cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Autophagy Suppresses Age-Dependent Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury in Livers of Mice

Background & Aims As life expectancy increases, there are greater numbers of patients with liver diseases who require surgery or transplantation. Livers of older patients have significantly less reparative capacity following ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury, which occurs during these operations. There are no strategies to reduce the age-dependent I/R injury. We investigated the role of autophagy in the age dependence of sensitivity to I/R injury. Methods Hepatocytes and livers from 3- and 26-month-old mice were subjected to in vitro and in vivo I/R, respectively. We analyzed changes in autophagy-related proteins (Atg). Mitochondrial dysfunction was visualized using confocal and intravital multi-photon microscopy of isolated hepatocytes and livers from anesthetized mice, respectively. Results Immunoblot, autophagic flux, genetic, and imaging analyses all associated the increase in sensitivity to I/R injury with age with decreased autophagy and subsequent mitochondrial dysfunction due to calpain-mediated loss of Atg4B. Overexpression of either Atg4B or Beclin-1 recovered Atg4B, increased autophagy, blocked the onset of the mitochondrial permeability transition, and suppressed cell death after I/R in old hepatocytes. Coimmunoprecipitation analysis of hepatocytes and Atg3-knockout cells showed an interaction between Beclin-1 and Atg3, a protein required for autophagosome formation. Intravital multi-photon imaging revealed that overexpression of Beclin-1 or Atg4B attenuated autophagic defects and mitochondrial dysfunction in livers of older mice after I/R. Conclusions Loss of Atg4B in livers of old mice increases their sensitivity to I/R injury. Increasing autophagy might ameliorate liver damage and restore mitochondrial function after I/R.
Anti-idiotypic antibodies of a predefined specificity generated against cdrsvn synthetic peptides define a private anti-CD4 idiotype

Abstract A synthetic peptide corresponding to the third complementarity determining region (CDR) of the heavy chain (CDR3V H ) of anti-Leu3a, a monoclonal anti-CD4 antibody which inhibits HIV gp120 binding to CD4, was used to elicit specific anti-peptide antibodies in rabbits. The anti-peptide antisera showed anti-idiotypic antibody (anti-Id) activity and recognized both the immunizing peptide and the intact cognate protein by ELISA. In addition, the antisera reacted with isolated heavy chains of anti-Leu3a by Western blot analysis. The lack of reactivity with a panel of monoclonal anti-CD4 antibodies suggested that the anti-peptide antisera recognize a private idiotype (Id) associated with the anti-Leu3a CDR3V H region. Further studies demonstrated the inability of the rabbit antisera to inhibit the binding of anti-Leu3a to the CD4 molecule. In addition, soluble recombinant CD4 was unable to inhibit the binding of the rabbit anti-peptide antisera to anti-Leu3a indicating that the CDR3V H region may not be involved in CD4 recognition. Anti-Id containing sera from mice, rabbits and nonhuman primates immunized with the intact anti-Leu3a molecule did not bind the CDR3V H synthetic peptide, suggesting that the corresponding region of anti-Leu3a may not represent an immunodominant idiotypic determinant in these species. These results suggest the potential use of synthetic peptides corresponding to immunoglobulin variable (V) region amino acid sequences in generating anti-Id reagents of a predefined specificity. In addition, V-region synthetic peptides may be useful in mapping the idiotopes recognized by an anti-Id response to the cognate molecule.
Involvement of 5-hydroxytryptamine-containing neurons in antinociception produced by injection of morphine into nucleus raphe magnus or onto spinal cord

Abstract We studied whether antinociception produced by injection of morphine into the nucleus raphe magnus (NRM) or superfusion onto the spinal cord involved serotonergic neurons that descend from brainstem to spinal cord. Involvement of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-containing neurons was determined by correlating morphine-induced analgesia with an increase in turnover of 5-HT and by determining if depletion of cord 5-HT with the neurotoxin, 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) could attenuate the antinociceptive effects of morphine. When injected directly into the NRM, 10 μg of morphine produced profound analgesia as measured by the paw-pressure technique, and significantly increased the turnover of 5-HT in both posterior medulla and spinal cord. Depletion of cord 5-HT to less than 10% of control concentrations attenuated the antinociceptive effect of morphine injected into the NRM. When various concentrations of morphine (1, 10 or 50 μg) were injected directly into the spinal subarachnoid space, a dose-dependent analgesia was observed. No change in 5-HT turnover in spinal cord was observed with any dose of morphine superfused onto the cord. In addition, depletion of cord 5-HT with 5,7-DHT did not alter the analgesic response to either 1 or 10 μg of intrathecal morphine. These results suggest that although 5-HT-containing neurons descending from brainstem into spinal cord are involved with analgesia produced by morphine injection into the NRM, they are not involved in the analgesia induced by applying morphine directly to the cord.
Pragmatism and change: some implications for nurses,

‘Change’ is a concept currently enjoying much debate and analysis within nursing. Most of this debate and analysis has occurred on a purely academic level: academic examinations of change, however, do not necessarily help nurses understand the mechanisms behind change nor, more importantly, do they necessarily help nurses manage change any better. There is, as such, an argument for the adoption of a more pragmatic approach to change. This paper takes such an approach. The author argues that a greater understanding of change can be gained by examining some of the more fundamental characteristics of change, by comparing and contrasting successful and unsuccessful examples of change and by viewing change as a fluid rather than static entity. A pragmatic approach also reveals the potential of action research as an aid to the understanding of change and as a tool for implementing change in the three distinct spheres of nursing considered: the cognitive-behavioural (personal) sphere, the discipline-wide (professional) sphere and the organizational (managerial) sphere.
An epornitic of avian pox in wild bobwhite quail.

