cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Availability, variety and distribution of healthy and unhealthy foods and beverages sold at street food stands in Mexico City.

OBJECTIVE To examine differences in the availability, variety and distribution of foods and beverages sold at street food stands (SFS) across neighbourhood income levels in Mexico City. DESIGN Cross-sectional. SETTING Twenty neighbourhoods representing low-, middle- and high-income levels in Mexico City. PARTICIPANTS Direct observations of SFS (n 391). RESULTS The availability of healthy foods such as fruits/vegetables was high in middle- and high-income neighbourhoods, whereas the availability of unhealthy foods such as processed snacks was higher in low-income neighbourhoods. However, statistically significant differences in food availability across neighbourhoods were only observed for dairy and processed snack items (P 0·05). No statistically significant differences across neighbourhood income levels were observed for beverage availability and variety (P > 0·05). Although street foods and beverages were often distributed near homes, public transportation centres and worksites, no differences were observed across neighbourhood income levels (P > 0·05). CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that SFS can be a source of both unhealthy foods and healthy foods for communities across neighbourhoods in Mexico City. Additional studies are needed to assess the relationship between street food and beverage availability, and consumption.
Modulation of alternative splicing by antisense oligonucleotides.

Sequence-specific base pairing is the principle mechanism by which antisense oligonucleotides function as therapeutics and sequence-specific research tools. The same basic mechanism of action is used for regulation of expression of certain genes by living cells. Antisense genes were found in E. coli (Simons and Kleckner 1988) and more recently in C. elegans (Ambros 2000) and in human cells (Hastings et al. 2000). Inhibition of Rous sarcoma virus replication by a synthetic 13-mer antisense DNA molecule (Zamecnik and Stephenson, 1978) provides one of the first examples of the effects of antisense oligonucleotides. For antisense genes and oligonucleotides the assumed or determined function was to decrease the expression of their sense target RNAs. Numerous subsequent papers, involving downregulation of gene expression, reported that DNA oligonucleotides were downregulating gene expression by base pairing to mRNA and eliciting destruction of the RNA in the RNA-DNA duplex by ribonuclease H (RNase H). Modified oligonucleotides that do not elicit RNase H activity or triplex-forming oligonucleotides that interact with DNA targets were also extensively used for downregulation of gene expression. The anti-sense field was extensively reviewed in a recent volume (Crooke 2001).
Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus and porphyria cutanea tarda

Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) and various types of lupus erythematosus (LE) have been reported in the same patient on several occasion. 1–9 In a large group of patients with PCT reported by Grossman et al, 10 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was found in two. Possibly LE is more common in patients with PCT; however, the mechanisms behind this coexistence are still unknown. 11 The concurrence of PCT and subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE), as described by Sontheimer et, 12 has not been reported in previous patients. 1–9 We are reporting a case of SCLE and PCT which has multiple complications in the course and therapy of these disorders.
Late restenosis of the balloon-dilated site: serial angiographic observations beyond 7 years.

Background The present retrospective study was performed to assess the long-term (>7 years) fate of stabilized balloon-dilated sites. Methods and Results Between February and April 1986, 171 patients underwent successful percutaneous balloon angioplasty. Early restenosis (<1 year) occurred in 53%, but repeat balloon angioplasty stabilized the balloon-dilated site. The early period was defined as 6 months, late years as 3-5 years and long-term years as 7-12 years. Angiographic evaluation at both early year or late year periods (mean =4.7 years) and long-term (mean =10.4 years) periods following stabilization was available in 71 patients (94 lesions) with mean age of 61.7±8.5 years. Of the 71 patients 69.6% were male. Restenosis occurring after 1 year was defined as late restenosis. The mean diameter stenosis changed from 6 months (50.3±12.4%) to late-period (44.2 ±13.2%; p<0.05) and long-term period (50.3±16.1%; p<0.001); but the reference vessel diameter did not change significantly. Late restenosis occurred in 28% (3-5 years) and 33% (7-12 years) of 94 lesions, and 13.8% of lesion required repeat target lesion revascularization. During this period, 5.3% of patients (5 lesions) underwent revascularization for new proximal or distal lesions. Conclusions Decrease of luminal diameter during the early 6 months, was followed by regression after stabilization of the balloon-dilated site up to 5 years, but luminal re-narrowing occurs again over 7 years after balloon angioplasty. (Circ J 2005; 69: 380 - 385)
A Seamless Model for Object-Oriented Systems Development

Existing approaches to object-oriented system development are poorly integrated in several ways. This inadequate integration is ubiquitous and causes numerous inefficiencies in the object-oriented development process. These problems can be addressed by abandoning typical object-oriented models in favor of a single, seamless system model. By using a seamless model, such as the one we propose, not only do we overcome the integration inefficiences to which we allude, but we also raise the level of abstraction for object-oriented system implementation and enable same-paradigm system evolution.
Initiating and Managing Risk Assessments within a Risk Analysis Framework: FDA/CFSAN'S Practical Approach

