cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of flumazenil in outpatient transesophageal echocardiography.

Background: Benzodiazepines used for transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) sedation may be associated with postprocedural psychomotor effects that are undesirable. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that flumazenil can reverse cognitive and motor effects from benzodiazepine, promoting earlier return to baseline function. Methods: We prospectively evaluated the cognitive and motor function of patients who did or did not receive flumazenil following TEE. Patients' gait, level of drowsiness, and recall of items learned before and after benzodiazepine administration were evaluated before TEE, as well as immediately and 30 min after the procedure. Results: Of 207 patients (123 men and 84 women), 93 (45%) were given flumazenil 0.2 or 0.4 mg intravenously, and 113 (55%) were not. The baseline characteristics of the patients who received flumazenil were not significantly different from those who did not receive flumazenil, with the exception of a higher mean dosage of midazolam administered to the flumazenil group. In addition, patients in the flumazenil group appeared more drowsy immediately following TEE. When adjusted for age and midazolam dosage, there were no differences, at any time, between the two groups in gait or recall of items learned prior to sedation. However, at 30 min following TEE, the flumazenil group was able to recall a larger number of new items learned immediately after the procedure (1.92/3 vs. 1.61/3, p = 0.02) than did patients in the group not receiving flumazenil. No adverse effects were encountered in any patient. Conclusion: Flumazenil appears safe and effective in reversing anterograde amnesic effects of benzodiazepine following TEE, but has no effects on retrograde amnesia and does not promote earlier return of motor function to baseline. It is useful in clinical situations where high dosages of benzodiazepine have been used and/or excessive drowsiness is evident following TEE. Routine use of the drug, however, is not necessary.
Observations of planview flux patterns within convective structures of the marine atmospheric surface layer

Air/sea flux variability on horizontal scales from 50 m to several km results, in part, from the presence of coherent convective structures within the atmospheric boundary layer. The horizontal distribution of fluxes within these convective updrafts and downdrafts is, therefore, central to studies of air/sea interaction and remote sensing of sea surface wind and wave fields. This study derives these flux patterns from observations of the Marine Atmospheric Surface Layer (MASL).
The dynorphin/kappa opioid system as a modulator of stress-induced and pro-addictive behaviors

Stress is a complex experience that carries both aversive and motivating properties. Chronic stress causes an increase in the risk of depression, is well known to increase relapse of drug seeking behavior, and can adversely impact health. Several brain systems have been demonstrated to be critical in mediating the negative affect associated with stress, and recent evidence directly links the actions of the endogenous opioid neuropeptide dynorphin in modulating mood and increasing the rewarding effects of abused drugs. These results suggest that activation of the dynorphin/kappa opioid receptor (KOR) system is likely to play a major role in the pro-addictive effects of stress. This review explores the relationship between dynorphin and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the induction of dysphoria, the potentiation of drug seeking, and stress-induced reinstatement. We also provide an overview of the signal transduction events responsible for CRF and dynorphin/KOR-dependent behaviors. Understanding the recent work linking activation of CRF and dynorphin/KOR systems and their specific roles in brain stress systems and behavioral models of addiction provides novel insight to neuropeptide systems that regulate affective state.
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3–stimulated hypoxia inducible factor-1α mediates estrogen receptor-α–induced mesenchymal stem cell vascular endothelial growth factor production

Objective Vascular endothelial growth factor, a critical factor in angiogenesis, mediates stem cell paracrine protective effects on ischemic myocardium. Studies on the role of sex in stem cell function have demonstrated that female mesenchymal stem cells produce greater vascular endothelial growth factor and provide better cardiac protection compared with male mesenchymal stem cells. The purpose of this study was to determine the mechanisms by which estrogen affects mesenchymal stem cell function as a potential therapeutic measure during ex vivo expansion, before therapeutic use. Methods A single-step purification method using adhesion to cell culture plastic was adopted to isolate mesenchymal stem cells from wild-type, estrogen receptor-α knockout, estrogen receptor-β knockout, and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 knockout mice. Mesenchymal stem cells were treated with or without 17β-estradiol, estrogen receptor-α agonist (propyl pyrazoletriol), and estrogen receptor-β agonist (diarylpropionitrile). Results 17β-estradiol significantly increased mesenchymal stem cell vascular endothelial growth factor production in a dose-dependent manner. Both estrogen receptor-α and estrogen receptor-β were expressed in mesenchymal stem cells. Administration of 17β-estradiol or estrogen receptor-α agonist (not estrogen receptor-β agonist) elevated mesenchymal stem cell vascular endothelial growth factor, hypoxia inducible factor-1α expression, and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 activation. However, these effects were neutralized in estrogen receptor-α knockout mesenchymal stem cells, not estrogen receptor-β knockout. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 knockout abolished estrogen receptor-α–induced hypoxia inducible factor-1α and subsequent vascular endothelial growth factor production. Conclusion 17β-estradiol–induced vascular endothelial growth factor production from mesenchymal stem cells appears to be mediated through estrogen receptor-α–activated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3-mediated hypoxia inducible factor-1α expression.
Growth Management in the United States, 2000–2010: A Decennial Review and Synthesis

