cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Auxin‐induced delay of abscission: The involvement of calcium ions and protein phosphorylation in bean explants

Treatment with Ca2+ channel blockers such as lanthanum chloride and verapamil promoted abscission in pulvinar explants of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. ev. Pirate). In addition, auxin-induced delay of abscission was markedly reduced in the presence of Ca2+ channel blockers. In vitro phosphorylation studies were performed using membrane preparations (130000 g pellet) from freshly excised as well as auxintreated and control (minus auxin) pulvinar sections. Auxin-treated sections showed a 66 kDa phosphoprotein as well as Ca2+ -dependent phosphorylation that were not observed in control explants. Coomassie blue stammg of soluble proteins (130000 g supernatent) separated on SDS-PAGE revealed the presence of 62. 55 and 47 kDa polypeptides only in the freshly excised pulvini. However. no distinct changes were observed in soluble protein profile between auxin-treated and control explants. When soluble proteins were phosphorylated in vitro, Ca2+ promoted the phosphorylation of 92, 55. 40 and I7 kDa polypeptides only in freshly excised pulvmi. Ca2+-dependent phosphorylation of soluble proteins was not observed in either the control or auxin-treated explants. In addition. in vivo phosphorylation studies were performed using freshly excised. auxrn-treated and control explants. Freshly excused segments and auxin-treated ex-plants showed similar phosphoproteins, which were different from those observed mcontrol.
Viscosity and Specific Heat of Vegetable Oils as a Function of Temperature: 35°C to 180°C

The viscosities and specific heat capacities of twelve vegetable oils were experimentally determined as a function of temperature (35 to 180° C) by means of a temperature controlled rheometer and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Viscosities of the oil samples decreased exponentially with temperature. Out of the three models (modified WLF, power law, and Arrhenius) that were used to describe the effect of temperature on viscosity, the modified WLF model gave the best fit. The specific heat capacity of the oil samples however increased linearly with increase in temperature. The equations developed in the study could be valuable for designing or evaluating handling and processing systems and equipment that are involved in the storage, handling and utilization of vegetable oils.
Can modulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase explain the vasculoprotective actions of statins

Statin-based drugs are the mainstay of therapy for coronary artery disease. Recent insights into the cellular mechanisms of this class of drugs suggest that modulation of nitric oxide synthesis contributes to their beneficial actions. These effects are independent of their lipid-lowering effects and result in enhanced nitric oxide release.
Equality of norm groups of subextensions of Sn(n⩽5) extensions of algebraic number fields

Abstract Let E/k be a Galois extension of algebraic number fields with the Galois group isomorphic to the symmetric group Sn on n⩽5 letters. For any field extensions k⊆K, L⊆E a necessary and a sufficient condition is given for the equality N K/k K ∗ =N L/k L ∗ to hold, where N K/k K ∗ is the group of norms from K to k of the elements of the multiplicative group K ∗ of K.
Effects of normal mode loss in dielectric waveguide directional couplers and interferometers

Theoretical arguments and experimental evidence are presented to show that the two fundamental normal modes of a coupled waveguide structure have different attenuations in traversing such a structure. The effects of this phenomenon on evanescent wave directional couplers and interferometers are derived. Parasitic effects in Mach-Zehnder and Sagnac interferometers utilizing directional couplers are described. An asymmetric output for the recently demonstrated all-single-mode fiber resonator is predicted and compared to experimental results. Some qualitative results are presented for integrated optic directional coupler switches.
Does homeownership counseling affect the prepayment and default behavior of affordable mortgage borrowers

The lack of industrywide data on homeownership education and counseling (HEC) programs has severely limited evaluation. In particular, very little evidence exists on the relationship between HEC completion and loan prepayment, an outcome of interest to both mortgage lenders and consumer advocates. Where mortgage prepayment directly influences the sustainability of affordable mortgage products, it also reflects the ability of underserved borrowers to access lower-cost credit through refinancing. This study uses a uniquely rich data set to examine the impact of HEC completion on prepayment and defaultamongborrowers receivingHECfrom a variety of providers across 42 states. The loans, originated between 1999 and 2003, are observed through the first quarter of 2006, a period in which strong housing appreciation and decreasing interest rates generated substantial refinancing activity. Using a competing risks model of mortgage prepayment and default, we find that HEC programs based on classroom instruction and individual counseling improve a borrower's exercise of the mortgage prepayment option, but that programs based on home study or telephone counseling did not affect borrower behavior. Counseling shows no effect on default propensities. © 2008 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
Human gene therapy

Somatic cell gene therapy for the correction of many human genetic diseases is now technically possible. We review several methods of gene transfer that have been successfully used in animal studies, and discuss the promise and potential limitations of these methods in the treatment of human genetic diseases.
TH-C-332-01: Low Dose Flat-Panel Cone-Beam CT and Tomosynthesis for Interventional Guidance Via Prior Image Constrained Compressed Sensing (PICCS)

