cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Delta/Notch-Like EGF-Related Receptor (DNER) is Expressed in Hair Cells and Neurons in the Developing and Adult Mouse Inner Ear

The Notch signaling pathway is known to play important roles in inner ear development. Previous studies have shown that the Notch1 receptor and ligands in the Delta and Jagged families are important for cellular differentiation and patterning of the organ of Corti. Delta/notch-like epidermal growth factor (EGF)-related receptor (DNER) is a novel Notch ligand expressed in developing and adult CNS neurons known to promote maturation of glia through activation of Notch. Here we use in situ hybridization and an antibody against DNER to carry out expression studies of the mouse cochlea and vestibule. We find that DNER is expressed in spiral ganglion neuron cell bodies and peripheral processes during embryonic development of the cochlea and expression in these cells is maintained in adults. DNER becomes strongly expressed in auditory hair cells during postnatal maturation in the mouse cochlea and immunoreactivity for this protein is strong in hair cells and afferent and efferent peripheral nerve endings in the adult organ of Corti. In the vestibular system, we find that DNER is expressed in hair cells and vestibular ganglion neurons during development and in adults. To investigate whether DNER plays a functional role in the inner ear, perhaps similar to its described role in glial maturation, we examined cochleae of DNER−/− mice using immunohistochemical markers of mature glia and supporting cells as well as neurons and hair cells. We found no defects in expression of markers of supporting cells and glia or myelin, and no abnormalities in hair cells or neurons, suggesting that DNER plays a redundant role with other Notch ligands in cochlear development.
Reduced behavioral activity due to opiate blockade: relations to stress.

The effects of stress and opiate blockade upon motor activity were parametrically examined in experimentally naive adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Activity was not affected by either factor in isolation, however, it was reduced by their combined effect. This reduction was evident only after prolonged (60 min) prestress, suggesting that the decrement is not general. Previous reports of opiate blockade upon activity or exploration may have been due in part to implicitly stressful or arousing aspects of testing procedures.
Cost-Benefit Analysis of a Strategy to Vaccinate Healthy Working Adults Against Influenza

Background Influenza is a major cause of illness, disruption to daily life, and work absenteeism among healthy working adults aged between 18 and 64 years. This group is not included among the traditional priority groups for annual vaccination. Immunization rates remain low. Objective To assess the economic implications of a strategy for annual vaccination of this group. Methods Using the societal perspective, this cost-benefit analysis included the direct and indirect costs associated with vaccination as well as the direct and indirect costs prevented by vaccination. Clinical and economic variable estimates were derived primarily from the published literature. For this model, it was assumed that vaccination occurred in efficient, low-cost settings such as at the work site. Monte Carlo simulation was used to calculate the mean net costs or savings along with the 95% probability interval, and sensitivity analyses explored the sensitivity of the cost model to different values of the input variables. Results Vaccinating healthy working adults was on average cost saving, with mean savings of $13.66 per person vaccinated (95% probability interval: net savings of $32.97 to net costs of $2.18), with vaccination generating net savings 95% of the time. The model was most sensitive to the influenza illness rate, the work absenteeism rate due to influenza, and hourly wages. In the worst-case scenario vaccination was not cost saving. Vaccination also generated net costs to society during years with a poor vaccine–circulating virus strain match. In all of the other sensitivity analysis scenarios, vaccination was cost saving. Conclusion Influenza vaccination of healthy working adults on average is cost saving. These findings support a strategy of routine, annual vaccination for this group, especially when vaccination occurs in efficient and low-cost sites.
HIGH ENERGY ELECTRON-ELECTRON SCATTERING

Eradicated electron sensitive nuclear emulsions were exposed to 200-Mev electrons at the Berkeley synchrotron. In scanning the electron tracks 427 events were observed in which the scattered electron of lower energy, or knock-on electron, had an energy greater than 30 kev. The observed differential cross section was found to agree in absolute value with M\o{}ller's theoretical cross section, although an insufficient number of high energy knock-on electrons were observed to distinguish between the M\o{}ller, relativistic Mott, and relativistic Rutherford formulas. Two pairs initiated by primary electrons and two cases in which primary electrons vanished in the emulsion were also observed in 102.6 cm of track. No heavy particle events were seen.
Light-dependent chemical modification of thylakoid membrane proteins with carboxyl-directed reagents

Abstract Spinach chloroplast thylakoid membranes were chemically modified with membrane penetrating reagents reactive toward protein carboxyl groups, a carbodiimide and the nucleophiles [14C]glycine ethyl ester or [3H]serotonin. The reagents, being weak bases, were accumulated within the inner aqueous space in the light, due to the low pH inside. Both the accumulation and the low pH stimulating effect on the carbodiimide activation step contributed to a greater labeling in the light compared to dark, and uncouplers inhibited most of the light-dependent increase. Hence, it is likely that the proteins showing the light-dependent, uncoupler-sensitive labeling have those parts located within the inner aqueous space or within the membrane itself. While many membrane proteins which separated on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels (12.5–25% gradient) showed some increased labeling in the light, the most conspicuous were the four polypeptides of the chlorophyll a b light-harvesting complex. The light-harvesting complex was purified from dark- and light-treated, labeled membranes. The resultant preparation showed about a sixfold, light-dependent, uncoupler-sensitive labeling increase compared to dark conditions. Polypeptides near 6 and 8 kdalton showed light-dependent, uncoupler-resistent increases in carboxyl group modification, which could be due to localized acidic conditions near sites of proton release.
“Shut my mouth wide open”: Realistic fiction and social action

