cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of phenformin hydrochloride on serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels of the stable adult diabetic.

Abstract Study of a randomly selected sample of 202 stable ketoacidosis-resistant diabetics aged 35–80 revealed that, subjects receiving phenformin hydrochloride (DBI) alone or in combination therapy had significantly lower serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels than matched diabetics treated with insulin or tolbutamide alone. A prospective study of 60 additional diabetics previously treated with diet or tolbutamide or untreated showed that phenformin as the sole therapeutic agent produced a 12 per cent fall in cholesterol, a 40 per cent fall in triglycerides, an 11 per cent fall in fasting blood sugar and a weight loss of 3 4 to 1 pound/month (average values). The average dose of phenformin was 85 mg. daily and the average period of treatment was 26 weeks. These findings were interpreted in light of current concepts of the interrelationship of disorders of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and the mechanism of action of phenformin was considered.
Solar system chemical abundances corrected for systematics

The relative chemical abundances between CI meteorites and the solar photosphere exhibit a significant trend with condensation temperature. A trend with condensation temperature is also seen when the solar photospheric abundances are compared to those of nearby solar twins. We use both these trends to determine the alteration of the elemental abundances of the meteorties and the photosphere by fractionation and calculate a new set of primordial Solar System abundances.
Experimental studies of SPECT scintimammography with combined cone-beam and parallel-beam collimators

Conventional SPECT Tc-99m sestamibi scintimammography (STSM) has limited clinical utility due to fairly low radiopharmaceutical uptake in the breast tissue as compared to the heart and the liver. We investigated the use of a cone-beam collimator (CBC) to STSM. Each detector on a multi-headed gamma camera can be equipped with parallel-beam (PBC) or cone-beam collimators (CBC). PBC can provide truncation-free SPECT projection sets, while CBC offers increased sensitivity in a limited field-of-view (FOV). Combined PBC and CBC SPECT ddata acquisition may provide improved lesion contrast and overall better imaging performance within CBC FOV with significantly reduced truncation artifacts in the reconstructed images. In this paper we evaluate the combined CBC&PBC SPECT method using a limited number of confirmed breast cancer patients and female chest phantoms with simulated breast lesions. We envision the combined CBC&PBC SPECT as a useful clinical tool in scintimammography.
Eosinophilic cholangiopathy with concurrent eosinophilic colitis in a patient with idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome

Eosinophilic cholangiopathy is a rare cholestatic disorder of unknown etiology. Simultaneous histologic documentation of eosinophilic involvement of the bile ducts and gastrointestinal tract has been reported previously in only a few well-documented cases. We report a 52-year-old man with a history of idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome who presented with acute diarrhea and cholestatic hepatitis. Colonoscopy revealed colitis, and a biopsy showed eosinophilic infiltrates in the colonic mucosa. Liver biopsy showed dense eosinophilic inflammation in the portal areas with bile duct damage. This case demonstrates the entity of hepatic involvement in idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome and the difficulties related to diagnosis and treatment.
Phenolic and carotenoid composition of canned peaches (Prunus persica) and apricots (Prunus armeniaca) as affected by variety and peeling

Abstract Peaches and apricots contain significant quantities of phenolics and carotenoids, components with various health benefits. Fruit peel has been found to possess high concentrations of these compounds yet is often removed prior to canning. We studied how phytochemical content and composition were affected by peeling in three peach and three apricot varieties. Peeling decreased carotenoid content while its effect on phenolic content and antioxidant capacity in both fruits was variety dependent. Significant diffusion of phenolics into syrup was found (> 30%) while leaching of carotenoids was minimal ( 20% losses after 6 months. Losses of carotenoids were > 38%, being more severe in peeled fruit. Our results indicate that peeling decreased the phytochemical, particularly carotenoid, content of canned peaches and apricots but canned apricots were still excellent sources of vitamin A after 6 months of storage. Consumption or secondary use of syrup would be important to increase total phenolic intake from canned fruit.
Evaluation of the cold strain index (CSI) for peripheral cold environmental stress

Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cold strain index (CSI) for peripheral environmental stress using data from a previous footwear study. Eight men (20±2 yr) dressed in protective cold weather clothing with varying footwear underwent 5 days of cold air (−23.4 °C) testing while attempting to sit for 240 min. Rectal, skin, and toe temperatures (Ttoe) were continuously measured. All test exposures were ended after 50–165 min due to cold foot discomfort or Ttoe
Glucocorticoid-Associated Maternal Hyperglycemia: A Randomized Trial of Insulin Prophylaxis

