cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulation of rat antral gastrin and somatostatin gene expression during starvation and after refeeding.

Abstract Antral gastrin and somatostatin gene expression during starvation and after refeeding with liquid meals of varying composition were studied. Northern and slot-blot hybridization analyses showed that starvation caused a marked decrease in antral gastrin messenger RNA (mRNA) level by 12 hours associated with an increase in somatostatin mRNA. After 48 hours of fasting, antral gastrin mRNA was 26% and somatostatin mRNA was 136% of their prefasting levels. Refeeding caused increased 2-hour integrated gastrin mRNA levels after liquid peptone (+45%), phenylalanine (+31%), and olive oil (+13%), but no changes were observed with glucose or saline solutions. Integrated 2-hour immunoreactive antral gastrin content was increased after peptone (+106%), phenylalanine (+68%), and olive oil (+32%) meals but was not increased after glucose (−11%) or saline (−10%). In some cases, both gastrin mRNA and peptide responses could be measured as early as 15 minutes. The same nutrients that increased gastrin mRNA levels caused decreased 2-hour integrated somatostatin mRNA levels; peptone (−30%), phenylalanine (−28%), and olive oil (−21%), but neither glucose nor saline, altered somatostatin mRNA levels. These results suggest that antral gastrin and somatostatin genes were regulated in opposite directions, in a coordinate manner, by specific gastric nutrients that stimulate gastrin release.
Outpatient urological procedures in antibiotic‐naive patients with bladder cancer with asymptomatic bacteriuria

UNLABELLED Study Type - Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4 What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Urine culture and antibiotics are usually given before outpatient urological procedures, namely cystoscopy or intravesical BCG therapy. Injudicious use of antibiotics promotes multidrug bacterial resistance. Pretreatment antibacterial therapy may not be necessary before outpatient urological procedures in patients with bladder cancer. Such strategy facilitates timely intervention and avoids antibiotic resistance. OBJECTIVES • To investigate the frequency of infectious complications after intravesical BCG therapy or cystoscopy in antibiotic-naive patients with bladder tumours who have asymptomatic bacteriuria. • The aim was to avoid antibiotics in infected patients undergoing these common outpatient urological procedures. METHODS • A total of 354 patients received induction BCG therapy and another 663 patients underwent cystoscopy after submitting a voided urine sample for culture. They received no antibiotics before or after the procedure. • Significant bacteriuria was defined as >10(4) or >10(5) colony-forming units per millilitre with a single organism. • The patients were followed for 3 months for onset of febrile UTI, defined as dysuria and fever >38 °C requiring antibiotics. RESULTS • Ninety BCG-treated patients (25%) and 114 cystoscopy patients (17%) had bacteriuria. • After BCG therapy, two patients with infected urine (2.2%) and three with sterile cultures (1.1%) had febrile UTIs (P= 0.17). • After cystoscopy, four infected patients (3.5%) and five uninfected patients (1%) had febrile UTIs (P= 0.08). • All UTIs resolved within 24 h with oral antibiotics, and none of the patients was admitted for bacterial sepsis. CONCLUSIONS • Antibacterial prophylaxis before intravesical BCG therapy or outpatient cystoscopy does not appear to be necessary in patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria. • Such strategy avoids overuse of antibiotics, reducing drug-resistant bacterial infections.
Genetic and Neurological Influences on Reading Disability: An Overview

This special issue grew out of the XVI International Rodin Remediation Scientific Conference held in Boulder, Colorado in September, 1990 which was devoted to the topic of genetic and neurological influences on dyslexia, or reading disability (RD). This conference would not have been possible without the vision and generosity of Per Udden and the Rodin Remediation Foundation, who have been unique catalysts in fostering an interdisciplinary understanding of dyslexia or RD.
Effect of Cold on the Presence of Staphylococcus aureus in the External Nares of the Rat

There is an increase in the recovery from the external nares of rats exposed to cold of colonies of Staphylococcus aureus that ferment mannitol and produce coagulase.
The well-founded semantics for general logic programs

A general logic program (abbreviated to "program" hereafter) is a set of roles that have both positive and negative subgoals. It is common to view a deductive database as a general logic program consisting of rules (IDB) slttmg above elementary relations (EDB, facts). It is desirable to associate one Herbrand model with a program and think of that model as the "meaning of the program, " or Its "declarative semantics. " Ideally, queries directed to the program would be answered in accordance with this model. Recent research indicates that some programs do not have a "satisfactory" total model; for such programs, the question of an appropriate partial model arises. Unfounded sets and well-founded partial models are introduced and the well-founded semantics of a program are defined to be its well-founded partial model. If the well-founded partial model is m fact a total model. it is called the well-founded model. It n shown that the class of programs possessing a total well-founded model properly includes previously studied classes of "stratified" and "locally stratified" programs, The method in this paper is also compared with other proposals in the literature, including Clark's "program completion, " Fitting's and Kunen's 3-vahred interpretations of it, and the "stable models" of Gelfond and Lifschitz.
Inverter chain test structure for yield improvement and projection

