cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metabotropic glutamate receptor agonists evoke calcium waves in isolated Müller cells

Glutamate is the most prominent excitatory neurotransmitter in the retina and brain. It has become clear that the physiology of many glial cells, including retinal Muller cells, is modified by a host of neurotransmitters, including glutamate. The experiments presented here demonstrate that Muller cells isolated from the tiger salamander retina have metabotropic glutamate receptors that, when activated, lead to the release of calcium ions (Ca2+) from intracellular stores. The Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent dye, Fura-2, and video imaging microscopy were used to monitor changes in cytosolic calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]i) evoked by glutamate (30-50 microM), (1S,3R)-ACPD (50-200 microM), quisqualate (10-50 microM), and L-AP4 (5-100 microM). Bath application of each of these metabotropic receptor agonists in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ resulted in an increase in [Ca2+]i that often began in the distal end of the cell and occurred later in the endfoot. This wavelike increase in [Ca2+]i is reminiscent of the Ca2+ waves evoked in these cells by other Ca2+ releasing agents such as ryanodine and caffeine. Extracellular application ofATP also evoked increases in [Ca2+] in Muller cells. The presence on Muller cells of receptors for retinal neurotransmitters, such as glutamate and ATP, demonstrates that these glial cells can respond to changes in the retinal extracellular environment and hence neuronal activity. Since Muller cells span almost all layers of the retina, they are likely to be exposed to most retinal neurotransmitters. The Ca2+ waves evoked in Muller cells by neurotransmitters could represent a form of signaling from the outer retinal layers to the inner ones.
Lesions of the amygdaloid central nucleus block conditioned cardiac arrhythmias in the rabbit receiving digitalis.

Abstract We have previously reported [15] that malignant cardiac arrhythmias can be evoked in the rabbit receiving digitalis by cardiovascular changes in response to (a) a Pavlovian aversively conditioned stimulus (CS) or (b) electrical stimulation of the amygdaloid central nucleus (ACE), a structure which contributes to Pavlovian-conditioned cardiovascular responses in the rabbit. The present study was designed to examine further the role of the ACE in arrhythmogenesis by determining the effect of lesions of the ACE on the occurrence of CS-evoked arrhythmias during digitalis administration in the rabbit. Two groups of rabbits (ACE lesion and SHAM) received electrodes implanted bilaterally in the ACE, while a third group (UNOP) served as an unoperated control. All rabbits were given Pavlovian conditioning trials in which a tone conditioned stimulus (CS) was paired with an eyelid shock as an unconditioned stimulus (US). Twenty-four h later, rabbits in the lesion group received bilateral lesions of the ACE. Twenty-four h after the lesion, rabbits in all three groups were given a retention test in which an i.v. infusion of ouabain was delivered, followed by 20 CS alone trials. Presence or absence of arrhythmias was scored during the pre-CS baseline and CS periods for each trial. All three groups exhibited few instances of pre-CS baseline arrhythmias, the frequency of which did not differ between groups. The SHAM and UNOP control groups exhibited a significant increase in the occurrence of CS-arrhythmias compared to pre-CS levels. This increase was blocked in the group receiving lesions of the ACE, as was CS-induced bradycardia which typically occurs in response to the CS in the rabbit. These results provide further evidence for the role of the ACE in the complex interaction of behavioral, neural and cardiovascular variables leading to arrhythmogenesis.
Few-electron physics in a nanotube quantum dot with spin-orbit coupling

We study the few-electron eigenspectrum of a nanotube quantum dot with spin-orbit coupling. The two-electron phase diagram as a function of the length of the dot and the applied parallel magnetic field shows clear signatures of both spin-orbit coupling and electron-electron interaction. Below a certain critical length, ground state transitions are correctly predicted by a single-particle picture and are mainly independent of the length of the dot despite the presence of strong correlations. However, for longer quantum dots the critical magnetic field strongly decreases with increasing length, which is a pure interaction effect. In fact, the new ground state is spin- and valley-polarized, which implies a strong occupation of higher longitudinal modes.
Mixed-mode oscillations in the electrodissolution of copper in acetic acid/acetate buffer

Abstract A sequence of alternating periodic and chaotic current oscillations was found during the electrodissolution of a rotating copper disc in an acetic acid/sodium acetate buffer. The mixed-mode oscillations consist of combinations of large and small amplitude oscillations in peak current that were generated by incrementing the rotation rate of the copper electrode under potentiostatic control at 770 mV versus the saturated calomel electrode. Return maps of the chaotic intermediates were obtained and chaotic attractors were reconstructed in a three dimensional phase space using the method of time delays. The largest Lyapunov exponent was calculated to confirm the existence of deterministic chaos.
Polycystic ovary syndrome: Syndrome XX?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is now recognized as an important metabolic and reproductive disorder. It is associated with substantial defects in insulin action and secretion that confer a markedly increased risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Insulin resistance modifies reproductive function both by the direct actions of insulin on steroidogenesis and by disruption of insulin signaling pathways in the central nervous system. These insights have led to a new therapy for PCOS with insulin-sensitizing agents. Hyperandrogenemia and insulin resistance cluster in PCOS families, consistent with a genetic susceptibility to these abnormalities. There is evidence for both linkage and association of the hyperandrogenemia phenotype with an allele of a marker locus on chromosome 19, in the region of the gene encoding the insulin receptor.
Studies of Lipase Action. III. Lipase Action in the Milk of Individual Cows

