cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Curative Treatment of Pelvic Arteriovenous Malformation – An Alternative Strategy: Transvenous Intra-operative Embolisation

Abstract Objectives Pelvic arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are difficult to treat. Arterial embolisation is the most common strategy but often has poor results. We report an alternative surgical approach of controlled intra-operative transvenous embolisation with long-term results in seven cases. Materials and methods Between 1980 and 2008, we treated seven patients (four men, three women, mean age 50 years). Indications were rectal bleeding (one case), urinary tract problems (four cases), oedema of lower limb (one case) and high-output cardiac failure (one case). Four of them had previous operations and three had previous attempts for embolisation. Embolisation of the malformation was performed through the internal iliac vein. This was done after clamping of all the feeding and draining vessels. The agent used was cyanocrylate (one case), Ethibloc (one case) and bone wax (five cases). Results Mortality was 0%. Complications occurred in two patients (28,5%), one pulmonary embolism and one regressive femoral paresis. Three patients were re-operated for various reasons. The mean follow-up period was 6 years (1–12 years). Symptoms resolved in all patients, while control by computed tomography (CT) angioscan revealed one residual shunt. Conclusion Complete surgical excision of pelvic AVMs is not always possible. Embolisation does not offer a permanent cure. Intra-operative transvenous embolisation of persisting complex AVMs appears to be an alternative approach with good immediate and long-term results. Ethylene glycol appears to be the most suitable agent.
Impact of ankle bracing on skill performance in recreational soccer players.

Objective To determine the effect of ankle braces on kicking accuracy, speed, and agility in competitive, nonelite soccer players. We hypothesized that the use of ankle bracing would significantly decrease performance in soccer-specific drills immediately after use but not after acclimation to the brace. Design A prospective randomized controlled trial. Setting University. Participants Twenty healthy recreational adult soccer players (5 men and 15 women; mean age, 23 ± 4.8 years) without a history of lower extremity injury in the past 6 months. All the subjects completed the study. Methods The subjects completed a set of performance measures (ie, accuracy shooting at a target, 40-yard dash, S180° run, and T test) with an McDavid 199 Lightweight ankle brace (test subjects) and without an ankle brace (control subjects) during 2 testing sessions spaced 7-10 days apart. Between the 2 testing sessions, the subjects wore the ankle brace on at least 4 occasions while participating in athletic activities to ensure that a learning effect occurred. Main Outcome Measurements Outcomes included kicking accuracy (accuracy shooting at a target) and speed and agility (time to complete a 40-yard dash, S180° run, and T test). Results No significant difference in performance was found for the accuracy in shooting at a target, 40-yard dash, S180° run, and T test ( P > .05) with and without an ankle brace during a session and between sessions. Conclusions Ankle braces did not significantly affect performance in speed, agility, or kicking accuracy in healthy, competitive, recreational soccer athletes.
Calcium handler mishandles heart

Heart researchers have had hints that a stress response protein, PKC-α, influences the progression to heart failure. The inner workings of this key regulator are now coming to light (pages 248–254).
Platelet activation in stable coronary artery disease

To elucidate the role of physical activity in the pathogenesis of acute ischemic syndromes in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), we hypothesized that platelet activation occurs when coronary blood flow velocity and shear stress increase across an atherosclerotic vascular bed. We measured platelet aggregation by using angiologic catheterization to obtain simultaneous samples of whole blood from the coronary sinus and the aorta while at rest, 2 minutes after the onset of rapid atrial pacing, and 10 minutes after termination of pacing. Of 82 consecutive patients included in our study, 36 had stenosis of the left coronary artery, 12 had stenosis of the right coronary artery only, and 34 had no evidence of CAD. Samples taken at rest revealed no arteriovenous difference in platelet aggregation between patients with CAD and those without CAD. In patients with significant stenosis (> or = 50%) of the left coronary artery, atrial pacing caused platelet aggregation to increase in samples from the coronary sinus (64 +/- 9% increase; p < 0.01) but not in blood from the aorta (2 +/- 8% decrease; difference not significant). This increase was transient, with aggregation returning almost to resting values 10 minutes after pacing ended. Atrial pacing elicited no change in platelet aggregation in samples from either the coronary sinus or aorta of patients with nonsignificant stenosis (< 50%) of the left coronary artery, patients with significant stenosis of the right coronary artery only, and patients free of CAD. Thus, under resting conditions, no evidence of platelet activation across the coronary bed was seen regardless of CAD status.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Eclipse‐meteorology, with special reference to the total solar eclipse of 1932

The solar eclipse presents an opportunity to observe the consequence of a rapid shutting off and restoration of insolation, like a quick, brief night interrupting the normal course of the day's weather. The North American total eclipse of August 31, 1932, crossed a well-populated region of considerable physical diversity at a time when the Sun was high in the sky. Support from the Milton Fund of Harvard University and from J. J. Storrow, Jr., made it possible for the Blue Hill Observatory to undertake an ambitious program of meteorological observations, both surface and aerologlcal, and to collect data from nearly 300 cooperating stations of the United States and Canadian weather-services, astronomical parties, forest-services, power-companies, the Appalachian Mountain Club, and numerous individuals. The complete monograph with rather full details, presented in abstract here, is to be published as No. 3 of Harvard Meteorological Studies.
Lime pretreatment of crop residues bagasse and wheat straw

