cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Early midzonal cell death during low-flow hypoxia in the isolated, perfused rat liver: protection by allopurinol.

Trypan blue uptake and lactate dehydrogenase release were measured as indices of irreversible cell damage in isolated, perfused rat livers during low-flow hypoxia. In livers from fasted rats perfused in the anterograde direction, trypan blue uptake took place beginning at about 45 min of hypoxia. Cells which took up trypan blue first were located in narrow bands at the border between anoxic pericentral areas and normoxic periportal regions of the liver lobule. After longer periods of hypoxia, trypan blue uptake progressed towards the central vein until after 120 min virtually all cells in the pericentral regions were stained. Under these conditions, cells in periportal regions were spared. In perfusions in the retrograde direction, cell death began in midzonal regions and spread towards the portal vein. Release of lactate dehydrogenase into the effluent paralleled trypan blue uptake, beginning at about 40 min of low-flow hypoxia and peaking at 80 min. In contrast to livers from fasted rats, trypan blue was not taken up, and lactate dehydrogenase was not released in livers from fed rats exposed to low-flow hypoxia for as long as 120 min. To test the hypothesis that xanthine oxidase-mediated oxygen-free radical formation was involved in cell injury at the border between anoxic and normoxic regions (anoxic edge), allopurinol, an inhibitor of xanthine oxidase, was studied. Allopurinol (0.2 to 5 mM) delayed the release of lactate dehydrogenase during low-flow hypoxia in a dose-dependent fashion (e.g., 5 mM allopurinol delayed hypoxia-induced lactate dehydrogenase release by about 30 min).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
284 ANTIBODIES TO LUTEINIZING HORMONE IN A PATIENT TREATED WITH GROWTH HORMONE

Many clinical grade preparations of hGH (human growth hormone) are contaminated with hLH and hFSH. However, no evidence of a clinical effect of such contamination has been described. We report the development of antibodies to hLH in a patient treated with hGH for isolated GH deficiency. J.C. was first investigated for short stature at 7-11/12 years and GH therapy was begun at 8-9/12 years for a diagnosis of isolated GH deficiency. On LRF (luteinizing hormone releasing factor) testing, the LH rose from 0.8 to 1.2 ng/ml (LER 960); FSH response also was normal. At 11-11/12 years the patient was still prepubertal with undetectable testosterone levels. A repeat LRF test revealed an “apparent” basal plasma LH of 25.4 ng/ml. Further studies indicated that his serum had antibodies to hLH which have persisted for over 2-1/2 years on growth hormone therapy without the development of significant GH antibodies. 125I-hLH was bound to his serum in a displacable fashion; hFSH and hTSH displaced this tracer only at doses compatible with contamination of these standards by hLH. Radioiodinated hFSH, hTSH and hLH-α were not bound; the antibody is directed against the LH-β subunit. The binding capacity of the serum and the equilibrium constant for the binding reaction are sufficiently great to be physiologically significant.
REDUCED PLATE HEIGHT EQUATION: A COMMON LINK BETWEEN CHROMATOGRAPHIC METHODS.

Abstract In order to correlate the behavior and performance obtained from the many diverse forms of chromatography, a universal plate-height equation is proposed. This equation is based on the fundamental processes which are characteristic of all methods. A plot of reduced plate height versus reduced flow velocity should yield a set of universal curves, approximated by the equation, which will be applicable to any system under any operating conditions (temperature, etc.). This concept shows the possibility for relating experimental results obtained on different systems and thus transferring experimental knowledge from one system to another.
Autocrine release of TGF-β by portal fibroblasts regulates cell growth

Portal fibroblasts (PF) are a newly isolated population of fibrogenic cells in the liver postulated to play a significant role in early biliary fibrosis. Because transforming growth factor-beta (TGF)-beta is a key growth factor in fibrosis, we characterized the response of PF to TGF-beta. We demonstrate that PF produce significant amounts of TGF-beta2 and, unlike activated hepatic stellate cells (HSC), express all three TGF-beta receptors and are growth inhibited by TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2, but not platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), causes PF proliferation. These data suggest a mechanism whereby HSC eclipse PF as the dominant myofibroblast population in biliary fibrosis.
Unbridled growth of spin-glass clusters.

We investigate the application of the recent cluster-based acceleration methods of Wolff and of Kandel et al. to the problem of simulating spin glasses. We find the techniques offer no improvement as the clusters generated by these algorithms are infinitely large or interact infinitely strongly, respectively. We comment on the reasons for this failure.
The regulatory process for dental devices: a researcher's view.

