cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
New index for assessing the chronotropic response in patients with end-stage liver disease who are undergoing dobutamine stress echocardiography.

The inability to achieve 85% of the maximum predicted heart rate (MPHR) on dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) is defined as chronotropic incompetence and is a predictor of major cardiac events after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). The majority of patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) receive beta-blockers for the prevention of variceal bleeding. In these patients, it is impossible to determine whether chronotropic incompetence is secondary to cirrhosis-related autonomic dysfunction or is merely a beta-blocker effect. We evaluated the usefulness of the maximum achieved heart rate (MAHR) and the heart rate reserve (HRR) in the detection of chronotropic incompetence in ESLD patients on beta-blocker therapy before DSE. We also evaluated the usefulness of a new index, the modified heart rate reserve (MHRR), in diagnosing chronotropic incompetence and predicting major cardiovascular adverse events after OLT. The study population consisted of 284 ESLD patients. The mean values of MAHR (expressed as a percentage of 85% of MPHR) and HRR were significantly lower for patients on beta-blockers versus patients off beta-blockers [97.1% versus 101.6% (t = 5.01, P < 0.001) and 71.7% versus 77.3% (t = 4.03, P < 0.001), respectively], whereas the values of MHRR were similar in patients on beta-blockers and patients off beta-blockers [102.3% versus 102.1% (t = 0.04, P = 0.97)]. A regression analysis showed a significant association of MAHR (P < 0.001) and HRR (P < 0.001) with beta-blockers, whereas MHRR was not associated with beta-blocker treatment (P = 0.92). MAHR and HRR were found to have no value for diagnosing chronotropic incompetence in ESLD patients. MHRR was not affected by beta-blocker therapy. Patients who developed heart failure (HF) and myocardial infarction (MI) after OLT had significantly lower MHRR values according to pretransplant DSE. MHRR was significantly associated with the subsequent development of HF (P = 0.01) and MI (P = 0.01) after OLT. MHRR may be useful for the determination of the target heart rate for stress testing, the diagnosis of chronotropic incompetence, and the prediction of adverse cardiac events after OLT. Liver Transpl 18:355–360, 2012. © 2012 AASLD.
Poverty, Education, and Unbalanced Economic Growth

The economic setting, 71. — The human capital model, 73. — Factors inhibiting human capital development, 79. — Secular trends in the parameters, 80. — Conclusions, 83.
Maximal inverse subsemigroups of S ( X )

If X is a topological space then S(X) will denote the semigroup, under composition, of all continuous functions from X into X . An element f in a semigroup is regular if there is an element g such that fgf = f . The regular elements of S(X) will be denoted by R(X) . Elements f and g are inverses of each other if fgf = f and gfg = g . Every regular element has an inverse [1]. If every element in a semigroup has a unique inverse then the semigroup is an inverse semigroup. In this paper we examine maximal inverse subsemigroups of S ( X ).
Homology among the Acidic Subunits of Soybean 11S Globulin

Similarities and dissimilarities of amino acid sequences among the acidic subunits were analyzed by quantitative immunological precipitin with antibodies to the subunits, gel filtration of the CNBr-fragments and ion exchange chromatography of the tryptic peptides.The gel chromatograms of the CNBr-fragments and the ion exchange chromatograms of the tryptic peptides of A1 and A2 subunits have demonstrated that they are two distinct polypeptide subunits which have very similar primary structures. Quantitative immunological precipitin revealed that A1, A2 and A3 subunits were strongly immunologically related, therefore indicated that they shared a considerable degree of sequence homology. In fact, the analyses of the tryptic peptides of A1, A2 and A3 subunits showed the sequence homology among the three subunits. Although A4 subunit was shown to be serologically distinct polypeptide subunits from the other three subunits, some similarities of amino acid sequences were observed by the analyses of the tryptic p...
GENI Cinema: An SDN-Assisted Scalable Live Video Streaming Service

This paper introduces GENI Cinema (GC), a system that provides a scalable live video streaming service based on dynamic traffic steering with software defined networking (SDN) and demand driven instantiation of video relay servers in NSF GENI's distributed cloud environments. While the service can be used to relay a multitude of video content, its initial objective is to support live video streaming of educational content such as lectures and seminars among university campuses. Users on any campus would bootstrap video upload or download via a public web portal and, for scalability, have the video delivered seamlessly across the network over one or multiple paths selected and dynamically controlled by GC. The architecture aims to provide a framework for addressing several well-known limitations of video streaming in today's Internet, where little control is available for controlling forwarding paths of on demand live video streams. GC utilizes GENI's distributed cloud servers to host on-demand video servers/relays and its Open Flow SDN to achieve seamless video upload/download and optimization of forwarding paths in the network core. This paper presents the architecture and an early prototype of the basic GC framework, together with some initial performance measurement results.
Transforming Education, Transforming Society: The Co-Construction of Critical Peace Education and Indigenous Education.

