cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The determination of S-carboxyethylcysteine and the cyanoethylation of milk proteins.

Abstract The automatic method described by Piez and Morris (2) has been used with slight modifications to effect a complete resolution of S-carboxyethylcysteine. This allows for the direct quantitation of the compound and facilitates the use of its protein precursor, S-cyanoethylcysteine, in compositional and structural studies. It has been demonstrated that 100% of the disulfide and/or thiol groups of proteins can be determined by alkylation of the reduced proteins with acrylonitrile, followed by acid hydrolysis. It has also been shown that acrylonitrile is a nonspecific alkylating agent for at least three milk proteins under specified conditions and that up to 45% of the lysine residues may be alkylated. Further, for S-cyanoethyl-β-lactoglobulin AB and for S-cyanoethyl-κ-casein, at least two new ninhydrin-positive peaks occur in two different chromatographic systems after acid hydrolysis of the proteins. These peaks are presumed to be related to the decrease in lysine.
Exploration of Adoption of Service Innovations Through Technology Road-Mapping: Case of Location Based Services

This paper utilizes a technology road-mapping approach to demonstrate how a traditional technology management process can be applied to improve planning practices for technology-driven service innovations. With location based services (LBS) as the focus, the paper explores business, market, product and services drivers in developing the technology roadmap. Thus, the study demonstrates that technology management theory and processes from the product domain may be usefully applied to the management of technology-driven service innovations. The case study analysis identified service drivers including security, privacy and mobility as important factors for LBS success. Potentially disruptive service innovations resulting from the convergence of the computer and wireless industries are explored.
Difference between lung and spleen susceptibility of beta-adrenergic receptors to desensitization by terbutaline.

Abstract There are many reports about a marked down-regulation of beta-adrenergic receptors by beta agonists in human leukocytes. To determine whether beta receptors in lung tissue are down regulated by the long-term administration of beta agonists, as are those in the spleen (which consists largely of lymphocytes), we injected terbutaline (0.1 mg/kg, t.i.d.) intramuscularly into rats for either 3 or 6 days. We observed a significant decrease in beta-receptor density in spleen tissue but not in lung parenchyma, associated with terbutaline injection. The affinity for an antagonist did not change significantly in any group in either tissue. We did not observe any change in alpha 1 -adrenergic receptors in the lung after this treatment. In in vitro studies, we also observed reduced beta-receptor density in spleen cells but not in lung parenchyma after incubation of these tissues with terbutaline. However, there was agonist-specific alteration in lung beta receptors. It was found that the isoproterenol competition curve for 3 H-dihydroalprenolol binding shifted to the right and steepened, suggesting reduced affinity of the receptors for isoproterenol. We used whole lung and did not examine bronchial smooth muscle per se, nor were functional studies performed. Our results show a difference between lung parenchyma and spleen tissue in the susceptibility of beta receptors to desensitization by an adrenergic agonist and suggest that there may be such a difference in sensitivity between beta receptors in human lung and leukocytes.
Extending the class of known Stone–Čech remainders for ψ-spaces

Abstract We are looking at the Stone–Cech remainders of ψ -spaces with maximal almost disjoint families taken from [ κ ] ω , for κ ≥ ω . Such spaces include all standard ψ -space where κ = ω . Well-known Stone–Cech remainders of ψ -spaces of this type are compact ordinals λ for λ c + ⋅ ω , A. Dow and J.E. Vaughan [2] , compact metric spaces and the larger class of compact first countable separable spaces, Jun Terasawa [4] . We give a class of spaces A that includes the aforementioned spaces, where for each X ∈ A , we have a single construction that builds a ψ -space, ψ ( M ) , where β ( X ) = β ( ψ ( M ) ) ∖ ψ ( M ) . Clearly for such an A if X is compact and X ∈ A , then X = β ( ψ ( M ) ) ∖ ψ ( M ) . In addition to A containing in the Stone–Cech compactification of its members the compact ordinals λ c + ⋅ ω , compact metric spaces and compact separable first countable spaces, we will also have as the Stone–Cech compactifications of members of A the following: the Stone–Cech compactification of completely regular separable countably compact Frechet spaces; under the product topology for κ ≤ c , 2 κ , and more generally M κ where M is a compact metric space; closed intervals of any first countable connected totally ordered space of density less than or equal to c . It is consistent that we will also have closed intervals of any Suslin line. We define A to be the class of spaces X where X is a completely regular countably compact Frechet space, with a dense subset D , so that for each x ∈ X , there exists a neighborhood U x of x , with | U x ∩ D | ≤ c .
Parasitism, Reproductive Assurance and the Evolution of Reproductive Mode in a Freshwater Snail

The Red Queen model for the maintenance of sex suggests that parasites may evolve rapid adaptation to common host genotypes, and thus there would be strong frequency-dependent selection for those rare host genotypes generated through sex. The reproductive assurance hypothesis asserts that parthenogens are favoured under conditions where male gametes are limiting. Here I examine the biogeographic distribution of reproductive mode and parasitism by digenetic trematodes in a freshwater snail, Campeloma decisum. Parthenogenetic populations have higher levels of parasitism, supporting the prediction from the Red Queen hypothesis that parasites evolve to exploit common host genotypes. Although parthenogenesis is more common in glaciated regions, parthenogenesis may assure reproduction in glaciated regions because of severe sperm limitation caused by a digenetic trematode, rather than by colonization advantage.
Effects of glucocorticoids on cartilage growth and response to IGF-I in the tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus).

