cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Functional dissection of basal ganglia inhibitory input onto SNc dopaminergic neurons

Substania nigra (SNc) dopaminergic neurons show a pause-rebound firing pattern in response to aversive events. Because these neurons integrate information from predominately inhibitory brain areas, it is important to determine which inputs functionally inhibit the dopamine neurons and whether this pause-rebound firing pattern can be produced by a solely inhibitory input. Here, we functionally map genetically-defined inhibitory projections from the dorsal striatum (striosome and matrix) and globus pallidus (GPe; parvalbumin and Lhx6) onto SNc neurons. We find that GPe and striosomal inputs both pause firing in SNc neurons, but rebound firing only occurs after inhibition from striosomes. Indeed, we find that striosomes are synaptically optimized to produce rebound and preferentially inhibit a subpopulation of ventral, intrinsically rebound-ready SNc dopaminergic neurons on their reticulata dendrites. Therefore, we describe a self-contained dendrite-specific striatonigral circuit that can produce pause-rebound firing in the absence of excitatory input.
Translation of the long-term fundamental studies on viral DNA packaging motors into nanotechnology and nanomedicine

Many years of fundamental studies on viral genome packaging motors have led to fruitful applications. The double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) viruses package their genomes into preformed protein shells via nanomotors including several elegant and meticulous coaxial modules. The motor is geared by the hexameric RNA ring. An open washer displayed as hexametric string of phi29 motor ATPase has been reported. The open washer linked into a filament as a queue with left-handed chirality along the dsDNA chain. It was found that a free 5′- and 3′-dsDNA end is not required for one gp16 dimer and four monomers to assemble into the hexametric washer on dsDNA. The above studies have inspired several applications in nanotechnology and nanomedicine. These applications include: (i) studies on the precision motor channels have led to their application in the single pore sensing; (ii) investigations into the hand-in-hand integration of the hexametric pRNA ring have resulted in the emergence of the new field of RNA nanotechnology; and (iii) the studies on the motor stoichiometry of homologous multi-subunits that subsequently have inspired the discovery of new methods in highly potent drug development. This review focuses on the structure and function of the viral DNA packaging motors and describes how fundamental studies inspired various applications. Given these advantages, more nanotechnological and biomedical applications using bacteriophage motor components are expected.
Toward standardization in biotechnology platforms to support smart manufacturing

The current race to develop and manufacture vaccines and therapeutics to prevent and treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to an increased recognition of and investment in various technology platforms, including manufacturing and measurement platforms, across many sectors of biotechnology We are also witnessing the convergence of multidisciplinary technologies to enable rapid response and capacity building for diagnostics, treatments, and prevention, and in biosurveillance and monitoring Addressing this global challenge requires smart and distributed manufacturing underpinned by robust standards that are necessary to ensure the quality and consistency of bioproducts Copyright © 2020 by ASTM International
The smooth algebra of a one-dimensional singular foliation

Androulidakis and Skandalis showed how to associate a holonomy groupoid, a smooth convolution algebra and a C*-algebra to any singular foliation. In this note, we consider the singular foliations of a one-dimensional manifold given by vector fields that vanish to order k at a point. We show that, whereas the C*-algebras of these foliations are divided into two isomorphism classes according to the parity of k, the smooth algebras are pairwise nonisomorphic. This is accomplished by analyzing certain natural ideals in the smooth algebras. Issues of factorization with respect to convolution arise and are resolved using a context-appropriate version of the Diximier-Malliavin theorem.
Internal circulation and mixing within tight-squeezing deformable droplets.

The internal flow and mixing properties inside deformable droplets, after reaching the steady state within two types of passive droplet traps, are visualized and analyzed as dynamical systems. The first droplet trap (constriction) is formed by three spheres arranged in an equilateral triangle, while the second consists of two parallel spherocylinders (capsules). The systems are assumed to be embedded in a uniform far-field flow at low Reynolds number, and the steady shapes and interfacial velocities on the drops are generated using the boundary-integral method. The internal velocity field is recovered by solving the internal Dirichlet problem, also via a desingularized boundary-integral method. Calculation of 2D streamlines within planes of symmetry reveals the internal equilibria of the flow. The type of each equilibrium is classified in 3D and their interactions probed using passive tracers and their Poincar\'e maps. For the two-capsule droplet, saddle points located on orthogonal symmetry planes influence the regular flow within the drop. For the three-sphere droplet, large regions of chaos are observed, embedded with simple periodic orbits. Flow is visualized via passive dyes, using material lines and surfaces. In 2D, solely the interface between two passive interior fluids is advected using an adaptive number of linked tracer particles. The reduction in dimension decreases the number of required tracer points, and also resolves arbitrarily thin filaments, in contrast to backward cell-mapping methods. In 3D, the advection of a material surface, bounded by the droplet interface, is enabled using an adaptive mesh scheme. Off-lattice 3D contour advection allows for highly resolved visualizations of the internal flow and quantification of the associated degree of mixing. Analysis of the time-dependent growth of material surfaces and 3D mixing numbers suggests the three-sphere droplet exhibits superior mixing properties compared to the two-capsule droplet.
Adenosine transporter antagonism in humans augments vasodilator responsiveness to adenosine, but not exercise, in both adenosine responders and non-responders

