cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Atrial flutter. Electrocardiographic, vectorcardiographic and echocardiographic correlation

Abstract The duration, contour, and amplitude of atrial flutter wave (f) was studied by electrocardiogram (ECG) and vectorcardiogram (VCG) in 32 patients and was related to the size of the left atrium (LA) measured by the echocardiogram (E). The following ECG parameters were analyzed: (1) the duration of left atrial depolarization, i.e., LA wave; (2) the amplitude of LA wave; (3) the surface area of LA wave; (4) maximum amplitude (A) of f in Leads 2 and V 1 . There was good correlation between LA size and the duration of depolarization and surface area (p 1 failed to predict LA size. The post-conversion sinus P wave showed abnormal LA depolarization time (P > 0.12 sec.) in 62 per cent of patients with enlarged left atrium (ELA) and in 43 per cent of patients with normal size LA (NLA). The VCG of the flutter wave revealed two patterns, (1) an eliptical smooth fsE loop in 63 per cent of patients with NLA, and (2) distorted fsE loop in 67 per cent of patients with ELA. Both VCG patterns were subdivided in two subgroups according to the number and location of conduction delays. The VCG of post-conversion P wave confirmed conduction delays in both groups. We conclude that both the size of the left atrium and conduction delays play a basic role in the duration and contour of left atrial wave.
Hydrolytic stability of biomolecules at high temperatures and its implication for life at 250 °C

The upper temperature at which a living system can exist is limited by the hydrolytic breakdown rate of its chemical constituents. The peptide bonds of proteins, the phosphodiester and N-glycosyl bonds in RNA and DNA, and the pyrophosphate and N-glycosyl bonds in nucleotides such as ATP and NAD are among the more important bonds that will undergo hydrolysis. The decomposition of biomolecules via non-hydrolytic pathways such as decarboxylations and dehydrations may also be critical factors in determining this upper temperature limit. Baross and Deming recently reported 'black smoker' bacteria, which they isolated from deep-sea hydrothermal vents, growing at 250 degrees C. Here I have attempted to establish the rates for the hydrolysis and/or decomposition of critical biomolecules to determine their ability to exist at this temperature. My results clearly indicate that if these organisms exist, and if their metabolic reactions occur in an aqueous environment, they could not survive at this temperature if they were composed of biomolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids, due to the very rapid rate of decomposition of such molecules.
Spatial patterning of bone stiffness variation in the colobine alveolar process

Abstract Alveolar bone is functionally involved with tooth support and must also be competent in accommodating masticatory forcess. Data from a variety of perspectives – including observations of anatomy, metabolic activity and determination of mechanical properties – suggest that alveolar bone is more compliant than the more inferiorly situated basal bone of the mandibular corpus. The nature of stiffness variation within the alveolar process, however, remains largely unexplored. The technique of microindentation is used to estimate bone stiffness variation in the cortical alveolar bone of a sample of eight adult mandibles from two species of West African colobus monkeys. The null hypothesis under investigation is that bone stiffness variation in the alveolar process is random with respect to species, sex, and location. Alternative hypotheses are evaluated with respect to species, sex and locality effects, including those associated with cortical thickness variation and masticatory loading. Microindentation data do not indicate species or sex differences. Spatial variation in alveolar bone, however, is nonrandom. The stiffest bone is localized in the superior alveolar process, and significant differences between buccal and lingual cortical plates are found in five of eight specimens. Evidence for a superoinferior stiffness gradient is found in half the specimens but is confined to either the buccal or lingual cortical plate. Covariation between bone stiffness and bone thickness is weak. Relative compliance of the alveolar process represents a biomechanical solution for enhancing toughness of cortical bone. The relationship of the spatial patterning of bone stiffness to the masticatory loading environment is unclear.
A risk assessment treatment planning protocol for the four implant immediately loaded maxilla: preliminary findings.

Statement of problem There is debate as to the efficacy of maxillary complete arch reconstructions when only 4 implants are used. Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine what risk factors, if any, may increase the likelihood for implant failure in immediate function by using a tilted distal, 4-implant approach in the maxilla. Material and methods A retrospective analysis of implant performance was conducted for patients treated with 4 implants placed in 285 maxillae (1140 implants) and 273 mandibles (992 implants) providing immediate function for complete arch implant-supported prostheses. The consecutively treated patient cohort consisted of those who provided consent between April 2008 and December 2010. A retrospective chart review was conducted to assess potential maxillary implant failure factors, including a history of smoking, gender, opposing occlusion, bone density, bone volume, insertion torque, parafunction, failed implant site, addiction, and systemic factors. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. A series of risk factors were postulated in an effort to establish guidelines for modification of treatment planning protocols in response to combined risks. Results Several common primary factors in maxillary implant failure scenarios were identified through this process of patient profiling. Opposing natural dentition, male gender, lack of bone density, the distal implant site, and parafunction were sufficiently frequent occurrences in failure situations to suggest that either the use of additional implants or delayed loading and the provision of a complete denture as an interim prosthesis may be more appropriate in the management of patients identified as being high risk. Secondary factors such as bone availability (volume) and smoking were less common in failure situations. Conclusions A preliminary protocol is suggested for both treatment planning and profiling patients with respect to presenting characteristics that may contribute to implant failure. A decrease in failure occurrence has been noted anecdotally during the short term implementation of this protocol.
Factors contributing to non-randomness in species Co-occurrences on Islands

