cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Releases from hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles in tunnels

An important issue concerning the safe use of hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicles is the possibility of accidents inside tunnels resulting in the release of hydrogen. To investigate the potential consequences, a combined experimental and modeling study has been performed to characterize releases from a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle inside a tunnel. In the scenario studied, all three of the fuel-cell vehicle’s onboard hydrogen tanks were simultaneously released through three thermal pressure relief devices (TPRDs) toward the road surface. Computation fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were used to model the release of hydrogen from the fuel-cell vehicle and to study the behavior of the ignitable hydrogen cloud inside the tunnel. Deflagration overpressure simulations of the hydrogen cloud within the tunnel were also performed for different ignition delay times and ignition locations. To provide model validation data for these simulations, experiments were performed in a scaled tunnel test facility at the SRI Corral Hollow Experiment Site (CHES). The scaled tunnel tests were designed to resemble the full-scale tunnel simulations using Froude scaling. The scale factor, based on the square route of the ratio of the SRI tunnel area to the full-scale tunnel area was 1/2.53. The same computational models used in the full-scale tunnel simulations were applied to these scaled tunnel tests to validate the modeling approach.
Assembly and Kinetic Folding Pathways of a Tetrameric β-Sheet Complex: Molecular Dynamics Simulations on Simplified Off-Lattice Protein Models

We have performed discontinuous molecular dynamic simulations of the assembly and folding kinetics of a tetrameric beta-sheet complex that contains four identical four-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet peptides. The potential used in the simulation is a hybrid Go-type potential characterized by the bias gap parameter g, an artificial measure of a model protein's preference for its native state, and the intermolecular contact parameter eta, which measures the ratio of intermolecular to intramolecular native attractions. The formation of the beta-sheet complex and its equilibrium properties strongly depend on the size of the intermolecular contact parameter eta. The ordered beta-sheet complex in the folded state and nonaligned beta-sheets or tangled chains in the misfolded state are distinguished by measuring the squared radius of gyration Rg2 and the fraction of native contacts Q. The folding yield for the folded state is high at intermediate values of eta, but is low at both small and large values of eta. The folded state at small eta is liquid-like, but is solid-like at both intermediate and large eta. The misfolded state at small eta contains nonaligned beta-sheets and tangled chains with poor secondary structure at large eta. Various folding pathways via dimeric and trimeric intermediates are observed, depending on eta. Comparison with experimental results on protein aggregation indicates that intermediate eta values are most appropriate for modeling fibril formation and small eta values are most appropriate for modeling the formation of amorphous aggregates.
Determining Hydraulic Conditions for Holding Areas of Large Predatory Fish within the Tracy Fish Collection Facility

Hydraulic conditions within Reclamation’s Tracy Fish Collection Facility (TFCF) were measured using a Nortek BoogieDopp acoustic Doppler current profiler. This instrument is essentially a modified AquaDopp profiler, mounted on the underside of a boogie board, using wireless modem communication with a Pocket PC for control and data collection. These data were collected to support on-going research to track and locate holding areas for large predatory fish (striped bass) within the confines of the facility. The velocity profile data at and near these locations help biologists and engineers better understand the types of flow fields that should be avoided within structures if the goal is to pass fish most expeditiously into a holding facility. The BoogieDopp collects velocity profiles in-line with the axis of the profiler through the depth of the water column. When measured simultaneously with sonic locating of tagged fish, the researchers are given a clearer picture of the types of flow conditions that allow predatory species to hold and feed on other unsuspecting fish passing through the facility. The BoogieDopp’s remote operation and ability to collect a velocity profile rather than just a point velocity promotes a much better understanding into the behavior of these predatory fish.
Production and Isolation of Cosmomycins A, B, C and D: New Differentiation Inducers of Friend Cell F5-5

Cosmomycins A, B, C and D, new differentiation inducers of Friend cell F5-5, accumulated in the mycelium and culture fluid of a new strain, Streptomyces cosmosus nov. sp. Cosmomycin A and cosmomycin B contain a rhodinosyl-rhodinosyl-rhodosaminyl and rhodinosyl-2-deoxy-l-fucosyl-rhodosaminyl group at C-10 of γ-rhodomycinone, respectively. Cosmomycins C and D respectively possess the same sugar chains as cosmomycins A and B at C-10 and the common rhodinosyl-2-deoxy-l-fucosyl-rhodosaminyl group at C-7 of β-rhodomycinone. Cosmomycin D is a new anthracycline compound and cosmomycin A is a new anthracycline compound of microbial origin, but cosmomycins B and C seem to be identical to γ-rhodomycin Y and β-rhodomycin S-2, respectively. Approximately 20.0%, 15.4%, 16.4% and 14.2% of the F5-5 cells were induced to respectively biosynthesize hemoglobin by 1.25 μg/ml of cosmomycin A, 1.25 μg/ml of cosmomycin B, 7.81 ng/ml of cosmomycin C and 15.6 ng/ml of cosmomycin D. Other anthracyclines such as aclacinomycin A1, a...
Cleavage of F–C(sp2) bonds by MHR(CO)(PtBu2Me)2 (M = Os and Ru; R = H, CH3 or Aryl): Product dependence on M and R