(1999). “Shut my mouth wide open”: Realistic fiction and social action. Theory Into Practice: Vol. 38, Expanding the Worlds of Children's Literature, pp. 155-159.
Metabolism of equilin sulfate in the dog

Abstract The metabolism of equilin sulfate was determined in female dogs receiving 2.5 mg/kg of [3H]equilin sulfate alone or in a preparation that contained all the components that are present in the conjugated equine estrogen product Premarin®. The pharmacokinetic parameters of total radioactivity indicated that the drug is rapidly absorbed and it has a moderate half-life in plasma. The total radioactivity in plasma following administration of [3H]equilin sulfate as part of a mixture of conjugated equine estrogens had significantly lower peak concentration (Cmax), a lower area under the curve (AUC), a longer terminal half-life ( t 1 2 ) and a longer mean residence time (MRT) than when [3H]equilin sulfate was given alone, indicating that the other components in the conjugated equine estrogen preparation altered the pharmacokinetics of equilin sulfate. An average of 26.7 ± 4.4% of the administered radioactive dose was excreted in urine of dogs receiving [3H]equilin sulfate. Again, a significantly lower percentage (21.4 ± 6.3%, P = 0.023) was eliminated in urine of dogs receiving [3H]equilin sulfate in the conjugated equine estrogen preparation, indicating that the absorption of equilin sulfate was perhaps altered by the other components in the conjugated equine estrogen preparation. Metabolite profiles of plasma and urine were similar. Equilin, equilenin, 17β-dihydroequilenin, 17β-dihydroequilin, 17α-dihydroequilenin and 17α-dihydroequilin were present in both matrices. 17β-Dihydroequilin and equilin were the two major chromatographic peaks in plasma samples. 17β-Dihydroequilenin and 17β-dihydroequilin were the major metabolites in urine. In conclusion, following oral administration of [3H]equilin sulfate to dogs, the radioactivity is rapidly absorbed. The disposition of equilin sulfate is altered by the other components that are present in the conjugated equine estrogen preparation Premarin®. The reduction of the 17-keto group and aromatization of ring-B are the major metabolic pathways of equilin in the dog.
Prevention of the Green-Gray Discoloration in Cooked Liquid Whole Eggs

The prevention of the green-gray discoloration of cooked liquid whole eggs was studied. Acidic chelating agents were added to raw liquid whole egg samples at pH 8.50. Samples were cooked at 100°C for 20 min, held over a steam bath for 60 min, and then measured for color. Results show the following approximate optimum concentrations will prevent the discoloration at p = 0.05: acetic acid, 0.19%; citric acid, 0.17%; Na2EDTA, 0.029%; lactic acid, 0.27%; malic acid, 0.22%; monosodium phosphate, 0.34%; propionic acid, 0.26%; and succinic acid, 0.27%. It was also found that the average maximum pH attained by raw liquid whole eggs when stored at 3°C for 21 days was 7.93 ± 0.19. A taste panel indicated that there were no significant differences in overall acceptability with the Na2EDTA and the monosodium phosphate treatments. The citric acid treatment was not significantly different from the control in flavor acceptability. Other treatments were judged to be inferior to the control.
Development of a transient CD4(+)CD8(+) T cell subset in the cervical lymph nodes following intratracheal instillation with an adenovirus vector.

Abstract Past studies have described the serendipitous appearance of peripheral CD4+CD8+ double-positive (DP) T cells in both humans and nonhuman primates usually following a viral infection or resulting from a malignancy. However, understanding the role of DP T cells has been hampered by the lack of their reproducible generation. Herein, we describe DP T cells produced after a single intratracheal or intranasal dose of recombinant adenovirus 2 or 5 vector into mice. In a time-dependent fashion, DP T cells localized only in the deep cervical lymph nodes but not in the lungs or in any of the respiratory lymph nodes. These DP T cells were TCRαβ+ and CD8αβ+, but not TCRγδ+ nor CD8αα+, suggesting that these cells are unrelated to intestinally derived DP T cells. Upon co-stimulation with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28, DP T cells showed increased expression of VLA-1, VLA-2, and CD69, and were more effective than CD4+ T cells in T helper cell activity, as evidenced by increased IgA, IgG, and IgM production. Such co-stimulation also favored the production of IFN-γ and IL-10 where CD4+ T cells were more inclined to produce IFN-γ and IL-2.
Selection Using Overlap Coefficients

SYNOPTIC ABSTRACTSelection of population with the largest (smallest) amount of overlap is applicable in many socio-economic, ecological as well as geological situations. From the available k(k ≥ 2) populations, the goal is to select the population corresponding to the largest (smallest) amount of overlap between two mutually exclusive subgroups of each population. A Bechhofer style selection procedure is proposed, which is carried out based on a random sample of size n taken independently from each subgroup. The relation between the Mahalanobis distance and the overlap coefficient is used to develop the selection procedure required to achieve a pre-specified probability of correct selection. The least favorable configuration and the expressions for the infimum of the probability of correct selection are given under two scenarios, namely (a) the population variances are known and (b) the population variances are unknown. A table of constants is provided for determining the optimal sample sizes needed from ...
Neurochemistry--one hundred years, 1875-1975.

