cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Short related sequences in the cytoplasmic domains of CD4 and CD8 mediate binding to the amino-terminal domain of the p56lck tyrosine protein kinase.

We report that the cytoplasmic domains of the T-lymphocyte glycoproteins CD4 and CD8 alpha contain short related amino acid sequences that are involved in binding the amino-terminal domain of the intracellular tyrosine protein kinase, p56lck. Transfer of as few as six amino acid residues from the cytoplasmic domain of the CD8 alpha protein to the cytoplasmic domain of an unrelated protein conferred p56lck binding to the hybrid protein in HeLa cells. The common sequence motif shared by CD4 and CD8 alpha contains two cysteines, and mutation of either cysteine in the CD4 sequence eliminated binding of p56lck.p56lck also contains two cysteine residues within its CD4-CD8 alpha-binding domain, and both are critical to the interaction with CD4 or CD8 alpha. Because the interaction does not involve disulfide bond formation, a metal ion could stabilize the complex.
Microscopic Theory of Concentration Scaling in Entangled Polymer Solutions and Melts

The microscopic polymer mode coupling theory of entangled solution and melt dynamics is combined with equilibrium integral equation methods and a theory for the Rouse/entangled crossover to make predictions for the concentration and statistical segment length dependences of transport properties. Both Θ and good solvents are treated, and analytic scaling laws are derived for the crossover chain lengths, plateau modulus, diffusion constant, terminal relaxation time, and shear viscosity. The physical origin of the concentration and segment length scaling behavior is a direct connection between dynamics and equilibrium conformational and intermolecular correlations. The predictions appear to be consistent with most, but not all, of the existing data in solutions and melts. Comparisons with phenomenological reptation and entanglement scaling ideas, and a nonreptation correlated cluster dynamics approach, are made. Similarities and differences between the various theories are identified.
The Scope of General Theory: Methods for Linking Deductive and Inductive Comparative History

A “holy war” is being fought within comparative historical sociology between deductivists and inductivists over the scope of general theory. The issues include broad versus narrow scope conditions, explicit versus contingent theorizing, and theory testing versus theory building. The irony of the conflict is that each side makes ample use of the other's product, despite condemning its progenitor. The authors offer a hierarchical approach to qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) as a method for linking deductive and inductive approaches, and link QCA to game theory as a way to design more dynamic comparative studies. The authors illustrate this method through a split labor market analysis of interracial conflict and cooperation in nine U.S. labor organizing drives.
Variations in the heavy polypeptide chain structure of gamma myeloma immunoglobulins from an inbred strain of mice and a hypothesis as to their origin.

In the inbred BALB/c strain of mice, the γ G immunoglobulins include at least three subclasses ( γ F, γ G Be-1 and γ G Be-2) determined by the type of heavy chain. Heavy chains were isolated from several myeloma proteins in each of these subclasses. Variations in amino acid and tryptic peptide composition of three different heavy γ F chains were demonstrated after reduction and alkylation. Tryptic peptide map variations were also found among three γ G Be-1 and two γ G Be-2 heavy chains. Heavy-chain structural variations resembled lambda-type light-chain structural variations in that each heavy chain had a common amino acid sequence and a variable sequence. The same heavy-chain variant as judged by tryptic peptide maps was isolated from one tumor from different transfer generations, indicating the specific structure was a stable heritable characteristic of that tumor. Two mechanisms appear to be operative in plasma cells, one which selects one heavy-chain structural cistron for active synthesis and a second which establishes a specific structural variant of the heavy chain. Models for these mechanisms are proposed.
Motor neurons rely on motor proteins

The importance of active axonal transport to the neuron has been highlighted by the recent discoveries that mutations in microtubule motor proteins result in neurodegenerative diseases. Mutations affecting microtubule motor function have been shown to cause hereditary forms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (type 2A), hereditary spastic paraplegia and motor neuron disease. Although motor neurons appear to be uniquely susceptible to defects in axonal transport, recent work has identified links between perturbations in axonal transport and the pathogenesis of other neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's disease and Alzheimer's disease. More broadly, cytoskeletal abnormalities might also be at the root of related disorders such as spinal muscular atrophy, supporting a key role for axonal transport in the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative diseases.
Parenting Stress and Closeness: Mothers of Typically Developing Children and Mothers of Children with Autism.