Purpose: Intra‐operative three dimensional imaging via FP‐CBCT (flat‐panel cone‐beam computed tomography) offers high spatial resolution and the ability to image low contrast structures such as soft‐tissue. However, repeated FP‐CBCT scanning requires irradiation of the patient for each subsequent acquisition. The aim of this work is to significantly reduce the delivered dose for monitoring and verification scanning, by using a planning scan to constrain the reconstruction.Method and Materials: An extension to compressed sensing (CS) has recently been proposed wherein a prior image is utilized as a constraint in the image reconstruction procedure (i.e. Prior Image Constrained Compressed Sensing — PICCS). The PICCS framework was used here on a clinical neuro‐interventional C‐arm system. Geometric calibration was incorporated into the algorithm through measured projection matrices of a known phantom. Results: The clinical task of placing a needle into a target was simulated with phantom and cadaver experiments. A full range of tomographic angles was explored from 10 degrees to 200 degrees. In the phantom experiments the delivered dose used for the reconstruction was twenty times less than the planning image. In the cadaver experiments PICCS images were reconstructed with a dose reduction factor of ten. The needle was well visualized in the tomosynthetic planes (e.g. coronal planes for a PA arc) for all acquisitions and the PICCS algorithm enabled improved reconstruction of the background anatomy compared with CS and standard FBP. Conclusion: The PICCS algorithm enabled reconstruction of the needle introduced from few views, while maintaining the background anatomy. If a tomosynthesis acquisition is chosen the orientation of the arc with respect to the object of interest is no less important than with standard image reconstruction. Experimental data indicates that a significant undersampling is acceptable (e.g. an order of magnitude dose savings) when using the PICCS reconstruction algorithm.
Tolerance Factors in Multiple and Multivariate Linear Regressions

In this article, an improved method of computing tolerance factors for constructing tolerance regions in a multivariate linear regression model is proposed. The method is based on a chi-square approximation to the distribution of a linear function of noncentral chi-square variables and simulation. The merits of the proposed approach and the usual simulation method considered in Lee and Mathew (2004) are evaluated using Monte Carlo simulation. The study indicates that the proposed approach is stable and accurate even for small samples, and better than available methods. For constructing two-sided tolerance intervals in multiple linear regression, coverage level adjusted one-sided tolerance factors are shown to be better than available approximate tolerance factors. The results based on the coverage level adjusted one-sided tolerance factors are as good as the ones based on the exact two-sided tolerance factors in many cases.
Indwelling multiple micro-electrodes in the brain.

Abstract The free-cluster indwelling micro-electrode bundle effectively records single neural cells in an array in the brain. Application to neurosurgery with an implantable micro-drive is described.
Stellar Spectra and Atmospheric Composition

Stellar image and spectrum distortions during occulation observed from satellite, discussing recovery of atmospheric composition data from stellar spectra
Thermal infrared absorption coefficients of CFC-12 at atmospheric conditions

Abstract Spectral absorption coefficients k v (cm -1 atm -1 ) have been measured in the 9 and 11 μm bands of CFC-12 (CF 2 Cl 2 ) using a high-resolution Fourier transform spectrometer. Temperature and total (broadening) pressure have been varied to obtain results at conditions representative of tropospheric and stratospheric layers of the atmosphere. The measured absolute intensities (in units of 10 -17 cm.molecule -1 ) of the 9 and 11 μm bands are 7.595 ±0.070 and 5.750 ±0.068, respectively.
Properties of monkey pox virus.

Certain biological and physiological properties of MPV are reported. Host range was found to include primary monkey, bovine, and rabbit kidney and human amnion and continuous lines of these and several other cells. In continuous monkey kidney cell line kappa (more susceptible than other cells tested) approximately 85% of the virus was adsorbed to the cells in two hours. In these cells CAV was demonstrated 12 hours p.i. and maximal yield obtained in 48 hours. The maximal titer of free virus (obtained 96 hours p.i.) was roughly 1% of that of CAV.
Chemiluminescent spectra of YbF and YbCl

Abstract We have obtained the chemiluminescent spectra of YbF and YbCl from the reactions of ytterbium with fluorine and ytterbium with chlorine dioxide under beam-gas conditions and in a high-pressure (3 Torr) flow system. Much more extensive band systems are observed than hitherto reported, and a vibrational reanalysis of the ground and low-lying states is made. Although the A-X and B-X systems appear regular in YbCl, the A 2 Π 1 2 -X 2 Σ + and B-X systems in YbF exhibit extensive vibrational perturbations. The interaction between molecular states arising from the separated atoms Yb(5d) + X(np) as well as Yb(6p) + X(np) is believed to cause these perturbations. An unassigned red-band system is observed in emission for both YbF and YbCl, suggesting that the lowest-lying excited state is not the A state.
GABA and benzodiazepine receptors in basal ganglia function

GABA and its associated benzodiazepine interactions play an important role in basal ganglia function. Distinctive GABA, benzodiazepine and opiate receptor changes occur in response to striatal lesions and in the human neurodegenerative disorder, Huntington's disease (HD). In animal experiments, the in vivo administration of [3H]flunitrazepam labels benzodiazepine receptors and can demonstrate the receptor changes seen after striatal lesions. It should be possible to measure these receptors in vivo in humans using positron-emission tomographic scanning.
Unchecking the box: beta blocker associated harm in carotid endarterectomy

