All patients had surgical confirmation of acute appendicitis or follow-up confirming no acute appendicitis. Studies were evaluated for the ability to find the appendix, maximum appendiceal diameter, presence of an appendicolith, periappendiceal stranding and fluid, abscess, and an assessment of the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Results were compared to PACS workstation. Fifteen cases of acute appendicitis were correctly identified on 98% of interpretations, with no false-positives. Eight appendicoliths were correctly identified on 88% of interpretations. Three abscesses were correctly identified by all readers. Handheld device measurement of appendiceal diameter had a mean 8.6% larger than PACS measurements (p = 0.035). Evaluation for acute appendicitis on abdominal CT studies using a portable device DICOM viewer can be performed with good concordance to reads performed on PACS workstations.
Paraffinic Hydrocarbons in Pasture Plants.

Gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric technique applied to analysis of paraffinic hydrocarbons from pasture plants
Indirect and combined direct-indirect therapy in a dysfluent child

Abstract The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of an indirect and a direct-indirect intervention approach in a young dysfluent child. Indirect methods were used during two treatments (Treatment 1 and Treatment 2); however, direct intervention was emphasized during treatment 2. Conversational speech samples were analyzed for pre- and post-treatment periods to obtain behavioral frequency data. A higher degree of fluency as well as more permanent results were apparent after Treatment 2. These results support the use of a combined direct-indirect intervention approach in a young dysfluent child.
Note from the USA regional editor

With this issue we join our European and Japanese counterparts in the international venture of Contemporary Music Review. The way the journal works is unusual. The regional editorial board selects both a special theme and an appropriate guest editor for a forthcoming issue. Rather than consider submitted articles, the guest editor invites contributed articles suitable to the theme. (To a limited extent, interviews and reprints are also included.) This procedure has the advantage of initiating and bringing together contributions by authors well-qualified to address the topic at hand, and the disadvantage of a slow turn-around from conception to completion. An issue appears when it is ready. In our selection of themes we hope to engage matters of general and pressing concern to contemporary music. The topic of the present issue, the postmodern resurgence of tonality, is a case at hand, for it is something that everyone in the contemporary music world thinks about. Other issues currently in the works include one on new developments in computer music, one on rhythm, and one on the relationship between popular and art music in American culture. As editors we espouse no line of thought on any of these subjects. We seek vitality and encourage diversity. Though we do not discourage highly technical articles, we hope that many contributions will address not specialists but a broader educated readership interested in new music. It is perhaps particularly true in the United States that the social fabric within which contemporary music must make its way has deteriorated. There is a need for intelligent and sympathetic dialogue. Our wish is for these issues of Contemporary Music Review to provide, however imperfectly, such a forum, not only for the American scene but within the international context of the journal as a whole.
High strain and deformation measurements using imaging and smart material sensors

The purpose of this paper is to present experimental testing results obtained by using a novel polymer high strain sensor, Metal Rubber TM . Dynamic, quasi-static tensile and quasi-static bending tests are performed to study the sensor's change in resistance as a result of the application of various mechanical loads. The strain signal generated by the Metal Rubber TM sensor is also compared to the strain measured by a set of optical imaging cameras during a high strain tensile test of a nylon fabric. The results of the aforementioned experiments indicate that the Metal Rubber TM sensor exhibits non-linearity and hysteresis as compared to a conventional metal foil strain gage. In addition, time varying, stress hardening was observed in the sensor. Results of the dynamic tests demonstrated that the sensor could be used to determine the resonant frequencies of a cantilever beam, when compared to using an accelerometer or a metal foil strain gage.
1475 Incidence of Tachypnea Following Meconium Aspiration