This bibliography synthesizes literature on growth management published between 2000 and 2010 in selected planning periodicals. Scholarship on growth management during the last decade, as evidenced...
Optical Properies of Graphite

A three-dimensional Fourier expansion has been developed to describe the dispersion relations $E(\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{k}})$ for the $\ensuremath{\pi}$ bands of graphite throughout the Brillouin zone. The coefficients of the Fourier expansion are evaluated by a fit to the experimentally determined parameters of the Slonczewski-Weiss model, as well as to the optical data. Using this energy-band model, the interband contribution to the frequency-dependent dielectric constant has been calculated in the energy range $0.5l\ensuremath{\hbar}\ensuremath{\omega}l6$ eV for both $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{E}}\ensuremath{\perp}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{c}}$ and $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{E}}\ensuremath{\parallel}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{c}}$. For this calculation, a numerical-integration procedure has been developed to carry out the full-zone integrations. The results for the dielectric constant are primarily dependent on the values of the McClure parameters ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{0}$, ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{1}$, ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{3}$, and ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{4}$, which enter the Slonczewski-Weiss Hamiltonian for graphite.
Interaction of salicylate and noise results in mortality of rats.

Survival as a function of salicylate dose and the intensity of environmental noise was investigated in 150 adult female pigmented rats. Rats were assigned to groups (n=6/group) defined by combinations of salicylate levels from 0- (saline) to 300 mg/kg, injected subcutaneously, and noise levels from ambient noise to 98 dB SPL, presented daily for 10-h periods for up to 17 days. Mortality occurred in groups exposed to the higher combinations of salicylate and noise.
Compound formation in binary mixtures of polyethylene with fused-ring aromatic molecules

Abstract The phase diagrams of the systems low-density polyethylene-acridine and high-density polyethylene-phenazine have been determined using differential scanning calorimetry. Three eutectics and two compound crystals were observed in the LDPE-acridine system whereas two eutectics and one compound crystal were detected in the HDPE-phenazine system. The LDPE-acridine system shows additional changes in the solid state due to the crystal-crystal transformation of acridine from orthorhombic to monoclinic. High-temperature X-ray diffraction studies have confirmed the accuracy of the phase diagram. The X-ray diffraction patterns of the individual compound crystals have been determined but the unit cells have not yet been elucidated.
The Unfinished Chomskyan Revolution

: Chomsky's criticism of Bloomfieldian structuralism's conception of linguistic reality applies equally to his own conception of linguistic reality. There are too many sentences in a natural language for them to have either concrete acoustic reality or concrete psychological or neural reality. Sentences have to be types, which, by Peirce's generally accepted definition, means that they are abstract objects. Given that sentences are abstract objects, Chomsky's generativism as well as his psychologism have to be given up. Langendoen and Postal's argument in The Vastness of Natural Languages to show that there are more than denumerably many sentences is flawed. But, with the view that sentences are abstract objects, the flaws can be corrected. Once psychologism and generativism are abandoned, the revolution against Bloomfieldian structuralism can be brought to completion and linguistics can be put on a sound philosophical basis.
Microliter sample introduction into an inductively-coupled plasma by electrothermal carbon cup vaporization

Abstract An atomic emission spectrometric system is described for quantifying trace elements in microvolume samples. The system involves vaporizing the sample by electrothermal carbon cup vaporization followed by the atomization and excitation of the vapor cloud in an inductively coupled plasma (i.c.p.). The detection limits for 21 elements in 10-μl samples are at ng ml -1 and sub-ng ml -1 levels with linear dynamic ranges of over four orders of magnitude. Carbon cups coated with pyrolytic graphite are overcoated with tantalum carbide. These cups have resulted in improved detection levels (performances) for Al, As, Bi, Co, Cu and Sn relative to those not containing tantalum. However, cups not treated with tantalum are superior for Au, Cd, Ge, Hg, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Rb and Zn. Comparisons between the two types of carbon cups are presented and discussed. Results also are compared with literature values available for other electrothermal vaporization systems.
Computer simulations of dense hard‐sphere systems

We present comprehensive results of large‐scale molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations of systems of dense hard spheres at volume fraction φ along the disordered, metastable branch of the phase diagram from the freezing‐point φf to random close packing volume φc. It is shown that many previous simulations contained deficiencies caused by crystallization and finite‐size effects. We quantify the degree of local crystallization through an order parameter and study it as a function of time and initial conditions to determine the necessary conditions to obtain truly random systems. This ordering criterion is used to show that previous methods employed to ascertain the degree of randomness are inadequate. A careful study of the pressure is also carried out along the entire metastable branch. In the vicinity of the random‐close packing fraction, we show that the pressure scales as (φc−φ)−γ, where γ=1 and φc=0.644±0.005. Contrary to previous studies, we find no evidence of a thermodynamic glass transition.
Function of Left Ventricle and Extent of Coronary Arterial Lesions: Failure of Correlation in Cineangiographic Studies

