cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Introduction of an 8-Aminooctanoic Acid Linker Enhances Uptake of 99mTc-Labeled Lactam Bridge–Cyclized α-MSH Peptide in Melanoma

UNLABELLED The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of amino acid, hydrocarbon, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) linkers on the melanoma targeting and imaging properties of (99m)Tc-labeled lactam bridge-cyclized HYNIC-linker-Nle-CycMSHhex (hydrazinonicotinamide-linker-Nle-c[Asp-His-DPhe-Arg-Trp-Lys]-CONH2) peptides. METHODS Four novel peptides (HYNIC-GGGNle-CycMSHhex, HYNIC-GSGNle-CycMSHhex, HYNIC-PEG2Nle-CycMSHhex, and HYNIC-AocNle-CycMSHhex) were designed and synthesized. The melanocortin-1 receptor binding affinities of the peptides were determined in B16/F1 melanoma cells. The biodistribution of (99m)Tc(ethylenediaminediacetic acid [EDDA])-HYNIC-GGGNle-CycMSHhex, (99m)Tc(EDDA)-HYNIC-GSGNle-CycMSHhex, (99m)Tc(EDDA)-HYNIC-PEG2Nle-CycMSHhex, and (99m)Tc(EDDA)-HYNIC-AocNle-CycMSHhex were determined in B16/F1 melanoma-bearing C57 mice at 2 h after injection to select a lead peptide for further evaluation. The melanoma targeting and imaging properties of (99m)Tc(EDDA)-HYNIC-AocNle-CycMSHhex were further examined because of its high melanoma uptake. RESULTS The inhibitory concentrations of 50% (IC50) for HYNIC-GGGNle-CycMSHhex, HYNIC-GSGNle-CycMSHhex, HYNIC-PEG2Nle-CycMSHhex, and HYNIC-AocNle-CycMSHhex were 0.7 ± 0.1, 0.8 ± 0.09, 0.4 ± 0.08, and 0.3 ± 0.06 nM, respectively, in B16/F1 melanoma cells. Among these four (99m)Tc-labeled peptides, (99m)Tc(EDDA)-HYNIC-AocNle-CycMSHhex displayed the highest melanoma uptake (22.3 ± 1.72 percentage injected dose/g) at 2 h after injection. (99m)Tc(EDDA)-HYNIC-AocNle-CycMSHhex exhibited high tumor-to-normal-organ uptake ratios except for the kidneys. The tumor-to-kidney uptake ratios of (99m)Tc(EDDA)-HYNIC-AocNle-CycMSHhex were 3.29, 3.63, and 6.78 at 2, 4, and 24 h, respectively, after injection. The melanoma lesions were clearly visualized by SPECT/CT using (99m)Tc(EDDA)-HYNIC-AocNle-CycMSHhex as an imaging probe at 2 h after injection. CONCLUSION High melanoma uptake and fast urinary clearance of (99m)Tc(EDDA)-HYNIC-AocNle-CycMSHhex highlighted its potential for metastatic melanoma detection in the future.
WE‐G‐WAB‐09: Development of MRI Fiduciary Markers for Interstitial Brachytherapy

Purpose: To develop MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) visible fiduciary markers to identify the plastic needle locations inside the cylindrical plastic applicator used in interstitial brachytherapy to treat cancers at the virginal apex. Methods: MRI visible fiduciary markers were created using polyimide tubing (outer diameter=1.23mm, inner diameter=1.13mm). The tube was filled with jelly and sealed using bone wax at both ends. MRI fiducials were inserted into the plastic flexi needles that were placed in the interstitial brachytherapy applicator needle holes. The applicator was then placed in a container filled with water and underwent MRI scans. T2‐weighted (T2W) and proton density weighted (PDW) MR images were acquired in the sagittal orientation. The echo time (TE) and repetition time (TR) were 100ms and 5,849ms for T2W images, and 5.5ms and 4,284ms for PDW images. Both T2W and PDW had an in‐plane spatial resolution of 1mm and a slice thickness of 2.5mm. The number of average was 4 for both scans. The total scan time was 4 minutes and 38 seconds for T2W, and 3 minutes and 42 seconds for PDW. Results: Fiduciary markers in all plastic flexi needles were clearly visible in both T2W and PDW images. For sagittal images, the diameter of the fiducial was smaller than the slice thickness. Due to the partial volume effect, signal from fiduciary markers was smaller than that from the water surrounding the applicator. Therefore, the windowing level was adjusted accordingly to visualize the fiduciary markers. Conclusion: We demonstrated the feasibility of creating MRI visible fiduciary markers that could be fit into plastic needles. These markers can be used to determine applicator needle locations for interstitial brachytherapy, making treatment planning based on MRI images possible.
Heavy Minerals of Pre-Morrison Jurassic Rocks, Lucero Uplift, Northwestern New Mexico: ABSTRACT

