cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The sperm centrosome during fertilization in mammals: implications for fertility and reproduction

This article reviews the recent discoveries that: (1) nearly all mammals, including humans, inherit their centrosomes from their fathers; and (2) some sperm are ineffective in organizing the microtubules essential for effecting genomic union during fertilization, leading to the speculation that these sperm have centrosome defects. In addition, the molecular dissection and reconstitution of the human sperm centrosome in vitro is presented.
The inside observer in quantum mechanics

The “observer” in physics has always referred to someone who stands on the outside of a system looking in. In this paper an “inside observer” is defined, and an experiment is proposed that tests a given formulation of the problem of measurement in quantum mechanics.
Photo-Deformable Micro-Shells of Nanometer Thick

Azobenzene is a chemical structure that directly transmits energy of ultraviolet (UV) light, through an isomerization between the trans and cis states of a double bond between two nitrogen atoms, to a mechanical effect that reduces its molecular length from 9.0 A to 5.5 A [1]. This phenomenon has been applied in the fabrication of photo-deformable polymers, where monomers containing azobenzene were polymerized to form gel-like materials [1, 2, 3]. The mechanism of photo-isomerization could be very promising for the field concerning nano/micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS/NEMS) [4]. Layer-by-layer (LBL) method [5, 6] is a method to form thinfilms of nanometer-scale thickness through a series of adsorptions of poly-anions and poly-cations onto a charged template. 3-dimensional (3D) hollow shells can be formed by casting the LBL film onto small particles and subsequently etching away the particles. [7–11]. This report is about a combination between the photoisomerization phenomenon and LBL method. Silica micro-spheres (6.84 μm in diameter) were used as templates. In a series of LBL procedures, poly- (1- 4- 3 carboxy- 4- hydroxyphenyl azobenzene sulfonaide-1, 2-ethanediyl, sodium salt) (PAZO) and poly-allylamine hydrochloride (PAH, a poly-cation) solutions were alternatively deposited onto the surfaces of the micro-spheres. Details of the procedures followed reference [9]. After 20 PAZO/PAH double layers were formed, we etched away the SiO2 cores by using 6:1 buffered hydrofluoride acid (BHF) and successfully formed 3-dimemsional (3D) hollow shells (Figure 1). We used a 355 nm Nd:YAG pulse-laser to irradiate the micro-shells. The microshells contracted anisotropically under the laser irradiation, and the shape of microshells changed from spherical to ellipsoidal. The long axes of the contracted microshell are parallel to the direction of the polarization of the UV laser (Figure 2). We believe that this anisotropic deformation is generated from a polarization dependence of the photo-isomerization rate of the azobenzene groups in the microshells. The deformed micro-shells were tested by irradiation of a 532nm pulse laser. The contraction, however, is not recoverable even through cis-trans isomerization was shown generated by visible-light irradiation [3]. To solve this problem, further study is needed to investigate the details of the micro-shells’ deformation. Nevertheless, we think it is quite possible that the irreversibility was resulted from the migrations and re-adhesions between the polyelectrolyte molecules during the UV irradiation. We believed that this kind of technique is very promising for the development micro and nanomachines (MEMS/NEMS). For instance, the large volumic shrinkage of the micro-shells could be applied to the field concerning nano-robots, artificial muscles, or drug delivery systems.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Adventitious binding of 3H-labeled nucleotides to protein during polymerase assays.

Abstract The results of these studies demonstrate that 3 H-labeled nucleotides and nucleosides are capable of binding to proteins and such as bovine serum albumin or bulk proteins of cytoplasmic extracts in a time-, temperature- and concentration-dependent manner when incubated in phosphate buffer or under conditions for the assay of DNA polymerases. The binding of the labeled nucleotide to the protein is stable to washing with 10% cold trichloroacetic acid/1% sodium pyrophosphate and 95% ethanol. The radioactivity bound to the protein is rendered acid-soluble by treatment with pronase. Such non-specific binding can be a significant source of artifactural labeling in DNA or RNA polymerases assays.
Large aortic necrotizing granuloma: a rare manifestation of mycobacterial infection.