Objectives: To study the degree and timing of maternal hyperglycemia following betamethasone therapy in nondiabetic patients and establish a prophylactic dose of insulin.Methods: Forty-five patients receiving betamethasone 12 mg i.m. at 7 AM on two consecutive days were randomized to no insulin (n = 20), low-dose insulin (n = 18), and high-dose insulin (n = 7) protocols. Each treatment group received s.c. insulin at 7 AM on the 2 days of betamethasone therapy (20 units NPH/10 units regular, and 40 units NPH/20 units regular, respectively). Capillary plasma glucose measurements were obtained at fasting and 2 h after meals for 3 days. A multivariate normal regression model was used to estimate and compare mean glucose levels.Results: Eighty-five percent of patients who did not receive insulin exhibited hyperglycemia at levels previously associated with fetal acidosis. Significant differences in mean postprandial plasma glucose levels were found between the no-treatment and insulin groups on days 1 and 2. No...
Succinylcholine and Morbid Obesity: The Debate Continues…

Despite its potential adverse side effects, succinylcholine has been used in clinical anesthetic practice for more than 50 years. Its benefits include rapid onset (<1 min) with excellent tracheal intubating conditions and rapid recovery from paralysis [1]. Although potential replacements for succinylcholine have been sought, no other neuromuscular blocking agent has yet been equal to succinylcholine in its onset time and time to full recovery from block [2]. Currently, the agent deemed most likely to replace succinylcholine is rocuronium. Although its onset to paralysis is almost equivalent to succinylcholine, rocuronium has a much longer (30–50min) duration of action [3]. For a normal weight surgical patient with a normal airway and a long safe apnea time (time from paralysis until oxyhemoglobin desaturation), rocuronium can be substituted for succinylcholine. This is not the case for the morbidly obese patient in whom rapid access to a potentially difficult airway under the best possible laryngoscopy conditions is always necessary [4]. In several studies, it has been demonstrated that although rocuronium and succinylcholine are equivalent in achieving “good” intubating conditions, for consistently excellent conditions, succinylcholine is always a better choice [5]. Because of its short duration of action, in our opinion, succinylcholine is indicated for every morbidly obese patient since laryngoscopy may not always be successful, mask ventilation can be challenging, and safe apnea time is very short, increasing the need for rapid emergence from the block. The reversal agent sugammadex can decrease the duration of action of rocuronium, and its release into clinical practice has led some to state that a replacement for succinylcholine has finally been found [1]. However, sugammadex is not available in the USA. In Europe where sugammadex is currently in use, a single reversal dose costs several hundred dollars (M. Margarson, Chichester, UK, personal communication) compared to succinylcholine which is very inexpensive. Although the more serious side effects of succinylcholine (significant hyperkalemia, anaphylaxis, malignant hyperthermia) can be life-threatening, their occurrence is extremely rare. The more common side effects of succinylcholine are usually minor, and in our opinion, the benefits of succinylcholine in the morbidly obese surgical patient far outweigh any reason not to use it.
The Effects of Sex and Toy Characteristics on Exploration in Preschool Children

Summary Previous research indicates that girls spend less time than boys exploring a novel toy. Whether this finding is due to individual differences, sex differences in the toys' attractiveness, or the restricted number of exploration indices employed remains unanswered. In the present study, the novel toy, a box with five manipulanda and three detachable panels, incorporated a sex-typed feature (picture on panel) which appealed to boys and girls, respectively. Panels were identical except the depictions they presented which included a house, dashboard of a car, and pinwheel of colors (control). An independent assessment of panel preference with 35 boys and girls indicated that girls preferred the house panel while boys preferred the car panel. Results indicated that children in both the car and house condition spent significantly more time manipulating the novel toy and less time manipulating the familiar toys during a IS-min free play session than children in the control group. Girls in the house condi...
Memory-enhancing intra-basolateral amygdala clenbuterol infusion reduces post-burst afterhyperpolarizations in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons following inhibitory avoidance learning

Activation of the basolateral amygdala can modulate the strength of fear memories, including those in single-trial inhibitory avoidance (IA) tasks. Memory retention, measured by the latency to re-enter a dark-compartment paired 24h earlier with a footshock, varies with intensity of this aversive stimulus. When higher intensity footshocks were used, hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons exhibited reduced afterhyperpolarizations (AHPs) 24h post-trial, an effect blocked by immediate post-trial inactivation of the basolateral complex of the amygdala (BLA). Similar AHP reductions in CA1 have been observed in a number of learning tasks, with time courses appropriate to support memory consolidation. When less intense footshocks were used for IA training of Sprague-Dawley rats, immediate post-trial infusion of the β-adrenergic agonist clenbuterol into BLA was required to enhance hippocampal Arc protein expression 45 min later and to enhance memory retention tested 48 h later. Here, using Long-Evans rats and low-intensity footshocks, we confirmed that bilateral immediate post-trial infusion of 15 ng/0.5 μl of the β-adrenergic agonist clenbuterol into BLA significantly enhances memory for an IA task. Next, clenbuterol was infused into one BLA immediately post-training, with vehicle infused into the contralateral BLA, then hippocampal CA1 neuron AHPs were assessed 24 h later. Only CA1 neurons from hemispheres ipsilateral to post-trial clenbuterol infusion showed learning-dependent AHP reductions. Excitability of CA1 neurons from the same trained rats, but from the vehicle-infused hemispheres, was identical to that from untrained rats receiving unilateral clenbuterol or vehicle infusions. Peak AHPs, medium and slow AHPs, and accommodation were reduced only with the combination of IA training and unilateral BLA β-receptor activation. Similar to previous observations of BLA adrenergic memory-related enhancement of Arc protein expression in hippocampus, increased CA1 neuronal excitability in the fear-modulated IA task was activated by immediate post-trial β-receptor activation of the ipsilateral BLA.
Acute Hypokalemia and Inducibility of Ventricular Tachyarrhythmia in a Nonischemic Canine Model

