cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
45 An assessment of olfactory influence on equine feeding preferences

Few data are available relating the impact of olfactory stimuli to the feeding preferences of horses. Anise has been demonstrated to increase palatability of equine feed products but has not been evaluated for its olfactory impact. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of an olfactory stimuli, anise, on feed preference and behaviors. Eight mature stock-type horses group-housed with ad libitum access to pasture (cool season grass/legume mix), water and salt were used in this paired preference test across 6 d of testing. Anise oil was compared with a control (corn oil) in a crossover design to determine the effects of olfactory stimulation via a known palatant on food preference in horses. Horses were loaded into identical feeding stocks with a feeding bunk containing 2 separated sides. The false bottom pans were constructed with 24 equally spaced openings (0.20 cm) and one (0.20 cm) central opening to allow odor permeation. Feeding pans were loaded with 227 g of crimped oats and situated on top of plates containing gauze squares containing 0.375 mL of either control (corn) oil or anise oil. Horses were considered “finished” when > 75% of one diet was consumed. Preference was described as a higher number of sniffing episodes or larger consumption. Variables of interest included first diet sniffed and consumed, first action, aversive behaviors, and excessive salivation. Aversive behaviors were described as rejection of the product accompanied by a combination of behaviors including extreme head extension, retracted lips, gaping mouth, full tongue protrusion, and backward rotation of the ears. Excessive salivation was described as saliva coating the outer lips or dripping from the corners of the mouth while chewing. Each trial was video-recorded, and behavior data were analyzed using a chi-squared analysis with SAS version 9.4. Data for total consumption were analyzed using a Kruskal-Wallis test with P ≤ 0.05 set as significant for all data. Horses sniffed anise first more frequently (P = 0.02) and similarly consumed anise first more frequently than control (P = 0.04). Accordingly, anise was finished first more often than control (P
Sex, mating and repeatability of Drosophila melanogaster longevity

Costs of reproduction are seemingly ubiquitous across the animal kingdom, and these reproductive costs are generally defined by increased reproduction leading to decreases in other fitness componen...
Sex differences in the effect of acute intermittent hypoxia on respiratory modulation of sympathetic activity

Background Sex-related differences in respiratory modulation of sympathetic activity have been observed in rodent models of sleep apnea (intermittent hypoxia, IH). Based on sex disparities in the respiratory response to acute IH in humans as well as changes in respiratory modulation of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) in clinical sleep apnea, we examined sex-related differences in respiratory modulation of MSNA following acute IH. We hypothesized respiratory modulation of MSNA would be altered in both male and female participants following IH; however, the respiratory patterning of MSNA following IH would be sex-specific. Methods Heart rate, MSNA and respiration were evaluated in healthy male (n=21, 30±5 yrs) and female (n=10, 28±5 yrs) participants during normoxic rest prior to and following 30-min of IH. Respiratory modulation of MSNA was assessed by fitting polynomials to cross-correlation histograms constructed between sympathetic spikes and respiration. Results MSNA was elevated following IH in male (20±6 to 24±8 bursts/min) and female (19±8 to 22±10 bursts/min) participants (p Conclusion Both male and female adults exhibit changes in respiratory patterning of MSNA following acute IH; however, this pattern differs by sex. These data support sex disparities in respiratory modulation of MSNA and may have implications for conditions such as sleep apnea.
Statistical Theory for Viscoelastic Materials

A new functional representation for nonlinear viscoelastic materials is presented. This representation was previously derived and used for the study of nonlinear electrical systems. The creep and relaxation properties of the material are measured by a series of cross-correlations of the applied stress (or strain) history and the resulting strain (or stress) history. The applied random history is white Gaussian and the properties are computed using a statistical theory.
TH-EF-BRB-01: JUNIOR INVESTIGATOR WINNER — Novel EPID for Enhanced Contrast and Detective Quantum Efficiency

Purpose: Beams-eye-view imaging applications such as real-time soft-tissue motion estimation are hindered by the inherently low image contrast of electronic portal imaging devices (EPID) currently in clinical use. We introduce and characterize a novel EPID that provides substantially increased detective quantum efficiency (DQE), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and dynamic range without degradation in spatial resolution. Methods: The prototype design features a stack of four conventional EPID layers combined with low noise integrated readout electronics. Each layer consists of a copper plate, a scintillator (GdO2S2:Tb) and a photodiode/TFT-switch (aSi:H). We characterize the prototype in terms of contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), modulation transfer function (MTF) and DQE. CNR is estimated using a Las Vegas contrast phantom, presampled MTF is estimated using a slanted edge technique and the DQE is calculated from measured normalized noise power spectra (NPS) and the MTF. The prototype has been designed and built to be interchangeable with the current clinical EPID in terms of size and data output specifications. Results: DQE(0) can be nearly quadrupled to about 4.5% by using the four-layered design instead of only a single layer device. No substantial differences are observed between each layer’s individual MTF and the one for all four layers operating combined indicating that defocusing is negligible. Also, using four layers instead of one nearly doubles (factor x1.9) the CNR showing that the device is mostly quantum noise limited. Conclusion: A layered EPID design allows improving the radiation sensitivity while maintaining spatial resolution and saturation level of a single layer conventional EPID. Experimental characterization of this first 4-layered prototype demonstrates substantially improved DQE and CNR while maintaining high resolution and remaining quantum noise limited. Besides overall improved image quality and dosimetric sensitivity we anticipate this novel detector design to enable more accurate soft-tissue motion estimations during radiation therapy procedures, particularly of the lung. The project was partially supported by a grant from Varian Medical Systems, Inc. and grant No. R01CA188446-01 from the National Cancer Institute. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Cancer Institute or the National Institutes of Health.
Fast angular synchronization for phase retrieval via incomplete information

