cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of radiolabeled stilbene derivatives as new potential PET probes for aryl hydrocarbon receptor in cancers

Abstract New carbon-11 and fluorine-18 labeled stilbene derivatives, cis-3,5-dimethoxy-4′-[11C]methoxystilbene (4′-[11C]8a), cis-3,4′,5-trimethoxy-3′-[11C]methoxystilbene (3′-[11C]8b), trans-3,5-dimethoxy-4′-[11C]methoxystilbene (4′-[11C]10a), trans-3,4′,5-trimethoxy-3′-[11C]methoxystilbene (3′-[11C]10b), cis-3,5-dimethoxy-4′-[18F]fluorostilbene (4′-[18F]12a), and trans-3,5-dimethoxy-4′-[18F]fluorostilbene (4′-[18F]13a), were designed and synthesized as potential PET probes for aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in cancers.
Femtosecond laser scalpel technology for proteomic mass spectrometry

Tandem mass spectrometry is a widely used tool for molecular structure determination of biomolecules. Advances in proteome analysis depend on the development of improved methods for ion activation that yield greater sequence information, with selective control over the fragmentation chemistry. A novel activation method, femtosecond laser-induced ionization/dissociation, is described here, and compared to collision induced dissociation through the analysis of three peptides.
Activation of the BKCa Channel Increases Outflow Facility and Decreases Trabecular Meshwork Cell Volume

Purpose: Inhibition of the BKCa channel attenuated the nitric oxide-induced increase in outflow facility and decrease in trabecular meshwork (TM) cell volume suggesting the involvement of the BKCa channel in TM cell function. This study examined the effects of activation of the BKCa channel on outflow facility and TM cell volume and determined if the effects of NO and BKCa channel activation on TM cell volume were additive.Methods: Porcine eyes were used to measure outflow facility using the anterior segment organ culture perfusion system. Cell volume was measured using Calcein AM fluorescent dye, detected by confocal microscopy, and quantified using NIH ImageJ software.Results: NS1619 increased outflow facility 86% over baseline. Additionally, there was a concentration-dependent decrease in TM cell volume in response to NS1619, which was abolished by iberiotoxin (IBTX). While NS1619 alone and DETA-NO alone decreased TM cell volume, together their effects were not additive. The time course for NS1619-indu...
ESTROGEN EFFECTS ON PAIN SENSITIVITY AND NEUROPEPTIDE EXPRESSION IN RAT SENSORY NEURONS

While a number of chronic pain conditions are much more prevalent in women than men, the role of estrogen in regulating nociception remains unclear. Estrogen receptors (ER) are known to be expressed in various parts of the nociceptive pathway, including in the small-sized primary sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG). This study evaluated the effects of long term estrogen replacement on pain sensitivity and neuropeptide expression in the DRG of female Sprague Dawley rats. The goal was to evaluate whether estrogen modulates nociceptive neuropeptides in the DRG in a manner consistent with its effects on pain sensitivity. Our results show that long term (28 days) ovariectomy (ovx) of adult rats induces a profound thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia of the hindpaw and tail compared to ovariectomized animals that were continuously estrogen-treated (ovx+E). Significant changes in the expression of two neuropeptides, substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), were observed using immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization (ISH) in the small lumbar DRG neurons which contain ER. CGRP and SP were differentially regulated by estrogen, with SP showing a significant downregulation at both the peptide and mRNA levels while CGRP and its mRNA were increased in the DRG of estrogen-treated animals. We also evaluated the development of mechanical allodynia after partial sciatic nerve injury and found that both ovx and ovx+E animals developed significant allodynia within a week of the partial nerve injury, which continued for at least one month. The estrogen-treated animals showed a partial amelioration of the extent of the allodynia at 2 weeks post injury. Overall, the results suggest that estrogen has significant anti-nociceptive actions that can be directly correlated with changes in expression of two peptides in the small nociceptive ERalpha expressing neurons of the DRG.
Supervised and semi-supervised online boosting tree for industrial machine vision application

Machine learning techniques are being used extensively for knowledge discovery and data mining in industrial inspection applications. Traditionally, all of the training samples are required to be presented for training a classifier at a batch mode. However, in most industrial inspection applications, only a small amount of training samples are available initially and larger amount of them become sequentially available during online prediction. In addition, data properties could be changing over time. We propose supervised and semi-supervised online learning with a Boosting Tree (BT) to adapt and evolve the classifier in an online fashion and thus accommodate new information that becomes available sequentially in industrial inspection applications. The supervised online BT can efficiently expand and update existing BTs to add new knowledge without time consuming batch re-training. The semi-supervised BT utilizes co-training to improve classification accuracy by making use of the information in the unlabeled samples and thus reduce the labeling burden of a human operator. We also proposed compact knowledge representation such that data can be fit into limited memory and a fixed computational complexity can be maintained.
Energy depositions of protons in allotropic carbon ultrathin films