As part of the meeting marking the centennial of the American Neurological Association, this paper reviewed the development of neurochemistry during the past one hundred years, with special reference to impacts on clinical neurological problems. Most of the progress has occurred in the past quarter of the century. Without attempting an exhaustive survey, illustrative examples are presented for: muscular contraction, synaptic transmission, nerve conduction, cerebral blood flow and metabolism, central excitation and inhibition, immunological and genetic factors, and nutrition, among others. Clearly, neurochemistr has contributed significantly to our understanding of many neurological disorders. In the future even greater convergence may be expected.
Efficient generation of reciprocal signals by inhibition

Reciprocal activity between populations of neurons has been widely observed in the brain and is essential for neuronal computation. The different mechanisms by which reciprocal neuronal activity is generated remain to be established. A common motif in neuronal circuits is the presence of afferents that provide excitation to one set of principal neurons and, via interneurons, inhibition to a second set of principal neurons. This circuitry can be the substrate for generation of reciprocal signals. Here we demonstrate that this equivalent circuit in the cerebellar cortex enables the reciprocal firing rates of Purkinje cells to be efficiently generated from a common set of mossy fiber inputs. The activity of a mossy fiber is relayed to Purkinje cells positioned immediately above it by excitatory granule cells. The firing rates of these Purkinje cells increase as a linear function of mossy fiber, and thus granule cell, activity. In addition to exciting Purkinje cells positioned immediately above it, the activity of a mossy fiber is relayed to laterally positioned Purkinje cells by a disynaptic granule cell → molecular layer interneuron pathway. Here we show in acutely prepared cerebellar slices that the input-output relationship of these laterally positioned Purkinje cells is linear and reciprocal to the first set. A similar linear input-output relationship between decreases in Purkinje cell firing and strength of stimulation of laterally positioned granule cells was also observed in vivo. Use of interneurons to generate reciprocal firing rates may be a common mechanism by which the brain generates reciprocal signals.
Oceanic mixed layer feedback and tropical Atlantic variability

Models of atmospheric circulation are usually forced by prescribing the sea surface temperature (SST), which is equivalent to assuming an infinite heat capacity for the ocean. This assumption breaks down on timescales of a month or longer, when the finite heat capacity of the oceanic mixed layer allows the SST to respond to atmospheric forcing. Experiments using an atmospheric general circulation model coupled to a slab ocean model demonstrate that this SST feedback can play an important role in tropical Atlantic variability. The amplitude of surface heat flux variability is attenuated by this feedback and the persistence of atmospheric flow anomalies is enhanced. The latter effect could have important implications for atmospheric predictability on monthly to seasonal timescales. The results also show that modeling the spatial variations in mixed layer depth is important for an accurate simulation of SST variability.
Spore dispersal of basidiomycete fungi at the landscape scale is driven by stochastic and deterministic processes and generates variability in plant-fungal interactions.

Summary Fungi play an important role in plant communities and ecosystem function. As a result, variation in fungal community composition can have important consequences for plant fitness. However, there are relatively few empirical data on how dispersal might affect fungal communities and the ecological processes they mediate. We established sampling stations across a large area of coastal landscape varying in their spatial proximity to each other and contrasting vegetation types. We measured dispersal of spores from a key group of fungi, the Basidomycota, across this landscape using qPCR and 454 pyrosequencing. We also measured the colonization of ectomycorrhizal fungi at each station using sterile bait seedlings. We found a high degree of spatial and temporal variability in the composition of Basidiomycota spores. This variability was in part stochastic and in part explained by spatial proximity to other vegetation types and time of year. Variation in spore community also affected colonization by ectomycorrhizal fungi and seedling growth. Our results demonstrate that fungal host and habitat specificity coupled with dispersal limitation can lead to local variation in fungal community structure and plant–fungal interactions. Understanding fungal communities also requires explicit knowledge of landscape context in addition to local environmental conditions.
Inhibition of phosphoenolpyruvate: Uridine diphosphate N-acetylglucosamine enolpyruvyltransferase by uridine diphosphate N-acetylmuramyl peptides

Abstract Among uridine diphosphate N-acetylmuramyl peptides, UDP-N-acetylmuramic acid- l -Ala- d -Glu -meso- diaminopimelic acid and UDP-N-acetylmuramic acid- l -Ala- d -Glu -meso- diaminopimelic acid- d -Ala- d -Ala were found to inhibit the activity of phosphoenolpyruvate: uridine diphosphate N-acetylglucosamine enolpyruvyltransferases from Escherichia coli and from Bacillus cereus.
The CD45 isoform B220 identifies select subsets of human B cells and B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders

The B220 isoform of CD45, a pan B-cell marker in mice, is expressed by only a subset of human B cells that do not express the memory B-cell marker CD27, suggesting that it is a differentiation-specific isoform of CD45. We examined normal human peripheral blood B cells, secondary lymphoid tissue, and a range of human B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders for the expression of B220 by flow cytometric immunophenotyping and immunohistochemical staining. We found that a subset of human B cells in peripheral blood is positive for B220 by flow cytometric immunophenotypic analysis. In reactive lymphoid tissues, B220 is expressed by B cells occupying the mantle zones and by a subpopulation of germinal center cells, but, in contrast, marginal zone B cells in the spleen do not express B220. Of 94 cases of B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders, 33 (35%) were positive for B220 by flow cytometric immunophenotypic analysis, including most cases of marginal zone lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, and lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. In contrast, all cases of precursor B lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma were negative for B220. Immunohistochemical staining for B220 correlated with flow cytometric analysis for all cases studied by both methods. Our data demonstrate that B220 is expressed in a select subset of normal, reactive B cells in a pattern that is consistent with a marker of naive B cells. However, this restricted expression pattern is not seen in B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders. Discordance between the B220 expression patterns of normal mantle and marginal zone B cells and their respective neoplastic counterparts may aid in the distinction between normal and neoplastic proliferations at these anatomical sites.
Emergency‐department Diagnosis of Acute Myocardial Infarction and Ischemia: A Cost Analysis of Two Diagnostic Protocols

Objective:To assess the potential cost savings of the emergency-department (ED) diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and other myocardial ischemia using a nine-hour ED evaluation protocol. Methods:This one-year study of chest-pain evaluation unit (CPEU) patient charges was undertaken at two midwestern urban university hospital EDs. Included in the study were 447 patients presenting to the EDs with chest pain consistent with myocardial ischemia, nondiagnostic electrocardiograms (ECGs), and stable vital signs. Following initial ED evaluation, CPEU patients underwent nine hours of continuous ECG ST-segment monitoring with serum CK-MB levels determined at zero, three, six, and nine hours. Nonrandomized concurrent chest pain patients with routine ED evaluation and hospital admission without CPEU workup served as controls. At Center 1, patients with negative CPEU evaluations underwent immediate echocardiography (echo) and graded exercise testing (GXT) followed by ED release (CPEU;REL). At Center 2, CPEU patients were released from the ED for outpatient stress thallium testing (CPEU; REL). At Center 2, CPEU patients with positive workups as indicated by elevated CK-MB levels, ischemia by ST-segment monitoring, or positive echo/GXT/stress thallium testing were admitted to the hospital for further testing. Control patients were admitted directly to the hospital to evaluate for AMI. Hospital charges for CPEU and control groups were compared. Results:(Total charges in dollars, mean ± SD, Student's t-test): Conclusion:At both centers, hospital charges related to the acute evaluation of chest pain were significantly lower with this ED diagnostic protocol for AMI and myocardial ischemia.
Endangered Right Whales on the Southeastern Bering Sea Shelf

The eastern North Pacific right whale ( Eubalaena japonica Gray) was nearly extirpated by whaling by the 1960s. Today it is the most endangered population of large whale ([1][1]). Their historical summer distribution included the Gulf of Alaska and the southeastern Bering Sea, and that of the
Evaluation of ventricular ejection fraction, wall motion, wall thickening, and other parameters with gated myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography

Assessment of ventricular function (e.g., ejection fraction, wall motion, wall thickening) during myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) can serve as a cost-effective technique to provide more diagnostic data with fewer diagnostic tests. With the advent of 99mTc-labeled perfusion agents and advances in technology, myocardial perfusion studies can be augmented on a routine basis to provide additional diagnostic information on ventricular function by use of one gated SPECT acquisition. This technique has the potential to reduce health-care costs by reducing the number of unnecessary coronary angiographies that are now performed on patients with equivocal results of perfusion or incomplete risk stratification from standard myocardial perfusion SPECT.
Transition-state analysis of nucleoside hydrolase from Crithidia fasciculata

The transition state of nucleoside hydrolase from the trypanosome Crithidia fasciculata has been characterized by multiple Vmax/Km kinetic isotope effects with labeled inosine and adenosine as substrates. Nucleoside hydrolase catalyzes the hydrolysis of the N-glycosidic linkage of the commonly occurring purine and pyrimidine nucleosides, with Vmax/Km ranging over 2 orders of magnitude. The kinetic isotope effects for inosine were [1'-3H] = 1.150 +/- 0.006, [2'-3H] = 1.161 +/- 0.003, [1'-14C] = 1.044 +/- 0.004, [9-15N] = 1.026 +/- 0.004, [4'-3H] = 0.992 +/- 0.003, and [5'-3H] = 1.051 +/- 0.003. The magnitude of the kinetic isotope effects for inosine, an equivalent [1'-3H] kinetic isotope effect for the poor substrate adenosine, and the rapid equilibrium random kinetic mechanism [Parkin D, W., Horenstein, B. A., Abdulah, D. R., Estupinan, B., & Schramm, V. L. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. (in press)] all indicate that the isotope effects are fully expressed. The kinetic and solvent deuterium isotope effects have been used to analyze the transition-state structure using bond energy bond order vibrational analysis. The transition state involves a protonated hypoxanthine leaving group with a C-N glycosidic bond elongated to approximately 2 A. The ribose group contains substantial carbocationic character, unusually strong hyperconjugation of H2', and a bond length of approximately 3 A to the incoming oxygen nucleophile. The remote isotope effect (4'-3H and 5'-3H) and the results of transition-state calculations provide the most detailed description of the steric and bonding properties of an enzyme-stabilized transition state.
Measuring and modeling the hygroscopic growth of two humic substances in mixed aerosol particles of atmospheric relevance

