cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Relationship between Serum Levels of Insulin and Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin in Men: The Effect of Weight Loss*

It is known that there is an inverse relationship between the serum levels of insulin and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in women, but the relationship in men has not been reported. It is not known whether changes in the one cause changes in the other, or whether they change in opposite directions in response to some third factor. Because obesity raises insulin levels and lowers SHBG levels in both sexes, we proposed to study the cause-effect question by determining whether the relationship between changes in SHBG and insulin levels during active weight loss. We studied 70 healthy weight-stable men with body mass index (BMI) from 20.7-94 (normal, 22.5 +/- 2.5) and restudied 17 of them during diet-induced weight loss. Fasting serum insulin levels in the weight-stable men showed a positive linear correlation with BMI, increasing 1 microU/mL per unit increase in BMI (P < 0.0001). SHBG levels in the weight-stable men showed a negative linear correlation with BMI, decreasing 0.2 nmol/L per unit increase in BMI (P < 0.0002). In the weight-stable men, there was an inverse hyperbolic correlation between SHBG and insulin levels; SHBG (nmol/L) = 13.1 + [30.1 divided by insulin (microU/mL)] (P < 0.002). During weight loss, insulin levels decreased at an average rate of 6.1 microU/mL per unit decrease in BMI, a much higher slope than the positive slope vs. BMI in weight stable men. During weight loss, SHBG levels increased at an average slope of 0.43 nmol/L per unit decrease in BMI, much higher than the negative slope of 0.2 nmol/L per unit increase in BMI in weight-stable men. Values for the SHBG vs. insulin coordinates in the weight-losing subjects did not differ significantly from those expected from the SHBG vs. insulin equation in weight-stable subjects. The stability of the SHBG-insulin relationship during weight loss despite the profoundly altered relationship of each separate component to BMI strongly suggests a close metabolic link between SHBG and insulin. As SHBG is not known to alter the production or metabolism of insulin, whereas insulin has been shown in vitro to decrease the synthesis of SHBG, it seems a reasonable conclusion that the predictable inverse relationship between serum insulin and SHBG indicates that insulin controls SHBG synthesis in vivo.
The second region of stability against ballooning modes

A new type of axisymmetric magnetohydrodynamic equilibrium is presented. It is characterized by a region of pressure and safety factor variation with a short scale length imposed as a perturbation. The equilibrium consistent with these profile variations can be calculated by means of an asymptotic expansion. The flexibility obtained by generating such equilibria allows for a close examination of the mechanisms that are relevant to ballooning instabilities – ideal-MHD modes with large toroidal mode number. The so-called first and second regions of stability against these modes are seen well within the limits of validity of the asymptotic expansion. It appears that the modes must be localized in regions with small values of the local shear of the magnetic field. The second region of stability occurs where the local shear is large throughout the range where the magnetic-field-line curvature is destabilizing.
Implications of the equivalence of mirror-image stimuli for object constancy

The finding of mirror-image equivalence of two-dimensional stimuli is interpreted as a misapplication of processes normally contributing to object constancy. The generalized effect of reinforced responding to only one orientation of a three-dimensional object is reported for four pigeons and one rhesus macaque monkey. It is suggested that the mirror-image equivalence that is evidenced in these data with a three-dimensional object, plus the generalization from the mirror-image, as well as the reinforced orientation, may well provide the basis for data traditionally interpreted as “object constancy.”
The metabolism of fluoranthene by a species of Mycobacterium

AMycobacterium sp., which was previously isolated from oil-contaminated estuarine sediments, mineralized the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon fluoranthene. When supplemented with an alternative carbon source, the organism was able to mineralize up to 78% of the added [3-14C]fluoranthene to14CO2 after 5 days of incubation, with relatively little accumulation of intermediate metabolites. The distribution of the C-14 label was monitored throughout the mineralization process. TheMycobacterium degraded in excess of 95% fluoranthene within a 24 hour period following an initial 6–12h lag phase. At that point approximately 53% of the radioactivity was located in the ethyl acetate extractable fraction, 31.8% in CO2, and 14.7% in the aqueous phase. Incubation of theMycobacterium sp. with soil and river water, in the presence of fluoranthene, enhanced mineralization of fluoranthene by 92.7% over the indigenous biota. These results, in conjunction with previously reported studies, suggest the potential application of thisMycobacterium sp. for the bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contaminated wastes in the environment.
31 ON FIELD PHYSICIAN EVALUATION OF HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL INJURIES

During the Fall of 1980, 8 physicians served as team physicians at 31 junior and senior high interscholastic football games at 6 regional schools. We studied type of injuries in relation to positions played, level of play and playing conditions. At the 31 games, 38 injured players requested evaluation or were observed to require it by the physician. The great majority of the injuries were contusions, sprains, and strains, with the upper and lower extremities being injured more frequently than the head or trunk. Of the 38 injuries, only one was life threatening (a tension pneumothorax) and 7 others were considered serious or potentially serious on the field. These included concussion,dislocations, possible fracture, possible peripheral nerve injury, and internal derangement of the knee. A higher number of injuries occurred on rainy days and muddy fields compared to dry playing conditions. The data suggests that injuries were less frequent in freshman games compared to varsity level competition. On the field treatment was limited to resting the player, immobilization, and application of ice. Four players were removed to emergency rooms before the conclusion of the game. Physician response to this work was generally favorable, although opinions differed as to the need for an M.D. to be in attendance at these football games although State law mandates this. Our findings may help to define the medical needs of local and senior high football programs.
A schema-based model for phonemic restoration