To study the effects of glucocorticoids and IGF-I on the modulation of growth in the tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus, we employed an epiceratobranchial cartilage radioisotope incorporation assay, wherein radiolabeled sulfate and thymidine uptakes are measured in vitro to indicate proteoglycan synthesis and cell proliferation, respectively. Cartilage explants were cultured with cortisol or dexamethasone with or without recombinant bovine insulin-like growth factor-I. Cortisol directly inhibited sulfate uptake at 100 and 1000 ng/mL concentrations in a concentration-dependent manner but inhibited thymidine uptake significantly only at the 1000 ng/mL concentration. Dexamethasone inhibited sulfate and thymidine uptake at concentrations similar to the effective concentrations of cortisol. Cortisol did not inhibit IGF-I stimulation of sulfate uptake at any of the concentrations tested. Furthermore, cortisol did not inhibit thymidine uptake when IGF-I was present in the medium. Cortisol appears to act directly on cartilage and not by interacting with the IGF-I system. However, the physiologically significant role of cortisol is mainly an inhibitory one on cartilage metabolism. The data generally indicate an inhibitory role for glucocorticoids on cartilage growth but an inability to counter the stimulation of sulfate uptake by IGF-I.
A simulation approach for the analysis of the effect of randomness in cutting surface constraints in the machining economics problem

This paper proposes a static or Monte-Carlo simulation methodology to study the effect or randomness in cutting surface constraints. The decision-maker can apply the methodology to several job-machine combinations and obtain the parameters, not just a single cost as in deterministic cases, of the minimum cost per piece distribution before making a final job-machine assignment.
Reorganization of Finger Coordination Patterns During Adaptation to Rotation and Scaling of a Newly Learned Sensorimotor Transformation

We examined how people organize redundant kinematic control variables (finger joint configurations) while learning to make goal-directed movements of a virtual object (a cursor) within a low-dimens...
The influence of light on daily rhythm in hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes in rat

Abstract Circadian rhythms have been observed for many biochemical systems (1–4) and physiological functions (5–6). Among the hepatic enzymes reported to show daily variation in activities are tryptophan pyrrolase (7), tyrosine-α-keto-glutarate transaminase (8), certain drug metabolizing enzymes (9a,b) and steroid hydroxylases (10). The present report describes a daily rhythm for two drug metabolizing enzymes in liver, hexobarbital oxidase and p-nitroanisole o-demethylase, and its relation to environmental lighting.
Levodopa, fertility, and longevity

High concentrations of the dopaminergic drug levodopa (L-dopa, L-3,4-dihydroxphenylalanine) administered to mice in their diet affected fertility to a moderate degree and prolonged the mean life-span by a maximum of 50 percent.
Effect of chronic treatment of ethanol on benzodiazepine and picrotoxin sites on the GABA receptor complex in regions of the brain of the rat.

Ethanol has been shown to enhance γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic transmission. In this study an examination was made of the effect of chronic treatment with ethanol and its withdrawal at 24 h on the binding of [3H]flunitrazepam and [34S]t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate (TBPS) to brain regions in rat. Rats were rendered tolerant to, and dependent on, ethanol by an intragastric intubation method. The affinity (KD) or the binding capacity (Bmax) of [3H]flunitrazepam or [35S]TBPS was not altered by chronic treatment with ethanol or during withdrawal from ethanol. Neither the enhancing effect of GABA on the binding of [3H]glunitrazepain nor its inhibitory effect on the binding of [35TBPS were affected by chronic treatment with ethanol or its withdrawal at 24 h. These results suggest that the sensitivity of benzodiazepine and picrotoxin sites on the oligomeric GABA receptor complex is not affected during tolerance to, or withdrawal from ethanol. It is suggested that the effects of ethanol on GABAergic transmission may be produced at the level of coupled chloride ion channels.
Search for specific DNAs in Creutzfeldt-Jakob infectious brain fractions using "nick translation".

Abstract Scrapie agent has been reported to contain an “essential DNA” component in the viroid size range (R. F. Marsh, T. B. Malone, J. S. Semancik, W. D. Lancaster, and R. P. Hanson, Nature (London) 275, 146–147, 1978). The human transmissible encephalopathy, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJ) was searched for unique CJ DNA components in highly infectious brain fractions containing negligible amounts of nuclear DNA. DNA was quantitatively extracted from these fractions and labeled to high specific activity by “nick translation” with 32 P-nucleotides under conditions where the labeled DNA maintained its original length. Labeled DNAs were analyzed by gel electrophoresis with special emphasis on molecules in the viroid size range. Reconstruction experiments showed that ⩽0.1 pg DNA could be detected with these procedures. No reproducible CJ specific DNA bands were detectable when compared to normal brain fractions. Restriction enzyme analysis of these DNAs also showed no CJ specific bands integrated into larger molecular weight DNA. Use of Brij 58 to release more infective physical particles into the rough endoplasmic reticulum also did not show CJ specific DNAs. Comparison of the amounts of known infective units by animal assay, assuming a 400-base DNA sequence, indicated that CJ specific DNAs should be detectable in these fractions with the methods used. These results appear to rule out usual forms of double-stranded or partially double-stranded DNAs as components of transmissible encephalopathy agents. A systematic analysis of other specific nucleic acid components of these agents is feasible using the highly sensitive in vitro labeling approach employed here.
Superior segmental optic nerve hypoplasia: The topless disc syndrome