Comments from the three previous speakers ranged from moderate satisfaction to strong dissatisfaction with the regulatory process. Three different types of research are identified that seem to predict the ease of compliance with the 510(k) process. No one expressed satisfaction with the PMA application. It seems that current evaluation procedures inhibit the developing and marketing of new devices, but foster only enhancements to existing de-vices. The development of new evaluation methods is advocated to provide fast, inexpensive, but rigorous assessment of the clinical safety and treatment value of new devices.
Larval gut phosphatases of Pieris rapae: Isolation and partial characterization☆

Abstract Two isozymes of alkaline phosphatase are present in the larval gut of the imported cabbage butterfly, Pieris rapae . These have been isolated by means of ammonium sulfate fractionation, column chromatography, and preparative electrophoresis. The affinity of each form for each of eighteen substrates was determined. Both forms exhibit high affinity for glucose-6-phosphate. The faster migrating form, which is specific to the larval gut, does not hydrolyze α-glycerophosphate or 6-phosphogluconate but has a high affinity for ribose derivatives, including the nucleotides. The slower migrating isozyme, which is found in many tissues of the larva and the adult, readily hydrolyzes α-glycerophosphate, 6-phosphogluconate and the phosphoamino acids. Ribose derivatives, with the exception of ADP, are poor or unsuitable substrates for this form. It is suggested that the additional capacity for active transport and rapid nucleotide metabolism represented by the larval gut-specific form may be of great advantage in carrying out the diverse and often unique functions of this tissue.
Anomaly detection in hyperspectral imagery

Anomaly detection presented in this paper does not need any kind of target information. In other words, target information plays no role in anomaly detection. The purpose of our anomaly detection is to locate and search for targets which are generally unknown, but relatively small with low probabilities in an image scene. These anomalous targets cannot be identified by prior knowledge. Two approaches are considered in this paper, the RX algorithm developed by Reed and Yu and a uniform target detector (UTD) derived from the low probability detection in Harsanyi's dissertation, both of which operate a matched filter form with different matched signals used in the individual approaches. The matched signal used in the RX algorithm is the pixel vector r while the UTD using the unity vector 1 the matched signal. In addition, they both can be implemented in real-time.
Role of the cytoskeleton in secretion of chloride by shark rectal gland.

The salt gland of the spiny dogfish, Squalus acanthias, can be stimulated to secrete chloride by two different endogenous peptides: cardiac natriuretic peptide (CNP) and the neurotransmitter, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). We examined the role of the actin cytoskeleton and of myosin light chains in this process by perfusing isolated rectal glands with and without an inhibitor of actin filament organization (cytochalasin D) and an inhibitor of myosin light chain kinase (ML-7). Cytochalasin D, 10–6 M, reduced secretion stimulated by a 1-min bolus of CNP (5×10–7 M) by 50–60%. In the presence of 10–2 M procaine (which blocks neural release of VIP), cytochalasin D completely prevented CNP stimulation. In contrast, cytochalasin D did not inhibit stimulation of the rectal gland by VIP or by forskolin. Similarly, 5×10–6M ML-7 almost completely inhibited direct stimulation of rectal gland secretion by CNP, but did not alter chloride secretion induced by VIP or forskolin. Finally, the average time between hormonal injection and activation of secretion was 2 min longer for CNP than for VIP, consistent with the hypothesis that a contractile cellular function involving the cytoskeleton is important in CNP-induced chloride secretion, but less so when secretion is stimulated by VIP.
Allelic discrimination of cis-trans relationships by digital polymerase chain reaction: GJB2 (p.V27I/p.E114G) and CFTR (p.R117H/5T).

Allelic discrimination of cis-trans relationships by digital polymerase chain reaction: GJB2 (p.V27I/p.E114G) and CFTR (p.R117H/5T)
There Is a There There: Place in African Cityscapes

AbstractThis essay proposes a theoretical framework, based in the philosophy and aesthetics of Yoruba people (Nigeria), for interpreting urban photographic series. To do so I look at oriki, a form of Yoruba oral literature, and the ways in which it resonates and intersects with Western philosophical conceptualizations of place and urban and literary theory to engender a rich and complex sense of place. I argue this by exploring two series of cityscapes: Akinbode Akinbiyi's “Lagos: All Roads,” which depicts Lagos Nigeria, and Mouna Karray's “Murmurer,” depicting Sfax, Tunisia.
Relationship among orthogonal subspace projection, constrained energy minimization and RX-algorithm

Orthogonal Subspace Projection (OSP) has been shown a successful technique for hyperspectral image analysis. It requires a linear mixture model with complete target knowledge to perform sub-pixel detection and mixed classification. Constrained energy minimization (CEM) has been also shown to be effective in sub-pixel detection and mixed pixel classification which only needs the knowledge of targets of interest. RX-algorithm which has been widely used for anomaly detection in signal processing does not require any prior target information. Interestingly, these three techniques are closely related from an aspect of information being used in these three techniques. They all perform some sort of matched filter with different levels of information used in the filter. This paper investigates and explores their relationship that sheds light on their algorithm design.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Orofacial considerations for pediatric, adult, and elderly victims of abuse.