We report a rare case of an 80-year-old man with an ascending aortic mass that was found to be a necrotizing granuloma secondary to disseminated atypical mycobacteria. He presented with a 3to 4-week history of fevers, aches, nights sweats, and a 10-pound weight loss. Computed tomography of the chest showed an ascending aortic mass (Fig 1, red arrow). Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography showed a large freely mobile pedunculated mass on the anterior surface of the aorta close to the sinotubular junction (Fig 2, blue arrow). The patient underwent successful aortic mass excision. A 3 3 cm friable pedunculated mass on the anterior surface of the aorta with a stalk about 4 mm thick attached to the sinotubular junction was excised (Fig 3). In addition to the aortic mass, the patient was also found
LICK RATES IN RATS EXPOSED TO GAMMA IRRADIATION.

Lick rates in male rats were measured before, during, and after irradiation with 100 r gamma rays. No alterations in the licking reflex were found. These results were interpreted as further evidence that classically conditioned saccharin aversion is not attributable to prompt neural alterations.
Follow-up with CA125 after primary therapy of advanced ovarian cancer has major implications for treatment outcome and trial performances and should not be routinely performed.

Abstract Background Only one randomized trial has examined the value of performing routine CA125 measurements during follow-up of ovarian cancer. The results of this trial and implications of frequent CA125 measurements are examined. Patients and methods The Medical Research Council OV05/European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer 55955 trial enrolled 1442 patients with a CA125 level within the normal range following platinum-based chemotherapy for epithelial ovarian cancer. If CA125 levels rose to more than twice the upper limit of normal, patients were randomized to immediate or delayed chemotherapy. Results Those randomized in the early arm started chemotherapy a median of 4.8 months earlier than those on the delayed arm. There was no difference in survival between the early and delayed arms. Conclusions Women should be advised not to have routine CA125 measurements, providing they are well and have no symptoms suggesting relapse. In asymptomatic patients with a rising CA125 level, chemotherapy can be delayed. Earlier stopping of maintenance therapy just because of rising CA125 might deny patients continuing benefit from that therapy. Use of CA125 to define progression could result in platinum-sensitive patients being falsely classified as platinum resistant.
1486 TIN PROTOPORPHYRIN (TP) AND THE EXCRETION RATE OF CO (VeCO) IN ANTIBIOTIC-TREATED NEONATAL RATS WITH ARTIFICIAL HEMATOMAS

Previous studies showed that TP inhibits tissue heme oxygenase activity (HO) and lowers serum total bilirubin levels [B], but does not effect the VeCO of neonatal rats with and without artificially created hematomas (H). It is possible that intestinal bacteria play a role in this model by metabolizing excreted heme to CO. Rat litters, with intestines sterilized by antibiotics, were divided into 3 groups of 3 rats each. At 12 h postpartum (t=0), the TP/H rats were injected with TP (65 μmoles/kg). Hematomas were given to H and TP/H rats (t=45 h). Rats were sacrificed at t=113 h. The [B] of the TP/H rats was not reduced, but hepatic HO activity was suppressed (p < .005) when compared to the H control group. The overall average VeCO of H rats was increased by ∼ 45% over S rats and TP was effective in delaying and suppressing this increase; the inhibition of average VeCO was ∼ 25%. The results suggest that in antibiotic-treated rats with artificial hematomas: 1) single dose TP was effective in lowering VeCO and thus total bilirubin formation and 2) intestinal bacteria may contribute significantly to VeCO, if endogenous heme degradation is inhibited.
Abstract 3986: Effects of immunohistochemistry on biomolecules in tissue specimens: Importance for expression-based microdissection technologies

Immuno-Laser Capture Microdissection (LCM) and Expression Microdissection (xMD) are techniques that rely on immunohistochemistry (IHC) to specifically define target cells for microdissection. While these techniques have been successfully applied to LCM and xMD, the full effects of IHC on the biomolecules extracted from stained samples are not well characterized. The goal of our study was to evaluate the integrity of DNA, RNA and protein biomolecules obtained from tissue sections after standard IHC or immunofluorescence (IF) techniques. Utilizing snap frozen human prostate and ovarian carcinoma specimens, as well as mouse liver samples, we evaluated biomolecule recovery from immunostained samples, including histone and pan-cytokeratins AE1/AE3 targeted antibodies. Standard horseradish peroxidase and diaminobenzidine (DAB) based IHC was used as well as Alexa Fluor 488 for indirect-IF. In general, biomolecule recovery was diminished in IHC stained tissues compared to standard hematoxylin and eosin (HE 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3986.
Fracture mechanics of fibreglass laminates