Mothers of children diagnosed with autism (N = 104) reported higher levels of stress than mothers of typically developing children (N = 342) on 13 of 14 subscales of the Parenting Stress Index. The only scores that did not differ were from the Attachment subscale, which indicates lack of emotional closeness and rather cold patterns of parent-child interaction. Mean Child Domain subscale scores for mothers in the autism group were at the 99th percentile; mean scores on the Attachment subscale were at about the 50th percentile for both groups. Despite substantial stress, mothers of children with autism report close relationships with their children. Results substantiate the need to develop interventions to help these mothers reduce their stress.
TH-C-L100F-09: Operating Characteristics Predicted by Models of Location Specific Diagnostic Tasks

Operating characteristics summarize observer performance in diagnostic tasks. Examples are the ROC, the LROC, the FROC, and the AFROC. Models of observer performance differ in their abilities to predict operating characteristics. For example, ROC models can predict the ROC curve, but cannot predict LROC, FROC or AFROC curves. Location specific models are, in historical order, the FROCFIT model, Swensson's LROC model and the search model (SM). In principle any of these models can predict all of the characteristic curves noted above. The purpose of this work was to compare the ability of these models to predict operating characteristics. CAD data consisting of mark‐rating pairs on 450 images were used to determine the various operating characteristics. For example, the highest rating on each image determined the ROC curve; the lesions rated higher than the highest noise determined the ordinate of the LROC, etc. All models agreed with the observed ROC data. Swensson's model agreed with the observed LROC curves but departed mildly from the observed AFROC curve and strongly from the observed FROC curve. The FROCFIT model departed mildly from the AFROC curve and strongly from the FROC curve. The search model provided good fits to all operating characteristics. In conclusion this work provides additional validation of the search model method of analyzing free‐response data.
Attribute-based similarity perception in younger and older adults.

Abstract The use of organization changes quantitatively and qualitatively during adulthood. Organization into categories is typically based on similarity relations which are in turn based on the comparison of object features; therefore, the impact of the featural representation of objects on similarity perception was examined. Groups of younger and older adults of comparable verbal ability generated descriptions of twelve objects from one of two taxonomic categories and then rated the similarity of all possible pairs of the twelve objects. Minimal age differences were found in the qualitative types of features used to describe objects. The relationship between these featural descriptions and similarity judgments, on the other hand, was found to change somewhat with age. Measures of common and distinctive features predicted substantial percentages of the variance in similarity ratings for both age groups, though these variables accounted for more variance in the similarity ratings of the younger group. The...
Remembrances of the Meadowbrook Conferences—When Steroids Came to DNA

The majestic, manorial ambience of Meadowbrook Hall—a 51-room Tudor mansion in a park-like setting amid the rolling hills of Michigan—seems an appropriate metaphor for the splendid conceptual developments in steroid hormone action that have unfolded during the last decade. With the first availability of recombinant DNA technology for endocrinological investigation, we all felt a pleasant tension of excitement and anticipation—certain that something more than ambiguous conclusions based on an endless array of sucrose gradient peaks was about to emerge. Many long-time workers in the field experienced a less pleasant, albeit needless, tension as well: the fear that “retooling” for the new technology would prove an insurmountable difficulty and that the entire field in which they had labored so long would be engulfed by the domain of microbiology and virology. The previous two decades had seen the rise and fall of two well publicized dogmas: Paul Talalay's transhydrogenation model and Gordon Tomkins' posttran...
Thyroid stimulating hormone inhibits rat granulosa cell steroidogenesis in primary culture

It is not known why hypothyroidism predisposes the ovary to develop cystic follicles in hCG-treated rats. This study examined the effect of TSH on steroidogenesis in cultured granulosa cells. Granulosa cells were isolated from the ovaries of hCG-treated Long-Evans rats. Cells were cultured in medium with either 0 or 100NM: testosterone or 25(OH)cholesterol and treated with 0, 2.5, 10 or 20 ng/ml of TSH. TSH reduced 3β-HSDI activity in these cells to 12% of control. Progesterone secretion decreased by 72% and estradiol secretion was non-detectable during the second day of treatment with 20 ng/ml of TSH. We conclude that TSH is capable of regulating the secretion of progesterone and estradiol by cultured granulosa cells.
Treatment, enhancement, and the ethics of neurotherapeutics.

Abstract Emerging neurotechnologies, including psychopharmaceuticals, brain stimulation, implantable brain chips, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and brain imaging raise a number of ethical questions. One of the most contentious is the proper role of these technologies in improving or increasing mental and neurological traits and skills in those with no identifiable pathology. The “enhancement” debate centers around a number of concerns and philosophical approaches to the proper role of medicine, therapeutics, and desirable human qualities. Arguements for and against neurological enhancement are reviewed, and historical and social perspectives are offered.
Response of Spartina alterniflora Vegetation to Oiling and Burning of Applied Oil

Abstract A field study evaluated Spartina alterniflora sensitivity to oiling and to in situ burning of applied crude oil. Experimental plots (2.4 m × 2.4 m × 0.6 m) were constructed in the salt marsh for control, oiling (natural clean-up) and oiling/burning treatments. South Louisiana Crude was applied to oiling and oiling/burning treatment plots at 2 l m−2 and the burn conducted. S. alterniflora responses (height, live stem density, carbon fixation and biomass) were measured for 50 weeks after the August burn. Oiling and oiling/burning had short-term detrimental effects on the salt marsh. One year after the late summer burn, S. alterniflora responses measured in the oiled and oiled/burned plots were not significantly different compared to control values. Results suggest that, under our experimental conditions, intervention may not be required for marsh recovery. However, if spill conditions require a rapid response to control contaminant spread or protect other sensitive resources, burning may be a clean-up operation to consider.
Using Social Cognition and Persuasion to Promote Energy Conservation: A Quasi‐Experiment