Abstract. The hygroscopic growth of atmospheric particles affects atmospheric chemistry and Earth's climate. Water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) constitutes a significant fraction of the dry submicron mass of atmospheric aerosols, thus affecting their water uptake properties. Although the WSOC fraction is comprised of many compounds, a set of model substances can be used to describe its behavior. For this study, mixtures of Nordic aquatic fulvic acid reference (NAFA) and Fluka humic acid (HA), with various combinations of inorganic salts (sodium chloride and ammonium sulfate) and other representative organic compounds (levoglucosan and succinic acid), were studied. We measured the equilibrium water vapor pressure over bulk solutions of these mixtures as a function of temperature and solute concentration. New water activity (aw) parameterizations and hygroscopic growth curves at 25 °C were calculated from these data for particles of equivalent composition. We examined the effect of temperature on the water activity and found a maximum variation of 9% in the 0–30 °C range, and 2% in the 20–30 °C range. Five two-component mixtures were studied to understand the effect of adding a humic substance (HS), such as NAFA and HA, to an inorganic salt or a saccharide. The deliquescence point at 25 °C for HS-inorganic mixtures did not change significantly from that of the pure inorganic species. However, the hygroscopic growth of HA / inorganic mixtures was lower than that exhibited by the pure salt, in proportion to the added mass of HA. The addition of NAFA to a highly soluble solute (ammonium sulfate, sodium chloride or levoglucosan) in water had the same effect as the addition of HA to the inorganic species for most of the water activity range studied. Yet, the water uptake of these NAFA mixtures transitioned to match the growth of the pure salt or saccharide at high aw values. The remaining four mixtures were based on chemical composition data for different aerosol types. As expected, the two solutions representing organic aerosols (40% HS/40% succinic acid/20% levoglucosan) showed lower water uptake than the two solutions representing biomass burning aerosols (25% HS/27% succinic acid/18% levoglucosan/30% ammonium sulfate). However, interactions in multicomponent solutions may be responsible for the large variation of the relative water uptake of identical mixtures containing different HSs above a water activity of 0.95. The ZSR (Zdanovskii, Stokes, and Robinson) model was able to predict reasonably well the hygroscopic growth of all the mixtures below aw = 0.95, but produced large deviations for some multicomponent mixtures at higher values.
An in Vitro study of various commercially available bulk-type laxatives: II. Physicochernical measurements of their absorption of common food principles

A study has been made to determine if the bulk-type laxatives now commercially available would absorb or entrap common food principles representing salt, protein, carbohydrate, and fat. A procedure for evaluating this possibili has been developed. The results indicate that many of the bulk-type laxatives stuxed absorb or entrap common food principles or at least retard their diffusion through a semi-permeable membrane.
Using RoboCup to teach multiagent systems and the distributed mindset

We present our experiences using the RoboCup soccerserver simulator and Biter, our own agent platform, for the teaching of a graduate multiagent systems' class. The RoboCup simulator and Biter are both described. We argue that the combination of RoboCup and Biter forms an effective platform for the teaching of multiagent systems and the distributed mindset. Results from two semesters using these tools are presented. These results confirm our claims. Finally, we characterize this work within the framework provided by the STEELMAN Draft of the Computing Curricula 2001 initiative.
A fast and scalable scheduling algorithm for distributed memory systems

The inter-processor communication time is a major bottleneck for distributed memory systems (DMSs) and can be reduced by having an efficient task partitioning and scheduling strategy. The paper deals with the scheduling issues and presents an algorithm to schedule tasks onto DMSs. The complexity of this algorithm is O(V/sup 2/), where Vr is the number of nodes of the directed acyclic graph (DAG). This algorithm has been applied to some practical DAGs and the results obtained using this algorithm are very promising.
The audible sounds of atrial tachyarrhythmia. (Flutter

