cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pediatric parotitis: A 5-year review at a tertiary care pediatric institution

Summary Background Parotitis is a well recognized entity in the adult population, however there are very few studies concerning the clinical presentation and management of this condition in children. Objectives To characterize pediatric parotitis in a tertiary care setting, with the goal of clarifying management recommendations and outcomes. Methods The charts of all pediatric patients with a diagnosis of parotitis treated at a tertiary care academic institution from 1999 to 2004 were reviewed. The management of inpatients and outpatients were characterized to define differences in presentation and care. Results Twenty-one children (6 months–15 years) with a diagnosis of parotitis were identified. Thirteen (62%) children were treated as inpatients, of which seven (54%), had significant medical co-morbidities. The most common clinical presentations of the inpatient group included dehydration (46%), fever (38%) and leukocytosis (46%). Two inpatients (15%) required surgical drainage due to abscess formation. Eight children (38%) were treated as outpatients, none with associated co-morbidity, fever, leukocytosis, or complication due to infection. All outpatients were treated with oral antibiotics or conservative therapy with eventual resolution. Conclusions Parotitis in the pediatric population is uncommon. The presence of a significant co-morbidity, fever, or leukocytosis may require inpatient therapy and imaging if patients fail to improve with medical therapy. Other than abscess drainage, surgery for parotitis in children is not routinely recommended.
Matricin fibrils: Isolation of the primary nuclear matrix polypeptides

Matricin, a fundamental protein fibrillar structure of the eucaryotic cell nucleus, has been isolated from the rat liver nuclear matrix. The isolated matricin forms a diffuse reticulum of 30--50 A fibrils and consists predominantly of three primary polypeptide fractions with apparent molecular weights of 62,000, 66,000 and 70,000. Aside from a major role in nuclear structure, matricin may provide an important functional milieu for such fundamental nuclear processes as replication, transcription and the processing and transport of RNA.
Differential processing of Arabidopsis ubiquitin-like Atg8 autophagy proteins by Atg4 cysteine proteases.

Autophagy is a highly conserved biological process during which double membrane bound autophagosomes carry intracellular cargo material to the vacuole or lysosome for degradation and/or recycling. Autophagosome biogenesis requires Autophagy 4 (Atg4) cysteine protease-mediated processing of ubiquitin-like Atg8 proteins. Unlike single Atg4 and Atg8 genes in yeast, the Arabidopsis genome contains two Atg4 (AtAtg4a and AtAtg4b) and nine Atg8 (AtAtg8a–AtAtg8i) genes. However, we know very little about specificity of different AtAtg4s for processing of different AtAtg8s. Here, we describe a unique bioluminescence resonance energy transfer-based AtAtg8 synthetic substrate to assess AtAtg4 activity in vitro and in vivo. In addition, we developed a unique native gel assay of superhRLUC catalytic activity assay to monitor cleavage of AtAtg8s in vitro. Our results indicate that AtAtg4a is the predominant protease and that it processes AtAtg8a, AtAtg8c, AtAtg8d, and AtAtg8i better than AtAtg4b in vitro. In addition, kinetic analyses indicate that although both AtAtg4s have similar substrate affinity, AtAtg4a is more active than AtAtg4b in vitro. Activity of AtAtg4s is reversibly inhibited in vitro by reactive oxygen species such as H2O2. Our in vivo bioluminescence resonance energy transfer analyses in Arabidopsis transgenic plants indicate that the AtAtg8 synthetic substrate is efficiently processed and this is AtAtg4 dependent. These results indicate that the synthetic AtAtg8 substrate is used efficiently in the biogenesis of autophagosomes in vivo. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing the AtAtg8 synthetic substrate will be a valuable tool to dissect autophagy processes and the role of autophagy during different biological processes in plants.
Reversal of β-Agonist-Induced Refractoriness in Skin by Tetracaine and Mepacrine

We previously reported that in skin slices stimulated by a beta-adrenergic agonist, the intracellular cyclic AMP level increased transiently. The level returned to a low steady state in 20-30 min and further stimulation by the agonist did not increase the cyclic AMP level. This state of "refractoriness" was found to be specific to the initial stimulator, i.e., histamine but not epinephrine could restimulate the cyclic AMP system after an initial exposure to epinephrine (Biochim Biophys Acta 497:428-436, 1977). We now report that incubation of skin with mepacrine or tetracaine after beta-adrenergic stimulation caused partial recovery from the refractoriness. Neither the simultaneous incubation of skin with epinephrine plus mepacrine (or tetracaine) nor preincubation of skin with mepacrine (or tetracaine) before the beta-adrenergic stimulation prevented the development of the refractoriness. Mepacrine inhibited the skin adenylate cyclase catalytic (or the complex of GTP-regulatory protein and catalytic) unit. The available data suggest that mepacrine and tetracaine interacted with the agonist-receptor complex at the cell membrane.
A functional in vivo screen for regulators of tumor progression identifies HOXB2 as a regulator of tumor growth in breast cancer

