cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
EARLY EFFECTS OF STREPTOMYCIN ON BACILLUS MEGATERIUM

Hancock, R. (Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.). Early effects of streptomycin on Bacillus megaterium. J. Bacteriol. 88:633–639. 1964.—The sequence of some early effects of streptomycin on Bacillus megaterium was investigated. An increase in the rate of efflux of cellular K ions preceded loss of viability, but efflux of Mg ions remained normal. Loss of viability was closely coincident with reduction in rate of protein synthesis. Nucleic acid synthesis continued after protein synthesis ceased in low-phosphate medium, but ceased simultaneously with protein synthesis in normal minimal medium. Later, after viability had begun to decrease, the respiration rate began to fall and the cellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content decreased slowly. No leakage of ultraviolet-absorbing materials into the medium occurred, although uracil was slowly released from nucleic acid after killing had begun. It is concluded that in this organism, as previously observed with Escherichia coli, the actions of streptomycin which led to an increased rate of efflux of K and specific inhibition of protein synthesis are the only ones early enough to be of significance in its bactericidal action, the other effects being later secondary changes.
The controlling effect of ion temperature on EMIC wave excitation and scattering

[1] The dispersion relation of parallel propagating EMIC waves is investigated in a magnetized homogeneous plasma consisting of hot H+ and He+ ions. We demonstrate that the hot plasma effects associated with He+ and H+ significantly modify the cold plasma dispersion relation, especially near ΩHe+. For plasmas with a sufficiently small fraction of warm He+ and a sufficiently dense, hot and anisotropic H+ population, the cold plasma stop band above ΩHe+ may vanish, and waves near ΩHe+ may be unstable. The maximum wavenumber for unstable L-mode waves due to the hot plasma modification is used to identify the plasma conditions required for EMIC wave scattering of MeV electrons. We conclude that relatively extreme conditions (ωpe/|Ωe| > ∼25, and H+ anisotropy >1) are required for resonance with electrons near 1 MeV, which limits such scattering only to the region just inside the plasmasphere or storm time plumes.
Me thamphe tarnine-Induced Dopaminergic Toxicity in Mice.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 1. Multiple injections of METH (4 × 10 mg/kg, ip) at room temperature (23°C) produced a significant depletion of dopamine (DA) and its metabolites DOPAC and HVA in striatum at 24 and 72 hr, and 1 and 2 wk. 2. Three days post 4 × 10 mg/kg METH at 23°C, an 80% decrease in striatal dopamine (DA) occurred, while the same dose at 4°C produced only a 20% DA decrease, and 4 × 20 mg/kg METH at 4°C produced a 54% DA decrease. A similar pattern in the decreases of the DA metabolites DOPAC and HVA was observed after METH administration. 3. At 23°C (+)MK-801 completely blocked while phenobarbital (40% decrease) and diazepam (65% decrease) partially blocked decreases in striatal DA produced by 4 × 10 mg/kg METH. Decreases in DOPAC and HVA were similar to the decreases in DA after METH and antagonists. 4. Multiple injections of METH (4 × 10 mg/kg, ip) at room temperature also produced a significant depletion of serotonin (5-HT) in striatum at 24 and 72 hr, and 1 and 2 wk. The depletion of 5-HT metabolite 5-HIAA was found only at 72 hr post-dosing. 5. This depletion of 5-FIT and its metabolite 5-HIAA at room temperature was blocked either by changing the environmental temperature to 4°C, or by pretreatment with MK-801, diazepam and phenobarbital after METH treatment. 6. Therefore, these data suggest that drugs that block METH toxicity, such as haloperidol (D2 receptors), pentobarbital and phenobarbital (chloride channels) and MK-801 (NMDA/glutamate receptors), do not necessarily have the same mechanism of action but may either induce hypothermia or block induction of hyperthermia. 7. In summary, these studies show that in the mouse, environmental temperature greatly influences METH neurotoxicity, and that the protective effects of compounds such as diazepam, phenobarbital and MK-801 may be mediated by blockade of METH-induced hyperthermia.
Evolution's eye: A systems view of the biology-culture divide.

In recent decades, Susan Oyama and her colleagues in the burgeoning field of developmental systems theory have rejected the determinism inherent in the nature/nurture debate, arguing that behavior cannot be reduced to distinct biological or environmental causes. In Evolution’s Eye Oyama elaborates on her pioneering work on developmental systems by spelling out that work’s implications for the fields of evolutionary theory, developmental and social psychology, feminism, and epistemology. Her approach profoundly alters our understanding of the biological processes of development and evolution and the interrelationships between them. While acknowledging that, in an uncertain world, it is easy to “blame it on the genes,” Oyama claims that the renewed trend toward genetic determinism colors the way we think about everything from human evolution to sexual orientation and personal responsibility. She presents instead a view that focuses on how a wide variety of developmental factors interact in the multileveled developmental systems that give rise to organisms. Shifting attention away from genes and the environment as causes for behavior, she convincingly shows the benefits that come from thinking about life processes in terms of developmental systems that produce, sustain, and change living beings over both developmental and evolutionary time. Providing a genuine alternative to genetic and environmental determinism, as well as to unsuccessful compromises with which others have tried to replace them, Evolution’s Eye will fascinate students and scholars who work in the fields of evolution, psychology, human biology, and philosophy of science. Feminists and others who seek a more complex view of human nature will find her work especially congenial.
GENETIC MODULATION OF RNA METABOLISM IN DROSOPHILA. IV. MEASUREMENT OF RATES OF RNA SYNTHESIS BY DENSITY LABELING