A quasi-experiment was conducted to determine if the effectiveness of the R.C.S. Home Energy Audit Program could be improved by training auditors to use social-psychological principles during the audit procedure. Nine experienced home energy auditors attended two 1-day workshops in which they were trained to: (a) communicate vividly; (b) personalize their recommendations to homeowners; (c) induce commitment; and (d) frame their recommendations in terms of “loss” rather than “gain”. The effectiveness of the trained auditors was compared with a control group of experienced auditors who did not receive specific training. Both telephone interview data and utility company records pointed to the success of the auditor training. In interviews, customers served by the trained auditors reported a greater likelihood of acting on the auditors' recommendations, and a large number of these customers reported applying for utility programs to finance retrofits. Utility records validated these customer claims: A significantly larger number of customers served by trained auditors actually did apply for retrofit finance programs. A longitudinal measure of actual energy consumption showed no difference between experimental and control households. Taken as a whole, these findings demonstrate the potential for using principles uncovered in the social psychological laboratory to design applied interventions.
Thoracic aorta : Comparison of gadolinium-enhanced three-dimensional MR angiography with conventional MR imaging

PURPOSE: To evaluate gadolinium-enhanced three-dimensional magnetic resonance (MR) angiography for thoracic aortic disease and to compare this technique with conventional thoracic MR imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred eight consecutive patients underwent 122 thoracic MR examinations, including conventional MR imaging followed by enhanced three-dimensional MR angiography. A gradient-echo sequence was used at 1.5 T (116 examinations) and 1.0 T (6 examinations) during infusion of 0.2 mmol/kg gadopentetate dimeglumine. Two independent readers (A and B), with varied experience in thoracic MR angiography, retrospectively evaluated the images for presence of aortic dissection, aneurysm, arch vessel disease, and protruding atheroma. Correlation with findings of surgery or other imaging modalities was available in 98 cases. RESULTS: Enhanced MR angiography was sensitive (92%-96%) and specific (100%) for acute and chronic aortic dissection (n = 26) and was as useful as conventional MR imaging in the diagno...
Alcohol-induced neuroapoptosis in the fetal macaque brain

The ability of brief exposure to alcohol to cause widespread neuroapoptosis in the developing rodent brain and subsequent long-term neurocognitive deficits has been proposed as a mechanism underlying the neurobehavioral deficits seen in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). It is unknown whether brief exposure to alcohol causes apoptosis in the fetal primate brain. Pregnant fascicularis macaques at various stages of gestation (G105 to G155) were exposed to alcohol for 8h, then the fetuses were delivered by caesarean section and their brains perfused with fixative and evaluated for apoptosis. Compared to saline control brains, the ethanol-exposed brains displayed a pattern of neuroapoptosis that was widespread and similar to that caused by alcohol in infant rodent brain. The observed increase in apoptosis was on the order of 60-fold. We propose that the apoptogenic action of alcohol could explain many of the neuropathological changes and long-term neuropsychiatric disturbances associated with human FASD.
Determining period variations in a distributed Bragg reflector through high resolution X-ray analysis

Abstract We studied the structural properties of a GaAs/AlAs distributed Bragg reflector using high resolution X-ray techniques. We evaluated diffraction and reflection scans by considering several possible structural defects including period and individual thickness variations, compositionally graded interface layers, and interfacial roughness. Diffraction scans provided information on layer thicknesses and crystalline quality. Both X-ray diffraction and reflectivity curves were compared to calculated curves using dynamical theory and Fresnel multilayer theory, respectively, X-ray reflectivity measurements and triple axis reciprocal space measurements showed the interfaces to be abrupt, and the superlattice to deviate from perfect periodicity. Together, these techniques provided a detailed analysis of superlattice parameters. The standard deviation of layer variations was shown to be 1.5–2.0% for the quarter-wave stacks. We also present for the first time, the sensitivity of X-ray reflectivity measurements to period deviation, and use reciprocal space maps to distinguish period dispersion from interface roughness. The results indicate the accuracy of high resolution X-ray techniques for quantitative superlattice analysis.
Molecular Tagging Thermometry with Adjustable Temperature Sensitivity

We report an extension to the technique of molecular tagging thermometry which allows for adjustable temperature sensitivity. The temperature dependence of laser-induced phosphorescence of the water-soluble phosphorescent triplex (1-BrNp•Mβ-CD•ROH) is used to conduct temperature measurements in aqueous flows. It is shown that the temperature sensitivity of phosphorescence intensity can be adjusted by changing the time delay between the laser excitation pulse and the start of the phosphorescence emission acquisition. For example, for a phosphorescence integration period of 1 ms, the temperature sensitivity of the measured phosphorescence intensity varies in the range 8.15–18.2% per °C at 25°C as the time delay changes from 1 to7 ms. This temperature sensitivity is much higher than that of most fluorescent dyes used for temperature measurements (e.g. less than about 2% per °C for Rhodamine B). The implementation and application of this new approach are demonstrated by conducting temperature measurements in the wake of a heated cylinder.
Chronic gestational exposure to ethanol impairs insulin-stimulated survival and mitochondrial function in cerebellar neurons.