Inducibility of sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) by programmed ventricular stimulation following acute hypokalemia was studied in 21 anesthetized dogs free of inducible ventricular tachyarrhythmias at baseline. The control mean serum potassium concentration of 3.65 mEq/L was decreased to 2.14 mEq/L by insulin and furosemide administration. Inducibility of arrhythmias was also assessed following isoproterenol infusion before and after induction of hypokalemia. None of the animals developed sustained VT. Only one animal developed VF following hypokalemia (p>0.05). Two normokalemic animals and five hypokalemic animals developed VF following isoproterenol infusion; this difference was not significant (p>0.05). In this study, hypokalemia did not predispose to the development of a substrate necessary for the genesis and maintenance of VT. The inducibility of VF following hypokalemia was not significantly enhanced and appears to be related to the “aggressive” stimulation protocol.
Some studies relating to the properties and biochemical significance of cardiolipin.

Abstract 1. 1. A number of vertebrate tissues were examined for their cardiolipin content aided by in vivo labeling with 32P and autoradiography. 2. 2. Based on the data, a possible in vivo relationship between the cardiolipin family of phosphatides is presented. 3. 3. Some of the deleterious effects of trichloroacetic acid and perchloric acid on plasmalogens, phosphatidic acid and cardiolipin are discussed.
Effect of rounding of protruding edges on heat transfer and pressure drop in a duct

Abstract Experiments were performed to determine the heat transfer, pressure drop, and flow field responses to the rounding of the peaks of a corrugated-wall duct. Two different degrees of corrugation-peak roundedness were used in addition to sharp (i.e. unrounded) corrugation peaks. The experiments encompassed the Reynolds number range from 2000 to 33 000 while the Prandtl number ranged from 4 to 11. It was found that at a given Reynolds number (i.e. given mass flow rate), the rounding of the corrugation peaks brought about a decrease in the Nusselt number which was accentuated at larger Reynolds numbers. The friction factor corresponding to a given Reynolds number decreased even more than did the Nusselt number. On the other hand, at equal pumping power, the Nusselt number was relatively insensitive to whether the peaks were sharp or rounded. Flow visualization experiments showed that rounding reduces the size of the separated region that is spawned at each corrugation peak.
School psychologists at three-quarters century: Congruence between training, practice, preferred role and competence

Abstract A national sample of practicing school psychologists responded to a questionnaire measuring certain demographic characteristics and their perceptions of their training, practice, preferred job, and competence. Characteristics of the sample are reported and congruence measures are given for the major variables. Finally, differences are examined for job setting (urban-rural), degree field (school psychology-other), and degree level (doctoral-subdoctoral). Implications for the profession are discussed.
A Double-Integral Formulation of Ambarzumian's Method for Isotropic Scattering in a Two-Dimensional, Semi-Infinite Medium

Abstract For a two-dimensional, semi-infinite, rectangular medium which scatters isotropically, a new integral equation for the source function at the boundary is obtained by using a double-integral formulation of Ambarzumian's method. The incident radiation is cosine-varying and collimated. The medium is assumed to be homogeneous, non-emitting and to have a refractive index of unity. The double- and single-integral formulations are compared, and the relative merits of the two approaches are discussed.
Constitutive activation of the neuregulin-1/ErbB receptor signaling pathway is essential for the proliferation of a neoplastic Schwann cell line.

Neuregulin-1 (NRG-1) proteins promote Schwann cell survival, differentiation and proliferation during development. High levels of an NRG-like activity are also present in some human peripheral nerve sheath tumors, suggesting that NRG-1 isoforms may be involved in the development of these neoplasms. We examined the expression of NRG-1 and its receptors, the erbB membrane tyrosine kinases, in JS1 cells, a rapidly proliferating line derived from a chemically induced rat malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST). Relative to nontransformed Schwann cells, JS1 cells overexpress the NRG-1 receptor erbB3 and its erbB2 coreceptor; JS1 erbB2 transcripts show no evidence of the activating mutation commonly found in N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea-induced neoplasms. JS1 cells do not express the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a kinase implicated in the pathogenesis of a major subset of MPNSTs. JS1 cells also express mRNAs encoding multiple alpha and beta isoforms from the glial growth factor and sensory and motor neuron-derived factor NRG-1 subfamilies. Stimulation with NRG-1beta in the presence of forskolin produces a dose-dependent increase in JS1 DNA synthesis. Even in unstimulated JS1 cells, however, erbB2 and erbB3 are constitutively tyrosine phosphorylated. Reducing this constitutive phosphorylation with the specific erbB inhibitor PD158780 markedly impairs JS1 DNA synthesis. These observations support the hypothesis that NRG-1 isoforms and erbB kinases act in an autocrine and/or paracrine fashion to promote mitogenesis in JS1 cells. The absence of EGFR expression in JS1 cells suggests that constitutive activation of the NRG-1/erbB signaling pathway is an alternative means of inducing Schwann cell neoplasia.
Monte Carlo Based Model of Fluorescence: Theory and Application to Breast Cancer Diagnosis