ABSTRACT Accumulation of RNA was measured in adult males of two genotypes: car bb/Ybb - and car bb/Y bbSuvar-5 . The two genotypes have similar amounts of rDNA, which is reduced in comparison to wild type (CLARK, STRAUSBAUGH and KIErm 1977). Although genotypically bobbed, car bb/Y bbSuVar-5 flies have a wild-type phenotype; car bb/Y bb- flies are both phenotypically and genotypically bobbed (CLARK, STRAUSBAUGH and KIEFER 1977). The wild-type phenotype observed in the car bb/Y bbsuVar-5 flies is thought to be the result of an increased rate of rRNA synthesis due ot the presence of the Y bbSuVar-5 chromosome (SHERMOEN and KIFFER 1975; CLARK, STRAUSBAUGH and KIEFER 1977; CLARK and KIEFER 1977). To further define this phenomenon, the absolute accumulation of RNA was measured in the two genotypes, using density labeling methods. The accumulation of RNA is 1.4 to 1.8 times higher in car bb/Y bbSuVar-5 flies than in car bb/Y bb- flies, demonstrating that there is genetic regulation of synthesis in this genotype. The use of density-labeled nucleosides has clearly shown that there is no difference in precusor pool sizes or use between the two genotypes studied.
Anticonvulsant activity of the low-affinity uncompetitive N-methyl-D- aspartate antagonist (+-)-5-aminocarbonyl-10,11-dihydro-5H- dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine (ADCI): comparison with the structural analogs dizocilpine (MK-801) and carbamazepine.

(+-)-5-Aminocarbonyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d] [a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine (ADCI), a tricyclic compound structurally related to dizocilpine (MK-801) and carbamazepine, was a potent anticonvulsant in the mouse maximal electroshock seizure test when administered i.p. (ED50, 8.9 mg/kg) or p.o. (ED50, 23.5 mg/kg), but failed to cause motor impairment except at substantially higher doses (TD50 values, 49.2 mg/kg i.p. and 293 mg/kg p.o.). ADCI was also protective against chemically induced seizures in mice, including those produced by 4-aminopyridine (ED50, 7.1 mg/kg s.c.) and pentylenetetrazol (ED50, 37.4 mg/kg s.c.). In addition, ADCI antagonized the behavioral effects and lethality of s.c. administered N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA: ED50, 15.2 mg/kg), but was a weaker antagonist of kainate-induced clonic seizures (ED50, 33.0 mg/kg), indicating that the drug is a selective functional NMDA antagonist. In common with other NMDA antagonists, ADCI retarded the development of amygdaloid kindled seizures in rats, but failed to attenuate the afterdischarge duration in fully kindled animals. Whole cell voltage clamp recordings from cultured hippocampal neurons demonstrated that ADCI selectively blocks inward current responses to NMDA in a use-dependent fashion without affecting responses to kainate or quisqualate, indicating that ADCI is a selective open channel (uncompetitive) blocker of the NMDA receptor-ionophore complex. ADCI blocked NMDA-evoked inward current responses with a potency (IC50, 14 microM) similar to that with which it displaces [3H]-1-[1-(2-thienyl)-cyclohexyl]piperidine from binding to NMDA receptor channels in rat brain homogenates (IC50, 11.3 microM).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Quasithermodynamic treatment of nonuniform systems. I. Adsorption

Abstract A quasithermodynamic model of nonuniform systems is analyzed from the point of view of statistical mechanics. It is shown that the chemical potential at a point in a nonuniform system consists of terms accounting for: (1) the chemical potential of a bulk, uniform system having the density of the respective point; (2) the direct action of the external potential; and (3) the influence of the nonuniformity of the density surrounding the point. The last term is proportional to the second-order derivative of the density with respect to the distance. An equation is established for the coefficient of proportionality. The chemical equilibrium condition provides a second-order nonlinear differential equation for the local density as a function of position. The equation is solved numerically for a fluid adsorbed on a solid wall. A discussion of size-sensitive and size-insensitive adsorption is included.
Optical and Electrical Properties of Bismuth Deposits

Far-infrared measurements on oriented bismuth deposits have yielded the indexes of absorption and refraction together with the electrical conductivities and dielectric constants, as well as the relaxation times of the holes and electrons in the deposits. The dielectric constants for these deposits have been found to approach the value zero near the wavelength of the reflection minimum. The reduced masses for the electrical carriers derived from the measurements here are found to be in fair agreement with values determined by other methods.
Ant–aphid interactions increase ant floral visitation and reduce plant reproduction via decreased pollinator visitation