We present the effects of structure, chemical binding, and number of layers on stopping for clean, unreconstructed diamond (100) one- to four-layer films with lattice constants fixed at crystalline values, and for graphite mono- and dilayers at their optimized bond lengths. First Born approximation stopping cross sections for protons incident normally on the films were obtained from orbital versions of the kinetic theory of stopping and of the local plasma approximation. The required electron momentum density was generated from the real space Kohn–Sham orbitals. We find a strong static quantum size effect in the stopping of diamond ultra-thin films as opposed to graphite, for which the stopping is only very weakly dependent on the layer number. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The effects of bovine serum albumin and fetal bovine serum on the development of pre- and postcleavage-stage bovine embryos cultured in modified CR2 and M199 media

Abstract The effects of protein supplementation on bovine embryo development in vitro was evaluated using a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement with ten replications. A total of 6438 oocytes collected from abattoir ovaries were used. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) and fetal bovine serum (FBS) were added in various combinations to simple (modified CR2) and complex (M199) media during culture of precleavage-stage IVM/IVF-derived ova from 18 h after insemination to 72 h and postcleavage-stage embryos after 72 h of culture. Cleavage rates did not differ (p > 0.05) between media supplemented with FBS or with BSA. However, the postcleavage development to the blastocyst stage of in vitro-derived bovine embryos is better in media supplemented with FBS than BSA. A greater (p 0.05) in rate of embryo development between CR2 and M199.
PREDICTING THE OCCURRENCE OF RARE MOLLUSKS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA FORESTS

Terrestrial mollusks are important components of forest ecosystems, yet we know very little about the distribution and habitat of many of these species. We sampled for terrestrial mollusks in northern California with the goal of estimating the geographic ranges and developing predictive habitat models for five species that were assumed to be sensitive to land management activities. The species of interest were Ancotrema voyanum, Helminthoglypta talmadgei, Monadenia churchi, Monadenia fidelis klamathica, and M. f. ochromphalus. We randomly selected 308 plots for sampling from a grid of points across a 2.2 million-ha study area. We used Generalized Additive Models to estimate each mollusk's geographic range and to develop predictive habitat models within their ranges. Models were developed at one microscale (1 ha) and six mesoscales (ranging from 12.5 to 1250 ha) using vegetation, physical, climatic, and spatial location covariates. Estimated geographic ranges varied from 4770 to 15 795 km2. Predictive habi...
Expression of PH-20 in normal and neoplastic breast tissue.

Abstract Background. Tumor metastasis involves a sequence of interrelated steps, of which penetration beyond the basement membrane is an essential component. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a major structural component of the complex proteoglycans found in extracellular matrices and basement membranes. Hyaluronidase (PH-20) degrades HA, resulting in the disruption of basement membrane integrity and possible tumor dissemination. Materials and methods. Total RNA was extracted from samples ( n = 51) of normal breast tissue ( n = 12), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) ( n = 12), infiltrating ductal breast adenocarcinoma ( n = 13), and metastatic breast cancer to lymph nodes ( n = 14). RT-PCR was used to determine the relative level of PH-20 in each specimen. Results. PH-20 was detected in 41/51 (80.4%) of the specimens evaluated. PH-20 was present in 12/12 (100%) normal breast tissues; 8/12 (66.7%) DCIS; 13/13 (100%) invasive breast cancers; and 8/14 (57.1%) metastases. Of those specimens in which PH-20 was detected, there were increased levels of PH-20 in metastatic breast cancer to lymph nodes compared to DCIS and invasive breast cancer. Stratification of specimen by race revealed that African American women had higher levels of PH-20 with invasive and metastatic beast cancer. Conclusions. Increased levels of PH-20 are noted in invasive and metastatic breast cancer compared to DCIS. Tumors from African American women with invasive and metastatic breast cancer demonstrated higher levels of PH-20 than Caucasians. Varying levels of PH-20 in mammary tissue may contribute to early invasion and metastasis of breast cancer.
The folding and deformed potential models for inelastic scattering

Abstract It is important to include exchange effects when generating transition potentials for inelastic scattering from a folding model. The relation between potential and density deformations is discussed. Transition densities and transition potentials are sensitive to the form of deformation assumed.
Management of exercise-induced bronchospasm in NCAA athletic programs.

Purpose: The prevalence of exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) is significantly higher in athletes than that in the general population and can result in significant morbidity in young, competitive athletes. Guidelines emphasize that education and written treatment protocols improve clinical outcomes for asthmatics. Evidence also supports objective testing when EIB is suspected, when there is immediate availability of rescue inhalers, and when there is involvement of asthma specialists in the care of asthmatic athletes. We sought to determine how EIB is managed at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sports medicine programs. Methods: A survey consisting of multiple-choice questions related to EIB in athletes was sent electronically to 3200 athletic trainers affiliated with NCAA sports medicine programs. Results: Five hundred and forty-one athletic trainers responded. A minority of athletic trainers surveyed (21%) indicated that an asthma management protocol exists at their institution. Twenty-two percent indicated that pulmonologists are on staff or consultants to the sports medicine department. Many indicated that a short-acting beta-agonist is not required to be available at all practices (39%) and games (41%), and few athletic trainers indicated that their programs use objective testing to diagnose EIB (17%). Regression modeling demonstrated education about EIB, and involvement of pulmonologists significantly improved adherence to current consensus guidelines. Conclusions: On the basis of our data, many NCAA sports medicine programs do not manage athletes with EIB according to current consensus guidelines. This may result in inaccurate diagnoses and may be detrimental to clinical outcomes and overall health of student athletes. Providing education about EIB and involvement of pulmonologists significantly increase adherence to guidelines that likely improves clinical care of athletes and potentially athletic performance.
Scabies in the extended care facility. Revisited.

