cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Altered Function of Inward Rectifier Potassium Channels in Cerebrovascular Smooth Muscle After Ischemia/Reperfusion

Background and Purpose —Several recent studies have demonstrated that inward rectifier potassium channels (Kirs) are located on vascular smooth muscle of cerebral arteries in the rat. Activation of the Kirs dilates the arteries by relaxing the vascular smooth muscle. We tested the following hypothesis in the present study: function of inward rectifier potassium channels is altered after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Methods —Temporary (2-hour) focal ischemia was induced in male Long-Evans rats (3% isoflurane anesthesia) by the intraluminal filament model. After 24 hours of reperfusion, ipsilateral and contralateral middle cerebral arteries (MCAs) were harvested and mounted on micropipettes, pressurized to 85 mm Hg, and luminally perfused. Results —Resting diameters for contralateral (control) and ipsilateral (I/R) MCAs were not significantly different (215±4 μm and 211±5 μm [n=6 and n=7], respectively). Activation of the Kirs by abluminal administration of 15 mmol/L KCl to the control MCAs dilated the MCA by 34±4% (n=8). Activation of the Kirs in I/R MCAs produced a dilation of only 11±3% (n=8; P <0.001 compared with control). BaCl2 (75 μmol/L), a concentration-selective inhibitor of the Kirs, significantly attenuated the dilation produced by 15 mmol/L KCl in control MCAs but not in the I/R MCAs. Endothelial-mediated dilations elicited by the luminal administration of uridine triphosphate (10 μmol/L) produced similar dilations in both groups (32±5% for sham [n=4] and 33±2% for I/R [n=4]), indicating that dilator function in general was not altered in I/R vessels. Conclusions —We conclude that Kir function is altered after I/R. The Kir altered function is likely to exacerbate the brain injury occurring after I/R.
Two-Electron Systems—The Helium Atom

The system with two electrons is studied in this chapter. Section XI.1 shows that the space of physical states of the helium atom is the sum of the parahelium and the orthohelium spaces. In Section XI.2 the ionization thresholds (i.e., the energy values E n ∞ at which one electron is in the nth level and the other is just dissociating from the atom) are determined, and the energy levels below the first ionization threshold are discussed. Section XI.3 discusses the energy levels above the first ionization threshold without considering the interaction between these levels and the energy continuum of the (He+, e) system.
Evolution of Quantum Systems from Microscopic to Macroscopic Scales

Even though the static properties of quantum systems have been known since the early days of quantum mechanics, accurate simulation of the dynamical break-up or ionization remains a theoretical challenge despite our complete knowledge of the relevant interactions. Simulations are challenging because of highly oscillatory exponential phase factors in the electronic wave function and the infinitesimally small values of the continuum components of electronic probability density at large times after the collision. The approach we recently developed, the regularized time-dependent Schroedinger equation method, has addressed these difficulties by removing the diverging phase factors and transforming the time-dependent Schroedinger equation to an expanding space. The evolution of the electronic wave function was followed to internuclear distances of R = 100,000 a.u. or 5 microns, which is of the order of the diameter of a human hair. Our calculations also revealed unexpected presence of free vortices in the electronic wave function. The discovered vortices also bring new light on the mechanism of transferring of the angular momentum from an external to internal motion. The connection between the observable momentum distribution and the time-dependent wave function implies that vortices in the wave function at large times are imaged in the momentum distribution.
New statistical strategy for monitoring safety and efficacy in single-arm clinical trials.

PURPOSEEfficacy and toxicity are both important outcomes in cancer clinical trials. Nonetheless, most statistical designs for phase II trials only provide rules for evaluating treatment efficacy, and moreover only allow early stopping after fixed cohorts of patients have been treated. We illustrate a new statistical design strategy for monitoring both adverse and efficacy outcomes on a patient-by-patient basis in phase II and other single-arm clinical trials.DESIGNThe new strategy is used to design a phase II trial of the experimental regimen idarubicin plus cytarabine (ara-C) plus cyclosporine for treatment of patients with intermediate-prognosis acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). The design requires a maximum of 56 patients and provides continuous monitoring boundaries to terminate the trial if the toxicity rate is unacceptably high or the complete remission (CR) rate is unacceptably low compared with the rates of these events with the standard regimen of anthracycline plus ara-C.RESULTSThe design has an...
The Effects of 9/11 and Terrorism on Human Resource Management: Recovery, Reconsideration, and Renewal

The United States suffered an unprecedented loss of life on September 11, 2001, from what was labeled a “terrorist attack.” Mainly on the basis of data from professional association surveys and government agencies, it was found that the United States and many other countries of the world have been significantly affected by the events and aftermath of that morning's events. As an unprecedented attack on a country not usually affected by external terrorism, it allows a unique study of how terrorism can affect countries in the world. As a result of “9/11” there were significant changes in the U.S. economy and society that, because of the global economy and politics as well as the international war on terrorism, certainly have international consequences. Changes also occurred in most areas of human resource management as well as producing a much greater emphasis on having an overall business crisis management program. However, many of the initial changes appear to have diminished over time. The resultant changes, and lack of changes, produce rich questions for further research.
Pulmonary Resection for Tuberculosis Complicated by Tuberculous Bronchitis : Preliminary Report

