cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Placental Protein Distribution in Maternal Diabetes Mellitus: An Immunocytochemical Study

Placentas associated with maternal diabetes are generally characterized by features of villous immaturity. We correlated the villous histology with the immunocytochemical distribution of four trophoblastic proteins: beta human chorionic gonadotropin (beta HCG), placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP), pregnancy specific beta-1-glycoprotein (SP1), and human placental lactogen (HPL) in 14 third-trimester placentas associated with diabetes mellitus. Staining was increased for beta HCG and decreased for PLAP, SP1, and HPL in the diabetic placentas compared to control placentas of similar gestational age. This pattern was most prominent in areas of marked architectural villous immaturity within individual placentas and suggests concomitant functional immaturity.
Migration and proliferation of endothelial cells in preformed and newly formed blood vessels during tumor angiogenesis.

Abstract Tumor-induced capillary proliferation was studied in the rabbit cornea after implantation of V2 carcinoma 1 mm from the limbal vascular plexus. Limbal vessels were examined 1 to 10 days later with: [3H]thymidine autoradiography, electron microscopy, intravenous injection of colloidal carbon, and slit-lamp stereomicroscopy. Endothelial cells displayed surface projections and resembled regenerating endothelium 1 day after tumor implant. At 2 days, cells emigrated from preformed vessels toward the tumor implant. Simultaneously, cell junctions loosened and new lumina appeared in the walls of existing venules. Capillary sprouts were detected histologically at Day 4 and entered the corneal stroma by Day 6. New vessels were never seen in control eyes implanted with heat-killed tumor. The thymidine labeling index of endothelium was elevated on Day 2 and reached a peak of 8% on Day 3. After Day 4, labeled cells were located only near the distal tips of the growing capillaries. The labeling index ranged from 0.6 to 4%. In controls, labeling was less than 0.7% after 3 days. These studies suggest that active migration of preformed endothelial cells toward the tumor stimulus may precede cell proliferation during tumor angiogenesis. Whether this sequence occurs in other forms of neovascularization is unknown. However, once new capillaries have appeared, tumor-induced vessels elongate by mechanisms similar to wound-induced capillaries.
A positive-reading silicon vidicon for X-ray imaging

A silicon vidicon that uses an n on p silicon diode array for a target was designed. The electron beam landing energy is 600 eV, and all the diodes are charged to a reversed bias by secondary electron emission. With the high electron beam energy, it is possible to sharply focus the beam into a sheet beam, which can be used to simultaneously bombard several separate linear diode arrays in a detector scheme for a bent-crystal X-ray spectrometer. By such a method, the bandwidth requirement of the data-transmission system is reduced by a factor equal to the number of separate linear arrays that are simultaneously bombarded. Data are presented on the diode-charging mechanism, with emphasis on the method used to determine the potential of the diode n-surface. Examples are shown of the tube being used to detect 25-keV X-rays.
Control of aromatic amino acid biosynthesis in Salmonella typhimurium

Abstract 1. 1. Excretion of aromatic amino acids was studied in Salmonella typhimurium single aromatic auxotrophs and in analog-resistant mutants that were selected for excretion. Auxotrophs for a single aromatic amino acid excrete one or both of the other aromatic amino acids. Excretion of phenylalanine and tryptophan is prevented by exogenous tyrosine. Tyrosine excretion is prevented by added phenylalanine. A 5-methyltryptophan-resistant mutant excretes tryptophan and this excretion is prevented by tyrosine but not phenylalanine. Two β-2-thienylalanine-resistant strains excrete phenylalanine. Tyrosine prevents excretion in only one. 2. 2. Regulation of phenylalanine-, tyrosine- and tryptophan-controlled enzymes was studied. Tyrosine-inhibited DAHP synthase (7-phosho-2-keto-3-deoxy- D - arabino -heptonate D -erythrose-4-phosphate-lyase (pyruvate-phosphorylating), EC 4.1.2.15) was more responsive to repression than the phenylalanine-inhibited isoenzyme. Depression of tyrosine-inhibited DAHP synthase and prephanate dehydrogenase (prephenate: NAD oxidoreductase (decarboxylating)) was about 20-fold. Under conditions of 4-fold derepression of prephenate dehydratase (prephenate hydro-lyase (decarboxylating)) the level of phenylalanine-inhibited DAHP synthase, remained constant. Total chorismate mutase activity was derepressed about 8-fold. Anthranilate synthetase, which served as an indicator for the tryptophan operon was derepressed over 60-fold. 3. 3. Possible explanations are given for loss of regulation that results in aromatic amino acid excretion by auxotrophs and by analog-resistant mutants.
Combining stochastic uncertainty and linguistic inexactness: theory and experimental evaluation of four fuzzy probability models