Abstract An experimental study of initial crack extension in pre-notched quasi-isotropic fibreglass specimens of varying geometry indicates that microstructural effects, as represented by the couple stress theory of notch tip singular stress fields of Muki and Sternberg 13, 14 do not influence fracture initiation in these materials. However, it is shown that gross, transplanar buckling of thin sheets of these materials does strongly modify the singularity at tensile notch tips and that this modification considerably affects the average stress required for notch extension. It is also shown that when the sheet thickness is sufficient to prevent buckling, the classical quasi-elastic fracture mechanics concepts (e.g., fracture toughness) are sufficient to predict initial notch extension.
INHIBITION OF THE CATALYTIC ACTIVITY OF ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE BY NITRIC OXIDE IS ASSOCIATED WITH S NITROSYLATION AND THE RELEASE OF ZINC

Nitric oxide (NO) reacts with the sulfhydryl groups of proteins to form nitroso thiols. Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) plays an important role in the metabolism of ethanol. Chronic alcohol administration stimulates NO formation in the liver, and production of NO is increased in alcohol liver injury. The effect of exogenous and endogenous NO on rat or horse ADH activity was evaluated. Incubation of intact rat hepatocytes or cytosol isolated from hepatocytes with S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), a nitric oxide donor, resulted in a decrease in ADH activity. Endogenous NO synthesis was induced in rat hepatocytes by incubation with a mixture of cytokines and endotoxin in the presence of L-arginine. As NO production in hepatocytes increased over a 24 h time period, a significant decrease in ADH activity was observed. This effect was blocked by the competitive inhibitor of NO synthesis, N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, indicating that ADH was also inactivated by endogenously generated NO. The decreased activity of ADH was not related to lowering of the ADH content as shown by Western blot analysis. To evaluate the mechanism of inhibition, purified ADH from equine liver was incubated with gaseous NO or NO released from NO donors such as the diethylamine/nitric oxide complex (DEA/NO) and SNAP. NO donors inactivated ADH in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Trapping of NO with hemoglobin resulted in protection of ADH against inactivation by NO. There was no effect by analogues of the NO donors which do not release NO. NAD afforded some protection against the NO inactivation of ADH. Measurements of thiol oxidation, S nitrosylation, and zinc release were used to assess the effect of NO on ADH activity. Thiol oxidation, S-nitroso thiol formation, and zinc release correlated with inactivation of ADH by NO, indicating that disruption of the zinc/thiolate active center due to S nitrosylation of ADH results in zinc release, followed by inactivation of the enzyme. Recovery experiments were performed by incubating the NO-treated enzyme with dithiothreitol (DTT) and/or Zn2+. The inhibitory effect by NO was reversible since, after the nitrosylated enzyme was reduced with DTT followed by incubation with ZnCl2 to allow reincorporation of Zn2+, ADH activity was increased from 20% of control values to 70%. These results suggest that cysteine residues contained within the zinc/thiolate active center may be primary sites of NO interaction with ADH. NO may modulate the metabolism of ethanol and influence metabolic actions of ethanol via interaction with ADH.
Obstructive sleep apnea — pathogenesis and treatment

Obstructive sleep apnea is characterized by repetitive episodes of upper airway occlusion occurring during sleep. The clinical syndrome appears to occur in individuals who exhibit instability of ventilatory drive during light NREM sleep, and who also have subtle or overt abnormalities of their upper airway. The most prominent clinical manifestations are daytime hypersomnolence and loud snoring. Bypassing the area of obstruction with a tracheostomy results in an improvement in clinical symptoms, but cosmetic and medical problems associated with the procedure limit patient acceptance. Recently, protriptyline, nasal continuous positive airway pressure, and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty have been introduced as alternative treatment modalities in obstructive sleep apnea patients. Although the data are still preliminary, these less invasive modes of treatment are promising and might be considered in non life-threatening obstructive sleep apnea before resorting to tracheostomy.
Adoptive transfer method to study platelet function in mouse models of disease

Platelets play an important role in many physiological and pathological situations. However, the molecular mechanisms by which platelets contribute to health and disease are often ill-defined. One of the limiting factors to these studies is a fast but reliable method to generate animals with platelet-specific signaling defects. We here review recent approaches to establish an adoptive platelet transfer model in mice.
Therapeutic reliability of variously manufactured drugs: generic-therapeutic equivalence.