The detection and localization of defects in a VLSI RAM array has been accomplished by rewiring the cells into an inverter chain and testing for correct signal propagation. The defective device can then be subjected to microscopic measurements and electrical tests to determine the cause of failure, which is then communicated to the process engineer. The method is exemplified on a 20Kb MTL bipolar memory array, but can be applied to other circuits and technologies.
Microsecond duration pressure pulse generator for in situ dynamically loaded SEM fracture studies

We describe a technique to impulse load small cylindrical specimens for in situ, real-time SEM studies of dynamically loaded fracture. Loading is done magnetically with a solenoidal coil of 10 mm length and 1 mm radius. The entire loading assembly fits on the SEM stage; there is no need for shock-isolated bellows apparatus. The only vacuum feedthrough required is an MHV coaxial bulkhead connection. A ballistic pendulum measurement gave a peak compressive pressure of ∼20 MPa, with a pressure pulse width of 1.33 μs. Pressures > 80 MPa can easily be generated. Using this device we have obtained real-time SEM movies of dynamically loaded fracture of rosin.
Description and Interpretation of Adaptive Evolution of Escherichia coli K-12 MG1655 by Using a Genome-Scale In Silico Metabolic Model

Genome-scale in silico metabolic networks of Escherichia coli have been reconstructed. By using a constraint-based in silico model of a reconstructed network, the range of phenotypes exhibited by E. coli under different growth conditions can be computed, and optimal growth phenotypes can be predicted. We hypothesized that the end point of adaptive evolution of E. coli could be accurately described a priori by our in silico model since adaptive evolution should lead to an optimal phenotype. Adaptive evolution of E. coli during prolonged exponential growth was performed with M9 minimal medium supplemented with 2 g of α-ketoglutarate per liter, 2 g of lactate per liter, or 2 g of pyruvate per liter at both 30 and 37°C, which produced seven distinct strains. The growth rates, substrate uptake rates, oxygen uptake rates, by-product secretion patterns, and growth rates on alternative substrates were measured for each strain as a function of evolutionary time. Three major conclusions were drawn from the experimental results. First, adaptive evolution leads to a phenotype characterized by maximized growth rates that may not correspond to the highest biomass yield. Second, metabolic phenotypes resulting from adaptive evolution can be described and predicted computationally. Third, adaptive evolution on a single substrate leads to changes in growth characteristics on other substrates that could signify parallel or opposing growth objectives. Together, the results show that genome-scale in silico metabolic models can describe the end point of adaptive evolution a priori and can be used to gain insight into the adaptive evolutionary process for E. coli.
Phosphorylation of S6 ribosomal protein at serine 235/236 is a marker of human heart transplantation

Antibody (Ab) ligation of HLA class I molecules on the surface of endothelial cells (EC) stimulates cell proliferation and survival pathways including activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway. We investigated phosphorylation of S6 ribosomal protein (p-S6RP), a downstream target of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in EC as a potential marker of Ab mediated-rejection(AMR) of heart allografts. Human aortic EC were treated with anti-HLA class I Ab and cell lysates were studied for phosphorylation of PI3K, Akt and S6 ribosomal protein by Western blot. Endomyocardial biopsies (n 65) from 35 heart transplant recipients (7 with AMR, 7 with acute cellular rejection (ACR)) were tested for the presence of p-S6RP using an anti-phospho serine 235/236 Ab. Diagnosis of AMR was based on histology and immunofluorescence or immunoperoxidase staining of paraffin-embedded tissue (CD68-positive intravascular macrophages). Diagnosis of ACR was based on ISHLT grading. The relationship between p-S6RP and rejection was analyzed by Fisher’s exact test.Treatment of EC with anti-class I Ab resulted in a time and dose dependent increase in phosphorylation of Akt, PI3K and the S6RP. To investigate these results in a relevant in vivo model we determined whether biopsy samples from transplant recipients diagnosed with AMR or ACR showed increased p-S6RP on the graft vasculature.Results showed show a significant association of p-S6RP staining with diagnosis of AMR (p 0.001). Four of 7 patients with ACR showed p-S6RPN staining (p NS). No association between p-S6RP staining with C4d deposition was observed. Study of the kinetics of p-S6RP staining showed that patients diagnosed with AMR display sustained positivity ( 144 days) compared to patients diagnosed with ACR ( 21days). These findings support the role of anti-class I Ab mediated signaling in AMR and indicate that phosphorylation of S6RP is a useful marker of AMR in cardiac allografts. Sustained p-S6RP is observed in patients with AMR supporting its role in chronic allograft vasculopathy.
Incorporating solar electric power into rural electrification programs: a case study of Kenya

Abstract In recent years, photovoltaic (PV) solar electric technology has matured to the point where solar power is now cost competitive with fossil fuel generators for use in remote, low power (<5 kW) applications. This technology is ideally suited for rural electrification in developing countries due to the high availability of solar insolation and the low power requirements in these regions. Yet PV technology is growing very slowly in Third World nations. This is due to both a lack of awareness of the technology and barriers from several institutions. In this article a case study of Kenya is performed, considering the opportunities for incorporating solar electric power into Kenya's rural electrification programs. The barriers preventing widespread deployment of this technology in Kenya are presented, and ways of overcoming these impediments are suggested.
N-acyl analogs of N-(2-cyanoethyl)cyclohexylamine with CNS activity

