cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adhesion of axolemmal fragments to Schwann cells: a signal- and target-specific process closely linked to axolemmal induction of Schwann cell mitosis.

Radioiodinated rat CNS axolemmal fragments adhered to cultured rat Schwann cells by a time-, temperature-, and concentration-dependent process independent of extracellular ionized calcium. Adhesion showed target and signal specificity; axolemmal fragments adhered to endoneurial or dermal fibroblasts to a much lesser extent than to Schwann cells, and plasma membrane fragments from skeletal muscle, erythrocytes, or PNS myelin adhered to Schwann cells to a lesser extent than did axolemmal fragments. Brief trypsinization removed 94 to 97% of bound radioactivity from Schwann cells previously incubated with 125I- axolemmal fragments for up to 24 hr, indicating that adhesion was largely a surface phenomenon rather than the result of rapid internalization of axolemmal fragments by the Schwann cells. When adhesion was compared to the axolemmal mitogenic response of Schwann cells, the concentration of axolemmal fragments yielding half-maximal adhesion was the same as the concentration producing half-maximal stimulation of Schwann cell mitosis. Trypsin digestion, homogenization, or heating of axolemmal fragments before application to cultured Schwann cells diminished adhesion and axolemmal fragment-induced stimulation of Schwann cell mitosis in a parallel fashion. Whereas adhesion of axolemmal fragments to the surfaces of the cultured Schwann cells reached completion within 4 hr in this assay system, induction of Schwann cell mitosis by the fragments required contact with Schwann cells for a minimum of 6 to 8 hr and reached a maximum when the axolemmal fragments had adhered to the Schwann cells for 24 hr or more.
Remote Sensing of the Neutral Constituents of the Lower Thermosphere

Measurement of densities of the neutral constituents in the thermosphere is of continuing interest to aeronomers. As understanding is improved of the gross response of the thermosphere to such things as changes in solar ultraviolet flux and geomagnetic activity, more and more specific questions are being asked about the detailed thermospheric behavior. The search for greater understanding requires ever more detailed measurements. In the past, measurement of the thermospheric density has been done primarily through drag studies or rocket and satellite borne instruments which directly sample the atmosphere. Only methods employing satellite borne sensors have been able to provide global scale measurements. A common limitation of almost all of the satellite borne sensor techniques used in the past is that neutral densities and compositions are measured only at the satellite location. Thus, while good latitude and longitude coverage is possible, altitude profiles above a fixed surface point have not been possible. In the lower thermosphere (below 150 km) the high drag experienced by satellites with such low perigees makes in situ measurements unattractive.
Depressive symptoms as a function of sex-role, rumination, and neuroticism

The current study examined the relations between biological sex, socialized masculinity, rumination, neuroticism, and depressive symptoms in a large sample of young adults (N = 589). As hypothesized, socialized masculinity negatively predicted rumination, neuroticism, and depression even when biological sex was controlled. Structural equation modeling revealed that rumination-on-sadness predicted neuroticism and depression, whereas rumination-in-general predicted only neuroticism. Controlling for masculinity, rumination, and neuroticism, men were more likely to experience depressive symptoms than were women.
Biochemical studies of CELO virus: an oncogenic avian adenovirus.

The onset of viral mRNA and DNA synthesis in CELO virus infected cells occurred about 5 and 8 h respectively after infection. Viral maturation occurred approximately 6 h after DNA synthesis at 14h post infection.
A Collation of Chi Square Formulae

Sfinz?nary.-A series of formulae for chi square are presented for use with one- and two-classification cables. The formulae, written with a constant statistical notation, represent an overview of the literature in the area and are designed to provide the investigator with a series of short-cuts in the calculation of chi square. Formulae are presented and discussed within the framework of the tables to which they best apply; a worked example is provided with each major formula. Over the recent years, non-parametric techniques have grown both in use and number. Certainly the most widely used and known of such techniques is chi square (~3. The calculation of ~5s generally simple so long as the number of cells in the table or the number of tables to which it is applied is small. When, however, these conditions are not met, calculations may become tedious and time consuming. Many ingenious techniques and formulae have been presented to overcome this problem. Unfortunately, however, the user for whom these techniques have been designed and presented faces certain problems in attempting to use them. He finds that the formulae are scattered in books and journals that are not always easily available at the moment they are needed; in addition, he will seldom find an evaluation of the various methods as ro rheir applicability in certain si~acions and, finally, as he moves from one author to another he will invariably encounter abrupt changes in statisrical notation that obscure the basic relevance and utility of the formulae presented. Thus, it is not too unusual to find the researcher in the position of depending upon a few sources which he knows well and with which he is comfortable despite the fact that these sources will typically be deficient in their coverage of such techniques. In so doing, he loses access to a wide range of material that can aid him in his day to day research activity. It is the purpose of this paper, then, to present a reference source for such users: a collection of x2 formulae organized about the tables to which they apply, discussed as to their merits and limitations, and wrirten in a standardized statistical notation. This paper does not cover the use of X%n contingency tables with more than two cross-classifications since the method for calculation will often depend upon the hypothesis to be rested; discussion of this topic is covered by Bartlett (1935), Irwin (1949), Lancaster ( 1951 ), Mayo (1959), Mood (1950), 'Supported, in part, by a grant from the Forcl Foundation and NlMH Grant 2M-7521-C1.
Polarization-Modulated Infrared Reflection Absorption Spectroscopic Studies of a Hydrogen-Bonding Network at the Air-Water Interface