There has been dispute whether patterns of species co-occurrence on islands are largely random. We present a new method for testing this question; this method lets one not only examine whether a whole fauna is non-randomly structured, but also identify in which direction and by how much each particular species combination deviates from expectations based on randomness. Application of this method to the whole Bismarck and New Hebridean avifaunas, and to two particular guilds, shows that some pairs of species have more exclusive distributions than expected for random placement of species, because of competition, differing distributional strategies, or different geographical orgins. Other pairs of species have more coincident distributions than expected, because of shared habitat, single-island endemism, shared distributional strategies, or shared geographical origins. Much of the information about non-random co-occurrence is contained in the incidence graphs for occurrence of individual species. Finally, our present understanding of assembly rules is summarized.
Pleurophorus caesus New to New Mexico (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae)

Pleurophorus caesus (Panzer, 1796) is one of the smallest Holarctic scarab beetles (2.5-3.5 mm length, 1 mm width). Cart wright (1948) considered P. caesus a “truly northern species, rang ing from coast to coast north of latitude 37 degrees.” Published records from California and Texas have moved this border south ward: Pittino and Mariani (1986) reported finds from Ciervo Hills, Fresno County (36°29'N) and Santa Barbara (34°25'N); Riley and Wolfe (2003) published the first state records for Texas from Lub bock and El Paso Counties (at least 33°49'N and 32°00'N, respec tively). The present state record for New Mexico adds to southern occurrences in North America. USA: NEW MEXICO, Sierra Co., Caballo Creek, ca. 1 km E Caballo Re ser voir, 32 54'12"N, 107 16'52"W, alt. 1320 m [NM section 8 in Fagerlund’s (2000) checklist], 29 July 1999, leg. E. Buckner and P. A. Opler, night, mercury vapor lamp on ground sheet (1 spm., in CSUC). Either this species was previously overlooked in the south ern part of its North American range, or it is still expanding its distribution southward, having reached at least 32 degrees lati tude. With its Palaearctic distribution reaching south ward to the Canar ies and North Africa (Pittino and Mariani, 1986), it is hard ly likely that it is confined to a northern distribution in North Amer i ca. P. caesus is one of the dung beetle species rarely attracted by dung. It has been reported as a pest species of tomato in Italy (Ciampolini and Ventricelli, 1995) and Washington State in the USA, of cucumber in Washington, and of potatoes in the states of Washington and possibly Colorado (see Landis 1959).
On Leeuwenhoek's magnifications.

The thesis of this communication is that the “secret method” of Leeuwenhoek was the augmentation of the magnification of his single glass lens by the refraction at the quasi-hemispherical surface of a column of liquid containing the microorganisms. The linear increase in magnification thus secured could be as much as three-fold, depending on the degree of curvature of the liquid surface, the diameter of the column of liquid, and the index of refraction of the medium. This increase is more than adequate to account for the magnifications necessary for observation of details beyond the resolution of his best glass lenses. The hypothesis also accounts for the second part of the secret method, the high density of microorganisms in a single field of view, by successive reconstitutions of the curved surface of the medium.
Cadmium modification of the response in Balb/c mice to MOPC-104E tumor

Abstract The immunotoxicological effects of cadmium suggest that it may alter immunosurveillance. However, the studies contributing to this conclusion have been conducted at relatively high cadmium concentrations and for extended periods of exposure. Cadmium was administered in the drinking water of Balb/c mice at 0.01, 0.10, and 1.0 ppm for 4 to 5 wk. Under these conditions, there was a cadmium dose dependent change in the mortality rate of mice when challenged with an intraperitoneal injection of 5 x 103, 5 x 104, or 5 x 105 MOPC-104E plasmacytoma cells. There was a maximum decrease in mortality at the 0.01 ppm dose level, while at the higher cadmium concentrations there was little or no change. At the two highest tumor cell doses, there was a decrease in the incubation time of the illness in animals exposed to 0.01 ppm cadmium. This returned to control values at the higher concentration of cadmium. The data indicate that at very low concentrations cadmium can alter tumor growth by more than one mechani...
Allosteric Modulator Desformylflustrabromine Relieves the Inhibition of α2β2 and α4β2 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors by β-Amyloid1–42 Peptide