Phonemic restoration is the perceptual synthesis of phonemes when masked by appropriate replacement sounds by utilizing linguistic context. Current models attempting to accomplish acoustic restoration of phonemes, however, use only temporal continuity and produce poor restoration of unvoiced phonemes, and are also limited in their ability to restore voiced phonemes. We present a schema-based model for phonemic restoration. The model employs a missing data speech recognition system to decode speech based on intact portions and activates word templates corresponding to the words containing the masked phonemes. An activated template is dynamically time warped to the noisy word and is then used to restore the speech frames corresponding to the masked phoneme, thereby synthesizing it. The model is able to restore both voiced and unvoiced phonemes with a high degree of naturalness. Systematic testing shows that this model outperforms a Kalman-filter based model.
Influence of Norepinephrine and Catecholamine-Depleting Agents on the Synthesis and Release of Prolactin and Growth Hormone1

The in vitro incorporation of leucine- 4,5-3H into rat pituitary glands and its subsequent release into the incubation medium were studied. Quantitation of prolactin and growth hormone was by measurement of intensity of the bands obtained with the polyacrylamide gel technique without bioassay. Most of this newly synthesized prolactin is released into the medium and not retained within the gland. The addition of norepinephrine (10-6M) caused a 70–85% decrease in the amount of radioactive prolactin released by the gland during a 7-hr incubation. An accumulation of labeled prolactin occurred in the treated glands, indicating the primary action of norepinephrine was to decrease prolactin release. The accumulation, however, was not proportional to the degree of inhibition of release, indicating that prolactin synthesis was secondarily inhibited. An increase in the radioactive prolactin in the gland was detectable 30 min afterthe addition of norepinephrine and was statistically significant 30 min later. Similar...
Impact + resistance training improves bone health and body composition in prematurely menopausal breast cancer survivors: a randomized controlled trial

Summary Our randomized controlled trial in prematurely menopausal breast cancer survivors showed that impact + resistance training prevented increases in percentage of body fat compared with controls and also improved BMD at the hip and prevented BMD loss at the spine among exercise-trained women who were menopausal for >1 year.
Citrate enzyme substrates and inhibitors: Depiction of their absolute configurations

Abstract The absolute configurations of the four isomers of hydroxycitric, fluorocitric, and isocitric acids are tabulated and correlations with their interactions with some citrate enzymes are made. In order to facilitate the description of the absolute configurations of related compounds that are interacting with a given enzyme, a local numbering system, in which the compound is related to its parent compound (parent numbering), is suggested.
Renaturation of phosphorylase kinase activity from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels

Phosphorylase kinase activity is renatured and detected in situ following electrophoresis of the denatured holoenzyme in a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel containing phosphorylase b that has been included in the gel polymerization according to the method of R. L. Geahlen et al. [(1986) Anal. Biochem. 153, 151-158]. Among the enzyme's four subunits, only gamma is catalytically active. When extract of rabbit muscle is electrophoresed and renatured in a similar manner, the phosphorylase-conversion activity is also associated only with a protein band that comigrates with the gamma subunit of phosphorylase kinase. This suggests that the gamma subunit of phosphorylase kinase may be the sole activity in rabbit muscle responsible for the phosphorylation of phosphorylase b. In an alternative method for the renaturation of activity from conventional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels, the subunits of the enzyme are visualized using 2.5 M KCl, excised from the gel, and eluted by diffusion into buffer containing sodium dodecyl sulfate, which is subsequently removed by acetone precipitation of the eluted subunits. Catalytic activity is recovered when the acetone precipitate of the extracted gamma subunit is dissolved in 6 M guanidine hydrochloride and diluted 50-fold into an activity assay. Inclusion of eluted alpha and beta subunits in the assay inhibits the activity of the gamma subunit, which supports our previous finding that the alpha and/or beta subunits suppress the activity of the catalytic gamma subunit [H. K. Paudel and G. M. Carlson (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 11912-11915].
Content of biologically active polyamines in livers of cattle, pigs and chickens after animal slaughter.