For plant species that depend on animal-mediated pollination, reproduction hinges on adequate access to pollinators. Even in the presence of intact pollinator assemblages, negative interactions among floral visitors can compromise pollination services. Ants, for example, visit flowers and can discourage visitation by other insects, but usually do not perform pollination themselves. Effects on plant reproduction that result from this type of interaction may be compounded by factors that increase the likelihood or extent of floral visitation by ants. Interactions between ants and honeydew-producing insects alter the activity and local abundance of ants on plants, but the degree to which these interactions increase floral visitation by ants and in turn disrupt pollination services remains incompletely understood. We manipulated the abundance of cotton aphids (Aphis gossypii) on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) over three years to test how the interaction between honeydew-producing aphids and the Argentine ant (Li...
Ring‐opening precipitation polymerization of poly(D,L‐lactide‐co‐glycolide) in supercritical carbon dioxide

The biodegradable polymer poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) was synthesized by a ring-opening precipitation polymerization in supercritical CO2 using stannous octoate as initiator. Following polymerization, unreacted monomer was removed by supercritical fluid extraction and the polymer was recovered as a porous solid upon depressurization of the CO2 phase. The lactide to glycolide ratio of the polymer was determined to be 70.7 : 29.3 using 13C NMR spectroscopy. The weight-average molecular weight of the product was measured to be 3 500, with a polydispersity of 1.4 using gel permeation chromatography.
Neuropsychological outcome following minimal access subtemporal selective amygdalohippocampectomy

Abstract Purpose The present study provides a detailed account of neurocognitive outcome following minimal access subtemporal selective amygdalohippocampectomy (SAH) and establishes rates of neurocognitive decline in the largest sample to date. Use of a subtemporal surgical approach to SAH has been proposed to possibly reduce the risk for postoperative neurocognitive decline since lateral neocortical tissues is not resected and the temporal stem is preserved. The current study extends prior research with subtemporal SAH patients to include not only group level analyses but also analyses based on reliable change data. Methods Neurocognitive comparisons are made between 47 patients that underwent subtemporal SAH. Statistical comparisons were made between neurocognitive performance at the group level and with use of reliable change scores. Results Approximately 75% of patients were seizure free postoperatively. At the group level, there were no significant postoperative changes. For the left SAH patients, reliable change scores demonstrated a decline in approximately one third of patients for memory, verbal intellect, and naming. Right SAH patients showed decline primarily in memory. Conclusions These results indicated good seizure control following subtemporal SAH with greatest risk for neurocognitive decline following dominant SAH and best cognitive outcome following non-dominant SAH. Findings demonstrated the importance of reliable change analyses that make individual based comparisons and take into account measurement error. Despite preservation of the lateral neocortical tissue and the temporal stem, subtemporal SAH presents a risk for cognitive decline in a notable portion of patients.
Piezo-Electric and Allied Phenomena in Rochelle Salt

Electric Hysteresis in Rochelle Salt.---On the doublet theory of dielectric action, the dielectric displacement $D$, electric intensity $E$, and the polarization $P$ are analogous to $B$, $H$, and $I$ in the case of magnetism. Rochelle salt shows an electric hysteresis in $P$ analogous to the magnetic hysteresis in the case of iron. The loops obtained are displaced from the origin by an amount which gives a measure of the permanent polarization in the natural state. The moment per unit volume in the natural state is of the order of 50 e.s.u./${\mathrm{cm}.}^{2}$ under ordinary conditions, this being about 13.3 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}21}$ e.s.u./${\mathrm{cm}.}^{2}$ per molecule.Piezo-electric Response of Rochelle Salt in an Electric Field.---Mechanical force and electric field are to a certain extent equivalent in producing a change in the piezo-electric moment. Measurements of the piezo-electric response in various applied fields therefore give curves of the same nature as the curves of $\frac{\mathrm{dD}}{\mathrm{dE}}$ against $E$. Accordingly they show maxima displaced from the origin by the effect of permanent polarization.
Comparison of generic (SF-36) vs. disease-specific (GERD-HRQL) quality-of-life scales for gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease-Health-Related Quality-of-Life (GERD-HRQL) scale was developed to objectively quantify symptom severity. It was compared to a “gold standard” health survey, the SF-36. Forty-three patients treated either medically or surgically for gastroesophageal reflux disease were asked to complete both the GERD-HRQL and the SF-36. They were asked the following: (1) Which questionnaire do you like best? (2) Which questionnaire was easier to understand? (3) Which questionnaire was more reflective of the problems you have with reflux disease? (4) Given the choice, which questionnaire would you rather fill out? Patients were asked to state their overall satisfaction with their present reflux symptom conditions. Multivariate analysis showed that the only significant predictor of patient satisfaction was the total GERD-HRQL score (P < O.OOOOl). Th ere were differences in the SF-36 domains of physical function (88.7 vs. 65.3; P = 0.004) and general health (68 vs. 46.5; P = 0.006). There were no correlations between the total GERD-HRQL scores and the SF-36 domain scores. Fifty-nine percent of patients preferred the GERD-HRQL questionnaire, 62% felt it was easier to understand, 86% felt it was more reflective of their symptoms, and 67% said they would rather use it over the SF-36. The GERD-HRQL better assesses-symptom severity for gastroesophageal reflux disease than the generic SF-36.
Even permutations as a product of two conjugate cycles

The central result of this paper is a generalization of the theorem that, for n ≥ 5, every even permutation defined on n symbols is a commutator a b a−1 b−1 of even permutations a and b. In particular, [3n4] ⩽ l ⩽ n is shown to be the necessary and sufficient condition on l, in order that every even permutation defined on n ⩾ 5 symbols can be expressed as a product of two cycles, each of length l. Various results follow, including the characterization of those l for which every odd permutation is a product of a cycle of length l and a cycle of length l + 1.
Relation of coronary arterial spasm to sites of organic stenosis.

