cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High rates of medication adherence in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension: An integrated specialty pharmacy approach

Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE-5I) have demonstrated improvement in disease symptoms and quality of life for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Despite these benefits, reported adherence to PDE-5I therapy is sub-optimal. Clinical pharmacists at an integrated practice site are in a unique position to mitigate barriers related to PAH therapy including medication adherence and costs. The primary objective of this study was to assess medication adherence to PDE-5I therapy within an integrated care model at an academic institution. The secondary objective was to assess the impact of out-of-pocket (OOP) cost, frequency of dosing, adverse events (AE) and PAH-related hospitalizations on medication adherence. We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of adult patients with PAH who were prescribed PDE-5I therapy by the center's outpatient pulmonary clinic and who received medication management through the center's specialty pharmacy. We defined optimal medication adherence as proportion of days covered (PDC) ≥ 80%. Clinical data including AEs and PAH-related hospitalizations were extracted from the electronic medical record, and financial data from pharmacy claims. Of the 131 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 94% achieved optimal adherence of ≥ 80% PDC. In this study population, 47% of patients experienced an AE and 27% had at least one hospitalization. The median monthly OOP cost was $0.62. Patients with PDC<80% were more likely to report an AE compared to patients with PDC≥ 80% (p = 0.002). Hospitalization, OOP cost, and frequency of dosing were not associated with adherence in this cohort. Patients receiving PDE-5I therapy through an integrated model achieved high adherence rates and low OOP costs.
Integration of Basic and Clinical Sciences: Student Perceptions.

The integrated curriculum is becoming a popular concept among dental schools. The purpose of this study was to query dental students at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston – School of Dentistry (UTSD) to elucidate their level of interest in the integrated curriculum, perception of how much integration is currently occurring, and identify challenges to integration. To address this question, dental students at UTSD were invited to participate in a survey. Participants reported their perspectives on integration of sciences. All survey participants agreed that it is beneficial to integrate clinical and basic sciences and that basic science educators were incorporating clinical relevance in their regular teaching. The third and fourth year classes, classes that had been exposed to general as well as all specialty dentistry clinics, agreed that basic sciences are being incorporated into most clinical teaching. Top two barriers to integration identified by the students were lack of crossover knowledge of faculty, and insufficient time to explore connections between basic sciences and clinical sciences because of the volume of information that needs to be covered. In conclusion, student perception at UTSD is that overall basic and clinical sciences are being integrated throughout the curriculum.
Size Matters: Rethinking of the Sizing Classification of Pituitary Adenomas Based on the Rates of Surgery: A Multi-institutional Retrospective Study of 29,651 Patients

Objective Pituitary adenomas are historically classified into microadenoma or macroadenomas based on size less than or greater than/equal to 1c m. “Giant” adenomas describe tumors ≥4 cm. The aim of this study is to present an evidence-based approach to size classification based on national trends. Design The design involved is multi-institutional retrospective study. Participants A total of 29,651 patients were studied from National Cancer Institute's SEER program from 2004 to 2016 across the United States. Main Outcome Measures The main outcome measures include demographics, treatment characteristics, and overall survival in the population. Results At the 20-mm threshold, the likelihood of operation exceeds the likelihood of nonoperative management. Patients with adenoma size 1 to 19 mm had significantly longer overall survival compared with 20 to 50 mm (Log rank: p Conclusion Microadenoma has classically been used to describe pituitary tumors less than 1 cm, though no clinical significance of this threshold has been demonstrated. The current study suggests a size cut-off of 20 or 30 mm as more clinically relevant. Still, future studies are warranted to examine the significance of this classification by specific tumor type, and subclassified as appropriate. There is no difference in the rate of surgery or survival for adenomas between 30 and 50 mm, challenging the 4-mm cutoff threshold for “giant” adenoma.
Factors that inhibit and promote resilience following childhood maltreatment: A qualitative exploration of practitioner perspectives