Abstract Both MH(Ph)(CO)L2 (L = PtBu2Me; M = Ru and Os) react with vinyl fluoride to form M–F bonds; however, Ru eliminates benzene, while Os eliminates ethylene. In contrast, Ru(H)2(CO)L2 and Os(H)2(CO)(1-butene)L2 both react with vinyl fluoride to give ethylene and MHF(CO)L2. Ethylene production from both dihydrides is attributed to β-F migration to M from an MCH2CH2F transient, while the unique behavior of RuH(Ph)(CO)L2 (giving the C–F oxidative addition product Ru(η1-vinyl)F(CO)L2) is attributed to the difficulty of achieving RuIV, and the ability of the strongly π-acidic vinyl fluoride to rapidly trigger reductive elimination of benzene. The products of reaction of RuH(Ar)(CO)L2 with vinyl fluoride are redirected more towards ethylene formation when Ar carries fluorine substituents. The reaction products of OsH(R)(CO)L2 with vinyl fluoride revert to R-H elimination when R is methyl. Finally, the more π-acidic H2C CF2 triggers very rapid CH4 elimination from OsH(CH3)(CO)L2; cleavage of the second C–F bond yields the vinylidene OsF2(CCH2)(CO)L2. All selectivity is rationalized via the fate of the adduct MH(R)(C2H4 − nFn)(CO)L2.
Stem-loop oligonucleotides: a robust tool for molecular biology and biotechnology

The specific structural features of stem-loop (hairpin) DNA constructs provide increased specificity of target recognition. Recently, several robust assays have been developed that exploit the potential of structurally constrained oligonucleotides to hybridize with their cognate targets. Here, I review new diagnostic approaches based on the formation of stem-loop DNA oligonucleotides: molecular beacon methodology, suppression PCR approaches and the use of hairpin probes in DNA microarrays. The advantages of these techniques over existing ones for sequence-specific DNA detection, amplification and manipulation are discussed.
Motif D of viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases determines efficiency and fidelity of nucleotide addition

Fast, accurate nucleotide incorporation by polymerases facilitates expression and maintenance of genomes. Many polymerases use conformational dynamics of a conserved α helix to permit efficient nucleotide addition only when the correct nucleotide substrate is bound. This α helix is missing in structures of RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRps) and RTs. Here, we use solution-state nuclear magnetic resonance to demonstrate that the conformation of conserved structural motif D of an RdRp is linked to the nature (correct versus incorrect) of the bound nucleotide and the protonation state of a conserved, motif-D lysine. Structural data also reveal the inability of motif D to achieve its optimal conformation after incorporation of an incorrect nucleotide. Functional data are consistent with the conformational change of motif D becoming rate limiting during and after nucleotide misincorporation. We conclude that motif D of RdRps and, by inference, RTs is the functional equivalent to the fidelity helix of other polymerases.
Nonresponsiveness of immature B lymphocytes to anti-immunoglobulin is reversed by pronase.

Abstract Splenic B cells are induced to proliferate upon culture with antibody having specificity for surface membrane immunoglobulins. Cells treated with pronase, washed and then cultured with antibody, exhibited a >5-fold enhancement of DNA synthesis whereas pronase treatment, per se , was not mitogenic. The pronase effect exhibited specificity in that the induction of proliferation with either lipopolysaccharide or dextran sulfate was not enhanced by prior enzyme treatment. Cells from mice at two weeks of age which essentially do not show a proliferative response to antibody become responsive subsequent to pronase treatment. These results are interpreted to suggest a possible growth regulatory role for the pronase sensitive surface membrane component.
Magnetic form factor and spin-density asphericity of Ni-Cu.

Magnetic form-factor measurements were made on single crystals of a Ni-Cu alloy containing 47.6 at. % Cu. The results give a magnetic moment of 0.088 ..mu beta../atom at T = 4.2 K and H = 40 kOe in excellent agreement with bulk magnetization data. Despite this order of magnitude decrease in moment relative to Ni, the form factor is the same in both the radial distribution and the asphericity as that previously observed for pure Ni. This result is in strong contrast with an early coherent potential approximation calculation which yields a continuous variation of ..gamma.., the fractional E/sub g/ population, with Cu content. It is suggested that some of this discrepancy may be attributed to the neglect of local environment effects, which are known to be important for the magnetism of Ni-Cu alloys.
Technique for producing controlled closed fractures in a rabbit model

We describe a new technique to produce a closed fracture of the rabbit tibia with reproducible location and shape of the fracture. The hindlimb of a New Zealand White rabbit was enclosed in a bivalved cast, a 1.5 mm diameter hole was drilled through the lateral tibial cortex, and the tibia was fractured by loading in three-point bending in an arbor press. The cast protected the soft tissues from being crushed while it concentrated the bending moment at the intended fracture site. The cortical hole functioned as a stress riser and fracture initiation site, such that the influence of the loading rate on the fracture characteristics was minimized. Transverse fractures or oblique fractures at any desired angle could be produced by variations of the position of the cortical drill hole relative to the central loading point. Thirty-four tibial fractures (18 transverse and 16 oblique) were produced. The rabbits were killed immediately, and the fracture angle and the extent of tissue damage were evaluated radiographically, as well as macroscopically. This method produced a consistent location of the fracture, with 88% reproducibility of the fracture angle and only minor damage to the adjacent soft tissues.
Surface states of clean and metal-overlayer-covered Cr(001) films