This article seeks to contribute to the link between critical peace education and Indigenous education from an Indigenous international and comparative education perspective. The article first reviews the marginalization of critical peace education and Indigenous education. By bringing forward areas of common interest between peace education and Indigenous education, the need for specific strategies involving mutual exchange and resulting in co-construction of education using both approaches is emphasized. Although peace education is not widely discussed in Indigenous or American Indian education, this article proposes a conversation between Indigenous community members, scholars, educators and other stakeholders in order to encourage collaboration towards the shared goal of education for the purposes of social transformation
The kinetic Ising model: Exact susceptibilities of two simple examples

The susceptibility of a modified version of the one-dimensional kinetic Ising model is obtained and compared with the susceptibility of the Glauber version of this model. Spin-flip rates in the new model are picked so no spin-flip rate vanishes as the temperature vanishes. Despite the more rapid spin flips, the new model exhibits an infinitely slow approach to equilibrium in the low-temperature limit which is similar to the slowing down exhibited in the Glauber model. The new model also exhibits two different decay rates toward equilibrium, which are called the transient and slow decay rates. The Glauber model is characterized by only a single decay rate toward equilibrium.
Glucose turnover and defense of blood glucose levels in Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus).

Abstract 1. 1. Glucose utilization was assessed in fed and fasted arctic fox, maintained on a diet similar in composition to food available in the wild. 2. 2. Fasted (24 hr) glucose concentration was not significantly different from the fed level (134 mg/dl). 3. 3. Fasting was associated with a significant reduction in glucose space, pool size, total entry rate, and irreversible loss which suggests a decline in gluconeogenesis. 4. 4. Glucose recycling was not significantly different between the fed and fasted states. 5. 5. We suggest that, in the arctic fox, the mechanism for defending blood glucose levels during fasting is based on restricting blood glucose to tissues with a high glucose dependency.
Caution: the glycylmethyl and glycylethyl esters of glutathione are substrates for glyoxalase I.

Abstract The glycylmethyl and glycylethyl esters of glutathione have been synthesized and characterized by both 1H-NMR and tandem FAB mass spectrometry. Contrary to previously published studies, these compounds (as their methylglyoxal-thiohemiacetals) do indeed serve as moderately efficient substrates for yeast glyoxalase I, with kcat values that are approx. 3-fold smaller and Km values that are approx. 3-fold larger than those of the thiohemiacetal formed from glutathione. Product inhibition studies show that the glycylmethyl and glycylethyl esters of (S)- d -lactoylglutathione bind approx. 1.4-fold less tighly to the active site than (S)- d -lactoylglytathione . These observations exclude an essential role for the glycyl-CO2− of substrate in active site binding and catalysis.
Determinants of Molecular Specificity in Phosphoinositide Regulation PHOSPHATIDYLINOSITOL (4,5)-BISPHOSPHATE (PI(4,5)P2) IS THE ENDOGENOUS LIPID REGULATING TRPV1

Once thought of as simply an oily barrier that maintains cellular integrity, lipids are now known to play an active role in a large variety of cellular processes. Phosphoinositides are of particular interest because of their remarkable ability to affect many signaling pathways. Ion channels and transporters are an important target of phosphoinositide signaling, but identification of the specific phosphoinositides involved has proven elusive. TRPV1 is a good example; although phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) can potently regulate its activation, we show that phosphatidylinositol (4)-phosphate (PI(4)P) and phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate (PI(3,4,5)P3) can as well. To determine the identity of the endogenous phosphoinositide regulating TRPV1, we applied recombinant pleckstrin homology domains to inside-out excised patches. Although a PI(4,5)P2-specific pleckstrin homology domain inhibited TRPV1, a PI(3,4,5)P3-specific pleckstrin homology domain had no effect. Simultaneous confocal imaging and electrophysiological recording of whole cells expressing a rapamycin-inducible lipid phosphatase also demonstrates that depletion of PI(4,5)P2 inhibits capsaicin-activated TRPV1 current; the PI(4)P generated by the phosphatases was not sufficient to support TRPV1 function. We conclude that PI(4,5)P2, and not other phosphoinositides or other lipids, is the endogenous phosphoinositide regulating TRPV1 channels.
An indirect approach to the measurement of nutrient-specific perceptions of food healthiness.

Background Enhancing our understanding of food-related perceptions is critical to assist those with eating- and weight-related problems.
Detection of antigens on nitrocellulose paper immunoblots with monoclonal antibodies

A very sensitive method for the detection of antigen-antibody complexes on nitrocellulose paper immunoblots is described. The protein antigens are separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by their electrophoretic transfer onto a nitrocellulose sheet ("Western blot"). The protein antigens bound to the nitrocellulose paper are exposed to the monoclonal antibody and the antibody-antigen complexes are detected on the paper by an immunoenzymatic reaction. The improved sensitivity of this method is the result of (i) the use of the detergent Tween 20 in blocking the nonspecific binding of the antibodies to the nitrocellulose paper, (ii) the use of a peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) reaction, and (iii) the intensification of the diaminobenzidine reaction product with nickel and cobalt ions in phosphate buffer.
Characterization of the Interleukin-1β-Converting Enzyme/Ced-3-Family Protease, Caspase-3/CPP32, in Hodgkin's Disease: Lack of Caspase-3 Expression in Nodular Lymphocyte Predominance Hodgkin's Disease