Abstract Dietary polyamines putrescine (PUT), spermidine (SPD) and spermine (SPM) participate in an array of important human physiological roles, including tumour growth. Physicians and dieticians thus need reliable information on polyamine contents in foods. However, data for livers are lacking. We determined therefore the content of these polyamines 24 h after slaughter in livers of young bulls, cows, pigs and chicken in 58, 19, 36 and 38 samples, respectively. Polyamines were determined as N -benzamides by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography. Mean PUT contents about 25 mg kg −1 were found in cattle livers, while very low or negligible contents were determined in livers of the other animals. Extremely high mean SPD contents of 122 and 161 mg kg −1 were found in livers of bulls and cows, respectively and mean levels of 32 and 57 mg kg −1 in livers of pigs and chicken. An opposite relation was observed for SPM. Its mean contents were 43, 35, 115 and 120 mg kg −1 for bulls, cows, pigs and chicken livers, respectively. Thus, livers of the tested animal species belong among foods with the highest polyamine contents. However, the contents ranged very widely, that makes application of the results for the control of human nutrition rather difficult. Polyamine contents in bovine blood were found to be below the detection limits of 2.1, 1.0 and 1.4 mg kg −1 for PUT, SPD and SPM, respectively. Thus, the blood content did not contribute to the substantial polyamine contents in bovine liver found in this study.
On the Maximality of the Projective Symplectic Group

On considere un espace vectoriel de dimension paire V sur un corps fini. On peut introduire une forme bilineaire sur V conduisant a une action par le groupe symplectique. Ce groupe a une representation naturelle sur l'ensemble des sous-espaces totalement isotropes de V pour une dimension fixee. On montre que ce groupe est essentiellement maximal dans le groupe symetrique sur ces sous-espaces
Interaction of Language Processing and Motor Skill in Children With Specific Language Impairment

Purpose To examine how language production interacts with speech motor and gross and fine motor skill in children with specific language impairment (SLI). Method Eleven children with SLI and 12 age...
A Multihealth Behavior Intervention Integrating Physical Activity and Substance Use Prevention for Adolescents

The primary purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of a brief, multi-health behavior intervention integrating physical activity and alcohol use prevention messages for high school-aged adolescents. A total of 604 participants, 335 9th and 269 11th grade students from a suburban high school in northeast Florida participated in this study. A randomized control trial was conducted with participants randomly assigned within grade levels to receive either a brief consultation and prescription with a mailed reinforcing follow-up flyer (Project SPORT) or a minimal intervention control consisting of a wellness brochure provided in school and a pamphlet about teen health and fitness mailed to the home. Differences between intervention groups were evaluated with a series of MANCOVA tests. Project SPORT participants demonstrated significant positive effects at 3-months postintervention for alcohol consumption, alcohol initiation behaviors, alcohol use risk and protective factors, drug use behaviors, and exercise habits, and at 12-months for alcohol use risk and protective factors, cigarette use, and cigarette initiation (p's < 0.05). A post hoc analysis examining interactions between past 30-day use of marijuana and/or cigarettes by treatment group indicates significant positive effects for drug using adolescents who received Project SPORT on alcohol consumption, drug use behaviors, and drug use initiation at 3-months, and for drug use behaviors and exercise habits at 12-months (p's < 0.05). A brief, 12-min one-on-one consultation integrating alcohol avoidance messages within those promoting fitness and other positive health behaviors holds promise for influencing adolescent alcohol and cigarette use and other health behaviors at posttreatment and 1 year later. Long-term sustained effects for cigarette and marijuana use, and both vigorous and moderate physical activity, were found among adolescents using marijuana and/or cigarettes prior to intervention.
Alcohol availability and motor vehicle fatalities.

Purpose: To examine the association between the availability of alcohol and male (15–24-years-old) motor vehicle fatalities. Methods: Assessed association between motor vehicle fatality rates for each of 75 counties for males with measures of alcohol availability (whether the county was wet or dry, number of licensed on-site and off-site alcohol outlets) after controlling for other variables for a 6-year period. Poisson regression models were employed. Results: No significant relationships were found between county-level motor vehicle fatality rates and any of the alcohol availability measures examined. However, rural residence was associated with much higher fatality rates. Conclusions: Overall, ecologic models, employing a wide range of variables, account for little of the variance in motor vehicle fatality rates for young men. These findings support the position that further legal or regulatory restrictions on alcohol outlet licensing may not have an impact on fatalities. The higher rates associated with rural residence, while consistent with other work, cannot be explained by alcohol beverage outlets.
Low-speed rotary countercurrent chromatography using a convoluted multilayer helical tube for industrial separation

An industrial-scale countercurrent chromatographic system was developed using a slowly rotating helical device which can be automated and left unattended during the operation. It uses a multilayer coiled column consisting of long convoluted Teflon tubing of 0.85 cm i.d., which provides sufficient retention of the stationary phase under a relatively high flow rate. The column is mounted on a seal-less continuous-flow rotary device which eliminates various complications such as leakage and clogging as often caused by the use of a conventional rotary seal. Using a multilayer coiled column with a 10-L capacity, 150 g of crude tea extract was successfully purified, yielding 40 g of epigallocatechin gallate of over 92.7% purity at a recovery rate of 82.6%. The present system can be scaled up for a kilogram-scale separation.
Stress intensity factors for cracks emanating from a curvilinear hole in an anisotropic plane under arbitrary loadings