Microarray profiling in breast cancer patients has identified genes correlated with prognosis whose functions are unknown. The purpose of this study was to develop an in vivo assay for functionally screening regulators of tumor progression using a mouse model. Transductant shRNA cell lines were made in the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer line. A pooled population of 25 transductants was injected into the mammary fat pads and tail veins of mice to evaluate tumor growth, and experimental metastasis. The proportions of transductants were evaluated in the tumor and metastases using barcodes specific to each shRNA transductant. We characterized the homeobox 2 transcription factor as a negative regulator, decreasing tumor growth in MDA-MB-231, T47D, and MTLn3 mammary adenocarcinoma cell lines. Homeobox genes have been correlated with cancer patient prognosis and tumorigenesis. Here we use a novel in vivo shRNA screen to identify a new role for a homeobox gene in human mammary adenocarcinoma.
Computer-derived geochemical balances and element abundances

Abstract The classical geochemical equation or balance assumes that all sediments were ultimately derived from igneous rocks. Despite unproven assumptions and many uncertain data, the geochemical equation does provide a number of internal checks on elemental and isotopic abundance data. Utilizing high speed digital computers, a new approach to geochemical balancing has been developed. The input into the system consists of 1. (a) physical estimates (for example, volume) of six sedimentary and marine domains of the earth's crust; and 2. (b) minimum and maximum geochemical abundance data (derived from forty-four published lists) for sixtyfive elements in eight lithologic categories. Through the use of an optimization-iterative technique, the system generates as output 1. (a) total mass of weathered igneous rock, 2. (b) mass distribution of the elements within the geologic and marine domains, 3. (c) a list of those elements that could not be balanced and 4. (d) elemental abundance tables derived automatically from the optimized model. Although some aspects of the model are artificial, the computations do lead to an internally consistent estimate of abundances in the crust and major sedimentary rock types. The computations also indicate that 2 × 10 18 tons of igneous rock have weathered to form the sedimentary rocks of the earth's crust and ions dissolved in the ocean. The following elements cannot be brought into balance, probably due to important volcanic contributions and/or inadequate data: boron, sulfur, chlorine, manganese, arsenic, selenium, bromine, molybdenum, iodine and lead. The input into the system is left open for future revision.
Protocols for integrated audio and shared windows in collaborative systems

This paper describes the architecture and protocols for integrating real-time audio and shared windows in computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW) environments. Such applications require that actions on shared windows be synchronized with accompanying audio. We give a characterization of this synchronization problem and propose an architecture for handling audio-enhanced cooperative work. We present a protocol for synchronizing the audio stream and window-event streams and evaluate its performance.
Three dimensional Narayana and Schröder numbers

Consider the 3-dimensional lattice paths running from (0, 0, 0) to (n, n, n), constrained to the region {(x, y, z) : 0 ≤x≤y≤z}, and using various step sets. With C(3, n) denoting the set of constrained paths using the steps X := (1, 0, 0), Y := (0, 1, 0), and Z := (0, 0, 1), we consider the statistic counting descents on a path P = p1p2...p3n ∈ C(3, n), i.e., des(P) := |{i : pipi+1 ∈ {YX, ZX, ZY}, 1 ≤i≤3n-1}|. A combinatorial cancellation argument and a result of MacMahon yield a formula for the 3-Narayana number, N(3, n, k) := |{P ∈ C(3, n) : des(P) = k + 2}|. We define other statistics distributed by the 3-Narayana number and show that 4 Σk2kN(3, n, k) yields the nth large 3-Schroder number which counts the constrained paths using the seven positive steps of the form ξ1, ξ2, ξ3), ξi ∈ {0, 1}.
Positive attitudes and failed queries: an exploration of the conundrums of consumer health information retrieval

Several studies have found that consumers report a high level of satisfaction with the Internet as a health information resource. Belied by this positive attitude, however, are other studies reporting that consumers were often unsuccessful in searching for health information. In this paper, we present an interview and observation study in which we asked health consumers to search for health information on the Internet after first stating their search goals. Upon the conclusion of the session they were asked to evaluate their searches. We found that many consumers were unable to find satisfactory information when performing a specific query, while in general the group viewed health information retrieval (HIR) on the Internet in a positive light. We analyzed the observed search sessions to determine what factors accounted for the failure of specific searches and positive attitudes, and also discussed potential informatics solutions.
Effect of adsorbed chlorine and oxygen on the shear strength of iron and copper junctions

Static friction experiments were performed in ultrahigh vacuum at room temperature on copper, iron, and steel contacts selectively contaminated with oxygen and chlorine in submonolayer amounts. The concentration of the adsorbates was determined with Auger electron spectroscopy and was measured relative to the saturation concentration of oxygen on iron (concentration 1.0). The coefficient of static friction decreased with increasing adsorbate concentration. It was independent of the metal and the adsorbate. The results compared satisfactorily with an extension of the junction growth theory to heterogeneous interfaces. The reduction in interfacial shear strength was measured by the ratio sub a/sub m where sub a is the shear strength of the interface with an adsorbate concentration of 1.0, and sub m is the strength of the clean metal interface. This ratio was 0.835 + or - 0.012 for all the systems tested.
Talkin’ bout my generation: Boomers, Xers, and educational change

