cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of the arachidonic acid metabolites mediating bradykinin and noradrenaline hyperalgesia

Abstract It has been suggested that bradykinin (BK) and norepinephrine (NE) induce hyperalgesia, indirectly, by stimulating the production of prostaglandin products of the cyclo-oxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism. However, the specific PGs that mediate the hyperalgesic effects of BK and NE are unknown. Two endogenous PGs, prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) and prostacyclin (PGI 2 ) are known to produce hyperalgesia. Since the hyperalgesic effects of PGE 2 and PGI 2 can be distinguished by the duration of the hyperalgesia they induce, we have compared the duration of BK and NE hyperalgesia with those of PGE 2 and PGI 2 . To further address the type of PG mediating BK and NE hyperalgesia, we have evaluated the ability of SC19220, a PG-receptor antagonist, to distinguish the hyperalgesia induced by PGE 2 and PGI 2 . BK induces hyperalgesia with duration similar to that of PGE 2 . NE induces hyperalgesia with duration similar to that of PGI 2 . SC19220, at low doses, antagonizes PGE 2 and BK hyperalgesia but not PGI 2 and NE hyperalgesia. These data are compatible with the suggestion that the prostaglandin products mediating BK and NE hyperalgesia differ, BK hyperalgesia being mediated by PGE 2 and NE hyperalgesia by PGI 2 .
An Epidermal Plakin That Integrates Actin and Microtubule Networks at Cellular Junctions

Plakins are cytoskeletal linker proteins initially thought to interact exclusively with intermediate filaments (IFs), but recently were found to associate additionally with actin and microtubule networks. Here, we report on ACF7, a mammalian orthologue of the Drosophila kakapo plakin genetically involved in epidermal–muscle adhesion and neuromuscular junctions. While ACF7/kakapo is divergent from other plakins in its IF-binding domain, it has at least one actin ( K d = 0.35 μM) and one microtubule ( K d ∼6 μM) binding domain. Similar to its fly counterpart, ACF7 is expressed in the epidermis. In well spread epidermal keratinocytes, ACF7 discontinuously decorates the cytoskeleton at the cell periphery, including microtubules (MTs) and actin filaments (AFs) that are aligned in parallel converging at focal contacts. Upon calcium induction of intercellular adhesion, ACF7 and the cytoskeleton reorganize at cell–cell borders but with different kinetics from adherens junctions and desmosomes. Treatments with cytoskeletal depolymerizing drugs reveal that ACF79s cytoskeletal association is dependent upon the microtubule network, but ACF7 also appears to stabilize actin at sites where microtubules and microfilaments meet. We posit that ACF7 may function in microtubule dynamics to facilitate actin–microtubule interactions at the cell periphery and to couple the microtubule network to cellular junctions. These attributes provide a clear explanation for the kakapo mutant phenotype in flies.
Stoichiometric modeling of the activated sludge process

A mathematical model of the activated sludge process is solved with consideration given to the wastewater composition. Inclusion of wastewater composition will lead to predictions where N or P may be limiting nutrients. The procedure presented is useful when designing or evaluating the operation of an activated sludge process.
The lighter side of the dismal science: The humor of economics

Abstract In 1899 Thomas Carlyle christened economics “The Dismal Science.” Since that time, the view of economics as dismal has persisted. But all economists and all writings by economists are not as humorless as this reputation indicates. There have been humorous writings in economics as long as there has been an economics literature. Beginning in Victorian England, this article traces the use of humor by economists. The sardonic work of Bastiat, Mandeville and Veblen are examined in terms of Heilbroner's “underworld of economics.” The focus of the article then becomes humor in the economics literature during the 1970's and 1980's. Authors have used persiflage to poke fun at a wide variety of topics, concentrating on economic theory, research methods, and the conduct of the profession as the source of humor.
Wetland Indicators: A Guide to Wetland Identification, Delineation, Classification, and Mapping

Wetland Definitions Wetland Concepts for Identification and Delineation Plant Indicators of Wetlands and Their Characteristics Vegetation Sampling and Analysis for Wetlands Soil Indicators of Wetlands Wetland Identification and Boundary Delineation Methods Problem Wetlands and Field Situations for Delineation Wetland Classification Wetlands of the United States: An Introduction, With Empahsis on Their Plant Communities Wetland Mapping and Photointerpretation Wetland Professionals, Environmental Engineers, Hydrologists, Soil Scientists Catalog no. L892, May 1999, c. 475 pp., ISBN: 1-87371-892-5, $49.95 NTI/Sales Copy Environmental scientists and others involved with wetland regulations can use Wetland Indicators to strengthen their knowledge about wetlands, and the use of various indicators, to support their decisions on difficult wetland determinations. Ralph W. Tiner primarily focuses on plants, soils, and other signs of wetland hydrology in the soil, or on the surface of wetlands in his discussion. Marketing Class Code: 8S, 8R4, 8H Shelving Guide Wetlands Category Wetlands Subcategory Environmental Engineering
Evolving Interpretations as a Change Unfolds: How Managers Construe Key Organizational Events