A series of substituted aryl amides of N-(2-cyanoethyl)cyclohexylamine was synthesized and screened for their effect on the central nervous system. Members of this series exhibit a pronounced effect on the spontaneous motor activity of mice, usually accompanied by varying degrees of activity on blood pressure in rats.
Comparison of Sampling Strategies Used During a Machine Shop Noise Survey

Abstract In Appendix G to 29 CFR 1910.95 “Occupational Noise Exposure,” OSHA describes how to monitor employee noise exposures using both area sound level meters and personal noise dosimeters. Initial workplace noise evaluations are often done in the form of a walk-through survey using a sound level meter. This article describes a dynamic workplace where sound level meters and dosimeters were used simultaneously to compare several different approaches to evaluating employee noise exposures. The methods tested were extrapolation of individual exposures from area measurements (obtained from ‘typical’ walk-through surveys), prediction of exposures using source noise data (measured by sound level meter), and frequency of source use information (measured by a work measurement method). In this study, the noise evaluation methods tested were found to underrepresent sound levels consistently when compared to the dosimeter data—in this case, because the latter better integrates the contribution of intermittent sho...
Atypical [3H]Clonidine Binding Sites in Human Caudate and Platelets on Cryostat‐cut Sections

Pharmacological characterization is described for a human imidazoline binding site (I-site) labeled by [(3)H]clonidine using standard autoradiographic method. Under conditions that mask alpha(2)-adrenergic sites, only a single high affinity site was observed in human caudate and blood platelet sections. Affinity constants (K(i)) were highly correlated between the two tissues (r = 0.90, P = 0.0003). This site is dissimilar to classical I(1) and I(2) sites, even though both tissues possess abundant I(1) and I(2) sites by filtration binding methods. It is suggested that the isotonic buffer conditions inherent to the procedure alter drug affinities to the classical I(1) site.
Experimental investigation of ram accelerator propulsion modes

Experimental investigations on the propulsive modes of the ram accelerator are reviewed in this paper. The ram accelerator is a ramjet-in-tube projectile accelerator whose principle of operation is similar to that of a supersonic air-breathing ramjet. The projectile resembles the centerbody of a ramjet and travels through a stationary tube filled with a premixed gaseous fuel and oxidizer mixture. The combustion process travels with the projectile, generating a pressure distribution which produces forward thrust on the projectile. Several modes of ram accelerator operation are possible which are distinguished by their operating velocity range and the manner in which the combustion process is initiated and stabilized. Propulsive cycles utilizing subsonic, thermally choked combustion theoretically allow projectiles to be accelerated to the Chapman-Jouguet(C-J) detonation speed of a gaseous propellant mixture. In the superdetonative velocity range, the projectile is accelerated while always traveling faster than the C-J speed, and in the transdetonative regime (85–115 % of C-J speed) the projectile makes a smooth transition from a subdetonative to a superdetonative propulsive mode. This paper examines operation in these three regimes of flow using methane and ethylene based propellant mixtures in a 16 m long, 38 mm bore ram accelerator using 45–90 g projectiles at velocities up to 2500 m/s.
Preliminary study on the suppression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in the Lewis rat with spirogermanium.

Spirogermanium (SG) is an azaspirane compound that incorporates the element germanium into a heterocyclic ring structure. It is currently being tested in phase II clinical trials as an anti-neoplastic agent and, in experimental animals, has suppressed adjuvant arthritis. In this study, SG suppressed experimental autoimmune encephalomyehtis in the Lewis rat. Suppression was a dose-dependent phenomenon and doses of 28 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg given intraperitoneally Eve through 14 days postinoculation gave significant protection. Perivascular inflammation in the central nervous system was also suppressed in animals receiving effective doses. Although these doses were well tolerated, cytoplasmic lamellar-bodies were found in the central nervous system of all SG-treated animals. Also, animals treated with SG developed diarrhea and weight loss, although histologic study of the gastrointestinal tract revealed no lesions.
A portable system for microdosimetric intercomparisons by task group # 20 of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM)

Abstract Variations in the physical properties of beams of radiation used for therapy can produce corresponding variations in the patient responses for the same physical dose. These variations have been particularly significant in the application of heavy-charged-particle beams to the clinic. A dedicated system has been designed and constructed, in order to establish a systematic method for the intercomparison of the microdosimetric properties of the various beams being used in clinical trials.
The in-reactor creep of selected ferritic, solid solution strengthened, and precipitation hardened alloys