Abstract Based on a specific fundamental solution, which is due to a point force or a concentrated moment acting in an infinite anisotropic plane with a crack, stress intensity factors for problems of a single or two collinear edge cracks emanating from a curvilinear hole can be obtained by satisfying the traction boundary condition on the hole. The fundamental solution used in this study considers inherently the crack geometry and the resultant boundary solutions apply only to the smooth hole. Thus the difficulty in numerical simulation arisen from crack tip singularity can be circumvented. Numerical examples evaluating stress intensity factors for the cracks originating from a circular or an elliptical hole subjected to various loadings are illustrated. The results are in excellent agreement with known solutions. Depending on geometry and the type of loading, the analysis shows that the effect of anisotropy on stress intensity factors may be strong or insignificant. Even under the uniaxial tension or uniform shear loading condition, mixed-mode deformation can still be observed due to the in-plane normal-shear coupling in anisotropy.
The status of helpdesk support

What do end users want? A survey of helpdesk services found they're more likely to turn to informal and online sources of support, including friends and vendors.
Non-linear Preference Functions and Negotiated Outcomes

Abstract The study described in this paper explored the effects of non-linear preferences on negotiated settlements. The shape of negotiators' preferences (linear, increasing marginal utility, or decreasing marginal utility) was hypothesized to influence negotiated outcomes. Prior relationship between the negotiators (friends versus strangers) was hypothesized to moderate the effects of negotiators' preferences on negotiated outcomes by virtue of the influence of prior relationship on communication effectiveness within the negotiation dyad. Subjects participated in a buyer/seller negotiation role play. Results demonstrated a strong main effect for negotiators' preferences on negotiated outcomes. Results also supported a moderating role for prior relationship on these effects; this moderating role was not accounted for by communication effectiveness. Implications of these results for negotiation theory and practice are discussed.
Preliminary results from a prospective study using limited margin radiotherapy in pediatric and young adult patients with high-grade nonrhabdomyosarcoma soft-tissue sarcoma.

Purpose To demonstrate the safety and efficacy of limited margin radiotherapy in the local control of pediatric and young adult patients with high-grade nonrhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcoma (NRSTS). Methods and Materials Pediatric patients with high-grade NRSTS requiring radiation were treated on an institutional review board approved prospective institutional study of conformal/intensity-modulated/interstitial brachytherapy using a 2-cm anatomically constrained margin. Results A total of 32 patients (median age, 15.3 years; range, 2–22 years) received adjuvant (27 patients) or definitive (5 patients) irradiation. With a median follow-up of 32 months, the 3-year cumulative incidence of local failure was 3.7% for patients undergoing irradiation after surgical resection. Four patients experienced local failure; the mean dose to the volume of recurrence was ≥97% of the prescribed dose. Conclusions Delivery of limited margin radiotherapy using external beam or brachytherapy provides a high rate of local tumor control without marginal failure. Further follow-up is required to determine whether normal tissue effects are minimized using this approach.
DISTRIBUTION OF INTERTIDAL DIATOMS ASSOCIATED WITH SEDIMENTS IN YAQUINA ESTUARY, OREGON1,2

Sediment samples and environmental data were collected from November 1973 to August 1974 to analyze the distribution of sediment-associated diatom assemblages relative to vertical, horizontal, and seasonal gradients in Yaquina Estuary, Oregon. The distribution of diatoms was regulated primarily by mean salinity and characteristics of the sediment, i.e., mean sediment size and percentage of organic carbon. Prominent taxa in the river above Yaquina Bay exhibited overlapping distributions along the salinity gradient to a location in brackish water where the mean salinity was approximately 5%o. At this salinity, a relatively sharp discontinuity in the diatom flora existed which appeared to represent the biochemical and biophysical mechanisms involved in the osmotic regulation of fresh- and brackish-water diatoms. Relatively large disparities m the structure of diatom assemblages were found within relatively small areas of Yaquina Bay. These differences were attributed to properties of the sediment. Differences in diatom assemblages relative to variations in light intensity, water temperature and exposure to intertidal emergence were not apparent from the analysis of field data.
A Geochemical Approach to Determine Sources and Movement of Saline Groundwater in a Coastal Aquifer

Geochemical evaluation of the sources and movement of saline groundwater in coastal aquifers can aid in the initial mapping of the subsurface when geological information is unavailable. Chloride concentrations of groundwater in a coastal aquifer near San Diego, California, range from about 57 to 39,400 mg/L. On the basis of relative proportions of major-ions, the chemical composition is classified as Na-Ca-Cl-SO4, Na-Cl, or Na-Ca-Cl type water. δ(2)H and δ(18)O values range from -47.7‰ to -12.8‰ and from -7.0‰ to -1.2‰, respectively. The isotopically depleted groundwater occurs in the deeper part of the coastal aquifer, and the isotopically enriched groundwater occurs in zones of sea water intrusion. (87)Sr/(86)Sr ratios range from about 0.7050 to 0.7090, and differ between shallower and deeper flow paths in the coastal aquifer. (3)H and (14)C analyses indicate that most of the groundwater was recharged many thousands of years ago. The analysis of multiple chemical and isotopic tracers indicates that the sources and movement of saline groundwater in the San Diego coastal aquifer are dominated by: (1) recharge of local precipitation in relatively shallow parts of the flow system; (2) regional flow of recharge of higher-elevation precipitation along deep flow paths that freshen a previously saline aquifer; and (3) intrusion of sea water that entered the aquifer primarily during premodern times. Two northwest-to-southeast trending sections show the spatial distribution of the different geochemical groups and suggest the subsurface in the coastal aquifer can be separated into two predominant hydrostratigraphic layers.
Motile behavior and topography of whole and enucleate mammalian cells on modified substrates