Lime (calcium hydroxide) was used as a pretreatment agent to enhance the enzymatic digestibility of two common crop residues: bagasse and wheat straw. A systematic study of pretreatment conditions suggested that for short pretreatment times (1–3 h), high temperatures (85-135°C) were required to achieve high sugar yields, whereas for long pretreatment times (e.g., 24 h), low temperatures (50–65°C) were effective. The recommended lime loading is 0.1 g Ca(OH)2/g dry biomass. Water loading had little effect on the digestibility. Under the recommended conditions, the 3-d reducing sugar yield of the pretreated bagasse increased from 153 to 659 mg Eq glucose/g dry biomass, and that of the pretreated wheat straw increased from 65 to 650 mg Eq glucose/g dry biomass. A material balance study on bagasse showed that the biomass yield after lime pretreatment is 93.6%. No glucan or xylan was removed from bagasse by the pretreatment, whereas 14% of lignin became solubilized. A lime recovery study showed that 86% of added calcium was removed from the pretreated bagasse by ten washings and could be recovered by carbonating the wash water with CO2 at pH 9.5.
Biochemical characterization of surface immunoglobulin

Abstract Charge-shift electrophoresis and isopycnic centrifugation were used to investigate the binding of detergents by B-cell and plasma cell immunoglobulin. Plasma cell immunoglobulin did not bind detergent; neither its electrophoretic migration nor buoyant density were altered by the presence of detergents. In contrast, B-cell immunoglobulin bound detergent, which resulted in a change in electrophoretic behavior and a reduced buoyant density in CsCI gradients. At least 20–23 molecules of Triton X-100 were bound by each molecule of B-cell immunoglobulin. With respect to detergent binding, B-cell immunoglobulin was similar to other hydrophobic integral membrane proteins. Since detergent binding was unaffected by the extent of glycosylation of the molecule, the hydrophobicity of B-cell immunoglobulin was most likely due to the chemical nature of the polypeptide chain. The approximate molecular weight of the heavy chain of surface IgG is 77,000 which is larger than that of secreted IgG with molecular weight of 67,000. The Fc portion of the immunoglobulin molecule is proposed as the most probable location for the site of detergent binding.
Rheumatic mitral stenosis

Patients with symptomatic mitral stenosis should undergo evaluation with transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography (Table 1). Those patients with suitable valve morphology should be treated with percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC). Randomized trials of catheter commissurotomy have shown no differences in long-term outcome compared with surgical commissurotomy; there is therefore no role for surgical commissurotomy in patients who are suitable candidates for balloon commissurotomy. Mitral valve replacement should be recommended for those patients with valve deformity too severe to undergo catheter therapy. Some older patients who are less-than-ideal candidates for catheter therapy nonetheless may benefit from it as a palliative alternative to otherwise high-risk valve surgery. Asymptomatic patients should be screened for the presence of pulmonary artery hypertension. Those who have pulmonary artery systolic pressure at rest of greater than 50 mm Hg or who develop pulmonary artery systolic pressure of greater than 60 mm Hg with exercise should be considered for PTMC.
Leaching of mecoprop herbicide through turfgrass soils

Abstract The downward movement of the herbicide, mecoprop [2-(4-chloro-2-methyl-phenoxy) propanoic acid], was studied in a silt loam and a fine sandy loam soil and an acid sand, each prepared in plots as lysimeters and seeded with Penncross creeping bentgrass. The extent of pesticide leaching was determined as a function of interval after last herbicide application and volume of irrigation water. Mecoprop moved downward in small but detectable concentrations in both soils but its rate of leaching was high in the sand. The concentration of mecoprop in the leachates decreased progressively with increasing time after herbicide application in both soils and the sand. A method of analysis was developed based on electron capture gas chromatographic determination of a ring nitrated and methylated mecoprop derivative. Factors affecting the downward movement of herbicides of similar structure are discussed.
Chemical studies of H chondrites‐10: Contents of thermally labile trace elements are unaffected by late heating

— We have used radiochemical neutron activation analysis (RNAA) to determine 15 trace elements, including 10 moderately to highly volatile ones—Rb, Ag, Se, Cs, Te, Zn, Cd, Bi, Tl, In (in increasing volatility order), in 6 H chondrite falls with low-3He contents. These (plus prior RNAA data) provide a compositional database of 92 H4-6 chondrite falls. Three suites of samples can be identified from their noble gas contents: 44 with “normal” contents and, therefore, “normal” orbits and cosmic-ray exposure histories; 8 that lost radiogenic gases, presumably by shock late in their histories; and 17 that lost cosmogenic gases by heating during close solar approach. We used the standard multivariate statistical techniques of linear discriminant analysis and logistic regression to compare contents of the 10 moderately and highly volatile trace elements, listed above, in these three suites. We found no significant differences. This contrasts sharply with similar comparisons involving random falls and H4-6 chondrites that landed on Earth at specific time intervals. Apparently, contents of volatile trace elements in H4-6 chondrites were established early in their histories, and they are so retentively sited that loss during later heating episodes did not occur.
Causes of Increasing Aridification of the Mediterranean Region in Response to Rising Greenhouse Gases