Summary A study was made of lipolysis in the milk of 61 individual cows. A great deal of variation was found in the rates of lipolysis in different samples, and in the response of different samples to activation by warming and cooling. There was no apparent correlation between the rates of lipolysis and the stage of lactation, the stage of gestation, or the milk production of the individual cows. In some of these samples, the formaldehyde-tolerant lipase predominated; in others, the formaldehyde-sensitive enzyme was more important. Most of the samples contained both enzymes.
The Development of Analytical Cartography: A Personal Note

I initiated a course with the title ‘Analytical Cartography’ in the late 1960’s at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. At the request of Dr. H. Moellering of Ohio State University (who was at one time a student in the course) a short personal historical perspective of the development of the course was presented at the recent Hawaii meeting of the Association of American Geographers. That review tried to put the subject and the development of the course in the context of the time. This is a written synopsis of the Hawaii presentation.
Gas-liquid chromatographic study and estimation of several urinary aromatic acids.

Abstract A procedure for the separation of urinary acids as trimethylsilyl ethermethyl ester and methyl ester derivatives by temperature-programed gas chromatography has been developed. The liquid phase is 10% F-60. The excretion level of individual acids may be measured quantitatively after determination of response factors for the derivatives. A solvent extraction isolation procedure is suitable for aromatic compounds; nonaromatic compounds are extracted reproducibly but not quantitatively. Since the present method leads to derivatives of glucuronides and other nonaromatic acids in addition to aromatic acids, it provides a way of observing a pattern or profile of metabolic relationships that covers a wide range of compounds. Alterations in these patterns may result from environmental change, drug administration, or pathologic circumstances, and in these instances it may be more important to study over-all changes than to estimate several specific compounds. The determination of selected compounds and an analysis of pattern changes (without determination of response factors) can be made from the same chart, so that both qualitative and quantitative observations are obtained for each experiment. The method is being used in studies of drug effects, and for a study of developmental biochemistry for the neonate. The method may also be useful in studies of comparative biochemistry.
Spectroscopies I have known—Award address: Philips ACS Award in Applied Polymer Science

This review paper demonstrates the development of a number of spectroscopic techniques for the characterization of polymers including dispersive infrared, laser-excited Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging. A discussion is given of the roles that these techniques have in the arsenal of the polymer scientist and the nature of the contributions from the author's laboratory.
Nosocomial pneumonia in patients having bone marrow transplant. Attributable mortality and risk factors.

The authors performed a matched historic cohort study to determine the attributable mortality and risk factors for nosocomial pneumonia in bone marrow transplant (BMT) recipients. All patients with nosocomial pneumonia at a university tertiary care center were identified by a prospective surveillance system between 1980 and 1988. Control patients were selected from the population of BMT patients. The crude mortality for 55 patients with nosocomial pneumonia was 74.5% (95% confidence interval [CI 95 ], 63% to 86%). The excess or attributable mor tality was 61.8% (CI 95 43.7% to 80%)
Ion chamber response and Awall correction factors in a 60Co beam by Monte Carlo simulation

The responses and wall correction factors for ion chambers in broad parallel 60Co beams have been calculated using Monte Carlo techniques. The calculated responses are in good agreement with Bragg-Gray cavity theory. In particular, the response divided by the wall correction factor Awall is found to be independent of the detector's shape but dependent on the material used for the chamber wall in a manner predicted by Bragg-Gray cavity theory. A simple theory is given which predicts the increase in response of a Farmer ion chamber due to an electrode of an arbitrary material and radius. The change in chamber response as a function of build-up cap composition is in good agreement with analytic expressions. The effect of guard regions in pancake chambers is found to be negligible. Embedding a pancake chamber in a flat phantom during calibration is shown to increase the response by 1.0+or-0.2%. Calculated values of Awall are in good agreement with most experimental results and with those given in the AAPM protocol but with a considerably lower uncertainty of +or-0.2%. When using these values with the AAPM protocol, the beta cep factor should not be used since it is included in these calculated values.
Competitive inhibition of succinoxidase by acetylene dicarboxylate.