Domestic violence is recognized as both a major health concern and a serious social problem. It is a well-known fact that domestic violence has reached epidemic proportion in the United States. 7 The intentional physical, sexual, and emotional attacks perpetrated against children, spouses, and the elderly by family members, caregivers, or purported friends can have catastrophic effects on the physical and psychological well-being of the victim. It is not uncommon for victims to be repeatedly abused before necessary and often mandatory steps are taken to protect them from further harm. Timely detection, treatment, and notification of proper authorities can prevent additional serious injury or even fatality. Health care professionals who are responsible for treating possible victims must be aware of the diagnostic signs and symptoms associated with physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. Victims who have been seriously injured could visit the Emergency Department (ED) of the community hospital to receive treatment. 21,28 Because many injuries associated with the physical or sexual abuse of children, adults, and elderly people involve the orofacial complex, it is essential for the emergency physician to recognize suspicious perioral and intraoral trauma and to consult with a dental professional who is knowledgeable in diagnosing and treating abused patients. This article offers a review of the various types of traumatic orofacial injuries that are often identified with victims of child, spouse, and elder abuse. Examples of intraoral injuries and systemic diseases that can mimic injuries caused by domestic violence are discussed. The importance of bite mark identification is also explained.
Brugia pahangi: Antibodies and microfilaremias in Lewis rats

Abstract Male and female Lewis rats were inoculated subcutaneously in the left groin with 75 infective larvae of Brugia pahangi and microfilaremias were followed for as long as 420 days postinoculation. Patent infections developed in 64% of the female rats and 95% of the male rats. Mean prepatent periods were similar (65.9 and 63.9 days, respectively), but mean microfilaremias in males rose much higher, to a mean of 218 mf/0.25 ml blood at 270 days postinoculation. IgG titers, as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), to adult worm somatic antigen were higher than those to microfilariae in almost all rats. For both sexes, the most consistently microfilaremic rats had highest titers to these antigens. Granulomas with degenerating microfilaria were present in the spleen of male rats with high microfilaremias (>100–300 mf/0.25 ml blood). Ouchterlony precipitin reactions suggested that most rats with spleen granulomas responded to microfilarial antigen components to which most rats without granulomas did not. Neither spleen granulomas nor antibody responses measured in this study appeared to have protective (microfilaremia-lowering) value. As measured by microfilaremias, the male Lewis rat is not as susceptible as some conventional hosts of B. pahangi , but it does consistently become infected and remains microfilaremic for more than a year. Preferential male susceptibility indicates that this model may be useful for studying this aspect of human lymphatic filariasis.
Long-term outcomes of salvage radiotherapy for PSA-recurrent prostate cancer: validation of the stephenson nomogram

Purpose Approximately one-third of patients who undergo radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer will ultimately develop a biochemical recurrence. We report our long-term outcomes of salvage radiotherapy (SRT), and in so doing, validate a recently published prognostic nomogram.
Psychodiagnosis of axis II

Abstract The DSM-III method of diagnosing Axis II personality disorders is reviewed, and the following points are emphasized, (a) Axis II uses a categorical system for diagnosing personality disorders, but the advantages of a dimensional system appear to outweigh the categorical approach. Two alternative dimensional models are discussed (i.e., Millon's three dimensions of active-passive, self-other, and pleasure-pain and Leary's interpersonal circumplex), and research suggestions are presented, (b) Axis II is inconsistent in the extent to which it is based on a classical or a prototypic model of categorization. Implications of a prototypic typology for testing hypotheses concerning specific etiology and treatment and for determining relative diagnostic efficiency, are presented, (c) An innovative feature of DSM-III is the use of explicit and fixed rules to increase the reliability of diagnosis. Fixed rules, however, can decrease diagnostic efficiency when the cut-off points for diagnosis are not adjusted for the local base rates. Furthermore, while it is acknowledged that operational definitions increase reliability, increased reliability can result in decreased validity. An alternative to operational definitions is the use of multiple methods of measurement of constructs convergent and divergent to the hypothetical construct in question.
0474. Circulating mitochondrial dna and vitamin d in critical illness

Of the cohort patients studied, 37% were women and 84% were white. The mean age at critical care initiation was 53.5 years (SD 14.2). The mean APACHE II score was 24.5 (SD 8.3), while 100% of the cohort had SIRS, 71% had a source of infection identified and 18% had ARDS. The mean plasma 25(OH)D was 20.6 (SD 11.4) and 28.6% of the study cohort had plasma 25(OH)D ≤ 15 ng/mL. Gross unadjusted 30-day mortality was 26.5%. The mean (SD) plasma 25(OH)D was significantly higher in patients with mtDNA < 4000 copies/ml [25(OH)D 22.0 (11.2) ng/ml] relative to those with mtDNA ≥ 4000 copies/ml [25(OH)D 14.9 (10.9) ng/mL]; P < 0.001. When the cohort was analyzed with the exposure as plasma 25(OH)D and the outcome as plasma mtDNA ≥ 4000 copies/ml, we find that patients with plasma 25(OH)D < 15 ng/mL have a significantly higher odds of having plasma mtDNA ≥ 4000 copies/ml (unadjusted OR= 7.50, 95% CI 1.53-36.79; P=0.013). 25(OH)D in the cohort remains a significant predictor of plasma mtDNA ≥ 4000 copies/ml following adjustment for age, gender, race and APACHE II (adjusted OR= 13.19, 95% CI 1.69-103.34; P=0.014). Cox proportional hazard multivariable regression modeling, adjusting for ap rioridefined covariates comprising APACHE II score, age, sex, race, and plasma 25(OH)D, showed that mtDNA was predictive of all cause mortality following critical care (HR, 4.02; 95% CI, 1.14-14.20 ng/ml). Conclusions 25(OH)D levels are associated with circulating mtDNA levels. This study cannot determine a relationship between 25(OH)D and mtDNA beyond association but raises the question as to whether vitamin D-mediated pathways might play a role in linking autophagic and inflammasome processes.
Assessing the impact of information technology on labor productivity: a field study