AbstractThe hydrological cycle in the Mediterranean region, as well as its change over the coming decades, is investigated using the Interim European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Re-Analysis (ERA-Interim) and phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) historical simulations and projections of the coming decades. The Mediterranean land regions have positive precipitation minus evaporation, P − E, in winter and negative P − E in summer. According to ERA-Interim, positive P − E over land in winter is sustained by transient eddy moisture convergence and opposed by mean flow moisture divergence. Dry mean flow advection is important for opposing the transient eddy moisture flux convergence in the winter half year and the mass divergent mean flow is a prime cause of negative P − E in the summer half year. These features are well reproduced in the CMIP5 ensemble. The models predict reduced P − E over the Mediterranean region in the future year-round. For both land and sea, a common ...
Control of electronic and magnetic coupling via bridging ligand geometry in a bimetallic ytterbocene complex

The ligand 1-methyl-3,5-bis(2,2':6',2' '-terpyridin-4'-yl)benzene has been employed in the synthesis of a new bimetallic ytterbocene complex [(Cp*)2Yb](1-methyl-3,5-bis(2,2':6',2' '-terpyridin-4'-yl)benzene)[Yb(Cp*)2] (1) and the doubly oxidized congener [1]2+ in an attempt to determine the impact of the bridging ligand geometry on the magnetic/electronic properties as compared to the previously reported 1,4-analog [(Cp*)2Yb](1,4-di(terpyridyl)benzene)[Yb(Cp*)2] (2). Electrochemical, electronic, and magnetic data provide compelling evidence that the 1,3-geometry associated with the bridging ligand of 1 has done an effective job of inhibiting electronic communication between metal centers and magnetic coupling of spin carriers at room temperature as compared to 2. In fact, the physical data associated with 1 are quite similar to those reported for the monometallic analog (Cp*)2Yb(tpy) (3). In particular, the f-f profile of [1]2+ is nearly identical to that of [3]+ in its spectral features but with an almost exact doubling of the intensities. Further, the electronic coupling between metal centers as manifested in the potential separation between metal-based reduction waves has for the first time in these bimetallic ytterbocene complexes been found to go to zero for 1. Thus, the linkage isomerism at the phenyl coupling unit has induced a change in the ground-state electronic configuration from the singlet dianion-bridged (4f)13(pi*)2(4f)13 state found in 2 to the diradical-bridged (4f)13(piA*)1(piB*)1(4f)13 state in 1. This diradical formulation on the bridging ligand in 1 is supported by DFT calculations for the uncomplexed doubly reduced ligand that indicate the ground-state configuration is a singlet diradical state with the triplet-diradical state lying to slightly higher energy. Magnetic characterization of 1 is most consistent with the behavior previously observed for monometallic analogs such as 3, and there is no evidence of long-range magnetic ordering such as that observed for 2. In addition, X-ray crystallographic characterization of 1 represents the first case of a structurally characterized 2:1 metal-to-ligand adduct of the 1,3-bis(tpy) framework.
Regionally Distinct Responses of Microglia and Glial Progenitor Cells to Whole Brain Irradiation in Adult and Aging Rats

Radiation therapy has proven efficacy for treating brain tumors and metastases. Higher doses and larger treatment fields increase the probability of eliminating neoplasms and preventing reoccurrence, but dose and field are limited by damage to normal tissues. Normal tissue injury is greatest during development and in populations of proliferating cells but also occurs in adults and older individuals and in non-proliferative cell populations. To better understand radiation-induced normal tissue injury and how it may be affected by aging, we exposed young adult, middle-aged, and old rats to 10 Gy of whole brain irradiation and assessed in gray- and white matter the responses of microglia, the primary cellular mediators of radiation-induced neuroinflammation, and oligodendrocyte precursor cells, the largest population of proliferating cells in the adult brain. We found that aging and/or irradiation caused only a few microglia to transition to the classically “activated” phenotype, e.g., enlarged cell body, few processes, and markers of phagocytosis, that is seen following more damaging neural insults. Microglial changes in response to aging and irradiation were relatively modest and three markers of reactivity - morphology, proliferation, and expression of the lysosomal marker CD68- were regulated largely independently within individual cells. Proliferation of oligodendrocyte precursors did not appear to be altered during normal aging but increased following irradiation. The impacts of irradiation and aging on both microglia and oligodendrocyte precursors were heterogeneous between white- and gray matter and among regions of gray matter, indicating that there are regional regulators of the neural response to brain irradiation. By several measures, the CA3 region of the hippocampus appeared to be differentially sensitive to effects of aging and irradiation. The changes assessed here likely contribute to injury following inflammatory challenges like brain irradiation and represent important end-points for analysis in studies of therapeutic strategies to protect patients from neural dysfunction.
A generalization of collapsible cases of circumscription