Acetylene dicarboxylate (ADC) is a competitive inhibitor of succinoxidase. The apparent dissoeiation constant of the ADC-enzyme complex is about 1/5 that of the succinate-enzyme complex when the inbibitor is added to the enzyme after or along with the substrate. However, when the enzyme, inbibitor, and substrate are incubated 18 hours before assay, the value of K/sub 1/ is about 1/25 that of K. (auth)
Creating a memory palace using a computer

A memory palace is a mnemonic device used heavily during the Renaissance. The idea of a memory palace is to create a mental house in which to store symbolic images that can later serve as cues for information retrieval. Much has been made in the psychological literature about the importance of contextual cues for information retrieval. A memory palace serves as an effective way to organize and create contextual cues that can be used later for memory recall. The memory palace project is an attempt to import this completely mental construct into a format a user can manipulate using a computer or PDA.
heuristic and statistical support for protocol analysis with SHAPA version 2.01

This paper describes SHAPA Version 2.01, an interactive program for performing verbal protocol analysis. Verbal protocol analysis is a time-consuming activity that has hitherto typically been done by hand, whereas SHAPA represents an attempt to build a software environment to aid (but not replace) researchers in this activity. SHAPA allows researchers to develop an encoding vocabulary, to apply it to raw verbal protocol files, and to perform various types of data aggregation and data reduction. When performing verbal protocol analysis, researchers often try out different possible coding schemes before settling on the most effective one. SHAPA has been designed to support quick alterations to an encoding vocabulary and to support the rigorous statistical analysis of content and patterns (sequential data analysis) in protocol data. It is intended as an exploratory, as well as analytical, tool and has been designed to be easy for novices to learn and use, yet fluid and powerful for experts. A prototype version of SHAPA has already been used by a sample of researchers, and their experiences and requests have guided the programming of the present much more powerful version.
Leiomyoma: genetics, assisted reproduction, pregnancy and therapeutic advances

Uterine leiomyomas are common, benign, reproductive tract tumors affecting a majority of reproductive aged women. They are associated with gynecologic morbidity and detrimentally affect reproductive potential. The etiology of leiomyomas is poorly understood and their diagnosis prior to treatment with Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) represents a management dilemma. The purpose of this paper is to review known genetic and molecular contributions to the etiologies of leiomyomas, describe their impact on ART outcomes and reproductive potential, and review alternative therapies and future directions in management. A critical review of the literature pertaining to genetic component of uterine leiomyomas, their impact on ART and pregnancy and leiomyoma therapeutics was performed. Uterine leiomyomas are characterized by complex molecular mechanisms. Their location and size determines their potential detriment to ART and reproductive function and novel therapeutic modalities are being developed. The high prevalence of uterine leiomyomas and their potential detrimental influence on ART and reproductive function warrants continued well-designed studies to ascertain their etiology, optimal treatment and novel less morbid therapies.
A radiometric TLC assay of liver microsomal dextromethorphan O-demethylation

A simple and sensitive assay for in vitro analysis of dextromethorphan O-demethylation, a marker for P450 2D deficiency in both humans (2D6) and rats (2D1), has been devised. Commercially available [N-methyl-3H]-dextromethorphan was used to develop a radiometric TLC assay for dextromethorphan O-demethylation. Hexane-triethylamine efficiently extracted dextromethorphan and metabolites from rat liver microsomes, and a solvent system of cyclohexane-toluene-diethylamine (65:15:20, v/v/v) provided sufficient separation (approximately 2 cm) between the two radioactive bands, dextromethorphan and dextrorphan, and no interference from the unlabeled N-demethylation products, 3-methoxymorphinan and 3-hydroxymorphinan. The recovery of dextrorphan from TLC plates increases with microsomal protein and incubation time. An eight-fold decrease in activity was noted in female Dark Agouti relative to the male Sprague-Dawley rats, respective models for poor and extensive P450 2D metabolizers. The assay, even with an approximately 100-fold dilution of radiolabeled substrate, had an approximate limit of detection of 100 pmol. Within- and between-run imprecision was 12.4% and 7.2%, respectively. The radiometric TLC assay for dextromethorphan O-demethylation was sensitive and easy, and used readily available equipment.
Optical Design for Computational Imaging Instruments

Using electronic sensors and computation, optical instruments that acquire images solely for algorithmic interpretation are increasingly frequent. High depth of focus, high resolution, and wide fields are simultaneously achieved with joint optical and computational designs.
CONJUGATE REINFORCEMENT OF RADIO LISTENING

-In conjugate reinforcement the rate of S s responding directly controls the intensity of a reinforcing event. Four conjugate contingencies were used to evaluate radio listening as a reinforcer for human operant responding. Results from 2 Ss clearly demonstrated that radio listening can be used like other events to reinforce response rates. The method of directly recording the listening response was also sensitive to commercials.
Testing a model of situational self-efficacy for safer sex among college students: Stage of change and gender-based differences

Abstract The Transtheoretical model has advanced theory and treatment of the addictions and other health behaviors. but few applications exist for safer sex adoption. In this study, situational confidence in safer sex. situational temptation for unprotected sex, and stages of change questionnaires were developed and administered to 305 sexually active male and female college students. This sample was split randomly into halves for (1) initial model development and testing and (2) confirmatory model testing. Additional model confirmation was obtained by examining the hierarchical structure of the measures and stage of change and gender group differences. Results supported this transthcoretical model-based application of situational confidence in safer sex behavior and situational temptation for unprotected sex and yielded several alternative brief, internally consistent instruments. Understanding self-efficacy for safer sex will yield important information for enhancing safer sex adoption and adherence at ...
Modeling inverted biomass pyramids and refuges in ecosystems