The purpose of this research was to develop a model of how managers construe organizational events as a change unfolds. The model, built from in-depth interviews with 40 managers, suggests that int...
Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of permethylated gibberellins

A simple and convenient method of preparing permethyl derivatives of gibberellins (GAs) for gas chromatography/mass spectrometry is described. MethElute (ME; 0.2 M trimethylanilinium hydroxide) is added to the sample dissolved in methanol and then injected directly on the column of the gas chromatograph. The method, which gives consistently reliable results, is simple, rapid and safe to use. Data are presented for a number of permethylated ME-GAs. The utility of the mass spectra of these derivatives for structural analysis of the gibberellins is discussed.
High-power, high-speed for RF photonics applications

There are a growing number of RF photonics applications. In these systems photodiodes with high saturation current and high linearity enable high link-gain, low noise figure, and high dynamic range. To date, the best performance has been achieved with charge-compensated modified uni-traveling carrier (CC-MUTC) photodiodes. This talk will describe the design and performance characteristics of these photodiodes.
A determination of the minimum radiopacification necessary for radiographic detection of an aspirated or swallowed object

Abstract It was hoped that it might be possible to establish some standard or starting point which could be used by future investigators to judge adequate levels of radiopacity of radiopaque denture-base materials. Aluminum and copper were used to define a suitable radiopacity scale. The scale was represented by two sets of specimens—one of regular outline and uniform thickness, the other of irregular shape and tapering thickness. Radiographs of the chest and abdominal regions of a cadaver were exposed, with the specimens placed on the film side and then on the opposite side of the cadaver. The results showed that it was more difficult to locate the beveled irregular specimens, that there was little difference between the chest and the abdomen with respect to ease of locating the same objects, and that the closer an object is to the film the easier it is to locate. For 95 per cent observability, an object should have a level of radiopacity at least equal to that produced by 0.20 mm. of copper.
The contamination of intravenous fluids by writing on the infusion bag: Fact or fiction?

Introduction -Laboratory experiments were conducted to ascertain whether Sharpie® brand black permanent marker ink will permeate through intravenous infusion bags. The practice of writing directly on infusion bags is a frequent yet controversial practice. There are no known written standards that exist which pertain to this practice. Methods – Five types of intravenous bags containing different solutions marked with black ink from a fine point felt tipped Sharpie® marker. Sample extraction occurred after infusion bags had been warmed to 40 C or remained ambient. Spectrophotometric scans and measurements were conducted at 300 to 600 NM on each solution contained in the experimental bags. Writing with Sharpie® pens on filter paper and surgical tape was also conducted. Results – A total of 17 experiments were conducted with intravenous bags of five different types of manufacture. There appeared to be no visible or ultraviolet spectrophotometric evidence of leaching of the ink from Sharpie® pens. Four different lot numbers of Sharpie® pens were used. Surgical tape that was written on using Sharpie® markers readily exhibited visible evidence of permeability. Discussion - The experiments conducted would appear to indicate that the infusion containers tested maintained an intact barrier to the application of Sharpie® brand permanent marker ink. Writing on surgical tape does not stop the permeability of Sharpie® pens. This study could serve as a suitable pilot study for others to conduct a much more comprehensive study using a greater number of intravenous containers, solutions and ink markers.
A longitudinal study of the effects of premarital communication, relationship stability, and self-esteem on sexual satisfaction in the first year of marriage

This study examined select premarital factors from the ecosystemic perspective hypothesized to influence marital sexual satisfaction in the first year of marriage. A sample of 70 couples was administered by the Preparation of Marriage Questionnaire (PREP-M) a few months prior to marriage to measure premarital levels of empathy, self-disclosure, open communication, relationship stability, and self-esteem. At 1 year of marriage, their sexual satisfaction was assessed using the Index of Sexual Satisfaction (ISS). Using multiple regression analyses it was found that the best premarital predictors of husband's marital sexual satisfaction were wives' self-esteem, wives' open communication, and wives' relationship stability. The best predictors for wives' marital sexual satisfaction were wives' self-esteem, wives' open communication, and husbands' empathic communication. Conclusions and implications for premarital counselling and family life education are discussed.
ATP-gated P2X receptors on excitatory nerve terminals onto interneurons initiate a form of asynchronous glutamate release

Previous work has shown that ATP-gated P2X2 receptors are expressed in excitatory nerve terminals onto stratum radiatum interneurons in the mouse hippocampal CA1 region. At these synapses receptor activation results in calcium-dependent facilitation of miniature and spontaneous EPSC frequency. In this study I determined if activation of presynaptic P2X receptors produces these effects by utilizing the vesicles underlying action potential dependent release. Brief trains of electrical stimuli caused short-term synaptic depression of excitatory synapses onto interneurons, in a manner consistent with depletion of the readily releasable pool of vesicles. P2X receptor activation increased the frequency of spontaneous EPSCs, but unexpectedly evoked little effect on synaptic depression. This suggests that P2X receptor activation does not markedly draw on the vesicles underlying action potential dependent glutamate release. However asynchronous EPSCs were increased following synaptic depression and a component of these appeared to be initiated by endogenously released ATP acting on presynaptic P2X receptors. Unexpectedly, the data suggest P2X receptor activation initiates a form of asynchronous glutamate release, rather than detectably affecting the vesicles underlying action potential evoked release.
Free-surface Multiple Attenuation of 3D Multi-offset Seismic Data