Abstract The negative impacts of childhood maltreatment are vast and span multiple domains. Recently, studies have examined the characteristics of maltreated children who exhibit a lack of negative outcomes; in other words, children who displayed resilience. Though resilience has become a more prevalent topic, the perspectives of practitioners working with children following maltreatment have been inadequately represented. The purpose of the current study was to explore the perspectives of practitioners working with maltreated children to better understand the factors that promote and inhibit resilience. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were completed with practitioners who provide services to maltreated children (N = 27). After audio-recording and professional transcription, the research team engaged in a process of thematic coding and analysis, with collaborative theme development. Study codes yielded two primary themes relating to factors that inhibit or promote resilience among maltreated children. Internal factors referred to characteristics of the individual child that could influence their likelihood of displaying resilience. External factors referred to context and circumstances outside of the child that can impact the development and display of resilience. Practitioners understood resilience as the interaction of internal and external factors which influence the degree to which children display resilience following maltreatment. The findings help to incorporate practitioner perspectives into current conceptualizations of resilience. This study carries implications for increased reliance on translational research in the resilience field, reflecting the perspectives and needs of direct service providers. Further, the results help us to better understand how practitioner perspectives shape the interventions they deliver to build resilience capacity.
Ability of a novel shock index that incorporates invasive hemodynamics to predict mortality in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether the use of invasively measured hemodynamics improves the prognostic ability of a shock index (SI). BACKGROUND SI such as Admission-SI, Age-SI, Modified SI (MSI), and Age-MSI predict short-term mortality in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS Single-center study of 510 patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention. STEMI SI was defined as age × heart rate (HR) divided by coronary perfusion pressure (CPP). RESULTS The mean age was 62 ± 14 years, 66% were males with hypertension (69%), tobacco use (38%), diabetes (28%) and chronic kidney disease (6%). The mean HR, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and CPP were 81 ± 18 bpm, 124 ± 28 mmHg, and 52.8 ± 16.3 mmHg, respectively. Patients with STEMI SI ≥182 (n = 51) were more likely to experience a cardiac arrest in the catheterization laboratory (9.8% vs. 2.0%; p = .001), require mechanical circulatory support (47.1% vs. 8.5%; p < .0001) and be treated with vasopressors (56.9% vs. 10.7%; p < .0001) compared to STEMI SI < 182 (n = 459). After multivariate adjustment, patients with STEMI SI ≥182 were 10, 10.1 and 4.8 times more likely to die during hospitalization, at 30 days and at 5 years, respectively. The C statistic of STEMI SI was 0.870, similar to GRACE score (AUC = 0.902; p = .29) and TIMI STEMI score (AUC = 0.895; p = .36). CONCLUSION STEMI SI is an easy to calculate risk score that identifies STEMI patients at high risk of in-hospital death.
Turning the headlights on novel cancer biomarkers: Inspection of mechanics underlying intratumor heterogeneity

Although the existence of intratumoral heterogeneity (ITH) in the expression of common biomarkers has been described by pathologists since the late 1890s, we have only recently begun to fathom the staggering extent and near ubiquity of this phenomenon. From the tumor's perspective, ITH provides a stabilizing diversity that allows for the evolution of aggressive cancer phenotypes. As the weight of the evidence correlating ITH to poor prognosis burgeons, it has become increasingly important to determine the mechanisms by which a tumor acquires ITH, find clinically-adaptable means to quantify ITH and design strategies to deal with the numerous profound clinical ramifications that ITH forces upon us. Elucidation of the drivers of ITH could enable development of novel biomarkers whose interrogation might permit quantitative evaluation of the ITH inherent in a tumor in order to predict the poor prognosis risk associated with that tumor. This review proposes centrosome amplification (CA), aided and abetted by centrosome clustering mechanisms, as a critical driver of chromosomal instability (CIN) that makes a key contribution to ITH generation. Herein we also evaluate how a tumor's inherent mitotic propensity, which reflects the cell cycling kinetics within the tumor's proliferative cells, functions as the indispensable engine underpinning CIN, and determines the rate of CIN. We thus expound how the forces of centrosome amplification and mitotic propensity collaborate to sculpt the genetic landscape of a tumor and spawn extensive subclonal diversity. As such, centrosome amplification and mitotic propensity profiles could serve as clinically facile and powerful prognostic biomarkers that would enable more accurate risk segmentation of patients and design of individualized therapies.
Abstract 1657: Tumor selective immunotherapy to overcome checkpoint blockade resistance

Most patients are resistant to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade therapy but mechanisms are not well defined. Defective innate sensing limits reactivation of T cells after the blockade. Patients with well-established solid tumors often generate complicated immunosuppressive networks and are generally refractory to immunotherapy. NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) is a two-electron oxidoreductase elevated (more than 100-fold) in most solid cancers and has emerged as a promising target for direct tumor-killing. Here, we demonstrate that novel NQO1 targeting drug-Isobutyldeoxynyboquinone (IB-DNQ) causes tumor-selective innate sensing leading to T cell dependent tumor suppression. IB-DNQ treatment increases PD-L1 expression in the tumor microenvironment. Upregulated PD-L1 within TME contributes to tumor relapse and provides therapeutic window for combination therapy of IB-DNQ with immune checkpoint blockade. We demonstrate that IB-DNQ or PD-1 blockade treatment alone leads to tumor rejection in mice bearing small but not large established tumors. However, combination therapy of IB-DNQ with anti-PD-L1 eradicates well-established and checkpoint blockade refractory tumors. Citation Format: Lingxiang Jiang, Paul J. Hergenrother, Xiumei Huang. Tumor selective immunotherapy to overcome checkpoint blockade resistance [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 1657.
Resection of a Dumbbell-Shaped Facial Nerve Schwannoma With Preservation of Facial Nerve Function Through the Extended Middle Fossa Approach: 2-Dimensional Operative Video.