A Monte Carlo model of fluorescence is developed that can extract intrinsic fluorescence properties of tissue, independent of absorption and scattering. This model is shown to elucidate significant contrast between malignant and non-malignant breast tissues.
THE ELECTRON–ELECTRON VERSION OF THE LINEAR COLLIDER — A MILLENNIUM UPDATE

It has become a natural mandate to the particle physics community to look beyond presently active and approved high-energy accelerators for precision work at the edge of, and beyond, the Standard Model. We stress the mandate for complementary use of both charge modes of the Electron Collider, e+e- and e+e-. Choosing a few illustrative examples, we attempt to set the stage for technical developments needed to define and execute the key experiments using two incoming electron beams.
System support for robust collaborative applications

Traditional transaction models ensure robustness for distributed applications through the properties of view and failure atomicity. It has generally been felt that such atomicity properties are restrictive for a wide range of application domains; this is particularly true for robust, collaborative applications because such applications have concurrent components that are inherently long-lived and that cooperate. Recent advances in extended transaction models can be exploited to structure long-lived and cooperative computations. Applications can use a combination of such models to achieve the desired degree of robustness; hence, we develop a system which can support a number of flexible transaction models, with correctness criteria that extend or relax serializability. We analyze two concrete CSCW applications-collaborative editor and meeting scheduler. We show how a combination of two extended transaction models, that promote split and cooperating actions, facilitates robust implementations of these collaborative applications. Thus, we conclude that a system that implements multiple transaction models provides flexible support for building robust collaborative applications.
Space Station Freedom photovoltaic power module design status

Electric power for the Space Station Freedom will be provided by four photovoltaic (PV) power modules using silicon solar cells during phase I operation. Each PV power module requires two solar arrays with 32800 solar cells generating 18.75 kW of DC power for a total of 75 kW. The design incorporates an optimized thermal control system, pointing and tracking provision with the application of gimbals, and the use of orbital replacement units to achieve modularization. The design status of the PV power module, as derived from major tradeoff studies, is discussed at hardware levels ranging from component to system. Details of the design are presented where appropriate. >
Modification of the serum bromide assay for the measurement of extracellular fluid volume in small subjects

Serum bromide has been used in the past to measure extracellular fluid volume in infants. In this report, a modification and refinement of a previously described spectrophotometric assay suitable for determining bromide levels in blood is presented. The assay involves sample deproteinization with perchloric acid followed by spectrophotometric analysis of the complexes formed by the reaction between sodium bromide and gold chloride. Linear standard curves were obtained by diluting 1:2 with pooled serum at the following bromide concentrations: 10, 20, 30 and 40 mg%. Intra- and interassay variation using this technique was extremely small (n = 6, correlation coefficient, 0.995, and n = 5, correlation coefficient, 0.988, respectively). For toxicological analysis, a linear standard curve was derived from sodium bromide standards at the following concentrations: 40, 60, 80, and 100 mg%. The reproducibility and reliability of this assay have been excellent and the correlaton with neutron activation analysis was excellent. The assay is easily adapted for the analysis of large numbers of samples, is easy to perform, and requires only small sample volumes.
Information Struggles: The Role of Information in the Reproduction of NGO-Funder Relationships

This article examines struggles over information between two nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in India and their key international funders. The author outlines both the strategies used by international funders to increase their control over information generation within NGOs and the strategies used by the case NGOs to resist these interventions. Three main arguments are advanced: (a) The information requirements of funders affect NGOs not only by placing demands on their attention but also by promoting positivist and easily quantifiable valuations of success and failure; this is not an intended effect but a systemic one; (b) NGOs resist funder attempts to structure their behavior through a series of strategies that include the symbolic generation of information, selective sharing of information, and the strategic use of professionals to enhance legitimacy; and, (c) this combination of funder demands for information and NGO resistance to external interference serves to entrench existing information sys...
Bottle-weaning intervention tools: the "how" and "why" of a WIC-based educational flipchart, parent brochure, and website.