Abstract Most mammalian cells when placed in tissue culture are capable of autonomous motility, but the mechanisms and properties of this locomotion are not well understood. To test the behavior of cultured cells on substrata of variable composition, we used ordinary electron microscope grids as stencils while evaporating gold wire onto glass coverslips coated with cellulose acetate. Whole CHO or L-929 cells growing in monolayer culture were then trypsinized and plated on these prepared coverslips and fixed at various intervals for observation in the scanning electron microscope. In all cases studied, the whole cells were observed to accumulate on the gold areas in preference to the cellulose acetate. In addition, by centrifuging cells in the presence of cytochalasin B (CB), we obtained populations of enucleated cells (cytoplasts) which were then replated on these coverslips. Even though replated cytoplasts are capable of limited motility, they were not observed to preferentially select substrates as did intact cells.
Comments on ‘What Drives Different Types of Capital Flows and Their Volatilities in Developing Asia?’ by Rogelio V. Mercado, Jr. and Cyn-Young Park

This paper studies various determinants of international capital flows into emerging market economies focusing on developing Asia. It classifies the international capital flows into FDI, portfolio ...
Heating of coronal loops by phase-mixid shear Alfven waves

The dissipation of shear Alfven waves in a coronal loop driven externally by an incident wave in the subcoronal region is investigated. The phase mixing of these incident shear Alfven waves serves as the dissipation mechanism in the corona. The wave solution found by Heyvaerts and Priest (1983) for coronal holes is used to compute the total energy deposited in a loop. The energy deposited is shown to depend upon the magnetic diffusivity nu(m) and viscosity nu(v), contrary to the conclusion of authors who assumed that coronal loops are perfect resonators. The energy deposited in a three-layer model is computed for incident waves with periods of five minutes or five seconds. For a five-minute period, almost no energy is deposited, especially for small loops. For a five-second period, a substantial amount of energy is deposited in the loop, but not enough to account for the heating of small loops.
Hydrophobicity and drag reduction properties of surfaces coated with silica aerogels and xerogels

Superhydrophobic surfaces have application in self-cleaning, anti-fouling and drag reduction. Most superhydrophobic surfaces are constructed using complex fabrication methods. An alternative method is to use sol–gel methods to make hydrophobic aerogel and xerogel surfaces. In this work, hydrophobic silica aerogels and xerogels were made from the silica precursors tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) and methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) in volume ratios MTMS/TMOS of 0–75 % using a base-catalyzed recipe. Overall hydrophobicity was assessed using contact angle measurements on surfaces prepared from crushed aerogel and xerogel powders. The surfaces made from aerogels were super-hydrophobic (with contact angles of 167°–170°) for all levels of MTMS (10–75 %). Of the xerogel-coated surfaces, those made with 50 % MTMS were hydrophobic and with 75 % MTMS were superhydrophobic. Chemical hydrophobicity was assessed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, which showed evidence of Si–CH3 and Si–C bonds in the aerogels and xerogels made with MTMS. Morphological hydrophobicity was assessed using SEM imaging and gas adsorption. The drag characteristics of the aerogel- and xerogel-coated surfaces were measured using a rotational viscometer. Under laminar flow conditions all of the hydrophobic aerogel-coated surfaces (10–75 % MTMS) were capable of capturing an air bubble, thereby reducing the drag on a horizontal rotating surface by 20–30 %. Of the xerogel-coated surfaces, only the one made from 75 % MTMS could capture a bubble, which led to 27 % drag reduction. These results imply that morphological differences between silica aerogels and xerogels, rather than any differences in their chemical hydrophobicity, give rise to the observed differences in hydrophobicity and drag reduction for the sol–gel-coated surfaces.
A low energy cyclotron for radiocarbon dating

The measurement of abundances of naturally occurring radioisotopes whose half lives are between a few years and a few hundred million years, provides information about the temporal behavior of human activity and geologic and climatic processes, the history of meteoritic bodies, and the production mechanisms of such radioisotopes. An extremely sensitive technique for measuring these radioisotopes at tandem Van de Graaff and cyclotron facilities has been very successful, though not without high cost and limited availability. We have built and tested a 35 keV cyclotron for radiocarbon dating similar in size to a conventional mass spectrometer. We found no significant background present when the cyclotron was tuned to accelerate 14C negative ions, and adequate transmission efficiency to perform radiocarbon dating on milligram samples of carbon. These tests clearly show that a low energy cyclotron can perform the extremely high sensitivity 14C measurements that are now done at accelerator facilities. The internal ion source used did not produre sufficient current to detect 14C directly at the present atmospheric 14C/12C concentration of 1.3×10−12. A conventional carbon negative ion source located outside the cyclotron magnet could produce sufficient beam and provide for quick sample changing to make feasible radiocarbon dating milligram samples with a modest laboratory instrument.
Verapamil attenuates stress-induced gastric ulceration