Electronic-structure calculations for a clean Cr(001) film and for Cr(001) films covered with Au, Pt, or Ir monolayers predict a surface band localized on the outer Cr layer near the Fermi level. The high density of surface states in the Au adsorption case may help explain the recent observation of 3-K superconductivity in Au-Cr-Au sandwiches. The stability of the surface band against overlayer adsorption indicates the necessity of refining the test usually used to identify spectroscopic peaks as surface states.
Depth Electrode Studies in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: Relation to Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Operative Outcome

We performed a retrospective study of 30 patients with presumed intractable temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) who underwent chronic intracranial EEG monitoring (CIEM). Multicontact depth electrodes were stereotactically implanted through the medial occipital lobe into amygdala and hippocampus. All patients had previously undergone extracranial ictal EEG monitoring that proved inadequate to localize the epileptogenic zone. No morbidity was associated with CIEM in the 30 patients. Twenty-five patients were shown to have exclusively or predominantly unilateral temporal lobe seizures, and 5 patients had bitemporal seizures without unilateral predominance; 24 patients subsequently underwent an anterotemporal lobe cortical resection. Twenty-one patients have been followed a minimum of 1 year postoperatively. Nine patients (43%) had a class I outcome (seizure-free, auras only, or provoked seizures), 3 patients (14%) had a class II outcome (> or = 95% seizure reduction), 4 patients (19%) had a class III outcome (> or = 50% seizure reduction); and 5 patients (24%) had a class IV outcome (< 50% seizure reduction or no change). A prolonged interhemispheric propagation time (p < 0.01) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-identified hippocampal atrophy (p < 0.01) correlated with a favorable surgical outcome. Results of this study may prove useful in counseling patients who undergo CIEM before temporal lobe surgery.
Interleukin-18 in the plasma of women with preeclampsia

Abstract Objective: Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a proinflammatory cytokine capable of stimulating interferon gamma and tumor necrosis factor-α production. Our purpose was to determine whether abnormal levels of IL-18 in maternal plasma correlate with the diagnosis of preeclampsia. Study Design: A case control study design was used to enroll 61 patients: controls (n = 31) and preeclamptic women (n = 30). A standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay measured plasma IL-18. Statistical methods included Student t tests and χ 2 tests. Results: Mean IL-18 levels were lower in preeclampsia than in controls (185 ± 74 pg/mL vs 224 ± 75 pg/mL, P =.053). Administration of betamethasone (BMZ) and/or hydralazine (HYD) was significantly associated with a lower IL-18 compared with controls (159 ± 50 pg/mL vs 224 ± 75 pg/mL, P =.002). After women who received BMZ or HYD were excluded, levels of IL-18 in preeclampsia were similar to those of controls (213 ± 87 pg/mL, P =.69). There was no association between gestational age and IL-18. Conclusion: Lower IL-18 was associated with administration of either BMZ or HYD. After patients receiving these medications were excluded, IL-18 levels were similar in controls and preeclamptic women. IL-18 was not associated with gestational age. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2003;188:1234-7.)
Diminished lipocalin-type prostaglandin D2 synthase expression in human lung tumors

Previously, we demonstrated that lipocalin-type prostaglandin D(2) synthase (L-PGDS) induces apoptosis and prevents cell cycle progression in several cell types. In this study we determined the expression of L-PGDS in a variety of human lung tumor types. While L-PGDS expression was evident in the surrounding margins, we observed significantly decreased protein and gene expression in the tumor tissue. Using RT-PCR we demonstrated that L-PGDS gene expression decreased proportionately with tumor progression. In addition, we demonstrated that exogenously added L-PGDS could suppress the hyperproliferation and PDGF-stimulated migration of A549 cells, a cultured carcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cell line. We conclude that L-PGDS may play a key role in modulating lung cancer growth and may offer a novel diagnostic and therapeutic approach for treatment.
PROGRAMMED DECISION STRUCTURES ‐ FUNCTIONAL APPROACH TO QUANTITATIVE UNDERGRADUATE CORE

Administrators and professionals must make social decisions within the environment of the computer revolution. This means that precise skills of logical problem solving and quantitative methods may assume an increasingly prominent place in college preparation for business and social sciences. At the same time, colleges are under pressure not to “select out” persons who are disadvantaged in quantitative areas. With a widening “quantitative gap,” major surgery of existing math and stat courses is unlikely to meet the challenge of this new social environment. Programmed Decisions Structures (PDS) is experimental coursework in a quantitative undergraduate core for business and social sciences. Particular features of PDS were developed to emphasize (1) motivation of the student, (2) credible simulation of realistic business and social environment, (3) awareness of logically developed structures, and (4) principles of applied scientific method. Constructed around the above four points, it is hoped that PDS will close the “quantitative gap” more effectively than the 20 quarter hours of conventional math, stat and computer courses which it replaces.
N Terminus Is Essential for Tropomyosin Functions N-TERMINAL MODIFICATION DISRUPTS STRESS FIBER ORGANIZATION AND ABOLISHES ANTI-ONCOGENIC EFFECTS OF TROPOMYOSIN-1