Coronary arterial spasm is a problem of older adults; it has not to my knowledge been described in children. This suggests that a prerequisite is a coronary artery which has acquired an abnormality as it has aged. Variant angina is a condition most commonly due to large coronary artery spasm. In the 80 patients I have personally seen with it, angiographically detectable disease was present in the vessel involved with spasm in 95% of cases. Careful study of cases presented in the literature as having ‘normal’ coronary arteries actually reveals in many instances minor, persistent irregularities in the vessel which goes into spasm.
Femoral anatomy of Aegyptopithecus zeuxis, an early oligocene anthropoid.

Three partial femora from Quarries I and M of the early Oligocene Jebel Qatrani Formation in the Fayum of Egypt are attributed to Aegyptopithecus zeuxis on the basis of their appropriate size and anthropoid morphology. Compared with extant catarrhines, Aegyptopithecus is unusual in having a distinct gluteal tuberosity (third trochanter) and a relatively deep distal femoral articulation. In the estimated neck angle, Aegyptopithecus resembles arboreal quadrupeds rather than either leaping or suspensory primates. It seems likely that the femur of this species was relatively robust and short for its body mass. In aspects of its femoral anatomy, Aegyptopithecus is quite different from the parapithecid Apidium and more similar to Catopithecus from late Eocene deposits of the Fayum, and also to small hominoids from the Miocene of East Africa. Am J Phys Anthropol 106:413–424, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
“Talking amongst ourselves”: Language, politics, and sophocles on the field day stage

The Field Day Theatre Company in Derry, Northern Ireland, has made the politics of translation central to its theatrical mission since its inception in 1980. In The Riot Act by Tom Paulin, and The Cure at Troy by Seamus Heaney, the company has staged two contemporary adaptations of Sophoclean tragedy. Both of these are truly original works, not merely literal translations; both are explicitly anachronistic in places. Despite the political nature of the Field Day enterprise, however, neither Paulin nor Heaney overtly addresses political subject matter through their content. In both plays, however, language serves both to delineate and to demarcate characters by class, power, and at least explicit connection with nationality. Paulin's Creon undergoes a personal transformation expressed in his language, and the play is as much about Creon's finding an appropriate voice as it is about Antigone's tragedy. Heaney, too, uses language as subject as well as means of discourse: switches from verse to prose, and especially relative degrees of dialect, serve to map the psychic and philosophical landscape of his characters.
CULTIVATION IN VITRO OF SMALL DATURA EMBRYOS

WHILE ATTEMPTING to induce artificial parthenogenesis by inj ecting physiologically active substances into unfertilized ovaries of Datura stramonium (16) it was realized that some of these substances might never penetrate the ovules far enough to reach the egg cell. With this in mind experiments were planned by which the development of the egg cell and the subsequent parthenogenetic embryo, should such be obtained, could take place in vitro. In order to accomplish this, two major steps are necessary: (a) division of the egg cell must be induced, and (b) development of the resulting embryo into a viable plant must be accomplished. It seemed obvious to try to control step (b) before attempting (a). The present paper deals with step (b), the culture of small embryos in vitro. Successful culture of embryos has been reported in the literature (10, 14, 20). For a review of the literature, see LaRue (10) and White (19). The media used by the different authors vary considerably. Tukey (14) concluded that there was no appreciable difference in effect between the different salt solutions used by various workers. The concentration, too, could be varied from one to ten times without much effect. It seems clear, however, that the necessity of adding organic substances to the medium greatly depends upon the stage at which the embryos are isolated. Thus mature embryos can be grown in a strictly inorganic medium. The addition of sugar even retards their growth (14). Nearly mature embryos require sugar (10, 14). According to Tukey, the younger stages require more than the older ones. Still younger embryos require, in addition to sugar, the heat stable factors found in yeast extract or fibrin digest (10, 20). LaRue employed indoleacetic acid in low concentrations to replace yeast extract in his media. Although the embryos successfully cultured by the authors mentioned above were often very immature, they still were isolated at a relatively advanced stage of development. LaRue (10), who successfully grew the embryos of a large number of species, makes the following statement: ". . . embryos 0.5 mm. or slightly less in length can be grown successfully . . . those of still smaller size have not yet been brought under control. . . . at a length of 0.5 mm. we may have reached a new lower threshold which will be difficult to pass." It is well to remember that the actual size of an embryo is not a measure of the stage of development in different species. Thus an embryo 0.5 mm. long of a plant having relatively large embryos, such as Datura, will be in a much earlier stage of development than an embryo of the same length of a plant such as Nicotiana, which has minute embryos. White (20) isolated young heart-shaped embryos from Portulaca. These embryos grew from 0.12 to
A Lyapunov Approach for SOSM Based Velocity Estimation and Its Application to Improve Bilateral Teleoperation Performance