Abstract Background Optic nerve hypoplasia is a well-known congenital maldevelopment presenting with an abnormally small optic nerve head occupying the central aspect of a normally sized chorioscleral canal. Characteristically, the optic nerve head is surrounded by scleral anlage with a “double ring sign.” Less commonly appreciated, however, is the fact that optic nerve hypoplasia may be sectorial rather than total and involving only the superior aspect of the optic disc with corresponding inferior visual field loss. Case Report A 51-year-old woman presented with a previous diagnosis of idiopathic optic atrophy superiorly in the left eye. Detailed observation revealed that the disc was not atrophic superiorly but actually hypoplastic, and the patient received a conclusive diagnosis of superior segmental optic nerve hypoplasia. Conclusions It must be appreciated that optic nerve hypoplasia can also affect solely the superior aspect of the disc with subsequent functional deficits. It is important to differentiate this syndrome from true optic atrophy to ensure proper management.
Effect of ascorbic acid supplementation on the immune response of chickens vaccinated and challenged with infectious bursal disease virus

One-day-old chickens were divided into two groups and reared under similar conditions. One group was fed a diet supplemented with 1000ppm ascorbic acid and the other group was fed an identical diet, but not supplemented with ascorbic acid. Both groups were vaccinated against infectious bursal disease (IBD) at 7 days of age and challenged orally with 4x10(5) of 50% embryo-lethal-dose IBDV 14 days later. The number of anti-IBDV antibody secreting cells, production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) by splenocytes, number of CD4(+), CD8(+) and IgM(+) cells in spleen and IgM(+) cells in bursa of Fabricius were compared between the two groups at 7 days (prior to vaccination), 21 days (14 days post-vaccination and prior to challenge) and 31 days (10 days post-challenge) of age. The number of CD8(+) in spleen at 7 days of age and IgM(+) cells in bursa at 7, 21 and 31 days of age were significantly higher in ascorbic acid supplemented group (P<0.05). Production of IL-2 by splenocytes was higher as indicated by higher stimulation indices in ascorbic acid supplemented group. The number of anti-IBDV IgG antibody secreting cells in spleen at 21 and 31 days of age were significantly higher in ascorbic acid supplemented group (P<0.05). Dietary supplementation of ascorbic acid may ameliorate the immunosuppression caused by IBDV vaccination and improve humoral and cellular immune responses.
Measuring Walkability: A Note on Auditing Methods

This study contributes to the literature on walkability measurement by proposing a hybrid auditing method that combines the efficiency of a GIS-based approach with the pedestrian perspective possible with Google Street View. The paper first reviews the various in-person and secondary source auditing methods that have been developed over the past decade. It then tests the feasibility of a GIS/Google Street View hybrid method against an in-person auditing method. The approach here is based on the Irvine-Minnesota Inventory (IMI), selecting 94 objectively measured items that were available and accessible using a combination of GIS and Google Street View. The goal was to test the degree to which some of the measures employed in IMI could be streamlined using GIS and Google Street View as data sources. It is concluded that the combination of information from Google Street View and updated GIS layers can be an effective way of obtaining physical environment data that is very comparable to in-person observation.
The photofragmentation dynamics of 3-cyclopentenone in the gas phase

Abstract Vibrational energy disposal to the CO product of the photofragmentation of 3-cyclopentenone has been studied by time-resolved CO laser absorption spectroscopy. The nascent vibrational distribution of CO is N0 = 7.88, N1 = 0.187, N2 = 0.024. The measured vibrational distribution is substantially colder than that predicted on statistical grounds. This indicates that the product fragments become vibrationally decoupled from one another before the full reaction exoergicity has been released. Our results suggest that such decoupling may occur at the dissociation transition state.
Plasma progesterone during pregnancy in the mouse.