The hydrogen-bonding network formed between a triaminotriazine amphiphile (2C18TAZ, 1) and complementary barbituric acid (BA, 2) at the air−water interface is investigated by polarization-modulated infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS). The molecular structure and orientation of the 1:1 hydrogen-bonding network at the air−water interface is revealed in this study. Without the addition of BA to the subphase, the NH2 scissoring of 2C18TAZ appeared in the spectrum as a broad negative absorption band between 1660 and 1605 cm-1, indicating its perpendicular orientation to the air−water interface. When BA was added to the subphase, the NH2 scissoring absorption band from the triaminotriazine moiety disappeared due to the complementary hydrogen bonding of BA to the 2C18TAZ monolayer. The formation of the rigid 1:1 hydrogen-bonding network also resulted in the disappearance of one of the ring quadrant stretch absorption bands of the 2C18TAZ molecule. New bands which are attributed to the vibratio...
Increased nuclear factor-kappaB activation in colitis of interleukin-2-deficient mice.

Abstract Recent studies support nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) as a critical transcription factor in inflammatory bowel disease. We examined NF-κB and its inhibitors, IκB-α and IκB-β, in the colitis of interleukin-2 deficient (IL-2 -/- ) mice at the ages of 5, 10, and 15 weeks and compared them with those of age-matched wild-type mice. Colon levels of nuclear NF-κB and mRNA for NF-κB responsive cytokines interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were markedly increased in interleukin-2 -/- mice. Colon interleukin-1β protein levels were significantly elevated, consistent with increased interleukin-1β mRNA, whereas tumor necrosis factor-alpha protein levels were either lower than those of the control group or did not differ. Protein levels of the immunomodulatory cytokine interleukin-10 were diminished. The NF-κB responsive IκB-α was also increased, mirroring NF-κB activation. In contrast, IκB-β levels did not differ from those of wild-type mice in the 5- and 10-week groups and were only mildly increased in the 15-week group. Serum amyloid A, an acute phase protein that also is NF-κB-responsive, was dramatically elevated in the serum of interleukin-2 -/- mice and correlated with the severity of the colitis. These data support a role for NF-κB in the pathogenesis of intestinal inflammation in interleukin- 2 -/- mice. The measurement of NF-κB in colon tissue samples may provide a sensitive means of assessing the state of activation of the mucosal immune response, and serum amyloid A appears to be a reliable biochemical marker of disease activity. (J Lab Clin Med 1999;134:378-85)
Treatment outcomes with the use of maxillomandibular fixation screws in the management of mandible fractures.

Purpose The purpose of this prospective randomized study was to assess whether uncomplicated mandible fractures could be treated successfully in an open or closed fashion using maxillomandibular fixation (MMF) screws. Materials and Methods This was a prospective institutional review board–approved study involving 20 adult patients who presented to the university emergency department or oral and maxillofacial surgical clinic with uncomplicated mandible fractures. Patients who met the exclusion criteria consented to enter the study in the open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) or the closed (MMF) study group. Six to 8 MMF screws were used to obtain intermaxillary fixation (IMF) in the 2 groups. Screw failure was documented. All screws were removed at 5 to 6 weeks postoperatively. Insertional torque (IT) was measured at time of screw placement to assess primary stability. Clinical and photographic documentation was performed to assess fracture healing, occlusion, and gingival health. Ten-centimeter visual analog scales were used to assess patient-centered outcomes. Cone-beam computed tomography was performed to assess the long-term effects on the periodontium and roots. A cost comparison was performed to determine whether the use of screws was cost effective compared with arch bars. Results Fifteen men and 5 women (mean age, 25.2 yr) entered the study. All patients displayed adequate fracture healing based on clinical examination. All patients had acceptable occlusion at 5 to 6 weeks postoperatively. Total screw failure was 27 of 106 screws (25.5%). Forty percent of screws placed in the MMF group failed compared with only 6% in the ORIF group. Gingival health scores were favorable. Factors that had a significant effect on screw failure included a lower IT (P = .002), use in closed (MMF) treatment (P < .001), and use in the posterior jaw (P = .012). Minimal pain was associated with the MMF screws and pre-existing occlusion was re-established based on patients' subjective responses. The MMF group reported a statistically significant lower quality of life (P < .001) compared with the ORIF group. There was only 1 screw site that had a facial cortical bone defect noted at 6-month follow-up CBCT examination. There were no discernible long-term root defects. Cost analysis showed that the use of MMF screws saved around $600 per patient in operating room usage cost alone compared with the estimated use of arch bars. Conclusions Uncomplicated mandible fractures were successfully treated using MMF screws in open and closed treatments. However, the utility in closed treatment was decreased because of significant screw failure and patient noncompliance. The screws were well tolerated by the patients. There was minimal long-term damage to the periodontium and dental roots. The cost of screws was more than offset by time savings.
Genetic testing in Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder of adulthood characterized clinically by rigidity, bradykinesia, resting tremor, and postural instability. The annual incidence of PD ranges between 16 and 19 individuals per 100,000 (Twelves et al., Mov Disord 2003;18:19-31). Historically, PD has been commonly viewed as an idiopathic or environmentally triggered condition. However, as is true with most common conditions, there have been several families reported with PD who demonstrate a classic Mendelian pattern of inheritance. To date, nine genetic loci have been reported and four pathogenic genes have been identified: alpha-synuclein, parkin, DJ1, and PINK1. Families with alterations in these genes or linked sites demonstrate either recessive or dominant inheritance patterns and may have typical and/or atypical symptoms, with an age of onset extending from the second to the sixth decade. Commercial tests for parkin and alpha-synuclein mutations are now available. We predict that physicians, particularly neurologists, increasingly will be approached for information and referrals regarding genetic testing. To assist patients and their families, physicians will not only need to know when such testing is likely to yield a meaningful result but also be aware of the possible social and emotional consequences of testing. The following is a review of what is currently known about the genetics of PD within this context. We discuss what is known about genetic testing for Huntington's disease, a well-described model for genetic testing in a neurodegenerative disorder. We explore the utility, appropriateness, and possible implications of genetic testing for diagnostic and presymptomatic purposes.
Speech feature denoising and dereverberation via deep autoencoders for noisy reverberant speech recognition