Eighty-two consecutive infants born through meconium stained amniotic fluid were prospectively followed to determine the incidence of tachypnea (respiratory rate greater than 50 during a 24 hour period) at the time of discharge. These infants represented 8.3% of all deliveries during the study period. Eighty-five percent were intubated in the delivery room; 39% had meconium aspirated from below the vocal cords. All infants received percussion and suctioning after birth. Seventy percent of the infants were born vaginally and 30% by caesarean section. The study population had a mean birth weight of 3420 grams, gestational age of 40.1 weeks, 1 minute Apgar of 6, 5 minute Apgar of 8. Respiratory rates were recorded every four hours until discharge or until normal for 24 hours. Twenty infants (24%) were still tachypneic at discharge; 16 were born vaginally and 4 by caesarean section. Nonparametric correlation coefficient and multivariable discriminate analysis revealed no predictability of the recorded variables (route of delivery, 1 minute Apgar, 5 minute Apgar, birth weight, gestational age, presence of meconium below the vocal cords) with tachypnea. Tachypnea at discharge following meconium aspiration has not been previously described. The pathophysiology of tachypnea in these infants requires further study.
Membrane-Localised Oestrogen Receptor α and β Influence Neuronal Activity Through Activation of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors

Until recently, the idea that oestradiol could affect cellular processes independent of nuclear oestrogen receptors (ERs) was controversial. This was despite the large number of carefully controlled studies performed both within and outside the nervous system demonstrating that oestrogens regulate various intracellular signalling pathways by acting at the membrane surface of cells and/or at biological rates incompatible with the time course of genomic-initiated events. At present, it is far less controversial that oestradiol acts at surface membrane receptors to regulate nervous system function. Recent studies have demonstrated that the classical intracellular ERs, ERα and ERβ, are major players in mediating the actions of oestradiol on the membrane surface. This review focuses on one potential mechanism by which surface-localised ERα and ERβ stimulate intracellular signalling events in cells of the nervous system. After oestradiol treatment, both ERα and ERβ are capable of activating different classes of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). Oestradiol activation of mGluRs is independent of glutamate, but requires expression of several different caveolin proteins to compartmentalise the different ERs with mGluRs into functional signalling microdomains. ER/mGluR signalling is a potential means by which oestrogens can both rapidly and for extended periods, influence a variety of intracellular signalling processes and behaviours.
Glial cells: old cells with new twists.

Based on their characteristics and function – migration, neural protection, proliferation, axonal guidance and trophic effects – glial cells may be regarded as probably the most versatile cells in our body. For many years, these cells were considered as simply support cells for neurons. Recently, it has been shown that they are more versatile than previously believed – as true stem cells in the nervous system – and are important players in neural function and development. There are several glial cell types in the nervous system: the two most abundant are oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system and Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system. Although both of these cells are responsible for myelination, their developmental origins are quite different. Oligodendrocytes originate from small niche populations from different regions of the central nervous system, while Schwann cells develop from a stem cell population (the neural crest) that gives rise to many cell derivatives besides glia and which is a highly migratory group of cells.
Oriented Sampling in Continental Borderland: ABSTRACT

An instrument has been designed which records the orientation of coring devices and other apparatus with respect to magnetic north, and can be used in any depth of water. Orientation data on Recent marine structures from depths greater than shelf depth have not been obtained in routine fashion in previous studies, thus omitting an important factor of considerable stratigraphic importance. Paleodirectional studies have few modern marine counterparts. Examples of oriented samples are described from test stations in the San Pedro basin. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1761------------
Alcohol seeking and consumption in the NVHL neurodevelopmental rat model of schizophrenia

Alcohol abuse in schizophrenia exceeds rates in the general population and worsens illness outcomes. Neonatal ventral hippocampal lesion (NVHL) rats model multiple schizophrenia dimensions including addiction vulnerability. This study compared NVHL vs. SHAM-controls in operant alcohol seeking and consumption. NVHLs enhanced consumption of combined ethanol/sucrose solution but neither ethanol or sucrose only solutions, consistent with increased vulnerability specific to carbohydrate-laden alcohol beverages typically consumed in early stages of human alcoholism.
Binding of synthetic copolymers to the macrophage ribonucleoprotein.

