cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of nitrophenols on acetate utilizing methanogenic systems

Nitrophenols are widely used for manufacturing explosives, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, pigments, dyes, etc. A literature research shows that there is a lack of quantitative information on the effects of nitrophenols on anaerobic systems. The objective of this research was to study the toxic effects of nitrophenols on acetate enrichment, methanogenic systems. Anaerobic toxicity assays were performed with batch serum bottles. Results showed that among the selected nitrophenols, toxicity decreases in the following order: 2,4-dinitrophenol > 4-nitrophenol > 2-nitrophenol > 3-nitrophenol. Complete removals of mononitrophenols were seen in serum bottle systems which did not fail due to toxicity. Chemostats (15-day retention time) were used to study toxicity, acclimation, and removal of 4-nitrophenol in continuous systems. New steady-states with high effluent acetate (substrate) concentrations were attained after spiking 5.5, 13.5, and 33.0 mg 1−1 of 4-nitrophenol. A competitive inhibition coefficient model fits well with the experimental data from 4-nitrophenol studies. The competitive inhibition coefficient K1, for 4-nitrophenol varied between 0.077 and 0.089 mg 1−1. Fifty-five to 82% of the 4-nitrophenol was removed in the chemostats; HPLC analysis of effluents showed no intermediate products.
A new view of telecommunications economics

1. Overview The Telecommunications Act of 1996 required that charges for interconnection, universal service and unbundled network elements should be based on cost, and directed the Federal Communications Commission to implement this legislation. The parties developed engineering process models to estimate forward-looking costs. Both the engineering economics and the cost model approaches were unsatisfactory. Neither handled uncertainty nor dynamics, or else did so in an awkward manner. The economic and financial literature has moved beyond these static concepts. 2 This literature has methods to handle uncertainty and dynamics in a satisfactory manner. Moreover, it can link the ‘‘real’’ market with the financial market. This has immediate implications for both engineering economics and cost modelling methodologies. Engineering economics uses the tools of discounted cash flow (DCF) with little or no emphasis on how the ‘‘proper’ discount rate is obtained. 3 The more sophisticated analysis may use a riskadjusted discount rate determined by the capital asset pricing (CAPM) model; however, some managers, intuitively, may raise the discount rate above this level to account for ‘‘risk’’. This lowers the cash flow values in later periods, distorts the results and gives incorrect conclusions. Certainty of the cash flow is assumed. Decision tree analysis (DTA) is used to address multiple possible outcomes. The DCF of the expected value of this tree is used for the evaluation. However, neither of these methods adequately deals with management’s flexibility. Real options, on the other hand, does have this capacity.
Point set pattern matching in 3-D

Abstract We give an algorithm for matching finite points sets in Euclidean 3-space, R 3. The algorithm runs in O (kn 5 2 [λ 6 (n)/n] 1 4 log n) time, where k is the size of the pattern and n is the size of the sample set. Further, if the pattern we seek to match is a collinear set, the running time of our algorithm reduces to O (n 2 + kn 3 2 [λ 6 (n)/n] case1 4 log n) . These results improve upon the O(kn3) running time of the algorithm given in (De Rezende and Lee, 1995) for the case d = 3.
DRIVERS' RECORDS: ARE THEY A VALID MEASURE OF DRIVING BEHAVIOR?

DRIVERS' RECORDS, AS FOUND IN DMV (DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES) FILES, ARE USED AS A BASIS FOR ADMINISTERING POINT SYSTEMS, FOR EVALUATING CREDIT APPLICATIONS AND AS A SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR SOME RESEARCH STUDIES. INSURANCE COVERAGE IS GRANTED OR TERMINATED AND DRIVING PRIVILEGES ARE REVOKED ON THE BASIS OF THOSE RECORDS. IN ADDITION, LAWS, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS PERTAINING TO DRIVERS, AUTOMOBILES AND HIGHWAYS ARE INDIRECT RESULTS OF SUCH INFORMATION. THE KEYSTONE OF THE JUSTIFICATION OF THESE ACTIVITIES IS THE UNIFORMITY, CONSISTENCY AND COMPLETENESS OF: (1) COLLISION INVESTIGATION AND REPORTING; AND (2) THE ENFORCEMENT, PROSECUTION, AND ADJUDICATION AND SUBSEQUENT REPORTING OF TRAFFIC LAW VIOLATIONS TO THE DMV. THESE ACTIVITIES AND RECORDS ARE NEITHER UNIFORM, CONSISTENT NOR COMPLETE. THE PROBLEM HAS ITS ORIGIN IN THE FACT THAT DATA ARE BEING USED FOR PURPOSES FOR WHICH THEY WERE NOT INTENDED. IT MUST BE RECOGNIZED THAT POLICE AGENCIES, PROSECUTORS AND JUDGES ENJOY RELATIVE AUTONOMY. EACH MAY USE HIS OWN INTERPRETATIONS, HIS OWN DEFINITIONS AND HIS OWN TERMINOLOGY WHICH, IN TURN, ARE DESIGNED TO FIT HIS OWN POLICIES AND PRACTICES. ANY CONSIDERATION THEY MAY HAVE FOR THE USE OF THEIR RECORDS AT THE STATE LEVEL IS INCIDENTAL. AS A RESULT, WHETHER ONE IS JUDGED TO BE A BETTER OR WORSE THAN AVERAGE DRIVER OR WHETHER A GIVEN STRETCH OF ROAD IS MORE OR LESS SAFE MAY BE MORE A REFLECTION OF THE POLICIES, PRACTICES AND ATTITUDES OF THE CONTROLLING AGENTS, THAN A DESCRIPTION OF BEHAVIOR OR CONDITIONS ON THE HIGHWAY. /A/
Patterns of cellular proliferation and airway branching in cultured fetal hamster lung explants.

