cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nuclear factor–κB and STAT3 are constitutively active in CD138+cells derived from multiple myeloma patients, and suppression of these transcription factors leads to apoptosis

Chemoresistance is a major problem in the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Because of the central role of the nuclear transcription factors nuclear factor–κB (NF-κB) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in chemoresistance, cell survival, and proliferation, we investigated whether MM cells derived from patients express activated NF-κB and STAT3 and if their suppression induces apoptosis. We assayed CD138+ cells from the bone marrow of 22 MM patients and checked for the activated forms of NF-κB and STAT3 by immunocytochemistry. We found that MM cells from all the patients expressed the activated forms of NF-κB and STAT3 but to a variable degree (NF-κB: low, 3 of 22; moderate, 5 of 22; or high, 14 of 22; STAT3: none, 1 of 22; low, 3 of 22; moderate, 5 of 22; or high, 14 of 22). Constitutive activation of NF-κB was in some cases also independently confirmed by electrophoretic mobility gel shift assay. In contrast to MM patients, activated forms of NF-κB and STAT3 were absent in cells from healthy individuals. Suppression of NF-κB and STAT3 activation in MM cells by ex vivo treatment with curcumin (diferuloylmethane) resulted in a decrease in adhesion to bone marrow stromal cells, cytokine secretion, and in the viability of cells. When compared with curcumin, dexamethasone was less effective in suppression of NF-κB activation and induction of apoptosis in myeloma cells. Overall, our results indicate that fresh cells from MM patients express constitutively active NF-κB and STAT3, and suppression of these transcription factors inhibits the survival of the cells. (Blood. 2004;103:3175-3184)
Operation of QDMA-based ad hoc networks

The objective of this paper is to present a detailed description of the operation of an ad hoc network based on the Quadrature Division Multiple Access (QDMA) patent. The QDMA patent alludes to a communication paradigm for building code division multiple access (CDMA) based networks in the absence of base stations. The nodes in the QDMA network organize themselves as a hierarchical collection of squads, each having a node that manages the communication process among the squad members. To the best of our knowledge, there is no definitive explanation of any QDMA-based protocols in the literature. Herein, we describe, in detail, our understanding of the architecture of the QDMA-based network, as well as protocols for establishing and maintaining QDMA networks and for communicating among the mobile nodes. Our immediate objective is to present protocol definitions sufficient for doing meaningful performance analysis and for understanding the properties of QDMA-based ad hoc networks.
CHARACTERIZATION OF OPTIMA IN SMOOTH PARETO ECONOMIC SYSTEMS

Simple techniques of calculus and geometry are used to study and characterize the optima of pure exchange economies in which the utility functions are smooth but not necessarily convex. It is also shown how one can reduce the problem of optimizing p functions on the manifold of states to that of maximizing a single function on a submanifold of this space. Two models are described: one in which a person cannot trade to an optimum unless he starts at one; and one in which a person cannot even get near a local Pareto optimum along continuous ‘trade curves’ from most initial distributions. Finally, the set of optima is described for a generic set of utility mappings.
Goal orientation in surgical residents: a study of the motivation behind learning

Abstract Background The subconscious way in which an individual approaches learning, goal orientation (GO), has been shown to influence job satisfaction, job performance, and burnout in nonmedical cohorts. The aim of this study was to adapt and validate an instrument to assess GO in surgical residents, so that in the future, we can better understand how differences in motivation affect professional development. Materials and methods Residents were recruited to complete a 17-item survey adapted from the Patterns of Adaptive Learning Scales (PALS). The survey included three scales assessing GO in residency-specific terms. Items were scored on a 5-point Likert scale, and the psychometric properties of the adapted and original PALS were compared. Results Ninety-five percent of residents (61/64) participated. Median age was 30 y and 33% were female. Mean (standard deviation) scale scores for the adapted PALS were: mastery 4.30 (0.48), performance approach (PAP) 3.17 (0.99), and performance avoid 2.75 (0.88). Mean (standard deviation) scale scores for the original PALS items were: mastery 3.35 (1.02), PAP 2.76 (1.15), and performance avoid 2.41 (0.91). Cronbach alpha were α = 0.89 and α = 0.84 for the adapted PAP and avoid scales, respectively, which were comparable with the original scales. For the adapted mastery scale, α = 0.54. Exploratory factor analysis revealed five factors, and factor loadings for individual mastery items did not load consistently onto a single factor. Conclusions This study represents the first steps in the development of a novel tool to measure GO among surgical residents. Understanding motivational psychology in residents may facilitate improved education and professional development.
MO‐A‐I‐611‐01: Recent Advances in CT: MSCT and Highspeed Scanning

This lecture begins the CT refresher course series by reviewing fundamental concepts associated with CTimage quality in axial and helical scanning, then focuses on principles of multislice CT. Some concepts associated with single‐slice helical scanning are briefly reviewed as an introduction to MSCT helical scanning concepts. The attendee will be familiarized with: 1. properties of the CT scan process affecting image quality, including sampling and scatter 2. traditional and new methods to improve sampling 3. principles of multislice CT scanning 4. MSCT detectorssystems 5. reasons for potentially increased radiation doses in MSCT 6. Concepts associated with helical scanning and pitch in MSCT 7. Benefits of MSCT. 8. Current generations of MSCT systems 9. Improvements in gantry rotational speed and associated x‐ray tube design
Alternative structure for computing APPs of the Markov source