Chronic gestational exposure to ethanol has profound adverse effects on brain development. In this regard, studies using in vitro models of ethanol exposure demonstrated impaired insulin signaling mechanisms associated with increased apoptosis and reduced mitochondrial function in neuronal cells. To determine the relevance of these findings to fetal alcohol syndrome, we examined mechanisms of insulin-stimulated neuronal survival and mitochondrial function using a rat model of chronic gestational exposure to ethanol. In ethanol-exposed pups, the cerebellar hemispheres were hypoplastic and exhibited increased apoptosis. Isolated cerebellar neurons were cultured to selectively evaluate insulin responsiveness. Gestational exposure to ethanol inhibited insulin-stimulated neuronal viability, mitochondrial function, Calcein AM retention (membrane integrity), and GAPDH expression, and increased dihydrorosamine fluorescence (oxidative stress) and pro-apoptosis gene expression (p53, Fas-receptor, and Fas-ligand). In addition, neuronal cultures generated from ethanol-exposed pups had reduced levels of insulin-stimulated Akt, GSK-3β, and BAD phosphorylation, and increased levels of non-phosphorylated (activated) GSK-3β and BAD protein expression. The aggregate results suggest that insulin-stimulated central nervous system neuronal survival mechanisms are significantly impaired by chronic gestational exposure to ethanol, and that the abnormalities in insulin signaling mechanisms persist in the early postnatal period, which is critical for brain development.
THE HIGH PREVALENCE OF HYPERURICAEMIA IN A POLYNESIAN POPULATION

The overall prevalence of hyperuricaemia (raised serum uric acid) in the isolated Polynesian population of Funafuti, aged 20 years and over, was found to be 34.1 percent. The prevalence for males was 32.3 percent and for females 35.7 percent. Despite this high prevalence of hyperuricaemia, no cases of gout were identified. Although hyperuricaemia is not uncommon in Polynesian populations, and probably genetic in origin, the absence of gout is unusual and supports the theory that certain environmental influences in the “modern” way of life are necessary precipitating factors of arthritis in those with hyperuricaemia.
Atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy study of MgO(110) surface faceting

Abstract Phosphoric- and nitric-acid etching of the MgO(110) surface generates vicinal faceting in both the 〈001〉 and 〈110〉 directions. Vacuum annealing (to 1000°C) does not introduce thermal faceting, and does not alter the chemical-etch morphology. Three types of acid-induced faceting (early-stage pits, later-stage grooves, and inverted trapezoidal pyramids) are seen as a function of etching time. Facet-angle analysis by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shows the etch morphology to be vicinal, with angles in the range of 9° to 23°, not the low-energy {100} planes expected from minimization of surface energy.
Reinforcement of Radial Tire Casing With Nylon 66

The radial tire, now widely accepted by the American motor ing public, differs markedly from bias and bias belted tires in the demands placed on the casing reinforcement. The requirement for fatigue resistance is less and there is much less tendency toward "flatspotting," for example. This significantly broadens opportunities for cord selection and allows the full range of properties and economics offered by the various cord candi dates to be taken into account. A case in point is use of nylon 66 cord as a radial carcass reinforcement. While polyester, and to a much lesser extent, rayon cords are used in the U.S. as casing reinforcements for passenger radials, nylon appears to offer significant advantages in added durability and reduced manufacturing cost without sacrifice of performance or aesthetics. Nylon 66 is, in fact, used as the casing reinforcement of some passenger and light truck radials produced in Europe and Japan. This paper summarizes results from exploratory studies to define ways and the e...
Con: Anesthetics should be administered to pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgical procedures not only by pediatric anesthesiologists.

CHILDREN UNDERGOING repair of congenital heart defects represent a complex anesthetic challenge. The anesthesiologist not only has to deal with the peculiarities of the patient’s young age, but also must have an in-depth appreciation of the pathophysiologic consequences of the congenital heart lesion. It takes a person with special expertise to care for these children safely and competently. The question is: Who is that person and what kind of background and qualifications must he or she have? Data available to definitively answer this question are scarce. To understand the controversy, available outcome data regarding all types of surgery in the pediatric population are reviewed as well as perioperative cardiac arrest data. Facts about congenital heart surgery and factors affecting outcome are also reviewed. The present system for care of pediatric patients with congenital heart defects in the United States is not uniform. Some children are cared for in pediatric hospitals by pediatric anesthesiologists. In other centers, these children are a subset of a bigger population of cardiac patients (often at a cardiac specialty hospital or heart institute) and are cared for by cardiac anesthesiologists. The preceding Pro position persuasively suggested that the most appropriate person to administer the anesthetic to a pediatric patient undergoing a cardiac procedure is a pediatric anesthesiologist. This author believes that view to be short-sighted and that cardiac anesthesiologists with special expertise in the care of children may be equally if not more qualified to administer anesthesia in these complex patients.
Some aspects on regional integration, comparative advantage and consumer's diversity

