cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Renal hemodynamic response to intrarenal infusion of calcitonin gene-related peptide in dogs.

Abstract The renal hemodynamic and excretory effects of intrarenal infusions of synthetic β-human calcitonin gene-related peptide (β-hCGRP) were examined in normal sodium replete dogs (Group 1, n=6), in sodium replete dogs pretreated with indomethacin (Group 2, n=6), and in sodium deplete dogs (Group 3, n=5). In all groups of anesthetized dogs β-hCGRP was infused at 5 and 10 ng·kg−1·min−1 for 50 min periods each. In the sodium replete group, β-hCGRP infusions strikingly increased renal blood flow, but this response was markedly attenuated in the other 2 groups. During β-hCGRP infusions, the clearance of creatinine also increased significantly in the sodium replete and deplete groups, but not in the indomethacin pretreated animals. No consistent changes in urinary sodium excretion or plasma renin activity were observed with β-hCGRP infusions in any of the 3 groups of dogs. These results indicate that β-hCGRP is a potent renal vasodilator and can increase renal blood flow and glomerular filtration. The data also suggest that the renal hemodynamic actions of β-hCGRP are partially mediated by renal prostaglandins, and that the vasodilatory effects of β-hCGRP may be antagonized by high circulating levels of endogenous angiotensin II in sodium-volume depletion. Finally, β-hCGRP does not appear to have significant actions on urinary sodium excretion or plasma renin activity under the experimental conditions of the present study.
Associative reaction time, meaningfulness, and pronunciability ratings of 382 words and paralogs

A list of 75 CVCVC words and paralogs were assessed for associative reaction time, meaningfulness (a’, rated association frequency), and pronunciability. Uncorrected split-half reliability coefficients of correlation were, respectively,.97,.89, and.90. Intercorrelations were consistent with those of a list of 319 CVCVCs previously assessed for associative reaction time, meaningfulness (a’), and pronunciability. Sixty-three of the 75 CVCVCs were added to the list of 319. Intercorrelations among the assessment variables for the combined list of 382 CVCVCs were highly consistent with the intercorrelations based on the list of 319. This larger alphabetically ordered single list of 382 CVCVC words and paralogs containing all three assessment values will facilitate selection of units for the purposes of research.
Roughness measurements of Si and Al by variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry

Rough surfaces of silicon and aluminum have been studied by rotating analyzer spectroscopic ellipsometry (RASE). The roughness of a silicon sample similar to that used for the RASE measurements was also studied by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy. Total integrated scattering was measured on the aluminum specimens to obtain numerical estimates of the rms roughness. The ellipsometry measurements on these specimens were carried out at a number of angles of incidence in the 30–80° range and at a number of discrete wavelengths in the 300–650-nm spectral range. The RASE results were then analyzed using the Bruggeman effective-medium theory for the Si sample and scalar diffraction theory for the Al samples. This study shows that 70° is the optimum angle of incidence for characterizing the roughness of these Al surfaces using RASE. It also demonstrates the self-consistency of the Bruggeman theory with angular variation for the Si sample. The need for a vector diffraction theory for the interpretation of the rms roughness using ellipsometric angles Δ and Ψ is discussed.
Evaluation of distributed building thermal energy storage in conjunction with wind and solar electric power generation

Energy storage is often seen as necessary for the electric utility systems with large amounts of solar or wind power generation to compensate for the inability to schedule these facilities to match power demand. This study looks at the potential to use building thermal energy storage as a load shifting technology rather than traditional electric energy storage. Analyses are conducted using hourly electric load, temperature, wind speed, and solar radiation data for a 5-state central U.S. region in conjunction with simple computer simulations and economic models to evaluate the economic benefit of distributed building thermal energy storage (TES). The value of the TES is investigated as wind and solar power generation penetration increases. In addition, building side and smart grid enabled utility side storage management strategies are explored and compared. For a relative point of comparison, batteries are simulated and compared to TES. It is found that cooling TES value remains approximately constant as wind penetration increases, but generally decreases with increasing solar penetration. It is also clearly shown that the storage management strategy is vitally important to the economic value of TES; utility side operating methods perform with at least 75% greater value as compared to building side management strategies. In addition, TES compares fairly well against batteries, obtaining nearly 90% of the battery value in the base case; this result is significant considering TES can only impact building thermal loads, whereas batteries can impact any electrical load. Surprisingly, the value of energy storage does not increase substantially with increased wind and solar penetration and in some cases it decreases. This result is true for both TES and batteries and suggests that the tie between load shifting energy storage and renewable electric power generation may not be nearly as strong as typically thought.
Optimal multi‐drug PK sampling strategies (OSS) for efavirenz (EFV) & indinavir (IDV)