Two major sources of imprecision in human knowledge, linguistic inexactness and stochastic uncertainty, are identified in this study. It is argued that since in most realistic situations these two types exist simultaneously, it is necessary to combine them in a formal framework to yield realistic solutions. This study presents such a framework by combining concepts from probability and fuzzy set theories. In this framework four models ( Kwakernaak, 1978 ; Yager, 1979 , Yager, 1984 ; Zadeh, 1968 , Zadeh, 1975 ) that attempt to account for the numeric or linguistic responses in various probability elicitation tasks were tested. The linguistic models were relatively effective in predicting subjects' responses compared to a random choice model. The numeric model ( Zadeh, 1968 ) proved to be insufficient. These results and others suggest that subjects are unable to represent the full complexity of a problem. Instead they adopt a simplified view of the problem by representing vague linguistic concepts by multiple-crisp representations (the α-level sets). All of the mental computation is done at these surrogate levels.
Reducing Sedimentation of Depressional Wetlands in Agricultural Landscapes

Depressional wetlands in agricultural landscapes are easily degraded by sediments and contaminants accumulated from their watersheds. Several best management practices can reduce transport of sediments into wetlands, including the establishment of vegetative buffers. We summarize the sources, transport dynamics, and effect of sediments, nutrients, and contaminants that threaten wetlands and the current knowledge of design and usefulness of grass buffers for protecting isolated wetlands. Buffer effectiveness is dependent on several factors, including vegetation structure, buffer width, attributes of the surrounding watershed (i.e., area, vegetative cover, slope and topography, soil type and structure, soil moisture, amount of herbicides and pesticides applied), and intensity and duration of rain events. To reduce dissolved contaminants from runoff, the water must infiltrate the soil where microbes or other processes can break down or sequester contaminants. But increasing infiltration also diminishes total water volume entering a wetland, which presents threats to wetland hydrology in semi-arid regions. Buffer effectiveness may be enhanced significantly by implementing other best management practices (e.g., conservation tillage, balancing input with nutrient requirements for livestock and crops, precision application of chemicals) in the surrounding watershed to diminish soil erosion and associated contaminant runoff. Buffers require regular maintenance to remove sediment build-up and replace damaged or over-mature vegetation. Further research is needed to establish guidelines for effective buffer width and structure, and such efforts should entail a coordinated, regional, multi-scale, multidisciplinary approach to evaluate buffer effectiveness and impacts. Direct measures in “real-world” systems and field validations of buffer-effectiveness models are crucial next steps in evaluating how grass buffers will impact the abiotic and biotic variables attributes that characterize small, isolated wetlands.
Amino Acid Sequence Determinants of β-Lactamase Structure and Activity

TEM-1 β-lactamase catalyzes the hydrolysis of β-lactam antibiotics such as the penicillins and cephalosporins, thus providing for bacterial resistance to these compounds. To determine the amino acid residues critical for the structure and function of TEM-1 β-lactamase, the codons for each of the 263 amino acid residues that constitute the mature form of the enzyme were randomized using a site-directed mutagenesis procedure. Functional random mutants were selected based on their ability to confer ampicillin resistance toEscherichia coli. The DNA sequence of several functional mutants was determined for each set of random mutants. It was found that 43 out of the 263 amino acid residues do not tolerate substitutions and therefore are critical for the structure and activity of the enzyme. In addition, a comparison of conserved residue positions among functional β-lactamase mutants with conserved residues in the β-lactamase gene family identified many positions which did not tolerate substitutions in the mutagenesis studies but are freely substituted among members of the gene family. This observation may be due to the accumulation of compensating mutations among members of the gene family. Finally, the sequence variability at residue positions among functional mutants was quantitated by calculating the effective number of substitutions at each position using information-theoretical entropy. These values were used to obtain a quantitative estimate of the correlation between the sequence variability at a position and the fractional accessible surface area of the residue. The correlation is found to be statistically significant in that buried residues tend to exhibit low variability and invariant residues tend to exhibit low solvent exposure. However, the correlation is weak because most residues are neither completely buried nor invariant.
NEUTRON TRANSFER AND THE TUNNELING MECHANISM IN THE BOMBARDMENT OF GOLD BY NITROGEN

