cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The distribution of intrinsic cortical axons in area 3b of cat primary somatosensory cortex

The morphology of single neurons in area 3b of cat primary somatosensory (SI) cortex was examined after horseradish peroxidase (HRP) injections. Neurons were labeled either by intracellular injection of HRP following intracellular recording or by small extracellular iontophoretic HRP injections. Both pyramidal and nonpyramidal neurons were labeled and reconstructed from serial sections. Their axons had local, interlaminar and interareal patterns of termination. Most neurons formed local axonal fields around their cell bodies and dendrites. Pyramidal neurons in cortical layer IV sent axons up into layers II and III, neurons in layers II and III sent axons down to layer V, and layer V neurons sent axons to layer VI as well as back to the upper layers. Layer VI neurons sent axons back to the upper cortical layers in a unique bowl-shaped pattern. The horizontal distribution of axons of pyramidal cells in layer III was extremely widespread. Axons of layer III neurons in area 3b terminated within 3b and area 1, but not in other areas of SI. Layer III neurons in area 1 distributed axon collaterals to all fields of SI as well as projecting a main axon to motor cortex. In general, the axon collaterals of area 3b pyramidal cells outside layer III remained confined to area 3b. Most of the nonpyramidal neurons labeled were basket cells in layers III and VI. These neurons formed dense axonal fields around their cell bodies, and none of their axons could be followed into the underlying white matter. The results of the present study demonstrate that area 3b somatosensory cortical neurons and their axons are vertically organized in a manner similar to that reported for other sensory cortical areas. They also show that widespread horizontal connections are formed by pyramidal neurons of layer III, and that these horizontal axons can travel for great distances in the cortical grey matter.
Treatment of port-wine stain birthmarks using the 1.5-msec pulsed dye laser at high fluences in conjunction with cryogen spray cooling.

Author(s): Kelly, Kristen M; Nanda, Vandana S; Nelson, J Stuart | Abstract: BackgroundThe majority of port-wine stain (PWS) patients treated with the pulsed dye laser (PDL) do not achieve complete blanching. Safe administration of higher fluences has been proposed as a means of improving treatment efficacy.ObjectiveTo determine the safety and efficacy of PWS treatment with the 1.5-msec PDL at high fluences in conjunction with cryogen spray cooling.MethodsTwenty PWS patients were treated with the PDL in combination with cryogen spray cooling utilizing a 7 or 10 mm spot size and fluences ranging from 6 to 15 J/cm2. Before and after treatment photographs were compared on a blinded basis.ResultsNo scarring or skin textural changes occurred. Blanching scores were as follows: 20% of patients achieved 75% or greater blanching after an average of 3.3 treatments, 30% achieved 50-74% blanching, 20% achieved 25-49% blanching, and 30% achieved less than 25% blanching.ConclusionIn conjunction with cryogen spray cooling, the PDL can be safely used at high fluences. At this time it is not clear that the use of higher fluences improves treatment efficacy; however, as other aspects of PWS laser treatment are optimized, safe administration of higher fluences is likely to be advantageous.
Photo- and thermal elimination of nitrogen from 4-phenyl- and 4,5-diphenyl-1,2,3-triazole

Phenylacetonitrile (2) (32%) and small amounts of benzyl methyl ether (3), benzonitrile (5) and methyl benzoate (6) were produced by irradiation of either 4-phenyl-1,2,3-triazole (1) or 4-phenyl-5-deutero-1,2,3-triazole (7) in methanol at 254 nm. In methylene chloride, irradiation of 1 produced 2 (15%) and small amounts of 3,6-diphenyl-1,2,4,5-tetrazine (8). Irradiation of 4,5-diphenyl-1,2,3-triazole (9) in methanol gave 2,4,5-triphenylimidazole (11) (4%) and trace amounts of diphenylacetonitrile (10), benzamide (12), and compounds 3, 5, and 6. Irradiation of 2,3-diphenyl-2H-azirine (13) in methanol gave small amounts of 3, benzaldehyde (4), and compounds 5, 6, 12 as well as 2,3,5,6-tetraphenylpyrazine (14) and in methylene chloride it gave 11 (16%) and small amounts of 4, 5, 14, and acetophenone (15). On heating 4-phenyl-1,2,3-triazole (1) in n-hexadecane, elimination of nitrogen at 290° left phenylacetonitrile (2) as the only identified product. Similar pyrolysis of 4,5-diphenyl-1,2,3-triazole (9) produced 2,3,5,6-tetraphenylpyrazine (14) along with an intractable material. An efficient thermal isomerization of 2,3-diphenyl-2H-azirine (13) gave 2-phenylindole (17).
The school of the 21st century: Creating opportunities for school-based child care

Shifts in the structure and needs of families in the United States are prompting public schools to expand their role by offering school-based child care and family support services. This article describes a national initiative—the School of the 21st Century—in which the public school serves as a hub for the delivery and coordination of services for families and children. Factors related to providing comprehensive, quality child care and family support and concerns regarding school-based child care are discussed. Included are preliminary evaluation results of 21st Century School programs. Findings indicate that schools can play a role in the delivery of a comprehensive system of child care and parents favor the use of schools for this purpose.
Partitioning of Nutrients During Pregnancy and Lactation: A Review of Mechanisms Involving Homeostasis and Homeorhesis