From 1998 to 2003, Andy Hargreaves and Ivor Goodson, along with colleagues Shawn Moore, Sonia James-Wilson, Dean Fink, and Corrie Giles, undertook a large-scale study of eight secondary schools in Ontario, Canada, and New York in the United States to investigate teachers’ perceptions and experiences of educational change over 30 years spanning from the 1970s through the 1990s (Hargreaves and Goodson in Edu Admn Quart 42(1):3–41, 2006). The Change Over Time? study not only provided a unique glimpse into how schools and teachers experience educational change but also demonstrated that most of what educators and scholars previously considered when looking at educational change neglected its political, historical, and longitudinal aspects. Hargreaves and Goodson highlighted five change forces that shape educational change: waves of reform, changing student demographics, teacher generations, leadership succession, and school interrelations. This article, based on work conducted in Massachusetts from 2007 to 2009 (Stone-Johnson in Enduring reform: The impact of mandated change on middle career teachers. Boston College, Chestnut Hill, 2009; Teachers’ career trajectories and work lives. Springer, Dordrecht, 2009), elaborates upon two of these aspects, waves of reform and teacher generations, highlighting the response of the current generation of teachers in mid-career to the most recent wave of reform.
Respiration and cyanogenesis inPseudomonas aeruginosa

The respiratory ability of batch cultures ofPseudomonas aeruginosa strain 9-D2 peaks during midlog phase at 3.8 nmol O2/min/108 cells. This ability declines in late log phase, just prior to the time the culture begins to produce cyanide. The respiration of this organism is particularly sensitive to cyanide inhibition during midlog-phase growth, but is extremely resistant to this compound in stationary phase. These inhibition patterns are biphasic for each of these situations and indicate several respiratory responses to HCN. Addition of cyanide to midlog-phase cells resulted in the production of a stationary-phase type of cyanide respiration pattern in 2 h. A non-cyanideproducing mutant of this organism produced significantly less of the cyanide-resistant respiration components.
Bloodless surgery in gynecologic oncology.

Bloodless medicine and surgery is an evolving field in the practice of medicine designed to avoid allogeneic transfusions. Although this field has largely developed in response to the growing needs of Jehovah's Witness patients refusing transfusions, all patients may potentially benefit from the avoidance of transfusions. The applications of bloodless techniques and strategies in the field of gynecologic oncology have been limited until recently, in part because of the generally large blood loss associated with gynecologic cancer surgeries. However, as advances in our understanding of bloodless surgery have developed and surgical techniques have been refined, the gynecologic oncology patient can now benefit from the avoidance of allogeneic transfusions. This review outlines bloodless surgery as it applies to gynecologic oncology patients and presents a structured approach to successfully managing these complex patients. Mt Sinai J Med 76:589-597, 2009. © 2009 Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Damage from unintentional metal–metal articulation of CoCrMo, TiAlV, and oxidized zirconium knee replacements following polyethylene insert failure

Abstract A small percentage of knee replacements with metal-backed tibial components experience complete polyethylene insert destruction or wear-through during in vivo service, resulting in unintentional articulation of the metal femoral bearing and tibial baseplate. Seven such explanted knee replacement sets were studied to determine the failure events that affected four combinations of unintentionally articulating metals, including both conventional CoCrMo and TiAlV, as well as surface modified oxidized zirconium (OxZr). The surface modified metal experienced local fracture at the surface when in contact with TiAlV and subsequent metal–metal wear of the substrate metal. All unintentional conventional metal–metal couples (CoCrMo–CoCrMo, TiAlV–TiAlV, CoCrMo–TiAlV, and ZrNb (substrate)–TiAlV) experienced adhesive wear processes resulting in material transfer. In mixed-metal pairs, the softer metal transferred to the harder metal (TiAlV transferred to CoCrMo and ZrNb transferred to TiAlV) during adhesion, resulting in gross dimensional change in the softer metal and roughening of the harder metal. While surface modified metals may be advantageous when articulating against polyethylene, in cases of polyethylene insert wear-through, both conventional and surface modified metals result in significant wear damage. The types of wear damage present and the extent of roughening varied across material combinations.
When physician-industry interactions go awry

Financial connections between members of the profession and professional organizations and the pharmaceutical, device, and biotechnology industries are increasingly common and can lead to biased medical decision making, higher costs of care, and decline in the public's trust of the profession. To preserve its reputation and its autonomy over medical decisions, the profession must begin to police itself.
Nonperturbative quantum geometries

Abstract Using the self-dual representation of quantum general relativity, based on Ashtekar's new phase space variables, we present an infinite dimensional family of quantum states of the gravitational field which are exactly annihilated by the hamiltonian constraint. These states are constructed from Wilson loops for Ashtekar's connection (which is the spatial part of the left handed spin connection). We propose a new regularization procedure which allows us to evaluate the action of the hamiltonian constraint on these states. Infinite linear combinations of these states which are formally annihilated by the diffeomorphism constraints as well are also described. These are explicit examples of physical states of the gravitational field — and for the compact case are exact zero eigenstates of the hamiltonian of quantum general relativity. Several different approaches to constructing diffeomorphism invariant states in the self dual representation are also described. The physical interpretation of the states described here is discussed. However, as we do not yet know the physical inner product, any interpretation is at this stage speculative. Nevertheless, this work suggests that quantum geometry at Planck scales might be much simpler when explored in terms of the parallel transport of left-handed spinors than when explored in terms of the three metric.
A new test paradigm for social recognition evidenced by urinary scent marking behavior in C57BL/6J mice