ABSTRACT We consider the problem of recovering the phase of an unknown vector, x 2 C d , given (normalized) phase dif-ference measurements of the form x j x k =jx j x k j; j;k 2 f 1;:::;dg, and where x j denotes the complex conjugateof x j . This problem is sometimes referred to as the angular synchronization problem. This paper analyzes alinear-time-in- d eigenvector-based angular synchronization algorithm and studies its theoretical and numericalperformance when applied to a particular class of highly incomplete and possibly noisy phase di erence mea-surements. Theoretical results are provided for perfect (noiseless) measurements, while numerical simulationsdemonstrate the robustness of the method to measurement noise. Finally, we show that this angular synchro-nization problem and the speci c form of incomplete phase di erence measurements considered arise in the phaseretrieval problem { where we recover an unknown complex vector from phaseless (or magnitude) measurements.Keywords: angular synchronization, eigen analysis, phase retrieval.
Activation of olfactory cyclic‐nucleotide gated channels revisited

Ion channels that are gated by cyclic nucleotides (CNG channels) have been best studied for their roles in visual and olfactory sensory transduction. Sensory stimulation of vertebrate photoreceptors by light and olfactory receptor neurones (ORNs) by odorants activates 7-transmembrane receptors, and triggers, via a G protein, changes in the intracellular concentration of second messenger cyclic nucleotides. In the case of photoreceptors, the G protein Gt stimulates phosphodiesterase leading to the hydrolysis of cGMP, which in turn promotes closure of cGMP-gated channels and hyperpolarization. In the case of ORNs, the G protein Golf stimulates adenylyl cyclase to produce cAMP, which promotes opening of cAMP-gated channels and depolarization. The ability of CNG channels to be gated by cyclic nucleotides is therefore crucial for organisms to monitor their visual and odorant environments.
Scalable and robust shepherding via deformable shapes

In this paper, we present a new motion planning strategy for shepherding in environments containing obstacles. This instance of the group motion control problem is applicable to a wide variety of real life scenarios, such as animal herding simulation, civil crowd control training, and oil-spill cleanup simulation. However, the problem is challenging in terms of scalability and robustness because it is dynamic, highly underactuated, and involves multi-agent coordination. Our previous work showed that high-level probabilistic motion planning algorithms combined with simple shepherding behaviors can be beneficial in situations where low-level behaviors alone are insufficient. However, inconsistent results suggested a need for a method that performs well across a wider range of environments. In this paper, we present a new method, called DEFORM, in which shepherds view the flock as an abstracted deformable shape. We show that our method is more robust than our previous approach and that it scales more effectively to larger teams of shepherds and larger flocks. We also show DEFORM to be surprisingly robust despite increasing randomness in the motion of the flock.
Foreign Capital and Firm Financial Constraints - Evidence from Two Systemic Liquidity Crises

Portfolio capital raised through foreign issuances is seen as volatile and undesirable for countries with poorly regulated financial systems. An implication is that firms that finance themselves in part with such investment have worse outcomes during systemic liquidity crises. I examine firms that had raised capital through foreign public issuances, to analyze their outcomes during two types of systemic liquidity crises: a domestic crisis and a foreign crisis. I find that firms with foreign financing were less liquidity constrained and had better outcomes during the domestic liquidity crisis. They were also no worse off during the foreign liquidity crisis. This evidence underscores a novel finding viz. foreign capital issuance, a non-FDI kind of foreign capital, has value in the form of an insurance that pays off during bad shocks to domestic financial markets. Decomposing foreign debt and foreign equity issuances, I find that even large and otherwise efficient firms that had foreign debt issuances and were levered towards short-term debt, were more financially constrained during the domestic crisis. Contrary to traditional hypotheses which suggest that debt, being easier to raise, is preferable to equity, the crisis-period implications of holding large amounts of foreign debt can be quite adverse, and therefore makes for a riskier financing choice.
Influence of blanching treatments on Salmonella during home-type dehydration and storage of potato slices.

