cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cyclic ADP-ribose requires CD38 to regulate the release of ATP in visceral smooth muscle

It is well established that the intracellular second messenger cADP-ribose (cADPR) activates Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum through ryanodine receptors. CD38 is a multifunctional enzyme involved in the formation of cADPR in mammals. CD38 has also been reported to transport cADPR in several cell lines. Here, we demonstrate a role for extracellular cADPR and CD38 in modulating the spontaneous, but not the electrical field stimulation-evoked, release of ATP in visceral smooth muscle. Using a small-volume superfusion assay and an HPLC technique with fluorescence detection, we measured the spontaneous and evoked release of ATP in bladder detrusor smooth muscles isolated from CD38+/+ and CD38−/− mice. cADPR (1 nm) enhanced the spontaneous overflow of ATP in bladders isolated from CD38+/+ mice. This effect was abolished by the inhibitor of cADPR receptors on sarcoplasmic reticulum 8-bromo-cADPR (80 μm) and by ryanodine (50 μm), but not by the nonselective P2 purinergic receptor antagonist pyridoxal phosphate 6-azophenyl-2′,4′-disulfonate (30 μm). cADPR failed to facilitate the spontaneous ATP overflow in bladders isolated from CD38−/− mice, indicating that CD38 is crucial for the enhancing effects of extracellular cADPR on spontaneous ATP release. Contractile responses to ATP were potentiated by cADPR, suggesting that the two adenine nucleotides may work in synergy to maintain the resting tone of the bladder. In conclusion, extracellular cADPR enhances the spontaneous release of ATP in the bladder by influx via CD38 and subsequent activation of intracellular cADPR receptors, probably causing an increase in intracellular Ca2+ in neuronal cells.
Urinary Tract Radiology: Overview

Many new developments have occurred during the past few years in radiology of the urinary tract. Three of the more important areas are:
Complexity of NOTCH1 juxtamembrane insertion mutations in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

In T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) constitutively active NOTCH1 signaling triggered by activating mutations in the NOTCH1 gene contributes to the malignant transformation of T-cell prec...
A cytogenetic analysis of the chromosomal region surrounding the α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase locus of Drosophila melanogaster

The chromosomal region surrounding the structural gene for alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (alpha Gpdh, 2-20.5) of Drosophila melanogaster has been studied in detail. Forty-three EMS-induced recessive lethal mutations and five previously identified visible mutations have been localized within the 25A-27D region of chromosome 2 by deficiency mapping and in some cases by a recombination analysis. The 43 lethal mutations specify 17 lethal loci. alpha Gpdh has been localized to a single polytene chromosome band, 25F5, and there apparently are no lethals that map to the alpha Gpdh locus.
Multiple effects of dopamine on layer V pyramidal cell excitability in rat prefrontal cortex.

The mechanisms underlying the inhibitory effects of dopamine (DA) on layer V pyramidal neuron excitability in the prelimbic region of the rat medial prefrontal cortex were investigated. Under contr...
The role of folate receptor α in cancer development, progression and treatment: Cause, consequence or innocent bystander?

Folate receptor alpha (FRalpha) is a membrane-bound protein with high affinity for binding and transporting physiologic levels of folate into cells. Folate is a basic component of cell metabolism and DNA synthesis and repair, and rapidly dividing cancer cells have an increased requirement for folate to maintain DNA synthesis, an observation supported by the widespread use of antifolates in cancer chemotherapy. FRalpha levels are high in specific malignant tumors of epithelial origin compared to normal cells, and are positively associated with tumor stage and grade, raising questions of its role in tumor etiology and progression. It has been suggested that FRalpha might confer a growth advantage to the tumor by modulating folate uptake from serum or by generating regulatory signals. Indeed, cell culture studies show that expression of the FRalpha gene, FOLR1, is regulated by extracellular folate depletion, increased homocysteine accumulation, steroid hormone concentrations, interaction with specific transcription factors and cytosolic proteins, and possibly genetic mutations. Whether FRalpha in tumors decreases in vivo among individuals who are folate sufficient, or whether the tumor's machinery sustains FRalpha levels to meet the increased folate demands of the tumor, has not been studied. Consequently, the significance of carrying a FRalpha-positive tumor in the era of folic acid fortification and widespread vitamin supplement use in countries such as Canada and the United States is unknown. Epidemiologic and clinical studies using human tumor specimens are lacking and increasingly needed to understand the role of environmental and genetic influences on FOLR1 expression in tumor etiology and progression. This review summarizes the literature on the complex nature of FOLR1 gene regulation and expression, and suggests future research directions.
Evolution of nonassociative learning: behavioral analysis of a phylogenetic lesion.