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are pentameric transmembrane proteins that belong to the cys-loop ligand-gated ion channel family. These receptors are widely expressed in the brain and implicated in the pathophysiology of many neurological conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), where typical symptoms include the loss of cognitive function and dementia. The presence of extracellular neuritic plaques composed of β amyloid (Aβ1–42) peptide is a characteristic feature of AD. Desformylflustrabromine (dFBr) is a positive allosteric modulator (PAM) for α4β2 nAChRs since it increases peak ACh responses without inducing a response on its own. Previously, the effect of dFBr on the α2β2 nAChR subtype was not known. The action of dFBr was tested on α2β2 receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes. It was found that dFBr is also a PAM for the α2β2 receptor. Next we tested whether dFBr had any effect on the previously known block of both the α4β2 and α2β2 receptors by Aβ1–42. We found that the functional blockade of ACh-induced currents in oocytes expressing α4β2 and α2β2 receptors by Aβ1–42 was prevented by dFBr. We conclude that dFBr is a positive allosteric modulator for both α4β2 and α2β2 subtypes of nAChRs and that it also relieves the blockade of these receptors by Aβ1–42. This study demonstrates that PAMs for the non-α7 nAChRs have the potential to develop into clinically applicable drugs for AD and other disorders.
Threats to Foreign Equity Investments in International Capital Markets: Nationalism and Militarism

Even though financial markets have become more integrated and international capital now moves more freely across borders, we argue that access to foreign equity investments still remains a political decision, and this policy decision is a function of the country's nationalistic and militaristic sentiments. We use military spending as a proxy for militarism and nationalism, and show that countries with high militaristic sentiments have lower foreign equity investments. We also look at bilateral equity flows and find that a pair of countries simultaneously having greater increases in militarism has lower bilateral equity investments.
Maximum principles for a fourth order equation from thin plate theory

Abstract This paper focuses on a nonlinear equation from thin plate theory of the form Δ ( D ( x ) Δ w ) − ( 1 − ν ) [ D , w ] + c ( x ) f ( w ) = 0 . We obtain maximum principles for certain functions defined on the solution of this equation using P-functions or auxiliary functions of the types used by Payne [L.E. Payne, Some remarks on maximum principles, J. Anal. Math. 30 (1976) 421–433] and Schaefer [P.W. Schaefer, Solution, gradient, and laplacian bounds in some nonlinear fourth order elliptic equations, SIAM J. Math. Anal. 18 (1987) 430–434].
Alpha interferon administration paradoxically inhibits the development of diabetes in BB rats.

Abstract Alpha-interferon (IFN-α) is thought to be important in the pathogenesis of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). However, since potent inducers of IFN-α, viruses, have been shown to modulate immune function and autoimmunity, we investigated whether administration of recombinant IFN-α (rIFN-α) would inhibit the diabetic process in BB rats. The development of diabetes was significantly inhibited by injections of either 10 5 units or 4 × 10 5 units rIFN-α. rIFN-α was more effective in preventing disease when injections were initiated at an earlier age (28–30 days vs 35–40 days). Histologic examination revealed a markedly lower degree of insulitis in rIFN-α treated rats. The mean total peripheral WBC and differential count, T-cell subsets, peripheral blood NK cell number, splenic NK cell activity, and serum cytotoxic beta cell surface antibody levels were unaltered by rIFN-α administration. In vitro incubation with rIFN-α inhibited the Con A proliferative response of mononuclear splenocytes of BB rats but not of Sprague Dawley rats. These results document that rIFN-α treatment potently prevents diabetes by inhibiting the development of insulitis. This paradoxical diabetes sparing effect may have significant implications for the treatment and prevention of IDDM and towards the understanding the autoimmune process.
A Simulation Study of a Catch‐Effort Model for Estimating Mortality Rates

Abstract The properties of the estimators of the instantaneous natural mortality rate, M, and the instantaneous exploitation rate, q, are investigated for a multiple regression model of catch-effort data developed independently by D. G. Chapman and J. E. Paloheimo. It is assumed that the units of effort are coded such that the values of effort fall in an interval [a,b]. Values of M and q are then considered which will give realistic probabilities of mortality over two to 10 time periods. It is shown in a simulation study that the approximation used to arrive at the regression model is accurate. However, when sampling error is taken into consideration, the estimators of M and q do not simultaneously have acceptable properties in the ranges anticipated in practice.
Megaureter in newborn presenting as contralateral abdominal mass

Abstract A case is reported in a newborn of two ureterocele-associated megaureters which coursed far into the contralateral abdomen and presented as an abdominal mass contralateral to the site of the pathology. The differential diagnosis of a lateral abdominal mass in the newborn should include a megaureter coursing downward from the contralateral kidney.
Distribution of β-adrenergic receptors and isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic AMP formation in monkey iris and ciliary body