Abstract: Infestations with Sarcoptes scabiei var hominis re-main a problem in nursing home patients. While the traditional signs of scabies include burrows and red papules found on the fingerwebs, chest, waist, or genitalia, the elderly or infirm patient may have only a nonspecific pruritic eruption. Epidemics in skilled care facilities may be controlled and the scabies mite even eradicated from the institutions with appropriate diagnosis and adequate treatment of both patients and personnel and their contacts.
A compact cubic spline algorithm for converging to function minimums

Abstract A compact algorithm that uses cubic splines to converge to a function minimum is given. It is as simple to implement as a currently popular algorithm, yet it provides a higher order function approximation.
Low-order modeling and dynamic characterization of rapid thermal processing

A low-order model of rapid thermal processing (RTP) of semiconductor wafers is derived. The first-principles nonlinear model describes the static and dynamic thermal behavior of a wafer with approximate spatial temperature uniformity undergoing rapid heating and cooling in a multilamp RTP chamber. The model is verified experimentally for a range of operating temperatures from 400° C to 900° C and pressures of 1 Torr and 1 atmosphere in an inert N2 environment. Theoretical predictions suggest model validity over a still wider range of operating conditions. One advantage of the low-order model over previous high-order and statistical models is that the proposed model contains a small number of fundamental parameters and functions that, if necessary, are easily identifiable. Furthermore, because of reduced computational complexity, the low-order model can be used in real-time predictive applications including signal processing and process control design.
How to discuss goals of care with patients

Effective communication with patients and their caregivers continues to form the basis of a constructive clinician-patient relationship and is critical to provide patient-centered care. Engaging patients in meaningful, empathic communication not only fulfills an ethical imperative for our work as clinicians but also leads to increased patient satisfaction with their own care and improved clinical outcomes. While these same imperatives and benefits exist for discussing goals of care and end-of-life, communicating with patients about these topics can be particularly daunting. While clinicians receive extensive training on how to identify and treat illness, communication techniques, especially those centering around emotion-laden topics such as end-of-life care, receive short shrift medical education. Fortunately, communication techniques can be taught and learned through deliberate practice, and in this article, we seek to discuss a framework, drawn from published literature and our own experience, for approaching goals-of-care discussions in patients with cardiovascular disease.
Variation in spontaneous mutation and repair in natural population lines of Drosophila melanogaster

To measure the possible correlation between genetic damage and repair ability in natural populations of a eukaryote, we compared the spontaneous frequency of sex-linked recessive lethal mutations and male recombination, which is associated with DNA transposable element induced chromosome breakage, with DNA repair efficiency in isofemale lines of a winery population of Drosophila melanogaster from Australia. Repair efficiency was measured by maternal effects on ring-X chromosome loss. Significant amounts of genetic variability for spontaneous rates of genetic change and for repair ability were observed in the isofemale lines collected during periods of low and high population density. However, there were no correlations between repair ability and rates of genetic damage. Possible reasons for the absence of correlation are discussed, along with the observations that: (a) the frequency of lethal mutations and ring-X chromosome losses were significantly higher in the small, resident population; (b) the rates of ring chromosome losses and especially lethal mutations are uniform over periods of time; (c) and inbreeding of isofemale lines leads to a reduction of the high spontaneous mutation rates.
Knowledge in society: anatomy of an emergent field

An emergent social science of knowledge applications, drawing on a substantial multidisciplinary literature published over the past twenty-five years, signals an inversion of typical scholarly reasoning about the knowledge-society nexus. Whereas most scholarly research thus far has concentrated on conditions believed to affect the production of scientific and professional knowledge, we pose a new problematic: What must we examine in order to comprehend and consciously shape applications of scientific and professional knowledge to the manifold problems facing contemporary societies? To date, approaches to this problematic have proceeded on the basis of four broadly accepted if abstract theses about the nature of contemporary knowledge systems: subjectivity, corrigibility, sociality, and complexity. Within the boundaries supplied by these commonly accepted theses are unresolved controversies expressed in competing visions of complexity, alternative perspectives of causation, rival images of progress, and conflicting criteria of application.
Sodium and Potassium Concentration of Brain and Dura Mater in Chronic Hypovitaminosis A of Calves