We introduce an alternative structure for computing the a posteriori probabilities (APPs) for state and transition sequences of a Markov source observed through a noisy output sequence. Compared to the well-established forward-backward recursion algorithm of Bahl et al. (1974), the proposed structure allows a reduction in computational complexity at the expense of increased memory requirements. Alternatively, for a similar complexity level, the proposed structure needs smaller memory when the input alphabet size is small.
Metabolism of Steroid Hormones in Adrenal Cortex Tumor Cultures1

Six steroids with absorption maxima at 240 mμ secreted by the tissue culture system of a mouse adrenal cortex tumor have been extracted from the growth medium of the cultures. 20α-Hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one and 11β, 20α-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one were identified on the basis of infrared spectra and chemical data. Three of the 4 other such compounds were tentatively identified as progesterone, 11β-hydroxyprogesterone, and 20a-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,lldione. A seventh steroid, which does not absorb light at 240 mμ, was found to have properties similar to those of 3β, 20α-dihydroxy-5- pregnene. These steroids arise either upon ACTH stimulation, by incubation of the cultures withthe exogenous precursor pregnenolone, under basal conditions, or by all 3 modes of synthesis. The unique patterns of secretion observed in the tissue culture system result from the interaction of the adrenal specific properties still expressed by the adrenal tumor and the conditions of tissue culture that have caused, in some unknown manner...
CONTROL OF KERATINOCYTE DIVISION IN VITRO

Aqueous extracts of newborn rat epidermis inhibit mitosis of cultivated keratinocytes obtained from guinea pigs and humans. The mitotic activity of cultivated human keratinocytes and fibroblasts obtained from the uninvolved skin of subjects with psoriasis is similar to the mitotic activity of these cells obtained from involved psoriatic skin. This observation is consistent with the model of repression of mitotic activity in normal skin and a derepression of mitotic activity in psoriatic epidermis. Extracts of liver also inhibit mitosis of guinea pig keratinocytes. Cultivated keratinocytes do not exhibit the same specificity of inhibition by epidermal extracts that has been reported for surviving fragments of mouse ear.
Preparation of homogeneous AsxTe1-x films with 0.2<x<0.8 by single source steady state sublimation

Abstract Steady state evaporation of solid As 2 Te 3 was used to prepare homogeneous As x Te 1-x films with compositions between x=0.2 and 0.8. The composition of these films depended approximately linearly on the substrate temperature. The polymeric character of the As 2 Te 3 melt allowed to extend steady state evaporation into the liquid state.
Recent developments in cartilage research: matrix biology of the collagen II/IX/XI heterofibril network.

Research on cartilage is intensifying as efforts expand to discover disease-modifying drugs to treat or prevent osteoarthritis. Proteolytic damage to the collagen fabric of cartilage is a critical, and probably early, component of the pathogenesis of degenerative joint disease. Here we summarize recent findings on the unique heteromeric structure of cartilage collagen fibrils, including the key role of collagen IX, a covalently bonded fibril-adapter molecule. A highly specific pattern of cross-linking sites that involves all three component gene products strongly suggests that collagen IX has evolved to function as an inter-fibrillar network-bonding agent. This is supported from the genetic evidence that mutations in all three collagen IX genes can produce a phenotype in which cartilage matrix integrity and early-onset osteoarthritis are a feature. From the structure of the cartilage collagen heteropolymer we also predict a pivotal role for telopeptide (non-triplehelical) proteolytic cleavages in the remodelling and degradation of collagen fibrils.
A Role for Lengsin, a Recruited Enzyme, in Terminal Differentiation in the Vertebrate Lens

Lengsin is an eye lens-specific member of the glutamine synthetase (GS) superfamily. Lengsin has no GS activity, suggesting that it has a structural rather than catalytic role in lens. In situ hybridization and immunofluorescence showed that lengsin is expressed in terminally differentiating secondary lens fiber cells. Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and recombinant protein experiments showed that full-length lengsin can bind the 2B filament region of vimentin. In affinity chromatography, lengsin also bound the equivalent region of CP49 (BFSP2; phakinin), a related intermediate filament protein specific to the lens. Both the vimentin and CP49 2B fragments bound lengsin in surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy with fast association and slow dissociation kinetics. Lengsin expression correlates with a transition zone in maturing lens fiber cells in which cytoskeleton is reorganized. Lengsin and lens intermediate filament proteins co-localize at the plasma membrane in maturing fiber cells. This suggests that lengsin may act as a component of the cytoskeleton itself or as a chaperone for the reorganization of intermediate filament proteins during terminal differentiation in the lens.
Organic and Hybrid Plasmonic Nanostructures for Energy Conversion

Recent advances for photoinduced charge separation in nanostructures are discussed. Both organic and organic plasmonic hybrid nanostructures are described. Ultrafast electronic coupling in the hybrid nanostructures is also observed.
Left-to-right extracardiac shunts in the presence of pulmonary stenosis