The distribution of β-adrenergic receptors in monkey iris and ciliary body tissue was studied using the high affinity β-adrenergic antagonist iodohydroxybenzylpindolol, ([125I]HYP). The density of β-adrenergic receptors in whole iris plus ciliary body was relatively high compared with that of other tissues. Receptor density was 960 fmol/mg protein in ciliary body and 416 fmol/mg protein in the segment of iris containing sphincter muscle and associated tissue with binding affinity (Kd) of about 7×10−10 m in both cases. No specific binding of the ligand was found in the dilator portion of the iris. Isoproterenol increased adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) content of tissue slices of whole iris plus ciliary body as well as of separately dissected and incubated ciliary body and sphincter protion of iris. This response was blocked by the β-adrenergic antagonist l -propranolol. This distribution of isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic AMP formation in general paralleled that found in [125I]HYP binding sites, with greater stimulation in ciliary body than in the sphincter preparation and with only small stimulation found in the dilator preparation. In addition the distribution of both binding sites and isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic AMP formation correspond to that previously indicated in studies of the contractile response to β-adrenergic agonists.
Structural studies of apolipoprotein B: physical properties of the protein in guanidine hydrochloride.

Abstract Apolipoprotein B was isolated from human plasma low-density-lipoprotein without precipitation by diethyl ether/ethanol extraction of the protein in 6 M guanidine hydrochloride. The physical properties of this protein, which contained a residuum of approximately 7% phospholipid, were examined in 6 M guanidine solution under reducing conditions. The circular dichroism spectrum was indistinguishable from that of a random coil protein. Sedimentation equilibrium analyses of apolipoprotein B by the meniscus depletion method of Yphantis (1984, Biochemistry 3, 297–317) were complicated by heterogeneity and nonideality despite the low concentrations employed. 63 analyses of the weight average ( M w ) and z average ( M z ) molecular weight were made on the apolipoprotein B from 12 subjects. The M w observed was a function of initial concentration, rotor speed, and a heterogeneity index (if M z / M w ). Multiple linear regression of apolipoprotein B molecular mass against these parameters suggested that an M w of 540000 ± 110000 would be observed under apparently ideal and homogeneous conditions. The sedimentation coefficient and intrinsic viscosity of the reduced protein at 25°C in 6 M guanidine were 2.13 S and 116 ml/g, respectively; these values predict molecular weights of 640 000 and 250 000, respectively, if apolipoprotein B was fully denatured into a random coil. Lack of agreement between these estimates and with the sedimentation equilibrium analysis can best be explained by compactness of structure and incomplete denaturation to a random coil state. Furthermore, an irreversible temperature dependence of apolipoprotein B reduced viscosity indicated that residual structure remained in solutions of 6 M guanidine hydrochloride/20 mM dithiothreitol. Taken together, the physical data demonstrate that apolipoprotein is a single polypeptide of approximately 540 kDa, whose structure resists denaturation under conditions where most proteins exist as random coils.
Systemwide joint position sensor fault tolerance in robot systems using Cartesian accelerometers

Joint position sensors are necessary for most robot control systems. A single position sensor failure in a normal robot system can greatly degrade performance. This paper presents a method to obtain position information from Cartesian accelerometers without integration. Depending on the number and location of the accelerometers, the proposed system can tolerate the loss of multiple position sensors. A solution technique suitable for real-time implementation is presented. Simulations were conducted using 5 triaxial accelerometers to recover from the loss of up to 4 joint position sensors on a 7 degree of freedom robot moving in general three dimensional space. The simulations show good estimation performance using non-ideal accelerometer measurements.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The assessment of tumour response to treatment

Summary. A parsimonious model for treated tumours is developed as a continuation of our previous work on regrowth curve theory. The statistical model belongs to the family of marginal non-linear models since the only linear parameters of the model are tumour specific and random facilitating parameter estimation. An important feature of the model is that it enables the estimation of the fraction of cancer cells surviving the treatment in vivo having easy-to-obtain longitudinal measurements of tumour volume. We compare several methods of estimation, including Lindstrom–Bates, iterated reweighted least squares and maximum likelihood. The last two methods are computed via the total estimating equations approach and variance least squares. The theory is illustrated with a photodynamic tumour therapy example.
Building a social capital model of research development: The case of the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research

This paper argues that social capital theory, originally developed to explain collective, cooperative behavior, can be applied in understanding how better to use science and technology to advance social and economic objectives of underdeveloped regions. Using the case of the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), broad issues affecting priority setting, knowledge utilization, and program evaluation are examined to shape a revised theory of social capital, EPSCoR, and the use of science as a social and economic development strategy. A ‘scientific and technical human capital’ model for the evaluation of EPSCoR is presented. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.
Magnesium deficiency and myocardial infarct size in the dog