Control of metabolism during pregnancy and lactation involves two types of regulation-homeostasis and homeorhesis. Homeostasis control involves maintenance of physiological equilibrium or constancy of environmental conditions within the animal. Homeorhesis is the orchestrated or coordinated control in metabolism of body tissues necessary to support a physiological state. Regulation of nutrient partitioning during pregnancy involves homeorhetic controls arising from the conceptus. This assures growth of the conceptus (fetus and fetal membranes) and gravid uterus as well as development of the mammary gland. With the onset of lactation many--perhaps even most--maternal tissues undergo further adaptations to support rates of lipogenesis and lipolysis in adipose tissue are examples of important homeorhetic controls of nutrient partitioning that are necessary to supply mammary needs for milk synthesis. The interactions between homeorhesis and homeostasis during pregnancy and lactation and possible endocrine control are discussed. While not definitively established, roles for placental lactogen and prolactin are attractive possibilities in homeorhetic regulation of maternal tissues to support pregnancy and the initiation of lactaion, respectively.
Prostaglandin expression profile in hypoxic osteoblastic cells.

Conditions such as fracture and unloading have been shown to be associated with tissue and cellular hypoxia in bone. The effects of hypoxia on bone cell physiology and ultimately its impact on bone tissue repair and remodeling are not well understood. In this study, we investigated the role of hypoxia on prostaglandin release from osteoblastic cells cultured in 2% (hypoxia), 5% (potentially cellular normoxia), and 21% (normoxia for standard cell culture conditions) oxygen for up to 24 h. We quantified the effects of reduced oxygen tension on the release of prostaglandin (PG)E2, PGF2α, PGD2, and PGI2. The mechanism by which hypoxia increases PG production was investigated by examining the various regulatory components of the PG biosynthetic pathway. Our data show that PGE2 levels alone are significantly elevated under hypoxic conditions. Also, we show that cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 play an important role in hypoxia-induced PGE2 production, possibly via a mechanism involving changes in their respective activity levels under low oxygen conditions. The effect of hypoxia on PGE2 levels was mimicked by dimethyloxaloglycine, a known activator of the HIF pathway. In addition, we confirmed that HIF-1α was stabilized in osteoblastic cells under hypoxia. Taken together these data suggest a role for the HIF pathway in regulation of PGE2 levels under hypoxic conditions. Previous studies have detected release of prostaglandins from areas of damaged bone, such as a fracture site, and our data may contribute to an understanding of how this release is regulated.
Integrating Sphere for the Photometry of the Sky

For the photometry of extended light sources, such as the sky, the integrating sphere has been used. The cosine correction of previous models is investigated, and the deviations from the ideal cosine correction are explained qualitatively. A new design is proposed, and the results of tests regarding its cosine correction are given. The cosine correction of an MgO and a BaSO4 surface, viewed normally, is investigated and found to be inferior to that of the sphere.
A new on-chip whole blood/plasma separator driven by asymmetric capillary forces

A new on-chip whole blood/plasma separator driven by asymmetric capillary forces, which are produced through a microchannel with sprayed nanobead multilayers, has been designed, fabricated and fully characterized. The silica nanobead multilayers revealing as superhydrophilic surfaces have been fabricated using a spray layer-by-layer (LbL) nano-assembly method. This new on-chip blood plasma separator has been targeted for a sample-to-answer (S-to-A) microfluidic lab-on-a-chip (LOC) toward point-of-care clinical testing (POCT). Effective plasma separation from undiluted whole blood was achieved through the microchannel which was composed of asymmetric superhydrophilic surfaces with a 10 mm hydrophobic patch. Blood cells were continuously accumulated over the hydrophobic patch while the blood plasma was able to flow over the patch. Therefore, the blood plasma was successfully separated from the whole blood throughout the accumulated blood cells which worked as a so-called ‘self-built-in blood cell microfilter’. The separated plasma was approximately 102 nL from a single drop of 3 μL whole blood within 10 min, which is very suitable for single-use disposable POCT devices.
In situ annealing of hydroxyapatite thin films

Abstract Hydroxyapatite is a bioactive ceramic that mimics the mineral composition of natural bone. Unfortunately, problems with adhesion, poor mechanical integrity, and incomplete bone ingrowth limit the use of many conventional hydroxyapatite surfaces. In this work, we have developed a novel technique to produce crystalline hydroxyapatite thin films involving pulsed laser deposition and postdeposition annealing. Hydroxyapatite films were deposited on Ti–6Al–4V alloy and Si (100) using pulsed laser deposition, and annealed within a high temperature X-ray diffraction system. The transformation from amorphous to crystalline hydroxyapatite was observed at 340 °C. Mechanical and adhesive properties were examined using nanoindentation and scratch adhesion testing, respectively. Nanohardness and Young's modulus values of 3.48 and 91.24 GPa were realized in unannealed hydroxyapatite films. Unannealed and 350 °C annealed hydroxyapatite films exhibited excellent adhesion to Ti–6Al–4V alloy substrates. We anticipate that the adhesion and biological properties of crystalline hydroxyapatite thin films may be enhanced by further consideration of deposition and annealing parameters.
Public opinion and heuristic processing of source cues