A heavy-mineral study was made of the following formations in the Lucero uplift: Triassic: Chinle Formation and Wingate Sandstone; Jurassic: Carmel Formation, Entrada Sandstone, Todilto Formation (not analyzed), Summerville Formation, Bluff Sandstone, and Morrison Formation; Cretaceous: Dakota Sandstone. Emphasis was placed on the pre-Morrison Jurassic rocks. Heavy minerals identified from these rocks consist dominantly of zircon, garnet, tourmaline, rutile, and several opaque minerals, and very minor epidote, biotite, staurolite, and apatite. This limited suite of mostly rounded, stable heavy minerals indicates that the rocks concerned are multicycle sediments, and agrees with the conclusion previously derived from utilizing other stratigraphic tools in studying these rocks. Thus, in this respect, the usefulness of heavy minerals as a stratigraphic tool is demonstrated. Furthermore, the pre-Morrison part of the section, in which relatively abundant amounts of magnetite-ilmenite occur, is readily distinguishable from the Morrison Formation in which these minerals are virtually absent. When the pre-Morrison Jurassic rocks are viewed in sequence, it appears that the Carmel and lower Entrada are characterized by low zircon-garnet and high magnetite-ilmenite content, the upper Entrada by a high zircon-garnet and low magnetite-ilmenite content, and the Summerville and Bluff by a high zircon-low garnet and variable magnetite-ilmenite content. Nevertheless, with the exception of the upper Entrada, the differences in per cent distribution of the heavy minerals are not sufficient to unequivocally characterize any single pre-Morrison unit. Thus, in this respect the heavy minerals are not as useful a stratigraphic tool as they might be if the suite were mineralogically more varied. Prior to the determination of the heavy-mineral content by using standard techniques of counting individual grains, an attempt was made to estimate the heavy-mineral content. A comparison of the results of the two methods shows that, even with a simple suite of easily identifiable heavy minerals, an estimated per cent distribution is not reliable and does not justify the apparent saving in time. End_of_Article - Last_Page 273------------
Molecular beam time-of-flight sensitized fluorescence: the velocity dependence of CO(a3Π) + Hg(61S0) → CO(X1Σ+) + Hg(63P 1)

Abstract The velocity dependence of the excitation of mercury to Hg(6 3 P 1 ) by CO(a 3 Π) was determined in a cross beam experiment by measuring the time-of-flight distribution of both the metastable CO molecules and the mercury 2537 A emission. For a cross section functional dependence of ν −n , n was found to be 0.8 + − 0.1 over the relative velocity range ν = 300 - 700 m/sec.
Anti-Poverty Family Policies in China: A Critical Evaluation

Despite its rapid economic growth, China remains a developing country facing serious challenges of poverty and inequality. This article examines the development and effectiveness of China's primary anti-poverty family policy, the Minimum Living Standard Assurance (MLSA, or Dibao). Using rich administrative data and building on the existing literature, this article provides a critical evaluation of MLSA's benefit generosity, coverage, targeting, and anti-poverty effectiveness. To help reinforce MLSA's anti-poverty impacts, local governments in recent years have implemented a series of supplementary policies and programs, including health, education, housing, and work support programs. This article also provides an assessment of these supplementary policies and programs and draws policy implications for the ongoing expansion of the Chinese government's anti-poverty efforts.
Second Graders’ Strategic Preferences While Reading Basal Stories

AbstractSecond graders’ think-alouds were analyzed to investigate whether children used different reading strategies to comprehend targeted story grammar categories in two basal reader narratives. The results indicate that the proportion of elahorative and non-elaborative strategies used by children differed as a function of category type. Two categories produced a significantly greater number of elaborative strategies as reported by children, and three other categories of story grammar elicited a significantly greater number of non-elaborative strategies for comprehension. One category elicited no significant difference in comprehension strategy. These findings are discussed in relation to previous story grammar research.
Relative distribution of actin, myosin I, and myosin II during the wound healing response of fibroblasts

Myosin I is present in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts and its localization reflects a possible involvement in the extension and/or retraction of protrusions at the leading edge of locomoting cells and the transport of vesicles, but not in the contraction of stress fibers or transverse fibers. An affinity-purified polyclonal antibody to brush border myosin I colocalizes with a polypeptide of 120 kD in fibroblast extracts. Within initial protrusions of polarized, migrating fibroblasts, myosin I exhibits a punctate distribution, whereas actin is diffuse and myosin II is absent. Myosin I also exists in linear arrays parallel to the direction of migration in filopodia and microspikes, established protrusions, and within the leading lamellae of migrating cells. Myosin II and actin colocalize along transverse fibers in the lamellae of migrating cells, while myosin I displays no definitive organization along these fibers. During contractions of actin-based fibers, myosin II is concentrated in the center of the cell, while the distribution of myosin I does not change. Thus, myosin I is found at the correct location and time to be involved in the extension and/or retraction of protrusions and the transport of vesicles. Myosin II-based contractions in more posterior cellular regions could generate forces to separate cells, maintain a polarized cell shape, maintain the direction of locomotion, maximize the rate of locomotion, and/or aid in the delivery of cytoskeletal/contractile subunits to the leading edge.
Comparing semantically related sentences: the case of paraphrase versus subsumption