A recent phylogenetic analysis of two learning-related neuromodulatory traits in mechanosensory neurons of species related to the marine mollusk Aplysia californica identified one species, Dolabrifera dolabrifera, which lacked both neuromodulatory traits. Since these traits are thought to contribute importantly to certain forms of learning and memory in the defensive withdrawal reflexes of Aplysia, in the present study, I tested the prediction that facilitatory nonassociative learning would be reduced or absent in Dolabrifera. I tested the tail-mantle withdrawal reflex in Dolabrifera and size-matched Aplysia for three forms of nonassociative learning and memory: dishabituation and short- and long-term sensitization. I found that the same protocols that produced significant dishabituation, short-term sensitization, and long-term sensitization in Aplysia failed in all three cases to produce significant learning in Dolabrifera. Thus, the prediction from the prior mechanistic analysis is confirmed: Dishabituation and short- and long-term sensitization are significantly reduced and perhaps abolished in Dolabrifera. Although not conclusive, this phylogenetic correlation between the absence of behavioral changes and the absence of neural mechanisms thought to underlie the behavioral changes gives support to the contemporary neuromodulatory model of dishabituation and sensitization in Aplysia. Furthermore, these results raise the possibility that evolutionary alteration of two specific neuromodulatory mechanisms may have directly contributed to evolutionary change in behavioral plasticity.
The middle ear of the skull of birds: the Pelecaniformes and Ciconiiformes

The anatomy of the middle ear region of the skull is described for the families of the Avian orders Pelecaniformes and Ciconiiformes. Emphasis is placed on the foramina and paths of the nerves and blood vessels. The morphology of the basicranium and quadrate is also discussed. Comparative analyses of the characters are used to assess taxonomic conclusions. Extant Pelecaniformes consist of six families, four of which are monogenic: Phaethontidae, Pelecanidae, Anhingidae and Fregatidae; one is composed of two genera: Sulidae; and the last has three genera: Phalacrocoracidae. Several years ago a relationship was suggested which would ally the Phaethontidae and the Fregatidae. While these families share several non middle ear characters the anatomy of the middle ear is not compatible with any particular relationship. Indeed, several obvious differences are described. The data presented here are consistent with the idea that the Phaethontidae and the Fregatidae each form a separate group of Pelecaniform birds, with the rest of the families forming a third group. Several differences in the middle ear region of the species of Anhingidae suggest that the family may be composed of two genera. While sharing many Ciconiiform characters the Ciconiidae have been shown not to be as closely related to the Ardeidae as they are to other families of Ciconiiformes. In addition, evidence is presented to support the recent idea that the three species of ibis (I. ibis, I. cinereus and I. leucocephalus) be united within the genus Mycteria. Also supported is the notion that Balaeniceps is Pelecaniform in character, and not Ciconiiform.
Retrospective Assessment of Risk Factors to Predict Tunneled Hemodialysis Catheter Outcome

PURPOSE To identify factors that may influence the function, outcome, and complications associated with tunneled hemodialysis catheters. MATERIALS AND METHODS Radiology reports and hemodialysis, medical, and Clinical Information System (computerized patient medical record system) records were retrospectively reviewed in 221 consecutive patients who underwent tunneled hemodialysis catheter placement by interventional radiologists between January 11, 1996 and January 13, 2000 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Various patient characteristics (diabetes, smoking, hypertension, age, sex, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, history of cardiac catheterization, coumadin use, functional status, and obesity) were assessed for their relationship to the outcome of hemodialysis catheters. Catheter outcome was examined by calculating infection rate, thrombosis rate, fibrin formation rate, mechanical malfunction rate, and total complication rate. With these patient characteristics and outcome variables, multiple regression analysis was performed with STATA (College Station, TX) statistical analysis software. RESULTS Of the 221 patients reviewed, 39 patients were lost to follow-up. Among the remaining 182 patients, 427 catheters were placed for a total number of 36,994 catheter-days. For overall complication rate, multiple regression analysis revealed a statistically significant positive correlation only for hypertension ( P = .032). Total complication rate was 0.76 events per 100 catheter-days (95% CI: 0.53–1.00) for patients with a documented history of hypertension and 0.27 events per 100 catheter-days (95% CI: 0.08–0.45) for patients without ( P = .024, paired student t test). For patients with diabetes versus patients without, the infection rates were 0.34 episodes per 100 catheter-days (95% CI: 0.15–0.53) and 0.12 episodes per 100 catheter-days (95% CI: 0.06–0.18), respectively, ( P = .011, paired student t test). Thrombosis rate for patients on coumadin was 0.13 events per 100 catheter-days (95% CI: − 0.14–0.40), while thrombosis rate for patients not taking coumadin was 0.03 events per 100 catheter-days (95% CI: 0–0.05) ( P = .036, paired student t test). CONCLUSION Hypertension is a risk factor for poor outcome of tunneled hemodialysis catheters as measured by total complication rate requiring catheter removal or exchange. In this retrospective study, no other specific risk factors predicted an increased need for removal or exchange of tunneled hemodialysis catheters.
Analytical test methods for the inorganic portion of the detergent products