This article describes one simple Cournot oligopoly model with linear inverse demand and international linkage, and tries to analyse how the degree of competitiveness, the diversity in comparative advantage, consumer preference and market volume are closely interrelated with each other in the course of free trade areas (FTA) liberalization. The influence of income/substitution effects to firm's profit maximization is also examined. My analysis shows some basic results and implications regarding the tariff-setting strategies and the incentive for endogenous internal liberalization, as well as the role of FTA formation on a stream to world-wide liberalization.
Glial–neuronal interactions underlying fructose utilization in rat hippocampal slices

Although fructose is commonly used as a sweetener, its effects on brain function are unclear. Using rat hippocampal slices, we found that fructose and mannose, like pyruvate, preserve ATP levels during 3-h of glucose deprivation. Similarly, fructose and mannose restored synaptic potentials (excitatory postsynaptic potential, EPSPs) depressed during glucose deprivation. However, restoration of synaptic responses was slow and only partial with fructose. EPSPs supported by mannose were inhibited by cytochalasin B (CCB), a glucose transport inhibitor, but were not inhibited by alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate (4-CIN), a monocarboxylate transport inhibitor, indicating that neurons use mannose via glucose transporters. In contrast, both CCB and 4-CIN depressed EPSPs supported by fructose, suggesting that fructose may be taken up by non-neuronal cells through CCB sensitive hexose transporters and metabolized to a monocarboxylate for subsequent use during neuronal respiration. Supporting this possibility, 20 minutes of oxygen deprivation in the presence of fructose resulted in functional and morphological deterioration whereas oxygen deprivation in the presence of glucose or mannose had minimal toxic effects. These results indicate that neuronal fructose utilization differs from glucose and mannose and likely involves release of monocarboxylates from glia.
SUBCULTURAL STUDIES OF HOMELESS MEN

This stupid world where Gadgets are gods and we go on talking Many about much, but remain alone Alive but alone, belonging-where? Unattached as tumbleweed. (Auden, 1946. p.44.)
Combination of active specific immunotherapy or adoptive antibody or lymphocyte immunotherapy with chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer

Successful treatment of cancer patients with a combination of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) and chemotherapeutic drugs has spawned various other forms of additional combination therapies, including vaccines or adoptive lymphocyte transfer combined with chemotherapeutics. These therapies were effective against established tumors in animal models and showed promising results in initial clinical trials in cancer patients, awaiting testing in larger randomized controlled studies. Although combination between immunotherapy and chemotherapy has long been viewed as incompatible as chemotherapy, especially in high doses meant to increase anti-tumor efficacy, has induced immunosuppression, various mechanisms may explain the reported synergistic effects of the two types of therapies. Thus direct effects of chemotherapy on tumor or host environment, such as induction of tumor cell death, elimination of regulatory T cells, and/or enhancement of tumor cell sensitivity to lysis by CTL may account for enhancement of immunotherapy by chemotherapy. Furthermore, induction of lymphopenia by chemotherapy has increased the efficacy of adoptive lymphocyte transfer in cancer patients. On the other hand, immunotherapy may directly modulate the tumor’s sensitivity to chemotherapy. Thus, anti-tumor mAb can increase the sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapeutic drugs and patients treated first with immunotherapy followed by chemotherapy showed higher clinical response rates than patients that had received chemotherapy alone. In conclusion, combination of active specific immunotherapy or adoptive mAb or lymphocyte immunotherapy with chemotherapy has great potential for the treatment of cancer patients which needs to be confirmed in larger controlled and randomized Phase III trials.
Experimental Therapies in the Murine Model of Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy

Abstract Background Globoid cell leukodystrophy or Krabbe disease, is a rapidly progressive childhood lysosomal storage disorder caused by a deficiency in galactocerebrosidase. Galactocerebrosidase deficiency leads to the accumulation of galactosylsphingosine (psychosine), a cytotoxic lipid especially damaging to oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells. The progressive loss of cells involved in myelination results in a dysmyelinating phenotype affecting both the central and peripheral nervous systems. Current treatment for globoid cell leukodystrophy is limited to bone marrow or umbilical cord blood transplantation. However, these therapies are not curative and simply slow the progression of the disease. The Twitcher mouse is a naturally occurring biochemically faithful model of human globoid cell leukodystrophy that has been used extensively to study globoid cell leukodystrophy pathophysiology and experimental treatments. In this review, we present the major single and combination experimental therapies targeting specific aspects of murine globoid cell leukodystrophy. Methods Literature review and analysis. Results The evidence suggests that even with the best available therapies, targeting a single pathogenic mechanism provides minimal clinical benefit. More recently, combination therapies have demonstrated the potential to further advance globoid cell leukodystrophy treatment by synergistically increasing life span. However, such therapies must be designed and evaluated carefully because not all combination therapies yield such positive results. Conclusions A more complete understanding of the underlying pathophysiology and the interplay between various therapies holds the key to the discovery of more effective treatments for globoid cell leukodystrophy.
Intracerebroventricular administration of leptin markedly enhances insulin sensitivity and systemic glucose utilization in conscious rats

