cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Avian egg latebra as brain tissue water diffusion model.

Purpose Simplified models of non-monoexponential diffusion signal decay are of great interest to study the basic constituents of complex diffusion behavior in tissues. The latebra, a unique structure uniformly present in the yolk of avian eggs, exhibits a non-monoexponential diffusion signal decay. This model is more complex than simple phantoms based on differences between water and lipid diffusion, but is also devoid of microscopic structures with preferential orientation or perfusion effects. Methods Diffusion scans with multiple b-values were performed on a clinical 3 Tesla system in raw and boiled chicken eggs equilibrated to room temperature. Diffusion encoding was applied over the ranges 5–5,000 and 5–50,000 s/mm2. A low read-out bandwidth and chemical shift was used for reliable lipid/water separation. Signal decays were fitted with exponential functions. Results The latebra, when measured over the 5–5,000 s/mm2 range, exhibited independent of preparation clearly biexponential diffusion, with diffusion parameters similar to those typically observed in in vivo human brain. For the range 5–50,000 s/mm2, there was evidence of a small third, very slow diffusing water component. Conclusion The latebra of the avian egg contains membrane structures, which may explain a deviation from a simple monoexponential diffusion signal decay, which is remarkably similar to the deviation observed in brain tissue. Magn Reson Med 72:501–509, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Rat-liver-sialidase activity utilizing a tritium-labeled sialic-acid derivative of glycoprotein substrates. Activity in normal and hypothrombinemic rats.

Plasma glycoproteins were oxidized with periodic acid and reduced with tritiated KBH4, resulting in macromolecules specifically labeled with tritium on their sialic acid residues. The resulting tritiated seven-carbon analog of N-acetylneuraminic acid, abbreviated [3H]AcNeu, covalently attached as part of the fetuin molecule, [3H-AcNeu]fetuin, had a specific activity of 3.67 counts × min−1× ng−1. It served as a very suitable substrate for the measurement of bacterial and mammalian neuraminidase. Clostridium perfringens neuraminidase had a Km of 9 μM and a V of 50 counts × min−1× h−1× ng−1. [3H-AcNeu]Fetuin was homogeneous on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and migrated exactly as native fetuin following treatment by sodium dodecyl-sulfate, mercaptoethanol, and boiling. Mild acid hydrolysis removed 70% of the radioactivity, which chromatographed as a homogeneous product utilizing butylacetate, acetic acid and water (3:2:1, v/v/v) as the solvent system. Mammalian neuraminidase was located in a particulate fraction of rat liver. The enzyme had an acid pH optimum and may be lysosomal in origin. The use of [3H-AcNeu7]glycoprotein substrates increased the sensitivity of measurement of the released sialic acid and provided a more reliable estimate of neuraminidase levels in mammalian tissue sources. Livers from rats fed a vitamin-K-deficient diet were also assayed for activity. The results indicated that vitamin-K-deficient animals had a slightly elevated amount of neuraminidase activity with [3H-AcNeu7]prothrombin substrate. Prothrombin, unlabeled or labeled, was not extensively degraded by Cl. perfringens neuraminidase. Therefore, either differences exist between bacterial enzyme and mammalian enzyme in the substrate specificities, or the mammalian enzyme source may contain more than one neuraminidase, i.e. one capable of the degradation of the sialic acid residues of fetuin and another capable of the degradation of the sialic acid residues of prothombin.
Crosstalk between adipose-derived stem/stromal cells and vocal fold Fibroblasts in vitro

Objectives/Hypothesis: To explore adipose-derived stem cell/fibroblast interactions as a potential remodeling pathway for vocal fold scar. Study Design: Fibroblasts and adipose-derived stem/stromal cells (ASCs) were cultured alone and in combination in a cell-contact-independent paracrine system. Analyses of cell proliferation, and the production of hyaluronic acid (HA) and collagen were performed on samples collected on days 1, 3, and 7. Methods: Normal fibroblasts (NFs) were isolated bilaterally from the subepithelial lamina propria of two normal ferret vocal folds. Scar fibroblasts (SFs) were isolated from vocal folds that were electrocauterized 2 weeks before harvest. ASCs were isolated from lipoaspirated subcutaneous abdominal fat of two ferrets. A transwell cell-contact-independent cell communication culturing system was used for coculture experiments. Cells were seeded at 50,000/well in both monoculture and coculture experiments. Results: In monoculture, SFs proliferated faster and produced less HA and more collagen than NFs at day 7 (P <.05). In SF/ASC coculture, SF proliferation was diminished and collagen production at day 7 decreased (P <.05). HA production did not differ between monoculture and coculture conditions. Conclusions: Normal and scar-tissue-derived vocal fold fibroblasts maintain phenotypic differences in culture, thus validating this in vitro scar model. In co-culture, contact-independent crosstalk occurs between SFs and ASCa, leading to less collagen secretion. The data support the hypothesis that ASCs can induce favorable remodeling of scarred vocal folds in vivo by their interactions with endogenous fibroblasts.
Parathyroid adenomas: Is bilateral neck exploration necessary?