Denoising autoencoders (DAs) have shown success in generating robust features for images, but there has been limited work in applying DAs for speech. In this paper we present a deep denoising autoencoder (DDA) framework that can produce robust speech features for noisy reverberant speech recognition. The DDA is first pre-trained as restricted Boltzmann machines (RBMs) in an unsupervised fashion. Then it is unrolled to autoencoders, and fine-tuned by corresponding clean speech features to learn a nonlinear mapping from noisy to clean features. Acoustic models are re-trained using the reconstructed features from the DDA, and speech recognition is performed. The proposed approach is evaluated on the CHiME-WSJ0 corpus, and shows a 16-25% absolute improvement on the recognition accuracy under various SNRs.
From Ear to Cortex: A Perspective on What Clinicians Need to Understand About Speech Perception and Language Processing

Phoneme-sized phonetic segments are often defined as the most basic unit of language organization. Two common inferences made from this description are that there are clear correlates to phonetic segments in the acoustic speech stream, and that humans have access to these segments from birth. In fact, well-replicated studies have shown that the acoustic signal of speech lacks invariant physical correlates to phonetic segments, and that the ability to recognize segmental structure is not present from the start of language learning. Instead, the young child must learn how to process the complex, generally continuous acoustic speech signal so that phonetic structure can be derived. This paper describes and reviews experiments that have revealed developmental changes in speech perception that accompany improvements in access to phonetic structure. In addition, this paper explains how these perceptual changes appear to be related to other aspects of language development, such as syntactic abilities and reading...
Depression in Older Patients in Residential Care: Significance of Dysphoria and Dimensional Assessment

To investigate the significance of subsyndromal depressive states in geriatric patients, the authors used data from ongoing studies of depression in older patients in residential care to evaluate the clinical correlates of dysphoria. They find that dysphoria is, in general, a persistent state associated with increased medical illness, pain, self-care deficits, and mortality relative to euthymic subjects; thus it is clinically significant. Differences between dysphoria and major depression in the extent of associated disability and mortality, but not in measures of medical illness, pain, or persistence, remain significant after controlling for self-ratings of depression from the Geriatric Depression Scale. This finding suggests that dimensional assessments can account for some of the correlates of depression, but that categorical diagnoses are required for others.
Evolving ITE Trip Generation Handbook: Proposal for Collecting Multimodal, Multicontext, establishment-level data

This paper outlines a new perspective on data collection to inform site-level trip generation studies with amendments to ITE's Trip Generation Handbook in mind. The data collection proposed here is informed by the authors' experiences in a study that aimed to adjust trip generation rates for an urban context. In this study, a consistent, reliable method for adjusting ITE's trip generation rates to account for increased nonautomobile travel in different urban contexts was developed. On the basis of these experiences, the design presented here proposes more emphasis on collecting information on person counts and on how those person trips are distributed across various modes, including walking, cycling, and transit. This paper advocates a move from the vehicle-based counts used historically in these studies to a focus on how new development affects all users of transportation systems.
Theory of adiabatic spinodal decomposition in pressure-quenched binary fluids