Abstract Measuring and understanding the productivity impact of information technology (IT) is a significant and difficult problem facing researchers. We propose that the effect of IT applications can be best understood through an analysis at the information process level. We report on a field research conducted to study the impact of IT on the toll collection system of 38 interchanges at the Pennsylvania Turnpike. We focus on an information process that is relatively uncoupled from other processes in the organization to constrain the measurement problem. In addition, this process consists of well structured information processing tasks allowing us to gain a clear understanding of the economic impact of IT on different types of transactions. Our results indicate that the new IT at the turnpike had a substantial impact on the efficiency of processing complex transactions but no impact on simple transactions. These results can only be understood by examining the nature of the toll collection process and the changes generated by the new IT on some of the information processing tasks.
Damselfish as Keystone Species in Reverse: Intermediate Disturbance and Diversity of Reef Algae

Substrates located within the defended territories of Hawaiian damselfish for 1 year were subjected to intermediate grazing intensity and, as a result, showed greater diversity of algae than substrates either protected within fish-exclusion cages or exposed to intense fish grazing outside territories. Thus, this damselfish enhances local diversity on reefs through "intermediate-disturbance" effects, and is a keystone species that decreases rather than increases overall predation intensity relative to areas where it is absent.
A Review of Recent Literature to Search for an Efficient Catalytic Process for the Conversion of Syngas to Ethanol

Alternatives to petroleum-derived fuels and chemicals are being sought in an effort to improve air quality and increase energy security through development of novel technologies for the production of synthetic fuels and chemicals using renewable energy sources such as biomass. In this context, ethanol is being considered as a potential alternative synthetic fuel to be used in automobiles or as a potential source of hydrogen for fuel cells as it can be produced from biomass. Renewable ethanol can also serve as a feedstock for the synthesis of a variety of industrial chemicals and polymers. Currently, ethanol is produced primarily by fermentation of biomass-derived sugars, especially those containing six carbons, whereas 5-carbon sugars and lignin, which are also present in the biomass, remain unusable. Gasification of biomass to syngas (CO + H2), followed by catalytic conversion of syngas, could produce ethanol in large quantities. However, the catalytic conversion of syngas to ethanol remains challenging,...
Maximum-principle-satisfying second order discontinuous Galerkin schemes for convection-diffusion equations on triangular meshes

We propose second order accurate discontinuous Galerkin (DG) schemes which satisfy a strict maximum principle for general nonlinear convection-diffusion equations on unstructured triangular meshes. Motivated by genuinely high order maximum-principle-satisfying DG schemes for hyperbolic conservation laws (Perthame, 1996) and (Zhang, 2010) [14,26], we prove that under suitable time step restriction for forward Euler time stepping, for general nonlinear convection-diffusion equations, the same scaling limiter coupled with second order DG methods preserves the physical bounds indicated by the initial condition while maintaining uniform second order accuracy. Similar to the purely convection cases, the limiters are mass conservative and easy to implement. Strong stability preserving (SSP) high order time discretizations will keep the maximum principle. Following the idea in Zhang (2012) [30], we extend the schemes to two-dimensional convection-diffusion equations on triangular meshes. There are no geometric constraints on the mesh such as angle acuteness. Numerical results including incompressible Navier-Stokes equations are presented to validate and demonstrate the effectiveness of the numerical methods.
EFFECTS OF SMALL-SCALE TURBULENCE ON PHOTOSYNTHESIS, PIGMENTATION, CELL DIVISION, AND CELL SIZE IN THE MARINE DINOFLAGELLATE GOMAULAX POLYEDRA (DINOPHYCEAE)1