Facial nerve schwannomas are rare and can arise from any segment along the course of the facial nerve.1 Their location and growth patterns present as distinct groups that warrant specific surgical management and approaches.2 The management challenge arises when the facial nerve maintains good function (House-Brackmann grade I-II).3 Hence, a prime goal of management is to maintain good facial animation. In large tumors, however, resection with facial nerve function preservation should be sought and is achievable.4,5 While tumors originating from the geniculate ganglion grow extradural on the floor of the middle fossa, they may extend via an isthmus through the internal auditory canal to the cerebellopontine angle forming a dumbbell-shaped tumor. Despite the large size, they may present with good facial nerve function. These tumors may be resected through an extended middle fossa approach with preservation of facial and vestibulocochlear nerve function. The patient is a 62-yr-old man who presented with mixed sensorineural and conductive hearing loss and normal facial nerve function. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a large tumor involving the middle fossa, internal auditory meatus, and cerebellopontine angle. The tumor was resected through an extended middle fossa approach with a zygomatic osteotomy and anterior petrosectomy.6 A small residual was left at the geniculate ganglion to preserve facial function. The patient did well with hearing preservation and intact facial nerve function. He consented to the procedure and publication of images. Image at 1:30 © Ossama Al-Mefty, used with permission. Images at 2:03 reprinted from Kadri and Al-Mefty,6 with permission from JNSPG.
The HOXB13 variant X285K is associated with clinical significance and early age at diagnosis in African American prostate cancer patients.

BACKGROUND Recently, a novel HOXB13 variant (X285K) was observed in men of African descent with prostate cancer (PCa) in Martinique. Little is known about this or other variants in HOXB13 which may play a role in PCa susceptibility in African-American (AA) men. METHODS We sequenced HOXB13 in an AA population of 1048 men undergoing surgical treatment for PCa at Johns Hopkins Hospital. RESULTS Seven non-synonymous germline variants were observed in the patient population. While six of these variants were seen only once, X285K was found in eight patients. In a case-case analysis, we find that carriers of this latter variant are at increased risk of clinically significant PCa (1.2% carrier rate in Gleason Score ≥7 PCa vs. 0% in Gleason Score <7 PCa, odds ratio, OR = inf; 95% Confidence Interval, 95%CI:1.05-inf, P = 0.028), as well as PCa with early age at diagnosis (2.4% carrier rate in patients <50 year vs. 0.5% carrier rate in patients ≥50 year, OR = 5.25, 95% CI:1.00-28.52, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS While this variant is rare in the AA population (~0.2% MAF), its ancestry-specific occurrence and apparent preferential association with risk for the more aggressive disease at an early age emphasizes its translational potential as an important, novel PCa susceptibility marker in the high-risk AA population.
Parallel repetition of the odd cycle game

Higher powers of the Odd Cycle Game has been the focus of recent investigations [3,4]. In [4] it was shown that if we repeat the game d times in parallel, the winning probability is upper bounded by 1 - Ω(√d/n√log d), when d ≤ n2 log n. We 1. Determine the exact value of the square of the game; 2. Show that if Alice and Bob are allowed to communicate a few bits they have a strategy with greatly increased winning probability; 3. Develop a new metric conjectured to give the precise value of the game up-to second order precision in 1/n for constant d. 4. Show an 1 - Ω(d/n log n) upper bound for d ≤ n log n if one player uses a "symmetric" strategy.
Anti-Consumption Tactics

The rise of mass consumerism through the twentieth century triggered numerous critiques and challenges that have positioned consumption practices as key areas of struggle. Anti-consumption movements and subcultures have emerged to resist the declining quality of life created by consumer culture and to issue a moral critique of unsustainable consumption. They oppose the ideology of consumerism, which supports an inherently oppressive, global capitalist system by persuading people to consume more than they need. Anti-consumption tactics such as dumpster diving and culture jamming help individuals resist and challenge oppressive consumerism. Keywords: consumption; identity politics; social change; social movements
Reconstructing Polyatomic Structures from Discrete X-Rays: NP-Completeness Proof for Three Atoms

We address a discrete tomography problem that arises in the study of the atomic structure of crystal lattices. A polyatomic structure T can be defined as an integer lattice in dimension D≥2, whose points may be occupied by c distinct types of atoms. To “analyze” T, we conduct l measurements that we call discrete X-rays. A discrete X-ray in direction ξ determines the number of atoms of each type on each line parallel to ξ. Given l such non-parallel X-rays, we wish to reconstruct T.
A finite element thermal analysis program for square shaped packages and subsequent experimental comparisons

A finite-element thermal analysis program is presented. A description of the finite element used in the program is provided along with an explanation of the matrix storage scheme and simultaneous equation solution which significantly reduces memory requirements. A specific model of a real package is given along with a discussion of the development of realistic convection boundary conditions. A comparison with subsequent experimental results shows that this simple-to-use program, which can run on a personal computer, can predict junction-to-air resistances within 10% of the measured value. >
Strain-rate effects on hydrogen embrittlement of 7075 aluminum

Abstract Three microstructures of 7075 aluminum alloy were studied: T6, T73, and an underaged temper (UT) equal in strength to T6. Specimens with these structures were cathodically charged with hydrogen and tensile tested at room temperature over a range of four orders of magnitude in strain rate. All three microstructures exhibited a maximum in embrittlement at an intermediate strain rate; this strain increased with degree of aging, from about 0.0005/s for UT, to about 0.01/s for T73. The decreased embrittlement at the lowest strain rate was shown not to be a result of hydrogen loss from specimens.
The strength of seeds and their destruction by granivorous insects