Plasma progesterone levels were determined throughout pregnancy (day of vaginal plug = day 0) and on the day of parturition by a competitive protein-binding assay technique. Nulliparous females of a random-bred stock derived from a four-way cross were maintained on a 14-hr light schedule (on between 0500–1900 hr) and were sacrificed between 0900–1000 hr. Progesterone was low on day 0 (9.9 ng/ml) rising to a plateau of between 41 and 54 ng/ml on days 2 to through 9. A significant drop (p < 0.001) in progesterone to 35.5 ± 1.4 ng/ml occured on day 10. Progesterone concentrations then rose again to a peak level of 112.7 ng/ml on day 15. This was followed by a continuous decline to 5.5 ng/ml on the day of parturition. (Endocrinology 94: 1209, 1974)
Gene expression profiling following BMP-2 induction of mesenchymal chondrogenesis in vitro

Abstract Objective This study aims to apply gene expression profiling technology to gain insight into the molecular regulation of mesenchymal chondrogenesis. Methods The experimental system consists of micromass cultures of C3H10T1/2 cells, a murine multipotential embryonic cell line, treated with the chondroinductive growth factor, bone morphogenetic factor-2 (BMP-2). In this system, chondrogenic differentiation characterized by both morphological changes and cartilage matrix gene expression has been shown to be completely dependent upon BMP-2 treatment and the high cell plating density of micromass cultures. To identify candidate genes that may have key functional roles in chondrogenesis, we have applied subtractive hybridization to isolate genes whose expression is significantly up- or down-regulated during chondrogenesis. RNA was isolated from micromass cultures treated with BMP-2 for 24h and analysed for representational differences by means of a subtractive hybridization screening method. Results Sixteen different genes were identified whose expression was up-regulated between two- and 12-fold by B,P-2, and twelve different genes were identified whose expression was down-regulated between two- and seven-fold by BMP-2. Conclusions The potential of this screening methodology to identify new BMP-2 regulated genes is suggested by the fact that a majority of the identified genes are indeed novel. Identification and characterization of these genes should provide insight as to how chondrogenesis is regulated and also should provide important new markers for the study of osteoarthritis.
Mean-field theory prediction of the phase behavior and phase structure of alkyl-propoxy-ethoxylate graded surfactants in water: Temperature and electrolyte effects

A mean-field lattice theory is used to predict electrolyte effects on the temperature−concentration phase behavior and structure of an alkyl-propoxy-ethoxylate surfactant in water. The salt ions are treated as charged species interacting with surfactant segments and water via adjustable Flory−Huggins χ-parameters. The surfactant undergoes thermotropic (rather than lyotropic) transitions with a reversal in curvature (from water continuous to alkyl continuous) upon an increase in temperature. This is attributed to the “graded” nature of the surfactant interactions with water, which originates from the fact that the propoxy and ethoxy groups become progressively more hydrophobic as the temperature increases. The addition of NaCl is found to sharpen the thermotropic phase transitions and to shift them to lower temperatures compared to the salt-free case. The electrolyte effects on the macroscopic phase behavior are reflected in the microscopic information provided by the model on the species volume fraction p...
Electrocardiographic abnormalities in a case of uremia manifesting hyperpotassemia.

Abstract 1. 1. Data are given on a patient who manifested uremia, hyperpotassemia, and electrocardiographic changes consistent with potassium cardiotoxicity. 2. 2. Huge, peaked T waves of relatively brief duration, conduction disturbances, and P-wave changes were the salient abnormalities. 3. 3. A brief discussion of factors which may be involved in the genesis of potassium intoxication was undertaken.
The oversight and practice of oocyte donation in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada.

In vitro fertilization using donated oocytes is an important medical technique that provides the only option for some infertile patients to have children. The technique remains ethically contentious, however, and, as a result of this controversy, different oversight approaches have been developed in countries around the world. This paper examines the oversight and practice of oocyte donation in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States to examine how policy choices have influenced the development and use of this medical technology. Examining per capita utilization of oocyte donation in these three countries provides evidence that supply-side policies—specifically policies affecting the compensation of potential oocyte donors—have substantially influenced the use of this technology. These results should provide useful insight for policymakers developing or revising oocyte donation policies.
Cast metal, resin-bonded prostheses: A 10-year retrospective study

A sample of 99 resin-bonded prostheses placed over a 10-year period were examined by four clinicians using a standardized criteria sheet. Areas examined included hard tissues, periodontium, retainer and pontic design, retention, the effect of occlusion on framework design and retention rate, and bonding media. The data from 7- and 10-year retrospective studies were compared for meaningful trends. Results showed (1) caries on retainer teeth was 3%, (2) gingival index of the retainer teeth was less than the gingival index of the rest of the mouth (0.7 +/- 0.5 versus 0.9 +/- 0.6), (3) the respective mean probing depths of retainer teeth of 34 patients in the 7- and 10-year studies were 2.2 +/- 0.4 mm and 1.9 +/- 0.7 mm, (4) the debond rate of all the prostheses from all causes was 31%, (5) the debond rate comparing etched metal and perforated retainers from all causes was 32% and 31% [corrected], respectively, and (6) 83% liked the prosthesis; 17% were noncommittal. The authors concluded that the resin-bonded prosthesis may be considered a permanent restoration and a valuable asset in the clinician's armamentarium.
Relative efficacy of antithrombin compared with antiplatelet agents in accelerating coronary thrombolysis and preventing early reocclusion.