U N T I L recently we were in blissful ignorancC if we believed that all dosage forms of a particular drug could be expected to deliver the active ingredient to patients in an equivalent fashion. If this were so; we could ignore dosage form and use tablets, capsules, syrups, or elixirs interchangeably. We could assume uniformity in the processes of manufacture of all manufacturers and for each manufacturer at all times. We could with confidence prescribe all drugs by their generic names. It is now clear that the situation is not that simple? At present, there are two divergent points of view. The proponents of one feel that prescribing a drug by its generic name invites variability in clinical response if many brand name products for each of many drugs are available. The list of drugs which areproved o r definitely suspect---of susceptibility to variable biologic availability is still increasing. It includes 3 those listed in Table I. In the other view, there is not a great problem since the numbers of drugs are considered small for which there is evidence of differences in response, z, 4-6 The Task Force
Coherent synchrotron radiation instability in a bunch compressor

The coherent synchrotron radiation of a bunch in a bunch compressor may lead to the microwave instability producing longitudinal modulation of the bunch with wavelengths small compared to the bunch length. It can also be a source of an undesirable emittance growth in the compressor. We derive and analyze the equation that describes linear evolution of the microwave modulation taking into account incoherent energy spread and finite emittance of the beam. Numerical solution of this equation for the Linac Coherent Light Source bunch compressor gives the amplification factor for different wavelengths of the beam microbunching.
Thermal analysis of quench propagation in superconducting coils

The transient three-dimensional conduction equation with a source term that accounts for the propagating resistive wave front has been solved for a superconducting magnet coil by the control volume finite-difference method with floating nodes. Coupled with this, the code solves the electrical and magnetic circuit equations. Because of the large number of nodes dictated by the geometric structure of the coil, an alternate direction implicit (ADI) technique was used to overcome the computer storage problem. The behavior of the propagating front and the highly nonlinear material properties limit the size of the solution time steps. A variable time step and variable number of nodes have been used to reduce the overall computational time. The results of the analysis are in excellent agreement with experimental data.
Thymocytes expressing CD8 differentiate into CD4+ cells following intrathymic injection.

Abstract Based on the cell surface expression of CD4 and CD8 molecules, murine thymocytes can be divided into four populations: these include CD4-, CD8- double-negative and CD4+, CD8+ double-positive subpopulations, both of which consist largely of immature cells, and the single positive, CD4+ or CD8+, subsets that contain functional helper or killer cells, respectively. The double-negative subset contains precursors of the other three populations and can reconstitute the thymus following intravenous or intrathymic transfer into irradiated hosts. In an attempt to establish the sequence of CD4 and CD8 expression during intrathymic development, we investigated the differentiation potential of highly purified CD8+ thymocytes by using intravenous or intrathymic adoptive transfer. Unlike the double-negative thymocyte subset, CD8+ cells did not have the ability to home to the thymus following intravenous transfer. However, when CD8+ thymocytes were injected directly into the thymus, they increased in number and gave rise to CD4+, CD8+ double-positive and CD4+ single-positive progeny. Furthermore, the rate of appearance of CD4+ cells from injected CD8+ precursors was faster than from the double-negative subset. Cells expressing a high surface density of CD8 convert to double-positive and CD4+ progeny without increasing in number, whereas CD8+ cells expressing a low surface density of the marker expand greatly and give rise to differentiated progeny. The results suggest that CD8 expression is an intermediate step on the differentiation pathway of mature CD4+ T cells.
Laminar Natural Convection Heat Transfer in a Differentially Heated Square Cavity Due to a Thin Fin on the Hot Wall

A finite-volume-based computational study of steady laminar natural convection (using Boussinesq approximation) within a differentially heated square cavity due to the presence of a single thin fin is presented. Attachment of highly conductive thin fins with lengths equal to 20, 35 and 50 percent of the side, positioned at 7 locations on the hot left wall were examined for Ra=10 4 , 10 5 , 10 6 , and 10 7 and Pr=0.707 (total of 84 cases). Placing a fin on the hot left wall generally alters the clockwise rotating vortex that is established due to buoyancy-induced convection. Two competing mechanisms that are responsible for flow and thermal modifications are identified. One is due to the blockage effect of the fin, whereas the other is due to extra heating of the fluid that is accommodated by the fin. The degree of flow modification due to blockage is enhanced by increasing the length of the fin. Under certain conditions, smaller vortices are formed between the fin and the top insulated wall
Response to Strenger