Paraphrases and other semantically related sentences present a challenge to NLP and IR applications such as multi-document summarization and question answering systems. While it is generally agreed that paraphrases contain approximately equivalent ideas, they often differ from one another in subtle, yet non-trivial, ways. In this paper, we examine semantic differences in cases of paraphrase and subsumption, in an effort to understand what makes one sentence significantly more informative than another. Using manually annotated data from the news domain, we concentrate on developing a framework for analyzing and comparing pairs of related sentences.
Mechanisms of TfR-mediated transcytosis and sorting in epithelial cells and applications toward drug delivery

Transferrin receptor has been an important protein for many of the advances made in understanding the intricacies of the intramolecular sorting pathways of endocytosed molecules. The unique internalization and recycling functions of transferrin receptor have also made it an attractive choice for drug targeting and delivery of large protein-based therapeutics and toxins. Recent advances in elucidating the role of the intracellular controllers of transferrin recycling and sorting, such as Rab proteins and their effectors, have led to enhancement of transferrin receptor as a drug delivery vehicle. This review focuses on the use of transferrin receptor as an agent for facilitating drug delivery and targeting, and the role that mechanisms of transferrin receptor sorting and transcytosis play in these events.
Effect of a transportation incentive on compliance with the first prenatal appointment: A randomized trial

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of incentives for improving compliance with the first prenatal appointment. Methods One hundred four low-income women, intending to enroll for prenatal care in a system of Northern California family planning clinics, were recruited for a randomized trial. Study subjects were assigned randomly to one of three groups, receiving a taxicab voucher or a babyblanket coupon or an appointment slip (controls). Intentionto-treat analysis was used to compare compliance with the first prenatal appointment between the three groups. Results Subjects receiving the taxi voucher had a compliance rate of 82% for the first prenatal appointment, 22% higher than mean appointment compliance in the other groups. The odds ratio for missing the first appointment was 0.32 (95% confidence interval 0.12, 0.88) in the taxi voucher group. This was not affected by controlling for possible confounders. Despite better appointment compliance, only one of 34 taxi vouchers distributed was actually used. Conclusion A taxi voucher incentive was effective in improving compliance with the first prenatal appointment, despite the fact that only one subject actually used the voucher.
Time bandits: How they are created, why they are tolerated, and what can be done about them

Abstract Organizations today own little slack, and they must very carefully manage their resources. In this article, we describe an omnipresent, yet often ignored resource utilization problem whereby some workers abandon certain responsibilities and use the freed-up time to pursue personal interests such as hobbies and side businesses. In essence, these “time bandits” work part-time in exchange for full-time pay. While bandits are a minority among workers, their negative effects are significant and widespread. Specifically, banditry undermines an organization's mission, morale, and productivity, as well as putting stakeholder support at risk. In an effort to address this problem, we offer insights in three areas. First, we identify key causes of banditry, including supervisors not enforcing performance standards, poorly constructed reward systems, and the failure to recognize individual differences when designing jobs. Second, we describe reasons why banditry is tolerated within organizations, such as supervisors' desire to avoid conflict and their fear of being labeled as hypocrites. Most importantly, we offer a set of techniques that can prevent and reverse banditry. These include carefully defining expectations, intervening quickly when the symptoms of banditry appear, reducing bandits' compensation over time, and designing jobs that capitalize on individuals' varied skills and motivation.
Sequential gene promoter interactions by C/EBPβ, C/EBPα, and PPARγ during adipogenesis

Treatment of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes with differentiation inducers triggers a cascade in which C/EBPbeta is rapidly expressed, followed by C/EBPalpha and PPARgamma. C/EBPalpha and PPARgamma then activate the expression of adipocyte genes that produce the differentiated phenotype. Circumstantial evidence indicates that C/EBPbeta activates transcription of the C/EBPalpha and PPARgamma genes, both of which possess C/EBP regulatory elements in their proximal promoters. Although C/EBPbeta is expressed immediately upon induction of differentiation, acquisition of DNA binding activity is delayed for approximately 14h. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis conducted 24h after induction revealed that C/EBPbeta binds to C/EBP regulatory elements in the proximal promoters of the C/EBPalpha and PPARgamma genes. ChIP analysis showed that after an additional delay C/EBPalpha binds to its own promoter and to the promoters of the PPARgamma and 422/aP2 genes. These findings support the view that once expressed, C/EBPalpha is responsible for maintaining the expression of PPARgamma, and C/EBPalpha, as well as adipocyte proteins (e.g., 422/aP2) in the terminally differentiated state. Together these findings provide compelling evidence that C/EBPbeta, C/EBPalpha, and PPARgamma participate in a cascade during adipogenesis.
The use of alkaline elution procedures to measure DNA damage in spermiogenic stages of mice exposed to methyl methanesulfonate.