1) Data has been presented on 30 cases with endobronchial tuberculosis in which pulmonary resection has been used as a form of treatment. Of these 30 cases, 12 were desperate risks and 18 were reasonable risks. Patients facing an early fatal course were considered as desperate risks. Any salvage in this group was considered as pure gain. /[See figure in the PDF file/] 2) The operative mortality in reasonable risks was 5.5 per cent and in desperate risks 58.3 per cent. 3) Tuberculous empyema and permanent fistula were eliminated as complications of pulmonary resection in all except one of the 19 patients treated after January, 1942, when individual ligation technique was employed and the bronchial stump was routinely reinforced with pleura. 4) Ulceration in the bronchial stump and contralateral spread were the most common complications and continue to challenge the thoracic surgeon. 5) Tuberculous bronchitis, either active or inactive, which must be traversed in doing a resection, is not within itself a contraindication. /[See figure in the PDF file/] On the contrary this complication often is an indication for resection. 6) Active tuberculosis in the lung to be resected, even if it is rapidly spreading, is not a contraindication to resection. In fact, delay may rob these patients of their only chance to get well. 7) A contralateral lesion in itself is not a contraindication to resection, unless this lesion is uncontrolled or uncontrollable.
Toward cavity QED with magnetically trapped atoms

We are attempting to magnetically trap cold rubidium atoms in a high-Q optical cavity for the purpose of deterministic cavity quantum electrodynamics. Recent experimental progress will be discussed, focusing on the performance and capabilities of our millimeter-scale magnetic trap
An Error Analysis and the Mesh Independence Principle for a Nonlinear Collocation Problem

A nonlinear Dirichlet boundary value problem is approximated by an orthogonal spline collocation scheme using piecewise Hermite bicubic functions. Existence, local uniqueness, and error analysis of the collocation solution and convergence of Newton's method are studied. The mesh independence principle for the collocation problem is proved and used to develop an efficient multilevel solution method. Simple techniques are applied for estimating certain discretization and iteration constants that are used in the formulation of a mesh refinement strategy and an efficient multilevel method. Several mesh refinement strategies for solving a test problem are compared numerically. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 2006
Comprehensive analysis of the transcriptional landscape of the human FMR1 gene reveals two new long noncoding RNAs differentially expressed in Fragile X syndrome and Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome.

The majority of the human genome is transcribed but not translated, giving rise to noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including long ncRNAs (lncRNAs, >200 nt) that perform a wide range of functions in gene regulation. The Fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene is a microsatellite locus that in the general population contains <55 CGG repeats in its 5′-untranslated region. Expansion of this repeat region to a size of 55-200 CGG repeats, known as premutation, is associated with Fragile X tremor and ataxia syndrome (FXTAS). Further expansion beyond 200 CGG repeats, or full mutation, leads to FMR1 gene silencing and results in Fragile X syndrome (FXS). Using a novel technology called “Deep-RACE”, which combines rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) with next generation sequencing, we systematically interrogated the FMR1 gene locus for the occurrence of novel lncRNAs. We discovered two transcripts, FMR5 and FMR6. FMR5 is a sense lncRNA transcribed upstream of the FMR1 promoter, whereas FMR6 is an antisense transcript overlapping the 3′ region of FMR1. FMR5 was expressed in several human brain regions from unaffected individuals and from full and premutation patients. FMR6 was silenced in full mutation and, unexpectedly, in premutation carriers suggesting abnormal transcription and/or chromatin remodeling prior to transition to the full mutation. These lncRNAs may thus be useful as biomarkers, allowing for early detection and therapeutic intervention in FXS and FXTAS. Finally we show that FMR5 and FMR6 are expressed in peripheral blood leukocytes and propose future studies that correlate lncRNA expression with clinical outcomes.
Phospholipid fatty acids from exocrine and reproductive tissues of male american cockroaches, Periplaneta americana (L.)

We present the phospholipid fatty acid compositions, determined by GLC,* of four individual tissues (testes, mushroom glands, conglobate glands, and salivary glands) from adult male cockroaches, P. americana. The testes phospholipids contained higher proportions of palmitic acid than did the exocrine tissues (16% vs about 8%). This was also true for palmitoleic (2.3% vs 0.4–1.3%), oleic (49% vs 30–35%), and linolenic acids (7% vs 0.5–2.8%). Testicular extracts were lower in linoleic acid (16%) than were the exocrine gland extracts (at 40–45%). All four tissues also contained low proportions of several long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids of both omega-3 and omega-6 metabolic families, including C20:3n6, C20:4n6, and C20:5n3. The data suggest that the phospholipid fatty acid profiles of specific tissues differ from each other and from those obtained from whole-insect extracts. The presence of several polyenoics from the n3 and n6 metabolic families is interpreted in the context of complex fatty acid requirements at the tissue level.
Local Government and Public Adaptation to Sea‐Level Rise

