cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Escape of intraluminal platelets into brain parenchyma after subarachnoid hemorrhage

Platelet aggregates are present in parenchymal vessels as early as 10 min after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Structural injury to parenchymal vessel walls and depletion of collagen-IV (the major protein of basal lamina) occur in a similar time frame. Since platelets upon activation release enzymes which can digest collagen-IV, we investigated the topographic relationship between platelet aggregates, endothelium, and basal lamina after SAH produced by endovascular perforation, using triple immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy with deconvolution. The location of platelet aggregates in relation to zymography-detected active collagenase was also examined. As reported previously, most cerebral vessels profiles contained platelets aggregates at 10 min after SAH. High-resolution three-dimensional image analysis placed many platelets at the ab-luminal (basal) side of endothelium at 10 min, and others either within the vascular basal lamina or in nearby parenchyma. By 24 h post hemorrhage, large numbers of platelets had entered the brain parenchyma. The vascular sites of platelet movement were devoid of endothelium and collagen-IV. Collagenase activity colocalized with vascular platelet aggregates. Our data demonstrate that parenchymal entry of platelets into brain parenchyma begins within minutes after hemorrhage. Three-dimensional analysis suggests that platelet aggregates initiate or stimulate local disruption of endothelium and destruction of adjacent basal lamina after SAH.
Photometric functions for photoclinometry and other applications

The simpler Minnaert and lunar-Lambert functions, which are needed to reduce the number of unknown parameters in photoclinometry, are presently given least-squares fits to the brightness profiles across a disk, or 'limb darkening', described by Hapke's photometric function. The variation of limb darkening with single-scattering albedo and the particle-phase function's asymmetry factor are reduced of eliminated when the Hapke parameters are in the range representative of most planetary surfaces, thereby simplifying the problem of photoclinometry across terrains with variable surface materials.
A new approach for the synthesis of [11C]-labeled fatty acids

The synthesis of ω-[ 11 C], ω-1-[ 11 C] and ω-3-[ 11 C] palmitic acid employing a cross-coupling reaction between a functionalized copper-zinc reagent with [ 11 C]MeI, [1- 11 C]EtI and [1- 11 C]BuI is described. A tert.-butyl-protected ω-iodo fatty acid precursor t BuO 2 C-(CH 2 ) n -I (n = 11, 13, 14) was converted into the corresponding dialkylzinc reagent [ t BuO 2 C-(CH 2 ) n ] 2 Zn which reacts with Me 2 CuI(MgCl) 2 to give a highly reactive copper reagent [ t BuO 2 C-(CH 2 ) n ] 2 CuI(MgCl) 2 Me . 2 Zn as the labeling precursor. The cross-coupling reaction with [ 11 C]MeI, [1- 11 C]EtI and [1- 11 C]BuI provided the protected palmitic acid, specifically labeled with carbon-11 in several positions. The corresponding carbon-13 labeled compounds were synthesized to verify the labeling position. In a typical synthesis with [1- 11 C]EtI starting with 250 mCi of [ 11 C]CO 2 , 14 mCi (6% decay-corrected based on [ 11 C]CO 2 ) of ω-1-[ 11 C]palmitic acid was obtained within 30 minutes after EOB in 88% radiochemical purity prior to purification by HPLC. The general feature of this approach allows the convenient synthesis of palmitic acid specifically labeled in the ω, ω-1 or ω-3 positions by using several [ 11 C]-labeled alkyl iodides ([ 11 C]MeI, [1- 11 C]EtI or [1- 11 C]BuI) in the same cross-coupling protocol.
Good Deals for Homebuyers, Not for the Poor: Erasing Poverty from Affordable Housing Discourse

The usage of the term affordable housing has changed over time, from meeting the housing needs of the poor, to the relatively unproblematized workings of the home ownership market. Qualitative analysis of media discourse in the Boise, Idaho, metropolitan area, from 1990 to 2009 demonstrates this shift in meaning. The changing construction of affordable housing in the media reifies the importance of homeownership as a primary tenure status and further marginalizes the poor as consumers of housing and as legitimate policy concerns.
Genetic marker anchoring by six-dimensional pools for development of a soybean physical map.

Integrated genetic and physical maps are extremely valuable for genomic studies and as important references for assembling whole genome shotgun sequences. Screening of a BAC library using molecular markers is an indispensable procedure for integration of both physical and genetic maps of a genome. Molecular markers provide anchor points for integration of genetic and physical maps and also validate BAC contigs assembled based solely on BAC fingerprints. We employed a six-dimensional BAC pooling strategy and an in silico approach to anchor molecular markers onto the soybean physical map. A total of 1,470 markers (580 SSRs and 890 STSs) were anchored by PCR on a subset of a Williams 82 Bst Y I BAC library pooled into 208 pools in six dimensions. This resulted in 7,463 clones (~1× genome equivalent) associated with 1470 markers, of which the majority of clones (6,157, 82.5%) were anchored by one marker and 1106 (17.5%) individual clones contained two or more markers. This contributed to 1184 contigs having anchor points through this 6-D pool screening effort. In parallel, the 21,700 soybean Unigene set from NCBI was used to perform in silico mapping on 80,700 Williams 82 BAC end sequences (BES). This in silico analysis yielded 9,835 positive results anchored by 4152 unigenes that contributed to 1305 contigs and 1624 singletons. Among the 1305 contigs, 305 have not been previously anchored by PCR. Therefore, 1489 (78.8%) of 1893 contigs are anchored with molecular markers. These results are being integrated with BAC fingerprints to assemble the BAC contigs. Ultimately, these efforts will lead to an integrated physical and genetic map resource. We demonstrated that the six-dimensional soybean BAC pools can be efficiently used to anchor markers to soybean BACs despite the complexity of the soybean genome. In addition to anchoring markers, the 6-D pooling method was also effective for targeting BAC clones for investigating gene families and duplicated regions in the genome, as well as for extending physical map contigs.
Simple Material-Motion Corrections for Thermal Radiative Transport