Abstract Although the existence of robust inverted biomass pyramids (IBPs) seems paradoxical, they are well known to exist in planktonic communities, and have recently been discovered in pristine coral reefs and in a reef off the North Carolina coast. Understanding the underlying mechanisms which produce inverted biomass pyramids provides new ecological insights. Some ecologists hypothesize that “the high growth rate of prey and low death rate of predators” causes IBPs. However, we show this is not always the case (see Sections 3.1 and 4). We devise predator–prey models to describe three mechanisms that can lead to IBPs: (1) well-mixed populations with large prey turn-over rate, (2) well-mixed populations with prey immigration, and (3) non-mixed populations where the prey can hide in refuges. The three models are motivated by the three ecosystems where IBPs have been observed. We also devise three refuge mediated models, with explicit refuge size, which incorporate different prey responses in the refuge, and we discuss how these lead to IBPs.
Roles of methionine transfer RNA's in protein synthesis in rabbit reticulocytes.

Abstract DEAE-Sephadex column chromatography of crude rabbit liver transfer RNA gives rise to three peaks of methionine-acceptor activity. Only one of these tRNAMet species (tRNAfMet) † could be charged by Escherichia coli synthetase and, as previously reported, could be formylated by E. coli formylase. The other two tRNAMet species (tRNAm1Met and tRNAm2Met) could not be charged by E. coli synthetase. The coding properties of the tRNAMet species were studied in a cell-free protein synthesizing system obtained from rabbit reticulocytes with poly r(A-U-G) messenger and endogenous messenger in reticulocyte ribosomes. These studies indicated that with rabbit reticulocytes, tRNAfMet recognizes specifically the terminal methionine codon (AUG) and transfers methionine to the N-terminal positions of the polypeptide chains while tRNAmMet recognizes specifically the internal methionine codon (AUG) and inserts methionine into the internal positions of the polypeptide chains.
How good is the neosquamous epithelium

Background/Aims: Endoscopic radiofrequency ablation of dysplastic Barrett's esophagus (BE) combined with proton pump inhibitor therapy is commonly utilized for pr
Interaction of heparin with annexin V

The energetics and kinetics of the interaction of heparin with the Ca +2 and phospholipid binding protein annexin V, was examined and the minimum oligosaccharide sequence within heparin that binds annexin V was identified. Affinity chromatography studies confirmed the Ca +2 dependence of this binding interaction. Analysis of the data obtained from surface plasmon resonance afforded a Kd of V21 nM for the interaction of annexin V with end-chain immobilized heparin and a Kd of V49 nM for the interaction with end-chain immobilized heparan sulfate. Isothermal titration calorimetry showed the minimum annexin V binding oligosaccharide sequence within heparin corresponds to an octasaccharide sequence. The Kd of a heparin octasaccharide binding to annexin V was V1 WM with a binding stoichiometry of 1:1. z 1999 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.
Accelerating robust 3D pose estimation utilizing a graphics processing unit

A spin-image pose estimation algorithm is an accurate method for estimating pose of three-dimensional objects while being both robust to clutter and sensor noise. Unfortunately, the algorithm has a high computational complexity, thus preventing its use in applications that require a robotic system to interact with a dynamic environment. Upon inspection, the spin-image algorithm can be broken down into five portions where a single portion called spin-image matching commands 96% of the computation time in estimating pose. Because, the matching of individual spin-images can be performed independently regardless of order, this portion of the algorithm is ideal for the massively parallel architecture of the graphics processing unit (GPU). This paper introduces a GPU implementation of the spin-image matching portion of the spin-image algorithm whick makes no modifications to the spin-image algorithm, thus no compromising its robustness and accuracy. This implementation results in a speed-up in spin-image matching of 515x and total algorithmic speed-up of 24.6x out of a theoretical maximum of 26.0x over a MATLAB implementation. This GPU implementation extends the use of the spin-image algorithm towards practical real-time robotic applications.
Ex vivo blood vessel imaging using ultrasound-modulated optical microscopy

Recently we developed ultrasound-modulated optical microscopy (UOM) based on a long-cavity confocal Fabry-Perot interferometer (CFPI). This interferometer is used for real-time detection of multiply scattered light modulated by high frequency (30 to 75 MHz) ultrasound pulses propagating in an optically, strongly scattering medium. In this work, we use this microscope to study the dependence of ultrasound-modulated optical signals on the optical absorption and scattering properties of objects embedded about 3 mm deep in tissue mimicking phantoms. These results demonstrate that UOM has the potential to map both optical absorption and scattering contrast. Most importantly, for the first time in the field of ultrasound-modulated optical imaging, we image blood vasculature in highly scattering tissue samples from a mouse and a rat. Therefore, UOM could be a promising tool to study the morphology of blood vasculature and blood-associated functional parameters, such as oxygen saturation.
Mitochondrial distribution and function in oocytes and early embryos