Abstract The clinical and hemodynamic data from four patients, each with pulmonary stenosis and a congenitally patent aortopulmonary communication, have been contrasted with respect to the presence or absence of coexisting ventricular septal defects and veno-arterial shunts. The aortopulmonary communication in one patient was shown to result from a supravalvular aortopulmonary window, and in another patient, from enlarged bronchial arteries. In each of the remaining two patients, a patent ductus arteriosus was believed to have formed the aortopulmonary communication. In two patients, the pulmonary stenosis and aortopulmonary shunts were complicated by ventricular septal defects. In each of these two patients, the blood flowing across the aortopulmonary communication fulfilled a useful purpose and may have compensated for the reduced flow of blood across the pulmonary valve, because of a veno-arterial shunt at the ventricular level. In each of the two patients without associated ventricular septal defects, the flow of blood across the aortopulmonary communication (patent ductus arteriosus) imposed an uncompensated burden on the left ventricle. For such patients, the treament of choice is closure of the patent aortopulmonary communication, and relief of the obstruction in the outflow tract of the right ventricle.
Development of Lixophaga diatraeae (Tachinidae) on Several Lepidopterans

The larvae of 7 lepidopterans were parasitized in the laboratory with maggots of a tachinid, Lixophaga diatraeae (Towns.). Parasitism of all species occurred, ranging from 18.5% for the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), to 90.0% for the principal host of L. diatraeae , the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.). Survival of maggots placed on Diatraea larvae exceeded 33%, while less than 15% survived when placed on other larval hosts. The time required for parasites to penetrate hosts was similar for all species. Most maggot penetrations occurred at the intersegmental membranes of host larvae; however, a few penetrated D. saccharalis larvae at the mid area of body segments.
Induction of HL‐60 cell differentiation by carotenoids

Recent observations indicated that carotenoids affected the proliferation and differentiation of certain cell lines. In the current experiments, beta-carotene and lutein were tested for the induction of differentiation with HL-60 cells, a bipotent promyelocytic leukemia cell line. Cultures were incubated with lutein (0.0-10.0 mumol/l), beta-carotene (0.0-10.0 mumol/l), and retinoic acid (0.0-1.0 mumol/l); retinoic acid incubations were positive controls for the differentiation of HL-60 cells into granulocytes. The carotenoid-incubated cultures developed significantly more (p < or = 0.05) differentiated cells than control cultures (vehicle alone). Morphology of the carotenoid-incubated cells indicated differentiation along the granulocytic pathway. The percentage of differentiated cells increased significantly throughout a seven-day incubation period to 25% (lutein), 35% (beta-carotene), and 75% (retinoic acid). A dose response was found for lutein (0.0-10.0 mumol/l), but not for beta-carotene. Throughout the incubation period, the percentage of differentiated cells in negative control cultures did not change, remaining at the initial background level (approximately 5%). These results provide evidence for carotenoid-induced differentiation of cells. Induction of cell differentiation by a carotenoid without (lutein) and with (beta-carotene) vitamin A activity suggested a vitamin A-independent mode of action for carotenoids in cell differentiation.
Laparoscopic preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair without peritoneal incision: technique and early clinical results

More than 500,000 hernia procedures are performed annually in the United States alone. The authors have devised a new technique for laparoscopic hernia repair. The peritoneum is not incised, as the space between the abdominal wall and the peritoneum is developed with CO2 and blunt dissection. The trocars and laparoscope are placed within this preperitoneal space. Mesh is stapled to Cooper's ligament and the underside of the abdominal wall. From November 1990 to January 1992, 68 herniae have been repaired in 35 patients. The first 25 patients were kept overnight for observation and discharged the following day. Thirty-two patients (92%) were able to resume full physical activity within 1 week. Average follow-up was only 12 months, but there were no recurrent or retained herniae.
The Teaching Nursing Home: One Approach

ALTHOUGH the teaching nursing home concept has received wide dissemination since publication of an article by Butler, 1 a number of teaching nursing homes already exist in one form or another throughout the country. Some of these programs were shaped from limited resources through innovative thinking and personal energy. As often occurs in academic spheres, however, planned programs are not initiated until funding becomes available. In this article we present one medical school's attempt, by using existing resources, to incorporate fully a nursing home into a geriatric teaching program. The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is a private, free-standing medical school located in Milwaukee. Milwaukee is an industrial city with a population of almost 700,000,14% of whom are older than 60 years. The Medical College has no single university teaching hospital in which to train its 800 undergraduate students and more than 500 house staff but relies on a group
HIV-I TAT inhibits PKR activity by both RNA-dependent and RNA-independent mechanisms.

Replication of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is inhibited by interferons (IFNs), in part through activity of the IFN-inducible protein kinase PKR. To escape this antiviral effect, HIV-1 has developed strategies for blocking PKR function. We have previously shown that the HIV-1 Tat protein can associate with PKR in vitro and in vivo and inhibit PKR activity. Here we present evidence that Tat can inhibit PKR activity by both RNA-dependent and RNA-independent mechanisms. Tat inhibited PKR activation by the non-RNA activator heparin, and also suppressed PKR basal level autophosphorylation in the absence of RNA. However, when Tat and dsRNA were preincubated, the amount of Tat required to inhibit PKR activation by dsRNA depended on the dsRNA concentration. In addition to its function in vitro, Tat can also reverse translation inhibition mediated by PKR in COS cells. The Tat amino acid sequence required for interaction with PKR was mapped to residues 40-58, overlapping the hydrophobic core and basic region of HIV-1 Tat. Alignment of amino acid sequences of Tat and eIF-2alpha indicates similarity between the Tat-PKR binding region and the residues around the eIF-2alpha phosphorylation site, suggesting that Tat and eIF-2alpha may bind to the same site on PKR.
Irradiation of prosthetically augmented breasts: A retrospective study on toxicity and cosmetic results