We previously demonstrated a bimodal distribution of forearm vasodilator responsiveness to adenosine (ADO) infusion in the brachial arteries of human subjects. We also demonstrated that ADO receptor antagonism blunted exercise hyperaemia during heavy rhythmic handgripping, but vasodilator responses to exogenous ADO were only blunted in ADO responders. In this study, we continued investigating the contribution of ADO to exercise hyperaemia and possible differences between responders and non-responders. We hypothesized that ADO transporter antagonism would increase vasodilatation in response to exogenous ADO in responders only, but not effect exercise-mediated vasodilation. To test this hypothesis, we compared forearm vascular conductance (FVC) during infusion of ADO to FVC during handgripping before and after infusion of dipyridamole (DIP) in 20 subjects. In ADO responders, change in FVC above baseline (ml min−1 (100 mmHg)−1) for low, medium and high doses of ADO, respectively, was 58 ± 8, 121 ± 22 and 184 ± 38, and after DIP was 192 ± 32, 238 ± 50 and 310 ± 79. For non-responders, these values were 23 ± 2, 43 ± 5 and 66 ± 9, respectively, before DIP (P 0.20). We found that ADO transporter blockade had no effect on exercise hyperaemia in either subgroup. We conclude that there may be increased ADO transporter activity in non-responders resulting in reduced ADO-mediated vasodilatation. The failure of DIP to augment exercise hyperemia under these conditions suggests that ADO concentrations may not rise enough during rhythmic handgripping to have a major impact on these responses.
BH3 activation blocks Hdmx suppression of apoptosis and co-operates with Nutlin to induce cell death

AACR Centennial Conference: Translational Cancer Medicine-- July 20-23, 2008; Monterey, CA A24 The Hdmx protein restricts p53 activity in vivo and is overexpressed in a significant fraction of human tumors that retain the wild type p53 allele. An understanding of how Hdmx limits p53 activation and blocks apoptosis could therefore lead to development of novel therapeutic agents. We previously showed that Hdmx modulates tumor cell sensitivity to Nutlin-3a, a potent antagonist of the p53/Hdm2 interaction. In this report, we demonstrate that this also applies to MI-219, another Hdm2 antagonist. Thus, the inability to disrupt Hdmx/p53 complexes is a potential barrier to the efficacy of these compounds as single agents. We show that sensitivity to apoptosis in cells with high Hdmx levels is restored by combined treatment with Hdm2 and a Bcl-2 family member antagonist to activate Bax. The data are consistent with a model in which Hdmx attenuates p53-dependent activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, and that this occurs upstream of Bax activation. Thus, selectively inhibiting Hdm2 and activating Bax is one effective strategy to induce apoptosis in tumors with high Hdmx levels. Our findings also indicate that preferential induction of apoptosis in tumor versus normal cells occurs using appropriate drug doses.
Model-based reconstruction of undersampled diffusion tensor k-space data.

The practical utility of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), especially for 3D high resolution spin warp experiments of ex vivo specimens, has been hampered by long acquisition times. To accelerate the acquisition, a compressed sensing framework that employs a model-based formulation to reconstruct diffusion tensor fields from undersampled k-space data was presented and evaluated. Accuracies in brain specimen white matter fiber orientation, fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) mapping were compared to alternative methods achievable using the same scan time via reduced image resolution, fewer diffusion encoding directions, standard compressed sensing or asymmetrical sampling reconstruction. The efficiency of the proposed approach was also compared to fully-sampled cases across a range of the number of diffusion encoding directions. In general, the proposed approach was found to reduce the image blurring and noise, and provide more accurate fiber orientation, FA and MD measurements compared to the alternative methods. Moreover, depending on the degree of undersampling used and the DTI parameter examined, the measurement accuracy of the proposed scheme was equivalent to fully sampled DTI datasets that consist of 33% to 67% more encoding directions and require proportionally longer scan times. The findings show model-based compressed sensing to be promising for improving the resolution, accuracy or scan time of DTI.
Host influence on the characteristics of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus.

Heydrick, Fred P. (Fort Detrick, Frederick, Md.), Ralph F. Wachter, and Henry J. Hearn, Jr. Host influence on the characteristics of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus. J. Bacteriol. 91:2343–2348. 1966.—Alterations in plaque size, virulence, and lipid content of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) virus were examined for possible interrelationships among these properties during 10 serial passages in embryonated eggs, suckling mice, chick embryo fibroblasts, and L cells. The chick embryo host maintained the same large-plaque and virulence properties of the virus through 10 passages as seen in the original seed. Passage of virus in either L cells or chick fibroblasts rapidly produced populations that were, in the main, intermediate with respect to plaque size and virulence. Passage of virus in suckling mouse brain yielded populations that were intermediate with respect to plaque size only. The nature of the lipid of the virus, in terms of the ratio of petroleum ether-soluble to -insoluble lipid, changed after only one passage in all systems except in chick embryos. Nine additional serial passages failed to enhance these changes in viral lipid, suggesting that the decrease in the large-plaque and virulence properties was not directly associated with changes in lipid content.
A Deadlock Avoidance Method for Computer Networks