The laboratory-frame, material-motion corrections due to Morel (2006) are generalized to include a term that transports the radiation angular intensity at a multiple of the material flow speed. The generalization is shown to retain the conservation and asymptotic properties of Morel’s treatment. When the flow-speed multiplier is 4/3, the new treatment can be derived from the comoving-frame radiation energy equation. Results are shown for a radiative shock problem using Implicit Monte Carlo.
Prostaglandin metabolism in relation to the bowel habits of women

Abstract A relationship between the menstrual cycle, changes of bowel habits and concentrations of plasma prostaglandin (PG)E2, PGF2α, 6-keto-PGF1α and thromboxane (TX)B2 in 3 groups of 8 women with different bowel habit were determined. The concentrations of PGE2, PGF2α and TXB2 were significantly higher in the group who had bowel habits smoother than usual at menses compared to those who had experienced constipation throughout cycle or at menses. However, no differences between at mid-cycle and at menses were observed in the groups who had experienced constipation. These results suggest that constipation of young women is related to the inherited inability of patients to synthesize and secrete PGs in plasma and possibly in small intestine.
Visual Evoked Potentials as a Function of Flash Luminance and Duration

Computer-averaged evoked potentials were recorded to visual stimuli of constant duration and varying luminance, as well as to flashes whose luminance and duration varied reciprocally. With constant duration, the latency, amplitude, and waveform of the evoked response varied as a function of luminance. The effects of decreasing the luminance on amplitude and waveform of the responses can be balanced by increasing the duration of the flash. This reciprocity between luminance and duration suggests a relationship between apparent brightness and evoked potentials.
Characterization, expression, and evolutionary aspects of Corazonin neuropeptide and its receptor from the House Fly, Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae)

In this article, we characterized structure and expression of genes encoding the neuropeptide Corazonin (MdCrz) and its putative receptor (MdCrzR) in the House Fly, Musca domestica. The MdCrz gene contains two introns, one within the 5' untranslated region and the other within the open reading frame. The 150-amino-acid precursor consists of an N-terminal signal peptide, and mature Crz followed by Crz-associated peptide (CAP). The CAP region is highly diverged from those of other insect precursors, whereas the mature Crz is identical in other dipteran members. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry consistently found a group of three MdCrz-producing neurons in the dorso-lateral protocerebrum, and eight pairs of bi-lateral neurons in the ventral nerve cord in the larvae. In adults, the expression was found exclusively in a cluster of five to seven neurons per brain lobe. Comparable expression patterns observed in other dipteran species suggest conserved regulatory mechanisms of Crz expression and functions during the course of evolution. MdCrzR deduced from the full-length cDNA sequence is a 655-amino acid polypeptide that contains seven trans-membrane (TM) domains and other motifs that are characteristics of Class-A G-protein coupled receptors. Although the TMs and loops between the TMs are conserved in other CrzRs, N-terminal extracellular domain is quite dissimilar. Tissue-specific RT-PCR revealed a high level of MdCrzR expression in the larval salivary glands and a moderate level in the CNS. In adults, the receptor was expressed both in the head and body, suggesting multifunctionality of the Crz signaling system.
Carotid Intima Media Thickness Versus Carotid Plaque in Cardiovascular Risk Evaluation

Cardiovascular (CV) risk (ie, coronary heart disease [CHD] risk + stroke risk) prediction can be improved with the use of imaging modalities. Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and carotid plaque have been used as markers of atherosclerosis and also as predictors of incident CV events. It has been shown that adding either or both to traditional risk prediction models improves CHD risk prediction. There are limited data comparing CIMT and carotid plaque and currently it appears that combining both CIMT and carotid plaque best improves CHD risk prediction. Improvements in ultrasound technology may allow for improved assessment of CIMT, and quantifying and possibly characterizing atherosclerotic plaque in the near future. Whether quantifying plaque will be superior to CIMT measurements or if the combination of both will be the best way to improve CVD (CHD + stroke) risk prediction with ultrasound remains to be seen.
Availability of Drugs in the Presence of Surface-Active Agents II: Effects of Some Oxyethylene Oxypropylene Polymers on the Biological Activity of Hexetidine

A growth inhibition study of hexetidine (bis-1,3-β-ethylhexyl-5-amino-5-methyl hexahydropyrimidine) was carried out employing Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Staphylococcus aureus , and Streptococcus faecalis as test organisms. Minimum and total inhibitory concentrations of hexetidine for the named organisms were determined. The oxyethylene oxypropylene polymers Pluronic F 68, L 64, and L 62 had neither antibacterial nor antifungal power per se . The activity of hexetidine in the presence of these surface-active agents at their critical micelle concentrations (CMC's) was decreased. Its activity was enhanced considerably in the presence of Pluronic F 68 and L 64 in the concentrations lower than their CMC's. Pluronic L 62 did not enhance the activity of hexetidine at any concentration. No antifungal activity of hexetidine either alone or in combination with Pluronic F 68 against Aspergillus niger was observed.
Relationship between the changes in gastrin levels and intestinal properties in the starved rat