Abstract Purpose: The traditional surgical treatment for primary hyperparathyroidism is bilateral neck exploration with identification of all parathyroid glands. Multiple investigators who recommend initial unilateral neck exploration based on more advanced localization studies have recently challenged this approach. We reviewed our experience with primary hyperparathyroidism to determine if localization study-aided unilateral neck exploration is sufficient for a cure. Materials and Methods: Retrospective chart review of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. Results: Sixty-eight patients underwent surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism. Forty-four patients were treated with localization study-aided unilateral neck exploration, and 24 patients were treated with bilateral neck exploration without preoperative localization studies. The most successful preoperative localization study was the technetium 99m sestamibi (T99mS) scan which correctly identified the location of adenomas in all cases in which it was used (n = 15). All patients were treated with unilateral neck exploration and were cured. This success was matched only by surgical exploration (n = 24). Conclusion: Unilateral neck exploration based on the results of a T99mS scan can be used as an initial approach for primary hyperparathyroidism if the scan identifies a solitary lesion. The second gland on the same side of the lesion should be biopsied, and if it is normal, the opposite side of the neck may be left undisturbed. If the second gland is not normal, or if the T99mS scan shows multiple lesions, bilateral neck exploration should be performed.
Chiral Recognition in Molecular and Macromolecular Pairs of (S)- and (R)-1-Cyano-2-methylpropyl-4*- {(4-(8-vinyloxyoctyloxy)benzoyl)oxy}biphenyl-4- carboxylate Enantiomers

S)-1-Cyano-2-methylpropyl-49-{(4-(8-vinyloxyoctyloxy)benzoyl)oxy}biphenyl- 4-carboxylate ((S)-11) and (R)-1-cyano-2-methylpropyl-49-{(4-(8-vinyloxyoctyloxy)- benzoyl)oxy}biphenyl-4-carboxylate ((R)-11) enantiomers, both greater than 99% enan- tiomeric excess, and their corresponding homopolymers, poly((S)-11) and poly((R)-11), with well-defined molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions were synthesized and characterized. The mesomorphic behaviors of (S)-11 and poly((S)-11) are identical to those of (R)-11 and poly((R)-11), respectively. Both (S)-11 and (R)-11 exhibit enantiotropic SA ,S *, and SX (unidentified smectic) phases. The corresponding homopolymers exhibit SA and S* C phases. The homopolymers with a degree of polymer- ization (DP) less than 6 also show a crystalline phase, whereas those with a DP greater than 10 exhibit a second SX phase. Phase diagrams were investigated for four different pairs of enantiomers, (S)-11/(R)-11, (S)-11/poly((R)-11), and poly((S)-11)/poly((R)-11), with similar and dissimilar molecular weights. In all cases, the structural units derived from the enantiomeric components are miscible and, therefore, isomorphic in the SA and S* phases over the entire range of enantiomeric composition. Chiral molecular recognition was observed in the SA and SX phases of the monomers but not in the SA phase of the polymers. In addition, a very unusual chiral molecular recognition effect was detected in the S* C phase of the monomers below their crystallization temperature and in the S* C phase of the polymers below their glass-transition temperature. In the S* C phase of the monomers above the melting temperature and of the polymers above the glass-transition temperature, nonideal solution behavior was observed. However, in the SA phase the monomer-polymer and polymer-polymer mixtures behave as an ideal solution. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3631-3655, 2000
Family Interaction as a Function of Experimental Task

To assess consistency family interaction across different experimental tasks, the present study evaluated family patterns of talking and interrupting, as elicited from discussions of a Plan Something Together Task, a set of TAT cards, and an Unrevealed Difference Questionnaire. With few exceptions, data analyses indicated that such family patterns are not altered significantly as a function of experimental tasks and, therefore, suggest considerable interactional stability across differing contexts. Characteristics of the present study (as well as related investigations of task effects) are discussed in terms of implications for future research efforts.
GLC assay for 5-fluorouracil in biological fluids.

A rapid, sensitive GLC method of analysis for 5-fluorouracil was developed to follow the disposition of the drug in patients on 5-fluorouracil therapy. The free drug is removed from aqueous biological samples in a single extraction step, derivatized by silylation, and chromatographed using flame-ionization detection. An internal standard is utilized to quantitate the results. The procedure is rapid, sensitive (0.2 mcg./ml. plasma), specific for the intact 5-fluorouracil molecule, and suitable to support pharmacokinetic studies of 5-fluorouracil in animals and humans.
AUTOGAMY AND COMPETITION FOR POLLINATORS IN HEPATICA AMERICANA (RANUNCULACEAE)