Three dimensional formulations of free-surface multiple attenuation for multi-offset seismic data are well known. They are not yet used in practice because they require very dense source-receiver coverages which are still out of reach with the existing seismic acquisition systems. We here present an alternative solution based on a “model and then subtract” multiple attenuation algorithm: inverse scattering multiple attenuation. We use the current 2D inverse scattering multiple attenuation algorithm to model the free-surface multiples and then adjust for the 3D wave propagation effects at the subtraction stage.
Crime Incident Association with Consideration of Narrative Information

Law enforcement agencies need to discover underlying patterns of crimes in a short time. One of the key steps is associating related criminal incidents with each other. This paper describes a new methodology to associate crime incidents automatically, as well as, accurately by using narrative information. Specifically this paper shows a new method for measuring the similarity between crime incident narratives. Evaluations show that our method could measure similarity between narrative information quickly and accurately. In addition, a toolkit based on this methodology was developed to perform crime incident association.
Proenkephalin-A derived peptides do not modulate cardiovascular effects of epinephrine on the isolated rat atrial preparations.

Abstract The catecholamines and the opioid peptides are found to be co-localized in the adrenomedullary chromaffin cells. They are co-secreted from the chromaffin granules in response to various stimuli. The stress-induced released of epinephrine is known to exert its effect on the cardiovascular system resulting in the changes in heart rate and blood pressure. However, the role of the co-released proenkephalin—A derived peptides has not been extensively characterized. Previous work from several investigators suggested that the peptides modulate cardiac functions of the catecholamines. There is considerable conflicting results among these reports. Results from the isolated rat atrial preparation indicated that enkephalins attenuated the increase in atrial rate induced by norepinephrine through restriction of the calcium fluxes. Nonetheless, others reported insensitivity of the enkephalins in similar or different test systems. We further re-examined these discrepancies using the isolated rat atrial preparation to investigate the opioid peptide modulatory effect on the cardiovascular changes induced by exogenous epinephrine. Alterations in rate and force of contraction resulting from epinephrine and the peptides were both studied in parallel. The opioid peptides used in this study were [Met5]-enkephalin (ME), [Leu5]-enkephalin (LE), FMRFamide, [Met5]-enkephalyl-Arg6-Phe7 (MEAP), peptide E, and the non-selective opioid agonist, etorphine. We report here that none of the opioid peptides were effective in alleviating or attenuating the increase in heart rate and developed tension caused by epinephrine. The peptides did not affect the basal beating rate nor the force of contraction. Thus, the present results clearly demonstrate the insensitivity of the enkephalins in modulating the cardiac effects of epinephrine. They further indirectly support the prejunctional synaptic nerve endings as the potential peripheral site of action of the peptides.
Oceanographic work at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, during the past year

In these notes on oceanographic investigations at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, only those in the fields of physical oceanography, marine meteorology, the chemistry of sea-water end marine bottom-deposits will be mentioned. The Scripps Institution, as aids in its investigations in physical oceanography and related subjects, has continued to receive water-samples and records of sea-surface temperatures and meteorological data, partly through the cooperation of the Bureau of Lighthouses, from the pier of the Scripps Institution at La Jolla and the pier at Balboa, from Pacific Grove, Hueneme, Farallon Islands, Blunts Reefs Light Ship, and lighthouse-tenders Lupine and Sequoia. Information has also been received from the United States Naval transports, the vessels Guide and Discoverer of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, from the Escuela Naval at Callao, Peru, and the Grace Line ships between Valparaiso and Central American ports. The Institution has a water-thermograph installed on its own pier, on the Los Angeles Steamship Company's S.S. Calawaii, which makes fortnightly trips from Los Angeles to Hawaii, and on the United States lighthouse-tender Lupine. During the year 3,123 salinity-determinations were made at the Institution and 10,453 records of temperature, 9,766 records of wind, and 2,860 records of air-temperature were received.
Observation of intermittent behavior in a radio-frequency discharge

Abstract In the positive ion current extracted from a 120 MHz H/He gas discharge, we have observed intermittent behavior as some source control parameters were varied. When the rf power is varied, the average temporal length 〈τ I 〉 of stable intermissions follows a simple power-law dependence with exponent −2.05±0.09. When an axial magnetic field is varied, however, we find 〈τ I 〉 to decrease linearly with the logarithm of this control parameter. Embedding analysis of a fully chaotic state of the discharge shows its dynamics to be associated with a correlation dimension near four.
Intra- and intermolecular vibrational relaxation in competition with nonradiative transitions

Abstract The rate of intra- and intermolecular vibrational relaxation resulting from anharmonic coupling is determined for molecules in electronically excited states and the effect of this relaxation upon the rate of nonradiative electronic transitions is discussed.
Mosaic loss of 15q11q13 in a patient with hypomelanosis of Ito: is there a role for the P gene?