Intestinal DNA, RNA, and protein content were decreased to a greater extent than was body weight when rats were starved for 3 days. Specific lactase and maltase activity increased with progressively longer periods of starvation. Antral and serum gastrin concentration significantly decreased during the 3 days of starvation. Pentagastrin (250 μg/kg 3 times daily) was injected into a group of rats for the duration of a 3-day starvation period and caused a small but significant increase in the relative intestinal RNA and protein content and decreased lactase and maltase specific activities in comparison with the levels of 3-day starved controls. Pentagastrin thus partially reversed some of the starvation-induced changes toward fed levels. Thus, a deficiency in the trophic hormone gastrin may be partially responsible for the disproportionate changes in intestinal tissue during starvation.
Effect of similarity of irrelevant stimuli on performance in discrimination learning problems

Abstract The Stimulus Interaction Hypothesis predicts that increasing the similarity of a pair of irrelevant stimuli will facilitate learning in the simultaneous discrimination problem and increase the difficulty of the successive problem. Sixty-four preschool children were used to test this prediction in a 2 × 2 factorial design with type of problem and similarity of irrelevant cues as the factors. Analysis of mean number of correct responses showed the interaction between the main factors to be significant at the 1% level. A trials-to-criterion response measure and total number of S s who met criterion response measure also support the prediction.
Teratological and Other Effects of Malachite Green on Development of Rainbow Trout and Rabbits

Abstract Malachite green oxalate caused significant developmental abnormalities when administered to eggs of rainbow trout Salmo gairdneri and to pregnant New Zealand white rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus. Treatment of rainbow trout eggs with malachite green caused deformities of larvae at rates three to five times that observed in untreated lots. All dose levels affected fetal development of rabbits. At the dosages given, the incidence of anomalies caused by malachite green was about half that observed in thalidomide-treated positive controls and two to three times that in untreated controls. Abnormalities noted in fish were primarily of the spine and skull. In rabbits, anomalies most frequently involved the skeleton, liver, heart, and kidneys. Some fetal toxicity was observed. Received March 28, 1983 Accepted August 8, 1983
Controlled activation of ZnTe:Cu contacted CdTe solar cells using rapid thermal processing

Abstract Back contacts can significantly limit CdTe solar cell performance, reducing both open circuit voltage (Voc) and fill factor (FF). Copper is an essential component of effective back contacts, but its presence in the CdTe absorber creates detrimental recombination centers. Rapid thermal processing (RTP) is demonstrated as a highly effective approach for reducing back contact barriers in CdTe solar cells contacted with ZnTe:Cu buffer layers, substantially improving both FF (>73%) and Voc (>850 mV). Current density and quantum efficiency remain essentially unchanged, but a five-fold increase in minority carrier lifetime is observed which is attributed to passivation of recombination sites in the back contact region. Quantitative analysis of secondary ion mass spectrometry shows that the majority of Cu segregates to the Au metallization layer and that the ZnTe buffer appears to inhibit the Cu diffusion into CdTe. 3D imaging of the back contact region using atom probe tomography shows that optimized devices are characterized by preferential segregation of copper to both the Au|ZnTe and CdTe|ZnTe interfaces, perhaps in the form of CuxTe. With its low thermal budget the RTP process has been successfully applied to multiple device architectures.
Propensity Adjusted Analysis of Open and Endovascular Thoracic Aortic Repair for Chronic Type B Dissection: A Twenty-Year Evaluation

Background Optimal treatment of chronic type B aortic dissection (CBAD), whether open (open descending aortic repair, OAR) or endovascular (thoracic endovascular aortic repair, TEVAR), is controversial, suggesting a comparative analysis is warranted. Methods One hundred twenty-two of 1,049 patients (1993 to 2013) undergoing descending aortic repair required intervention for CBAD 29.2 ± 34.9 months after the initial acute event and formed the study cohort (mean age 59.7 years). Those with degenerated residual type A dissection were excluded (n = 65). Eighty-eight had extent IIIB CBAD; 11 had intramural hematoma. Indications for surgery included aneurysmal degeneration (n = 105), rupture (n = 8), acute or chronic dissection (n = 8), and extension of dissection (n = 1). Open strategy included descending (n = 71) and thoracoabdominal repair (n = 19), with hypothermic circulatory arrest used in 70 patients. The TEVAR was performed with (n = 2) or without (n = 30) visceral debranching. A treatment strategy propensity score incorporating time since initial acute event, CBAD extent, year of intervention, age, and selected comorbidities was constructed for multivariable analysis. Results Early outcome included the following: 30-day mortality 4% (n = 5); stroke 2% (n = 2); permanent paraplegia 3% (n = 4); renal failure requiring dialysis 7% (n = 8, 5 temporary and 3 permanent); and tracheostomy 3% (n = 4). Visceral aorta intervention (odds ratio [OR] 3.5, p = 0.026) and maximum aortic diameter (OR 1.1, p = 0.001) but not treatment type ( p = 0.64) independently predicted an early composite outcome comprised of these variables. Ten-year survival was 56.2%. Baseline creatinine (hazard ratio [HR] 1.7, p p = 0.021), but not treatment type ( p = 0.225) predicted late mortality. Ten-year freedom from aortic rupture or need for reintervention was 78.3%. Treatment efficacy was improved after OAR (3-year freedom 96.7% vs TEVAR 87.5%, p = 0.026), and this was confirmed after Cox regression (TEVAR, HR 4.6, p = 0.046). Conclusions Intervention for CBAD can be performed with excellent results, either by an open or endovascular approach. The higher rate of treatment failure after TEVAR warrants modification of current device design or endovascular approach before broad application of this treatment strategy.
The approach to equilibrium in a buoyant‐density gradient