Active mitochondria relocate during oocyte maturation or fertilization in several species. Detailed studies with hamster oocytes and early embryos reveal a pattern of active mitochondria migrating to surround the pronuclei to form a pattern that persists through the early cleavage stages. Although the functional significance of this relocation is unknown, it appears to be an important part of normal development in hamsters. Treatments that disrupt embryo development in vitro (such as the presence of inorganic phosphate or alteration of intracellular pH) also disrupt the normal pattern of mitochondrial distribution. Active mitochondria also reorganize during maturation in bovine oocytes and during fertilization in rhesus monkey oocytes. Examination of these changes in mitochondrial organization may provide insights into the regulation of normal embryo development and might serve as predictors of oocyte or embryo developmental competence.
Variations in food and water intake in the normal and acyclic female rat.

Abstract Normal intact adult Sprague-Dawley rats were housed in small metabolic cages kept in an isolated constant environment room. Daily measurements were made of voluntary ad lib food and water intake (FWI), urine and fecal output (UFO), body weight and stage of estrous cycle for several months. A significant depression in FWI and UFO was seen at estrus. These parameters were studied during two anestrous states: (a) during presumed pseudopregnancy (diestrous vaginal smear for 14–21 days) the FWI and UFO increased and remained relatively stable until spontaneous estrous cycles resumed when again they showed significant depressions at the time of estrous; (b) following ovariectomy FWI and UFO increased, reached a plateau in about 20 days and showed no periods of depression. Measurements of food intake showed that the rats ate 84 per cent of their daily consumption during the dark period. A sample of rats kept in the same environment were tested with virile males and found to be sexually receptive during that dark period when the vaginal smear was fully cornified and the FWI and UFO depressed. The cyclic suppression in food intake appears to be associated with the neuroendocrine events related to ovulation, ovarian estrogen may be the key factor.
Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy in children on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Bleeding is one of the most feared complications of veno-arterial (V-A) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and is also a potential complication of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FFB). We retrospectively reviewed 14 patients who underwent FFB procedures with bronchial washings (BW) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) to evaluate the safety of this procedure in children on ECMO. Standard FFB with BAUBW technique was used after stabilization on ECMO. Three patients underwent two procedures each, and one patient underwent three, for a total of 19 procedures. No significant complications, such as bleeding have occurred. Three patients required additional ECMO support shortly after FFB. After the 16 procedures done for atelectasis, seven patients improved radiographically, three had increased opacifications, and six were unchanged. The remaining three patients had suspected pulmonary infections, and in each, therapeutic decisions were guided by the BAL results. Lung compliance was unchanged or improved after 11 of 13 procedures. We conclude that FFB with BAUBW in children on ECMO is safe and may benefit certain patients. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1993; 16:215–218. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Application of the health belief model: Development of the hearing beliefs questionnaire (HBQ) and its associations with hearing health behaviors

To develop a hearing beliefs questionnaire (HBQ) that assesses hearing beliefs within the constructs of the health belief model, and to investigate whether HBQ scores are associated with hearing health behaviors. Design: A 60-item version of the questionnaire was developed and completed by 223 participants who also provided information about their hearing health behaviors (help seeking, hearing-aid acquisition, and hearing-aid use). Study sample: Individuals aged between 22 and 90 years recruited from a primary care waiting area at a Veterans hospital. Seventy-six percent were male, 80% were Veterans. Results: A 26-item version of the HBQ with six scales was derived using factor analysis and reliability analyses. The scales measured: perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefi ts, perceived barriers, perceived self-effi cacy, and cues to action. HBQ scores differed signifi cantly between individuals with different hearing health behaviors. Logistic regression analyses resulted in robust models of hearing health behaviors that correctly classifi ed between 59% and 100% of participant hearing health behaviors. Conclusions: The HBM appears to be an appropriate framework for examining hearing health behaviors, and the HBQ is a valuable tool for assessing hearing health beliefs and predicting hearing health behaviors.
The desire to win: The effects of competitive arousal on motivation and behavior

Abstract The paper theoretically elaborates and empirically investigates the “competitive arousal” model of decision making, which argues that elements of the strategic environment (e.g., head-to-head rivalry and time pressure) can fuel competitive motivations and behavior. Study 1 measures real-time motivations of online auction bidders and finds that the “desire to win” (even when winning is costly and will provide no strategic upside) is heightened when rivalry and time pressure coincide. Study 2 is a field experiment which alters the text of email alerts sent to bidders who have been outbid; the text makes competitive (vs. non-competitive) motivations salient. Making the desire to win salient triggers additional bidding, but only when rivalry and time pressure coincide. Study 3, a laboratory study, demonstrates that the desire to win mediates the effect of rivalry and time pressure on over-bidding.
The Antihypertensive and Natriuretic Endocrine Function of the Kidney: Vascular and Metabolic Mechanisms of the Renal Prostaglandins

