cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alternative pathways for phosphonate metabolism in thermophilic cyanobacteria from microbial mats

Synechococcus sp. represents an ecologically diverse group of cyanobacteria found in numerous environments, including hot-spring microbial mats, where they are spatially distributed along thermal, light and oxygen gradients. These thermophiles engage in photosynthesis and aerobic respiration during the day, but switch to fermentative metabolism and nitrogen fixation at night. The genome of Synechococcus OS-B', isolated from Octopus Spring (Yellowstone National Park) contains a phn gene cluster encoding a phosphonate (Phn) transporter and a C-P lyase. A closely related isolate, Synechococcus OS-A, lacks this cluster, but contains genes encoding putative phosphonatases (Phnases) that appear to be active only in the presence of the Phn substrate. Both isolates grow well on several different Phns as a sole phosphorus (P) source. Interestingly, Synechococcus OS-B' can use the organic carbon backbones of Phns for heterotrophic growth in the dark, whereas in the light this strain releases organic carbon from Phn as ethane or methane (depending on the specific Phn available); Synechococcus OS-A has neither of these capabilities. These differences in metabolic strategies for assimilating the P and C of Phn by two closely related Synechococcus spp. are suggestive of niche-specific constraints in the evolution of nutrient assimilation pathways and syntrophic relationships among the microbial populations of the hot-spring mats. Thus, it is critical to evaluate levels of various P sources, including Phn, in thermally active habitats and the potential importance of these compounds in the biogeochemical cycling of P and C (some Phn compounds also contain N) in diverse terrestrial environments.
Refolding of Sepharose-bound trypsinogen with disulfide 179 to 203 reduced and carboxymethylated.

Abstract Disulfide 179 to 203 of native bovine trypsin was reduced with sodium borohydride and converted to the S-carboxymethyl derivative. The modified zymogen was attached to CNBr-activated Sepharose, and the resulting immobilized protein was used in refolding studies. The fully reduced protein was kept at 35°, at pH 8.5, under aerobic conditions, in a mixture of reduced and oxidized glutathione, until the sulfhydryl groups were reoxidized. A maximum yield of 55% was found for the regeneration of S-(carboxymethyl)2-trypsinogen, and the activated product, S-(carboxymethyl)2-trypsin, reacted with an active site reagent and gave the expected specific activity toward a typical trypsin substrate. Apparently, the refolding of immobilized S-(carboxymethyl)2-trypsinogen regenerated the native structure of trypsinogen even though one of the six disulfides could no longer be formed.
Targeted Administration into the Suprachoroidal Space Using a Microneedle for Drug Delivery to the Posterior Segment of the Eye

Purpose. This study seeks to determine the intraocular pharmacokinetics of molecules and particles injected into the suprachoroidal space of the rabbit eye in vivo using a hollow microneedle.
Snoring management with nasal surgery and upper airway radiofrequency ablation.

Objective. To review techniques and outcomes of nasal surgery with upper airway radiofrequency ablation (RFA) when used for socially disruptive snoring, including the rate of infection with reused RFA applicator tips.Study Design. Case series with chart review.Setting. Community-based sleep-disordered breathing clinic.Methods. A prospectively acquired sleep quality assurance database was reviewed to determine demographics, complications, snoring outcomes, level of daytime sleepiness, and sleep-related quality of life in patients with socially disruptive snoring treated with nasal surgery and upper airway RFA.Results. One hundred thirty patients (48 women; 82 men) with a mean age of 50 years (range, 24-83 years) underwent nasal surgery and upper airway RFA for the treatment of chronic nasal blockage with socially disruptive snoring. All patients underwent septoplasty with or without inferior turbinate reduction and RFA to the soft palate and/or base of tongue. Patients received a mean of 2.2 (range, 1-4) a...
Sexual Revolution and Counter-Revolution

Adolescents of today inherit the conflicting legacies of the sexual reformation of the 1960s and the counter-reformation of the 1980s/1990s. Sexual mores are influenced by a younger age of puberty than in earlier generations and by the availability of effective contraception and antibiotics to combat sexually transmitted diseases. In the era of acquired immune deficiency syndrome, however, absolutely safe sex cannot be guaranteed, only relative degrees of safety and risk. Masturbation may be one way of achieving safe sex. Advancing technology also allows greater equality of opportunity and economic emancipation for women, enabling men and women to share equally in the care of older infants and children, also influencing sexual roles. Sex education for adolescents is provided sporadically and inconsistently, being seen by opposing factions as either encouragement to early pregnancy or a means of preventing it. In particular, the images delivered by the mass media are blatantly contradictory, ranging from endorsement of teenage sexual expression to condemnation of abortion and teenage pregnancy. Cultural traditions have strong influences on the acceptability of early pregnancy and on family structure. Black American culture is based on the three-generational family as opposed to the white tradition of the nuclear, two-generational family. It is important to realize a social policy that will respect not only the sexual rights of young people, but also the sexual health of the community.
Escape times for branching processes with random mutational fitness effects