Global warming could result in a rise in global mean sea level of 9–29 cm between 1990 and 2030. By the end of the 21st century, global mean sea level could stand 30–110 cm higher than in 1990. Those projections suggest that sea level could rise between 3 and 10 cm per decade during the next century. This is a marked acceleration over the increase of 1–2 cm per decade observed during the past century. How will local governments and citizens respond? What are the obstacles to local government and public cognition of, and response to, sea‐level rise? This paper reviews some of the basic issues involved in responding to accelerated sea‐level rise; the range of possible policy responses; the extent to which local governments and the public perceive and respond to threats of sea‐level rise; and the need for research into the determinants of cognition and response.
Determination of the photon spectrum of a clinical accelerator

An experiment to determine the peak of the energy spectrum of the photon beam from a Toshiba LMR‐15 medicallinear accelerator is described. It is found that the flattening filters removed much of the bremsstrahlung spectrum below approximately 1 MeV, resulting in a photon spectrum which peaks around 1.2 MeV.
Postbuckling of flat unstiffened graphite-epoxy plates loaded in shear

An experimental and analytical study was conducted of the postbuckling response and failure characteristics of 8-, 16-, and 24-ply unstiffened graphite/epoxy plates under shear loading, including orthotropic, quasi-orthotropic, entirely +, -45 deg ply, and (0/90)s-class plates. Postbuckling stiffness is noted to be influenced by the stacking sequence and by the inplane boundary condition imposed on the test section by a picture frame test fixture. The ratio of failure load to buckling load was higher for specimens that had higher width-to-thickness ratios. It is noted that high displacement gradients may induce transverse shear stresses, and that delamination was the failure mechanism for many of the 8-ply specimens. An adhesive failure between the composite specimen and metal edge reinforcements initiated failure of the 16- and 24-ply specimens.
Phrenic Nerve Injury Associated with Venipuncture of the Internal Jugular Vein

Coincident with repeated, unsuccessful efforts to place a transvenous pacemaker through the right internal jugular vein, and 81-year-old man developed paralysis of the right hemidiaphragm. The patient had sudden shortness of breath and hypoxemia that rapidly subsided, although the loss of diaphragmatic function appears to be permanent.
The Relationship of Self-Efficacy and Depression to Stuttering

This study investigated the relationship of self-efficacy for verbal fluency, academic self-efficacy, and depression between adolescents who stutter and fluent speakers. Two separate discriminant f...
Synthesis of bacteriophage lambda proteins in vitro.

λ DNA stimulates a low level of protein synthesis in extracts of E. coli supplemented with RNA polymerase. The synthesis is efficiently and specifically repressed by addition of purified λ repressor. About 90% of the protein product is from the rightwards, or tof, promoter (P R ) and 10% from the leftwards, or N, promoter (P L ). The main polypeptide product is a low molecular species from the tof operon.
Sensitivity of the response of moderately thick cross-ply doubly-curved panels to lamination and boundary constraint-I. Theory

Abstract Hitherto unavailable analytical solutions to the boundary-value problem of moderately thick general cross-ply laminated doubly-curved panels of rectangular planform, subjected to various boundary conditions, are presented. The five highly coupled second-order linear partial differential equations, that characterize the deformation of such laminates are solved in Part I of the paper using a recently developed double Fourier series based approach, together with the SS1-, SS2- and SS4-types of simply-supported and C4-type of clamped boundary conditions prescribed at all four edges. The issues of derivation of the linear algebraic equations arising from these boundary conditions, together with an efficient method of solving the complete system of linear algebraic equations, convergence characteristics and other numerical results are addressed in the accompanying Part II of this investigation.
Relationships Between Phytoseiulus persimilis and Other Enemies of the Twospotted Spider Mite on Hops

Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot was introduced on hop plants at 10, 20, and 30 per plant for control of the twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch. P. persimilis became established on hops but the predator-prey populations were retarded by an infestation of the hop aphid, Phorodon humuli (Schrank). Phosalone when applied to reduce aphid numbers also killed P. persimilis but permitted survival of Typhlodromus occidentalis Nesbitt, a native phytoseiid predator of T. urticae on hops. A laboratory study of the interaction of P. persimilis with T. occidentalis and the coccinellids Stethorus punctillum Weise and the convergent lady beetle, Hippodamia convergens Guerin-Meneville, indicated that T. occidentalis and S. punctillum fed on eggs and larvae of P. persimilis . H. convergens fed on all stages of P. persimilis . In the field, T. occidentalis fed on P. persimilis eggs and larvae. P. persimilis did not feed on T. occidentalis eggs or larvae. T. occidentalis appears to be a better candidate than P. persimilis for control of T. urticae on hops.
Alterations in the levels of deoxyuridine triphosphatase, uracil-DNA glycosylase and AP endonuclease during the cell cycle.