METHODS: The vascular procedure specific American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database for 2011-2012 was queried for carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Univariate statistics were performed to identify factors associated with MI and pre-procedural beta-blockers. A propensity score was created for beta-blocker use, accounting for selection bias. A forward stepwise multivariable analysis was undertaken for the primary endpoint using factors meeting criteria of p<0.01.
Comparison of shaped-charge perforating induced formation damage to gas- and liquid-saturated sandstone samples

Abstract This paper presents the results of two perforation tests performed to investigate porosity and permeability damage in the crushed zone due to shaped-charge perforating in gas-saturated and liquid-saturated Berea sandstones. Perforation experiments were conducted using conventional 6-g HMX explosive charges on 10-cm (4-in.)-diameter Berea sandstone cores saturated with either low viscosity silicone oil or nitrogen gas. During perforating, 6.9 MPa (1000-psi) effective stress and 5.2 MPa (750 psi) underbalance conditions were applied. Perforation flow tests before and after perforating were performed according to API-RP43 procedures. Permeability around the perforation tunnel was mapped using a viscous fluid injection method. Porosity was mapped by employing X-ray CT (computerized tomography) scanning and image quantification. Computation of permeability and porosity, as well as analysis of the images, show that, for the specific charge and test conditions used, the type of fluid saturating the rock results in significantly different perforation geometries and damage under the same operating conditions. In the gas-saturated core, a zone of compacted rock about 6 mm thick and with 6–8% less porosity than the average rock surrounded the perforation tunnel. Near the entrance hole, the compaction was more severe when compared to other locations along the tunnel. The liquid-saturated core had a clean tunnel with a larger diameter and deeper penetration than the gas-saturated core. The liquid-saturated rock had no compacted zone. Permeability damage extended approximately 1.5 cm from the center of the perforation in the liquid-saturated core. The particle size distribution data in the crushed zone, for both cases, show that there was grain fragmentation in the rock. However, it was more severe in the gas-saturated core.
Fluctuation-induced pair breaking in high Tc superconductors

Abstract We show that pair breaking induced by superconducting fluctuations may play an important role in the anomalous fluctuation conductivity above the transition temperature T c .
Commentary on "Personality changes following temporal lobectomy for epilepsy".

Although it is intuitive that the disability and psychological distress associated with intractable epilepsy would disappear after successful epilepsy surgery, Hill and colleagues study, ‘‘Personality Changes following Temporal Lobectomy for Epilepsy’’ [1], written in 1957, demonstrated the realization of a more complex clinical outcome. Even today, review of this early paper is invaluable, particularly as a springboard for reflection on the advances in our understanding of psychiatric issues in epilepsy and as a sober reminder about the gaps in our knowledge of this topic. One point of consideration is that this article about epilepsy surgery was published nearly half a century ago. Yet today, so many patients with intractable epilepsy have not been informed by their physicians about this potentially curative treatment. Patients who do make their way to a comprehensive epilepsy center may be astonished to learn that epilepsy surgery is not a novel or experimental therapy for seizures. This study, which involved intensive psychiatric evaluations from patients and their families, permitted a detailed analysis of the psychiatric profiles of their patients. Indeed, the benefits of having such an evaluation is inherent in their finding that a majority of patients displayed a ‘‘significant psychological disorder.’’ Yet today, with severely diminished reimbursements for non-procedure-related patient encounters, having a dedicated psychiatrist integrated into an epilepsy program is considered a luxury. One aspect that makes this paper so notable for its time was its detailed portrayal of the patients personality domains. However, one wonders whether a paper of this nature (as valuable as it is) would be readily ac-
Prognostic Value of Stress Echocardiography in Patients Presenting with Syncope.

Background Evaluation for ischemia is appropriate in patients at risk for or with a history of coronary artery disease presenting with syncope. The aim of this study is to determine the prognostic value of stress echocardiography in patients presenting with syncope. Methods We examined our database of all patients undergoing stress echocardiography at our institution. Patients referred due to syncope were grouped as high risk based on any of the following: (1) known history of coronary artery disease, (2) left ventricular ejection fraction <50%, (3) moderate or severe mitral or aortic valve regurgitation, and (4) moderate mitral or aortic valve stenosis. The main outcomes were the presence of ischemia on stress imaging and all-cause mortality using the social security death index. Results A total of 225 patients were identified; mean age was 64.3 ± 14.5 years, the mean follow-up duration was 29.2 ± 13.8 months. There were 163 patients in the low-risk group and 62 patients in the high-risk group. On imaging, 7% of the overall cohort had ischemia. The low-risk group had 5 (3%) patients with ischemia and the high-risk group had 10 patients (16%) with ischemia (P < 0.01). The mortality rate was significantly higher in the high-risk group (3.99%/year vs. 1.02%/year; P = 0.02); this difference was not affected by the presence of ischemia. Conclusions High-risk patients with syncope as defined by appropriateness criteria and existing evidence carry a higher risk of ischemia and all-cause mortality. The presence of ischemia may not be predictive of long-term outcome in this group.
Abstract 4608: Exploring anti-oncogenic properties of riluzole in breast cancer

