cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quality assurance of the multileaf collimator with helical tomotherapy: design and implementation

Quality assurance (QA) of the multileaf collimator (MLC) is a critical step for the delivery of intensity modulated radiation therapy treatment plan. While QA procedures for motor-driven MLC have been published extensively, those for binary MLCs such as the one used for helical tomotherapy have not been presented in the literature, as this is still a fairly new technology. In this study, seven test patterns for the MLC QA of a helical tomotherapy unit have been designed and implemented. The seven test patterns check the MLC alignment, MLC leakage, MLC timing and MLC leaf position error in detail. Those patterns can be easily implemented in any center with a helical tomotherapy unit as part of the routine QA. The QA procedures can be performed using existing QA resources such as solid water phantom and EDR2 film. A software toolkit called "Tomo MLC QA" has been developed to assist in generating the QA procedures and analyzing the results. Our results showed that the helical tomotherapy MLC is very robust, exhibiting interleaf leakage of 0.53% +/-0.09%. Several issues with the MLC have been found and discussed. The QA results also illustrate the utilization and usefulness of the proposed QA procedures.
T lymphocytes from a subset of patients with pemphigus vulgaris respond to both desmoglein-3 and desmoglein-1.

Pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus are cutaneous autoimmune diseases characterized by intraepithelial blisters and autoantibodies to desmosomal glycoproteins. The antigens recognized by pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus autoantibodies are desmoglein- 3 (Dsg3) and desmoglein-1 (Dsg1), respectively. Dsg3 and Dsg1 are members of the desmoglein subfamily of the cadherin supergene family of cell adhesion molecules. It has been well documented that a subset of pemphigus vulgaris sera have IgG reactivity to both Dsg1 and Dsg3, suggesting that Dsg1 may also participate in the autoimmune response of these patients. The cellular mechanisms of T cell autoimmunity in these patients, however, are completely unknown. In this study, we tested the proliferative responses of T lymphocytes from eight pemphigus vulgaris patients after incubation with Dsg3 and Dsg1 fusion proteins. The sera of four of these PV patients showed reactivity with both Dsg1 and Dsg3, whereas the remaining four reacted only with Dsg3. We found that T cells obtained from those patients that exhibited the combined Dsg1/Dsg3 autoantibody reactivity showed a proliferative response after exposure to either Dsg1 or Dsg3 fusion proteins. The cellular responses to both of these recombinant proteins were highly specific and restricted to the CD4-positive T cell population. T cells from pemphigus vulgaris patients with no anti-Dsg1 serum reactivity showed a proliferative response to Dsg3, but not to Dsg1. The Dsg1 fusion protein used in this study has minimal sequence homology with Dsg3. Thus, this study provides the first evidence that T cells from a subset of pemphigus vulgaris patients respond to both Dsg1 and Dsg3.
Image-potential states on the metallic (111) surface of bismuth

An extended series (up to n=6, in quantum beats) of image-potential states (IPS) is observed in time-resolved two-photon photoelectron (TR-2PPE) spectroscopy of the Bi(111) surface. Although mainly located in the vacuum, these states probe various properties of the electronic structure of the surface as reflected in their energetics and dynamics. Based on the observation of IPS a projected gap in the surface normal direction is inferred in the region from 3.57 to 4.27 eV above the Fermi level. Despite this band gap, the lifetimes of the IPS are shorter than on comparable metals, which is an indication of the metallic character of the Bi(111) surface.
Charge transport in the “emeraldine” form of polyaniline

Abstract The conductivity and the dielectric constant of the “emeraldine” form of polyaniline is studied in a wide range of frequency (dc, 10 1 –10 5 Hz, 6.5×10 9 Hz), temperature (20K–340K) and protonation level (x ≡[C1]/[N] =0.0–0.5). Two distinct behaviors are observed: Firstly, for low protonation (x ≤ 0.13), hopping of charges between polarons and bipolarons leads to dipolar relaxation ( ϵ RF (T)). Oscillation of polarons around pinning centers is suggested to be responsible for the high frequency dielectric constant of low protonated samples. Secondly, for intermediate to highly protonated samples (x > 0.22), the presence of “metallic islands” is apparent. Oscillation of charge carriers within the coherence length contributes to ϵ μω (T=0). The intrinsic conductivity within the islands is estimated to be of the order of 250 S/cm. The T-dependence of the dielectric constant indicates an increase of the coherence length with increasing temperature. The role of localization and the nature of “textured metallic islands” are discussed.
PAPI, a novel TUDOR-domain protein, complexes with AGO3, ME31B and TRAL in the nuage to silence transposition