Objective. This article describes the development of educational materials for a Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)–based randomized controlled trial of an intervention encouraging timely bottle weaning. Method. Following a systematic process to develop of patient education materials, messages were first tested in 4 focus groups with 26 caregivers of WIC toddlers aged 7 to 36 months of age at the 2 study sites. Following review and revision, the materials were retested in one-on-one nutritional counseling sessions with 10 clients at the WIC sites who met the study’s eligibility criteria. Results. Materials development was an iterative process requiring several levels of input, review, and revision. Use of a systematic process guided by steps adapted from the health education literature was crucial in ensuring continuous feedback from stakeholders, experts, and priority populations and to develop an intervention instrument that met the needs and expectations of all groups. Conclusions and implications. The...
Time and/or space sharing in a workstation cluster environment

The clustered parallel computer (CPC), based on a workstation cluster, is becoming popular as a choice for high-performance network or parallel computing. However, operating system overheads, network protocols, and higher message-passing latency contribute to a lower overall communication performance in a cluster of workstations, increasing the likelihood that timesharing of parallel jobs can be used to improve system throughput in a workstation cluster. The traditional means by which the CPC minimizes user job turnaround time (JTT) is through space sharing, in which user jobs are given exclusive control over clusters of processors. The objective of this study is to examine methods by which system utilization may be increased by giving timeshared access to parallel jobs without sacrificing the primary goal of minimizing user JTT. >
A fast wavelet collocation method for high-speed circuit simulation

The advance of very large scale integration (VLSI) systems has been continuously challenging today's circuit simulators in both computational speed and stability. This paper presents a novel approach, the fast wavelet collocation method (FWCM), for high-speed circuit simulation. FWCM has the following properties: (1) it works in the time domain, so that circuit nonlinearity can be handled and numerical accuracy can be well controlled, unlike the method of working in the frequency domain where numerical error may become uncontrolled during the inverse Laplace transform; (2) the wavelet property of localization in both the time and frequency domains makes a uniform approximation possible, which is generally not found in time-marching methods; (3) it is very effective in treating singularities which often develop in high-speed ICs; (4) an adaptive scheme exists; and (5) it has an O(h/sup 4/) convergence rate, where h is the step length. Numerical experiments further demonstrated the promising features of FWCM in high-speed IC simulation.
The software interface to the 3D-force microscope

We have developed a real-time experiment-control and data-display system for a novel microscope, the 3D-force microscope (3DFM), which is designed for nanometer-scale and nanoNewton-force biophysical experiments. The 3DFM software suite synthesizes the several data sources from the 3DFM into a coherent view and provides control over data collection and specimen manipulation. Herein, we describe the system architecture designed to handle the several feedback loops and data flows present in the microscope and its control system. We describe the visualization techniques used in the 3DFM software suite, where used, and on which types of data. We present feedback from our scientist-users regarding the usefulness of these techniques, and we also present lessons learned from our successive implementations.
Organoboranes for synthesis. 10.1 the base-induced reaction of bromine with organoboranes. A convenient procedure for the conversion of alkenes into alkyl bromides via hydroboration

Abstract The reaction of trialkylboranes with bromine is greatly accelerated by base. Bromination in the presence of sodium hydroxide provides alkyl bromide along with a large amount of the corresponding alcohol. The use of sodium methoxide as a base eliminates this undesirable sidereaction and provides an improved yield of alkyl bromide. Consequently, hydroboration, followed by bromination in the presence of sodium methoxide, provides a convenient new procedure for the conversion of alkenes into alkyl bromides. The organoboranes, obtained via hydroboration of terminal alkenes, react with the utilization of all three alkyl groups attached to boron, providing nearly quantitative yields of alkyl bromides. This procedure also accommodates common organic functional groups, as demonstrated by the preparation of methyl 11-bromoundecanoate and 11-bromoundecyl acetate from the corresponding functionally substituted alkenes. Under these conditions, secondary and bulky primary alkyl groups react more sluggishly. However, a procedure involving simultaneous addition of bromine and methanolic sodium methoxide provides improved results for such derivatives. Surprisingly, the base-induced bromination of tri-exo-norbomylborane results in an inversion of configuration at the reaction center to give predominantlyendo-2-bromonorbomane. A mechanism is proposed to account for this remarkable inversion.
Applications of high efficiency techniques to the design of RF power amplifier and amplifier control circuits in tactical radio equipment

When plans were first developed for a new multi-band, multi-function tactical manpack radio, it soon became obvious that goals for transmit power were at risk because of the power requirement of the rest of the radio and battery limitations. This paper focuses on a particular approach to the transmitter circuits. System level performance comparisons are made based on results for the actual power amplifier (or PA) design, and estimated for a more traditional PA approach. This new radio with multi-band (low and high VHF, and UHF), multi-mode (AM, FM) capability coupled with the existing products embedded communication security (COMSEC), offers the end user a single radio alternative to existing multiple radio solutions.
Review of the systematics of Trachagathis Viereck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Agathidinae)

The phylogenetic position of Trachagathis Viereck is discussed. Two new combinations are proposed. Agathis rubricincta Ashmead (1894) and Agathis depressifrons Braet and van Achterberg (2003) are transferred to Trachagathis, Trachagathis rubricincta n. comb. and T. depressifrons n. comb. Elasmopalpus lignosellus (Zeller) Pyralidae, the lesser cornstalk borer, is recorded as a host of T. rubricincta.
A propensity for n-ω-amino acids in thermally altered Antarctic meteorites