Abstract The results of an in-reactor creep experiment designed to investigate the creep behavior of selected ferritic, solid solution strengthened and precipitation hardened alloys of the Fe-Cr-Ni system are presented. Data are reported for one temperature, 595°C, after accumulated nominal fluences of 2 and 4 × 1022n/cm2 (E > 0.1 MeV). These data are compared with previously reported data at 540°C. In general, the high strength precipitation hardened alloys displayed the greatest resistance to in-reaetor creep. Thermomechanical heat treatments were found to influence the creep behavior. Several of the alloys showed an inverse temperature dependence of in-reactor creep and swelling (increased temperature — decreased creep). This result is consistant with current theoretical models which yield an interrelationship between irradiation creep and swelling.
New Horizons for Psychiatrists in Administration and Management

This section of Psychiatric Quarterly is devoted to psychiatric administration and management. Administrative psychiatrists arrive at their leadership positions through many different career paths. They bring, generally, years of clinical knowledge, insight, and an understanding of how the systems work and they typically apply this knowledge and experience to their new role as psychiatric administrator or manager. There is a wide range as regards to how much time they spend in administrative tasks versus serving as clinicians. They face challenges related to both clinical, as well as their administrative roles [1]. In today’s fast changing world of health care delivery system, the drivers of change are many and varied, but chief among them are the rapid advance of technology and the consequent raising of expectations. Today we have the medical knowledge to do more for patients than we have the resources for. Yet, the driving force behind medical development is not clinical necessity but the innovation and invention of new technologies. The fact that people live longer and increasingly turn to health care for solutions to complex social problems increases demand on medical services still further. Psychiatrist administrators are at the front line. They face the challenge of balancing ever increasing demand against finite resources. This section of Psychiatric Quarterly focuses on some of the new horizons for psychiatric administration and management. Bloch et al. start the section with discussing factors related to the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs). They point out that extensive effort is required to successfully implement EBPs that improve outcomes, and they provide examples of successful implementations of EBPs in mental health settings with emphasis on factors that contribute to improving clinical outcomes. They conclude their article with some practical takehome messages for psychiatric administrators of clinics, departments, hospitals, and agencies. The second article in the section focuses on the ethical challenges for the psychiatric administrator as they relate to drug formularies. In this article, Moffic starts with pointing out that the rising costs continue to plague healthcare and mental healthcare and identifies the latest variation of managed care techniques being trying to reduce medication costs by instituting formulary restrictions. He further points out that in the midst of the uncertainty and complexity, the psychiatrist administrator has the ethical challenge and chance to make a major difference by keeping the well-being of patients first while addressing the needs of the institution, payor, and other stakeholders. The psychiatrist administrator, he adds, can
Tabu Search Meta-Heuristic for Static Manycast Routing and Wavelength Assignment over Wavelength-Routed Optical WDM Networks

This paper presents a tabu search meta-heuristic to solve the static manycast routing and wavelength assignment problem (MA-RWA). The problem is to route a set of manycast requests over a wavelength-routed WDM network such that the number of wavelengths required is minimized. We present the details of a tabu search meta-heuristic for this problem and compare it to two other MA-RWA heuristics called lambda path heuristic (LPH) and shortest path tree (SPT) heuristic. The tabu search meta-heuristic shows a 10% improvement over LPH and a 30-40% improvement over SPT for various realistic networks.
Docosahexaenoic Acid augments hypothermic neuroprotection in a neonatal rat asphyxia model

Background: In neonatal rats, early post-hypoxia-ischemia (HI) administration of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) improves sensorimotor function,
Religious participation, Southern University women, and abstinence

Analyses of the influence of religion on deviant behavior have produced conflicting results. Religious participation is found to inhibit individual deviance either in: (1) religious, normatively clear, environments (Stark, Kent, and Doyle, 1982); or (2) secular, normatively ambiguous, contexts (Tittle and Welch, 1983). We argue that publicly supported universities are secular environments characterized by normative ambiguity with regard to alcohol and other drug use. The findings show that southern university women who attend religious services regularly are significantly more likely to abstain and less likely to be dual users of intoxicants than are occasional religious participants. Racial differences in the effect of religious observance on drinking and marijuana use are also found. Support and specification are provided for the Tittle and Welch (1983) contingency model.
Outcome of renal transplants from pediatric donors <5 yr of age.