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Introduction: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer that lacks the three receptors that current therapy targets (estrogen (ER), progesterone, HER2). Because of this, it is a very aggressive type of breast cancer with a high mortality rate. In a previous study, we discovered the drug, riluzole, to be an mGluR1 inhibitor and to reduce cell proliferation and tumor growth in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), resulting in apoptosis. This was a significant finding because there are currently no major therapies available to successfully treat TNBC. It is now being thought that riluzole also has properties that may allow it to act as a therapy against ER-positive breast cancer (ER+). Methods: The goal of this study was to learn more about how riluzole functions by analyzing the anti-oncogenic properties of riluzole. To do this, we conducted a series of transformation assays including cell proliferation (MTT), invasion, soft agar, adhesion, and in vivo metastasis using 4T1-12B cells (a luciferase-expressing clone of the 4T1 mouse mammary tumor cell line). Results: The results of the assays completed thus far indicate that both TNBC and ER+ cells are sensitive to riluzole, with TNBC being more sensitive. Riluzole significantly inhibits invasion of TNBC cells but not ER+ cells. These findings are consistent with the previous study's results showing that riluzole targets mGluR1 pathways, since ER+ cells contain significantly smaller amounts of mGluR1 compared to TNBC cells. Additionally, riluzole inhibits both cell proliferation and anchorage independent growth of both cell types, suggesting both mGluR1 dependent and independent pathways are involved. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that riluzole can be developed as an anti-breast cancer therapy for both triple negative and ER-positive breast cancer patients. Further studies silencing mGluR1 in TNBC and overexpressing mGluR1 in ER+ cell lines will help to determine any significance of mGluR1 in mediating riluzole's mechanism of action. Citation Format: Miriam A. Bukhsh, Cecilia L. Speyer, Ali A. Hachem, Mahdy Nassar, Ali A. Assi, David H. Gorski. Exploring anti-oncogenic properties of riluzole in breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 4608. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4608
Scaling behavior of the azimuthal and centrality dependencies of jet production in heavy-ion collisions

For heavy-ion collisions at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) a scaling behavior is found in the dependencies on azimuthal angle phi and impact parameter b for pion production at high p{sub T} essentially independent of the hadronization process. The scaling variable is in terms of a dynamical path length xi that takes into account detailed properties of geometry, medium density, and probability of hard scattering. It is shown in the recombination model how the nuclear modification factor depends on the average xi-bar(phi,b). The data for pi{sup 0} production at p{sub T}=4-5 and 7-8 GeV/c at RHIC are shown to exhibit the same scaling behavior as found in the model calculation. Extension to back-to-back dijet production has been carried out, showing the existence of xi-bar scaling also in the away-side yield per trigger. At the CERN Large Hadron Collider the hard-parton density can be high enough to realize the likelihood of recombination of shower partons arising from neighboring jets. It is shown that such two-jet recombination can cause strong violation of xi-bar scaling. Furthermore, the large value of R{sub AA} that exceeds 1 can become a striking signature of such a hadronization process at high energy.
Hadronic density of states from string theory.

We present an exact calculation of the finite temperature partition function for the hadronic states corresponding to a Penrose-G\"uven limit of the Maldacena-N\`u\~nez embedding of the $\mathcal{N}=1$ super Yang-Mills (SYM) into string theory. It is established that the theory exhibits a Hagedorn density of states. We propose a semiclassical string approximation to the finite temperature partition function for confining gauge theories admitting a supergravity dual, by performing an expansion around classical solutions characterized by temporal windings. This semiclassical approximation reveals a hadronic energy density of states of a Hagedorn type, with the coefficient determined by the gauge theory string tension as expected for confining theories. We argue that our proposal captures primarily information about states of pure $\mathcal{N}=1$ SYM theory, given that this semiclassical approximation does not entail a projection onto states of large U(1) charge.
Evaluation of the Commercial Entanglement-Gear Fishery in Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake, Kentucky

Abstract The second year of a renewed net fishery in western Kentucky reservoirs was monitored by catch report analysis of data obtained by onboard observers describing gear effectiveness, species caught, and length group structure of the catch. Twenty-nine permit fishermen removed a total of 651 metric tons of commercial species valued at more than $370,000. Total landings increased 65% over the first year. Reported paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) landings decreased 58% - from 15 to 4% of the catch by weight and from 26 to 2% of the value. Buffalofishes (Ictiobus spp.) and catfishes (Ictaluridae) comprised 56 and 21% of the catch by weight, respectively. Trammel nets (89-114 mm) were found to be most effective for harvesting buffalofishes while gill nets were used selectively for catfishes. Catch per effort of experienced fishermen was 49% higher than for inexperienced fishermen. Daily catch reports provided a reliable estimate of total harvest when monitored and filed.
Induction of localized cochlear hypothermia