The theory for the approach to equilibrium in a buoyant-density gradient is experimentally examined for the case of DNA in CsCl.
‘Toheroa Wars’: Cultural politics and everyday resistance on a northern New Zealand beach

: This paper examines how the cultural politics of resource management were played out on the North Kaipara beach between about 1900 and 1971 between Māori and the representative of the Crown, the Marine Department. Particular attention is devoted to how, after regulations were introduced to protect toheroa, the giant surf clam, Māori struggled to assert their rights through a range of transgressions. The paper argues that this illustrates how cultural politics works both from the top down (the Marine Department's implementation of policy) and the bottom up (Māori resistance). It concludes that through an examination of this particular ‘culture war’, the foreshore emerges as a contested domain where politics, culture and epistemology are inseparable.
Cytokine and Chemokine Expression in Humans Infected with Sudan Ebola Virus

The size and duration of the 2000 outbreak of Sudan Ebola virus (SEBOV) infection in Uganda made it possible to collect serial serum samples from 87 patients (53 survivors and 34 nonsurvivors). Surprisingly, the levels of tumor necrosis factor- alpha and interferon (IFN)- gamma , which had been found to be increased in patients with fatal Zaire Ebola virus infection, were not increased in any of the patients with SEBOV infection. The levels of interleukin (IL)-1 beta , IFN- gamma -inducible protein-10, and RANTES (regulated on activation, normally T cell-expressed and -secreted) were higher in samples from all patients with SEBOV infection than in control samples from healthy hospital staff members, but their levels did not differ between those who survived and those who did not. The levels of IFN- alpha were significantly higher in surviving patients with SEBOV infection, whereas the levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and macrophage inflammatory protein-1 beta were higher in patients with fatal SEBOV infections.
Apoptotic morphology reflects mitotic‐like aspects of physiological cell death and is independent of genome digestion

Several hallmarks characterize what has come to be recognized as a common physiological process of cell death. In particular, the two defining characteristics are the apoptotic morphology of cell shrinkage and chromatin condensation originally described by Kerr et al. [(1972) Br. J. Cancer, 26:239-256] and the prelytic digestion of genomic DNA of the dying cell, as noted first by Wyllie [(1980) Nature, 284:555-556] and Russell et al. [(1982) J. Immunol., 128:2087-2094]. Many suicidal stimuli are able to modulate this process; each of these suicidal inducers activates cell death via a specific pathway. While it remains to be established, we hypothesize that a single mechanism of physiological cell death pertains in all cases [Ucker (1991) New Biol., 3:103-109; Ucker et al. (1994) Immunol. Rev., 142:273-299]. The various modulatory processes act afferently on this single effector pathway. We have examined the significance of the hallmarks of physiological cell death in an effort to elucidate critical mechanistic elements of the cell death process. Here we describe our recent studies of genome digestion. Our work has centered on the characterization of a set of fibroblastic cell clones that vary in their ability to undergo genome digestion associated with physiological cell death induced by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and other stimuli. Our results demonstrate that genome digestion is dispensable for physiological cell death and that apoptotic morphology is independent of genome digestion. Our data suggest further that apoptotic morphology is reflective of mitotic-like aspects of the cell death process.
Fetal and neonatal exposure to trimethylolpropane phosphate alters rat social behavior and emotional responsivity.

The proconvulsant compound trimethylolpropane phosphate (TMPP) was evaluated for its effects on motor, social, and emotional behaviors. Long Evans rats were treated prenatally for 13 days and/or neonatally for 10 days. Behavioral tests were performed during treatment and several days after treatment. Beginning on gestation day 9, and continuing for 13 days, 20 dams received once daily i.p. injections. Half were treated with distilled water, the other 10 received 0.2 mg TMPP/kg body weight. No external malformations were observed in the live-born offspring of TMPP- or vehicle-exposed dams. On postnatal day 3 one-half the pups were cross-fostered to dams that had the opposite treatment as their biological mothers. Also on postnatal day 3, pups were divided into two groups, one receiving injections of distilled water, the other receiving injections of 0.2 mg TMPP/kg body weight. Ten daily injections were administered i.p., beginning postnatal day 3. Motor behaviors were evaluated in step-down and paw lift tasks and no group differences were found. At 18 days of age, one half the pups were separated from the dam and their littermates. The other half of the pups continued to be housed with the dam and remaining littermates until postnatal day 50. Social interaction was measured in juvenile play and adult social investigation. Emotional responsivity was assessed in open field activity, elevated plus-maze exploration, and ultrasonic distress vocalizations. Complex interactions were found for measures of social interaction and emotional responsivity related to drug treatment, housing condition, and sex. Due to the observed sex differences, it is hypothesized that the action of TMPP may involve a change in the hormonal systems that control the differentiation of related sex-typical behaviors.
Transmembrane signaling characterized in bacterial chemoreceptors by using sulfhydryl cross-linking in vivo.