The nuage is a germline-specific perinuclear structure that remains functionally elusive. Recently, the nuage in Drosophila was shown to contain two of the three PIWI proteins – Aubergine and Argonaute 3 (AGO3) – that are essential for germline development. The PIWI proteins bind to PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) and function in epigenetic regulation and transposon control. Here, we report a novel nuage component, PAPI (Partner of PIWIs), that contains a TUDOR domain and interacts with all three PIWI proteins via symmetrically dimethylated arginine residues in their N-terminal domain. In adult ovaries, PAPI is mainly cytoplasmic and enriched in the nuage, where it partially colocalizes with AGO3. The localization of PAPI to the nuage does not require the arginine methyltransferase dPRMT5 or AGO3. However, AGO3 is largely delocalized from the nuage and becomes destabilized in the absence of PAPI or dPRMT5, indicating that PAPI recruits PIWI proteins to the nuage to assemble piRNA pathway components. As expected, papi deficiency leads to transposon activation, phenocopying piRNA mutants. This further suggests that PAPI is involved in the piRNA pathway for transposon silencing. Moreover, AGO3 and PAPI associate with the P body component TRAL/ME31B complex in the nuage and transposon activation is observed in tral mutant ovaries. This suggests a physical and functional interaction in the nuage between the piRNA pathway components and the mRNA-degrading P-body components in transposon silencing. Overall, our study reveals a function of the nuage in safeguarding the germline genome against deleterious retrotransposition via the piRNA pathway.
The Role of Phosphorylation in D1 Dopamine Receptor Desensitization: EVIDENCE FOR A NOVEL MECHANISM OF ARRESTIN ASSOCIATION *

Homologous desensitization of D1 dopamine receptors is thought to occur through their phosphorylation leading to arrestin association which interdicts G protein coupling. In order to identify the relevant domains of receptor phosphorylation, and to determine how this leads to arrestin association, we created a series of mutated D1 receptor constructs. In one mutant, all of the serine/threonine residues within the 3rd cytoplasmic domain were altered (3rdTOT). A second construct was created in which only three of these serines (serines 256, 258, and 259) were mutated (3rd234). We also created four truncation mutants of the carboxyl terminus (T347, T369, T394, and T404). All of these constructs were comparable with the wild-type receptor with respect to expression and adenylyl cyclase activation. In contrast, both of the 3rd loop mutants exhibited attenuated agonist-induced receptor phosphorylation that was correlated with an impaired desensitization response. Sequential truncation of the carboxyl terminus of the receptor resulted in a sequential loss of agonist-induced phosphorylation. No phosphorylation was observed with the most severely truncated T347 mutant. Surprisingly, all of the truncated receptors exhibited normal desensitization. The ability of the receptor constructs to promote arrestin association was evaluated using arrestin-green fluorescent protein translocation assays and confocal fluorescence microscopy. The 3rd234 mutant receptor was impaired in its ability to induce arrrestin translocation, whereas the T347 mutant was comparable with wild type. Our data suggest a model in which arrestin directly associates with the activated 3rd cytoplasmic domain in an agonist-dependent fashion; however, under basal conditions, this is sterically prevented by the carboxyl terminus of the receptor. Receptor activation promotes the sequential phosphorylation of residues, first within the carboxyl terminus and then the 3rd cytoplasmic loop, thereby dissociating these domains and allowing arrestin to bind to the activated 3rd loop. Thus, the role of receptor phosphorylation is to allow access of arrestin to its receptor binding domain rather than to create an arrestin binding site per se.
Health care use and quality of life among patients with asthma and panic disorder.

The purpose of this study was to assess the associations between panic disorder (PD) and health services use, health-related quality of life, and use of short-acting β2-agonists among individuals with asthma. We studied 21 adults with comorbid asthma and panic disorder (asthma-PD) and 27 asthma patients without PD (asthma-only). Participants attended a single session at a laboratory to complete the study. A retrospective chart review was conducted to assess use of health care resources for asthma treatment during the past 12 months. Patients completed the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire and lung function testing. Asthma-only and asthma-PD patients displayed no differences on asthma severity, as measured by spirometry and asthma medication class. Asthma-PD patients had more visits to their primary care physicians for asthma (p < 0.01) and reported a lower quality of life related to asthma (p < 0.01) and greater use of short-acting β2-agonists (p < 0.05) than asthma-only patients. These findings were i...
Decline in virulence of Entomophaga maimaiga (Zygomycetes: Entomophthorales) with repeated in vitro subculture

Abstract Repeated subculture of Entomophaga maimaiga protoplasts in liquid media resulted in aberrant morphology after 50 passages. Bioassays demonstrated an increase in disease incubation time after 15 in vitro passages. Associated with increased incubation time, percentage mortality caused by E. maimaiga declined with repeated subculture (r2 = 0.62). After prolonged subculture, E. maimaiga produced only resting spores in many cadavers, while fungal lines that had not been repeatedly subcultured produced conidia or both conidia and resting spores after host death. After 2 months of in vitro culture, the rate of subculturing had an impact on virulence, while the absolute length of time in axenic culture did not.
Transformation optics compressed rotman lens implemented with complementary metamaterials

The solutions to the Rotman lens design equations constrain the minimum size of the device. Here we use Transformation Optics to compress a transmission line based Rotman lens by 27 percent along the optical axis while maintaining the beam steering range, gain and side lobe amplitudes over the full frequency range of the original lens. The transformation applied requires an anisotropic magnetic response, which is achieved in the transmission line context using complementary electric dipole structures patterned into the top conductor of the lens. The non-resonant complementary metamaterial elements provide an anisotropic, eective magnetic permeability with values that can be varied across a spatial region by varying the geometry of each element.
Current-mode cyclic A/D conversion technique