The influence of seed structure and strength on their destruction by granivores is central to understanding the dynamics of granivore-plant interactions. For up to nine seed species, the effects of seed size (cm 3 ), mass (mg), density (mg/cm 3 ) and coat strength (MPa) on the damage inflicted by three post-dispersal granivores (Harpalus pensylvanicus, Anisodactylus sanctaecrucis, and Gryllus pennsylvanicus) were evaluated. Seed destruction rates by G. pennsylvanicus were statistically unrelated to the size and toughness of the seeds. Seed densities significantly affected their destruction by A. sanctaecrucis and H. pen- sylvanicus, as did seed size, mass, and strength in H. pensylvanicus under choice conditions. The carabid beetles destroyed more of the small, denser seeds with stronger seed coats. The results show that different grani- vores are able to distinguish the structural strength and physical density of seeds as well as seed size. The relative ability of granivores to detect these seed characteristics offers a way in which diverse communities of post-dis- persal insect granivores can persist within a single habitat. The authors redefine how the strength of biological struc- tures should be evaluated in ecological studies, using guidelines commonplace in the field of engineering.
Impact of Be-doping on the material properties of InAs/InAsSb type-II superlattices for infrared detection

The material properties of p-type InAs/InAsSb superlattices are of interest for infrared photodiodes, but InAs/InAsSb superlattices are residually n-type and p-type superlattices have not been investigated thus far. This study examines the material properties of a mid-wavelength infrared InAs/InAsSb superlattice design doped with Be concentrations from 0.5-7x10 16 cm -3 . High-resolution x-ray diffraction revealed slight structural variation throughout the ~500 nm thick superlattice layer, but the RMS surface roughness was reasonable. Hall Effect measurements, taken at 10 K to remove any conduction effects from the undoped GaSb substrate, revealed the superlattice converting from ntype to p-type at Be:3x10 16 cm -3 . The maximum hole mobility achieved at the two highest Be doping levels was ~24,000 cm 2 /Vs, which is high for mid-wavelength infrared superlattices. The doped superlattices all had photoluminescence (PL) peaks 12 - 34 meV lower in energy than the undoped sample, and the PL peak FWHMs increased as the average superlattice mismatch increased, as expected. Comparing the photoresponse to the PL allowed the Be acceptor binding energy in the superlattice (13 meV) to be determined, which agreed with the reported Be acceptor binding energy in InAs.
Considerations in the design of studies of dietary influences on mammary carcinogenesis in rats and mice

Design of diets for the study of dietary influences in mammary gland carcinogenesis requires attention to several questions: (1) Do the diets satisfy the nutritional needs of the animal under the conditions of the experiment, and are they palatable? (2) Does the protocol include determination of feed intake (if indicated) and of achievement of the desired level of nutrient deficiency, adequacy, or excess? (3) Are there potentially confounding nutrient interactions or nutrient effects or physiological or pathological responses that must be considered? The particular sensitivity of mammary gland tumorigenesis to intake of fat and calories and to body weight gain must be considered and controlled for in all experiments.
Aziridine 2-carboxylate ester mediated asymmetric synthesis of α-alkyl β-amino acids

Abstract The highly stereoselective ring opening of N-tosylaziridine 2-carboxylate esters with LiAlH 4 followed by oxidation of the ensuing syn alcohols results in a highly efficient 4 step asymmetric synthesis of α-methyl β-amino acids from N-sulfinylaziridine 2-carboxylate esters.
Optimization of binary solvents in thin layer chromatography

ΔRf, the separation between a pair of compounds on a thin layer chromatographic plate, can be predicted as a function of solvent composition for certain binary systems. This allows the prediction of optimum solvent composition for separating a mixture of compounds by thin layer chromatography. A new solvent polarity ranking, based on calculation of ΔRf is described.
A Method for Collection of Bacteria from Air and Textiles.

SummaryA method is described for collection of air-borne bacteria, by means of dispersing air at a rate of 30 liters per minute from a Folin aeration tube into 20 cc of broth contained in a test tube. The apparatus is about 90% efficient, is readily constructed from simple equipment, and may be adapted to estimation of the bacterial content of textiles.
Inflammasome Activation: How Macrophages Watch What They Eat

Underhill and colleagues (Shimada et al., 2010) provide evidence for an intriguing link between the activity of lysozyme in the phagosome and activation of the Nlrp3 inflammasome, a cytosolic regulator of inflammation and cytokine production. The authors show that resistance to lysozyme allows Staphylococcus aureus to evade Nlrp3 activation.
Active and passive chalcogenide glass optical fibers for IR applications: a review

Chalcogenide glass fibers based on sulfide, selenide, telluride and their rare earth doped compositions are being actively investigated worldwide. Great strides have been made in reducing optical losses using improved chemical purification techniques, but further improvements are needed in both purification and fiberization technology to attain the theoretical optical losses. Despite these problems, current single mode and multimode chalcogenide glass fibers are enabling numerous applications. Some of these applications include laser power delivery, chemical sensing, imaging, scanning near field microscopy/spectroscopy, fiber IR sources/lasers, amplifiers and optical switches. The authors assert that the research and development of chalcogenide glasses will grow in the foreseeable future, especially with respect to improvements in the optical quality of the fibers and the performance of the fibers in existing and future applications.
Deficiency of PPARβ/δ in the Epidermis Results in Defective Cutaneous Permeability Barrier Homeostasis and Increased Inflammation