Abstract The binding of the optical enantiomorphs, poly(Glu 60 Ala 30 Tyr 10 ) ( l -GAT) and poly( d Glu 60 d Ala 30 d Tyr 10 ) ( d -GAT), to rat peritoneal exudate ribonucleoprotein (RNP) was investigated. the l -GAT copolymer exhibited an average of twenty times the binding of the d -GAT copolymer. This difference was paralleled by a difference in the degree of conversion of the two enantiomorphs to a trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-soluble form. On the other hand, no discrimination in binding was observed when radiation-degraded fragments of both copolymers were used. These results support the conclusion that peritoneal exudate cells must carry out a sterospecific degradation step before antigen can bind to the RNP molecule. Because the quantitative difference inbinding of the two optical enantiomorphs seemed to correlate with their difference in immunogenicity, further experiments were performed to determine if such a correlation were a general rule. Conversion of the d -GAT copolymer to a more immunogenic form by complexing it with methylated bovine serum albumin (MBSA) did not increase the amount of binding to the RNP molecule. In addition, the binding of an immunogenic, neutral analogue of the l -GAT copolymer, poly[N 5 -(3-hydroxypropyl)Gln 60 Ala 30 Tyr 10 ], was less than the binding of the weakly immunogenic d -GAT copolymer. Although attachment in all four cases was correlated with the amount of TCA-soluble fragments, no definite quantitative correlation between immunogenicity and binding to the macrophage RNP could be established. However, these results do not preclude a role for the RNP molecule in the induction of an immune response as factors other than the absolute quantitative amount of binding might be important.
The Solubility of Boric Acid in Electrolyte Solutions

The solubility of boric acid [B] in LiCl, NaCl, KCl, RbCl, and CsCl was determined as a function of ionic strength (0–6 mol ⋅ kg−1) at 25 ∘C. The results were examined using the Pitzer equation $$ \ln \{ [{\rm B}]^0 /[{\rm B}]\} = \ln \gamma _{\rm B} = (2\nu _{\rm c} \lambda _{{\rm Bc}} + 2\nu _{\rm a} \lambda _{{\rm Ba}})m + \nu _{\rm c} \nu _{\rm a} \zeta _{{\rm B - a - c}} m^2 $$ where [B]0 is the concentration of boric acid in water and [B] in solution, γB is the activity coefficient, νi is the number of ions (i), λBc, λBa are parameters related to the interaction of boric acid with cation c and anion a, ζB-a−c is related to the interaction of boric acid with both cation and anion and m is the salt molality. The literature values for the solubility of boric acid in a number of other electrolytes were also examined using the same equation. The results for the 2νcλBc+2νaλBa term (equal to the salting coefficient k S) were examined in terms of the ionic interactions in the solutions. The solubility of boric acid in LiCl, NaCl, and KCl solutions is not a strong function of temperature and the results can be used over a limited temperature range (5–35 ∘C). Boric acid is soluble in the order SO4 > NO3 and F > Cl > Br > I in common cation solutions. In common anion salt solutions, the order is Cs > Rb > K > Na > Li > H and Ba > Sr > Ca > Mg. The results were examined using correlations of k S with the volume properties of the ions. When direct measurements were not available, k S and ζB-c−a were estimated from known values of λBc and λBa. The values of λBc, λBa, and ζB-a−c can be used to estimate the boric acid activity coefficients γB and solubility [B] in natural mixed electrolyte solutions (seawater and brines) using the more general Pitzer equation $$ \hspace*{20pt}\ln \{ [{\rm B}]^0 /[{\rm B}]\} = \ln \lambda _{\rm B} = (2\Sigma _{\rm c} \nu _{\rm c} \lambda _{{\rm Bc}} + 2\Sigma _{\rm a} \nu _{\rm a} \lambda _{{\rm Bac}})m + \Sigma _{\rm c} \Sigma _{\rm a} \nu _{\rm c} \nu _{\rm a} \zeta _{{\rm B - a - c}} m^2 $$
Cystic Fibrosis: Bilateral Living Lobar Versus Cadaveric Lung Transplantation

Living donor transplantation is now an acceptable option that should be considered for selected cystic fibrosis patients with end-stage lung disease. Two lungs obtained from live donors can adequately support an adult cystic fibrosis patient. The morbidity from lobectomy to the healthy donor is minimal.
The spherical birdcage resonator