A deadlock avoidance method that minimizes the number of turn restrictions in wormhole routed networks is described. Fewer restrictions generally result in lower message latency and higher network bandwidth. The method is based on recursive partitioning of a graph model of the network and then removing interpartition edges to eliminate cycles. The method is applicable to a variety of network topologies including bidirectional multistage networks (BMIN), hypercubes, meshes, and irregular networks. In comparison to other algorithms, the method produces fewer or same number of turn restrictions on a set of benchmark networks.
Application of structured analysis to a telerobotic system

The analysis and evaluation of a multiple arm telerobotic research and demonstration system developed by the NASA Intelligent Systems Research Laboratory (ISRL) is described. Structured analysis techniques were used to develop a detailed requirements model of an existing telerobotic testbed. Performance models generated during this process were used to evaluate further the total system. A commercial CASE tool called Teamwork was used to carry out the structured analysis and development of the functional requirements model. A structured analysis and design process using the ISRL telerobotic system as a model is described. Evaluation of this system focused on the identification of bottlenecks in this implementation. The results demonstrate that the use of structured methods and analysis tools call give useful performance information early in a design cycle. This information call be used to ensure that the proposed system meets its design requirements before it is built
Transitioning of children with GH deficiency to adult dosing: changes in body composition

As more evidence gathers regarding the beneficial effect of growth hormone replacement therapy (GHRT) on body composition and other parameters in adults with childhood-onset growth hormone deficiency (GHD), questions emerge regarding whether or not GHRT should be discontinued following cessation of statural growth, and the effect of GHRT during the transition period on body composition and related parameters. This review discusses the effect of discontinuation of GHRT following attainment of adult stature, and the treatment and dose effect when GHRT is reinstated. We also review data regarding who should receive GHRT, the criteria for diagnosing persistent GHD, dosing of GHRT and the possibility of a GH ‘holiday’.
Delamination characterization of laminates under tension, bending and torsion loads

A two-dimensional finite-element model has been developed to calculate interlaminar stresses and strain energy release rates for the study of delamination in composite laminates subjected to tension, bending and torsion loads. This paper addresses the formulation, implementation, and verification of this element to investigate the variation of the interlaminar stresses and strain energy release rates for composite laminates. The study concentrates on establishing relationships of GI, GII, and GIII as functions of crack length and stacking sequence in laminates due to beding and torsion.
Solid-State NMR and Density Functional Theory Studies of Ionization States of Thiamin

Thiamin diphosphate (ThDP) is a key coenzyme in sugar metabolism. The 4′-aminopyrimidine ring of ThDP cycles through several ionization and tautomeric states during enzyme catalysis, but it is not ...
Abnormal limb regeneration in the short-toes mutant of the axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum: studies of age, level of amputation, and extracellular matrix

Limb regeneration in the short-toes axolotl is impaired. Our goal was to characterize the regeneration process in this mutant by histological and immunocytochemical methods. Previous research indicates that age and a defective basement membrane may be instrumental factors in short-toes axolotl regeneration (Del Rio-Tsonis et al. [1992] Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 89:5502-5506). The present results show that limb regeneration can occur even in older (1-2-year-old) short-toes axolotls. The process was always significantly delayed, but the time required for complete regeneration varied. Even so, the basement membrane of short-toes regenerates showed no differences in thickness or shape compared with wild-type regenerates. Distally amputated short-toes limbs gave rise to more digits in the regenerate, indicating that regeneration may be somewhat dependent on the level of amputation. Since extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling occurs extensively during regeneration, we compared the ECM of the short-toes and wild-type regenerates using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) MT2 and ST1 (Tassava et al. [1996] Wound Rep. Reg., 4:75-81). The short-toes regenerates showed decreased reactivity to mAb MT2, which identifies type XII collagen, an ECM protein that is normally unregulated during regeneration, and increased reactivity to mAb ST1, which identifies a limb ECM component that typically undergoes breakdown in the distal stump. Thus, impaired regeneration in the short-toes axolotl is correlated with impaired ECM remodeling in the distal limb stump. This supports the view that ECM remodeling plays an important role in regeneration.
Testing the norm to fat talk for women of varying size: What’s weight got to do with it?

“Fat talk” is the conversational phenomenon whereby people berate their bodies in social circles. This study assessed whether norms of fat talk differ for overweight versus average-weight women. Sixty-three women read a script depicting a fat talk situation during which an overweight or average-weight target woman engaged in positive or negative body talk. Regardless of the target’s weight, participants perceived it to be more typical and less surprising if she engaged in negative body talk (fat talk) rather than positive body talk. Furthermore, fat talk from either weight group did not affect the likeability of the target, but women, overweight or of average weight, who engaged in positive talk were perceived to have more socially desirable personality characteristics.
What would a socialist health care system look like? A sketch.