We report a patient with mental retardation, behavioral disturbances, and pigmentary anomalies, consistent with the phenotype of hypomelanosis of Ito (HMI), and in whom cytogenetic analysis revealed mosaicism for an unbalanced translocation. His karyotype is 45, XY,−7, −15,+der(7)(7;15)t(q34;ql3)/46, XY. He is therefore monosomic for 7q34 to qter and 15pter to q13 in the cells containing the translocation. The human homolog (P) of the p gene (the product of the mouse pink-eyed dilution locus) maps to 15q11q13. Loss of this locus is believed to be associated with abnormalities of pigmentation, such as the hypopigmentation seen in patients with deletions of 15q11q13, and the Prader-Willi and Angelman syndromes. Mutations within the P gene have also been associated with tyrosinase-positive (type II) oculocutaneous albinism. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization, we confirmed that our patient is deleted for one copy of a P gene probe in the cells with the unbalanced translocation, and for loci within the region critical for the Prader-Willi/Angelman syndromes. Although hypomelanosis of Ito is a heterogeneous disorder, we postulate that, in our case and potentially in others, this phenotype may result directly from the loss of specific pigmentation genes.
A computational analysis of the carbon-nanotube-based resonant-circuit sensors

Abstract Available values for the molecular polarizability and the dipole moment and the computed adsorption energies to single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) for a couple of polar (NH3 and CO) and several non-polar (He, Ar, N2 and O2) gases are used to help establish a correlation between the adsorbed gas-induced changes in the dielectric constant of the SWCNTs (the sensing material) and the resulting reduction in the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit-based chemical gas sensors. It is found that simple weighting methods which neglect the effect of changes in the electronic structure of the carbon nanotubes during adsorption are generally incapable of predicting correctly the changes in the effective dielectric constant of the carbon nanotubes. Conversely, the use of adsorption-induced changes in the band gap of the carbon nanotubes and a relationship between the band gap and the dielectric constant is found to be a promising approach for assessing the adsorption-induced changes in the effective dielectric constant of the carbon nanotubes and for establishment of their effect on the resonant frequency of resonator-based chemical gas sensors.
Effects of subject-generated stories on recall

Two free recall experiments that used modified narrative chaining instructions are reported. The first experiment compared instructions to create a story with standard free recall instructions. Subjects were given 5 min to study a 30-item list of words for later recall. One group was told to create a story with the words; the other group was simply told to study them. Mean recall did not differ as a function of instructions. In the second experiment, study time was manipulated in an attempt to eliminate the possibility that subjects in all conditions were creating stories. Again recall of the subjects given story instructions did not differ from those given standard free recall instructions. The results of the experiments are discussed in terms of methodological differences between these experiments and those of other investigators.
Derivation of bivariate probability density functions with exponential marginals

A vivariate probability density function (pdf),f(x1,x2), admissible for two random variables (X1,X2), is of the form $$f(x_1 x_2 ) = f_1 (x_1 )f_2 (x_2 )[1 + \rho \{ F_1 (x_1 ),F_2 (x_2 )\} ]$$ where ρ(u, v) (u=F1(x1),v=F2(x2)) is any function on the unit square that is 0-marginal and bounded below by−1 andF1(x1) andF2(x2) are cumulative distribution functions (cdf) of marginal probability density functionsf1(x1) andf2(x2). The purpose of this study is to determinef(x1,x2) for different forms of ρ(u,v). By considering the rainfall intensity and the corresponding depths as dependent random variables, observed and computed probability distributionsF1(x1),F(x1/x2),F2(x2), andF(x2/x1) are compared for various forms of ρ(u,v). Subsequently, the best form of ρ(u,v) is specified.
Biology of Anagrus delicatus (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), an egg parasitoid of Prokelisia marginata (Homoptera: Delphacidae)

Anagrus delicatus Dozier is a common egg parasitoid of the planthopper Prokelisia marginata (Van Duzee). P. marginata inhabits salt marshes along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the United States and feeds exclusively on salt marsh cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora Loisel. A. delicatus is closely associated with its host throughout its range. Two larval instars of A. delicatus were identified from their host eggs. Male and female wasps take an average of 54.2, 35.9, and 21.7 d to develop from egg to adult at 16, 22, and 30°C, respectively. The developmental threshold temperature is approximately 7.1°C, and wasps require a minimum of 504 degree-days (DD) to complete development. The sex ratio of emerging adults is skewed toward females (1:2.4, M/F). Females eclose with an average of 33 eggs (range, 21-46) and are capable of immediate mating and oviposition. Females can produce male offspring parthenogenetically, and virgin females parasitize significantly more hosts during the first 24 h than mated females. Life for adult females was relatively short: females fed honey and water lived an average of 3.3 d, but those provided only water averaged just 2.0 d. Females laid 25% of their eggs on the first day, and oviposition ceased by the third day. In all, oviposition for honey-fed females ceased after only 43% of the eggs were laid. Host eggs are capable of being parasitized throughout development, but parasitoid survival in older host eggs (embryos) is lower than in younger eggs.
Mitochondrial-specific Thymidine Kinase