Abstract Transmembrane signaling by bacterial chemoreceptors is thought to involve conformational changes within a stable homodimer. We investigated the functional consequences of constraining movement between pairs of helices in the four-helix structure of the transmembrane domain of chemoreceptor Trg. Using a family of cysteine-containing receptors, we identified oxidation treatments for intact cells that catalyzed essentially complete sulfhydryl cross-linking at selected positions and yet left flagellar and sensory functions largely unperturbed. Constraining movement by cross-links between subunits had little effect on tactic response, but constraining movement between transmembrane segments of the monomer drastically reduced function. We deduce that transmembrane signaling requires substantial movement between transmembrane helices of a monomer but not between interacting helices across the interface between subunits.
A benchmark- and competition-based approach to software engineering research

Many fields of study within computer science have benefited from the adoption of community-wide benchmarks and competitions. Software engineering has yet to fully embrace this approach. Case studies of existing uses of these techniques are presented, and a hypothetical application to software engineering based on research presented in last year's FSE are elaborated.
Photometric determination of osmium with thiourea after extraction of the tetroxide

Abstract A general method for the determination of 5–1000 γ of osmium involves extraction of osmium tetroxide with chloroform or carbon tetrachloride, followed by shaking the organic solvent with a sulfuric acid solution, of thiourea to form red Os(NH 2 CSNH 2 ) 6 +3 , whose color intensity is measured photometrically. A sharp separation of osmium from ruthenium can be obtained by reducing Os(VIII) and Ru(VIII) with ferrous sulfate and then oxidizing Os(IV) to Os(VIII) with nitric acid; ruthenium remains reduced and is not extracted by chloroform or carbon tetrachloride.
Organolanthanide constrained geometry complexes modified for catalysis: Synthesis, structure, and aminoalkene hydroamination properties of a pyrrolidine-substituted constrained geometry organolutetium complex

Abstract The reaction of the organolutetium complex (CGC′)LuCl3Li2(THF), (1; CGC′ = [Me2Si(3-pyrrolidinyl-1-η5-indenyl)(tBuN)]2−) with NaN(TMS)2 provides a straightforward route to the halide-free organolutetium amido complex, (CGC′)LuN(TMS)2(THF) (2). These new complexes were characterized by standard analytical methodology. The monomeric complex 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c with four molecules in a cell of dimensions a = 11.1566(6) A, b = 14.9805(8) A, c = 22.18007(12) A, and β = 90.0620(10)°. Complex 2 is an active precatalyst for the intramolecular hydroamination/cyclization of representative aminoalkenes with turnover frequencies as high as 205 h−1 at room temperature.
DNA-strand breaks and rejoining following exposure of synchronized Chinese hamster cells to ionizing radiation

Abstract Radiation-induced single strand breaks in the DNA of synchronized Chinese ahmster cells and the rejoining of broken pieces have been investigated by the use of alkaline sucrose density gradients. The weight average molecular weight of denatured DNA has been determined for cells in mitosis, G1 and S phase following irradiation and post-irradiation incubation. The data presented supports the conclusion that the processes which are responsible for the joining of broken pieces of DNA are present and functional during all phases of the cell cycle, including mitosis. The molecular weight of denatured DNA from unirradiated control cells consisted of a wide distribution of small and large pieces ranging from about 10·106 to 250·106 with a weight average molecular weight of 50 to 55·106. This data is consistent with the hypothesis that mammalian cell chromosomal DNA is arranged in a series of small units held together by linker molecules which are labile to alkaline conditions.
Mature cataracts in eyes with unilateral axial myopia

Seven patients with unsuspected unilateral axial myopia developed a cataract in the longer eye. Vision deteriorated in all cases between the ages of 40 and 55 years. Bilateral axial length measurements were necessary for the diagnosis and revealed a difference of 4.5 mm to 6.7 mm between the two eyes. Five cases had a mature cataract and had extracapsular cataract extraction; surgery restored isometropia, improved the visual acuity to 20/200 or better, and enlarged the field of vision. All patients were amblyopic in the cataractous eye.
Comparison of rates of intracellular metabolism of zidovudine in human and primate peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Abstract 3'-Azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) is a drug of choice for the treatment of AIDS. On the basis of pharmacokinetic data, the nonhuman primate Macaca nemestrina has been shown to be a suitable animal model for use in the study of the disposition of AZT. However, since AZT is activated to its metabolite, the AZT triphosphate (AZTTP), intracellularly, we investigated the intracellular activation of AZT in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of healthy and simian immunodeficiency virus-infected macaques and compared it with that in PBMCs obtained from human volunteers. At 5 microM extracellular AZT, both human and macaque PBMCs rapidly convert AZT to AZT monophosphate (AZTMP) (84% of total phosphorylated products) in 4 h. Increases in AZTMP levels of 7.7- and 12-fold were observed in human and macaque PBMCs, respectively, when the extracellular AZT concentration increased from 0.45 to 14.4 microM. Similar ratios of AZT metabolites, AZT diphosphate (AZTDP)/AZTTP (0.7 to 1.4), AZTMP/AZTDP (3 to 14), and AZTMP/AZTTP (3 to 19), over the same AZT concentration range were observed in both human and macaque PBMCs, suggesting that these cells have similar capacities to phosphorylate AZT. Simian immunodeficiency virus-infected macaque PBMCs showed a fivefold increase in intracellular AZT and AZTMP levels and a twofold increase in AZTDP and AZTTP levels (picomoles per 10(7) cells) when compared with those in the uninfected cells (at 4 h with 0.9 microM extracellular concentration). This increase in AZT metabolite levels has also been reported for human immunodeficiency virus-infected PBMCs. Collectively, given the similarities in phosphorylation profiles between healthy and infected human and macaque PBMCs, we conclude that the macaque is a suitable animal model for use in the study of factors that can effect the in vivo phosphorylation of AZT.
LEVERAGED BUYOUTS AND SHAREHOLDER RETURNS