Down-regulation of several key actin-binding proteins, such as α-actinin, vinculin, gelsolin, and tropomyosins (TMs), is considered to contribute to the disorganized cytoskeleton present in many neoplastic cells. TMs stabilize actin filaments against the gel severing actions of proteins such as cofilin. Among multiple TMs expressed in non-muscle cells, tropomyosin-1 (TM1) isoform induces stress fibers and functions as a suppressor of malignant transformation. However, the molecular mechanisms of TM1-mediated cytoskeletal effects and tumor suppression remain poorly understood. We have hypothesized that the ability of TM1 to stabilize microfilaments is crucial for tumor suppression. In this study, by employing a variant TM1, which contains an N-terminal hemagglutinin epitope tag, we demonstrate that the N terminus is a key determinant of tropomyosin-1 function. Unlike the wild type TM1, the modified protein fails to restore stress fibers and inhibit anchorage-independent growth in transformed cells. Furthermore, the N-terminal modification of TM1 disorganizes the cytoskeleton and delays cytokinesis in normal cells, abolishes binding to F-actin, and disrupts the dimeric associations in vivo. The functionally defective TM1 allows the association of cofilin to stress fibers and disorganizes the microfilaments, whereas wild type TM1 appears to restrict the binding of cofilin to stress fibers. TM1-induced cytoskeletal reorganization appears to be mediated through preventing cofilin interaction with microfilaments. Our studies provide in vivo functional evidence that the N terminus is a critical determinant of TM1 functions, which in turn determines the organization of stress fibers.
Bridge Abutment Nonlinear Force-Displacement-Capacity Prediction for Seismic Design

Formulation of the mobilized force-displacement-capacity for the seismic design of a bridge abutment–embankment system is presented herein. As part of the seismic design philosophy of bridge structures, a realistic prediction of the abutment–embankment participation should be included in the bridge demand and capacity assessments. The nonlinear force-displacement capacity and/or stiffness of a bridge abutment–embankment system is a function of the abutment height, embankment soil properties (mobilized soil resistance), and the mobilized interface friction angle between the embankment and bridge abutment. A method based on a limit equilibrium logarithmic spiral, method of slices, coupled with characterization of the stress-strain behavior of the soil is employed. The stress-strain characterization relies on standard triaxial test results. The use of Mohr–Coulomb strength criteria based on mobilized strength parameters allows the consideration of a developing mobilized surface via limit equilibrium. The str...
Substitutions at C2' of daunosamine in the anticancer drug daunorubicin alter its DNA-binding sequence specificity.

In the search for new generations of anthracycline drugs, lower cytotoxic side effect and higher activity toward resistant cancer cells are two major goals. A new anthracycline drug, WP401 (2′-bromo-4′-epidaunorubicin, α-munno configuration), exhibits promising activity toward multidrug-resistant cells. In contrast, the related compound WP400 (2′-bromo-4′-epidaunorubicin, α-gluco configuration), is significantly less cytotoxic. To establish the structural and molecular bases of this observation, we performed X-ray diffraction analyses of the complexes between WP401 and four DNA hexamers CGTACG, CGATCG, CGCGCG, and CGGCCG. Their crystal data (space group P41212, a=b≈ 2.8 nm, c≈ 5.3 nm) are similar to those of other daunorubicin/doxorubicin complexes. The refined crystal structures at 0.18-nm resolution revealed that two WP401 drug molecules bind to the duplex, with the aglycons intercalated between the CpG steps and their modified daunosamines in the minor groove. The bulky bromine atom at the C2′ position caused the daunosamine of the bound WP401 to adopt a different conformation from that of the bound daunorubicin. In the presence of formaldehyde, WP401 formed a covalent adduct with CGGCCG more readily than with CGCGCG. This is the opposite of what is seen for daunorubicin and doxorubicin. Thus modifications at the C2′ position of daunosamine modulate the sequence specificity of the formalde-hyde-crosslinking reactions between anthracyclines and DNA.
Quality control in the clinical laboratory using the remote computer terminal

Summary 1. Data are presented describing the evolution of a computerized quality control system utilizing an 1816 remote terminal to an IBM 1800 computer. 2. This system accepts data from both split samples of hematologic and urinalysis data as well as long term control pool assays. 3. It also produces immediate out of control messages, daily quality control logs for distribution to requesting physicians, automatic daily plotting of control data, and data base maintenance from long term statistical quality control studies.
CHARACTERIZATION AND FAILURE IN SOLID FOODS WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO FRUITS AND VEGETABLES1

The purpose of this paper is to point out the importance of understanding what the food materials are like, from the solid mechanics viewpoint, and how they fail under stress and strain. The difficulty in defining the threshhold of failure for solid foods is discussed, and suggestions are made with reference to three selected food materials. The importance of relating the mechanical behavior to structural changes in the plant and animal materials is pointed out. A comprehensive illustrated review of the stress-strain-time effect on solid food materials is given in a tabulated form. The review includes the type and location of stresses causing failure, the type of loading which has been shown to be more meaningful in characterization of the material, and failure-related findings pertaining either to test specimens taken from the material or to the intact material in its natural shape. It is concluded that a basic approach requiring some mathematical manipulation and a knowledge of solid mechanics, a t least to apply the known theories i f not to develop new ones, is a prerequisite for understanding the mechanics of solid foods. Such knowledge is expected to be applied to many problems involving food handling and processing. The use of rheology in texture evaluation of food is only one of the many possible applications.
Controlling sugar consumption still has a role to play in the prevention of dental caries