A cyclic analogue-to-digital (A/D) conversion technique using current copiers is described. The technique requires two steps per bit conversion. The resulting digital codes are insensitive to process component mismatches. This method can be applied to both the cyclic and the pipeline structure depending on the design requirements.
Nickel(II) complexes of schiff bases derived from pyrrole-2-aldehyde and dipropylenetriamine

Abstract The preparation and physical and chemical properties of a variety of square planar nickel(II) complexes containing a Schiff base ligand derived from pyrrole-2-aldehyde and dipropylenetriamine are reported. This Schiff base ligands has five potential donor atoms. The general formula of these complexes is Ni(HBPTU)X, where X = Br−, B(C6H5)4−, PF6−, or SCN− and HBPTU represents the uninegative ligand of 1,11-bis(2-pyrrolyl)2,6,10-triaza-1, 10-undecadiene, H2BPTU. All these complexes have anomalous magnetic moments between 0·5 and 0·9 BM and appear to be polymeric in nitromethane and acetonitrile. In the solid state, HBPTU coordinates to the nickel(II) as a tetranitromehtan and acetonitrile. In the solid state, HBPTU coordinates to the nickel(II) as a tetradentate ligand, while in solution, the HBPTU functions as a tridentate ligand and contains a dangling imine and a pyrrole group. In solution, Ni(HBPTU)X self-associates by means of hydrogen bonding.
Comparing Comparisons: Disciplines and the Sonderweg

Inspired in part by a recent exchange in Central European History in which Volker Berghahn and Margaret Lavinia Anderson debated trends in the historiography of the Wilhelmian era of the Kaiserreich, Marcus Kreuzer offers to historians the perspective of a political scientist on what he calls the neglected issue of the “parliamentarization” of the imperial regime over its last two decades. From the starting point of an interpretive dispute about German exceptionalism among historians, a dispute that to him seems easily solvable, Kreuzer compares the various arguments that historians have made about whether by 1914 the Imperial Reichstag was already, or was developing toward becoming, a truly parliamentary regime; he next categorizes historians into schools of interpretation; and he finally resolves the issue for historians by comparing the imperial Reichstag with an array of other parliaments, showing that, based upon evidence contained in the cumulative scholarship produced by historians, it in most cases ranks toward the more powerful end of the spectrum. In the end, he remains puzzled as to why this easily available method has remained too difficult for historians to grasp, concluding that it has been rather easy to drive a stake through the heart of the German Sonderweg , as it is with any exceptionalism.
Palestine after Arafat

Yasir Arafat has no son or groomed successor. The challenge is not to gaze into a crystal ball and guess which individual or individuals will succeed him, but to identify the key factors affecting Palestinian succession. Here are six.
Deletion and duplication mutations in the C-terminal nonconserved region of sindbis virus nsP3 : effects on phosphorylation and on virus replication in vertebrate and invertebrate cells

Little is known concerning the function of the C-terminal nonconserved region of Sindbis virus nsP3. In this report, we created a number of in-frame deletions and duplications (from 12 to 159 residues) in this region and examined their effects on Sindbis virus replication. Sindbis RNA transcripts containing these mutations were infectious and gave rise to viable virus after transfection of chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF). In CEF, the rate of virus release and accumulation of viral RNAs were similar for the mutants and the parental virus, although larger deletions resulted in decreased total viral RNA synthesis and lower virus yields early in infection. For some mutants, dramatic differences in nsP3 phosphorylation were noted, both in the level of phosphorylation and in the pattern of electrophoretically distinct forms. The two largest deletions resulted in only trace levels of nsP3 phosphorylation, which indicates that highly phosphorylated nsP3 is not necessary for efficient SIN replication in CEF. In the C7-10 mosquito cell line, the largest deletion mutants were defective at initiating a productive infection, generating plaques at only 1-2% the efficiency of the parental virus. However, once infection was established normal virus yields were produced. Thus, although nonessential, the nsP3 nonconserved region may be important for optimal virus replication in diverse host cells. The ability to engineer viable in-frame insertion mutations in this region of the genome provides yet another strategy for expression of heterologous polypeptides and RNAs using alphavirus vectors.
Is there any hope for agriculture in California's rapid growth areas?

The experience of San Diego County, California, indicates that none of the commonly used legislative methods of preserving valuable agricultural land (large lot zoning, differential taxation, purchase or transfer of development rights, creation of exclusive agricultural districts) may be successful in very rapidly urbanizing metropolitan areas. Unless a local municipality can purchase the land outright, the profits to be made from selling greatly appreciated suburban land for development will tempt even the most dedicated farmer to sell and seek out less vulnerable land elsewhere. Steps such as large lot zoning need to be taken early to keep large blocks of agricultural land intact, the retention of these lands must be made part of a mandatory rather than a voluntary program in order to be successful, and the local jurisdictions must be sure that adequate economic incentives are available for those persons who do wish to continue farming the land.
Synthesis and characterization of bivalent peptide ligands targeted to G-protein-coupled receptors