If the American citizen is capable of constructing reliable political judgments without engaging in extensive cognitive deliberation, then criticism that public opinion is largely vacuous in character may overstate the implications of a politically inattentive citizenry. Heuristic processing, reliance on simple rules of judgment, provides a cognitive mechanism that may enable citizens to advance informed yet efficient issue appraisals. More specifically, application of heuristic processing to source cues—references to prominent political leaders—can allow individuals to extend evaluations of those leaders to the policies and issues with which they are associated. In this paper, discussion of heuristic principles of judgment facilitates specification of the expected relationship between source cues and two component processes of individual-level public opinion: opinion holding and opinion direction. Separate quasi-experimental analyses yield evidence consistently supportive of the heuristic perspective.
Visual grids for managing data completeness in clinical research datasets

Display Omitted We develop two visualizations for managing missing data in clinical trial data.Binary completeness grid shows a visual depiction of a patient data record.Gradient completeness grid shows a visual depiction of an entire dataset.Three datasets were visualized and studied to improve clinical trial management. Missing data arise in clinical research datasets for reasons ranging from incomplete electronic health records to incorrect trial data collection. This has an adverse effect on analysis performed with the data, but it can also affect the management of a clinical trial itself. We propose two graphical visualization schemes to aid in managing the completeness of a clinical research dataset: the binary completeness grid (BCG) for single patient observation, and the gradient completeness grid (GCG) for an entire dataset. We use these tools to manage three clinical trials. Two are ongoing observational trials, while the other is a cohort study that is complete. The completeness grids revealed unexpected patterns in our data and enabled us to identify records that should have been purged and identify missing follow-up data from sets of observations thought to be complete. Binary and gradient completeness grids provide a rapid, convenient way to visualize missing data in clinical datasets.
Characterization of a developmental toxicity dose-response model.

The Rai and Van Ryzin dose-response model proposed for teratology experiments has been characterized for its appropriateness and applicability in modeling the dichotomous response data from developmental toxicity studies. Modifications were made in the initial probability statements to reflect more accurately biological events underlying developmental toxicity. Data sets used for the evaluation were obtained from the National Toxicology Program and U.S. EPA laboratories. The studies included developmental evaluations of ethylene glycol, diethylhexyl phthalate, di- and triethylene glycol dimethyl ethers, and nitrofen in rats, mice, or rabbits. Graphic examination and statistical evaluation demonstrate that this model is sensitive to the data when compared to directly measured experimental outcomes. The model was used to interpolate to low-risk dose levels, and comparisons were made between the values obtained and the no-observed-adverse-effect levels (NOAELs) divided by an uncertainty factor. Our investigation suggests that the Rai and Van Ryzin model is sensitive to the developmental toxicity end points, prenatal deaths, and malformations, and appears to model closely their relationship to dose.
Maintaining Poise: Commensal Microbiota Calibrate Interferon Responses

The mechanisms of how commensal bacteria impact systemic immunity are unclear. In this issue of Immunity, Abt et al. (2012) and Ganal et al. (2012) demonstrate that microbiota poise macrophages for induction of the type I interferon pathway after virus infection.
A kinase-independent role for the Rad3(ATR)-Rad26(ATRIP) complex in recruitment of Tel1(ATM) to telomeres in fission yeast

ATM and ATR are two redundant checkpoint kinases essential for the stable maintenance of telomeres in eukaryotes. Previous studies have established that MRN (Mre11-Rad50-Nbs1) and ATRIP (ATR Interacting Protein) interact with ATM and ATR, respectively, and recruit their partner kinases to sites of DNA damage. Here, we investigated how Tel1ATM and Rad3ATR recruitment to telomeres is regulated in fission yeast. Quantitative chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays unexpectedly revealed that the MRN complex could also contribute to the recruitment of Tel1ATM to telomeres independently of the previously established Nbs1 C-terminal Tel1ATM interaction domain. Recruitment of Tel1ATM to telomeres in nbs1-c60Δ cells, which lack the C-terminal 60 amino acid Tel1ATM interaction domain of Nbs1, was dependent on Rad3ATR-Rad26ATRIP, but the kinase domain of Rad3ATR was dispensable. Thus, our results establish that the Rad3ATR-Rad26ATRIP complex contributes to the recruitment of Tel1ATM independently of Rad3ATR kinase activity, by a mechanism redundant with the Tel1ATM interaction domain of Nbs1. Furthermore, we found that the N-terminus of Nbs1 contributes to the recruitment of Rad3ATR-Rad26ATRIP to telomeres. In response to replication stress, mammalian ATR–ATRIP also contributes to ATM activation by a mechanism that is dependent on the MRN complex but independent of the C-terminal ATM interaction domain of Nbs1. Since telomere protection and DNA damage response mechanisms are very well conserved between fission yeast and mammalian cells, mammalian ATR–ATRIP may also contribute to the recruitment of ATM to telomeres and to sites of DNA damage independently of ATR kinase activity.
Prediction of initial cytogenetic response for subsequent major and complete cytogenetic response to imatinib mesylate therapy in patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia.