Management of risk analysis involves the integration and coordination of activities associated with risk assessment, risk management, and risk communication. Risk analysis is used to guide regulatory decision making, including trade decisions at national and international levels. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) formed a working group to evaluate and improve the quality and consistency of major risk assessments conducted by the Center. Drawing on risk analysis experiences, CFSAN developed a practical framework for initiating and managing risk assessments, including addressing issues related to (i) commissioning a risk assessment, (ii) interactions between risk managers and risk assessors, and (iii) peer review.
Nutritional toxicology of tannins and related polyphenols in forage legumes

Proanthocyanidins (PA) (condensed tannins) and hydrolyzable tannins (HT) are the two major classes of tannins. Proanthocyanidins are flavonoid polymers. Hydrolyzable tannins are polymers of gallic or ellagic acid esterified to a core molecule, commonly glucose or a polyphenol such as catechin. Proanthocyanidins are the most common type of tannin found in forage legumes. Problems in the analysis of tannins are that sample processing and drying decrease extraction and reactivity, suitable standards are unavailable, and quantitative analytical methods are poorly correlated with enzyme inhibition, protein precipitation, and nutritional effects. Hydrolyzable tannins are potentially toxic to ruminants. Pyrogallol, a hepatotoxin and nephrotoxin, is a product of HT degradation by ruminal microbes. Proanthocyanidins are considered to be non-toxic because they are not absorbed, but they are associated with lesions of the gut mucosa. Research on tannins in forage legumes has determined their effects on protein digestion and metabolism but more research on tannin structure in relation to digestion of specific proteins is needed. The widely accepted explanation for positive effects of PA on protein digestion and metabolism is that PA-protein complexes escape ruminal degradation and the protein is available in the lower tract. This proposed mechanism may be incorrect because PA also complex carbohydrates, endogenous proteins, and microbial products and the degradability of PA-protein complexes by ruminal microbes has not been adequately studied. Several alternative hypotheses (to escape protein) that explain the effect of PA on protein digestion and metabolism in ruminants are also consistent with experimental results on forage legumes. These include increased microbial protein synthesis, increased use of endogenous nitrogen in the rumen, and increased secretion of salivary glycoproteins. Research on manipulating the content and type of PA in forage legumes is justified because they are associated with non-bloating legumes, lower soluble non-protein nitrogen in silage, and improved efficiency of protein utilization. Research on the biosynthesis, molecular genetics, and cell biology of PA in forage legumes needs to be integrated with research on toxicology and nutrition.
The effect of supplemental parenteral nutrition on outcomes of necrotizing enterocolitis in premature, low birth weight neonates

Abstract Background We hypothesized that supplemental parenteral nutrition (PN) decreases the need for surgery and mortality associated with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Methods Single institution retrospective review of all premature, low birth weight infants with NEC from January 2006 to December 2013 was conducted. Results NEC was identified in 114 premature, low birth weight infants, 59 (51.8%) of which required surgical management. Surgical NEC infants were born younger (25.8 ± 4.0 vs 27.8 ± 3.3 weeks, P = .005) and weighed less at birth (829 ± 281 vs 938 ± 271 g, P = .038) than those managed medically. There was no difference in the use of PN (37.7% vs 31.4%, P = .541) between surgical and medical NEC patients. There was no statistically significant difference in mortality at discharge between patients who had PN at NEC onset and those who did not (31.4% vs 42.6%, P = .294) Conclusion In this single-center study, supplemental PN at NEC onset does not appear to significantly improve outcomes as demonstrated by rates of surgical intervention and in-hospital mortality.
An application-transparent, platform-independent approach to rollback-recovery for mobile agent systems

This paper proposes a new approach to rollback-recovery for mobile agent systems, and describes its implementation in the MESSENGERS mobile agents system. The used checkpointing method allows the implementation of a space and time efficient, user-transparent rollback-recovery in heterogeneous distributed environments. Together with an efficient non-blocking system snapshot algorithm this checkpointing method is an attractive choice for implementing a rollback-recovery mechanism in a mobile agent system, because it exploits features specific to such systems during the recovery. This paper also presents an optimization technique, called concurrent checkpointing, that increases the effectiveness of the proposed rollback-recovery mechanism.
A log(n) multi-mode locking protocol for distributed systems

Trends in high-end clusters are to deploy an ever larger number of processors to push the envelope on parallelizing scientific applications. A similar trend exists in server computing where more and more servers are composed into a farm. One of the main challenges in such environments is to achieve scalability of synchronization, specifically for locking. Our work focuses on scalable locking in distributed systems. At its essence is a peer-to-peer protocol for multi-mode hierarchical locking, which is applicable to transaction-style processing and distributed agreement. We demonstrate high scalability combined with low response times in high-performance cluster environments. Our experiments on an IBM SP show that the number of messages approaches an asymptote at 15 nodes, from which point on the message overhead is in the order of 3-9 messages per request, depending on system parameters. At the same time, response times increase linearly with a proportional increase in requests and, consequently, higher concurrency levels. We observed response times under 2 and 10 msec for up to 25 and 80 nodes for critical sections that are one 25th the size of non-critical code. Our approach benefits in large from high levels of concurrency upon resolving requests and dynamic path compression for request propagation. Besides its technical strengths, our approach is intriguing due to its simplicity and its wide applicability, ranging from large-scale clusters to server-style computing.
Aristotle's concept of ethos, or if not his somebody else's

(1982). Aristotle's concept of ethos, or if not his somebody else's. Rhetoric Review: Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 58-63.
The instantiation of general terms by deaf adolescents/adults.