Abstract Background: Through the effects of avidity, multivalency can increase the apparent affinity of a ligand for its binding site. Low molecular weight, high affinity, multivalent ligands theoretically could be used to deliver a variety of agents to specific cell subtypes. In order to target specific G-protein-coupled receptors, a series of monospecific peptide dimers were synthesized that are designed to bind to two adjacent receptor sites. Results: Three dimers, consisting of a ligand region, a short, flexible, uncharged spacer, a longer, polylysine spacer and a single cysteine residue to permit dimerization, and the corresponding monomers were synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis. The ligand domain was either α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH), an α-MSH receptor antagonist (α-MSH-ANT), or bombesin. These ligands were characterized in a functional melanocyte dispersion assay. In wild-type melanophores, the α-MSH dimer stimulated dispersion with an EC 50 approximately seven-fold lower than that of the corresponding monomer. Similarly, in cells transfected with bombesin receptor cDNA, the bombesin dimer was approximately five-fold more potent than the monomer. The α-MSH-ANT monomer specifically inhibited α-MSH-mediated dispersion with no significant agonist activity, but the dimer acted predominantly as an agonist. Conclusions: Peptide dimers can be synthesized easily and have enhanced functional activity; monospecific dimers have greater avidity and bispecific dimers are likely to have greater selectivity. They may therefore have practical potential as specific cell-targeting agents.
Foodborne Transmission of Nipah Virus in Syrian Hamsters

Since 2001, outbreaks of Nipah virus have occurred almost every year in Bangladesh with high case-fatality rates. Epidemiological data suggest that in Bangladesh, Nipah virus is transmitted from the natural reservoir, fruit bats, to humans via consumption of date palm sap contaminated by bats, with subsequent human-to-human transmission. To experimentally investigate this epidemiological association between drinking of date palm sap and human cases of Nipah virus infection, we determined the viability of Nipah virus (strain Bangladesh/200401066) in artificial palm sap. At 22°C virus titers remained stable for at least 7 days, thus potentially allowing food-borne transmission. Next, we modeled food-borne Nipah virus infection by supplying Syrian hamsters with artificial palm sap containing Nipah virus. Drinking of 5×108 TCID50 of Nipah virus resulted in neurological disease in 5 out of 8 hamsters, indicating that food-borne transmission of Nipah virus can indeed occur. In comparison, intranasal (i.n.) inoculation with the same dose of Nipah virus resulted in lethal respiratory disease in all animals. In animals infected with Nipah virus via drinking, virus was detected in respiratory tissues rather than in the intestinal tract. Using fluorescently labeled Nipah virus particles, we showed that during drinking, a substantial amount of virus is deposited in the lungs, explaining the replication of Nipah virus in the respiratory tract of these hamsters. Besides the ability of Nipah virus to infect hamsters via the drinking route, Syrian hamsters infected via that route transmitted the virus through direct contact with naive hamsters in 2 out of 24 transmission pairs. Although these findings do not directly prove that date palm sap contaminated with Nipah virus by bats is the origin of Nipah virus outbreaks in Bangladesh, they provide the first experimental support for this hypothesis. Understanding the Nipah virus transmission cycle is essential for preventing and mitigating future outbreaks.
Flipping properties in arithmetic

Flipping properties were introduced in set theory by Abramson, Harrington, Kleinberg and Zwicker [1]. Here we consider them in the context of arithmetic and link them with combinatorial properties of initial segments of nonstandard models studied in [3]. As a corollary we obtain independence resutls involving flipping properties. We follow the notation of the author and Paris in [3] and [2], and assume some knowledge of [3]. M will denote a countable nonstandard model of P (Peano arithmetic) and I will be a proper initial segment of M . We denote by N the standard model or the standard part of M. X ↑ I will mean that X is unbounded in I . If X ⊆ M is coded in M and M ≺ K , let X (K) be the subset of K coded in K by the element which codes X in M . So X (K) ⋂ M = X . Recall that M ≺ I K ( K is an I -extension of M ) if M ≺ K and for some c ∈ K , In [3] regular and strong initial segments are defined, and among other things it is shown that I is regular if and only if there exists an I -extension of M .
A new mode of field enhancement in superconducting tubes

Abstract A new mode of field enhancement in superconducting tubes, which does not involve cooling the specimen, is reported. When an applied field breaks into the hole of a very thick-walled tube, as a result of either increasing the field at constant temperature or warming at constant field, the field strength rises to a value that is larger than that of the applied field. The effect is more pronounced in a short specimen.
Two types of auditory sequence perception

It has been suggested recently that there are two fundamentally distinct types of auditory sequence perception in man: (1) hofistic pattern recognition (HPR), operating for component item durations from a few milliseconds up to about 200 msec; and (2) direct identification of components and their order (Direct ICO), requiring verbal encoding of names for constituent sounds and requiring item durations roughly 200 msec and above for extended sequences. The present study, using only the very first judgments from 795 untrained participants presented with recycled three-item sequences, provided data consistent with this dichotomous formulation. In addition, it appeared that separate bursts of a noise band generated on-line were treated as different components in HPR and could not be used for sequence matching; “frozen” noise bursts having identical microstructure were treated as the same component and permitted HPR. On-fine noise bursts permitted Direct ICO, with naming based on long-term spectral characteristics of noise.
Ability of ethnic self-identification to partition modifiable health risk among US residents of Mexican ancestry.