Olfaction is a major sensory element in intraspecies recognition and communication in mice. The present study investigated scent marking behaviors of males of the highly inbred C57BL/6J (C57) strain in order to evaluate the ability of these behaviors to provide clear and consistent measures of social familiarity and response to social signals. C57 males engage in scent marking when placed in a chamber with a wire mesh partition separating them from a conspecific. Male mice (C57 or outbred CD-1 mice) showed rapid habituation of scent marking (decreased marking over trials) with repeated exposure at 24-h intervals, to a stimulus animal of the C57 or CD-1 strains, or to an empty chamber. Subsequent exposure to a genetically different novel mouse (CD-1 after CD-1 exposure, or CD-1 after C57 exposure) or to a novel context (different shaped chamber) produced recovery of marking, while responses to a novel but genetically identical mouse (C57 after C57 exposure) or to the empty chamber did not. This finding demonstrated that male mice differentiate familiar and novel conspecifics as expressed by habituation and recovery of scent marking, but neither C57 or CD-1 mice can differentiate new vs. familiar C57 males; likely due to similarities in their odor patterns. The data also indicate that scent marking can differentiate novel from familiar contexts.
Nosocomial infections in combined medical-surgical intensive care units in The United States

Objective: To describe the epidemiology of nosocomial infections in combined medical-surgical (MS) intensive care units (ICUs) participating in the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance (NNIS) System. Design: Analysis of surveillance data on 498,998 patients with 1,554,070 patient-days, collected between 1992 and 1998 from 205 MS ICUs following the NNIS Intensive Care Unit protocol, representing 152 participating NNIS hospitals in the United States. Results: Infections at three major sites represented 68% of all reported infections (nosocomial pneumonia, 31%; urinary tract infections (UTIs), 23%; and primary bloodstream infections (BSIs), 14%: 83% of episodes of nosocomial pneumonia were associated with mechanical ventilation, 97% of UTIs occurred in catheterized patients, and 87% of primary BSIs in patients with a central line. In patients with primary BSIs, coagulase-negative staphylococci (39%) were the most common pathogens reported; Staphylococcus aureus (12%) was as frequently reported as enterococci (11%). Coagulase-negative staphylococcal BSIs were increasingly reported over the 6 years, but no increase was seen in candidemia or enterococcal bacteremia. In patients with pneumonia, S aureus (17%) was the most frequently reported isolate. Of reported isolates, 59% were gram-negative bacilli. In patients with UTIs, Escherichia coli (19%) was the most frequently reported isolate. Of reported isolates, 31% were fungi. In patients with surgical-site infections, Enterococcus (17%) was the single most frequently reported pathogen. Device-associated nosocomial infection rates for BSIs, pneumonia, and UTIs did not correlate with length of ICU stay, hospital bed size, number of beds in die ICU, or season. Combined MS ICUs in major teaching hospitals had higher device-associated infection rates compared to all other hospitals with combined medical-surgical units. Conclusions: Nosocomial infections in MS ICUs at the most frequent infection sites (bloodstream, urinary, and respiratory tract) almost always were associated with use of an invasive device. Device-associated infection rates were die best available comparative rates between combined MS ICUs, but the distribution of device-associated rates should be stratified by a hospital's major teaching affiliation status.
Pulsating varicose veins in functional tricuspid insufficiency. Case report and venous pressure tracing.

To the 19 previously reported cases of pulsating varicose veins of the legs in tricuspid insufficiency, another case is added. Simultaneous electrocardiographic and venous pressure tracings of a pulsating varicose vein were recorded. A single broad "v" wave with loss of a conspicuous "x" descent, characteristic of tricuspid insufficiency with atrial fibrillation, was noted. The clinical manifestations of tricuspid insufficiency disappeared as the patient's cardiac status improved, suggesting the functional nature of the insufficiency in this case.
Discrete Molecular-Sized Nanocages Derived from Disintegratable Dendrimer Templates

A fourth-generation dendrimer with immolative carbamate linkages was used as a structural template to synthesize a discrete, molecular-sized (∼10 nm) nanocage with a ∼4.5 nm cavity. Shell cross-linkage was achieved using the self-terminating, catalytic hydrosilylation to generate a carbosilane shell that exhibits size-selectivity.
Quantitative limits on the ability of a Maxwell demon to extract work from heat.