Abstract In hypovitaminosis A of calves, elevated cerebrospinal fluid pressure characteristic of the deficiency could result in hydrocephalus and increased adrenocortical hormones altering distribution of sodium and potassium in brain. To investigate possible effects on brain as well as on the tentorium cerebelli portion of dura mater, 25 Holstein male calves averaging 54 days of age, 71kg in weight, and 9.1 μ g/100ml in plasma vitamin A were fed one of four vitamin A intakes equivalent to 4, 16, 64, or 256 μ g retinol/kg live weight/day for 16 wk. Increases in live weight were unaffected by vitamin A intake. Incidence of diarrhea and convulsions was greater in the group with 4 μ g intake. Elevated cerebrospinal fluid pressures and occurrence of papilledema were inversely related to intake at 4 and 16 μ g. Brain weights were less for the 4 μ g intake but not on a live weight basis. Sodium and potassium concentrations of the right hemisphere of the brain did not differ among intakes of the vitamin; however, ash and sodium content of the dura mater of those calves with 4 μ g intake tended to be greater than those of calves with the other three intakes.
Relationships between growth, photosynthesis and competitive interactions for a C3 and C4 plant.

The relationships of photosynthetic characteristics to the competitive interactions of a C3 plant, Chenopodium album, and a C4 plant, Amaranthis retroflexus, were investigated in different temperature and water supply regimes. Both species had similar photosynthetic rates at 25°C, but at higher temperatures, Amaranthus had substantially greater rates than Chenopodium. Conversely, at lower temperatures, Chenopodium had an advantage. The competitive abilities in mixtures exhibited a close parallel to the photosynthetic performances with Amaranthus having an advantage at high temperatures and Chenopodium an advantage at low temperatures. These competitive outcomes were determined primarily by differences in relative growth rates prior to canopy closure. In the respective, temperature regimes, the species having the highest photosynthetic rate, which resulted an more rapid growth, overtopped and shaded the other species at the time of canopy closure. These results demonstrate that differences in photosynthetic temperature response between C4 and C3 plants can be an important determinant in competitive interactions, but at least in this case, the influence is primarily through, events prior to the actual initiation of competition. In contrast to temperature, growth of the plants under limited water supply had no influence on the competitive interactions. Thus, the presence of the C4 pathway alone was not sufficient to yield a competitive advantage over the C3 species under water limited conditions.
Divalent cations as allosteric modifiers of the (Na + + K + )-dependent ATPase.

Abstract With a (Na + + K + )-dependent ATPase preparation from rat brain, equimolar MgCl2 or MnCl2 increased similarly the cooperative response to activation by Na+, measured in terms of the slope of the Hill plot, n , although their effects on other kinetic parameters differed markedly. In like manner, both MgCl2 and MnCl2 increased similarly the sensitivity of the enzyme to ouabain, in contrast to their dissimilar effects on activity in the absence of ouabain. These data suggest that one role of these cations is to act at specific sites on the enzyme to favor certain conformational state(s), perhaps by influencing subunit interactions, i.e. as heterotropic allosteric modifiers.
Microporous conducting polymers on neural microelectrode arrays: I Electrochemical deposition

Abstract In this paper, microporous films of the conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and polypyrrole (PPy) were electrochemically deposited on the microelectrodes of neural probes from aqueous solution of lithium perchlorate (LiClO4) using different sized polystyrene latex spheres as templates. Scanning electron microscopy of these samples revealed a three-dimensionally microporous structure consisting of voids with interconnected channels. The influence of the amount of deposited conducting polymer on the morphology of the microporous coatings has been extensively studied. The surface morphology of the films was found to vary with the particle size of polystyrene latex spheres and coating thickness. The microporous conducting polymer films with different pore sizes electrodeposited on the electrode sites have high regularity in pore size.
Stress-based vapor sensing using resonant microbridges

We demonstrate that silicon-polymer composite microbridges provide a robust means of water vapor detection at ambient pressure. Volumetric changes in the reactive polymer alter the tension in a doubly clamped structure leading to large and rapid changes in the resonance frequency. We demonstrate stress-based sensing of water vapor in ambient pressure nitrogen using doubly clamped buckled beams coated with a hygroscopic polymer. We show stress sensitivity of around 20 kPa (∼170 ppb of water vapor) and subsecond response time for coated microbridges.
A task analysis of assertive behavior revisited: Replication and extension

The study was designed to replicate and extend Schwartz and Gottman's (1976) task analysis of the deficits in nonassertive behavior. The study extended previous research by comparing groups differing in assertiveness on measures of positive assertion, information-processing style, and social problem-solving ability. Contrary to Schwartz and Gottman, only high assertive subjects demonstrated competence in content knowledge and informal delivery of refusal responses. Also, high assertive subjects performed better under direct delivery conditions and reported more positive self-statements replicating previous findings. Although groups did not differ on component measures of positive assertion and social problem solving, high compared to low assertives were more abstract in information-processing style. This relationship was replicated with a second sample. Overall, the findings suggest that training in assertive behavior should give equal attention to deficits in both cognitive and overt response skills.
Spontaneous Cerebellar Hemorrhage due to a Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma

A 13-year-old boy presented to the emergency room with headaches and ataxia. Imaging studies revealed a cerebellar hemorrhage within a posterior fossa tumor. The patient underwent complete resection of this lesion and made a full recovery. Microscopic examination of this lesion revealed a juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma.
Forecasting the impact of new technologies on the future job market