In patients with technically adequate selective coronary arteriograms and left ventriculograms, a scoring system was used to grade the severity of coronary obstruction from 0 (no disease) to 15 (total obstruction of all three major coronary arteries). The median score in 75 consecutive cases was 10. Three hemodynamic measurements were examined in these patients; left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (EDP), end-diastolic volume (EDV) and residual fraction. Left ventricular volume estimates were derived from one-plane cineangiograms in the right anterior oblique view. These hemodynamic parameters (EDP, EDV and residual fraction) did not correlate significantly with the severity of coronary disease. However, in eight patients who had clinical evidence of congestive failure, all had abnormal value of EDP, EDV, and residual fraction. These same measurements were also abnormal in three patients without clinical evidence of failure; a fourth patient had an increase in residual fraction without other abnormality; this group of four patients have myocardial impairment without the congestive failure syndrome. All 12 patients with an increased residual fraction had akinesis or dyskinesis of the ventricular wall. As expected, EDV correlated well with residual fraction (r = 0.72) and worse with EDP (r = 0.44).
Structure of the mouse cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase gene

Abstract Three overlapping cholesterol 7α-hydroxylasecDNAs were cloned from total mouse liver RNA by a combination of the polymerase chain reaction and mouse liver cDNA library screening. One of the cDNA clones was used to screen a mouse genomic library; three genomic clones were isolated and one of them was fully characterized. The mouse cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase gene spans approximately 10 kb. The gene contains six exons including a 1509-bp open reading frame encoding 503 amino acid residues. The predicted amino acid sequence of mouse cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase showed 93 and 82% identity to the rat and human enzymes, respectively. The transcription initiation site is mapped to 64 bases 5′ of the translation initiation codon. Several transcription factor binding sequences are identified in the 5′ flanking region of the mouse cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase gene.
An expert tutor in the SLAW programming environment (abstract only)

SLAW is a language free programming environment based on structure chart techniques presented in the department's introductory courses [LAW83] [LAW86]. The current implementation, which was developed on the IBM-PC, allows for automatic translation of an algorithm design (structure chart) into PASCAL, FORTRAN and BASIC [DOR86a]. This translation is possible due in part to inclusion of the dictionary of variables into the design [DOR85]. The environment has been tested and used by many students at Tulane and is currently being used in a local high school's advanced computer science course [DOR86b].A structure chart is a tree representation of an algorithm. Procedures and functions are represented as separate charts, themselves forming trees, with all the trees forming a forest of trees. Within this tree representation only certain structured constructs are allowed to be used. These constructs are: sequence, selection, looping and procedure/function call. Under no conditions are unrestricted branches allowed.
Correlations between intra-abdominal pressure and obesity-related co-morbidities

Abstract Background Obesity is associated with chronic increases in intra-abdominal pressure (IAP). The aim of the present study was to examine the correlation between the IAP and the number of obesity-related co-morbidities. Methods A total of 63 morbidly obese patients who were undergoing bariatric surgery had their IAP measured intraoperatively while in a supine position and under general anesthesia. The IAP readings were obtained through an indwelling urinary bladder catheter. The correlation of obesity-related co-morbidities, including systemic hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease, urinary stress incontinence, lower extremity edema, obstructive sleep apnea, and abdominal wall hernia, and the level of IAP were examined using a stepwise regression analysis model. Results Of the 62 patients, 57 were women. The mean age was 44 ± 11 years, and the body mass index was 49 ± 10 kg/m 2 . Of the 62 patients, 48 (77%) had an elevated IAP (≥9 cm H 2 O). A significant and positive correlation was found between the IAP level and the number of obesity-related co-morbidities (Pearson's r = .8; P Conclusion In this cohort of mainly obese women, the baseline IAP of morbidly obese patients was abnormally elevated. A greater IAP correlated with the presence of a greater number of obesity-related co-morbid conditions. Systemic hypertension was significantly associated with an elevated IAP. Chronic increases in IAP might, in part, be responsible for the pathogenesis of systemic hypertension in the morbidly obese.
As-needed use of fluticasone propionate nasal spray reduces symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Abstract Background: The daily use of intranasal corticosteroids is approved for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis. Objective: Our objective was to test the effectiveness of as-needed use of intranasal corticosteroids in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis. Methods: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, parallel-group study of the as-needed usage of fluticasone propionate nasal spray in the management of seasonal allergic rhinitis was performed. Outcome measures were symptom score, Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ), and the number of eosinophils and the level of eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) in nasal lavage. Results: Twenty-six subjects in each group completed the 4-week study. The median symptom score over the duration of the study in the placebo group was 8.5 versus 4.5 in the active group. The active group had significant improvement on the interim visit in the sleep, non-nose/eye, activities, nasal, practical, and overall domains ( P Conclusion: As-needed fluticasone propionate nasal spray is efficacious in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2000;105:732-8.)
Laminar burning velocities and Markstein numbers of hydrocarbonair flames