Despite certain apparently common values, Strenger's critique is addressed largely to an inaccurate account of my views. It is also internally contradictory in various ways. On one hand, for example, Strenger favors a dialectic of science and the humanities as they bear on psychoanalysis; on the other hand, he declares science to be the exclusive psychoanalytic “metaphysic.” Remarkably, he claims that my critique of technical rationality is tantamount to advocating a passive reflective stance on the analyst's part, precluding anything akin to “coaching” to foster change. But I've written consistently about the dialectic of proactive therapeutic influence and critical reflection on that very influence and its implications. What's unacceptable about technical rationality is its positivist confidence about the effectiveness of prescribed interventions based on allegedly scientific evidence. With his lengthy survey of extra-analytic studies, Strenger evades engaging my specific arguments since they are strict...
The etiology of the temporomandibular joint dysfunction syndrome.

T he complaint known in dental medicine as the “temporomandibular joint dysfunction syndrome ” is almost certainly brought about by the existence of pathologic conditions in the region of the jaw joint. However, it should be stated at the outset that the pathosis is unlikely to bc the result of a primary dysfunction of the joint but is probably a secondary result arising from a primary dysfunction of some other part of the masticatory apparatus. Temporomandibular joint syndromes are frequently observed in patients attending dental school clinics. In particular, the incidence of the syndrome may he very high among patients at.tending orthodontic clinics. In a sample of sixty-five patients attending the Orthodontic Clinic at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine, 23 per cent were found to exhibit some symptoms of the syndrome.’ This high incidence is probably simply related to the wide range of defects in the masticatory apparatus (embracing far more than just the occlusion) which are the reasons patients are recommended to the clinic. Among medical practitioners, the symptoms of temporomandibular joint dysfunction frequently are recognizctl as such.’ It is likely, therefore, that incorrect diagnoses (allergy, “neuralgia,” etc.) may be made in cases of patients who suffer from the syndrome but do not attend a dental clinic which takes a specific interest in facial pain.” Despite a considerable body of clata concerning the tcmporomandibular joint, its function, and pathology to be found in the literature, the cause of the syndrome remains obscure. Both diagnosis and treatment proceed on an ad hoe basis.
Multisensory programs in the public schools: A brighter future for LD children.

A longitudinal study followed the progress of a group of elementary SLD students as they were instructed using the Alphabetic Phonics (AP) curriculum. After a three year period, the AP curriculum produced positive results in reading comprehension for most SLD students, particularly those who began the program in first and second grade. Students in resource and self-contained settings made significant gains in reading comprehension, although the two types of students exhibited different patterns of progress. Students of different ability levels responded differently to the AP curriculum. Average and above average students made significant progress in reading comprehension, but below average students did not advance substantially in relation to their ability level. At the end of three years, classroom teachers had a significantly more positive view of students’ word attack, oral reading, and silent reading comprehension skills.
Effects of indomethacin on cardiac output distribution in normal and asphyxiated piglets.

Abstract We determined the effect of breathing 9% CO2/10% O2/81% N2 (asphyxia) on cardiac output distribution (microspheres) in 4–5 day old unanesthetized, chronically instrumented piglets prior to and following intravenous indomethacin administration. Thirty minutes of asphyxia caused PaCO2 to increase from 35 ± 2 mmHg to 66 ± 2 mmHg, PaO2 to decrease form 73 ± 4 mmHg to 41 ± 1 mmHg, and pH to decrease from 7.52 ± 0.05 to 7.21 ± 0.07. Arterial pressure was increased slightly but cardiac output was not changed significantly. Asphyxia caused blood flow to the brain, diaphragm, liver, heart, and adrenal glands to increase while causing decreases in blood flow to the skin, small intestine, and colon. Blood flows to the stomach and kidneys tended to decrease, but the changes were not significant. Treatment with indomethacin during asphyxia did not alter arterial pressure or cardiac output but decreased cerebral blood flow to the preasphyxiated level and decreased adrenal blood flow about 20%. Indomethacin did not alter blood flow to any other systemic organ. At this time the piglet was allowed to breathe air for 2.5 hr undisturbed. Two and a half hours after indomethacin administration, blood flows to all organs returned to the preasphyxia control levels with the exception of cerebral blood flow which was reduced (93 ± 13 to 65 ± 5 ml/100 g·min. Three hours after indomethacin administration, the cerebral hyperemia caused by asphyxia was less (134 ± 17b ml/100 g·min) than prior to indomethacin (221 ± 15 ml/100 g·min. Indomethacin did not alter the asphyxia-induced changes to any other systemic organ. We conclude that in newborn pigs, systemic treatment with indomethacin decreases cerebral blood flow and cerebral hyperemia in response to asphyxia, without affecting blood flow to any other systemic organ.
Teenage chemical dependence and the prevalence of psychiatric disorders: Issues for prevention