Abstract Lungs were removed from hamsters at gestational day 12 and cultured in BGJb medium under the following conditions: (1) alone, (2) with 5% fetal bovine serum (FBS), (3) with defined additives (with and without vitamin A), and (4) with defined additives but lacking both epidermal growth factor (EGF) and vitamin A. Patterns of cell proliferation were determined by immunochemical labeling for bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and airway branching was evaluated in each explant. After 4 days in BGJb alone, an orderly but limited branching pattern occurred, and labeling was greater in the epithelium than in the connective tissue. With FBS a relatively normal branching pattern occurred, and labeling was nearly equivalent in connective tissue and epithelium. With defined additives the connective tissue was heavily labeled in the compact region supporting the distorted bronchioles and in the loose flange at the periphery; removing only vitamin A did not alter these patterns. Removing both vitamin A and EGF caused an extensive but distorted epithelial branching pattern that extended to the periphery of the explant (a flange of loose connective tissue did not form): BrdU labeling was sparse. These results indicate that EGF played a major role in contributing to alterations in the growth and development of fetal hamster lung.
Patient Satisfaction with Health Care: Intentions and Change in Plan.

Abstract Satisfaction with health care was assessed using three measures, including one with general referents, one with personal referents, and one referring to the last physician visit. These measures were used to predict an outcome measure that included four groups: those who intended to change health care and did, those who intended to change and did not, those who did not intend to change and did, and those who did not intend to change and did not. The measure with personal referents was the best predictor of intention to change/change, while the measure with general referents did not enter the prediction equation. None of the measures was a very good predictor of those who did not carry out their intentions with respect to change of health care plan.
Hydrogen bonding interactions between Starburst dendrimers and several molecules of biological interest

1H NMR spectroscopy was used to analyze the interactions between poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) Starburst dendrimers (SBDs) 1–4 and several biologically important guests (pyridine, quinoline, quinazoline, nicotine and trimethadione). Association constants obtained from changes in the chemical shifts of the amide protons in the host indicate two different interaction sites inside and on the periphery of the dendrimer. Binding at the inner site is inhibited in the ester-terminated dendrimers. Copyright © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optical Rotation of Unpolarized Light

The question as to what happens to a beam of unpolarized light in passing through an optically active medium does not seem to have been given a definite answer. If such a beam can be regarded as made up of a large number of elementary components, each plane polarized, then each component should suffer a rotation. Consequently, if an unpolarized beam is separated into two parts and one passed through a dextro- and the other through a laevo-rotary solution, such that the sum of the rotations is 90°, the emergent beams should be incapable of interference. With the use of a Fresnel bi-prism it was found that the interference fringes disappeared when the optically active solutions were in place. They reappeared when the field of view was examined with a quarter-wave plate, showing the existence of circularly polarized light as expected.
The Ongoing Battle Against Influenza: The challenge of flu transmission

Influenza viruses can cause a broad spectrum of disease severity, including devastating cases in some people. Several factors influence the epidemiological success of the virus; the mechanisms of transmission and the strategies for prevention and treatment have an impact on the disease outcome and the incidence of flu infection in the population. Understanding how and why the viruses spread so efficiently among people and determining possible ways to harness this transmission have been arduous tasks, given the limitations of flu animal models. In 'Bedside to Bench', Kanta Subbarao and Seema S. Lakdawala peruse a study that used a human challenge model to assess influenza transmission; this experimental approach shows how transmission can be studied in humans and emphasizes factors that are different compared to animals, such as distinct disease severity and incidence. Lessons can be taken to optimize animal studies. Another issue that dictates the severity of flu episodes is the potential emergence of drug-resistant strains in treated individuals. In 'Bench to Bedside', Anne Kelso and Aeron C. Hurt discuss another concern—the presence of drug-resistant viruses with additional permissive mutations that make them fit to infect and compete with wild-type strains. The fact that these strains can be found in untreated people and can spread poses a public health concern and a challenge for scientists to find new drugs and assess antiviral combinations.
Cross‐Linking and Degradation Properties of Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposited Poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate)

Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) of poly-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (pHEMA) biocompatible, biodegradable polymer films were produced alone and cross-linked with ethylene glycol diacrylate (EGDA). Degree of cross-linking was controlled via manipulation of the EGDA flow rate, which influenced the amount of swelling and the extent of degradation of the films in an aqueous solution over time. Noncross-linked pHEMA films swelled 10% more than cross-linked films after 24 h of incubation in an aqueous environment. Increasing degree of film cross-linking decreased degradation over time. Thus, PECVD pHEMA films with variable cross-linking properties enable tuning of gel formation and degradation properties, making these films useful in a variety of biologically significant applications.
The comparative study of memory