Abstract Two studies were conducted using severely and profoundly deaf high school students to determine their ability to instantiate particular exemplars of general nouns and to use those instantiations as retrieval cues. The results indicated that (1) the deaf adolescents/adults could instantiate when asked to do so but did not do so spontaneously; (2) sentence recall was best when the retrieval cue matched the word used in the original sentence; and (3) recall of sentences in which all information was explicit was better than of sentences in which some information had to be inferred. Impoverished semantic representations, difficulty in integrating semantic representations, and insufficient strategy use were suggesred as possible alternative and competing explanations for the obtained results.
THE INTRACELLULAR FATE OF RABBITPOX VIRUS RENDERED NONINFECTIOUS BY VARIOUS REAGENTS.

Abstract Highly purified and radioactively-labeled rabbitpox virus was treated with various reagents calculated to modify selectively viral DNA or viral protein. In each instance the following were examined: the conversion of virus particles to virus cores; the uncoating of the virus cores to naked viral DNA in cells containing intact virions; and the stability of viral inducer protein, as measured by the ability of noninfectious virus particles to induce the formation of uncoating protein. As rabbitpox virus is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, infectivity is abolished first, followed shortly by inactivation of viral inducer protein. The ability of noninfectious virus particles to be degraded to cores, and the ability of such cores to be uncoated to naked viral DNA in cells in which the uncoating protein is present, are resistant to UV light. Rabbitpox virus inactivated by methylation with methylmethanesulfonic acid or by visible light after interaction with neutral red behaves similarly to virus inactivated by UV-light. Virus containing 5-bromouracil in the DNA moiety is apparently degraded prematurely within the vesicles in which virus is taken up into cells. As virus is progressively exposed to heat, there appear virus particles which are noninfectious but in which viral inducer protein is still intact; however, this protein is inactivated quickly as heating is continued. Urea inactivates viral inducer protein when present in concentrations exceeding 4 M . Virus-antibody complexes are adsorbed, but the majority elute. Those that are taken up into cells are degraded to cores which are not uncoated to viral DNA. Virusantibody complexes appear to cause profound changes in the surface of cells to which they adsorb. Wherever possible, the information gained concerning the biological activity of noninfectious virus particles was related to the phenomenon of poxvirus reactivation.
Effects of interpolated escape training on discriminated leverpress avoidance

Using a discriminated leverpress avoidance procedure, it was shown that interpolated escape training (i.e., CS-omission training) causes a decrement in subsequent avoidance performance. After initially receiving 150 avoidance trials, the experimental groups received 10, 30, or 90 escape trials, followed immediately by an additional 75 avoidance trials (test trials). The experimental groups all differed significantly on the first 25 test trials from the control, which received 225 uninterrupted avoidance trials. The obtained decrement was discussed in terms of its relevance to a related study by Bloom and Campbell and the “learned-helplessness” literature.
Site-specific coupling and sterically controlled formation of multimeric antibody fab fragments with unnatural amino acids.

Immunoconjugates and multispecific antibodies are rapidly emerging as highly potent experimental therapeutics against cancer. We have developed a method to incorporate an unnatural amino acid, p-acetylphenylalanine (pAcPhe) into an antibody antigen binding fragment (Fab) targeting HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2), allowing site-specific labeling without disrupting antigen binding. Expression levels of the pAcPhe-containing proteins were comparable to that of wild-type protein in shake-flask and fermentation preparations. The pAcPhe–Fabs were labeled by reaction with hydroxylamine dye and biotin species to produce well–defined, singly conjugated Fabs. We then coupled a hydroxylamine biotin to the pAcPhe–Fab and demonstrated controlled assembly of Fabs in the presence of the tetrameric biotin-binding protein, NeutrAvidin. The position of Fab biotinylation dictates the geometry of multimer assembly, producing unique multimeric Fab structures. These assembled Fab multimers differentially attenuate Her2 phosphorylation in breast cancer cells that overexpress the Her2 receptor. Thus, an encoded unnatural amino acid produces a chemical “handle” by which immunoconjugates and multimers can be engineered.
Survey of robot lawn mowers

Lawn mowing is considered by many to be one of the most boring and tiring routine household tasks. It is also one of the most promising personal robot applications. Several devices have not been invented and some manufactured products are available for lawn mowing. The purpose of this paper is to survey the state of the art in robotic lawn mowers to highlight the requirements and capabilities of current devices. A brief survey of available robot products, typical patents and some test bed prototypes are presented. Some enabling technologies which could make the devices more capable are also suggested. Some predictions indicate that the robot lawn mower will be the breakthrough device in robotics. The significance of this research lies in the presentation of an overview of a potential major market for personal robots.
Dissipation in Small Scale Gaseous Flows