In this paper I argue that, since institutions must reflect the societies in which they are placed, a socialist health-care system cannot be understood unless democratic socialism—which would assure all of basic necessities of existence, full education and health-care to all members of the community—is not incompatible with a flourishing market for other products. In contrasting single with multiple tiered health care systems, I suggest that a single tiered system in which all have equal access to health care and none can buy more, is most consistent with the ideals of democratic socialism.
An Inpatient Treatment and Discharge Planning Protocol for Alcohol Dependence: Efficacy in Reducing 30-Day Readmissions and Emergency Department Visits

BACKGROUND Alcohol dependence results in multiple hospital readmissions, but no discharge planning protocol has been studied to improve outcomes. The inpatient setting is a frequently missed opportunity to discuss treatment of alcohol dependence and initiate medication-assisted treatment, which is effective yet rarely utilized.
Maternal environmental effects of competition influence evolutionary potential in rapeseed ( Brassica rapa )

Maternal environmental effects reflect the contribution of the maternal environment to the offspring phenotype. Maternal effects are prevalent in plants and animals and may undergo adaptive evolution and affect patterns of natural selection within and across generations. Here, we raise two generations of a rapeseed (Brassica rapa) population derived from a cross between a rapid-cycling and an oilseed genotype in competitive and noncompetitive settings. Maternal environment had little effect on average offspring phenotypes. Maternal genotypes, however, differed in the sensitivity of almost all offspring phenotypes to the maternal environment, demonstrating genetic variation in maternal effects for traits expressed throughout ontogeny. Maternal environment did not significantly affect progeny seed production, and maternal genotypes were not variable for this trait, indicating no evidence for direct maternal effects on offspring fitness. Maternal environment influenced natural selection in the progeny generation; disruptive selection acted on seed mass among seeds matured in the noncompetitive maternal environment versus no significant selection on this trait for seeds matured in the competitive maternal environment. Although maternal effects did not directly increase fitness, they did affect evolutionary potential and selection in the progeny generation. These results suggest that diverse phenotypes of both wild and cultivated B. rapa genotypes will depend on the maternal environment in which the seeds are matured.
Tethered Monolayers of Poly((N-pyrrolyl)alkanethiol) on Au†

The electrochemical oxidation of pyrrole-terminated, self-assembled alkanethiol monolayers on Au surfaces in dry electrolyte media (<0.005% H2O) results in tethered poly(N-alkylpyrroles) of varying monomer repeat lengths. After pristine (monomeric) monolayers of 10-(N-pyrrolyl)decane-1-thiol (1), 7-(N-pyrrolyl)heptane-1-thiol (2), and 6-(N-pyrrolyl)hexane-1-thiol (3) on Au have been oxidized in nonaqueous electrolyte media, electrochemistry characteristic of poly(N-alkylpyrroles) is observed. Reflection−absorption infrared spectra of the oxidized monolayers exhibit aromatic C−H out-of-plane deformation bands between 700 and 800 cm-1 that can be used to determine the effective conjugation length of the poly(N-alkylpyrroles) produced. The number of monomer repeat units in the backbone ranges from 2 to ∼20 and depends on the oxidation potential applied to the monomeric monolayers. In comparison to the monomeric monolayers, the electrochemically polymerized monolayers are demonstrated to be more stable with r...
Thiol Oxidation and Cytochrome P450-Dependent Metabolism of CCl4 Triggers Ca2+ Release from Liver Microsomes†

Elevation of cytosolic calcium levels has been shown to occur after exposure to hepatotoxins such as CCl4. This has been associated with inhibition of the Ca2+, Mg(2+)-ATPase which pumps calcium into the endoplasmic reticulum. Elevated cytosolic Ca2+ may also result from activation of calcium releasing channels. In the presence of NADPH, CCl4 produced a concentration-dependent release of calcium from liver microsomes after a lag period. The lag period was shorter with microsomes from pyrazole-treated rats in which CYP2E1 is induced, as compared to saline microsomes. The calcium releasing process appears to be very sensitive to activation by CCl4 as effective concentrations (e.g., 50 microM) did not affect the Ca2+, Mg(2+)-ATPase or produce lipid peroxidation. Inhibition of the CCl4-induced release of calcium by 4-methylpyrazole and by anti-CYP2E1 IgG, and the requirement for NADPH, indicates that CCl4 metabolism is required for the activation of calcium release. The lag period for CCl4-induced release of calcium was associated with the time required to deplete alpha-tocopherol from the microsomal membranes; however, lipid peroxidation was not observed at these levels of CCl4, and the lag period for CCl4-induced release of calcium was shorter under anaerobic than aerobic conditions, suggesting a possible role for CCl3 in the mechanism of activation. Production of CCl3 was observed by ESR spin-trapping experiments with PBN; PBN prevented the CCl4-induced calcium release, presumably by interacting with CCl3 and other reactive species. Calcium release was produced by thiol oxidants such as 2,2'-dithiodipyridine. Lipophilic thiols such as mercaptoethanol or cysteamine could partially reverse the CCl4-induced calcium release, whereas GSH was ineffective. While the IP3 receptor system is considered as the main regulator of calcium release, liver also contains ryanodine-sensitive calcium releasing stores. The CCl4-induced calcium release was blocked by ruthenium red, a specific inhibitor of the ryanodine receptor; ruthenium red did not block CCl4 metabolism to CCl3. CCl4 increased the binding of ryanodine, a specific ligand for the ryanodine-sensitive calcium channel. These results suggest that metabolism of CCl4 to reactive species by cytochrome P450 results in an activation of a ryanodine-sensitive calcium channel, perhaps due to oxidation of lipophilic thiols of the channel. Activation of calcium releasing channels may play a role in the elevated cytosolic calcium levels found in the liver after treatment with hepatotoxins.
Phase behavior of the major lipids of tetrahymena ciliary membranes.