Abstract Consideration is given to different reasons for using animals in research and to problems in making species comparisons. Particular attention is given to studies of processes such as memory which are not directly observed. It is argued that comparisons made in the context of a theory of performance are most fruitful. Finally an experiment is described showing that it was probably premature to conclude that memory is fundamentally different in bird and Man since monkeys display either bird-like or Man-like memory depending on minor changes in the experimental paradigm.
Pituitary regulation of serum calcium levels in the killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus L

Abstract Hypophysectomy produced hypocalcemia in male killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus , adapted to calcium-deficient sea water. Such changes in serum calcium levels were corrected by intraperitoneal injections of a homogenate of whole pituitary glands or by transplantation of the gland to the musculature of the caudal peduncle. Injections of homogenates of the anterior or posterior parts of the pituitary gland were also effective while the homogenate of the middle part of the gland produced a smaller change. Injections with prolactin at the doses of 5, 2.5, and 0.5 μg per gram body weight per injection significantly increased the serum calcium levels of the hypocalcemic hypophysectomized fish. Cortisol (2.5 μg per gram body weight per injection) and ACTH (0.05 IU per gram body weight) were also hypercalcemic, but lower doses of ACTH (0.02 and 0.005 IU per gram body weight) and two doses of MSH (2.5 and 5 μg per gram body weight) were without effect. It is suggested that either ACTH, prolactin or both may have hypercalcemic effects on fish in calcium-deficient environments.
Small-dollar children's savings accounts and children's college outcomes by income level

Abstract This is paper two of four in the small-dollar children's savings account series in this issue that examines the relationship between children's small-dollar savings accounts and college enrollment and graduation. This series of papers uses different subsamples to examine three important research questions: (a) Are children with savings of their own more likely to attend or graduate from college; (b) Does dose (no account, only basic savings, savings designated for school of less than $1, $1 to $499, or $500 or more) matter; and (c) Is designating savings for school more predictive than having basic savings alone. Using propensity score weighted data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics and its supplements we created multi-treatment doses of savings accounts and amounts to answer these questions separately for children from low- and moderate-income (below $50,000; n = 512) and high income ($50,000 or above; n = 345) households. We find that low- and moderate-income children may be more likely to enroll in and graduate from college when they have small-dollar savings accounts with money designated for school. A low- and moderate-income child who has school savings of $1 to $499 prior to reaching college age is over three times more likely to enroll in college and four times more likely to graduate from college than a child with no savings account. These findings lead to policy implications that are also discussed.
SPIN DEPENDENT TRANSPORT IN QUANTUM AND CLASSICALLY CONFIGURED DEVICES

This paper presents of development of quantum transport equations for barrier devices with both electron and hole transport in dilute magnetic semiconductor (DMS) structures. The equations are developed from the time dependent equation of motion of the density matrix equation in the coordinate representation, from which both the spin drift and diffusion and transient Wigner equations are obtained, for a system in which high 'g' factor materials result in significant spin-splitting of the valence and conduction bands. Then for a structure in which the DMS layer is confined to the first barrier solutions to the coupled Poisson's and spin dependent Wigner equations yield the IV and carrier distributions. Negative differential conductance as well as the significant unequal spinup and spin down charge distributions are obtained.
Evaluation of immune system function in neonatal pigs born vaginally or by Cesarean section.

Full term crossbred sows were selected to study the interaction of the immune system, hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, and growth in pigs born by Cesarean section (c-section; n=4 sows) or vaginal birth (n=4 sows). Gestation length and birth weight did not differ between vaginal birth and c-section pigs (P=0.34 and 0.62, respectively). Blood and tissue samples were collected from 44 pigs at birth. Forty-five pigs were weaned at 13 d. On d 14, pigs received an i.p. injection of lipopolysaccaride (LPS; 150 microg/kg) or saline at min 0, and blood samples were collected at -20, -10, 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, 90, and 120 min. Vaginal birth pigs had 21% greater average daily gain than c-section pigs on d 14 (P 0.22). Basal serum concentrations of TNF-alpha tended to be greater in c-section vs vaginal birth pigs at 14 d (P=0.0967); however, basal serum concentrations of IFN-gamma tended to be lower in c-section pigs vs vaginal birth pigs at 14 d (P=0.0787). Expression of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-6 receptor, IL-1beta, and TNF-alpha mRNA did not differ between vaginal birth and c-section pigs but changed in an age and tissue dependent manner. Thus, reduced growth rate of c-section pigs is associated with altered immune system function.
Biosorption of As3+ Ions Using Ternary Microspheres of Chitosan, Yeast, and Gelatin: A Dynamic and Equilibrium Investigation

Ternary biopolymeric microspheres of chitosan, yeast and gelatin were prepared and characterized by FTIR spectral analysis, particle size measurements, and scanning electron micrograph techniques. The prepared microspheres were investigated for static and dynamic studies of adsorption of As+3 ions onto the microspheres surfaces at fixed pH and ionic strength of the aqueous solution.The adsorption data were applied to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm equations and various static parameters were calculated. The dynamic nature of adsorption was quantified in terms of several kinetic constants such as rate constants for adsorption, Lagergreen rate constant, inter particle diffusion rate constant and pore diffusion coefficient. The influence of various experimental parameters such as solid to liquid ratio, pH, temperature, and chemical composition of biopolymeric microspheres were investigated on the adsorption of arsenic ion and various thermodynamic parameter were also calculated.
Two single nucleotide polymorphisms in the human nescient helix-loop-helix 2 (NHLH2) gene reduce mRNA stability and DNA binding.