Abstract Circumscription is a second-order formula expressing the minimality of the extension of a particular predicate or set of predicates. It was fashioned to capture the concept of nonmonotonic logic of human beings. In some instances circumscription is equivalent to a first-order formula. We show that the known cases are special instances of a more general case.
An APL system for the IBM personal computer

This paper discusses the design and building of an APL interpreter for the IBM Personal Computer. Discussed is the writing of the interpreter itself, which required the use of an intermediate language designed by the authors. This machine-independent language also made possible the development of APL interpreters for two other systems--System/370 and Series/1. The particularizing of the interpreter required a compiler, which in the case of the Personal Computer produced Intel 8088 and 8087 assembly language code. The matching of the APL interpreter to the operating system (DOS) required an APL supervisor, which is also discussed in this paper. The provision of the APL character set presented problems, the solutions of which are also presented. Other topics discussed are the display, the keyboard, and the session manager.
The expression of gap junctional proteins during different stages of mouse skin carcinogenesis.

The loss or alteration of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) has long been proposed to play an important role in the process of carcinogenesis. In this study we examined the expression of three gap junction proteins, connexins (Cx)26, 43 and 31.1, in mouse hyperplastic skin, papillomas and squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). Tumors were induced in SENCAR mice by either of two initiation/promotion protocols : 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)/12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) or DMBA/benzoyl-peroxide (BzPo). Keratinocytes in adult mouse skin expressed Cx31.1 and Cx43 but did not express Cx26. Skin hyperplasia induced by one topical application of TPA was accompanied by hyper-expression of both Cx26 and Cx43. In addition, TPA significantly inhibited the expression of Cx31.1. After repetitive application of TPA for 3 weeks to initiated mouse skin, a similar Cx profile was found to that after a single TPA application. Connexin 26 and Cx43 were hyperexpressed in most of the papillomas studied (20-40 weeks after initiation). However, in some late papillomas, immunostaining revealed a focal loss of Cx26. Immunostaining of mouse skin SCC revealed decreased Cx43 and Cx26 levels in 65% and 85% of cases respectively. The high levels of Cx26 and Cx43 mRNA in most of the SCC did not correlate with the decreased abundance or disappearance of Cx26 and Cx43 immunoreactive spots from tumor plasma membranes. Thus, the expression of these two connexins in SCC was impaired at the post-translation level. Cx31.1 expression was strongly inhibited during all stages of carcinogenesis. Taken together, our results suggest that three different connexin genes are differentially regulated during mouse skin carcinogenesis and the decrease of connexin expression may be an important marker of skin tumor progression.
Percolative conduction and the Alexander-Orbach conjecture in two dimensions

Alexander and Orbach have recently proposed that the ratio of the fractal dimensionality of the incipient infinite cluster in percolation to the fractual dimensionality of a random walk on the cluster is ⅔, independent of the spatial dimensionality of the system. As a consequence, they predict that the electrical conductivity exponent $\frac{t}{\ensuremath{\nu}}=0.9479\dots{}$ in two dimensions, where $\ensuremath{\nu}$ is the correlation-length exponent. Our numerical data, which are obtained from large-lattice finite-size scaling calculations, give a value $\frac{t}{\ensuremath{\nu}}={0.973}_{\ensuremath{-}0.003}^{+0.005}$, in disagreement with the conjecture by 2.6%.
Survival patterns in cystic fibrosis

Abstract This paper describes the Data Registry System of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Through this system an annual up-dated and corrected data base has been prepared for cystic fibrosis patients seen at U.S.A. Centers from 1966 through 1972. From the data base, a large number of life table studies are calculated. A study is specified by its data base, the observation period, analysis year (age year or year since diagnosis), the Centers included, and the condition of patients at birth, and possible additional factors such as sex, age at diagnosis, or race. The annual rates of mortality are measured by a force of mortality technique. Two techniques have been used to appraise the mortality of particular groups, graphing the cumulative survival function for the group together with the cumulative survival function for a comparison group, and calculation of mortality ratios of actual to expected deaths (by an applicable standard mortality table). This latter approach lends itself readily to tests of significance. For the purpose of calculating mortality ratios, two standard tables have been prepared on the basis of the 1972 Data Base and the 1966–1972 observations. The first of these standard tables is for use with age year studies, and the second is for years since diagnosis studies. The paper comments on a number of mortality studies by calendar year, by sex, by condition at birth, by age at diagnosis, and of survival from diagnosis of patients diagnosed in 1966–1972. The calendar year studies indicate an improvement trend in the survival experience from 1966 to 1972 but a change may be occurring. The study by sex exhibits a higher female mortality. The 7% of patients who have meconium ileus at birth show a significantly higher first-year mortality, and a somewhat lower survival rate thereafter even if the first year of life experience is excluded. Mortality data for groups specified by age at diagnosis are given. For patients diagnosed during 1966–1972, there is some indication of better survival than for patients diagnosed prior to 1966. The continuation of these mortality studies on an annual basis should further our understanding of survival patterns for cystic fibrosis patients.
Molecular architecture of Botulinum neurotoxin E revealed by single particle electron microscopy