Abstract This paper examines recent occupational projections in order to determine how new technologies will affect future job growth in the United States. The first part of the paper reviews the methodologies used to derive occupational projections, focusing on how adjustments for technological change are incorporated into the forecasts. The second part of the paper reviews the most recent projections produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and compares them with projections produced by other organizations. The results reveal that neither high-technology industries nor high-technology occupations will supply many new jobs over the next decade. Instead, future job growth will favor service and clerical jobs that require little or no postsecondary schooling and that pay below-average wages.
Biological activities and molecular targets of the human papillomavirus E7 oncoprotein

The human papillomavirus (HPV) E7 protein is one of only two viral proteins that remain expressed in HPV-associated human cancers. HPV E7 proteins share structural and functional similarities with oncoproteins encoded by other small DNA tumor viruses such as adenovirus E1A and SV40 large tumor antigen. The HPV E7 protein plays an important role in the viral life cycle by subverting the tight link between cellular differentiation and proliferation in normal epithelium, thus allowing the virus to replicate in differentiating epithelial cells that would have normally withdrawn from the cell division cycle. The transforming activities of E7 largely reflect this important function.
Multivariate survival distributions

When two or more observed survival times depend, via a proportional hazards model, on the same unobserved variable, called in this context a frailty, this common dependence induces an association between the observed times. This paper focuses on the class of multivariate survival distributions generated by such models. These turn out to be a subclass of the archimedean copula models described among others by Genest and Mackay (1986). A special case, important in survival analysis, is Gumbells (1960) Type B distribution of extreme values, which is obtained from a positive stable frailty distribution. We discuss characterizations of the frailty distribution via measures of association and methods for parametric and nonparametric inference from data possibly subject to censoring. We briefly contrast this situation with that obtained when repeated events can be observed on the same subject, leading to ordered failure time data.
The technology of metered-dose inhalers and treatment costs in asthma: a retrospective study of breath actuation versus traditional press-and-breathe inhalers.

Abstract This paper reviews the impact of the use of technologically dissimilar beta-agonist aerosols—the Maxai TM Autohale TM (pirbuterol acetate) breath-actuated aerosol and the traditional albuterol press-and-breathe inhaler—on the treatment costs of asthma. If, as clinical evidence would suggest, the breath-actuated aerosol is not only as effective as an albuterol inhaler with a spacer, but is easier to use and results in more optimal beta-agonist use by patients, then one might consider the hypothesis that patients possessing a breath-actuated inhaler would, ceteris paribus, experience lower asthma-related treatment costs—principally, those medical costs associated with fewer emergency room visits and hospitalizations. This hypothesis is considered from the perspective of a retrospective claims database study of patients who used one or the other beta-agonist inhaler exclusively. At the descriptive level, costs of treatment for patients using the press-and-breathe inhaler are estimated to be 16.5% greater than costs for patients using the breath-actuated inhaler. In the multivariate analysis, the presence of the breath-actuated inhaler (in a dummy variable analysis) was not only statistically significant ( P TM Autohale TM ranged from 8.7% to 11.7%, with medical cost savings estimated at 14.6%.
Neutrino Interactions and a Unitary Universal Model

Predictions of neutrino and antineutrino reactions at l to 2 Bev/c are given. Proposed tests for selection rules DELTA S = DELTA Q, DELTA I = 1/2 for DELTA S = + DELTA Q, DELTA I = 1 for DELTA S = 0, and DELTA S = 2, are suggested using neutrino beams. (R.E.U.)
Forced power oscillation analysis based on EEAC theory

The power system forced power oscillation will be excited by the continuous cyclical small power disturbances. The forced power oscillation theory can explain some low frequency oscillations that are not caused by negative damping. In this paper, the multi-machine power system forced power oscillation is analysed on the dominant oscillation mode based on EEAC theory. And then the condition on which the amplitude of forced power oscillation caused by two disturbance sources can be the maximum is studied. A method of prime mover disturbance source identification is presented and verified.
Three-band superconductivity and the order parameter that breaks time-reversal symmetry

We consider a model of multiband superconductivity, inspired by iron pnictides, in which three bands are connected via repulsive pair-scattering terms. Generically, three distinct superconducting states arise within such a model. Two of them are straightforward generalizations of the two-gap order parameter while the third one corresponds to a time-reversal symmetry-breaking order parameter, altogether absent within the two-band model. Potential observation of such a genuinely frustrated state would be a particularly vivid manifestation of the repulsive interband interactions being at the root of iron-based high-temperature superconductivity. We construct the phase diagram of this model and discuss its relevance to the iron pnictides family of high-temperature superconductors. We also study the case of the Josephson coupling between a two-band ${s}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ or $s\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}$ superconductor and a single-gap $s$-wave superconductor and the associated phase diagram.
RNA-sequencing evaluation of fresh frozen and formaldehyde-fixed prefrontal cortex brain tissue for the study of Alzheimer's disease

P1-067 RNA-SEQUENCING EVALUATION OF FRESH FROZEN AND FORMALDEHYDE-FIXED PREFRONTAL CORTEX BRAIN TISSUE FOR THE STUDY OFALZHEIMER’S DISEASE Alexandra Dumitriu, Richard H. Myers, Ann McKee, Sudha Seshadri, Anita Destefano, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States; Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States; Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Contact e-mail: adumitri@bu.edu
Monitoring peptidase activities in complex proteomes by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.