Effects of positive flame stretch on the laminar burning velocities of hydrocarbon/air mixtures were studied experimentally using outwardly propagating spherical flames. The test conditions included propane, methane, ethane, and ethylene-air flames at various fuel-equivalence ratios and normal temperature and pressure. Karlovitz numbers generally were less than 0.3 so that the flames were remote from quenching conditions. Within this range, the ratio of the unstretched (plane flames) to stretched laminar burning velocities varied linearly with Karlovitz numbers, yielding Markstein numbers that were independent of Karlovitz numbers for a particular reactant mixture. In addition, Markstein numbers varied in a roughly linear manner with fuel-equivalence ratios over the range of the measurements, which were somewhat removed from flammability limits where behavior might differ. Effects of stretch were substantial: Markstein numbers varied from -2.5 to 7.2, yielding corresponding laminar burning velocity variations of 0.4-2,7 times the value for an unstretched (plane) flame over the test range. The ranges of fuel-equivalence ratios for unstable preferential-diffusion conditions (negative Markstein numbers) were as follows: propane, greater than 1.44; methane, less than 0.74; ethane, greater than 1.68; and ethylene, greater than 1.95. Fuel-equivalence ratios for maximum flame temperatures and laminar burning velocities are near unity for the present flames; therefore, neutral preferential-diffusion conditions are shifted toward fuel-equivalence ratios on the unstable side of unity, in qualitative agreement with recent approximate theories treating the effects of stretch on laminar premixed flames.
Growth and development of spermducts of the tobacco budworm moth Heliothis virescens, in vivo and in vitro

Summary Spermducts of H. virescens increased in length and developmental state after injection of 20HE into early pupae. Spermducts cultured in vitro did not change in the absence of 20HE. incorporated into tissue culture medium induced changes which depended on the amount of time diapausing pupae maintained at 10°C were exposed to warmth and light. Spermducts from diapausing pupae did not respond to 20HE, and spermducts from pupae warmed for two days at LD increased in length but lost visible structure. Spermducts from pupae warmed for four days at LD differentiated to myogenically contracting organs resembling the seminal vesicles of adult moths. Thus, the degree to which post-diapause spermducts developed in vitro in the presence of 20HE depended on the developmental age of the donor.
Application of Protein Microarrays for Multiplexed Detection of Antibodies to Tumor Antigens in Breast Cancer

There is strong preclinical evidence that cancer, including breast cancer, undergoes immune surveillance. This continual monitoring, by both the innate and the adaptive immune systems, recognizes changes in protein expression, mutation, folding, glycosylation, and degradation. Local immune responses to tumor antigens are amplified in draining lymph nodes, and then enter the systemic circulation. The antibody response to tumor antigens, such as p53 protein, are robust, stable, and easily detected in serum, may exist in greater concentrations than their cognate antigens, and are potential highly specific biomarkers for cancer. However, antibodies have limited sensitivities as single analytes, and differences in protein purification and assay characteristics have limited their clinical application. For example, p53 autoantibodies in the sera are highly specific for cancer patients, but are only detected in the sera of 10-20% of patients with breast cancer. Detection of p53 autoantibodies is dependent on tumor burden, p53 mutation, rapidly decreases with effective therapy, but is relatively independent of breast cancer subtype. Although antibodies to hundreds of other tumor antigens have been identified in the sera of breast cancer patients, very little is known about the specificity and clinical impact of the antibody immune repertoire to breast cancer. Recent advances in proteomic technologies have the potential for rapid identification of immune response signatures for breast cancer diagnosis and monitoring. We have adapted programmable protein microarrays for the specific detection of autoantibodies in breast cancer. Here, we present the first demonstration of the application of programmable protein microarray ELISAs for the rapid identification of breast cancer autoantibodies.
Intramolecular Vibrational Dynamics of the Asymmetric dCH2 Hydride Stretch of Isobutene

The eigenstate-resolved, high-resolution (5 MHz) infrared spectrum of the asymmetric dCH2 hydride stretch of isobutene has been measured using an electric resonance optothermal spectrometer (EROS). This vibrational band near 3087 cm-1 was rotationally assigned with ground state microwave-infrared double-resonance spectroscopy. IVR rates from rotationally homogeneous IVR multiplets at values of total angular momentum, J ranging from J = 0 to J = 3 and Ka values of Ka = 0 to Ka = 2, were obtained. The average IVR lifetime for this vibrational mode is 105 ps and independent of rotational state. The experimental state density of the rotationless 000 vibrational state, approximately 150 states/cm-1, is in good agreement with the direct count result of 99 states/cm-1 using the C+3 v multiply sign in circle C-3 v (G36) molecular symmetry group. The lineshape profiles of the IVR multiplets are investigated in order to elucidate information concerning the dependence of IVR rates on the symmetry of the torsional wavefunction. We find that there is a common IVR rate among the various torsional symmetries. IVR lifetimes observed in the present study are compared to other asymmetric ethylenic hydride stretch IVR rates measured in our laboratory. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.
Regional variability in ferromanganese nodule composition: northeastern tropical Pacific Ocean