An outbreak of avian pox, with an estimated 12-fold increase in the incidence of infection, occurred among wild bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) in the southwestern Georgia/northcentral Florida region. The outbreak was first detected in July, 1978, and continued at least until March, 1979. During this period, 26 separate clinical case accessions involving 43 bobwhites from 8 counties in Florida and Georgia were diagnosed as avian pox. A survey of 2,586 bobwhites from 6 southeastern states revealed avian pox infections in 312 bobwhites from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee. Seventy-seven percent of the infected birds in the survey had only mild lesions on the legs and feet; however, 23% had more extensive lesions on the head. Severely affected birds had lesions around the eyes, nares, and in the mouth which impaired vision, respiration, and/or feeding. Infection rates were not related to age or sex of the birds but varied greatly among locales, even on adjoining properties. A morbidity rate of...
Survey Researchers and Minority Communities

Directors of 194 survey research studies that had interviewed poor people between 1967 and 1972 provided information on their experiences. Significant proportions had contacted community leaders before beginning field work, had set up community advisory committees, and/or had hired “indigenous” interviewers. All of these procedures were meant primarily to forward the purposes of the study rather than to assist members of the local communities. Survey research has not tried hard to benefit poor people by allowing community members to help shape the design and interpretation of research, upgrading the job skills and employability of indigenous interviewers, or providing referrals or other services to survey respondents. Benefit to the poor will come through sensitive design of research in ways that avoid “blaming the victim” and that see social institutions equally as susceptible to change as are the responses of the poor, and through dissemination of the results of that research to government decision-makers.
Determination of pyrolysis temperature for charring materials

Abstract An energy and mass balanced method of determining the pyrolysis temperature is proposed. The concept is to find the pyrolysis temperature that consumes the same amount of energy to produce the same amount of mass when using the pyrolysis front model as when using finite rate kinetics models for the entire charring process. The resulting pyrolysis temperature has the form of pyrolysis rate weighted average temperature. Comparisons between finite rate kinetics and pyrolysis front models for various boundary conditions, geometries, heats of decomposition, kinetic parameters and assumptions used in the literature were made to assess the proposed method. Models using energy and mass balanced pyrolysis temperature show good agreement with finite rate models and the experiments. Extensive numerical studies on various factors influencing the charring material pyrolysis show that heat flux, sample size, heat of decomposition and kinetic parameters are the most important factors for determining an appropriate pyrolysis temperature. Thermal conductivity, specific heat and density have a lesser effect on the pyrolysis temperature. For practical application, a non-dimensional correlation is developed to determine the appropriate pyrolysis temperature without solving the problem by using finite rate models. With this correlation the energy and mass balanced pyrolysis temperature can be determined with a standard deviation of 7.6 K. These predictions are validated by comparison with measurements of wood cylinder pyrolysis. A good agreement suggests that simpler pyrolysis front models yield practically useful and accurate results given an appropriate pyrolysis temperature.
Optimal prediction under LINLIN loss: Empirical evidence

Abstract I compare the forecasts of returns from the mean predictor (optimal under MSE), with the pseudo-optimal and optimal predictor for an asymmetric loss function under the assumption that agents have an asymmetric LINLIN loss function. The results strongly suggest not using the conditional mean predictor under conditions of asymmetry. In general, forecasts can be improved by the use of optimal predictor rather than the pseudo-optimal predictor, suggesting that the loss reduction from using the optimal predictor can actually be important for practitioners as well.
On the existence and the structure of the pseudo-equilibrium manifold

Abstract A brief proof of the existence of an equilibrium in incomplete markets is given for regular economies (Theorem 1); a robust example of such economies is provided. Theorem 2 establishes that the manifold Ω of global pseudo-equilibria is a fiber bundle with the topological structure of a one- or two-fold covering space of Gk,n, the space of k planes in Rn, where k is the number of assets in the economy and n the number of states of uncertainty. In particular, the pseudo-equilibrium manifold Ω is not contractible with incomplete markets. This contrasts with the case of complete markets, where the equilibrium manifold is always contractible.
Recovery of impact contact forces of composite plates using fiber optic sensors and neural networks