Recommended drying treatments may not enhance destruction of pathogens that could be present on home-dried foods. In this study, the effects of traditional and modified treatments on Salmonella were evaluated during preparation, home-type dehydration (60°C for 6 h), and storage of potato slices. Potato slices inoculated with five strains of Salmonella (8.4 log CFU/g) were left untreated or were treated by steam blanching (88°C for 10 min), water blanching (88°C for 4 min), 0.105% citric acid blanching (88°C for 4 min), or 0.210% citric acid blanching (88°C for 4 min). Slices were then dried (6 h for 60°C) and aerobically stored for up to 30 days at 25 ± 3°C. Cells were enumerated on tryptic soy agar with 0.1% pyruvate (TSAP) and on xylose lysine deoxycholate agar. Salmonella populations were reduced by 4.5 to 4.8 CFU/g and by >5.4 log CFU/g immediately following steam and water blanching, respectively. Populations were below the detection limit (0.80 log CFU/g) immediately following acid blanching, except...
Involvement of the Cytoplasmic Domain of the Hemagglutinin-Neuraminidase Protein in Assembly of the Paramyxovirus Simian Virus 5

Efficient assembly of enveloped viruses at the plasma membranes of virus-infected cells requires coordination between cytosolic viral components and viral integral membrane glycoproteins. As viral glycoprotein cytoplasmic domains may play a role in this coordination, we have investigated the importance of the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein cytoplasmic domain in the assembly of the nonsegmented negative-strand RNA paramyxovirus simian virus 5 (SV5). By using reverse genetics, recombinant viruses which contain HN with truncated cytoplasmic tails were generated. These viruses were shown to be replication impaired, as judged by small plaque size, reduced replication rate, and low maximum titers when compared to those features of wild-type (wt) SV5. Release of progeny virus particles from cells infected with HN cytoplasmic-tail-truncated viruses was inefficient compared to that of wt virus, but syncytium formation was enhanced. Furthermore, accumulation of viral proteins at presumptive budding sites on the plasma membranes of infected cells was prevented by HN cytoplasmic tail truncations. We interpret these data to indicate that formation of budding complexes, from which efficient release of SV5 particles can occur, depends on the presence of an HN cytoplasmic tail.
Reducibility Among Protocols

Recently considerable attention has been given to designing provably secure cryptographic protocols. Three basic problems that have been studied are: exchange of secrets, contract signing, and certified mail. Several protocols have been proposed for these problems. These solutions are very diverse in nature: they are secure under different assumptions, have different probabilities of cheating, and require different number of message exchanges. Consequently, there is a need to investigate the underlying relationships between these problems. In this paper, we study reducibilities among these problems, i.e. how a protocol for one problem can be transformed into a protocol for another problem, preserving (roughly) the operating conditions.
Herpes Simplex Virus

Our understanding of human herpes simplex virus (HSV) has increased tremendously since the early descriptions of disease provided by Hippocrates [1, 2]. Notable advances include the correlation of herpetic lesions with genital infections in the eighteenth century [3] and Vidal’s recognition of human-to-human transmission in 1893 [2]. Antigenic differences between HSV subtypes, suspected on clinical observations by Lipschitz [4], were confirmed in 1968 [5]. In modern day, there is successful antiviral treatment available for most HSV infections [6]. Insight into the viral life cycle and gene expression has been a driving force behind the development of antiviral treatment, including new vaccines and gene therapy [4].
Metallic Implant Materials

As mentioned in Chapter 1, metals have been used in various forms as implants. The first metal developed specifically for implant use was the “Sherman vanadium steel” from which fracture plates and screws were made.(1) Most metals used for manufacturing implants such as Fe, Cr, Co, Ni, Ti, Ta, Mo, and W can be tolerated by the body in minute amounts and sometimes are essential in red blood cell function (Fe) or synthesis of vitamin B12 (Co) but cannot be tolerated in large amounts.(2) Thebiocompatibility of the implant metals is of considerable concern because they can be corroded in the hostile environment of the body. As a consequence of corrosion, the material itself is wearing away and thus weakening the implant, and more importantly the corrosion products are released into the surrounding tissues, resulting in undesirable effects.
Theory of Transformation Groups, by S. Lie and F. Engel (Vol. I, 1888). Modern Presentation and English Translation

The goal of this modern presentation, followed by an English translation from the German, is to make available some parts of Lie's very systematic mathematical thought which deserve to join the contemporary literature, and above all also, to be read.
Reinnervation of denervated skeletal muscle by central nerve fibers regenerating along replanted ventral roots.

Publisher Summary Spinal cord injury and ventral root avulsion often result in permanent paralysis of the denervated muscles because of the poor ability of most nerve fibers to elongate significantly within the central nervous system (CNS). This chapter explores the possibilities whether denervated muscles can be effectively reinnervated by central nerve fibers regenerating from the spinal cord along replanted ventral roots. Replanted roots contained significantly more nerve fibers than non-replanted roots, and at the site of replantation, myelinated axons could be traced from the central gray matter to the replanted root. The chapter concludes that central nerve fibers, including motoneurons, regenerate from the spinal cord along ventral roots replanted into the lateral column. Some of the regenerating fibers remain under at least reflex control, and some establish effective synapses on denervated skeletal muscle fibers. The number of muscle fibers reinnervated is significantly increased by replantation of the severed roots, but a degree of innervation can occur even when the severed roots are not replanted.
Characterization of a-plane GaN templates grown by HVPE and high efficiency deep UV emitting AlGaN/AlN MQWs grown by MBE on such templates