Several experiments were conducted to understand better the physiological mechanisms underlying growth inhibition of the dinoflagellate Gonyaulax polyedra Stein due to small-scale turbulence shear. To measure photosynthetic 14C uptake, a “phytoplankton wheel” device for rotating cultures in closed bottles was used. Turbulence was quantified biologically in the bottles by comparing growth inhibition with that in cultures with constant shear between a fixed cylinder and an outer concentric rotating cylinder (a stable Couette flow). At saturating irradiances, particulate photosynthesis (Psat) or photosynthesis per unit chlorophyll (PBsat) were not inhibited completely at the highest turbulence level (26.6 rad.s−1), and photosynthesis was less sensitive than growth. Photosynthesis per cell (PCsat) was increased by turbulence. In three experiments on the effects of turbulence on photosynthesis versus irradiance curves, the slope of the curve, α, for particulate photosynthesis at limiting irradiances did not change. Photosynthesis per unit chlorophyll per unit irradiance (αB) decreased at high (but not intermediate) turbulence levels. Photosynthesis per cell per unit irradiance, αC, increased with turbulence, suggesting an increase in photosynthetic efficiency in turbulent cultures. In two of the three experiments, respiration rates increased with turbulence, and in one experiment excretion of photosynthetically fixed 14C was not affected by motion. Ratios of accessory pigments to chlorophyll a did not change with turbulence, but pigments per cell and per dry weight increased with turbulence. These findings suggest little or no disruption of the photosynthetic apparatus. When turbulence was applied for 1 week, β-carotene increased while peridinin and diadinoxanthin decreased, suggesting inhibition of synthesis of these latter pigments by prolonged turbulence. Since cell numbers did not increase or decreased during turbulent 72–h incubations, cell division was inhibited and also the cells were very much enlarged. Increases in αC per cell suggest that, in the sea, photo synthetic metabolism can persist efficiently without cell division during turbulent episodes. After turbulence ceases or reaches low levels again, cells can then divide and blooms may form. Thus, blooms can come or go fairly rapidly in the ocean depending on the degree of wave- and wind-induced turbulence.
Estimation of Multi-Parameter Models by Least Squares and Adaptive Filters

Parameter estimation is based upon a comparison of predicted deterministic model responses to data. The models are often numerical, e.g., finite volume, with intrinsic inaccuracies. In addition, the models typically assume a full knowledge of the physical processes. By using the concept of state variables and employing the Kalman filter approach it is possible to include undetermined effects in the model. This paper describes such an approach to the estimation of thermal conductivity in a transiently heated and cooled one dimensional system and shows that it leads to a resolution of questions about the time behavior of the residuals previously observed in an estimation based upon the least squares analysis.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Seizures and EEG findings in an adult patient with DiGeorge syndrome: A case report and review of the literature

This is the first case report to describe the EEG findings in a patient with DiGeorge syndrome who survived into adulthood. The patient developed generalized tonic-clonic seizures when she was 9 years old and these were associated with hypocalcemia. Despite treatment with calcium, seizures persisted and the patient required antiepileptic medications. She was eventually controlled with oxcarbazepine. An MRI of the head was normal. An EEG showed independent spike and wave discharges emanating from the left temporal and right frontal region. The presence of focal findings on EEG, the lack of complete response to calcium therapy, and the need for antiepileptic drug therapy indicate that some of these patients may be inherently predisposed to developing epilepsy.
Open magnetic structures on the sun

High-resolution harmonic analysis of the solar magnetic field has been used succesfully to calculate the geometry of open magnetic field lines in the solar corona. Comparison of the loci of open-field-line footpoints with solar X-ray photographs shows that all the coronal holes during two solar rotations are successfully represented, including details of their evolution. Some open magnetic configurations derived in the calculations precede by up to one solar rotation the manifestation of coincident dark areas on the X-ray photographs. The only other areas that contribute open field lines to the corona are separations between active-region loop systems. By varying the radius at which field lines are forced to be open in the calculation, it is possible to reproduce more closely the surface configuration of particular coronal holes. Comparison of the size of X-ray holes with the fraction of the solar surface covered by open field lines leads to the conclusion that a significant part of the area of coronal holes must contain closed magnetic fields. Comparison of open field lines which lie in the equatorial plane of the sun with solar-wind data indicates that eventual high-speed solar-wind streams are associated with those parts of open magnetic structures that diverge the least.
The 24 h pattern of arterial pressure in mice is determined mainly by heart rate‐driven variation in cardiac output

Few studies have systematically investigated whether daily patterns of arterial blood pressure over 24 h are mediated by changes in cardiac output, peripheral resistance, or both. Understanding the hemodynamic mechanisms that determine the 24 h patterns of blood pressure may lead to a better understanding of how such patterns become disturbed in hypertension and influence risk for cardiovascular events. In conscious, unrestrained C57BL/6J mice, we investigated whether the 24 h pattern of arterial blood pressure is determined by variation in cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance, or both and also whether variations in cardiac output are mediated by variations in heart rate and or stroke volume. As expected, arterial pressure and locomotor activity were significantly ( P < 0.05) higher during the nighttime period compared with the daytime period when mice are typically sleeping (+12.5 ± 1.0 mmHg, [13%] and +7.7 ± 1.3 activity counts, [254%], respectively). The higher arterial pressure during the nighttime period was mediated by higher cardiac output (+2.6 ± 0.3 mL/min, [26%], P < 0.05) in association with lower peripheral resistance (−1.5 ± 0.3 mmHg/mL/min, [−13%] P < 0.05). The increased cardiac output during the nighttime was mainly mediated by increased heart rate (+80.0 ± 16.5 beats/min, [18%] P < 0.05), as stroke volume increased minimally at night (+1.6 ± 0.5 μ L per beat, [6%] P < 0.05). These results indicate that in C57BL/6J mice, the 24 h pattern of blood pressure is hemodynamically mediated primarily by the 24 h pattern of cardiac output which is almost entirely determined by the 24 h pattern of heart rate. These findings suggest that the differences in blood pressure between nighttime and daytime are mainly driven by differences in heart rate which are strongly correlated with differences in locomotor activity.
Expression of Nitric Oxide Synthase Isoforms in Normal Human Tracheobronchial Epithelial Cells in Vitro: Dependence on Retinoic Acid and the State of Differentiation