Objectives. We examined the relationship between ethnic self-identification and the partitioning of health risk within a Mexican American population.Methods. We combined data from the 2000 to 2002 National Health Interview Surveys to obtain a large (N = 10 044) sample of US residents of Mexican ancestry. We evaluated health risk, defined as self-reported current smoking, overweight, and obesity, and compared the predictive strength of health risk correlates across self-identified Mexican and Mexican American participants.Results. Self-identified Mexican participants were less likely to smoke (odds ratio [OR] = 0.70; 95% confidence interval[CI] = 0.60, 0.83; P < .001) and to be obese (OR = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.56, 0.77; P < .001) than were self-identified Mexican American participants. Within-group analyses found that sociodemographic predictors had inconsistent and even contradictory patterns of association with health risk across the 2 subgroups. Health risk was consistently lower among immigrants relative t...
Quality Changes in Beef Gluteus Medius, Infraspinatus, Psoas Major, Rectus Femoris, and Teres Major Enhanced Prior to Aging

: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of enhancement and aging on quality characteristics of the gluteus medius (round), rectus femoris (round), teres major (chuck), infraspinatus (chuck), and psoas major (loin). Muscles were enhanced, vacuum packaged, and aged for 7 or 14 d. Aging affected enhanced compared with nonenhanced beef differently. After 7 d of aging, enhanced beef experienced more cook loss and was less red (higher hue angle, lower a* values, and chroma) than did nonenhanced beef; after 14 d of aging, these differences were lost. Enhancement increased tenderness and brown color of the gluteus medius (round); however, it decreased visual green and red colors. Enhanced gluteus medius experienced 3.1% lower purge losses, lower L* values, and chroma than their nonenhanced counterparts. Enhancement increased infraspinatus (chuck) tenderness and visual brown color, and decreased visual red and green colors, purge loss, L* value, a* value, and chroma. The enhanced infraspinatus was substantially more tender than the other muscles evaluated, other than the gluteus medius; however, it was also substantially more visually brown. Enhancement decreased purge loss of the psoas major. Enhancement increased L* and a* values, hue angles, and chroma than other enhanced muscles. After enhancement the tenderness of the rectus femoris increased by 10%, decreased purge losses from 4.5% to 1.7%, and decreased green color by 18%. It reduced L* and a* values and chroma. Aging increased tenderness. Overall, muscles from the chuck (infraspinatus and teres major) appeared to benefit the most from enhancement.
Contingency and choice: The implications of matching theory for classroom instruction

This paper describes a mathematical account of behavior known as matching theory. Matching theory evolved out of basic operant research and assumes that individuals can engage in a variety of behaviors at any moment, but they choose one to the exclusion of others. According to the matching equation, choices in behavior match the relative amount of reinforcement provided for each alternative. Although the principles of matching theory have proven useful in developing novel treatment strategies, few data exist validating the matching equation in natural human environments. Recent applications of matching theory to children's classroom behavior are described, and the implications of matching theory for classroom management and effective teaching are discussed.
Molecular Mechanisms of 4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal and Acrolein Toxicity: Nucleophilic Targets and Adduct Formation

Acrolein and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) are byproducts of lipid peroxidation and are thought to play central roles in various traumatic injuries and disease states that involve cellular oxidative stress, for example, spinal cord trauma, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease. In this review, we will discuss the chemical attributes of acrolein and HNE that determine their toxicities. Specifically, these aldehydes are classified as type 2 alkenes and are characterized by an alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl structure. This structure is a conjugated system that contains mobile pi-electrons. The carbonyl oxygen atom is electronegative and can promote the withdrawal of mobile electron density from the beta-carbon atom causing regional electron deficiency. On the basis of this type of electron polarizability, both acrolein and HNE are considered to be soft electrophiles that preferentially form 1,4-Michael type adducts with soft nucleophiles. Proteomic, quantum mechanical, and kinetic data will be presented, indicating that cysteine sulfhydryl groups are the primary soft nucleophilic targets of acrolein and HNE. This is in contrast to nitrogen groups on harder biological nucleophiles such as lysine or histidine residues. The toxicological outcome of adduct formation is not only dependent upon residue selectivity but also the importance of the targeted amino acid in protein function or structure. In attempting to discern the toxicological significance of a given adduct, we will consider the normal roles of cysteine, lysine, and histidine residues in proteins and the relative merits of corresponding adducts in the manifestations of diseases or toxic states. Understanding the molecular actions of acrolein and HNE could provide insight into many pathogenic conditions that involve initial cellular oxidative stress and could, thereby, offer new efficacious avenues of pharmacological defense.
Strategies for the rapid treatment of depression.