Abstract Eleven patients with subcutaneous prosthetic breast implants were followed 3–16 years after mammary irradiation. Radiation doses ranged between 45 Gy and 50 Gy to the whole breast, supplemented in five cases with 10–21 Gy scar boost. Evaluation of the cosmetic results revealed a good score in three patients, moderate to fair in three, and poor in five. Of the five patients who had poor postirradiation cosmesis, three had fibrotic changes and encapsulation of the prostheses prior to the irradiation, and two received their irradiation 1 month after the reconstruction. In most of the patients, the nonirradiated breast was augmented with a prosthesis and both breasts could be followed for comparison. The irradiated side usually looked and felt on palpation worse than the nonirradiated, but both breasts exhibited a steady deterioration in appearance over time. The patients who enjoyed better cosmetic results after irradiation had better breast appearance before the radiotherapy. Of three patients treated with lower doses (45 Gy/4.5-5 weeks), two enjoyed good cosmesis. Both patients who received irradiation immediately after reconstructive surgery had poor cosmetic results. Three observations could be made: (a) when the implanted breast was free of fibrotic changes, radiotherapy produced acceptable results, (b) whenever feasible, 45 Gy/5 weeks seemed preferable over higher doses, (c) irradiation immediately after the reconstructive surgery appeared to produce poorer cosmetic results.
Quantitative determination of oxygen in thin oxide films on metals by electron-excited x-ray emission

Abstract Oxide films of known mean thickness, in the range 10–1000 A, have been grown on high purity substrates of aluminium, iron, nickel, niobium and tantalum. These samples have been irradiated at normal incidence with low energy electrons and the characteristic oxygen K α X-ray emission measured with the aid of a soft X-ray spectrometer. Using 1800 eV electrons, all the standards have been studied and the O K α signal-to-background ratio has been determined under controlled conditions. Evaluation of the resulting calibration curves provides data from which oxide film thickness from about 10 −9 g/cm 2 (submonolayer) to about 10 −5 g/cm 2 can be determined for these specific metal/metal oxide systems with good accuracy. Samples have also been examined using electrons of energy between 525 and 4500 eV. From these results a more general experimental relationship between the O K α signal-to-background ratio, film thickness and electron energy has been derived. This more general relationship, derived from five oxide systems having cations ranging from Z = 13 to Z = 75, is considered to be applicable (within specified limits) to any simple oxide-on-metal system in the film thickness range 0–150 A.
Nucleic acid and protein synthesis in lymphomyeloid organs of testosterone treated embryos of the chicken (Gallus domesticus)

Abstract 1. (1) In normal 15–17 day old chickens embryos more DNA was synthesized in the spleen than the thymus. 2. (2) The pattern of RNA synthesis was: spleen > thymus and bursa. 3. (3) Protein biosynthesis was essentially the same in these organs. 4. (4) Administration of testosterone propionate (TP) by injection or dipping in ovo caused no change in biosynthesis of either nucleic acids or protein within organs. 5. (5) More DNA was synthesized in the spleen than the thymus or bursa in TP dipped or injected eggs. 6. (6) Treatment with TP changed the degree of labeling of small lymphocytes in a New Hampshire and small and medium lymphocytes in a White Leghorn strain.
Preventing the calorie restriction-induced increase in insulin-stimulated Akt2 phosphorylation eliminates calorie restriction's effect on glucose uptake in skeletal muscle

Calorie restriction (CR; ~60% of ad libitum, AL, consumption) improves insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle. The precise cellular mechanism for this healthful outcome is unknown, but it is accompanied by enhanced insulin-stimulated activation of Akt. Previous research using Akt2-null mice demonstrated that Akt2 is essential for the full CR-effect on insulin-stimulated glucose uptake by muscle. However, because Akt2-null mice were completely deficient in Akt2 in every cell throughout life, it would be valuable to assess the efficacy of transient, muscle-specific Akt inhibition for attenuation of CR-effects on glucose uptake. Accordingly, we used a selective Akt inhibitor (MK-2206) to eliminate the CR-induced elevation in insulin-stimulated Akt2 phosphorylation and determined the effects on Akt substrates and glucose uptake. We incubated isolated epitrochlearis muscles from 9-month-old AL and CR (~60-65% of AL intake for 6months) rats with or without MK-2206 and measured insulin-stimulated (1.2nM) glucose uptake and phosphorylation of the insulin receptor (Tyr1162/1163), pan-Akt (Thr308 and Ser473), Akt2 (Thr308 and Ser473), AS160/TBC1D4 (Thr642), and Filamin C (Ser2213). Incubation of isolated skeletal muscles with a dose of a selective Akt inhibitor that eliminated the CR-induced increases in Akt2 phosphorylation prevented CR's effects on insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, pAS160(Thr642) and pFilamin C(Ser2213) without altering pIR(Tyr1162/1163). These data provide compelling new evidence linking the CR-induced increase in insulin-stimulated Akt2 phosphorylation to CR's effects on insulin-mediated phosphorylation of Akt substrates and glucose uptake in skeletal muscle.
Therapist Self-Report of Evidence-Based Practices in Usual Care for Adolescent Behavior Problems: Factor and Construct Validity