Abstract Nescient helix-loop-helix-2 (NHLH2) is a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, which has been implicated, using mouse knockouts, in adult body weight regulation and fertility. A scan of the known single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the NHLH2 gene revealed one in the 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR), which lies within an AUUUA RNA stability motif. A second SNP is nonsynonymous within the coding region of NHLH2, and was found in a genome-wide association study for obesity. Both of these SNPs were examined for their effect on NLHL2 by creating mouse mimics and examining mRNA stability, and protein function in mouse hypothalamic cell lines. The 3′UTR SNP causes increased instability and, when the SNP-containing Nhlh2 3′UTR is attached to luciferase mRNA, reduced protein levels in cells. The nonsynonymous SNP at position 83 in the protein changes an alanine residue, conserved in NHLH2 orthologs through the Drosophila sp. to a proline residue. This change affects migration of the protein on an SDS-PAGE gel, and appears to alter secondary structure of the protein, as predicted using in silico methods. These results provide functional information on two rare human SNPs in the NHLH2 gene. One of these has been linked to human obese phenotypes, while the other is present in a relatively high proportion of individuals. Given their effects on NHLH2 protein levels, both SNPs deserve further analysis in whether they are causative and/or additive for human body weight and fertility phenotypes.
Ontogeny of endothelin receptors in the brain, heart, and kidneys of neonatal rats

Background: Endothelin (ET) plays an important role in many physiological functions. It has been demonstrated that endogenous ET-1 concentration in the central nervous system (CNS) changes with age; however the ontogeny of ETA and ETB receptors in the brain, heart, and kidneys during postnatal development has not been studied. Methods: Brains, hearts and kidneys of rats at postnatal days 1, 7, 14 and 28 were evaluated for the expression of ETA and ETB receptors via Western blot. ETB receptors within the developing brain were further accessed via immunofluorescence. Results: The mean organ and body weights increased proportionally with advancing age demonstrating normal growth. The expression of ETA receptors in the brain, heart, and kidneys and ETB receptor expression in the heart and kidneys was similar in these rats at postnatal ages 1, 7, 14 and 28 days. However, brain ETB receptor expression significantly (P < 0.001) decreased by 72% on day 28 compared to the levels on postnatal day 1. Upon immunofluorescent analysis, the intensity of ETB staining in the cerebral cortex and subventricular zones of the developing rat brain decreased significantly from day 1 to day 7 (P < 0.001) and from day 7 to day 14 (P < 0.0001). There was no further decrease in ETB intensity noted in the cerebral cortex and subventricular zones between day 14 and day 28 of postnatal age. The intensity of ETB receptor staining within the cerebrovasculature, on the other hand, increased significantly (P < 0.05) from days 1 and 7 to day 14. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that expression of ETA receptors does not change with postnatal development. On the other hand ETB receptors in the cerebral cortex and subventricular zones of the brain decrease with age, while ETB receptors in the cerebrovasculature increase with age, implicating ETB receptor involvement in the structural maturity and development of the CNS.
Relations between Depressive Symptoms, Anxiety, and T Wave Abnormalities in Subjects without Clinically-apparent Cardiovascular Disease (from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis [MESA])

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that depression and anxiety are associated with electrocardiographic (ECG) repolarization abnormalities in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), a cohort free of symptomatic cardiovascular disease. Depressive symptoms were assessed by using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and trait anxiety symptoms by using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; both were categorized according to uppermost quartile. T-wave inversions in ECG leads other than V 1 to V 3 were obtained from electrocardiograms obtained at rest during the baseline examination. Participants with major intraventricular conduction abnormalities and those taking antiarrhythmics, antidepressants, and/or antipsychotics were excluded. Logistic regression models were estimated with multivariable adjustment for traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors. Among 5,906 participants, elevated depressive symptoms were associated with increased odds of T-wave inversion after multivariable adjustment (odds ratio 2.02, 95% confidence interval 1.33 to 3.06, p = 0.001), whereas greater trait anxiety was associated with reduced odds of T-wave inversion (odds ratio 0.47, 95% confidence interval 0.29 to 0.77, p = 0.003). The divergent associations of depressive symptoms and trait anxiety with ECG T-wave inversions were similar in men and women, and these associations were present across the racial and ethnic subgroups (non-Hispanic white, African-American, Hispanic, and Chinese). In conclusion, symptoms of depression and anxiety were independently yet oppositely associated with ECG T-wave inversions. Negative emotions may have a differential impact on cardiovascular mortality through unique relations with cardiac repolarization.
Donor cell survival in a fresh osteochondral allograft at twenty-nine years. A case report.