The ability of methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) to induce DNA breakage in spermiogenic stages of the mouse was studied using an alkaline elution technique. At daily intervals over a 3-week period following i.p. injection of 50 mg MMS/kg, mature spermatozoa were recovered from treated (3H-labeled) and control (14C-labeled) animals, lysed together on polycarbonate filters, and eluted with a high pH (12.2) buffer. Elution of germ-cell DNA from MMS-treated animals was found to increase in stages in which genetic damage from MMS is greatest. In general, the pattern of DNA elution from treated, spermiogenic stages paralleled the pattern of sensitivity to dominant lethals, specific-locus mutations and heritable translocations found by other investigators. It also paralleled the pattern of sperm-head methylation and protamine methylation measured in an earlier study (Sega and Owens, 1983). At 9 days post treatment (sperm sampled were in mid-to late-spermatid stages at the time of MMS exposure) the elution of sperm DNA did not change significantly over a pH range of 11.6-12.8, suggesting that, at the time of assay, DNA breaks were already present in the sperm. Because of the parallelism found between increased sperm DNA elution and increased genetic damage after mutagen treatment, alkaline elution may prove useful in monitoring potential genetic damage in human sperm.
Maximum boron doping concentrations without oxygen incorporation for silicon molecular beam epitaxy using HBO2 and B2O3 as dopant sources

Abstract The maximum boron doping concentrations for silicon layers grown by molecular beam epitaxy using HBO2 and B2O3 as dopant sources have been studied. At a specified growth temperature, the maximum oxygen-free boron concentrations were shown to be inversely proportional to the silicon growth rate. Simple equations are given for determining the maximum oxygen-free boron concentrations for HBO2 and B2O3.
Oxidation of nuclear thioredoxin during oxidative stress

Thioredoxin 1 (Trx1) is a key redox control system within the nucleus, yet little is known about the sensitivity of nuclear Trx1 to oxidative stress. The present study compared oxidant-induced changes in the redox states of nuclear Trx1, cytoplasmic Trx1, and cellular glutathione (GSH). Nuclear Trx1 was more reducing than cytoplasmic Trx1 and cellular GSH in proliferating cells. tert-Butylhydroperoxide caused an increase in the total amount of nuclear Trx1, but this was accompanied by a 60 mV oxidation. Thus, the increase in nuclear Trx1 levels did not correspond to an increase in the overall reducing capacity of Trx1 in the nucleus.
Alterations of renal cortex and medullary glycosaminoglycans in aging dog kidney

Abstract Age-related changes in renal function have been attributed to alterations in the chemical composition of the kidney tissues. Hence, the glycosaminoglycan composition of the renal cortex and medulla at varying age intervals was investigated. Glycosaminoglycans were isolated from the tissues by means of digestion with collagenase and pronase and purified by ethanol precipitation. Subsequent separation of various polyanions was accomplished by ion exchange chromatography on a Dowex 1-X2 column, using sodium chloride buffers of increasing ionic strengths. The glycosaminoglycans in each fraction were identified and quantified by digestion with specific enzymes, including hyaluronidase, chondroitinase AC and ABC. The enzyme resistant material was separated and further digested with nitrous acid to quantitate the proportion of heparon sulfate. The results indicate that the glycosaminoglycan content of the renal medulla was much higher than the cortex at all the age intervals studied, and age-induced reduction was mainly cortical. There was a significant reduction in the heparan sulfate content of the cortex in aging. Interestingly, the major glycosaminoglycan content of the medulla was hyaluronic acid, which showed a sharp increase during aging, whereas heparan sulfate declined. Chondroitin sulfate was not altered due to age in either tissue. The molecular weight of hyaluronic acid was determined by column chromatography. Results indicate that the size of hyaluronate in the cortex was small and did not vary with age. In the medulla of the younger age group, a considerable amount of large size hyaluronate was observed. As age increased, the size decreased. The results strongly suggest that alteration in the renal glycosaminoglycans may be partly responsible for the age related protinuria and ionic imbalance.
Unilateral orchidectomy of ram lambs: acute, chronic and hCG-stimulated androgen levels

Abstract 1. 1. The objectives of this study were to determine whether compensation of androgen secretion occurred acutely, chronically or after hCG-stimulation in unilaterally orchidectomized (ULO) rams. 2. 2. Testosterone (T) concentrations were not significantly different ( P >0.10) between ULO and sham-operated ram lambs during the period immediately following ULO. 3. 3. Chronically, testosterone concentrations were not significantly different ( P > 0.10) between ULO and sham-operated ram lambs. 4. 4. After hCG injection, the testosterone response of chronic ULO ram lambs was approx. half the response of the sham-operated ram lambs. 5. 5. These data indicate that a rapid and sustained compensatory response of basal secretion of testosterone but not hCG-inducible testosterone secretion occurred in the ULO'd ram lambs.
Pulse oximetry desaturation alarms on a general postoperative adult unit: a prospective observational study of nurse response time.