BACKGROUNDOptimal coronary thrombolysis should be prompt and persistent. Although activation of platelets and increased thrombin activity have been associated with clinical thrombolysis, the role of each in delaying thrombolysis or inducing early coronary reocclusion has been difficult to define.METHODS AND RESULTSIn conscious dogs with coronary thrombosis induced by electrical current, we assessed the impact on the rapidity of thrombolysis and the incidence of reocclusion of two types of adjunctive treatment given concomitantly with intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA): 1) inhibition of platelet function with a peptide mimetic antagonist of platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptors or with lysine acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and 2) inhibition of thrombin activity with recombinant hirudin or with heparin. ASA but not the receptor antagonist shortened the time to thrombolysis with t-PA (20 +/- 13 [mean +/- SD] minutes with ASA, 36 +/- 15 minutes with receptor antagonist, and 43 +/- 16 minutes ...
Stigma receptivity and seed set in protogynous buffelgrass.

Buffelgrass, Pennisetum ciliare (L.) Link syn = Cenchrus ciliaris L, is an important warm-season perennial forage grass that is widely grown throughout the arid tropics. It has perfect florets, and emasculation is thought to be required to produce controlled hybrids. This is a tedious, difficult undertaking because of the small floret size. The flowering behavior of buffelgrass is such that the stigmas are exserted from the floret prior to anthesis, which is referred to here as the protogynous interval. This investigation was conducted to determine the duration of the protogynous interval in 447 buffelgrass accessions and to ascertain stigma receptivity during the protogynous intervals. Protogynous intervals in a field nursery near College Station, TX, for all accessions ranged from 1 to 4 d. Six accessions with protogynous intervals ranging from 1 to 3 d were used to investigate stigma receptivity under both self- and cross-pollinated conditions in a greenhouse. Pollen germination and tube growth were observed with fluorescent microscopy at different time increments following pollination. Across all accessions, pollen germinated within 15 min of contacting the stigma, and pollen tubes grew to the micropyle within 2 to 6 h, depending on the accession and pollen source. Mean seed set ranged from 11 to 76% and from 22 to 80% among accessions following self-and cross-pollination, respectively. This investigation revealed that variation exists for protogynous interval within buffelgrass, and the stigmas are receptive when exserted from the floret and remain receptive throughout duration of the protogynous interval regardless of whether it occurs 3, 2, or 1 d prior to anthesis. These findings demonstrate that protogyny can be used to produced controlled hybrids in sexual buffelgrass without emasculation.
Maternal and zygotic requirements for src64 during Drosophila cellularization.

Cellularization of the multinucleate Drosophila embryo occurs shortly after zygotic transcription begins. During cellular blastoderm morphogenesis, the microfilament cytoskeleton undergoes extensive reorganization. This cytoskeletal reorganization includes synchronized microfilament contraction regulated by src64, a gene encoding a Src nonreceptor tyrosine kinase. We report that src64 is maternally expressed in the Drosophila embryo and acts primarily as a maternal gene during cellularization. However, we show that src64 has some zygotic activity during late cellularization. By using compound chromosomes to generate embryos with wild-type levels of maternal src64 activity, we show that this zygotic activity is normally nonessential. We also report the identification of an alternate src64 transcript. Expression of this transcript is not affected by the src64Δ17 deletion mutation, explaining the presence of low levels of src64 activity observed in src64Δ17 mutants. genesis 49:912–918, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Identification of a novel DR4 allele, DRB1*0442

A new DRB1 allele encoding DR4, DRB1*0442, was identified in three Caucasian siblings by reverse in-line hybridization and defined by sequencing based typing. The DRB1*0442 allele differs from DRB1*0404 by a single nucleotide at position 227 (T-->A) of codon 47 in exon 2. At the amino acid level, this substitution results in a change from tyrosine to phenylalanine. Serologically, the new allele appears to retain the DR4 antigenicity; however, this substitution may affect peptide-binding specificity.
HEALTHCON: an innovative educational resource for Montana health professionals

HEALTHCON is a computer bulletin board system which allows Montana health professionals to communicate with each other via any computer and modem.
LACK OF EFFECT ON CARDIAC RHYTHM FROM REPEATED DOSES OF ALBUTEROL AEROSOL (AA) ADMINISTERED FROM A METERED DOSE INHALER (MDI)

Beta agonists administered by aerosol are effective treatment for asthma. They produce prompt, significant bronchodilation. Side effects are few but cardiac arrhythmias may occur when the patient exceeds the prescribed dose. Our previous study (J. Peds 103:655, 1983) showed that 2 puffs of AA did not disturb cardiac rhythm. We have now studied the potential effect of frequently repeated inhalation of AA to simulate the pattern of use by some patients at home. 15 stable outpatient asthmatic children (9 to 14 years old) were treated with 2 puffs of AA (180mcg) followed either by hourly placebo or hourly AA for 5 hours (10 puffs=900mcgs) in a randomized, double blind cross over study. Cardiac rhythm was Holter monitored and pulmonary function was tested hourly for 5 hours. Heart rate (HR) was analyzed at hourly intervals. Pretreatment HR of 95bpm declined by 1-2bpm after single dose and similarly 2-5bpm from 99bpm during multiple doses. No one developed arrhythmia, and side effects were infrequent on either day. FEV1 increased 35, 38, 42, 41, 44 and 44% above the baseline period at 30, 60, 120, 180, 240 and 300 minutes after multiple doses and 36, 40, 38, 33, 27 and 19% at the same intervals after single dose. The difference was significant (P< 0.05) at 240 and 300 minutes. No cardiac toxicity occurred with hourly administration (for 5hrs) of AA using MDI. Hence there is apparently a substantial margin of safety in administration of this agent to asthmatic children.
In vitro-lysis of leucocytes from tuberculous humans by tuberculoprotein.