Conclusions. Localized cochlear hypothermia was induced in a rat model, demonstrating the feasibility of modulating cochlear temperature without affecting core body temperature. Objectives. Systemi...
Correlation between HER-2 expression and response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide in patients with breast carcinoma

BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to determine whether HER-2 overexpression is associated with improved response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide (FAC) in patients with breast carcinoma. METHODS Ninety-seven patients with Stage I–III breast carcinoma were included. HER-2 expression was determined by routine clinical laboratory assessment, and tumors with 3 + immunohistochemistry staining intensity or gene amplification by fluorescent in situ hybridization were considered HER-2 positive. Response was assessed by physical examination, imaging assessment, and pathologic assessment at the time of surgery. RESULTS The median patient age was 45 years. At baseline, 68% of patients had lymph node positive disease, 87% had ≥ T2 tumors, and 28% of patients had HER-2 positive tumors. Eighty-four percent of patients received four courses of FAC, 8% of patients received 3 courses of FAC, and the remaining 8% of patients received 5–6 courses of FAC. The clinical response rate (complete response [CR] and partial response [PR]) was 78%, the imaging response rate (CR and PR) was 64%, and 15% of patients had a good pathologic response, defined as a CR or minimal residual disease (tumor measuring < 1 cm in greatest dimension and negative lymph nodes). Concordance between the three methods of response assessment (clinical, pathologic, and imaging) was modest and was best between clinical assessment and imaging assessment (64% concordance). HER-2 status did not correlate with pathologic or clinical response (assessed by physical examination or imaging), although a nonsignificant trend was noted toward better response in patients with breast tumors that overexpressed HER-2. CONCLUSIONS The authors found no significant correlation between HER-2 expression and clinical or pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with breast carcinoma. Cancer 2003;97:1758–65. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11245
Rhodopsin analogues from highly hindered 7-cis isomers of retinal.

ALL known visual pigments have as chromophore the sterically hindered 11-cis isomer of retinal. Shortly after this was established, an unsuccessful attempt was made to prepare the much more hindered 7-cis-retinal by partial reduction of the corresponding 7,8-acetylene1. But, four new geometric isomers of retinal, all apparently 7-cis, have been synthesised by a six-step non-stereospecific sequence2. Structural assignments of the isomers were originally based on spectral data of two fractions of partially separated mixtures of isomers (7-cis and 7,9-dicis; 7,13-dicis and 7,9,13-tricis). Their configurations were, therefore, not completely firm. Since then two of the four isomers (7-cis and 7,9-dicis) have been isolated by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Their nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra unambiguously confirmed the tentative assignments made earlier. That of 7-cis-retinal is shown in Fig. 1 as a representative example. The remaining two 13-cis isomers remain unseparated in various HPLC conditions. Their structures, however, have since been confirmed through a steroselective synthesis of 7,9,13-tricis-retinal3. We report here preliminary results of the interaction of these 7-cis-retinal isomers with cattle opsin.
New infrared photonic lattice coating

We have designed, fabricated, and tested large sheets of photonic bandgap (PBG) material that have a "cubic array of cubes" structure. Structures with bandgaps in two wavebands have been fabricated: the thermal IR (8-12μm) and the visible/near IR (0.6-2.5μm). A thermal-IR PBG can modify the emission properties of structures for temperature control. Visible/near-IR PBGs can be used in photonic circuits and can improve illumination efficiency.
368 THEOPHYLLINE & BRAIN DEVELOPMENT

Theophylline (T) inhibits cholesterol synthesis in cultured glial cells.Hence,T usage in premature infants at a time of rapid brain growth may be harmful. We examined the effects of chronic administration of T on brain growth in the newborn rat: cell division (DNA/brain), hypertrophy(protein/DNA) & myelination (glycolipids). 24 Sprague-Dawley rat pups were randomly distributed into 2 groups: 16 experimental & 8 controls. The experimental group received 20 mg/kg/d of T by oral-gastric tube from day 5 to 21 of life (serum T 20-30 ug/ml). Control animals received saline. Drug dose & frequency of administration was increased during the study period to offset effects of maturation on the pharmacokinetics of T. Rats were decapitated on day 21 & brains were weighed &, analyzed.As shown in the table below,we observed no statistically significant differences in total body & brain weight,brain DNA,RNA,protein,cholesterol or glycolipid content between the control & drug treated rats. Thus biochemical measurements of brain cell number, cell size & myelination do not indicate that brain growth & development in the rat is adversely affected by T even when it is administered during the presumed period of maximal vulnerability.
HPLC measurement of ocular carotenoid levels in human donor eyes in the lutein supplementation era.