Clostridial botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) causes a neuroparalytic condition recognized as botulism by arresting synaptic vesicle exocytosis. Although the crystal structures of full-length BoNT/A and BoNT/B holotoxins are known, the molecular architecture of the five other serotypes remains elusive. Here, we present the structures of BoNT/A and BoNT/E using single particle electron microscopy. Labeling of the particles with three different monoclonal antibodies raised against BoNT/E revealed the positions of their epitopes in the electron microscopy structure, thereby identifying the three hallmark domains of BoNT (protease, translocation, and receptor binding). Correspondingly, these antibodies selectively inhibit BoNT translocation activity as detected using a single molecule assay. The global structure of BoNT/E is strikingly different from that of BoNT/A despite strong sequence similarity. We postulate that the unique architecture of functionally conserved modules underlies the distinguishing attributes of BoNT/E and contributes to differences with BoNT/A.
The Specific Nature of Plant Cell Wall Polysaccharides

Polysaccharide compositions of cell walls were assessed by quantitative analyses of the component sugars. Cell walls were hydrolyzed in 2 n trifluoroacetic acid and the liberated sugars reduced to their respective alditols. The alditols were acetylated and the resulting alditol acetates separated by gas chromatography. Quantitative assay of the alditol acetates was accomplished by electronically integrating the detector output of the gas chromatograph. Myo -inositol, introduced into the sample prior to hydrolysis, served as an internal standard. The cell wall polysaccharide compositions of plant varieties within a given species are essentially identical. However, differences in the sugar composition were observed in cell walls prepared from different species of the same as well as of different genera. The fact that the wall compositions of different varieties of the same species are the same indicates that the biosynthesis of cell wall polysaccharides is genetically regulated. The cell walls of various morphological parts (roots, hypocotyls, first internodes and primary leaves) of bean plants were each found to have a characteristic sugar composition. It was found that the cell wall sugar composition of suspension-cultured sycamore cells could be altered by growing the cells on different carbon sources. This demonstrates that the biosynthesis of cell wall polysaccharides can be manipulated without fatal consequences.
Pattern Specific Emulation (PSE) for ion-beam projection lithography masks using finite element analysis

Pattern specific emulation (PSE) may be required for ion- beam projection lithography to meet the high pattern placement requirements in the sub-0.13 micrometers regime. To effectively employ PSE, it is necessary to simulate the distortion of the stressed mask membrane due to the fabrication of the stencil void pattern. Equivalent modeling techniques have been developed to determine both global and local in-plane distortions (IPD) using finite element (FE) methods. IPD is calculated by first dividing the patterned area of the membrane into subregions of equivalent void fraction. These subregions are based upon the percent void fraction as well as the pattern geometry. For each subregion, a set of equivalent elastic constants are used as input into the FE model to represent the stiffness of the actual perforated membrane. Global distortions are then computed to simulate the pattern transfer process. In this paper, a verification test case for equivalent modeling and an example of PSE for a complete mask pattern are presented.
Incongruities in Self-Presentations and Judgments about People:

180 college students were asked to make judgments assumed to correspond with judgments about the mental illness of targets who projected various combinations of cues in attire and verbal messages. Procedures were designed to elaborate the position that the cues involved in making mental illness judgments about a target are not necessarily those associated with mental disease as traditionally defined; that the cues correspond with judgments of mental illness only in some cases and combinations, and that observers' construct systems affect judgments. Attire, message, and the degree of congruence between them were assumed to project to observers certain cues regarding the core-self and self-explaining role of the target. Different combinations of attire and message were presented to separate sample groups by the same target. Analyses of scores taken from semantic differential scales, a behavior check list, and a question about psychiatric condition showed a tendency for the targets with in-congruent attire a...
Stress and hunger alter the anorectic efficacy of fluoxetine in binge‐eating rats with a history of caloric restriction

Objective We examined the effect of fluoxetine to suppress binge eating in rats with a history of caloric restriction (CR) and the extent to which this effect was altered by stress and hunger. Method To detect heightened sensitivity to fluoxetine, young female rats were used to determine a subthreshold anorectic dose (2 mg/kg, intraperitonally). Another group of rats was either fed ad libitum or given multiple CR (to 90% body weight) and refeeding-to-satiety cycles. One half of the rats were then either spared or subjected to foot shock stress before fluoxetine treatment. Results A history of CR alone produced bingelike eating on palatable food (p < .001) and, although stress did not affect intake, it rendered CR rats hypersensitive to the satiety effect of fluoxetine. The feeding-suppression was mainly for chow (p < .05) and the effect was abolished if the rats were in negative energy balance. Discussion Results support the utility of this animal model to elucidate serotonergic changes linking dieting to binge eating. The diverse effects of fluoxetine on the type of food, and in hungry versus sated rats, suggest alternate brain mechanisms should be concomitantly targeted for improved treatment of binge eating disorders. © 2004 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 36: 328–341, 2004.
Crystal Structure of Dps-1, a Functionally Distinct Dps Protein from Deinococcus radiodurans