Apoptosis (programmed cell death) serves an important role in the normal morphogenesis, immunoregulation, and homeostatic mechanisms in both normal and neoplastic cells. Caspase-3/CPP32, a member of the ICE/Ced-3-family of cysteine proteases, is an important downstream mediator of several complex proteolytic cascades that result in apoptosis in both hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic cells. Previous studies have demonstrated that caspase-3 is commonly expressed in classical Hodgkin's disease (CHD); however, the biological significance of its expression in Hodgkin's disease is unknown. In this report, the expression of caspase-3 in nodular lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's disease (NLPHD) was evaluated by immunohistochemistry; in addition, we investigated the role of caspase-3 in CD95 (Fas)-mediated apoptosis in three CHD cell lines. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections from 11 cases of NLPHD were immunostained for caspase-3 using a polyclonal rabbit antibody that detects both the 32-kd zymogen and the 20-kd active subunit of the caspase-3 protease. Only 1/11 cases of NLPHD demonstrated caspase-3 immunopositivity in lymphocytic/histiocytic cells. Caspase-3 expression was also evaluated in three CHD cell lines, HS445, L428, and KMH2. Whereas caspase-3 expression was detected in HS445 and L428 cell lines, no expression was found in KMH2 cells by immunohistochemical staining. Treatment of HS445 and L428 cell lines for 72 hours with agonistic CD95 monoclonal antibody induced marked apoptosis that was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with the caspase-3 inhibitor, DEVD-FMK, as determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling assay and flow cytometric analysis of 7-amino-actinomycin D staining. In addition, a significant increase in caspase-3 activity as determined by an enzyme colorimetric assay was detected in HS445 and L428 cells after 48 hours of CD95 stimulation. In marked contrast, treatment of caspase-3-deficient KMH2 cells with anti-CD95 mAb did not demonstrate an increase in caspase-3 activity or induce apoptosis. These data demonstrate caspase-3 is important for CD95-mediated apoptosis in CHD cell lines. In addition, the majority of NLPHD cases examined in this study failed to express detectable levels of caspase-3, suggesting these tumor cells may be resistant to apoptotic stimuli dependent on caspase-3 activity. Furthermore, these data suggest the differential expression of caspase-3 noted between NLPHD and CHD may provide additional evidence that each is a unique disease entity.
Interference minimization using second surface atomizer for furnace atomic absorption

Abstract The performance of the second surface atomizer for several problematic analyte/matrix systems has been investigated. The atomizer features a modified graphite furnace associated with a controllable gas-cooled Ta insert which “traps” the analyte until a higher, more uniform furnace temperature is attained, after which time the analyte is re-released for analysis. Results with a range of elements, including Al, Cd, Pb, Sn and Tl in both halide and sulfate matrices indicate that ratios of matrix to analyte in excess of 10 4 could typically be tolerated without any interference effects.
Proactive resource provisioning

Allocating resources in networks to QoS flows may require undesirable delays or costs. We consider a dynamic Service Level Agreement (SLA) negotiation scheme between peer autonomous systems (ASes) that implement DiffServ per domain behaviors. For concreteness, we tailor our scheme to account for the needs of Voice over IP transport across multiple ASes. We present a heuristic but computationally simple and distributed scheme that uses traffic statistics to forecast the near-future demand. Our scheme provides a statistical guarantee on the renegotiation frequency, to manage adjustment costs, and blocking probability, to manage penalties for undesirable adjustment delays. Simulations demonstrate that this scheme achieves more efficient usage of the reserved bandwidth than would be accomplished by using the de facto static SLA negotiation schemes.
Difficult biliary cannulation: use of physician-controlled wire-guided cannulation over a pancreatic duct stent to reduce the rate of precut sphincterotomy (with video).

Background Successful cannulation of the common bile duct (CBD) remains the benchmark for ERCP. Use of a pancreatic duct (PD) stent to facilitate biliary cannulation has been described, although the majority of patients require precut sphincterotomy to achieve CBD cannulation. Objective To report the performance characteristics of using a PD stent in conjunction with physician-controlled wire-guided cannulation (WGC) to facilitate bile duct cannulation. Design Retrospective cohort. Setting Two tertiary care, academic medical centers. Patients All undergoing ERCP with native papillae. Intervention In cases of difficult biliary access in which the PD is cannulated, a pancreatic stent is placed. After this, physician-controlled WGC is attempted by using the PD stent to direct the sphincterotome into the biliary orifice. If cannulation is unsuccessful after several minutes, a precut sphincterotomy is performed over the PD stent or the procedure is terminated. Main Outcome Measurements Frequency of successful bile duct cannulation and precut sphincterotomy. Results A total of 2345 ERCPs were identified, 1544 with native papillae. Among these, CBD and PD cannulation failed in 16 (1.0%) patients, whereas 76 (4.9%) patients received a PD stent to facilitate biliary cannulation. Successful cannulation was achieved in 71 (93.4%) of 76 patients, 60 (78.9%) of whom did not require precut sphincterotomy. Complications included mild post-ERCP pancreatitis in 4 (5.3%) and aspiration in 1 (1.3%). Precut sphincterotomy was complicated by hemorrhage, controlled during the procedure in 2 (13.3%) of 15. Conclusions Physician-controlled WGC over a PD stent facilitates biliary cannulation while maintaining a low rate of precut sphincterotomy.
Do atherosclerosis and obesity-associated susceptibility to cancer share causative link to oxLDL and LOX-1?