Abstract Since many of the proposed etiologic factors leading to gastric stress ulceration involve stimulation of calcium influx, the effect of verapamil, a potent calcium channel blocker, on the gastric mucosa in cold-restrained inbred rats was assessed. Twenty-nine rats received intraperitoneal normal saline (2 ml) while the experimental group ( N = 29) received 1 mg/kg verapamil in an equal volume of normal saline intraperitoneally. All animals were then stressed at 4°C for 4 hr and sacrificed. Gastrin and fatty acid levels were measured and blinded ulcer scoring of the gastric mucosa was carried out. Verapamil-treated animals had decreased frequency and severity of gastric stress ulceration as assessed by ulcer index, ulcer grade, and number of ulcers/animal. In addition, the plasma gastrin levels tended to be lower in the verapamil group. Fatty acid levels were similarly depressed following cold restraint in both groups. Pretreatment with verapamil significantly decreased gastric ulcerative response to cold-restraint stress in the rat. This effect of verapamil pretreatment may be secondary to cytoprotection of the gastric mucosa, preservation of gastric mucosal blood flow, or blockade of calcium-mediated ulcerogenic stimuli.
Early, complete burn wound excision partially restores cytotoxic T lymphocyte function

Background. Cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTLs) are an important component of immune function, involved in antigen recognition and resistance to viral infection. Burn injury suppresses cell-mediated immunity, induces allograft tolerance, and increases the risk of viral infection, but the mechanisms are not well understood. This study analyzes the effect of burn size and burn wound excision on CTL activity. Methods. Anesthetized CBA mice (n = 12) received a 0%, 20%, or 40% body surface area contact burn. Additional mice (n = 16) received a 40% burn that was totally, partially, or not excised 72 hours after burn. Excised areas were covered with normal, syngeneic skin. Two weeks later harvested splenocytes were cocultured with allogeneic stimulators. CTL activity was determined by a 51 Cr release assay, in which CTL effectors were tested on allogeneic, radiolabeled targets. Dilution curves of CTL activity were compared by ANOVA. Results. Both 20% and 40% burns significantly inhibited CTL activity (p < 0.05). Total but not partial excision of a 40% burn restored CTL activity (p < 0.01). Both total and partial wound excision also improved survival (p < 0.05). Conclusions. Burn injury inhibits CTL activity in a size-dependent manner, and total wound excision significantly improves both CTL function and survival after injury. This study suggests a mechanism for the immunosuppressive effects of burn injury and provides an immunologic rationale for early, complete burn wound excision.
Akt1 Is Essential for Postnatal Mammary Gland Development, Function, and the Expression of Btn1a1

Akt1, a serine-threonine protein kinase member of the PKB/Akt gene family, plays critical roles in the regulation of multiple cellular processes, and has previously been implicated in lactation and breast cancer development. In this study, we utilized Akt1+/+ and Akt1−/− C57/Bl6 female mice to assess the role that Akt1 plays in normal mammary gland postnatal development and function. We examined postnatal morphology at multiple time points, and analyzed gene and protein expression changes that persist into adulthood. Akt1 deficiency resulted in several mammary gland developmental defects, including ductal outgrowth and defective terminal end bud formation. Adult Akt1−/− mammary gland composition remained altered, exhibiting fewer alveolar buds coupled with increased epithelial cell apoptosis. Microarray analysis revealed that Akt1 deficiency altered expression of genes involved in numerous biological processes in the mammary gland, including organismal development, cell death, and tissue morphology. Of particular importance, a significant decrease in expression of Btn1a1, a gene involved in milk lipid secretion, was observed in Akt1−/− mammary glands. Additionally, pseudopregnant Akt1−/− females failed to induce Btn1a1 expression in response to hormonal stimulation compared to their wild-type counterparts. Retroviral-mediated shRNA knockdown of Akt1 and Btn1a1 in MCF-7 human breast epithelial further illustrated the importance of Akt1 in mammary epithelial cell proliferation, as well as in the regulation of Btn1a1 and subsequent expression of s-casein, a gene that encodes for milk protein. Overall these findings provide mechanistic insight into the role of Akt1 in mammary morphogenesis and function.
Further analysis of 16O + 12C elastic scattering at EA = 38 MeV: How unambiguous are the potentials and phase shifts?

Abstract Elastic-scattering measurements on 16O + 12C at E A = 38 MeV were subjected to extensive optical-model analysis using local, L-independent potentials with either generalized Woods-Saxon or spline radial forms. Despite the good quality of the data and the probable presence of relatively weak absorption, many quite different potentials and their associated sets of phase shifts were found to give good fits with chi-squared close to unity. One ambiguity, concerning whether the remnant of a primary or a secondary rainbow has been observed, probably could be resolved by extending the measurements to larger angles.
Global versus tract-specific components of cerebral white matter integrity: relation to adult age and perceptual-motor speed.