Abstract Ferromanganese nodules are products of both direct and indirect precipitation in the marine environment; therefore, they potentially posses an important record of the oceanographic conditions under which they have grown. Previous attempts to extract useful paleoceanographic interpretations from ferromanganese nodules have been hampered by the scarcity of data and analytical inconsistencies, which make the separation of locally controlled versus regionally controlled variations in nodule composition difficult. Between 1978 and 1981, the Ocean Minerals Company (OMCO) conducted extensive surveys in the northeastern tropical Pacific Ocean. During this time the average bulk geochemistry of nodules from 4657 grab samples, collected from an area of approximately 1.5 million km2, was determined using highly uniform and closely controlled analytical protocols. Because of its broad areal coverage, large sample size, and the consistency of the analytical techniques employed, this data set is ideally suited to quantitatively examine longstanding hypotheses concerning the factors that control the regional-scale variability of nodule compositions. A combination of geostatistical techniques have been employed to achieve this objective. The results of a Q-mode factor analysis of the geochemical data indicate that the nodules are composed of a two-component mixture of material acquired from both sediment and seawater sources via diagenetic and hydrogenetic accretionary processes, respectively. Linear modeling of these results determined that diagenetic accretion is the predominant accretionary processes in this region of the Pacific. Finally, a kriging analysis was employed to examine the spatial variability of nodule composition. Contour maps of the kriging results suggest that variations in primary productivity levels and sedimentation rates are the primary influences on the regional-scale variability of nodule composition, and that the influence of diagenetic accretion is maximally approaching the equatorial zone of high productivity. The nodules examined in this study are likely Oligocene to Miocene in age. The probable paleolocations of these nodules at that time, as determined by backtracking from the inferred northwesterly movement of the Pacific Plate, would still place the nodules well within the zone of equatorial high productivity. Consequently, while these nodules may have been subject to variations in the magnitudes of primary productivity and sedimentation rate during their active growth phase, the observed compositional trends suggest that the overall spatial pattern of productivity has remained essentially the same.
Ultrasound visualization of central slip injuries of the finger extensor mechanism

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the ability of ultrasound to detect a central tear of the finger extensor tendon mechanism. Methods Twelve fresh-frozen and thawed cadaver fingers were used. All fingers had a midradial incision with exposure of the extensor mechanism over the proximal interphalangeal joint. Six fingers had a sharp transection of the central slip. The other 6 fingers were used as sham dissection controls. All fingers had the exposure closed by suture and then were examined by a musculoskeletal ultrasonographer. Results All 12 fingers were identified correctly as either sham controls with intact central slips or as injury models that had a transected central slip. Thus there was a sensitivity of 100% a specificity of 100%, and a positive predictive value of 1.000, which were statistically significant. Conclusions Diagnostic ultrasound is a very accurate noninvasive study that can identify central slip injuries in the extensor mechanism of the finger. We recommend that clinically suspected cases of boutonniere injury be scanned by high-frequency ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis and allow either early initiation of splinting or eliminate the need for prolonged splinting required for this injury.
Formation of genotoxic dicarbonyl compounds in dietary oils upon oxidation

Dietary oils--tuna, salmon, cod liver, soybean, olive, and corn oils--were treated with accelerated storage conditions (60 degrees C for 3 and 7 d) and a cooking condition (200 degrees C for 1 h). Genotoxic malonaldehyde (MA), glyoxal, and methylglyoxal formed in the oils were analyzed by GC. Salmon oil produced the greatest amount of MA (1070+/-77.0 ppm of oil) when it was heated at 60 degrees C for 7 d. The highest formation of glyoxal was obtained from salmon oil heated at 60 degrees C for 3 d. More glyoxal was found from salmon and cod liver oils when they were heated for 3 d (12.8+/-1.10 and 7.07+/-0.19 ppm, respectively) than for 7 d (6.70+/-0.08 and 5.94+/-0.38 ppm, respectively), suggesting that glyoxal underwent secondary reactions during a prolonged time. The amount of methyglyoxal formed ranged from 2.03+/-0.13 (cod liver oil) to 2.89+/-0.11 ppm (tuna oil) in the fish oils heated at 60 degrees C for 7 d. Among vegetable oils, only olive oil yielded methylglyoxal (0.61+/-0.03 ppm) under accelerated storage conditions. When oils were treated under cooking conditions, the aldehydes formed were comparable to those formed under accelerated storage conditions. Fish oils produced more MA, glyoxal, and methylglyoxal than did vegetable oils because the fish oils contained higher levels of long-chain PUFA, such as EPA and DHA, than did the vegetable oils. A statistically significant correlation (P < 0.05) between the alpha-tocopherol content and the oxidation parameters was obtained from only MA and fish oils heated at 60 degrees C for 3 d.
A Clustering and Data-Reorganizing Algorithm