In many mechatronic applications, velocity estimation is required for implementation of closed loop control. ProportionalIntegral control based differentiation has been proposed to estimate velocity in bilateral teleoperation. We propose a Second Order Sliding Mode (SOSM) based velocity estimation scheme for this application, since the SOSM approach is robust to small disturbances near the origin. Simulation results demonstrate the superior performance of the SOSM based velocity estimation over the PI-control approach for bilateral teleoperation in viscous environments. Additionally, a novel Lyapunov function based approach to stability analysis of the SOSM based differentiator is presented.
An exchange assay for estrogen receptors in cell nuclei of the adult rat brain

A nuclear exchange assay was developed for brain estrogen receptors. The assay employs an extraction procedure which solubilizes essentially all of the estradiol from brain cell nuclei: purified cell nuclei are evenly dispersed in a hypotonic buffer prior to the addition of an equal volume of 0.8M KC1. Experiments with an in vivo injection of 3H-estradiol established that this procedure extracts even normally salt-resistant binding. For exchange, aliquots of the extract are incubated with 3H-estradiol or 3h-estradiol plus 100-fold excess unlabeled estradiol. Bound 3H-estradiol is separated from free 3H-estradiol on Sephdex LH-20 columns. Loss of estradiol binding activity can occur with brain nuclear extracts under conditions required for exchange. This loss of binding is inhibited by the addition of bacitracin to the incubation buffer. The exchange is complete within 5 hrs at 25 degrees C and specific binding activity is stable for at least 16 hrs. The assay was validated by comparing levels of macromolecular-bound radioactivity after an in vivo injection of 3H-estradiol and levels determined by exchange after an injection of unlabeled estradiol. Scatchard analysis confirmed the high affinity nature of the binding measured by exchange.
Soybean seed composition, aboveground growth, and nutrient accumulation with phosphorus and potassium fertilization in no-till and strip-till

Strip-till can improve soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) yield and increase P and K availability relative to no-till. Our objectives were to evaluate the eff ect of P and K rate and placement in no-till and strip-till on soybean-seed oil and protein content, aboveground growth and P and K accumulation, and soil water. A 3-yr fi eld experiment was conducted near Urbana, IL, with tillage/fertilizer placement treatment as the main plots: no-till/broadcast (NTBC), no-till/deep band (NTDB), and strip-till/deep band (STDB) with banded fertilizer at 15 cm beneath the planted row. Phosphorus (0, 12, 24, and 36 kg ha -1 yr -1 ) was the subplot and K (0, 42, 84, and 168 kg ha -1 yr -1 ) was the sub-subplot. Higher protein and oil yields were produced with STDB than the no-till treatments. Increase protein yield with P fertilization occurred only for the no-till treatments, but STDB maintained higher protein yield than the no-till treatments when no P was applied, indicating that STDB was more eff ective at making P available to the crop. Phosphorus and K placement made no diff erence in protein and oil concentration or yield. Leaf area index (LAI) was greater for STDB than NTBC and NTDB and greater for NTDB than NTBC. Phosphorus and K fertilization increased LAI relative to the check by V2 stage illustrating the importance of fertilization for early growth. Th e advantage for soybean production with STDB over the no-till treatments was the result of greater soil water content in STDB during the reproductive stages.
14—RIGIDITY, MOISTURE AND FIBRE STRUCTURE

Results are given showing the relation between the modulus of torsional rigidity and moisture regain for ramie, mercerized cotton, Fortisan, viscose rayon, wool and nylon. For all the cellulose fibres, the equation loge(G/G 65) = — 0·;82[(M/M 65)—1] describes the observed relation between rigidity (G) and moisture regain (M) in terms of the values of these quantities at 65% r.h. The results are analysed on the basis of a two-phase theory of absorption of moisture, originally proposed by Peirce, but modified to take into account the accessibility to moisture of a given fibre. The fall in rigidity with increase in regain is consistent with the idea that this is caused by the breaking of hydrogen bonds between chain molecules in the non-crystalline regions and that, at saturation regain, one molecule of water is bound to each accessible polar group which would otherwise be linked to a similar polar group in a neighbouring chain molecule by means of a hydrogen bond.
Imaging of Vascular Lesions of the Head and Neck

The diagnosis of vascular lesions of the head and neck should be directed by classifying the lesions as tumors or malformations and by determining their flow characteristics. Location of the lesion is key when differentiating between vascular neoplasms. Ultrasonography is an appropriate screening tool; MRI is often used to confirm the diagnosis. Computed tomography can be used for further characterization of the lesion, particularly when there is bony involvement. In many cases, vascular lesions grow to be extensive. In these cases, percutaneous sclerotherapy or embolization therapy can be employed to aid in surgical resection.
Composite 90° and 180° Pulses to Compensate for Radiofrequency Gradients in Toroid NMR Detectors