The regulation of the extracellular and intracellular milieu in which all vital cell functions take place is a highly complex phenomenon involving intricate inter-reactions among various hemodynamic, humoral, metabolic and transport phenomena. The central role of the kidney in the maintenance of such homeostatic regulation has for years been widely appreciated. This is particularly reflected by the intense investigations which have been directed to the role of the kidney in the regulation of systemic arterial blood pressure and the mechanisms whereby the kidney, by virtue of its unique reabsorptive, excretory and metabolic activities, is capable of maintaining a remarkably constant internal environment. In the latter instance much attention has been given to the mechanism of sodium transport by the kidney since from an evolutionary standpoint the capacity fcr renal retention or elimination of sodium and water is considered to be a pivotal homeostatic function in the adaptation of terrestrial life to an environment in which exposure to sodium may be minimal or excessive.
VLSI implementation of cellular neural networks

A cellular neural network (CNN) which is an example of very-large-scale analog processing or collective analog computation is presented. The CNN architecture combines some features of fully connected analog neural networks with the nearest-neighbor interactions found in cellular automata. VLSI implementation of these circuits is discussed. Though the circuits described have been fabricated for noise removal and connected segment extraction, most of the features of the VLSI circuits are shared by VLSI implementations of other processing functions. >
Tracheotomy-related pressure sores in critically ill patients

Tracheotomy-related pressure sores in critically ill patients Harry S. Hwang, MD1; Lauren J. Luk, BS2; Eric J. Kezirian, MD3; Hildegarde M. Schell-Chaple, RN4; Susan Barbour, RS4; Wendy Ma, BS3; Ivan El-Sayed, MD3 1Boston University School of Medicine Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, 2University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine 3University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery 4University of California, San Francisco School of Nursing
Delivering Tobacco Control Interventions in Adolescent Health Care Visits: Time for Action

In this issue of Pediatrics , Schauer et al1 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Office on Smoking and Health report on data from the 2011 Youth Tobacco Survey, a nationally representative sample of >18 000 6th- through 12th-grade students. They examined tobacco use and tobacco control measures, the rate of smoking, and the likelihood of being asked about smoking and being advised to quit or assisted with quitting by a clinician. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the first Surgeon General’s report on tobacco.2 In these 5 decades, the evidence base for the harms caused by tobacco and for the opportunity for clinicians to prevent initiation and to promote smoking cessation have continued to grow stronger. As has been seen in other youth … Address correspondence to Jonathan D. Klein, MD, MPH, FAAP, Julius B. Richmond Center, American Academy of Pediatrics, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007. E-mail: jklein{at}aap.org
Charles Bell’s seeing hand: Teaching anatomy to the senses in Britain, 1750–1840

Charles Bell’s Bridgewater Treatise on the hand should be read as elaborating philosophies of pedagogy and the senses, and as fitting with Bell’s work on the nervous system. In The Hand, Bell argues that sensory reception must be coupled with muscular action to establish true knowledge, elevating the ‘doing’ hand to epistemological parity with the long-superior ‘seeing’ eye. Knowledge in anatomy was typically couched in terms to do with sight and depiction; but according to Bell, anatomy simply could not teach the sort of feeling that one would encounter inside a living body. Instead, anatomy taught students to map the parts so that their fingers, moving through a surgical field, could ‘see’ and therefore could know and could act. This elevation of the status of the hand also had social implications that fit with Bell’s reformist politics.
A SOCIAL HISTORY OF EARLY ARAB PHOTOGRAPHY OR A PROLEGOMENON TO AN ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE LEBANESE IMAGO

Viewing an exhibition of civil war paintings in 1886, Lea Barakat wrote that her “country came to mind: the splendor of its ruins, the wonders of their form like the fortress of Baalbek, the ruins of Palmyra, and the scenes of Lebanon…” Native women should paint like this, she states, and “not leave a scene [of Lebanon] unpainted… They can decorate the rooms of their homes and sitting rooms with these pictures…” She concludes that “since the ladies of our country are smarter and more industrious in their handcrafts than [American] ladies,” they too can obtain a similar level of “wealth, honorable work, admiration of the masses, and praise for the virtue of their [arts and crafts]. This study is a prolegomenon to examining the topography of visual culture and modernity to which Barakat alludes. Rather than painting, this article focuses on photography produced by Arabs during the late Ottoman and early Mandate periods in Lebanon. Less concerned with using photographs to document social transformations, this study theorizes how production and deployment of the photographic image played a part in the conceptualization of a bourgeois individualist subjectivity in Lebanon, which is claimed not to exist in the Arab world.
Tidal-flat sedimentation at cooley landing, Southwest San Francisco bay