In cultured human keratinocytes or murine epidermis, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor β/δ (PPAR β/δ ) (NR1C2) activators (1) stimulate keratinocyte differentiation; (2) decrease keratinocyte proliferation; (3) accelerate permeability barrier repair; (4) increase epidermal lipid synthesis; and (5) reduce cutaneous inflammation. Since these results suggest that PPAR β/δ could play an important role in cutaneous homeostasis, we assessed here the skin phenotype of mice deficient in PPAR β/δ . Gross cutaneous abnormalities were not evident, and both stratum corneum (SC) skin hydration and surface pH were normal. However, the epidermis was thickened and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) staining was increased, indicating increased cell proliferation. No change in apoptosis was observed but the expression of differentiation markers, such as filaggrin, involucrin, and loricrin, was slightly increased in PPAR β/δ −/− mice. Although basal permeability barrier function was normal, PPAR β/δ knockout (KO) mice show a significant delay in barrier recovery rates following acute barrier disruption by either acetone treatment or tape-stripping. Delayed barrier recovery correlated with decreased production and secretion of lamellar bodies (LBs), and with reduced numbers of extracellular lamellar membranes in the SC. Finally, PPAR β/δ KO mice displayed increased inflammation in response to 12- O -tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) treatment. Together, these results further demonstrate that PPAR β/δ in the epidermis: (1) is required for permeability barrier homeostasis; (2) regulates keratinocyte proliferation; and (3) modulates cutaneous inflammation.
A Granulosis Virus Disease of the Western Grape Leaf Skeletonizer and its Transmission

Since 1950 the University of California has maintained a program designed to evaluate the effectiveness of certain insect parasites in the control of the western grape leaf skeletonizer, Harrisina brillians B. & McD., in San Diego County, California. During this time, all sustained efforts to produce parasites in quantities for field release have failed because of recurrent outbreaks of a disease of the skeletonizer larvae. The causative agent of this disease was identified by Steinhaus and Hughes (1952) as a granulosis virus.
Impacts of Macondo oil from Deepwater Horizon spill on the growth response of the common reed Phragmites australis: A mesocosm study

Abstract We investigated impacts of Macondo MC252 oil from the Deepwater Horizon ( DWH ) spill on the common reed Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud., a dominant species of the Mississippi River Delta. In greenhouse experiments, we simulated the most common DWH oiling scenarios by applying weathered and emulsified Macondo oil to aboveground shoots at varying degrees of coverage (0–100%) or directly to marsh soil at different dosages (0–16 L m − 2 ). P. australis exhibited strong resistance to negative impacts when oil was applied to shoots alone, while reductions in above- and belowground plant growth were apparent when oil was applied to the soil or with repeated shoot-oiling. Although soil-oiling compromised plant function, mortality of P. australis did not occur. Our results demonstrate that P. australis has a high tolerance to weathered and emulsified Macondo oil, and that mode of exposure (aboveground versus belowground) was a primary determinant of impact severity.
QUINONES AS MEDIATORS OF ELECTRON TRANSFER FROM MEMBRANE‐BOUND CHLOROPHYLL TO CYTOCHROME c IN THE AQUEOUS PHASE IN LIPID BILAYER VESICLES: SYNERGISTIC ENHANCEMENT OF CYTOCHROME c REDUCTION BY LIPOPHILIC/ HYDROPHILIC QUINONE PAIRS

Laser flash photolysis has been used to determine the kinetics of cytochrome c reduction by chlorophyll triplet state in negatively-charged lipid bilayer vesicles, as mediated by quinones. Large synergistic enhancements in the yield of reduced cytochrome were obtained using a pair of quinones, one of which was lipophilic (e.g. benzoquinone, 2,6-di-f-butylbenzoquinone) and the other of which was hydrophilic (e.g. l,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulfonate). The mechanism was shown to involve initial quenching of the triplet by the membrane-associated quinone to form chlorophyll cation radical and quinone anion radical. An interquinone electron transfer process followed this reaction, which occurred at the membrane-water interface, and greatly facilitated electron transport from within the bilayer to the aqueous phase. This process formed the basis of the synergistic effect. Cytochrome c reduction occurred in the water phase by reaction with the anion radical of the hydrophilic quinone. Finally, the reduced cytochrome was reoxidized by a slow reaction with chlorophyll cation radical. Under the most favorable conditions, we estimate that the quantum yield of conversion of triplet quenching events to reduction of cytochrome approached unity. The lifetime of the reduced protein and oxidized chlorophyll could be as long as 140 ms, under the best conditions. This system has properties which are thus quite favorable for solar energy conversion in a biomimetic process.
The neurotoxicity of subchronic acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition in rat hippocampus