Abstract Background Continuous pulse oximetry monitoring is recommended to improve safety during postoperative opioid use, however concerns with monitoring on general care units remain, given potential system barriers to alarm transmission, recognition, and nursing response. Methods This prospective, observational study evaluated unit and hospital-level factors affecting nurses' response to monitor desaturation alarms in postoperative patients on a general postoperative unit. With exemption and waiver of consent granted from the Institutional Review Board, monitoring data were downloaded from bedside monitors of postoperative patients. Alarm notification data and response times were recorded from the continuous capture of institutional surveillance data. Paging notifications were coded as clinically relevant (i.e., true oxygen desaturation with SpO 2 15s) or irrelevant (i.e., artifact, inappropriate alarm threshold, or failure to delay page). Linear mixed models, and correlation coefficients were used to examine the relationships between unit staffing, shift, paging burden and response time. Means and [95% confidence intervals] are presented. Results 1616 monitoring hours in 103 patients yielded 342 desaturation events (duration 23.6s [20.99, 26.1]) and 710 notification pages, 36% of which were for clinically relevant desaturation. Nursing response time was 52.1s [46.4, 57.7], which was longer at night (63.8 [51.2, 76.35]; p =0.035), but not related to unit staffing. Missed alarm events (i.e., no notification page transmitted) occurred for 26% of the clinically relevant events, and were associated with higher paging burden ( p =0.04), lower SpO 2 values (81.8 [80.5, 83.0] vs. 83.2 [82.6, 83.8]; p =0.026), and higher odds of intervention (OR 3.5 [1.38, 8.9]). 65% of patients with desaturation events received interventions which correlated with the number of pages (rho=0.422; p p p 2 (rho=−0.324; p Conclusions One-third of pulse oximetry alarm notifications were for clinically relevant oxygen desaturation, facilitating timely nursing response and intervention for most patients. Unit staffing and false alarm frequency were not associated with response time, suggesting a high level of attention on this unit. The nature and degree of missed alarm events suggests patient safety concerns posed by hospital-level transmission systems warranting further strategies to ensure monitoring safety.
Pemphigus Vulgaris in a Llama

Abstract— A case report of a three year old llama with a chronic seborrhoeic to vesiculobullous skin disease is presented. Skin biopsies showed an acantholytic vesicular dermatitis and immunofluorescence studies on the patient's skin and serum were positive in an intracellular pattern. The animal died before response to treatment could be determined. Resume— Le cas d'un lama de trois ans atteint d'une dermite seborrheique chronique a vesicobulleuse est rapporte. Les biopsies cutanees ont revele une dermite vesiculeuse acantholytique et l'examen en immunofluorescence de la peau et du serum presente une fluorescence intracellulaire. L'animal est mort avant que la reponse au traitement ait pu etre appreciee. Zusammenfassung— Es wird ein Fallbericht uber ein drei Jahre altes Lama mit einer chronischen, seborrhoischen bis vesikulobullosen Hauterkrankung vorgestellt. Die Hautbiopsien ergaben eine akantholytische, vesikulare Dermatitis, die Immunofluoreszenzuntersuchungen der Haut und des Serums fielen positiv aus und zeigten ein intrazellulares Verteilungsmuster. Das Tier starb bevor ein Ansprechen auf die Therapie festgestellt werden konnte. Resumen Se presenta el informe de un caso de un llama de tres anos de edad con una enfermedad seborreica cronica a vesiculobullosa en la piel. Biopsias de piel mostraron una dermatitis acantolitica y vesicular y estudios de inmunofluorescencia en la piel y suero del paciente fueron positivos en un patron intracelular. El animal murio antes de que la respuesta al tratamiento pudiera ser determinada.
Photocatalytic degradation kinetics and mechanism of acid blue 40 by TiO2/UV in aqueous solution

Photocatalyzed oxidation kinetics and mechanism of Acid Blue 40 at different pH values by TiO2/UV were studied. It is found that at pH 3, photocatalytic oxidation kinetics of Acid Blue 40 follows the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model, with reaction rate constant k of 0.0074 mM/min and adsorption constant K of 7.05 l/mM; While at higher pH values, no adequate kinetic model can be used. A yellow intermediate has been detected. Its appearance and disappearance with the reaction time are measured in terms of absorbance intensity. More than five hours are needed to completely mineralize the dye and its intermediate. It is found that Fe2+ does not have significant influence on the reaction, while H2O2 could retard the reaction when its concentration is higher than 0.01 mM.
Immediate effects of milrinone on metabolic and sympathetic responses to exercise in severe congestive heart failure

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled protocol was used to determine whether milrinone exerts an immediate effect on exercise performance in patients with severe congestive heart failure. In each of 14 patients with New York Heart Association class III or IV congestive heart failure, intravenous milrinone (mean 57 +/- 5 micrograms/kg) and placebo were randomly administered just before maximal progressive upright cycle ergometry. The duration of exercise was significantly longer with milrinone than with placebo treatment (placebo 11.0 +/- 0.6 minutes, milrinone 12.5 +/- 0.9 minutes, p = 0.01). Compared with placebo, milrinone caused a higher peak oxygen uptake (placebo 10.8 +/- 0.6 ml/kg/min, milrinone 12.4 +/- 0.7 ml/kg/min, p = 0.001) and oxygen uptake at the anaerobic threshold (placebo 7.8 +/- 0.4 ml/kg/min, milrinone 9.2 +/- 0.4 ml/kg/min, p = 0.001). At peak exercise intensity, systolic blood pressure (placebo 119 +/- 5 mm Hg, milrinone 131 +/- 5 mm Hg, p = 0.001) and heart rate (placebo 114 +/- 5 beats/min, milrinone 126 +/- 6 beats/min, p = 0.001) were both increased with milrinone. Likewise, at matched submaximal exercise intensities, heart rate (placebo 111 +/- 19 beats/min, milrinone 117 +/- 20 beats/min, p less than 0.05) and systolic blood pressure (placebo 116 +/- 19 mm Hg, milrinone 121 +/- 19 mm Hg, p = 0.04) were higher with milrinone; plasma norepinephrine (placebo 1,692 +/- 208 ng/liter, milrinone 1,320 +/- 216 ng/liter, p = 0.05) and blood lactate concentrations (placebo 2.2 +/- 0.2 mM, milrinone 1.9 +/- 0.2 mM, p less than 0.05) were lower.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Geostatistical methods for evaluation of Seabeam bathymetric surveys: Case studies of Wegener Canyon, Antarctica