A Maxwell demon gathers and uses information to extract work from heat. Limits derived here suggest that a Maxwell demon can extract work only by waiting for rare thermal fluctuations.
Enhancing DNA Immunization

Nucleic acid immunization describes the inoculation of DNA (usually a closed circular plasmid, although linear PCR fragments may be used) or RNA with the intent of inducing an immune response to the protein(s) (usually microbial) encoded therein. It is a relatively recent addition to the vaccine arsenal, and no nucleic acid-based vaccine has yet been approved for clinical or veterinary use. However, experimental studies have demonstrated that plasmid-based DNA vaccines can induce immune responses in humans (Wang et al., 1998), and the approach is currently eing evaluated in several clinical trials. There are good rounds for optimism; the method has many advantages, ot the least of which is its enormous flexibility, and it onfers protective immunity in a multitude of animal models reviewed by Donnelly et al., 1997; Hassett and Whitton, 996). Nevertheless, there remains much room for improveent; nucleic acid vaccines in general appear not to induce s strong responses as do conventional (live attenuated) accines, and consequently many laboratories are attemptng to enhance the immunogenicity of these promising accine candidates. Here we describe some of the aveues which have been explored; since the great majority of tudies have employed plasmid DNA, in this minireview we ocus on DNA vaccines. DNA vaccines may be administered in several ways. erhaps the two most common are, first, intramuscular njection, in which the plasmid DNA is taken up by muscle ells and the genes are expressed therein; and, second, dministration by some form of intradermal inoculation, ometimes using the “gene-gun,” in which tiny gold partiles coated with DNA are impelled into the skin. Following uch inoculation, the DNA is taken up by and expressed in pecialized antigen-presenting cells (APCs) called Langerans’ cells. Space constraints in this minireview prevent us rom providing a thorough comparison of these two popular outes of administration.
Heterogeneity of soil and plant N and C associated with individual plants and openings in North American shortgrass steppe

Small-scale spatial heterogeneity of soil organic matter (SOM) associated with patterns of plant cover can strongly influence population and ecosystem dynamics in dry regions but is not well characterized for semiarid grasslands. We evaluated differences in plant and soil N and C between soil from under individual grass plants and from small openings in shortgrass steppe. In samples from 0 to 5 cm depth, root biomass, root N, total and mineralizable soil N, total and respirable organic C, C:N ratio, fraction of organic C respired, and ratio of respiration to N mineralization were significantly greater for soil under plants than soil from openings. These differences, which were consistent for two sites with contrasting soil textures, indicate strong differentiation of surface soil at the scale of individual plants, with relative enrichment of soil under plants in total and active SOM. Between-microsite differences were substantial relative to previously reported differences associated with landscape position and grazing intensity in shortgrass steppe. We conclude that microscale heterogeneity in shortgrass steppe deserves attention in investigation of controls on ecosystem and population processes and when sampling to estimate properties at plot or site scales.
Applications of minimal physiologically-based pharmacokinetic models

Conventional mammillary models are frequently used for pharmacokinetic (PK) analysis when only blood or plasma data are available. Such models depend on the quality of the drug disposition data and have vague biological features. An alternative minimal-physiologically-based PK (minimal-PBPK) modeling approach is proposed which inherits and lumps major physiologic attributes from whole-body PBPK models. The body and model are represented as actual blood and tissue (usually total body weight) volumes, fractions (fd) of cardiac output with Fick’s Law of Perfusion, tissue/blood partitioning (Kp), and systemic or intrinsic clearance. Analyzing only blood or plasma concentrations versus time, the minimal-PBPK models parsimoniously generate physiologically-relevant PK parameters which are more easily interpreted than those from mammillary models. The minimal-PBPK models were applied to four types of therapeutic agents and conditions. The models well captured the human PK profiles of 22 selected beta-lactam antibiotics allowing comparison of fitted and calculated Kp values. Adding a classical hepatic compartment with hepatic blood flow allowed joint fitting of oral and intravenous (IV) data for four hepatic elimination drugs (dihydrocodeine, verapamil, repaglinide, midazolam) providing separate estimates of hepatic intrinsic clearance, non-hepatic clearance, and pre-hepatic bioavailability. The basic model was integrated with allometric scaling principles to simultaneously describe moxifloxacin PK in five species with common Kp and fd values. A basic model assigning clearance to the tissue compartment well characterized plasma concentrations of six monoclonal antibodies in human subjects, providing good concordance of predictions with expected tissue kinetics. The proposed minimal-PBPK modeling approach offers an alternative and more rational basis for assessing PK than compartmental models.
Zinc Bacitracin and Added Fat in Diets of Growing Turkeys

Abstract Diets varying in bacitracin from zinc bacitracin and in animal and vegetable fat were fed to female and male Large White turkeys from hatching to 20 and to 24 weeks of age, respectively. By adding bacitracin to the diets, body weights were significantly improved in excess of 3% throughout the experiment. At 20 weeks of age, average body weights of all turkeys fed diets containing 0, 16.5, 33.0, 49.5 and 66.0 p.p.m. bacitracin were 9.23, 9.48, 9.38, 9.77 and 9.58 kg., respectively. Added fat significantly depressed body weight gains to 6 or 8 weeks, but significantly increased body weight gains after 10 weeks of age. By feeding diets containing 0, 5 and 10% added fat, body weights and feed efficiencies of 24-week old males were 13.30, 14.14 and 14.45 kg., and .273, .313 and .342, respectively. For the 20-week old females, the values were 7.68, 7.67 and 7.73 kg. and .285, .318 and .347, respectively.
Cytokines in Stem Cell Transplantation