This study introduces a therapist-report measure of evidence-based practices for adolescent conduct and substance use problems. The Inventory of Therapy Techniques—Adolescent Behavior Problems (ITT-ABP) is a post-session measure of 27 techniques representing four approaches: cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), family therapy (FT), motivational interviewing (MI), and drug counseling (DC). A total of 822 protocols were collected from 32 therapists treating 71 adolescents in six usual care sites. Factor analyses identified three clinically coherent scales with strong internal consistency across the full sample: FT (8 items; α = .79), MI/CBT (8 items; α = .87), and DC (9 items, α = .90). The scales discriminated between therapists working in a family-oriented site versus other sites and showed moderate convergent validity with therapist reports of allegiance and skill in each approach. The ITT-ABP holds promise as a cost-efficient quality assurance tool for supporting high-fidelity delivery of evidence-based practices in usual care.
Nutritional Quality of Hard‐to‐cook and Processed Cowpea

Hard-to-cook (HTC) defect was induced in cowpea seeds by storing at 37 degrees C and 85% relative humidity (RH) for 6 wk. HTC and control (stored at 7 degrees C, 60% RH) seeds were boiled for 45 and 90 min or ground to flour. Flour was cooked as paste or extruded (20% H2O, 150 degrees C). Overall dietary quality was estimated as Feed Efficiency and Relative Response Ratio. Protein quality was determined as Nitrogen Efficiency and Relative Nutritive Value. Overall and protein nutritional quality were generally higher for control than for HTC cowpea diets. Processing affected control and HTC seeds differently. Boiling either control or HTC whole seeds improved both overall and protein quality compared to raw seeds, while extrusion substantially increased the quality of control seeds but reduced the quality of HTC seeds. Cooking as paste improved protein and overall quality of control seeds but not protein quality of HTC seeds.
Evidence for a limited contribution of immune regulation to cardiac allograft acceptance.

Abstract We have used donor-reactive DTH responses to study the immune regulation that is displayed by C57BL/6 mice after they accept DBA/2 cardiac or renal allografts. This regulation is expressed by splenocytes from the allograft acceptors, and involves their alloantigen-induced production of the anti-inflammatory cytokines transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) and/or interleukin-10 (IL-10) at DTH challenge sites, and presumably within accepted allografts. In cardiac allograft acceptors the production of these cytokines depends on a population of CD25 + splenocytes. During these studies, we have encountered several situations in which allograft acceptance does not correlate with DTH-detectable immune regulation: (1) splenocytes from cardiac or kidney allograft acceptors lose TGFβ-mediated inhibition of donor-reactive DTH responses by 150 days post-transplant, although they retain ongoing allograft function; (2) cardiac allograft acceptors rapidly reject donor-matched skin allografts, retain good cardiac allograft function, but lose DTH-detectable immune regulation; (3) Balb/c mice accept C57BL/6 cardiac allografts when treated with anti-CD40L mAb (MR1), but fail to express DTH-detectable immune regulation; and (4) infusion of C57BL/6 mice with peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) that were educated ex vivo to DBA/2 alloantigens in the presence of IL-10 and TGFβ, causes them to exhibit DTH-detectable immune regulation mediated by both TGFβ and IL-10, but they fail to accept DBA/2 cardiac allografts. These observations suggest that the process of allograft acceptance, as it is studied in murine transplant models, is metastable, and does not necessarily reflect the achievement of allograft tolerance. Further, the development of allograft tolerance probably requires more than regulatory T cells, representing a coordinated evolution of multiple immune processes over a prolonged period of time.
Reconstructing the regolith from erosionally exhumed corestone and saprock derived from the Cretaceous Val Verde tonalite, Peninsular Ranges, southern California, USA: A case study

Abstract In temperate zones, an idealized profile of the regolith would consist of in descending order and decreasing weathering intensity, zones I, II, III, and IV. Each zone is characterized by a distinctive mineralogy and chemistry that reflects reactions between rocks and downward percolating fluids. Utilizing these principles, we attempted to reconstruct the original position within the regolith of erosionally exhumed corestone and saprock derived from the Cretaceous Val Verde tonalite at Yucca-Perris and Motte Rimrock, southern California. Chemical index of alteration (CIA) values derived from saprocks at both sites range from 0.49 to 0.50. At Yucca-Perris, average weathering intensity values (t) are 0.03 ± 0.12 and at Motte Rimrock are 0.03 ± 0.02. Clay minerals at Yucca-Perris are smectite, kaolinite, and illite, and at Motte Rimrock vermiculite, kaolinite, and illite. No statistically significant loss of elemental mass or changes in bulk mass and LOI (i.e., water + volatiles) occurred at Yucca-Perris, while at Motte Rimrock a significant increase in LOI is evident. We interpret the significant increase in LOI to reflect the stronger intensity of weathering at Motte Rimrock where incongruent dissolution was responsible for modest leaching and removal of Na, Ba, and Sr masses from plagioclase. The mass of La at Yucca-Perris, and the masses of Er, Tm, and Yb at Motte Rimrock were increased. Such increases imply that prior to removal of the overlying soil and upper parts of the regolith, acidic solutions mobilized the rare earth elements, and then transported them downward into the lower regolith where increasing pH resulted in their precipitation, exchange, and adsorption onto mineral surfaces. The above data suggest that at Motte Rimrock the sampled corestone and saprock formed initially at the transition between the upper and lower parts of zone II and at Yucca Perris at the transition between the upper and lower parts of zone III.
The composition of the GABA receptor at the Caenorhabditis elegans neuromuscular junction