Abstract Initial figures indicating teenage chemical use, misuse, and dependence with coexistent psychiatric disorder are investigated because of increasing dual diagnosis admissions to medical, chemical dependence, and psychiatric inpatient units. A group of chemically dependent adolescents is further studied in comparison to a group of nonchemically dependent high school students. Data shows significantly more suicide attempts, early childhood abuse incidents, previous psychiatric interventions, special education classifications, and familial divorce and familial alcoholism in the chemical dependency group. Links to dual diagnosis results are discussed. Primary and secondary prevention discussion and conclusions follow from the data and its elaboration.
The Binomial and Hypergeometric Probability Distributions in Jury Selection

Summary This article considers the composition of juries, asking whether this is representative of the general populations from which the juries were drawn. The binomial and hypergeometric distributions are used for probability calculations. Several example applications of both of these distributions are given, addressing racial, sex and age distributions in various cases.
Adsorption and Electronic States of Benzene on Ordered MgO and Al2O3 Thin Films

The adsorption and electronic structure of benzene (C6H6) on thin film MgO(100)/Mo(100) and highly ordered Al2O3/Mo(110) substrates have been studied using temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS). Three desorption states have been found for both surfaces. The first corresponds to adsorption of the aromatic ring plane parallel to the surface at low coverages (≤1 ML). Intermediate coverages (>1 ML) give rise to a desorption at a slightly lower temperature, corresponding to the metastable, upright (end-on) adsorption of benzene on the monolayer-covered surface. Large exposures of benzene yield the multilayer with an anomalous higher temperature desorption sequence in the TPD. Both surfaces reveal spectroscopic windows by HREELS between the phonon modes and optical band gap transitions which allow identification of benzene electronic and vibronic transitions. This window is between 2.5 and 5.5 eV in MgO/Mo(100) and 2.5 and 6.7 eV in Al2O3/Mo(110)....
A Preliminary Assessment of the Structure-Activity Relationship of Benzimidazole-Based Anti-Proliferative Agents

PDK1 is pivotal in the development and progression of several cancers. A 3D pharmacophore was developed for pyrazole derivatives displaying anti-proliferative activity and PDK1 inhibition. The pharmacophore was utilized in the design of benzimidazole analogs. Our preliminary results indicate the pharmacophore should be useful in designing PDK1 inhibitors and anti-proliferative agents.
Activation of adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channels confers protection against rotenone-induced cell death: therapeutic implications for Parkinson's disease.

It is anticipated that further understanding of the protective mechanism induced by ischemic preconditioning will improve prognosis for patients of ischemic injury. It is not known whether preconditioning exerts beneficial actions in neurodegenerative diseases, in which ischemic injury plays a causative role. Here we show that transient activation of ATP-sensitive potassium channels, a trigger in ischemic preconditioning signaling, confers protection in PC12 cells and SH-SY5Y cells against neurotoxic effect of rotenone and MPTP, mitochondrial complex I inhibitors that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. The degree of protection is in proportion to the bouts of exposure to an ATP-sensitive potassium channel opener, a feature reminiscent of ischemic tolerance in vivo. Protection is sensitive to a protein synthesis inhibitor, indicating the involvement of de novo protein synthesis in the protective processes. Pretreatment of PC12 cells with preconditioning stimuli FeSO(4) or xanthine/xanthine oxidase also confers protection against rotenone-induced cell death. Our results demonstrate for the first time the protective role of ATP-sensitive potassium channels in a dopaminergic neuronal cell line against rotenone-induced neurotoxicity and conceptually support the view that ischemic preconditioning-derived therapeutic strategies may have potential and feasibility in therapy for Parkinson's disease.
Orientation and bond length of molecular oxygen on Ag(110) and Pt(111): A near-edge x-ray-absorption fine-structure study