Measuring enzymatic activities in biological fluids is a form of activity-based proteomics and may be utilized as a means of developing disease biomarkers. Activity-based assays allow amplification of output signals, thus potentially visualizing low-abundant enzymes on a virtually transparent whole-proteome background. The protocol presented here describes a semiquantitative in vitro assay of proteolytic activities in complex proteomes by monitoring breakdown of designer peptide substrates using robotic extraction and a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization–time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometric readout. Relative quantitation of the peptide metabolites is carried out by comparison with spiked internal standards, followed by statistical analysis of the resulting mini-peptidome. Partial automation provides reproducibility and throughput essential for comparing large sample sets. The approach may be used for diagnostic or predictive purposes and it enables profiling of 96 samples in 30 h. It could be tailored to many diagnostic and pharmaco-dynamic purposes as a readout of catalytic and metabolic activities in body fluids or tissues.
Crude oil trade and current account deficits

Abstract This paper provides an empirical exploration into the relationship between crude oil trade and a nation's current account for 91 countries over the 1984–2009 period. Reduced oil import dependence may initially reduce a country's general trade deficit under certain conditions. The analysis probes the nature of this relationship and whether it holds equally to oil-importing and oil-exporting countries, after controlling for other exogenous drivers. We find that net oil exports are a significant factor in explaining current account surpluses but that net oil imports often do not influence current account deficits. Among all oil importers the one exception applies to relatively rich countries, where higher oil imports appear to contribute to greater current account deficits. One explanation for these trends is that oil exporters and wealthier oil importers may view oil income gains and losses as temporary income sources that influence their savings patterns.
Carcass composition and yield of 1991 vs 1957 broilers when fed "typical" 1957 and 1991 broiler diets

Whole carcass yield and the yield of parts (i.e., wings, saddle and legs, Pectoralis major, Pectoralis minor, breast skin, rack, abdominal fat pad, heart, and lungs), as well as whole carcass analysis for fat, moisture, and ash, were measured in the 1957 Athens-Canadian Randombred Control (ACRBC) and in the 1991 Arbor Acres (AA) feather-sexable strain, when fed "typical" 1957 and 1991 diets. Using the average of both sexes, the carcass weights of the 1991 birds on the 1991 diets were 4.4, 3.9, and 3.5 times heavier than those from the 1957 ACRBC on the 1957 diet at 43, 71, and 84 d of age, respectively. Birds fed the 1991 diets had significantly heavier carcass weights than those fed the 1957 diets. Hot carcass yield of the AA broiler (mean of both sexes) was approximately 6 to 7% higher at the same age than for the ACRBC. Water uptake in the carcass (following a 60-min immersion in ice water) was approximately 2 to 2.5% higher in the ACRBC than in the AA broiler. Yield of saddle and legs as a percentage of live BW was about 4% higher in the AA than in the ACRBC. Dietary regimen did not affect the yield of saddle and legs. Males had 2 to 3% more saddle and legs than the females. The yield of total breast meat for the AA was approximately 3% higher (mean = 16.9%) than for the ACRBC over both sexes and all ages. Breast yield on the 1991 diets was approximately 1.2% higher for the AA than for the ACRBC. Females had slightly higher breast yield (1%) than males. The AA broiler had consistently heavier fat pads and higher percentage carcass fat at the same age and on the same diet than did the ACRBC. The percentage carcass fat was significantly higher on the 1991 vs the 1957 diet and in females vs males. The male-female difference in percentage carcass fat increased with age. Heart and lung size as a percentage of live BW were lower in the AA than in the ACRBC.
Callose in Frankia-Infected Tissue of Datisca glomerata is an Artifact of Specimen Preparation

: Callose, or β-1,3-glucan, is a plant cell wall polysaccharide that occurs endogenously at distinct sites in a variety of tissues. Callose is also formed in response to stress involving cell membrane perturbation. In sections of chemically-fixed nodule tissue of the actinorhizal host, Datisca glomerata, callose was cytochemically detected within the Frankia-infected cortical cells, as an extensive network of wall material surrounding the microsymbiont, but not in uninfected cortical cells. Callose formation was completely inhibited within the infected cells when 2-deoxy-D-glucose, an inhibitor of callose formation, was included in the tissue fixative. The study concludes that callose deposition in the Datisca nodule infected zone is apparently a stress response to tissue preparation and fixation. However, the rapidity and extent of callose deposition primarily at the symbiotic interface in Frankia-infected cells suggests an unusual predisposition to biosynthesis of β-1,3-glucan in the nodule cortical cells that is related to their interaction with the microsymbiont.
The impact of altered annexin I protein levels on apoptosis and signal transduction pathways in prostate cancer cells.