Abbreviations 4-HNE 4-Hydroxynonenal APC Antigen presenting cell CHO Chinese hamster ovary cells COX-2 Cyclooxygenase-2 FASN Fatty acid synthase HFD High fat diet HSPs Heat shock proteins ICAM Inter-cellular adhesion molecule LDL Low density lipoproteins LDLR LDL receptor LOX-1 Lectin-type oxidized LDL receptor 1 LPC Lysophosphatidyl choline Lp-PLA2 Liporpotein-associated phospholipase A 2 LRP LDL receptor related protein MCP-1 Monocyte chemoattractant protein MPO Myeloperoxidase MUFA Monounsaturated fatty acids NF-κB Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells oxLDL Oxidized low density lipoproteins oxPAPC 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycero3-phosphocholine PAPC 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycero3-phosphocholine PPAR γ Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma PPRE PPARA response element PUFA Polyunsaturated fatty acids ROS Reactive oxygen species RPE Retinal pigment epithelium SCD1 Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 SMCs Smooth muscle cells SOD Superoxide dismutase TNFα Tumor necrosis factor-alpha VCAM Vascular cellular adhesion molecule VEGF Vascular endothelial growth factor
Rapid evaluation of juvenile sorghum for tolerance to soil acidity

Abstract Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is a versatile drought‐tolerant crop; part of its potential for expansion in the subtropics of the US and the tropics is unrealized because of its sensitivity to soil acidity. Improved methods for rapid evaluation of acid soil tolerance may help breeding programs to overcome this limitation. Four‐day root growth of seedlings of six genotypes in rapid tests in acid soil media was significantly correlated (R2 = 0.82) with acid soil tolerance evaluated in a field experiment on a high‐Al Ultisol in Corozal, Puerto Rico. This indicates that the ability of the roots of tolerant genotypes to penetrate into acid environments was a key aspect of their success in the field. A solution culture test showed that aluminum (Al) was the principal acidity factor in the acid soil at Corozal. Rapid seedling root growth tests can non‐destructively identify plants having genetic potential to withstand Al toxicity in the field and increase the efficiency of breeding programs.
Influence of Electromagnetic Force on Solidification of Cu-Cr-Zr Alloy

In order to improve the distribution of second phase and performance the Cu-Cr-Zr alloy was processed by solidification under the effect of electromagnetic stirring (EMS) and in situ drawing deformation. Study of Cu-Cr-Zr conductivity and mechanical properties under different deformation strains was also carried out, to analyze the effect of EMS on Cu-Cr-Zr alloys. The experimental results showed that the Cr dendrites tended to be smaller and shorter in Cu-10Cr-0.1Zr alloy solidified with EMS (16Hz, 100A). Since electromagnetic stirring have the role to break dendrite,it’s beneficial to increase the amount of dendrites and decrease the size of dendrites. The tensile strength of Cu-10Cr-0.1Zr wire solidified with EMS was higher than that solidified without EMS.
The Effects of Certain Organic and Inorganic Nitrogen Feedings on Growth and Alkaloid Biosynthesis in Claviceps (Ergot) Mycelium

Ergot alkaloids have been found in young cultures of Claviceps mycelia in trace amounts. When cultures were agitated by mechanical shaking, mycelial growth was increased, but alkaloid ptency decreased. Supplementary feedings with tryptohane, ornithine, and indole supported alkaloid biosynthesis but markedly inhibited mycelial growth. Arginine and ammonium sulfate had no significant effects on growth or alkaloid synthesis.
Dopant-induced metal-support interactions: 1. Influence on chemisorptive behavior

Abstract Titania supports doped with cations of valence lower than, equal to, and higher than the parent cation were used as carriers for Pt crystallites, and the concept of dopant-induced metal-support interactions (DIMSI) was investigated. Platinized titania doped with cations of lower or equal valence (K + , Mg 2+ , Ge 4+ ) exhibited normal H 2 and O 2 chemisorption behavior. Platinized TiO 2 doped with cations of higher valence (Ta 5+ , Sb 5+ , W 6+ ) exhibited drastically reduced H 2 and O 2 chemisorption capacity, especially at high Pt dispersions. Transmission electron microscopy analysis showed that these results cannot be attributed to reduced Pt dispersion of the doped catalysts, while electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis showed no surface enrichment of the catalyst supports with the dopant. Results are then interpreted in terms of electronic interactions at the metal-support interface, involving electron transfer from the doped support to the metal particles. Significant changes in the electronic structure of the doped carriers were detected by electrical conductivity measurements.
294. The Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor FK228 Increases Histone Acetylation, Coxsackie Adenovirus Receptor Levels and Adenovirus Transgene Expression in Human LOX IMVI Melanoma Xenografts