Thick GaN templates (>50 µm) were grown by hydride-vapor-phase epitaxy (HVPE) on the r-plane of sapphire. While X-ray diffraction indicates that the GaN grows with its a-plane parallel to the r-plane of sapphire, the surface has a triangular morphology of 120o, which is the result of the faster growth rate of the a-plane compared to the m-plane. Electron microscopy studies indicate that these GaN templates have a high concentration of threading defects (>1010 cm–2) and basal plane stacking faults (7x105 cm–1). Several identical deep-UV emitting Al0.7Ga0.3N/AlN multiple quantum wells (MQWs) were grown on such GaN templates by molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE). The wells were grown under more gallium than required by stoichiometry, which changes the growth mode from physical vapor deposition to liquid phase epitaxy. This growth mode leads to deep band structure potential fluctuations. The structure and microstructure of these MQWs were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and found to have even higher density of threading defects than the GaN template. In spite of this, the internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of these MQWs was estimated from the temperature dependence of the cathodoluminescence spectra to be 87%. This remarkable result was attributed to the deep band structure potential fluctuations introduced by the liquid-phase epitaxy growth mode as well as the high concentration of basal plane stacking faults. (© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
A Lagrange Multiplier/Fictitious Domain/Collocation Method for Solid-Liquid Flows

In this article we discuss the application of a Lagrange multiplier based fictitious domain method to the numerical simulation of incompressible viscous flow modelled by the Navier-Stokes equations around moving rigid bodies; the rigid body motions are due to hydrodynamical forces and gravity. The solution method combines finite element approximations, time discretization by operator splitting and conjugate gradient algorithms for the solution of the linearly constrained quadratic minimization problems coming from the splitting method. The results of numerical experiments for 504 sedimenting cylinders in a two-dimensional channel and two balls sedimenting in a rectangular cylinder are presented.
Some Factors in the Activation of Crab Movement Receptors

The activation of movement receptors in Pachygrapsus crassipes is examined. Lengthening and shortening of the elastic strand of the propodite-dactylopodite (PD) organ are respectively the adequate stimuli for movement receptors responding uniquely either to closing or opening. These stimuli are also effective on the isolated PD organ. Twisting of the strand is without effect. Intracellular records from the receptor cells show apparent intermittent generator potentials during effective stimulation. No electrical activity is observed at sub-threshold speeds or during movement in the inappropriate direction. The action potentials are initiated in the distal process at a considerable distance from the soma. Nicotine applied to the PD organ in high concentration elicits spike discharges of high frequency and long duration; it has no effect when applied to the axons. Applied to the PD organ in low concentration it potentiates the effect of mechanical stimulation without itself eliciting spikes. These findings are discussed in relation to the structure of the receptor endings and a mechanism is tentatively suggested to account for the unidirectional sensitivity.
A comparison of the classical theory and the scattering theory of receiving antennas

The theory of receiving antenna is one of the subjects developed in the early period of radio engineering. We will designate the theory formulated by A.F. Stevenson in 1948 as the classical theory and the theory formulated recently by the present author as the scattering theory of receiving antennas. The two theories we quite different. We will review the classical theory first and point out a useful feature of that theory. An outline of the new theory will then be presented. In the new theory we treat the receiving antenna as a lossy scattering body. Poynting's theorem is applied to the transmitting/receiving system to derive the equivalent circuit relations. Unlike the classical theory, the power relation of the system is automatically satisfied. One important feature of the new theory shows that the mutual impedances between the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna are not equal to each other.
Cooperative Interaction between Developmentally Regulated Troponin T and Tropomyosin Isoforms in the Absence of F-actin

Troponin T (TnT) is the tropomyosin (Tm) binding subunit of the troponin complex that mediates the Ca2+ regulation of actomyosin interaction in striated muscles. Troponin T isoform diversity is marked by a developmentally regulated acidic to basic switch that may modulate muscle contractility. We previously reported that transgenic expression of fast skeletal muscle TnT altered the cooperativity of cardiac muscle. In the present study, we have demonstrated that the binding of acidic TnT to troponin I is weaker than that of basic TnT. However, affinity chromatography experiments showed that Tm bound to acidic TnT with a greater affinity than to basic TnT, consistent with the significantly higher maximal binding of acidic TnT to Tm in solid phase binding assays. Competition and co-immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that the binding of TnT to Tm was cooperative in the absence of F-actin. The cooperativity between TnT molecules for Tm binding can be initiated by the conserved COOH-terminal T2 fragment of TnT. This indicates that the interaction of TnT with Tm induces a conformational change in Tm, promoting interaction of TnT with adjacent Tm dimers. This finding suggests a role for TnT and its acidic and basic isoforms in the cooperative release of the inhibition of striated muscle actomyosin interaction.
The Mineral Concentration Change of Turkey Eggshell Membranes During Incubation