Evaluation of available methods for preliminary examination of the inorganic portion of detergent compositions indicates that this phase of the analysis has a relatively satisfactory status. Utilization of various spectrographic devices can prove most helpful in both preliminary and in final analysis of detergent components. Several integrated schemes of analysis are available. Most of them are as yet incomplete with respect to a good analysis of sodium tripolyphosphate, but recently described techniques hold considerable promise. These general schemes are under review with the objective of using in them more effective techniques for certain components. Individual component analyses are under critical examination, particularly those for the phosphates. A recently introduced chromatographic technique promises improvement here. Improved techniques for the determination of silica merit examination for integrated schemes as well as for single component analysis. Even sulfate analysis may be improved if published methods are indicative. Analyses for optical brighteners, corrosion inhibitors, and carboxymethyl cellulose are needed and do not now exist in satisfactory form.
Strategic planning in large firms—some guidelines

Abstract Some argue that a foundation for planning has been achieved when a firm can state its strategic plan in terms of products and markets. (This is referred to as the ‘business form’ in this article). If this statement is true, what factors will aid a firm in achieving the business form in its strategic plans? In this article, details of strategic planning in over 50 large firms taken from an empirical research sample are examined to illustrate which factors seem to lead to the business form of strategic plan in these firms.
Cytokine-mediated alterations in host metabolism prevent nutritional repletion in cachectic cancer patients

The clinical syndrome of cachexia is characterized by anorexia, continued losses of lean body mass, and altered carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. As early as the 1930s, this "chronic wasting" syndrome had been identified as the most frequent immediate cause of death in patients with cancer [Warren: Am J Med Sci 184:610-619, 1932]. At present, controversy remains as to the benefit of supplemental parenteral or enteral feedings in the nutritional repletion of cachectic cancer patients, since only selected patient groups have demonstrated clear benefit from their administration [Copeland et al.: Cancer 43:2108-2116, 1979; Copeland et al.: Cancer Res 37:2451-2456, 1977; Terepka and Waterhouse: Am J Med 20:225-238, 1956]. Despite having these advanced nutritional modalities firmly in our therapeutic armamentarium, the progression of cachexia in the nutritionally depleted cancer patient often continues unabated, and our ability to intervene successfully remains limited. This review proposes that host: tumor interactions lead to a nonspecific inflammatory response mediated in part by the chronic production and release of proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6 and interferon-gamma, which antagonize the anabolic signals associated with enteral and parenteral nutrition support. Cytokine-mediated alterations can explain the inability of adequate dietary nitrogen and calories to result in lean tissue repletion. Based on this proposal, interrupting proinflammatory cytokine production or target organ action may be an appropriate therapeutic objective to improve nutrient utilization in patients with tumors.
Superstructure spray and ice accretion on a large U.S. Coast Guard cutter

Abstract Superstructure spray flux and ice accretion were measured on a 115-m Coast Guard cutter in the North Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea during February and March 1990. This was the first such measurement cruise on a large ship; all previous measurements were on trawlers and patrol boats. Spray event duration averaged 2.73 s, somewhat longer than events measured on a 35-m Soviet trawler. The drop number concentration of most spray clouds was high, ranging from 2.0 × 10 5 to 3.0 × 10 5 drops m −3 . Spray cloud drop sizes ranged from 14 to 7700 μm, with a geometric median of 234 μm. Spray cloud liquid water contents had a very large range with a mean of 64.1 g · m −3 . Ice accretion rates were low, but sufficient for observing greater ice thicknesses on decks than on bulkheads. The ice accretion process was also found to be extremely dynamic, alternately accreting and ablating several times before reaching maximum thickness. No simple relationships were found between time-series of ice thickness during two icing events and controlling environmental parameters.
Integrals of polynomials associated with tableaux and the Garsia-Haiman conjecture

In a 1983 paper [M1], I. G. Macdonald introduced his well-known “constant term conjectures.” These conjectures concern a certain polynomial ∆ = ∆(G, k) that is indexed by a semisimple Lie algebra G and a positive integer k. The polynomial ∆ lives in Z[Φ, q], the group ring of the root lattice Φ of G over Z[q]. A basis for this ring, over Z[q], is the set of formal exponentials, ev, for v ∈ Φ that satisfy the relations ev · ew = ev+w. The conjecture asserts that the constant term of∆, meaning the part that is independent of the formal exponentials, has a nice factorization as a polynomial in q. Later, Macdonald [M2] generalized this work in the following way. He showed that there is a unique collection of polynomials Pν indexed by dominant weights ν, satisfying the following properties:
Ultrasonic measurements of the two characteristic lengths in fibrous materials

Abstract In a method for measuring the two characteristic lengths in rigid frame porous media proposed by Leclaire et al. [Ph. Leclaire, L. Keiders, W. Lauriks. Determination of the viscous and thermal characteristic lengths of plastic foams by ultrasonic measurements in helium and air. J Appl Phys 1996;80:2009–12] ultrasonic transmission measurements are made through a sample of material when it is saturated with two different gases. It is shown that the accuracy of this method can be limited when the porous medium in saturated with helium as proposed originally. A considerable improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio can be achieved if argon is used instead of helium because the characteristic impedance is higher and the viscous skin depth in argon is 3 times less than that in helium. This paper also discusses the measurement of the tortuosity and the sound velocity in glass wool.
A canonical factorization for meromorphic Herglotz functions on the unit disk and sum rules for Jacobi matrices