: Aim: Outcomes of single renal transplants from donors <5 yr old have traditionally been inferior to those from older donors. We retrospectively studied our experience with patients who received renal transplants, either individually or en bloc, from young donors (<5 yr of age) to determine the utility of these organs. We also compared the outcomes of these transplant patients maintained on either cyclosporine- (CyA) or tacrolimus-based (TRL) immunosuppression regimens. Patients: Ninety-eight patients received transplants at our center from donors <5 yr of age between August 1993 and August 2003. They were followed-up from 12 months to 11 yr. Patients were divided into four groups based on whether they received single or en bloc transplants, and whether CyA or TRL was the base immunosuppressive agent. Patients in group I (n = 13) received single pediatric kidneys and were treated with CyA regimens; group II patients (n = 26) also received single pediatric kidneys, but were treated with TRL regimens; group III patients (n = 31) were transplanted en bloc and were treated with CyA; and group IV patients (n = 28) received en bloc transplants and were treated with TRL. Results: One-year patient and death-censored graft survival was not significantly different between recipients of en bloc vs. single grafts (i.e. 88 and 85% vs. 90 and 87%, respectively), or between the four treatment groups (group I: 85 and 85%, group II: 92 and 88%, group III: 87 and 84%, and group IV: 89 and 86%, respectively). The overall 1-yr rejection rate was 30% (29 of 98), which was significantly higher in the CyA-treated patients 19 of 44; i.e. 43%, than in TRL-treated patients 10 of 54, i.e. 19%, p = 0.03). In the en bloc recipients, seven grafts (12%) were lost as a result of vascular thrombosis. Notably, none of the single kidneys were lost because of vascular thrombosis. At the end of follow-up the creatinine levels of both groups were comparable. Conclusions: Pediatric donor kidneys transplanted individually provide for equal patient and graft survival when compared with en bloc transplants. TRL can be used reduce the detrimental effect of acute rejection on graft growth and function when compared with CyA. Single use of such kidneys can safely and efficaciously be transplanted into adult recipients, greatly expanding the donor pool.
A coherence-based noise reduction algorithm for binaural hearing aids

In this study, we present a novel coherence-based noise reduction technique and show how it can be employed in binaural hearing aid instruments in order to suppress any potential noise present inside a realistic low reverberant environment. The technique is based on particular assumptions on the spatial properties of the target and undesired interfering signals and suppresses (coherent) interferences without prior statistical knowledge of the noise environment. The proposed algorithm is simple, easy to implement and has the advantage of high performance in coping with adverse signal conditions such as scenarios in which competing talkers are present. The technique was assessed by measurements with normal-hearing subjects and the processed outputs in each ear showed significant improvements in terms of speech intelligibility (measured by an adaptive speech reception threshold (SRT) sentence test) over the unprocessed signals (baseline). In a mildly reverberant room with T"6"0=200, the average improvement in SRT obtained relative to the baseline was approximately 6.5dB. In addition, the proposed algorithm was found to yield higher intelligibility and quality than those obtained by a well-established interaural time difference (ITD)-based speech enhancement algorithm. These attractive features make the proposed method a potential candidate for future use in commercial hearing aid and cochlear implant devices.
Extension of Boson-Fermion dynamical symmetry to hypernuclei

Abstract Boson-fermion dynamical symmetry is introduced for the states in hypernuclei associated with odd protons, odd neutrons and odd hyperons in j= 3 2 configurations, coupled to the boson core with UB(5) symmetry.
Evaluation of the enclose proximal anastomosis device in coronary artery bypass grafting.

Purpose Minimal manipulation of the ascending aorta during coronary artery bypass grafting may reduce the incidence of adverse perioperative events related to atheroembolic events. The objective of this study was to evaluate a new proximal anastomotic device (Novare Enclose device [Novare Surgical Systems, Cupertino, CA]). Description Over a 23-month period, a total of 76 proximal anastomoses were performed in 50 patients (40 males and 10 females; mean age, 74.36 years). In 45 patients, the proximal anastomosis was constructed before the distal (25 off-pump and 20 on-pump), and in 5 patients the proximal anastomosis was constructed on cardiopulmonary bypass because of diseased ascending aortas. Evaluation The average time per anastomosis was Conclusions The Novare Enclose proximal anastomotic device (Novare Surgical Systems) appears to be safe and effective as a tool for proximal anastomosis within a reasonable time period and is comparable with accepted techniques.
Small-molecule inhibitors of the interaction between TNF and TNFR.

The overexpression of TNF has been implicated in a variety of disease conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, HIV and cancer. It is presently a therapeutic target for inflammatory diseases. Many of the therapeutics currently used are biologics designed to sequester TNF, preventing it from binding with its receptors. Recent research has been focused on finding small molecules that alter the production of TNF, modulate its signal transduction pathways, or directly inhibit the binding to its receptors. Modulation of a protein–protein interaction with small molecules is an interesting and nontrivial approach. The various strategies used in obtaining small-molecule, nonpeptide, inhibitors of the TNF–TNF receptor interaction through disruption of the TNF trimer or direct inhibition of the TNF–TNF receptor interaction are presented here.
In vitro evidence for involvement of CoA thioesters in peroxisome proliferation and hypolipidaemia

Abstract The mechanisms of peroxisomal induction and hypolipidaemia caused by treatment with peroxisome proliferators, such as nafenopin and clofibrate, remain to be elucidated. Proposed mechanisms include receptor-mediated processes or adaptations resulting from disruption of hepatic lipid metabolism. The latter mechanism was investigated in a series of in vitro studies. Incubation of primary rat hepatocytes with various carboxyl-containing compounds revealed no clear common factor which imparted potency as a peroxisomal inducer. Inhibitors of fatty acyl-CoA synthetase, norepinephrine and desulpho-CoA, however, decreased the level of peroxisomal induction by nafenopin in rat hepatocytes, suggesting that activation of carboxyl-containing compounds to their CoA thioesters may be a necessary step in initiating peroxisome proliferation. Coenzyme A thioesters of nafenopin, clofibric acid and other carboxyl-containing chemicals were synthesised and found to inhibit the activity of acetyl-CoA carboxylase to varying degrees. The CoA thioester of nafenopin was the most potent inhibitor among this group ( K i = 1.45 · 10 −5 M), but weaker than palmitoyl-CoA ( K i = 2.22 · 10 −6 M), the feedback inhibitor of acetyl-CoA carboxylase. Hypolipidaemia caused by treatment with peroxisome proliferators may, therefore, be related to inhibition of fatty-acid synthesis by the corresponding CoA thioester derivative.
Estimation of parameters under a random censorship model