Abstract The major lipids of Tetrahymena membranes have been purified by thin-layer and high pressure liquid chromatography and the phosphatidylethanolamine and aminoethylphosphonate lipids were examined in detail. 31P-NMR, X-ray diffraction and freeze-fracture electron microscopy were employed to describe the phase behavior of these lipids. The phosphatidylethanolamine was found to form a hexagonal phase above 10°C. The aminoethylphosphonate formed a lamellar phase up to 20°C, but converted to a hexagonal phase structure at 40°C. Small amounts of phosphatidylcholine stabilized the lamellar phase for the aminoethylphosphonate. 31P-NMR spectra of the intact ciliary membranes were consistent with a phospholipid bilayer at 30°C, suggesting that phosphatidylcholine in the membrane stabilized the lamellar form, even though most of the lipid of that membrane prefers a hexagonal phase in pure form at 30°C. 31P-NMR spectra also showed a distinctive difference in the chemical shift tensor of the aminoethylphosphonolipid, when compared to that of phosphatidylethanolamine, due to the difference in chemical structure of the polar headgroups of the two lipids.
Environmental Regulations: A Brief Overview of their Applications to Bioremediation

There are at least 10,000 potential Superfund sites in the United States, of which 1200 have been identified for clean-up. In situ bioremediation is perhaps the simplest method for the clean-up of large contaminated sites. Current research in bioremediation has demonstrated over a 96% remediation efficiency for soils containing polycyclic hydrocarbons, light petroleum oils, and other organic contaminants. Although the lab-scale testing has been promising, the use of bioremediation on a full scale site has been hindered by environmental regulations. Over the past several years the Environmental Protection Agency has made great strides in overcoming some of the regulatory obstacles. The primary legislative acts of concern are the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, the Toxic Substance Control Act and the Federal Plant Pest Act. This paper will briefly discuss the impact on bioremediation of the key provisions of these acts.
Remarks on the paper “The tidal loss of satellite-orbiting objects and its implications for the lunar surface” by Mark J. Reid

The paper by Reid (1973) suggests that masses may be stored in circumlunar orbits for long periods of time, limited only by tidal dissipation. The real loss may, however, be much faster, due to large changes in the orbit caused by the disturbing field of the earth. It is shown that the example quoted of Jupiter's satellites is inadequate to make the case for stability of such orbits.
Estimation of the number of jumps of the jump regression functions

This paper suggests an estimator of the number of jumps of the jump regression functions. The estimator is based on the difference between right and left onesided kernel smoothers. It is proved to be a.s. consistent. Some results about its rate of convergence are also provided.
Homoepitaxial growth of dense ZnO(0 0 0 1) and ZnO(112¯0) films via MOVPE on selected ZnO substrates

Abstract Deposition via metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy of a low-temperature (480 °C) layer followed by a high-temperature (800 °C) densification step was employed for the growth of each ∼200 nm thick, contiguous ZnO(0 0 0 1) layer on a ZnO(0 0 0 1)-oriented substrate. Multiple iterations of this process resulted in films as thick as 2 μm. Ultra-high-purity (UHP) O 2 served as the principal source of atomic oxygen; however, nitrous oxide (N 2 O) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) were also investigated as potential oxygen sources in the pure state as well as in mixtures with oxygen produced in the chamber and for nitrogen doping of the growing (0 0 0 1) films. Carbon and hydrogen, derived from the decomposition of the diethylzinc precursor, and N were incorporated into the films primarily during the low-temperature step. Films grown using N 2 O+O 2 contained an average of 5×10 17 cm −3 atomic nitrogen; films using NO 2 +O 2 had an average nitrogen concentration of 9×10 19 cm −3 . The low-temperature growths on ZnO(0 0 0 1) using O 2 and N 2 O+O 2 resulted in the formation of a needle microstructure; a spaghetti-like network microstructure formed when using NO 2 +O 2 at the same temperature. Lateral growth at 800 °C from sites within the needle and network microstructures resulted in dense films containing shallow hexagonal pits that increased in number and depth with an increase in film thickness. Triple-axis XRD measurements indicated that the crystal structure of the films mimic the underlying substrates. Growth on [ 1 1 2 ¯ 0 ] -oriented ZnO substrates at the single temperature of 600 °C resulted in a dense film composed of needles oriented in-plane along [0 0 0 1]. Atomic force microscopy and secondary ion mass spectroscopy revealed an rms value of 5.4 nm and hydrogen of concentration of 6.5×10 18 with the carbon concentration below the detection limit of 1.3×10 19 atoms/cm 3 .
Treadmill Exercise Testing