Hepatica americana is one of the earliest flowering vernal herbs in the deciduous forests of piedmont North Carolina. Unlike most other members of the spring wildflower community, its flowers are nectarless and autogamous. The number of insect visits a flower receives varies markedly through the blooming season and is lowest when H. americana is in full bloom. Potential for outcrossing as measured by the seed set of emasculated flowers follows the same pattern. The mid-season decline in insect-pollination is most likely the result of competition with Erythronium umbilicatum, which flowers concurrently with H. americana and is much more attractive to the solitary bees that are the principal early season pollen vectors. Because of this competitive disadvantage, seed set of H. americana in piedmont North Carolina would be pollination-limited if the flowers were not autogamous. Autogamy may also be favored by flowering early in the spring before pollinators are available. Opportunities for outcrossing in
Issues in Freight Transportation Regulation: Discussion

The two papers I will discuss today appear to be quite different in approach to the subject matter of transportation policy. Shaffer speaks about the problems of instituting market and political mechanisms for articulating preferences for transportation. Kriebel and Baumel discuss issues in freight transportation regulation from the viewpoint of carriers, shippers, consumers, and policy makers. Shaffer's presentation leads us to a new slant in mostly traditional policy questions, while the Kriebel and Baumel paper summarizes traditional "positions" associated with the deregulation question. But, the papers are not as different from each other as first glance would suggest because both focus on the question of how the conflicting preferences should be resolved in the area of transportation policy, specifically regulation. This commonality is reinforced by the decision of the authors only to raise questions in their presentations rather than provide answers or even a framework for seeking out solutions. I do hope this was the "charge of the paper" received by authors because I do not, as I will indicate below, believe it is the state of affairs in transportation policy. Shaffer offers us a traditional, nonrigorous treatment of pricing, regulation, and ownership. It is in the areas ofjurisdictional boundaries, settlement impact, and energy-market problems where his known innovativeness and perspective became evident. Nowhere is the question of jurisdictional boundaries more evident than the current discussion, at the federal level, of truck weight and length variation in state regulations. Preference articulation in this instance may be achieved by a federal mandate on weight and length to be settled in a court case evaluating "states rights." A point worth repeating is Shaffer's assertion in his discussion on settlement impact, that decisions in regard to location of activity made by
A comparative vibrational spectroscopic study of lithium triflate and sodium triflate in linear poly(ethylenimine)

Abstract Systems of linear poly(ethylenimine), LPEI, with dissolved LiCF3SO3 and NaCF3SO3 have been studied using Raman and infrared spectroscopy. As the salt concentration is increased in the LPEI–LiCF3SO3 system, in turn “free” ions, contact ion pairs and the triple cation [Li2CF3SO3]+ each become the dominant species present, whereas contact ion pairs appear to be the dominant ionic species over the same composition range in the LPEI–NaCF3SO3 system. One of the major effects of adding salts to LPEI is the breaking of hydrogen bonds in the host polymer. As the salt concentration is increased in both systems, a somewhat abrupt onset of band broadening and widespread loss of band structure is observed.
Approximation algorithms for spanner problems and Directed Steiner Forest

We present an O(nlogn)-approximation algorithm for the problem of finding the sparsest spanner of a given directed graph G on n vertices. A spanner of a graph is a sparse subgraph that approximately preserves distances in the original graph. More precisely, given a graph G=(V,E) with nonnegative edge lengths d:E->R^>=^0 and a stretchk>=1, a subgraph H=(V,E"H) is a k-spanner of G if for every edge (s,t)@?E, the graph H contains a path from s to t of length at most [email protected]?d(s,t). The previous best approximation ratio was [email protected]?(n^2^/^3), due to Dinitz and Krauthgamer (STOC @?11). We also improve the approximation ratio for the important special case of directed 3-spanners with unit edge lengths from [email protected]?(n) to O(n^1^/^3logn). The best previously known algorithms for this problem are due to Berman, Raskhodnikova and Ruan (FSTTCS @?10) and Dinitz and Krauthgamer. The approximation ratio of our algorithm almost matches Dinitz and [email protected]?s lower bound for the integrality gap of a natural linear programming relaxation. Our algorithm directly implies an O(n^1^/^3logn)-approximation for the 3-spanner problem on undirected graphs with unit lengths. An easy O(n)-approximation algorithm for this problem has been the best known for decades. Finally, we consider the Directed Steiner Forest problem: given a directed graph with edge costs and a collection of ordered vertex pairs, find a minimum-cost subgraph that contains a path between every prescribed pair. We obtain an approximation ratio of O(n^2^/^3^+^@e) for any constant @e>0, which improves the O(n^@[email protected]?min(n^4^/^5,m^2^/^3)) ratio due to Feldman, Kortsarz and Nutov ([email protected]?12).
A SYNTHETIC ROUTE TO ORGANIC AEROGELS - MECHANISM, STRUCTURE, AND PROPERTIES

The base catalyzed, aqueous reaction of resorcinol with formaldehyde follows a sol-gel pathway in which surface functionalized polymer"clusters" are formed. The covalent crosslinking of these "clusters" produces gels which are dried under supercritical conditions to obtain low density, organic aerogels (≤ 200 mg/cc) . The aerogels are transparent and have cell sizes less than 100A. Their microstructure consists of interconnected colloidal-like particles with diameters of 30-100 A. The particle size, cell size, surface area, and density of resorcinol - formaldehyde (RF) aerogels are largely determined by the catalyst concentration in the mixture. RF aerogels are similar to silica aerogels in many ways, yet a comparison of their mechanical properties suggests subtle morphological differences.
Structure of the oligomeric circular molecules of a bacteriophage λ DNA