Adenovirus gene therapy is frequently inefficient because of low levels of coxsackie adenovirus receptor (CAR) the primary adenovirus receptor. Previously, we showed that treatment of a diverse group of cancer cell lines with the histone deacetylase inhibitor FK228 (FR901228, depsipeptide), a drug in phase II clinical trials for the treatment of peripheral and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, caused increased CAR RNA levels and was associated with a 5-10 fold increase in adenovirus transgene expression following adenovirus infection of FK228-treated cells. Since treatment of cultured cells with 1 ng/ml FK228 caused increased acetylated histone H3, the mechanism for the FK228 effect in vitro may be through protein acetylation. This potential mechanism was also suggested because treatment with the histone deacetylase inhibitors sodium butyrate or trichostatin A also caused increased levels of CAR. Increases in CAR levels, transgene expression, and histone H3 acetylation were not found in cultured normal cells from breast, liver or kidney following similar FK228 treatment. The effect of FK228 treatment in vivo was examined in athymic mice bearing advanced-stage subcutaneous LOX IMVI human melanoma xenografts. Treatment efficacy was determined by analyzing CAR RNA levels by semi- quantitative RT-PCR analysis or by analyzing CAR protein by western blot analysis. A maximum human CAR increase of 13.6- fold (|[plusmn]|4.3) compared to untreated xenografts was observed 24 h following i.v. injection of mice with 3.6 mg/kg FK228. By comparison, murine CAR RNA levels in livers, kidneys and lungs from the same animals remained unchanged. Xenograft protein from mice treated with 3.6 mg/kg FK228 and analyzed at 6 h following drug treatment showed no increase in CAR protein levels, however, analysis at 24 h showed a 9.2-fold (|[plusmn]|4.8) increase in CAR levels. Based on these results xenograft-bearing mice treated with 3.6 mg/kg FK288 were given an intra-tumor injection of adenovirus carrying a GFP transgene (2E+9 VP) 24 h following FK228 administration and the xenografts were analyzed 24 h later. Analysis of RNA from the entire xenografts showed a 7.2-fold (|[plusmn]|4.5) increase in expression from the adenovirus GFP transgene in the FK228-treated mice compared to untreated controls. In order to determine the mechanism for this effect, the levels of histone H3 acetylation in treated compared to control xenografts were analyzed. Western blot analysis of xenografts from mice showed that 6 h following treatment with 3.6 mg/kg FK228, there was an average 28.2-fold (|[plusmn]|22.9) increase in histone H3 acetylation that remained at 20.4-fold (|[plusmn]|12.6) 24 h following treatment. These studies suggest that the mechanism by which FK228 increases the efficiency of adenovirus gene therapy in vivo is through protein acetylation.
Structural Unemployment, Cyclical Unemployment, and Income Inequality

This is the first study that decomposes unemployment into its structural and cyclical components and investigates their impact on income distribution, controlling for the influence of inflation. Increases in structural unemployment have a substantial aggravating impact on income inequality. Inflation has a progressive impact, which is due to the unexpected component. The study demonstrates that previous work failed to take into account the stochastic trend behavior of the variables. Consequently, specifications used by previous research cannot predict the behavior of income shares after 1983, whereas the specification used by this paper generates accurate forecasts. The results also indicate that a sustained GNP growth is not necessarily associated with an improvement in income inequality, because sustained GNP growth can coexist with increased structural unemployment.
Site of conversion of tryptophan into nicotinic acid in man.

SummaryThe intravenous administration of one gram of L-tryptophan to infants on constant diets gave a prompt and large rise in the urinary N1methyl nicotinamide which was equal in magnitude to that provoked by oral administration of the tryptophan. In view of these findings, the conversion of tryptophan to N1methyl nicotinamide in man seems to be mediated by the body tissues rather than by bacterial synthesis in the gastrointestinal tract.
Visualization and modeling of 3-D structures (medical imaging)

Two basic problems in defining and displaying 3-D structures are discussed. One is the development of segmentation methods and boundary description structures that are appropriate for data derived from real physical measurements. The other is assessing and guaranteeing the accuracy of the models that are created. Surface and volume rendering and reprojection techniques are examined. >
A case study of the usability testing of the University of South Florida’s virtual library interface design

Usability testing of Web interfaces for virtual libraries is a crucial factor in the continuing development and improvement of the user interface. In 1999, the University of South Florida Libraries decided to embark on a usability study to coincide with the rollout of a new interface design. Because this type of study had not been conducted with the initial interface, its implementation and completion were paramount in the development of the new design. Details the preliminary activities, testing methodologies and results of usability testing by the USF virtual library project’s usability study group.
A phase I study of an oral simulated FOLFOX with high dose capecitabine

Background: A phase I study of high-dose capecitabine given over 2 days, along with oxaliplatin, bolus 5FU and leucovorin (LV), was designed to simulate FOLFOX6 without the need for infusional 5FU. Methods: Schedule A included oxaliplatin 100 mg/m2, 5FU 400 mg/m2, and LV 20 mg/m2 (all given IV on days 1 and 15, 28 day cycle). Capecitabine was administered orally every 8 h × 6 doses, days 1 and 15. Schedule B excluded 5FU and LV, maintaining oxaliplatin and capecitabine. Pharmacokinetics were performed for capecitabine for 6 patients on each schedule. Results: 36 patients were treated. The dose-limiting toxicities seen included nausea, dehydration, fatigue, hypotension and confusion. Minimal palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia was seen. Myelosuppression was common, but not a dose limiting toxicity. The pharmacokinetic parameters for capecitabine were unaltered. Conclusion: Using capecitabine to mimic FOLFOX6 is feasible and well tolerated with a toxicity profile that differs from standard 14-day capecitabine dosing, with less palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia. The phase II dose for capecitabine in combination with oxaliplatin, 5FU, and LV is 1,500 mg/m2/dose or 2,250 mg/m2/dose in the absence of bolus 5FU/LV.
Incidence of coronary-subclavian steal syndrome in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery.