ConclusionThe observation that lymphocytes from animals infected with certain bacteria are specifically destroyed by contact in vitro with protein extracts of these bacteria1 has been extended to humans infected with M. tuberculosis. In the human, as in the guinea pig, the neutrophil leucocytes are also specifically lysed. It is of interest that although the lymphocytes from tuberculous subjects of all 3 species (mouse, guinea pig, human) so far studied, are specifically sensitive to tuberculoprotein, the neutrophil leucocytes are affected only in those species which show a positive delayed-type tuberculin skin test (i.e., guinea pigs and humans). In the tuberculous mouse, which fails to develop delayed-type skin hypersensitivity reactions to tuberculoprotein,5 lympholysis occurs but other cell types remain unaffected.1 Apparently, the prsence of complement is necessary for the occurrence of this form of prompt cytolysis. Experiments to further elucidate the rule that thie type of cytolysis plays in the p...
Asensitive, Selective, and Rapid Colorimetric Method to Determine Cyanide Contamination in Containers, Capsules, and Liquids

Abstract A new formulation of the Konig colorimetric method for cyanide is selective, has increased stability, and is sensitive to a few ppb. The formulation can be placed as a strip on the safety seals of bottles to indicate tampering, placed in a syringe and used to sample head space gas in commercial products or liquids to test for tampering, or placed in the desiccant container in bottles of capsules or tablets. Reaction with head space gas requires just a few seconds, and less than an hour is required if the cyanide must first permeate through capsules. Liquids also can be either drawn directly into the syringe, or the cyanide evolved by adding an Alka-seltzer tablet to purge the gas. Reactions are immediate. Hydrogen sulfide and ammonia which interfere with several other cyanide tests, do not interfere with this formulation. A mixture of N-chlorosuccinimide and succinimide oxidizes CN- to CN+. The cyanogen ion selectively reacts with 4-phenylpyridine to form a dialdehyde, which is then coupled with ...
Assessing lifestyle interventions to improve cardiovascular health using an agent-based model

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States (US) and places a heavy economic burden on the healthcare system. Recognizing the importance of CVD prevention, in recent years the American Heart Association (AHA) began to emphasize the need to increase awareness of key risk factors of CVD and proposed a new concept called ideal cardiovascular health. Based on this concept, we developed an agent-based model that is designed to capture individual health progression and study emergent CVD-related population health outcomes (diabetes, myocardial infarction, stroke and death) over a specified time period. We present some preliminary numerical results, which demonstrate the predictive validity of the model and show how the model could be used in practice by assessing the impact of a set of hypothetical lifestyle interventions on CVD-related health outcomes. Our model is designed to help policy-makers assess and compare different intervention programs targeting CVD prevention for the population of their interest.
Effects of strain and Coulomb interaction on gain and refractive index in quantum-well lasers

The eigenstates of the coupled-band Luttinger Hamiltonian are used to derive modified optical Bloch equations for strained layer semiconductor heterostructures. An average effective-mass approximation is introduced, and the single-plasmon-pole approximation for the screened Coulomb interaction is extended for the multiple-subband case. Spectra of the optical absorption/gain and of the antiguiding (linewidth enhancement) factor are computed by use of a high-density Pade approximation for the quantum-well susceptibility. We compare results for various strained and unstrained systems.
The 2-week duration criterion and severity and course of early childhood depression: Implications for nosology

Background Although validity for DSM-IV MDD symptom criteria in preschoolers has been demonstrated, whether the 2-week duration criterion is an appropriate threshold of clinical significance at this age remains unclear. The current study aimed to begin addressing this question.
Assessing uncertainty in reliability of component-based software systems

Many architecture-based software reliability models were proposed in the past. Regardless of the accuracy of these models, if a considerable uncertainty exists in the estimates of the operational profile and components reliabilities then a significant uncertainty exists in calculated software reliability. Therefore, the traditional way of estimating software reliability by plugging point estimates of unknown parameters into the model may not be appropriate since it discards any variance due to uncertainty of the parameters. In this paper we propose a methodology for uncertainty analysis of architecture-based software reliability models suitable for large complex component based applications and applicable throughout the software life cycle. First, we describe different approaches to build the architecture based software reliability model and to estimate parameters. Then, we perform uncertainty analysis using the method of moments and Monte Carlo simulation which enable us to study how the uncertainty of parameters propagates in the reliability estimate. Both methods are illustrated on two case studies and compared using several criteria.
Counter-jamming using mixed mechanical and software interference cancellation