Near-edge x-ray-absorption fine-structure studies of ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ chemisorbed on Ag(110) and Pt(111) surfaces near 100 K reveal different predissociation stages of molecular oxygen. ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ on Ag(110) exhibits only a ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{\mathrm{*}}$ resonance and resembles a single-bonded peroxo species. The O-O bond is aligned parallel to the surface, along the [11\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}0] azimuth, with a bond length of 1.47\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05 A\r{}. ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ on Pt(111) also lies down but is less perturbed from the gas phase as revealed by the presence of a ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\mathrm{*}}$ resonance and an O-O bond length at 1.32\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05 A\r{}, characteristic of a superoxo species.
Otitis Media in Early Childhood and Cognitive, Academic, and Behavior Outcomes at 12 Years of Age

Examined the association between otitis media with effusion (OME) during the first 3 years of life and cognitive and academic performance and behavioral outcomes at 12 years of age in 56 socioeconomically disadvantaged children attending a research childcare program. OME history was prospectively documented from birth through 3 years during well and illness periods. Standardized tests of intelligence and academic achievement and measures of behavior were administered when children were 12 years of age. OME during early childhood was not related to intellectual performance, academic achievement, behavior, or attention. Results do not support a long-term relationship between a history of OME and later developmental outcomes. Generalizations of these findings to other populations should be done cautiously.
Characterization of skin-infiltrating lymphocytes in patients with psoriasis.

In this study, skin-infiltrating cells in psoriasis patients were characterized in biopsies from both involved and uninvolved skin. Histologic examination of biopsies showed the presence of both CD4 + and CD8 + T cells and the lack of B lymphocytes. Skin biopsies were also placed in tissue culture medium supplemented with human serum, interleukin-2 (IL-2), and irradiated autologous blood lymphocytes. T lymphocytes grew from both plaques and uninvolved skin biopsies and consisted of a heterogeneous population of T-cell subsets. The immunophenotypic analysis of cultured cells was comparable to the histologic examination on frozen section, i.e., there was a greater number of CD4/CDw29 + cells than CD8 + /CD45 + cells. Cultures were tested in the primed lymphocyte test (PLT) and cell-mediated lympholysis (CML) assays. All cultures tested demonstrated secondary proliferative but not cytolytic reactivity. The PLT results indicate that the cell cultures generated are autoreactive. This autoreactivity was found to be directed against non-human leukocyte antigens (HLA), i.e., minor HLA with some re- striction to major HLA antigens.
Plasmon dispersion in a layered structure

Abstract Dispersion of plasmons in a superlattice of finite thickness plasma layers is calculated. Good agreement with dispersion from light scattering experiments is obtained.
Housing Adjustment Costs: Their Impact on Mobility and Housing Demand Elasticities

The role of housing adjustment costs in influencing mobility decisions, and the relationship between these and housing demands is not well understood. Here we try to examine how changes in adjustment costs as well as in such demand factors as income, influence the decision of households to adjust their housing consumption through moving. Empirically, we use a sample of recently moving homeowners from the PSID and provide evidence indicating adjustment costs are more important than other demand factors in influencing mobility decisions. We also argue that sample selection may bias estimates of housing demand elasticities when the sample is restricted to recent movers because the influence of adjustment costs in the mobility decision are not accounted for. Testing for this using the Heckman two-stage procedure, however, showed this was not a significant problem.
Differential inhibitory effect of iron on E, EA, and EAC rosette formation.