Fresh osteochondral allografting is a nonvascularized organ transplantation with a clinical use dating back to the early twentieth century. The procedure, in its current form, involves transplantation of a small segment of bone as a carrier with its overlying cartilage. As the bone is remodeled and revascularized by the recipient, the donor cartilage continues to function mechanically, produces matrix, and receives nutrition from the synovial fluid. The cartilage has traditionally been considered a so-called immunoprivileged tissue, avoiding the immune surveillance of the host presumably because of its paucity of vascular channels and its hypo-cellular matrix1. These qualities make fresh osteochondral allografting unique in the field of transplantation and preclude the need for systemic immunosuppression after this procedure. Although histologically normal articular cartilage has been reported in retrieved fresh osteochondral allografts, we know of no report that has definitively confirmed the specific survival of the donor cells for any length of time. Furthermore, the source of cells in retrieved transplants has not been confirmed as being from the donor or the recipient. The patient was informed that data concerning his case would be submitted for publication. Atwenty-two-year-old man with a large defect on the articular surface of the lateral femoral condyle of the knee underwent fresh osteochondral allografting from a female donor. He recovered well from the allograft procedure and had a relatively pain-free knee for the next twenty-five years. He presented to us with knee pain on the lateral side and tricompartmental arthritis predominantly in the lateral compartment (Fig. 1). A magnetic resonance imaging scan was acquired, and it demonstrated a tear of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus with loss of the articular cartilage thickness along the posterior aspect of the lateral femoral condyle (Fig. 2). He ultimately requested total knee …
Association of high rate of recombination with amplification of dominant selectable gene in human cells.

The human cell line LM205, transformed with the pLR309 plasmid, contains a stably integrated selectable gene marker (neo)without a transcriptional promoter. Spontaneous tandem duplication at the integration site relocates a Simian virus 40 transcriptional promoter to a position 5′ to the neogene at a rate of 5×10−8events/cell/generation, as measured by subsequent resistance of the cells to the toxic antibiotic G418. The heterogeneity in the site of recombination observed in various G418-resistant (G418-R) subclones indicates that the sequences involved have little or no homology. The rate of tandem duplication involving the neogene was not affected by DNA-damaging agents or by inhibitors of DNA synthesis. Although these tandem duplications were relatively stable in most G418-R subclones, others underwent further amplification of the neogene during cloning. In one such cell line, RS-4, subclones isolated without G418 demonstrated a high degree of heterogeneity in the neogene copy number (2–20), indicating that amplification was associated with a high rate of homologous recombination. Because LM205 was the only clone out of the 30 original clones transformed with pLR309 that demonstrated spontaneous G418-R colonies, cell DNA sequences near the integrated neogene may promote this recombination. Inclusion of this cell DNA in the initial tandem duplication might then explain the high rate of duplication and deletion observed in the region of the neogene in the RS-4 subclone.
A hospital medication monitoring system

Hospitals need to process large quantities of scattered information to properly screen medication orders. The data includes complex relationships involving drugs, diseases, and other drugs that determine whether a particular drug is contraindicated for a patient. Hospitals would therefore benefit from a flexible system for storing complex medical data relationships. We have used GPLAN, a CODASYL-like data management system, to construct a functioning model of a hospital pharmacy medication monitoring system. The patients' histories, drug-drug contraindications, disease-drug contraindications, and recommended dosages are stored in the data base in a network structure defined by the Data Description Language. Each drug order is checked for dose, allergies, current diseases, and current medications.
CHROMOSOME COUNTS, CYTOLOGY, AND REPRODUCTION IN THE CACTACEAE

Chromosome counts and observations of reproduction for 55 taxa of Cactaceae indicate that polyploidy is correlated with self-fertility, adventive embryony, profuse branching, and vegetative reproduction. Six genera (Blossfeldia, Cleistocactus, Frailea, Pelecyphora, Rebutia, and Strombocactus) and 35 species or varieties are reported here for the first time. Preliminary observations of pachytene and diplotene indicate that these stages may be more useful in chromosome recognition than mitotic stages. Secondary association at metaphase I and II is interpreted as a retention of homologue association at interphase I and II (interkinesis). During meiosis of certain species, Feulgen negative bodies are present. The production of an abnormal premeiotic division is suggested as a mechanism for polyploid origin.
Heart to Heart. The Elusive Mechanism of Cell Therapy