Article Title and Bibliographic Information Sugar consumption and caries risk: a systematic review. Burt BA, Pai S. J Dent Ed 2001;65:1017-23. Reviewer Yihong Li, DDS, MPH, DrPH Purpose/Question In the modern age of extensive fluoride exposure, do individuals with a high level of sugar intake experience a greater level of caries severity relative to those with a lower level of intake? Source of Funding Information not available Type of Study/Design Systematic review Level of Evidence Level 1: Good-quality, patient-oriented evidence Strength of Recommendation Grade Grade A: Consistent, good-quality patient-oriented evidence
Secreted bacterial vesicles as good samaritans

Bacteriodes fragilis and polysaccharide A capsular antigen (PSA) produced by this commensal bacteria can mediate immune tolerance in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. When looking for naturally secreted forms of PSA, Shen et al. (2012) suprisingly found that PSA is packaged in outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), bacterial blebs with a disreputable past.
Relationships between maternal depression and infants' mastery behaviors

Abstract This study examined the relationship between maternal depression and infants' mastery behaviors in a nonclinical sample of 1- and 2-year-olds and their mothers. At both ages, maternal depression scores were inversely correlated with infants' task competency and persistence at challenging tasks. At 2 years, maternal depression was also inversely correlated with the infant's task pleasure. These findings suggest that there may be an effect of maternal depression upon young childrens' competence, affect, and preference for challenge.
Benefit-Risk Assessment of Tolterodine in the Treatment of Overactive Bladder in Adults

Overactive bladder is associated with symptoms of urgency, with or without urge incontinence, usually with daytime frequency and nocturia in the absence of local pathological factors. Muscarinic receptor antagonists (antimuscarinics) are the first-line pharmacotherapy. Tolterodine, a competitive, nonselective antimuscarinic specifically developed for the treatment of overactive bladder, demonstrated tissue selectivity for the bladder over the parotid gland in an animal model. As of March 5, 2003, the immediate-release (IR) formulation had been approved in 72 countries and the extended-release (ER) formulation had been approved in 28 countries, and tolterodine had been administered to 5 million patients. This review evaluates the benefit-risk profile of tolterodine in the treatment of adults with overactive bladder, summarising clinical trial and postmarketing surveillance data. Tolterodine has been found to significantly reduce micturition frequency, urgency perception and the number of episodes of urge incontinence and increase the volume voided per micturition. Dry mouth, an antimuscarinic class effect, is the most commonly reported adverse effect but is mostly mild to moderate in severity. Serious adverse effects are reported infrequently. Based on summary and review of postmarketing surveillance and clinical trial safety data received by the market authorisation holder and contained in the Periodic Safety Update Reports for tolterodine, several monitored serious events of the gastrointestinal tract (e.g. ileus or haemorrhage), nervous system (e.g. syncope, convulsions and memory disorders) and cardiovascular system (e.g. ventricular arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, palpitations, bradycardia, transient ischaemic attacks and hypertension) were not considered related to tolterodine. QT or corrected QT (QTc) prolongation was not observed in any of the five cases of verified ventricular arrhythmia in patients administered tolterodine; there is insufficient evidence to indicate that tolterodine causes ventricular arrhythmia or extrasystoles or any specific type of cardiac rhythm abnormality. The safety profile of tolterodine is similar in patients aged ≥65 years and in younger adults. Clinically relevant drug interactions are limited to cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitors, such as ketoconazole, and co-administration with such agents warrants a tolterodine dosage decrease. In addition, tolterodine IR 2mg twice daily is similar in efficacy to oxybutynin IR 5mg three times daily, and tolterodine ER 4mg once daily is similar in efficacy to oxybutynin ER 10mg once daily. Dry mouth occurred less frequently with tolterodine than oxybutynin, and moderate to severe dry mouth occurred more than three times less frequently. Based on the low frequency of adverse events, the absence of unexpected adverse events and the very low frequency of serious adverse events, we conclude that tolterodine is a well tolerated treatment for overactive bladder in adults, in whom it should be considered as first-line therapy.
Reflective functioning in mothers with drug use disorders: Implications for dyadic interactions with infants and toddlers

In this study, we examined maternal reflective functioning as a bi-dimensional construct in a sample of 47 mothers with drug use disorders caring for infants and toddlers. We first tested a two-factor solution with scale items from the Parent Development Interview and confirmed the presence of two related but distinct dimensions: self-mentalization and child-mentalization. We then tested predictions that (a) self-mentalization would be associated with overall quality of maternal caregiving and that (b) child-mentalization would be associated with (i) maternal contingent behavior and (ii) child communication. Results partially supported hypotheses (a) and (bii). Unexpectedly, self-mentalization alone was associated with maternal contingent behavior. Findings suggest that self-mentalization may be a critical first step in improving mother-child relations involving mothers with drug use disorders. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Nonolfactory sensory pathway to the telencephalon in a teleost fish