Abstract Thymidine kinase activity has been demonstrated in purified mitochondria prepared from animal tissue, wild-type tissue culture cells, and BrdU-resistant cell lines. The BrdU-resistant cell lines lack a soluble cytoplasmic thymidine kinase present in wild-type cells, but continue to exhibit the minor mitochondrial activity. This elucidates the mechanism by which mitochondrial DNA is exclusively labeled in BrdU-resistant cells.
The clinical impact of 1:1 conversion from Neoral to a generic cyclosporine (Gengraf) in renal transplant recipients with stable graft function

The introduction of cyclosporine (CYA) to the immunosuppressive armamentarium has had a significant effect on graft survival. An improvement in the formulation from the oil-based to a microemulsion-based form has resulted in better absorption and more predictable CYA bioavailability. Since the introduction of the first microemulsion form (Neoral), several bioequivalent formulations are now available and are switched in a 1:1 fashion at pharmacies to curtail costs. The purpose of our study was to study the effect of a 1:1 switch from Neoral to Gengraf on CYA trough levels and serum creatinine (SRC) in renal transplant recipients with stable graft function. Eighty-two renal transplant recipients with stable graft function were enrolled in the study, and of these, 73 were switched to Gengraf, whereas nine remained on Neoral. The 13 patients switched to Gengraf required a dosage change after the mean CYA trough levels changed from 234 +/- 96 ng/mL at baseline to 289 +/- 102 ng/mL (p < 0.05) at 2 wk. With the adjustments in dosage, the levels approached the baseline trough concentrations (239 +/- 151 ng/dL). The nine patients who remained on Neoral had no change in the CYA levels or SCR. Nearly 20% of patients who switched to a bioequivalent CYA preparation required a dose adjustment to return to pre-conversion CYA trough levels. Our study raises serious concerns regarding the switchability of generic CYA for Neoral without careful follow-up therapeutic drug monitoring.
On the universal fermi interaction

The parity-non-conserving, V-A form of Fermi interaction is derived from a principle of invariance under a continuous group of transformations, in analogy with the ordinary gauge-invariance derivation of the minimal electromagnetic interaction of charged particles. This assumption is a stronger restriction on the form of Fermi interactions than that invoked bySudarshan andMarshak, Gell-Mann andFeynman, andSakurai, and leads to additional predictions that are subject to experimental check. If these transformations were symmetry transformations of the entire Lagrangian, then the β- and μ-decay coupling constants would be precisely equal. The implications of extending this Fermi gauge invariance to a group depending on space-time functions is discussed. The possibility that Fermi interactions involving change of strangeness are unallowed is considered, and the results of assuming a universal Yukawa V-A parity-non-conserving interaction are tabulated. Such a Yukawa interaction, involving one new coupling constant, leads to reasonable K-meson and hyperon decay rates and allows π-meson decay into μ+ν without any appreciable decay into e+ν.
Fold axes oblique to the regional plunge and Proterozoic terrane accretion in the southern Lake Superior region

Abstract The Niagara fault is believed to represent the suture between a magmatic arc terrane and a passive margin assemblage which were tectonically juxtaposed about 1.85 Ga ago during the Penokean orogeny. Accretion-related deformation is concentrated within an ∼12 km wide belt that straddles the suture. A distinctive structural feature of this belt is the rotation of early fold axes toward parallelism with the direction of bulk extension, resulting in a great-circle stereonet distribution of fold axes within a vertical axial plane. Rocks of both arc and passive margin assemblages crop out in this more highly-strained belt, but there has been no material transfer between them across the fault. Structural style and metamorphic assemblages demonstrate deep-level (beneath the brittle—ductile transition) erosion of the terrane accretion boundary in the southern Lake Superior region. There is some evidence for pure shear during the accretion event, but we are unable to evaluate the amount or sense of simple shear.
Triiodothyronine radioimmunoassay: A study of the interactions of T3 with anti-T3 antisera and with thyroxine binding globulin in the presence of ans (ammonium-8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulfonate)

Abstract Two different antisera against triiodothyronine (T 3 ) have been studied in an assay system for T 3 in serum utilizing ammonium-8-anilino naphthalene-1-sulfonate (ANS) as an uncoupler of T 3 from thyroxine binding globulin (TBG). The effect of increasing amounts of ANS on the reaction between T 3 and anti-T 3 antisera and the effects of varying amounts of thyroxine binding globulin as well as thyroxine on the dynamics of the reactions were investigated. It is shown that in a radioimmunoassay system involving two binders (T 3 antibody and TBG) for a given ligand (T 3 ) it is important, in the evaluation of the antisera, to study its behavior in the presence of varying amounts and states of saturation of the other, naturally occurring binder (TBG).
Expression of Complement Regulatory Proteins—CD 35, CD 46, CD 55, and CD 59—in Benign and Malignant Endometrial Tissue