Wireless networks are an integral part of today's cyber-physical infrastructure. Their resiliency to jamming is critical not only for military applications, but also for civilian and commercial applications. In this paper, we design, prototype, and evaluate a system for cancelling jammers that are significantly more powerful than the transmitting node. Our system combines a novel mechanical beam-forming design with a fast auto-configuration algorithm and a software radio digital interference cancellation algorithm. Our mechanical beam-forming uses a custom-designed two-elements architecture and an iterative algorithm for jammer signal identification and cancellation. We have built a fully functional prototype (using 3D printers, servos, USRP-SDR) and demonstrate a robust communication in the presence of jammers operating at five orders of magnitude stronger power than the transmitting node. Similar performance in traditional phased arrays and radar systems requires tens to hundreds of elements, high cost and size
A Study of Self-Paced and Machine-Paced Inspection:

A study was conducted to investigate the performance of inspectors under different conditions using computer generated visual test items. The purpose of the study was to compare performance for self-paced vs. machine-paced inspection tasks. The factors considered were searching for a single type of flaw vs. three types of flaws, the viewing time for machine-paced inspection, and the type of instruction for self-paced inspection. The results showed that performance was better when subjects searched for only one type of flaw. Performance improved with increased viewing time, but was not affected by the type of instruction. There was no difference between self-paced and machine-paced inspection provided the viewing time was sufficient. Overall, performance in self-paced inspection was better.
Germination of Asystasia gangetica L. Seed with Special Reference to the Effect of Age on the Temperature Requirement for Germination.

Freshly harvested seed of Asystasia gang etica L?., an ornamental shrub, does not germinate well under ordinary conditions. This seed normally requires a storage period) of several months at room temperature before it germinates. The purpose of this investigation is to determine the requirements for germination of the seed at different ages. The literature on the use of alternating temperatures to break the dormancy of seeds is voluminous, and no attempt will be made here to refer to all of the reported cases. Harrington (2) extensively studied the use of alternating temperatures to increase the germination of seeds of grasses and garden crops. Morinaga (3) increased the germination of Bermuda grass seed with alternating temperatures. Toole (4) also used alternating temperatures to improve the germination of other grass seeds. It has been the experience of the author that the germination of seeds of some of the grass species grown on Hawaiian ranges is materially improved by the use of alternating temperatures (1).
Anaerobic bacteria from the digestive tract of North Atlantic fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus)

Abstract Samples were collected from the forestomach and colon of North Atlantic fin whales ( Balaenoptera physalus ) landed at the commercial whaling station at Hvalfjordur, Iceland during three whaling seasons. Techniques were used to enrich for and enumerate anaerobic bacteria, methanogens, and sulfate reducers. Anaerobic bacteria ranged from 10 8 to 10 10 per ml of digesta in the colon, and from 10 5 to 10 9 per ml of digesta in the forestomach. Methanogens and sulfate-reducing bacteria were found in the majority of forestomach and colon samples, with sulfate-reducing bacteria usually occuring at higher concentrations. Enteric bacteria, Vibrio , and Listonella spp. were found in the colon. Volatile fatty acids were detected in significant concentrations in the forestomach of many of the whales. These results support previous findings which suggest that a microbial fermentation occurs in the forestomach of baleen whales.
Mechanisms of Glucose-Induced Secretion of Pancreatic-Derived Factor (PANDER or FAM3B) in Pancreatic β-Cells

Pancreatic-derived factor (PANDER) is an islet-specific cytokine present in both pancreatic α- and β-cells, which, in vitro, induces β-cell apoptosis of primary islet and cell lines. In this study, we investigated whether PANDER is secreted by pancreatic α- and β-cells and whether PANDER secretion is regulated by glucose and other insulin secretagogues. In mouse-derived insulin-secreting β-TC3 cells, PANDER secretion in the presence of stimulatory concentrations of glucose was 2.8 ± 0.4-fold higher ( P < 0.05) than without glucose. Insulin secretion was similarly increased by glucose in the same cells. The total concentration of secreted PANDER in the medium was ∼6–10 ng/ml (0.3–0.5 nmol/l) after a 24-h culture with glucose. l-Glucose failed to stimulate PANDER secretion in β-TC3 cells. KCl stimulated PANDER secretion 2.1 ± 0.1-fold compared with control without glucose. An l-type Ca2+ channel inhibitor, nifedipine, completely blocked both glucose- or KCl-induced insulin and PANDER secretion. In rat-derived INS-1 cells, glucose (20 mmol/l) stimulated PANDER secretion 4.4 ± 0.9-fold, while leucine plus glutamine stimulated 4.4 ± 0.7-fold compared with control without glucose. In mouse islets overexpressing PANDER, glucose (20 mmol/l) stimulated PANDER secretion 3.2 ± 0.5-fold ( P < 0.05) compared with basal (3 mmol/l glucose). PANDER was also secreted by α-TC3 cells but was not stimulated by glucose. Mutations of cysteine 229 or of cysteines 91 and 229 to serine, which may form one disulfide bond, and truncation of the COOH-terminus or NH2-terminus of PANDER all resulted in failure of PANDER secretion, even though these mutant or truncated PANDERs were highly expressed within the cells. In conclusion, we found that 1 ) PANDER is secreted from both pancreatic α- and β-cells, 2 ) glucose stimulates PANDER secretion dose dependently in β-cell lines and primary islets but not in α-cells, 3 ) PANDER is likely cosecreted with insulin via the same regulatory mechanisms, and 4 ) structure and conformation is vital for PANDER secretion.
THE PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS AMONG REQUIEM AND HAMMERHEAD SHARKS: INFERRING PHYLOGENY WHEN THOUSANDS OF EQUALLY MOST PARSIMONIOUS TREES RESULT