ulation. METHODS. Lenses and circular punches of macula (4-mm diameter) and equatorial peripheral retina (8-mm diameter) were dissected from donor eyes free of ocular disease procured from the local eye bank. The amounts of lutein, zeaxanthin, mesozeaxanthin, and 3-oxolutein were determined by HPLC with photodiode array and mass spectral detection. RESULTS. Eighteen percent of eyes from donors age 48 and older had unusually high levels (66.3 15.1 ng) of macular carotenoids that were three times the rest of the older population’s mean level (23.0 12.1 ng; P 0.001). Carotenoid levels in these outliers were also unusually high in the lens and in the peripheral retina. Similar outliers were not present in donors younger than 48. Most of these outliers regularly consumed high-dose lutein supplements before death. Lutein supplementation was uncommon in older donors whose macular carotenoids were in the normal range. CONCLUSIONS. The presence of unusually high levels of macular carotenoids in older donors who were regularly consuming high-dose lutein supplements supports the hypothesis that long-term lutein supplementation can raise levels of macular pigment. Elevated carotenoid levels in the peripheral retina and lens in these same donors could have important implications for understanding why some clinical methods of macular pigment measurement have had difficulty detecting robust and consistent responses in carotenoid supplementation trials. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2007;48:543–549) DOI:10.1167/ iovs.06-0558
Coherent stimulated light emission (lasing) in covalently linked chlorophyll dimers

Abstract The covalently linked chlorophyll a dimer exhibits remarkably different properties in the folded and open configurations. In the folded configuration the absorption maximum is at 695 nm and the fluorescence maximum is at 730 nm. Laser output at 733 and 735 nm is obtained for solutions in wet benzene and 0.1 M ethanol/toluene, respectively. Measurements of fluorescence lineshapes, made with a transverse excited atmospheric (TEA) nitrogen laser for excitation, show the lifetime shortening associated with stimulated emission resulting from appreciable concentrations of molecules in S1 excited states. In contrast, the open dimer has absorption and fluorescence spectra essentially the same as those of chlorophyll a monomer. Unlike either the folded dimer or chlorophyll a monomer, the open dimer shows no laser emission or fluorescene lifetime shortening. It does not appear that the behavior of the open dimer can be explained in terms of excimer or triplet formation or by nonradiative decay processes. It is suggested that absorption of the exciting radiation by S1, leading to the formation of an exciplex or charge transfer state, may be involved. Significantly, no large changes in fluorescence quantum yield or fluorescence lifetime are observed for these dimers as compared to monomer chlorophyll. This suggests that concentration quenching and lifetime shortening in condensed chlorophyll systems involve more than the simple proximity of two chlorophyll molecules.
Histamine Receptors on Dispersed Parathyroid Cells from Pathological Human Parathyroid Tissue

The effects of histamine on cAMP accumulation and parathyroid hormone (PTH) release were studied in dispersed cell preparations from pathological parathyroid tissue of 13 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. Histamine stimulated cAMP accumulation 1.4- to 110-fold in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The increased cAMP content was inhibited by the H2 antagonist cimetidine and the H1 antagonist promethazine, with Ki values of 0.14--0.46 and 0.2--0.37 micrometer, respectively. Moreover, in one cell preparation, the H2 agonist dimaprit stimulated cAMP accumulation 2- to 3-fold, while the H1 agonist 2-pyridylethylamine had no effect on cAMP levels. The potent alpha-and beta-adrenergic antagonists phentolamine and propranolol did not inhibit histamine-stimulated cAMP accumulation significantly. Histamine also caused a dose- and time-dependent increase in PTH release, with a Ka in reasonable agreement with that for cAMP accumulation (0.5--1 vs. 3 micrometer, respectively), indicating that enhanced cAMP accumulation was linked to increased secretion. These results indicate that pathological human parathyroid cells have histamine receptors, probably H2 in subtype, which mediate enhanced cAMP accumulation and PTH release.
Response reactions: A mathematical well-defined way to obtain accurate thermochemistry from ab initio calculations

The concept of stoichiometrically unique reactions referred to as response reactions (RERs), earlier deduced by us in applications of chemical thermodynamics and kinetics, is extended to isodesmic reactions. Namely, it is shown that the additional stoichiometric constraints according to which the number and type of chemical bonds in a multiple chemical reaction system are conserved may be formally appended to the conventional RERs formalism. As a result, one can define and generate a stoichiometrically unique class of isodesmic RERs. Along with the conventional RERs, the newly defined isodesmic RERs are shown to be effective in converting the total enthalpies of the species obtained from ab initio calculations into accurate values of the standard enthalpies of formations for large species.
The role of oxygen-derived free radicals in burn-induced myocardial contractile depression.

The release of oxygen free radicals from ischemic myocardium has been implicated as a causative factor of cardiac dysfunction after thermal injury. In this study, isolated coronary perfused guinea pig hearts were used to determine if free radical scavengers improve left ventricular (LV) intrinsic co
On the definition of differential games and the existence of value and of saddle points

We define (in 93) the concept of a differential game with a finite duration T for the system (l.l), (1.2) with payoff (1.7); y = y(t) and z = z(t) are the control functions of the players y and x. The definition is given in terms of a sequence of approximating deterministic games, constructed in 92. In casef has the form (I .5) and h has the form (1 .S) we prove (in $3) that the game has Value. If f does not have the form (1.5) (i.e., if y and z do not appear “separated” in f) then the game may not have Value; an example to this effect is given in 97.
Measuring portfolio performance and the empirical content of asset pricing models