The use of cytokines in stem cell transplantation is still in the early stages of development. Efficacy has not been established consistently at the present time. When cytokines are employed in the treatment setting, they should be employed in a study setting evaluating whether there has been real patient benefit-palliation without compromise of therapeutic outcome or, preferably, a survival advantage. Cost effectiveness has not been established and, in any case it should not be a consideration until therapeutic efficacy has been established. The determination of various biologic parameters on cells such as cytokine receptors may permit more precise use of HGFs. In some cases there probably are subsets of patients who are benefited, while there are subsets who are harmed. The challenge of the future is to define these subsets.
Insights on the mechanics of hyphal growth

Abstract This article reviews recent progress in understanding the mechanics of hyphal growth. The pressurization of hyphae by osmosis is often considered an important feature of the tip growth process. But although the hydrostatic pressure within the cytoplasm smooths the expanding surface of these cells, there is little evidence that high levels of turgor are necessary for growth until the hypha encounters friction from its surroundings. Research on movement and growth processes in other kinds of cells, including amoebae and pollen tubes, has done a great deal to inform recent studies on hyphae. Experiments on pressure waves and rhythmic or pulsatile growth are particularly significant and are discussed in relation to the erratic extension rate of hyphae. Significant findings have also come from research on the hyphal cytoskeleton and on the biomechanics of invasive growth. It has been clear for some time that turgor powers the propulsion of hyphae through solid materials and experiments using new techniques have quantified the relevant forces.
Effect of membrane potential on furosemide-inhibitable sodium influxes in human red blood cells.

Furosemide-inhibitable Na influx (a measure of Na/K/Cl cotransport) was determined as a function of membrane potential in human red blood cells. The membrane potential was varied from -42 to +118 mV using valinomycin and gradients of K. The furosemide-inhibitable, unidirectional Na influx was independent of membrane potential over the entire range of potentials. The change in flux per mV, 0.443 mumol/(liter cells.hr.mV), was not significantly different from zero. The mean flux was 153 +/- 16 mumol/(liter cells.hr) (+/- SEM, n = 71). The ouabain and furosemide-resistant influxes of Na and K were also measured as functions of membrane potential using either valinomycin and K or a chloride-free, tartrate flux medium to vary membrane potential. The unidirectional Na influx decreased slightly as the membrane potential was increased from negative potentials to about +10 mV. At higher membrane potentials Na influx rose dramatically with potential. This increase was not reversible and was also observed with K influx.
Dynamic photorefractive Schlieren system

We present a dynamic Schlieren system that uses optical phase conjugation in a photorefractive crystal. The theoretical description of the system predicts that the square of the phase change in an object field is mapped as the intensity modulation in the system output. This is demonstrated experimentally with a He–Cd laser and a BaTiO3 crystal arranged in the self-pumped phase-conjugator configuration.
Finasteride and bicalutamide as primary hormonal therapy in patients with advanced adenocarcinoma of the prostate

Background: Medical or surgical castration is effective in advanced prostate cancer but with profound sideeffects, particularly on sexual function. Effective, less toxic therapies are needed. This study examined whether the addition of finasteride to high-dose bicalutamide enhanced disease control, as measured by additional decreases in serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Patients and methods: Forty-one patients with advanced prostate cancer received bicalutamide (150 mg/ day). Finasteride (5 mg/day) was added at first PSA nadir. Serum PSA was measured every 2 weeks until disease progression. Questionnaires were administered to assess sexual function. Results: Median follow-up is 3.9 years. At the first PSA nadir, median decrease in PSA from baseline was 96.5%. Thirty of 41 patients (73%) achieved a second PSA nadir and median decrease of 98.5% from baseline. Median time to each nadir was 3.7 and 5.8 weeks, respectively. Median time to treatment failure was 21.3 months. Toxicities were minor, including gynecomastia. Seventeen of 29 (59%) and 12 of 24 (50%) men had normal sex drive at baseline and at second PSA nadir, respectively. One-third of men had spontaneous erection at both time points. Conclusion: Finasteride provides additional intracellular androgen blockade when added to bicalutamide.
A New Method for the Calibration of Ammeters at Radio Frequencies

This paper describes the construction and operation of a thermionic vacuum tube which is designed for the measurement of radio-frequency currents. The input circuit consists of a filament whose cross section is small enough that the "skin effect" is negligible at thefrequencies used. The filament is heated first by currents of known magnitude (at a low frequency) and again by radio-frequency currents to be measured. Electrons emitted by the heated filament are drawn to an anode sealed into the tube and a comparison of the resulting space currents indicates, if the necessary precautions are taken, the amount of current in the input circuit.
Microfabricated electrochemical nitrate sensor using double-potential-step chronocoulometry