1 The unc-49 gene of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans encodes three γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor subunits. Two of these, UNC-49B and UNC-49C, are expressed at high abundance and co-localize at the neuromuscular junction. 2 The UNC-49B subunit is sufficient to form a GABAA receptor in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, all loss-of-function unc-49 alleles lack functional UNC-49B. No mutations specifically inactivate UNC-49C. Thus, UNC-49C appears to be dispensable for receptor function; however, UNC-49C has been conserved among different nematode species, suggesting it plays a necessary role. 3 To ascertain whether UNC-49C is part of the GABAA receptor in vivo, we performed patch-clamp electrophysiology on C. elegans muscle cells. Sensitivity to GABA, and to the antagonists picrotoxin and pregnenolone sulfate, matched the UNC-49B/C heteromer rather than the UNC-49B homomer, for both exogenous and synaptically-released GABA. 4 The synaptic localization of UNC-49C requires the presence of UNC-49B, indicative of a physical association between the two subunits in vivo. Thus, the in vivo receptor is an UNC-49B/C heteromer. 5 UNC-49C plays a negative modulatory role. Using the rapid ligand-exchange technique in vitro, we determined that UNC-49C causes accelerated receptor desensitization. Previously, UNC-49C was shown to reduce single-channel conductance in UNC-49B/C heteromers. Thus, the function of UNC-49B is to provide GABA responsiveness and localization to synapses, while the function of UNC-49C is to negatively modulate receptor function and precisely shape inhibitory postsynaptic currents. British Journal of Pharmacology (2005) 144, 502–509. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706052
Complications of liver biopsy in liver transplant patients: increased sepsis associated with choledochojejunostomy.

We investigated the incidence and types of liver biopsy complications in our first 160 consecutive liver transplantations. A significant complication was identified by the need for therapeutic intervention (for example, hospitalization, transfusion, intravenous fluids, chest tube, surgery or antibiotic therapy). A total of 950 percutaneous hepatic allograft biopsies were performed in 136 patients (mean = 6.9 biopsies/graft; range = 1 to 29). A significant complication was reported after 17 (1.8%) liver biopsies in 13 (9.6%) patients. Bleeding complications occurred in 11 patients and serious infection developed in 6 patients, but all patients recovered with appropriate therapy. Of special interest was that five of six patients with infectious complications had undergone Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy as part of the transplantation operation. The incidence of infectious complications related to a series of biopsies was significantly greater in patients who underwent choledochojejunostomy (12.5%) than in patients who underwent duct-to-duct biliary anastomosis (1%) (p < 0.01). Furthermore, all septic events in patients who underwent choledochojejunostomy were related to enteric organisms. This investigation reaffirms the safety and low incidence of complications related to percutaneous liver biopsy even in this unique patient population. However, we did identify a subgroup of patients with biliary-enteric anastomoses who appear to be at increased risk of septic complications after liver biopsy. Antibiotic prophylaxis at the time of liver biopsy may be appropriate in this high-risk subgroup to decrease the frequency of infectious complications. (HEPATOLOGY 1991;14:1063–1065.)
The binding of fatty acids to cytoplasmic proteins: binding to Z protein in liver and other tissues of the rat.

A cytoplasmic binding protein (Z protein) has now been shown to have a high affinity for fatty acids. This protein is present in the cytoplasm of rat liver, myocardium, skeletal muscle, intestinal mucosa, adipose tissue and kidney. Oleic acid was reversibly bound to Z with a Km of 2.8 × 10−6M; flavi-spidic acid competitively inhibited this process. Relative binding of fatty acids to Z increased with chain length and decreased with unsaturation. Triolein, cholesterol and several bile salts were not bound by Z protein.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Electrochemistry of Compounds Containing 1-Diphenylphosphino-1′-(di-tert-butylphosphino)ferrocene (dppdtbpf)

The anodic electrochemistry of 1-di-tert-butylphosphino-1′-diphenylphosphinoferrocene (dppdtbpf) was performed in methylene chloride with tetrabutlylammonium hexafluorophosphate as the supporting electrolyte. The electrochemistry is complicated by a chemical reaction after the oxidation. Three new transition metal complexes of dppdtbpf ([NiCl2(dppdtbpf)], [PtCl2(dppdtbpf)], and [Au2Cl2(dppdtbpf)]) were prepared and characterized. The electrochemistry of the three new compounds and one previously prepared compound ([PdCl2(dppdtbpf)]) was examined. In addition, the reaction of dppdtbpf with sulfur and/or selenium afforded a series of compounds containing a phosphine sulfide (dppSdtbpSf or dppdtbpSf), a phosphine selenide (dppSedtbpSef or dppdtbpSef), or both a phosphine sulfide and a phosphine selenide (dppSedtbpSf or dppSdtbpSef). These compounds were characterized by NMR, and the structures of three of the compounds were determined. Two of the structures are of the isomeric compounds, dppSdtbpSef and dppS...
Generation of spherical and monodisperse particles of poly(styrene) and poly(methyl methacrylate) by atomization of monomers and dissolved polymer precursors