Abstract Objective. Complement system plays an important role in host defense mechanisms against microorganisms and tumor cells. To protect themselves from autologous complement-mediated damage, normal host tissues express cell membrane-associated complement regulatory proteins (CRPs). To investigate whether neoplastic endometrial tissues overexpress these proteins to escape complement damage, we examined the distribution of complement receptor type 1 (CR1, CD35), membrane cofactor protein (MCP, CD46), decay-accelerating factor (DAF, CD55), and protectin (MACIF, CD59) on frozen endometrial tissue samples. Methods. A total of 54 endometrial tissue samples were collected. Cryosections were obtained of 31 benign and 23 malignant tissue specimens. Tissue sections were stained by immunohistochemical staining procedure using specific antibodies and employing the avidin–biotin technique. Quantitation of the protein content of these CRPs was determined using the Samba 4000 image analysis system. Results. For all four of the CRPs studied, a statistically significant difference in protein expression between the benign and malignant endometrial tissue specimens ( P Conclusions. Overexpression of all the CRPs studied (CD35, CD46, CD55, CD59) was observed in the malignant as compared with the benign endometrial tissues. The upregulation of these CRPs may promote resistance of the endometrial malignant tissue to complement-mediated damage, thereby allowing the tumor cells to escape from cytolysis and thus promoting carcinogenesis.
Angiographic changes following the use of a purse-string suture hemostasis device in hemodialysis access interventions.

Purpose To evaluate late angiographic changes at the puncture site with use of a suture lock device for hemostasis after hemodialysis access interventions. Materials and Methods Thirty-five patients who underwent percutaneous intervention of a failing or thrombosed access had 76 puncture sites (58 grafts, 15 fistulas, three composite) managed with a purse-string suture lock device. All patients had follow-up fistulograms available for analysis. Fistulograms at the site of sheath insertion were retrospectively compared with those obtained during subsequent hemodialysis access procedures to assess for changes in access lumen diameter. Access type, sheath size, and heparin dose were examined as predictors of access diameter change at the puncture site. Results The mean time to follow-up fistulography was 4.7 months; the cumulative observation time of the patient cohort was 30.5 dialysis years. The mean change in access diameter at the previous puncture site was −0.3%. No puncture sites became aneurysmal or stenotic during follow-up. Two of the 76 puncture sites (both grafts) developed mild (+28%) and moderate (+43%) bulging at the sheath site. The remaining 74 puncture sites (97%) showed no significant change in access diameter. The mean change in access diameter among fistulas was −6.2%, and that among grafts was +1.5% ( P = .06). Neither sheath size ( P = .26) nor heparin dose ( P = .48) had an effect on access diameter. Conclusions No patients developed aneurysms or stenosis at the puncture site after use of a suture lock device for hemostasis. This technique is consistent, safe, and effective in obtaining hemostasis after dialysis access interventions of fistulas and grafts.
Spectral properties of a mixture of fluorescent pigments produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The major chromophore of a mixture of fluorescent pigments produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027 had pH-dependent absorption, excitation, and emission spectra, such that two ionic forms existed in the ground state and three in the excited states. The pigments could complex with several metal ions to change fluorescence and absorption spectra. Although the pigments were separable into several components, spectra indicated that the same fluorescent chromophore was present in each component. Hydrolysis of the mixture of pigments gave amino acids which did not include alanine or lysine. These pigments must therefore differ from those described by other workers, even though similarities of the chromophores were evident from comparisons with data in the literature, and from comparisons of a hydrolytic product of the mixture of pigments, termed compound F, with the chromophore of the fluorescent pigment of Azotobacter vinelandii. Drastic hydrolysis of the latter chromophore also yielded compound F.
Genetic and Environmental Influences on Posttrauma Adjustment in Children and Adolescents: The Role of Personality Constructs

The prevalence of exposure to traumatic events in childhood and adolescence is high and is associated with a host of mental health difficulties. However, not all trauma-exposed youth develop mental health difficulties in the wake of trauma, suggesting that other factors, such as personality and genetic influences, may play a role in posttrauma adjustment. In the present article, we provide an overview of how personality factors influence posttrauma trajectories and how both personality and posttrauma adjustment may be influenced by genetic factors. We first review major personality constructs, with a focus on developmental and assessment considerations in trauma-exposed youth. Next, we provide a discussion of genetic influences on personality, exposure to traumatic events, and the development of mental health disorders following traumatic event exposure. Lastly, recommendations for future research are provided.
Processing and purification techniques of heavy metal fluoride glass (HMFG)