Abstract Membranes from fertile and infertile turkey eggs were examined during incubation to determine the content of Ca, Mg, Na, and K. The Ca concentration in shell membranes of fertile eggs increased (P≤.05) as compared with that in infertile eggs, but concentrations of Mg, Na, and K in shell membranes of fertile eggs declined (P≤.05) as compared with those in infertile eggshell membranes. The data suggest a possible role for some minerals in regulating functional eggshell properties.
The effect of substrate surface preparation on the optical properties of a black chrome solar absorber coating

Abstract In this study, black chrome (ChromeOnyx) was electrodeposited onto mechanically roughened, mechanically polished and electrochemically polished copper plates in order to investigate the influence of substrate surface preparation on the optical properties of the coating. The spectral reflectances of the uncoated and coated surfaces were measured. In addition, the total normal emittance of the coated surfaces and the directional solar absorptance of the coated roughened surfaces are reported. The spectral reflectance of black chrome in the visible spectrum was found to be unaffected by the substrate surface preparations considered in this study. However, the near infrared reflectance was dependent upon the surface preparation. Black chrome on electropolished and mechanically polished substrates has higher near-infrared absorptance than black chrome on fine ground (rough) substrates. Scanning electron micrographs revealed that the average size of the surface particles of the coating was largest for the mechanically polished and smallest for the electrochemically polished substrates, with that of the mechanically roughened substrates falling in between. The results suggest that the variations in near-infrared absorptance are a consequence of differences in the structure and composition of the films resulting from substrate preparation.
Imágenes, ideología y propaganda. La labor del Comité de Información Pública de los Estados Unidos en España (1917-1918)

The United States has traditionally made use of its self-perception as a bastion of freedom and democracy to justify its foreign policies and to carry out propaganda initiatives. In this sense, the creation in 1917 of the first American official information agency —the Committee on Public Information— is a historical landmark. It served to justify the U.S. participation in the Great War as well as to spread Wilson’s message to foreign countries. The Committee opened a branch office in Spai, under the direction of a film industry executive, Frank J. Marion. His mission did not achieve significant results in the short term, owing to the difficulties of reconciling American ideology with the U.S. officials’ perceptions of Spain. Nevertheless, the methods, strategies and philosophy of the Committee were of vital importance in the shaping of Washington’s public diplomacy during and after World War II.
The Effects of Angiotensin II and Specific Angiotensin Receptor Blockers on Embryonic Cardiac Development and Looping Patterns

The role of angiotensin II (Ang II) in the early embryonic development of the heart has not been examined. We have used RT-PCR to identify mRNA for angiotensinogen, angiotensin-converting enzyme, and the Ang II AT1 and AT2 receptors in embryonic day 10.25 Sprague-Dawley rats, and have used confocal microscopy to localize the AT1 receptor to the greater curvature of the developing ventricle in these animals at embryonic days (ED) 9.25 and 10.25. The antibodies used in immunolocalization studies did not distinguish between the AT1a and AT1b receptor subtypes. In whole embryo culture, Ang II added to the culture media resulted in increased ventricular growth and myocyte hypertrophy when treated embryos were compared to cultured littermate controls. Use of Losartan and PD123,319 to block the Ang II AT1 and AT2 receptors resulted in reduced ventricular development and cardiac dilation when compared to control and Ang II-treated embryos. Addition of Ang II and PD123,319 to the culture media also resulted in cardiac loop inversions which may be associated with disruption of normal myofibrillar development. These results clearly indicate an important role for Ang II in the early embryonic development of the heart.
Effects of indatraline and buprenorphine on self-administration of speedball combinations of cocaine and heroin by rhesus monkeys.

The simultaneous intravenous (i.v.) administration of heroin and cocaine, called a “speedball,” is often reported clinically, and identification of effective pharmacotherapies is a continuing challenge. We hypothesized that treatment with combinations of a dopamine reuptake inhibitor, indatraline, and a mu partial agonist, buprenorphine, might reduce speedball self-administration by rhesus monkeys more effectively than either drug alone. Speedballs (0.01 mg/kg/inj cocaine + 0.0032 mg/kg/inj heroin) and food (1 g banana pellets) were available in four daily sessions on a second-order schedule of reinforcement [fixed ratio (FR)4; variable ratio (VR)16:S]. Monkeys were treated for 10 days with saline or ascending dose combinations of indatraline (0.001-0.032 mg/kg/day) and buprenorphine (0.00032–0.01 mg/kg/day). Two combinations of indatraline (0.32 and 0.56 mg/kg/day) + buprenorphine (0.10 and 0.18 mg/kg/day) significantly reduced speedball self-administration in comparison to the saline treatment baseline (p < .01– .001), whereas the same doses of each compound alone had no significant effect on speedball-maintained responding. Daily treatment with 0.56 mg/kg/day indatraline + 0.18 mg/kg/day buprenorphine produced a significant downward shift in the speedball dose-effect curve (p < .01) and transient changes in food-maintained responding. These findings suggest that medication mixtures designed to target both the stimulant and opioid component of the speedball combination may be an effective approach to polydrug abuse treatment.
Effects of N-ethyl,N-nitrosourea on monoamine concentrations and metabolizing enzymes in mouse brain regions.