Abstract We present a generalization of the Kawasaki-Ohta/Langer-Bar-on-Miller thoery of early-stage spinodal decomposition in a near-critical binary fluid. The new theory is relevant to a situation in which the system is quenched abruptly by changing the pressure and in which the subsequent phase separation occurs adiabatically. The resulting nonequilibrium situation has features that so not fit conventional theoretical assumptions. We find that changes in the effective temperature during the transition can account for the lack of agreement between earlier theories and recent experimental results of Bailey and Cannell.
Transcriptional profiling of MHC class I genes in rainbow trout infected with infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules are important mediators of cell-mediated immunity in vertebrates. MHC class IA molecules are important for host anti-viral immunity as they present intracellular antigens and regulate natural killer cell (NK) activity. MHC class Ib molecules on the other hand are less understood and have demonstrated diverse immune and non-immune functions in mammals. Rainbow trout possess a single classical MHC IA locus (Onmy-UBA) that is believed to function similar to that of mammalian MHC class Ia. Numerous MHC class Ib genes with undetermined functions have also been described in trout. Here we utilize quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) techniques to survey the levels of basal and inducible transcription for selected trout MHC class Ib genes, sIgM and sentinels of IFN induction in response to viral infection. Basal transcription of all the class Ib genes examined in this study was lower than Onmy-UBA in naive fish. UBA, along with all of the non-classical genes were induced in fish infected with virus but not in control fish. Our results support a non-classical designation for the majority of the class IB genes surveyed in this study based upon expression levels while also indicating that they may play an important role in anti-viral immunity in trout.
Diagnosis, management, and future developments of fibromuscular dysplasia.

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is a nonatherosclerotic noninflammatory vascular disease that primarily affects women from age 20 to 60, but may also occur in infants and children, men, and the elderly. It most commonly affects the renal and carotid arteries but has been observed in almost every artery in the body. FMD has been considered rare and thus is often underdiagnosed and poorly understood by many health care providers. There are, however, data to suggest that FMD is much more common than previously thought, perhaps affecting as many as 4% of adult women. When it affects the renal arteries, the most common presentation is hypertension. When it affects the carotid or vertebral arteries, the patient may present with transient ischemic attack or stroke, or dissection. An increasing number of patients are asymptomatic and are only discovered incidentally when imaging is performed for some other reason or by the detection of an asymptomatic bruit. FMD should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a young person with a cervical bruit; a "swishing" sound in the ear(s); transient ischemic attack, stroke, or dissection of an artery; or in individuals aged ≤35 years with onset hypertension. Treatment consists of antiplatelet therapy for asymptomatic individuals and percutaneous balloon angioplasty for patients with indications for intervention. Patients with aneurysms should be treated with a covered stent or open surgical repair. Little new information has been published about FMD in the last 40 years. The recently instituted International Registry for Fibromuscular Dysplasia will remedy that situation and provide observational data on a large numbers of patients with FMD.
Using Intuition from Elementary Physics to Explain Bond Duration

ABSTRACT A thorough understanding of the concept of duration is essential to sophisticated fixed—income security management and is useful in many capital budgeting applications. This paper uses principles from physics to provide intuition into the duration statistic.
Toxoplasma gondii: Fecal Forms Separated from Eggs of the Nematode Toxocara cati

Cats excreted the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii in feces, generally between 5 to 12 days after ingesting mice with chronic toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasma gondii and eggs of the nematode Toxocara cati occurring together could be separated by washing them through sieves that retained the eggs. This finding negates the postulated role of Toxocara cati in the transmission of toxoplasmosis.
Empirical calculations of dinucleotide optical activity

In this paper we present calculations of dinucleotide optical activity based on the exciton-coupled oscillator and generalized susceptibility theories of CD. Our application of these methods utilizes experimental transition moment data for the nucleic acids and does not require explicit wavefunctions for the monomers. In addition to near-uv π-π* states, the calculations include n-π* and far-uv π-π* transitions recently characterized by Clark. We also show that correlated motions of electrons in the ground state of a system is reflected in the net CD summed over all transitions. Sample calculations for dinucleotides in several conformations illustrate the methods.
A new class of lower bounds to information rates of stationary sources via conditional rate-distortion functions

A new class of lower bounds to rate-distortion functions of stationary processes with memory and single-letter vector-valued distortion measures is derived. This class is shown to include or imply all other well-known lower bounds to rates of such sources and distortion measures. The derivation is based on the definition and properties of the conditional rate-distortion function. In addition to providing a unified and intuitive approach to lower bounds, this approach yields several interesting relations among conditional, joint, and marginal rates that are similar to and sometimes identical with the analogous relations among the corresponding entropies.
Epidural steroid injection resulting in epidural hematoma in a patient despite strict adherence to anticoagulation guidelines: Case report