Abstract During the vegetative growth of bacteriophage lambda (λ), oligomeric circular λ DNA molecules have been frequently observed. By denaturation mapping, it was found that these circular oligomers were joined head to tail (… AR …A′R′ …). The frequency of oligomeric circular λ DNA has been determined in DNA preparations from various replication-recombination-deficient systems; it was concluded that the site-specific recombination gene ( int ) and general recombination gene ( red ) of λ participate in the formation of this circular oligomer.
Constant production of type C virus particles in a continuous tissue culture derived from pleural effusion cells of a lymphoma patient.

PARTICLES resembling viruses were first observed in organs of mice with spontaneous leukaemia and in thin sections of a biopsy specimen from a lymph node of a patient with acute lymphocytic leukaemia by Dmochowski and Grey1. They also found them in some biopsy specimens of lymph nodes and bone marrows before and after growth in tissue culture2,3,8. Recent reports have described the presence of type C virus particles in other human tumours including liposarcoma4, osteosarcoma5,6, giant cell tumour9, rhabdomyosarcoma (unpublished results of L. D. and E. S. P.) and breast carcinoma7.
Editorial: New trends in Cognitive Science: Integrative approaches to learning and development

A new trend in Cognitive Science is the use of artificial agents and systems to investigate learning and development of complex organisms in natural environments. This work, in contrast with traditional AI work, takes into account principles of neural development, problems of embodiment, and complexities of the environment. Current and future promises and challenges for this approach are defined and outlined.
Yeast actin patches are networks of branched actin filaments

Cortical actin patches are the most prominent actin structure in budding and fission yeast. Patches assemble, move, and disassemble rapidly. We investigated the mechanisms underlying patch actin assembly and motility by studying actin filament ultrastructure within a patch. Actin patches were partially purified from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and examined by negative-stain electron microscopy (EM). To identify patches in the EM, we correlated fluorescence and EM images of GFP-labeled patches. Patches contained a network of actin filaments with branches characteristic of Arp2/3 complex. An average patch contained 85 filaments. The average filament was only 50-nm (20 actin subunits) long, and the filament to branch ratio was 3:1. Patches lacking Sac6/fimbrin were unstable, and patches lacking capping protein were relatively normal. Our results are consistent with Arp2/3 complex-mediated actin polymerization driving yeast actin patch assembly and motility, as described by a variation of the dendritic nucleation model.
Comprehensive evaluation and treatment of 75 men referred to chronic prostatitis clinic

Abstract We investigated the role of genitourinary tract infections, structuraland psychologic abnormalities in 75 men referred to a “chronic prostatitis” clinic. Patients had had symptoms for an average of eighty-three months and had received an average of ten weeks of antimicrobial treatment during the three months prior to evaluation. Specific infectious diseases, structural or functional causes were identified in 34 (45 %) of the 75 patients. Genitourinary tract pathogens were isolated from 26 patients and inflammation was documented in urethral or prostatic secretions of 24 patients. Structural or functional abnormalities that merited treatment were identified in 8 cases. In addition, major criteria for depression were documented in 9 of 17 patients who agreed to this evaluation. Overall, a comprehensive approach to diagnosis led to specific treatment for 37 (49 %) of the 75 men with chronic prostatitis, despite longstanding symptoms and failure of multiple prior courses of therapy.
“Honey, We Don't Do Men” Gender Stereotypes and the Provision of Services to Sexually Assaulted Males

This research examines the effects of gender role stereotypes on the provision of services to adult, noninstitutionalized male victims of sexual assault. Thirty sexual assault crisis providers in a major Southeastern city participated in in-depth interviews focusing on their experiences with male sexual assault victims, their attitudes toward these men, and the services provided by their organizations. Although official reports of male sexual assault victims are relatively uncommon, our research confirms that male victims do exist and that they are more numerous than official statistics indicate. Moreover, our findings suggest that traditional gender role stereotypes, lack of responsiveness to male victims, and gaps in service provision prevent sexually assaulted men from getting the help they need.
Vibroacoustic Modeling Study of the Delta II 10-Foot Composite Fairing

The Boundary Element Method (BEM) has seen increasing use in the space industry to predict vibroacoustic responses of spacecraft and launch vehicle structures. The BEM application is used in the low-frequency regime where Statistical Energy Analysis (SEA) is usually inapplicable. This paper documents a vibroacoustic study of the Delta II 10-ft composite fairing using BEM and SEA. The fairing vibration and internal acoustic levels are predicted. The BEM and SEA predictions are compared with data from the Delta II 10-ft composite fairing acoustic test. The relative accuracy of the BEM and SEA methods in various frequency ranges is discussed. In addition, computer system requirements and lessons learned from BEM and SEA modeling are presented.
Interpretation of high temperature plastic deformation in terms of measured effective stresses