Abstract A simple, miniaturized, and yet sensitive electrochemical nitrate sensor has been designed, fabricated and tested. The thin-film silver sensing electrode, silver-oxide reference electrode, and platinum counter electrode are microfabricated on a silicon substrate. A polyimide insulation layer is also patterned to improve reliability of a sensor chip. The sensor chip incorporates microfluidic channels. A fixture is also created to integrate the sensor chip and fluidic connectors for on-line flow-through analysis. The electrolyte is 0.01 M sodium hydroxide. The nitrate concentration is determined by double-potential-step chronocoulometry (DPSC) because it improves signal-to-noise ratio compared to amperometry and minimizes oxygen background current. Interference analysis of DPSC with 10 ions commonly found in groundwater indicates that HPO 4 2 − / PO 4 3 − , Ca 2 + , and Sr 2 + cause significant interference (i.e., more than 20% signal distortion). Performance characterization of sensor chips indicates that the limit of detection (LOD) and the upper limit of the linear range have a chip-to-chip variation of 4–75 μ M and 500–2000 μ M, respectively.
Apicomplexan Parasite, Eimeria falciformis, Co-opts Host Tryptophan Catabolism for Life Cycle Progression in Mouse

The obligate intracellular apicomplexan parasites, e.g. Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium species, induce an IFNγ-driven induction of host indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), the first and rate-limiting enzyme of tryptophan catabolism in the kynurenine pathway. Induction of IDO1 supposedly depletes cellular levels of tryptophan in host cells, which is proposed to inhibit the in vitro growth of auxotrophic pathogens. In vivo function of IDO during infections, however, is not clear, let alone controversial. We show that Eimeria falciformis, an apicomplexan parasite infecting the mouse caecum, induces IDO1 in the epithelial cells of the organ, and the enzyme expression coincides with the parasite development. The absence or inhibition of IDO1/2 and of two downstream enzymes in infected animals is detrimental to the Eimeria growth. The reduced parasite yield is not due to a lack of an immunosuppressive effect of IDO1 in the parasitized IDO1−/− or inhibitor-treated mice because they did not show an accentuated Th1 and IFNγ response. Noticeably, the parasite development is entirely rescued by xanthurenic acid, a by-product of tryptophan catabolism inducing exflagellation in male gametes of Plasmodium in the mosquito mid-gut. Our data demonstrate a conceptual subversion of the host defense (IFNγ, IDO) by an intracellular pathogen for progression of its natural life cycle. Besides, we show utility of E. falciformis, a monoxenous parasite of a well appreciated host, i.e. mouse, to identify in vivo factors underlying the parasite-host interactions.
MECHANISM OF BELCHING: EFFECTS OF GASTRIC DISTENSION WITH AIR.

Summary The mechanisms of belching and gastroesophageal reflux have been studied by recording radiologically and manometrically the effects of distending the human stomach with air. After a slight initial rise, intragastric pressure plateaued in the face of continued injection of air, suggesting that both gastric and abdominal cavities relax receptively in response to increased gastric volume. At inconstant time intervals after gastric pressure had reached a plateau, either simple gastroesophageal reflux or reflux with belching occurred in most but not all subjects. During simple reflux, the gastroesophageal barrier opened widely and a common gastroesophageal cavity was established. The esophagus was then emptied of air by a secondary peristaltic wave, returning air to the stomach and reestablishing the competency of the gastroesophageal barrier. No sensations were experiencedduring simple reflux, which appeared to be the result of an involuntary mechanism not involving somatic muscles. Belching, on the other hand, appeared to require contraction of somatic musculature, usually superimposed on antecedent or simultaneous opening of the gastroesophageal barrier, and resulting in the expulsion of air from a common gastroesophageal cavity.
Ectopic expression of a soybean phytase in developing seeds of Glycine max to improve phosphorus availability.

A transgenic approach was used to alter soybean seed phytate content by expressing a soybean phytase gene (GmPhy) during seed development to degrade accumulating phytic acid (IP6). An expression vector containing the soybean phytase cDNA controlled by the seed-specific β-conglycinin promoter (α′-subunit) was used to transform embryogenic soybean cultures. Plants from four independent transgenic lines were analyzed for transgene integration and seed IP6 levels. The reduction in IP6 levels in transgenic seeds compared to control ‘Jack’ soybeans ranged from 12.6 to 24.8 as determined by HPLC. A low copy transformant was propagated to the T4 generation and examined in more detail for phytase expression and enzyme activity during seed development. Expression of phytase mRNA and phytase activity increased during seed development, consistent with the use of an embryo-specific promoter. Ectopic phytase expression during seed development offers potential as an effective strategy for reducing phytate content in soybean seed.
Effects of Various Treadmill Interventions on the Development of Joint Kinematics in Infants With Down Syndrome