Aims Intensive sampling strategies (ISS) are not feasible in many patient populations. Methods to design sparse OSS have not been adequately described for multi-drug regimens. The objective of the present study was to develop a sparse efficient multi-drug OSS for evaluation of PK in patients receiving antiretroviral (ARV) regimens. Methods Two OSS with 4 or 6 sampling times (OSS4, OSS6) constrained to 8h post-dose at steady state were computed using D-optimality (ADAPT II). These OSS were developed based on 'intensive' steady state PK data modeled using ADAPT II from 14 healthy volunteers in ACTG A5043 given EFV, IDV and amprenavir. Bias and precision of OSS estimates of clearance (CL), compared to estimates based on the ISS, were determined. Results OSS4 had samples at pre, 2, 5 and 8h post-dose; OSS6 added 1 and 4h samples. For both of the OSS, CL estimates were unbiased. Mean absolute errors for EFV were 5.6 and 3.9% and for IDV were 15.8 and 4.1%, for OSS4 and OSS6, respectively. Conclusion This approach to designing sparse OSS will facilitate PK/PD studies in patient populations receiving multi-drug ARV regimens. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2005) 77, P42–P42; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2004.12.052
Ultrastructure and radioautography of rosette-forming cells of normal and immunized mice.

Abstract The ultrastructure and 3 H-thymidine uptake of rosette-forming cells (RFC) for chicken erythrocytes have been studied in normal mice, in mice immunized (primed) 110–180 days previously, and in mice undergoing primary or secondary immunization. Ultrastructurally most RFC were lymphocytes, though plasma cells, macrophages, and polymorphonuclear (neutrophilic) leukocytes also formed rosettes, especially in recently immunized mice. No consistent qualitative morphological differences among the lymphocyte rosette-formers of the different groups were found. Quantitative differences with respect to the percentages of inactive, intermediate, and activated lymphocyte rosette-formers were found, however, between the cells of recently immunized mice and those of mice not recently immunized. A similar difference was found in the percentage of RFC incorporating 3 H-thymidine in the two groups. Neither the ultrastructural nor the radioautographic studies revealed significant differences between RFC of normal mice and those of primed mice, nor between RFC of mice undergoing a primary response and those of mice undergoing a secondary response.
The association between erectile dysfunction and peripheral arterial disease as determined by screening ankle-brachial index testing.

Abstract Background Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a potent marker of adverse cardiovascular prognosis, yet PAD frequently remains asymptomatic or undiagnosed. Erectile dysfunction (ED) has been associated with atherosclerosis, but whether ED is an independent predictor of PAD is unknown. We hypothesized that ED is a marker for previously undiagnosed PAD, and thus ED may identify men who would benefit from screening ankle-brachial index (ABI). Methods 690 male patients (pts) who had been referred for stress testing, and were without known PAD were prospectively screened for ED and PAD, using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire, and ABI, respectively. ED was defined by a score of ≤25 on the ED domain of the IIEF, PAD was defined as an ABI≤0.9. Results ED was present in 45% of pts and PAD was present in 23%. Of pts found to have PAD, 66% reported no lower extremity symptoms. Men with ED were found to have significantly more PAD than men without ED (32% vs. 16%, p p p =0.002), was an independent predictor of PAD. Conclusions In men referred for stress testing, erectile dysfunction is an independent predictor of PAD as determined by screening ABI examination, and increasing severity of ED is associated with increasing prevalence of PAD. These results suggest that men with ED might be targeted for screening ABI evaluation.
Improvements in Six Minute Walk Distance After Continuous Flow Ventricular Assist Device Placement: Comparison of Pre-Implant Ambulatory and Non-Ambulatory Patients

s S333 also seen due to unloading from mechanical circulatory support. However, the response to therapy is heterogeneous. Cardiac complications can persist after LVAD implant, adversely affecting quality of life. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between unloading and quality of life after LVAD implant. Methods: Data was collected as part of “Profiling Biobehavioral Responses to Mechanical Support in Advanced Heart Failure (PREMISE)”, a prospective cohort study designed, in part, to quantify associations between symptoms and biomarkers of pathogenesis in adults undergoing VAD implant. Measures of myocardial wall stress (NT-proBNP) and quality of life (Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire, KCCQ) were collected, prior to implant and 6 months after implant. Linear regression was used to explore the relationship between NT-proBNP levels/changes and KCCQ scores. The cohort was also divided into two groups based on BNP response (≥ 30% change vs. < 30% change). T-test was used to examine changes in KCCQ scores in these groups. Results: A total of 23 subjects had complete paired baseline and 6-month data for analysis. There was no relationship between 6-month NT-proBNP levels and KCCQ scores. However, the percent change in NT-proBNP correlated with KCCQ functional status score (r2 = 0.45, p < 0.001) and clinical summary score (r2 = 0.31, p = 0.006). Subjects with decrease in NT-proBNP of ≥ 30% had a mean reduction of 3945 pg/dL (58% of baseline), while subjects with < 30% decrease in NT-proBNP had a mean reduction of 445 pg/dL (3% of baseline). The group with ≥ 30% decrease in NT-proBNP had a significantly greater improvements in KCCQ clinical summary score after LVAD implant (37.2 vs. 11.5, p = 0.02) (Figure 1). Conclusion: Greater decreases in NT-proBNP are associated with better quality of life following LVAD implant.
Simulation of system backend dielectric reliability

Abstract Backend dielectric breakdown degrades the reliability of circuits. A methodology to estimate chip lifetime due to backend dielectric breakdown is presented. It incorporates failures due to parallel tracks, the width effect, field enhancement due to line ends, and variation in activity and temperature. Different workloads are considered as well, in order to evaluate aging effects in microprocessors running real-world applications with realistic use conditions.
Clonal propagation of hybrid sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua × L. formosana) by somatic embryogenesis

Cultures were initiated from immature seeds derived from controlled pollinations between two sweetgum species (Liquidambar styraciflua and L. formosana) cultured on two induction media supplemented with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Repetitive embryogenic cultures capable of producing somatic seedlings were obtained from 2% of the 1,020 seeds cultured, representing nine crosses between L. styraciflua and L. formosana. Hybrid genotypes of somatic seedlings were confirmed by random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis and leaf morphology observations. Stomatal analysis performed on leaves from hybrid somatic seedlings and parental species revealed differences in stomata size and number per unit leaf area. Nearly 100% of the hybrid cultures re-grew and were capable of somatic embryo and seedling production following cryopreservation. Cryopreservation will allow the long-term storage of viable embryogenic cultures while hybrid trees are field-tested for identification of superior genotypes. Somatic embryogenesis appears to be a feasible approach for mass clonal propagation of hybrid sweetgum.
Corporate Externalities: A Challenge to the Further Success of Prevention Science

The full benefit of prevention science will not be realized until we learn how to influence organizational practices. The marketing of tobacco, alcohol, and food and corporate advocacy for economic policies that maintain family poverty are examples of practices we must influence. This paper analyzes the evolution of such practices in terms of their selection by economic consequences. A strategy for addressing these critical risk factors should include: (a) systematic research on the impact of corporate practices on each of the most common and costly psychological and behavior problems; (b) empirical analyses of the consequences that select harmful corporate practices; (c) assessment of the impact of policies that could affect problematic corporate practices; and (d) research on advocacy organizations to understand the factors that influence their growth and to help them develop effective strategies for influencing corporate externalities.
Modeling and experimental study of LC alignment induced by nanopatterned structures

The nature of the liquid crystal (LC) alignment in devices is a crucial parameter in the operating efficiency of these devices and there are numerous methods to induce LC alignment. Nanopatterned substrates of polymers including PMMA and PTFE are known to influence the LC alignment due to the confinement. Nanopatterned polymer substrates created using the NanoIndenter have dimensions 500nm x 500nm x 100nm. Following this procedure, the LC alignment is studied after its deposition these nanopatterned surfaces. The LC alignment variation is observed using a Polarizing Optical Microscope (POM). The POM images will be analyzed to map the pixel values to LC alignment in different patterns like grid structures and grooves. Also, finite difference modeling is used to study the theoretical nature of the LC alignment. The Simulated Annealing algorithm is used to minimize the energy of the LC on the patterned surface. Various boundary conditions like anchoring on the side and top walls and surface anchoring strengths will be applied to observe the nature of the resulting alignment. Modeling results of the LC alignment, when performed on different patterns like square grids, triangular and sawtooth shaped substrates shall be compared with the experimental results.
Application of Spatially Fractionated Radiation (GRID) to Helical Tomotherapy using a Novel TOMOGRID Template

Spatially fractionated radiation therapy (GRID) with megavoltage x-ray beam is typically used to treat large and bulky malignant tumors. Currently most of the GRID treatment is performed by using the linear accelerator with either the multileaf collimator or with the commercially available block. A novel method to perform GRID treatments using Helical Tomotherapy (HT) was developed at the Radiation Oncology Department, College of Medicine, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. In this study, we performed a dosimetric comparison of two techniques of GRID therapy: one on linear accelerator with a commercially available GRID block (LINAC-GRID) as planned on the Pinnacle planning station (P-TPS); and helical tomotherapy-based GRID (HT-GRID) technique using a novel virtual TOMOGRID template planned on Tomotherapy treatment planning station (HT-TPS). Three dosimetric parameters: gross target volume (GTV) dose distribution, GTV target dose inhomogeneity, and doses to regions of interest were compared. The comparison results show that HT-GRID dose distributions are comparable to those of LINAC-GRID for GTV coverage. Doses to the majority of organs-at-risk (OAR) are lower in HT-GRID as compared to LINAC-GRID. The maximum dose to the normal tissue is reduced by 120% for HT-GRID as compared to the LINACGRID. This study indicate that HT-GRID can be used to deliver spatially fractionated dose distributions while allowing 3-D optimization of dose to achieve superior sparing of OARs and confinement of high dose to target.
Hemifacial spasm: clinical findings and treatment.

Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a peripherally induced movement disorder characterized by involuntary, unilateral, intermittent, irregular, tonic or clonic contractions of muscles innervated by the ipsilateral facial nerve. We reviewed the clinical features and response to different treatments in 158 patients (61% women) with HFS evaluated at our Movement Disorders Clinic. The mean age at onset was 48.5 ± 14.1 years (range: 15–87) and the mean duration of symptoms was 11.4 ± 8.5 (range: 0.5–53) years. The left side was affected in 56% instances; 5 patients had bilateral HFS. The lower lid was the most common site of the initial involvement followed by cheek and perioral region. Involuntary eye closure which interfered with vision and social embarrassment were the most common complaints. HFS was associated with trigeminal neuralgia in 5.1% of the cases and 5.7% had prior history of Bell's palsy. Although vascular abnormalities, facial nerve injury, and intracranial tumor were responsible for symptoms in some patients, most patients had no apparent etiology. Botulinum toxin type A(BTX-A)injections, used in 110 patients, provided marked to moderate improvement in 95% of patients. Seven of the 25 (28%) patients who had microvascular decompression reported permanent complications and the HFS recurred in 5 (20%). Although occasionally troublesome, HFS is generally a benign disorder that can be treated effectively with either BTX-A or microvascular decompression. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 21: 1740–1747, 1998
The susceptibility of parental and hybrid willows to plant enemies under contrasting soil nutrient conditions

We conducted an experimental study of the effects of nutrient addition on the susceptibility of two species of willows (Salix eriocephala and S. sericea) and their hybrid to a pathogen and several herbivores. We hypothesized that the relative susceptibility of parental and hybrid willows would depend upon soil nutrient availability and vary among plant enemies. Using potted plants in a common garden, we found that S. eriocephala was significantly more susceptible to attack by a fungal rust (Melampsora sp.), a leaf-chewing beetle (Popillia japonica), and a leaf-folding sawfly (Phyllocolpa nigrita) than was S. sericea. Conversely, S. sericea was significantly more susceptible to attack by a spider mite (Tetranychus sp.) and a leaf-mining caterpillar (Phyllocnistis sp.) than was S. eriocephala. Hybrid susceptibility to Melampsora sp. and to Phyllocnistis sp. resembled S. eriocephala’s, while hybrid susceptibility to Phyllocolpa nigrita, Tetranychus sp., and Popillia japonica resembled S. sericea’s. Susceptibility to a sixth enemy, another leaf-mining caterpillar, Phyllonorycter salicifoliella, did not differ among the parents and hybrid. Susceptibility to herbivores and pathogens increased along a gradient of increasing fertilizer application, and this effect was independent of plant taxon or enemy. The results of our study point to the contrasting influences of a taxonomically and functionally diverse enemy community, reinforce the hybrid dominance model of enemy susceptibility, and demonstrate that physiological stress and enemy susceptibility can be inversely related.
Weight control methods in high school wrestlers

Abstract Severe weight control methods used by high school wrestlers have caused concern about these students' growth and athletic performance. There are minimal prevalence data on a few methods of weight control used by wrestlers and no information on the relationship to body fat measurements. Weight control methods and the percent body fat of wrestlers ( n = 49) were compared to competitive squash players ( n = 20) and noncompetitive jogging and fitness students ( n = 38) at an independent secondary school. Wrestlers used dieting ( p = 0.0002), binging ( p = 0.026, vomiting ( p = 0.046), sweating ( p = 0.0001), and fluid restriction to less than 2 cups/day ( p = 0.0014) significantly more often than controls (squash players and jogging/fitness students). There was no difference between the wrestlers' and controls' use of fasting ( p = 0.5) or exercising ( p = 0.1). Neither group reported using a diuretic or laxative during the sports seasons. Although the wrestlers' percent body fat was lower than controls (mean for wrestlers=10.3 ± 3.5%, mean for controls=12.4 ± 3.7%, p = 0.01), wrestlers perceived their mean ideal weight to be less than their present weight (wrestlers = −1.56 ± 6.20 lb, controls=+ 1.92 ± 9.49 lb, p = 0.03). The methods of weight control practiced could potentially impair an adolescent's growth and development as well as increase the risk of dehydration or electrolyte imbalance during competition.
Decreased reticuloendothelial system clearance and increased blood half-life and immune cell labeling for nano- and micron-sized superparamagnetic iron-oxide particles upon pre-treatment with Intralipid

Superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles are useful as contrast agents for anatomical, functional and cellular MRI, drug delivery agents, and diagnostic biosensors. Nanoparticles are generally cleared by the reticuloendothelial system (RES), in particular taken up by Kupffer cells in the liver, limiting particle bioavailability and in-vivo applications. Strategies that decrease the RES clearance and prolong the circulation residence time of particles can improve the in-vivo targeting efficiency.Intralipid 20.0%, an FDA approved nutritional supplement, was intravenously administered in rats at the clinical dose (2g/kg) 1h before intravenous injection of ultra-small superparamagnetic iron-oxide (USPIO) or micron-sized paramagnetic iron-oxide (MPIO) particles. Blood half-life, monocyte labeling efficiency, and particle biodistribution were assessed by magnetic resonance relaxometry, flow cytometry, inductively-coupled plasma MS, and histology.Pre-treatment with Intralipid resulted in a 3.1-fold increase in USPIO blood half-life and a 2-fold increase in USPIO-labeled monocytes. A 2.5-fold increase in MPIO blood half-life and a 5-fold increase in MPIO-labeled monocytes were observed following Intralipid pre-treatment, with a 3.2-fold increase in mean iron content up to 2.60pg Fe/monocyte. With Intralipid, there was a 49.2% and 45.1% reduction in liver uptake vs. untreated controls at 48h for USPIO and MPIO, respectively.Intralipid pre-treatment significantly decreases initial RES uptake and increases in-vivo circulation and blood monocyte labeling efficiency for nano- and micron-sized superparamagnetic iron-oxide particles.Our findings can have broad applications for imaging and drug delivery applications, increasing the bioavailability of nano- and micron-sized particles for target sites other than the liver.
Competition Among Refuging Sunfishes and Effects of Fish Density on Littoral Zone Invertebrates

In small lakes, juvenile sunfishes (Centrarchidae) commonly occupy vege- tated habitats, reducing the risk of predation by piscivorous fish. Eight species of sunfish coexist in Lawrence Lake, Michigan, and the bluegill greatly dominates the fish fauna in terms of numbers and biomass. I hypothesized that the bluegill's use of the vegetation as a predation refuge could have a significant negative effect on the growth rates of other species occupying this habitat. A "target-neighbor" experimental design was used to test this hypothesis. Twelve 3-_M2 cages were arrayed linearly along the vegetated littoral zone of Lawrence Lake in 1986. Two juvenile pumpkinseeds (the "target" species) were placed into each cage, together with either 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 juvenile bluegills. Bluegill densities were randomly assigned to cages; average bluegill density in Lawrence Lake is equivalent to - 5 fish per cage. Growth in mass over a 50-d period was used as a measure of competitive effect. Benthic invertebrates were also sampled from each cage to determine whether fish density significantly affected invertebrate size and abundance and whether invertebrate availability influenced sunfish growth. Growth of both pumpkinseeds and bluegills declined linearly as a function of final bluegill density in the cages, indicating that the species were competing while occupying the vegetation refuge. Growth was positively related to the density of large invertebrate prey remaining at the end of the experiment. Using an optimal foraging model, I estimated the net energy return available to bluegills in each cage. Predicted net energy gains (in joules per second of foraging time) were also positively related to bluegill growth, indicating that prey availability directly influenced growth rates. Mean invertebrate size decreased signif- icantly as fish density increased, owing to a reduction in the number of large invertebrates; the number of small prey showed no relationship to fish density. These results are consistent with a hypothesis of exploitative competition between juvenile sunfishes and indicate that the behavioral avoidance of predators by small fish can have significant effects on inver- tebrate size and abundance in littoral habitats.
Cyclic AMP-associated shape change in mesangial cells and its reversal by prostaglandin E2

The mesangial cell is a glomerular cell type with smooth muscle-like (contractile) properties. The responses evoked in cultured mesangial cells by catecholamines were examined in the presence or absence of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) with or without a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. Exposure to 10(-4) M norepinephrine, epinephrine, or isoproterenol elevated intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels in mesangial cells (25th to 30th passages) nearly threefold. If isobutylmethylxanthine (MIX) was also included, the hormones caused marked further increases in cAMP (after a 20-min incubation, control with MIX, 64.2 +/- 5.2 pmoles/mg protein; 10(-4) M norepinephrine, 4266 +/- 284 pmoles/mg protein; 10(-4) M epinephrine, 5812 +/- 173 pmoles/mg protein; and 10(-4) M isoproterenol, 3136 +/- 114 pmoles/mg protein). Under both of these circumstances (that is, catecholamines with or without MIX) greater than 50% of the cells underwent a change in shape (that is, had a round cell body with long, thin tapered processes). The cAMP and shape change response was independent of extracellular calcium ions and appeared to be due to beta-adrenergic stimulation. Isoproterenol with MIX stimulated an alteration in morphology and cAMP production at concentrations of 10(-4) M to 10(-9) M. Within 10 min following beta-adrenergic stimulation (10(-4) M isoproterenol plus MIX) cAMP was maximum; at this time a shape change was first evident. Eighty-five to one hundred percent of the cells had undergone a shape change by 40 min. Dibutyryl cAMP (10(-3) M) also induced a shape change in cultured mesangial cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Prolonged elevation in blood pressure in the unrestrained rat exposed to chlorpyrifos.

Abstract Organophosphate (OP) pesticides are likely to alter the regulation of blood pressure (BP) because (i) BP control centers in the brain stem utilize cholinergic synapses and (ii) the irreversible inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity by OP’s causes cholinergic stimulation in the CNS. This study used radiotelemetric techniques to monitor systolic (S), diastolic (D), mean (M) BP, pulse pressure (systolic–diastolic), heart rate (HR), core temperature ( T c ), and motor activity in male Long–Evans rats treated with the OP pesticide chlorpyrifos (CHP) at doses of 0, 5, 10, and 25 mg/kg (p.o.) at 15:00 h 10 and 25 mg/kg CHP led to parallel elevations in S-BP, M-BP, and D-BP within 2 h after dosing. BP increased 15–20 mmHg above controls and increases persisted throughout the night and into the next day. HR decreased slightly in rats administered 25 but not 10 mg/kg CHP. T c was reduced by treatment with 25 mg/kg CHP and then increased above controls the next day. Motor activity was reduced by treatment with 25 but not 10 mg/kg CHP. Pulse pressure was elevated by 2–4 mmHg for 40 h after exposure to 10 and 25 mg/kg CHP. The increase in BP without an increase in HR suggests that CHP increases total peripheral resistance and may alter the baroreflex control of BP. Cholinergic stimulation of the CNS may explain the initial effects of CHP on BP; however, the persistent elevation suggests an involvement of neurohumoral pressor pathways.
EFFECT OF THE SINKING RATE OF TWO DIATOMS (THALASSIOSIRA SPP.) ON UPTAKE FROM LOW CONCENTRATIONS OF PHOSPHATE1

SUMMARY The effect of the sinking rate, or rate of medium flow (φ) on the rate of phosphate incorporation (V) by the planktonic diatoms Thalassiosira fluviatilis Hust. and T. pseudonana Hasle & Heimdal in batch and chemostat cultures was determined by passing medium at defined flow rates (0.5–25.0 mm·min−1) over algae on membrane filters. At concentrations from 1 to 100 μg phosphorus·l−1 V, increases with increasing velocity of flow, approaching a maximum value (Vm) as described by the empirical relationship: where Kφ is the sinking rate value when V = 1/2 Vm+ Vo and Vo is the uptake at 0 rate of flow. By comparing uptake at controlled flow with uptake in a vigorously stirred medium, the phosphate concentration in the cell boundary layer can be determined. The sinking rate that reduces the phosphate concentration in the boundary layer to half of nominal concentration in the medium is much lower for the larger T. fluviatilis than for T. pseudonana. For both diatoms, it is inversely related to the nominal concentration.
A machine learning approach to distribution identification in non-Gaussian clutter

We consider a set of non-linear transformations of order statistics incorporated into a machine learning approach to perform distribution identification from data with low sample support with the ultimate goal of determining the appropriate detection threshold. The set of transformations provide a means with which data may be compared to a library of known clutter distributions. Several common non-Gaussian distributions are discussed and incorporated into the initial implementation of the library. This approach allows for the addition of empirically measured clutter distributions, which may not have a known analytic form. The adaptive threshold estimation reduces the probability of false alarm when non-Gaussian clutter is present.
Lactoferrin: a tamoxifen-responsive protein in normal and malignant human endometrial cells in culture.

We investigated the possible role of the estrogen-regulated protein lactoferrin (Lf) in the response of isolated normal human endometrial epithelial cells (NHEC) and established human endometrial carcinoma (EC) cell lines to tamoxifen (TAM). Using confocal laser scanning microscopy and a monospecific antibody, Lf was localized to the cytoplasm of normal and EC cells. Antibody neutralization of secreted Lf inhibited, whereas exogenous Lf (0--100 microg/ml) enhanced, cell proliferation in both classes of cells. Treatment of NHEC with TAM inhibited cell growth via a protein kinase-C-mediated pathway, concomitant with a reduction in the staining intensity for Lf. Importantly, in EC cells, TAM greatly enhanced the staining intensity for Lf, but did not affect cell growth. We propose that stable expression of Lf protein by EC cells may impart a survival advantage to these cells, which may, in part, account for the resistance of these cells to tamoxifen.
Interactions of genistein and related isoflavones with lipid micelles.

Genistein (5,7,4‘-trihydroxyisoflavone) modulates the function of several transmembrane ion-channel proteins by mechanisms that are unrelated to phosphorylation events. Daidzein (7,4‘-dihydroxy-isoflavone) typically exhibits modest effects, whereas genistin (7-O-glucosyl-genistein) usually exhibits no effect on ion-channel activities. Genistein appears to modulate gramicidin A ion channels by alteration of bilayer mechanical properties, but the associated molecular interactions have not been defined. The incorporation of daidzein into phosphatidylcholine liposomes promotes aggregation and precipitate formation which is problematic for structural studies based on NMR spectroscopy. In the present study, daidzein was incorporated into sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles to provide a stable system with no evidence of micelle aggregation. For this reason genistein, daidzein, genistin, and osajin (a diprenyl-genistein derivative) were incorporated into SDS micelles (in D2O) to evaluate differences in position...
Dynamic monitoring of glutathione in erythrocytes, without a separation step, in the presence of an oxidant insult.

A method for the quantitative determination of the antioxidant form of glutathione (GSH) in red blood cells (RBCs) is described that does not require separation of the analyte of interest from the complex cellular matrix. The measurement portion of the analysis is performed using fluorescence spectrophotometry after monochlorobimane (a recognized probe for GSH) is added to a mixture containing RBCs and glutathione transferase (GST). This method was employed to determine the GSH concentration (0.042 ± 0.002 mM) in a solution of 1% RBCs obtained from rabbits (n = 6). When spiked with authentic GSH (0.50 μmol), 99.8% of the GSH was recovered. Addition of GST to the sample mixture enabled most measurements to be made after 5−10 min of reaction time. Importantly, a decrease in GSH was measured upon the addition of a recognized oxidant (diamide) to the RBC sample followed by a subsequent return to normal levels of GSH. The ability of the GSH to recover from the oxidant attack occurred in a dose-dependent manner...
Segregation analysis of cancer in families of glioma patients.

A small proportion of brain tumors are attributed to a genetic predisposition; however, the hereditary proportion is undetermined. This study evaluates the degree of familial aggregation of cancer in a large series of brain tumor patients. Our study included 5,088 relatives of 639 probands (3,810 first- and 1,278 second-degree), diagnosed with a glioma between June 1992 and June 1995 at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, with diagnosis under age 65 years, and residents of the United States or Canada. We conducted an in-person or telephone interview with patients and/or their next-of-kin, and obtained family histories for the probands' first-degree (parents, siblings, offspring) and selected second-degree relatives (aunts, uncles, grandparents) using a sequential sampling strategy. Reported cancers were documented by medical records and/or death certificates (if the relative was deceased and medical records were unavailable). We conducted segregation analysis using the Pedigree Analysis Program (PAP). The analyses were divided into two categories: (1) all 639 families, and (2) a subset of families whose gliomas stained positive on p53 immunohistochemistry analysis. We demonstrated that a multifactorial Mendelian model was favored, while a model postulating a purely environmental cause of brain cancer was rejected. This study indicates that familial cancer in relatives of glioma patients are probably a result of multigenic action, and familial clustering of cancer among relatives of glioma patients may involve unknown environmental exposures.
Harm Reduction: An Emerging New Paradigm for Drug Education.

Harm reduction is a new paradigm now emerging in the field of drug education. This strategy recognizes that people always have and always will use drugs and, therefore, attempts to minimize the potential hazards associated with drug use rather than the use itself. The rationale for a harm reduction strategy is presented, followed by an example of the kind of needs assessment which may be needed for planning a harm reduction strategy.
Finding a Forest Among Trees: Spirituality Hiding in Family Therapy Theories

Although many authors have written about a spiritual dimension that permeates everyone’s life, family therapists and training programs continue to ignore issues of spirituality. Much like the gender and cultural biases that exist within our theories of change, spiritual biases may exist in our family therapy theories. These spiritual biases, however, have not been as widely discussed as have the gender and cultural biases. The challenge for family therapists is to critically analyse basic tenets of these theories to discover the biases. This paper provides an analysis of three germinal family therapy theories to show the possible spiritual dimension and how this dimension influences the way we do therapy.
RESPONSES OF SUBALPINE MEADOW VEGETATION TO FOUR YEARS OF EXPERIMENTAL WARMING

Ecosystems at high elevations may be especially sensitive to global warming, because productivity is limited to a snow-free growing season, and warming is expected to cause earlier snowmelt. Here we report on vegetation responses to experimental warming in a subalpine meadow in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. We found no evidence that the plant community changed during four years of warming. Species composition in warmed plots did not change more through time than in control plots, nor did warmed plots diverge from adjacent control plots through time. Contrary to an earlier report, we found no evidence that warming facilitated adults or seedlings of sagebrush, a shrub characteristic of lower elevation ecosystems; nor did it facilitate short-lived plant species as a group. Total vegetation cover, as well as cover of graminoids, forbs, and shrubs, did not differ between control and warmed plots, nor did species richness or species' distributions along a small elevational gradient within each plot. Shrub cover tended to increase more, and forb cover to decrease more, in warmed than in control plots during one summer season, but not significantly so. This lack of detectable plant community response contrasts with pronounced responses to warming in some arctic and alpine ecosystems over similar time spans. Warming in these ecosystems is thought to act indirectly via increased mobilization of soil nutrients. One possible reason for the lack of response in our system is that drying of soil limits microbial activity, photosynthesis, and plant growth sooner in the season in warmed plots, canceling out effects of earlier snowmelt. If this is correct, and if summer precipitation patterns are unchanged under global warming, then vegetation in arid high-elevation ecosystems may change only slowly.
Cycloplegic Refractions in Infants and Young Children

We studied groups of normal infants and infants with amblyopia and esoropia to determine the incidence of infantile astigmatism. Under cycloplegia, 19% of normal infants had astigmatism; this was at least twice the incidence in adults, but less than one-hale that found by noncycloplegic refractions of infants. During the first three postnatal years the incidence of astigmatism and distributions of spherical equivalents and anisometropia did not distinguish normal patients from most of those with esotropia and amblyopia.
Stability and change in self‐understanding: The early elementary school years

Around the time children enter elementary school, trait constructs suddenly begin to play a major role in their conceptions of people. One of these people is the self. It is hypothesized that this period is a crucial one, as children at this time should be actively creating a stable self‐concept. Research supporting this position is reviewed. At 7‐8 years of age stable dispositions are more likely to appear in children's spontaneous self‐descriptions, and they are considered to be particularly important aspects of the self. Experimental work suggests that manipulations meant to affect self‐conceptualization are more likely to be effective during this period. Theories suggesting how the child might acquire information about the self at this age are also reviewed. It is concluded that during the early elementary school years children are especially receptive to information about their psychological and behavioral attributes and vulnerable to manipulations that affect self‐understanding.
The maxillae of Drosophila melanogaster as revealed by scanning electron microscopy.

The scanning electron micrographs show the external morphology of the maxillae of Drosophila melanogaster. Specifically, they illustrate the patterning of the different types of chemo-receptive sensilla on the maxillary palpi making possible a clearer understanding of the structure of the tiny maxillary lobes. It appears that the maxillary lobes act as “cleaning brushes” during the feeding process.
Some aspects of response surface theory, and the philosophy of statistical experimental design

Abstract This paper examines the problem of exploration of response surfaces. A discussion of the significant elements of design theory (and some fundamental issues) is presented in the context of the above problem. A sequential technique for fitting a polynomial surface of unknown degree is illustrated.
Strings, dipoles and fuzzy spheres

Abstract I discuss a scaling limit, where open strings in the WZW-model behave as dipoles with charges confined to a spherical brane and projected to the lowest Landau level. Then I show how the joining and splitting interactions of these dipoles are naturally described using the fuzzy sphere algebra.
Anomalies associated with anorectal malformations according to the Krickenbeck anatomic classification.

Abstract Purpose We evaluated the incidence of congenital anomalies associated with anorectal malformations (ARMs) in relation to the anatomic type of ARM as defined by the Krickenbeck classification. Methods We reviewed 99 children with ARM in our institution from 2002 to 2011. Data were collected on patient demographics, type of ARM, and associated congenital anomalies, which were categorized according to organ systems. Statistical analysis was performed for comparison between groups using ‘perineal fistula' as the base group. Results There were 62 (63%) male patients. The majority had perineal fistulas (35, 35%). Seventy-seven (78%) had at least one associated malformation. The most frequent malformations seen were genitourinary (28, 28%) and spinal anomalies (26, 26%). Those with rectovesical fistula had the highest proportion of genitourinary malformations (Odds Ratio [OR], 41.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.7–363.4). Those with cloaca (OR, 49.5; 95% CI, 3.4–718.9) and those with rectovestibular fistula (OR, 12.4; 95% CI, 2.3–65.6) were most likely to have major spinal abnormalities, with tethered cord seen in all groups. The rectovestibular group was also most likely to have other associated malformations (OR, 8.6; 95% CI, 2.2–32.8). Conclusion More than 75% of children with anorectal malformation have other associated malformations. Genitourinary anomalies are the most common. Major spinal anomalies are seen in all groups, affecting nearly half of those with rectovestibular fistula and those without fistula. The incidence of associated malformations in the rectovestibular group is higher than described in the literature. Thorough systematic evaluation of all infants with ARM should be done regardless of type of ARM.
Relative Deprivation and Migration in an Agricultural Setting of Nepal

Are individuals from a relatively more deprived household more likely to migrate for work reasons compared to those from a relatively less deprived household? In this paper, I have empirically tested the relative deprivation hypothesis of migration put forth by Oded Stark and his colleagues. I used data from 1465 farming households in a rural agricultural setting of Nepal. The data was collected from the western Chitwan Valley in 1996. With these data, I used a logistic regression analysis technique to examine the influence of relative deprivation on migration. My findings support the hypothesis that individuals from households with relatively less access to cultivated land are more likely to migrate in search of work compared to those from a relatively well-off household with more land holdings. My findings can be useful in understanding the significance of relative deprivation in household migration decisions where access to cultivable land is declining due to land fragmentation as a result of population growth and land division by inheritance.
A novel framework for large scale metabolic network alignments by compression

Although the problem of aligning metabolic networks has been considered in the past, the running time and space complexity of these solutions has so far limited their use to moderately sized networks. In this paper, we address the problem of aligning two metabolic networks, particularly when both of them are too large to be dealt with using existing methods. We develop a generic framework that can be used with any existing method to significantly improve the scale of the networks that can be aligned in practical time. Our framework has three major phases, namely the compression phase, the alignment phase and the refinement phase. For the first phase, we develop an algorithm which transforms the given networks to a compressed domain where they are summarized using fewer nodes, termed supernodes, and interactions. In the second phase, we carry out the alignment in the compressed domain using an existing method as our base algorithm. This alignment results in supernode mappings in the compressed domain, each of which are smaller instances of network alignment. In the third phase, we solve each of the instances using the base alignment algorithm to refine the alignment results. Our experiments demonstrate that this method can reduce the sizes of metabolic networks by almost half at each compression level. For the overall framework, we demonstrate how well it increases the performance of an existing alignment method. We observe that we can align twice or more as large networks using the same amount of resources with our framework compared to a recent method for network alignment, namely SubMAP. Our results also suggest that the alignment obtained by only one level of compression captures the original alignment results with very high accuracy.
A grading scale for pediatric vocal fold nodules.

Objective To design a grading scale for vocal fold nodules in pediatric patients. Study design and setting We conducted a prospective study in which a grading scale for vocal nodule size and contour based on static fiberoptic images of pediatric larynges was developed to achieve the scale presented here. Results Twenty-eight health care professionals each rated 28 images of pediatric vocal fold nodules. The intraclass correlation for nodule size was strong (0.77; 95% confidence interval, 0.67-0.87). The κ statistic for nodule contour was mild (0.35; 95% confidence interval, 0.33-0.37). Agreement between experienced and other raters found no significant difference for the nodule size or contour grade of a given image. Conclusions A grading scale for pediatric vocal fold nodules is presented. Interrater reliability for nodule size is high and can be reliably used by health care professionals with varying levels of experience. Significance A validated grading scale facilitates objective analysis of outcomes when studying and following patients with vocal nodules.