This study examines the acute, subacute (overnight), and chronic (7-day) effects of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of r-metMuLeptin on insulin sensitivity and systemic glucose turnover in conscious unrestrained rats (body weight, 250 to 300 g). Under postabsorptive conditions, acute i.c.v. leptin ([AL] 10 microg bolus) did not affect tracer (3-(3)H-glucose)-determined glucose production (GP) and utilization (GU) rates during the 2-hour hyperinsulinemic (2 mU x kg(-1) x min(-1)) euglycemic clamp. Chronic i.c.v. leptin ([CL] 10 microg/d for 7 days) administered by osmotic pumps markedly reduced the daily food consumption (P < .05), body weight (P < .05), and postabsorptive basal plasma glucose level (P < .01). During the glucose clamp, GP was markedly suppressed (55%) with CL (P < .001 v vehicle and pair-fed control groups). The insulin-induced increment in GU was significantly greater with CL (23.3 +/- 1.8 mg(-1) x kg(-1) x min(-1)) than with vehicle (16.9 +/- 0.2) and pair-feeding (17.1 +/- 0.6, both P < .001). Subacute i.c.v. leptin ([SL] 10 microg bolus) moderately but insignificantly decreased overnight food consumption (-18%) and body weight (-2.5 +/- 1.5 g). The glucose infusion rate during the final 60 minutes of the glucose clamp was 43% greater than for the vehicle group (P < .0001). SL also significantly increased GU (P < .005) and suppressed GP (P < .05) during the glucose clamp. Thus, we conclude that i.c.v. administered leptin has strong actions on the central nervous system that result in significant increases in insulin sensitivity and systemic GU, and these effects are achieved as early as overnight after leptin administration.
Analysis of Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Systems with Non-linear Circuits Using the Harmonic Balance Method

There is substantial promise in the use of piezoelectric energy harvesting systems to power electronics and devices through the conversion of ambient vibrations into electrical energy. Accurately predicting the energy harvesting capability in these systems is of paramount importance as the harvesting structure and the associated circuit must be ‘tuned’ in concert to the signature of the ambient vibrations. Here, we develop a numerical simulation methodology for piezoelectric harvesting systems that allows for high-fidelity finite element models of the harvester electromechanics as well as realistic non-linear circuits models. Our approach synthesizes conventional harmonic finite element analysis and a harmonic balance approach that accounts efficiently for the non-linear circuit behavior, bypassing the need for computationally expensive time marching schemes. The proposed methodology solves, via an iterative residual reduction scheme, for the coupled electrical output and structural dynamics of the piezoe...
Productivity and operating regimes in protein chromatography using low-molecular-mass displacers

Abstract A theoretical and experimental study of ion-exchange displacement chromatography using the low-molecular-mass displacer neomycin sulfate, is carried out. A chromatography model utilizing the steric mass action (SMA) ion-exchange formalism is employed to predict the displacement behavior of proteins displaced by neomycin sulfate. An operating regime plot is developed from the SMA model to predict selective displacement chromatography using low-molecular-mass displacers. Numerical simulations are employed to examine the behavior of selective displacement systems and to investigate the productivity of displacement chromatography. In this study, it is seen that use of low-molecular-mass displacers allows “selective displacement” separations in which some impurities are removed by elution or by desorption within the displacer front. Further, low-molecular-mass displacers, like previously studied high-molecular-mass displacers, can provide high productivity chromatographic separations even for feed streams characterized by low separation factors.
Software engineering education

In a field as rapidly growing as software engineering, the education problem splits into two major parts-university education and industrial education. (Some of which is given at university locations, as short courses, but considered industrial education here.) Both parts draw on the same underlying disciplines and methodologies. But the people involved-both teachers and students-have different objectives and characteristics. At the university level students are young, inexperienced, and relatively homogeneous in background and abilities. At the industrial level, students are older, more experienced, and vary considerably in background and abilities. In this paper, we discuss the underlying commonalities and the overlaid differences of university and industrial education in software engineering. The commonalities in discipline and methodologies involve the study and understanding of the Software Process, as discussed in Section II of this special issue, and of the "Tools" and "Know How" discussed in Section III. The differences are due to the characteristics and objectives of students, and show up on curricula content and structure and in course definition.
Oral Cancer Knowledge: Results of a Survey of Pennsylvania Dentists in 1971

A 1971 survey of Pennsylvania dentists was conducted to determine their collective knowledge of survival rates for early and advanced oral cancer. The majority of dentists gave erroneous predictions that were relatively pessimistic compared with recently published survival statistics.
Fluoroscopically guided percutaneous placement of large-bore gastrostomy and gastrojejunostomy tubes: review of 109 cases.