The notion of cell transplantation into the heart as a means of reversing ischemic injury is now nearly a decade old. The first clinical application of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMCs) for myocardial infarction was in 2001,1 presumably motivated at least in part by the premise that BMCs injected into the heart can directly regenerate new, functional myocardium.2 Although subsequent investigators questioned the ability of BMCs to transdifferentiate into cardiomyocytes3,4 (but in all fairness, others did support the idea5,6), the horse was out of the barn, and the treatments continued apace. Fortunately, injection of autologous BMCs as adjunctive treatment for convalescent myocardial infarction has proven to be remarkably safe.7–9 Although the overall efficacy is modest, certain subgroups (particularly those with large functional deficits at baseline) do experience clinically meaningful increments in ejection fraction.10,11 A related consideration arises in the choice of cell type to transplant. BMCs, although easy to harvest, are almost certainly not the best candidate cells for cardiomyoplasty, because they are not specialized to regrow normal healthy heart muscle. An attractive alternative arose with the recognition that the adult heart contains its own reservoir of progenitor cells,12–15 some of which express the stem cell antigen c-kit.12,14 Such cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) presumably function physiologically to mediate a low basal turnover rate of cardiomyocytes in the adult heart16 but may be expanded and exploited iatrogenically for more focused (and, mechanistically, more rational) benefit than may be possible with BMCs. When injected into the injured heart, CPCs increase tissue viability12,14,17–20 and improve ventricular function.12,14,17,20 Articles see p 1992 and p 2001 Ironically, we are now less certain about the mechanism of cell therapy than we thought we were a decade ago, when it seemed that direct regeneration of tissue …
Coherent detection of the complete linear electrostatic plasma response of plasma ions using laser-induced fluorescence

Plasmas support many different wave modes. Each wave mode is characterized by a particular perturbation of the velocity distribution functions of each particle species in the plasma Coherent detection, using laser-induced fluorescence, of the wave motion associated with a harmonic signal on an electrostatic antenna allows one to determine the complete electrostatic linear response of ion waves. Degrees of freedom beyond the fluid theory are necessary to describe the data. Extensions of the technique can be used to explore nonlinear wave interactions.
Metastatic malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor of the cauda equina

Abstract Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) of the cauda equina is rare, with only four reported patients in the literature. We present a 70-year-old woman with a history of left sciatic nerve MPNST that had been treated by left hemipelvectomy 4 years prior. She then presented with disabling right leg weakness that progressed over 7 months. Spine imaging revealed an intradural extramedullary lesion from L5 to S1 with compression of the cauda equina. She underwent an L3–S1 laminectomy with subtotal resection of the lesion, which was diagnosed as a metastatic MPNST. At the 3-month postoperative visit, her lower extremity strength had returned to baseline. The only notable postoperative complication was a superficial wound infection that resolved with antibiotic treatment and wet-to-dry dressing changes. Thus, although uncommon, the spinal canal and cauda equina should be considered as possible locations for metastatic MPNST in the appropriate clinical scenario. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a patient with a metastatic MPNST to the cauda equina.
Helical CT reconstruction from wide cone-beam angle data using ART

We report on new results on the use of algebraic reconstruction techniques (ART) for reconstructing from helical cone-beam computerized tomography (CT) data. We investigate two variants of ART for this task: a standard one that considers a single ray in an iterative step and a block version which groups several cone-beam projections when calculating an iterative step. Both algorithms were implemented using modified Kaiser-Bessel window functions, also known as blobs, placed on the body-centered cubic (bcc) grid. The algorithms were used to reconstruct a modified 3D Shepp-Logan phantom from data collected for the PI-geometry for two different maximum cone-beam angles (/spl plusmn/9.46/spl deg/ and /spl plusmn/18.43/spl deg/). Both scattering and quantum noise (for three different noise levels) were introduced to create noisy projections. The results presented here (for both noiseless and noisy data sets) point to the fact that, as opposed to filtered backprojection algorithms, the quality of the reconstructions produced by the ART methods does not suffer from the increase in the cone-beam angle.
Regulation of Intrarenal Angiotensin II in Hypertension

Intrarenal angiotensin II (Ang II) is regulated by several complex processes involving formation from both systemically delivered and intrarenally formed substrate, as well as receptor-mediated internalization. There is substantial compartmentalization of intrarenal Ang II, with levels in the renal interstitial fluid and in proximal tubule fluid being much greater than can be explained from the circulating levels. In Ang II–dependent hypertension, elevated intrarenal Ang II levels occur even when intrarenal renin expression and content are suppressed. Studies in Ang II–infused rats have demonstrated that augmentation of intrarenal Ang II is due, in part, to uptake of circulating Ang II via an Ang II type 1 (AT1) receptor mechanism and also to sustained endogenous production of Ang II. Some of the internalized Ang II accumulates in the light and heavy endosomes and is therefore potentially available for intracellular actions. The enhanced intrarenal Ang II also exerts a positive feedback action to augment intrarenal levels of angiotensinogen (AGT) mRNA and protein, which contribute further to the increased intrarenal Ang II in hypertensive states. In addition, renal AT1 receptor protein and mRNA levels are maintained, allowing increased Ang II levels to elicit progressive effects. The increased intrarenal Ang II activity and AGT production are associated with increased urinary AGT excretion rates. The urinary AGT excretion rates show a clear relationship to kidney Ang II content, suggesting that urinary AGT may serve as an index of Ang II–dependent hypertension. Collectively, the data support a powerful role for intrarenal Ang II in the pathogenesis of hypertension.
Optimal pre- and postfilters for multichannel signal processing

The authors present closed-form solutions to the problem of optimal pre-filtering and postfiltering for transmission of an N-dimensional signal though a communications channel composed of M identical subchannels with uncorrelated additive noise. The optimal system may include both Hadamard and Karhunen-Loeve transforms as factors of the prefilters and postfilters. The error improvement due to optimal prefiltering and postfiltering can be as high as 6 dB, as compared to optimal postfiltering only, for a first-order Gauss-Markov signal, for example. >
A simple picture of tropospheric radio scattering