We prove a general canonical factorization for meromorphic Herglotz functions on the unit disk whose notable elements are that there is no restriction (other than interlacing) on the zeros and poles for their Blaschke product to converge and there is no singular inner function. We use this result to provide a significant simplification in the proof of Killip–Simon (Ann. Math. 158 (2003) 253) of their result characterizing the spectral measures of Jacobi matrices, J, with J−J_0 Hilbert-Schmidt. We prove a nonlocal version of Case and step-by-step sum rules.
Effects of light, food, and methamphetamine on the circadian activity rhythm in mice

The circadian rhythm of locomotor activity in mice is synchronized to environmental factors such as light and food availability. It is well-known that entrainment of the activity rhythm to the light-dark cycle is attained by the circadian pacemaker in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Locomotor activity is also controlled by two extra-SCN oscillators; periodic food availability entrains the food-entrainable oscillator (FEO) and constant consumption of low-dose methamphetamine reveals the output of the methamphetamine-sensitive circadian oscillator (MASCO). In this study, we sought to investigate the relationship between the SCN, FEO, and MASCO by examining the combinatorial effects of light, food restriction, and/or methamphetamine on locomotor activity. To investigate coupling between the SCN and FEO, we tested whether food anticipatory activity, which is the output of the FEO, shifted coordinately with phase shifts of the light-dark cycle. We found that the phase of food anticipatory activity was phase-delayed or phase-advanced symmetrically with the respective shift of the light-dark cycle, suggesting that the FEO is strongly coupled to the SCN and the phase angle between the SCN and FEO is maintained during ad libitum feeding. To examine the effect of methamphetamine on the output of the FEO, we administered methamphetamine to mice undergoing restricted feeding and found that food-entrained activity was delayed by methamphetamine treatment. In addition, restricted feeding induced dissociation of the MASCO and SCN activity rhythms during short-term methamphetamine treatment, when these rhythms are typically integrated. In conclusion, our data suggest that the outputs of the SCN, FEO and MASCO collectively drive locomotor activity.
Stimulation of matrix formation in rabbit chondrocyte cultures by ascorbate. 1. Effect of ascorbate analogs and β‐aminopropionitrile

The most consistent effects of 0.2 mM L-ascorbate on monolayer cultures of rabbit articular chondrocytes were a diversion of incorporated radiosulfate into a pericellular matrix and enhancement of cell proliferation. Only with certain batches of fetal bovine serum (FBS) was there a cell-for-cell increase of proteoglycan synthesis. These actions increased as the cell inoculum rose from 0.5 to 2 x 10(5) cells/T25 flask. Maximal effects of ascorbate and D-isoascorbate were found over a range of 0.05-0.2 mM. L-Dehydroascorbic acid was less effective than either, and no stimulatory action was exerted by L-cysteine, glutathione, dithiothreitol, methylene blue, or phenazine methosulfate. Ascorbate increased the hypro:pro ratio of newly synthesized proteins. beta-Aminopropionitrile (1 mM) reduced the proportion of [3H]hydroxyproline and [35S]O4-proteoglycans in the ascorbate-supplemented matrix 31 and 7%, respectively. In corresponding electronmicrographs, the number of pericellular filaments was reduced. We conclude: (a) Ascorbate has a general anabolic effect on chondrocytes in culture and enhances matrix assembly through mechanisms other than its redox function; (b) deposition of proteoglycans in the matrix is not simply the result of mechanical entrapment by allysine- or hydroxyallysine-derived cross-linking of collagen; and (c) contradictory reports on the subject result from variations in the serum employed, inoculum density, and concentration of ascorbate.
Calciphylaxis associated with acute, reversible renal failure in the setting of alcoholic cirrhosis

We describe a case of calciphylaxis in a 47-year-old man with alcohol-induced end-stage liver disease and acute renal failure secondary to hepatorenal syndrome. Possible contributing factors included transiently impaired renal function, protein C and S deficiencies, elevated calcium-phosphate product, hyperphosphatemia, low serum albumin, repeated albumin infusions, and elevated alkaline phosphatase level.
Demonstration of a cytochemical difference between the tubulovesicles and plasmalemma of gastric parietal cells by ATPase and NPPase reactions.

Pieces of rat and human gastric mucosa were fixed in glutaraldehyde and paraformaldehyde and were processed by the methods of Wach-stein-Meisel and of Ernst for the cytochemical demonstration of adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) and p-nitrophenylphosphatase (NPPase) respectively. Electron microscopic examination of reacted sections revealed the ATPase reaction to be localized to the plasmalemma and to mitochondrial cristae and the NPPase reaction to the plasmalemma. The tubulovesicles were unreactive. By thus demonstrating a cytochemical difference between the plasmalemma and tubulovesicle membrane, this study suggests that the tubulovesicles do not represent an extension of or reserve of mature plasmalemma. If the tubulovesicles represent a reserve of membrane that can be rapidly utilized to expand the plasmalemma, then these studies suggest that additional membrane constituents are added, activated, or unmasked in the process.
Ultrafast Study of p-Biphenylyldiazoethane. The Chemistry of the Diazo Excited State and the Relaxed Carbene