Excerpt To the editor: Studies about exercise testing have been criticized because of methodologic flaws in their reporting (1, 2). The article by Armstrong and associates (3) deserves such critici...
Sulfate Aerosol: Its Geographical Extent in the Midwestern and Southern United States

Sulfate particles (sulfuric acid and its neutralization products with ammonia) dominate the submicrometer-sized, light-scattering component of the aerosol in more than 90 percent of 2850 pairs of humidographic measurements made over a 3-month period at three rural midwestern and southern sites. The nearly continuous optical dominance by sulfate in the aerosol at these spatially varied locations, particularly in the Ozark Mountains, suggests that sulfate is a component of the submicrometer-sized aerosol that is distributed over a large geographical region and is not due to local sources.
Primary carcinoid of the kidney. Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies of five patients.

Background. Primary carcinoid tumor of the kidney is rare; only 18 patients have been reported. Because of the rarity of the lesion, its prognosis and clinicopathologic features are not well characterized, and its histogenesis is unknown. Methods. Clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural studies were performed on five patients with primary carcinoid tumor of the kidney. Results. Age of the patients ranged from 42 to 63 years, with a mean of 53.2 years. Only one patient had a carcinoid syndrome. Three were men, and two were women. In each patient, the tumor was solitary and confined to the kidney. All tumors had histologic features identical to those of carcinoid tumors affecting other sites. The cytoplasmic granules of the tumor cells were reactive with Grimelius stain in all patients. All tumors also were immunoreactive for keratin, neuron-specific enolase, and chromogranin, but only two patients had tumors that reacted for serotonin, pancreatic polypeptide, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. Ultrastructural studies showed numerous intracytoplasmic neuroendocrine granules in four tumors. One patient had Robson Stage I cancer, and two each had Stage II and IV cancer. The two patients with Stage IV tumor died of disease at 36 months and 28 months after diagnosis; one patient with Stage II carcinoid is alive without clinical evidence of residual disease 8 years after control of metastases; the other patient with Stage II and the patient with Stage I cancer are alive and well without evidence of disease at 36 months, and 2 months, respectively. Conclusion. Tumor stage at presentation appears to be the most important factor in determining outcome. The number of mitoses and degree of cellular atypia appear to be important pathologic parameters in predicting prognosis, despite the limited number of patients reported in this report.
Interaction of Sucrose with Gelatin, Egg Albumin and Gluten in Freeze‐Dried Mixtures as Shown by Water Sorption

The objective was to study sucrose-protein interactions in freeze-dried mixtures as shown by water binding data. Gelatin, egg albumin and gluten were included. Sucrose content was varied. Each sample was mixed with water and dried. The powder was equilibrated against known water activity (aw) ranging from 0.58 to 0.93. The experimental water sorption data at a given aw was then compared to calculated values obtained from the Lang-Steinberg mass balance equation. Contrary to other systems, samples sorbed more rather than less water than calculated. This was ascribed to sucrose-protein interaction which increased water binding by protein. Amount of interaction at a given aw was found to be linearly related to the sucrose content. A critical sucrose content was needed to trigger the interaction.
Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis: A Practical Guide to Management

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract of unknown etiology that frequently presents in the pediatric population. The evaluation of pediatric UC involves excluding infection, and a colonoscopy that documents the clinical and histologic features of chronic colitis. Initial management of mild UC is typically with mesalamine therapy for induction and maintenance. Moderate UC is often initially treated with oral prednisone. Depending on disease severity and response to prednisone, maintenance options include mesalamine, mercaptopurine, azathioprine, infliximab, or adalimumab. Severe UC is typically treated with intravenous corticosteroids. Corticosteroid nonresponders should either undergo a colectomy or be treated with second-line medical rescue therapy (infliximab or calcineurin inhibitors). The severe UC patients who respond to medical rescue therapy can be maintained on infliximab or thiopurine, but 1-year remission rates for such patients are under 50 %. These medications are discussed in detail along with the initial work-up and a treatment algorithm.
Some Simple Models for Continuous Variate Time Series.