We discuss the effect of shear work at solid boundaries in small scale gaseous flows where slip effects are present. The effect of shear work at the boundary on convective heat transfer is illustrated through solution of the constant-wall-heat-flux problem in the slip-flow regime. We also present predictions for the dissipation in terms of the mean flow velocity in pressure-driven and gravity-driven Poiseuille flows for arbitrary Knudsen numbers
Statistical process monitoring and disturbance diagnosis in multivariable continuous processes

Detecting out-of-control status and diagnosing disturbances leading to the abnormal process operation early are crucial in minimizing product quality variations. Multivariate statistical techniques are used to develop detection methodology for abnormal process behavior and diagnosis of disturbances causing poor process performance. Principal components and discriminant analysis are applied to quantitatively describe and interpret step, ramp and random-variation disturbances. All disturbances require high-dimensional models for accurate description and cannot be discriminated by biplots. Diagnosis of simultaneous multiple faults is addressed by building quantitative measures of overlap between models of single faults and their combinations. These measures are used to identify the existence of secondary disturbances and distinguish their components. The methodology is illustrated by monitoring the Tennessee Eastman plant simulation benchmark problem subjected to different disturbances. Most of the disturbances can be diagnosed correctly, the success rate being higher for step and ramp disturbances than random-variation disturbances.
Reaction time to tones in tonal backgrounds and a comparison of reaction time to signal onset and offset

In order to learn more about the processing of auditory information, simple reaction time (RT) measurements were made when subjects were asked to respond to tones presented against a tonal background. In the first experiment, a counterintuitive result was obtained: with two widely separated frequencies, 1,900 and 4,000 Hz, the presence of the background facilitated RT. In a second experiment, using two frequencies which were closer together (3,500 and 4,000 Hz), slowing of RT in the presence of the background was observed, as would be expected from the literature on auditory masking. A third experiment suggested that the information carried by signal offset is not an important factor in the facilitation observed with widely separated tones. In this experiment an unexpected result was found: subjects receiving offsets in their right ears responded significantly more slowly than did subjects receiving offsets in their left ears.
Reducing cultural and psychological barriers to Latino enrollment in HIV-prevention counseling: Initial data on an enrollment meta-intervention

Aspects of Latino culture (e.g., machismo, marianism) can act as barriers to enrollment in HIV-prevention programs. To lift these barriers, a culturally appropriate meta-intervention was designed to increase intentions to enroll in HIV-prevention counseling by Latinos. Latino participants (N=41) were recruited from the community and randomly assigned to either an experimental or control meta-intervention condition that varied the introduction to a HIV-prevention counseling program. Following the meta-intervention, participants were issued an invitation to take part in HIV-prevention counseling. The outcome measure was the intention to enroll in a HIV-prevention counseling session. Findings indicated that enrollment intentions were higher in the experimental meta-intervention condition (96%) than in the control meta-intervention condition (53%). In addition, the effects of the meta-intervention were comparable across genders and participant ages. Findings suggest that the use of a culturally appropriate meta-intervention may be an effective strategy for increasing Latino enrollment in HIV-prevention programs. These promising findings warrant further investigation into the efficacy and effectiveness of this meta-intervention.
Matrigel invasion by the prostate cancer cell lines, PC3 and DU145, and cathepsin L+B activity

Cathepsins L and B are lysosomal cysteine proteinases whose activities and cellular location are altered in many types of cancers and cancer cell lines. Cathepsins L and B play an unspecified role in cancer invasion and metastasis. The purpose of our study was to determine whether cathepsins L and B are important for the ability of two prostate cancer cell lines, PC3 and DU 145, to invade the basement membrane-like preparation, Matrigel. Exposure of PC3 and DU145 to the irreversible cysteine proteinase inhibitor, E64, decreases the invasive ability of DU145, but not PC3. PC3 and DU145 were treated with the phorbol ester analogue, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a known tumor promoter that activates protein kinase C and contributes to the metastatic phenotype. PMA increased secreted cathepsin L+B activity and the invasive ability of PC3 and DU145; co-exposure to E64 and PMA decreased both cathepsin L+B activity and invasion. We conclude that DU145 requires cathepsin L+B activity more than PC3 for the invasion of the Matrigel. When the amount of secreted cathepsin L+B activity is increased by PMA treatment, however, PC3 becomes dependent on cathepsin L+B for invasion. Our study demonstrates that modulation of the amount of secreted cathepsin L+B activity influences the invasive phenotype of PC3 and DU145.
Increasing transcurium production efficiency through directed resonance shielding