Abstract The microdynamics of elevated temperature deformation in single and polycrystalline Fe-3 % Si is examined in terms of measured minimum effective stresses. Effective stresses are obtained through the use of a new experimental technique based upon the response of dislocations to the internal and applied stresses. Primary and steady state creep are examined with respect to the measured minimum effective stresses. Modified stress relaxation and strain rate sensitivity techniques are used to study dislocation velocities at elevated temperatures. Dislocation density measurements are made in both steady state creep and stress relaxation experiments and are related to measured effective stresses. Results indicate that the effective stress dependence of the steady state strain rate can be described by e g3 s ∝ σ min ∗2 where σ min ∗ is the minimum effective stress. Measurements of the tota within the subgrains yielded, p m ∝ σ min ∗ under the assumption that a constant fraction of the total dislocation density within the subgrains is mobile. The indirect measurements of dislocation velocity indicate that at elevated temperatures both the internal stress and mobile dislocation density change reversibly as a unique function of the effective stresses during stress relaxation and strain rate sensitivity tests. Comparison of steady state strain rates with measured dislocation densities supports the assumption of a linear dislocation velocity-effective stress relation.
The selection of a 30 kA ohmic heating coil conductor

An overview is presented of the design and construction of a prototype ohmic-heating coil for the next-generation superconducting Tokamak. After discussing the superconducting requirements, the authors describe the stabilizing copper requirements, selection of wire coating, cooling and structural requirements, and conductor fabrication. >
The Changing Face of Dating Anxiety: Issues in Assessment With Special Populations

As a precursor to numerous psychological difficulties, dating anxiety is an important area of research that has been largely neglected, with existing research providing few answers concerning how this construct may present at different developmental stages of the life span, or across special interest groups. This article describes what factors may be important to consider when examining dating anxiety in adolescents, gay/lesbian/bisexual populations, ethnic minorities, older adults, and by addressing gender. Further research is necessary to address how social anxiety differs from dating anxiety, how these two constructs are similar and different across groups and throughout the life span, and how more developmentally sensitive measures of dating anxiety may be developed.
“There's More to This Pain Than Just Pain”: How Patients' Understanding of Pain Evolved During a Randomized Controlled Trial for Chronic Pain

Abstract Chronic pain is prevalent, is costly, and exerts an emotional toll on patients and providers. Little is known about chronic pain in veterans of the recent military conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq (OEF/OIF/OND [Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn] veterans). This study's objective was to ascertain veterans' perceptions of a multicomponent intervention tested in a randomized controlled trial for OEF/OIF/OND veterans with chronic musculoskeletal pain (ESCAPE: Evaluation of Stepped Care for Chronic Pain). Qualitative interviews were conducted with patients in the intervention arm of ESCAPE. Questions related to veterans' experiences with trial components, overall perceptions of the intervention, strengths, and suggestions for improvement. Twenty-six veterans (21% of total intervention patients) participated. Patients were purposefully sampled to include treatment responders (defined as ≥30% reduction in pain-related disability or pain severity) and non-responders. Non-completers (completed Perspective Responders and non-responders both described making connections between their pain and other factors in their lives, and how these connections positively influenced how they managed their pain. Traditional quantitative measures of response to pain interventions may not capture the full benefits that patients report experiencing.
A fertility-sparing alternative to radical hysterectomy: how many patients may be eligible?

Abstract Objective. To determine the percentage of patients with early-stage cervical cancer who may be eligible for fertility preservation with laparoscopic radical vaginal trachelectomy (LRVT). Methods. We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients who underwent a radical hysterectomy for invasive cervical cancer at our institution from 12/85 to 8/01, before our use of LRVT at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Institutional eligibility criteria for LRVT were applied. Patients ≥40 years of age were considered ineligible. Results. We identified 435 patients who had undergone radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer; 186 were age Conclusion. A significant number of patients
Fundamental principles of modeling timing in hardware description languages

Abstract A fundamental property of digital hardware designs including VLSI designs is timing which underlies the occurrence of hardware activities and their relative ordering. In essence, timing constitutes the external manifestation of the causal relation between the relevant hardware activities. The constituent components of a hardware system are inherently concurrent and the relative time ordering of the hardware activities is critical to the correct functioning of complex hardware system. Hardware description languages (HDLs) are primarily developed for describing and simulating hardware systems faithfully and correctly and must, therefore, be capable of describing timing, accurately and precisely. This paper examines the fundamental nature of timing in hardware designs and develops, through reasoning, the basic principles of modeling timing in HDLs. This paper then traces the evolution of the key syntactic and semantic timing constructs in HDLs starting with CDL and up to the contemporary HDLs including ADLIB–SABLE, Verilog HDL, and VHDL, and critically examines them from the perspective of the basic principles of modeling timing in HDLs. Classical HDLs including CDL are limited to synchronous digital designs. In the contemporary hardware description languages including ADLIB–SABLE, CONLAN, Verilog, and VHDL, the timing models fail to encapsulate the true nature of hardware. While ADLIB and Verilog HDL fail to detect inconsistent events leading to the generation of potentially erroneous results, the concept of delta delay in VHDL which, in turn, is based on the BCL time model of CONLAN, suffers from a serious flaw.
Distinct subsets of human Vα24-invariant NKT cells: cytokine responses and chemokine receptor expression