Abstract Case studies in applications of the universal kriging method of geostatistics to bathymetric data from Wegener Canyon, Weddell Sea, Antarctica are described, and the resultant large-scale maps presented. The surveys were carried out during Antarctic expedition VI/3 with the Seabeam sonar system on board the R.V. Polarstern . The advantages of the method applied include a detailed morphological representation of the seafloor, even in areas with survey gaps, and the possibility of solving specific questions via variogram alteration. A measure of map precision is provided without additional computing effort. As a consequence of the data structure analyses, suggestions for survey optimization are given.
Fig1p Facilitates Ca2+ Influx and Cell Fusion during Mating of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

During the mating process of yeast cells, two Ca2+ influx pathways become activated. The resulting elevation of cytosolic free Ca2+ activates downstream signaling factors that promote long term survival of unmated cells, but the roles of Ca2+ in conjugation have not been described. The high affinity Ca2+ influx system is composed of Cch1p and Mid1p and sensitive to feedback inhibition by calcineurin, a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase. To identify components and regulators of the low affinity Ca2+ influx system (LACS), we screened a collection of pheromone-responsive genes that when deleted lead to defects in LACS activity but not high affinity Ca2+ influx system activity. Numerous factors implicated in polarized morphogenesis and cell fusion (Fus1p, Fus2p, Rvs161p, Bni1p, Spa2p, and Pea2p) were found to be necessary for LACS activity. Each of these factors was also required for activation of the cell integrity mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade during the response to α-factor. Interestingly a polytopic plasma membrane protein, Fig1p, was required for LACS activity but not required for activation of Mpk1p mitogen-activated protein kinase. Mpk1p was not required for LACS activity, suggesting Mpk1p and Fig1p define two independent branches in the pheromone response pathways. Fig1p-deficient mutants exhibit defects in the cell-cell fusion step of mating, but unlike other fus1 and fus2 mutants the fusion defect of fig1 mutants can be largely suppressed by high Ca2+ conditions, which bypass the requirement for LACS. These findings suggest Fig1p is an important component or regulator of LACS and provide the first evidence for a role of Ca2+ signals in the cell fusion step of mating.
STRONTIUM-90 PLASMA LEVELS AND EXCRETIONS IN YOUNG ADULTS ON A LOW CALCIUM DIET.

Strontium-90 plasma levels and excretions were studied in young adults fed on a constant diet of 1.1 g of Ca and 13.4 mu mu c Sr/sup 90/ a day. The average daily intake during 3 periods of 6 days each was 179 mg Ca and 3.3 mu mu c Sr/sup 90/. Calculations from food were made on the assumption that 20% of the dietary Sr/sup 90/ was absorbed. It was found that the average urinary excretion of Sr/sup 90/ calculated from the intake of Sr/sup 90/ was about 60% of that found, and the average Sr/sup 90/ plasma level calculated from food was 60% of the average levels calculated from the urine. This suggests that approximately 40% of the Sr/sup 90/ levels and urinary excretions during the studies was due to previous intake of Sr/sup 90/. The results were compared with previous data in which the Ca and Sr/sup 90/ were ingested with milk. (P.C.H.)
Investigation of the rate-limiting step in the synthesis of acetylcholine by the human placenta

The uptake of [3H]choline and its conversion to [3H]acetylcholine were investigated in term human placental tissue in vitro. Although the net uptake of [3H]choline increased throughout a 45 min incubation period, intracellular [3H]choline levels reach a plateau after 2 min. There was a constant increase in [3H]acetylcholine levels throughout the incubation period. After 45 min, 36.5 per cent of the total intracellular tritium was recovered as acetylcholine by high-voltage electrophoresis. The effects of the choline acetyltransferase inhibitors, 2-benzoylethyltrimethyl-ammonium chloride (BETA) and 4-naphthylvinyl pyridine (NVP), and an inhibitor of choline uptake, hemicholinium-3 (HC-3), were also investigated for their influence on the uptake and metabolism of [3H]choline. A significant depression in both [3H]choline uptake and [3H]acetylcholine synthesis could be demonstrated with all three compounds, although with somewhat different time courses and activities. An analysis of the accumulation of [3H]acetylcholine in relation to the uptake and intracellular levels of [3H]choline as well as the patterns of inhibition produced by the inhibitors indicates that, unlike nervous tissue, the rate-limiting step in the synthesis of acetylcholine in human placental tissue is the transacetylation reaction catalysed by choline acetyltransferase.
Qualitative comparison of protein production at different stages of hamster preimplantation embryo development