A clustering and data-reorganizing algorithm based on the concept of the shortest spanning path of a graph is given. This algorithm can be used to reorganize and/or cluster a large file of data.
699 INCREASED CHOLESTEROL SULFATE IN PLASMA AND RED BLOOD CELL MEMBRANES OF STEROID SULFATASE (STS) DEFICIENT PATIENTS

STS deficiency is an inborn error of metabolism due to a relatively common mutation on the short arm of the X chromosome. The phenotype of affected individuals includes decreased estriol production during fetal life and ichthyosis postnatally. Although increased levels of several steroid sulfates have been observed in amniotic fluid, maternal urine, and cord blood from such pregnancies, no consistent substrate abnormalities have been found beyond the perinatal period. Specifically, normal radioimmunoassayable plasma pregnenolone sulfate (PS), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DS), and androstenediol sulfate (AS) have been reported. Utilizing gas chromatography (GC), we have found cholesterol sulfate (CS) to be strikingly elevated in plasma and red blood cell membranes of patients with STS deficiency. 80% methanol extracts were purified by solvent partition and TLC, subjected to solvolysis and quantitated by GC. Recoveries were monitored with 3H-CS. High levels of CS with normal levels of PS, DHEAS, and AS may indicate that desulfation is quantitatively more important for CS than for the other steroid sulfates. CS is known to affect membrane stability and the present observations may help to explain the pathogenesis of STS deficiency and X-linked ichthyosis.
Mutational analysis of transcriptional activation by the bovine papillomavirus type 1 E6.

While the bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV-1) E6 induces tumorigenic transformation of murine C127 cells, it does not bind or promote the degradation of p53. We recently showed the cellular protein ERC-55/E6BP binds BPV-1 E6 as well as the cancer-related human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 proteins. BPV-1 E6 also binds E6-AP, a ubiquitin ligase necessary for HPV E6-induced p53 degradation. We previously reported that the transforming activity of a set of BPV-1 E6 mutants correlated with their E6BP-binding ability. Another function of BPV-1 E6 is stimulation of transcription when targeted to a promoter, although cellular promoters responsive to BPV-1 E6 have not been identified. To examine whether its transcriptional function is required for oncogenic activity, or is related to its interactions with E6-AP or E6BP, a series of BPV-1 E6 mutants were analyzed as fusions to a sequence-specific DNA binding domain for activity in yeast and in mammalian cells. We show that some transformation defective mutants retained substantial levels of transcriptional activation activity. These mutants also distinguish transcriptional activation from E6-AP and E6BP binding. These results suggest the transcriptional activation function of BPV-1 E6 is not sufficient for cell transformation.
Foliar flavonoid aglycones of the genus Keckiella (Scrophulariaceae)

Abstract Foliar flavonoid aglycones consist of luteolin and 6-hydroxyluteolin in five species of Keckiella .Exceptional species are K. cordifolia , which contains only luteolin, and K.ternata , which contains the flavonols quercetin and kaempferol. These exceptional species are bird-pollinated and exhibit a derived morphology. Their flavonoid constitutions are proposed to be derived as well
Core/shell nanoparticles as hybrid platforms for the fabrication of a hydrogen peroxide biosensor

Core/shell nanoparticles consisting of a Fe3O4 nanoparticle core and a mesoporous silica shell (Fe3O4/m-silica) were used as a matrix for immobilization of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzyme and subsequent design of an amperometric hydrogen peroxide biosensor. HRP enzyme was immobilized on the core/shell nanoparticles through the electrostatic interaction between oppositely charged HRP enzyme and the silica shell at neutral pH. The enzyme–core/shell nanoparticle hybrid material was deposited on screen printed electrodes and further characterized by ultraviolet–visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This set up was used as a biosensor to detect hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide biosensor showed a detection limit of 4.3 × 10−7 M, at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3, and a sensitivity of 84.4 μA mM−1 cm2.
Solar climates of the United States based on long-term monthly averaged daily insolation values

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to develop and analyze an objective classification and regionalization scheme of solar climates for the conterminous United States. The use of principal components analysis and Euclidean distance cluster analysis generates 18 solar climatic types based upon long-term mean monthly data. Two of the resultant regions contain 76 per cent of the 221 stations used in this study. The results are shown to vary significantly from the previously published maps of solar climates in the United States.
Urinary levoglucosan as a biomarker of wood smoke: Results of human exposure studies

Urinary levoglucosan was investigated as a potential biomarker of wood smoke exposure in two different controlled experimental settings. Nine subjects were exposed to smoke from a campfire in a controlled setting, and four were exposed to smoke from an older-model wood stove. All subjects were asked to provide urine samples before and after exposure, and to wear personal particulate matter with a diameter of < or =2.5 microm (PM(2.5)) monitors during exposure. Urinary levoglucosan measurements from both studies showed no consistent response to the smoke exposure. A third experiment was conducted to assess the contribution of dietary factors to urinary levoglucosan levels. Nine subjects were asked to consume caramel and provide urine samples before and after consumption. Urinary levoglucosan levels increased within 2 h of caramel consumption and returned to pre-exposure levels within 24 h. These studies suggest that diet is a major factor in determining urinary levoglucosan levels and that recent dietary history needs to be taken into account for future work involving levoglucosan as a biomarker of wood smoke exposure.
Animal-assisted therapy enhances resident social interaction and initiation in long-term care facilities.