A technique to produce spherical and monodisperse particles of selected polymers is presented. Liquid precursors of either mixtures of organic monomers and initiator catalysts or polymers dissolved in organic solvents were sprayed inside a vertical thermal reactor. The temperature range in the reactor was 400–670 K and the experiments were conducted in a nitrogen atmosphere. Atomization was achieved by an acoustically excited aerosol generator. Batches of equal size particles of two thermoplastic materials, poly(styrene) and poly(methyl methacrylate), were obtained in the range of 30–60 μm in diameter. Elemental analysis showed that the C and H composition of the produced particles was very close to theoretically expected values. The thermal environment, atomization conditions, and residence times the particles experienced in the reactor were explored using numerical techniques; residence times in the order of 4–10 s were estimated.
Evaluation of Methylene Blue and Squamous Epithelial Cells as Oropharyngeal Markers: A Means of Identifying Oropharyngeal Contamination during Transtracheal Aspiration

The usefulness of 1% methylene blue (MB) and squamous epithelial cells as oropharyngeal markers in transtracheal aspiration was prospectively evaluated. In vitro studies showed that failure to detect MB by spectrophotometry ruled out contamination by greater than 0.05 microliters of oropharyngeal secretions and that visual inspection was almost as sensitive as spectrophotometry. Even minute contamination could be ruled out if greater than 5 x 10(4) organisms were found by culture of Gram-stained smear in a specimen that was MB-negative by spectrophotometry. In specimens of transtracheal aspirate obtained from 10 bronchitic patients, quantitative bacteriology ruled out even minute contamination in nine. Cytologic-morphometric examination revealed that 70% of both sterile and colonized specimens of transtracheal aspirate contained squamous epithelial cells that were indistinguishable, except by electron microscopy, from buccal mucosal cells. MB is a useful marker for identification of oropharyngeal contamination during transtracheal aspiration, and traditional cytologic screening is misleading in conditions associated with tracheobronchial squamous metaplasia.
Two perceptually motivated strategies for shape classification

In this paper, we propose two new, perceptually motivated strategies to better measure the similarity of 2D shape instances that are in the form of closed contours. The first strategy handles shapes that can be decomposed into a base structure and a set of inward or outward pointing “strand” structures, where a strand structure represents a very thin, elongated shape part attached to the base structure. The similarity of two such shape contours can be better described by measuring the similarity of their base structures and strand structures in different ways. The second strategy handles shapes that exhibit good bilateral symmetry. In many cases, such shapes are invariant to a certain level of scaling transformation along their symmetry axis. In our experiments, we show that these two strategies can be integrated into available shape matching methods to improve the performance of shape classification on several widely-used shape data sets.
The decay scheme of 39.3 h Es254

Abstract The beta decay of Es254 has been studied using gamma-gamma and beta-gamma scintillation coincidence techniques and a double-lens beta-ray spectrometer. Transitions of 103.5±1, 544±5, 583±3, 648±2 and 692±2 keV have been placed in a level scheme of Fm254 with levels at 44±3(2+,0), 148±3(4+,0), 692±2(2+,2) and 734±4(3+,2) keV. Two beta spectra of 475±5(75%) and 1127±2(25%) keV were observed. The observation of the (2+,2) gamma-vibrational state at 692 keV in FM254 indicates that there is a sharp decrease in the gamma-vibrational energy after 152 neutrons. A half-life of 39.3±0.2 h was obtained for the Es254 beta emitter. Transitions of 93±2, 377±3, 387±1 and 427±3 keV were observed from the alpha decay of Es253.
Disaster Resilience and Adaptive Capacity in Central Florida, US, and in Eastern Marmara Region, Turkey

Abstract The article assesses current disaster resiliency policies and practices in Central Florida in the US and in the Eastern Marmara Region in Turkey from a comparative perspective. It identifies core principles and links community resiliency to disasters and to essential behavioral, motivational, affective, and cognitive dynamics, and ultimately to important community outcomes. While Florida appears more prepared and disaster resilient in comparison to the Marmara Region in Turkey, neither region is immune from disasters. The multiplicity of factors affecting community resilience makes inter-sector collaboration imperative for both cases. The article pays special attention to the inclusion of community related demographic, geographic, social, economic, and political factors in disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.
A new species in the Elaphoglossum petiolatum complex (Elaphoglossaceae) from Mexico

Elaphoglossum trichomidiatum is described from northeastern Mexico. The new species is a member of theE. petiolatum comples, which is widespread in tropical America, Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. It is unique in the complex and in sectionLepidoglossa in bearing trichomidia on the abaxial blade surface.
PCR-based homology probing reveals a family of GABA receptor-like genes in Drosophila melanogaster.