Abstract We consider a large declining population of cells under an external selection pressure, modeled as a subcritical branching process. This population has genetic variation introduced at a low rate which leads to the production of exponentially expanding mutant populations, enabling population escape from extinction. Here we consider two possible settings for the effects of the mutation: Case (I) a deterministic mutational fitness advance and Case (II) a random mutational fitness advance. We first establish a functional central limit theorem for the renormalized and sped up version of the mutant cell process. We establish that in Case (I) the limiting process is a trivial constant stochastic process, while in Case (II) the limit process is a continuous Gaussian process for which we identify the covariance kernel. Lastly we apply the functional central limit theorem and some other auxiliary results to establish a central limit theorem (in the large initial population limit) of the first time at which the mutant cell population dominates the population. We find that the limiting distribution is Gaussian in both Cases (I) and (II), but a logarithmic correction is needed in the scaling for Case (II). This problem is motivated by the question of optimal timing for switching therapies to effectively control drug resistance in biomedical applications.
Effects of Pb2+ added in vitro on Ca2+ movements in isolated mitochondria and slices of rat kidney cortex.

Abstract We have studied the effects of Pb 2+ added in vitro on the movements of Ca 2+ in renal cortical mitochondria and tissue slices. The isolated mitochondria rapidly accumulated 45 Ca 2+ at 25° by a mechanism that was dependent on respiration and inhibited 96% by ruthenium red. A concentration of 10 μM Pb 2+ inhibited the Ca 2+ accumulation at least as effectively as did ruthenium red. About 20% of the Ca 2+ accumulation persisted at 1° with a similar sensitivity to inhibitors, including 60% inhibition by Pb 2+ . Similar results were obtained when the accumulation of Ca 2+ at 25° was measured by means of a calcium-sensitive electrode, Pb 2+ inhibiting by 80%. Calcium that had been accumulated by mitochondria at 25° was released completely by the ionophore A23187 or by 10 μM Pb 2+ . The release induced by Pb 2+ was greatly inhibited by ruthenium red. The Ca 2+ content of tissue slices of renal cortex increased 4-fold during incubation at 1° while the Ca 2+ content of mitochondria within the slices more than doubled, the latter being determined by isolation of mitochondria from the slices after incubation. The presence of Pb 2+ (200 μM) in the incubation medium of the slices substantially reduced the entry of Ca 2+ into the whole slices and into mitochondria within the slices. When the slices preincubated at 1° were warmed to 25° in oxygenated medium, they brought about a net extrusion of Ca 2+ , some of which was derived from the mitochondria; Pb 2+ did not alter the final level of Ca 2+ then attained in the slices, but it caused a significant decrease in the quantity retained in the mitochondria. We conclude that Pb 2+ both inhibits the uptake of Ca 2+ by renal cortical mitochondria and displaces Ca 2+ from them, these effects occurring whether the mitochondria are isolated or in situ .
Effect of castration and sex hormones on experimental autoimmune thyroiditis

Abstract To determine the effect of sex hormones on experimental autoimmune thyroiditis, male and female good responder and poor responder mice were castrated at 2 or 4 weeks of age. Following castration some groups of good responder mice were further treated with β-estradiol or 5-α-dihydrotestosterone implants. At 9 to 11 weeks of age, autoimmune thyroiditis was induced by injection of mouse thyroglobulin plus adjuvant. Castration significantly increased antibody levels only in good responder male mice, an effect that was reversed by continuous administration of testosterone. Raising estrogen levels did not affect either antibody levels or the extent of cellular infiltration of the thyroid in female mice but significantly increased antibody levels in good responder males.
Basal gonadotropin hormone release rates during the period of selective follicle-stimulating hormone release in the juvenile female rat

There are situations in which adult female rats release increased amounts of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) independent of increased luteinizing hormone (LH) release. This results from, at least in part, a selective increase in the basal FSH release rate. We investigated whether an increase in the basal FSH release rate is contributory to the rise in serum FSH levels which occurs independent of a rise in serum LH levels in the immature female rat. Rats had high serum FSH concentrations on days 7 and 15 after birth, low serum FSH levels on day 23, and low serum LH levels on all three days. In contrast, anterior pituitary gland (APG) FSH and LH concentrations and contents increased from day 7 to day 15 and the contents increased further from day 15 to day 23. Similarly, basal FSH and LH release rates per mg APG or per APG, as assessed by measurement of FSH and LH released into culture medium containing APG(s) from different aged rats, increased from day 7 to day 15 but did not increase further between days 15 and 23. The results indicate that unlike situations observed to date in adult female rats, a mechanism(s) other than an increase in the basal FSH release rate is involved in selective FSH release in the immature female rat.
FastPlace: an analytical placer for mixed-mode designs