Pathways conveying lateral-line sensory information within the brain of a bullhead catfish terminate in a localized zone within the telencephalon. Thus, the telencephalon in teleosts, as in amniote species, contains regions that receive specific sensory input. Therefore, this lemniscal organization is not restricted to mammalian or amniote species but is a feature common to most, if not all, vertebrates.
Light scattering from phonons and magnons in CoCl2 · 2H2O

A light scattering study of cobalt chloride dihydrate is reported. Emphasis is placed upon phonon–magnon interactions in the antiferromagnetic phase. Data taken at T = 1.6 K and magnetic fields from 0 to 5 T confirm the conclusion of Schneider and Weitzel that the ferrimagnetic–antiferromagnetic phase transition is first-order and that a large hysteresis is observable at temperatures below 4.2 K.
Langerhans cell density and high-grade vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia in women with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Background: Decreased numbers of Langerhans cells (LCs) in the cervix of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected women are believed to contribute to the progression of human papilloma virus (HPV)-related squamous intraepithelial lesions. However, this impairment of local immunity has not been well studied in the vulva. The objective of this study was to compare the S100+ LC density in high-grade vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) in HIV-positive and HIV-negative women. Methods: HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients with high-grade VIN, 48 (55%) and 40 (45%), respectively, were identified by retrospective chart review. Smoking status of patients was noted. The mean LC count per high-power field (HPF) was determined using S100 immunohistochemical staining. In situ hybridization was performed to detect HPV DNA types 16 and 18. Results: Mean S100+ LC counts for HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients were 5.82 and 9.86 per HPF, respectively (p = 0.0026). LC counts in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients were compared between smoking and nonsmoking groups (HIV-positive p = 0.4812, HIV-negative p = 0.2821). Conclusions: HIV-positive patients with high-grade VIN had significantly lower LC counts compared with HIV-negative patients. This suggests that local vulvar immunity as evaluated by S100+ LCs is impaired in HIV-positive women, possibly contributing to the progression of HPV-related vulvar lesions.
SNP genotyping with fluorescence polarization detection.

When a fluorescent molecule is excited by plane polarized light, the fluorescence emitted is also polarized. The degree of fluorescence polarization (FP) detected, under constant temperature and solvent viscosity, is proportional to the molecular weight of the dye molecule. By monitoring the FP of a fluorescent dye, one can detect significant changes in the molecular weight of the molecule without separation or purification. Because the size of the probe is altered in the course of a number of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping reactions, FP is therefore an excellent detection mechanism for these assays. Indeed, FP detection can be used in SNP genotyping with the primer extension TaqMan((R)) and Invader((R)) assays. Use of FP detection makes it possible to reduce the cost of TaqMan((R)) and Invader((R)) probes by abrogating the need for a fluorescence quencher. Moreover, inexpensive, unpurified, and unlabeled probes are used in the primer extension reaction with FP detection. As an end-point detection mechanism, FP detection is suitable for high-throughput SNP genotyping.
Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Is a Radial Cell-Associated Neurotrophin that Promotes Neuronal Recruitment from the Adult Songbird Ependyma/Subependyma

In the adult songbird forebrain, neurons continue to be produced from precursor cells in the forebrain ependymal/subependymal zone (SZ), from which they migrate upon radial guide fibers. The new neurons and their radial cell partners may coderive from a common SZ progenitor, which may be the radial cell itself. On this basis, we asked whether radial cells might provide trophic support for the migration or survival of newly generated neurons. We focused upon the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) IGF-1 and IGF-2, which have previously been shown to support the survival and differentiation of neural progenitor cells. We found that IGF-1 immunoreactivity was expressed heavily by adult zebra finch radial cells and their fibers, with little expression otherwise. IGF-2, in contrast, was expressed by parenchymal astrocytes and exhibited little radial cell expression. Despite their distinct distributions, IGF-1 and IGF-2 exerted similar trophic effects on finch SZ cells in vitro; both greatly increased the number of neurons migrating from explants of the adult finch SZ, relative to explants raised in low-insulin, IGF-1-deficient media. However, neither factor extended neuronal survival. These results suggest that in neurogenic regions of the adult avian forebrain, IGF-1 acts as a radial cell-associated neuronal differentiation and/or departure factor, which may serve to regulate neuronal recruitment into the adult brain. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Neurobiol 36: 1–15, 1998
Model of c-axis transport of high-T c cuprates

Abstract We present a simple phenomenological model for the normal state c-axis transport of high-T c cuprates, which provides a quantitative fit to the c-axis resistivity data of La2-x Sr x CuO4, YBa2Cu3O6+x and Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8. We attribute the normal-state low-temperature upturn in ρc to the suppression of planar density of states, measured in nuclear magnetic resonance Knight shifts experiments. We show that this model can be derived from a framework of quasiparticle tunnelling between conducting layers. We suggest that the overall increase in optical conductivities at higher frequencies is consistent with phonon-assisted tunnelling contributions whose onset occurs at higher frequencies.
Antihyperalgesic effects of spinal cannabinoids