Measurements were made of the angular distributions of N/sup 13/ nuclei produced in the neutron-transfer reaction bombarding energies were studied. It was found that the results could be described in terms of the transfer of a neutron from an Nil nucleus moving along a classical trajectory. In particular, it was found that N/sup 14/ trajectories with distances of closest approach of (12.7 plus or minus 0.5) x 10/sup -13/ cm gave the largest contribution to the transfer process. Further, both the angular and energy dependence of the N/sup 13/ production were compared with the dependences predicted by the tunneling theory of Breit and Ebel. Both experimental dependences were found to be in agreement with this theory. (auth)
Surfactant lavage with lidocaine improves pulmonary function in piglets after HCl-induced acute lung injury.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The pathophysiology of ARDS includes abnormalities of surfactant function as well as pulmonary inflammation. Immunomodulating drugs, like Lidocaine, have shown some success in decreasing inflammation in ARDS. We attempted to combine surfactant lavage’s ability to reverse the surfactant dysfunction, while acting as a vehicle to deliver Lidocaine. Gravity-driven surfactant (Infasurf) lavage (35 ml/kg) was administered alone or mixed with Lidocaine after severe HCl acid injury (0.3 N; 3 cc/kg) in neonatal piglets. Treatment groups included: control (C) (n = 5), surfactant lavage (SL) (35 ml/kg-diluted Infasurf) (n = 7) and SL mixed with Lidocaine (SL+L) (n = 7). About 26–27% of the lavage was retained (phospholipid 73–74 mg/kg; Lidocaine 1.8 mg/kg). Oxygenation progressively increased in the SL and SL+L groups over the 4-hour period (at 240 min: C = 99 ± 14; SL = 154 ± 39; SL+L = 230 ± 40 mmHg) (p < 0.05). PaCO2 increased in all groups from 43 ± 0.3 to 55 ± 0.7 mmHg. Only SL+L showed a reduction in PaCO2 (at 240 min: C = 54 ± 4; SL = 53 ± 7; SL+L = 49 ± 2 mmHg) (p < 0.05). Finally, SL and SL + L had superior characteristics during the quasi-static pressure volume (PV) procedure as compared to Control (p < 0.05). In our HCl ALI model, SL improved oxygenation and quasi-static lung compliance over C. The pulmonary function effects of SL were further enhanced by the addition of Lidocaine to the surfactant suspension. Combining therapeutic agents with surfactant lavage may be an effective strategy in ALI.
Initial Experience of Utilizing Real-Time Intra-Procedural PET/CT Biopsy.

Objectives: Nonreal-time Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) biopsies that use the image co-registration of a prior PET with an intra-procedural CT have been reported. The aim of this study was to report the initial experience of performing real-time intra-procedural PET/CT-guided biopsies. Materials and Methods: All patients ( n = 4) had a prior PET/CT examination of the concerning lesion and no significant CT correlate. On the day of the biopsy, 5 mCi of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) or NaF18 was intravenously injected. After 60 min of biodistribution of the molecular probe, PET/CT images were obtained in a limited one bed position over the region of the concerning lesion to be biopsied. Results: One patient had a mesenteric mass and the other three had bone lesions, one located in the rib and two in the iliac bone. The pathology report revealed that two lesions (50%) were malignant and two lesions (50%) were benign. The results of the biopsy changed management in all cases. There was 0% complication rate. Conclusions: No additional software or hardware is required to perform real-time intra-procedural PET/CT-guided biopsies. It can optimize the yield, especially in cases where there are no anatomical abnormalities. Real-time intra-procedural PET/CT biopsy may have benefits over conventional biopsy techniques in terms of accuracy.
Claustrophobic fear behavior: A test of the expectancy model of fear

The present study examined Reiss and McNally's expectancy model in the prediction of claustrophobic fear, measured across three domains. Non-clinical subjects (N = 117) reporting claustrophobic concerns were administered a behavioral approach test to a claustrophobic chamber. Consistent with the expectancy model, danger expectancy, anxiety expectancy and the interaction of anxiety sensitivity and anxiety expectancy accounted for unique portions of behavioral performance, with other variables partialled out. The expectancy model variable set, however, did not meaningfully relate to subjective fear or heart-rate reactivity. The formulation of anxiety sensitivity as a measure of the salience of anxiety is discussed. These findings lend support to the theory as a model for the behavioral dimension of pathological fear, but not the subjective or physiological facets.
Endolymphatic Sac Tumors in von Hippel-Lindau Disease

JAMA Mechanisms of Morbid Hearing Loss Associated With Tumors of the Endolymphatic Sac in von Hippel-Lindau Disease John A. Butman, MD, PhD; H. Jeffrey Kim, MD; Martin Baggenstos, MD; Joshua M. Ammerman, MD; James Dambrosia, PhD; Athos Patsalides, MD; Nicholas J. Patronas, MD; Edward H. Oldfield, MD; Russell R. Lonser, MD Context: Endolymphatic sac tumors (ELSTs) are associated with von Hippel-Lindau disease and cause irreversible sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and vestibulopathy. The underlying mechanisms of audiovestibular morbidity remain unclear, and optimal timing of treatment is not known. Objective: To define the underlying audiovestibular pathophysiologic mechanisms associated with ELSTs. Design, Setting, and Patients: Prospective and serial evaluation of patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease and ELSTs at the National Institutes of Health between May 1990 and December 2006. Main Outcome Measures: Clinical findings and audiologic data were correlated with serial magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomographic imaging studies to determine the mechanisms underlying audiovestibular dysfunction. Results: Thirty-five patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease and ELSTs in 38 ears (3 bilateral ELSTs) were identified. Tumor invasion of the otic capsule was associated with larger tumors ( P = .01) and occurred in 7 ears (18%) causing SNHL (100%). No evidence of otic capsule invasion was present in the remaining 31 ears (82%). Sensorineural hearing loss developed in 27 of these 31 ears (87%) either suddenly (14 ears [52%]) or gradually (13 ears [48%]), and 4 ears had normal hearing. Intralabyrinthine hemorrhage was found in 11 of 14 ears with sudden SNHL (79%; P P = .23) or vestibulopathy ( P = .83). Conclusions: Vestibulopathy and ELST-associated SNHL may occur suddenly due to tumor-associated intralabyrinthine hemorrhage or insidiously, consistent with endolymphatic hydrops. Both of these pathophysiologic mechanisms occur with small tumors that are not associated with otic capsule invasion.
Growth suppression by ursodeoxycholic acid involves caveolin-1 enhanced degradation of EGFR