Modern designs often contain a combination of a large number of standard cells and macro blocks. Traditionally large macro blocks are handled at the floorplanning level, after which their positions are fixed. The standard cells are then handled during the placement level. Current designs can have hundreds of large and medium sized macro blocks and a large number of standard cells. As a result, traditional floorplanning techniques cannot scale to this problem, both in terms of runtime and solution quality. Hence a technique is required to simultaneously handle this combination of placeable objects.In this paper, we present a combined placement and floorplanning approach for mixed-mode placement. We extend the efficient analytical placement algorithm FastPlace by integrating a simulated annealing based floorplanner to solve the global placement problem for mixed-mode designs. We also present an efficient and effective detailed placement algorithm to improve the wirelength of the global placement solution based on a greedy swapping heuristic.
Response of flying mole crickets to three parameters of synthetic songs broadcast outdoors

LARGE numbers of flying crickets can be attracted to outdoor loudspeakers broadcasting male calling songs1. Consequently we have been able to investigate the features of calling songs that are important for attraction. Previous investigators have used laboratory-maintained crickets in acoustical environments significantly different from outdoors2–7. Furthermore, they have studied thoroughly no more than one or two of the important signal parameters. We have studied outdoors the responses of free-flying mole crickets, Scapteriscus acletus, to synthetic calling songs systematically varied in these three parameters: carrier frequency, pulse rate and intensity., Mole crickets came in greatest numbers when we broadcast, at unnaturally high intensities, carrier frequencies and pulse rates like those of the natural song.
The role of life cycle and migration in selection for variance in offspring number.

For two genotypes that have the same mean number of offspring but differ in the variance in offspring number, naturalselection will favor the genotype with lower variance. In such cases, the average growth rate is not sufficient as a measure of fitness or as a predictor of fixation probability. However, the effect of variance in offspring number on the fixationprobability of mutant strategies has been calculated under several scenarios with the general conclusion that variance in offspring number reduces fitness in proportion to the inverse of the population size [Gillespie, J., Genetics 76:601–606, 1974; Proulx, S.R., Theor. Popul. Biol. 58:33–47, 2000]. This relationship becomes more complicated under a metapopulation scenario where the “effective” population size depends on migration rate, population structure, and lifecycle. It is shown that in a life cycle where reproduction and migration (the birth-migration-regulation life cycle, or BMR)occur prior to density regulation within every deme, the fitness of a strategy depends on migration rate. When migration rates are near zero, the fitness of the strategy is determined by the size of individual demes, so that the strategy favoredin small populations tends to be fixed. As migration rate increases and approaches panmixis between demes, the fitness ofa reproductive strategy approaches what its value would be in a single, panmictic deme with a population size correspondingtothe census size of the metapopulation. Interestingly, when the life cycle is characterized by having density regulation in each deme prior to migration (the BRM life cycle) the fixation probability of a strategy is independent of migration rate. These results are found to be qualitatively consistent with the individual-based simulation results in Shpak [Theor. Biosci.124:65–85, 2005].
Evidence of the formation of twins by deformation and “growth-accidents” in evaporated thin films of gold

Transmission electron microscope observations of twins in epitaxially grown gold single crystals are presented. It is demonstrated that most, though not all, of the twins found in such specimens arise from deformation of the material during handling. A mechanism for the formation of grown-in twins is proposed to explain some of the observed features. On presente des observations par microscopie electronique des macles dans les monocristaux d'or epitaxials. Il est demonstre que le plupart, mais pas toutes des macles trouvees dans ces specimens sont le result de deformation du material pendant le transportation. On propose une mechanisme pour la formation des macles de croissance pour expliquer quelques des caracteristiques observees.
Already aware of the glass ceiling: Race-related effects of perceived opportunity on the career choices of college athletes

Despite making strides with respect to sport participation, racial minorities continue to be under-represented in coaching and upper management positions within much of the sport world today. For example, African Americans constitute 78% of all National Basketball Association (NBA) players; however, only 34% of NBA teams are headed by an African American coach (Lapchick & Matthews, 2001). These inequities are also seen at the intercollegiate level. Although African American student-athletes represent 22.7% of all participants within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), African Americans represent 7.5% of the head coaches and 13.7% of the assistant coaches of men's teams (Earle, 2000). The proportions are even more dismal for coaches of women's teams, as African Americans constitute only 4.7% of the head coaches and 5.8% of the assistant coaches (Earle, 2000). These proportions are even lower when historically African American institutions are excluded. If we fol low Everhart and Chetladurai's (1998) argument that "the most likely population from which coaches of a particular sport are drawn is the players of that sport" (p. 190), then we are able to see that inequities exist within the coaching ranks. There are some measures currently being taken to try to mitigate the under-representation of racial minorities within the coaching ranks. For example, Bud Selig, commissioner of Major League Baseball, actively encourages teams to diversify
Magnetic field amplification and generation in hypervelocity meteoroid impacts with application to lunar paleomagnetism