Abstract Tidal-marsh and mud-flat sedimentation is being studied on portions of the southwestern side of San Francisco Bay. Sediments transported and deposited within this low-energy environment range primarily between 9 and 10.50ϕ in diameter and are distributed in accordance with a principle of scour and settling lag proposed for sediments in the North Sea. The finer sediments are concentrated nearer the higher portions of the tidal flats and marshes where lower ebb-flow velocities are unable to transport them farther bayward. Greater quatities of bedload sediment are moved on the flood that on the ebb portions of the tidal cycle both on the tidal-flat and through the marsh-channel system. Flow conditions peculiar to the marsh-mud flat interface result in the bulk of sedimentation occurring on the uppermost tidal flats, at the base of the marsh. A sediment budget is maintained within the tidal marshes, whereby the growth of the tidal channels accompanies the extension of the marsh onto the tidal flat. This development is documented on aerial photographs taken over a 6-year period. An equilibrium condition will be reached when deposition of sediments at the front of the marsh is matched by erosion of these deposits by the swifter tidal currents that are present as the marsh front approaches the main bay channel. Additional data are necessary before these processes may be extrapolated to other portions of the bay. Higher shear strengths and densities are displayed by the slightly elevated tidal-channel levees than are present for the adjacent mud flats because of the longer periods of desiccation the levees experience. X-radiologic studies of near-surface tidal-flat mud slabs show sedimentary structures not apparent in photographs, and suggest penecontemporaneous deformation of the muds.
SmD3 Regulates Intronic Noncoding RNA Biogenesis

Accumulation of excess lipid in nonadipose tissues is associated with oxidative stress and organ dysfunction and plays an important role in diabetic complications. To elucidate molecular events critical for lipotoxicity, we used retroviral promoter trap mutagenesis to generate mutant Chinese hamster ovary cell lines resistant to lipotoxic and oxidative stress. A previous report of a mutant from this screen demonstrated that under lipotoxic conditions, small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) in the rpL13a gene accumulate in the cytosol and serve as critical mediators of lipotoxic cell death. We now report a novel, independent mutant in which a single provirus disrupted one allele of the gene encoding the spliceosomal protein SmD3, creating a model of haploinsufficiency. We show that snoRNA expression and the abundance of snoRNA-containing intron lariats are decreased in SmD3 mutant cells, even though haploinsufficiency of SmD3 supports pre-mRNA splicing. The mechanism through which SmD3 regulates the expression of intronic snoRNAs likely involves effects of SmD3 on the levels of small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) U4 and U5. Our data implicate SmD3 as a critical determinant in the processing of intronic noncoding RNAs in general and as an upstream mediator of metabolic stress response pathways through the regulation of snoRNA expression.
Unusual Presentation of Recurrent Pyogenic Bilateral Psoas Abscess Causing Bilateral Pulmonary Embolism by Iliac Vein Compression.

Patient: Male, 47 Final Diagnosis: Bilateral psoas abscess • acute lower extremity deep vein thrombosis • bilateral pulmonary embolism Symptoms: Progressive left leg swelling • productive cough with whitish sputum • right flank pain Medication: Antibiotics and anticoagulation Clinical Procedure: CT-guided percutaneous drain placement Specialty: Internal Medicine/Critical Care Objective: Unusual presentation
Very Small Scale Electrostatic-Confinement Fusion Apparatus

This paper reports the design and the testing results of a novel new electrostatic-confinement fusion apparatus. The apparatus has achieved a fusion triple product of 1.5 times 1019 s middot m-3 middot keV, which was verified computationally and through direct testing. The apparatus is based on the fundamental concept of creating a plasma-confinement zone with a cross-sectional area that shrinks to nearly zero at one point, while accelerating the plasma to an energy of 100 keV within that zone. It is anticipated that further refinements to the technology will allow the new device to attain and exceed the performance of magnetic-confinement machines in the near future. Characterized by a small size, the new device will be ideal for portable and small-scale energy-generation applications once the break-even conditions are reached.
Sparse representations for codes and the hardness of decoding LDPC codes

The maximum likelihood decoding problem is known to be NP-hard for binary linear codes, while belief propagation decoding is known to work well in practice for several LDPC codes. In this paper we give a polynomial time reduction from the maximum likelihood decoding (MLD) problem for binary linear codes to the weighted MLD problem for (3,3)- LDPC codes. The reduction proves the NP-hardness of weighted MLD for (3,3)-LDPC codes. It also provides a method which can be used to transform the decoding problem for dense codes to the decoding of sparse codes. The later problem is often more amenable to the use of belief propagation algorithm. For ease of presentation, we have organized the total reduction in several intermediate reductions, most of which are elementary and easy to follow.
Investigating the Routes of Communication on Destination Websites

Understanding the communication process on destination websites is increasingly important to destination marketers. This study tested four competing models that present the cognitive processing of potential tourists when browsing destination websites (Affect Transfer Model, Reciprocal Mediation Model, Independent Influences Model, and Message-based Persuasion Model). The moderating effect of involvement in the four models was also investigated. Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate the four alternative models. The comparison for model fit in high- and low-involvement groups revealed that the Reciprocal Mediation Model and Message-based Persuasion Model are the superior models for the two groups, respectively. The study also showed that cognitive elaboration and affective transfer are incorporated into information processing in both groups.
A Reputational Study of Academic Publishers.