The retinoic acid (RA) and differentiation dependence of constitutive expression of the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms, iNOS, eNOS, and bNOS, was examined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain recitation (RT-PCR) in cultured, normal, human, tracheobronchial epithelial (NHTBE) cells. In the presence of RA (RA+), early passage NHTBE cells grown in air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures undergo mucous differentiation; in the absence of RA (RA-), they undergo metaplastic squamous differentiation. Under both conditions the respective differentiated phenotype develops around day 10 of culture. We found that iNOS mRNA levels were much higher in RA+ cultures, expressing the mucous phenotype, than in RA- cultures, expressing the metaplastic squamous phenotype. In contrast, eNOS mRNA levels were much higher in RA- cultures than in RA+ cultures. Expression of bNOS was not significantly affected by the RA status. The pattern of expression of NOS isoforms was then studied during the course of development of the two cellular phenotypes. During the early stages of differentiation, expression of iNOS (RA+) and eNOS (RA-) was very low, indicating that the expression of these two isoforms was not only dependent on the presence or absence of RA, but also on the degree of differentiation. The differentiation dependence of bNOS mRNA was less obvious. Four days of RA treatment of RA- cultures, which reverses the squamous phenotype and restores mucous differentiation, induced iNOS expression in a concentration-dependent manner. eNOS expression was depressed by 10(-8) M RA, while bNOS mRNA levels were slightly reduced by 10(-6) M RA. No NOS proteins were detected in unstimulated RA+ and RA- cultures. iNOS protein was induced by cytokine treatment in RA+ cultures, in contrast to eNOS and bNOS protein levels, which were unaffected. Our studies show that constitutive expression of the NOS isoforms is differentially regulated and that iNOS and eNOS mRNA levels are dependent on the stage of mucous and squamous differentiation, respectively. bNOS expression was only marginally affected by the RA or differentiation status.
Polytheism, pantheism, and the ontological argument

I show that if the ontological argument is sound, it proves that a number of maximally great beings must exist. I show that maximal greatness does not imply uniqueness, that such beings can be omnipotent and yet not restrict each other's power, and that each must have its own separate stream of consciousness. I also show that attempts to unify the beings by unifying the streams of consciousness leads to a form of pantheism.
Clinical relevance of circulating angiogenic factors in patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic-fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and angiogenin are important angiogenic factors. In 65 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), pre-treatment VEGF, bFGF, and HGF levels were significantly elevated compared to normal individuals, while angiogenin levels were significantly subnormal. In 37 patients with Hodgkin's disease, pre-treatment levels of VEGF and HGF were significantly elevated, bFGF levels were normal, and angiogenin levels were significantly subnormal. In patients with NHL, post-therapy levels of angiogenin were independently predictive of survival. Both pre-therapy and post-therapy VEGF levels were independently predictive of survival in patients with HD.
Increasing Physician Acceptance of Technology Assessment Through a Focused Training Program

This paper presents the framework for a one-semester course to give physicians a better understanding of the core concepts of technology assessment, using medical instrumentation technology as a vehicle to stimulate the discussion of technology assessment and its applications. An assessment matrix has been developed as an organizational tool to identify issues in assessment to be addressed under each topic and to identify those issues that are of key importance to particular technologies. At the end of the class, the physician-student should be able to identify major types of medical instrumentation and the instrument's principal application(s), to identify the techniques of technology assessment, and to analyze the economic, ethical, and legal issues that are applicable to instrumentation.
Propagation through the atmosphere at a wavelength of 3.3mm

The general propagation characteristics of 3.3-mm waves through the atmosphere are determined. The measured absorption of the atmosphere is in fair agreement with the Van Vleck-Weisskopf theory. An approximation for the zenith attenuation in decibels through the atmosphere is 0.28+0.31w , where w is the precipitable water in centimeters. The effects of varying attenuation on the determination of the brightness temperature of extraterrestrial sources is considered. The usual radio refraction expression appears adequate for 3.3-mm waves for zenith angles less than 70 degrees.
Membrane interactions and surface hydrophobicity of Bacillus thuringiensis δ-endotoxin CryIC

The interaction between Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal 5-endotoxin CryIC and phospholipid vesicles was studied by fluorescence spectroscopy. The toxin dissipates the diffusion potential across vesicular membranes, presumably by creating ion permeable channels or pores. This effect is pH-dependent and strongly increases under acidic conditions. The enhanced membrane-perturbing activity of CryIC at low pH correlates with the increased surface hydrophobicity of the toxin molecule. The membrane permeabilizing effect of the toxin is further increased by the presence of acidic phospholipids. These findings are discussed in relation to the mode of insecticidal action of the toxin.
Reducing dimensionality in topology optimization using adaptive design variable fields