The purpose of this article is to review current literature relating to the determination of the time course of antidepressant effects. Further, this work explores studies examining the safety and effectiveness of pharmacological techniques for accelerating the therapeutic effects of antidepressant medication. A review of the literature pertaining to strategies for accelerating antidepressant medication effects was accomplished using the MEDLINE database, employing the key title words, antidepressant, rapid, and accelerating. A preponderance of evidence suggests that there is a multiple week latency for the onset of action of antidepressant medications. This latency appears to apply to virtually all standard antidepressants and may reflect slow adaptive changes to the inciting event of increased monoamine levels. Several strategies have received attention as potential strategies with which to accelerate the therapeutic effects of antidepressant medications. These include the use of high initial doses of some agents and also the use of initial augmentation strategies. Specifically, studies exist suggesting the acceleration of antidepressant effects using high initial doses of tricyclic antidepressants or venlafaxine, as well as the potential for acceleration by using initial augmentation with psychostimulants, lithium, or pindolol. Considering the morbidity and mortality associated with severe depression, a critical need exist for the exploration of ways in which to achieve antidepressant effects more quickly. A number of preliminary studies suggest strategies for the rapid treatment of depression, each with an apparent high degree of safety. Further investigations in more carefully defined patient populations and utilizing advances in the techniques for assessing antidepressant onset are needed. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An Investigation into the Use of Chitosan for the Removal of Soluble Silver from Industrial Wastewater

Chitosan was examined as a means of removing soluble silver from industrial waste streams. Stirred-batch and column methods were used to remove free (hydrated) silver ion as well as the ammonia, thiocyanate, thiosulfate, and cyanide complexes of silver in simulated wastewater at an initial concentration of 50 ppm and in a pH range of 2−10. An actual sample of X-ray film development rinse water was also tested. Batch method results show 80−95% silver bound at pH 4−8 for Ag+ and Ag(NH3)2+, while 92% and 75% of Ag(S2O3)23- and Ag(SCN)32-, respectively, were bound at pH 2. Using a column containing 0.500 g of chitosan, 160 bed volumes of Ag+, 875 bed volumes of Ag(NH3)2+, 715 bed volumes of Ag(S2O3)23-, and 190 bed volumes of Ag(SCN)32- solution were treated before silver ion concentration in the effluent reached 5 ppm. Chitosan did not significantly bind Ag(CN)2- at any pH tested. Chitosan treated 450 bed volumes of 40 ppm X-ray rinse water before effluent silver concentration reached 5 ppm. Capacity experim...
Growth Hormone Treatment and Aortic Dimensions in Turner Syndrome

Background: In recent years many girls with Turner syndrome (TS) have been treated with supraphysiological doses of GH to increase adult height. In addition to promoting statural growth, GH may have direct effects on the cardiovascular system. Objective: We sought to determine whether GH treatment affects aortic diameter in girls with TS because there is an increased risk for aortic dilation and dissection in this syndrome. Methods: In a retrospective, cross-sectional study, we compared ascending and descending aortic diameters measured by magnetic resonance imaging in GH-treated (n = 53) vs. untreated (n = 48) patients with TS participating in a National Institutes of Health protocol between 2001 and 2004. Results: The average duration of GH treatment was 4.7 with se 0.4 yr (range 2–11 yr). The two groups were similar in age and weight, but GH-treated subjects were on average 8 cm taller (P = 0.002). The diameter of the ascending aorta was increased by 7.3% and descending aorta by 8.9% in the GH-treated ...
Antifibrillatory drugs: The case for bretylium tosylate

The preferred treatment for ventricular fibrillation (VF) refractory to maximal electrical defibrillation remains controversial, as evidenced by recent changes in the American Heart Association's treatment algorithm. To date there have been no published studies conclusively proving one mode of therapy to be superior to another. There is, however, an abundance of animal and clinical data suggesting that bretylium tosylate (BT) is the drug of choice in this setting. In animal studies BT has been shown to lower the canine defibrillation threshold, to facilitate conversion of hypothermia-induced ventricular fibrillation, and to effect spontaneous defibrillation. In 15 years of clinical use as a drug of last resort, and more recently as a first-line drug, BT has developed an impressive track record. Most of the clinical reports are uncontrolled and/or retrospective, but they share a central theme: BT is effective in the treatment of VF refractory to standard therapy. Several small studies have reported successful conversion of VF to a stable rhythm with BT after failure of standard electrical and pharmacologic therapy. Recent studies suggest that earlier use of BT may be associated with improved outcome. Finally, as in animal studies, spontaneous defibrillation has been reported. It is important to note that no drug currently used in the treatment of countershock-refractory VF has been proven effective. The use of some of these drugs is based on tradition rather than scientific evidence. The bulk of currently available scientific data indicates that BT is superior to other commonly used antiarrhythmics in the treatment of VF resistant to countershock. There is, therefore, no good rationale for withholding BT until "standard" therapy has proven to be ineffective.
Identification of 2‐Nitrofluorene in diesel exhaust particulates

Diesel exhaust particulates contain mutagens which are direct-acting in the Ames test. A dichloromethane extract of these particulates was separated by liquid chromatography and analyzed by high resolution gas chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS). 2-Nitrofluorene, a known carcinogen and direct mutagen, was positively identified by comaxima of ion fragments and retention time on the gas chromatograph.
Hidden Variables and Incompatible Observables in Quantum Mechanics

Abstract This article takes up a suggestion that the reason we cannot find certain hidden variable theories for quantum mechanics, as in Bell’s theorem, is that we require them to assign joint prob...
The meniscus on a needle. A lesson in matching.