BACKGROUND Obtaining a major (Philadelphia chromosome [Ph] of < 35%) or a complete cytogenetic response (Ph of 0%) has been associated with excellent long-term survival. Cytogenetic response may continue to improve with therapy. Because early allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) may be associated with a better outcome, early parameters predicting for subsequent cytogenetic responses would optimize the treatment decision-making. METHODS The current study was performed to analyze whether early cytogenetic responses may be predictive of later major or complete cytogenetic responses to imatinib mesylate therapy in patients with Ph-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). RESULTS Two hundred sixty-one patients with Ph-positive, chronic-phase CML after failure with interferon therapy who were treated with imatinib mesylate therapy were analyzed. A persistence of 100% Ph-positive cells after ≥ 6 months of imatinib mesylate therapy was associated with a major cytogenetic response rate of 9–13% and a complete cytogenetic response rate of 0–4%. However, a minor cytogenetic response after 3–12 months of therapy still was associated with high rates of major (68–83%) or complete (35–54%) cytogenetic response rates. CONCLUSIONS Patients with Ph-positive, chronic-phase CML who have persistent 100% Ph-positive disease after ≥ 6 months of imatinib mesylate therapy may be offered allogeneic SCT or considered for alternative investigational therapies. Cancer 2003;97:2225–8. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11381
The Boundary Structure of Zero-Temperature Driven Hard Spheres

We study the fundamental problem of two gas species whose molecules collide as hard spheres in the presence of a flat boundary and with dependence on only one space dimension. More specifically the steady linear problem considered is the one arising when the second gas dominates as a flow moving towards the boundary with constant microscopic velocity (and hence zero temperature). Theboundary condition adopted consists of prescribing the outgoing velocity distribution of the firstgas at the boundary. It is discovered that the presence of the boundary under general assumptions on the outgoing distribution ensures the convergence of a series of path integrals resulting in a convenient representation for the distribution of the velocities of the molecules returning at the boundary.
Lightweight Ti-based bulk metallic glasses excluding late transition metals

Lightweight Ti-based bulk amorphous structural metals with more than double the specific strength of conventional titanium alloys have been discovered. Thermal, elastic and mechanical properties of these metallic glasses were studied and are presented. These amorphous alloys exhibit good glass-forming ability, exceptional thermal stability and high strength. The research results have important implications for designing and developing low-density bulk metallic glasses. The technological potential of this class of lightweight Ti-based glassy alloys as structural metals is very promising.
ASYMPTOTIC ANALYSIS OF A MODEL HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER PROBLEM

Abstract This short communication presents a simple asymptotic analysis of a coupled heat and mass transfer problem which models certain reacting fluid-solid systems. The calculation, which is an extension of earlier work on moving boundary problems, provides an analytical solution to the governing equations. This solution may be useful since it can provide quick analytical estimates of nonisothermal behavior in such systems.
A DNA extraction method for RAPD analysis from plants rich in soluble polysaccharides

A simple procedure for the isolation of DNA from mature leaf tissue was developed. This procedure purified DNA using Sephacryl S-1000 column and PEG 8000 precipitation. Polysaccharide-like components were successfully removed from DNA samples from species in which polysaccharides were found to be difficult to remove by phenol/chloroform extraction. The DNA obtained by this method was suitable for PCR, RAPD, enzyme digestion, and Southern-blot analyses.
Maximal rise in IgE antibody following ragweed pollination season

Patients allergio to ragweed pollen who did not receive immunotherapy had an increase in ragweed-specific IgE antibodies associated with seasonal exposure. Of 17 such patients, 15 reached peak levels between mid-September and mid-October. Two had peak values after mid-October; the levels were only slightly higher than earlier values. Our study shows that serum obtained in mid-October reflects approximately the maximal IgE antibody level attained by ragweed-sensitive patients in our area and that this value can be used as a baseline in monitoring the subsequent decline in antibodies. In addition, our data support an earlier observation that the magnitude of seasonal rise in IgE antibody is related to the preseasonal value. The significantly positive correlation of the results of carefully performed skin tests (end point titration) with radioaller gosorbent test (RAST) values suggests the possibility that the RAST can be employed as a eliable diagnostic aid, perhaps even replacing the skin test.
Nervous system function, maternal effects on conduction velocity in mice.

Backcross mice with inbred mothers display lower peripheral nerve conduction velocity than age-matched offspring of hybrid mothers. Also, reciprocal hybrid offspring groups show age-stable differences in conduction velocity. These maternal effects are not removed with cross fostering and may be associated with modified developmental rates.
Chronic hyperinsulinemia decreases insulin action but not insulin sensitivity.