Asteroids and their fragments have impacted the Earth for the last 4.5 Gyr. Carbonaceous meteorites are known to contain a wealth of indigenous organic molecules, including amino acids, which suggests that these meteorites could have been an important source of prebiotic organic material during the origins of life on Earth and possibly elsewhere. We report the detection of extraterrestrial amino acids in thermally altered type 3 CV and CO carbonaceous chondrites and ureilites recovered from Antarctica. The amino acid concentrations of the thirteen Antarctic meteorites ranged from 300 to 3200 parts-per-billion (ppb), generally much less abundant than in amino acid-rich CI, CM, and CR carbonaceous chondrites that experienced much lower temperature aqueous alteration on their parent bodies. In contrast to low-temperature aqueously altered meteorites that show complete structural diversity in amino acids formed predominantly by Strecker- cyanohydrin synthesis, the thermally altered meteorites studied here are dominated by small, straight- chain, amine terminal (n-x-amino) amino acids that are not consistent with Strecker formation. The carbon isotopic ratios of two extraterrestrial n-x-amino acids measured in one of the CV chondrites (d 13 C approximately )25&) are consistent with 13 C-depletions observed previously in hydrocarbons produced by Fischer-Tropsch type reactions. The predominance of n-x -amino acid isomers in thermally altered meteorites hints at cosmochemical mechanisms for the preferential formation and preservation of a small subset of the possible amino acids.
Importance of making dietary recommendations for elements designated as nutritionally beneficial, pharmacologically beneficial, or conditioinally essential

Reported findings suggest that at least 15 elements could be added to the list of essential nutrients. Some of these possibly essential elements also are receiving attention because of their toxicological or pharmacological properties that can affect health and well-being During the process of updating dietary guidance standards in various parts of the world including the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) in North America, the question as to what extent should these elements be considered most likely will occur; In this review, terms used to describe these elementsCconditionally essential, pharmacologically beneficial, and nutritionally beneficialCare defined. The four types of circumstantial evidence to support essentiality are also presented and used to conclude that there is strong circumstantial evidence for the essentiality of arsenic, boron, chromium, nickel, silicon, and vanadium; some of this evidence is described. The evidence is more than circumstantial for two of these six elements and therefore they may be soon generally accepted as established essential elements; they are boron because its deficiency has been shown to interrupt the life cycle of some higher animals, and chromium because of the recent discovery of a specific biochemical function. Regardless of whether they meet the strict definition of essentiality, findings have been described to suggest that these six elements have effects at physiological or pharmacological amounts that can promote health and reduce risks leading to disease. Because a new paradigm is emerging in which the dominating role of the concept of deficiency in the setting of dietary intake recommendations is being complemented by the concern for the total health effects of dietary constituents, the argument is made for the setting of recommendations for these possibly essential elements. The end result would be the enabling of people to make appropriate intake decisions that will help them achieve the often stated goal of Aliving longer and better.@ J. Trace Elem. Exp. Med. 13:113-129, 2000. Published 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.H
SYNTHESIS OF RNA IN MAMMALIAN CELLS DURING MITOSIS AND INTERPHASE

Chinese hamster cells in the mitotic and G1 phases of the growth cycle were incubated for 30 or 60 min in suspension tissue culture and pulse-labeled with tritiated uridine. After appropriate chases, washes, and extractions, it was found that all incorporation into the nucleic acid may be accounted for by those cells in interphase. An average of 410 counts was found for incorporation into the cell population (approximately 2.0 x 105 cells) of which over 80% of the cells was initially in mitosis. The increasing number of cells leaving mitosis and entering interphase during the 30 min incubation was theoretically able to account for 470 counts. In addition, short-pulse labeling experiments have shown a consistent linear relationship between the percentage of cells in division and the incorporation of the isotope, which strongly suggests that, if 100% of the cells were in mitosis, the counts would be essentially zero. Thus, the entire label may be attributed to those cells in interphase where portions of the chromosomal material are known to be already extended.
Alternatives to Mixture Model Analysis of Correlated Binomial Data

While univariate instances of binomial data are readily handled with generalized linear models, cases of multivariate or repeated measure binomial data are complicated by the possibility of correlated responses. Likelihood-based estimation can be applied by using mixture distribution models, though this approach can present computational challenges. The logistic transformation can be used to bypass these concerns and allow for alternative estimating procedures. One popular alternative is the generalized estimating equation (GEE) method, though systematic errors can lead to infeasible correlation estimates or nonconvergence problems. Our approach is the coupling of quasileast squares (QLSs) method with a rarely used matrix factorization, which achieves a simplified estimation platform—as compared to the mixture model approach—and does not suffer from the convergence problems in GEE method. A noncontrived example is provided that shows the mechanical breakdown of GEE using several statistical software packages and highlights the usefulness of the QLS approach.
Assessment of dental material degradation product toxicity using a bioluminescent bacterial assay.