DNA protection during starvation (Dps) proteins play an important role in protecting cellular macromolecules from damage by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Unlike most orthologs that protect DNA by a combination of DNA binding and prevention of hydroxyl radical formation by ferroxidation and sequestration of iron, Dps-1 from the radiation-resistant Deinococcus radiodurans fails to protect DNA from hydroxyl radical-mediated cleavage through a mechanism inferred to involve continuous release of iron from the protein core. To address the structural basis for this unusual release of Fe(2+), the crystal structure of D. radiodurans Dps-1 was determined to 2.0 Angstroms resolution. Two of four strong anomalous signals per protein subunit correspond to metal-binding sites within an iron-uptake channel and a ferroxidase site, common features related to the canonical functions of Dps homologs. Similar to Lactobacillus lactis Dps, a metal-binding site is found at the N-terminal region. Unlike other metal sites, this site is located at the base of an N-terminal coil on the outer surface of the dodecameric protein sphere and does not involve symmetric association of protein subunits. Intriguingly, a unique channel-like structure is seen featuring a fourth metal coordination site that results from 3-fold symmetrical association of protein subunits through alpha2 helices. The presence of this metal-binding site suggests that it may define an iron-exit channel responsible for the continuous release of iron from the protein core. This interpretation is supported by substitution of residues involved in this ion coordination and the observation that the resultant mutant protein exhibits significantly attenuated iron release. Therefore, we propose that D. radiodurans Dps-1 has a distinct iron-exit channel.
Creation of a reference image with Monte Carlo simulations for online EPID verification of daily patient setup

Patient positioning accuracy remains an issue for external beam radiotherapy. Currently, kilovoltage verification images are used as reference by clinicians to compare the actual patient treatment position with the planned position. These images are qualitatively different from treatment-time megavoltage portal images. This study will investigate the feasibility of using PEREGRINE, a 3D Monte Carlo calculation engine, to create reference images for portal image comparisons. Portal images were acquired using an amorphous- silicon flat-panel EPID for 1) the head and pelvic sections of an anthropomorphic phantom with 7-8 mm displacements applied, and 2) a prostate patient on five treatment days. Planning CT scans were used to generate simulated reference images with PEREGRINE. A correlation algorithm quantified the setup deviations between simulated and portal images. Monte Carlo simulated images exhibit similar qualities to portal images, the phantom slabs appear clearly. Initial positioning differences and applied displacements were detected and quantified. We find that images simulated with Monte Carlo methods can be used as reference images to detect and quantify set-up errors during treatment.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Effect of experimental diabetes and glucagon on cAMP-dependent protein kinase in rat liver.

Liver protein kinase was determined in the absence and presence of cAMP4. Experimental alloxan diabetes resulted in a decrease in total protein kinase (+ cAMP) and an increase in the activity ratio\(\frac{{( - cAMP)}}{{( + cAMP)}}\) in liver. Insulin treatment of diabetic rats reversed the observed changes in protein kinase in liver. Glucagon administered in vivo to normal rats caused an increase in the activity ratio and a decrease in total protein kinase activity in liver. The changes are similar to those in diabetes. A decrease in the ratio of insulin to glucagon in diabetes may account for the changes in protein kinase observed.
An alternative maximum likelihood estimator of long-memory processes using compactly supported wavelets

In this paper we apply compactly supported wavelets to the ARFIMA(p,d,q) long-memory process to develop an alternative maximum likelihood estimator of the differencing parameter, d, that is invariant to unknown means, model specification, and contamination. We show that this class of time series have wavelet transforms whose covariance matrix is sparse when the wavelet is compactly supported. It is shown that the sparse covariance matrix can be approximated to a high level of precision by a matrix equal to the covariance matrix except with the off-diagonal elements set equal to zero. This diagonal matrix is shown to reduce the order of calculating the likelihood function to an order smaller than those associated with the exact MLE method. We test the robustness of the wavelet MLE of the fractional differencing parameter to a variety of compactly supported wavelets, series length, and contamination levels by generating ARFIMA(p,d,q) processes for different values of p,d, and q, and calculating the wavelet MLE using only the main diagonal elements of its covariance matrix. In our simulations we find the wavelet MLE to be superior to the approximate frequency MLE when estimating contaminated ARFIMA(0,d,0), and uncontaminated ARFIMA(1,d,0) and ARFIMA(0,d,1) processes except when the MA parameter is close to one. We also find the wavelet MLE to be robust to model specification and as such is an attractive alternative semiparameter estimator to the Geweke, Porter–Hudak estimator.
A biochemical comparison of the related bacteriophages T7, φI, φII, W31, H, and T3

Abstract The female-specific coliphages T7, T3, φI, φII, W31, and phage H have been compared by several biochemical techniques. The DNA base-sequence homologies have been determined by examining the appropriate heteroduplexes in the electron microscope. The patterns of RNA and protein syntheses have been investigated by electrophoreses of the radioactively labeled material on polyacrylamide gels. Phages φI, φII, W31, and H are clearly closely related to T7 and more distantly related to T3.
Intravascular Magnetic Resonance/Radiofrequency May Enhance Gene Therapy for Prevention of In-stent Neointimal Hyperplasia