Real-time determination of contact forces due to impact on composite plates is necessary for on-line impact damage detection and identification. We demonstrate the use of fiber optic strain sensor data as inputs to a neural network to obtain contact force history. An experimental study is conducted to determine the in-plane strains of a clamped graphite/epoxy composite plate upon low-velocity impacts using surface mounted extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric strain sensors. The plate is impacted with a semi-spherical impactor with various impact energies using the drop-weight technique. The impacts did not produce apparent damage in the composite plates. The significant features of the strain and contact force response are contact duration, peak strain, strain rise-time and full-width at half maximum. We have designed and built an instrumented drop-weight impact tower to facilitate the measurement of contact force during an impact event. The impact head assembly incorporates a load cell to measure the contact forces experimentally. The load cell data is used to train a three-layer feedforward neural network which utilizes the back-propagation algorithm. The output of the neural network simulation is the impact contact force history and the inputs are fiber optic sensor data in two different locations and time in 10 microsecond intervals. The efficiency and accuracy of the neural network method is discussed. The neural network scheme recovers the impact contact forces without using any complex signal processing techniques.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Discrete-cosine-transform-based image compression applied to dermatology

The research reported in this paper concerns an evaluation of the impact of compression on the quality of digitized color dermatologic images. 35 mm slides of four morphologic types of skin lesions were captured at 1000 pixels per inch (ppi) in 24 bit RGB color, to give an approximate 1K X 1K image. The discrete cosine transform (DCT) algorithm, was applied to the resulting image files to achieve compression ratios of about 7:1, 28:1, and 70:1. The original scans and the decompressed files were written to a 35 mm film recorder. Together with the original photo slides, the slides resulting from digital images were evaluated in a study of morphology recognition and image quality assessment. A panel of dermatologists was asked to identify the morphology depicted and to rate the image quality of each slide. The images were shown in a progression from highest level of compression to original photo slides. We conclude that the use of DCT file compression yields acceptable performance for skin lesion images since differences in morphology recognition performance do not correlate significantly with the use of original photos versus compressed versions. Additionally, image quality evaluation does not correlate significantly with level of compression.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Theoretical Evidence that CuI Complexation Promotes Degradation of S-Nitrosothiols

The degradation of S-nitrosothiols (RSNOs) to release NO is believed to be catalyzed by CuI ions, but the mechanism remains unclear. Kinetic experiments have shown that decomposition rates vary significantly with the chemical nature of the RSNO considered. On the basis of first-principles calculations, the catalytic role of CuI ion is investigated for the decomposition of S-nitrosocysteine and its N-acetylated and ethyl ester derivatives, and for S-nitrosohomocysteine. This preliminary study focuses on the CuI−RSNO intermediates involved in the decomposition pathway. The model chemistry has been validated by comparing calculated CuI-ligand binding energies and S−N bond homolysis energies with available experimental data. Calculations show that the formation of CuI−RSNO intermediates results in weakening of the S−N bond and strengthening of the N−O bond, which would promote S−N bond breaking and NO release from S-nitrosothiols.
Carbonate deposition, Pyramid Lake Subbasin, Nevada: 4. Comparison of the stable isotope values of carbonate deposits (tufas) and the Lahontan lake-level record

Abstract In this paper, the fundamental importance of changes in hydrologic balance and hydrologic state on the δ18O and δ13C values of water and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in lakes of the Lahontan basin is illustrated. Abrupt changes in δ18O and δ13C values of carbonate deposits (tufas) from the Pyramid Lake subbasin, Nevada, coincide with abrupt changes in lake-level and hydrologic state. Minima in lake-level at ∼26,000, ∼15,500 and ∼12,000 yr B.P. are associated with relatively heavy δ18O and δ13C values; maxima in the lake-level record at ∼14,000 and ∼10,500 yr B.P. are associated with relatively light δ18O and δ13C values. We believe that the correlation between maxima and minima in the lake-level and δ18O records reflect the fundamental effect of lake-level dynamics on the δ18O value of lake water. Evaporation increases the δ18O value of lake water, whereas, streamflow discharge and on-lake precipitation decrease the δ18O value. Variation in the δ18O value of lake water, therefore, indicates change in the hydrologic balance; increases in δ18O accompany decreases in lake volume and decreases in δ18O accompany increases in lake volume. Covariance of δ13C and δ18O indicates that change in δ13C values of DIC also accompany change in lake volume. We offer the hypothesis (first put forward by J.A. McKenzie) that change in the productivity (photosynthesis) respiration balance is responsible for much of the observed variation in δ13C. Most Great Basin lakes, including Lake Lahontan, experienced changes in hydrologic state during the late Wisconsin. When a lake becomes hydrologically open, the residence time of water decreases. The greater the rate of spill, the greater the volume of evaporated (18O-enriched) water removed from the spilling lake and the more negative the δ18O value of water remaining in the spilling lake. The concentration of DIC, as well as the concentrations of photosynthesis limiting nutrients (e.g., phosphorus, nitrogen, silica, molybdenum) decrease as spill increases. Increasing rates of spill, therefore, lead to overall decreases in photosynthetic rates relative to respiration rates and, as a consequence, the δ13C values of DIC become more negative.
Get thee to a nunnery: Female religious claustration in medieval Europe