Abstract Deoxyuridine triphosphatase and uracil-DNA glycosylase were assayed in K12 cells, a Chinese hamster temperature-sensitive mutant known to arrest in G1 when shifted to the non-permissive temperature. Stimulation of cell division resulted in an increase of both enzyme activities. Levels of both enzymes were minimal during G0 and maximal in S phase. By contrast, apurinic/apyrimidinic site endonuclease activity, which incises the DNA at the apyrimidinic site generated by the glycosylase, was constant throughout the cell cycle.
Cohesiveness: general systems and contra-reductionism revolution

Identification of functional modules in complex systems is becoming an important challenge in many scientific disciplines from biology to social sciences. Here we introduce the concept of cohesion as a guide for modularization. General systems treatment of the problem is necessary because in many real-life situations there is not enough information and data to model the systems in conventional mathematical terms. Principal results are derived in mathematical systems theory and an application to signaling pathways is presented.
A multiplicative ergodic theorem for lipschitz maps

Abstract If (Fn, n ⩾ 0) is a stationary (ergodic) sequence of Lipschitz maps of a locally compact Polish space X into itself having a.s. negative Lyapunov exponent function, the composition process Fn⋯F1x converges in distribution to a stationary (ergodic) process in X (independent of x). For every x, the empirical distribution of a trajectory converges with probability one, and for every e>0, almost every trajectory is eventually within e of the support. We use the fact that the Lyapunov exponent of a process “run backwards” is the same as forwards. A set invariance condition is given for the case when (Fn) is a Markov chain. The result has applications to computer graphics and stability in control theory.
Vibrational energy transfer

Many aspects of the collision dynamics of vibrational energy transfer are presented. Special emphasis is placed on three broad areas within this field: (1) vibrational energy transfer in large molecules (>10 modes) at low excitation, (2) vibrational energy transfer in large molecules at high vibrational excitation, and (3) vibrational energy transfer of highly excited small molecules. Advances in laser methods have revolutionized experimental investigations of all of these areas. Recent results are presented, and directions for the future are discussed.
Total homocysteine is associated with nephropathy in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Non—insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and hyperhomocysteinemia are both associated with premature vascular disease. We tested the hypothesis that homocysteine is associated with vascular disease and other diabetic complications in patients with NIDDM. The current investigation is a cross-sectional analysis of baseline variables for participants in the Appropriate Blood Pressure Control in Diabetes (ABCD) Trial. Men and women aged 40 to 74 years with NIDDM and a mean diastolic blood pressure (BP) of 80 mm Hg or higher were eligible. We measured serum levels of total homocysteine (tHcy), cystathionine, and methylmalonic acid (MMA) and correlated these values with clinical and other laboratory measures of the complications of diabetes mellitus in 452 subjects. tHey was higher in males than in females and correlated with the duration of hypertension and systolic BP. tHcy was significantly correlated with MMA (r = .35, P < .0001) and cystathionine (r = .53, P < .0001) levels and inversely correlated with serum B12 (r = −.23, P < .0001) and folate (r = −.18, P < .0001). It was significantly correlated with serum creatinine (r = .28, P < .0001 for males and r = .39, P < .0001 for females) and inversely correlated with creatinine clearance (r = −.19, P < .005 for males and r = −.30, P < .0001 for females). tHcy was not increased in subjects with cardiovascular disease or retinopathy, but it was increased in those with neuropathy (10.3 v 9.3 μmol/L, P < .05) and macroalbuminuria (11.0 v 9.2 μmol/L, P < .005). Of these subjects, 2.2% met the criteria for vitamin B12 deficiency and 1% met the criteria for folate deficiency. We conclude that elevations of tHcy in this population appear to be the result of a combination of vitamin deficiency and decreased renal function and do not appear to be a predictor of cardiovascular disease.
De-Noising Single Molecule FRET Trajectories using Wavelent and Bayesian Techniques

Extracting quantitative information from low signal-to-noise single molecule FRET trajectories remains a significant challenge. In particular, biological systems that derive their function from shallowly defined or continua of states are not amenable to recent Markovian analysis algorithms. A method to de-noise single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy (smFRET) trajectories using wavelet detail thresholding and Bayesian inference is presented. Bayesian methods are developed to identify fluorophore photoblinks in the time trajectories. Simulated data are used to quantify the improvement in static and dynamic data analysis. Application of the method to experimental smFRET data shows that it distinguishes photoblinks from large shifts in smFRET efficiency while maintaining the important advantage of an unbiased approach. Known sources of experimental noise are examined and quantified as a means to remove their contributions via soft thresholding of wavelet coefficients. A wavelet decomposition algorithm is described, and thresholds are produced through the knowledge of noise parameters in the discrete-time photon signals. Reconstruction of the signals from thresholded coefficients produces signals that contain noise arising only from unquantifiable parameters. The method is applied to simulated and observed smFRET data, and it is found that the denoised data retain their underlying dynamical properties, but with increased resolution.
Maximizing Learning through Assessment in Middle and High School Physical Education