The problem of estimation of parameters of a lifetime distribution is considered under the proportional hazards model of random censorship. Asymptotic variances of several estimators of survival function are compared in the eponential case.
Triplopia: Thirteen Patients From a Neurology Inpatient Service

Background Seeing triple is a rare complaint, so anatomically unlikely that it is often considered a diagnostic symptom of hysteria. Objective To evaluate the complaint of triple vision among a large group of neurological inpatients. Design Personal case series during a 34-year period. Setting Neurology and neurosurgery wards of the University of Southern California–Los Angeles County Medical Center. Patients Thirteen patients who reported seeing objects in triplicate. Results Eleven of 13 patients had ocular motor findings, including third nerve palsy in 5 patients, internuclear ophthalmoplegia in 4, and sixth nerve palsy in 2. Causes included brainstem infarction in 4 patients; ischemic mononeuropathy, trauma, surgery, and hysteria in 2 patients each; and tumor in 1 patient. Conclusion Triplopia is a rare complaint that, in a neurology inpatient service, often represents an unusual interpretation of abnormal eye movements.
Assessing losses of genetic diversity due to translocation: long-term case histories in Merriam's turkey (Meleagris gallopavo merriami)

Translocation is a widely used tool in wildlife management, but populations established as a result of translocations may be subject to a range of genetic problems, including loss of genetic diversity and founder effects. The genetic impact of single translocation events can be difficult to assess because of complex management histories in translocated or source populations. Here we use molecular markers to assess the genetic impact of three well-documented translocation events, each occurring between 42 and 53 years ago and each originating from a native, extant source population that we also included in our study. Comparing translocated populations to their sources, we found genetic evidence of a recent bottleneck in all three translocated populations, including one which is now a very large, productive population. Based on our results, we recommend caution in (1) using short term census data to assess the long term success of a translocation and (2) conducting serial translocations (i.e., using translocated populations as the source for other translocations), which could exacerbate a genetic bottleneck. We also used the data on translocated populations to investigate the relative utility of three bottleneck detection methods. With this dataset, only assessment of the modal allele frequency distribution, described by Luikart et al. [Journal of Heredity, 89, 238–247 (1998)], provided evidence of a bottleneck in the absence of source population data.
Putting the environment back in genetics

Cultural Transmission and Evolution: A Quantitative Approach. By L.L. Cavalli-Sforza and M.W. Feldman. Pp.388. Hbk ISBN 0-691-08280-4; pbk ISBN 0-691-08283-9. (Princeton University Press: 1981.) Hbk $25, £17.70; pbk $10.50, £7.50.
Environmental tobacco smoke particles in multizone indoor environments

Abstract Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is a major source of human exposure to airborne particles. To better understand the factors that affect exposure, and to investigate the potential effectiveness of technical control measures, a series of experiments was conducted in a two-room test facility. Particle concentrations, size distributions, and airflow rates were measured during and after combustion of a cigarette. Experiments were varied to obtain information about the effects on exposure of smoker segregation, ventilation modification, and air filtration. The experimental data were used to test the performance of an analytical model of the two-zone environment and a numerical multizone aerosol dynamics model. A respiratory tract particle deposition model was also applied to the results to estimate the mass of ETS particles that would be deposited in the lungs of a nonsmoker exposed in either the smoking or nonsmoking room. Comparisons between the experimental data and model predictions showed good agreement. For time-averaged particle mass concentration, the average bias between model and experiments was less than 10%. The average absolute error was typically 35%, probably because of variability in particle emission rates from cigarettes. For the conditions tested, the use of a portable air filtration unit yielded 65–90% reductions in predicted lung deposition relative to the baseline scenario. The use of exhaust ventilation in the smoking room reduced predicted lung deposition in the nonsmoking room by more than 80%, as did segregating the smoker from nonsmokers with a closed door.
Control of a fluidized bed combustor using fuzzy logic

Fuzzy logic--an artificial intelligence technique--can be employed to exploit the wealth of information human experts have learned about complex systems while attempting to control them. This information is usually of a qualitative nature that is unusable by rigid conventional control techniques. Fuzzy logic, uses as a control method, manipulates linguistically expressed, heuristic knowledge from a human expert to derive control actions for a described system. As an alternative approach to classical controls, fuzzy logic is examined for start-up control and normal regulation of a bubbling fluidized bed combustor. To validate the fuzzy logic approach, the fuzzy controller is compared to a classical proportional and integral (PI) controller, commonly used in industrial applications, designed by Ziegler-Nichols tuning.
Isotopic effect on ion mobility and separation of isotopomers by high-field ion mobility spectrometry.