Abstract For humans, inheritance of resources (wealth) can affect the progeny's reproductive chances. The differential allocation of inherited wealth occurs in situations where a greater investment in an individual and/or a particular sex will result, predictably, in a greater return per unit investment. Evolutionarily, this return is measured as the number of grand offspring. In medieval Europe, allocation strategies appear to be aimed at preserving the wealth of the immediate lineage and creating alliances. Female religious claustration may be one way to accomplish this goal. In this paper, I review the historical evidence for female religious claustration in Europe in an attempt to delineate the benefits a family might gain by allocating some of its resources to a nunnery. In doing so, I suggest that by founding or endowing nunneries benefactors gained in two main ways: (1) they limited the outflow of resources away from the immediate family lineage through the stipulations attached to the donated land or wealth that effectively kept control of the property in that lineage, and (2) they created political and spiritual alliances that could maintain and/or enhance status in the local environment. I further suggest that the changing “ecological” circumstances, such as changes in the degree of social stratification, the availability of land and the degree of competition for it, and the changes in rules of inheritance and marriage influenced the benefits and costs of female religious claustration. Thus, from a resource allocation standpoint, the primary function of nunneries shifted through time. Initially, the founding of convents in the early Middle Ages provided the founding lineage with a means of controlling land and thereby conserving its wealth. Only later did nunneries start to serve primarily as depositories for excess females.
Post-Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy Systemic Inflammatory Response: A Prospective Analysis of Preoperative Urine, Renal Pelvic Urine and Stone Cultures

Purpose: Prior studies suggest that renal pelvic urine culture is a more accurate predictor of urosepsis. We prospectively determined the correlation between preoperative bladder urine cultures, intraoperative renal pelvis cultures and stone cultures in patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy. We also examined post-procedure risk factors for systemic inflammatory response syndrome.Materials and Methods: From February 2009 to February 2011 urine samples from the bladder and renal pelvis were collected from patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Extracted stones were also sent for culture analysis. Postoperatively patients were closely monitored for any signs of systemic inflammatory response syndrome. The concordance of urine and stone cultures across different sites was examined. Regression analysis was done to identify clinical variables associated with systemic inflammatory response syndrome.Results: A total of 204 percutaneous nephrolithotomies were done in 198 patients, of whom 20 ...
Bipedal locomotion stabilized by impact and switching: II. Structural stability analysis of a four-element bipedal locomotion model

A nonlinear model for a four-element bipedal locomotion system, which includes the impact of the swinging limb with the ground and the switching of pivot is developed. The structural stability of the nonlinear, discontinuous model is studied.
Crystal Structure of Kunitz Domain 1 (KD1) of Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor-2 in Complex with Trypsin IMPLICATIONS FOR KD1 SPECIFICITY OF INHIBITION

Abstract Kunitz domain 1 (KD1) of tissue factor pathway inhibtor-2 inhibits trypsin, plasmin, and factor VIIa (FVIIa)/tissue factor with Ki values of 13, 3, and 1640 nm, respectively. To investigate the molecular specificity of KD1, crystals of the complex of KD1 with bovine β-trypsin were obtained that diffracted to 1.8 A. The P1 residue Arg-15 (bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor numbering) in KD1 interacts with Asp-189 (chymotrypsin numbering) and with the carbonyl oxygens of Gly-219 and Oγ of Ser-190. Leu-17, Leu-18, Leu-19, and Leu-34 in KD1 make van der Waals contacts with Tyr-39, Phe-41, and Tyr-151 in trypsin, forming a hydrophobic interface. Molecular modeling indicates that this complementary hydrophobic patch is composed of Phe-37, Met-39, and Phe-41 in plasmin, whereas in FVIIa/tissue factor, it is essentially absent. Arg-20, Tyr-46, and Glu-39 in KD1 interact with trypsin through ordered water molecules. In contrast, insertions in the 60-loop in plasmin and FVIIa allow Arg-20 of KD1 to directly interact with Glu-60 in plasmin and Asp-60 in FVIIa. Moreover, Tyr-46 in KD1 electrostatically interacts with Lys-60A and Arg-60D in plasmin and Lys-60A in FVIIa. Glu-39 in KD1 interacts directly with Arg-175 of the basic patch in plasmin, whereas in FVIIa, such interactions are not possible. Thus, the specificity of KD1 for plasmin is attributable to hydrophobic and direct electrostatic interactions. For trypsin, hydrophobic interactions are intact, and electrostatic interactions are weak, whereas for FVIIa, hydrophobic interactions are missing, and electrostatic interactions are partially intact. These findings provide insight into the protease selectivity of KD1.
New approaches to synthetic receptors. Synthesis and host properties of a water soluble macrocyclic analog of Tröger's base

Synthese d'un macrocyclophane a partir d'α,α-dimethyl methylene-4,4' bis-phenol, de dibromo-1,2 ethane et de bis-[bromo-2 ethyl]-2,8 methano-5,11dibenzo [1,2-b:1',2'-f] diazocine-1,5; etude de ses complexes d'association avec le p-cresol, le trimethyl-2,4,6 phenol, le cyano-4 phenol et l'acide p-toluenesulfonique
The therapeutic use of humor for psychiatric disturbances of adolescents and adults.