Abstract Two new pulse sequences, a composite 90° pulse and a composite 180° pulse, have been developed to compensate for the extremely large radiofrequency gradients in toroid NMR detectors. The composite 90° pulse has the ability to transfer more than 98% of the equilibrium magnetization phase-correlated into the x-y plane of the rotating frame, even if the strongest B 1 held is nine times the weakest. The composite 180° pulse attains 99% inversion of the equilibrium magnetization in the same B 1 gradient. Trajectory calculations that follow the fate of the magnetization during the new pulse sequences and during composite pulses reported in the literature compared favorably with results derived from NMR experiments performed within a toroid cavity probe. Also, the T 1 relaxation time of chloroform was measured by using the inversion-recovery procedure in a toroid cavity probe. When the standard pulses were substituted by the new composite pulses, the dynamic range in signal intensity was increased by a factor greater than two.
Cerebral Aneurysm—Treatment and Perioperative Nursing Care

A cerebral aneurysm is a weakening and saccular outpouching of a cerebral artery. This life threatening condition affects approximately 10 million to 15 million Americans annually. Perioperative nurses must be aware of the incidence, clinical manifestations, pathophysiology, and treatments for cerebral aneurysm. This article details the perioperative care of patients undergoing craniotomy for surgical clipping or insertion of an endovascular coil. Although endovascular coiling is a relatively new procedure with unknown long-term results, this treatment option offers patients a minimally invasive alternative to craniotomy with a shorter hospital stay and decreased recovery time.
In-Line Affinity Chromatographic Removal of Specific Antibody from Rabbits with Experimental Myasthenia Gravis as A Prelude to Immunotherapy

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease in which antibodies are produced against one's acetylcholine receptors, resulting in complement-mediated membrane destruction and internalization of antibody-receptor complexes. Symptoms range from weakening of extraocular muscles to severe impairment of movement and breathing. Prior to administering a therapeutic agent to eliminate antibody-producing lymphocytes, it will be necessary to remove specific antibody from the circulation. This process was investigated in an animal model of ex vivo specific immunoadsorption using awake, conscious rabbits. Following arterial blood separation, plasma was pumped upward through an affinity column containing covalently-bound acetylcholine receptor. Treated plasma was returned to the rabbit. Within a one-hour ex vivo procedure, specific antibody levels could be lowered from 16.2 ng/ml to less than 0.6 ng/ml, a reduction of more than 95%. By washing the column, at least four exchanges could be performed before specific antibody removal significantly diminished. The effects of specific antibody removal upon muscle function varied among individual rabbits, but if symptoms were not severe following passive transfer of purified monoclonal antibody to induce myasthenia, removal of 60% of the total specific antibody resulted in clinical improvement, as monitored by an animal's response to gallamine triethiodide.
Esophageal assessments of left ventricular filling pressures: A proof-of-concept study.

Objective: We sought to evaluate if left ventricular filling pressures can be assessed from the esophagus. Background: The invasive assessment of left ventricular filling pressures is of importance in the evaluation and monitoring of critically ill patients. The left atrium is in very close proximity to the esophagus. We hypothesized that the temporal pressure decay characteristics of an esophageal fluid volume positioned at the level ofthe left atrium should depend on the atrial and left ventricular filling pressure. Materials and Methods: In five pigs an esophageal balloon was placed at the level ofthe left atrium. The balloon was then pressurized to 50 mmHg followed by an automated release that allowed us to directly record the pressure decay, while simultaneously recording left atrial pressures. An algorithm was developed to estimate atrial pressures. We also tested if invasive transesophageal atrial pressures can be recorded via an ultrasound guided left atrial puncture. Results: Noninvasive transesophageal assessments of left atrial pressures are feasible. The left atrial pressure directly affects the esophageal pressure decay and correlates with the transition point from an exponential pressure decay to a more linear decay ( r = 0.949). This approach also allows for the assessment of atrial waveforms. We could also demonstrate that invasive transesophageal pressure measurements are feasible and safe. Conclusions: The esophagus allows for reproducible less invasive assessments of left ventricular filling pressures and atrial pressure waveforms. This close spatial relationship provides an alternative access site for diagnostic and therapeutic cardiac procedures.
Reference-free damage detection using instantaneous baseline measurements

A novel method of guided wave-based structural health monitoring is developed in which no direct baseline data are required to identify structural damage. Conventional wave propagation structural health monitoring techniques involve the comparison of structural response data to a prerecorded baseline or reference measurement taken while the structure is in pristine condition. The need to compare new data to a prerecorded baseline can present several complications, including data management issues and difficulty in accommodating the effects of varying environmental and operational conditions on the data. To address the complications associated with baseline comparison, this new method accomplishes reference-free damage detection by acquiring what is referred to as an instantaneous baseline measurement for analysis. The instantaneous baseline technique is validated through both analytical and experimental testing. Analytical tests show that the instantaneous baseline method is able to correctly identify simulated damage. It is found experimentally that nonpermanent damage in the form of removable putty as well as permanent damage in the form of corrosion and cuts are all identifiable in thin aluminum plate test structures without direct comparison to baseline data when implementing the instantaneous baseline method.
The anti-emetic efficacy of maropitant (Cerenia) in the treatment of ongoing emesis caused by a wide range of underlying clinical aetiologies in canine patients in Europe.