Abstract Objective: To identify the incidence of coronary-subclavian steal syndrome in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. Design: Prospective. Setting: Veterans Affairs Medical Center and university-affiliated medical center. Participants: Adult patients with prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery and documented use of an internal mammary artery. Interventions: Bilateral simultaneous brachial blood pressures were determined noninvasively. The presumptive diagnosis of ipsilateral subclavian artery stenosis and coronary-subclavian steal syndrome was made if the systolic blood pressure differential was >20 mmHg. Measurements and Main Results: The presumptive diagnosis of ipsilateral subclavian artery stenosis based on a blood pressure differential was made in 6 of 86 (5%) patients screened. The diagnosis of coronary-subclavian steal syndrome was confirmed at cardiac catheterization by observing retrograde internal mammary artery flow in 3 patients or lack of internal mammary artery flow in 1 patient (3.4%). All 4 patients with angiographic confirmation had either angina or silent ischemia. Three patients had successful carotid subclavian bypass, and 1 patient refused surgery. Two patients had no evidence of myocardial ischemia and underwent their planned procedure without incident. Conclusion: Coronary-subclavian steal syndrome occurs with relative frequency in noncardiac surgery patients with prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery using internal mammary artery conduits. Bilateral blood pressure measurements should be routinely performed during the preoperative evaluation. A pressure differential >20 mmHg should suggest the possibility of coronary-subclavian steal syndrome. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company
Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides of sulfonylurea receptors inhibit ATP-sensitive K + channels in cultured neonatal rat ventricular cells

To identify the functional sulfonylurea receptor (SUR), a subunit of the adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels, in neonatal rat ventricular cells, such cells in primary culture were treated for 6 days with antisense (AS) oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) complementary to the mRNA for SURs. For quantification, single-channel (inside-out patches) and whole-cell currents were measured using the patch-clamp technique. The maximal KATP currents (at 0 mV) induced by metabolic inhibition were 48.9±2.8 pA/pF in control (n=48), 34.3±3.5 pA/pF in AS-SUR1 (n=21, P<0.05 vs control), and 23.5±3.4 pA/pF in AS-SUR2 (n=17, P<0.01 vs control). As a control, scramble oligonucleotides had no effect. The fast Na+ current and inward-rectifying K+ current were not affected by AS-SURs. Treatment with both AS-SUR1 and AS-SUR2 had no additive effects on inhibition of KATP currents compared with AS-SUR2 alone. The single-channel conductance, open probability, and kinetics (in ATP-free solution) were not significantly different between control, AS-SUR1, and AS-SUR2. These results suggest that treatment with AS-ODN for SUR1 or SUR2 reduced the number of functional KATP channels. Furthermore, in four out of seven control cells tested, outward K+ currents were stimulated by diazoxide, which is a potent K+ channel-opening drug for the constructed SUR1/Kir6.2 and SUR2B/Kir6.2 channels, but not for the SUR2A/Kir6.2 channel. Therefore, in neonatal rat ventricular cells, both SUR2 and SUR1 subtypes could be integral components of the functional KATP channels. The larger population of KATP channels may be constructed with SUR2, whereas a smaller population may be constructed with a combination of SUR1 and SUR2.
Residual limbs of amputees are significantly cooler than contralateral intact limbs.

▪ Abstract: Objective: To test the hypothesis that distal residual limbs (DRLs) have significant vasomotor abnormalities. Design: Comparative surface temperature studies of DRLs using paired samples (DRL vs. similar site on intact contralateral limb). Subjects/Patients: Thirty-six volunteer subjects with unilateral, upper or lower limb amputations were recruited and evaluated at a pain research center in an urban academic rehabilitation facility. Methods: Our main outcomes were subjects’ residual limb temperature as measured by quantitative infrared telethermography (qIRT), temperature strips, and examiner's palpation, compared with the contralateral limb. Results: The qIRT showed that the DRLs were significantly cooler than the corresponding area of the contralateral intact limbs (P < 0.01). The difference using temperature strips supported this finding (P < 0.05); while on physical examination, 39% of the residual limbs were perceived by the examiner as cooler than the corresponding unaffected limbs. Conclusions: DRLs as measured by qIRT were significantly cooler than the corresponding area of the contralateral intact limbs. A better understanding of these findings may be important in elucidating the pathophysiology of relevant clinical features such as a potential sympathetic component of postamputation pain. ▪
Extractionless GC/MS analysis of γ‐hydroxybutyrate and γ‐butyrolactone with trifluoroacetic anhydride and heptafluoro‐1‐butanol from aqueous samples

gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is a DEA Schedule I drug of abuse commonly spiked into beverages to incapacitate victims of sexual assault. GHB is a challenging drug for analysis by GC/MS because of its small size, charged nature, low volatility, and intramolecular esterification leading to gamma-butyrolactone (GBL). In this work an extractionless technique has been developed that allows for the use of an aqueous sample for direct derivatization. The technique uses a solution of trifluoroacetic anhydride (TFAA) and 2,2,3,3,4,4,4-heptafluoro-1-butanol (HFB) to derivatize the active hydrogens of GHB. The conversion of GBL into GHB can be forced under alkaline conditions by diluting the sample in 10 mM borate buffer, pH 12. GBL found in beverages intended for human consumption is treated as a Schedule I control substance analogue. Spikes of the two compounds into several beverage matrices gave quantitative recovery of GHB by GC/MS. The derivatization produces higher molecular mass products whose fragmentation pattern provides multiple peaks for confirmation and quantification. The concentration of GBL can also be indirectly determined by the method developed. Therefore, this extractionless technique is rapid, sensitive, and selective for the confirmation of the presence of GHB and GBL in commercial beverages.
Measured versus predicted high temperature langatate behavior up to 900°C