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has been shown to prevent colon tumorigenesis in animal models and in humans. In vitro work indicates that this bile acid can suppress cell growth and mitogenic signaling suggesting that UDCA may be an anti-proliferative agent. However, the mechanism by which UDCA functions is unclear. Previously we showed that bile acids may alter cellular signaling by acting at the plasma membrane. Here we utilized EGFR as a model membrane receptor and examined the effects that UDCA has on its functioning. We found that UDCA promoted an interaction between EGFR and caveolin-1 and this interaction enhanced UDCA-mediated suppression of MAP kinase activity and cell growth. Importantly, UDCA treatment led to recruitment of the ubiquitin ligase, c-Cbl, to the membrane, ubiquitination of EGFR, and increased receptor degradation. Moreover, suppression of c-Cbl activity abrogated UDCA's growth suppression activities suggesting that receptor ubiquitination plays an important role in UDCA's biological activities. Taken together these results suggest that UDCA may act to suppress cell growth by inhibiting the mitogenic activity of receptor tyrosine kinases such as EGFR through increased receptor degradation.
Photocatalytic study of polymorphic titania synthesized by ambient condition sol process

Nanocrystalline titania of different phases were produced by ambient condition sol process with phase control originating from alterations in experimental variables. The produced titania photocatalysts were characterized by use of x-ray diffraction, BET surface area, transmission electron microscopy and related to methyl orange degradation. The results showed that the photocatalytic activity of brookite and anatase phase titania samples to be greater than that of Degussa P-25 and rutile phase titania sample. In addition, brookite, due to surface area considerations, appears to be the most photocatalytically active phase of titania.
Patient compliance with peak flow monitoring in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

ABSTRACT Background: The factors affecting patient compliance with peak flow monitoring in advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were examined using a prospective, blinded study. Methods: Twenty-eight male veterans were instructed in the use of an electronic, handheld peak flow meter and the modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale. They then entered a 6-month monitoring phase in which they recorded a dyspnea score once daily and peak expiratory flow rates twice daily, before and after bronchodilator use. The meter displays were disabled so that the patients were blinded to their values. Medical care was provided in the customary manner. Compliance was defined as the ratio of recorded values to all values specified by the protocol, exclusive of those missing due to circumstances beyond the patient's control. Results: Of 40 patients who met the entry criteria for this study, 8 refused to participate and 4 could not master the technique. The remaining 28 patients were enrolled. Overall, 25 (63% of those eligible) adhered to the protocol until its conclusion or until they became unable to comply because of medical or social problems. Compliance was 89.8::!: 15.0%. Of those followed for longer than 150 days, linear regression showed that only one patient had a decline in compliance over time (r = 0.84, P = 0.04). Compliance was lower in the afternoons (P 0.001) and on days with higher dyspnea scores (P 0.001). No other clinical factors had an effect on patient measurements. Conclusions: A substantial proportion of patients with advanced COPD can be trained in the technique of peak flow monitoring. Compliance is high if patients are enrolled in a longterm, structured program of supervision and periodic retraining.[Am J Med Sci 1998;315(5):296-301.]
Long‐range prediction of hawaiian winter rainfall using canonical correlation analysis

Hawaiian rainfall is teleconnected to short-term climate variability in the Pacific Ocean. The summer Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) and summer sea-level pressure (SLP) over the North Pacific are used as predictors, and the following winter rainfall indices from three islands of Hawaii are used as predictands. To consolidate the large data array of the SLP field prior to prediction experiments, lagged correlation and empirical orthogonal function analyses are used. Canonical correlation analysis has been used for predicting Hawaiian winter rainfall. Among many schemes tested, predictions. Cross-validation techniques have also been used to estimate the “overall” forecast skill of various schemes, and the results are consistent with those from prediction experiments. Winter rainfall in Hawaii can be predicted with a good degree of success two seasons in advance using the summer SOI and the first four eigenmodes of summer SLP over the North Pacific as predictors.
Activation-induced cytidine deaminase acts on double-strand breaks in vitro.

Abstract Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) is likely responsible for DNA cytidine deamination, although it may also act as an RNA deaminase. It functions on single-stranded DNA, the non-template strand in double-stranded DNA during transcription, or both strands in supercoiled DNA. To ask whether AID is able to deaminate cytidine at DNA breaks, plasmids, containing a Sna BI site (TAC ↓ GTA) that forms blunt ends after digestion with Sna BI, were generated. If AID deaminates cytidine at the upstream blunt end, the ATG start codon in either of two drug resistance genes will be regenerated after ligation and replication in UDG-null E. coli cells. This study shows that AID targets cytidine at the break. The extent of deamination activity beyond the break is correlated with the base composition in the break region. If the break region is A, T-rich, C > T transitions are extensive. However, when the break region is not A, T-rich, mutations are mainly restricted to the break, similar to findings in vivo. The results indicate that AID has activity on double strand breaks (DSBs). Based on previous and current findings, a somatic hypermutation (SHM) model is proposed, in which collision between the transcription apparatus and the replication fork generates DSBs. After AID acts on break ends, the error-prone DNA repair machinery fixes and creates mutations.
Breast cancer treatment delays in a majority minority community: is there a difference?