PURPOSE To evaluate our experience with percutaneous placement, management, and complications of large-bore (20–24 F) gastrostomy and gastrojejunostomy feeding tubes. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective review was performed on 109 consecutive patients who underwent placement of percutaneous large-bore feeding tubes between January 1994 and May 1998. Data were collected with respect to underlying illness, technical success, number of replaced tubes, and immediate and late complications. No patient had a small-bore tube placed during this series. RESULTS A total of 109 cases were reviewed. Immediate follow-up within the first 2 weeks was available for all 109. Follow-up after 2 weeks was available for 61 (56%) patients. Tubes were placed in patients aged 15 to 94 years. Neurologic dysfunction from a variety of causes was the most common underlying illness and occurred in 52% of patients. There were nine (8.3%) immediate, treatable complications: three major and six minor. There was one procedure-related death (0.9%). Persistent fistula tracts following tube removal occurred in three patients (4.9%). Balloon rupture was the most common reason for tube exchange (40.7%). CONCLUSION Percutaneous large-bore gastrostomy and gastrojejunostomy tubes are safe to place and have technical success, morbidity, and mortality rates comparable to those of tubes placed surgically or endoscopically as well as small-bore tubes placed with fluoroscopic guidance.
To sit or not to sit

Study objective We prospectively examine whether provider posture (seated versus standing) influences patient and provider estimates of time spent at the bedside relative to actual time and patient perceptions of the provider-patient interaction. Methods A convenience sample of consenting adult patients presenting to an academic tertiary care emergency department between September 7, 2005, and September 25, 2005, were eligible for inclusion in this randomized, controlled trial. Providers (emergency medicine attending physicians, residents, physician assistants, and medical students) were randomly assigned to sit or stand during the initial encounter, after which, participants completed questionnaires about their perceptions of provider-patient interactions and time spent therein. Actual encounter length was measured. Data were analyzed to determine whether patient and provider perception differences existed, using a multilevel regression model that was adjusted for patient-level and provider-level covariates. Results Two hundred twenty-four consenting patients met inclusion criteria (239 approached; 15 excluded). Data from 36 providers were collected. The mean length of encounters in both study arms was 8.6 minutes (SD 4.8; range 1.5 to 34.1). Patients involved in seated interactions overestimated time providers spent performing initial encounters by an average of 1.3 minutes (SD 4.3 minutes), whereas patients involved in the standing interactions underestimated time by an average of 0.6 minutes (SD 4.3 minutes) (P=.001). Conversely, providers overestimated time spent with patients in both study arms (P=.85; mean [SD] 0.5 [3.6] versus 0.3 [3.2] minutes). Patient perceptions of the quality of patient-provider interactions were not affected by provider posture. Conclusion Although provider posture during the initial interaction affects patient perceptions of time spent at the bedside, it does not influence patient perception of the provider's bedside manner, sense of caring, or understanding of the patient's problem.
Deuteration of Decaborane(14) via Exchange with Deuterated Aromatic Solvents

The regiospecific deuteration of decaborane(14) and 6-R-B10H13 in the presence of AlCl3 has been achieved using C6D6 (C7D8) as the deuterium source.
Test-Cost Modeling and Optimal Test-Flow Selection of 3-D-Stacked ICs

Three-dimensional (3-D) integration is an attractive technology platform for next-generation ICs. Despite the benefits offered by 3-D integration, test cost remains a major concern, and analysis and tools are needed to understand test flows and minimize test cost. We propose a generic cost model to account for various test costs involved in 3-D integration and present a formal representation of the solution space to minimize the overall cost. We present an algorithm based on A*—a best-first search technique—to obtain an optimal solution. An approximation algorithm with provable bounds on optimality is proposed to further reduce the search space. In contrast to prior work, which is based on explicit enumeration of test flows, we adopt a formal optimization approach, which allows us to select an effective test flow by systematically exploring an exponentially large number of candidate test flows. Experimental results highlight the effectiveness of the proposed method. Adopting a formal approach to solving the cost-minimization problem provides useful insights that cannot be derived via selective enumeration of a smaller number of candidate test flows.
Hymenoptera Hypersensitivity in an Imported Fire Ant Endemic Area

Background Imported fire ants are a common cause of insect venom hypersensitivity in the Southeastern United States. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the most frequent insect cause for evaluation in a Hymenoptera hypersensitivity clinic in an area endemic for the imported fire ants. Methods This was a retrospective study reviewing all patients seen in a venom clinic at a large teaching hospital. Results Of the 703 patients evaluated, between 1985 and 1995, 515 (73%) had reactions consistent with systemic anaphylaxis for which a determination of specific IgE was appropriate. Of the 703 patients seen, 315 (45%) had a positive history and skin test positivity and were offered specific immunotherapy. This was 61% of those individuals skin tested. Of the total patients see, imported fire ants were responsible for 42% of the visits to the clinic and accounted for 59% of the total immunotherapy that was begun in this endemic area. Conclusion In areas endemic for the imported fire ant, the most frequent cause of Hymenoptera hypersensitivity is the imported fire ant.
Cystectomy for Ulcerative Interstitial Cystitis: Sequelae and Patients' Perceptions of Improvement