This paper reports on surface acoustic wave (SAW) device measurements from room temperature to 900°C along six different orientations on langatate (LGT) wafers. The temperature behavior measured is compared to numerical predictions based on elastic constants extracted at high temperatures using resonant ultrasound spectroscopy techniques. SAW delay lines were fabricated on LGT wafers prepared at the University of Maine using 100 nm platinum-rhodium-zirconia electrodes capable of withstanding temperatures up to 1000°C. The frequency responses were used to extract the SAW velocities and temperature coefficients of delay. The results reported verify the existence of temperature compensated orientations at high temperature, which reinforce the interest in using LGT as a high temperature piezoelectric substrate.
Quantum Electrodynamics in the Infinite-Momentum Frame

We examine the formal foundations of quantum electrodynamics in the infinite-momentum frame. We interpret the infinite-momentum limit as the change of variables $\ensuremath{\tau}={2}^{\ensuremath{-}\frac{1}{1}}(t+z)$, $\mathcal{Z}={2}^{\ensuremath{-}\frac{1}{1}}(t\ensuremath{-}z)$, thus avoiding limiting procedures. Starting from the Feynman rules, we derive a $\ensuremath{\tau}$-ordered perturbation expansion for the $S$ matrix. We then show how this expansion arises from a canonical formulation of the field theory in the infinite-momentum frame. We feel that this approach should lead to convenient approximation schemes for electrodynamics at high energy.
Studies of controlled release of drug from Helical Rosette Nanotubes (HRN)

Helical Rosette Nanotubes (HRN) are novel biomimetic self-asssembled supramolecular, whose DNA base-pairs (G & C) can solidify in water under physiological conditions. Due to electrostatic force and interactions effects, a stable stack with an inner channel 11a in diameter is formed. Because of their hollow structure and amino side chains (lysine), they can either trap or be functionalized with high-density of peptides and drugs. Research has shown that current bone implants (Ti) coated with simple HRN enhance the proliferation of osteoblasts [1]. Thus, using drug-loaded HRN with better efficacy and release rate is crucial to drug delivery, especially when they can be directly injected in damaged cartilage areas along with other tissue healing growth factors and stem cells for anti-inflammatory effects, promoting healthy tissue growth to its maximum capacity. Our experiments study the controlled release of HRN incorporated with dexamethosone and their encapsulation in alginate polymer. Results suggest that HRN increase surface wettability and enhance drug absorption onto glass slide surface. Furthermore, the drug-loaded HRN exhibits a sustainable and prolongs releasing time in the experiments. The polymer incorporated drug-loaded HRN also confirms this trend. Unlike the traditional drug delivery system, properties such as injectability, self-assembly, functional groups of HRN strengthen the binding association between the drug and the delivery agents.
Cell-type specific gene expression profiles of leukocytes in human peripheral blood

Blood is a complex tissue comprising numerous cell types with distinct functions and corresponding gene expression profiles. We attempted to define the cell type specific gene expression patterns for the major constituent cells of blood, including B-cells, CD4+ T-cells, CD8+ T-cells, lymphocytes and granulocytes. We did this by comparing the global gene expression profiles of purified B-cells, CD4+ T-cells, CD8+ T-cells, granulocytes, and lymphocytes using cDNA microarrays. Unsupervised clustering analysis showed that similar cell populations from different donors share common gene expression profiles. Supervised analyses identified gene expression signatures for B-cells (427 genes), T-cells (222 genes), CD8+ T-cells (23 genes), granulocytes (411 genes), and lymphocytes (67 genes). No statistically significant gene expression signature was identified for CD4+ cells. Genes encoding cell surface proteins were disproportionately represented among the genes that distinguished among the lymphocyte subpopulations. Lymphocytes were distinguishable from granulocytes based on their higher levels of expression of genes encoding ribosomal proteins, while granulocytes exhibited characteristic expression of various cell surface and inflammatory proteins. The genes comprising the cell-type specific signatures encompassed many of the genes already known to be involved in cell-type specific processes, and provided clues that may prove useful in discovering the functions of many still unannotated genes. The most prominent feature of the cell type signature genes was the enrichment of genes encoding cell surface proteins, perhaps reflecting the importance of specialized systems for sensing the environment to the physiology of resting leukocytes.
Asynchronous response of tropical forest leaf phenology to seasonal and el Niño-driven drought.