Abstract The neurotoxic effects of long-term, low-level exposure to the commercially available insecticide, Fenthion, were examined in the present study. Young (2 month) adult, male Long-Evans rats were dermally exposed to Fenthion (25 mg/kg, 3× week) and sampled after 2 and 10 months exposure to assess neurotoxic damage in the hippocampus using morphological and biochemical endpoints. Histopathology, consisting of gliosis, swollen and necrotic neurons, and cell dropout, occurred in the dentate gyrus (DG), CA 4 (hilus), and CA 3 sectors as early as 2 months postexposure. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) staining of brain tissues taken at this time was severely reduced in the septal nuclei, the DG molecular layer, the CA 4 , and the hippocampus proper. After 10 months exposure to Fenthion, cellular necrosis and gliosis intensified in the CA 4 and CA 3 regions and occasionally involved the CA 2 . Radiometric assays of AChE activity in the hippocampus indicated a 65 and 85% depression after 2 and 10 months exposure, respectively. Quinuclidinyl benzilate binding for the hippocampal muscarinic receptor was reduced by 6 and 15%, after 2 and 10 months exposure, respectively. A separate group of older (12 month) rats was exposed to the same dosing regiment of Fenthion and examined for neuropathological damage after 2 and 10 months exposure. Aged animals exposed for only 2 months expressed severe hippocampal degeneration in a pattern similar to that seen in the young adult after 10 months exposure (viz., DG, CA 4 , CA 3 ). Aged animals exposed for 10 months showed more extensive histopathology of the CA 4−2 and occasionally CA 1 . These observations indicate that in both young adult and aged animals, subchronic, low-level exposure to anticholinesterase compounds can result in serious neurotoxic consequences to the mammalian hippocampus.
Diuretic action of potassium channel blockers

The availability of specific potassium channel blockers has made it possible to examine their effects along the nephron on fluid and electrolyte excretion. Recent experiments indicate that they modulate transepithelial sodium and potassium transport. In the thick ascending limb, potassium channel blockers, by interfering with potassium recycling across the apical cell membrane, reduce the activity of the sodium-2chloride-potassium cotransporter. In the initial and cortical collecting duct their inhibitory action on ATP-sensitive potassium channels reduces potassium secretion. Accordingly, tissue-specific potassium channel blockers are promising diuretic agents that may induce diuresis by inhibiting tubular sodium transport with only minimal loss of potassium.
Use of a miniaturized test system for determining acute toxicity of toxicity identification evaluation fractions.

A miniaturized test system was developed and used to determine the acute toxicity of effluent fractions separated by HPLC to Daphnia magna and Pimephales promelas. The miniaturized test system consists of exposing test organisms in 1 ml of test solution using 48-well microtiter plates for the test vessels. Several factors were investigated to determine the acceptability of this test system. These factors included organism biomass to test solution ratio, toxicity of the microtiter plates to the organisms, dissolved oxygen in the test solution, partitioning of the test chemicals to the walls of the test vessels, and dilution of the test solution when the organisms are transferred. Toxicity of four reference chemicals to D. magna and P. promelas was also determined using the miniaturized test systems. It was concluded that the test system could be miniaturized and still provide results comparable to those obtained when standard U.S. EPA test procedures were used. The major benefit of using the miniaturized test system is that less solution is required for conducting a toxicity test. This becomes important when only a small amount of test solution is available, as might occur during a toxicity identification evaluation, after an effluent has been fractionated by HPLC. Other benefits include less space required to conduct a test, less time necessary to prepare test solutions, and a reduced volume of waste for disposal.
Tracer transport by the diabatic circulation deduced from satellite observations

Nimbus-7 sensor data were used to track the diabatic circulation in the stratosphere to study the advective transport of CH4 and N2O as tracer species. Advective transport by the mean circulation was found to be a function of the temperature field and associated deviations from radiative equilibrium. A photochemical model was applied to account for the disappearance of the tracer species from the stratosphere. Comparisons between the SAMS data and modeling on the basis of the chemical loss rates of the tracers and the LIMS circulation data showed that the model predictions underestimated the resident abundances, although the global distributions and circulations exhibited a good match.
Neuropeptide Y and peptide YY mediate non-adrenergic vasoconstriction and modulate sympathetic responses in rats

The modulation of cardiovascular sympathetic responses by neuropeptide Y (NPY) and peptide YY (PYY) was assessed in vivo, in pithed rats. Both peptides (0.02-2 nmol/kg) caused similar dose-dependent pressor responses, resistant to adrenergic blockade but antagonized by the calcium channel blocker, nifedipine. Only NPY, at the lowest dose, slightly accelerated heart rate (by 10 +/- 4 beats/min). At the pressor dose (0.6 nmol/kg) but not subpressor dose (0.2 nmol/kg), the increase in blood pressure induced by stimulation of the sympathetic outflow (ST: 0.3 Hz, 50 V, 1 min) was attenuated by PYY (by 40%), whereas ST-evoked tachycardia was reduced by NPY (by 35%). Neither NPY- nor PYY-pretreatment affected ST-induced increments in plasma norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine concentrations. In addition, regional hemodynamic effects of NPY were studied in conscious rats instrumented with Doppler flow probes. The hypertension caused by NPY was attended by reflex bradycardia and marked rise in peripheral vascular resistance in renal (+ 233 +/- 59%), superior mesenteric (+ 183 +/- 65%) and hindquarter (+ 65 +/- 10%) circulation. The pattern of hemodynamic responses of NPY was similar to that of NE but, unlike the latter, persisted after adrenergic blockade.
Temperature dependence of dynamic Young's modulus and internal friction in LPPS NiCrAlY