A patient with a rapid atrial mechanism (rate approximately 225), categorized as atrial flutter, had audible sounds correlated with the atrial cycle. Second degree heart block was present and the intensity of the sounds increased sequentially during the ventricular diastolic period. Phonocatheter records revealed prominent vibrations related to the atrial cycle in the right atrium, but not in the right ventricle, left atrium, or left ventricle. It is suggested that the flutter sounds represent tension of the atrial wall or the atrioventricular valve at the time of atrial systole and are unrelated to ventricular filling.
Molecular Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by cognitive impairment, progressive neurodegeneration and formation of amyloid-β (Aβ)-containing plaques and neurofibrillary tangles composed of hyperphosphorylated tau. The neurodegenerative process in AD is initially characterized by synaptic damage accompanied by neuronal loss. In addition, recent evidence suggests that alterations in adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus might play a role. Synaptic loss is one of the strongest correlates to the cognitive impairment in patients with AD. Several lines of investigation support the notion that the synaptic pathology and defective neurogenesis in AD are related to progressive accumulation of Aβ oligomers rather than fibrils. Abnormal accumulation of Aβ resulting in the formation of toxic oligomers is the result of an imbalance between the levels of Aβ production, aggregation and clearance. Aβ oligomers might lead to synaptic damage by forming pore-like structures with channel activity; alterations in glutamate receptors; circuitry hyper-excitability; mitochondrial dysfunction; lysosomal failure and alterations in signaling pathways related to synaptic plasticity, neuronal cell and neurogenesis. A number of signaling proteins, including fyn kinase; glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) and cyclin-dependent kinase-5 (CDK5), are involved in the neurodegenerative progression of AD. Therapies for AD might require the development of anti-aggregation compounds, pro-clearance pathways and blockers of hyperactive signaling pathways.
Hydrostatic Compression Curve for Triamino-Trinitrobenzene Determined to 13.0 GPa with Powder X-Ray Diffraction

Using powder X-ray diffraction in conjunction with a diamond anvil cell (DAC), the unit cell volume of triamino-trinitrobenzene (TATB) has been measured from ambient pressure to 13 GPa. The resultant isotherm is compared with previous theoretical (Byrd and Rice and Pastine and Bernecker) and experimental (Olinger and Cady) works. While all reports are consistent to approximately 2 GPa, our measurements reveal a slightly stiffer TATB material than reported by Olinger and Cady and an intermediate compressibility compared with the isotherms predicted by the two theoretical works. Analysis of the room temperature isotherm using the semi-empirical, Murnaghan, Birch-Murnaghan, and Vinet equations of state (EOS) provided a determination of the isothermal bulk modulus (K{sub 0}) and its pressure-derivative (K{sub 0}') for TATB. From these fits to our P-V isotherm, from ambient pressure to 8 GPa, the average results for the zero-pressure bulk modulus and its pressure derivative were found to be 14.7 GPa and 10.1, respectively. For comparison to shock experiments on pressed TATB powder and its plastic-bonded formulation PBX 9502 (95% TATB, 5% Kel-F 800), the isotherm was transformed to the pseudo-velocity U{sub s}-u{sub p} plane using the Rankine-Hugoniot jump conditions. This analysis provides an extrapolated bulk sound speed, c{sub 0}=1.70more » km s{sup -1}, for TATB and its agreement with a previous determination (c{sub 0}=1.43 km s{sup -1}) is discussed. Furthermore, our P-V and corresponding U{sub s}-u{sub p} curves reveal a subtle cusp at approximately 8 GPa. This cusp is discussed in relation to similar observations made for the aromatic hydrocarbons anthracene, benzene and toluene, graphite, and trinitrotoluene (TNT).« less
Performance of HFGFlash at CMS

We report the performance of HF calorimeter and some details about the PMT window hit events. The new 4-anode PMTs will be installed during the 2013 shutdown period. We have developed HF GFlash, a very fast simulation of electromagnetic showers using parameterizations of the profiles in Hadronic Forward Calorimeter. HF GFlash has good agreement to 7 TeV Collision Data and previous Test Beam results. In addition to good agreement with Data and previous Test Beam results, HF GFlash can simulate about 10000 times faster than Geant4.
The Kobe (Hyogo-ken Nanbu), Japan, Earthquake of January 16, 1995

The Kobe earthquake of January 16, 1995, is one of the most damaging earthquakes in the recent history of Japan. This earthquake is also called “The Hyogo-ken Nanbu (Southern part of Hyogo prefecture) earthquake,” and the disaster caused by it is referred to as “Hanshin Daishinsai (A major earthquake disaster in the Osaka-Kobe area).” As of January 29, 1995, the casualty toll reached 5,094 dead, 13 missing and 26,798 injured. This article presents some background on the earthquake and its setting and a summary of some preliminary seismological results obtained by various investigators.
Florida Initiative for Quality Cancer Care: Changes in Psychosocial Quality of Care Indicators Over a 3-Year Interval

Purpose: Identifying and addressing psychosocial concerns is increasingly recognized as an important aspect of cancer care that needs to be improved. As part of the Florida Initiative for Quality Cancer Care, medical record reviews were conducted to evaluate cancer care, including psychosocial care, at oncology practices in Florida in 2006. Results were subsequently disseminated to the practices, and performance was reassessed at the same practices in 2009. Methods: Data were available for patients with colorectal, breast, and non–small-cell lung cancer first seen by a medical oncologist in 2006 (n 1,609) and 2009 (n 1,720) at the same 10 practice sites. Performance on each psychosocial indicator was evaluated for overall change over time and for variability in change based on practice site and cancer type. Results: The percentage of patients identified as having a problem in emotional well-being increased significantly over time, from 24% to 31% among those assessed (P .002) and from 13% to 16% overall (P .026). In contrast, there no significant changes over time in assessment of emotional well-being (53% to 51%, P .661) or in action taken to address problems (57% to 45%, P .098). Conclusion: Findings suggest more intensive efforts than audit and feedback will be required to improve the quality of psychosocial care and that greater recognition of problems with emotional well-being may tax the ability of practices to link patients with appropriate services. Systematic research is needed to identify and disseminate effective strategies for implementing routine assessment of well-being and addressing the increased demands for care this will generate.
Automated detection of vulnerabilities in privileged programs by execution monitoring