Abstract Hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance are commonly seen in obese and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients, suggesting a causal link exists between hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance. In a previous study, we demonstrated that chronic (28 days) intraportal hyperinsulinemia (50% increase in basal insulin levels) resulted in a decrease in insulin action as assessed by a one-step euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp. Since only one dose of insulin was used during the clamp, it was not possible to determine if the decrease in insulin action was due to a change in insulin sensitivity and/or maximal insulin responsiveness. In the present study, insulin resistance was induced as before, but insulin action was assessed in overnight fasted conscious dogs using a four-step euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp (1, 2, 10, and 15 mU/kg/min). Insulin responsiveness was assessed before the induction of chronic hyperinsulinemia (day 0), and after 28 days of hyperinsulinemia (day 28). Transhepatic glucose balance and whole-body glucose utilization were measured to allow assessment of both the hepatic and peripheral effects of insulin. Chronic hyperinsulinemia increased basal insulin levels from 13 ± 2 to 21 ± 4 μU/mL. After 4 weeks of chronic hyperinsulinemia, maximal insulin-stimulated glucose utilization was decreased 23% ± 4% ( P 50 ) was not significantly altered. During the four-step clamp, the liver was a major site of glucose utilization. The liver was responsible for 13% of the total glucose disposal rate on day 0 (2.9 mg/kg/min) at the highest insulin infusion rate (15 mU/kg/min; 2,000 μU/mL). On day 28, insulin suppression of endogenous glucose production and stimulation of hepatic glucose uptake was similar (3.3 mg/kg/min) to that seen on day 0, suggesting that the decrease in maximal insulin responsiveness did not involve the liver. In conclusion, insulin resistance produced by a mild hyperinsulinemia is due to a suppression of maximal extrahepatic insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, suggesting that a postreceptor defect is present in extrahepatic tissues.
Contextual constraints in media choice: Beyond information richness

In today's dynamic environment, managers and organizations are faced with varied choices in communicating information for enhanced decision making. In business, the selection of the appropriate media needs to be efficient and effective for decision making and can be crucial in certain circumstances. Recent studies have relied on numerous theories to explain media choice. This research work goes beyond the traditional task characteristics of equivocality and uncertainty from the media richness theory. It addresses additional contextual constraints including the needs for urgency, confidentiality, accountability, social interaction, and information integrity from the sender's perspective and how these interact with equivocality and uncertainty in the choice of a medium for communication. Results demonstrate a significant change in media selection under all five contextual constraints, although not always in the direction predicted. Email was consistently the top preference, contrary to theoretical expectations. The study adds empirical support to the growing trend of moving beyond media and information richness in order to explain media choice in organizations.
Imagining Beyond “God's Warriors”

: This article provides a review of the CNN TV series, “God's Warriors,” by Christiane Amanpour.
A unified explanation for the diverse structural deviations reported for adult schizophrenics with disrupted speech.

Abstract This paper attempts a unified explanation for the diverse manifestations of deviant speech considered pathognomic for schizophrenia. Examination of the structure of such speech shows that what appear to be diverse errors are really manifestations of two problems: apparently random or erroneous triggering of sounds and words coupled with inappropriate perseverations. These are shown to be different manifestations of the same problem, possibly a schizophrenic dysfunction in neurotransmitters in the brain. Studies of hemispheric assymmetry in schizophrenia, involuntary eyetracking, and the probable action of antipsychotic medication confirm the linguistic data.
Linking the VPS35 and EIF4G1 Pathways in Parkinson’s Disease

Elucidating the underlying pathogenic pathways in Parkinson's disease will be critical for targeted drug development. In this issue of Neuron, Dhungel et al. (2015) utilize a yeast model to establish a link between VPS35 and EIF4G1 in α-synuclein-related neurodegeneration.
Signal processing choices and challenges for SDR in Telematics

The integration of wireless and location technologies into Telematics products is growing rapidly. Therefore, the demand for concepts like Software Defined Radio (SDR) is increasing. SDR has the potential to realize cost-effective, re-programmable, and multi-standard Telematics products. This paper provides an overview of Telematics, SDR challenges and tiers for Telematics, and signal processing choices and challenges for SDR in Telematics.
The effect of the support on the infrared spectra of carbon monoxide adsorbed on nickel oxides

Abstract The influence of the support on the surface properties of nickel oxide has been studied experimentally by carbon monoxide adsorption characteristics. The latter were determined by the infrared spectra of the adsorbed species. The first type of nickel oxide studied was prepared by adding an excess of oxygen, at room temperature, to supported nickel. The excess oxygen was removed, and then carbon monoxide added at various pressures. This procedure was repeated for all the supports used: alumina, silica and titania. On the silica support, the oxide was also made by adding a series of small doses of oxygen to the nickel. Evidence for carbonate complexes was obtained for alumina supported nickel oxide, but not with titania or silica. On titania, CO 2 − groups were found which may have been formed by the interaction between catalytically formed carbon dioxide and the titania. On silica, neither CO 3 or CO 2 − complexes were found on adding CO to nickel oxide. Nevertheless, CO 2 − complexes have been observed when small amounts of oxygen were added to silica-supported reduced nickel, on which CO had previously been adsorbed. With alumina and silica, the nickel oxide was “reduced,” to some extent, by CO. The sites left vacant by “reduction” then adsorbed CO in a manner similar to one of the species observed on supported nickel. Bulk nickel oxide was prepared by heating supported nickel in oxygen at 300°C. In most cases the oxygen was removed from the sample at 300°C. In some other preparations, the sample was cooled in oxygen and then evacuated at room temperature. The spectra obtained on adding CO to these two types of bulk oxide were very similar. As in the nickel oxide on nickel experiments, on adding CO, CO 3 groups were found using alumina, and CO 2 − groups using titania. However, large differences were found in the number of CO molecules absorbed on nickel sites formed by “reduction”. In every case, those nickel oxide on nickel systems which were “reduced” by CO (the alumina and silica supports) were not “reduced” when the same supports were used with bulk oxides. Conversely, the titania-supported nickel oxide on nickel was only very slightly “reduced” on adding CO, while the bulk oxide on the support was “reduced” to quite a marked extent.
The preglossale of Passer (Aves: Passeriformes)--a skeletal neomorph.