Abstract The Radiochemical Engineering Development Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is the world’s leader in production of 252 Cf. This and other heavy actinides are produced by irradiation of mixed curium/americium targets in the High Flux Isotope Reactor. Due to the strong dependence of isotopic cross-sections upon incoming neutron energy, the efficiency with which an isotope is transmuted is highly dependent upon the energy spectrum and intensity of the neutron flux. There are certain energy ranges in which the rate of fission absorptions in feedstock materials is reduced relative to the rate of (n, γ) captures. Using a variety of computational models it is shown that by perturbing the flux spectrum, it is possible to alter the net consumption of curium feedstock, as well as the yields of key isotopes for the heavy element research program, such as 249 Bk and 252 Cf. This flux spectrum perturbation is accomplished by means of focused resonance shielding through the use of filter materials. It is further shown that these perturbations can alter the target yields in a significant way, increasing the amount of 252 Cf produced per unit curium consumption by over 40%.
Endoxifen and Other Metabolites of Tamoxifen Inhibit Human Hydroxysteroid Sulfotransferase 2A1 (hSULT2A1)

Although tamoxifen is a successful agent for treatment and prevention of estrogen-dependent breast cancer, its use has been limited by the low incidence of endometrial cancer. Human hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase 2A1 (hSULT2A1) catalyzes the formation of an α-sulfooxy metabolite of tamoxifen that is reactive toward DNA, and this has been implicated in its carcinogenicity. Also, hSULT2A1 functions in the metabolism of steroid hormones such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and pregnenolone (PREG). These roles of hSULT2A1 in steroid hormone metabolism and in generating a reactive metabolite of tamoxifen led us to examine its interactions with tamoxifen and several of its major metabolites. We hypothesized that metabolites of tamoxifen may regulate the catalytic activity of hSULT2A1, either through direct inhibition or through serving as alternate substrates for the enzyme. We found that 4-hydroxy-N-desmethyltamoxifen (endoxifen) is a potent inhibitor of hSULT2A1-catalyzed sulfation of PREG and DHEA, with Ki values of 3.5 and 2.8 μM, respectively. In the hSULT2A1-catalyzed sulfation of PREG, 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHTAM) and N-desmethyltamoxifen (N-desTAM) exhibited Ki values of 12.7 and 9.8 μM, respectively, whereas corresponding Ki values of 19.4 and 17.2 μM were observed with DHEA as substrate. A Ki value of 9.1 μM was observed for tamoxifen-N-oxide with DHEA as substrate, and this increased to 16.9 μM for the hSULT2A1-catalyzed sulfation of PREG. Three metabolites were substrates for hSULT2A1, with relative sulfation rates of 4-OHTAM > N-desTAM > > endoxifen. These results may be useful in interpreting ongoing clinical trials of endoxifen and in improving the design of related molecules.
Critical issues in the design of polycrystalline, thin‐film tandem solar cells

We use an empirical technique for modeling the efficiency of thin-film tandem solar cells and calculate an approximate upper limit on the range of performance of these hypothetical devices. This is shown to be approximately 28.2%, without losses due to inactive layers at the front of the device, or other parasitic sources. Reduction of the value of the reverse saturation current density by a factor of ten, increases the lossless efficiency by approximately 4% absolute. This change also greatly broadens the range of top and bottom cell bandgaps that would lead to efficiencies greater than 25%, the project goal. These observations emphasize the critical importance of focusing future research on gaining a thorough understanding of recombination losses. We then calculate daily energy density outputs for various direct spectra, computed from meteorological data, and show that the optimum bandgap pairs are relatively insensitive to the detail of the spectral irradiance. We also show that the use of daily energy density output may be a more useful criterion than efficiency in designing tandem thin-film solar cells. We compute contours of equal daily energy density output and show that the range of potentially suitable bandgap pairs is much larger than simple maximization of efficiency implies. The simple parametric approach enables us to investigate the effect of partial loss of photons with energies less than that of the bandgap of the top cell, but greater than that of the bottom cell. These photons are essential to the project goal of 25% efficiency, which emphasizes the need to evaluate the optical properties in this wavelength range very carefully. We also discuss the reduction of the thickness, or the area, of the top cell. When the top subcell generates a greater current than the bottom subcell, either of these parameters may be reduced to enable current-matching, and increased efficiencies, to be achieved. Again, this approach greatly extends the range of bandgaps that could lead to a 25% tandem thin-film cell. Next, we consider the case of concentrated sunlight and show that the optimum bandgap pairs decrease with concentration ratio. This is due to the atmospheric absorption bands. The efficiency increases by approximately 4% absolute per decade increase in concentration ratio. Finally, we comment on some of the practical difficulties that can already be anticipated in constructing these devices. Published in 2003 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Eucalyptus: a web service-enabled e-infrastructure