Presents a method for detecting exploitations of vulnerabilities in privileged programs by monitoring their execution using audit trails, where the monitoring is with respect to specifications of the security-relevant behavior of the programs. Our work is motivated by the intrusion detection paradigm, but is an attempt to avoid ad hoc approaches to codifying misuse behavior. Our approach is based on the observation that although privileged programs can be exploited (due to errors) to cause security compromises in systems because of the privileges accorded to them, the intended behavior of privileged programs is, of course, limited and benign. The key, then, is to specify the intended behavior (i.e. the program policy) and to detect any action by a privileged program that is outside the intended behavior and that imperils security. We describe a program policy specification language, which is based on simple predicate logic and regular expressions. In addition, we present specifications of privileged programs in Unix, and a prototype execution monitor for analyzing audit trails with respect to these specifications. The program policies are surprisingly concise and clear, and in addition, capable of detecting exploitations of known vulnerabilities in these programs. Although our work has been motivated by the known vulnerabilities in Unix, we believe that by tightly restricting the behavior of all privileged programs, exploitations of unknown vulnerabilities can be detected. As a check on the specifications, work is in progress on verifying them with respect to an abstract security policy. >
Benchmarking Datasets for Human Activity Recognition

Recognizing human activities has become an important topic in the past few years. A variety of techniques for representing and modeling different human activities have been proposed, achieving reasonable performances in many scenarios. On the other hand, different benchmarks have also been collected and published. Different from other chapters focusing on the algorithmic aspects, this chapter gives an overview of different benchmarking datasets, summarizes the performances of the-state-of-the-art algorithms, and analyzes these datasets.
Changes in regional vascular resistance and blood volume after hemorrhage in fed and fasted awake rats

To determine whether fasting alters the response of blood flow to hemorrhage, blood flow was measured by radiolabeled microspheres before and after a 20 ml.kg-1.3 min-1 hemorrhage in fed and fasted chronically cannulated male Sprague-Dawley rats. Restitution of blood volume, as determined by dilution of hematocrit, was attenuated in fasted rats, although the responses of arterial blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac output, and total peripheral resistance were not significantly different. Fasting only affected resting blood flow in the bronchial artery and fat and had no effect on resting vascular resistance in any organ studied. In both fed and fasted rats, hemorrhage led to a significant fall in blood flow to the stomach, small intestine, cecum, colon, spleen, pancreas, kidney, bronchial artery, thymus, and muscle and a rise in blood flow to the adrenals. However, fasting did not significantly alter the response of flow or vascular resistance to these organs. Fasting did alter the blood flow response to hemorrhage in bone, fat, and the hepatic artery. These results demonstrate that 24 h of fasting does not affect the responses of blood flow and vascular resistance to hemorrhage in most organs, even though restitution of blood volume is attenuated.
Gmail and Privacy Issues

Abstract The Google search engine is a major presence in the online world. It has become a household word and has changed the way people do research and conduct business. The American Dialect Society, a scholarly association dedicated to the study of the English language in North America, chose “google” as the “most useful” word of 2002.1 The Oxford American Dictionary included “google” as a verb in its latest edition. Google accounted for almost half of the 5.1 billion search engine inquiries performed in the United States in December 2005.2
Growth, Behavior, and Applications of Strained InGaAs/GaAs Multiple Quantum well Based Asymmetric Fabry-Perot Reflection Modulators

We report the realization of all-optical photonic switches using strained InGaAs/GaAs multiple quantum well based inverted cavity asymmetric Fabry-Perot reflection modulators monolithically integrated with GaAs/AlGaAs based heterojunction phototransistors. The photonic switches show both bistable and non-bistable switching behavior with a contrast ratio of 12:1 and optical gain of 2 to 4 dB. The design and growth considerations for such an integrated structure are also discussed.
Blood-Damaged Tissue Interaction in Experimental Brain Ischemia

This paper is a review and synthesis of work done in our laboratory by many investigators over roughly 18 years dealing with the microcirculation in a zone of acute ischemic injury. The work has been guided by a hypothesis that blood flowing through the microcirculation of an acute injury zone is capable of undergoing a multifactorial interaction at the blood-endothelial interface that can progressively impair microvascular perfusion and contribute locally to the evolution of cellular damage and death. Our work has implicated Factor VIII/von Willebrand factor, prostanoids, leukocytes, platelets, platelet-activating factor, leukotrienes, adhesion receptors, monocytes/macrophages, and cytokines in this interaction.
Ethics and Social Networking: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Evaluating Online Information Disclosure