Distinguishing and separating isotopic molecular variants is important across many scientific fields. However, discerning such variants, especially those producing no net mass difference, has been challenging. For example, single-stage mass spectrometry is broadly employed to analyze isotopes but is blind to isotopic isomers (isotopomers) and, except at very high resolution, species of the same nominal mass (isobars). Here, we report separation of isotopic ions, including isotopomers and isobars, using ion mobility spectrometry (IMS), specifically, the field asymmetric waveform IMS (FAIMS). The effect is not based on the different reduced masses of ion−gas molecule pairs previously theorized to cause isotopic separations in conventional IMS, but appears related to the details of energetic ion−molecule collisions in strong electric fields. The observed separation qualitatively depends on the gas composition and may be improved using gas mixtures. Isotopic shifts depend on the position of the labeled site, ...
Humanizing animal models: a key to autoimmune diabetes treatment.

Preclinical evaluation of antibody-based immunotherapies for the treatment of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in animal models is often hampered by the fact that the human antibody drug does not cross-react with its mouse counterpart. In this issue of Science Translational Medicine, researchers describe a new mouse model that expresses the human isoform of a molecule targeted by T1D antibody therapies that are currently being tested in clinical trials—the human epsilon chain of the CD3 complex expressed on T cells. Anti-CD3 is capable of reducing insulin needs in individuals with recently diagnosed T1D; however, the precise underlying mechanisms of action and the minimal effective dose have been difficult to define. The new humanized mouse model will be instrumental in optimizing anti-CD3–based therapies and accelerating their clinical realization.
A Comparison of Mice in Rebound‐Thrombocytosis with Platelet‐Hypertransfused Mice for the Assay of Thrombopoietin

Rebound-thrombocytosis and platelet hypertransfusions were compared as methods of preparing assay animals for the measurement of thrombopoietin (TSF). In immunothrombocythaemic mice, the amount of 35S incorporation into the platelet mass after injections of a standard dose of TSF was related to the length of time after rabbit anti-mouse platelet serum (RAMPS) injection. After 2 platelet transfusions, however, there was no decrease in 35S incorporation values of mice with time after injections of control or TSF-containing substances. When platelet counts were made 3 days after the last platelet transfusion, the counts decreased with the number of transfusions. Mice in rebound-thrombocytosis were responsive to TSF as evidenced by higher platelet counts (P less than 0.05) and increased 35S incorporation into platelets (P less than 0.005), whereas mice made thrombocytotic by platelet transfusions were not. Assuming that increased platelet counts induced by the different techniques affect assay mice only by inhibiting blood cell production by haematopoietic cells, these data are consistent with the hypothesis that sensitivity to TSF depends upon the proliferative state of the megakaryocytic precursor population.
Growth, linkage, and termination processes of a 10-km-long strike-slip fault in jointed granite: the Gemini fault zone, Sierra Nevada, California

Abstract Field-based structural analysis of an exhumed, ∼10-km-long strike-slip fault zone elucidates processes of growth, linkage, and termination along moderately sized strike-slip fault zones in granitic rocks. The Gemini fault zone is a 9.3-km-long, left-lateral fault system that was active at depths of 8–11 km within the transpressive Late-Cretaceous Sierran magmatic arc. The fault zone cuts four granitic plutons and is composed of three steeply dipping northeast- and southwest-striking noncoplanar segments that nucleated and grew along preexisting cooling joints. The fault core is bounded by subparallel fault planes that separate highly fractured epidote-, chlorite-, and quartz-breccias from undeformed protolith. The slip profile along the Gemini fault zone shows that the fault zone consists of three 2–3-km-long segments separated by two ‘zones’ of local slip minima. Slip is highest (131 m) on the western third of the fault zone and tapers to zero at the eastern termination. Slip vectors plunge shallowly west-southwest and show significant variability along strike and across segment boundaries. Four types of microstructures reflect compositional changes in protolith along strike and show that deformation was concentrated on narrow slip surfaces at, or below, greenschist facies conditions. Taken together, we interpret the fault zone to be a segmented, linked fault zone in which geometrical complexities of the faults and compositional variations of protolith and fault rock resulted in nonuniform slip orientations, complex fault-segment interactions, and asymmetric slip-distance profiles.
EFFICIENCY GAINS IN BETA-PRICING MODELS1

Recent literature shows that the risk premium is efficiently estimated in the usual two-pass procedure, estimating betas in the unrestricted model, and then regressing returns on estimated betas. This paper shows that this is not so when allowing for factor unobservability. Imposing the financial theory restriction from the outset leads to a strictly positive efficiency gain in the risk premium estimation. In addition, the role of an associated efficiency gain in the beta estimation is studied in the context of a zero-beta model.
Timing, Duration and Quality of Sleep, and Level of Daytime Sleepiness in 1166 Retired Seniors