The authors' findings suggest that in majority minority communities with large cancer centers, racial/ethnic disparities in times to biopsy and treatment initiation can be reduced.
Nonparametric empirical bayes estimation of the probability that x ≥ y

A sequence of empirical Bayes estimators is defined for estimating, in a two-sample problem, the probability that X ≥ Y. The sequence is shown to be asymptotically optimal relative to a Ferguson Dirichlet process prior.
Bias in robust estimation caused by discontinuities and multiple structures

When fitting models to data containing multiple structures, such as when fitting surface patches to data taken from a neighborhood that includes a range discontinuity, robust estimators must tolerate both gross outliers and pseudo outliers. Pseudo outliers are outliers to the structure of interest, but inliers to a different structure. They differ from gross outliers because of their coherence. Such data occurs frequently in computer vision problems, including motion estimation, model fitting, and range data analysis. The focus in this paper is the problem of fitting surfaces near discontinuities in range data. To characterize the performance of least median of the squares, least trimmed squares, M-estimators, Hough transforms, RANSAC, and MINPRAN on this type of data, the "pseudo outlier bias" metric is developed using techniques from the robust statistics literature, and it is used to study the error in robust fits caused by distributions modeling various types of discontinuities. The results show each robust estimator to be biased at small, but substantial, discontinuities. They also show the circumstances under which different estimators are most effective. Most importantly, the results imply present estimators should be used with care, and new estimators should be developed.
The Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule L1 Interacts with the AP-2 Adaptor and Is Endocytosed via the Clathrin-Mediated Pathway

Cell–cell interactions mediated via cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are dynamically regulated during nervous system development. One mechanism to control the amount of cell surface CAMs is to regulate their recycling from the plasma membrane. The L1 subfamily of CAMs has a highly conserved cytoplasmic domain that contains a tyrosine, followed by the alternatively spliced RSLE (Arg-Ser-Leu-Glu) sequence. The resulting sequence of YRSL conforms to a tyrosine-based sorting signal that mediates clathrin-dependent endocytosis of signal-bearing proteins. The present study shows that L1 associates in rat brain with AP-2, a clathrin adaptor that captures plasma membrane proteins with tyrosine-based signals for endocytosis by coated pits. In vitro assays demonstrate that this interaction occurs via the YRSL sequence of L1 and the μ2 chain of AP-2. In L1-transfected 3T3 cells, L1 endocytosis is blocked by dominant-negative dynamin that specifically disrupts clathrin-mediated internalization. Furthermore, endocytosed L1 colocalizes with the transferrin receptor (TfR), a marker for clathrin-mediated internalization. Mutant forms of L1 that lack the YRSL do not colocalize with TfR, indicating that the YRSL mediates endocytosis of L1. In neurons, L1 is endocytosed preferentially at the rear of axonal growth cones, colocalizing with Eps15, another marker for the clathrin endocytic pathway. These results establish a mechanism by which L1 can be internalized from the cell surface and suggest that an active region of L1 endocytosis at the rear of growth cones is important in L1-dependent axon growth.
On the Capacity of WDM Passive Optical Networks

To lower costs, WDM PONs may share the usage of wavelengths, transmitters, and receivers among ONUs, instead of dedicating the transmission between OLT and each ONU with one individual wavelength and one individual pair of transmitter and receiver. The specific sharing strategy depends on the network architecture and the wavelength supports of transmitters and receivers. Different sharing strategies may yield different achievable data rates of ONUs. In this paper, we make three main contributions in investigating the impact of the sharing strategy on the capacity region of a WDM PON. First, we abstract the data transmission processes in WDM PONs into directed graphs, where arcs represent wavelengths, transmitters, and receivers, as well as relations between them. Second, we apply Ford and Fulkerson's Max-flow, Min-cut Theorem to derive the upper bound of the capacity region of a WDM PON, and prove that the upper bound is achievable. Third, in light of these analytical results, we discuss and compare capacities of some WDM PON architectures.
Influence of an airgap on the measurement of dielectric constant by a parallel-plate dielectric resonator

The use of higher resonant modes, other than tradiationally used TE011 is discussed in connection with the so-called Courtney method of measuring the relative dielectric constant of dielectric resonators. An error analysis is developed, which takes into account also the presence of an airgap between the dielectric resonator and the two parallel metal plates.
Effect of the Drying Method on the Water Sorption of Dehydrated Apple and Potato

SUMMARY —The method of drying apple and potato affects primarily the rate of sorption of water of the dehydrated product, and to a lesser degree the equilibrium isotherms. The freeze-dried products adsorbed more water vapor than the puff-dried and air-dried materials. The apparent diffusivity of water vapor was considerably higher in the freeze-dried samples than in the air-dried materials. In puff-dried samples, the diffusivity had an intermediate value. The diffusivity in freeze-dried apple and potato decreased at higher relative humidities, and the effect was opposite in air-dried samples.
Up-regulation of base excision repair correlates with enhanced protection against a DNA damaging agent in mouse cell lines