Abstract A description of the operation of a spherical resonator capable of producing a uniform magnetic induction throughout a spherical volume is presented. Simple closed-form expressions for the spectrum of resonant frequencies are derived for both the low-pass and the high-pass configuration of the resonator and are shown to compare favorably with observation in an experimental coil system. It is shown that the spherical resonator produces a uniform spherical field of view when used as a magnetic resonance imaging radiofrequency coil.
Extended N6 Substitution of Rigid C2-Arylethynyl Nucleosides for Exploring the Role of Extracellular Loops in Ligand Recognition at the A3 Adenosine Receptor

2-Arylethynyl-(N)-methanocarba adenosine 5′-methyluronamides containing rigid N6-(trans-2-phenylcyclopropyl) and 2-phenylethynyl groups were synthesized as agonists for probing structural features of the A3 adenosine receptor (AR). Radioligand binding confirmed A3AR selectivity and N6-1S,2R stereoselectivity for one diastereomeric pair. The environment of receptor-bound, conformationally constrained N6 groups was explored by docking to an A3AR homology model, indicating specific hydrophobic interactions with the second extracellular loop able to modulate the affinity profile. 2-Pyridylethynyl derivative 18 was administered orally in mice to reduce chronic neuropathic pain in the chronic constriction injury model.
Phospholipid transfer activity of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein produces apolipoprotein B and reduces hepatosteatosis while maintaining low plasma lipids in mice.

Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP), essential for apolipoprotein B (apoB) biosynthesis, evolved as a phospholipid transfer protein and acquired triglyceride transfer activity during a transition from invertebrates to vertebrates. But it is unknown whether MTP directly transfers lipids onto apoB in vivo and, if it does, whether both neutral and polar lipid transfer activities of MTP are critical for lipoprotein assembly. The molecular bases for differences in lipid transfer activities with respect to distinct domains in Drosophila MTP (dMTP) and human MTP (hMTP) are not obvious because both proteins have very similar primary, secondary, and tertiary structures. We used an in vivo approach to delineate physiological significance of these distinct lipid transfer activities by expressing dMTP (transfers phospholipids) and hMTP (transfers phospholipids and triglycerides) orthologs using adenoviruses in liver-specific MTP-deficient (L-MTP−/−) mice that have low plasma and high hepatic lipids. Both orthologs improved plasma lipids but plasma triglycerides were lower in dMTP mice due to lower hepatic triglyceride and apoB production. Hepatosteatosis in L-MTP−/− mice was ameliorated to similar levels by both. Attenuation of hepatosteatosis upon dMTP expression pertained to enhanced β-oxidation with no changes in lipogenesis. Phospholipid transfer activity of MTP promoted biogenesis of both apoB48 and apoB100-containing very low density lipoprotein in addition to a phospholipid-rich apoB48-containing high-density lipoprotein particle. Triglyceride transfer activity augmented the biosynthesis of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins by increasing the formation of these particles in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum. Conclusion: Based on these findings, we posit that the selective inhibition of MTP triglyceride transfer activity might reduce hyperlipidemia while protecting liver from excess lipid accumulation. (HEPATOLOGY 2011)
Mevalonate availability affects human and rat resistance vessel function.