Abstract N-ethyl,N-nitrosourea is a well known alkylating agent and produces central nervous system-specific tumors in several laboratory animal species. In the present study, young male CD-1 mice were treated by i.p. injections of 0, 2, 8, or 32 mg/kg body weight N-ethyl,N-nitrosourea, twice a week for 3 weeks. Endogenous levels of brain monoamine neurotransmitters and their selected metabolites; norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), vanillylmandelic acid (VMA), dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid (dopac), homovanillic acid (HVA), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), and dihydroxyphenylalanine (dopa) were measured using HPLC with electrochemical detection. N-ethyl,N-nitrosourea treatment caused an increase of NE and 5-HT in the hypothalamus and striatum. Increased levels of 5-HIAA were noticed in the same brain regions. Elevated levels of NE were also observed in the cerebral cortex, medulla oblongata and the cerebellum. The major metabolite of NE, VMA, was decreased in several brain regions to non-detectable levels. Histophathological examination of brain tissue did not eveal any pathologic lesions. The increases in brain amines were associate d with increased activity of tryptophan hydroxylase in the hypothalamus and corpus striatum. Dopa-decarboxylase was elevated in the cerebral cortex at a low dose of N-ethyl,N-nitrosourea only, whereas the monoamine oxidase activity was unaltered. Results indicated that N-ethyl,N-nitrosourea exposure may cause an elevation of steady state levels of various biogenic amines in brain areas and these changes to some extent are consistent with the altered activity of metabolizing enzymes.
Comparative Study of β‐Glucosidase from Cotyledons and Fruits of Cucumber, Cucumis sativus

This study was conducted to compare the β-glucosidase of cotyledons and fruits of Cucumis sativus L. cv. Chipper. The concentration of the enzyme was followed throughout the growth period of each organ. The greatest concentration of the enzyme did not correspond with the most rapid period of growth. Each enzyme was characterized kinetically. The Michaelis constant of the cotyledon β-glucosidase for p-NO2-phenyl-β-D-gluco-pyranoside was 1.57 mM, and was 0.35 mM for the fruit enzyme. The enzymes from the two sources also differed in affinity for glucono-1,5-lactone, a competitive inhibitor of β-glucosidases, susceptibility to inhibition by saccharides, and heat stability. The two organs apparently contain different forms of β-glucosidase.
Surry steam generator program: Final results, evaluation of NDE performance, and technical basis for improved ISI and plugging criteria

Abstract The Steam Generator Group Project (SGGP) was a program conducted for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) by Pacific Northwest Laboratory. The SGGP used the retired-from-service Surry 2A steam generator as a test bed to investigate the reliability and effectiveness of in-service nondestructive eddy-current (EC) inspection equipment and procedures, and as a source of service degraded tubes for validating empirical models of remaining tube integrity developed previously. This paper summarizes results of the visual and metallographic examination of more than 550 specimens removed from the generator for validation of several round robin EC inspections conducted in prior years. Burst tests of specimens removed from the generator, along with burst and leak rate testing of tubes containing laboratory produced stress corrosion cracking (SCC), are presented. A mini-round robin using tubes with laboratory produced SCC, designed to supplement the results from the generator, is discussed. Statistical analyses of the combined metallographic and EC data to determine the probability of detection and sizing accuracy are reported, in addition to a discussion of the factors which influenced the EC results. A description of analyses and Monte Carlo simulations to evaluate and compare various candidate sampling plans for in-service inspection is given.
1057 SUBSTRATE BINDING BY THE INDUCIBLE BETA-LACTAMASE BETA-LACTAMASE (BL) OF PSEUDOMONAS (PC)

1057 SUBSTRATE BINDING BY THE INDUCIBLE BETA-LACTAMASE BETA-LACTAMASE (BL) OF PSEUDOMONAS (PC)
One-pot Synthesis of Polyaniline-metal Nanocomposites

Composite materials consisting of polyaniline nanofibers decorated with noble-metal (Ag or Au) nanoparticles were synthesized with γ radiolysis. Aqueous solutions of aniline, a free-radical oxidant, and/or a metal salt were irradiated with γ rays. Exposure of the solutions to γ rays caused aniline to polymerize as very-thin fibers. Metal particles were also formed during irradiation and decorated the fibers. The shape and size of the metal particles could be changed from nanometer-sized spheres to micron-sized dendrites by varying the ratio of aniline to the metal precursor. Polyaniline-metal composites were characterized using UV−Vis spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The electrical conductivity of the composites increased with the loading of metal in the nanocomposites and was up to 50 times greater than that of polyaniline fibers alone.
Timing is everything: Methodologic issues locating and recruiting medically underserved women for abnormal mammography follow-up research ☆

Objectives Recruiting underserved women in breast cancer research studies remains a significant challenge. We present our experience attempting to locate and recruit minority and medically underserved women identified in a Nashville, Tennessee public hospital for a mammography follow-up study.
Acromegaly secondary to growth hormone releasing hormone secretion.