Topology optimization methodologies typically use the same discretization for the design variable and analysis meshes. Analysis accuracy and expense are thus directly tied to design dimensionality and optimization expense. This paper proposes leveraging properties of the Heaviside projection method (HPM) to separate the design variable field from the analysis mesh in continuum topology optimization. HPM projects independent design variables onto element space over a prescribed length scale. A single design variable therefore influences several elements, creating a redundancy within the design that can be exploited to reduce the number of independent design variables without significantly restricting the design space. The algorithm begins with sparse design variable fields and adapts these fields as the optimization progresses. The technique is demonstrated on minimum compliance (maximum stiffness) problems solved using continuous optimization and genetic algorithms. For the former, the proposed algorithm typically identifies solutions having objective functions within 1% of those found using full design variable fields. Computational savings are minor to moderate for the minimum compliance formulation with a single constraint, and are substantial for formulations having many local constraints. When using genetic algorithms, solutions are consistently obtained on mesh resolutions that were previously considered intractable. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Supportive communication and school outcomes, Part II: Academically “at‐risk” low income high school students

This study explores the relationship between supportive communication and school outcomes for two groups of lower socioeconomic high school students: those identified as “at‐risk “ of poor school performance and those not identified as “at‐risk. “ Results indicate that parents are major sources of social support for both groups of students; however, at‐risk students also receive support from their friends. With respect to school outcomes, different types of social support are associated with different outcomes. Also, for students not identified at‐risk, grades and school satisfaction appear to be the primary functions of support; for students identified at‐risk, however, hours studying and attendance appear to be the primary functions. Teachers and other school personnel can use the findings of this investigation as part of a plan to develop intervention strategies that utilize the social support process to affect specific school outcomes for academically at‐risk students as well as for other students.
Analysis of a quantitative trait locus for seizure susceptibility in mice using bacterial artificial chromosome-mediated gene transfer.

Summary: Purpose: Previous quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping studies from our laboratory identified a 6.6 Mb segment of distal chromosome 1 that contains a gene (or genes) having a strong influence on the difference in seizure susceptibility between C57BL/6 (B6) and DBA/2 (D2) mice. A gene transfer strategy involving a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) DNA construct that contains several candidate genes from the critical interval was used to test the hypothesis that a strain-specific variation in one (or more) of the genes is responsible for the QTL effect. Methods: Fertilized oocytes from a seizure-sensitive congenic strain (B6.D2-Mtv7a/Ty-27d) were injected with BAC DNA and three independent founder lines of BAC-transgenic mice were generated. Seizure susceptibility was quantified by measuring maximal electroshock seizure threshold (MEST) in transgenic mice and nontransgenic littermates. Results: Seizure testing documented significant MEST elevation in all three transgenic lines compared to littermate controls. Allele-specific RT-PCR analysis confirmed gene transcription from genome-integrated BAC DNA and copy-number-dependent phenotypic effects were observed. Conclusions: Results of this study suggest that the gene(s) responsible for the major chromosome 1 seizure QTL is found on BAC RPCI23-157J4 and demonstrate the utility of in vivo gene transfer for studying quantitative trait genes in mice. Further characterization of this transgenic model will provide new insight into mechanisms of seizure susceptibility.
Predicting Soviet Military Intervention

This article attempts to explain and predict Soviet intervention in conflicts abroad during 1950-1987. I constructed a geopolitics driven model of Soviet calculus for intervention to predict which ...
Making sense of conflicting health information: an exploratory study

People can acquire health information intentionally or unintentionally from a variety of sources, and some health messages could contradict others. This study employed in-depth qualitative interviews with college students to understand their perceptions of tanning-related conflicting health information. We report on the inconsistency perceived by college students and their strategies to make sense of the conflicting health information. Practical suggestions for health campaign developers and health information providers are discussed.
Impact of early abort mechanisms on lock-based software transactional memory

Software transactional memory (STM) is an emerging concurrency control mechanism for shared memory accesses. Early abort is one of the important techniques to improve the execution speed of STMs and has been explored intensively via experimental studies. This paper presents a theoretical analysis characterizing the properties of early abort and its impact on the performance of lock-based STMs. Queuing theory is adopted to model the behaviors of transactional execution. Analytical results are obtained for STMs with and without early abort. The analysis is validated through extensive experiments. Our results reveal that although early abort helps improve the performance of lock-based STMs especially when the contention level is low, the gain is often marginal. We expect our theoretical results to provide useful guidance towards the design and selection of appropriate lock-based STM schemes.
Calorimetric determination of head-to-head defect in poly(vinylidene fluoride)