The piezoelectric ultrasonic composite oscillator technique (PUCOT), operating near 80 kHz, was used to measure the temperature dependence, in the range 23–1000 °C, of dynamic Young's modulus,E, and internal friction,Q−1 in three compositions of low-pressure plasma-sprayed NiCrAlY: Ni-15.6Cr-5.2Al-0.20Y (16-5), Ni-17.2Cr-11.6Al-0.98Y (17−12), and Ni-33Cr-6.2 Al-0.95 Y (33−6). Ambient temperature (23 °C) dynamic Young's moduli for the three alloys were 205.0, 199.8, and 231.0 GPa, respectively. In each case, dE/dT was found to be — 0.06 GPa °C−1 over temperature ranges 23–800, 23–400 and 600–900, and 23–700 °C, respectively. Internal friction was essentially independent of temperature to about 600 °C (700 °C for the 16−5 alloy), at which point a temperature dependence of the formQ−1 =A exp (C/RT) was observed. The constantA for the three alloys was determined to be 62.7, 555, and 2.01 × 106, respectively. The constantC for the three alloys was determined to be 82.8, 111, and 170 kJ/mol−1, respectively. While the physical mechanism is not fully understood, both the pre-exponential constantA and the activation energyC correlate with durability in thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) wherein these alloys are used as bond coats.
Supercomputer sevices at the NMFECC

Hardware and software characteristics of supercomputers are briefly reviewed. System services at the NMFECC include laser printing, permanent file storage, a variety of operating systems services (i.e. batch processing, multiprocessing, etc.), software tools and utilities, training, and consulting. The role of universities in supercomputer consulting is also discussed. 3 refs. (DWL)
Comparison of the growth‐promoting effects of testosterone and 7‐α‐methyl‐19‐nor‐testosterone (MENT) on the prostate and levator ani muscle of LPB‐tag transgenic mice

BACKGROUND 7-α-methyl-19-nortestosterone (MENT) is being considered for androgen replacement in testosterone deficient men and as a male contraceptive. Because androgenic effects on the prostate are a major concern, we have evaluated MENT in a transgenic model of prostate cancer. METHODS LPB-Tag mice were castrated and infused with testosterone (T; 5 or 30 µg/day) or MENT (5 or 30 µg/day) for 4 weeks. Prostate, seminal vesicle, and levator ani muscle (LAM) weights were compared. RESULTS At an equivalent dose, MENT maintained or stimulated the mean weights of these organs more than T. However, the dorsolateral prostate/LAM ratio of weights did not favor MENT, but DNA/mg tissue and Ki 67 immunostaining suggested that MENT may increase DNA less than T. CONCLUSIONS MENT is more potent than T in maintaining or stimulating prostate, seminal vesicle, and LAM. Using doses that resulted in comparable stimulation of the levator ani muscle, MENT had similar effect on prostate weight, but increased DNA/mg prostate less than T in this transgenic mouse model of prostate cancer. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
THERMAL STRUCTURE INSIDE A STATUE OR COLUMN UNDER STATIONARY LIGHTING

Abstract The temperature distribution and the heat flux across a cylinder and sphere are examined for steady-state conditions of energy supply. The solutions for the cylinder are very similar to those for the sphere. This mathematical approach simulates the behaviour of a statue when lighted for some hours in an exhibition room. The problem is very important since many delicate objects are exposed to intense lighting for many hours each day, and deterioration processes may all act in the same manner. The side exposed to the light experiences not only the largest energy supply, but also the greater temperature gradient. In objects with a high water vapour content, the temperature gradient causes the migration of moisture, which is eventually responsible, together with the temperature variations, for severe deterioration of works of art. As a consequence, diffuse lighting in exhibition rooms is suggested.
Descriptors for Texture Profile Analysis of Frankfurter‐Type Products from Minced Fish

The texture profile of frankfurter-type products prepared from minced Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus) was evaluated. Twelve character notes were identified: springiness, hardness, cohesiveness, moisture release, crumbliness, coarseness, graininess, juiciness, adhesiveness, lumpiness, chewiness, and mouthfeel-oiliness. Overall texture acceptability was also evaluated. Differences in juiciness and mouthfeel-oiliness were not detected. Springiness, hardness, cohesiveness, and lumpiness had the highest correlation with the overall texture acceptability. Products with 10% soy protein fiber (SPF) were better accepted than those having 20% or no SPF. Egg white (to 20%) improved the texture; however, its flavor was detectable when 10% or more was added. The most acceptable texture was exhibited by products containing 5–10% ground drumdried fish.
Dissolved organic matter in Chesapeake Bay sediment pore waters

Abstract Results of recent studies of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in Chesapeake Bay sediment pore waters are summarized here, to gain further insights into the controls on the composition and reactivity of estuarine pore water DOM. This analysis shows that much of the DOM accumulating in sediment pore waters appears to be refractory and of relatively low molecular weight (less than ∼3 kDa), consistent with recent water column DOM studies. Comparative analyses of pore water DOM data from bioturbated/bioirrigated sediments versus anoxic (i.e. non-bioturbated/bioirrigated) sediments indicate that differences in the physical and biogeochemical processes in these sediments lead to distinct differences in DOM concentrations and composition. The causative factors here appear to be both the presence/absence of macrofauna in the sediments, as well as differences in sediment redox conditions (more strictly anoxic vs. “mixed” redox conditions). These observations further suggest that differences in DOM composition and reactivity as a result of varying sediment redox conditions might also play a role in how sediment redox conditions affect overall sediment carbon preservation.
THE RESPONSE OF THE SINO-ATRIAL NODE TO RAPID ATRIAL STIMULATION