The Hawaiian Islands are an ideal location to study the response of tropical forests to climate variability because of their extreme isolation in the middle of the Pacific, which makes them especially sensitive to El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Most research examining the response of tropical forests to drought or El Nino have focused on rainforests, however, tropical dry forests cover a large area of the tropics and may respond very differently than rainforests. We use satellite-derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from February 2000-February 2009 to show that rainforests and dry forests in the Hawaiian Islands exhibit asynchronous responses in leaf phenology to seasonal and El Nino-driven drought. Dry forest NDVI was more tightly coupled with precipitation compared to rainforest NDVI. Rainforest cloud frequency was negatively correlated with the degree of asynchronicity (ΔNDVI) between forest types, most strongly at a 1-month lag. Rainforest green-up and dry forest brown-down was particularly apparent during the 2002–003 El Nino. The spatial pattern of NDVI response to the NINO 3.4 Sea Surface Temperature (SST) index during 2002–2003 showed that the leeward side exhibited significant negative correlations to increased SSTs, whereas the windward side exhibited significant positive correlations to increased SSTs, most evident at an 8 to 9-month lag. This study demonstrates that different tropical forest types exhibit asynchronous responses to seasonal and El Nino-driven drought, and suggests that mechanisms controlling dry forest leaf phenology are related to water-limitation, whereas rainforests are more light-limited.
Karyotypic analysis of 2 sympatric species of fish, Fundulus heteroclitus L. and F. majalis

A chromosome study was performed on 2 sympatric species of marine fish, Fundulus heteroclitus L. and F. majalis. A modification of techniques which included the combination of the procedures of McPhail & Jones (1966) with those more recently developed by Ohnuki (1968), for demonstrating the spiral structure of cultured human leukocytes, resulted in clear and distinct chromosome spreads from gill epithelial cells of these 2 species. Optimum chromosome spreading and accumulation of metaphase figures resulted when specimens of F. heteroclitus received either a 0·28 ml or a 0·4 ml injection of a 0·1 % colcemid solution for 45 h and 48 h respectively. Best results in F. majalis occurred when specimens received a 0·1 ml dose of the 0·1 % colcemid solution for 22 1/2 h. Studies of the karyotypes of 18 specimens of F. heteroclitus and 9 specimens of F. majalis indicated that the 2N chromosome number for each species was 48.
Binding of Estrogen Receptor β to Estrogen Response Element in Situ Is Independent of Estradiol and Impaired by Its Amino Terminus

The functions of 17beta-estradiol (E2) are mediated by estrogen receptor (ER) alpha and beta. ERs display similar DNA- and ligand-binding properties in vitro. However, ERbeta shows lower transcriptional activity than ERalpha from the estrogen response element (ERE)-dependent signaling. We predicted that distinct amino termini contribute to differences in transcription efficacies of ERs by affecting in situ ER-ERE interactions. We used chromatin immunoprecipitation and a novel in situ ERE competition assay, which is based on the ability of ER to compete for ERE binding with a designer activator that constitutively induces transcription from an ERE-driven reporter construct. Interference of activator-mediated transcription by unliganded or liganded ERs was taken as an indication of ER-ERE interaction. Results revealed that ERs interacted with ERE similarly in the absence of E2. However, E2 enhanced the ERE binding of ERalpha but not that of ERbeta. The removal of the amino terminus increased the ERbeta-ERE interaction independent of E2. The ERbeta amino terminus also prevented E2-mediated enhancement of the chimeric ERalpha-ERE interaction. Thus, the amino terminus of ERbeta impairs the binding of ERbeta to ERE. The abrogation of ligand-dependent activation function 2 of the amino-terminally truncated ERbeta resulted in the manifestation of E2 effect on ERbeta-ERE interaction. This implies that E2-mediated enhancement of ERbeta-ERE interaction is masked by the activation function 2, whereas the intact amino terminus is a dominant region that decreases the binding of ERbeta to ERE. Thus, ERbeta-ERE interaction is independent of E2 and is impaired by its amino terminus. These findings provide an additional explanation for differences between ERalpha and ERbeta functions that could differentially affect the physiology and pathophysiology of E2 signaling.
Caffeine and atrial fibrillation: friends or foes?

Caffeine is a methylxanthine compound that has pleiotropic cardiovascular effects, including stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. Caffeine is ingested daily by a large percentage of the global population (in the form of tea, coffee and cola), and is the most widely consumed vasoactive substance in the world.1 The relationship of caffeine to cardiovascular disease has been debated and investigated for decades. Considered a stimulant, caffeine had long been postulated to be proarrhythmic. Initial physiologic measurements in humans showed that acute caffeine ingestion in caffeine naive subjects increased heart rate and blood pressure, and correlated with increases in plasma renin and catecholamine levels.2 Electrophysiological studies performed in the 1980s during acute caffeine loading (both oral and intravenous) demonstrated a heterogeneous pattern of effect in cardiac tissue, with caffeine prolonging the myocardial refractory period in the left atrium and shortening the refractory period in the right atrium.3 In these experiments, patients seemed to have an increased proclivity to develop supraventricular arrhythmia after caffeine loading. The results of these early studies suggested a deleterious effect of caffeine on cardiovascular health. Importantly, however, these studies investigated the acute effects of caffeine ingestion and not the chronic effects of daily exposure in a habituated subject. The keen interest in identifying potential ill effects of caffeine consumption led to high-profile publications, including one linking coffee drinking to pancreatic cancer—a finding later debunked, as it resulted from the use of flawed statistical and study design methods.4 Recently, interest in identifying risk factors for supraventricular arrhythmias has increased—particularly with respect to atrial fibrillation (AF), given the high prevalence of this dysrhythmia and the risk of …