A one-dimensional numerical model for the expansion of impact-produced vapor clouds is used to investigate magnetic field generation mechanisms in events such as meteor collisions with the moon. The resulting cloud properties, such as ionization fraction, electrical conductivity, radial expansion velocity, mass density, and energy density are estimated. The model is initiated with the peak shock states and pressure thresholds for incipient and complete vaporization of anorthosite lunar surface materials by iron and GA composition meteorites. The expansion of the spherical gas cloud into a vacuum was traced with a one-dimensional explicit lagrangian hydrodynamic code. The hypervelocity impact plasmas produced are found to be significant in the amplitudes and orientations of the magnetic fields generated. An ambient magnetic field could have been provided by the core dynamo, which would have interacted with the expanding plasmas and formed induced paleomagnetic fields. Several other field-contribution mechanisms are discussed and discarded as potential remanent magnetism contributors.
Discrete Models of Fluids: Spatial Averaging, Closure, and Model Reduction

We consider semidiscrete ODE models of single-phase fluids and two-fluid mixtures. In the presence of multiple fine-scale heterogeneities, the size of these ODE systems can be very large. Spatial averaging is then a useful tool for reducing computational complexity of the problem. The averages satisfy exact balance equations of mass, momentum, and energy. These equations do not form a satisfactory continuum model because evaluation of stress and heat flux requires solving the underlying ODEs. To produce continuum equations that can be simulated without resolving microscale dynamics, we recently proposed a closure method based on the use of regularized deconvolution. Here we continue the investigation of deconvolution closure with the long term objective of developing consistent computational upscaling for multiphase particle methods. The structure of the fine-scale particle solvers is reminiscent of molecular dynamics. For this reason we use nonlinear averaging introduced for atomistic systems by Noll, Ha...
Optimal pH for simple cold storage or machine perfusion of dog kidneys with UW solution

Metabolic suppression by temperature is a key to successful organ preservation. Additional methods for inducing metabolic suppression may further improve organ preservation. Extracellular acidosis has been shown to suppress warm anoxic injury to various isolated cells. Acidosis may suppress enzymes with a pH optimum at the pH of the cytosol (pH 7.3). In this study, the combination of hypothermia and acidosis was used to determine if it would improve renal preservation. Dog kidneys were cold-stored (CS) for 48 h in University of Wisconsin (UW) solution with the pH adjusted to 6.4, 6.8, 7.4, or 7.8. Kidneys were also machine-perfused (MP) for 3 days with the gluconate perfusion solution (Belzer's machine perfusion solution, MPS) at pHs similar to those tested for CS. Renal function (serum creatinine, SCr) and survival were recorded in immediate contralateral nephrectomized recipients. On the basis of maximum SCr values, kidneys preserved by CS or MP were best preserved at pHs of 7.4 or 7.8. At a pH of 6.8, SCr values were elevated and returned to normal at a slower rate than in those preserved at higher pHs. This study shows that acidosis is not cytoprotective to cold-stored dog kidneys and causes preservation/reperfusion injury.
Upper bound on C/a code spectral separation coefficient

It is well known that spectral lines of the Global Positioning System (GPS) coarse acquisition (C/A) codes increase the amount of code division multiple access (CDMA) noise generated, occasionally far exceeding what is typically expected, depending on the user-satellite geometry. 12This degrades the available effective carrier-to-noise density ratio (C/N0) effective to a GPS receiver to a greater degree than when spectral line effects are ignored. (C/N0) effective is a key metric widely used to characterize the performance of the GPS receivers in terms of code acquisition, carrier loss of lock, and data bit error rates. Because of the short duration, limited geographical extent and a limited number of signals in the GPS frequency band that existed most analysis performed several years ago ignored the spectral line effects altogether. But in the changed signal environment with the growing number of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSSs) in the Radio Navigation Satellite System (RNSS) band, there is a need to account for all the interference sources accurately to make sure that the intersystem and intrasystem Radio Frequency Compatibility (RFC) is achieved. Since C/A code is very widely used currently and will be used possibly in the foreseeable future in a number of applications, some of them of a critical nature, interference into C/A code receivers must be carefully considered. Since C/A code intrasystem interference is a significant contributor to (C/N0) effective , the focus of many studies done in the past couple of years have been on C/A code spectral line issues. A number of methods based on quasi-analytical models of the correlator output, simulation models of GPS satellite constellation and the receivers, and limited laboratory measurements were employed in earlier studies. In this paper we take a different approach to provide an upper bound on the C/A code spectral separation coefficient (CASSC) based on the code spectral line properties. This upper bound is computationally much simpler to obtain. This bound is also applicable to other spreading codes, resulting in spread-spectrum signals with spectral line effects.
Studies on the low molecular weight proteins of human lens