DNA polymerase beta is required in mammalian cells for the predominant pathway of base excision repair involving single nucleotide gap filling DNA synthesis. Here we examine the relationship between oxidative stress, cellular levels of DNA polymerase beta and base excision repair capacity in vitro , using mouse monocytes and either wild-type mouse fibroblasts or those deleted of the DNA polymerase beta gene. Treatment with an oxidative stress-inducing agent such as hydrogen peroxide, 3-morpholinosydnonimine, xanthine/xanthine oxidase or lipopolysaccharide was found to increase the level of DNA polymerase beta in both monocytes and fibroblasts. Base excision repair capacity in vitro , as measured in crude cell extracts, was also increased by lipopolysaccharide treatment in both cell types. In monocytes lipopolysaccharide-mediated up-regulation of the base excision repair system correlated with increased resistance to the monofunctional DNA alkylating agent methyl methanesulfonate. By making use of a quantitative PCR assay to detect lesions in genomic DNA we show that lipopolysaccharide treatment of fibroblast cells reduces the incidence of spontaneous DNA lesions. This effect may be due to the enhanced DNA polymerase beta-dependent base excision repair capacity of the cells, because a similar decrease in DNA lesions was not observed in cells deficient in base excision repair by virtue of DNA polymerase beta gene deletion. Similarly, fibroblasts treated with lipopolysaccharide were more resistant to methyl methanesulfonate than untreated cells. This effect was not observed in cells deleted of the DNA polymerase beta gene. These results suggest that the DNA polymerase beta-dependent base excision repair pathway can be up-regulated by oxidative stress-inducing agents in mouse cell lines.
Ray tracing with the BSP tree

One of the most fundamental concepts in computer graphics is binary space subdivision. In its purest form, this concept leads to binary space partitioning trees (BSP trees) with arbitrarily oriented space partitioning planes. In practice, however, most algorithms use kd-trees-a special case of BSP trees that restrict themselves to axis-aligned planes-since BSP trees are believed to be numerically unstable, costly to traverse, and intractable to build well. In this paper, we show that this is not true. Furthermore, after optimizing our general BSP traversal to also have a fast kd-tree style traversal path for axis-aligned splitting planes, we show it is indeed possible to build a general BSP based ray tracer that is highly competitive with state of the art BVH and kd-tree based systems. We demonstrate our ray tracer on a variety of scenes, and show that it is always competitive with-and often superior to-state of the art BVH and kd-tree based ray tracers.
The Reactions of Methylene‐t with Ethylene [l]

Methylene-t from the photolysis of CHTCO has been reacted with ethylene, in the presence and absence of O2, over the pressure range from 10–30.000 Torr. Both the ratio of cyclopropane to propylene and the intramolecular distribution of tritium within propylene have been measured for each experiment. The data are quantitatively consistent with three CHT reaction paths: 17% 1CHT insertion in C–H bonds; 54% 1CHT reaction with the double bond; and 29% 3CHT addition to the double bond. The cyclopropane-t formed by 3CHT addition has an average excitation energy of ∼91 kcal/mol, while that formed by 1CHT reaction has an average energy of ∼106 kcal/mol.
Variation among European Americans in Emotional Facial Expression

The authors examined whether European Americans (EA) several generations removed from their ancestors varied as a function of their countries of origin by comparing the emotional facial expressions of EA originally from Scandinavian countries (EA-S),who value emotional control, and those from Ireland (EA-I),who value emotional expression. EA-S were less expressive than EA-I while reliving various emotions, especially happiness and love, suggesting that in this domain, EAs continue to be influenced by their cultural heritages.
The maximal number of pairwise communicating stations under limitations of maximal and minimal communication distance

We consider the problem of determining the maximal number of stations that can maintain a total network of communication. We assume that there is a distance R which is that maximal distance that two stations can be separated and remain in contact. We also assume that there is a distance r which is them minimal separation that allows communication. This problem is intimately related to the problem of packing disks within a circle. The problem of finding the circle of smallest radius enclosing a finite set of points in the plane arises in a number of applications. Many numerical codes have been written for this problem. We provide a framework for investigating the geometric properties of this circle that may be useful in the theoretical analysis of applications. We show that a circle C enclosing a finite set of points P is the minimal circle if and only if it is rigid in the sense that it cannot be translated while still enclosing P. We use this result to find a sharp estimate on the diameter of the minimal circle in terms of the diameter of P. We also show that the center of the minimal circle is contained in the convex hull of P.
Interactions of metal hydrous oxides with chelating agents: VIII. Dissolution of hematite