Rationale and Objectives We evaluated the potential of using intravascular magnetic resonance (MR)/radiofrequency (RF) to enhance vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene therapy of in-stent neointimal hyperplasia. Materials and Methods By using a catheter-based approach, VEGF/lentivirus was locally transferred into 10 (five paired) bilateral femoral-iliac arteries of five hypercholesterolemic pigs, whereas the right arteries were heated up to approximately 41°C by using an intravascular MR/RF system. Then, identical stents were placed immediately into the bilateral VEGF-targeted arteries to create in-stent neointimal hyperplasia. At day 60 after gene/stent interventions, the targeted arteries were harvested for histological correlation. Results X-Ray angiography–detectable in-stent stenoses were found in three of the arteries treated with VEGF genes only, whereas there were no in-stent stenoses in arteries treated by using MR/RF-heated VEGF genes. Correlative histological examination confirmed a 138% reduction in average thickness of neointimal hyperplasia in VEGF/RF-treated arteries compared with VEGF-only–treated arteries ( P Conclusion We report a potential method of using an intravascular MR/RF heating technique to enhance gene therapy of in-stent restenosis.
Combustion detection with a semiconductor color sensor

Abstract A unique and convenient semiconductor color sensor has been developed by Sharp. This sensor has dual photodiodes integrated on a monolithic Si chip. The short-circuit current ratio of the two photodiodes varies monotonically with optical wavelength. An easy method of detecting the lack of oxygen in a room was found by observing the color of the combustion flame with the semiconductor color sensor. The short-circuit photocurrent ratio changes rapidly in the range 18.5 – 19.5% oxygen concentration. The merits of this method are: (1) The semiconductor color sensor and its circuits are compact and inexpensive. (2) Since the ratio of outputs of two photodiodes is measured, some adverse effects such as temperature and contamination of the window are reduced by mutual cancellation.
Functional antagonism of morphine analgesia by (+)-pentazocine : evidence for an anti-opioid σ1 system

Abstract Both (+)-pentazocine and (−)-pentazocine antagonize morphine analgesia equally well. This lack of stereospecificity implies an non-opioid mechanism of action. The antagonism of morphine analgesia by (+)-pentazocine is reversed by haloperidol, a potent dopamine D2 and σ receptor antagonist. The inactivity of the highly selective dopamine D2 receptor antagonist (−)-sulpiride indicates that both (+)-pentazocine and haloperidol are acting through σ receptors. Haloperidol, but not (−)-sulpiride, also enhances morphine analgesia. Together, these results suggest the presence of a tonically active anti-opioid σ system within the brain.
Rates of neutrino absorption on nucleons and the reverse processes in strong magnetic fields

The rates of ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{e}+n\ensuremath{\rightleftharpoons}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}+p$ and ${\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}}_{e}+p\ensuremath{\rightleftharpoons}{e}^{+}+n$ are important for understanding the dynamics of supernova explosion and the production of heavy elements in the supernova environment above the protoneutron star. Observations and theoretical considerations suggest that some protoneutron stars may be born with strong magnetic fields. In a previous paper we calculated the above rates in supernova environments with magnetic fields up to $\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{16}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{G}$ assuming that the nucleon mass ${m}_{N}$ is infinite. We also applied these rates to discuss the implications of such strong fields for supernova dynamics. In the present paper we take into account the effects of a finite ${m}_{N}$ and develop a numerical method to recalculate the above rates in similar environments. This method is accurate to $\mathcal{O}(1/{m}_{N})$ and such an accuracy is required for application to supernova nucleosynthesis. We show that our results have the correct behavior in the limit of high neutrino energy or small magnetic field. Based on comparison of our results with various approximations, we recommend efficient estimates of the above rates for use in models of supernova nucleosynthesis in the presence of strong magnetic fields.
Geographical variation in male courtship behaviour and sexual isolation in wolf spiders of the genus Schizocosa

We surveyed 12 populations of the wolf spider Schizocosa crassipes (Walckenaer) and S. nr. crassipes in Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida, in the U.S. to determine the extent of variation in male courtship behaviour when observed in standard laboratory conditions. We observed variation in both the frequency of occurrence and the sequence of the four principal male courtship behaviours and, when compared statistically, most of these behaviours differed between populations. Although there was no clinal pattern in the frequency of courtship behaviour, we observed geographically consistent patterns in the sequence in which male courtship behaviours are displayed. We conducted two subsequent studies to determine whether sexual isolation among selected populations existed. In the first study, we performed male-female reciprocal crosses of brush-legged spiders (S. nr. crassipes) between two populations from the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta physiographical region and one population from the Loess Bluff region of Mississippi and measured mating success, number of matings that produced egg sacs, and the number of egg sacs that hatched young. The results of that experiment suggest that sexual isolation occurs among populations in different physiographical regions but not between populations within regions of the state. In a second crossing study, we paired the brush-legged spiders from one of the Mississippi physiographical regions (Yazoo-Mississippi Delta) with Schizocosa ocreata (Hentz) from Ohio. The results of that cross suggest that the Mississippi Delta population is more similar to the northern S. ocreata populations than to S. crassipes. We discuss the results of the crossing experiments in terms of what was revealed about geographical patterns in male courtship behaviour. Copyright 1998 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.
Unravelling the antimetastatic potential of pentoxifylline, a methylxanthine derivative in human MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells

Pentoxifylline (PTX), a methylxanthine derivative is a non-steroidal immunomodulating agent with unique hemorheologic properties. It is used in the treatment of intermittent claudication as it increases the amount of oxygen reaching tissues by increasing the flexibility of red blood cells. Recently, it has also shown to exhibit anti-metastatic and anti-angiogenic activities in B16F10 melanoma cells both in vitro as well as in vivo. As per the reports, the choice of drug in the treatment of breast cancer is paclitaxel, but the major limitation is its toxicity. However, the effects of PTX on metastatic processes in breast cancer are not currently known. Therefore, in this study, we have examined the effect of PTX in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. The MTT assay showed dose- and time-dependent decreases in cellular proliferation. The non-toxic concentration of PTX selected were 1, 2.5 and 5 mM for 24 h. PTX induced a G0-G1 cell-cycle arrest leading to apoptosis. Further, it affected adhesion to both the matrigel and collagen type-IV in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The PTX impeded the migration of MDA-MB-231 cells and also decreased the activities of both MMP-2 and MMP-9. Thus, PTX at non-toxic doses affected cellular proliferation, adhesion, migration and invasion. These results demonstrate its anti-metastatic effect on MDA-MB-231 cells, and further studies need to be carried out to understand the mechanism of action.
Variation in the Weight‐to‐Length Relationship among Florida and Northern Largemouth Bass and Their Intraspecific F1 Hybrid

Abstract Weight–length regression equations and relative weights (Wr , the ratio of measured weights to standard weights at length) were compared among 1,401 electrophoretically assayed Florida largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides floridanus, northern largemouth bass M. s. salmoides, and their first-generation (F1) intraspecific hybrid in Aquilla Lake, Texas. Small Florida largemouth bass (101–300 mm total length, TL) displayed lower Wr values than small northern largemouth bass. Differences in Wr were not apparent between 301 and 500 mm TL. Significant subspecific differences in the weight–length slope and intercept coefficients were consonant with observed variation in Wr values. Among four year classes, seasonal differences in subspecific Wr consistently varied five to nine units for fish of age 1 and younger. Relative weight values for small F1 hybrids (101–200 mm TL) were intermediate between those of the two subspecies; they were similar to those of northern largemouth bass but higher than values f...
OPTIMIZING NUTRIENT AVAILABILITY OF LEGUME FOOD PRODUCTS

SUMMARY Cooking acid-treated raw ground beans resulted in more digestible products compared to beans cooked whole and then ground. The digestibility was determined by in vitro digestion with α-amylase and with pepsin followed by pancreatin and by examining microscopically the intestinal contents of rats. Increased nutrient availability is suggested by some improvements in total digestibility but not by the protein efficiency ratio (PER), where the increase does not seem to be significant. Process conditions on a laboratory scale for preparation of acid-blended bean slurries and soybean milks with and without methionine supplementation were studied.
Intersubband electroluminescence from a ZnCdSe/ZnCdMgSe quantum cascade structure

We show electrically-pumped transverse magnetic polarized intersubband emission from a ZnCdSe/ZnCdMgSe quantum cascade structure grown lattice-matched on InP. Electroluminescence centered near 4.8 mum was observed, in good agreement with calculations.
Micromechanical model of a surrogate for collagenous soft tissues: development, validation and analysis of mesoscale size effects

Aligned, collagenous tissues such as tendons and ligaments are composed primarily of water and type I collagen, organized hierarchically into nanoscale fibrils, microscale fibers and mesoscale fascicles. Force transfer across scales is complex and poorly understood. Since innervation, the vasculature, damage mechanisms and mechanotransduction occur at the microscale and mesoscale, understanding multiscale interactions is of high importance. This study used a physical model in combination with a computational model to isolate and examine the mechanisms of force transfer between scales. A collagen-based surrogate served as the physical model. The surrogate consisted of extruded collagen fibers embedded within a collagen gel matrix. A micromechanical finite element model of the surrogate was validated using tensile test data that were recorded using a custom tensile testing device mounted on a confocal microscope. Results demonstrated that the experimentally measured macroscale strain was not representative of the microscale strain, which was highly inhomogeneous. The micromechanical model, in combination with a macroscopic continuum model, revealed that the microscale inhomogeneity resulted from size effects in the presence of a constrained boundary. A sensitivity study indicated that significant scale effects would be present over a range of physiologically relevant inter-fiber spacing values and matrix material properties. The results indicate that the traditional continuum assumption is not valid for describing the macroscale behavior of the surrogate and that boundary-induced size effects are present.