ABSTRACTSocial stimulation is a valuable aspect of therapeutic activities at long-term care facilities, designed to decrease social isolation, maintain or stimulate mental abilities, and increase awareness of the external environment. A study was undertaken at two such facilities to compare the effectiveness of Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) with Non-Animal Therapy (NAT) at providing social stimulation, that is, at providing opportunities for patients to engage in social interaction and to initiate social behaviors. While studies have indicated that AAT can improve resident outlook or affect, few have directly studied the social behaviors that might lead to such improvements, or the role the animals themselves might play. We observed 33 patients, both alert and semi- to non-alert, during regular recreational therapy sessions. Most patients were women (29 vs. four men), and geriatric (in their 70's and 80's). Non-Animal Therapies included Arts and Crafts and Snack Bingo, while AAT involved animals from loca...
A Religious Interpretation of Emergence: Creativity as God

Thinking of God today as creativity (instead of as The Creator) enables us to bring theological values and meanings into significant connection with modern cosmological and evolutionary thinking. This conception connects our understanding of God with today's ideas of the Big Bang; cosmic and biological evolution; the evolutionary emergence of novel complex realities from simpler realities, and the irreducibility of these complex realities to their simpler origins; and so on. It eliminates anthropomorphism and anthro-pocentrism from the conception of God, thus overcoming one of the major reasons for the implausibility of God-talk in today's world-here viewed as a highly dynamic reality (not an essentially stable structure), with God regarded as the ongoing creativity in this world. This mystery of creativity-God-manifest throughout the universe is quite awe-inspiring, calling forth emotions of gratitude, love, peace, fear, and hope, and a sense of the profound meaningfulness of human existence in the world-issues with which faith in God usually has been associated. It is appropriate, therefore, to think of God today as precisely this magnificent panorama of creativity with which our universe and our lives confront us.
Effects of military trauma exposure on women veterans' use and perceptions of Veterans Health Administration care.

Background Few studies have addressed how military trauma exposure, particularly sexual assault and combat exposure, affects women veterans’ use and perceptions of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) care.
Privilege, Compromise, or Social Justice: Teachers' Conceptualizations of Inclusive Education.

This qualitative study explored the beliefs of teachers in the USA about the education of students with disabilities, focusing on their conceptualizations of inclusive education. Data were obtained through in-depth interviews with 30 teachers. The findings highlight multiple interpretations of inclusive education and suggest that teachers’ support for inclusive education may be linked with the ways in which they conceptualize this practice. Most teachers’ beliefs about the education of students with disabilities were embedded in dominant educational discourses that centered on the otherness of some students, and an unquestioned acceptance of implicit assumptions in special education. Findings support the need for a paradigm shift in teacher education, moving away from deficit models towards an understanding of inclusive education as linked with issues of social justice.
Chlorpropamide-alcohol flushing, malar thermal circulation index, and baseline malar temperature.

Abstract Chlorpropamide-alcohol flushing (CPAF) has been advanced and challenged as a specific marker for familial noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus. The previous studies assay flushing reactions employing arbitrarily defined critical threshold values of rise and rate of rise in facial temperature. Since these methods ignore the curvilinear relationship between skin temperature and cutaneous blood flow, errors of analysis obtain. Further, the role of baseline facial temperature is obfuscated. The method of malar thermal circulation index derived from the relationship between skin temperature and cutaneous blood flow provides a more accurate assay method and permits the characterization of the role of baseline facial temperature. Baseline facial temperature is less in subjects with CPAF and noninsulin dependent diabetes than in normal subjects. The lower baseline facial temperature alone may account for the reported differences in the parameters of the CPAF test.
Polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography for the nondestructive assessment of the remineralization of dentin

Previous studies have demonstrated that polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) can be used to image caries lesions in dentin, measure nondestructively the severity of dentin demineralization, and determine the efficacy of intervention with anticaries agents including fluoride and lasers. The objective of this study is to determine if PS-OCT can be used to nondestructively measure a reduction in the reflectivity of dentin lesions after exposure to a remineralization solution. Although studies have shown the ability of PS-OCT to image the remineralization of lesions in enamel, none have included dentin. PS-OCT images of dentin surfaces are acquired after exposure to an artificial demineralizing solution for six days and a remineralizing solution for 20 days. The integrated reflectivity, depth of demineralization, and thickness of the layer of remineralization are calculated for each of the two treatment groups on each sample. Polarized light microscopy and microradiography are used to measure lesion severity on histological thin sections for comparison. PS-OCT successfully measured the formation of a layer of increased mineral content near the lesion surface. Polorized light microscopy (PLM) and transverse microradiography (TMR) corroborated those results. PS-OCT can be used for the nondestructive measurement of the remineralization of dentin.
Charge transfer between the 2p2 3P ground-state O2+ ion and He, H2, N2, and CO at electron-volt energies.