A telephone survey of 1166 community resident seniors (658 male, 508 female, age between 65 and 97 years, mean 74.8 years) was undertaken, which included among other components telephone versions of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and the Sleep Timing Questionnaire (STQ). The median PSQI score was 5 and the median ESS score 6, suggesting that neither sleep problems, nor daytime sleepiness problems, were particularly prevalent in this sample of seniors. The STQ indicated that the habitual timing of the sleep episode appeared to be within the usual 11 pm to 7:30 am range, with about 7.5 hours of actual sleep within that interval being reported. There was, however, a sizable minority who broke this pattern, with 25% of the sample reporting less than 6.7 hours of sleep, and problems with nocturnal sleep and daytime sleepiness.
In vitro culture of fibroblast-like cells from postmortem skin of Katahdin sheep stored at 4°C for different time intervals

Live animals have been produced recently from animal tissues preserved for decades at frozen temperatures with or without cryoprotectants. However, the tissues in these studies were cryopreserved within few hours of animal death to obtain culturable live cells as nuclear donors. How long the tissues can be left unfrozen after animal death, without losing the viability and potential to in vitro culture with comparable morphology and proliferative rate as the fresh tissues, is not completely understood. To understand this phenomenon, ear skin samples from individual sheep (n = 3) were procured from slaughter plant and stored at 4°C. After various intervals (2, 8, 24, 32, 48, and 56 h after slaughter), 2–3 mm2 pieces (n = 10) of skin samples were cultured for 12 d on two dishes (60 mm) for each sheep. Outgrowth of fibroblast-like cells was observed as early as day 4 of culture and was visible on dishes of all time points including 56 h by day 10. The number of outgrowing cells decreased with increasing time interval between animal slaughter and culture initiation. Secondary cultures were successfully established for all the time points. All cultures proliferated well and were apparently normal. Passage 2 cultures of 2 h and 56 h interval for one of the three sheep were compared for their growth pattern and proliferation rates. The population doubling time of 2 h and 56 h intervals was 33.12 and 34.8 h, respectively, and both the lines exhibited similar cell morphology and an “S”-shaped growth curve. These results suggest that skin tissues of sheep and perhaps other animal species with superior traits are effectively preserved at cellular level at least for 56 h at normal refrigerating conditions, without need of complicated cryopreservatives/cryotanks that are usually not available at small farms.
Growth and stability of carbon islands on platinum surfaces

Abstract Details of the growth of C(graphite) islands and their stability on Pt surfaces were studied by FEM, UHV-SEM and very high resolution scanning AES. Initial nucleation of the C occurs on dislocations in the curved high index surface areas. Above 1150 K these randomly distributed islands dissolve and face specific layers are formed on {110} which can extend along the 〈100〉 zones all the way to the {100} planes. The sequence of stability of graphite layers on Pt is: {110} > all other {hk0} on the 〈100〉 zone except {100} > {100} followed closely by {111}. Concerning this layer stability, epitaxial mismatch plays a subservient role to the dipole interaction between metal substrate and graphite layer.
Part I. Curricula and accreditation. Education of the information professional: A library school perspective

This article presents both a large-scale context of education for the information professional, encompassing the entire university, and a narrower view from the perspective of the library school. The question it poses is the extent to which a broadened scope of responsibility can be encompassed by the library school, with many information professionals—even those closely allied to librarianship—finding their educational preparation in other academic departments. The author asserts that the library is still the vital focus for the library school, whatever the name, and that the imperative is to establish goals of academic excellence within that focus. The standards of the ALA Committee of Accreditation are used as the basis for identifying the essential elements of excellence. © 1988 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Digital computer aids in power-pool-operation studies

This paper describes the use of a general-purpose digital computer as an aid in the solution of problems encountered in the pooled operation of a large hydroelectric system. This program has been used effectively during the past year by operations engineers of the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). Its use has enabled studies of operations to be prepared more rapidly and in a form that can be used readily by management in analyzing current conditions and in formulating plans for subsequent operations.
Form And Function Of Vena Cava Filters: How Do Optional Filters Measure Up?:

The function of vena cava filters, preventing pulmonary embolism while maintaining caval patency, is associated with the design. Several characteristics have been reported. This report evaluates retrievable filter designs in comparison with previously marketed designs with respect to efficacy and safety. Three inferior vena cava (IVC) filters (Gunther Tulip, Bard Recovery, and the Cordis OptEase) were compared on the basis of design characteristics associated with function, shape, number of trapping levels, and fixation. Adverse events reported in the literature and to the US Food and Drug Administration Manufacturers and User Facility Device Experience Database (MAUDE) were summarized. The major differences among device types include the fixation, the volume and number of trapping levels, and the amount of metal in the IVC. The MAUDE registry reported adverse events that had been hypothesized from the analysis of in vitro and in vivo testing. The Recovery and OptEase filters had the highest number of clinically important reports. From 12 to 57% were retrieved between 3 days and 11 months. Adaptations made to facilitate retrieval led to unacceptable sequelae. The small number removed, the length of time they are left in place, and the risks associated with retrieval suggest that optional filters may not be equivalent to approved permanent devices.