A skeletal neomorph – the preglossale – is described from the tip of the tongue in Passer. This medial unpaired skeletal element is a dorsally open trough articulating with the anterior tips of the paraglossalia and supporting the heavy epidermal pad of the seed-cup. The large paired Mm. hypoglossus anterior originate from the posterior half of the preglossale and insert onto the anterior bodies of the paired paraglossalia; they serve to depress the anterior portion of the preglossale. A regular pattern of dermal papillae is present in the seed-cup; these are arranged in about 20 rows of six to 8 papillae per row. Each papilla contains a series of Merkel cells and associated nerve endings (touch receptors). The seed-cup serves to orient and hold the seed in place while it is being husked; the battery of tactile receptors provides information on the position of the seed on the tongue. The preglossale serves to support the seed-cup and to change its shape – the curvature of the dorsal surface – as it is depressed relative to the paraglossalia. The paraglossale and associated features of the seed-cup in Passer would provide a valuable preparation to study a diversity of problems such as developmental interactions between endomesodermal and ecto-mesenchymal skeletal features, the ontogenetical development of Merkel cells, and the sensory physiology of Merkel cells and their associated nerve endings as tactile corpuscles.
Enzyme analysis of the polyketide synthase leads to the discovery of a novel analog of the antibiotic α-lipomycin.

Enzyme analysis of the polyketide synthase leads to the discovery of a novel analog of the antibiotic α-lipomycin
EARLY-CAREER JOB FACTORS INFLUENCING THE PROFESSIONAL COMMITMENT OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS

In this study, routine task responsibilities and professional organization memberships had positive effects on the professional commitment of medical technologists in the first four years of their ...
Determinants of glutamine dependence and utilization by normal and tumor-derived breast cell lines

A continual supply of the amino acid glutamine (GLN) may be necessary for cancerous cell growth. GLN plays a central role in multiple metabolic pathways and has long been considered an essential component of tissue culture media. However, the GLN requirements of tumor cell lines and the factors that determine a cell's need for GLN have not been comprehensively studied. Also, it remains unclear how various metabolic pathways contribute to GLN consumption. In the present study, possible determinants of GLN metabolism were examined in seven breast cell lines, two derived from immortalized normal tissue and five of tumor origin. These cells exhibited different dependencies on media GLN concentration for growth and a wide range of GLN utilization rates. GLN uptake was facilitated by a single, common transporter functionally defined as System ASC. However, the affinities for GLN exhibited by this transporter differed appreciably between cell lines. Furthermore, the concentration at which media GLN became a limiting factor for cellular proliferation correlated with transporter affinity. The origin of the cell lines was not a determinant of GLN metabolism because immortalized cells of nontumor origin exhibited GLN dependence and utilization rates comparable to those of tumor-derived cells. The rates of CO2 production from GLN were similar for each cell lines. Rates of GLN disappearance and glutamate appearance in media were strongly correlated, with 32-80% of media GLN converted to glutamate. Both rates were directly affected by media cystine concentration, suggesting that a large portion of glutamate efflux was coupled with cystine import through the amino acid transport system x(c)-. These results demonstrated that cell growth is a function of GLN influx and suggest that GLN is used to supply glutamate and cystine, perhaps for glutathione synthesis.
Current practice and recent developments in analytical methodology for trace element analysis of soils, plants, and water

Abstract Accurate and reliable methodologies possessing high sensitivity and selectivity, coupled with convenience and economy and applicable to real‐world situations are required for the evaluation of plant, soil and water samples for trace element content. The demand for more elements at lower concentration levels and the increasing interest in elemental speciation due to the issues of bioavailability and toxicity have nurtured growth of more rapid and robust methodologies for sample preparation ‐ including analyte preconcentration schemes, matrix separation processes, species specific detection and instrumentation to address the concerns of sample throughput, compatibility, economy and portability. Realistic assessment of the near‐term future for this environmental analysis sector is a growth in the use of multielement detection systems, likely focused on ICP‐AES with array‐based spectrometers, and ICP‐MS instrumentation having increased resolution capabilities. Coupling on‐line flow injection techniqu...
Efficient DNA ligation in DNA-RNA hybrid helices by Chlorella virus DNA ligase