With the support of user configurable high speed networks, the emerging e-Infrastructure allows seamless sharing of expensive scientific resources. These resources are often running on a variety of platforms, have different bandwidth and QoS requirements, require specific configuration by technical experts, and in most cases cannot be accessed through a single point of entry. To address these issues, we propose an extensible, reliable, and simple software architecture to share the applications and resources over hybrid networks, and hide the tools' logistical and provisioning complexities. This paper explores the design and implementation of Eucalyptus, and describes how it leverages the benefits of a Service-oriented Architecture (SoA) to provide a highly adaptable, modular, and loosely coupled solution to configure and manage resources needed by users collaborating over the net. We present our methodology to wrap functions of resources into Web services, and integrate the new Web services into the Eucalyptus platform in a generic way. The streams of the events from these resources are captured. This information is used for monitoring resources' activities and diagnosing any error that may arise. We provide a workflow management service allowing users to orchestrate services based on the description of the resources, their dependencies and the captured streams to perform certain tasks. We also propose a combination of Web services and peer to peer technologies to support users in different communities and different network layers, and to decentralize resource management. Eucalyptus was demonstrated to be effective in assisting architects across multiple sites to effectively participate in a shared design session.
Single-incision chronic distal biceps tendon repair with tibialis anterior allograft

Purpose Several techniques for chronic distal biceps tendon repair have been reported; however, the literature is sparse.
Benthic Diatoms in Two Eutrophic Flood Detention Reservoirs in Oklahoma

ABSTRACT Benthic diatom colonization was observed for three years in two eutrophic flood detention reservoirs in Oklahoma. A total of 34 genera and 157 species were identified. Cocconeis placentula, Nitzschia amphibia and Achnanthes linearis were the dominant species. The average species diversity was lower and the population density was higher in the more eutrophic reservoir.
Online discourse in a teen chatroom: New codes and new modes of coherence in a visual medium

Abstract In this article, we describe how participants in an online teen chatroom adapt to the unique features of chat environments to achieve conversational coherence and create a new communicative register. Typically, online chat conversations have several topics being discussed simultaneously, and participants' contributions do not follow the turn-taking sequence found in face-to-face or telephone conversations. We propose that there are two basic requirements for coherence in a chat conversation—establishing who is participating in a particular conversation and establishing what constitutes a relevant response. Our analysis of an online chat transcript reveals that the visual nature of the chat medium allows participants to modify extant communication strategies and create new ones to fulfill these requirements. Formally, the chatroom code integrates features of oral and written discourse. Functionally, this code, in the context of a teen chatroom, enables participants to co-construct important features of discourse, such as participant identity and characteristics, and relevant utterances.
Infant coarctation: a spectrum in clinical presentation and treatment.

Abstract Between 1975 and 1985, 125 infants 2 to 365 days old (majority, 30 days old or less) with coarctation of the aorta underwent surgical repair. Forty-seven patients (38%) had severe congestive heart failure (CHF), metabolic acidosis, and poor systemic perfusion. The predominant operative technique was synthetic patch aortoplasty (100 patients); the remaining 25 had an end-to-end anastomosis. There were no operative deaths. Perioperative complications were minimized with the synthetic patch technique (less than 15%). For patients surviving at least 3 months after repair, the arm-leg systolic blood pressure gradient was relieved in 82% (71/87) of the patients having patch aortoplasty versus 65% (15/23) of the patients with end-to-end anastomosis. Although the rate of reoperation between the two groups was similar (patch, 5 [6%]; end-to-end, 3 [13%], two of the reoperations in the patch group were for preexisting hypoplastic transverse aortic arch. Late deaths (20 patients, 16%) were due to other major associated cardiac anomalies. Patch aneurysms have not occurred. Expedient use of synthetic patch aortoplasty has decreased perioperative complications, relieved coarctation gradients for CHF, increased early survival even in the presence of complex or associated cardiac anomalies, and has an acceptable rate of recurrent coarctation (6 to 13%).
Towards immunoassay in whole blood: separationless sandwich-type electrochemical immunoassay based on in-situ generation of the substrate of the labeling enzyme

An 18 minute separationless amperometric ELISA-type sandwich immunoassay, utilizing only stable reagents and having no washing steps is described. The platform for the assay was an electron conducting redox hydrogel on a vitreous carbon electrode. Avidin and choline oxidase were co-immobilized on the redox hydrogel and the biotinylated antibody to the antigen to be assayed (the biotin-labeled F(ab′)2 fragment of goat anti-rabbit IgG) was bound to the gel. When the antigen (goat anti-rabbit IgG) was present in the analyzed solution, then its binding to the immobilized antibody made the electrode receptive to the complementary peroxidase-labeled antibody (horseradish peroxidase-labeled F(ab′)2 fragment of goat anti-rabbit IgG). Its binding resulted in electrical contact (“wiring”) of the horseradish peroxidase label to the redox hydrogel, and converted the non-catalytic hydrogel into an electrocatalyst for the reduction of hydrogen peroxide to water at –0.07 V (SCE) and resulted in the flow of a cathodic current. The electroreduced hydrogen peroxide was not added to the solution and was therefore not significantly accessible to hydrogen peroxide decomposing agents such as catalase. Instead, it was generated within the coating of the electrode through reacting dissolved choline with oxygen. This reaction was catalyzed by the immobilized choline oxidase. The reaction centers of choline oxidase, unlike those of horseradish peroxidase, are not connected to the electrode by the redox hydrogel.
Comparing stress testing and fractional flow reserve to evaluate presence, location and extent of ischemia in coronary artery disease.