Differential scanning calorimetric analyses were conducted on samples of poly(vinylidene fluoride) polymerized in an autoclave by tributylborane-oxygen by free-radical initiation at low temperature (-70-0°C). The peak melting points and the percent head-to-head defect in each polymer sample were determined by a reported calorimetric method. A commercial sample showed a melting temperature in the range 157–162°C and a percent head-to-head defect of 7.7%; whereas two experimental samples showed melting temperatures in the range 172–179°C with a percent head-to-head defect of 4.4 and 4.9%. The calorimetric procedure was modified by reducing annealing times to only 2 h, which saves time and, as shown in this study, avoids thermal polymer degradation.
Differential Effects of Monoclonal Antibody Blockade of Adhesion Molecules on In Vivo Susceptibility to Soft Tissue Infection

Leukocyte adherence to endothelial cells has been implicated in the pathogenesis of microvascular injury as well as in host defense against various infectious microorganisms. Administration of monoclonal antibodies directed against the beta chain of the leukocyte integrins inhibits leukocyte-endothelial-cell adherence and has been reported to modulate ischemia-reperfusion and inflammatory injury. However, such inhibition of adhesion molecule function adversely affects resistance to infection. The following studies were carried out to determine whether monoclonal antibodies to other adhesion molecules, including L-selectin (CD62L), and CD11a (the alpha chain of LFA-1), also increase susceptibility to infection. New Zealand White rabbits were shaved and given subcutaneous injections on their dorsa with 10(9) CFU of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 at two sites and with 10(8) CFU at two sites. A second set of rabbits were given subcutaneous injections with 10(8) CFU of P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 at two sites and with 10(7) CFUs at two sites. The animals were monitored for 1 week. There were three blinded experimental groups: controls given saline and two groups given blocking monoclonal antibodies to either L-selectin (Dreg-200) or CD11a (R7.1). In contrast to monoclonal antibodies to CD18, none of the monoclonal antibodies significantly increased the risk of abscess formation by S. aureus, although inhibition of CD11a increased the rate of abscess formation by P. aeruginosa.
Self-consistent solutions for allowed interconnect current density. I. Implications for technology evolution

We comprehend both interconnect electromigration and Joule heating to study for the first time the self-consistent solutions for the maximum allowed interconnect peak current density j/sub peak/ as a function of wave shape. The maximum allowed temperature and j/sub peak/ solutions monotonically increase as the duty cycle r decreases. Self-consistent solutions indicate that there are diminishing returns in the usefulness of increasing the electromigration capability of the interconnect system. While the greatest increase in allowed j/sub peak/ occurs at de stress (r=1), the increases becomes less as r is reduced below 1, and becomes negligible for r<0.01. Further increases in j/sub peak/ will have to come at some future time from technology options which lower the temperatures at which the interconnects operates.
New efficient breadth‐first/level traversal tree search method for the design and upgrade of sensor networks

This work studies the problem of optimally locating sensors for monitoring chemical processes, formally known as the sensor network design and upgrade problem. This problem is an integer programming problem and has been solved to global optimality only using tree search methods using depth-first strategy. In this article, we exploit certain cost properties of the different nodes in the tree to efficiently prune nonoptimal nodes using a breadth-first/level traversal tree search method to obtain the global optimum. We show that this strategy allows cutting considerably the computational time for problems that the depth-first strategy was inefficient. V C 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 57: 1302–1309, 2011
Segmenting the Urban Economic Development Market:: An Application of Strategic Marketing to a Public Policy Issue

Local government economic development strategies have been widely criticized for being ineffective and for lacking coherent, logical form. Of particular concern is the tendency of government to use a mass market, undifferentiated approach to potential business growth. Here, implications of creating and applying a market segmentation strategy to economic development is explored. Based on standard industrial classification schema and business growth orientation, a sample of businesses from a middle size mid-western city was segmented and responses to an economic development- oriented questionnaire were examined using stepwise discriminant analysis. Results showed that this market segmentation strategy differentiated significant variations in needs for assistance by both industrial type and growth orientation within type. Results are discussed in regard to the significance of market segmentation to effective public economic development policy.
Influenza: marketing vaccine by marketing disease

The CDC pledges “To base all public health decisions on the highest quality scientific data, openly and objectively derived.” But Peter Doshi argues that in the case of influenza vaccinations and their marketing, this is not so
Fabrication of Highly Conductive Pedot Nanofibers

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) nanofibers were obtained by the combination of electrospinning and vapour-phase polymerization. The fibers had diameters around 350 ± 60 nm, and were soldered at every intersection, ensuring superior dimensional stability of the mats. The nanofiber mats demonstrated very high conductivity (60 ± 10 S/cm, the highest value reported so far for polymer nanofibers) as well as very interesting electrochemical properties, due to the porous and nanostructured nature of the electrospun mats. The mats were incorporated into all-solid flexible supercapacitors that showed interesting performances for applications where flexible and lightweight energy storage devices are required.
Modal properties of toroidal microcavities

We investigate the resonance structure and modal properties of chip-based toroidal microcavities. The variation of modal volume and radiation quality factor versus the toroidal geometrical aspect ratio is studied.