Ultrafast photolysis of p-biphenylyldiazoethane (BDE) produces an excited state of the diazo compound in acetonitrile, cyclohexane, and methanol with λmax = 490 nm and lifetimes of less than 300 fs. The decay of the diazo excited state correlates with the growth of singlet carbene absorption at 360 nm. The optical yields of diazo excited states produced by photolysis of p-biphenylyldiazomethane (BDM) and BDE are the same; however, the optical yield of singlet p-biphenylylmethylcarbene (1BpCMe) is 30−40% less than that of p-biphenylylcarbene (1BpCH) in all three solvents. The results are explained by rearrangement in the excited state (RIES) of BDE to form p-vinylbiphenyl (VB) in parallel with extrusion of nitrogen to form 1BpCMe in reduced yield. This interpretation is consistent with product studies (ethanol-OD in cyclohexane) which indicate that there is an ∼25% yield of VB that is formed by a mechanism that bypasses the relaxed singlet carbene. The decay of 1BpCMe is biexponential, and that of 1BpCH is...
Detection of rare blood group, Bombay (Oh) phenotype patients and management by acute normovolemic hemodilution.

Background: Due to lack of correct blood grouping practices, the rare Bombay Oh phenotype may be missed, subjecting patients to the risk of severe hemolytic transfusion reaction. In the absence of blood donor registry, transfusion management of patients needing immediate surgery is a challenge. This study presents detection of rare Bombay Oh phenotype patients and their management by acute peri-operative acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) in a hospital from central India. Materials and Methods: Blood grouping of patients and blood donors with a standard tube method was carried out and samples identified as rare Bombay phenotype were confirmed by saliva inhibition test. Surgical management of cases needing transfusion was done by ANH, as per the British Committee for Standards in Hematology guidelines. Results: The incidence of Bombay phenotype was 0.002% or 1 in 51,924 in the study. Amongst three cases (patients) identified as Bombay phenotype, one was Bombay Oh, Rh negative. Two cases were missed in the first instance and one case actually did not require transfusion. In the absence of a blood donor registry for Bombay phenotype, the cases needing transfusion were successfully managed with ANH in the operation theatre. Conclusion: A simple test like blood grouping should be done with serious intention with incorporation of both forward and reverse grouping, so that no patient receives wrong blood leading to fatal hemolysis due to transfusion. ANH is a cost-effective transfusion option for suitable patients. Appropriate clinical decision making, use of strategies to decrease peri-operative blood losses and cost-effective country based planning could be more widely applied to improve clinical transfusion practice.
GPA and Height are Related to Self-Acceptance Scores of Female College Students:

Self-acceptance as measured on the Berger Self-acceptance Scale was positively related to GPA and negatively related to height for 36 college women. For 17 college men, height and GPA were not related to self-acceptance.
Epidermolysis bullosa simplex: a paradigm for disorders of tissue fragility

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) simplex is a rare genetic condition typified by superficial bullous lesions that result from frictional trauma to the skin. Most cases are due to dominantly acting mutations in either keratin 14 (K14) or K5, the type I and II intermediate filament (IF) proteins tasked with forming a pancytoplasmic network of 10-nm filaments in basal keratinocytes of the epidermis and in other stratified epithelia. Defects in K5/K14 filament network architecture cause basal keratinocytes to become fragile and account for their trauma-induced rupture. Here we review how laboratory investigations centered on keratin biology have deepened our understanding of the etiology and pathophysiology of EB simplex and revealed novel avenues for its therapy.
Electrical Pulse Train and Single Pulse Stimulation of the Small Intestine: Acute and Chronic Studies in the Dog

Abstract: In vitro tests have shown that electric currents may lead either to relaxation or contraction of the bowel wall. Because voluntary changes of the intestinal motility could be useful in the treatment of intestinal disorders, we investigated the reactions elicited by electrostimulation of the small intestine in the intact animal. Stimulating electrodes, electroenteromyogram electrodes, and pressure monitoring tubes were used to instrument a 5-cm segment of the proximal jejunum in five dogs in acute studies and in two dogs in chronic studies. Single pulses of 200 ms elicited a pulsatile pressure increase of 10-35 mm Hg. Pulse train stimulation was followed by a more complex reaction. Trains of 500-μs, 910-Hz pulses at 30 mA evoked a 50-80 mm Hg pressure increase, 1-ms, 10-Hz trains caused an initial relaxation, followed by a pressure increase during stimulation and a further pressure increase after termination of the burst. These reactions were similar to those observed by Campbell working with colon in vitro. The chronic fasted animals reacted to 500μs, 910-Hz, 25-mA stimulation with a mean pressure increase of 26 mm Hg (n=10) and to 200-μs; 1.67-kHz, 30 mA stimulation with 28 mm Hg (n=16). In the fasted animals a pressure increase during stimulation predominated (Campbell type I), whereas in the fed animal an additional off response after termination of the stimulation was the most common type of reaction (Campbell type II). Initial relaxation (Campbell type III) could be elicited by 1-ms, 10-Hz trains. In summary, contraction patterns similar to those observed in vitro can be achieved in anesthetized and awake animals with currents tolerated by the trained dog.
White matter disruptions in adolescents exposed to childhood maltreatment and vulnerability to psychopathology