Epidural steroid injections are relatively safe procedures, although the risk of hemorrhagic complications in patients undergoing long-term anticoagulation therapy is higher. The American Society for Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine has specific guidelines for treatment of these patients when they undergo neuraxial anesthetic procedures. In this paper, the authors present a case in which the current American Society for Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine guidelines were strictly followed with respect to withholding and reintroducing warfarin and enoxaparin after an epidural steroid injection, but the patient nevertheless developed a spinal epidural hematoma requiring emergency surgical evacuation. The authors compare the case with the 8 other published cases of postinjection epidural hematomas in patients with coagulopathy, and the specific risk factors that may have contributed to the hemorrhagic complication in this patient is analyzed.
The Infrared Spectra of Amino Acids and Some Simple Polypeptides to 33 cm −1 at Room and Liquid Nitrogen Temperatures

The ir spectra of a number of amino acids have been studied and the absorption bands in the 400–33 cm−1 region are reported. Spectra were recorded at both room and liquid nitrogen temperatures. It was observed that recording at low temperatures is a useful method for obtaining additional analytical information when the amino acids are in the zwitterion form. Low temperature is also useful in determining the assignment of several of the low frequency bands.
Memory and Power in Qufu: Inscribing the past of Confucius’ Descendants

This article examines the connection between writing on the past and the construction of collective memory and identity by the Kong family of Qufu, the recognized descendants of the Confucius. Kong family dukes raised an ancestor named Renyu to a position of importance in the Kong historical imaginary second only to Confucius himself, transforming a seemingly insignificant name from the family records into a powerful signifier of the centralized economic and political institution represented by the title of the “Duke for Fulfilling the Sage.” By tracing the development of the legend of Kong Renyu from the fourteenth century to the present, this article details the centrality of social and political power in the construction of the historical narratives that serve as the basis of collective memory and identity.
Indwelling ureteral stents: impact of material and shape on patient comfort

Indwelling ureteral stents are essential in urology today. No ideal stent has been designed. The principal sources of discomfort are a long intravesical segment, inefficient drainage, displacement, and stiffness. Discomfort may be a small price to pay for the overall benefit to the patient.
Evaluating Teaching in Higher Education

The authors develop an original measure of learning in higher education, based on grades in subsequent courses. Using this measure of learning, they show that student evaluations are positively related to current grades but unrelated to learning once current grades are controlled. They offer evidence that the weak relationship between learning and student evaluations arises, in part, because students are unaware of how much they have learned in a course. They conclude with a discussion of easily implemented, optimal methods for evaluating teaching.
Association of myocardial ischemia with mortality and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy in patients with coronary artery disease at risk of arrhythmic death.

Objectives We sought to assess the relation between myocardial ischemia during stress echocardiography and major events in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Background The association of myocardial ischemia with subsequent ICD therapy and mortality is unknown. Methods We studied 90 patients (age 65 ± 13 years, 27 women) with history of coronary heart disease who received ICD for primary (53 patients) or secondary (37 patients) prevention of sudden cardiac death. Sixty-five (72%) patients had a previous coronary artery bypass surgery. Patients underwent exercise treadmill or dobutamine stress echocardiography. Ischemia was defined as new or worsening wall motion abnormalities. End points were death and appropriate ICD therapy. Results Mean ejection fraction was 34 ± 12%. During a mean follow-up of 2.8 ± 1.5 years, 5 patients died and 19 patients had ICD therapy. Ischemia was detected in 20 of 24 patients with subsequent events and in 24 of 66 patients without (83% vs. 36%, p Conclusions Ischemia during stress echocardiography is an independent predictor of death and ICD therapy in patients with coronary heart disease at high risk of arrhythmic death. Patients without inducible ischemia or VT on a previous EP study have a very low risk of events. A combination of ischemia and a positive EP study is associated with a very high risk of events.
The artful scientist

Science and Culture: Popular and Philosophical Essays. By Hermann von Helmholtz, edited by David Cahan. University of Chicago Press: 1995. Pp. 418. $52, $41.50 (hbk); $17.95, £14.25 (pbk).
Stability in optimal design: Synthesis of complex reactor networks

A systematic methodology applicable to the optimal design of stable process systems is presented. It is based on the formulation of a parametric problem that provides bounds on the optimal stable solution and an iterative algorithmic approach that attains convergence of the bounds in a finite number of iterations. The bounds on the optimal stable solution are based on analytical expressions of bounds on the eigenvalues of the Jacobian matrix using the concept of the measure of the matrix. When extended to the synthesis problem of reactor networks, the approach is able to couple the optimization problem with stability issues even in cases where the number of reactors is large and the reaction mechanism is described by a general complex reaction scheme. Furthermore, since at the synthesis level the reactor network represents an exhaustive superposition of the existing structural and operational alternatives, the approach fully exploits these alternatives and coordinates a weighted optimal search that improves the objective and accommodates a stable reactor network. This approach is not restricted to the synthesis of reactor networks and can be applied to the design of total process flowsheets.
Heterogeneity of ventricular function and myocardial oxidative metabolism in nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy

Objectives. This study was performed to test the hypothesis that regional variation in ventricular function in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy is related to regional variation in oxidative metabolism. Background. Heterogeneity in regional left ventricular function has long been noted in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. Regional variation in wall stress has been proposed as the pathophysiologic mechanism. By correlating regional function with oxidative metabolism, one can test the hypothesis that heterogeneity in wall stress is responsible for heterogeneity in function. We hypothesized that preserved function as a result of more favorable loading conditions would be associated with regional oxidative metabolism that is equal to or lower than that in other regions. Methods. Fifteen patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (mean [±SD] ejection fraction 20.7 ± 4.0%) were studied. Regional ventricular function was determined using short-axis chordal shortening on two-dimensional echocardiography. Regional oxidative metabolism was assessed by carbon-11 acetate clearance kinetics on dynamic positron emission tomography. An eight-segment model of the left ventricle was used. Segmental function and oxidative metabolism were defined as increased if they varied at least 1 SD from the respective mean value for that patient. Results. Thirteen (87%) of 15 patients exhibited segments with increased function. In 7 (54%) of 13 patients, regional function was increased in the proximal lateral wall. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed a direct relation between regional function and oxidative metabolism (p = 0.02). The average concordance between increased function and increased oxidative metabolism among patients was 0.87 ± 0.11 (95% confidence interval 0.70 to 1.00). Conclusions. Patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy display heterogeneity in regional ventricular function. Relative preservation is observed most frequently in the proximal lateral wall. Relative preservation of function is associated with higher regional oxidative metabolism, suggesting that mechanisms other than or in addition to local loading conditions may be responsible for heterogeneity in function.
The bonding in tris(η5-cyclopentadienyl) actinide complexes IV: Electronic structural effects in AnCl3 and (η5-C5H5)3An (An ≡ Th — Cf) complexes

Abstract The cp3An (cp ≡ η5-C5H5; An ≡ actinide element) framework is the most ubiquitous one in organoactinide chemistry. Cp3An (or modified cp) compounds have been synthesized for An  Th, U, Np, Pu, Am, Cm, Bk, and Cf, and in some cases represent the only known organometallic complex for the given element. The electronic structures of these cp3An complexes have been investigated via Xα-SW molecular orbital calculations that include quasirelativistic corrections. A comparison of the cp-metal bonding interactions as a function of the metal will be presented, with an emphasis on the relative roles of the actinide 5f and 6d atomic orbitals. The radial extension of the 5f orbitals as a function of the metal will be discussed, and the possibility of these orbitals participating in the bonding of a fourth ligand will be considered.
Genetic relationship of rift-stage crustal structure, terrane accretion, and foreland tectonics along the southern Appalachian-Ouachita orogen

Abstract Abrupt along-strike variations in tectonostratigraphic composition, internal structural style, and detachment level in the southern Appalachian and Ouachita foreland thrust belts are defined at a large-scale bend in strike and a truncation of Ouachita structures by the frontal Appalachian thrust fault. The along-strike variations correspond to differences in the pre-orogenic rifted Laurentian margin, in the history and nature of terrane accretion, and in the response of the foreland to these differences. Within the Ouachita embayment of the Laurentian margin, diachronous arc-continent collision migrated northwestward along a rift-stage transform margin from the Black Warrior foreland basin on the southeast in Late Mississippian time to a short-wavelength, high-amplitude foreland basin (Arkoma basin) on the northwest in front of the Ouachita thrust-belt salient in Early-Middle Pennsylvanian time. Off-shelf, deep-water strata of both passive-margin and synorogenic facies comprise an accretionary prism and subduction complex, and the Ouachita allochthon consists of mud-dominated thrust sheets that are internally disharmonic and folded. The allochthon of off-shelf strata was thrust over the passive-margin carbonate shelf, which remains in the Ouachita footwall. Along the southeast side of the Alabama promontory of the Laurentian margin, passive-margin shelf carbonates are imbricated in the Appalachian thrust belt, which is characterized by internally coherent thrust sheets and high-amplitude frontal ramps. The palinspastic extent of shelf-carbonate rocks corresponds to the extent of structurally shallow basement rocks on the upper-plate rift-stage margin of the Alabama promontory of Laurentian crust. Terranes accreted to the Laurentian margin during the Taconic and Acadian orogenies were driven over the shallow basement by continent-continent collision of Laurentia with Africa (Gondwana). Emplacement of the thrust-translated terranes tectonically stripped and replaced the shelf carbonate. The frontal thrust fault of the Appalachian thrust belt truncates the southeastern end of the slightly older frontal Ouachita thrust belt, as well as the southeastern part of the greater Black Warrior basin in the Ouachita foreland. Shallow basement beneath the Appalachian thrust belt extends cratonward beneath the low-amplitude Appalachian foreland basin.
Identification of Thioredoxin-Interacting Protein 1 as a Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1α-Induced Gene in Pancreatic Cancer

Objective:To investigate the expression of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) during hypoxia and its dependency on hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) in pancreatic cancer cell lines.Methods:MiaPaCa-2 pancreatic cancer cells were transiently transfected with siRNA to HIF-1α and TXNIP protein m
The Influence of Vegetation on Microbial Enzyme Activity and Bacterial Community Structure in Freshwater Constructed Wetland Sediments