The purpose of this paper is to describe the scatteriing of radio waves by a turbulent troposphere in a simple way. The description provides a useful picture for the radio engineer who mustst apply the scatter mechanism to a system. It does not replace a more rigorous treatment or oversimplify to the extent that any important ideas are omitted. It is hoped that this prosentation will facilitate the application of the material on scattering presented in this issue, in the Proceedings of the IRE for October 1955, and elsewhere.
Chesucristo Fusions, Myths, and Realities

Cuba and a few “heretical” interpreters of scripture have seen Jesus in the context of armed struggle against the Roman occupiers. With the Gospels, Jesus was largely disarmed. In the generation si...
Sensitivity and Variance Analysis of Arterial Pressure Transfer Dynamics Estimated from Adaptive Multi-Channel System Identification

This paper analyzes the parametric sensitivity and asymptotic variance of the arterial pressure transfer dynamics estimated from the adaptive multi-channel (AMC) system identification technique (Hahn, 2006), a method devised to adaptively reconstruct the aortic blood pressure waveform in response to changes in the cardiovascular physiologic conditions. The parametric sensitivity analysis indicates that the pressure transfer dynamics is dominated by the wave transmission time delays at high frequency, which is confirmed by the asymptotic variance analysis, showing that the corresponding variance of the pressure transfer dynamics can be attenuated if accurate wave transmission time delays are provided. The relative parametric identifiability is then assessed by analyzing the eigenstructure of the predictor sensitivity matrix. Finally, the effect of data length on the parametric variance is also provided as a guideline for the trade-off between computational efficiency and the level of confidence.
Training more doctors

Every time I tell someone that I am doing my residency training in the United States, I get the same reaction: „Why are you in the United States? Are you going to come back to Canada? We need more doctors.” Moving to the United States was a last resort for me. When I graduated from McGill
Dendritic Cells Prolong Tumor-specific T-Cell Survival and Effector Function after Interaction with Tumor Targets

Tumor specific CTLs are susceptible to tumor-mediated activated induced cell death (AICD) after target engagement. The presence of dendritic cells (DCs) at the site of tumors correlates with an improved prognosis in patients with a variety of histological tumor types. We examined whether DCs can modify the survival of tumor specific CTLs during encounter with tumor targets. HLA-A2+ gp100-specific CD8+ CTLs were used as effectors against gp100+, A2+ melanoma FEM-X, and Mel526 (A2-) targets as well as the melanoma target Mel397. Cytolytic assays and [ 3 H]DNA fragmentation (JAM) assays were used to evaluate CTL specificity and tumor-mediated AICD, respectively. A functional assay, ARK (activity of rescued killer cells), was developed to measure cytolytic activity of surviving CTLs after a 12-h coincubation with tumor. In JAM assays, the CTLs proved more susceptible to apoptosis when exposed to the relevant tumors FEM-X and Mel526 than the irrelevant Mel397 (37 and 23% versus 3%; P P
Multi-institutional experience treating metastatic soft tissue sarcomas using yttrium-90 microspheres

transfusions, 1 with Von Willdebrand disease having a pseudoaneurysm coiled 6 days after cryoablation, and 3 given 2 unit RBC transfusions (mean Hg drop 3.2 g/dL) with no prolonged hospital stay. Of 35 patients with at least 3 month followup, 26 showed no recurrent mass and 2 showed local recurrence. Conclusion: Embolization prior to cryoablation is a safe means of mitigating potential bleeding in high risk patients undergoing planned cryoablation, particularly for large renal masses in patients with underlying comorbidities and no other treatment option.
Using EEG to explore how rTMS produces its effects on behavior

A commonly held view is that, when delivered during the performance of a task, repetitive TMS (rTMS) influences behavior by producing transient “virtual lesions” in targeted tissue. However, findings of rTMS-related improvements in performance are difficult to reconcile with this assumption. With regard to the mechanism whereby rTMS influences concurrent task performance, a combined rTMS/EEG study conducted in our lab has revealed a complex set of relations between rTMS, EEG activity, and behavioral performance, with the effects of rTMS on power in the alpha band and on alpha:gamma phase synchrony each predicting its effect on behavior. These findings suggest that rTMS influences performance by biasing endogenous task-related oscillatory dynamics, rather than creating a “virtual lesion”. To further differentiate these two alternatives, in the present study we compared the effects of 10 Hz rTMS on neural activity with the results of an experiment in which rTMS was replaced with 10 Hz luminance flicker. We reasoned that 10 Hz flicker would produce widespread entrainment of neural activity to the flicker frequency, and comparison of these EEG results with those from the rTMS study would shed light on whether the latter also reflected entrainment to an exogenous stimulus. Results revealed pronounced evidence for “entrainment noise” produced by 10 Hz flicker—increased oscillatory power and inter-trial coherence (ITC) at the driving frequency, and increased alpha:gamma phase synchronization—that were nonetheless largely uncorrelated with behavior. This contrasts markedly with 10-Hz rTMS, for which the only evidence for stimulation-induced noise, elevated ITC at 30 Hz, differed qualitatively from the flicker results. Simultaneous recording of the EEG thus offers an important means of directly testing assumptions about how rTMS exerts its effects on behavior.
Impact of entrainment from overshooting thermals on land–atmosphere interactions during summer 1999