Although age-related differences in white matter have been well documented, the degree to which regional, tract-specific effects can be distinguished from global, brain-general effects is not yet clear. Similarly, the manner in which global and regional differences in white matter integrity contribute to age-related differences in cognition has not been well established. To address these issues, we analyzed diffusion tensor imaging measures from 52 younger adults (18–28) and 64 older adults (60–85). We conducted principal component analysis on each diffusion measure, using data from eight individual tracts. Two components were observed for fractional anisotropy: the first comprised high loadings from the superior longitudinal fasciculi and corticospinal tracts, and the second comprised high loadings from the optic radiations. In contrast, variation in axial, radial, and mean diffusivities yielded a single-component solution in each case, with high loadings from most or all tracts. For fractional anisotropy, the complementary results of multiple components and variability in component loadings across tracts suggest regional variation. However, for the diffusivity indices, the single component with high loadings from most or all of the tracts suggests primarily global, brain-general variation. Further analyses indicated that age was a significant mediator of the relation between each component and perceptual-motor speed. These data suggest that individual differences in white matter integrity and their relation to age-related differences in perceptual-motor speed represent influences that are beyond the level of individual tracts, but the extent to which regional or global effects predominate may differ between anisotropy and diffusivity measures.
Enumerating a class of lattice paths

Let D"0(n) denote the set of lattice paths in the xy-plane that begin at (0,0), terminate at (n,n), never rise above the line y=x and have step set S={(k,0):k@?N^+}@?{(0,k):k@?N^+}. Let E"0(n) denote the set of lattice paths with step set S that begin at (0,0) and terminate at (n,n). Using primarily the symbolic method (R. Sedgewick, P. Flajolet, An Introduction to the Analysis of Algorithms, Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, 1996) and the Lagrange inversion formula we study some enumerative problems associated with D"0(n) and E"0(n).
Antigen-capture ELISA for the detection of Rift Valley fever virus nucleoprotein using new monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) raised against the nucleoprotein (NP) of Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) were developed, and an antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Ag-capture ELISA) system was developed for the detection of RVFV NP. The assay detected RVFV antigen from culture supernatants containing as little as 7.8-31.3 pfu per 100 μl. Reactivity with various truncated NPs indicated that MAb C10-54 bound only to the full-length NP, probably due to recognition of a conformational epitope, whereas MAbs G2-36 and D5-59 bound to a linear epitope ranging from amino acid residues 195-201 in the C-terminal region. Based on the alignments of the amino acid sequence of RVFV NP, the epitope regions of MAbs G2-36 and D5-59 were completely conserved among all RVFV strains. These results suggest that the MAbs are applicable to the Ag-capture ELISA for the diagnosis of RVFV infections.
Inpatient warfarin management: pharmacist management using a detailed dosing protocol

Hospitalized patients receiving anticoagulants such as warfarin are at increased risk for adverse events because of difficulties maintaining a therapeutic international normalized ratio (INR). We sought to determine whether a detailed warfarin dosing protocol administered by pharmacists with minimal physician oversight significantly reduced the proportion of hospitalized patients with a supratherapeutic INR. We conducted a prospective, nonrandomized trial with patients on cardiology, internal medicine, and family medicine inpatient services who received at least 1 dose of warfarin while hospitalized. The baseline group included 293 patients, and the intervention group comprised 217 patients. Baseline characteristics were similar in each group, except that more patients received antibiotics in the intervention group. The defect rate (INR > 5 after receiving warfarin) in the baseline group was significantly higher than in the intervention group (7.85 vs. 1.85%). Conversely, the percentage of patients with an INR less than 1.7 after 4 warfarin doses was lower in the intervention patients, indicating overall improvement in therapeutic levels. Dosing discussions were required between the pharmacist and a physician for only 6% of intervention patients. The protocol effectively reduced overanticoagulation without increasing under anticoagulation during hospitalization and reduced the need for close physician oversight.
Study of Brain Function and Bioenergetics using fMRI and In Vivo MRS at High Fields

The greatest merit of magnetic resonance (MR) methodology applied to medicine is its capabilities of measuring a variety of physiological parameters in vivo. MR imaging (MRI) with unique imaging contrasts can provide vital information which tightly links to brain functions at both normal and diseased states. In contrast, in vivo MR spectroscopy (MRS) is capable of determining metabolites, bioenergetics and chemical reaction rates in brain noninvasively. These capabilities are further enhanced at high/ultrahigh magnetic fields because of significant gain in MR sensitivity and improvements in the spectral resolution of MRS and imaging contrasts. However, MR research also faces many technical challenges which have attracted many scientists from interdisciplinary research backgrounds to find the optimal solutions. Recent progresses in this research field have showed great promise of MRI/MRS for studying brain function, physiology, and neurochemistry. This talk will discuss the developed MR technologies and their applications in brain study at high fields
Regulation of the rate of protein synthesis in BHK21 cells by exogenous serine.