Abstract Recent work by Richard Roll has challenged the worth of portfolio performance measures based on the capital asset pricing model. This paper demonstrates that Roll's conclusions are due to his focusing on a ‘truly’ ex-ante efficient index. Using a choice and information theoretic framework, we show that an appropriate index is efficient relative to the probabilities assessed by the ‘market’. Residual analyses and portfolio performance tests, using such an index, yield meaningful results for a wide class of information structures. Roll's primary criticisms, however, relate to tests of the asset pricing model itself. We argue that these criticisms are vastly overstated.
Romancing the wild: cultural dimensions of ecotourism

Tourism provides a fascinating intellectual landscape for scholars interested in the cultural and social beliefs that shape our experiences when interacting with the physical “other.” Engaging in t...
Liver denervation does not modify feeding responses to metabolic challenges or hypertonic NaCl induced water consumption

Abstract Following liver denervation (LD) food intake (FI) and body weights of the LD rats did not vary significantly from sham operated animals (S). Rats were injected intraperitoneally at 0800 hr (light/dark, 12:12, lights off 1230 hr) with saline (SAL), 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2DG): Experiment (EXP) 1, 250 and 400 mg/kg; EXP 2, 100 and 150 mg/kg and insulin: EXP 1, 6 and 12 IU/kg; EXP 2, 0.75 and 1.5 IU/kg. Both LD and S rats increased their FI similarly over SAL following 2DG and insulin. In EXP 1 rats were also injected with glucagon (G) (540 μg/kg) or SAL at 1330 hr. While this dose of G was later shown to cause hyperglycemia no suppression of FI was noted in either group. Later these rats were injected at 0800 hr with (10 ml/kg) SAL or hypertonic NaCl (0.25 M, 0.5 M and 1.0 M). The two highest doses elevated water intake of both groups comparably. In EXP 2 the ad lib chow fed rats were injected with G (540 and 800 μg/kg) or SAL prior to a one hour presentation of a milk diet at 0800 hr. In both groups, after G, meal size and length were significantly and similarly reduced. The data reveal no deficits in the LD rats' response to metabolic and hypertonic NaCl challenges and question what role, if any, liver glucoreceptors have on feeding behavior and liver osmotic receptors have on hypertonic NaCl induced water consumption.
Direct Methanol Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell with a Non-Platinum Group Metal Cathode based on Iron-Aminoantipyrine Catalyst

Abstract The objective of the current report is to compare the performance of poly(phenylene) based anion exchange membranes in an alkaline direct methanol fuel cell when platinum cathode catalysts are replaced with non-platinum cathode catalysts. In a KOH-free methanol fuel, we show that a less expensive non-Pt cathode catalyst (derived from Fe-Aminoantipyrine, Fe-AAPyr using Generations 1 and 2 sacrificial silica supports) provide better or comparable performance to commercial Pt cathode catalysts. The peak power density, current density and open circuit voltage of Fe-AAPyr-G-1 in 1 M methanol at 80 °C are 2.78 mW cm−2, 19.1 mA cm−2 and 0.7 V respectively. In a direct methanol fuel cell utilizing KOH in the fuel feed, the non-Pt catalyst shows promising peak power density of 52 mW cm−2 with the Fe-AAPyr-G-2 cathode catalyst, comparable to a commercial Pt catalyst.
Development and characterization of a GC-enabled QLT-Orbitrap for high-resolution and high-mass accuracy GC/MS.

We detail the development and characterization of a GC/QLT-Orbitrap hybrid mass spectrometer capable of high resolution (up to 100 000 at m/z 400) and sub-parts-per-million mass accuracy GC/MS. A high-duty cycle, innovative scan type, the nested scan, was implemented to synchronize the Orbitrap acquisition rate and the time scale of gas chromatography (up to 6.5 Hz at resolution 7500). We benchmark this instrument’s key figures of merit, including resolution, mass accuracy, linear dynamic range, and spectral accuracy, and demonstrate its performance for two challenging applications: the determination of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and dibenzofurans (PCDF) in environmental samples and the profiling of primary metabolites in Arabidopsis thaliana extracts.
Pathological feldspar crystals

Zoned plagioclase crystals have long been used as a petrologic tool for marking magma fractionation trends. In the early part of this century, N.L. Bowen solved many of the riddles of feldspar zoning and of even reverse zoning. Now, C.J. Allegre et al. [Oscillatory zoning: A pathological case of crystal growth, Nature, Nov. 19, 1981] proposes a new theory on a secondary feature of plagioclase crystal zoning, namely, it is an explanation of the oscillatory character of the zoning of many naturally formed plagioclases. The results reported by Allegre and colleagues reflect the increasing number of studies being done on igneous melts in the laboratory. The model proposed takes into account the coupling between ‘interface kinetics’ and the diffusion of chemical species in the melt. In Allegre's examples, plagioclase zones oscillate back and forth rather uniformly in varying albite content, as one tracks across a zoning profile from the crystal center to its edges. The theoretical analogy is described as ‘the perturbation equations result in almost undamped, dissymmetric oscillations in the concentration profile.’ The growth rate equations developed in the study predict a given episode of oscillatory zoning in all cases where the supersaturation of a given crystallizing-diffusing component is not large.
Small bowel stromal cell tumor