The depth of the planetary boundary layer (PBL) or mixed layer is important for carbon dioxide source/sink estimation because the response of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration to a given amount of surface flux is inversely proportional to this depth. The PBL depth is affected by entrainment from overshooting thermals that is often underestimated in mesoscale meteorological models. An experiment was performed for the late summer of 1999 that includes a parameterization of PBL top entrainment that is based on a downward buoyancy flux at the top of the PBL. Simulations with this parameterization produce a warmer, drier and deeper boundary layer than a control simulation. The monthly mean diurnal cycle of PBL depth at a location in northern Wisconsin is better simulated with this enhanced entrainment when compared to observations. The altered atmospheric conditions cause the vegetation's stomata to respond and possibly close in an evolved response to limit water loss, thus reducing transpiration and shifting the Bowen ratio. The stomatal closing also reduces carbon assimilation, consequently altering horizontal and vertical carbon gradients. The overall effect of enhanced PBL entrainment is to alter time–mean regional gradients in CO 2 mixing ratio by as much as 7 ppmv over 1000 km. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0889.2010.00482.x
Lower and upper bounds for the error of the Jth resolution via optimal wavelet choice for a signal

Selection of a wavelet for a given signal such that the error of the discrete wavelet representation up to a given scale is minimized is investigated. Lower and upper bounds are derived for the error of the Jth resolution f/sub j/ of f with respect to f itself when the Fourier spectrum of f is mostly concentrated in -2/sup j/ pi , 2/sup j/ pi . The lower and upper bounds only differ from each other by a positive constant multiple. Based on the error bounds, the cost function is chosen as the upper bound with quadratic-form of unknown coefficients. The optimal coefficients of the Daubechies wavelets are formulated as solutions of certain quadratic equations which depend on the signal and J. Optimal wavelets for the signal-independent case are considered. >
Comparison of the Surface Charge Behavior of Commercial Silicon Nitride and Silicon Carbide Powders

The adsorption and desorption of protons from aqueous solution onto the surfaces of a variety of commercial silicon carbide and silicon nitride powders has been examined using a surface titration methodology. This method provides information on some colloidal characteristics, such as the point of zero charge (pzc) and the variation of proton adsorption with dispersion pH, useful for the prediction of optimal ceramic-processing conditions. Qualitatively, the magnitude of the proton adsorption from solution reveals small differences among all of the materials studied. However, the results show that the pzc for the various silicon nitride powders is affected by the powder synthesis route. Complementary investigations have shown that milling can also act to shift the pzc exhibited by silicon nitride powder. Also, studies of the role of the electrolyte in the development of surface charge have indicated no evidence of specific adsorption of ammonium ion on either silicon nitride or silicon carbide powders.
Beamsplitting using self-imaging

The production of a variable array of optical point sources from a single point source can be achieved through the self-imaging properties inherent in a rectangular waveguide. Two prototype devices, based upon this concept, were designed and constructed. The resulting output patterns are discussed along with future design considerations and applications.
Power-performance analysis of metaheuristic search algorithms on the GPU

This paper presents a power-performance analysis of three metaheuristic search algorithms on the GPU. We investigate the impact of varying thread configurations with constraints on the maximum allowable registers per thread. The experimental results reveal that thread geometry can have a significant impact on both the performance and power consumption of the studied codes. Generally, larger block sizes with a low constraint on the number of allocated registers provide the best results. A particularly interesting outcome of this study is the discovery of thread and grid dimensions which yield improvements in both performance and power consumption. These improvements come from better data locality across thread blocks and reduction in DRAM traffic.
Reverse Differential Cyanosis: A Treatable Newborn Cardiac Emergency

Reverse differential cyanosis (upper extremity oxygen saturation less than lower extremity oxygen saturation) is a rare, formerly fatal condition. Usually seen with dextrotransposition of the great arteries (with persistent pulmonary hypertension or aortic interruption/coarctation), it can be treated successfully with oxygen, prostaglandin E1, atrial septotomy, nitric oxide, bosentan, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, followed by the arterial switch operation.
Effect of Prior Immunization on Bactericidal Action of Penicillin in Vivo.

Summary and ConclusionsIn the group A streptococcal infection of mice here studied, and under the conditions of the present experiments, the presence of a significant degree of immunity had no effect on the direct bactericidal action of penicillin. This proceeded at the same rate in the immunized animals as in control mice simultaneously inoculated, and continued for the same period of time. The difference in the 2 groups lay in the course of the infection after penicillin had fallen to ineffective levels. In non-immune mice, the surviving bacteria regularly grew out to cause a fatal infection. In the partially immunized animals, however, a small fraction of the normally curative dose of penicillin sufficed to reduce the bacterial population to levels which could be handled by the host defenses. Those surviving bacteria gradually disappeared in the course of 24-48 hours, after penicillin itself was no longer operative, and the animals survived. Under the conditions of this experiment, the host defenses an...