The use of humor in psychiatric care and treatment is examined within a lifespan-development context, comparing its utility in late adolescence with that in early adulthood. The literature of the past two decades, based on careful experimental research as well as on more subjective clinical experience, tend to support the following conclusions: A well-developed sense of humor provides a beneficial ingredient to the patient's coping or adjustive ability. The salutary physiological effects of laughter are the same for adolescents and adults. In terms of psychosocial factors,individual rather than developmental stage differences in the patient's personality, psychopathology and humor preference will alter the effectiveness of humor application. According to a cognitive-behavioral analysis, the mechanism by which positive emotions (including laughter) operate to reduce or eliminate the undesirable negative emotions resides in the interplay of the physiological and psychological processes involved in thestress reaction and its management. Finally, to be optimally effective the psychiatrist should undertake formal training in the use of humor techniques comparable to the traditional training in the usual assessment and therapeutic procedures.
Switched doubly-fed machine propulsion drive

Variable speed drives (VSD) constructed with doubly-fed machines (DFM) offer interesting flexibility for power electronic drive design. They also offer opportunities for controlling interactions with an ac grid. Design options are most flexible for the VSD DFM when the machine stator can be operated from an ac or dc source, selected “on-the-fly” as appropriate. This paper presents a SCR-based transfer switch that can connect the stator of the DFM either to an ac source or a dc source “on-the-fly”. Current commutations of the SCRs and a “bumpless” transition in shaft behavior is controlled from the rotor.
Survival of heat-shocked Yersinia enterocolitica after irradiation in ground pork

Earlier studies conducted in our laboratory showed that heat-shocked Yersinia enterocolitica (45°C for 60 min) are more resistant to a subsequent heat treatment of 55 or 60°C in ground pork than cells not previously heat-shocked. The increased thermotolerance was partly attributed to the production of stress proteins. The present study was performed to determine if the stress proteins produced by heating could also afford protection to the cells to irradiation. As part of the study, the effect of air versus vacuum packaging on survival of Yersinia to irradiation was also examined. Irradiating the inoculated pork at 1.0 kGy was sufficient to completely eliminate this pathogen. The irradiation D value for both heat-shocked and non-heat-shocked cells was statistically the same (0.15 kGy). Neither heat-shocking Yersinia nor packaging under vacuum resulted in increased resistance of this organism to irradiation. In addition, no effect was seen in virulence of the cells after these treatments, when compared with controls.
Genotypic drug discovery: what does the future hold?

We are in the midst of rapid and substantial changes in the ways drugs are discovered and developed, and in the basic concepts of health, disease and health-care delivery. Long before workers in these fields have fully developed an integrated approach to molecular medicine and molecular drug discovery, the field is progressing towards genotypic drug discovery and development.
Lipid chemotaxins isolated from culture filtrates of Escherichia coli and from oxidized lipids.

Lipid extracts of sterile culture filtrates ofEscherichia coli were shown to contain approximately 75% of the chemotactic activity for human polymorphonuclear leukocytes and rabbit alveolar macrophages. Fractionation and purification of these lipids revealed the presence of many unknown lipids of widely different properties, but all were anionic and at very low concentrations, chemotactic. The only one of active molecules that could be identified was an unsaturated ultraviolet-absorbing hydroxy fatty acid, which, following catalytic reduction with hydrogen, was found to be hydroxyeicosanoic acid. This fatty acid's Chromatographic behavior was very similar to that of 12-hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (HETE), which is a potent chemotaxin for polymorphonuclear leukocytes and macrophages. Unknown chemotaxins could be generated by the oxidation of known unsaturated lipids. Prostaglandins A2 and E2 produced potent chemotaxins upon aerobic oxidation. Malonaldehyde, a peroxidation product of unsaturated lipids, when reacted with phosphatidylethanolamine in aerobic conditions, also produced strong chemotactic agents. The chemotactic activity of these products could be destroyed by catalytic reduction with hydrogen and by methylation with dry methanolic HCl. These data indicate that the nonenzymatic oxidation of unsaturated lipids generates some products that are potent chemotaxins for mammalian inflammatory cells.
Vulnerable window for conduction block in a one-dimensional cable of cardiac cells, 2: multiple extrasystoles.