CD1d-restricted T-cell receptor Valpha-invariant natural killer T (NKT) cells are important regulators of immune responses through their efficient secretion of T helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 cytokines. Recently, it has been shown that this NKT-cell population contains functionally distinct subsets, producing different sets of cytokines and cytotoxic effector molecules. NKT-cell subsets are also distinct from each other in their expression of adhesion molecules and chemokine receptors, suggesting that they might be targeted to different tissues and perform different immune functions.
Mechanism of interferon action. Kinetics of interferon action in mouse L929 cells: Phosphorylation of protein synthesis initiation factor eIF-2 and ribosome-associated protein P1

Abstract Ribosomal salt-wash fractions prepared from interferon-treated mouse L 929 fibroblast cells catalyze the phosphorylation of the small subunit (α) of protein synthesis initiation factor eIF-2. The effect of the duration of interferon treatment of L 929 cells on the ability of the ribosomal salt-wash fractions to catalyze the phosphorylation of the 38,000-dalton α eIF-2 subunit, as well as the phosphorylation of the ribosome-associated protein P 1 , correlates with the appearance of the ribosome-associated inhibitor of translation. Protein P 1 is also detectable in interferon-treated human amnion U cells, however the apparent molecular weight of P 1 from interferon-treated U cells (∼69,000 daltons) is slightly greater than that of P 1 from interferon-treated L 929 cells (∼67,000 daltons).
The use of music and poetry in life review with hospice patients

Life review is widely regarded as one of the most important aspects of the hospice journey. The end of one's life is a natural time for reflection and for each patient to decide how they want to be remembered by those they leave behind. Though many new and effective complementary therapies are present in hospice settings, this paper will specifically focus on the use of music and poetry as interventions for life review with the terminally ill. Existing research will be reviewed and commonly used interventions with music and poetry for the hospice setting will be explored.
MR histological correlation: A method for cutting specimens along the imaging plane in animal or ex vivo experiments

Purpose To assess a method aimed at cutting histological specimens along the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging plane. Material and Methods The method is performed in two steps: the imaging plane (defined by three acrylic paint markers) is made horizontal under MR guidance by using a mobile platform that can be rotated in three directions (PlaneFinder device [PFD]); then, the specimen is embedded in wax and cut horizontally. Three-dimensional images parallel to the markers' plane were obtained on 31 pork muscles containing a central hole with a pyramidal shape, with a technique of reference (RT images) and with PFD (PF images), before and after fixation. The last 17 fixed specimens were cut in the markers' plane (tissue section [TS] images). The central hole area (CHA) in the markers' plane was used to compare RT, PF, and TS images. Using a workstation, PF images were rotated and translated to estimate the shift along each direction that could explain the entire CHA difference between RT, PF, and TS images (maximum error, worst-case scenario). Results Excellent correlation was found between RT and PF images (r = 0.989, slope = 1.0175), PF and TS images (r = 0.991, slope = 1.0058), and RT images on fresh specimens and TS images (r = 0.979, slope = 1.0732). For each step, the maximum angle error was ≤ 3° in 88–95% of the specimens. Conclusion Our methodology can be used to cut specimens along the imaging plane with high accuracy. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2006. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Intravascular coagulation in acute stem cell leukemia successfully treated with heparin.

Intravascular coagulation is a characteristic feature of the hemorrhagic state associated with acute promyelocytic leukemia. Hypofibrinogenemia and reduced levels of prothrombin and of Factors V, IX, and X in a child with acute stem cell leukemia were treated successfully with heparin despite the existence of thrombocytopenia. The diagnostic criteria of this unusual bleeding syndrome, the kinetic nature of the problem, the occurrence of intravascular coagulation in leukemia, and treatment with heparin are discussed.
SENSITIVITY TO PATIENTS' PSYCHOSOCIAL CONCERNS: RELATIONSHIPS AMONG RATINGS BY PRIMARY CARE AND TRADITIONAL INTERNAL MEDICINE HOUSE OFFICERS AND PATIENT SELF-ASSESSMENTS

This study examined house officers' sensitivity to patients' psychosocial concerns. Primary care house officers, traditionally trained internal medicine house officers, a social worker, and 104 ambulatory care patients independently completed an assessment instrument to indicate the extent to which a set of 20 defined psychosocial issues concerned the patients. We examined the magnitude of difference and extent of correlation in the independent reports of the patient, house officer, and social worker. These analyses were conducted on both the individual psychosocial issues and on sets of concerns derived from an oblique rotation factor analysis of the patients' responses. Primary care trainees' assessments of their patients' concerns correlated more frequently with the independent assessments of the patients and a social worker than did the judgments of the traditionally trained house officers. The factor analysis identified six factors that accounted for 64.4% of the variance in patients' responses. The correlations between the primary care trainees' and patients' assessments were statistically significant on five of these six factors; the correlations between the traditionally trained residents' and patients' assessments were statistically significant on two of the factors. These results provide evidence of the primary care house officer training program's achievement of the goal of enhanced physician awareness of patients' psychosocial concerns. The results also support training efforts aimed at increasing physicians' ability to assess their patients' psychosocial concerns.
Effects of Balance Training on Postural Stability