Cannabinoids have been widely reported to produce antinociception in models such as tail flick and hot plate. However, their role in modulating thermal hyperalgesia is unknown. The potency of some drugs, such as the opioids, increases during hyperalgesia. Thus, we evaluated whether there is a change in the effectiveness of intrathecal cannabinoids with hyperalgesia. Additionally, we evaluated whether cannabinoids could inhibit capsaicin-evoked neurosecretion from isolated rat spinal cord. Our results indicate that 1 fmol anandamide (i.t.) completely blocked carrageenan-induced thermal hyperalgesia. However, anandamide at doses as high as 100 pmol had no effect on thermal latencies in normal animals. Additionally, anandamide inhibited K+- as well as capsaicin-evoked immunoreactive calcitonin gene-related peptide release. Finally, cannabinoid receptors were identified in sensory neurons. Collectively, these results indicate that there is an increased effectiveness of modulation of thermal nociceptive thresholds by spinal cannabinoids during hyperalgesia. This antihyperalgesic effect may be the result of cannabinoid-induced inhibition of neurosecretion from certain primary afferent fibers.
Combinatorial formulas for -coordinates in a totally nonnegative Grassmannian

Postnikov constructed a decomposition of a totally nonnegative Grassmannian (Gr"k"n)">="0 into positroid cells. We provide combinatorial formulas that allow one to decide which cell a given point in (Gr"k"n)">="0 belongs to and to determine affine coordinates of the point within this cell. This simplifies Postnikov's description of the inverse boundary measurement map and generalizes formulas for the top cell given by Speyer and Williams. In addition, we identify a particular subset of Plucker coordinates as a totally positive base for the set of non-vanishing Plucker coordinates for a given positroid cell.
Indexing images in Oracle8i

Content-based retrieval of images is the ability to retrieve images that are similar to a query image. Oracle8i Visual Information Retrieval provides this facility based on technology licensed from Virage, Inc. This product is built on top of Oracle8i interMedia which enables storage, retrieval and management of images, audios and videos. Images are matched using attributes such as color, texture and structure and efficient content-based retrieval is provided using indexes of an image index type. The design of the index type is based on a multi-level filtering algorithm. The filters reduce the search space so that the expensive comparison algorithm operates on a small subset of the data. Bitmap indexes are used to evaluate the first filter resulting in a design which performs well and is scalable. The image index type is built using Oracle8i extensible indexing technology, allowing users to create, use, and drop instances of this index type as they would any other standard index. In this paper we present an overview of the product, the design of the image index type, and some performance results of our product.
Receptor-mediated phagocytosis of rat macrophages is regulated differentially for opsonized particles and non-opsonized particles containing β-glucan

Experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that opsonic and non-opsonic phagocytic capacities are differentially regulated by resting and wound-derived macrophages. Furthermore, the phagocytosis of non-opsonized zymosan and beta-glucan particles was quantified to determine whether cells differentially regulate non-opsonic lectinophagocytosis in accordance with the carbohydrate composition of the ligand. In that regard, wound macrophages exhibited profound differential regulation in lectinophagocytosis with a seven-fold increase in phagocytosis of beta-glucan particles following overnight culture but with a relatively modest increase in internalization of mannan-containing zymosan. Cultured peritoneal macrophages increased uptake of both particles similarly. Upon activation with interferon-gamma/lipopolysaccharide (IFN-gamma/LPS), wound macrophages selectively suppressed beta-glucan ingestion, while phagocytosis of zymosan particles was unaffected. Lectinophagocytosis was decreased in activated peritoneal macrophages regardless of particle composition and was due in part to a nitric oxide-dependent mechanism which was without a role in regulation of wound macrophage lectinophagocytosis. Overnight culture of wound macrophages suppressed their capacity for opsonic-dependent phagocytosis independently of activation, whereas suppression of phagocytosis by peritoneal macrophages was activation-dependent. Regulation of all three phagocytic pathways was achieved distinctly by peritoneal and wound-derived macrophages, with changes found in the percentage of resident peritoneal macrophages capable of phagocytosis, whereas the phagocytic capacity of wound macrophages was primarily affected by the number of particles ingested by individual cells. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that the differential regulation of phagocytic pathways encompasses the nature of the phagocytic particle, the site from which macrophages are obtained, their response to activating agents and the mechanism through which the cell population alters its phagocytic potential.
NEONATAL CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS OF VERAPAMIL

Because pediatric studies of verapamil (V) are few, the cardiovascular effects of the clinical dose range were examined in 1 day and 2 week old anesthetized swine: 100 or 300 ug/kg verapamil (V) was infused iv over 2 min. Blood pressure (BP), LV dP/dt max, heart rate (HR) and phasic superior mesenteric (Mes), renal (Ren) and femoral (Fem) arterial blood flows (F) were recorded and vascular resistances (R) calculated. Maximum responses (mean % ± SE) occurred at the end of the infusion:
Identification of domains in an Arabidopsis acyl carrier protein gene promoter required for maximal organ-specific expression