Microorganisms play important roles in wetland ecosystems, but little is known about the influence of wetland plants on microbial community structure and activity. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to study the short-term influence of wetland vegetation on the sediment microbial community. Mesocosms were either planted with Juncus effusus, Carex lurida, or Dichanthelium acuminatum var. acuminatum or remained unvegetated. After eight weeks, sediment samples were taken and assayed for the activity of five microbial extracellular enzymes associated with carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling. β-1,4-glucosidase, phosphatase, and N-acetylglucosaminidase exhibited similar activity for all vegetation treatments, while the activity of the phenolic-degrading enzymes phenol oxidase and peroxidase was higher in sediments with no vegetation. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and sequencing of partial 16S rRNA genes indicate differences in the sediment bacterial community associated with each plant regime. Acidobacteria, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were the dominant phyla, although unvegetated sediments contained proportionally fewer Firmicutes and Alphaproteobacteria. This study provides insights into the structure of wetland bacterial communities and suggests that vegetation can influence both bacterial community structure and specific enzyme activity in wetland sediments. Moreover, these influences can occur over a relatively short time and could occur within just a few months of vegetation changes.
Supra-threshold control of peripheral LOD

Level of detail (LOD) is widely used to control visual feedback in interactive applications. LOD control is typically based on perception at threshold -- the conditions in which a stimulus first becomes perceivable. Yet most LOD manipulations are quite perceivable and occur well above threshold. Moreover, research shows that supra-threshold perception differs drastically from perception at threshold. In that case, should supra-threshold LOD control also differ from LOD control at threshold?In two experiments, we examine supra-threshold LOD control in the visual periphery and find that indeed, it should differ drastically from LOD control at threshold. Specifically, we find that LOD must support a task-dependent level of reliable perceptibility. Above that level, perceptibility of LOD control manipulations should be minimized, and detail contrast is a better predictor of perceptibility than detail size. Below that level, perceptibility must be maximized, and LOD should be improved as eccentricity rises or contrast drops. This directly contradicts prevailing threshold-based LOD control schemes, and strongly suggests a reexamination of LOD control for foveal display.
Involvement of P38MAP kinase in the induction of nitric oxide synthase in human astrocytes

The present study underlines the importance of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) in regulating the expression of iNOS in human astroglia. The combination of IL-1β and IFN-γ activated p38MAPK and induced the production of NO and the expression of iNOS in human U373MG astroglial cells. SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38MAPK, and Dp38, a dominant-negative mutant of p38MAPK, markedly inhibited cytokine-induced production of NO and expression of iNOS. Next we investigated the role of NF-κB in the expression of iNOS. Inhibition of cytokine-induced NF-κB activation and iNOS expression by SN50, a specific inhibitor of p50 NF-κB, but not by SN50M, a nonfunctional peptide mutant, does suggest that activation of NF-κB is necessary for the expression of iNOS. However, SB203580 and Dp38 had no effect on the activation of NF-κB suggesting that SB203580 and Dp38 inhibit the expression of iNOS without inhibiting the activation of NF-κB. Next we examined the role of C/EBP-b in the expression of iNOS. In contrast to the effect of SB203580 and Dp38 on the activation of NF-κB, both SB203580 and Dp38 markedly inhibited the activation of C/EBP-b in cytokine-stimulated cells. Similar to U373MG astrocytoma cells, Dp38 also inhibited cytokine-induced expression of iNOS and activation of C/EBP-b but not that of NF-κB in human primary astroglia. Taken together, these studies suggest that p38MAPK regulates the expression of iNOS in human astroglia by regulating the activation of C/EBP-b but not that of NF-κB. Acknowledgements: This study was supported by NIH grants (NS39940 and AG19487).
Amnion cell biosynthesis of interleukin-8: regulation by inflammatory cytokines.

The cellular constituents of the placenta are important participants in the recruitment and trafficking of inflammatory cells within the placenta. In infection-induced labor, gestational tissues synthesize and release a variety of inflammatory cytokines whose effects include increased prostaglandin biosynthesis and the initiation of uterine contractions. Interleukin-8 (IL-8), a potent neutrophil chemoattractant, has been recently described as being elevated in the amniotic fluid of mothers with chorioamnionitis. We investigated the biosynthesis of IL-8 by human amnion cells and its regulation by other inflammatory cytokines. Cultured amnion cells obtained from normal term placentae were found to produce IL-8 in response to pathophysiologic concentrations of interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Treatment of amnion cells stimulated by IL-1β with cycloheximide resulted in increased IL-8 production, while incubation of IL-1β treated amnion cells with actinomycin D resulted in a concentration-dependent decrease in detectable amounts of IL-8. Northern blot analysis of cultured amnion cells stimulated with IL-1β demonstrated a rapid increase in IL-8 mRNA which peaked at 2-4 hr. These in vitro results suggest inflammation of gestational tissues in vivo may result in locally produced IL-8 and, in association with other inflammatory mediators, may be important in the pathophysiology of infection-induced labor.
Integrating POMDP and reinforcement learning for a two layer simulated robot architecture