Abstract : A survey is given of recently developed mathematical models for continuous variate non-Gaussian time series. The emphasis is on marginally specific models with given correlation structure. Exponential, Gamma, Weibull, Laplace, Beta, and Mixed Exponential models are considered for the marginal distributions of the stationary time series. Most of the models are random coefficient, additive linear models. Some discussion of the meaning of autoregression and linearity is given, as well as suggestions for higher-order linear residual analysis for nonGaussian models. (Author)
Animal models used to examine the role of the environment in the development of autoimmune disease: Findings from an NIEHS Expert Panel Workshop

Autoimmunity is thought to result from a combination of genetics, environmental triggers, and stochastic events. Environmental factors, such as chemicals, drugs or infectious agents, have been implicated in the expression of autoimmune disease, yet human studies are extremely limited in their ability to test isolated exposures to demonstrate causation or to assess pathogenic mechanisms. In this review we examine the research literature on the ability of chemical, physical and biological agents to induce and/or exacerbate autoimmunity in a variety of animal models. There is no single animal model capable of mimicking the features of human autoimmune disease, particularly as related to environmental exposures. An objective, therefore, was to assess the types of information that can be gleaned from the use of animal models, and how well that information can be used to translate back to human health. Our review notes the importance of genetic background to the types and severity of the autoimmune response following exposure to environmental factors, and emphasizes literature where animal model studies have led to increased confidence about environmental factors that affect expression of autoimmunity. A high level of confidence was reached if there were multiple studies from different laboratories confirming the same findings. Examples include mercury, pristane, and infection with Streptococcus or Coxsackie B virus. A second level of consensus identified those exposures likely to influence autoimmunity but requiring further confirmation. To fit into this category, there needed to be significant supporting data, perhaps by multiple studies from a single laboratory, or repetition of some but not all findings in multiple laboratories. Examples include silica, gold, TCE, TCDD, UV radiation, and Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus. With the caveat that researchers must keep in mind the limitations and appropriate applications of the various approaches, animal models are shown to be extremely valuable tools for studying the induction or exacerbation of autoimmunity by environmental conditions and exposures.
Response to Increasing Southern Hemisphere Winds in CCSM4

AbstractResults from two perturbation experiments using the Community Climate System Model version 4 where the Southern Hemisphere zonal wind stress is increased are described. It is shown that the ocean response is in accord with experiments using much-higher-resolution ocean models that do not use an eddy parameterization. The key to obtaining an appropriate response in the coarse-resolution climate model is to specify a variable coefficient in the Gent and McWilliams eddy parameterization, rather than a constant value. This result contrasts with several recent papers that have suggested that coarse-resolution climate models cannot obtain an appropriate response.
Electrical Conduction in n-Type Cadmium Sulfide at Low Temperatures

Measurements of the Hall mobility and electrical conductivity of $n$-type CdS were made between 1.8 and 294\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. Both Ohmic and non-Ohmic regions were studied at low temperatures. In these undoped crystals, a donor level of 0.021 eV, believed due to excess Cd, was found. Below 22\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, charge transport by impurity conduction was observed. The electric field dependence of the conduction-band mobility was found to be caused by hot-electron effects and the acoustoelectric effect. Good agreement between hot-electron theory and experiment was obtained when ionized-impurity as well as acoustic-phonon scattering were included in the theory. To obtain satisfactory agreement between theory and experiment, electron-phonon interactions via deformation and piezoelectric potentials were included. In the impurity-conduction region, variations of the Hall mobility with electric field were shown to be caused by the hot-electron behavior of the conduction-band electrons.
Universal finite-size scaling amplitude for the critical interfacial tension of a 2D Lennard-Jones mixture

Abstract We present the first Monte Carlo estimates of the finite-size scaling amplitude of the interfacial free energy for a model Lennard-Jones mixture solid at criticality in two dimensions. The amplitude agrees within statistical error with the exact results for the two-dimensional Ising model and supports the proposed universality.
The Views of Alzheimer Disease Patients and Their Study Partners on Proxy Consent for Clinical Trial Enrollment

Objective To examine the views of Alzheimer disease (AD) patients and their study partners on the ethics of proxy consent for clinical research. Design Cross-sectional interview. Setting At the 13 study sites of a randomized and placebo controlled study of simvastatin for the treatment of AD. Participants Patients with mild-to-moderate AD and their study partners enrolled in an Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study trial of simvastatin. Measurements Interviews to assess how participants made the decision to enroll in a randomized controlled trial and their attitudes on proxy consent. Results Study partners of patients judged not capable of providing informed consent reported the same degree of patient involvement in the decision to enroll as the study partners of patients capable of providing informed consent. Most study partners and patients supported proxy consent for this clinical trial and nearly all patients chose their study partner as their proxy. Study partners generally made research enrollment decisions based on what they thought would maximize the patient's well-being as opposed to a substituted judgment. Conclusions Patients and their study partners who were enrolled in a clinical trial supported proxy consent both for themselves and as a matter of policy. Our findings suggest that policies that require substituted judgments may not accord with the views of the people currently participating in AD clinical trials.
Synthesis of a Lewis acid bearing cyclopentadienyl ligand and its tricarbonylmanganese(I) complex

Abstract The synthesis of a bimetallic compound comprising a Lewis acidic organochlorostannane and a transition metal carbonyl is reported. The target complex, [(CO) 3 Mn(η 5 -C 5 H 4 (CH 2 ) 3 SnMe 2 Cl)], 2 , is prepared in four steps. The final step involves an exchange reaction between [(CO) 3 Mn(η 5 -C 5 H 4 (CH 2 ) 3 SnMe 3 )], 1 , and SnMe 2 Cl 2 . Infrared spectroscopy demonstrates no interaction between the Lewis acid and lone pair on the carbonyl oxygen.
Peer interviewing: a student health survey on an urban campus.