HMFG in the context of this presentation is glass based on large molar percentages of ZrF4 or HfF4 (50–70%), BaF2 (15–40%), and significantly lower concentrations (1–15%) selected from a component list generally comprising AlF3, NaF, LaF3, GdF3, and ThF4. From the viewpoint of utilizing such glass for infrared fiber optics applications, one must effectively remove a multitude of light absorbing impurities such as OH-, transition ions (especially Fe2+) and Zrn+ defects (where n < 4). To meet the desired goal of 0.1 dB/km fiber loss at 2.5 μm such impurity levels will have to be reduced to the ppb region (0.1 to 10 ppb). Since iron impurities add significant IR losses to fluoride fibers, considerable effort is directed to elimination of Fe2+ and Fe3+.
Is the Inequality Equitable? An Examination of the Distributive Equity of Philanthropic Grants to Rural Communities

The primary question in this study is whether the inequality observed in rural and urban giving patterns is equitable. Practitioners and policy makers have expressed concern about equity in foundation giving, but these concerns are often conflated with equality measures. The focus of this article is to disentangle equity and equality and then propose—in the absence of equity standards in philanthropic literature—three equity standards that can be used by scholars, practitioners, and policy makers to assess the spatial distributional equity of philanthropic grant making. In an illustrative application of the equity standards to grants made in 2005 by foundations in the state of Georgia, it is determined that rural communities receive an equitable share of philanthropic grants and grant dollars in the state.
What is a visual object

The concept of an 'object' plays a central role in cognitive science, particularly in vision, reasoning and conceptual development - but it has rarely been given a concrete formal definition. Here I argue that visual objects cannot be defined according to simple physical properties but can instead be understood in terms of the hierarchical organization of visual scene interpretations. Within the tree describing such a hierarchical description, certain nodes make natural candidates as the 'joints' between objects, representing division points between parts of the image that cohere internally but do not perceptually group with one another. Thus each subtree hanging from such a node corresponds to a single perceived 'object'. This formal definition accords with several intuitions about the way objects behave.
Group B Streptococcal Septicaemia/Meningitis in Neonates in a Singapore Teaching Hospital

Summary: Our aims were to establish the incidence and clinical characteristics of early and late onset Group B Streptococcal (GBS) septicaemia in neonates in our hospital over a period of 1 year. Routine screening for maternal GBS was not standard practice in the hospital. GBS was isolated from high vaginal swabs (HVS) obtained antenatally or postnatally for risk factors as determined by the obstetrician or neonatologist in charge. Data obtained were analyzed separately and these did not form part of the study. By a system of clinical case review and follow-up, mail, telephone and home visits, the outcome of all 15,062 livebirths in the hospital over a 1-year period were verified and reported. Our results show a low incidence of GBS infection in neonates in the hospital: early onset disease was 0.265 per 1,000 livebirths and late onset a quarter of that. The majority of our cases of early onset GBS disease were in premature infants. Because of our low incidence, prophylaxis schedules would have to ensure an acceptably smaller number of mothers exposed to antibiotics over and above the current level and the cooperation of our obstetricians. We have devised a schedule incorporating a current PROM (prelabour premature rupture of membranes) protocol which would result in only an additional 2.2% of mothers requiring prophylactic antibiotics.
Atherosclerosis: keep your macrophages in shape.

Lipid accumulation leads to atherosclerosis partly by eliciting lethal levels of cellular stress in macrophages. A signaling pathway that drives such lipid-induced toxicity is now identified. The findings reveal a chaperoning function that might provide the clue needed to rescue this pathogenic effect (pages 1383–1391 ).
Optimal Catalyst Distribution in a Membrane

On considere un catalyseur limite dans une membrane catalysant la reaction d'une substance qui diffuse a travers la membrane. On veut trouver la distribution de la concentration du catalyseur dans l'epaisseur de la membrane qui: maximise la vitesse de reaction par unite d'aire par unite de temps; minimise la vitesse a laquelle le materiau qui n'a pas reagi quitte la membrane; maximise la purete du flux de sortie
A Nation at Risk

† United States Department of Education, National Commission on Excellence in Education, A Nation at Risk (us Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 1983). Stock No. 065-000-00177-2, $4·50.
Laser compression of matter: optical power and energy requirements

The optical power PL required to achieve a given measure of inertial confinement ρR of a laser-compressed DT pellet is found to be approximately proportional to (ρR)2. This result is based on a model of self-regulating pellet ablation by hot electrons of the pellet corona that is relatively insensitive to the details of the pellet ablation process. To achieve values of ρR believed necessary in the application of laser fusion to commercial power production, 3 × 1015 W of optical power is found to be required, implying a total laser output aperture of 30 m2. (The same power requirement would appear to apply to pellet compression by charged-particle beams.) An estimate of the required laser-pulse energy WL, assuming corona-core decoupling to be the controlling limitation, is also given. In the application to commercial power production the required pulse energy is found to range from 70 kJ at 0.265 μm to 3 MJ at 10.6 μm.
Pro-convulsant actions of theophylline and caffeine in the hippocampus: implications for the management of temporal lobe epilepsy