BACKGROUND. Although reduced expression levels of annexin I (ANX I) protein is a common finding in all stages of prostate cancer a causative relationship between ANX I dysregulation and prostate cancer development has yet to be established. METHODS. Annexin I expression was restored in LNCaP and MDA PCa 2b that normally express low or undetectable levels of ANX I protein. The impact of restoring ANX I expression on cell viability, colony formation in soft agar, apoptosis, and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) activation was examined. RESULTS. Restoring ANX I expression reduced cell viability, colony formation, in addition to inducing apoptosis. The proliferative response of epidermal growth factor was blocked by restoring ANX I expression. Furthermore, increasing basal and induced levels of phosphorylated p38 and JNK were observed in prostate cancer cells following restoration of ANX I expression. CONCLUSIONS. AnnexinImayhavetumorsuppressorfunctionsinprostatecancer.Theproapoptotic effect of ANX I involves the activation of p38 and JNK, which appears to shift the balance of signal transduction away from proliferation and toward apoptosis. Prostate 66: 1413–1424, 2006. # 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Bounds on Lorentz and CPT violation from the Earth-ionosphere cavity

Electromagnetic resonant cavities form the basis of many tests of Lorentz invariance involving photons. The effects of some forms of Lorentz violation scale with cavity size. We investigate possible signals of violations in the naturally occurring resonances formed in the Earth-ionosphere cavity. Comparison with observed resonances places the first terrestrial constraints on coefficients associated with dimension-three Lorentz-violating operators at the level of 10{sup -20} GeV.
In Vivo Release of Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone Estimated with Push-Pull Cannulae from the Mediobasal Hypothalami of Ovariectomized, Steroid- Primed Rats*

The in vivo release of LHRH from the mediobasal hypothalami (MBH) of conscious, freely moving rats was estimated by means of a push-pull perfusion system. The effects of local 15-mM K+ infusions as well as a regimen of estradiol benzoate and progesterone (P) were assessed. Ovariectomized (Ovx) rats received 22-gauge cannula implants fitted with 28- gauge stylettes. Ten to 22 days post Ovx and 6 –-18 days post implantation, a rat was placed in a testing chamber, the stylette was removed, and an inner cannula assembly (28 gauge) was inserted, its tip protruding 0.75 mm past the outer permanent cannula into the MBH at the following coordinates: 5.8 mm anterior, 0.6 mm lateral, and 9.8 mm ventral. Artificial cerebrospinal fluid was pushed through the inner cannula and pulled up between the cannulae at 18 μl/min by two identically calibrated peristaltic pumps, effectively perfusing a sphere approximately 1 mm in diameter, as determined by dye experiments. Tenminute fractions were collected continuously on ice,...
Osteolathyrism in mice and inhibition of the endosteal bone reaction in estrogen‐treated mice by aminoacetonitril

The effect of aminoacetonitrile (AAN) on the skeletons of young mice injected with estrogen was studied histologically and microradiographically. AAN (0.5, 2.5, 5, 10 or 20 mg) was administered daily during the first week of treatment alone or in combination with a single injection of 1 mg estradiol valerate on the first day. The animals were sacrificed at intervals of seven days for a period of four weeks. The bone reaction leading to ossification of the marrow cavities as a consequence of estrogen-treatment was diminished by 5–20 mg AAN, and the effect was roughly proportional to the dose of the nitrile. The metaphyseal trabeculae (distal femur) of the AAN-treated mice developed a mosaic appearance. While administration of the nitrile alone induced the formation of periosteal hyperostotic and osteo-cartilaginous hyperostotic fiber bone tissue over the femoral shafts late in the post-treatment recovery period, combined treatment with estrogen potentiated these changes during the treatment period itself. The cortical bone tissue was also demineralized by combined treatment, and fused osteocyte lacunae regularly appeared as an apparent sequela of both cell enlargement and degradation of perilacunar matrix. Conversely, estrogen completely protected the epiphyseal cartilages against degenerative changes (abnormal vascular invasion, rents etc.) after low doses of AAN (0.5–2.5 mg) during the treatment period, but the hormone was only partially effective after higher doses of AAN. It was suggested that aminoacetonitrile disrupts both the formation of new bone collagen and the integrity of collagenous structures deposited prior to treatment.
Aging of secondary organic aerosol from alpha-pinene ozonolysis: roles of hydroxyl and nitrate radicals.