Abstract To gain information about university students' health concerns and awareness of campus health center services, the author used peer interviewing as a method particularly suited to an urban campus. Sixty volunteers fanned out across campus to interview fellow students in the midst of their normal activities in an effort to reach a broad cross-section of the campus population. The volunteers conducted almost 600 interviews with peers at a sample of campus locations. In addition to reporting the findings from the study, the author describes peer interviewing and factors associated with recruiting volunteers. Periodic peer interviews conducted at multiple locations on campus are proposed as a reasonable way to obtain ongoing health assessment data on an urban campus.
Fibroblast Growth Factors 1 and 2 in the Primate Uterus

Fibroblast growth factors (FGF) 1 and 2 are paracrine effectors of proliferation and angiogenesis in many tissues. To elucidate potential roles for these growth factors in uterine plasticity, we used in situ hybridization histochemistry to identify the cellular sources of FGF-1 and -2 production, and immunohistochemistry to identify the cellular and extracellular deposition sites of the peptides in the primate uterus. To evaluate the effects of estradiol on uterine FGFs, uteri from ovariectomized rhesus monkeys treated with estradiol- or vehicle-containing pellets were investigated. FGF-1 and -2 mRNAs were both expressed in uterine epithelial and myometrial cells. Quantitative comparison of their mRNA levels using computerized grain counting showed no significant difference between estradiol- and vehicle-treated animals. FGF-1 immunoreactivity was detected in scattered epithelial, vascular, and myometrial cells in the vehicle-treated animals but found to be significantly more intense and widespread in estradiol-treated animals. In both conditions, FGF-1 immunostaining was predominantly nuclear. FGF-2 immunoreactivity was concentrated extracellularly in the basal lamina of both glandular and surface epithelium and was abundant and diffusely distributed within myometrial and vascular cells in both cytoplasm and nucleus. There was no apparent difference in the pattern or intensity of FGF-2 immunostaining related to estradiol treatment. These data demonstrate that major uterine cell types synthesize both FGF-1 and -2, and that the two peptides are differentially localized in uterine cellular and extracellular compartments and differentially sensitive to regulation by estradiol.
Synthesis and Evaluation of 15-(4-(2-[18F]Fluoroethoxy)phenyl)pentadecanoic Acid: A Potential PET Tracer for Studying Myocardial Fatty Acid Metabolism

15-(4-(2-[¹⁸F]fluoroethoxy)phenyl)pentadecanoic acid ([¹⁸F]7) was synthesized as a PET probe for assessing myocardial fatty acid metabolism. The radiosynthesis of [¹⁸F]7 was accomplished using a two-step reaction, starting with the corresponding tosylate ester, methyl 15-(4-(2-(tosyloxy)ethoxy)phenyl)pentadecanoate (5), and gave the radiolabeled fatty acid, [¹⁸F]7 in a radiolabeling yield of 55-60% and a specific activity of >2000 Ci/mmol (decay corrected to EOB). The biological evaluation of [¹⁸F]7 in rats displayed high uptake in heart (1.94%ID/g at 5 min), which was higher than the uptake (%ID/g) in blood, lung, muscle, pancreas, and brain. MicroPET studies of [¹⁸F]7 in Sprague-Dawley rats demonstrated excellent images of the myocardium when compared with [¹¹C]palmitate images in the same animal. Moreover, the tracer kinetics of [¹⁸F]7 paralleled those seen with [¹¹C]palmitate, with an early peak followed by biphasic washout. When compared to [¹¹C]palmitate, [¹⁸F]7 exhibited a slower early clearance (0.17 ± 0.01 vs 0.30 ± 0.02, P < 0.0001) and a significantly higher late clearance (0.0030 ± 0.0005 vs 0.0006 ± 0.00013, P < 0.01). These initial studies suggest that [¹⁸F]7 could be a potentially useful clinical PET tracer to assess abnormal myocardial fatty acid metabolism.
Inverse relation of survival of lizards with island size and avifaunal richness

SMALL islands have fewer species than larger islands or mainlands, and the number of species of very large predators, for example raptorial birds, may be disproportionately lower1,2. This suggests the reasonable but largely untested idea that predation is less important as a determinant of population structure on small islands than on large islands or mainlands, particularly for relatively large potential prey such as songbirds and lizards3–10. We have compared the survival of three species of the lizard Anolis on two islands differing in size and number of predatory bird species. We report here that annual survival in sites identical in diurnal lizard species and nearly so in vegetation structure is smaller, and usually substantially so, on the larger island. In one species, the size distribution of males parallels this difference in survival: lizards are smaller where survival is lower. Sexual differences in survival between the two islands are especially marked in an intensely territorial, polygamous species.