Abstract The dissolution of hematite in aqueous solutions containing iminodiacetic (IDA), N-hydroxyethyliminodiacetic (HIDA), and ethylenediaminotetraacetic (EDTA) acids was studied over a wide range of pH, temperature, and ligand concentrations. Three stages could be distinguished: an original leaching period lasting a few hours, a leveling off period during which there is no appreciable dissolution, and a faster, accelerative stage at longer reaction times. In the case of EDTA, the stages overlap. The first process is identified as nonreductive dissolution with phase transfer of Fe(III) complexes, while the faster stage is a reductive process. The nonreductive dissolution removes only the more reactive sites; the number of the latter increases with decreasing pH and increasing temperature. Neighboring sites exposed upon dissolution “heal off” and do not dissolve. A comparison of dissolution rates with stability constants of Fe(III) complexes lacks correlation, at variance with earlier proposals based on Gibbs energy relationships.
EriLex: an embedded domain specific language generator

EriLex is a software tool for generating support code for embedded domain specific languages (EDSLs). It supports specifying syntax, static semantics, and dynamic semantics of an EDSL, mixing the method chaining style and the functional nesting style in the EDSL embedding, and using native types and values in the EDSL. The EriLex approach to EDSL embedding assumes only basic object-oriented features and generics in the host language and does not require any particular technology in the definition or implementation of host languages and tools. The generated support code allows the EDSLs to reuse not only host language compilers but also host language semantic editors.
Kinetic and Stochastic Properties of a Persistent Sodium Current in Mature Guinea Pig Cerebellar Purkinje Cells

Kay, Alan R., Mutsuyuki Sugimori, and Rodolfo Llinas. Kinetic and stochastic properties of a persistent sodium current in mature guinea pig cerebellar Purkinje cells. J. Neurophysiol. 80: 1167–1179...
What Makes You Tick

Learning to be an ethical person is a process that is never finalized. Human beings are malleable and have an innate ability to evolve. As adults we can choose to continue to learn, grow, and change. But deliberately or by default, we may come to rely upon our automatic reactions to guide our daily lives.
Social-Emotional Development of Infants and Young Children With Orofacial Clefts

Children with orofacial clefts are believed to have distinctly elevated risk for a variety of adverse social-emotional outcomes including behavior problems, poor self-concept, and parent-child relationship difficulties. This assumption has been based primarily on theories of facial appearance and so
Interleukin-19 induces angiogenesis in the absence of hypoxia by direct and indirect immune mechanisms

Neovascularization and inflammation are independent biological processes but are linked in response to injury. The role of inflammation-dampening cytokines in the regulation of angiogenesis remains...
Global well-posedness of 2D non-focusing Schrödinger equations via rigorous modulation approximation

Abstract We consider the long time well-posedness of the Cauchy problem with large Sobolev data for a class of nonlinear Schrodinger equations (NLS) on R 2 with power nonlinearities of arbitrary odd degree. Specifically, the method in this paper applies to those NLS equations having either elliptic signature with a defocusing nonlinearity, or else having an indefinite signature. By rigorously justifying that these equations govern the modulation of wave packet-like solutions to an artificially constructed equation with an advantageous structure, we show that a priori every subcritical inhomogeneous Sobolev norm of the solution increases at most polynomially in time. Global well-posedness follows by a standard application of the subcritical local theory.
STUDY ON THE COAL SEAM REFLECTION WAVE CHARACTERISTIC IN LINYOU AREA

Linyou coalmine,formed in Jurassic Period,is located in Shanxi province.This paper mainly analyzed and summarized seismic prospecting in Linyou coalmine area.Based on many prospecting projects and achievements here,extracted coal seam reflection attributes by comparison,and summarized a law about coal seam reflection wave field through characteristic analysis.This achievement will be an guidance for future seismic prospecting work in Linyou area,and can be a good reference for seismic reflection wave field study in other type of coalmines.
Tobacco use and tobacco control.

Le tabagisme commence lorsque le tabac est facilement accessible et lorsque d'autres fument. Il depasse aisement le stade d'experimentation, car les symptomes de dependance nicotinique peuvent apparaitre rapidement. Les stimulants sociaux et environnementaux a fumer, les perceptions personnelles et les effets physiologiques de la nicotine creent des liens etroits difficiles a rompre. Des programmes devraient etre mis en place pour aider les gens a arreter de fumer, mais ils ne peuvent pas atteindre un potentiel de succes si les facteurs plus larges au niveau social et environnemental ne se modifient pas eux aussi grâce a un renforcement des valeurs sociales anti-tabac et a une legislation de lutte contre le tabagisme, dont la Convention Cadre de l'OMS sur la Lutte antitabac constitue un exemple.
The Multistate Stable Population

As the stable population generalizes the life table, the multistate stable population generalizes the multistate life table by explicitly including fertility and population growth. The development of multistate stable population models is largely a consequence of the work of Andrei Rogers (1974, 1975), who extended Lotka’s characteristic equation to the multistate case and proved that there was a single, system-wide, growth parameter, r. A multistate stable population can be seen as a population with a fixed age and state composition that emerges from a long history of constant age-and state-specific rates of birth, death, and interstate movement. Alternatively, the stable population age-state composition can be viewed as the unique age-state structure that is constantly replicated by those rates. This chapter shows how multistate stable populations can be specified and calculated using the General Algorithm, looks at some relationships in the model, and considers some present and potential applications.
Chemotherapy of melanoma.