Spatial dispersion of refractoriness, which is amplified by genetic diseases, drugs, and electrical and structural remodeling during heart disease, is recognized as a major factor increasing the risk of lethal arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Dispersion forms the substrate for unidirectional conduction block, which is required for the initiation of reentry by extrasystoles or rapid pacing. In this study, we examine theoretically and numerically how preexisting gradients in refractoriness control the vulnerable window for unidirectional conduction block by a single premature extrasystole. Using a kinematic model to represent wavefront-waveback interactions, we first analytically derived the relationship (under simplified conditions) between the vulnerable window and various electrophysiological parameters such as action potential duration gradients, refractoriness barriers, conduction velocity restitution, etc. We then compared these findings to numerical simulations using the kinematic model or the Luo-Rudy action potential model in a one-dimensional cable of cardiac cells. The results from all three methods agreed well. We show that a critical gradient in action potential duration for conduction block can be analytically derived, and once this critical gradient is exceeded, the vulnerable window increases proportionately with the refractory barrier and is modulated by conduction velocity restitution and gap junctional conductance. Moreover, the critical gradient for conduction block is higher for an extrasystole traveling in the opposite direction from the sinus beat than for one traveling in the same direction (e.g., an epicardial extrasystole versus an endocardial extrasystole).
Patterns and controls of surface sediment distribution: West-central Florida inner shelf

Abstract The west-central Florida inner shelf represents a transition between the quartz-dominated barrier-island system and the carbonate-dominated mid-outer shelf. Surface sediments exhibit a complex distribution pattern that can be attributed to multiple sediment sources and the ineffectiveness of physical processes for large-scale sediment redistribution. The west Florida shelf is the submerged extension of the Florida carbonate platform, consisting of a limestone karst surface veneered with a thin unconsolidated sediment cover. A total of 498 surface sediment samples were collected on the inner shelf and analyzed for texture and composition. Results show that sediment consists of a combination of fine quartz sand and coarse, biogenic carbonate sand and gravel, with variable but subordinate amounts of black, phosphorite-rich sand. The carbonate component consists primarily of molluskan fragments. The distribution is patchy and discontinuous with no discernible pattern, and the transition between sediment types is generally abrupt. Quartz-rich sediment dominates the inner 15 km north of the entrance into Tampa Bay, but south of the Bay is common only along the inner 3 km. Elsewhere, carbonate-rich sediment is the predominate sediment type, except where there is little sediment cover, in which cases black, phosphorite-rich sand dominates. Sediment sources are likely within, or around the periphery of the basin. Fine quartz sand is likely reworked from coastal units deposited during Pleistocene sea-level high stands. Carbonate sand and gravel is produced by marine organisms within the depositional basin. The black, phosphorite-rich sand likely originates from the bioerosion and reworking of the underlying strata that irregularly crop out within the study area. The distribution pattern contains elements of both storm- and tide-dominated siliciclastic shelves, but it is dictated primarily by the sediment source, similar to some carbonate systems. Other systems with similar sediment attributes include cool-water carbonate, sediment-starved, and mixed carbonate/siliciclastic systems. This study suggests a possible genetic link among the three systems.
Using Sirolimus for Posttransplant Management and Reduction of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Progression in a Patient with End Stage Renal Disease Caused by Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a neurocutaneous disease ch aracterized by the formation of hamartomas in multiple organs. TSC can show lesions including facial angiofibroma, shagreen patch on the skin, cortical tuber, subependymal nodule, astrocytoma in the brain, cardiac rhabdomyoma, and renal angiomyolipoma. In particular, renal angiomyolipoma may be a cause of end-sta ge renal disease (ESRD). On the other hand, sirolimus has regulatory effects on cellular growth and proliferation via its inhibitory effect on a protein, mammalian target of rapamycin. We report o n a case of an 18-year-old male who underwent renal trans-plantation due to ESRD induced by TSC. Sirolimus played a role in successful treatment of TSC and effective immunosuppression for transplantation.Key Words: Tuberous sclerosis complex, Kidney transplantation, Sirolimus중심 단어: 결절성 경화증, 신장이식, 시로리무스
The catalytic oxidation of propylene: V. X-ray characterization of iron-containing bismuth molybdate catalysts

Abstract The effects on phase composition and structure of adding iron to bismuth molybdate catalysts were investigated by X-ray diffraction methods. Structural and phase transformations were observed to be functions of the calcination temperature and composition. In addition, ternary compounds containing bismuth, molybdenum, and iron were identified. These ternary compounds were formed when the calcination temperature was greater than 550 °C and were characterized by a monoclinic unit cell which was derived from and closely related to a scheelite unit cell. At calcination temperatures of 450 °C or less, a poorly crystallized compound with a scheelite structure was identified.
The Cbl Family: Ubiquitin Ligases Regulating Signaling by Tyrosine Kinases

The Cbl proteins compose a family of ubiquitin ligases that play a central role in the down-regulation of signaling cascades involving receptor and nonreceptor tyrosine kinases. Analysis of the activity of these proteins suggests that they can regulate the signaling process through ubiquitination of the plasma membrane receptors and various downstream signaling components, including the Cbl proteins themselves. Structural analysis of the Cbl proteins shows that, in many instances, they interact with phosphorylated tyrosine residues on their targets. Furthermore, phosphorylation of specific tyrosine residues on the Cbl proteins may provide an additional level of control on the ubiquitinating activity of these proteins.
Erectile dysfunction: A review of diagnostic and treatment procedures