The final peak from the gel filtration fractionation of human lens proteins has been called either low-molecular-weight protein or ψ-crystallin. Since this fraction has been shown to be heterogeneous we have attempted to determine which of its components are really γ-crystallin. At least four distinct components have been found with molecular weights determined as 24000, 21000, 19000 and 10000. The 19000 dalton species was isolated and shown to be ψ-crystallin on the basis of immunochemical reactivity, conformational analysis by ultraviolet circular dichroism and molecular size and charge. The 10000 dalton species increases with age in the human lens and probably is the product of degradation of lens cyrstallins. It does not show cross-reactivity with antiserum specific for γ-crystallin. The 24000 and 21000 dalton components have not been separated from each other. The mixture of these two components clearly contains material related to β-crystallin immunochemically, but reacts only very weakly, if at all, with anti α-crystallin serum.
Transient and steady-state performance modeling of parallel processors

Abstract A mathematical procedure is presented as a design/analysis methodology to model computer performance including; (1) Instruction Set Architecture (ISA), (2) specific hardware implementations of the ISAs, and (3) any benchmark program in one closed form solution. Examples are given employing three classical 8 bit processors, and a classical benchmark program, for both CISC and RISC type implementations. The formulation provides a complete solution giving both steady-state and transient results.
Peierls instability in the two-dimensional half-filled Hubbard model

We have studied the tendency of the two-dimensional half-filled Hubbard model towards dimerization as a function of the on-site repulsion U. We have found that the phonon with (\ensuremath{\pi},\ensuremath{\pi}) wave vector is the most favorable vibration mode when U is less than a critical value ${U}_{c}$, where ${U}_{c}$ is a function of the dimerization. When U is greater than ${U}_{c}$, the (\ensuremath{\pi},0) phonon becomes preferred. In leading order, the energy gain under dimerization appears to be proportional to ${\ensuremath{\delta}}^{2}$ln\ensuremath{\delta} if the (\ensuremath{\pi},\ensuremath{\pi}) phonon is favorable, so that the system displays a Peierls instability in this case. For large U the energy gain to leading order appears to be proportional to ${\ensuremath{\delta}}^{2}$ for both the (\ensuremath{\pi},\ensuremath{\pi}) and (\ensuremath{\pi},0) phonons, and the latter one is preferred; in that case the system is stable unless the electron-phonon coupling exceeds a critical value. Unlike the effect in the one-dimensional case, the on-site repulsion U seems to have essentially no effect on the tendency towards dimerization for small U, and suppresses it for large U. This difference may be related to the fact that there exists long-range antiferromagnetic order in the two-dimensional half-filled Hubbard model when U is present.
Exploring perceptions of genetic testing: an examination of perceived accuracy over time.

Abstract Objective Despite the potential impact of perceptions of genetic testing, little research has examined these perceptions. The current study examined factors associated with perceived accuracy of genetic testing to detect BRCA1/2 mutations and change in perceived accuracy. Methods Participants were recruited through advertisements, community groups, and local oncologists and gynecologists. Ashkenazi Jewish patients ( N = 120) at increased risk for BRCA1/2 genetic mutations were surveyed in a repeated-measures design with assessments at three time points: pre-counseling, post-counseling, and post-testing. Results Better knowledge of cancer genetics related to higher perceived accuracy before counseling. Lower perceived risk of developing ovarian cancer was associated with increased perceived accuracy, while greater distress regarding gene status was associated with decreased perceived accuracy. Genetic test results were unrelated to change in perceived accuracy. Conclusion The results offer an initial look at how patients form perceptions of genetic testing. Both cognitive factors and affective factors relate to how patients perceived the accuracy of testing and how their perception changes over time. Practice implications Understanding cognitive and affective factors which may impact patients’ perceptions of genetic testing is important. Specifically, attention should be paid to educating patients regarding cancer genetics and encouraging adaptive coping strategies to deal with distress.
Optimization of a supercritical fluid chromatograph–atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometer interface using an ion trap and two quadrupole mass spectrometers

Abstract The optimization of an interface for coupling supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (APCI-MS) is described. Data presented demonstrate that the internal diameter and length of the transfer line between the SFC unit and the APCI source are not critical in maintaining peak shape or retention time under the set of conditions tested. The inlet capillary of the APCI source optimizes at 75 μm I.D., thus maintaining peak shape while enabling the use of a full range of pressure gradients (8–37 MPa). A comparison of responses from an in-line UV detector, two quadrupole mass spectrometers and an ion trap is presented to demonstrate limits of detection and linear ranges for the SFC separation of a six-compound test mix.
Effects of 2-Hz and 60-Hz electrical stimulation on the microstructure of beef

A comparative electron-microscope study was made of the structural changes brought about in bovine longissimus dorsi muscle by 2-Hz and 60-Hz electrical stimulation. Apart from the frequency difference, the two treatments were identical: 500V AC, 600 pulses (2Hz × 300s and 60 Hz × 10 s), and a time of application of about 40 min post mortem. The low-frequency current produced no detectable tissue disruption or irregularity in sarcomere length, whereas the 60-Hz treatment caused widespread supercontraction and the formation of contraction nodes; many sarcomeres in the internodal zones were stretched or fractured. The observations confirm and extend those of our earlier light-microscope study, and support the view that fiber disruption contributes significantly to the tenderizing effect of high-voltage electrical stimulation.
Calcitonin gene-related peptide acts within the central nervous system to inhibit gastric acid secretion