The present study is designed to address the relationship between postural sway and balance training. We compared postural sway in a group of trained dancers to a group of physically fit, untrained participants (control group) in order to assess enhanced postural control with balance training, particularly under challenging balance conditions. We varied the difficulty of postural control by using two surface conditions (rigid surface, foam surface) and two visual conditions (eyes open, eyes closed), factorially combined. The data were evaluated using 1-between (group) × 2-within (vision and surface) analyses of variance (ANOVA). The three dependent variables were the standard deviation of the COP time series in the anterior-posterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) axes, and the COP path length. Significant main effects were found for surface and vision and the surface*vision interaction in all conditions. Significant group differences were found in the AP and ML axes. The results of this study indicate that...
Flood hazard assessment based on the theory of outstanding values

Abstract Some basic results of a theory for the analysis of outstanding values or records is reviewed. The general aspects appropriate for hazard assessment are discussed, and then, in view of the peaks over threshold method (partial duration series) for flood frequency analysis, results relevant to flood hazard assessment are studied. The discussion is concluded with an example of application, and some comparisons with classical methods.
Non-opioid dynorphin binding site on secretory vesicles of a pituitary-derived cell line

Accumulating evidence indicates that the endogenous opioid peptides dynorphinA-(1-17) and dynorphinA-(1-13) interact not only with opioid but also with yet poorly characterized non-opioid receptors. The latter have been implicated in a number of the effects of dynorphins including induction of ACTH release in sheep and in AtT 20 cells, a pituitary-derived mouse cell line. AtT 20 cells do not express opioid receptors and therefore are particularly suitable for search of non-opioid dynorphin receptors. We report here that 3H-dynorphinA-(1-13)-NH2 associates specifically with AtT 20 cells, apparently through an uptake process and a binding site. Within the cell, it binds preferentially to fractions containing secretory vesicles, with a Kd of about 100 nM. DynorphinA-(1-17), and several non-opioid fragments of dynorphin, including A-(2-17), A-(2-16) and A-(2-13), compete with 3H-dynorphinA-(1-13)-NH2 for that site with IC50s ranging from 200 nM to 2 microM. ACTH(1-39) also competes with 3H-dynorphinA-(1-13)-NH2 for the site with an IC50 of about 300 nM. DynorphinA-(2-17) at microM concentrations stimulates release of ACTH from the isolated vesicles. The results indicate the presence of a non-opioid dynorphin binding site on the secretory vesicle fractions of AtT20 cells that might be involved in ACTH release. The ability of ACTH itself to compete for the binding sites associated with the vesicles suggest that those sites may be involved in an autocrine loop.
News Blogging in Cross-Cultural Contexts: A Report on the Struggle for Voice

To assess some of the ways that blogs appear to be affecting news reporting and consumption as well as some giving a sense as to their implications for social stability, this paper presents a preliminary analysis of views and comments by bloggers in Asian countries. Data on this topic was gathered by e-mail interviews of Asian bloggers as well as by collecting writings and data from relevant websites. Analysis suggests that, in many societies in Asia and elsewhere, bloggers have become an important source of news outside of but also alongside of traditional mainstream media. A trend is observed that information and communication technologies are reconfiguring the traditional balance between the creators and consumers of news and the journalistic reporting profession. Internet blogs and mobile phones, among other technologies, have made new information and perspectives available concerning local events; they have also added important and often oppositional interpretations of the significance and meaning of those events. Thus, on both professional and economic grounds, the New Media are reducing the relative prominence of traditional news outlets as well as stature of professional journalists.
Antibody reactivity to the HRES-1 endogenous retroviral element identifies a subset of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and overlap syndromes. Correlation with antinuclear antibodies and HLA class II alleles.