This study examines the risk-adjusted stock returns realized by shareholders of firms acquired through leveraged buyouts to assess the economic gains associated with this type of acquisition. Stockholders of firms acquired through leveraged buyouts realize significant positive abnormal returns as a result of the buyout announcement. The findings support the notion of value creation in leveraged buyouts.
A 1.5-GS/s Flash ADC With 57.7-dB SFDR and 6.4-Bit ENOB in 90 nm Digital CMOS

A 7-bit 1.5-GS/s analog-to-digital converter (ADC) incorporates redundancy, reassignment, and digital correction to reduce the complexity of analog functions and the required accuracy compared to traditional Flash ADCs. Deliberate and random mismatch is used to set the desired trip points, achieving a 600-mVpp differential input signal range. The need for a low-impedance high-precision resistor reference ladder is eliminated, and comparator performance is decoupled from matching requirements, so that small and fast dynamic comparators can be used. New analysis discusses the optimum combination of random and deliberate comparator offset to achieve a target effective number of bits (ENOB). This prototype ADC has the highest ENOB and highest sampling frequency of any reported Flash ADC utilizing redundancy. A proof-of-concept prototype achieves no missing codes, 46.6-dB spurious-free dynamic range, and 6.05-bit ENOB at Nyquist input frequency. Fabricated in 90-nm digital CMOS, with a core area of 1.2 mm2, the device consumes 204 mW from a 1.2-V/0.9-V analog/digital supply.
Adsorbate−Surface Phonon Interactions in Deuterium-Passivated Si(111)-(1 × 1)

The vibrational spectra of atomically flat hydrogen- and deuterium-passivated Si(111)-(1 x 1) surfaces are investigated using theoretical and experimental techniques. An unexpected isotopic shift is observed for the Si-H bending mode when hydrogen is replaced with deuterium, with δ(Si-H) = 626 cm -1 and δ(Si-D) = 537 cm -1 . The Si-H stretching mode, in contrast, behaves as expected with v(Si-H) = 2083 cm -1 and v(Si-D) = 1516 cm -1 . Density functional studies reveal that the mode observed at 537 cm -1 is mostly a phonon mode, which results from the coupling of near-surface phonons with the lower frequency bending mode of the deuterated surface. This coupling causes a shift in the ordering of the expected vibrational modes when hydrogen is replaced by deuterium. We also suggest that such a mode around 535 cm -1 should be seen for many other surfaces and is a general feature of many monovalently terminated Si(111) surfaces.
Modelling of the influence of downstream pressure for highly selective pervaporation

Abstract A model has been developed to describe the influence of downstream pressure on the pervaporation performance of the systems water-tetrahydrofuran-Cuprophan membrane and water-isopropanol-cellulose membrane. In this model, the diffusion coefficient of both permeants is assumed to be proportional to the exponential of the local concentration of the preferentially permeating component in the membrane. The model also includes the evaporation of the permeants from the membrane downstream interface as another rate-limiting step in the process. This model makes it possible to predict the increase of the flux of the non-preferential component permeant of the above systems when the downstream pressure increases. It could be used to simulate systems in which high selectivity for the least volatile component is obtained in pervaporation.
Functional health status and its relationship to depressive personality disorder, dysthymia, and major depression: preliminary findings.

Controversy continues on the extent to which depressive personality disorder (DPD) and dysthymic disorder (DYST) may be differentiated. Although affective disorders often are accompanied by changes in functional health status, to date no study has examined how functional health associated with affective disorders may assist in differentiating the two disorders. In this study, we hypothesized that measures of DPD would have fewer correlations with functional health status than would measures of DYST and major depressive disorder (MDD). African American women (n 5110) completed questionnaires that assessed for depressive disorders, somatic concerns, and physical health. Measures of DPD, DYST, and MDD were all significantly correlated with functional health status. When symptoms of MDD were controlled, DYST was more associated with functional health status than was a DSM-IV measure of DPD, although a self-report measure of DPD—the Depressive Personality Disorder Inventory [DPDI; Huprich et al., 1996: J Clin Psychol 52:152–159]—remained significantly correlated with functional health status. When symptoms of DYST were controlled, DSM-IV symptoms of DPD were not strongly associated with functional health status, although measures of MDD and the DPDI were correlated with functional health status. We concluded that despite the overlap in depressive symptoms and functional health status, DPD may be less associated with functional health status in a primary care population than DYSTand MDD. Implications for the assessment of DPD are provided. Depression and Anxiety 0:1–9, 2005. & 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Nurse-administered propofol versus midazolam and meperidine for upper endoscopy in cirrhotic patients