More than ever, assessment is in the national spotlight. In this time of state and national learning standards, learning objectives, and various forms of student and teacher accountability, the need for evidence of real student learning in physical education is paramount. There are many potential benefits of conducting assessment properly, including communication, engagement, ownership, value, and reflection. The purpose of this article is to explain and illustrate, using various assessment examples, how tapping into these five potential benefits of assessment can aid the teaching and learning process. Developmentally appropriate assessment tools can support both the teacher and the learner, and can maximize student learning.
Modular type-based reverse engineering of parameterized types in Java code

An analysis is provided for Java programs that reverse engineers parameterized types into existing Java code. This analysis propagates precise type information about the contents of container objects. As an application, the analysis can be used to justify the safe removal of downcasts that are guaranteed to succeed. Another application is in automatically reverse engineering parameterized types into existing Java libraries, so that they can be used in Java dialects with parameterized types.
Deep‐Water Fan‐Channel Conglomerates of Late Cretaceous Age, Southern Chile

The exceptionally well exposed Lago Sofia conglomerate and sandstone lenses in the Upper Cretaceous Cerro Toro Formation of southern Chile are interpreted as the channel and channel margin facies of a deep-sea fan. The north-to-south oriented channels formed on an elongate fan in a narrow retroarc basin between a rising cordillera to the west and the South American craton to the east. The great length of some of the channels (> 120 km) seems to reflect the long duration (> 30 m.y.) and stable nature of the basin. Enclosing the lenses is the fine-grained Cerro Toro Formation which represents overbank turbidite flows and hemipelagic sedimentation on levee and levee flank areas. Foraminiferal assemblages suggest deposition in 1000-2000 m of water. Most of the conglomerate has features developed by tractive currents (parallel- and cross-stratified conglomerate). Most is moderately well sorted, imbricated, and has parallel to inclined stratification; large-scale dunes up to 4 m high are exposed. Typical sediment, gravity flow structures and bedding styles (e.g. pebbly mudstones, graded conglomerate, giant flutes) are not as common in the channel deposits as are tractive features. Tractive features in the gravels apparently were developed by rolling, sliding, and saltation as the bed-load component of highly turbulent, moderate- to low-density turbidity currents flowing in a confined channel. Graded-to-massive conglomerates appear to have been deposited rapidly from fully turbulent flows; diamictites were deposited from debris flows in which fluid viscosity, yield strength, and buoyancy of the fluid were dominant. The three major conglomerate classes recognized do not occur in a systematic manner; vertical and lateral heterogeneity is the rule.
A rapid micro-modification of the quantitative immunoprecipitation assay.

Abstract A micro-modification of the quantitative immunoprecipitin test is described which permits rapid and sensitive titering of antisera, or quantitation of antigen, within a few hours. The procedure requires less than a microgram of radiolabeled antigen and can be used to titer antisera containing less than 1 μg/ml of precipitating antibody. Radiotiters obtained for commercial antisera agree closely with results obtained using the classical quantitative immunoprecipitation procedure. The radiotiter assay procedure has been adapted for quantitating albumin in human urine by radioimmunoassay. The analysis can be performed in ∼ 1 h , is sensitive to ng of albumin, and requires no special apparatus or separation techniques.
Discrimination of moldy peanuts with reference to aflatoxin using FTIR-ATR system

Abstract This study demonstrated the potential use of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, coupled with attenuated total reflectance unit (FTIR-ATR) for determination of aflatoxigenic and non-aflatoxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus invasion in peanuts. Threshold mold density on peanut paste samples was 2.7 Log CFU/g peanut corresponding to legislative limiting aflatoxin (AF) level of 20 ppb. Classification was performed to separate the “Acceptable” stream (AF ≤ 20 ppb) from so called “Moldy” (20 1200 ppb). All of the samples (n = 164) were classified correctly when discriminant analysis technique was employed. Second threshold value was set at 300 ppb aflatoxin to further sort out the samples in the “Moldy” class into mildly (which can be used for feed) or highly toxic (which has to be discarded). Correct separation was observed at 98.5% with only one misclassified sample. Growth profiles of both strains of A. flavus and A. parasiticus were interpreted with respect to spectral changes. Even when spectral alterations for aflatoxin presence were not clearly identifiable, similar secondary metabolites of both aflatoxigenic species led to clusters in distance plots and showed the potential usage of the developed method to separate safer peanuts (e.g. AF ≤ 20 ppb) in a lot when implemented. Partial least squares (PLS) regression models were developed to predict AF level with maximum correlation coefficient of determination ( R C 2 = 99.98% for both AF–producing Aspergillus spp.). The fingerprint region (1800–800 cm−1) was used for regression analysis and corresponding bands were interpreted.
Amino acid composition of three immunological types of a calicivirus, San Miguel sea lion virus.

Abstract Amino acid analyses revealed statistically significant differences in composition among three immunological types of San Miguel sea lion virus (SMSV), a calicivirus containing only one major polypeptide. The amino acid composition of SMSV is in general accord with that of another calicivirus. vesicular exanthema of swine virus, and of picornaviruses which contain several major polypeptides.
Captopril inhibits the hydroosmotic effect of ADH in the cortical collecting tubule.