Objective. To evaluate the correlation between the presence of antibodies to an endogenous retroviral element–encoded nuclear protein autoantigen, HRES-1, and the presence of other antinuclear antibodies and HLA class II alleles in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and overlap syndromes. Methods. Antibody reactivities to native and recombinant proteins and synthetic peptides were assessed by counterimmunoelectrophoresis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blotting. HLA class II alleles were determined by oligonucleotide typing. Results. Forty-eight percent of the 153 patients with autoimmune disease, and 52% of the subgroup with SLE, had HRES-1 antibodies. In contrast, 3.6% of 111 normal donors, and none of 42 patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or 50 asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus 1–infected patients, had HRES-1 antibodies. Chi-square analyses revealed a significant association between anti–HRES-1 and anti-RNP and an inverse correlation between HRES-1 and Ro/La autoantibodies in patients with SLE or overlap syndromes. Antigenic epitopes of HRES-1 and the retroviral gag–related region of the 70-kd protein component of U1 small nuclear RNP, which share 3 consecutive highly charged amino acids (Arg-Arg-Glu), an additional Arg, and functionally similar Arg/Lys residues, represent cross-reactive epitopes between the two proteins. Selective removal of HRES-1 antibodies from sera of HRES-1-seropositive/RNP-seropositive patients by absorption on recombinant HRES-1/glutathione-S-transferase-conjugated agarose beads had no effect on anti-RNP reactivities. A comparative multivariate analysis of HLA class II genes revealed a differential segregation of DQB1 alleles in HRES-1-seropositive versus HRES-1-seronegative patients (P = 0.04). While a relative increase of DQB1*0402 among HRES-1-seropositive patients was noted across ethnic groups (P = 0.02), a decrease of DQB1*0201 and DQB1*0301 was found in white HRES-1-seropositive patients (P = 0.04). Conclusion. Autoantibodies to HRES-1 are detectable in a distinct subset of patients with autoimmune disease, primarily in those who do not have antibodies to Ro and La. Anti–HRES-1 and anti-RNP reactivities are mediated by cross-reactive but separate antibody molecules. HLA–DQB genes, rather than HLA–DRB or DQA genes, may have a more significant influence on generation of these antinuclear autoantibodies.
Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Persist, Demonstrate Site-Specific Multipotential Differentiation, and Are Present in Sites of Wound Healing and Tissue Regeneration after Transplantation into Fetal Sheep

Prenatal transplantation of stem cells is an exciting frontier for the treatment of many congenital diseases. The fetus may be an ideal recipient for stem cells, as it is immunologically immature and has rapidly proliferating cellular compartments that may support the engraftment of transplanted cells. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), given their ability to differentiate into multiple cell types, could potentially be used to treat diseases such as osteogenesis imperfecta, muscular dystrophy, and other mesenchymal disorders that can be diagnosed in utero. We have shown, using a human-sheep in utero xenotransplantation model, that human MSC have the ability to engraft, undergo site-specific differentiation into multiple cell types, and survive for more than 1 year in fetal lamb recipients. In addition, in this model MSC-derived cells appear to be present in increased numbers in wounded or regenerating tissues. This observation warrants further studies of the biology of MSCs following systemic or site-directed transplantation.
Wide‐Bore Capillary Gas Chromatographic Method for Quantification of Cholesterol Oxidation Products in Egg Yolk Powder

A wide-bore capillary gas chromatographic (GC) method was developed for quantification of cholesterol oxidation products in egg yolk powder. Baseline separations were achieved between 7α- and 7β-hydroxycholesterol, cholesterol, cholesterol-5α,6α-epoxide, cholesterol-5β,6β-epoxide and 7-ketocholesterol chromatographed as the trimethylsilylated sterols. Excellent response linearity was obtained for each cholesterol oxidation product, permitting reliable quantification. Recoveries from freeze-dried egg yolk spiked with various levels of cholesterol oxidation products ranged from 78.2 to 95.1%. The coefficients of variation compared favorably to those for packed column GC methods.
An Expert System Helps Students Learn Database Design.

Teaching and learning database design is difficult for both instructors and students. Students need to solve many problems with feedback and corrections. A Web-based specialized expert system was created to enable students to create designs online and receive immediate feedback. An experiment testing the system shows that it significantly enhances student learning. The system also provides a more neutral learning environment in terms of personal factors such as gender and prior class work.
UV filaments and their application for directed energy

We present a review of our experimental studies on picosecond UV (248.6 nm) filaments and give a motivation for scaling them to longer pulsewidths. An analytical solution for the propagation of nanosecond UV filaments shows their feasibility for directed energy applications.
Dislocation reactions in hetero‐epitaxial (0001) GaN layers

Dislocation reactions in hetero-epitaxial GaN layers grown on (0001) sapphire were analyzed using weak beam dark field technique in transmission electron microscopy. Examples of the four basic reactions were observed. The average capture radius of the reactions was estimated from these observations.
Regulating MC3T3-E1 cells on deformable poly(ε-caprolactone) honeycomb films prepared using a surfactant-free breath figure method in a water-miscible solvent.

Honeycomb poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) films with tunable pore diameters of 3.5, 6.0, and 10 μm were fabricated directly from solutions in water-miscible, relatively nontoxic tetrahydrofuran using the breath-figure method without assistance of a surfactant. These honeycomb PCL films were characterized in terms of structures and enhanced hydrophobicity. Aiming at fostering bone tissue engineering outcomes, we cultured mouse preosteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells on these honeycomb films as well as on the flat control, and evaluated their adhesion, spreading, proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and calcium content. These cell behaviors were further correlated with the expression levels of integrin subunits of α1, α2, β1, and bone-specific gene markers of ALP, collagen type I (COL I), osteocalcin (OCN), and osteopontin (OPN). Honeycomb PCL films remarkably promoted MC3T3-E1 cell adhesion, spreading, proliferation, differentiation, and gene expression. This effect was more prominent when the pore diamet...