Childhood maltreatment has been known to produce long-lasting impairments in behavioral, cognitive and social functioning, but their underlying mechanisms are not well-understood. A better understanding of their underlying mechanisms will aid in developing effective preventive interventions. Nineteen adolescent volunteers with no personal history of a psychiatric illness, but who were exposed to maltreatment during childhood, and 13 adolescent volunteers with no personal or family history of a psychiatric disorder (controls) underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies. The participants were then followed longitudinally at 6-month intervals for up to 5 years to determine the onset of mood and substance use disorders. The associations among fractional anisotropy (FA) values obtained from the DTI scans at baseline and psychopathology at follow-up were examined. At baseline, adolescents exposed to childhood maltreatment had significantly lower FA values in the left and right superior longitudinal fasciculi, right cingulum bundle projecting to the hippocampus, left inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, and splenium of the corpus callosum compared with controls. Adolescents who developed major depressive disorder at follow-up had significantly lower FA values in the superior longitudinal fasciculi and the right cingulum-hippocampal projection compared with their counterparts who did not develop the illness. Adolescents who developed substance use disorder during follow-up had significantly lower FA values in the right cingulum-hippocampal projection than their counterparts without the disorder. These preliminary results suggest that white matter disruptions observed in adolescents exposed to childhood maltreatment may be associated with increased vulnerability to psychopathology, specifically depressive and substance use disorders.
Quantification of perceived environmental friendliness for vehicle silhouette design

Quantification of subjective attributes expressed as functions of design variables is a significant challenge in creating product design optimization models. For example, the objective assessment of a vehicle's environmental friendliness is typically based on fuel economy and emissions. But some design variables such as a vehicle's silhouette (two-dimensional body shape) may create a subjective perception of environmental friendliness, which may impact consumer preference along with objective metrics. In this paper, we show a method for assessing subjective attributes in the context of design attributes. We focus on perceived environmental friendliness (PEF) and we develop a model of PEF as a function of vehicle silhouette shape variables. The modeling process consists of stimuli development using design of experiments, survey design including direct assessment of the key subjective attribute PEF, elicitation of consumer preference, measurement of purported subjective mechanisms (for the PEF case, whether the design is "inspired by nature"), measurement of respondent characteristics (for the PEF case, environmental attitudes and demographics), statistical analysis of data, and validation. Results for the PEF example indicate that silhouettes perceived as environmentally friendly are the most preferred. Design variables that correlated with PEF were identifced and used to generate new designs, which were validated in a follow-up study. Implications of using the general methodology in engineering design are discussed.
Sex Education Among Asian American College Females: Who is Teaching them and What is Being Taught

Many parents are reluctant to educate their Asian American adolescents on sexual health topics because sexuality is taboo in most Asian cultures. A survey was conducted with Chinese, Filipina, Korean, and Vietnamese college females ages 18–25 to assess sources of abstinence and birth control education and age of sexual debut. Parents were the least reported source of sex education for all four ethnic groups, with the majority of respondents reporting school as their source of sex education. Respondents who reported family as their source of abstinence education had a sexual debut of 6 months later than those who did not. Females who reported family as their source of birth control education began having sex more than 7 months later than those who reported other sources. Disaggregation of data by Asian ethnic groups and examining differences in delivery of sex education among ethnic groups may improve school curricula and sexual health.
Foliar storage and extraction methods for quantitative analysis of piperidine alkaloids from ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa)

Yields of 2,6-disubstituted piperidine alkaloids from ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) foliage were compared for frozen, air- and oven-dried samples stored for 3 days and for 5 weeks. Oven-drying provided the most stable alkaloid yields, but biological variation was greater than the variation between the storage methods. Alkaloid yields were also compared for the classical liquid–liquid partitioning method and a solid-phase partitioning (SPP) method using Extrelut™ columns. Under proper conditions, both methods were reasonably accurate, but biological variation in alkaloid content was much greater than experimental variation from either extraction method. In order to optimize the SPP method, it was necessary to use chloroform rather than dichloromethane as the eluting solvent, and to rinse the column more than the manufacturer directs. The SPP method requires less solvent and time per sample, thus it may be preferable for ecological studies where numerous samples are required to detect differences against high background variation. Zinc dust treatment, to reduce possible alkaloid N-oxides in SPP extracts, failed to increase yields, suggesting the absence of such compounds. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Critical Interfaces in Emerging Thin Film Photovoltaic Technologies: From Basic Science to Policy and Economic Issues

The widespread adoption of photovoltaic energy conversion technologies, especially in the U.S., is determined by a combination of scientific challenges, economics and energy policy. The Department of Energy has set as a goal the creation of PV platforms that efficiently produce electrical power at a cost of well under $1 per watt installed, which creates breathtaking technical challenges to overcome. This talk will focus on some of the scientific/technical challenges we face in creating
A Remnant of an Incipient Speciation Event in the Simulium arcticum Complex (Diptera: Simuliidae)