Nurse-administered propofol versus midazolam and meperidine for upper endoscopy in cirrhotic patients
Lactate dehydrogenase from the protozoan parasite, Trichomonas vaginalis

Abstract Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) has been purified to near homogeneity from the parasitic protozoan, Trichomonas vaginalis , using ion exchange and affinity chromatographies. Two distinct peaks (P1 and P2) of LDH activity were eluted from DEAE-Sepharose, and LDH from each peak was purified separately. LDH from both peaks exhibited identical apparent subunit molecular weights of 39 kDa, as judged from SDS-PAGE and focused as single spots with identical pIs during 2D gel electrophoresis. In addition, activity staining for LDH activity on non-denaturing polyacrylamide gels of the crude homogenate yielded a single tight doublet, which was identical to the pattern seen when either P1 or P2 were analyzed under similar conditions. P1 and P2 exhibited dramatically different apparent K m s for pyruvate and lactate, but neither was affected by ATP, ADP, citrate, succinate, or fructose-1,6-diphosphate when assayed at near K m concentrations of pyruvate. In contrast to mammalian LDHs, the trichomonad enzyme could use 3-acetylpyridine NAD + as a substrate.
Characterization of a Heme-Regulated Non-Coding RNA Encoded by the prrF Locus of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic pathogen, requires iron for virulence and can obtain this nutrient via the acquisition of heme, an abundant source of iron in the human body. A surplus of either iron or heme can lead to oxidative stress; thus, the Fur (ferric uptake regulator) protein blocks expression of genes required for iron and heme uptake in iron-replete environments. Fur also represses expression of two nearly identical genes encoding the 116- and 114-nucleotide (nt) long PrrF1 and PrrF2 RNAs, respectively. While other Pseudomonads encode for the two PrrF RNAs at separate genomic loci, PrrF1 and PrrF2 are encoded in tandem in all sequenced strains of P. aeruginosa. In this report we characterize a third longer transcript encoded by the prrF locus, PrrH, which is repressed by heme as well as iron. We mapped the PrrH RNA in PA01 using 5′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) and northern analysis, demonstrating the PrrH RNA is 325 nt in length. Accordingly, transcription of PrrH initiates at the 5′ end of prrF1, proceeds through the prrF1 terminator and prrF1-prrF2 intergenic sequence (95 nt), and terminates at the 3′ end of the prrF2 gene. We also present evidence that repression of PrrH by heme causes increased expression of previously identified PrrF-regulated genes, as well as newly identified iron- and heme-activated genes. Thus, the PrrH RNA appears to impart a novel heme regulatory mechanism to P. aeruginosa.
Outcomes of patients receiving maintenance dialysis admitted over weekends.

Background Hospital admissions over weekends have been associated with worse outcomes in different patient populations. The cause of this difference in outcomes remains unclear; however, different staffing patterns over weekends have been speculated to contribute. We evaluated outcomes in patients on maintenance dialysis therapy admitted over weekends using a national database. Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting & Participants We included nonelective admissions of adult patients (≥18 years) on maintenance dialysis therapy (n = 3,278,572) identified using appropriate International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification ( ICD-9-CM ) codes for 2005-2009 using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database. Predictor Weekend versus weekday admission. Outcomes The primary outcome measure was all-cause in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included mortality by day 3 of admission, length of hospital stay, time to death, and discharge disposition. Measurements We adjusted for patient and hospital characteristics, payer, year, comorbid conditions, and primary discharge diagnosis common to maintenance dialysis patients. Results There were an estimated 704,491 admissions over weekends versus 2,574,081 over weekdays. Unadjusted all-cause in-hospital mortality was 40,666 (5.8%) for weekend admissions in comparison to 138,517 (5.4%) for weekday admissions ( P Limitations Use of ICD-9-CM codes to identify patients, defining weekend as midnight Friday to midnight Sunday. Conclusions Maintenance dialysis patients admitted over weekends have increased mortality rates and longer lengths of stay compared with those admitted over weekdays. Further studies are needed to identify the reasons for worse outcomes for weekend admissions in this patient population.
Composition and function of g protein-coupled receptor signalsomes controlling mitogen-activated protein kinase activity.

Seven membrane-spanning G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) function as ligand-activated guanine nucleotide exchange factors for heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding (G) proteins that relay extracellular stimuli by activating intracellular effector enzymes or ion channels. Recent work, however, has shown that GPCRs also participate in numerous other protein-protein interactions that generate intracellular signals in conjunction with, or even independent of, G-protein activation. Nowhere has the importance of protein complex assembly in GPCR signaling been demonstrated more clearly than in the control of the spatial and temporal activity of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade. ERK1/2 activation by GPCRs often involves cross talk with classical receptor tyrosine kinases or focal adhesion complexes, which scaffold the assembly of a Ras activation complex. Even more surprising is the phenomenon of G protein-independent signaling using β-arrestins, proteins originally characterized for their role in homologous GPCR desensitization, as scaffolds for the assembly of a multiprotein signalsome directly upon the GPCR. Although both forms of signaling lead to MAP kinase activation, the pathways appear to be functionally, as well as mechanistically, distinct. Transactivated receptor tyrosine kinase mediate rapid and transient MAP kinase activation that favors nuclear translocation of the kinases and transcriptional activation. In contrast, β-arrestin-dependent signaling produces a slower and more sustained increase in MAP kinase activity that is often restricted to the cytosol. Together, these highly organized signaling complexes dictate the location, duration, and ultimate function of GPCR-stimulated MAP kinase activity.
Elevated serum transaminase levels resulting from concomitant use of rosuvastatin and amiodarone.