Although epidemiologic data suggest a relation between myocardial infarction death rates and dietary intake of magnesium, there are no experimental studies reflecting such a phenomenon. It is now reported that beagle dogs kept on a severely magnesium-deficient diet for 100 days develop a larger infarct than do control animals. Control animals were either kept on the same diet as experimental animals with supplementary magnesium, or were fed standard dog chow. The control groups were indistinguishable and were therefore pooled. Infarction was produced by occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery for 1 hour followed by 4 hours of reperfusion. Slices of ventricular myocardium, 5 mm thick, were made from the apex to the base. Ischemic muscle, considered to be the muscle at risk, was delineated by a microsphere-autoradiographic method, and necrotic muscle was delineated by tetrazolium stain. Involved areas were measured by planimetry, and these integrated to produce the volume. The volumes of muscle made ischemic were similar in the experimental and control groups. The volumes of necrotic muscle, however, were less in the control than in the experimental animals. The ratio of necrotic muscle volume to the volume of muscle at risk was greater in the experimental animals than in the control animals by a factor of almost two (p These experiments indicate that, under the conditions used here, animals fed a magnesium-deficient diet develop a larger infarct than do control animals. This could occur either through decreased postocclusion collateral flow or increased vulnerability of the ischemic muscle in magnesium-deficient animals. Although these experiments cannot rule out an effect on postocclusion collateral flow, they do suggest that electrolyte abnormalities related to magnesium deficiency are of such a character as to increase myocardial vulnerability to injury.
Rapid interphase analysis for prenatal diagnosis of translocation carriers using subtelomeric probes.

Interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) has become an accepted laboratory technique for the rapid and preliminary prenatal assessment of chromosome aneuploidy. The introduction of subtelomeric FISH probes now allows for the molecular-cytogenetic analysis of terminal chromosome rearrangements. In a prospective study, we examined the prenatal use of subtelomeric probes on interphase cells to rapidly detect the carrier status of a fetus when a parent carried a known reciprocal or Robertsonian chromosome translocation. Three of the cases were identified as being abnormal. All cases were confirmed by routine cytogenetic analysis. These findings clearly demonstrated the utility of this technique and these probes to rapidly and correctly identify balanced and unbalanced chromosome anomalies of a fetus that could result from parental translocations.
Automatic Phase Control: Theory and Design

Automatic Phase Control (APC) systems with sinusoidal reference are analyzed, and design criteria are presented. The limit of the pull-in range is derived; the result is believed to be novel, and is found to be in agreement with experiment.
Mapping the nonlinear dynamics of a laser diode via its terminal voltage

We show that the bifurcations between dynamical states originating in the nonlinear dynamics of an external-cavity semiconductor laser at constant current can be detected by its terminal voltage V. We experimentally vary the intensity fed back into the gain medium by the external cavity and show that the dc component Vdc of V tracks the optical intensity-based bifurcation diagram. It is shown using computational results based upon the Lang–Kobayashi model that whereas optical intensity accesses the dynamical-state variable |E|, V is related to population-inversion carrier density N. The change in feedback strength affects N and thereby the quasi-Fermi energy level difference at the p-i-n junction band-gap of the gain medium. The change in the quasi-Fermi energy-level thereby changes the terminal voltage V. Thus V is shown to provide information on the change in the dynamical-state variable N, which complements the more conventionally probed optical intensity.
Spectrophotometric Determination of Trivalent Manganese in the Presence of Divalent Iron with Possible Application to the Analysis of Manganese Bearing Ferrospinels

A spectrophotometric method for the determination of milligram amounts of trivalent manganese in the presence of divalent iron, trivalent iron, and divalent manganese is described. Powdered samples...
Converting Science into Art: The Challenge of the Translationists

Translating basic science evidence into clinical trials is particularly challenging. The term translationist can refer to an individual who translates evidence into clinical action or an individual who has to choose the most promising intervention among alternatives and move it forward toward definitive randomized clinical trials. With respect to the first type of translationist, translating evidence into clinical action is most promising when there is unequivocal evidence that an intervention provides tangible patient benefits, preferably from rigorously designed randomized trials based on true end points. In the absence of such evidence, translation is challenging and can cause more harm than good, as has been illustrated by the rise and fall of treatments such as hormone replacement therapy, antioxidants, and temporomandibular joint implants. With respect to the second type of translationist, picking a most promising scientific finding and moving it toward clinical trials can be challenging; the future is inherently unpredictable and the value of major innovations—including medical innovations—often remains unrecognized at the time of discovery. Sound epidemiology, mechanistic studies on methods of action, and a comprehensive series of exploratory trials may help in improving the translation of promising findings to unequivocal evidence. Whether such suggestions on identifying promising treatments will lead to a larger success rate in successful translation remains to be determined. TRANSLATING EVIDENCE INTO PRACTICE
The morbidity of Clostridium difficile infection after elective colonic resection—results from a national population database

Abstract Background Clostridium difficile (CD), a gram-positive rod bacterium, resides normally within the human colon. Antibiotic treatment alters normal colonic flora, potentiating abnormal overgrowth of CD. Methods This study examined the 2004 to 2006 Nationwide Inpatient Sample to determine outcomes of CD colitis after 695,010 elective colonic resections. Results CD infection, occurring in 1.4% of patients, was associated with higher pulmonary (12.1% vs 6.4%) and gastrointestinal (12.8% vs 10.5%) complications as well as an increased length of stay (22.6 vs 10.9 days) and mortality (16.2% vs 4.9%; all P P P Conclusions CD colitis is associated with worse outcomes after elective colonic resection.
Erythrocytes: a new cell type for the evaluation of insulin receptor defects in diabetic humans