Background Acromegaly secondary to growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) secretion is exceptionally rare. Aim To report a case of acromegaly diagnosed in 1984 and assumed to be pituitary in origin. Sixteen years later, the cause was found to be a GHRH secreting neuroendocrine pancreatic tumour. Method A case report. Conclusion Although ectopic GHRH production is very rare, endocrinologists should be aware of this possibility in acromegaly patients if a pituitary tumour was not detected using pituitary imaging.
Comparing the risk of urethrolysis for the treatment of voiding dysfunction between two retropubic mesh slings: a case-control study.

Introduction and hypothesis Long-term outcome data exist with Gynecare TVT™ tension-free support for incontinence (TVT), yet few comparisons have been made to newer retropubic sling delivery systems, especially with regards to urethrolysis for postoperative voiding dysfunction. Our objective was to compare the odds of urethrolysis for the treatment of voiding dysfunction between two retropubic sling systems.
Effect of ethanol on the interaction between the macrophage and Mycobacterium avium

Chronic ethanol ingestion predisposes to tuberculosis and bacterial pneumonia. Mycobacterium avium complex organisms cause bacteremia in patients with AIDS. Human macrophages and murine Kupffer cells exposed to ethanol are more permissive towards intracellular growth of M. avium than control mononuclear phagocytes. Ethanol also has been shown to impair the ability of human macrophages and murine Kupffer cells to respond to stimulation with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and to produce cytokines such as interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and TNF when properly stimulated. The impairment is dependent in part on a downregulation in the number of TNF receptors on the macrophage's membrane. Recent evidence suggests that ethanol in nonlethal concentrations induces stress-related proteins in M. avium, leading to the inhibition of intracellular pathways in the macrophage and, consequently, impairing some of its functions. In summary, ethanol acts both on the host and on the mycobacterium in a complex sequence of events that influence the outcome of the infection.
The Fish Community of a Flow-Impacted River Reach in Alabama, USA with Emphasis on Largemouth Bass and Spotted Bass

ABSTRACT The Weiss bypass reach of the Coosa River, Alabama, USA is a 32-km section of the river bypassed after construction of a power generation facility on Weiss Lake in 1961. This area experiences daily flow reversals that can extend 24 km upstream and increase depth by up to 2 m. During a 15-month period, we used electrofishing to collect 37 fish species from 10 families in this reach. Species richness and diversity increased with distance from the flow reversal, suggesting some influence of the daily flow reversals. However, because nearly all of the species collected were habitat generalists (i.e., none was a fluvial specialist), the flow appeared to influence the overall fish community by eliminating fluvial specialist species that would be expected to inhabit this type of river reach (i.e., a reach with an unmodified flow regime). Relative to largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and spotted bass (M. punctulatus), we found that population characteristics (i.e., age, growth, catch rates, habitat...
Solvent extraction and photometric determination of nitrite with some aromatic ortho diamines

Nitrite reacts with diamines and gives sensitive color reactions with certain aromatic ortho diamines. With nitrite in an acidic medium, both 3,3′-diaminobenzidine and 3,4-toluenediamine give yellow colored solutions, while 4,5-diamino-o-xylene gives a green colored solution. The molar absorptivity is approximately 3500 for 3,3′-diaminobenzidine, 2900 for 3,4-toluenediamine, and 1050 for 4,5-diamino-o-xylene. The reactions are not very sensitive; however, the reaction products can be extracted by some organic solvents such asn-butyl oriso-amyl alcohol. No analytical method for determining nitrite based on solvent extraction is known. The factors affecting the color development have been studied. Nitrite reacts with diamines at a 1 to 1 ratio. Most common ions do not interfere, but oxidizing substances must be absent. Tartrate and EDTA may be present as masking agents. Nitrate may be determined after its reduction with a metal such as magnesium. The rate of reduction has been studied with the help of a nitrate ion electrode. Nitrite can also be titrated photometrically using 3,3′-diaminobenzidine as a titrant.
Long-term survivors of glioblastoma multiforme: clinical and molecular characteristics.

Long term survival is rare in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). To determine if the tumors of patients with long survivals constitute a subgroup of patients with identifiable molecular genetic characteristics, we studied the p53 gene and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGF-R) expression in long-term survivors of GBM. A review of the Tumor Registry of Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases documented that 521 patients were treated for GBM between 1954 and 1987 and that 12 patients had seven-year or longer survivals. Six additional long-term survivors were identified from other institutions. After pathological re-examination, the diagnosis of 8 of these 18 (44%) tumors was changed to other histologic tumor types. Using immunohistochemical analysis, 4 of 10 confirmed malignant gliomas had over-expression of p53. Polymerase chain reaction/single-strand conformational polymorphism (PCR/SSCP) analysis and sequence analysis of these 4 tumors showed no p53 mutations in exons 5–8, the region where most mutations have been reported in human malignancies. Immunohistochemical analysis for EGF-R was performed on the tumors of the 10 long-term survivors. EGF-R over-expression was identified in 4 (40%), which is consistent with previous reported studies for GBM in general. These findings suggest that there is a subset of GBM defined by the accumulation of wild-type p53 and that the over-expression of EGF-R does not preclude long-term survival. The seven-year survival rate for confirmed GBM in patients from the Memorial Hospital Tumor Registry was at least 1%.
Pathological characteristics and prognosis of nonpalpable and palpable prostate cancers with a hybritech prostate specific antigen of 4 to 10 NG./ML.