Abstmct-Protein variation among 37 species of carcharhiniform sharks was examined at 17 presumed loci. Evohttionary trees were inferred from these data using both cladistic character and a distance Wagner analysis. Initial cladistic character analysis resulted in more than 30 000 equally parsimonious tree arrangements. Randomization tests designed to evaluate the phylogenetic information content of the data suggest the data are highly significantly different from random in spite of the large number of parsimonious trees produced. Different starting seed trees were found to influence the kind of tree topologies discovered by the heuristic branch swapping algorithm used. The trees generated during the early phases of branch swapping on a single seed tree were found to be topologically similar to those generated throughout the course of branch swapping. Successive weighting increased the frequency and the consistency with which certain clades were found during the course of branch swapping, causing the semi-strict consensus to be more resolved. Successive weighting also appeared resilient to the bias associated with the choice of initial seed tree causing analyses seeded with different trees to converge on identical final character weights and the same semi-strict consensus tree. The summary cladistic character analysis and the distance Wagner analysis both support the monophyly of two major clades, the genus Rhizopionodon and the genus Sphyma.. The distance Wagner analysis also supports the monophyly of the genus Gzrcharhinus. However, the cladistic analysis suggests that Grrcharhinus is a paraphyletic group that includes the blue shark Rionnc~ +Lcn.
Electrodeposit tree patterns in linear cells: experiment and computer models

Fractal tree patterns are generated experimentally in electrodeposits of CuSO4 in thin linear cells with relatively high voltages (15–30 V across two copper electrodes of separation 3.8 cm). The tree separations, tree widths and heights, and tree statistics are analysed. Tree pattern from two-dimensional computer models, the three-directions biased random walk (BRW) model and the dielectric breakdown model (DBM) with probability cut-off, are produced. The BRW model compares very well with our experimental data. There is a minimum in the Nm versus m curve where Nm is the number of trees with mass m. For m small, Nm ∼ m−τ with 0 < τ < 1, in contrast to the DLA result that 1 < τ < 2. The fractal dimension of the tree D varies linearly with the fractal dimension of the walker Dw, which also differs from the DLA results of Matsushita et al. The DBM with cut-off gives trees with too much ramification compared to the experimental results, and fails to produce the sharp structure transition lines observed in previous electrodeposit experiments.
The distribution and size of ischemic lesions after carotid artery angioplasty and stenting: Evidence for microembolization to terminal arteries

Background Much of the brain is perfused by penetrating arteries that are the "single source" of blood to their surrounding tissues. These tissues should be equally vulnerable to ischemia from embolic occlusion, but there are questions about whether emboli have access to the penetrating arteries serving the deep brain tissues. To examine this issue in humans we recorded the number and distribution of new ischemic lesions on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWMRI) after carotid artery stenting (CAS), a procedure producing showers of numerous small atheroemboli. Methods Twenty-nine men (aged 62-81) underwent 30 CAS procedures with distal protection in place, and DWMRI 48 hours after the procedure documented new lesions had developed. Thirteen patients were asymptomatic, and 16 had experienced recent symptoms ipsilateral to the treated carotid stenosis. A DWMRI study was done in each patient ≤72 hours before the procedure. All MRI studies were read by the same neuroradiologist. Results One patient sustained a minor stroke, which resolved. DWNRI found 131 new lesions (median, 3; range, 1-17; interquartile range, 2-4). Lesion size was Conclusions The ischemic areas developing after CAS were predominately in the deeper layers of the cortex in the distribution of the middle cerebral artery, but lesions were seen throughout the brain. The distribution of lesions caused by CAS-induced embolization coincided with estimates of blood flow to the respective areas of the brain. These data add to the evidence implicating microemboli in ischemic pathologies throughout the brain.
A Vision System for Precision MAV Targeted Landing

A field programmable gate array (FPGA) system implementation capable of being mounted onboard a micro aerial vehicle (MAV) (less than 5 pounds) that can perform the processing tasks necessary to identify and track a marked target landing site in real-time is presented. This implementation was designed to be an image processing subsystem that is mounted on a MAV to assist an autopilot system with vision-related tasks. This paper describes the FPGA vision system architecture and algorithms implemented to segment and locate a colored cloth target that specifies the exact landing location. Once the target landing site is identified, the exact location of the landing site is transmitted to the autopilot, which then implements the trajectory adjustments required to autonomously land the MAV on the target. Results of two flight test situations are presented. In the first situation, the MAV lands on a static target. The second situation includes a moving target, which in our tests was the back of a moving vehicle. This FPGA system is an application-specific configuration of the helios robotic vision platform developed at Brigham Young University.