Objectives: The efficacy of maropitant (Cerenia™; Pfizer Inc.) as an anti-emetic for use in dogs with ongoing emesis was evaluated in a two-phase multi-centric study conducted at veterinary clinics in France, Italy, Slovakia and the UK. Methods: In phase I, dogs with ongoing emesis were randomised in a 1:1 ratio to either maropitant (32 dogs) or metoclopramide (34 dogs). In phase II, dogs were randomised in a 2:1 ratio to maropitant (77 dogs) or metoclopramide (40 dogs). Maropitant was administered subcutaneously at 1 mg/kg/day for up to five days. Metoclopramide was administered as recommended on the product labels as licensed at 0·5 to 1 mg/kg/day subcutaneously or orally with the daily dose divided over two to three administrations per day for up to three to five days. Results: In phase I, 97 per cent of dogs treated with maropitant and 71 per cent of dogs treated with metoclopramide did not vomit after treatment (P<0·01). The mean number of emetic events after maropitant treatment was significantly reduced compared with that after metoclopramide treatment (P=0·01). In phase II, the occurrence of emesis was lower for maropitant during the first 24 hours (P<0·0001) and for each day thereafter. Clinical Significance: A single daily dose of maropitant was more effective than metoclopramide administered two or three times daily in the treatment of emesis caused by various aetiologies in dogs.
An analysis of corrosive species ingress into IM7/PETI-5 Ti honeycomb composites

Abstract The ability of the graphite fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polyimide composite IM7/LaRC-PETI-5 to trap species known to cause corrosion was investigated using a solution analysis technique that identifies and quantifies ionic species. The hydrated contents of individual titanium honeycomb cells comprising the core of the structure were accessed through the polymer–matrix composite (PMC) facesheets with syringes. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) was used to identify and quantify inorganic and organic species found trapped inside honeycomb cells. CE analyses demonstrated that the composite structure trapped corrosive species, such as chloride and sulfate, inside the individual honeycomb cells. A likely point of species entry was through the PETI-5 adhesive binding the honeycomb core to the top and bottom PMC facesheets. This entry was facilitated by high temperature exposure. Analyses showed a marked increase in corrosive species concentration after 400 hours of exposure at mildly high temperatures, 250 °C, suggesting that an incubation time may exist for species entry, likely related to degradation of the adhesive.
Problems in the measurement of zinc using heparin as an anticoagulant

Abstract Although several reports imply that anticoagulants and preservatives contain zinc, the quantity of zinc in heparin, if any, has not been documented. Zinc concentration was determined by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy in varying dilutions of multiple commercially obtained samples of purified sodium heparin N=15, (μg Zn/1000 Units heparin). Rubber stoppers of sterile heparin vials and of blood evacuation tubes were incubated in preanalyzed water or saline on a mechanical shaker with fluid aliquots obtained up to 27 hours and analyzed for zinc content (μg Zn/0.1 ml). Heparin, with contact or without contact with rubber stoppers, recorded identical zinc concentrations. Zinc concentrations varied from 0.222 ± 0.01 (mean ± SE) to 3.49 ± 0.005 μ g Zn/1000 Units heparin. Leaching of zinc from rubber stoppers of vacutainer tubes (N=9) was noted only with those containing known chelators of zinc. These results indicate that zinc is present in certain lots of sodium heparin and that caution must be exercised when reporting zinc concentrations of blood samples that contain sodium heparin as the anticoagulant.
Energy-Efficient Cooperative Communication in a Clustered Wireless Sensor Network

In this paper, we consider a clustered wireless sensor network where sensors within each cluster relay data packets to nearby clusters using cooperative communications. We propose a cooperative transmission scheme based on distributed space-time block coding and conduct a systematic analysis on the resulting energy consumption. Compared with existing work, our distinctions are twofold: (1) Only sensors that can correctly decode received packets participate in the cooperative transmission, where the number of cooperating nodes depends on both channel and noise realizations; and (2) we use packet-error-rate-based analysis rather than symbol-error-rate-based analysis. This is more realistic since error detection is usually done at the packet level via, e.g., cyclic-redundancy-check codes. Based on the analysis, we further minimize the overall energy consumption by power allocation between the intracluster and intercluster transmissions. With numerical methods, we investigate how energy consumption is affected by the transmit power allocation, the total number of sensors in a cluster, the end-to-end packet error rate requirement, and the relative magnitudes between the intracluster and intercluster distances. Comparisons with direct (noncooperative) transmission schemes demonstrate the significant energy-saving advantage of the proposed cooperative scheme.
Modification of Loblolly Pine Chips with Ceriporiopsis subvermispora Part 2: Kraft Pulping of Treated Chips

Abstract Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) chips treated with Ceriporiopsis subvermispora for two or four weeks were pulped with different combinations of kraft pulping conditions to obtain a better understanding of the interaction between the fungal action and the pulping variables. Two different levels of effective alkali (18 or 22%), two times at maximum Tmax (60 or 90 min), 22% sulfidity, and a Tmax of 170°C, were used. The best delignification without adversely affecting pulp viscosity was found in pulps made from chips treated with the fungus for 2 weeks and at the mildest pulping conditions. At all pulping conditions there was a substantial decrease in the amount of rejects with 2 weeks of fungal treatment. Pulps from fungally‐treated chips refined more easily than the control pulp and strength properties of pulps of fungally‐treated chips were superior to those of the control pulp.
205Tl nuclear magnetic resonance study of the thallium complex of lasalocid (X-537A)