Metastatic melanoma can be considered to be highly resistant to present chemotherapeutic agents, with long-term, sustained complete response expected in only 1 or 2 per cent of patients. The search for more effective drugs and treatment modalities is being tested by the cooperative oncology groups. The mechanism employed is that of prospective controlled randomized clinical trials. This approach has proved to be a rapid and efficient means of comparing treatments in comparable patients. These clinical trials are the testing grounds for the new discoveries that are expected to improve the treatment of melanoma and other cancers.
Testosterone Therapy in Hypogonadal Men with Prostate Cancer

Abstract “Testosterone is contraindicated in patients with prostate cancer” is the historical dogma that has only in the past decade truly been brought into question. Recent evidence comprised primarily of small case series suggests that this teaching may not only be untrue, but that testosterone replacement therapy may in fact be safe for men previously treated for prostate cancer and men with untreated prostate cancer on active surveillance protocols. This chapter examines the historical premise that led prostate cancer to be considered a contraindication for testosterone therapy as well as the growing body of evidence supporting the prostate cancer saturation model and the use of exogenous testosterone in symptomatic hypogonadal men with prostate cancer.
A model study of the role of workfunction variations in cold field emission from microstructures with inclusion of field enhancements

An analytical study of field emission from microstructures is presented that includes position-dependent electric field enhancements, quantum corrections due to electron confinement and fluctuations of the workfunction. Our calculations, applied to a ridge microstructure, predict strong field enhancements. Though quantization lowers current densities as compared to the traditional Fowler–Nordheim process, strong field emission currents can nonetheless be expected for large emitter aspect ratios. Workfunction variations arising from changes in electric field penetration at the surface, or due to interface defects or localized screening, are shown to be important in enhancing the emission currents.
Investigating large 2D arrays for photoacoustic and acoustic imaging using CMUT technology

In this paper, we investigate using a large aperture (64 times 64 element array) to perform photoacoustic and acoustic imaging by mechanically scanning a smaller array (16 times 16 elements) of capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs). We show results from the imaging of: 1) A fishing-line phantom. 2) Tubes embedded in chicken breast tissue containing the contrast agent indocyanine green (ICG), pig blood and a mixture of the two. The tubes were embedded at a depth of 0.8 cm inside the tissue and were at an overall distance of 1.9 cm from the CMUT array. Three-dimensional volume rendered images of traditional pulse-echo data as well as photoacoustic data are shown.
Rocks in the Stream: An Exploration of Knowledge Flow Inhibitors and Modulators within Organizations

This study analyzes the flow of knowledge within firms at the individual level. Managers participate in semi-structured interviews. Content analysis identifies factors that obstruct or modulate the flow of knowledge such as knowledge filtering and packaging. These must be understood in order to create more effective knowledge flow within organizations. Cette etude analyse la circulation des connaissances dans les organisations au niveau individuel. Les gestionnaires participent a des entrevues semi-structurees. Une analyse du contenu identifie les facteurs qui entravent ou modulent la circulation des connaissances, comme le filtrage et l’integration des connaissances. Ces facteurs doivent etre compris de maniere a creer une circulation des connaissances plus efficace dans les organisations.
Beyond text and back again

The ambitions and scope of Beyond Text? Critical Practices and Sensory Anthropology can hardly be contained within the pages of the edited volume or its accompanying audio-visual materials. Not tha...
Depression and Intention to Seek Treatment Among Black and White Suicidal Military Members Who Are Not Engaged in Mental Health Care

The current study is the first to examine racial differences in suicidal thoughts and behaviors, risk factors, and intention to seek treatment in a sample of Black and White Operation Enduring Free...
Review of Gasification of Organic Compounds in Continuous-Flow, Supercritical Water Reactors

Supercritical water gasification (SCWG) is an emerging technology with applications in renewable energy and waste processing. Environmentally benign, SCWG relies on supercritical water to decompose organic molecules. Decomposition of alcohols, aromatic compounds, carbohydrates, and amino acids was studied. Significant discrepancies in decomposition rates between batch and continuous-flow reactors exist; this review considers studies conducted with continuous-flow reactors. Intermediate and final products were identified for most decomposition reactions with good agreement between studies. Arrhenius decomposition parameters were tabulated for the data found in the literature. Due to experimental complexities and reactor limitations, most studies address a narrow range of conditions and one to few reagents. A comprehensive data set for a variety of compounds and operating conditions using a fixed reactor design has not been collected. Experimental variability results in inconsistencies in reported kinetic r...
Barn Owl ( Tyto alba ) Predation on Big Brown Bats ( Eptesicus fuscus ) in Pennsylvania

Diet of the Barn Owl, Tyto alba , was determined through examination of pellets collected from a roost site in Port Trevorton, Snyder County, Pennsylvania (40°42'26"N, 76°51'58"W). Remains of a Big Brown Bat, Eptesicus fuscus , were positively identified in one of the 80 pellets from our site. To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of a Barn Owl preying on a bat in Pennsylvania.