We reconsider the second approximation for the height of the meniscus on a slender vertical cylinder, which has been calculated by James using the method of matched asymptotic expansions. Fraenkel has warned that the asymptotic matching principle may fail in certain cases, and we confirm that failure here. This meniscus problem is used to discuss the kind of failures that may occur if Fraenkel's restricted form of the matching principle is not used. A less restricted matching principle is also suggested in this paper. With this matching principle, we show that the last known term of order Re3 In Re in the drag on a sphere in low-Reynolds-number flow is correct, even though it was found in a way that violates Fraenkel's warning.
The C-terminal linker of Escherichia coli FtsZ functions as an intrinsically disordered peptide.

Summary The tubulin homologue FtsZ provides the cytoskeletal framework and constriction force for bacterial cell division. FtsZ has an ∼ 50-amino-acid (aa) linker between the protofilament-forming globular domain and the C-terminal (Ct) peptide that binds FtsA and ZipA, tethering FtsZ to the membrane. This Ct-linker is widely divergent across bacterial species and thought to be an intrinsically disordered peptide (IDP). We confirmed that the Ct-linkers from three bacterial species behaved as IDPs in vitro by circular dichroism and trypsin proteolysis. We made chimeras, swapping the Escherichia coli linker for Ct-linkers from other bacteria, and even for an unrelated IDP from human α-adducin. Most substitutions allowed for normal cell division, suggesting that sequence of the IDP did not matter. With few exceptions, almost any sequence appears to work. Length, however, was important: IDPs shorter than 43 or longer than 95 aa had compro- mised or no function. We conclude that the Ct-linker functions as a flexible tether between the globular domainofFtsZintheprotofilament,anditsattachment to FtsA/ZipA at the membrane. Modelling the Ct-linker as a worm-like chain, we predict that it functions as a stiff entropic spring linking the bending protofila- ments to the membrane.
Effect of the first GnRH and two doses of PGF2α in a 5-day progesterone-based CO-Synch protocol on heifer pregnancy.

The objectives were (1) to determine the effects of gonadorelin hydrochloride (GnRH) injection at controlled internal drug release (CIDR) insertion on Day 0 and the number of PGF2α doses at CIDR removal on Day 5 in a 5-day CO-Synch + CIDR program on pregnancy rate (PR) to artificial insemination (AI) in heifers; (2) to examine how the effect of systemic concentration of progesterone and size of follicles influenced treatment outcome. Angus cross beef heifers (n = 1018) at eight locations and Holstein dairy heifers (n = 1137) at 15 locations were included in this study. On Day 0, heifers were body condition scored (BCS), and received a CIDR. Within farms, heifers were randomly divided into two groups: at the time of CIDR insertion, the GnRH group received 100 μg of GnRH and No-GnRH group received none. On Day 5, all heifers received 25 mg of PGF2α at the time of CIDR insert removal. The GnRH and No-GnRH groups were further divided into 1PGF and 2PGF groups. The heifers in 2PGF group received a second dose of PGF2α 6 hours after the administration of the first dose. Beef heifers underwent AI at 56 hours and dairy heifers at 72 hours after CIDR removal and received 100 μg of GnRH at the time of AI. Pregnancy was determined approximately at 35 and/or 70 days after AI. Controlling for herd effect (P 0.05). The AI-PRs were 51.2%, 51.9%, 53.9%, and 54.5% for No-GnRH + PGF + GnRH, No-GnRH + 2PGF + GnRH, GnRH + PGF + GnRH, and GnRH + 2PGF + GnRH groups, respectively. The AI-PR varied among locations from 48.3% to 75.0%. The AI-PR was 43.5%, 50.4%, and 64.2% for 2.5 or less, 2.75 to 3.5, and greater than 3.5 BCS categories. Numerically higher AI-PRs were observed in beef and dairy heifers that exhibited high progesterone concentrations at the time of CIDR insertion (>1 ng/mL, with a CL). In addition, numerically higher AI-PRs were also observed in heifers receiving CIDR + GnRH with both high and low progesterone concentration ( 0.1). In conclusion, GnRH administration at the time of CIDR insertion is advantageous in beef heifers, but not in dairy heifers, to improve AI-PR in the 5-day CIDR + CO-Synch protocol. In addition, in this study, both dairy heifers that received either one or two PGF2α doses at CIDR removal resulted in similar AI-PR in this study regardless of whether they received GnRH at CIDR insertion.
Digital computer simulation of axisymmetric electron beams and guns of any energy

SPEED, a program for the simulation of relativistic (or non-relativistic) electron guns with either space-charge limited (Childs' Law), field emitted (Fowler-Nordheim), or specified injection emitters is described and demonstrated with several examples. The program can be fully relativistic with induced and applied magnetic fields and crossing trajectories. Basic relaxation techniques are employed on a rectangular array of squares to keep the program small and efficient, permitting large arrays for accurate and/or elaborate simulations. Smooth electrodes are created by extending fields into electrodes, which are described by quadratic equations. It is written in FORTRAN 77 employing Calcomp-Versatec-type plotting routines and can be run on virtually any computer. >
Neoplastic embryoid bodies of embryonal carcinoma C44 as a source of blastocele-like fluid.