Abstract The thallium salt complex of the ionophoric antibiotic lasalocid (X-537A) in chloroform solution was studied by 205 Tl NMR. The chemical shift at a complex concentration of 0.10 M is 294.5 ppm, the lowest-field value of any Tl + -ionophore complex yet studied, and 160 ppm from that of the nigericin complex, the closest resonance of the remainder. The chemical shift range of 205 TI + in its ionophore complexes thus spans nearly 850 ppm. The concentration dependence of the 205 Tl chemical shift and the temperature dependences of the 205 TI chemical shift, linewidth, and T 1 are reported. Proton NMR results indicate that, in chloroform, the Tl + -lasalocid complex exists primarily as a head-to-head dimer.
Patients with pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator

The preparation of patients with a cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) for the perioperative period necessitates familiarity with recommendations from the American Society of Anesthesiologists and Heart Rhythm Society. Even clinicians who are not CIED experts should understand the indications for implantation, as well as the basic functions, operations, and limitations of these devices. Before any scheduled procedure, proper CIED function should be verified and a specific CIED prescription obtained. Acquiring the requisite knowledge base and developing the systems to competently manage the CIED patient ensures safe and efficient perioperative care.
Kinetic analysis of cardiolipin synthase: a membrane enzyme with two glycerophospholipid substrates.

Mitochondrial cardiolipin synthase catalyzes the transfer of a phosphatidyl moiety from phosphatidyl-CMP PtdCMP) to phosphatidylglycerol (PtdGro) in the presence of specific divalent cations. The synthase was solubilized fromSaccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondria and purified about 300-fold. The partially purified enzyme was part of a medium-size, mixed micelle which had to bind to a foreign substrate/detergent micelle before catalysis could occur. The kinetics of cardiolipin synthase were studied by changing the molar fraction of substrate in the micelles. The enzyme obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics in relation to PtdCMP with aKm of 0.03 mol%. PtdGro caused sigmoidal kinetics with a low apparent affinity. it is speculated that it was involved in docking the enzyme to the substrate/detergent micelle. Cardiolipin synthase did not catalyze isotope exchange between [14C]CMP and PtdCMP, virtually excluding a ping-pong catalytic mechanism. Mg2+stimulated the activity by increasing the turnover number rather than the substrate affinity, a mechanism which was also found for the Co2+-activation of rat liver cardiolipin synthase. It is concluded that a direct association of the metal ion and the enzyme forms the active cardiolipin synthase which has a very high affinity for PtdCMP and a lower affinity for PtdGro.
The ins and outs of HIV Rev.

The Rev protein of the human immunodeficiency virus mediates the nuclear export of the intron-containing viral messages. This export is a consequence of the continuous shuttling of HIV Rev between the nucleus and cytoplasm. This shuttling is mediated by a nuclear localization signal and a nuclear export signal contained within Rev. Recently, several factors which are required for the movement of Rev through the nuclear pore have been identified. This review will focus on these factors and their role the nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of HIV Rev.
Note on conservation laws based upon traceless energy-momentum tensors in flat space-time

Abstract In this note we prove the following theorem. If in a flat space-time with metric gij(x) treferred to general coordinates xi a vector ξi(x) satisfies (Tijξj);i=0 (semicolon denotes covariant differentiation) for all energy-momentum tensors of the set { T ij T i j;i =0;g ij T ij =0 ; Tij = Tji; Tijuiuj > 0 (where ui is a time-like vector)}, then the vector ξi defines a conformal motion. This theorem, which may be considered as a converse (in flat space-time) to a well-known result of Trautman, is a generalization of a result obtained by J. T. Łopuszanski and J. Szczucka-Sokolowska [Reports on Mathematical Physics 11 (1977), 153] in which they assumed the vector ξi was a polynomial in Minkowski coordinates.
Comparison of Clinical, Periapical Radiograph, and Cone-Beam Volume Tomography Measurement Techniques for Assessing Bone Level Changes Following Regenerative Periodontal Therapy

Background: Intraoral radiographs (IRs) provide a two-dimensional view of osseous structures, whereas cone-beam volumetric tomography (CBVT) images are viewable in three dimensions. The aim of this investigation was to compare the measurements from digital IR and CBVT images to direct surgical measurements for the evaluation of regenerative treatment outcomes.Methods: Digital IR and CBVT images were taken prior to initial bone grafting and at the 6-month reentry surgery for 35 intrabony defects. After defect debridement, direct bony defect measurements were made with a periodontal probe. These same measurements were made on the IR and CBVT images and then compared to the direct surgical values.Results: CBVT correlated strongly with surgical measurements (r = 0.89 to 0.95), whereas IRs correlated less favorably (r = 0.53 to 0.67). IR measurements were significantly less accurate compared to CBVT for all parameters investigated and underestimated surgical measurements from 0.6 ± 2.3 mm to 1.5 ± 2.3 mm. No s...
A comparison of amorphous and poly crystalline TFTs for LC displays

This paper contrasts the process and device architectures for these two technologies. The influence of the device architecture on display performance is discussed. The device characteristics are described, in particular the issues surrounding the on and off currents and their implications on AMLCDs. The current applications of poly-Si TFTs as integrated drivers in AMLCDs are described.