Abstract Objectives: This study examined dental material degradation product toxicity using the Microtox bacterial bioluminescence assay as well as the effects on toxicity of selective leaching, chelation with protein, the physical form of the products, and synergistic/antagonistic interactions among released ions. Methods: Polarization was used to produce ionically dissolved (ID) and precipitated corrosion products from Litecast B alloy specimens, which were then chemically analyzed to determine their composition and to identify metal valence states. Corrosion product toxicity, as well as that of the individual alloying elements, alone and in the presence of mucin, was analyzed using Microtox. A mathematical approach identified synergistic/antagonistic interactions and determined element contribution to product toxicity. The mechanism by which the Microtox test bacterium interacts with solid products was explored. The toxicity of methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer was also examined. Results: Precipitated corrosion products were found to be more toxic than ID products. The metals in the precipitate have been shown to be available to the test bacterium. Be and Ni were the most toxic elements in the products and contributed significantly to their toxicity. Synergistic and slightly antagonistic interactions were observed in the ID and precipitated products, respectively. Mucin decreased toxicity of all elements except Be. MMA monomer toxicity was found to be low compared to metal toxicity. Significance: Microtox is useful for evaluating dental degradation product biocompatibility and has significant promise for use in other types of studies, such as determining the effectiveness of antimicrobial treatments.
National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank: a standard based biospecimen and clinical data resource to enhance translational research.

Advances in translational research have led to the need for well characterized biospecimens for research. The National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank is an initiative which collects annotated datasets relevant to human mesothelioma to develop an enterprising biospecimen resource to fulfill researchers' need. The National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank architecture is based on three major components: (a) common data elements (based on College of American Pathologists protocol and National North American Association of Central Cancer Registries standards), (b) clinical and epidemiologic data annotation, and (c) data query tools. These tools work interoperably to standardize the entire process of annotation. The National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank tool is based upon the caTISSUE Clinical Annotation Engine, developed by the University of Pittsburgh in cooperation with the Cancer Biomedical Informatics Grid™ (caBIG™, see http://cabig.nci.nih.gov ). This application provides a web-based system for annotating, importing and searching mesothelioma cases. The underlying information model is constructed utilizing Unified Modeling Language class diagrams, hierarchical relationships and Enterprise Architect software. The database provides researchers real-time access to richly annotated specimens and integral information related to mesothelioma. The data disclosed is tightly regulated depending upon users' authorization and depending on the participating institute that is amenable to the local Institutional Review Board and regulation committee reviews. The National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank currently has over 600 annotated cases available for researchers that include paraffin embedded tissues, tissue microarrays, serum and genomic DNA. The National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank is a virtual biospecimen registry with robust translational biomedical informatics support to facilitate basic science, clinical, and translational research. Furthermore, it protects patient privacy by disclosing only de-identified datasets to assure that biospecimens can be made accessible to researchers.
Bcl-2 prevents death of factor-deprived cells but fails to prevent apoptosis in targets of cell mediated killing.

'Programmed cell death' has been used to describe the death of cells killed by cytotoxic T cells or growth factor deprivation. Although bcl-2 can prevent death of cells deprived of growth factor, it failed to protect cells against T cell killing. In spite of bcl-2 expression, the DNA of targeted cells was degraded into nucleosome-sized fragments. Therefore the early steps in apoptosis induced by factor deprivation differ from those triggered by cytotoxic T cells, although they share a common final pathway featuring degradation of the DNA and loss of cytoplasmic membrane integrity.
Pathologic manifestations of levamisole-adulterated cocaine exposure

Rheumatic manifestations of cocaine have been well described, but more recently, a dramatic increase in the levamisole-adulterated cocaine supply in the United States has disclosed unique pathologic consequences that are distinct from pure cocaine use. Most notably, patients show skin lesions and renal dysfunction in the setting of extremely high perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (p-ANCA). Unexpectedly, antibodies to myeloperoxidase, the typical target of p-ANCA, are relatively low if at all present. This discrepancy is due to the fact that p-ANCA seen in association with levamisole-adulterated cocaine exposure is often directed against atypical p-ANCA-associated antigens within the neutrophil granules such as human neutrophil elastase, lactoferrin, and cathepsin G. Biopsies of the skin lesions reveal leukocytoclastic vasculitis often involving both superficial and deep dermal vessels. Renal injury most typically manifests as crescentic and necrotizing pauci-immune glomerulonephritis. In this review, the manifestations of levamisole-adulterated cocaine-induced vasculitis are discussed with an emphasis on the typical histomorphologic findings seen on biopsy. The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1764738711370019 .
Inhibition of eIF2α dephosphorylation inhibits ErbB2-induced deregulation of mammary acinar morphogenesis