Captopril inhibits the hydroosmotic effect of ADH in the cortical collecting tubule. Previous studies have shown that captopril (CP) inhibits ADH-stimulated osmotic water permeability (Pf) in the toad bladder by potentiating endogenous bradykinin (BK). The present studies examine the effect of CP on ADH-stimulated Pf in isolated, perfused rabbit cortical collecting tubules (CCT). CP (10 -4 M) reversibly inhibited Pf, stimulated by maximal concentrations of ADH (10 µU/ml). Pretreatment of CCT's with 5 µM indomethacin, however, abolished the effect of CP. Inhibition of BK production by the kallikrein inhibitors, aprotinin and benzamidine, failed to enhance Pf stimulated by submaximal concentrations of ADH (2.5 µU/ml). Since ADH exerts its effects by activation of adenylyl cyclase (AC), further experiments were performed to identify the site at which CP inhibits this cascade. CP significantly inhibited forskolin (10 -4 M) stimulated Pf; however, it had no effect on cyclic AMP (10 -5 M) stimulated Pf, suggesting that the site of action is on the catalytic subunit or one of the GTP regulatory proteins of AC. To further localize the site of CP's action, CCT's were pre-incubated with pertussis toxin (0.5 µg/ml) to inactivate the inhibitory, guanosine triphosphate (GTP) regulatory protein, Gi. In these tubules, CP failed to inhibit the action of ADH. We conclude that CP stimulates prostaglandin production which in turn activates Gi and inhibits AC activity. We further suggest that CP stimulates PG's directly, not via BK.
Effect of method and clinician on stallion sperm morphology evaluation

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of method and clinician on stallion sperm morphology evaluation. Five clinicians evaluated 60 semen samples using wet-mount preparations with phase-contrast, eosin/nigrosin-stained semen smears, and Papanicolaou-stained semen smears. There were significant differences among methods for all sperm morphology categories and most intra-class correlation coefficients were only fair to moderate. The use of wet-mount preparations facilitated detection of acrosome defects, nuclear vacuoles, and cytoplasmic droplets when compared to stained smears. Smearing stallion semen samples onto slides increased the proportion of detached sperm heads. In addition, acrosome defects, nuclear vacuoles, rough/swollen midpieces, and cytoplasmic droplets were difficult to observe with Papanicolaou stain; this method resulted in overestimation of normal sperm when compared to other methods. There were significant differences among clinicians for all sperm morphology classification categories. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that sperm morphology evaluation results varied, depending on the evaluation method and clinician. Wet-mount preparation with phase-contrast microscopy appeared to be more sensitive for identification of abnormal stallion sperm when compared to stained smears. Veterinary andrology laboratories should invest in training, continuing education, proficiency testing, and other quality control measures to minimize the variation of sperm morphology evaluation results among clinicians.
FORMATION OF MICROSCALE GRADIENTS OF PROTEIN USING HETEROBIFUNCTIONAL PHOTOLINKERS

Gradients of biological molecules on a microscale have been postulated to elicit cellular responses, such as migration. However, it has been difficult to prepare such gradients for experimental testing. A means for producing such gradients has been developed using a heterobifunctional photolinking agent with laser light activation. The photolinking agent synthesized includes an N-hydroxysuccinimide group and a photoreactive benzophenone (BP) separated by a tetraethylene glycol (TEG) spacer. The presence of the tetraethylene glycol spacer renders the photolinker hydrophilic, a desirable trait for conjugation in aqueous solutions. The linker was then conjugated to R-phycoerythrin (R-PE), a fluorescent protein. The resulting photolinker−R-phycoerythrin conjugate (BP−TEG−PE) was then immobilized onto a polystyrene surface by laser irradiation on a motorized stage. By varying exposure time of the sample to the beam, the amount of BP−TEG−PE immobilized on the surface was changed over an order of magnitude over ...
Rhinovirus infection associated with serious lower respiratory illness in patients with bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Objective. To determine the characteristics of rhinovirus infection in patients with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Subjects and methods. Between July 1, 1993, and July 1, 1995, 40 patients with bronchopulmonary dysplasia were identified. Viral cultures were obtained in ambulatory patients presenting with an acute respiratory illness requiring hospitalization or in hospitalized patients with a respiratory deterioration. When rhinovirus was isolated epidemiologic data were collected, and the characteristics of the illness, its severity and outcome were noted. Key features of rhinovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis were compared. Results. There were 8 cases of lower respiratory tract illness associated with rhinovirus infection in 6 infants (mean age, 7.1 ± 4.1 months) and 1 child (age, 40 months), an incidence of 0.15 infection/patient year. The mean gestational age and birth weight of these patients were 27.3 (±2.75) weeks and 853 (±341) g, respectively. There were 5 males. Four patients needed intensive care unit admission and 1 required mechanical ventilation. By comparison there were 13 cases of RSV bronchiolitis, an incidence of 0.25 infection/patient year. The 2 groups were similar epidemiologically and an equal proportion of patients with rhinovirus and RSV needed intensive care unit admission. A greater percentage of patients with RSV required mechanical ventilation (50% vs. 14%), but this difference was not statistically significant. Three cases of rhinovirus were nosocomial, and 1 infant had a second infection. Four patients required 5 hospitalizations caused by rhinovirus infection, and the mean duration of hospital stay was 11 days. All children had sustained worsening in their respiratory status after rhinoviral illness requiring additional therapy. Conclusions. Rhinovirus is a common and potentially serious lower respiratory pathogen in bronchopulmonary dysplasia patients. Rhinovirus infection has lasting pulmonary sequelae in these children.
Microstructural Characterization of Sol-Gel Derived Lead Titanate Deposited On Silica