Abstract By using cytogenetic analysis of larval polytene chromosomes from small samples of the Simulium arcticum complex of black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) at the Coeur d'Alene River in northern Idaho in 2004 and 2005 we discovered a population that consisted of individuals having sex chromosomes characteristic of S. saxosum, S. arcticum s. s. and combinations of the two. Most taxa of the S. arcticum complex can be identified only on the basis of their well differentiated sex chromosomes, and the presence of larvae having species specific and combinational sex chromosome types presented us with a unique opportunity to further investigate this rare event. This variety of sex chromosome types could be explained if (1) sex-chromosomes in S. saxosum were operating autosomally in S. arcticum s. s. and vice-versa, (2) the combinational types were formed as a result of hybridization or (3) the population was in genetic equilibrium suggesting a unique entity. The latter possibility could be the remnant of an i...
A framework for error correction under prediction.

Clark describes a budding trend in neuroscience toward what he calls a “predictive processing” model, the core idea of which is pretty simple. The brain is a prediction machine. It generates top-down predictions about expected sensory input. These collide with actual bottom-up sensory input, canceling out the matches, and leaving only the prediction errors to propagate forward. This model nicely explains a variety of otherwise anomalous experimental results and dovetails cleanly with Bayesian modeling formalisms. As such it is a wonderfully concise model that gets at a critical and under-appreciated component of brain activity – error correction under prediction.
The unique contribution of behavioral scientists to medical education: the top ten competencies.

Understandably, the focus of most physicians is primarily on the biomedical—What is this disease or injury? Behavioral scientists from various disciplines in medical education generally have a broader approach—Who is this person with these symptoms and what is their story? Since behavioral scientists are often alone among U.S. residency faculty, physicians may fail to recognize the value of their approach to medical resident training. This review identifies and describes the top areas of expertise that behavioral scientists bring to medical education and how their training prepares them to think differently than other medical educators. In the course of identifying each competency, this review will emphasize the ways in which their skills and techniques are the origin of subtle impact in their teaching encounters, explore ways of targeting that impact, and discuss examples of this impact. (Int’l. J. Psychiatry in Medicine 2014;47:317-326)
Benzodiazepine pharmacodynamics: utility of eye movement measures.

The utility of several measures of saccadic and smooth pursuit eye movements as benzodiazepine pharmacodynamic measures was explored in 24 psychiatrically and medically healthy control subjects. Measures of sedation and memory impairment were also included. Subjects received four logarithmically increasing doses of intravenous diazepam at 15-min intervals on 1 day resulting in monotonically increasing plasma diazepam levels, and placebo on another day in random order 1 week apart. Measures were collected twice at baseline, once after each dose of diazepam/placebo and twice more, 15 and 30 min after the last dose. Peak saccadic velocity and smooth pursuit gain showed the greatest overall and dose-dependent drug effect among eye movement measures. Although effect sizes at the highest dose for memory impairment and self-rated sedation were comparable to these two measures, reliability (i.e., placebo-day fluctuation) with these measures was considerably poorer. Loglinear pharmacodynamic modeling was used to calculate the effective dose (ED30) or concentration (EC30) required to reduce saccadic velocity or pursuit gain by 30%. Almost all (23/24) subjects had linear and easily interpretable plots for saccadic velocity, while a majority (19/24) of subjects had interpretable plots for smooth pursuit gain. The distribution of ED30 and EC30 values showed a wide range of sensitivities to diazepam. These findings suggest that saccadic velocity and smooth pursuit gain are sensitive, reliable, quantitative benzodiazepine pharmacodynamic measures.
A control-matched comparison of laser epithelial keratomileusis and laser in situ keratomileusis for low to moderate myopia

Purpose To compare the visual and refractive outcomes of laser epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) and laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for the treatment of low to moderate myopia. Design Retrospective, nonrandomized, control-matched study. Methods The charts of 2257 eyes that underwent LASEK or LASIK treatment were reviewed. Patients who were 21 years of age or older having between −0.75 and −6.00 diopters (D) of myopia with up to −2.25 D of astigmatism were included. One hundred twenty-two LASEK-treated eyes were matched with 122 LASIK-treated eyes having preoperative spheres, cylinders, and spherical equivalent (SE) within ±0.50 D. Both groups had similar preoperative best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), laser platform, and follow-up durations. Outcome measures were visual and refractive results. Results Preoperatively, the mean SE was −3.50 ± 1.40 D for LASEK and −3.50 ± 1.42 D for LASIK ( P = .59). Postoperatively, the mean logarithm of minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) was 0.01 ± 0.08 (20/21) for LASEK and 0.06 ± 0.12 (20/23) for LASIK; the mean SE was −0.15 ± 0.40 D for LASEK and −0.37 ± 0.45 D for LASIK; and the mean logMAR of BSCVA was −0.03 ± 0.06 (20/19) for LASEK and −0.02 ± 0.05 (20/19) for LASIK. No eye lost 2 or more lines of BSCVA in both groups. Conclusions Slight differences in the visual and refractive results between LASEK and LASIK were observed, despite the use of the same nomogram. Both procedures were safe, effective, and predictable. Nomogram adjustment may be necessary for LASIK surgeons adopting surface ablation.
A sharp interface method for high-speed multi-material flows: strong shocks and arbitrary materialpairs