Abstract It was previously shown that BHK21 cells were arrested in the G1 phase of the cell cycle when cultured in medium lacking serine. In this study the effect of serine limitation on protein synthesis was examined. Shifting cells from medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum to medium supplemented with 10% dialyzed serum resulted in a 50% reduction in the rate of protein synthesis. The reduced rate was attained within 4–10 min after shift-down and was restored completely within 5–15 min after shift-up to 10% dialyzed serum plus 0.05 mM serine, the same approximate concentration of serine present in 10% fetal calf serum. Exogenous serine appears to be incorporated into protein from a precursor pool which is functionally compartmentalized inasmuch as incorporation of serine into protein became linear within 10 min after the addition of label while the specific activity of serine in the acid soluble fraction did not attain a constant value during 60 min of labeling. The serine: leucine ratio in total cellular protein was determined from cells cultured in ten percent dialyzed serum plus 0.05 mM serine by amino acid analysis and was compared with the ratio of [ 3 H]serine and [ 14 C]leucine incorporated into protein. The results indicated that 50–60% of the serine utilized for protein synthesis under these conditions was derived from the medium while the other 40–50% was generated within the cell.
ERDŐS AND SET THEORY

Paul Erdős (26 March 1913—20 September 1996) was a mathematician par excellence whose results and initiatives have had a large impact and made a strong imprint on the doing of and thinking about mathematics. A mathematician of alacrity, detail, and collaboration, Erdős in his six decades of work moved and thought quickly, entertained increasingly many parameters, and wrote over 1500 articles, the majority with others. His modus operandi was to drive mathematics through cycles of problem, proof, and conjecture, ceaselessly progressing and ever reaching, and his modus vivendi was to be itinerant in the world, stimulating and interacting about mathematics at every port and capital.
A Gαi–GIV Molecular Complex Binds Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and Determines Whether Cells Migrate or Proliferate

Cells respond to growth factors by either migrating or proliferating, but not both at the same time, a phenomenon termed migration-proliferation dichotomy. The underlying mechanism of this phenomenon has remained unknown. We demonstrate here that Gαi protein and GIV, its nonreceptor guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), program EGF receptor (EGFR) signaling and orchestrate this dichotomy. GIV directly interacts with EGFR, and when its GEF function is intact, a Gαi–GIV–EGFR signaling complex assembles, EGFR autophosphorylation is enhanced, and the receptor's association with the plasma membrane (PM) is prolonged. Accordingly, PM-based motogenic signals (PI3-kinase-Akt and PLCγ1) are amplified, and cell migration is triggered. In cells expressing a GEF-deficient mutant, the Gαi–GIV-EGFR signaling complex is not assembled, EGFR autophosphorylation is reduced, the receptor's association with endosomes is prolonged, mitogenic signals (ERK 1/2, Src, and STAT5) are amplified, and cell proliferation is triggered. In rapidly growing, poorly motile breast and colon cancer cells and in noninvasive colorectal carcinomas in situ in which EGFR signaling favors mitosis over motility, a GEF-deficient splice variant of GIV was identified. In slow growing, highly motile cancer cells and late invasive carcinomas, GIV is highly expressed and has an intact GEF motif. Thus, inclusion or exclusion of GIV's GEF motif, which activates Gαi, modulates EGFR signaling, generates migration-proliferation dichotomy, and most likely influences cancer progression.
Electrocardiographic Criteria for ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Patients With Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

Patients with electrocardiographic (ECG) left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) have repolarization abnormalities of the ST segment that may be confused with an ischemic current of injury. We analyzed the ACTIVATE-SF database, a registry of consecutive emergency department ST-segment elevation (STE) myocardial infarction diagnoses from 2 medical centers. Univariate analysis was performed to identify ECG variables associated with presence of an angiographic culprit lesion. Recursive partitioning was then applied to identify a clinical decision-making rule that maximizes sensitivity and specificity for presence of an angiographic culprit lesion. Seventy-nine patients with ECG LVH underwent emergency cardiac catheterization for primary angioplasty. Patients with a culprit lesion had greater magnitude of STE (3.0 ± 1.8 vs 1.9 ± 1.0 mm, p = 0.005), more leads with STE (3.1 ± 1.6 vs 2.0 ± 1.8 leads, p = 0.002), and a greater ratio of STE to R-S-wave magnitude (median 25% vs 9.2%, p = 0.003). Univariate application of ECG criteria had limited sensitivity and a high false-positive rate for identifying patients with an angiographic culprit lesion. In patients with anterior territory STE, using a ratio of ST segment to R-S-wave magnitude ≥25% as a diagnostic criteria for STE myocardial infarction significantly improved specificity for an angiographic culprit lesion without decreasing sensitivity (c-statistic 0.82), with a net reclassification improvement of 37%. In conclusion, application of an ST segment to R-S-wave magnitude ≥25% rule may augment current criteria for determining which patients with ECG LVH should undergo primary angioplasty.