Abstract Previous data in rat conductance vessels indicated that cellular mevalonate contributes to vascular tone and systemic blood pressure control. Using exogenous mevalonate (M) or lovastatin, a 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor (L), we characterized the role of mevalonate availability in resistance artery function, both in experimental animals and humans. Rat mesenteric artery resistance vessels (MARV, n = 9) were incubated for 48 h with either L, M, L + M, or vehicle (V) and tested for reactivity to NE, serotonin, acetylcholine, atrial natriuretic peptide, and sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Lovastatin increased sensitivity to NE (P < 0.03) and serotonin (P < 0.003), and significantly impaired the response to all three vasodilators. These effects were reversed by co-incubation with mevalonate. Mevalonate alone had no effect. In separate experiments, intravascular free Ca2+ concentration (ivfCa2+) was determined in fura-2AM loaded MARV. Basal ivfCa2+ was increased after a 48-h exposure to L (52.7 +/- 4.6 nM, L, vs. 29.7 +/- 2.4 nM, V, n = 12, P < 0.003), as were ivfCa2+ levels following stimulation with low (100 nM) NE concentrations. Similar ivfCa2+ concentrations were achieved during maximum contraction with NE (10 mM) in both groups. Human resistance arteries of human adipose tissue were also studied. Lovastatin increased the sensitivity to NE (ED50 = 372 +/- 56 nM, V, and 99 +/- 33 nM, L, P < 0.001) and significantly decreased the relaxation to acetylcholine and SNP of human vessels. We conclude that mevalonate availability directly contribute to resistance vessel function and vascular signal transduction systems in both experimental animals and humans. The study calls for the identification of non-sterol, mevalonate-derived vasoactive metabolites, and suggests that disorders of the mevalonate pathway can alter vascular tone and cause hypertension.
Fully adaptive multicore architectures through statically-directed dynamic execution reconfigurations

As a result of ever growing integration density and application complexity, future multicore architectures will suffer from increased levels of core availability variations. Full resource utilization in the face of various levels of resource availability necessitates techniques that compactly engender numerous schedules in readiness at compile time. Such schedules, each of which can make maximum utilization of the available resources, can be adaptively applied at runtime, thus enabling a toleration of up to an arbitrarily large amount of resource variations. Core binding permutations furthermore minimize the performance impact imposed by adaptivity on the pre-reconfiguration schedules while retaining all the concomitant benefits. The efficacy of the proposed technique is confirmed by incorporating it into a conventional, widely adopted scheduling heuristic and experimentally verifying it in the context of multiple core deallocations. This paper thus offers critical improvement over prior state-of-the-art, which targets solely single core failures, a subset of resource variation modes in future nanoscale MPSoCs which are projected to display elevated device failures, heat buildup, resource competition and preemptions.
Picolinyl ester fragmentation mechanism studies with application to the identification of acylcarnitine acyl groups following transesterification

Acyl picolinyl esters provide excellent data to identify the structures of acyl groups. However, the mechanisms for the formation of fragment ions from picolinyl esters are unsettled. Proposed structures for fragment ions have focused on long-chain groups and may not accommodate results from medium- and short-chain acyl groups. Using deuterium-labeled organic acids, we have investigated the mechanisms for the formation of fragment ions. Based on these studies, we propose a new mechanism that is consistent with the experimental data. We then tested the mechanisms by analyzing selected acylcarnitines. Transesterification of acylcarnitines was performed by reaction with 3-pyridylcarbinol and potassium tert-butoxide in dichloromethane to produce acyl picolinyl esters. The picolinyl esters were separated and detected by gas chromatography/electron ionization-mass spectrometry. Each mass spectrum contained a series of peaks with m/z differences of 12, 13, or 14 u depending on the acyl group’s chemical structure. The position of an unsaturated bond or branched methyl in the acyl group of acylcarnitine can be readily determined.
New tools for protein linkage mapping and general two-hybrid screening

The two-hybrid system has proved to be a facile method for detecting and analyzing protein-protein interactions. An expanded application of this system, protein linkage mapping, provides a means of identifying interactions on a global scale and should prove a powerful tool in analyzing whole genomes as their sequences become available. To overcome some of the inherent difficulties in such a large-scale approach, we have constructed a set of new strains and vectors that will allow for more efficient screening. The strains contain a GAL1-URA3 reporter for positive and negative selection, as well as a UAS(G)-lacZ reporter. The strains are of opposite mating types, permitting libraries present in one strain to be easily screened against a second library in the companion strain. We also constructed a family of CEN-based vectors for expression of both Gal4 DNA-binding and activation domain fusions. These plasmids include a hemagglutinin epitope tag and different polylinkers to increase the ease of subcloning. CEN-based vectors are maintained at 1-2 copies per cell, limiting the number of individual cells containing multiple plasmids that can confuse further analyses, and ensuring that fusions are not expressed at toxic levels. Using these vectors, both homo- and heterodimeric interactions resulted in up to 10-fold higher reporter gene transcription than obtained with 2micro;-based plasmids, despite significantly lower protein levels. In addition to protein linkage mapping, these reagents should be generally useful in standard two-hybrid applications.
Study of the LiMn1.5Ni0.5O4/Electrolyte Interface at Room Temperature and 60°C