A general framework is developed for solving high-speed and high-intensity multi-material interaction problems on adaptively refined Cartesian meshes. The framework is applicable for interfaces separating materials with very different properties and in the presence of strong shocks. A sharp interface treatment is maintained through a modified Ghost Fluid Method. The embedded boundaries are tracked and represented with level sets. A tree-based Local Mesh Refinement scheme is employed to efficiently resolve the desired physics. Results are shown for situations that cover varied combination of materials (fluids, rigid solids and deformable solids) with careful benchmarking to establish the validity and the versatility of the approach.
Advances in IR sensor for law enforcement

Low cost, low power uncooled thermal imaging sensors have completely changed the way the world views security and law enforcement. A technology has emerged that has furthered lowered the cost and power of thermal imaging sensors. These sensors utilize low cost, ultra low power, high volume, vacuum packaged amorphous silicon technologies. Manufacturing and packaging discoveries have allowed infrared sensitive silicon arrays to be produced with the same methods that have driven the rapidly advancing digital wireless telecommunications industries. It is currently available and in production for the Fire Fighting and Security markets. This technology will allow insertion into Law Enforcement and Security areas that have previously been unable to use IR technology due to cost barriers. These amorphous microbolometers contain no choppers or thermoelectric coolers, require no manual calibration and use readily available commercial off-the-shelf components.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
High-resolution gas and liquid chromatography of organoarsenic compounds

Abstract High-resolution gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of organoarsenic compounds is reported. Thermogravimetric analysis indicates that analyte decomposition may occur in injection and detection interfaces, thus careful temperature'control is needed. Specific element detection for arsenic and carbon was by microwave induced plasma spectroscopy. HPLC was optimized on phenylbonded silica with hexane-dichloromethane mobile phase. Eluate integrity was confirmed by d.c. argon plasma emission.
AppppA and related adenylylated nucleotides are synthesized as a consequence of oxidation stress

Abstract AppppA, ApppGpp, AppppG, ApppG, and ApppA rapidly accumulate to high levels in Salmonella typhimurium following exposure to a variety of oxidizing agents, but not to a variety of other stresses. Among the agents inducing these adenylylated nucleotides are 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, diamide, hydrogen peroxide, t-butyl hydroperoxide, N-ethyl maleimide, iodoacetamide, cadmium chloride, and a variety of quinones. Some of these oxidizing agents cause preferential synthesis of specific adenylylated nucleotides, e.g., N-ethyl maleimide induces ApppA and menadione induces ApppGpp. Our data, as well as other evidence in the literature, strongly suggest that oxidation stress is coupled to adenylylated nucleotide synthesis by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Although adenylylated nucleotides are made by tRNA synthetases in vitro, their synthesis in vivo is not a simple consequence of inhibition of synthetase activity. Compounds that inhibit normal charging by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases do not result in the synthesis of adenylylated nucleotides, nor do mutations in tRNA synthetase structural genes or tRNA structural, modifying, or processing genes. We propose that the family of adenylylated nucleotides are alarmones signaling the onset of oxidation stress, and that particular ones may be alarmones for specific oxidative stresses, e.g., ApppGpp for oxidative damage to amino acid biosynthesis.
Measurement of X-ray energies by multichannel doppler-tuned spectrometry

Abstract A high-resolution, multichannel, soft X-ray absorption spectrometer has been developed to observe rare decay processes in fast, foil-excited atomic ions. The device is an improvement of a spectrometer, first announced at the Tucson meeting, that employs the Doppler effect to disperse X-rays according to their angle of emission and which uses critical resonance absorption to provide X-ray energy discrimination. A position-sensitive proportional counter (PSPC), oriented with anode wire parallel to the ion beam, detects X-rays that are emitted from a downstream point within a 1.4 or 1.8 MeV carbon ion beam. The acceptance angle (45°–135° with respect to the beam velocity) corresponds to (1±0.01) E0 eV X-ray energy, where E0 is the X-ray energy in the ionic rest frame. Before entering the PSPC window the X-rays must pass through a thin, carbon-bearing, solid film chosen so that its 1s-2p absorption resonance occurs only a few eV away from the proper energy of the X-ray of interest. For each X-ray within the tuning range the PSPC spectrum contains a dip at the position which corresponds to the angle at which the Doppler-shifted X-ray energy coincides with the absorber's resonance. Spectral lines observed at 287.3 eV and at 289.4 eV are identified with the (1 s 2 s 2 p 2 ) 5 P e →(1 s 2 2 s 2 p ) 3 P 0 and (1 s 2 p 3 ) 5 S 0 →(1 s 2 2 p 2 ) 3 P e forbidden transitions in Be-like C III. The instrumental (mostly geometrical) broadening is comparable to the natural width of the absorption resonance, and together they yield an experimental linewidth of 1 eV. Measurements taken at two beam energies and with three different absorbing materials scatter within 0.5 eV. Details of the spectrometer's design and performance are presented together with a discussion of data reduction procedures that eliminate most systematic effects.