Human erythrocytes have specific insulin receptors. When studied in an insulin radioreceptor assay, erythrocytes from adult-onset, nonobese diabetic subjects bound at least 42 percent less insulin than the normal subjects at insulin concentrations from 0.1 to 100 nanograms per milliliter. The diabetic subjects had 190 insulin receptor sites per cell as compared with the 380 insulin receptor sites per cell for the normal subjects. The deficit of insulin binding in the diabetic subject was thus associated with a fewer number of insulin binding sites per cell with little or no change in affinity. The erythrocyte is a readily available cell for the evaluation of cellular insulin receptor activity.
Reagan vs. Brown: A TV image playback

One of the most interesting political campaigns of recent years was the 1966 California gubernatorial campaign. Both then‐Governor “Pat”; Brown and challenger Ronald Reagan hired professional political public relations firms; both made use of professional creative talent; and both made wide use of televised spot announcements. The following study of these spots was supported in part by a grant from the Institute of Governmental Studies at Berkeley. The authors both received their Ph.D. degrees in communications from Stanford. Ernest Rose is a documentary film producer who taught at UCLA, was head of production at the UC Extension Media Center, and will join the Department of Radio‐TV‐Film at Temple University next fall. Douglas Fuchs has been a journalism professor at UC Berkeley since 1963.
Strategic Assimilation or Creation of Symbolic Blackness: Middle-Class Blacks in Suburban Contexts

The black middle class has been the subject of a great deal of scholarly inquiry. Recently, scholars have directed their attention towards understanding how middle class blacks negotiate their racial identity. Some contend that blacks engage in strategic assimilation, working and sometimes living alongside members of the dominant group, while simultaneously maintaining social ties with members of their own racial group. To examine changes in the size and composition of the black middle class in various suburban contexts comparisons were made of selected demographic data from 1990 and 2000. The purpose of the study is to see if middle class blacks are engaging in strategic assimilation. The findings reveal that the size of the black middle class increased between 1990 and 2000 and that demographic differences exist between members of the black middle class based upon whether or not they reside inside or outside of the suburbs. The findings support the contention that middle class blacks are not engaging in strategic assimilation.
A numerical study of localized deformation in bi-crystals

Abstract Finite element calculations are presented for a model bi-crystal subjected to tensile loading. The constitutive description used is strain rate dependent and is based, on a finite strain kinematical theory that accounts for lattice and material rotations. Two calculations are described in which the latent hardening is varied. The presence of a grain boundary is shown to promote nonuniform deformation from the very onset of plastic flow and after finite straining localized shear bands are observed to form. Shear band development in the bi-crystals is compared to that in the single crystal calculations of Peirce et al. (1982, 1983). In addition, comparisons are made of shear band formation in strain rate dependent and rate independent single crystal models. In this it is shown that although the connection between localization and loss of ellipticity of the governing equations holds for rate independent models, the process itself does not depend on this when rate dependence is included in the theory. In particular, the rate dependent governing equations remain elliptic in all the examples described here.
Transcription-Coupled DNA Repair

Certain DNA lesions are removed preferentially from the transcribed strands of active genes in bacteria, yeast and mammalian cells. Initially it was thought that only lesions removed by nucleotide excision repair (NER) were subject to this pathway of transcription-coupled repair (TCR), but recent investigations have shown that some lesions caused by reactive oxygen species, that are recognized by glycosylases and are subject to base excision repair (BER), can be preferentially repaired in the transcribed strands of active genes in mammalian cells. We will discuss the pathways and the proteins involved in the repair of different lesions or groups of lesions, produced by environmental agents or endogenous metabolic activities. The victims of the human hereditary diseases, xeroderma pig-mentosum (XP) and Cockayne syndrome (CS) are highly sensitive to DNA lesions induced by sunlight but only the former exhibit predisposition to cancer. While XP patients are generally deficient in NER, those with CS are specifically defective in TCR and are characterized by dwarfism and severe developmental abnormalities. The role of TCR in human health will be discussed with specific consideration of the problems of cancer and early development.
Quantification of nanowire penetration into living cells

High-aspect ratio nanostructures such as nanowires and nanotubes are a powerful new tool for accessing the cell interior for delivery and sensing. Controlling and optimizing cellular access is a critical challenge for this new technology, yet even the most basic aspect of this process, whether these structures directly penetrate the cell membrane, is still unknown. Here we report the first quantification of hollow nanowires-nanostraws-that directly penetrate the membrane by observing dynamic ion delivery from each 100-nm diameter nanostraw. We discover that penetration is a rare event: 7.1±2.7% of the nanostraws penetrate the cell to provide cytosolic access for an extended period for an average of 10.7±5.8 penetrations per cell. Using time-resolved delivery, the kinetics of the first penetration event are shown to be adhesion dependent and coincident with recruitment of focal adhesion-associated proteins. These measurements provide a quantitative basis for understanding nanowire-cell interactions, and a means for rapidly assessing membrane penetration.
Design of Membrane-Encapsulated Wireless Photoelectrochemical Cells for Hydrogen Production