Deletions were made in the promoter of the acyl carrier protein (ACP) Acll.2 gene from Arabidopsis to investigate the nature of the cis-acting elements that direct its expression. These constructs, which included the untranslated leader region, were fused to a reporter gene coding for β-glucuronidase (GUS) and transformed into tobacco. Quantitative fluorometric analysis of GUS activity in transgenic plants showed that expression in young leaves drops to a basal level when a 85 bp domain, from -320 to -236 relative to transcription initiation, is deleted. Maximum promoter activity in roots also depends on this domain, but two other regions are also important. In total, deletion of the sequences from -466 to -55 caused an ca. 80-fold reduction in Acl1.2 promoter activity in roots. The -320 to -326 domain forms a complex with a protein factor found in leaves and roots, which was not detectable in seeds. The formation of this protein-DNA complex was abolished by mutation of a bZIP core motif, ACGT, found within the context AAGACGTAG, which is dissimilar to the other bZIP-binding sites thus far characterized in plants. Previously we showed that Acl1.2 promoter activity is highest in seeds [2]. Here we find, in contrast to leaves and roots, that deletion to position -236 has no effect on GUS levels in seeds. However, nearly a 100-fold drop was observed when the -235 to -55 region was removed. Hence, this 180 bp domain contains all the cis-acting information necessary for Acl1.2 promoter activity in seeds. The same region is necessary for Acl1.2 activity in the receptacle, stigma, tapetum and pollen of the flower, as demonstrated by histochemical staining.
Effects of hydrology and nutrients on seedling emergence and biomass of aquatic macrophytes from natural and artificial seed banks

Abstract In greenhouse experiments we examined the effects of water depth and nutrient addition on seedling emergence from natural and artificial seed banks and biomass of emergent aquatic macrophytes. A natural seed bank in which seed densities varied (variable seed density experiment) and an artificial seed bank in which seed densities were fixed (fixed seed density experiment with Polygonum lapathifolium and Asclepias incarnata ) were investigated. Seedling emergence and aboveground dry weight were measured in moist and submerged soils with four nutrient treatments: no addition (control), nitrogen addition, phosphorus addition, and nitrogen-phosphorus addition. In the variable and fixed seed density experiments, emergence was higher in moist soil but did not increase with any nutrient addition. In the variable seed density experiment, biomass increased with nitrogen addition in both moist and submerged soils. In the fixed seed density experiment, biomass increased primarily with nitrogen addition in submerged soil. Thus, our findings suggest that hydrology influences seedling emergence and that nutrient availability controls biomass in aquatic macrophytes.
Using Genetic Algorithms for Concept Learning

In this article, we explore the use of genetic algorithms (GAs) as a key element in the design and implementation of robust concept learning systems. We describe and evaluate a GA-based system called GABIL that continually learns and refines concept classification rules from its interaction with the environment. The use of GAs is motivated by recent studies showing the effects of various forms of bias built into different concept learning systems, resulting in systems that perform well on certain concept classes (generally, those well matched to the biases) and poorly on others. By incorporating a GA as the underlying adaptive search mechanism, we are able to construct a concept learning system that has a simple, unified architecture with several important features. First, the system is surprisingly robust even with minimal bias. Second, the system can be easily extended to incorporate traditional forms of bias found in other concept learning systems. Finally, the architecture of the system encourages explicit representation of such biases and, as a result, provides for an important additional feature: the ability to dynamically adjust system bias. The viability of this approach is illustrated by comparing the performance of GABIL with that of four other more traditional concept learners (AQ14, C4.5, ID5R, and IACL) on a variety of target concepts. We conclude with some observations about the merits of this approach and about possible extensions.
Changes in cochlear antioxidant enzyme activity after sound conditioning and noise exposure in the chinchilla.

Abstract Exposure to low level noise prior to a high level exposure reduces noise-induced hearing loss in mammals. This phenomenon is known as sound conditioning or `toughening'. Reactive oxygen intermediates have been implicated in noise-induced cochlear damage. To evaluate if in situ antioxidant processes may play a role in the toughening phenomenon initiated by low level noise exposure we analyzed glutathione reductase, γ-glutamyl cysteine synthetase, and catalase in stria vascularis and organ of Corti fractions from cochleae of chinchillas exposed to a sound conditioning paradigm. Chinchillas were either (A) kept in quiet cages (control), (B) exposed to conditioning noise of a 0.5 kHz octave band (90 dB for 6 h/day for 10 days), (C) exposed to high level noise (105 dB for 4 h) or (D) exposed to conditioning noise (B) followed by exposure to the higher level noise (C). Each of the noise exposure conditions (B, C, D) induced changes in the levels of these three antioxidant enzymes. The enzyme-specific activity data for the four subject groups support the following two hypotheses. (1) Changes in glutathione reductase, γ-glutamyl cysteine synthetase, and catalase play a role in attenuating hearing loss associated with sound conditioning followed by high level noise. (2) Hair cells in the organ of Corti are protected from noise-induced damage by increasing stria vascularis levels of catalase, a hydrogen peroxide scavenging enzyme, and of enzymes involved in maintaining glutathione in the reduced state. The model formulated by these hypotheses suggests that agents that protect or augment the glutathione system in the cochlea may be protective against noise-induced hearing loss.
Comparison of wood decay among diverse lignicolous fungi

In decay tests with 98 isolates (78 species) of lignicolous fungi followed by chemical and anatomical analyses, the validity of the generally accepted, major decay types (white, brown, and soft rot...