Abstract The developmental pattern of protein production in hamster preimplantation embryos was investigated as a preliminary to studying the regulation of gene expression. Optimal radiolabelling of embryonic proteins was achieved by culturing a minimum of 40 embryos in 50 μl of Hamster Embryo Culture Medium-2 for 2 h with 10 μCi of freshly lyophilized [35S]methionine. Proteins synthesized in vitro by different stages of hamster preimplantation embryos were analysed by one- and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by autoradiography. There were striking changes in the protein profile following the first cleavage division and also lesser changes after the second cleavage division. There were no detectable qualitative changes in the protein profiles of 4-cell, 8-cell, morula and blastocyst stages although some quantitative difference existed between morula and blastocyst stages. These comparisons of protein profiles during different stages of embryo development indicate that in hamsters the onset of embryonic gene activation occurs during the 2-cell stage.
Relationship of the ventilatory response to hypoxia with neonatal apnea in preterm infants

Abstract Objective Correlate the ventilatory response of preterm infants to hypoxic exposure with incidence of neonatal apnea. Study design Seventeen stable convalescing premature infants underwent bedside cardiorespiratory monitoring of respiration using respiratory inductance plethysmography, heart rate, and oxygen saturation (SaO 2 ) for a 12-hour period. These studies were scored for number of apneas ≥15 and ≥20 seconds. Infants then underwent a 3-minute hypoxic exposure. Minute ventilation (V E ) was calculated for 30-second epochs from the time inspired oxygen reached 15%. Linear regression analysis was used to correlate the change in V E normalized for decrease in SaO 2 (ΔV E /ΔSaO 2 ) during the first and third minutes of hypoxic exposure with the number of apneic episodes during the 12-hour study. Results The majority of infants exhibited an anticipated biphasic ventilatory response to hypoxia. There was a significant positive correlation between ΔV E /ΔSaO 2 during the first and third minutes of hypoxic exposure and number of apneic episodes ≥15 and ≥20 seconds during the preceding 12 hours. Conclusions Preterm infants with a greater number of apneic episodes exhibit an increased ventilatory response to hypoxic exposure, suggesting that apnea of prematurity may be associated with enhanced peripheral chemoreceptor activity.
Effect of Resolution and Image Quality on Combined Optical and Neural Network Fingerprint Matching

Abstract This paper presents results on direct optical matching, using Fourier transforms and neural networks for matching fingerprints for authentication. Direct optical correlations and hybrid optical neural network correlation are used in the matching system. The test samples used in the experiments are the fingerprints taken from NIST database SD-9. These images, in both binary and gray-level forms, are stored in a VanderLugt correlator (A. VanderLugt, Signal detection by complex spatial filtering, IEEE Trans. Inform. Theory IT-10 (1964) 139–145). Tests of typical cross correlations and autocorrelation sensitivity for both binary and 8 bit gray images are presented. When Fourier transform (FT) correlations are used to generate features that are localized to parts of each fingerprint and combined using a neural network classification network and separate class-by-class matching networks, 90.9% matching accuracy is obtained on a test set of 200,000 image pairs. These results are obtained on images using 512 pixel resolution. The effect of image quality and resolution are tested using 256 and 128 pixel images, and yield accuracy of 89.3 and 88.7%. The 128-pixel images show only ridge flow and have no reliably detectable ridge endings or bifurcations and are therefore not suitable for minutia matching. This demonstrates that Fourier transform matching and neural networks can be used to match fingerprints which have too low image quality to be matched using minutia-based methods. Since more than 258,000 images were used to test each hybrid system, this is the largest test to date of FT matching for fingerprints.
Gold, Fiat Money and Price Stability

The classical gold standard has long been associated with long-run price stability. But short-run price variability led critics of the gold standard to propose reforms that look much like modern versions of price path targeting. This paper uses a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model to examine price dynamics under alternative policy regimes. In the model, a pure inflation target provides more short-run price stability than does the gold standard and, although it introduces a unit root into the price level, it leads to as much long-term price stability as does the gold standard for horizons shorter than 20 years. Relative to these regimes, Fisher's compensated dollar (or pure price path targeting) reduces inflation uncertainty by an order of magnitude at all horizons. A Taylor rule with its relatively large weight on output leads to large uncertainty about inflation at long horizons. This long-run inflation uncertainty can be largely eliminated by introducing an additional response to the deviation of the price level from a desired path.
Applying DDDAS principles to command, control and mission planning for UAV swarms

Government agencies predict ever-increasing inventories of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Sizes will vary from current manned aircraft scales to miniature, micro, millimeter scales or smaller. Missions for UAVs will increase, especially for the 3-D missions: dull, dirty, and dangerous. As their numbers and missions increase, three important challenges will emerge for these large swarms of sensor and surveillance UAVs: (1) the need for near real-time dynamic command & control of the swarms, (2) efficient mission planning and dynamic real-time re-tasking of the swarms, and 3) the need for improved automation of swarm mission planning and command & control. We describe an investigation with the primary objectives to design, develop, and evaluate: (i) a proof-of-concept simulation test-bed that investigates the benefits of using DDDAS (Dynamic Data Driven Applications Systems) for UAV swarm control, and (ii) engineering guidelines that will enable the use of DDDAS principles in such actual systems.
Viral Etiology of Acute Febrile Respiratory Illnesses in Hospitalized Children Younger Than 24 Months