Author(s): Singh, MR; Stevens, JC; Weber, AZ | Abstract: Membrane-encapsulated devices are attractive for solar-driven hydrogen production, as their design mitigates problems with concentration overpotentials, gas bubbles, and safety inherent in liquid electrolyte water-splitting devices. However, the competing processes such as heat, water, gas, and ion transport make it nontrivial to design such devices. Here, we show analytical expressions and associated design spaces for critical membrane dimensions and material properties required for stable and efficient gas, heat, proton, and water transport. The best condition for stable gas transport in thin film or gas channels is given by the critical Damkohler number. The maximum heating of the device is governed by the Heating and Nusselt numbers, which can be tuned to the desired level. The optimal dimensions of the device, to operate under tolerable ohmic losses, correspond to the maximum value of scaled Power-loss factor. An optimal device architecture is proposed for stable and efficient operation. © 2014 The Electrochemical Society.
A Novel Strategy Using Cardiac Sodium Channel Polymorphic Fragments To Rescue Trafficking-Deficient SCN5A Mutations

Background— Brugada syndrome (BrS) is associated with mutations in the cardiac sodium channel (Nav1.5). We previously reported that the function of a trafficking-deficient BrS Nav1.5 mutation, R282H, could be restored by coexpression with the sodium channel polymorphism H558R. Here, we tested the hypothesis that peptide fragments from Nav1.5, spanning the H558R polymorphism, can be used to restore trafficking of trafficking-deficient BrS sodium channel mutations. Methods and Results— Whole-cell patch clamping revealed that cotransfection in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells of the R282H channel with either the 40- or 20-amino acid cDNA fragments of Nav1.5 containing the H558R polymorphism restored trafficking of this mutant channel. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer suggested that the trafficking-deficient R282H channel was misfolded, and this was corrected on coexpression with R558-containing peptides that restored trafficking of the R282H channel. Importantly, we also expressed the peptide spanning the H558R polymorphism with 8 additional BrS Nav1.5 mutations with reduced currents and demonstrated that the peptide was able to restore significant sodium currents in 4 of them. Conclusions— In the present study, we demonstrate that small peptides, spanning the H558R polymorphism, are sufficient to restore the trafficking defect of BrS-associated Nav1.5 mutations. Our findings suggest that it might be possible to use short cDNA constructs as a novel strategy tailored to specific disease-causing mutants of BrS.
Structural Development of Upper Magdalena Valley, Colombia: ABSTRACT

The Neiva and Girardot basins of the upper Magdalena Valley are en echelon late Cenozoic structural depressions between the Central and Eastern Cordillera of the Colombian Andes. The basins contain three depositional sequences up to 9,000 m thick resting on Paleozoic crystalline basement: (1) a Triassic-Jurassic nonmarine clastic and minor carbonate sequence, (2) a middle Cretaceous to Paleogene marine to nonmarine clastic and minor carbonate sequence, and (3) a thick Neogene nonmarine molasse sequence. The Andean orogeny in the upper Magdalena Valley occurred in two phases: (1) late Oligocene-early Miocene (Neiva basin), and (2) late Miocene-Pliocene (Neiva and Girardot basins). The first phase was dominated by basement-cored domes and basement-driven thrusts displaced toward the east from the Central Cordillera, while the second phase was dominated by basement-driven thrusting toward the west from the Eastern Cordillera. The basement-rooted thrusts splay upward within the Cretaceous and Paleogene strata and form complex shallow to moderate-dipping thrust sheets or terminate within the sedimentary cover to form a series of tight folds. From middle Miocene to late Pliocene, a thick molasse sequence accumulated on the earlier structures in both basins. During the younger phase of defo mation, the molasse was deformed by continued movement on basement-rooted faults. The basement-driven structures in the upper Magdalena Valley are probably the result of transpressional movements along the eastern margin of the Andean volcanic arc in the Central Cordillera. End_of_Article - Last_Page 555------------
Neurogenin1 expression in cell lineages of the cerebellar cortex in embryonic and postnatal mice

The basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) transcription factors Ptf1a and Math1 are necessary for the specification of g-aminobutyric acid-ergic and glutamatergic cell lineages in the cerebellum, respectively. Recent evidence suggests cascades of bHLH factor activities drive cell type specificity in Ptf1a 1ve and Math1 1ve lineages. In this manuscript, we reveal cell lineages in the cerebellar cortex but not deep cerebellar nuclei express the pro-neural bHLH factor Neurogenin1 (Ngn1). Ngn1 is expressed in ventricular zone progenitors and in newly generated neurons in the caudal cerebellar primordium. In later embryonic and postnatal developmental stages, Ngn1 is expressed in progenitors and in migrating interneurons in the prospective white matter. Transgenic fate-mapping reveals Ngn1 reporter-gene expression in Purkinje cells, multiple inhibitory interneuron cell types, and in unipolar brush cells of the cortex. The data suggest Ngn1 is a component of the bHLH factor code regulating cell type specification in the cerebellar cortex. Developmental Dynamics 238:3310–3325, 2009. V C 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
An efficient state space generation for analysis of real-time systems

State explosion is a well-known problem that impedes analysis and testing based on state-space exploration. This problem is particularly serious in real-time systems because unbounded time values cause the state space to be infinite. In this paper, we present an algorithm that produces a compact representation of reachable state space of a real-time system. The algorithm yields a small state space, but still retains enough timing information for analysis. To avoid the state explosion which can be caused by simply adding time values to states, our algorithm first uses history equivalence and transition bisimulation to collapse states into equivalent classes. In this approach, equivalent states have identical observable events although transitions into the states may happen at different times. The algorithm then augments the resultant state space with timing relations that describe time distances between transition executions. For example, the relation @(tr1) + 3 ≤ @(tr2) ≤ @(tr1) + 5 means that transition tr2 is taken 3 to 5 time units before transition tr2 is taken. This is used to analyze timing properties such as minimum and maximum time distances between events. To show the effectiveness of our algorithm, we have implemented the algorithm and are currently comparing it to other existing techniques which generate state space for real-time systems.
On-Chip Codeword Generation to Cope With Crosstalk

Capacitive and inductive coupling between bus lines results in crosstalk induced delays. Many bus encoding techniques have been proposed to improve the performance. Existing implementation techniques and mapping algorithms in the literature only apply the specific encoding. This paper presents the first generalized framework for a stall-free on-chip codeword generation strategy that is scalable and easy to automate. It is applicable to the coupling aware encoding techniques that allow recursive codeword generation. The proposed implementation strategy iteratively generates codewords without explicitly enumerating them. Codeword mapping relies on graph-based representation that is unique to the given encoding technique. The codewords are calculated on-chip using basic function blocks, such as adders and multiplexers. Three encoding techniques were implemented using the proposed strategy. Experimental results show significant reduction in the area overhead and power dissipation over the existing method that uses random logic to implement the codec.
Neural network control of cybernetic limb prostheses

CMAC (cerebellar model arithmetic computer) is a perceptron-like neural network that was developed to mimic the functionality of the human cerebellum in complex motor tasks. It is proposed that CMAC-like networks be used to process the dynamic and concurrent variables involved in the motion of upper-body cybernetic limb prostheses. An example of a four-degree-of-freedom above-elbow prosthesis is provided to illustrate how this approach can be implemented. >
Effect of B20 and Low Aromatic Diesel on Transit Bus NOx Emissions Over Driving Cycles with a Range of Kinetic Intensity

This research project compares the emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) from transit buses on as many as five different fuels and three standard transit duty cycles. The objective of the project is to establish if there is a real-world biodiesel NOx increase for transit bus duty cycles and engine calibrations. Prior studies have shown that biodiesel, sometimes called B20, can cause a small but significant increase in NOx emissions for some engines and duty cycles. Six buses that span engine build years from 1998 to 2011 were tested on the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL) Renewable Fuels and Lubricants (ReFUEL) research laboratory's heavy-duty chassis dynamometer with certification diesel, certification B20 blend, low aromatic California Air Resources Board (CARB) diesel, low aromatic B20 blend, and B100 fuels over the Manhattan, Orange County and the Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS) test cycles. The buses that were selected did represent a majority of the current national transit fleet. The selected buses also included hybrid and selective catalyst reduction (SCR) systems that are increasing in numbers in current transit vehicle fleets. The kinetic intensity of the tested duty cycle being the secondary driving factor, the engine emissions certification level had the dominant effect on NOx. With the exception of the 2008 model year bus, the biodiesel effect on NOx emissions was not statistically significant for most buses and duty cycles for blends with certification diesel. CARB fuel had many more instances of a statistically significant effect of biodiesel by substantially increasing NOx. SCR systems proved effective at reducing NOx emissions to near the detection limit on all duty cycles and fuels, including B100. A hybrid system proved to significantly increase NOx emissions over a same model year bus with a conventional drivetrain and the same engine. Because all but one test bus were equipped with diesel particulate filter after-treatment, particulate matter (PM) emissions were negligible and trends could not be drawn. On the oldest sample bus without after-treatment, PM emissions were reduced with B20 blends. The project shows how fuel economy was not significantly changed by the engine certification level, except that the 2008 conventional bus had the best performance on all cycles while all other buses had very similar results on each cycle. All buses had lower fuel economy with increased kinetic intensity of the cycle.