In both selecting individual titles and designing gathering plans, collection development librarians are strongly influenced by the perceptions they have about publishers. In the near absence of data that might indicate the overall perceptions the collection development community has about academic publishers, the authors distributed a reputational assessment survey to a national sample of heads of collection development in academic libraries. The resulting data on perceptions of the quality and academic relevance of selected publishers' monographs are reported and analyzed.
Clinical Pharmacology of 99mTc-labeled Liposomes in Patients with Cancer

Abstract The pharmacokinetics, organ distribution, and 24-hr urinary excretion of negatively charged 99mTc-labeled multilamellar liposomes, composed of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine and dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol in a 7:3 molar ratio, were studied in seven patients with cancer. The radiolabeled liposomes were administered i.v. in three doses: 150 mg/sq m of body surface area; 300 mg/sq m; and 450 mg/sq m of lipid. The dose of 99mTc was 4.8 to 7.6 mCi per patient. The plasma disappearance curve was biphasic (half-life α = 5.53 min, half-life β = 289 min), suggesting a two-compartmental model of distribution. The calculated volume of distribution indicated considerable tissue retention of liposomes. This was confirmed by body imaging. Twenty-four hr after injection, liposomes were localized in organs rich in reticuloendothelial cells, i.e., liver [44.5 ± 9.1% (S.E.)], spleen [25.5 ± 7.7%], lung [14.5 ± 4.9%], and bone marrow. Although the hepatic uptake accounted for more than 40% of the total uptake, the spleen retained liposomes at a higher density. Cumulative urinary excretion of radioactivity was 13.4 ± 1.5% over 24 hr. Liposome administration was safe and devoid of any adverse side effects. The results provide a basis for the use of liposomes as potential target-specific and safe drug carriers in the treatment of pathological conditions that involve organs rich in reticuloendothelial cells.
Role of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Vascular Remodeling Induced by Angiotensin II

The mechanisms by which angiotensin II (AngII) elevates blood pressure and enhances end-organ damage seem to be distinct. However, the signal transduction cascade by which AngII specifically mediates vascular remodeling such as medial hypertrophy and perivascular fibrosis remains incomplete. We have previously shown that AngII-induced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) transactivation is mediated by disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain 17 (ADAM17), and that this signaling is required for vascular smooth muscle cell hypertrophy but not for contractile signaling in response to AngII. Recent studies have implicated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in hypertension. Interestingly, EGFR is capable of inducing ER stress. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that activation of EGFR and ER stress are critical components required for vascular remodeling but not hypertension induced by AngII. Mice were infused with AngII for 2 weeks with or without treatment of EGFR inhibitor, erlotinib, or ER chaperone, 4-phenylbutyrate. AngII infusion induced vascular medial hypertrophy in the heart, kidney and aorta, and perivascular fibrosis in heart and kidney, cardiac hypertrophy, and hypertension. Treatment with erlotinib as well as 4-phenylbutyrate attenuated vascular remodeling and cardiac hypertrophy but not hypertension. In addition, AngII infusion enhanced ADAM17 expression, EGFR activation, and ER/oxidative stress in the vasculature, which were diminished in both erlotinib-treated and 4-phenylbutyrate-treated mice. ADAM17 induction and EGFR activation by AngII in vascular cells were also prevented by inhibition of EGFR or ER stress. In conclusion, AngII induces vascular remodeling by EGFR activation and ER stress via a signaling mechanism involving ADAM17 induction independent of hypertension.
Bipolar Pulse Coagulation for Resection of the Cirrhotic Liver

Background The major technical challenge of liver surgery is controlling bleeding during transection of the parenchyma. The Gyrus hand piece (GHP) is a bipolar diathermy pulsation instrument that is similar in design to a large hemostat (Pean) clamp that divides tissue while the clamp remains closed. Materials and methods We retrospectively analyzed the peri-operative data from 10 patients with early cirrhosis (stage 1–4) who underwent liver resection for hepatocellular cancer between February 2004 and July 2005. Five consecutive patients who underwent resection using the GHP were compared to five other patients who underwent resection using the traditional “crush clamp technique” (CCT). Six patients underwent minor hepatectomy ( 3 segments). Results When the GHP was used, the mean Pringle time was 13 ± 5 min, mean blood loss was 520 mL ± 118, and mean operative time was 252 ± 15 min. When the CCT was used, the average Pringle time was 13 ± 3 min, mean blood loss was 630 ± 67 mL, and mean operative time was 312 ± 29 min. There were 2 major complications in the GHP group and 3 in the CCT group. Major complications included transient hepatic failure (i.e., ascites/encephalopathy) and biloma formation. Conclusions One patient from each group suffered a minor wound complication. The average hospital stay was 8 days (range, 6–9) for the GHP group, and 8 days (range, 7–10) for CCT group. The operative mortality rate was 0%. Our preliminary results demonstrate that GHP provides an excellent and safe alternative to CCT for dividing the liver parenchyma in cirrhotic patients.