Background Infants with Down syndrome (DS) have delayed walking and produce less-coordinated walking patterns. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate whether 2 treadmill interventions would have different influences on the development of joint kinematic patterns in infants with DS. Design Thirty infants with DS were randomly assigned to a lower-intensity, generalized (LG) treadmill training group (LG group) or a higher-intensity, individualized (HI) treadmill training group (HI group) and trained until walking onset. Twenty-six participants (13 in each group) completed a 1-year gait follow-up assessment. Methods During the gait follow-up assessment, reflective markers were placed bilaterally on the participants to measure the kinematic patterns of the hip, knee, and ankle joints. Both the timing and the magnitude of peak extension and flexion at the hip, knee, and ankle joints, as well as peak adduction and abduction at the hip joint, in the 2 groups were compared. Results Both the LG group and the HI group showed significantly advanced development of joint kinematics at the gait follow-up. In the HI group, peak ankle plantar flexion occurred at or before toe-off, and the duration of the forward thigh swing after toe-off increased. Limitations Joint kinematics in the lower extremities were evaluated in this study. It would be interesting to investigate the effect of treadmill interventions on kinematic patterns in the trunk and arm movement. Conclusions The timing of peak ankle plantar flexion (before toe-off) in the HI group implies further benefits from the HI intervention; that is, the HI group may use mechanical energy transfer better at the end of stance and may show decreased hip muscle forces and moments during walking. It was concluded that the HI intervention can accelerate the development of joint kinematic patterns in infants with DS within 1 year after walking onset.
Symmetrically Organized Dorsal Unpaired Median (Dum) Neurones and Flash Control in the Male Firefly, Photuris Versicolor

1.Male fireflies of the species Photuris versicolor produce a species-typical triple-pulsed flash which is used as a courtship signal. The neural anatomy was examined to determine if this complex behaviour could be attributed to the organization within the central nervous system. 2.The lantern is innervated primarily by the two most posterior abdominal ganglia. Bilateral roots from these ganglia form a symmetrical pattern of innervation to both sides of the lantern tissue. With minor exceptions, this pattern is similar to that described for other firefly species. 3.The neural organization within the lantern ganglia was determined by back-filling the roots with cobalt or Lucifer Yellow CH, and then examining the ganglia in whole mount. Clusters of three or four large dorsal unpaired median (DUM) neurone somata, each sending bilateral processes out of the lantern roots, were found in both lantern ganglia. 4.The DUM neurone axons bifurcate several times and ramify throughout the dorsal surface of the lantern tissue. More than one DUM neurone may innervate a particular region of photogenic tissue. 5.When dye was back-filled into peripheral branches of the lantern roots that do not innervate photogenic tissue, no DUM somata were stained. Instead, the fibres that filled carried the dye anteriorly up the nerve cord through the ipsilateral connective. No fibres were observed to cross the ganglion midline or exit from the contralateral root, nor were any fibres stained in the contralateral connectives. 6.DUM neurones within the lantern ganglia have resting potentials between 30 and 45 mv and they exhibit multiple, as well as single-peaked spontaneous action potentials. The presence of multiple spikes might reflect the special bilateral morphology of these neurones. 7.The lantern nervous system is organized in an arrangement capable of synchronizing the excitation of all the lantern photocytes. This neural organization could aid in the control of the complex flash pattern displayed by male Photuris versicolor fireflies.
Characterization of intercellular junctions in the caudal portion of the developing neural tube of the chick embryo.

The types of intercellular junctions present within caudal levels of the chick neural tube (i.e., future lower thoracic and lumbosacral regions of the spinal cord) were determined by freeze-fracture of stage 14 to 16 embryos. Two levels of the developing neural tube were examined: the region of the neurulation overlap zone--consisting of primary neural tube dorsally and secondary neural tube ventrally--and the portion of the primary neural tube located just cranial to the overlapping region. Gap junctions were the most numerous type of intercellular junction present within the primary neural tube. These junctions were located primarily in juxtaluminal areas, near the apices of neuroepithelial cells, and sometimes also at the bases of these same cells. In addition, focal, poorly defined tight junctions occasionally occupied juxtaluminal regions of the primary neural tube. The medullary cord (i.e., the immediate precursor of the secondary neural tube) and secondary neural tube contained gap junctions exclusively. Gap junctions were first found in these areas at the lateral borders of the medullary cord, concomitant with formation of this structure, and then at the interface between the elongated, peripheral cells of the cord and the irregularly shaped and loosely arranged central cells of this structure. Finally, gap junctions were distributed radially around secondary lumina formed by cavitation. The precise spatial and temporal correlation between the appearance of gap junctions and the specific changes occurring in cellular morphology and arrangement during secondary neurulation strongly suggest that gap junctions may have a role in coordinating cellular activities during formation of both the medullary cord and the secondary neural tube.
A Minimax Regret Approach to Robust Beamforming

This article describes a minimax regret approach to robust beamforming with an ellipsoidal uncertainty model for a steering vector, in which the objective is to minimize the worst- case regret over the uncertainty set, where 'worst' means largest. This problem can be solved efficiently by using an iterative method which uses an alternating sequence of optimization and worst-case analysis steps. Each of the two steps amounts to solving a convex optimization problem. The method typically converges to a solution within 5 iterations. The minimax regret beamforming is illustrated with numerical examples in planar random array antennas. The numerical results show that the minimax regret approach is less pessimistic (less conservative) and provides more robust performance than the worst-case SINR maximization (maximin) approach, where 'worst' means smallest.
Fear and Loathing of Fidel Castro: Sources of US Policy Toward Cuba

The Cuban Revolution shattered some of the most important policy formulations by which the United States had traditionally defined its place and defended its interests in the western hemisphere, for which Fidel Castro has been inalterably held responsible. Much of US policy towards Cuba during the past forty years has been driven by a determination to punish Cuba for the transgressions of Fidel Castro and a determination to resist a modus vivendi with Cuba as long as he remains in power.