The surface layer (Cathode-Electrolyte Interface; CEI) on LiMn 1.5 Ni 0.5 O 4 , a promising, high voltage positive electrode for Li-ion batteries, was studied by XPS, AC impedance spectroscopy and FTIR spectroscopy. Half cells and full cells with LiMn 1.5 Ni 0.5 O 4 as positive electrode material and Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 as a negative electrode material were assembled in conventional carbonate-based electrolytes with LiPF 6 or LiBF 4 as the salt, and the effect of cycling at different operating conditions (short and long storage time, state of charge and temperature) on the surface layer composition was assessed. Capacities reaching near the theoretical value of 140 mAh g -1 were obtained in half cells cycled at C/2 and room temperature, with 85% of the capacity being retained after 100 cycles. Cycling at 60°C leads to a decrease in capacity and coulombic efficiency. The surface analysis by XPS revealed that the CEI is composed of inorganic species such as LiF and Li x PFyO z or Li x BF y O z as well as organic species such as polyethers and carbonates. Generally, it was found that cycling or storing the material at 60°C with an electrolyte using LiPF 6 as a salt yield more organic species and less LiF at the surface than the one with LiBF 4 .
Effect of Glucose and 2-Deoxyglucose on Hypothalamic GABA Release in Lactating Rats

Abstract Grossman, B. M., M. L. Devore, E. W. Kelso and R. J. Martin. Effect of glucose and 2-deoxyglucose on hypothalamic GABA release in lactating rats. Physiol Behav 61(2) 169–173, 1997.—Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter, has been implicated in the control of feeding behavior. This study was conducted to investigate the in vitro release of GABA in the basal medial hypothalamus (BMH) of hyperphagic lactating (L) and control nonlactating (NL) rats. Pregnant Sprague–Dawley rats (n = 10) were ad lib fed a semipurified powdered diet during the last 6 days of pregnancy until day 19 of lactation. Nonpregnant (n = 10) animals served as controls. Body weights and food intake were recorded every other day. Lactating rats demonstrated an increase in body weight as well as food intake as compared to nonlactating animals. At sacrifice, the BMH was removed and perfused (0.1 ml/min) with Kreb's Ringer buffer (KRB) (“basal” medium) using a Brandel perifusion system. KRB containing glucose (100 mM) or 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) (100 mM) was also applied to the tissue. Potassium stimulation was carried out to test for the viability of the tissues. Samples were collected every 10 min, derivatized with O-Phthalaldehyde and analyzed via HPLC. Glucose depressed, and 2DG enhanced GABA release compared to basal levels. There were no significant differences in GABA release between lactating and nonlactating groups. These data suggest that GABA release is responsive to metabolic changes in the brain.
Current ethical aspects of organ procurement and transplantation in North America

Organ transplantation has enjoyed continuing success in North America, with steadily increasing numbers of transplants and increasing graft survival rates. This success has stimulated strong demand for transplantation, and the number of patients waiting for transplants has grown much more rapidly than the number of available organs. As a result, patients must wait much longer to receive a transplant, and more patients die while waiting. In response to the increasing shortage of organs, various initiatives have been proposed to increase the number of available organs. This article reviews the moral dimensions of recent organ procurement initiatives. The article also reviews current and proposed US criteria for allocating transplant organs to waiting patients.
Torque magnetometry: A new probe of dimensionality in high-Tc superconductors