The ErbB2/Her2/Neu receptor tyrosine kinase is amplified in ~30% of human breast cancers. Phosphorylation of the translation initiation factor, eIF2α inhibits global protein synthesis and activates a stress signaling and growth suppressive program. We have shown that forced phosphorylation of eIF2α can suppress head and neck, colorectal carcinoma and multiple myeloma tumor growth and/or survival. Here we explore whether ErbB2 modulates eIF2α phosphorylation and whether forced phosphorylation of the latter can antagonize ErbB2 deregulation of mammary acinar morphogenesis. We tested whether ErbB2 signaling influenced eIF2α signaling and whether enhanced phosphorylation of the latter affected ErbB2-deregulated mammary acinar development. We obtained stable MCF10A cells overexpressing wild-type (Wt) Neu/ErbB2 or a constitutively active (CA) variant via retroviral delivery or mammary tumor cells from MMTV-Neu tumors. Western blotting, RT-PCR and confocal microscopy were used to analyze the effects of ErbB2 activation on eIF2α signaling and the effect of the GADD34-PP1C inhibitor salubrinal. Wt- and MMTV-Neu cells formed aberrant acini structures resembling DCIS, while CA-ErbB2 overexpression induced invasive lesions. In these structures we found that CA-ErbB2 but not the Wt variant significantly down-regulated the pro-apoptotic gene CHOP. This occurred without apparent modulation of basal phosphorylation of PERK and eIF2α or induction of its downstream target ATF4. However, inhibition of eIF2α dephosphorylation with salubrinal was sufficient to inhibit Wt- and CA-ErbB2- as well as MMTV-Neu-induced deregulation of acinar growth. This was linked to enhanced CHOP expression, inhibition of proliferation, induction of apoptosis and luminal clearing in Wt-ErbB2 and to inhibition of cyclin D1 levels and subsequent proliferation in CA-ErbB2 cells. Depending on the strength of ErbB2 signaling there is a differential regulation of CHOP and eIF2α phosphorylation. ErbB2 uncouples in basal conditions eIF2α phosphorylation from CHOP induction. However, this signal was restored by salubrinal treatment in Wt-ErbB2 expressing MCF10A cells as these DCIS-like structures underwent luminal clearing. In CA-ErbB2 structures apoptosis is not induced by salubrinal and instead a state of quiescence with reduced proliferation was achieved. Treatments that stabilize P-eIF2α levels may be effective in treating ErbB2 positive cancers without severely disrupting normal tissue function and structure.
High Resolution Synchrotron X-Ray Diffraction Tomography Of Large-Grained Samples

In order to understand the macroscopic response of polycrystalline structural materials to loading, it is frequently essential to know the spatial distribution of strain as well as the variation of micro-texture on the scale of 100 μm. The methods must be nondestructive, however, if the three-dimensional evolution of strain is to be studied. This paper describes an approach to high resolution synchrotron x-ray diffraction tomography of polycrystalline materials. Results from model samples of randomly-packed, millimeter-sized pieces of Si wafers and of similarly sized single-crystal Al blocks have been obtained which indicate that polychromatic beams collimated to 30 μm diameter can be used to determine the depth of diffracting volume elements within -70 μm. The variation in the two-dimensional distribution of diffracted intensity with changing sample to detector separation is recorded on image storage plates and used to infer the depth of diffracting volume elements.
Selective activation of adenosine A3 receptors with n6-(3-chlorobenzyl)-5'-N-methylcarboxamidoadenosine (CB-MECA) provides cardioprotection via KATP channel activation

Objective: The aim of this study was to characterize the adenosine A3 receptor agonist, N 6-(3-chlorobenzyl)-5′- N -methylcarboxamidoadenosine (CB-MECA), evaluate its ability to reduce myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury and determine the role of KATP-channel activation in A3 receptor-mediated cardioprotection. Methods: Binding affinities and adenylate cyclase inhibition were examined in CHO cells expressing rabbit recombinant adenosine A1 or A3 receptors. Infarct size (normalized for area-at-risk;% IA/AAR) was measured in buffer-perfused rabbit hearts exposed to 30-min regional ischemia and 120 min of reperfusion. Results: CB-MECA was 100-fold selective for A3 vs. A1 receptors (A3 K i: 1 nM; A1 K i: 105 nM). Five-min perfusion with CB-MECA before ischemia/reperfusion elicited a concentration-dependent reduction in infarct size (EC50: 0.3 nM). The CB-MECA-dependent cardioprotection (control: 58±2; CB-MECA: 21±3% IA/AAR) was unchanged by an A1-selective concentration of the antagonist, BWA1433, but was completely prevented ( P <0.05) by a nonselective (A1/A3) concentration (55±6% IA/AAR). The KATP channel inhibitors, glibenclamide and 5-HD, had no effect on control infarct size, yet significantly ( P <0.05) blunted the CB-MECA-dependent cardioprotection (glibenclamide: 49±6; 5-HD: 58±4% IA/AAR). Conclusions: CB-MECA is a novel 100-fold A3 receptor-selective agonist which should prove useful for elucidating A3-dependent mechanisms in the rabbit heart. Selective stimulation of adenosine A3 receptors with CB-MECA reduces myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury via a mechanism which involves activation of KATP channels.