Abstract A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based homology probing strategy was employed to screen Drosophila melanogaster genomic DNA for sequences encoding a conserved amino acid ‘signature motif’ known to be present in vertebrate GABA receptor and glycine receptor subunit genes. This approach yielded three discrete amplified sequence elements (designated LCCH1, LCCH2, and LCCH3) that contained open reading frames and > 40% amino acid sequence identity to the corresponding regions of vertebrate ligand-gated chloride channel genes. Genomic DNA clones corresponding to each element were isolated and sequenced, and predicted amino acid sequences corresponding to the second (M2) and third (M3) transmembrane domains of vetebrate genes were analyzed for identity or similarity to known sequences. LCCH1 was identical to the Rdl gene, a known GABA receptor subunit gene from D. melanogaster , whereas LCCH2 and LCCH3 were novel D. melanogaster sequences that exhibited structural similarity to other members of the ligand-gated chloride channel gene family. LCCH2 was equally divergent in M2 and M3 (46–49% amino acid identity) from all other known members of this family and may therefore represent a new subunit or receptor class within this family. LCCH2 was localized by in situ hybridization to cytogenetic region 75A on the left arm of chromosome 3. LCCH3 was closely related to mammalian (79% amino acid identity) and snail (96% amino acid identity) GABA receptor β subunits and may therefore be the homologue in D. melanogaster of this subunit class. LCCH3 was localized by in situ hybridization to cytogenetic region 13F on the X chromosome. Sequence analysis of genomic DNA clones corresponding to LCCH1, LCCH2, and LCCH3 showed that each transcription unit lacked at least one of the intron-exon splice junctions found to be conserved between mammalian and snail GABA receptor subunit genes. These results provide evidence for the existence of a diverse family of genes in D. melanogaster that are structurally related to the ligand-gated chloride channel gene family of vertebrates.
A tight analysis of the Submodular-Supermodular Procedure

Narasimhan and Bilmes introduced the Submodular-Supermodular Procedure (SSP) for finding a local minimizer of the function h = f - g where f and g are both submodular functions. In their original analysis the authors left the worst case complexity of SSP as an open question. We provide a tight analysis of SSP by demonstrating a family of examples where SSP can require 2 n - 2 - 1 iterations before converging (although it reaches a global optimum). We also consider the related Supermodular-Submodular Procedure of Iyer and Bilmes and demonstrate an example that requires ? ? 16 ? 3 ( n - 8 ) / 3 - 3 ? iterations to converge, and converges to a local, not global, optimum.
A CMOS detector leakage current self-adaptable continuous reset system: Theoretical analysis

Abstract A continuous reset system for the discharge of the feedback capacitance of integrated charge preamplifiers is presented. The system, based on the use of a FET operating in the saturation region, is self-adaptable with respect to a wide range of detector leakage currents. A circuit which provides compensation of the signal from the charge amplifier is also proposed. The noise analysis, which takes into account both the stationary and non-stationary noise contributions and the effect of the rate, shows that the system, when carefully designed, can offer good signal/noise performance for applications in γ-ray and high-energy X-ray spectroscopy. Practical layout considerations are also made.
Microelectrode study of K+ accumulation by tight epithelia: II. Effect of inhibiting transepithelial Na+ transport on reaccumulation following depletion

The effects of restoring serosal potassium to potassium-depleted toad urinary bladders have been, re-examined using double-barrelled microelectrodes. The data confirm the existence of a time-lag phenomenon, a dissociation between potassium reaccumulation and restoration of short-circuit current. Returning serosal potassium stimulates an increase in intracellular potassium activity 21–26 min before any increase can be detected in short-circuit current.
Terminal solubility of hydrogen in NbTa alloys and characterization of the solid solutions

Abstract Solvus temperatures for 2, 5 and 12 at.% H were determined resistometrically in tantalum, niobium and nine NbTa alloys. The terminal solubility of hydrogen in the alloys reached a maximum for Nb 0.3 Ta 0.7 . For example, at 250 K the solvus for this pseudobinary metal-metal hydride system lies at 12 at.% H compared with 1.5 for Nb and 6 for Ta. Pressure-composition-temperature measurements were made on the Nb 0.3 Ta 0.7 -H solid solutions, but the resulting thermodynamic data exhibited no anomalous behavior. The effects of hydrogen on lattice parameters and resistivities were also determined for these systems. The apparent terminal solubilities are discussed in terms of these observations and in terms of metal atom size effects, electronic structure and the properties of the hydride phase.
A Dual-Trap Design and Its Applications in Electrospray Ionization FTICR Mass Spectrometry

A new arrangement consisting of two separate Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) ion traps was used to develop methods for the manipulation of the ions produced by an electrospray ionization source (ESI). A first, “accumulation” trap, is generally maintained at a higher pressure than the second, high-performance “analyzer” trap. The manipulations developed and demonstrated include the following: (1) mass-selective ion transfers between the traps; (2) mass-selective step-wise accumulation of low-abundance ions of different mass-to-charge ratios transferred from the first trap to the analyzer trap; (3) simultaneous detection of ions in the analyzer trap and ion accumulation in the source trap; (4) simultaneous ion detection in the accumulation trap and ion storage in the analyzer trap; (5) sequential multiple transfers of the ions into the analyzer trap from the same ion population stored in the accumulation trap; (6) collision-induced dissociation of ions stored in the accumulation trap foll...