Abstract A single crystal of a high-T c superconductor experiences a torque when it is placed in a magnetic field. This phenomenon has provided a useful experimental probe for investigating the superconducting anisotropy of high-T c materials. It is pointed out here that it also offers a probe of their superconducting dimensionality. Some new torque magnetometry data for single-crystal Tl1Ba2CaCu2Ox are discussed. The data reported are consistent with the view that this material is intrinsically two dimensional in character.
On the relay pursuit of a maneuvering target by a group of pursuers

This paper addresses the problem of pursuit of a maneuvering target by a group of pursuers distributed in the plane. This group pursuit problem is solved in a distributed way by employing a relay pursuit strategy, that is, a group pursuit scheme, such that at each instant of time, only one pursuer is assigned the task of capturing the maneuvering target. During the course of the relay pursuit, the pursuer-target assignment changes dynamically with time in accordance with the (time-varying) proximity relations between the pursuers and the target. Simulation results are presented to highlight the theoretical developments.
Confidence Limits for the Reliability of Series Systems

Abstract It is desired to set confidence limits for the probability of successful operation at least until time x 0 of a series system of k dissimilar components. The components follow exponential failure laws, and data are available on failure times of components of each type. Exact confidence limits for k = 2 have previously been given by Lentner and Buehler. The present paper deals with a large-sample approximation to the exact solution for arbitrary k.
Improved methods for harvesting and counting synchronous populations of Artemia nauplii for use in developmental toxicology

Abstract Artemia nauplli have, within recent years, gained popularity as a test organism for short-term toxicity testing. Because nauplii exhibit rapid development and growth within 48 hr after hatch, their potential as a model organism for teratology screening has been considered. To do this, synchronous populations of nauplii at different developmental intervals must be available. A dual-chamber hatching vessel which enables multiple harvesting of synchronous populations of nauplii from one sample of prepared cysts has been developed. An accumulation period of 2 hr defines the synchronous population and produces around 1000 nauplii among five hatching vessels. The body lengths of nauplii harvested 2 to 9 hr after the initial harvest were equivalent to and lower than that of animals incubated at the hatching temperature (31 ± 1°C); e.g., the body length of freshly harvested nauplii at 9 hr was 473 ± 6.2 μm (±SE) and for nauplii incubated for 8 to 10 hr, the body lengths were 643 ± 10.7 and 702 ± 10.9 μm, respectively. A counting method was developed that enabled precise counting up to 400 nauplii in suspension and distinguishing dead from live nauplii. Measurements of body length, body water volume, and whole animal DNA and protein of nauplii harvested sequentially from the same of sample prepared cysts indicated that in addition to temporal differences in hatching, the nauplii may differ both physically and chemically.
Clinical Experience with the Baerveldt 250-mm2 Glaucoma Implant

Purpose To report the intermediate-term results of the Baerveldt 250-mm 2 Glaucoma Implant for treatment of adult glaucoma. Design Retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series. Participants One hundred eight adult patients (108 eyes) with glaucoma who received a Baerveldt 250-mm 2 Glaucoma Implant. Intervention Implantation of the Baerveldt 250-mm 2 Glaucoma Implant. Main Outcome Measures Intraocular pressure (IOP), visual acuity, number of glaucoma medications, and surgical complications. Success was defined as IOP ≥ 6 mmHg and ≤ 21 mmHg (with or without antiglaucoma medications), without further glaucoma surgery, devastating complication, or loss of light perception attributable to drainage implantation. Results Mean age was 63.8±16.5 years. Mean postoperative follow-up was 22.8 months (range, 0.2–84.9; interquartile range, 3.9–36.3). Mean preoperative IOP was 36.3±13.0 mmHg, on 2.9±1.1 antiglaucoma medications. The mean postoperative IOP at final visit was 15.8±7.6 mmHg ( P t test), on 0.8±1.0 antiglaucoma medications ( P Conclusions The Baerveldt 250-mm 2 Glaucoma Implant provides good intermediate-term success for the treatment of adult refractory glaucoma.
The Abused Inhalant Toluene Increases Dopamine Release in the Nucleus Accumbens by Directly Stimulating Ventral Tegmental Area Neurons