The central nervous system effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on gastric acid secretion was studied in conscious freely moving rats. CGRP (220 fmol to 2.2 nmol) injected into the lateral cerebral ventricle or intravenously inhibited gastric acid secretion. Intravenous passive immunization with CGRP antiserum prevented the inhibitory effect of CGRP following intravenous but not intracerebroventricular administration. Adrenalectomy and noradrenergic blockade with bretylium tosylate did not significantly alter the inhibitory action of CGRP given intracerebroventricularly on gastric secretion. These studies indicate that CGRP acts within the central nervous system to potently decrease gastric acid secretion by mechanism(s) not dependent on intact sympathetic nervous function.
Aging Results in Downregulation of Putative Components of mPTP in Human Atria

Cardiac vulnerability to injury is increased with aging and is associated with enhanced susceptibility to opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP), a nonspecific high conductance channel in the inner mitochondrial membrane, however the basis for this is not fully understood. The effect of aging on the expression of putative components of mPTP in human myocardium was determined in atrial tissue obtained from elderly (76±6 yrs) and adult (49±5 yrs) patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery using microarray, Quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot. Aging was associated with a significant reduction in the expression of genes coding for the voltage-dependent anion channel isoforms, VDAC1, VDAC2 and VDAC3, adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT) and Cyclophilin-D (PPID) in atria from the elderly patients (Fig A, p<0.01). The expression of VDAC1 and ANT proteins was significantly reduced (p<0.05), while VDAC2, VDAC3 and cyclophillin D were not significantly altered at protein level (Fig B). Downregulation of VDAC1 and ANT expression in the aging human heart may underlie the increased predisposition of the atria to injury during stress.View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide
'Significant' and 'highly significant'.

FREQUENTLY in scientific papers one finds the terms ‘insignificant’, ‘significant’ and ‘highly significant’ used in discussing the difference between control and experimental, with their ranges usually established by P = 0.05 and P = 0.01. Statistics text-books provide little or no guidance as to their proper usage because statisticians apparently disapprove of the convention. Yet the universality of the convention attests to the need for clearly defined, commonly accepted terms which properly weight the results of the experiment. The present convention is commonly accepted among non-statisticians, but, as will be shown here, is not clearly defined. Therefore an improved convention is proposed for the consideration of those who would benefit from it—the non-statisticians in research. Perhaps by improving the convention, it can be made more palatable to statisticians, as well as more useful to non-statisticians.
A New Theory of Elementary Matter Part III: A Self-Consistent Field Theory of Electrodynamics and Correspondence with Quantum Mechanics

This paper exploits the axioms and general mathematical structure of a new theory of elementary matter, thus far developed in two earlier papers (Sachs, 1971b, c). It is shown here, in an explicit fashion, how the exact form of this theory approaches that of quantum mechanics of a ‘many-particle’ system that interacts electromagnetically. The form of the mathematical expression of quantum mechanics of a many-particle system is found to be a linear approximation for the nonlinear (deterministic) field theory of this author's approach. The latter approximation is valid only when the components of the (asserted) closed system are sufficiently weakly coupled so that it appears as a many-particle system. The physical equivalent of the Pauli exclusion principle is derived in this paper as anexact feature of the theory, which is, in fact, sensitive to its closed and nonlinear features. It is then shown how the Fermi-Dirac statistics in particle physics follows from the present nonlinear theory only in a linear approximation.
Theory of a Two-Dimensional Ising Model with Random Impurities. I. Thermodynamics

Recent experiments demonstrate that at the Curie temperature the specific heat may be a smooth function of the temperature. We propose that this effect can be due to random impurities and substantiate our proposal by a study of an Ising model containing such impurities. We modify the usual rectangular lattice by allowing each row of vertical bonds to vary randomly from row to row with a prescribed probability function. In the case that this probability is a particular distribution with a narrow width, we find that the logarithmic singularity of Onsager's lattice is smoothed out into a function which at ${T}_{c}$ is infinitely differentiable but not analytic. This function is expressible in terms of an integral involving Bessel functions and is computed numerically.
Isolated extramedullary relapse in acute myeloid leukemia: A retrospective analysis