Single-stranded DNA molecules (ssDNA) annealed to an RNA splint are notoriously poor substrates for DNA ligases. Herein we report the unexpectedly efficient ligation of RNA-splinted DNA by Chlorella virus DNA ligase (PBCV-1 DNA ligase). PBCV-1 DNA ligase ligated ssDNA splinted by RNA with kcat ≈ 8 x 10(-3) s(-1) and K(M) 100 mM. Abortive adenylylation was suppressed at low ATP concentrations ( 8, leading to increased product yields. The ligation reaction was rapid for a broad range of substrate sequences, but was relatively slower for substrates with a 5'-phosphorylated dC or dG residue on the 3' side of the ligation junction. Nevertheless, PBCV-1 DNA ligase ligated all sequences tested with 10-fold less enzyme and 15-fold shorter incubation times than required when using T4 DNA ligase. Furthermore, this ligase was used in a ligation-based detection assay system to show increased sensitivity over T4 DNA ligase in the specific detection of a target mRNA.
Frequent association with neurosurgical conditions in adult Proteus mirabilis meningitis: report of five cases

Adult Proteus (P.) mirabilis meningitis is relatively rare and has not been examined individually in the English-language literature. During a period of 15 years (January 1986-December 2000), four adult patients with P. mirabilis meningitis and one adult patient with mixed bacterial meningitis involving P. mirabilis were identified at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung. These five patients included one man and four women, aged from 19 to 74 years (mean age=55.4). P. mirabilis infection accounted for 1.7% (4/229) of cases of our culture-proven monomicrobial adult bacterial meningitis and was involved in 7.1% (1/14) of cases of our adult mixed bacterial meningitis during this period. Underlying debilitating conditions including diabetes mellitus and neurosurgical disorders were common in these five cases. Adult P. mirabilis meningitis had an acute clinical course, with fever and consciousness-disturbance occurring as most prominent clinical manifestations in all patients. Other common manifestations included hydrocephalus, seizure, septic shock and wound infection. Hematogenous spread would appear to be the most likely mechanism. Multi-antibiotic resistant strains of P. mirabilis were not found in our patients. All strains were susceptible to third-generation cephalosporins, imipenem, aztreonam and ciprofloxacin. The results of treatment for adult P. mirabilis meningitis were not satisfactory, most of the patients surviving with severe neurological deficit.
Glioblastoma multiforme: Treatment with radiation and trhodothyronine

Abstract An analysis of patients with glioblastoma who were treated at the University of Chicago showed that (a) 32 patients who received surgery and irradiation (5000–6000 rad) had a median survival of 30 weeks; (b) 18 patients who received surgery, radiation (4200 rad), and triiodothyrosdne had a median survival of 60 weeks. A detailed analysis of the age, sex, clinical status of the patients, location, and pathology of the tumors showed no significant difference between the two groups. The marked increase in survival may indicate a radlosensitizing property of triiodothyronine.
Tropomyosin and troponin C from human fetal, adult, and dystrophic skeletal muscle

Human skeletal muscle tropomyosin and troponin C were assessed for potential changes in quantity and subunit composition during development and in Becker muscular dystrophy. The proteins were purified or separated into subunits by ion-exchange chromatography. The fetal and dystrophic sources yielded less of these proteins than the adult and also contained additonal types of tropomyosin chains. The findings may have implications for the disease process and emphasize the feasibility of direct preparative study of human muscle.
Two-port description of an s.a.w. filter

A simple model of a 2-port s.a.w. filter is given, which agrees well with expperiment. The suppression of spurii is considered.
eSalud: Designing and Implementing Culturally Competent eHealth Research With Latino Patient Populations

eHealth is characterized by technology-enabled processes, systems, and applications that expedite accurate, real-time health information, feedback, and skill development to advance patient-centered care. When designed and applied in a culturally competent manner, eHealth tools can be particularly beneficial for traditionally marginalized ethnic minority groups, such as Latinos, a group that has been identified as being at the forefront of emerging technology use in the United States. In this analytic overview, we describe current eHealth research that has been conducted with Latino patient populations. In addition, we highlight cultural and linguistic factors that should be considered during the design and implementation of eHealth interventions with this population. With increasing disparities in preventive care information, behaviors, and services, as well as health care access in general, culturally competent eHealth tools hold great promise to help narrow this gap and empower communities.
Were kinetics of Archean calcium carbonate precipitation related to oxygen concentration

Archean carbonates commonly contain decimetre- to metre-thick beds consisting entirely of fibrous calcite and neomorphosed fibrous aragonite that precipitated in situ on the sea floor. The fact that such thick accumulations of precipitated carbonate are rare in younger marine carbonates suggests an important change in the modes of calcium carbonate precipitation through time. Kinetics of carbonate precipitation depend on the concentration of inhibitors to precipitation that reduce crystallization rates and crystal nuclei formation, leading to kinetic maintenance of supersaturated solutions. Inhibitors also affect carbonate textures by limiting micrite precipitation and promoting growth of older carbonate crystals on the sea floor. Fe2+, a strong calcite-precipitation inhibitor, is thought to have been present at relatively high concentrations in Archean seawater because oxygen concentrations were low. The rise in oxygen concentration at 2.2-1.9 Ga led to the removal of Fe2+ from seawater and resulted in a shift from Archean facies, which commonly include precipitated beds, to Proterozoic facies, which contain more micritic sediment and only rare precipitated beds.
Superior prognostic utility of gross and metabolic tumor volume compared to standardized uptake value using PET/CT in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