The microstructural evolution of lead titanate prepared by a sol-gel method was examined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) following treatments in air at progressively higher temperatures. TEM specimens were prepared by spin coating a film or dispersing particles onto specimen grids coated with SiO 2 or SiO 2 with a barrier layer. The effects of different barrier materials, thermal treatment conditions, and the addition of platinum particles were examined. Lead titanate formed crystalline perovskite at ∼550-600°C on all support materials examined. On SiO 2 supports, the pyrochlore phase formed at lower temperatures and converted partially to perovskite at higher temperatures. Barrier layers of TiO 2 , A1 2 O 3 and polyimide prevented pyrochlore formation.
Enhanced immune priming with spatial distribution of paracrine cytokine vaccines

In preclinical models, tumor cells genetically modified to express cytokines or other costimulatory molecules can generate systemic antitumor immunity. In some cases, these tumor vaccines have been shown to eradicate micrometastases. These results have led to the initiation of numerous phase I clinical trials employing either autologous or allogeneic tumor vaccines genetically modified to express cytokines and other genes. In this report, we use our murine model to identify a number of parameters that may be critical for enhancing vaccine efficacy. In addition to antigen dose and cytokine level, the distribution of vaccine inoculation was found to have a significant impact on vaccine potency. These results require consideration in early clinical trials designed to evaluate cellular vaccine therapy.
Metalinguistic negation and metaphysical affirmation

In a series of articles, Fine (Monist 83:357–361, 2000; Mind 112:195–234, 2003; Mind 115:1059–1082, 2006) presents some highly compelling objections to monism, the doctrine that spatially coincident objects are identical. His objections rely on Leibniz’s Law and linguistic environments that appear to be immune to the standard charge of non-transparency and substitution failure. In this paper, I respond to Fine’s objections on behalf of the monist. Following Schnieder (Philosophical Quarterly 56:39–54, 2006), I observe that arguments from Leibniz’s Law are valid only if they involve descriptive, rather than metalinguistic, negation. Then I show that the monist is justified in treating the negation in Fine’s objections as metalinguistic in nature. Along the way I make a few methodological remarks about the interaction between the study of natural language and metaphysics. I also present evidence that some of the linguistic environments which Fine relies on are, contrary to appearances, non-transparent.
An emerging digital community: the CD-ROM artists

Over the past five years, a digital community of CD-ROM artists has begun to emerge. The one element that serves as the common thread to this particular community is that these artists and their works are based on a new musical presentation, one fully tied to a visual element, an interactive, exploratory world that is tailored to the individual user's progress through a finite number of elements. In short, although intermedia works have a long history, now the user may explore at his/her own pace. This unique manner of presentation has emerged into the worlds of art music, underground music, and performance art.
Epistaxis and catastrophic nasal bleeding

Epistaxis is the most common otolaryngologic emergency. Its severity may range from mild to life threatening. Management of acute epistaxis varies depending on its severity, etiology, and site of bleeding. Endoscopic control of epistaxis is considered a highly effective and cost-effective treatment. It is important for the surgeon to weigh the potential benefits and risks. Ligation and cauterization of the sphenopalatine artery and anterior and posterior ethmoidal arteries is discussed. A plan of action and control of catastrophic bleeding from the internal carotid artery or cavernous sinus are also discussed.
Resisting Surfaces: Description, Distance Reading, and Textual Entanglement

Calling for surface reading practices that will not distort literary texts, Best and Marcus argue for descriptive and distant modes of surface reading, and assume a single, static, and objective model of the text. Besides risking the de-politicization and de-historicization of texts, advocates for purely descriptive criticism threaten the liveliness of pedagogical engagement. Devaluing critical work that is both popular and reproducible by students, Latour moves humanities critics far away from practices in the hard sciences that depend upon predictable and transmissible methodologies. Barad’s quantum mechanics-based theory of intra-action shows how texts are not independent objects, but phenomena that incorporate personal, institutional, historical, and other material entanglements. Participants in the 2012 Exemplaria symposium illuminate Barad’s claim, showing texts to be shaped by various disciplinary, historical, codicological, and affective forces. Much as physicists use various instruments in descri...
Genre-Bending Performance

his past February, I attended the National Review of Live Art (NRLA) for the first time. The NRLA, which is the longest running live art festival in the UK (about 30 years) is produced by Artistic Director Nikki Milican's company New Moves International as part of the annual new genre art festival, entitled New Territories. Based in Glasgow, Scotland, New Territories also includes Winter School, a series of intensive, week-long workshops led by established artists and collectives, and a calendar of innovative dance performances. Initially called New Moves, the name of the festival was changed to New Territories to reflect the inclusion of the NRLA. The _ TRLA
Rate Integrity in Convention Cities