It was the purpose of this study to determine normal values for sino-atrial (SA) node recovery time in 54 subjects age 4 months to 23 years (mean 7 years) undergoing cardiac catheterization. Each had normal sinus rhythm by ECG. Recovery time of the SA node was measured after 3 minutes of rapid atrial stimulation at a rate of twice the resting rate but not exceeding 200 per minute. The corrected sinus node recovery time (CSNRT) measured in each case ranged from 0 to 500 msec, (mean 135 msec., SD 116 msec). Statistical analysis of the data revealed no significant correlation between age or resting heart rate and the CSNRT (r=0.05 and -0.16, respectively). There was also no significant difference between patients who were taking digitalis prior to study and those who were not (P>0.3). Comparison of this data with that from patients in whom the ECG suggested SA node dysfunction revealed a significant difference in CSNRT (P<0.05). This study demonstrates that the CSNRT is a useful and safe test of SA node function and provides normal values for children.
Flight Test of Optimal Inputs and Comparison with Conventional Inputs

A technique for designing optimal inputs for aerodynamic parameter estimation was flight tested on the F-18 High Alpha Research Vehicle. Model parameter accuracies calculated from flight-test data were compared on an equal basis for optimal input designs and conventional inputs at the same flight condition. In spite of errors in the a priori input design models and distortions of the input forms by the feedback control system, analysis of data generated by the optimal inputs revealed lower estimated parameter errors compared with conventional 3-2-1-1 and doublet inputs. In addition, the tests using optimal input designs demonstrated enhanced design flexibility, allowing the optimal input design technique to use a larger input amplitude to achieve further increases in estimated parameter accuracy without departing from the desired flight-test condition. This work validated the analysis used to develop the optimal input designs, and demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of the optimal input design technique.
Recent progress in algebraic design theory

We survey recent results on difference sets, p-ranks and Smith normal forms of certain set-inclusion matrices and subspace-inclusion matrices.
THE FABRICATION OF NEAR NET-SHAPED SPINEL BODIES BY THE OXIDATIVE TRANSFORMATION OF MG/AL2O3 PRECURSORS

The feasibility of transforming shaped Mg–Al2O3-bearing precursors into monolithic spinel (MgAl2O4) bodies with a retention of shape and dimensions has been demonstrated.Dense, shaped precursors (disks, bars) were fabricated by the pressureless infiltration of molten Mg into porous Al2O3 preforms. After solidification (and machining, in the case of bar-shaped specimens), the Mg-bearing precursors were oxidized in flowing O2 (g) at 430–700 °C. Postoxidation annealing at 1200 °C resulted in the conversion of MgO and Al2O3 into MgAl2O4. After sintering at 1700 °C, spinel bodies that retained the precursor dimensions (to within 0.65%) were produced. Phase and microstructural analyses at various stages of processing are discussed.
The thermodynamics of gravitational radiation

I conjecture, and show for a large class of cases, that given a spacelike hypersurface on which is an arbitrary distribution of linearized gravitons and matter, the latter satisfying the positive energy condition, the expectation value of the number of events in which a graviton is absorbed by or scattered inelastically from the matter within any future time,t, is always less then the expectation value of the number of gravitons in the initial state (except for a set of initial configurations of measure zero). Consequences of this result are: (1) the impossibility of any system containing gravitational radiation reaching thermal equilibrium in a finite time, (2) the absence of an ultraviolet catastrophe for gravitational radiation, (3) the impossibility of measuring accurately the quantum state of the linearized gravitational field, and (4) the impossibility of constructing a gravitational wave laser.
The Hedgehog and the hair follicle: a growing relationship.

The various forms of hair loss (alopecia) constitute an extremely common complaint among both men and women. Although sometimes dismissed as merely cosmetic, these conditions can be psychologically and socially devastating. The desire to regrow hair is at the root of a multi-billion dollar industry worldwide; however, there are few truly effective treatments. Given the recent progress in elucidating some of the signals regulating hair follicle growth and development, there is hope that more useful therapies may soon be available. The timely report by Sato et al. (1) presents interesting new data bearing on this issue.
Nucleation and Transport Organize Microtubules in Metaphase Spindles

Spindles are arrays of microtubules that segregate chromosomes during cell division. It has been difficult to validate models of spindle assembly due to a lack of information on the organization of microtubules in these structures. Here we present a method, based on femtosecond laser ablation, capable of measuring the detailed architecture of spindles. We used this method to study the metaphase spindle in Xenopus laevis egg extracts and found that microtubules are shortest near poles and become progressively longer toward the center of the spindle. These data, in combination with mathematical modeling, imaging, and biochemical perturbations, are sufficient to reject previously proposed mechanisms of spindle assembly. Our results support a model of spindle assembly in which microtubule polymerization dynamics are not spatially regulated, and the proper organization of microtubules in the spindle is determined by nonuniform microtubule nucleation and the local sorting of microtubules by transport.