Objective To evaluate the outcomes after cystectomy for ulcerative interstitial cystitis (IC). Methods Medical records were reviewed for history, operative data, and postoperative events. A mailed survey assessed preoperative symptom severity/duration, providers seen, and symptom changes on 7-point scaled global response assessments. Descriptive statistics were performed. Results Of 10 women (mean age 64 ± 12.5 years), 9 had cystectomy with ileal conduit and 1 had a neobladder. All had previous cautery of Hunner's ulcer (median 3.0 cautery procedures). Maximum bladder capacity at first and last cautery was median 325 and 188 mL, respectively. Median operative time was 321 minutes, blood loss was 200 mL (range, 100-900), 4 of 10 were transfused, and length of stay was 8 days. During a mean follow-up of 3.9 years, 6 patients required 1 or more reoperations, including hernia repair (2), urostomy revision (2), revision of ureteroileal anastomosis (1), small bowel resection (1), and neobladder cutaneous fistula repair (1). Survey respondents (n = 9) reported having seen (mean) 5.4 ± 3.8 providers before cystectomy. Median duration of symptoms was 5 years, and day and nighttime urinary frequencies were 30 and 15 times, respectively. Postoperatively, IC pain had resolved in all patients except for one. On the global response assessments, patients had moderate/marked improvement in overall symptoms (8 of 8), pain (9 of 9), sexual function (4 of 6), and quality of life (8 of 9), 7 of 9 were very satisfied with the treatment, and 8 of 9 would make the same decision again. Conclusion Despite subsequent reoperations, symptom improvements lead to high levels of satisfaction with cystectomy for IC.
Inhibition of the mitochondrial adenine nucleotide transport system by oleyl CoA

Abstract The adenine nucleotide transport system of the inner membrane of rat liver mitochondria can be demonstrated to be specifically inhibited by oleyl CoA generated on the outer membrane from oleate plus CoA. This conclusion is supported by a number of observations including experiments conducted with rat liver mitochondria resolved of the long-chain fatty acid-CoA synthetase activity of the outer membrane by proteolytic digestion with Nagarse. The ATP- 32 P i exchange activity of intact mitochondria was markedly inhibited by oleyl CoA, whereas this activity with submitochondrial particles (ETP H ) was relatively insensitive. Likewise, the inorganic phosphate transport system of intact mitochondria was not found sensitive to oleyl CoA. Inhibition of the dinitrophenol-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase activity of intact mitochondria by oleyl CoA (or oleate in the presence of CoA) was found to be competitive with respect to ATP. Inhibition by oleate without added CoA was not competitive. Exogenous CoA also decreased the lag time needed for inhibition of the adenine nucleotide transport system by bongkrekic acid. This effect of CoA was abolished by inactivation of the long-chain fatty acid-CoA synthetase activity of the outer membrane. The results suggest that inhibition of the adenine nucleotide transport system by fatty acids and bongkrekic acid may be a function of formation of the CoA esters. However, the possibility that the unesterified acids are also inhibitory has not been excluded.
A Racialized Deconstruction? Ashley Montagu and the 1950 UNESCO Statement on Race

Scholars interested in the politics and conceptual history of race claim that the 1950 UNESCO Statement on Race represented the triumph of anti-racist science, heavily informed by Boasian anthropology and synthetic evolutionary theory, over the science that had defined social Darwinism, eugenics, and the Holocaust. This article moves beyond that acknowledgment by exploring how activists and critics involved in the struggle for human and civil rights engaged the Statement, and by inquiring if and how the Statement, behind the leadership of Ashley Montagu, undermined the very notion of race. This article begins to extend the intertwined history of African American politics and the history of anthropology into the second half of the 20th century, and ultimately highlights a starting point for investigating the convergence of scientific knowledge and political action that have contributed to the confirmed viability of race in the late 20th and early 21st century.
Effects of Environmental Conditions on Performance of Vaginal Implant Transmitters

Vaginal implant transmitters (VITs) are increasingly used to facilitate capture of neonatal ungulates. Environmental conditions potentially have a significant influence on performance of VITs; however, effects on VIT performance largely are unknown. We exposed VITs to conditions reflective of those present during white-tailed deer fawning season in Alabama and examined effects of ambient air temperature and vegetative structure on their performance. Performance of VITs was inversely related to ambient air temperature, and VIT performance increased along with increasing amounts of shade provided by vegetation. Current devices likely will perform relatively well if expelled in areas where ambient air temperatures are below the user-defined pulse switch point and habitat conditions provide shade. Performance of VITs will be severely compromised if expulsion occurs in areas where ambient air temperatures are above the user-defined pulse switch point and devices are exposed to direct sun. Individuals interested in utilizing VITs should consider local climate and vegetative characteristics prior to initiating projects to evaluate if devices will meet performance requirements.