Abstract Background FFR provides an accurate and reproducible assessment of the functional severity of coronary stenosis. Whereas stress testing remains the preferred initial modality for assessment of ischemia, there is limited data comparing it with FFR. We sought to determine the correlation between cardiac stress testing and coronary fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement for assessing the presence, location, and burden of myocardial ischemia in patients referred for evaluation of coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods Over 5-year study period, of the 5420 consecutive coronary angiograms that were screened, 326 patients had FFR measurements. Of these, 96 patients with FFR measurements who had a preceding stress test (stress echocardiography [SE] or myocardial perfusion imaging [MPI]) within a year were included. Results Of the 96 patients, there were 46 (48%) men and 50 (52%) women with a mean age of 61 ± 10 years. SE was performed in 57 (59.3%) and MPI in 32 (40.7%) of patients. FFR was ≤0.79 in 54 (56%) patients. Stress testing had low sensitivity (55%) and specificity (47%) compared to FFR. The concordance between FFR and stress testing was low for both presence ( k = 0.03) and location ( k = 0.05) of the ischemic territory. The number of ischemic vascular territories was correctly estimated in only 39% of the stress tests. SE was more likely to overestimate and MPI more likely to underestimate extent of ischemia. Conclusions In patients referred for evaluation of CAD, there was poor correlation between stress testing and FFR. A prospective study comparing these two modalities with FFR is needed.
Evidence that central dopamine receptors modulate sympathetic neuronal activity to the adrenal medulla to alter glucoregulatory mechanisms

Summary Previous reports suggest that analogs of dopamine (DA) can produce hyperglycemia in rats by interacting with DA receptors. Experiments reported here indicate the site of action and describe the metabolic sequalae associated with the hyperglycemic effect of apomorphine (APO), produced in conscious unrestrained rats. Apomorphine was more potent when administered by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection than when given subcutaneously (s.c.). Very small doses of the DA receptor antagonist pimozide, given intraventricularly, blocked the hyperglycemic effect of apomorphine administered subcutaneously. Sectioning of the spinal cord at thoracic vertebra T1-2, or sectioning the greater splanchnic nerve blocked apomorphine-mduced hyperglycemia; whereas section of the superior colliculus or section at T5-6 had no effect. A dose of apomorphine or epinephrine (EPI) producing a similar degree of hyperglycemia elevated the concentration of EPI in serum to a similar degree, and the increase in EPI in serum preceded the increase in glucose in serum. Fasting animals for 2 or 18 hr had no significant effect on EPI- or apomorphine-induced hyperglycemia despite a reduction (91-93%) of the glycogen content of liver and skeletal muscle during the 18 hr fast. 5-Methoxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (MICA), an inhibitor of gluconeogenesis, blocked EPI- and apomorphine-induced hyperglycemia in rats fasted for 18 hr. However, 5-methoxyindole-2-carboxylic acid was ineffective in blocking hyperglycemia in animals fasted for 2 hr. Changes in insulin or glucagon in serum alone cannot account for the hyperglycemic action of apomorphine. These data demonstrate that apomorphine interacts with central DA receptors located in the hindbrain to activate sympathetic neuronal activity to the adrenal gland which subsequently releases epinephrine to alter homeostasis of glucose. Epinephrine may then, depending on the nutritional status, facilitate glycogenolytic or gluconeogenic processes to produce hyperglycemia.
Emerging themes in IFN-γ-induced macrophage immunity by the p47 and p65 GTPase Families

Abstract Vertebrates have evolved complex immune specificity repertoires beyond the primordial components found in lower multi-cellular organisms to combat microbial infections. The type II interferon (IFN-γ) pathway represents one such system, bridging innate and acquired immunity and providing host protection in a cell-autonomous manner. Recent large-scale transcriptome analyses of IFN-γ-dependent gene expression in effector cells such as macrophages have highlighted the prominence of two families of GTPases—p47 IRGs and p65 GBPs—that are now beginning to emerge as major determinants of antimicrobial resistance. Here we discuss the recent clarification of known family members, their cellular biochemistry and host defense functions as a means to understanding the complex innate immune response engendered in higher vertebrates such as humans and mice.
Prevalence of diabetes among glycosuric individuals in an urban area of Greece.