Thanks to recent technological advancements, social networking has seen unprecedented growth. Services such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn have evolved from niche communities to active cyber-societies. In addition to an increase in the diffusion of social media, there has also been an increase in the amount and type of information that participants share in these online environments. In this paper, the authors integrate decision making research from three disciplines -marketing, theology and information systems-to explain information disclosure in online communities. They use these disciplines to provide a comprehensive review of existing literature and present innovative recommendations for research and practice. In particular, the authors recommend Potter's Box as a useful framework for evaluating the ethical implications of online information disclosure.
Information technologies for Marine Corps combat medicine

Future Marine Corps warfighting concepts will make it more difficult to locate casualties, which will complicate casualty evacuation, lengthen casualty wait times, and require infantrymen or corpsmen to provide more extensive treatment. In these future scenarios, information flow and communications will be critical to medical functions. We asked, for Navy medical support to the Marines, what information will future combat medicine require and what technologies should supply those information needs? Based on analyses of patient data streams, focus groups of Navy medical personnel, and our estimates of the cost and feasibility of communications systems, we recommend the following: (1) increase medical training for some fraction of Marines, especially in hemorrhage control; (2) augment corpsmen's training; (3) furnish data systems for evacuation and supply that would provide in-transit visibility and simplify requests; (4) provide all ground medical personnel with access to treatment information systems and limited voice communications; and (5) exploit e-mail systems to reduce reliance on voice communications. Implementation time frames are discussed.
High salt diet and caffeine: food for thought.

The popularity of coffee and other caffeine-containing beverages in the Western diet undoubtedly draws attention of researchers to the studies of caffeine-mediated effects on human physiology and disease.
Genetic Diseases of PIEZO1 and PIEZO2 Dysfunction.

Mutations in the genes encoding the mechanosensitive cation channels PIEZO1 and PIEZO2 are responsible for multiple hereditary human diseases. Loss-of-function mutations in the human PIEZO1 gene cause autosomal recessive congenital lymphatic dysplasia. Gain-of-function mutations in the human PIEZO1 gene cause the autosomal dominant hemolytic anemia, hereditary xerocytosis (also known as dehydrated stomatocytosis). Loss-of-function mutations in the human PIEZO2 gene cause an autosomal recessive syndrome of muscular atrophy with perinatal respiratory distress, arthrogryposis, and scoliosis. Gain-of-function mutations in the human PIEZO2 gene cause three clinical types of autosomal dominant distal arthrogryposis. This chapter will review the hereditary diseases caused by mutations in the PIEZO genes and will discuss additional physiological systems in which PIEZO channel dysfunction may contribute to human disease pathophysiology.
John Trevor Hollin 1930–2016 In Memoriam

John Hollin died on 3 October 2016 after a long and courageous battle with multiple sclerosis complicated at the end by cancer. John was born in 1930 in Derby, England, and lived there until he was...
Mechanics behind 4D interferometric measurement of biofilm mediated tooth decay

Evaluating the efficacy of dental materials to protect human teeth requires the capacity to measure tooth decay. Currently, practices for determining tooth decay are destructive, qualitative to lowly quantitative, and/or measure bulk changes that have low to no spatial resolution. The combination of the highly variable nature of tooth enamel and the inability to perform serial analyses on the same spatial location limits the capacity to access reproducible information from any experimental set. To help complement the void left by other techniques, this study explores the potential of interferometric optical profilometry to make rapid precision measurements in 3- dimensions over time of human tooth enamel decay. Using unique techniques in raw interferometric data evaluation in combination with specially designed biocompatible 3-D alignment translation stages, human tooth decay was measured with respect to pathogenic dental bacterial biofilms. These investigations revealed the capacity to quantitatively determine the rate of tooth decay in previously unseen spatial and temporal scales (4D). These new, rapid, low-cost techniques minimize effort for sample preparation and use very few consumables, opening the feasibility for high-throughput investigations of clinical dental materials to a wider international community.
Cloning of Genes Associated with Pathogenicity and Hypersensitivity from Pseudomonas Syringae Pv. Phaseolicola

Eight independent prototrophic mutants of Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola (Psp) with altered host responses have been generated by the use of Tn5 mutagenesis. These mutants were originally identified by their inability to elicit a hypersensitive response (HR) on tobacco. Subsequent analysis revealed that six of the mutants are also nonvirulent on the susceptible bean cultivar Red Kidney, are non-HR on the resistant bean cultivar Red Mexican, and are non-HR on other heterologous hosts including cowpea, soybean, and tomato. Two mutants however, have reduced virulence on the cultivar Red Kidney but can still elicit the HR on the other host plants. Southern-blot analysis indicated that Tn5 was contained in 3 different EcoR1 target fragments of approximately 17, 8 and 7 kb. The plasmid pPL-1 was constructed by subcloning 23 kb of DNA containing the Tn5 and flanking sequences from NPS4000, a mutant with insertion in the 17 kb EcoR1 fragment, into the cosmid pLAFR3. A total genomic library of Sau3A partially digested DNA from wild-type Psp was also constructed in pLAFR3. Six colonies showing homology to 7 kb of wild-type Psp DNA subcloned from pPL-1 were identified by colony hybridization. All of these cosmid clones can restore the wild-type phenotype to at least one mutant.