Objective To compare the prognostic utility of the 2-[18F] fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), primary gross tumor volume (GTV), and FDG metabolic tumor volume (MTV) for disease control and survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) undergoing intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).
Convergence to symmetry in dynamic strategic models of R&D: The undiscounted case

Abstract Will R&D increase or decrease the asymmetry between firms over time? We examine this issue in the context of a dynamic, alternate-move duopoly model of non-cooperative R&D. The asymmetry we consider is with respect to the initial stocks of technological knowledge which provides one firm a greater potential for current and future profits in the product market. Utilizing a value loss process constructed from the Optimality Equation of dynamic programming, we show that for the undiscounted case the asymmetry between the firms disappears over time. We obtain this convergence-to-symmetry result by imparting a temporal character to R&D through the notion that R&D investment cannot be changed instantaneously, by allowing research externalities, complementarity or substitutability between own and appropriated R&D, and either increasing, decreasing or constant returns to scale in the production of technical knowledge from own and rival R&D.
Design exploration for high-performance pipelines

Exploration plays an important role in the design of high-performance pipelines. We propose an exploration strategy for varying three design parameters by using a performance-constrained component selection and pipelining algorithm on different “architectures”. The architecture is specified manually by using a mix of behavioral and structural constructs, while the component selection and pipelining is performed automatically using our algorithms. Results on two industrial-strength DSP systems, indicate the effectiveness of our strategy in exploring a large design space within a matter of seconds.
DICE, an efficient system for iterative genomic editing in human pluripotent stem cells

To reveal the full potential of human pluripotent stem cells, new methods for rapid, site-specific genomic engineering are needed. Here, we describe a system for precise genetic modification of human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). We identified a novel human locus, H11, located in a safe, intergenic, transcriptionally active region of chromosome 22, as the recipient site, to provide robust, ubiquitous expression of inserted genes. Recipient cell lines were established by site-specific placement of a 'landing pad' cassette carrying attP sites for phiC31 and Bxb1 integrases at the H11 locus by spontaneous or TALEN-assisted homologous recombination. Dual integrase cassette exchange (DICE) mediated by phiC31 and Bxb1 integrases was used to insert genes of interest flanked by phiC31 and Bxb1 attB sites at the H11 locus, replacing the landing pad. This system provided complete control over content, direction and copy number of inserted genes, with a specificity of 100%. A series of genes, including mCherry and various combinations of the neural transcription factors LMX1a, FOXA2 and OTX2, were inserted in recipient cell lines derived from H9 ESC, as well as iPSC lines derived from a Parkinson's disease patient and a normal sibling control. The DICE system offers rapid, efficient and precise gene insertion in ESC and iPSC and is particularly well suited for repeated modifications of the same locus.
Calcium binding to the subunit c ofE. coli ATP-synthase and possible functional implications in energy coupling

The 8-kDa subunit c of theE. coli F0 ATP-synthase proton channel was tested for Ca++ binding activity using a45Ca++ ligand blot assay after transferring the protein from SDS-PAGE gels onto polyvinyl difluoride membranes. The purified subunit c binds45Ca++ strongly with Ca++ binding properties very similar to those of the 8-kDa CF0 subunit III of choloroplast thylakoid membranes. The N-terminal f-Met carbonyl group seems necessary for Ca++ binding capacity, shown by loss of Ca++ binding following removal of the formyl group by mild acid treatment. The dicyclohexylcarbodiimide-reactive Asp-61 is not involved in the Ca++ binding, shown by Ca++ binding being retained in twoE. coli mutants, Asp61→Asn and Asp61→Gly. The Ca++ binding is pH dependent in both theE. coli and thylakoid 8-kDa proteins, being absent at pH 5.0 and rising to a maximum near pH 9.0. A treatment predicted to increase the Ca++ binding affinity to its F0 binding site (chlorpromazine photoaffinity attachment) caused an inhibition of ATP formation driven by a base-to-acid pH jump in whole cells. Inhibition was not observed when the Ca++ chelator EGTA was present with the cells during the chlorpromazine photoaffinity treatment. An apparent Ca++ binding constant on the site responsible for the UV plus chlorpromazine effect of near 80–100 nM was obtained using an EGTA-Ca++ buffer system to control free Ca++ concentration during the UV plus chlorpromazine treatment. The data are consistent with the notion that Ca++ bound to the periplasimic side of theE. coli F0 proton channel can block H+ entry into the channel. A similar effect occurs in thylakoid membranes, but the Ca++ binding site is on the lumen side of the thylakoid, where Ca++ binding can modulate acid-base jump ATP formation. The Ca++ binding to the F0 and CF0 complexes is consistent with a pH-dependent gating mechanism for control of H+ ion flux across the opening of the H+ channel.