Potential hotel guests who are not participants in a convention are many times able to negotiate their rates whereas convention participants pay higher fixed rates. Convention participants may begin representing themselves as nonconvention participants to obtain these lower rates. This will reduce the number of rooms that can be counted toward a convention-room block and may reduce the hotel’s average daily rate or occupancy percentage. It is in the best interest of convention organizers and hotel executives if rate integrity exists among hotels in convention cities. This study compares the rate integrity between convention cities and provides suggestions on how convention organizers and hotel executives can avoid convention participants’ obtaining nonconvention rates.
Evidence for an Intermediate Colony Morphology of Vibrio vulnificus

Vibrio vulnificus causes both food-borne disease and wound infections. Most V. vulnificus strains express capsular polysaccharide (CPS), which is required for the virulence of this organism. Under standard growth conditions, CPS expression is lost at a relatively high frequency (10−3 to 10−4), resulting in a switch from an opaque (Op, CPS+) colony morphology to a translucent (Tr, CPS−) colony morphology. The wzb gene, which encodes a phosphatase required for CPS expression, has been proposed to be involved in this switch through a site-specific deletion of the entire gene. In an examination of five strains, we found that the frequency of wzb deletion in Tr colonies varies by strain and therefore does not account for all the Tr colonies that are seen. In addition, we have identified a third, intermediate (Int) colony morphotype, in which the colonies appear less opaque but are not fully translucent. PCR studies have demonstrated that Int colonies still contain the wzb gene, while reverse transcriptase PCR studies have shown that although Int strains retain expression of wzb, in some cases the transcription of wzb is reduced. Int strains switch to a true Tr (wzb negative) morphotype at a very high frequency (nearly 100%) under certain conditions. Finally, Int colonies, which in some cases can easily be mistaken for Tr colonies, have been observed to occasionally revert to Op, while Tr colonies containing a wzb deletion presumably are unable to revert to the encapsulated form.
Soil structure and organic carbon relationships following 10 years of wheat straw management in no-till

Abstract Crop residue retention is important for sequestering soil organic carbon (SOC), controlling soil erosion, and improving soil quality. Magnitude of residue management impacts on soil structural properties and SOC sequestration is, however, site specific. This study assessed long-term (10 year) impacts of three levels (0, 8, and 16 Mg ha−1 on a dry matter basis) of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) straw applied annually on SOC concentration and physical properties of the bulk soil and individual 5- to 8-mm aggregates for the 0- to 50-cm soil depth under no-till (NT) on a Crosby silt loam (fine, mixed, active, mesic Aeric Epiaqualfs) in central Ohio. This study also quantified relationships between soil properties and straw-induced changes in SOC concentration. Changes in soil properties due to straw mulching were mostly confined to the upper 5 cm of the soil. Mulching increased SOC concentration, but it did not significantly change cone index (CI) and shear strength (SHEAR). Within the upper 0–5-cm soil depth, mulching decreased bulk density (ρb) by 40–50%, aggregate density (ρagg) by 30–40%, and particle density (ρs) by 10–15%, and increased tensile strength (TS) of aggregates by up to 14 times as compared to unmulched soil. At the same depth, soil with mulch retained >30% more water than soil without mulch from 0 to −1500 kPa potentials. The SOC amount was 16.0 Mg ha−1 under no straw, 25.3 Mg ha−1 under 8 Mg ha−1 straw, and 33.5 Mg ha−1 under 16 Mg ha−1 straw in the 0- to 10-cm depth. Below 10 cm, differences in SOC pool between mulched and unmulched soil were not significant. Overall, SOC from 0- to 50-cm depth was 82.5 Mg ha−1 for unmulched soil, 94.1 Mg ha−1 for 8 Mg ha−1 mulch, and 104.9 Mg ha−1 for 16 Mg ha−1. About 33% of C added with straw over the 10-year period was sequestered in soil. This means that 2/3 of the wheat straw applied was not converted to SOC and most probably was lost as emissions of CO2 and CH4. The annual rate of total C accrual was 1.2 Mg ha−1 in soil mulched with 8 Mg ha−1 and 2.2 Mg ha−1 in soil mulched with 16 Mg ha−1 of straw in the 0- to 50-cm depth. The percentage of macroaggregates (>5-mm) was six times higher under 8 Mg ha−1 of straw and 12 times higher under 16 Mg ha−1 compared to unmulched treatments. Macroaggregates contained greater SOC than microaggregates in mulched soil. The SOC concentration explained the variability in aggregate properties by as much as 96%. Overall, long-term straw mulching increased SOC concentration and improved near-surface aggregate properties.