Abstract Research is reviewed on diagnostic and treatment procedures for erectile dysfunction. Both physical and psychological assessment procedures are discussed, emphasizing the need to rely on prognosis rather than differential diagnosis in treatment formulations. Outcome is reviewed for physical treatments, including implants, papaverine injections, and vacuum constriction devices. Outcome research for psychological interventions published since 1974 is reviewed. Methodological problems are highlighted, including the need for controlled clinical trials, problems in the control of therapist variables, measurement problems, the need for increased treatment specificity, the need to explore prognostic indicators, the use and reporting of statistics, comparability across studies, maintenance issues, and the need for improved follow-up.
Studies of the interfacial properties of chemically bonded phases by sorption and liquid chromatography

The interfacial composition of chemically bonded phases, which controls the solute's retention under reversed-phase conditions, was evaluated by using sorption and retention data. Previous studies showed that the composition of the solvents in the stationary phase significantly influences the solute's retention even in the case of conventional bonded phases, and this effect is much stronger for silica-based packings with chemically bonded phases of specific properties. The composition can be evaluated from the sorption excess data, which for chemically bonded phases are difficult to measure and analyze. An alternative way to estimate the composition of solvents in the stationary phase is based on liquid chromatographic measurements. It was shown that both methods provide similar information on the competitive sorption of solvents into the chemically bonded phase.
Progress in Supercritical Co2Dyeing

Supercritical fluids have special properties that could lead to substantial improvements when utilized as replacements for water in wet processing of textiles. These fluids have densities and solvating powers similar to liquid solvents combined with viscosity values and diffusion coefficients like those observed for gases. In particular, these properties make supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) one of the most beneficial and environmentally acceptable solvents used in manufacturing processes today. Therefore, it is anticipated that commercial textile processes using SC-CO2 will have many advantages when compared to conventional aqueous processes.Succesful commercialization of SC-CO2 processing will improve the economics of dyeing and other textile chemical processes by eliminating wastewater discharges, reducing energy consumption, eliminating drying, and reducing air emissions. As a result, the use of SC-CO2 is expected to make textile processing more economical and environmentally friendly.Research gr...
Effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) on humoral immunity and lymphocyte subpopulations: Differences between mice and rats

Abstract While the effect that TCDD has on humoral immunity has been well documented for the mouse, it has not been for the rat. In this study, the effect that TCDD has on the antibody plaque-forming cell (PFC) response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) in adult female B6C3F1 mice and F344 rats was compared. The effect that TCDD has on the PFC response of male F344 and female Long-Evans rats was also determined. Mice or rats were given a single intraperitoneal injection of TCDD at doses ranging from 0.1 to 30 μg/kg, 7 days prior to intravenous immunization with SRBC. Four days later the PFC response to SRBC was determined. Mice showed a dose-related suppression of the PFC response, with an ED50 of 0.7 μg/kg TCDD. In contrast, TCDD failed to suppress and in fact enhanced the PFC response to SRBC in rats at doses as high as 30 μg/kg. The inability of TCDD to suppress the PFC response in rats was unrelated to hepatic CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 induction which was detectable at doses of 1 and 0.3 μg/kg TCDD, respectively. There was no shift in the time to peak PFC response in rats dosed with TCDD, nor was the failure of TCDD to suppress the PFC response in rats related to gender or strain. Phenotypic analysis of thymocytes and splenic lymphocytes from TCDD-dosed (i.e., 3, 10, or 30 μg/kg) and SRBC-immunized mice and rats revealed that CD4−CD8+ splenocytes were reduced in a dose-related manner in rats only and that this reduction in CD4−CD8+ was accompanied by a dose-related increase in IgM+ splenocytes. These results demonstrate species differences in the effect of TCDD on the PFC response to SRBC which were unrelated to hepatic CYP1A1 or CYP1A2 induction, time to peak response, gender, and strain. The failure of TCDD to suppress and in fact to enhance the PFC response to SRBC in rats appears to be related to alterations in splenic CD4−CD8+ lymphocytes.
Structural and functional basis of the developmental regulation of human coagulation factor IX gene: factor IX Leyden.

Abstract Hemophilia B Leyden is characterized by unusual developmental regulation of factor IX synthesis in affected individuals. One family affected with the hemophilia B Leyden phenotype was found to have a specific single-base mutation (G----A) at nucleotide -6 of the factor IX gene. The mutation site was found in a small region of the 5'-untranslated sequence designated the Leyden-specific region (LS region). This region, approximately 40 base pairs in length, contains the unique mutation sites of all the known factor IX Leyden genes (five families) analyzed to date. This fact strongly suggests that the LS region is directly or indirectly involved in the developmental regulation of factor IX biosynthesis. Base changes at nucleotide -20 as well as at nucleotide -6 and deletions of the 3' half of the LS region reduced expression activity of the factor IX gene to approximately 15-31% that of the normal control, as assessed in a cultured cell (HepG2) expression system. The LS region binds at least two proteins. Androgen significantly increased the transcriptional activities of both mutant and normal factor IX genes in a concentration-dependent manner.
Maxillomandibular expansion for the treatment of sleep-disordered breathing: preliminary result.