The charge-transfer rate coefficients for the reaction O[sup 2+](2[ital p][sup 2] [sup 3][ital P])+He, H[sub 2], N[sub 2], and Co [r arrow] products are measured at energies about 2.5 eV using a laser-induced-plasma ion source and ion storage. The rate coefficients are 1.12(0.15)[times]10[sup [minus]12] cm[sup 3] s[sup [minus]1], 2.35(0.22)[times]10[sup [minus]9] cm[sup 3] s[sup [minus]1], 3.15(0.26)[times]10[sup [minus]9] cm[sup 3] s[sup [minus]1], and 3.40(0.29)[times]10[sup [minus]9] cm[sup 3] s[sup [minus]1], respectively. While our result for O[sup 2+] and H[sub 2] is consistent with the published value, the charge-transfer rate coefficient for O[sup 2+] and He disagrees with all the available theoretical and experimental values by as much as three orders of magnitude. No theoretical value is available for O[sup 2+]+N[sub 2]. However, our measured value at 2[times]10[sup 4] K is different from that obtained by the drift tube method at 300 K by a factor of 2. No theoretical and experimental values are available for comparison for the charge-transfer reaction of O[sup 2+] and CO.
Synaptic targets of the intrinsic axon collaterals of supragranular pyramidal neurons in monkey prefrontal cortex.

The principal axons of supragranular pyramidal neurons in the cerebral cortex travel through the white matter and terminate in other cortical areas, whereas their intrinsic axon collaterals course through the gray matter and form both local and long-distance connections within a cortical region. In the monkey prefrontal cortex (PFC), horizontally oriented, intrinsic axon collaterals from supragranular pyramidal neurons form a series of stripe-like clusters of axon terminals (Levitt et al. [1993] J Comp Neurol 338:360 ‐376; Pucak et al. [1996] J Comp Neurol 376:614 ‐ 630). The present study examined the synaptic targets of the intrinsic axon collaterals arising from supragranular pyramidal neurons within the same stripe (local projections). Approximately 50% of the within-stripe axon terminals in monkey PFC area 9 targeted dendritic spines. In contrast, for both the intrinsic axon collaterals that travel between stripes (long-range projections), and the axon terminals that project to other PFC areas (associational projections), over 92% of the postsynaptic structures were dendritic spines (Melchitzky et al. [1998] J Comp Neurol 390:211‐224). The other 50% of the withinstripe terminals synapsed with dendritic shafts. Dual-labeling studies confirmed that these within-stripe terminals contacted g-aminobutyric acid-immunoreactive dendritic shafts, including the subpopulation that contains the calcium-binding protein parvalbumin. The functional significance of the differences in synaptic targets between local and long-range intrinsic axon collaterals was supported by whole-cell, patch clamp recordings in an in vitro slice preparation of monkey PFC. Specifically, the small amplitude responses observed in layer 3 pyramidal neurons during long-range, low-intensity stimulation were exclusively excitatory, whereas local stimulation also evoked di/polysynaptic inhibitory responses. These anatomic and electrophysiological findings suggest that intrinsic connections of the PFC differ from other cortical regions and that within the PFC, feedback (within-stripe) inhibition plays a greater role in regulating the activity of supragranular pyramidal neurons than does feedforward inhibition either between stripes or across regions. J. Comp. Neurol. 430: 209 ‐221, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Multiple-pulse electroporation : uptake of a macromolecule by individual cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract The “green” fluorescence (GF) of individual yeast cells ( Saccharomyces cerevisiae ) was measured by flow cytometry to determine the amount of uptake of a macromolecule (FITC-dextran) due to the application of one or more square 50 μs electric field pulses. A second molecule, propidium iodide, was added 25 min after pulsing. The number of pulses N pulse was varied by factors of two, up to N pulse = 16, with individual pulses separated by 5 s. At the lowest electric field, E e = 1.5 kV cm −1 , increasing N pulse up to 16 did not result in enhanced uptake of either molecule. At the next higher field (3 kV cm −1 ) there was a dramatic increase in both the percentage of cells with GF, and also the mean GF per cell, when N pulse was increased from 1 to 2, and then from 2 to 4. For this pulse size a further increase in pulse number from 4 to 8 resulted in a decrease in the percentage of participating cells (mean percentage of cells with GF), but an increase in the average GF. At the optimal single pulse electric field strength (5 kV cm −1 ), increasing the number of pulses did not increase the percentage of cells with GF, although there was some increase in the percentage of cells with red fluorescence (RF); increasing N pulse at the largest field (7 kV cm −1 ) did not result in increased uptake of the dextran. However, an increase in the number of cells which take up propidium iodide was observed, which appears to correlate with increased cell death. The number of viable cells remaining after pulsing was estimated by propidium iodide uptake. This rapid estimate was compared with traditional viable plating at 5 kV cm −1 , and found to give a reasonable correlation for this microorganism under the conditions of this study.