This work investigates the oxidative aging of preformed secondary organic aerosol (SOA) derived from α-pinene ozonolysis (∼100 ppbv hydrocarbon [HCx] with excess of O3) within the University of California–Riverside Center for Environmental Research and Technology environmental chamber that occurs after introduction of additional hydroxyl (OH) and nitrate (NO3) radicals. Simultaneous measurements of SOA volume concentration, hygroscopicity, particle density, and elemental chemical composition (C:O:H) reveal increased particle wall-loss-corrected SOA formation (1.5%, 7.5%, and 15.1%), increase in oxygen-to-carbon ratio (O/C; 15.6%, 8.7%, and 8.7%), and hydrophilicity (4.2%, 7.4%, and 1.4%) after addition of NO (ultraviolet [UV] on), H2O2 (UV on), and N2O5 (dark), respectively. The processing observed as an increase in O/C and hydrophilicity is attributed to OH and NO3 reactions with first-generation vapor products and UV photolysis. The rate of increase in O/C appears to be only sufficient to achieve semivo...
Insulin Secretion in Aging: Studies with Sequential Gating of Secretion Vesicle Margination and Lysis*

A new sequential gating perifusion technique was employed to investigate secretion vesicle margination and granule lysis in islets isolated from 2- and 18-month-old Fischer 344 rats. The technique is based on sequential perifusion (periods A, B, and C) of isolated islets with glucose (30, 165, or 300 mg/dl) in the presence of sodium isethionate, an inhibitor of granule lysis, followed thereafter by trifluoperazine, an inhibitor of secretion vesicle margination, and glucose (300 mg/dl) or isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX; 400 μM). When glucose was employed during period A to marginate secretion vesicles to the plasma membrane, subsequent glucose- and IBMX-induced insulin release (period C) was depressed in islets from 18-monthold rats [maximal increase above the basal rate of release (Δmax), 9 ± 2 nUμm-min] compared to that in the 2-monthold animals (Δmax, –19 ± 3 nUμmmin). With glyburide (400 μM) used to induce secretion vesicle margination, glucose- and IBMX-induced insulin release was the same in young and ...
Improving analytical dynamic models using frequency response data: application

Results are presented from the successful application of a method to estimate physical parameters of an assumed form parametric (Finite Element) model. The method employs a form of the Iterated Extended Kalman Filter for parameter estimation with constraints imposed in the form of relative and absolute bounds. Frequency response function data is used as the measurement information. Certain quantities useful for evaluating filter performance, the sensitivity functions and the computer codes written to implement the method are discussed. Results are then presented for the numerical experimentation using simulated data and a simple, low order analytical model.
Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations in drug therapy of cardiac emergencies

In the drug therapy of cardiac emergencies, it is necessary to rapidly achieve therapeutic drug concentrations and adjust drug dose as the patient's clinical status changes. Cardiac dysfunction is often present and may alter drug pharmacokinetics. Circulatory failure causes sympathetically mediated vasoconstriction in most tissues, with relative sparing of the brain and heart due to autoregulation. Blood flow to vasoconstricted tissues is reduced, and the available cardiac output is redistributed so that the heart and brain receive a greater fraction. Drug distribution to tissues is therefore slowed, and the initial concentration of drug in blood is higher when circulatory failure is present than when it is absent. This higher blood concentration is reflected by higher concentrations of drug in the brain and heart, which are relatively well perfused. Initial doses of many drugs need to be reduced in patients with circulatory failure to prevent cardiac or central nervous system toxicity. Cardiac output is markedly diminished during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but blood flow distribution is qualitatively similar to that of circulatory failure with spontaneous circulation. Pneumatic trousers increase lower extremity vascular resistance and may produce a similar redistribution of blood flow. Drug distribution during the use of CPR or pneumatic trousers should be similar to that of circulatory failure with spontaneous circulation, but few data are available to guide drug dosing during the use of these interventions. Animal data suggest that the central volume of distribution of some drugs during CPR may be as small as one-tenth of normal. Drug metabolism in circulatory failure may be impaired by reduced hepatic blood flow resulting in decreased clearance of highly extracted drugs, or by hepatocellular dysfunction resulting in decreased clearance of poorly extracted drugs. Drug excretion may be impaired by reduced renal blood flow resulting in decreased filtration or secretion and increased reabsorption. The maintenance dose of many drugs must therefore be reduced in the presence of circulatory failure. Intravenous drug administration is preferred in patients with circulatory failure. The central intravenous route is often convenient but must be used cautiously when administering potentially cardiotoxic drugs. Intratracheal administration appears to be a promising alternative for some drugs, such as adrenaline (epinephrine). Intracardiac injections are hazardous and offer no demonstrated advantage over other routes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
E-Cadherin, β -Catenin and cadmium carcinogenesis

Cadmium (Cd(2+)) is an important industrial and environmental pollutant that has been classified as a human carcinogen. Studies reported in the literature indicate that cadmium may play a role in both the initiation of cancer, by activating oncogenes, and in the progression of cancer, by increasing the metastatic potential of existing cancer cells. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects have yet to be elucidated. Recent studies from our laboratory have shown that cadmium can disrupt the tight junctions between many types of epithelial cells by interfering with the normal function of E-cadherin, a Ca(2+)-dependent cell adhesion molecule that plays a key role in epithelial cell-cell adhesion. This finding may be especially significant because a large volume of evidence indicates that the disruption of E-cadherin-mediated cell adhesion can trigger the beta-catenin-mediated activation of oncogenes in epithelial cells and increase the invasive potential of existing epithelial-derived cancers. The hypothesis that we are proposing is that the cadmium-induced disruption of E-cadherin dependent cell-cell junctions may represent a pivotal step in both the initiation of cancer by cadmium and in the tumor promoting actions of cadmium.