OBJECTIVE To assess the outcomes of maxillomandibular expansion (MME) by distraction osteogenesis (DO) for the treatment of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). METHODS This was a prospective study of six consecutive patients with SDB. All of the patients have maxillary and mandibular constriction and were treated with MME. Variables examined include age, sex, body mass index (BMI), polysomnographic results (PSG), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and the extent of the widening of the maxilla and mandible. RESULTS All six patients (4 males) completed MME for the treatment of SDB. The mean age was 22.2 +/- 11.4 years. The mean maxillary expansion was 10.3 +/- 3.0 mm, and the mean mandibular expansion was 9.5 +/- 2.9 mm. ESS improved from 10.2 +/- 1.9 to 5 +/- 2.9. The mean apnea/ hypopnea index (AHI) improved from 13.2 +/- 15.6 to 4.5 +/- 5.8 events per hour, and the mean lowest oxygen saturation (LSAT) improved from 88.2 +/- 2.9% to 91.3 +/- 3.3%. The mean esophageal pressure improved from -20 +/- 11.3 cm H2O to -8 +/- 3.6 cm H2O. No complications were encountered, and the follow-up period was 18.1 +/- 9.8 months. CONCLUSION : The result suggests that MME improves SDB in patients with maxillary and mandibular constriction and can be a valid treatment.
Reconfigurable lithographic applications using polymer liquid crystal composite films

The proposed application of holographically formed polymer dispersed liquid crystal (H-PDLC) thin films is a real-time dynamically reconfigurable mask for the resist exposure step in the photolithographic process. H-PDLC films, or thin periodic nanostructures of alternating layers of polymer and liquid crystal have unique electro-optic properties including the ability to modulate a particular wavelength as a function of bias applied to the film. The H-PDLC photomask device consists of patterned electrodes that form pixels with independent bias control over each segment. This is achieved by etching the optically clear yet electrically conductive indium-tin-oxide electrodes on the glass confining the H-PDLC film. This mask has been used to cure Shipley 1800 series positive photoresist at its peak sensitivity wavelength of 440 nm. Structures formed using the H-PDLC photomask device have been compared to similar structures formed with a static photomask using an optical profilometer. Near vertical walls have been achieved using the H-PDLC photomask for structures with line width of 260 μm, and more narrow structures have been fabricated with resolution nearing 100 μm. Line width between structures formed using the H-PDLC mask and static photomask differ by less than 15%. Additionally, morphology studies have been performed on developed regions of glass and resist formed using a static and an H-PDLC mask to demonstrate that no structural defects exist due to formation under an H-PDLC grating.
Configurational entropy of native proteins

Simulations of the residual configurational entropy of a protein in the native state suggest that it is nearly an order of magnitude larger than the entropy of denaturation. The implications of this result are discussed.
Intracellular response by Tetrahymena pyriformis to fluids from unimmunized animals.

Dans leTetrahymena pyriformis, les serums des lapins et humains et les ascites fluides des souris ont une apparence bipolaire. Les petit «corps» s'accumulent anterieurement, les grands «corps» posterieurement. On peut presumer que la reduction de la tension du O2 et/ou l'augmentation de la tension du CO2 sont requis, puisque l'etat bipolaire ne s'est produit que dans des conditions limitees d'exposition a l'air. La bipolarisation est reversible. Les animaux bipolaires qui ont ete exposes brievement a l'air ressemblent aux animaux normaux.
Passivity indices and passivation of systems with application to systems with input/output delay

A passivation method to passivate a given system by using an input-output transformation matrix is introduced. This matrix generalizes the commonly used methods of series, feedback and feedforward interconnections to passivate a system. Through an appropriate design of this matrix, positive passivity levels can be guaranteed for the system. Further, this transformation matrix allows the use of a non-passive system as a controller to guarantee the passivity and stability of a feedback configuration. We illustrate the results by considering systems with input/output delay.
Mechanisms for lowering of interfacial tension in alkali/acidic oil systems 1. Experimental studies

Abstract Experimental studies are conducted in order to determine the physicochemical mechanisms responsible for lowering of interfacial tension in alkali/acidic oil systems. A well-defined model acidic oil is selected for controlled design of experiments, thus enhancing verification of known and unknown mechanisms. Ionic strength, pH, alkalinity, acid concentration and acid type were investigated for their effect on interfacial and surface tension. We show that interfacial tension goes through an ultralow minimum with NaOH (initial pH) at constant ionic strength. Unionized acid is shown to be present in the system at alkali concentrations where interfacial tension is ultralow. The results presented here suggest that the unionized acid adsorbs onto the interface together with the ionized acid, resulting in ultralow transient and equilibrium interfacial tension. Current theories do not consider adsorption of unionized acid on the interface, and, as a result, they do not adequately describe the effect of pH. A preliminary investigation of buffers shows that buffering the aqueous pH against dilution will also buffer the interfacial tension against dilution.