AbstractPurpose: We compared the surgical pathological findings and postoperative course of patients with palpable and nonpalpable prostate cancers.Materials and Methods: All patients with untreated prostate specific antigen (PSA) 4 to 10 ng./ml. who underwent radical prostatectomy between December 1984 and December 1993 were reviewed to select 61 with clinical stage T1c (nonpalpable) and 209 with stages T2a to c (palpable) disease.Results: Nonpalpable cancers were smaller (2.99 versus 4.42 cc for palpable tumors), had smaller volumes of Gleason grade 4 or 5 cancer (0.66 versus 1.32 cc, respectively) and were less likely to have positive surgical margins (13 versus 22 percent, respectively) or significant (1 cm. or more) capsular penetration (10 versus 26 percent, respectively). Nonpalpable and palpable cancers had similar rates of seminal vesicle invasion (3.3 versus 4.3 percent, respectively) and positive lymph nodes (1.6 versus 0 percent, respectively). More than 90 percent of patients with nonpalpable...
Analytical Redundancy Based Fault Tolerant Control of a Steer-by-Wire System

This paper presents a novel observer-based analytical redundancy for a steer-by-wire (SBW) system. In order to achieve high level of reliability for a By-Wire system, double, triple, or even quadruple redundant sensors, actuators, communication networks, and controllers are needed. But this added hardware increases the overall cost of the vehicle. This paper utilizes a novel analytical redundancy methodology to reduce the total number of redundant road-wheel angle (RWA) sensors in a triply redundant RWA-based SBW system, while maintaining a high level of reliability. The self-aligning torque at road-tire interface due to the steering dynamics has been modeled as a function of the linear vehicle states. A full state observer was designed using the combined model of the vehicle and SBW system to estimate the vehicle body side slip angle. The steering angle was then estimated from the observed and measured states of the vehicle (body side slip angle and yaw rate) as well as the current input to the SBW electric motor(s). With at least two physical road-wheel angle sensors and the analytical estimation of the RWA value (which replaces the third physical sensor), a fault detection and isolation (FDI) algorithm was developed using a majority voting scheme. The FDI algorithm was then used to detect faulty sensor(s) in order to maintain safe drivability. The proposed analytical redundancy based fault detection & isolation algorithms and the linearized vehicle model were modeled in SIMULINK. Simulation of the proposed algorithm was performed for both single and multiple sensor faults. Simulation results show that the proposed analytical redundancy based fault detection and isolation algorithm provides the same level of fault tolerance as in an SBW system with full hardware redundancy against single point failures.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Pulmonary Hypertension and Long-term Mortality in Aortic and Mitral Regurgitation

Abstract Background Outcomes data in patients with aortic regurgitation or mitral regurgitation have been limited to small series with generally Methods Our institution's electronic echocardiography database was queried to identify those patients examined in 1992 and reported to have at least mild aortic regurgitation or mitral regurgitation. Patients were classified by semi-quantitative degree of regurgitation. Pulmonary artery systolic pressure was categorized as normal, borderline, mild, or moderate or greater hypertension (pulmonary artery systolic pressure >40 mm Hg). Age-stratified Cox proportional hazards models compared survival among groups and adjusted for sex, depressed left ventricular ejection fraction, and pulmonary artery systolic pressure. Mortality data were obtained from the 2008 Social Security Death Index. Results Of 4984 echocardiograms performed in 4050 patients, 1156 patients (28%; aged 72±14 years) had at least mild aortic regurgitation and 1971 patients (49%; aged 69±16 years) had at least mild mitral regurgitation. Overall 15-year mortality in patients with aortic regurgitation was 74% and similar for all grades of aortic regurgitation. Overall 15-year mortality in patients with mitral regurgitation was 71% and got progressively worse with increasing severity grade of mitral regurgitation (63% for mild to 81% for at least moderate-to-severe). For both aortic and mitral regurgitation, moderate or greater pulmonary artery systolic hypertension was associated with increased mortality (in patients with aortic regurgitation, hazard ratio [HR], 1.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.58–2.41, and in mitral regurgitation patients, HR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.26–1.75). Conclusion Long-term (15-year) survival of patients with aortic regurgitation is poor and is independent of regurgitation severity. In contrast, long-term survival of patients with mitral regurgitation correlates with regurgitation severity. For both groups, moderate or greater pulmonary artery systolic hypertension identified those at highest risk.