Background: Respiratory infections are a leading cause of pediatric hospitalizations. This study investigated whether virus—virus or virus—Bordetella co-infections are more frequent or more severe than previously recognized. Methods: This is a 3-year prospective study of children younger than 24 months hospitalized with a febrile respiratory illness. Viral pathogens were detected using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), enzyme-linked immunoassays, and/or viral cultures from nasopharyngeal samples. Bordetella infections were detected by PCR. Results: A total of 201 patients were enrolled. Respiratory viruses were detected in 187 (93%) patients, with 52 (28%) multipathogen infections. The most common viruses detected were respiratory syncytial virus and rhinovirus/enterovirus. There were no differences in illness severity when comparing patients infected with one pathogen and those with multipathogen infection. Conclusion: Virus co-infection in young children hospitalized with an acute febrile respi...
Women Terminating Abusive Dating Relationships: A Qualitative Study

Dating violence, a serious social problem, has commanded much attention during the last decade. This study was conducted to enhance our understanding of complex relationship and individual processes that occur in dating relationships where abuse becomes a pattern. The experiences of 11 young women who left their abusive dating relationships were analyzed using the tenets of grounded theory in a multiple-case qualitative research design. Processes of leaving included: seeds of doubt, turning points, reappraisals, objective reflections, self-reclaiming actions, last straw events and paradigmatic shifts.
Correlation Properties of Integrated Random Variables

In general one does not measure point processes, but rather measures an integral of the process over a specific interval. In this note we have investigated how the covariance of a specific class of processes is altered by a finite measurement.
Gravitational Law and Planetary Motion

By 1666 Newton and other physicists had found that the force that a particle of mass M produces on another particle of mass m is $$F = - G\frac{{mM}}{{{r^2}}}\hat r$$ (3.1) where r is the distance between the two masses, and \(\hat r\) is the unit vector pointing from M to m. The force is attractive. The gravitational constant G is $$G = (3.3726\pm 0.0005) \times {10^{ - 11}}N{m^2}/k{g^2}$$ (3.2)
A Matter of Design: A Proposal to Encourage the Evolution of Design in Instructional Design

Kerr wrote of the black box of design decisions—that time when the “heart of an instructional solution first appears.” Petroski writes of judgment as indispensable for engineering design decisions. Both instructional design and engineering are design sciences, yet engineering has a rich tradition of discussing and reflecting upon design decisions. Engineering shares a language by which they can discuss the decisions that underlay designs and, so may learn from failures and allow their practice to evolve. This paper suggests means by which instructional design may begin to develop a language of design. Design is depicted as a process involving three spheres. Sphere One—skills, Sphere Two—practice, and Sphere Three—application. By developing a language to discuss and reflect upon Sphere Two processes, practitioners may share their practice, learn from each other, and encourage the field to evolve so that we may meet the changing needs of a knowledge economy. Herein, a proposal to encourage the development and use of a language to discuss Sphere Two decisions is detailed and initial steps are explored.
Integrating INS sensors with GPS velocity measurements for continuous estimation of vehicle sideslip and tire cornering stiffness

This paper details a unique method for measuring key vehicle states-body sideslip angle, and tire sideslip angle-using GPS velocity information in conjunction with other sensors. A method for integrating inertial navigation system (INS) sensors with GPS measurements to provide higher update rate estimates of the vehicle states is presented. Additionally, it is shown that the tire sideslip estimates can be used to estimate the tire cornering stiffnesses. The experimental results for the GPS velocity-based sideslip angle measurement and cornering stiffness estimates compare favorably to theoretical predictions, suggesting that this technique has merit for future implementation in vehicle safety systems.
Sexual dimorphism and the differential mortality model: is behaviour related to survival?

There are numerous hypotheses to explain the evolution of sexual dimorphism in spiders. One of the most controversial is the differential mortality model (DMM) which proposes that differing rates of (adult) male and female mortality can result in a skewed operational sex ratio and lead to the evolution of small males. This hypothesis has been examined using a comparative approach which assumes that the behaviour of males and females could be used as a surrogate measure of mortality. We tested this assumption using two model species, Hogna helluo and Pardosa milvina (Araneae: Lycosidae) that differ in the degree of sexual dimorphism both in terms of body size and level of activity. Our data demonstrate that differences in male and female behaviour are not predictive of differences in mortality. Rather, as in other organisms, mortality is a complex phenomenon dependent on activity as well as size. These data call into question the methods previously used to test the DMM and suggest that understanding sexual size dimorphism (SSD) in spiders will require evaluation of historical constraints as well as how size currently influences fitness in each sex. © 2003 The Linnean Society of London . Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 78 , 97 103. ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS: Araneae ‐ sexual size dimorphism ‐ differential mortality.