Background Little is known about the characteristics and outcome of children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) experiencing an isolated extramedullary relapse (IEMR). Procedure The tumor registry of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia identified 215 patients with AML diagnosed between 1970 and 2000, of which 16 (7.4%) experienced IEMR. Patient- and disease-related features and outcome of patients with IEMR and other patients with AML were compared. Results IEMR occurred a median of 4.5 months (1.5–74 months) from diagnosis. Male to female ratio was 4.3:1 in patients with IEMR and 1.1:1 in the other patients with AML (P = 0.048). Median age at diagnosis and median presenting WBC were not significantly different in patients with and without IEMR. Patients with IEMR were more likely to have extramedullary disease (EMD) at diagnosis (31 vs. 4.5%) (P = .002) and FAB M4 or M5 morphology (P = .0001). Leukemic cells in 7 of 13 patients (54%) had t(11q23), inversion 16 or t(8;21) with IEMR compared to 21 of 93 other patients (23%) (P = 0.166). Six of 16 (37.5%) patients survive a median of 4.5 years (range 1.5–15 years) after IEMR and there are 13 survivors (23%) of 57 patients after marrow or combined relapse (P = 0.56). One survivor of IEMR received local irradiation and continued on maintenance therapy while the other five received chemotherapy, irradiation, and allogeneic marrow transplant in second or third remission. Conclusions Patients with isolated EMR are typically young males with monoblastic or myeloblastic leukemia who present with EMD at diagnosis. Marrow transplant following chemotherapy and local radiotherapy offer the potential for long-term survival. Med Pediatr Oncol 2002;38:387–390. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Lost along the way: the significance of evolution in reverse

Recently, researchers have begun to identify the prevalence of trait simplification, loss and reversal across all levels of biological organization. These studies have taken increasingly integrated approaches, incorporating phylogenetic, developmental and molecular methods, in the quest towards understanding the patterns and processes behind evolution in reverse. Here, we highlight the emerging interest in the reversibility of evolution by discussing a spectrum of studies examining both the genotypes and phenotypes of evolution in reverse. These integrative approaches have greatly increased our knowledge of the biological interactions that produce patterns of evolution in reverse and have led to promising new areas of research.
Relationship of Baseline Glucose Homeostasis to Hyperglycemia During Medical Critical Illness

Study objective: To elucidate the relationship of baseline glucose control and acute stimuli with hyperglycemia during medical critical illness. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Medical ICU (MICU) of a university affiliated hospital. Patients: Convenience sample of 100 medical patients meeting criteria for severity of illness and anticipated length of stay and not admitted to the hospital for diabetic ketoacidosis or a hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state. Interventions: None. Measurements and main results: Patients were categorized as having normal, abnormal, or unevaluable baseline glucose control based on history and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Data collection included blood glucose measurements within 120 h of MICU admission, and dosing of norepinephrine, corticosteroids, propofol, and carbohydrates. Average blood glucose and times over glycemic thresholds were calculated using linear interpolation. Hyperglycemia (glucose > 110 mg/dL) was pervasive in all groups. Among the 51 patients with normal baseline glucose control, HbA1c was correlated with hyperglycemic time (p R 2 = 0.15). Multiple regression found HbA1c, age, corticosteroid dose, and carbohydrate administration independently associated with hyperglycemic time (p R 2 = 0.49) in these patients, while body mass index, APACHE (acute physiology and chronic health evaluation) II, norepinephrine dose, propofol dose, gender, and sepsis were not associated with time > 110 mg/dL. Among normal subjects, HbA1c was independently predictive of peak and average glucose, and the fraction of time glucose was > 150 mg/dL and > 200 mg/dL (p Conclusions: Even in patients without evidence of abnormal glucose homeostasis at baseline, hyperglycemia is common during critical illness. Time exposure to hyperglycemia is correlated with acute stressors and baseline glucose regulation, as characterized by HbA1c. Patients with low HbA1c levels are less disposed to hyperglycemia during severe illness than patients with higher, but still normal, HbA1c.
Interactive poster - SocialRank: An ego- and time-centric workflow for relationship identification

From instant messaging and email to wikis and blogs, millions of individuals are generating content that reflects their relationships with others in the world, both online and offline. Since communication artifacts are recordings of life events, we can gain insights into the social attributes and structures of the people within this communication history. In this paper, we describe SocialRank, an ego- and time-centric workflow for identifying social relationships in an email corpus. This workflow includes four high-level tasks: discovery, validation, annotation and dissemination. SocialRank combines relationship ranking algorithms with timeline, social network diagram, and multidimensional scaling visualization techniques to support these tasks.
High-temperature (>500°C) reconfigurable computing using silicon carbide NEMS switches

Many industrial systems, sensors and advanced propulsion systems demand electronics capable of functioning at high ambient temperature in the range of 500–600°C. Conventional Si-based electronics fail to work reliably at such high temperature ranges. In this paper we propose, for the first time, a high-temperature reconfigurable computing platform capable of operating at temperature of 500°C or higher. Such a platform is also amenable for reliable operation in high-radiation environment. The hardware reconfigurable platform follows the interleaved architecture of conventional Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and provides the usual benefits of lower design cost and time. However, high-temperature operation is enabled by choice of a special device material, namely silicon carbide (SiC), and a special switch structure, namely Nano-Electro-Mechanical-System (NEMS) switch. While SiC provides excellent mechanical and chemical properties suitable for operation at extreme harsh environment, NEMS switch provides low-voltage operation, ultra-low leakage and radiation hardness. We propose a novel multi-layer NEMS switch structure and efficient design of each building block of FPGA using nanoscale SiC NEMS switches. Using measured switch parameters from a number of SiC NEMS switches we fabricated, we compare the power, performance and area of an all-mechanical FPGA with alternative implementations for several benchmark circuits.
Computerized Estimates of Potential Occupational Health Risk Due to Chemical Exposure

Estimating the potential health risk encountered by workers due to their exposure to various chemicals is enormously complex, since many chemicals be involved and each may have multiple toxic effects. As an aid to this estimation process, a computer program, or model, which computes index numbers expressing the relative health risk of occupational groups due to their potential chemical exposures was developed at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). This model considers an inventory of the chemicals to which specific occupational groups are potentially exposed, the published information regarding the toxic effects of each chemical, and the conditions of occupational exposure. The system then develops indices of potential occupational group health risk by considering weighted combinations of eight distinct health effects. No direct comparison with external occupational risk indices is currently possible, but internal testing of the model reveals no obvious inconsistencies.
Haemoglobinopathies: genetic and clinical aspects with an impact on blood transfusion

The haemoglobinopathies are autosomal recessive genetic disorders resulting in qualitative or quantitative change in the haemoglobin (Hb) molecule. HbS, the most widespread structural haemoglobin variant, hinders microcirculation by causing a sickle shape of red cells. In sickle cell disease, blood transfusion should be done only for strict indications. In thalassaemias, Hb synthesis is impeded by defective production of globin chains. The commonest types of clinical importance are α-, βδ- and β-thalassaemia. Compound heterozygotes for thalassaemia and Hb variants may have varying clinical impact. Morbidity is related to the anaemia, complications of blood transfusions including iron overload and transfusion transmissible infections, and splenectomy. Treatment of homozygous β-thalassaemia is based on regular blood transfusion from early childhood, placing a major workload for blood transfusion services. Stringent quality measures are necessary to ensure that the transfused product meets requirements. Greece's national registry records 4,506 thalassaemia major and intermedia, “Η” haemoglobinopathy and sickle cell disease patients. Thalassaemia patients consume 18% of total RBC supply. Incidence of transfusion associated adverse reactions is 250:100 000 units of RBCs. Allergic (87.6:100 000) and NHFTR (89.9:100 000) are most common. One sickle thalassaemia patient died of hyperhaemolysis syndrome. Eight patients died of HCV hepatocellular carcinoma. HIV was transmitted to one patient during the window period.
An evaluation framework for power electronic device models using decision making under uncertainties

The uncertainty in modeling and simulation in power device comes from many different sources. This uncertainty brings a question of how to choose the best-fit model for a specific purpose and environment of a circuit designer. This paper proposes a numerical framework of decision making under incomplete knowledge, which quantifies the uncertainty of models and allows circuit designers to know the realistic expectations of the performance and, thus provides the level of appropriateness of the models. Case studies are performed for practical applications of the framework.
Predictors of Police Reporting Among Hispanic Immigrant Victims of Violence.

The purpose of this study was to examine predictors of police reporting among Hispanic immigrant victims of violence. A sample of 127 Hispanic immigrants was generated through a chain-referral proc...
RIM-pultrusion of nylon-6 and rubber-toughened nylon-6 composites†

Unidirectionally reinforced thermoplastic composites of Nylon-6 and polypropylene oxide-Nylon-6 block copolymers have been prepared by the reaction injection molding (RIM)-pultrusion process. This process takes advantage of both the RIM and the pultrusion techniques, while avoiding their inherent shortcomings. It also represents a novel way of incorporating toughening rubber domains into a thermoplastic composite. The composites produced exhibit excellent mechanical integrity with essentially zero void content. The chemical and physical states of the composites produced by the process were probed in terms of mechanical relaxation behavior using a dynamic mechanical spectrometer. Due to the simultaneous occurrence of both polymerization and crystallization processes in the reacting system, the resulting material is in a thermodynamically nonequilibrium state. An annealing effect is shown to correspond structurally to an increase in matrix crystallinity and the degree of phase separation, Izod impact tests were used to compare Nylon-6 and rubber-toughened Nylon-6 RIM-pultruded composites. The potential of secondary processing was, demonstrated by compression molding of the RIM-pultruded composite rods.
Separation Control on a Low-Pressure Turbine Blade using Microjets

Flow separation that occurs over low-pressure turbine blades at low Reynolds numbers has been a cause of concern due to its detrimental effect on engine performance. In the present study, the effect of microjet actuation, a low-mass, high-momentum device, is demonstrated for the elimination of separation on a low-pressure turbine blade over a wide range of Reynolds numbers using a range of complementary diagnostics, which include the surface pressure, velocity field, and wake-loss measurements. The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory L1A low-pressure turbine blade used in this study is a highly aftloaded profile that experiences a nonreattaching separation at approximately 60% axial chord at low Reynolds numbers. Baseline blade pressure distributions as well as wake-loss coefficient measurements show that the blade experiences nonreattaching separation for Reynolds numbers based on axial chord less than 50,000 for a freestream turbulence intensity of 1% with steady inlet conditions. Microjet-based control ...