Abstract There is a cytotoxic activity in blastocele fluid that kills embryonal carcinoma cells with trophectodermal potential but spares those with embryonic potential [26]. This activity is present when programmed cell death occurs in the inner cell mass (ICM), and the ICM loses its trophectodermal potential [5, 8–10]. Because of the paucity of blastocele fluid, cystic embryoid bodies of embryonal carcinoma C44 were examined ultrastructurally and in tissue culture to determine if they corresponded to late blastocysts and if their fluid corresponded to blastocele fluid. No troph-ectoderm was demonstrated in the embryoid bodies, but embryonal carcinoma and endoderm were present, leading to the conclusion that the embryonal carcinoma corresponded to late ICM that had expressed endodermal potential. As a result the cyst fluid might have contained the toxic activity of blastocele fluid. The cyst fluid of C44 embryoid bodies did contain a soluble, low-molecular-weight, cytotoxic activity that preferentially killed embryonal carcinoma cells with trophectodermal potential while sparing those with embryonic potential. Enough of this fluid was available to determine the chemical nature of this toxic activity.
Early experiences with the myricom 2000 switch on an SMP Beowulf-class cluster for unstructured adaptive meshing

We explore the current capabilities of the recently released Myricom 2000 switch, using MPICH-GM for communication, on a 2-way SMP Pentium III Beowulf-Class cluster. Performance measurements indicate that data transfer rates of approximately 225 Mbytes/s with 9.3 microseconds latency for ping-pong tests can be achieved for messages as large as 32 Mbytes. When shared-memory communication is used approximately 130 MBytes/s with 1.5 microseconds latency for long messages (250 MBytes/s peak) is possible. The performance varies depending on how processors communicate; either within an SMP node or across nodes. Performance for parallel unstructured adaptive refinement of 3D tetrahedral meshes shows noticeable improvement when compared to 100BaseT Ethernet. Furthermore, when compared to traditional systems such as the SGI Origin 2000, the combination of this fast network with high performance SMP processors demonstrate that Beowulf-Clusters compare favorably with such systems--even for communication intensive applications.
Context-for-wireless: context-sensitive energy-efficient wireless data transfer

Ubiquitous connectivity on mobile devices will enable numerous new applications in healthcare and multimedia. We set out to check how close we are towards ubiquitous connectivity in our daily life. The findings from our recent field-collected data from an urban university population show that while network availability is decent, the energy cost of network interfaces poses a great challenge. Based on our findings, we propose to leverage the complementary strength of Wi-Fi and cellular networks by choosing wireless interfaces for data transfers based on network condition estimation. We show that an ideal selection policy can more than double the battery lifetime of a commercial mobile phone, and the improvement varies with data transfer patterns and Wi-Fi availability.We formulate the selection of wireless interfaces as a statistical decision problem. The key to attaining the potential battery improvement is to accurately estimate Wi-Fi network conditions without powering up its network interface. We explore the use of different context information, including time, history, cellular network conditions, and device motion, for this purpose. We consequently devise algorithms that can effectively learn from context information and estimate the probability distribution of Wi-Fi network conditions. Simulations based on field-collected traces show that our algorithms can improve the average battery lifetime of a commercial mobile phone for a three-channel electrocardiogram (ECG) reporting application by 39%, very close to the theoretical upper bound of 42%. Finally, our field validation of our most simple algorithm demonstrates a 35% improvement in battery lifetime.
Ecology of Harmful Algae

Edna Graneli and Jefferson T.Turner, Editors; Ecological Studies Series, Vol. 189; Springer; ISBN 3540322094; 413 pp.; 2006; $195 Harmful algal blooms (HABs) affect commercially and recreationally important species, human health, and ecosystem functioning. Hallmark events are the visually stunning blooms where waters are discolored and filled with ichthyotoxin-producing algae that lead to large fish kills. Of most concern, however, are HABs that pose a threat to human health. For example, some phycotoxins bioaccumulate in the guts and tissues of commercially and recreationally important species that when consumed by humans, may result in nausea, paralysis, memory loss, and even death. In addition to the deleterious impacts of phycotoxins, HABs can be problematic in other ways. For example, the decay of blooms often leads to low dissolved oxygen in subsurface waters. Blooms also reduce light penetration into the water column. Both processes disrupt ecosystems and in some cases have completely destroyed benthic communities.
Labile T-wave changes caused by respiratory variation in a patient with unstable angina

We describe an unusual case of asymptomatic T-wave inversion induced by respiration in a patient with coronary artery disease.
Longitudinal wakefield for synchrotron radiation

It is of interest to determine how short a bunch can be maintained in a storage ring. Some aspects of this problem depend on specific details of the storage ring design. Instability thresholds depend on the strength of the wakefields. In this paper we determine the longitudinal wakefield due to curvature of the electron orbit, both in free space and between parallel plates with infinite conductivity. Our study leads to the conclusion that as long as the vertical aperture of the vacuum chamber is not too small, the wakefield due to image charges does not significantly vary along a short bunch. Therefore, we suggest that in the determination of the equilibrium bunch length of very short bunches, the effect of the conducting plates can be neglected. The starting point for bunch lengthening calculations should be the free space wakefield.