The pro-convulsant actions of theophylline and caffeine have been investigated using the hippocampal slice preparation and rats administered kainic acid or Metrazol. Both theophylline and caffeine induced the generation of epileptiform activity in the CA3 region of the hippocampal slice with convulsive dose50 (CD50) values of 3 μM and 17 μM respectively. Kainic acid-induced bursting in hippocampal slices was enhanced by theophylline (0.3–30 μM) and caffeine (1–100 μM). Theophylline induced burst firing in response to electrical stimulation in hippocampal area CA3 but not area CA1. Theophylline (50 mg/kg) strongly potentiated the effect of the limbic convulsant kainic acid in vivo whilst a dose of 200 mg/kg was necessary to significantly lower the threshold dose of Metrazol required to induce generalized convulsions. We conclude that alkylxanthines, probably by antagonizing the effect of endogenous adenosine, exert a pro-convulsant action in the hippocampus which preferentially promotes limbic seizures.
A definition of the single-nucleon potential

Abstract The definition is the familiar one which regards a single-particle energy as an average of actual energy levels weighted with spectroscopic factors. It is shown to be related to the shorttime behavior of the single-nucleon propagator. This leads to a Feynman expansion which is then compared with the expansion of the exact energies, related to the long-time behavior. The first expansion contains only a small fraction of the diagrams occurring in the second, namely those diagrams in which the two external lines issue from a common two-body vertex. This particular definition of the single-nucleon potential is capable of playing a central role in comparisons between BHF calculations and experiment. Short-range correlations can be eliminated and present no difficulty. Finally, a similar time-development leads to the Feynman expansion of the width of the single-nucleon strength distribution.
Approaches to mitigate the impact of dissolved organic matter on the adsorption of synthetic organic contaminants by porous carbonaceous sorbents.

Adsorption of trichloroethylene (TCE) and atrazine, two synthetic organic contaminants (SOCs) having different optimum adsorption pore regions, by four activated carbons and an activated carbon fiber (ACF) was examined. Adsorbents included two coconut-shell based granular activated carbons (GACs), two coal-based GACs (F400 and HD4000) and a phenol formaldehyde-based activated carbon fiber. The selected adsorbents had a wide range of pore size distributions but similar surface acidity and hydrophobicity. Single solute and preloading (with a dissolved organic matter (DOM)) isotherms were performed. Single solute adsorption results showed that (i) the adsorbents having higher amounts of pores with sizes about the dimensions of the adsorbate molecules exhibited higher uptakes, (ii) there were some pore structure characteristics, which were not completely captured by pore size distribution analysis, that also affected the adsorption, and (iii) the BET surface area and total pore volume were not the primary factors controlling the adsorption of SOCs. The preloading isotherm results showed that for TCE adsorbing primarily in pores <10 {angstrom}, the highly microporous ACF and GACs, acting like molecular sieves, exhibited the highest uptakes. For atrazine with an optimum adsorption pore region of 10-20 {angstrom}, which overlaps with the adsorption region of some DOM components, the GACsmore » with a broad pore size distribution and high pore volumes in the 10-20 {angstrom} region had the least impact of DOM on the adsorption. 25 refs., 3 figs., 3 tabs.« less
Regional differences in reactivity and in the influence of the epithelium on canine intrapulmonary bronchial smooth muscle responsiveness.

Abstract Differences in the reactivity and in the influence of the epithelium on responsiveness of canine 2nd and 3rd generation airway smooth muscle were examined. Epithelium-containing 3rd generation airways produced a greater maximum contraction and were more sensitive to methacholine and histamine, but not to KCl, than corresponding 2nd generation airways. Mechanical removal of the epithelium increased the sensitivity to methacholine and histamine in 2nd generation airways; there was also an increase in the maximum response elicited by histamine, but not by methacholine, in epithelium-free preparations. In contrast, there was no significant difference in the sensitivity to or the maximum response elicited by histamine or methacholine in epithelium-containing and epithelium-free 3rd generation airways. Epithelium removal had no effect on KCl-induced responses in either airway region. The inhibitory effects of verapamil (1 μM) against KCl- and methacholine-induced responses were identical in preparations containing and lacking the epithelium. The results support the postulate of an epithelium-derived inhibitory factor modulating airway smooth muscle reactivity. Furthermore, the influence of the epithelium exhibits regional differences, being greater in larger airways.
Choosing between immunity and tolerance after transplantation.

Transplantation of MHC disparate solid organ leads to activation of both innate and adaptive immune responses. These immune responses include both effector and regulatory limbs. Lymphodepletion and IL-2 blockade may control the acute alloimmune response in humans but may also limit the regulatory arm. Numerous cytokines involved in rejection appear to be critical for tolerance. TLRs, complement engagement can facilitate suppressive responses as well as effector responses. Facilitating antigen-specific tolerance while enabling robust immunity may require ex vivo manipulation of the immune system rather than relying on in vivo perturbations of the homeostatic process.