Two layer control systems are common in robot architectures. The lower level is designed to provide fast, fine grained control while the higher level plans longer term sequences of actions to achieve some goal. Our approach uses reinforcement learning (RL) for the low level and Partially Observable Markov Decision Process (POMDP) planning for the high level. Because both levels can adapt their behavior within the scope of their tasks, the combination is expected to be robust to degradations in sensor and actuator failures and so to enhance overall system reliability. We implemented our architecture for use in the Khepera robot simulator. In a set of experiments, we show that good performance can be difficult to achieve with hand coded low level control and that performance of our RL/POMDP system degrades slowly with increasing sensor and actuator failure.
Evaluation of a High Intensity Focused Ultrasound-Immobilized Trypsin Digestion and 18O-Labeling Method for Quantitative Proteomics

A new method that uses immobilized trypsin concomitant with ultrasonic irradiation results in ultrarapid digestion and more thorough 18O labeling for quantitative protein comparisons. The method was reproducible and provided effective digestions within <1 min with lower amounts of enzyme, compared to traditional methods. This method was demonstrated for digestion of both simple and complex protein mixtures, including bovine serum albumin, a global proteome extract from the bacteria Shewanella oneidensis, and mouse plasma, as well as 18O labeling of complex protein mixtures, validating this method for differential proteomic measurements. This approach is simple, reproducible, cost-effective, rapid, and well suited for automation.
State‐selective studies of T→R, V energy transfer: The H+CO system

Collisional energy transfer from H atoms to CO(v=0, J≂2) has been studied at a collision energy of 1.58±0.07 eV by photolyzing H2S at 222 nm in a nozzle expansion with CO and probing the CO(v‘, J‘) levels using tunable VUV laser‐induced fluorescence. The ratio CO(v‘=1)/CO(v‘=0) is found to be 0.1±0.008. The rotational distribution of CO(v‘=0) peaks at J‘≤11 and decays gradually; population is still observed at J‘≥45. The rotational distribution of CO(v‘=1) is broad and peaks near J‘=20. The experimental results are compared to quasiclassical trajectory calculations performed both on the H+CO surface of Bowman, Bittman, and Harding (BBH) and on the surface of Murrell and Rodriguez (MR). The experimental rotational distributions, particularly those for CO(v‘=1), show that the BBH surface is a better model than the MR surface. The most significant difference between the two surfaces appears to be that for energetically accessible regions of configuration space the derivative of the potential with respect to the CO distance is appreciable only in the HCO valley for the BBH surface, but is large for all H atom approaches in the MR potential. Because the H–CO geometry is bent in this valley, vibrational excitation on the BBH surface is accompanied by appreciable rotational excitation, as observed experimentally.
Thermochemical properties and electronic structure of Boron oxides BnOm (n=5-10, m=1-2) and their anions

The molecular and electronic structures of a series of small boron monoxide and dioxide clusters BnOm (n = 5−10, m = 1, 2) plus their anions were predicted. The enthalpies of formation (ΔHf’s), electron affinities (EAs), vertical detachment energies, and energies of different fragmentation processes are predicted using the G3B3 method. The G3B3 results were benchmarked with respect to more accurate CCSD(T)/CBS values for n = 1−4 with average deviations of ±1.5 kcal/mol for ΔHf’s and ±0.03 eV for EAs. The results extend previous observations on the growth mechanism for boron oxide clusters: (i) The low spin electronic state is consistently favored. (ii) The most stable structure of a neutral boron monoxide BnO is obtained either by condensing O on a BB edge of a Bn cycle, or by binding one BO group to a Bn−1 ring. The balance between both factors is dependent on the inherent stability of the boron cycles. (iii) A boron dioxide is formed by incorporating the second O atom into the corresponding monoxide to ...
Depletion of serum growth factors by 3T3 mouse fibroblasts and viral transformants.

SEVERAL serum factors have been shown to be essential for the survival and growth of cultured 3T3 mouse fibroblasts and SV40 virus-transformed 3T3 cells1–3. The 3T3 growth factor specifically promotes the growth of 3T3 cells, while the SV-3T3 growth factor promotes that of SV-3T3 cells1–3. The 3T3 growth promoting activity is depleted when 3T3 cells are grown in medium containing serum4–7; SV-3T3 growth promoting activity, however, remains undepleted in such medium1. These findings prompted us to investigate the depletion properties and growth factor requirements of 3T3 cells, SV-3T3 cells and other 3T3 virus-transformed cell lines (SV-Fl2-101 cells, a “flat revertant” line8 and Py-3T3 cells).
Use of Infrared Spectroscopy To Characterize Clay Intercalation and Exfoliation in Polymer Nanocomposites

The use of infrared spectroscopy as a technique for characterizing the state of intercalation and exfoliation in polymer nanocomposites prepared from montmorillonite-based nanoclays was investigate...