Epidemiologic data on the frequency of diabetes in the urban Greek population were lacking in Greece. Postprandial urine samples of 21,410 inhabitants of a suburb of Athens were examined for glycosuria by two different enzymatic methods. It was found that 569 persons,i.e. 3.20% of the whole population aged 10 or more, presented postprandial glycosuria (cases of previously known diabetes were excluded); 417 persons out of these were submitted to an OGTT (50 g) and 135 new cases of diabetes were discovered. Glycosuria was associated with diabetes mostly in the age-groups above 40. Obesity was frequent among the newly discovered diabetics. Two thirds had abnormal blood sugar levels already in the fasting condition. The prevalence of non-diabetic glycosuria was 2.70% in males and 1.60% in females. The frequency of a family history positive for diabetes was found to be approximately twice as high in diabetics compared to subjects without glycosuria.
Magnetic braiding in a toroidal plasma

Minute deviations from symmetry in the plasma current flow pattern are sufficient to break up magnetic surfaces and braid the lines of force in a toroidal plasma under magnetic confinement. Magnetic braiding can be expected to enhance current penetration, electron heat transport, and particle loss rates; sudden onset of braiding may be accompanied by voltage spikes.
Dosimetry of 125I sources in a low-density material using scaling

One may apply O’Connor’s scaling theorem to dose measurements with brachytherapy sources in order to overcome the difficulties associated with the need for high spatial accuracy. This possibility has been evaluated by measuring the dose distribution around 125I sources in a low‐density styrofoam phantom and comparing it with the dose distributions in water and solid water. Some generalization of the scaling theorem is proposed to allow for the minor differences in atomic composition between styrofoam and water, and the distances are scaled according to the ratio of the linear attenuation coefficients, instead of the physical densities, of the two media. The validity of this application of the scaling theorem has also been tested using Monte Carlo calculations. The results indicate that the scaling of the styrofoam measurements to water is a useful approximation in brachytherapydosimetry.
Effects of renal artery occlusion on kidney function in the rat.

Effects of renal artery occlusion on kidney function in the rat. The left renal artery of anesthetized rats was completely occluded for one hour. Kidney function after restoration of blood flow was studied using clearance and micropuncture techniques. Whole kidney inulin clearance was decreased to 10% of normal after artery occlusion, and fluid reabsorption was markedly depressed. Single nephron glomerular filtration rate (SNGFR), measured by free-flow collection from superficial proximal tubules, was 22 ±8.2 (SD) nl/min (N=32) after ischemia versus 30±5.8 (N=38) in normal kidneys. Fluid reabsorption, measured with the split-droplet technique, was decreased to 63% of normal after one hour of artery occlusion. Intraluminal serum albumin (5 g/100 ml) had no effect on fluid reabsorption in ischemia-damaged kidneys. Tubular leakiness to inulin was demonstrated by microinjection of 14 C-inulin solutions into single proximal tubules. The dilated appearance of superficial proximal tubules, increased proximal tubule hydrostatic pressure, and slow movement of dye down some nephrons suggest obstruction. In this model of acute renal failure, renal insufficiency appears to be primarily due to tubular leakiness and obstruction. Effets de l'occlusion de l'artere renale sur la fonction du rein chez le rat. L'artere renale gauche de rats anesthesies a ete completement occluse pendant 1 heure. Apres la restauration du debit sanguin la fonction du rein a ete etudiee par les techniques de clearance et de microponctions. La clearance globale de l'inuline est diminuee a 10% des valeurs normales apres l'occlusion et la reabsorption d'eau est considerablement diminuee. Le debit de filtration individuel des nephrons, mesure par la collection en flux libre dans des tubes proximaux superficiels est de 22 ± 8,2 ( sd ) nl/min (N = 32) apres l'ischemie et de 30 ± 5,8 (N = 38) dans les reins normaux. La reabsorption d'eau, mesuree par la technique de la split-droplet, est diminuee a 63% des valeurs normales apres une occlusion d'une heure. La serum albumine intraluminale (5 g/100 ml) n'a pas d'effets sur la reabsorption d'eau dans les reins leses par l'ischemie. La permeabilite tubulaire a l'inuline a ete demontree par des micro injections de solutions d'inuline- 14 C dans des tubes proximaux. L'aspect dilate des tubes proximaux superficiels, l'augmentation de la pression hydrostatique tubulaire proximale et la lenteur du transit d'un colorant le long de certains nephrons suggerent une obstruction. Dans ce modele d'insuffisance renale aigue le deficit de la fonction renale parait etre lie principalement a la permeabilite et a l'obstruction tubulaires.
Acid Phosphatase Activity in the Chick's Inner Ear

The cellular localization of distribution of acid phosphatase (AP) in the plastic sections of newly hatched chick's inner ear were investigated utilizing an azo-coupling method. AP activity as evidenced by azo dye deposits were well defined and localized in various cells of membranous labyrinth. Intense AP activity was detectable in the supranuclear area of hair cells in the basilar papilla and vestibular sensory hair cells. As in the case of the other sites of AP activity, marked AP activity was seen in the supranuclear area of the transitional epithelia of crista ampullaris and in the supranuclear area, or diffusely in the cytoplasm of the dark cells at the base of crista ampullaris. The columnar cells and the cells of tegmentum vasculosum showed moderate to strong AP activity. The statoacoustic and vestibular ganglion cells showed various degrees of AP activity. On the AP activity of statoacoustic or vestibular ganglion, in comparison between the sections from JB-4 Plus embedded specimens and those from LR White embedded specimen, the latter could more intensely demonstrate AP activity than the former. Moreover, sections fixed in 2.5% paraformaldehyde demonstrated more intense AP activity than those fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde.