cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bioenergetics of age-related versus size-related reproductive tactics in female Viviparus georgianus

Individual Viviparus georgianus from a New York population are iteroparous, maturing in their second year. Ovoviviparous females have a maximum lifespan 1 year longer than that of males (4 + versus 3+ years), though individuals of both sexes can be reproductively active for three consecutive years. Embryophores are carried over winter and released each spring. Female survivorship is positively size related, as is incremental growth within any year. Reproductive effort is age related, increasing from 5.3% for modal 2-year females to 79.7% for modal 4-year females. Reproduction is size limited in 2-year females, no females below 16 mm shell length were found containing broods. The lack of observable survivorship penalties related to reproduction may result from reproductive females have greater biomass and hence greater survivorship. Spat size is positively correlated with female age irrespective of female size, though brood numbers increase with maternal size and growth rates. Caged experiments have shown spat born early to older females grow fastest. Data presented indicate that the young of older females have greater expected lifetime fecundity and fitness. In this population, 3-year females produce approximately 50.0% of each new cohort, with 2-year and 4-year females producing 21.0% and 26.0% respectively. Matrix models of the natural population and modified hypothetical populations emphasize the importance of survivorship and early reproduction in such stable, age-structured populations.
Aneurysm of the mitral valve associated with bacterial endocarditis.

Abstract An unusual instance of a large aneurysm of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve associated with a bicuspid aortic valve and bacterial endocarditis is reported, along with a review of the pertinent literature. The possible relationship of this lesion to the treatment of bacterial endocarditis with antibiotics is discussed.
Mechanisms for the Formation of Diamides and Polyamides by Aminolysis of d‐Glucaric Acid Esters

1H and 13C NMR were employed to chart the conversion of the five‐membered lactone esters methyl d‐glucarate 1,4‐lactone (1) and ethyl d‐glucarate 6,3‐lactone (5) to N,N′‐dipropyl‐d‐glucaramide with n‐propylamine in DMSO‐d6. These experiments were carried out to model the amide forming steps in polycondensation reactions between esterified d‐glucaric acid and diamines to give poly(d‐glucaramides). It was clear from the resulting NMR spectra that the lactones 1 and 5 were each converted in three consecutive steps to the product diamides; aminolysis of the lactone ester to the corresponding acyclic N‐propyl‐d‐glucaramide monoester, followed by lactonization to a five‐membered lactone amide, and concluding with aminolyis of the lactone amide to N,N′‐dipropyl‐d‐glucaramide (4). Comparison of the reaction pathways from 1 and 5 by 1H NMR analysis suggests that ring opening of the 1,4‐lactone ester (1) and 1,4‐lactone amide (7) is faster than ring opening of the corresponding 6,3‐lactone ester (5) and 6,3‐lactone...
Direct interaction of the Krüppel-like family (KLF) member, BTEB1, and PR mediates progesterone-responsive gene expression in endometrial epithelial cells.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the underlying mechanism(s) by which PR and a Kruppel-like family member, basic transcription element binding protein (BTEB1), mediate endometrial epithelial expression of pregnancy-associated genes. Human endometrial carcinoma cell lines (Hec-1-A) expressing high and low levels of BTEB1 were transiently transfected with a human PR isoform (PR-B) expression construct and a luciferase reporter gene driven by the uteroferrin gene promoter that is responsive to both BTEB1 and the PR ligand progesterone. Unliganded PR inhibited luciferase activity in low and high BTEB backgrounds, and this effect was reversed by the synthetic progestin R5020 in both lines. Transactivation by PR of uteroferrin promoter activity (approximately 4-fold) was maximal at lower R5020 concentrations (10 nM) in endometrial cells with higher BTEB1 expression, suggesting that nuclear BTEB1content influenced target gene promoter sensitivity to progesterone. BTEB1 and PR-B were found to physically interact in a progesterone-independent manner, using a coimmunoprecipitation assay that employed antibodies specific to either protein. Moreover, the formation of the BTEB1/PR complex, independent of progesterone, occurred within the context of uterine endometrial proteins and was diminished in late-pregnancy endometrium. Mammalian two-hybrid assays using the entire open reading frame of BTEB1 and/or PR-B fused to either the GAL4 DNA-binding domain or VP16 activation domain and a reporter gene (pG5CAT) under the control of GAL4-binding sites were used to evaluate the formation of functional PR-B/BTEB1 dimer in Cos-1 cells. GAL4/PR-B and VP16/PR-B induced ( approximately 3- to 4-fold) chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) activity in a progesterone-dependent manner, suggesting PR-dimer formation. By contrast, VP16/PR-B and GAL4/BTEB1 had no effect on basal CAT activity. The combination of VP16- and GAL4-PR-B fusion proteins with the BTEB1 expression construct, pCDNA3-BTEB1 enhanced ligand-bound PR-mediated CAT activity by approximately 3-fold. In transient cotransfection assays using the CAT reporter gene driven by the mouse mammary tumor virus-long terminal repeat promoter, which is responsive to ligand-bound PR but not BTEB1, BTEB1 increased PR-B-mediated CAT activity in a progesterone-dependent manner, consistent with a BTEB1/PR-dimer complex occurring independent of BTEB1 binding to DNA. Unliganded PR-B disrupted the DNA-binding activity of BTEB1 in gel retardation assays, and this effect was enhanced by the presence of PR ligand. Together, these findings support the conclusion that BTEB1 and PR-B are coregulatory proteins that mediate progesterone responsiveness of target genes by direct interactions, leading to the formation of a functional BTEB1/PR-dimer complex.
An Approach to Combining Explanation-based and Neural Learning Algorithms

Abstract Machine learning is an area where both symbolic and neural approaches to artificial intelligence have been heavily investigated. However, there has been little research into the synergies achievable by combining these two learning paradigms. A hybrid system that combines the symbolically-oriented explanation-based learning paradigm with the neural backpropagation algorithm is described. In the presented EBL-ANN algorithm, the initial neural network configuration is determined by the generalized explanation of the solution to a specific classification task. This approach overcomes problems that arise when using imperfect theories to build explanations and addresses the problem of choosing a good initial neural network configuration. Empirical results show that the hybrid system more accurately learns a concept than the explanation-based system by itself and learns faster and generalizes better than the neural learning system by itself.
Structural features of non-granular spherulitic maize starch

Abstract Complementary analyses of the internal structure of spherulites crystallized from high-amylose maize starch were obtained using light, electron and atomic force microscopy. Radially oriented crystalline lamellae were observed in transmission and scanning electron microscopy, as well as AFM. Internal structures consistent with the central hilum region of starch granules were observed. Spherulites were composed largely of linear or lightly branched starch polymers. Degradation of amylopectin at gelatinization temperatures of 180 °C was evident, but iodine binding suggested a high molecular weight (>100 DP) for the spherulitic polymers.
High glucose alters connexin 43 expression and gap junction intercellular communication activity in retinal pericytes.

PURPOSE. To investigate the role of the gap junction protein, connexin-43 (Cx43) in the maintenance of retinal vascular homeostasis in diabetic retinopathy. METHODS. In human retinal pericytes (HRPs) and bovine retinal pericytes (BRPs) grown for 7 days in normal (5 mM) or high (30 mM)-glucose medium, the Cx43 protein level was determined by Western blot analysis. Parallel experiments were performed in HRPs to determine the Cx43 mRNA level by RT-PCR, the distribution and localization of Cx43 protein by immunostaining, and gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) activity by a scrape-loading dye transfer technique. Distribution and localization of Cx43 protein was also determined in pericyte– endothelial cell cocultures. RESULTS. Western blot analysis of the Cx43 protein level in HRPs and BRPs indicated reduced Cx43 expression in the high-glucose condition (69.1% 17% of control, P 0.004; 62.3% 19% of control, P 0.001, respectively). The Cx43 mRNA level in HRPs grown in high-glucose medium also showed significant reduction (71.4% 16.8% of control, P 0.02). The relative number of Cx43 plaques indicative of Cx43 localization at specific sites of contact between adjacent cells showed significant reduction in the high-glucose condition (61% 10% of control, P 0.002); similarly, a significant reduction in the number of plaques was observed in cocultures grown in high-glucose medium compared with those in normal medium (59.4% 29% of control, P 0.001). Cells with reduced Cx43 expression showed significantly reduced transfer of lucifer yellow (61% 13% of control, P 0.001; r 0.9). CONCLUSIONS. High-glucose–induced downregulation of Cx43 expression and inhibition of GJIC in retinal pericytes may play a role in the disruption of vascular homeostasis in diabetic retinopathy. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2003;44:5376 –5382)
Dynamic data services

Community networks require advanced domain-independent services that can be tailored for their use. Multi-agent architectures have been explored as an architectural approach to achieving a community network or system. Building on the work that was done with, Enterprise Knowledge Agents [6], this paper looks at using data services and the challenges with respect to enabling a platform for query and representation of agent observed knowledge in the enterprise. The EKA paper describes a notional architecture for a multi-agent based system that catalogues and coordinates knowledge and collaboration in the enterprise. In that paper case agents are defined to collect and organize information for an individual in the enterprise. The challenge is that the agents require a method of storing the data as well as allowing the agents to query each other to understand what data may exist with other individuals in the organization. This paper explores the use of dynamic data services in solving the challenges with an environment where data must be shared and where multiple representations of data may exist as in the EKA system.
Casing Wear: Laboratory Measurements and Field Predictions

Casing wear caused by rotation of nonhardbanded tool joints has been investigated with a full-sized test machine. Three grades of casing were used during this study: K55, N80, and P110. Tests were conducted in both water-based and oil-based muds. Contact forces between the tool joint and casing were either 1,000 or 2,000 lbf (4.4 or 8.9 kN). Both the casing wear and friction forces were measured during the tests. A linear wear-efficiency model was used to correlate the data. This model relates casing-metal removal to the amount of energy dissipated as friction in the wear process. The wear-efficiency model fits the data well and is easily used for field wear predictions. The data from this study indicate that high-strength casing steels wear more rapidly than K55 and that wear in oil muds is possibly more rapid than in water muds. Partial hydrodynamic lubrication occurred during many tests; friction measurements and the wear-efficiency model were used to account for its effects.
Effect of Consuming Yogurts Prepared with Three Culture Strains on Human Serum Lipoproteins

Ten human adult males' usual diets were modified by incorporating 681g nonfat, unpasteurized yogurt daily throughout three 14-21 day periods. A different set of select culture strains, two commercial and one patented, were used for yogurt production in the three dietary periods. Including yogurt daily in the diet significantly reduced fasting total serum cholesterol 10-12% in human adult males on some days, but serum cholesterol returned towards control values with continued yogurt consumption. Serum triglycerides and the proportions of serum lipoproteins were not significantly influenced by increasing yogurt consumption. Differences in concentrations of uric, orotic and hydroxymethylglutaric-like acids in the yogurts were insufficient to account for the differences in temporary hypocholesterolemic effects of yogurt consumption seen between strains.
Solution of some partial differential equations using State space techniques

Abstract The spatial discretization technique for the solution of certain partial differential equations is discussed. After determining a valid mathematical representation for the canonical parabolic partial differential equation two methods of determining the stability of the resulting high order system of ordinary differential equations is presented. Next the solution to these ordinary differential equations is presented using state space techniques. An expression for the state transition matrix of the ordinary differential equations representing the diffusion equation is obtained as a function of n (the order of the approximation). Applications of the developed theory include a comparison of the minimum energy controls for the diffusion equation obtained by spatial discretization and obtained by harmonic truncation.
Synthesis of Carbenes Through Substitution Reactions at a Carbene Center

An (amino)(phosphino) carbene can be transformed into (amino)(phosphonio) carbenes, which undergo nucleophilic intermolecular as well as intramolecular substitution reactions at the carbene center. A variety of carbenes can be synthesized starting from a single carbene precursor. The resulting gamut of electronic and steric effects possible should open the way not only to a detailed study of the mechanism, but also to the subsequent improvement of catalytic reactions that involve carbene-transition metal complexes.
Value Change in Oil and Gas Production: I. Additional Information at Fixed Cost but Variable Resolution Probability.

The worth of producing an oilfield is governed by future uncertainties that are related both to changes in reservoir behaviour and to on-going production. Costs and selling price of product also influence the decision to produce further reserves. Acquisition of new information, and decisions to produce based on interpretations of the new information, are usually undertaken to maximise the total worth of an oilfield to a corporation, or to minimise total loss. Because acquisition of new information is not cost-free, future further development decisions are influenced by such costs and also the anticipated new worth assuming the acquired data resolve, at least partially, any uncertainty in expected future reserves. This paper is the first in a series designed to illustrate how one can use probabilistic risking methods to handle such uncertainties. A simple deterministic assessment is made of when new information is worthwhile. With the sole exception of the probability of a successful value change resulting...
Recent Advances in the Mechanism of Pyridoxine-responsive Disorders

Pyridoxine metabolism is summarised and speculation on possible defects leading to disease is made. Inherited deficiencies of PLP enzymes, which are known to respond in vivo to pharmacologic doses of pyridoxine are listed. The mechanism of pyridoxine responsiveness in homocystinuria due to cystathionine β-synthase deficiency is discussed. There is a correlation in most (but not all) cases between the presence of residual CS activity, which is often stimulated by pyridoxal phosphate much more than control enzyme, in cultured fibroblasts and pyridoxine responsiveness in vivo. Exceptional patients have been found and are discussed in the light of more detailed studies on their cell lines. Clearly defined abnormalities of pyridoxal phosphate binding to mutant enzyme have been demonstrated and evidence of reduced intracellular stability of mutant CS and possible modulation by pyridoxal phosphate is presented. Preliminary findings suggest that the tissue level of pyridoxal phosphate achieved following pyridoxine treatment could be one other factor in determining pyridoxine responsiveness.
Facilitation by strychnine of reflex walking in spinal dogs

Abstract Results of previous studies have indicated that the spinal dog is incapable of reflex walking. In the present experiment subconvulsive doses of strychnine sulfate were given to non-walking spinal dogs and within a few minutes these animals displayed reflex walking. Two spinal dogs capable of moderate reflex walking before strychnine administration greatly improved their walking performance following administration of the drug. Since strychnine is believed to suppress postsynaptic inhibition, these observations suggest that the facilitation of reflex walking is due to a reduction of tonic intraspinal inhibition which is otherwise strong enough to prevent the occurrence of reflex walking in most spinal dogs.
Synthesis and Spectroscopic Identification of Ethylidyne Adsorbed on Ni(111)

The interaction of ethylene adsorbed on Ni(111) with gas-phase H atoms has been investigated. The major adsorbed reaction product is identified by high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy to be ethylidyne (C−CH3). This study is the first direct spectroscopic observation of a C−CH3 species adsorbed on Ni in an ultrahigh-vacuum environment. Spectra of four isotopomers, C−CH3, 13C−13CH3, C−CD3, and 13C−13CD3, are reported, and a complete and consistent vibrational assignment of their fundamental modes is presented. Based on this assignment, a force field is derived from the measured vibrational frequencies using a normal-modes analysis and is found to be in good agreement with that deduced from IR spectra of an ethylidyne species in an organometallic complex. Inspection of the eigenvectors of the normal-mode displacements reveals that substantial mixing of harmonic bond motions is the origin of the unusual upshift in frequency of the C−C stretching mode upon deuteration. A quantitative determination of the relative dynamic bond dipole moments demonstrates that the changes in intensity and dipole activity of the C−C stretching and symmetric CH3 deformation modes upon deuteration, phenomena common to all C−CD3 spectra, also arise from extensive mixing of bond motions. A detailed analysis of the spectra strongly suggests a C3v or C3 local environment for ethylidyne and a 3-fold hollow adsorption site.
Incoherent dynamic lenslet array processor.

The use of a dynamic lenslet array processor for the implementation of unipolar and bipolar analog inner product, outer product, and vector sum operations is described. Its matrix–vector operations are used as a basis for neural networks and digital circuits. Experimental results of two circuits are presented: a unipolar neural network that computes parity of a 3-bit input word and a digital 3-to-8 decoder circuit.
New developments in mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors for the treatment of sarcoma.

Although sarcomas account for a small portion of solid malignancies, currently, there are few treatment options for sarcomas, particularly for advanced disease. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a serine-threonine protein kinase in the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/serine/threonine protein kinase Akt signaling pathway, has an important role in the regulation of protein synthesis, cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and metabolism. Alterations of the mTOR signaling pathway are common in malignancies, including several types of sarcoma. Therefore, mTOR is a potentially important therapeutic target in these diseases. Rapamycin and its analogs (rapalogs) are effective anticancer agents in a broad range of preclinical models. Clinical trials with these agents alone and in combination with other anticancer agents, including chemotherapy and targeted therapies, have demonstrated potential clinical benefit in several types of sarcoma. The evidence from both preclinical and clinical studies supports further study of mTOR-targeting rapalogs in the treatment of various subtypes of sarcoma. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Global Observation of Hydrogen/Deuterium Isotope Effects on Bidirectional Catalytic Electron Transport in an Enzyme: Direct Measurement by Protein-Film Voltammetry

Protein-film voltammetry reveals the global effects of H/D isotopic substitutions, both in organic substrates and solvent, on bidirectional catalytic electron transport in a mitochondrial respiratory enzyme, succinate dehydrogenase. The voltammetry is controlled by the enzyme kinetics and therefore provides a direct display of the characteristic relationships between turnover rates (current) and driving force (potential). This enables simultaneous measurement of relative electron-transport rates for oxidative and reductive directions alongside thermodynamic data (reduction potentials) relating to substrates and active sites. Measured over a range of pH and pD, the relationships between effective catalytic potentials of the enzyme and formal reduction potentials for substrate and active-site yield a “potential-domain” description of the catalytic energetics, which complements and extends the picture obtained by conventional kinetic methods. For the organic substrates, a marked decrease is observed in the r...
The retrieval of abstract and concrete materials as functions of imagery, mediation, and mnemonic aids

Department of Educational Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802 This study is a report of an investigation of the interaction between imagery ability and processes employed for facilitating recall. The tasks were assumed to involve contrasting processes through the use of imaginal or verbal mediators and concrete or abstract jingles (mnemonic aids) in memorizing two concrete and two abstract lists of 10 words in each list. The dependent variables were latencies in arriving at an association, number of errors and omissions on immediate recall, and number of errors and omissions on delayed recall. The main effects of imagery ability, favoring high imagers, and of kind of lists favoring concrete lists were significant. In delayed recall there was a significant interaction of mnemonic aid and kind of list. Imagery ability interacted with mediators to influence Ss’ recall. The results were discussed as supporting Paivio’s two-stage association model.
The Selection of Partial or Full Retirement by Older Workers

The study investigated whether older workers chose partial or full retirement instead of full-time work. Partial or full retirement status was modeled as a combination of self-reported retirement status and change in number of hours worked. The results of multinomial logistic regression using data from the first and fifth waves of the Health and Retirement Study collected in 1992 and 2000 showed that age and gender had similar effects on the likelihood of partial and full retirement. Full retirement was also influenced by investment assets, pensions, employee health insurance, and poor health. The likelihood of partial retirement was also influenced by self-employment, chronic health conditions, and education. Workers who seek partial retirement need working conditions that allow them to make this choice.
Diagnostic imaging of elbow injuries inthe throwing athlete

Abstract The elbow is a complex joint that connects the arm with the forearm. Injuries to the elbow in the throwing athlete aregenerally caused by acute trauma or repetitive stress. Diagnostic imaging of the elbow ranges from plain radiographs to magnetic resonance/arthrography. Because of the complex nature of the joint, a good history of the patient and physical exam should be obtained in an attempt to tailor the imaging workup for each individual. Most acute traumatic injuries can be diagnosed with plain radiographs. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (± intra-articular contrast) are generally obtained to confirm suspected pathology from the patient's history and physical exam. This article will discuss several pathologic conditions and will attempt to show the findings seen on the appropriate imaging modality. Where it is possible, the mechanism of injury will be described and correlated with the imaging findings.
The Preventive Approach to Children at High Risk for Psychopathology and Psychosis

Abstract Primary prevention, as applied to the offspring of psychotically-distuibed parents, should be directed not only at the transmission of psychosis to the next generation of adults but also at the relief of suffering and psychopathology in the children, keeping in mind that the two may be causally related and that genetic and environmental factors are constantly interacting. Although one can develop preventive programs from preconceptions of psychotic transmission, and apply them on a trial and error basis, one must bear in mind the presence of interest and acquired resiliences in high-risk subjects and learn from their efforts.
Liquid Film Evaporation in the Presence of Micro Encapsulated Phase Change Materials: A Numerical Study

This paper numerically investigates the flow and heat transfer characteristics of a slurry of micro encapsulated phase change materials (MEPCM) and R134a in the presence of film evaporation. The numerical domain is comprised of a minichannel in contact with a finite thickness solid zone with constant wall temperature. During the evaporation process, the concentration of MEPCM in the slurry increases, resulting in a continuous variation of effective thermal properties of the slurry. The effect of PCM concentration on the evolution of the liquid film thickness under different operating conditions along with the variation of the local heat transfer coefficients has been studied. A user defined function has been developed to incorporate the evaporation process by introducing the mass and energy source terms for the evaporation process as well as the variation of the MEPCM concentration along the channel.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Hallucinations, sleep fragmentation, and altered dream phenomena in Parkinson's disease

In a series of consecutively randomized outpatients who had Parkinson's disease (PD), we examined the association of three behaviors: sleep fragmentation, altered dream phenomena, and hallucinations/illusions. Using a log-linear model methodology, we tested the independence of each behavior. Sixty-two percent of the subjects had sleep fragmentation, 48% had altered dream phenomena, and 26% had hallucinations/illusions. Eighty-two percent of the patients with hallucinations/illusions experienced some form of sleep disorder. The three phenomena were not independent. The interaction between sleep fragmentation and altered dream phenomena was strongly statistically significant. Likewise, a significant interaction existed between altered dream phenomena and hallucinations/illusions. No interaction occurred between sleep fragmentation and hallucinations/illusions. Sleep fragmentation, altered dream phenomena, and hallucinations/illusions in PD should be considered distinct but often overlapping behaviors. The close association between altered dream phenomena and hallucinations suggests that therapeutic interventions aimed at diminishing dream-related activities may have a specific positive impact on hallucinatory behavior.
From structure to disease: the evolving tale of aquaporin biology

Our understanding of the movement of water through cell membranes has been greatly advanced by the discovery of a family of water-specific, membrane-channel proteins — the aquaporins. These proteins are present in organisms at all levels of life, and their unique permeability characteristics and distribution in numerous tissues indicate diverse roles in the regulation of water homeostasis. The recognition of aquaporins has stimulated a reconsideration of membrane water permeability by investigators across a wide range of disciplines.
Rehabilitation and the client with epilepsy: a survey of the client's view of the rehabilitation process and its results.

Summary A survey of epileptic clients of the Maryland State Department of Vocational Rehabilitation was conducted to evaluate the success of the rehabilitation process from the client's point of view. Less than half had become employed, 70% had continuing seizures, most had psychosocial problems. Recommendations are made as to how the rehabilitation process could better serve persons with epilepsy. REUME Une etude de la clientele epileptique du departement de rehabilitation professionnelle de l'Etat de Maryland a ete effectuee afin d'evaluer le succes de tentatives de rehabilitation. Moins de la moitie ont obtenu et conserve un emploi, 70% continuent a presenter des crises et la plupart ont des problemes psycho-sociaux. Les auteurs font des recommandations pour essayer de rendre plus efficace le processus de rehabilitation professionnelle des epileptiques. RESUMEN Se ha realizado una encuesta entre los clientes del Departamento de Rehabilitacion Vocacional del Estado de Maryland con el fin de valorar el exito del proceso rehabilitador desde el punto de vista del cliente. Menos de la mitad estaban en empleo, un 70% continuaban con convulsiones y la mayoria tenian problemas psicosociales. Se ofrecen recomendaciones para conseguir que los procesos de rehabilitacion puedan ofrecer un mejor servicio a las personas con epilepsia. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Eine Untersuchung uber epileptische Patienten des Maryland State Department fur berufliche Rehabilitation wurde durchgefuhrt, urn den Erfolg der Rehabilitation aus der Sicht des Patienten zu beurteilen. Weniger als die Halfte wurden angestellt, 70% hatten weiterhin Anfalle, die meisten hatten psychosoziale Probleme. Es werden Empfehlungen gegeben hin-sichtlich der Masnahmen, die Patienten mil Epilepsie dienlicher sind.
Generalized Coddington Equations for Refractive/Diffractive Hybrid Surfaces

We derived the generalized Coddington Equations for diffractive/refractive hybrid surfaces by using the general Snell’s law and differential ray tracing approach. The Equations are given in two forms: matrix formalism and explicit expressions.
Stabilization of Frozen Goat Milk Concentrates by Enzymatic Lactose Hydrolysis

Frozen 3:1 and 4:1 whole goat's milk concentrates were stored at −14°C for up to 10 months with minimal changes in physical stability and no loss of flavor quality when reconstituted. The processing sequence required HTST pasteurization, lactose hydrolysis by lactase enzyme (36% hydrolysis for 3:1 concentrates and 52% hydrolysis for 4:1 concentrates), repasteurization, condensing in vacua, post heating at 71°C for 30 min, addition of Tenox 6 (0.01g/100g fat), canning, sealing, and freezing. Post heating of the concentrates was necessary for their stability but slightly lowered their hedonic flavor ratings. These stored concentrates resist freeze-thaw cycling up to 3 times without any physical destabilization or further change in flavor scores.
Melt extraction from the mantle beneath spreading centers

Abstract Melt migration beneath a mid-oceanic spreading center must be rapid and it must focus melt to the narrow ridge axis. Porous flow models that neglect compaction of the matrix result in vertical melt flow, and can not account for melt focussing. We show that dilation, or decompaction, of the porous matrix creates a high-porosity boundary layer, beneath an impermeable cap of cooler, solid mantle. The thickness of the layer, 200–300 m, is determined by a balance between the booyancy of the melt and the viscous stresses resisting decompaction. The parameters that control the layer thickness include the upwelling velocity, mantle viscosity and density difference between the melt and solid. This layer exists near the solidus where melt is being frozen, and therefore deepens with distance from the ridge axis. The along-layer component of gravity drives melt in this highly permeable layer toward the ridge axis. We incorporate the effects of the high-porosity layer into a simple two-dimensional flow and thermal model of a spreading center, and calculate the velocity of melt and the porosity in the layer as a function of distance from the ridge axis. From this model we estimate that, for a reasonable range of physical parameters, the fraction of melt that is extracted by flow along the decompaction boundary layer is sufficient to produce the observed thickness of the oceanic crust.
Does retrograde warm blood cardioplegic perfusion provide better protection of ischemic areas than antegrade warm blood cardioplegic perfusion? A magnetic resonance study in pig hearts.

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether retrograde continuous normothermic blood cardioplegic perfusion provides better protection to ischemic areas of the left and right ventricles than does antegrade continuous normothermic blood cardioplegic perfusion. Localized phosphorus 31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to monitor the changes in energy metabolism and intracellular pH in the ventricles of pig hearts. Methods : Ten isolated pig hearts received 20 minutes of antegrade continuous normothermic blood cardioplegic perfusion for collection of control (baseline) data, followed by 60 minutes of either antegrade continuous normothermic blood cardioplegic perfusion (n = 5) or retrograde continuous normothermic blood cardioplegic perfusion (n = 5) with occlusion of the left anterior descending and the right coronary arteries. The hearts were then subjected to antegrade continuous normothermic blood cardioplegic perfusion for 20 minutes. The perfusion pressures were maintained between 80 and 100 mm Hg and between 38 and 43 mm Hg during antegrade and retrograde continuous normothermic blood cardioplegic perfusions, respectively. Intracellular pH and creatine phosphate, inorganic phosphate, and adenosine triphosphate levels were measured continuously in each ventricle by means of localized phosphorus 31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy with 2 surface coils. Results : Both antegrade and retrograde continuous normothermic blood cardioplegic perfusion resulted in a significant increase in inorganic phosphate level and decreases in creatine phosphate level, adenosine triphosphate level, and intracellular pH. No significant differences in these changes were observed between the two groups. The creatine phosphate and adenosine triphosphate levels were significantly lower in the right ventricle than in the left ventricle during retrograde continuous normothermic blood cardioplegic perfusion. On reperfusion, the inorganic phosphate level, creatine phosphate level, and intracellular pH recovered completely; however, no recovery in the adenosine triphosphate level was seen in the ventricles of either group. Conclusions : Retrograde continuous normothermic blood cardioplegic perfusion does not provide better protection to ischemic areas of the ventricles than does antegrade continuous normothermic blood cardioplegic perfusion under our experimental conditions. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1999;117:994-1003)
Capnocytophaga: new genus of gram-negative gliding bacteria. IV. DNA base composition and sequence homology.

Isolates of Gram-negative fermentative gliding bacteria which are prominantly cultivated from the subgingival sulcus in association with periodontal lesions have been the subject of a collaborative taxonomic study. Thirty-five oral strains, isolated from various states of periodontal health and disease, were examined for DNA base composition and patterns of DNA sequence homology. The phentotypically similar organism, Bacteroides ochraceus ATCC 27872, as well as two representatives of gliding bacteria in the family Cytophagaceae, Myxococcus fulvus and Sporocytophaga myxococcoides, were included in these comparisons. Mol-percent guanine and cytosine (% G+C) was determined by thermal denaturation. Relatedness was also assessed by interspecific reassociation of DNA measured by the use of a single-strand specific S1 endonuclease. DNA purified from oral gliders, B. ochraceus ATCC27872 and S. myxococcoides contained 33–41% G+C as compared with 67% in DNA from M. fulvus. Three homology groups (designated as 25, 4 and 27) were delineated by DNA homology. Homology at the 77% level was demonstrated between B. ochraceus ATCC 27872 and the oral reference strain 25. Homology group 4 comprised four strains, all of which were isolated from cases of rapidly advancing periodontal disease. The relatively high degree of genetic divergence, observed as intergroup homology levels of less than 25%, supports the naming of three species of Capnocytophaga, C. ochracea, C. sputigena and C. gingivalis by Leadbetter et al. (1979) corresponding to DNA homology groups 25, 4 and 27, respectively.
Immunological aspects of tri-o-tolyl phosphate-induced delayed neurotoxicity in chickens.

Abstract The immunological aspects of delayed neurotoxicity induced in chickens by tri- o -tolyl phosphate were investigated. The ataxic syndrome was not produced in control chickens by passive transfer of serum and/or lymphocytes from ataxic donors without subsequent TOTP treatment. The antibody response of ataxic birds for a T-cell-dependent antigen (sheep red blood cells) and a T-cell-independent antigen ( Brucella abortis ) was normal. Conversely, the T-cell-mediated graft vs host and phytohemagglutin wattle responses were significantly depressed. Metabolites of TOTP and phenyl saligenin phosphate were cytotoxic to lymphocytes in vitro . The effects of TOTP appeared to be limited to a subpopulation of T cells, possibly via lymphocytotoxicity.
Reference: the linguistic essential

Three chimpanzees learned to label three edibles as "foods" and three inedibles as "tools". Two chimpanzees could then similarly categorize numerous objects during blind trial 1 tests when shown only objects' names. The language-like skills of the chimpanzee who failed (Lana) illustrates that apes can use symbols in ways that emulate human usage without comprehending their representational function.
Hypoxia-induced activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase in the cerebral cortex of newborn piglets: the role of nitric oxide.

The present study aims to investigate the mechanism of EGFR kinase activation during hypoxia and tests the hypothesis that hypoxia-induced increased activation of EGFR kinase in the cerebral cortical membrane fraction of newborn piglets is mediated by nitric oxide (NO) derived from neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). Fifteen newborn piglets were divided into normoxic (Nx, n = 5), hypoxic (Hx, n = 5) and hypoxic-treated with nNOS inhibitor (Hx-nNOSi, n = 5). Hypoxia was induced by an FiO2 of 0.07 for 60 min. nNOS inhibitor I (selectivity >2,500 vs. endothelial NOS, eNOS, and >500 vs. inducible NOS, iNOS) was administered (0.4 mg/kg, i. v.) 30 min prior to hypoxia. EGFR kinase tyrosine phosphorylation at Tyr1173, an index of activation of EGFR kinase, was determined by Western blot analysis using an anti-phospho (pTyr1173)-EGFR kinase antibody. Protein bands were analyzed by imaging densitometry and expressed as absorbance (OD × mm2). EGFR kinase activity was determined radiochemically using immunopurified enzyme. EGFR kinase activity was expressed as pmols/mg protein/hr. Density of phosphor (pTyr1173)-EGFR kinase (OD × mm2) was 60.2 ± 9.8 in Nx, 177.0 ± 26.9 in Hx (P < 0.05 vs. Nx) and 79.9 ± 15.7 in Hx-nNOSi (P < 0.05 vs. Hx, P = NS vs. Nx). Activity of EGFR kinase (pmoles/mg protein/hr) was 4,603 ± 155 in Nx, 8,493 ± 427 in Hx (P < 0.05 vs. Nx) and 4,516 ± 104 in Hx-nNOSi (P < 0.05 vs. Hx, P = NS vs. Nx). Pretreatment with nNOS inhibitor prevented the hypoxia-induced increased phosphorylation and increased activity of EGFR kinase. We conclude that the mechanism of hypoxia-induced increased activation of EGFR kinase is mediated by nNOS-derived NO.
Oral Bone Loss May Be Influenced by Infection and Osteoporosis

Article Title and Bibliographic Information Osteoporosis and oral infection: independent risk factors for oral bone loss. Brennan-Calanan RM, Genco RJ, Wilding GE, Hovey KM, Trevisan M, Wactawski-Wende J. J Dent Res 2008;87(4):323-7. Reviewer Pouran Famili, DMD, MDS, MPH, PhD Purpose/Question To evaluate the association between osteoporosis and oral bone loss, assessing whether oral bacteria and age modify those associations. Source of Funding Government funded with grants from NIDCR (Bethesda, MD) and USARMC Type of Study/Design Cross-sectional study Level of Evidence Level 3: Other Evidence Strength of Recommendation Grade Not applicable
Gauge Fields and Pairing in Double-Layer Composite Fermion Metals.

A symmetrically doped double-layer electron system with total filling fraction {nu}=1/{ital m} decouples into two even-denominator composite fermion {open_quote}{open_quote}metals{close_quote}{close_quote} when the layer spacing is large. Statistical gauge fluctuations in this system mediate an attractive pairing interaction between composite fermions in different layers. A strong-coupling analysis shows that for any layer spacing {ital d} this pairing interaction leads to the formation of a paired quantum Hall state. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
Conservative treatment of rectal cancer extending the indications

Rectal cancer often in the past was believed to require abdominoperineal resection with permanent colostomy to achieve a cure. Several surgical alternatives to colostomy currently are available for selected patients. Understanding of the methods of preoperative staging is increasing, and new techniques, such as intrarectal ultrasound, have provided improved accuracy. By applying this and other methods of preoperative staging, selection of a surgical approach appropriate to the tumor stage increasingly is possible. Curative treatment for rectal cancer often can be achieved while preserving anorectal function.
Design of a constant tension thermocouple rake suitable for flame studies

An improved, spring‐loaded thermocouple rake, suitable for studying flame structure, has been designed. This design keeps the thermocouple under tension thereby ensuring that the thermocouple does not droop due to the thermal expansion of the sensing wire when inserted in the flame. The present design allows the usage of thermocouple wire as small as 0.0508 mm and relative ease in changing thermocouple wire.
Effects of Truck Impacts on Bridge Piers

According to Federal Highway Administration, impact by moving trucks is the 3rd leading cause of bridge failure or collapse in the country. Although current AASHTO LRFD Guide Specifications prescribe designing bridge piers by applying a 400 kips static load at a height of 4ft to improve their impact resistance, recent studies have shown that the dynamic forces because of truck impacts may be significantly higher than that recommended by the AASHTO Guide Specifications. In this paper, we present an extensive investigation on the impact of a three-span steel girder bridge with reinforced concrete piers by trucks running at different speeds through models of bridge and the truck in LS-DYNA, including a correlation between seismic and impact resistance of bridge piers. Results also present a comparison between static load prescribed by AASHTO Guide Specifications and dynamic impacts loads observed during numerical simulations. A performance based approach is proposed to design bridge piers against truck impacts.
COX-2 in play at the AHA and the FDA

The inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 confers a small but absolute risk of cardiovascular events on patients taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). This risk has been established by placebo-controlled trials of NSAIDs selective for COX-2; traditional NSAIDs seem to be heterogeneous with respect to cardiovascular risk. The American Heart Association (AHA) has proposed a 'stepped-care' approach to the use of NSAIDs in patients with cardiovascular disease, whereas the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has failed to approve the COX-2-selective NSAID etoricoxib. In this article, these actions of the AHA and the FDA are interpreted in the light of current knowledge, prompting the formulation of scientific questions that might be addressed.
The temporal locus of the categorical bias in spatial memories

People often use the region of a target's location to make judgements about its exact position. Although there is general agreement that this category-based effect is due to a blending of the specific coding of a target's location and the categorical coding of its region, there is little agreement on when the blending occurs. The current paper examines whether the systematic bias is the result of combining separate undistorted mental representations at the time of retrieval or a result of using a category-distorted mental representation. Participants studied a dot within a circle and reproduced its location from memory after a short or long delay, and new categorical information was introduced during target retrieval. The results showed a larger increase over time in the biases caused by the new category introduced at retrieval than in the biases caused by the originally encoded category. The findings are consistent with retrieval models, providing evidence that category biasing processes operate at the t...
Micro-CT-Based Large Scale Linear Finite Element Models Predict the Strength of Human Thoracic and Lumbar Vertebral Bodies

Vertebral fractures are among the most common and debilitating fractures. Structural organization of cancellous and cortical bone in a vertebra and their local properties are important factors that determine the strength of a vertebra. Linear finite element models utilizing Quantitative Computed Tomography (QCT) images have proven useful for predicting vertebral strength and are potentially useful in predicting risk of fracture in a clinical setting [1]. However, the amount of architectural detail in these models is not sufficient for studying trabecular stress and strains, and their relationship with the microscopic structure, which is important for understanding the mechanisms behind vertebral fragility.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Metastatic epithelioid angiosarcoma of the heart in peritoneal fluid

Angiosarcoma is the most common malignant neoplasm of the heart. Recurrent pericardial effusions are a common manifestation of cardiac angiosarcomas. The diagnosis of metastatic disease in effusions is often established histologically; few cases have been described in exfoliative cytology. We report a case of metastatic cardiac epithelioid angiosarcoma in peritoneal fluid.
PKA and actin play critical roles as downstream effectors in MRP4-mediated regulation of fibroblast migration.

Multidrug resistance protein 4 (MRP4), a member of the ATP binding cassette transporter family, functions as a plasma membrane exporter of cyclic nucleotides. Recently, we demonstrated that fibroblasts lacking the Mrp4 gene migrate faster and contain higher cyclic-nucleotide levels. Here, we show that cAMP accumulation and protein kinase A (PKA) activity are higher and polarized in Mrp4−/− fibroblasts, versus Mrp4+/+ cells. MRP4-containing macromolecular complexes isolated from these fibroblasts contained several proteins, including actin, which play important roles in cell migration. We found that actin interacts with MRP4, predominantly at the plasma membrane, and an intact actin cytoskeleton is required to restrict MRP4 to specific microdomains of the plasma membrane. Our data further indicated that the enhanced accumulation of cAMP in Mrp4−/− fibroblasts facilitates cortical actin polymerization in a PKA-dependent manner at the leading edge, which in turn increases the overall rate of cell migration to accelerate the process of wound healing. Disruption of actin polymerization or inhibition of PKA activity abolished the effect of MRP4 on cell migration. Together, our findings suggest a novel cAMP-dependent mechanism for MRP4-mediated regulation of fibroblast migration whereby PKA and actin play critical roles as downstream effectors.