A34-year-old woman presented with severe anemia (hemoglobin 5.0 g/dL), a positive Hemoccult test, and a normal upper endoscopy study. An abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan showed a left upper quadrant mass originating from the proximal jejunum (Figure 1, arrow). Surgical resection revealed a neoplastic process circumferentially involving the bowel wall (Figure 2) that was found to be a stromal cell tumor on pathologic examination. The patient recovered well from surgery and received 6 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy (ifosfamide/ doxorubicin). She developed bony metastases 8 months postoperatively, but remains alive 18 months after her diagnosis. Small bowel neoplasms are the most common source of occult nongastric, noncolonic gastrointestinal bleeding. In the absence of an etiology seen on endoscopy, a CT scan may be useful. Surgical resection, even if not curative, effectively palliates symptoms of anemia due to occult blood loss.
Advanced software for the calculation of thermochemistry, kinetics, and dynamics.

The Born-Oppenheimer separation of the Schroedinger equation allows the electronic and nuclear motions to be solved in three steps. 1) The solution of the electronic wave function at a discrete set of molecular conformations; 2) the fitting of this discrete set of energy values in order to construct an analytical approximation to the potential energy surface (PES) at all molecular conformations; 3) the use of this analytical PES to solve for the nuclear motion using either time-dependent or time-independent formulations to compute molecular energy values, chemical reaction rates, and cumulative reaction probabilities. This project involves the development of technology to address all three of these steps. This report focuses on our recent work on the optimization of nonlinear wave function parameters for the electronic wave functions.
Comparative Effects of Castration and Antiandrogen Treatment on the Aortas of Hypertensive and Normotensive Male Rats

Lowering androgen levels by gonadectomy or inhibiting circulating androgen by administration of the antiandrogen, BOMT, did not affect morphological or compositional changes induced by hypertension in the thoracic aorta of male rats. However, treatment with cyproterone acetate, another antiandrogenic drug, did result in the maintenance of total elastin and collagen at levels the same as those for the normotensive group and significantly lower than those for other treated and untreated hypertensive groups. In rapidly growing normotensive rats, neither castration nor administration of an antiandrogenic drug had any detectable effect on aortic wall morphology or composition regardless of whether the latter was expressed in absolute or relative terms. These findings suggest that growth and hypertension result in the accumulation of connective tissue proteins, elastin, and collagen in the blood vessel wall by different, independent mechanisms.
Components separation technique utilizing an intraperitoneal biologic and an onlay lightweight polypropylene mesh: "a sandwich technique".

Purpose Reconstruction of large, complex abdominal wall hernias is an ongoing challenge. Primary closure of such hernias is often not possible. The components separation technique (CST) is a practical option, however, recurrence rates remain unacceptably high. In an attempt to reduce recurrences, we added a biologic underlay mesh and a lightweight polypropylene onlay mesh to the traditional CST.
Intrinsic Firing Patterns and Whisker-Evoked Synaptic Responses of Neurons in the Rat Barrel Cortex

Intrinsic firing patterns and whisker-evoked synaptic responses of neurons in the rat barrel cortex. We have used whole cell recording in the anesthetized rat to study whisker-evoked synaptic and s...
Panini: a concurrent programming model for solving pervasive and oblivious interference

Modular reasoning about concurrent programs is complicated by the possibility of interferences happening between any two instructions of a task (pervasive interference), and these interferences not giving out any information about the behaviors of potentially interfering concurrent tasks (oblivious interference). Reasoning about a concurrent program would be easier if a programmer modularly and statically (1) knows precisely the program points at which interferences may happen (sparse interference), and (2) has some insights into behaviors of potentially interfering tasks at these points (cognizant interference). In this work we present Panini, a core concurrent calculus which guarantees sparse interference, by controlling sharing among concurrent tasks, and cognizant interference, by controlling dynamic name bindings and accessibility of states of tasks. Panini promotes capsule-oriented programming whose concurrently running capsules own their states, communicate by asynchronous invocations of their procedures and dynamically transfer ownership. Panini limits sharing among two capsules to other capsules and futures, limits accessibility of a capsule states to only through its procedures and dispatches a procedure invocation on the static type of its receiver capsule. We formalize Panini, present its semantics and illustrate how its interference model, using behavioral contracts, enables Hoare-style modular reasoning about concurrent programs with interference.
Performance of circuit switched LANs under different traffic conditions

Switched LANs are become more widely used because they can provide a higher bandwidth than LANs based on shared media. Examples of packet switched LANs include HIPPI, and switched FDDI and Ethernet. A number of studies have evaluated the performance of HIPPI networks, making simplifying assumptions about both the network and the traffic load. In this paper we present the results of a simulation study of circuit-switched LANs such as HIPPI using more realistic models for the system and the traffic. We observe changes in throughput as high as a factor of ten when we change the system and traffic parameters. We also show how packet scheduling can be used to improve performance in some cases. >