Purpose. The case of a patient whose serum transaminase levels became elevated after concomitant use of rosuvastatin and amiodarone is described. Summary. A 73-year-old white woman with a medical history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypothyroidism, hyperlipidemia, and aortic stenosis reported to a clinic on February 9, 2006. Laboratory tests revealed the following values: total cholesterol, 172 mg/dL; low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, 96 mg/dL; high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, 55 mg/dL; triglycerides, 105 mg/dL; aspartate transaminase (AST), 14 IU/L; alanine transaminase (ALT), 13 IU/L; alkaline phosphatase (ALP), 68 IU/L; and serum creatinine (SCr), 1.1 mg/dL. At this time, rosuvastatin 5 mg daily was initiated. On April 20, 2006, laboratory tests revealed an AST of 30 IU/L, ALT of 58 IU/L, ALP of 99 IU/L, and SCr of 1.0 mg/dL. Because of the severity of her aortic stenosis, the patient underwent aortic valve replacement on May 15, 2006, and amiodarone was initiated. Laboratory tests completed on May 31, 2006, revealed an AST of 192 IU/L, ALT of 336 IU/L, ALP of 322 IU/L, and SCr of 1.1 mg/dL. She did not report any symptoms of myopathy or liver dysfunction. Ultrasound revealed no liver abnormalities. The rosuvastatin was discontinued because of a potential interaction with the amiodarone. One week after the rosuvastatin was stopped, her laboratory tests showed an AST of 68 IU/L, an ALT of 126 IU/L, an ALP of 292 IU/L, a creatine kinase concentration of 22 IU/L, and an SCr of 1.0 mg/dL. Two months later, her liver function test values had continued to decline. Conclusion. A potential interaction between rosuvastatin and amiodarone resulted in asymptomatic elevation of serum transaminase levels in a 73-year-old woman.
Hybrid FxRLS-FxNLMS Adaptive Algorithm for Active Noise Control in fMRI Application

A hybrid adaptive algorithm is developed for an active noise control system that leverages the stability of the filtered-input normalized least mean squares (FxNLMS) adaptive algorithm, with the high convergence speed of the filtered-input recursive least squares (FxRLS) adaptive algorithm. This algorithm is motivated by practical issues in implementing a real-time active noise control system. It leads to fast initial convergence with low, stable steady-state error while being limited by the computational capability of hardware. It gives better convergence speed than either the FxNLMS or FxRLS algorithm individually, lower residual error, and a lower overall computational complexity than the FxRLS algorithm, when appropriate filter lengths are chosen. Experimental results are presented for the implementation of the hybrid algorithm to cancel functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) acoustic noise in an fMRI test-bed.
Analysis of Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Transients by an Extended Time-Domain Adaptive Integral Method

A stable and fast marching-on-in-time based integral-equation solver for analyzing low-frequency electromagnetic transients is presented. Stability and computational efficiency are achieved by using a frequency-normalized and diagonally balanced loop-tree decomposition scheme in concert with a novel fast Fourier transform (FFT)-based acceleration scheme. The proposed algorithm extends the time-domain adaptive integral method (TD-AIM) into the low-frequency regime by accelerating the computations of not only (discrete) "delayed" interactions due to fields observed one or more time steps after being generated but also "instantaneous" interactions due to fields observed less than one time step after being launched. This is realized by augmenting the four-dimensional blocked space-time FFTs in the TD-AIM recipe with three-dimensional space-only FFTs. Application of the extended TD-AIM accelerated integral-equation solver to the analysis of package geometries demonstrates its accuracy, stability, and efficiency.
Scalable Audio Compression at Low Bitrates

A perceptually scalable audio coder generates a bit-stream that contains layers of audio fidelity and is encoded in such a way that adding one of these layers enhances the reconstructed audio by an amount that is just noticeable by the listener. Such algorithms have applications like music on demand at variable levels of fidelity, for instance using 3G and 4G cellular radio systems operating at different bit rates. While the MPEG-4 natural audio coder can create finely scalable bit streams using bit sliced arithmetic coding (BSAC), its perceptual quality at low bit rates is poor. On the other hand, the nonscalable transform-domain weighted interleaved vector quantization (TWIN-VQ) performs well at low bit rates. In this paper, we present a modified version of TWIN-VQ algorithm that generates a perceptually scalable bit-stream with many fine layers of audio fidelity. Using TWIN-VQ as our base ensures the best possible perceptual quality at low bit rates. Specifically, the proposed scalable algorithm performs as well as TWIN-VQ at rates of 8 to 16 kb/s and outperforms scalable BSAC by between 64% and 172% at rates of less than 24 kb/s.