Recreational abuse of toluene-containing volatile inhalants by adolescents is a significant public health problem. The mechanisms underlying the abuse potential of such substances remain unclear, but could involve increased activity in mesoaccumbal dopamine (DA) afferents innervating the nucleus accumbens (ACB). Here, using in vitro electrophysiology, we show that application of behaviorally relevant concentrations of toluene directly stimulates DA neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), but not surrounding midbrain regions. Toluene stimulation of VTA neurons persists when synaptic transmission is reduced. Moreover, unlike non-DA neurons, the magnitude of VTA DA neuron firing does not decline during longer exposures designed to emulate 'huffing'. Using dual-probe in vivo microdialysis, we show that perfusion of toluene directly into the VTA increases DA concentrations in the VTA (somatodendritic release) and its terminal projection site, the ACB. These results provide the first demonstration that even brief exposure to toluene increases action potential drive onto mesoaccumbal VTA DA neurons, thereby enhancing DA release in the ACB. The finding that toluene stimulates mesoaccumbal neurotransmission by activating VTA DA neurons directly (independently of transynaptic inputs) provide insights into the neural substrates that may contribute to the initiation and pathophysiology of toluene abuse.
Effect of aponin (from cultures of nannochloris sp.) on canine tracheal smooth muscle

Abstract Extracellular metabolites from cultures of the marine green alga Nannochloris sp. were extracted with chloroform. The combined extracts ("Aponin"). known to be cytolytic toward the red tide organism, Ptychodiscus brevis, were tested for activity against isolated canine tracheal smooth muscle. The extracts were without discernable effect on the contractile response (at concentrations up to 10.0 μg per ml). The absence of an effect, in this instance, is particularly significant inasmuch as the cytolytic activity of aponin could be responsible for release of airborne toxins of P brevis, and these toxins may cause coughing, sneezing, and watering eyes in normal persons, as well as wheezing in asthmatic patients. The absence of an effect of aponin provides further evidence that aponin is a potentially useful red‐tide management agent.
ARGININOSUCCINIC ACIDURIA: A SURVIVOR OF THE NEONATAL VARIANT

The neonatal form of argininosuccinic aciduria (ASA) is usually fulminating and lethal. J.V. presented at two days of age with this variant and is developnentally normal at four months. At two days of age, following milk feedings, J.V. became hypothermic and lethargic. He had respiratory alkalosis (ph=7.57), hyperammonemia (771 μg/dl) and ASA. EEG was diffusely abnormal. Family history was negative. Therapy included mechanical ventilation, peritoneal dialysis and gut sterilization. An initial protein free formula was followed by a 1.6 gm protein/kg/d formula at 16 days of age, after his blood ammonia had fallen below 200 μg/dl. Urine quantitation had 328 mg/d of ASA (normal = trace). Skin culture assay for argininosuccinase activity showed J.V. had 0.006/<moles urea/ mg protein/hr, his parents 0.044 and 0.049, with the control of 0.073. At four months J.V. has normal blood ammonia (38 μg/dl) on a 1.6 gm protein/kg/d diet. Growth parameters are all at the third percentlie. Denver Developmental, neurological, and EEG are all currently normal. ASA should be considered in neonates presenting with signs of sepsis because even the “ fulminant ” form of the disease may be amenable to aggressive medical therapy.
Relations between information processing and intelligence in elderly adults

Abstract Measures of verbal intelligence and abstract reasoning were taken on a group of 31 college-aged and 32 elderly adults, together with mental-processing rates associated with choice reaction time, primary memory scanning, and lexical decoding. Group means showed that both verbal IQ and lexical decoding were intact in the elderly subjects, a relationship in keeping with theorizing of Hunt (1978). In contrast, there were large declines in both Ravens scores and a variety of CRT measures, in keeping with theorizing of Jensen (1980). The group results were upheld at the level of individual subjects in the verbal domain, but in the case of CRT, only intercept values, not slopes, correlated with abstract reasoning. Memory-scanning rates were unrelated to intelligence measures.