Abstract The effect of ferric citrate on active E, EA, and EAC rosette formation by human peripheral blood mononuclear (PBM) cells was examined. Active E and EAC rosette formation was significantly inhibited at four of the five concentrations tested. Inhibition of EAC rosette formation was generally lower than that observed with active E rosette formation. Treatment with Fe 3+ had no effect on EA rosette-forming cells.
Perceived barriers to employment among persons living with HIV/AIDS

This study examined factors associated with contemplating returning to work among unemployed persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) in a large urban city in the United States. A mailed, self-administered survey gathered information from 757 unemployed PLHA. Chi-square and logistic regression analyses were used to determine associations between contemplating returning to work and sociodemographic characteristics, health factors and perceived barriers to employment. We found that most unemployed PLHA (74%) were thinking of returning to work, but perceived significant barriers such as loss of disability income benefits (73%), loss of publicly-funded health insurance (67%) and workplace discrimination (66%). Univariate analyses indicated that contemplating returning to work was significantly associated with sociodemographic characteristics, health factors and perceived barriers to employment in the following areas: (1) availability of health insurance, (2) personal health and physical ability, (3) health concern...
"Push-up palpitations": unusual presentation of ruptured chordae tendineae: a case report.

A 47-year-old man experienced palpitations and shortness of breath following push-up exercises. Because of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and fatigue, the patient underwent investigation. Echocardiography and cardiac catheterization indicated the diagnoses of mitral valve prolapse and rupture of the chordae tendineae. This report represents the first description of such a sequence of events.
Productivity measures in the criminal investigation function

Abstract The authors served as evaluators of a Managing Case Investigations (MCI) demonstration project in a major urban police department. Such projects were funded by Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) as a follow-up on the Rand Corporation study of the criminal investigation process. This article uses a framework of economic analysis to evaluate the efficiency of the demonstration project. Evaluation shows that the clearance rate of cases rose during the project without the use of additional resources. Impressions gained concerning the appropriate criteria for judging the work of detectives are discussed.
DISTANCE NAVIGATION IN THE ADELIE PENGUIN

Summary Male Adelie penguins Pygoscelis adeliae were transported from coastal rookeries in the Ross Sea area of Antarctica to three release points on featureless ice plateaux in the interior of the continent. Birds were released individually and their departure routes mapped for distances of 2–4 km., the position of the bird being determined by triangulation every five minutes. Precise data were thus obtained on the straightness of course and direction selected by each of 103 birds. Birds released inland from a coastal rookery under favourable conditions consistently moved in straight courses N.N.E. toward the coast. Birds from the same rookery released at points to the east and west took courses essentially parallel to this departure direction, i.e., northwest and northeast respectively on a meridian scale rather than true north or in the homeward direction. These and other experiments under varying degrees of cloud cover and with birds prepared under artificial day-night light regimes indicate that the birds possessed a navigation mechanism which used the sun as the primary orientation cue plus a biological clock to compensate for changing sun azimuth positions. The mechanism effected a consistent escape direction for birds of a given population (source) regardless of the location of the release site. The “grid N.N.E.” orientation of these birds is compared with “nonsense orientation” as described for ducks and other birds. It is considered to have survival value in the present instance in steering lost penguins to the appropriate off-coast feeding areas and in segregating and concentrating the birds from the various circum-continental populations.
Effects of pressure and temperature on the respiration of euphausiids

Abstract The respiration of Euphausia americana, E. hemigibba, E. recurva, Thysanopoda monacantha, T. obtusifrons, T. tricuspidata , and Meganyctiphanes norvegica was measured at temperatures between 5° and 25°C and at pressures between 0 and 100 atm. In most cases the pressure significantly increased respiration only at the higher temperatures, a combination of factors not found in the ocean. In T. monacantha , the only mesopelagic species used, pressure increased respiration at the lower temperatures more than at the higher temperatures. We conclude that the respiration of epipelagic forms is determined by temperature alone and decreases as the animals descend into colder waters, while the respiration of the mesopelagic form remains constant throughout its depth range.
Microscopic lesions of spontaneous ocular blastomycosis in dogs

Ocular tissues from 13 dogs with naturally-occurring blastomycosis were examined histologically. Choroiditis and separation of the sensory retina from its epithelium were the most prominent lesions, although all three coats of the eye were always involved. Severe panophthalmitis was associated with a marked exudative reaction within the ocular tissues. Whereas inflammation of the anterior ocular tissues was often intense, it was rarely associated with the presence of B. dermatitidis. Sequelae to the ocular inflammation included cataract, synechiae, rubeosis iridis, and closure of the drainage angle. The last of these resulted in glaucoma and resulting degeneration of the optic nerve.
Analytical approximations to seawater optical phase functions of scattering

This paper proposes a number of analytical approximations to the classic and recently measured seawater light scattering phase functions. The three types of analytical phase functions are derived: individual representations for 15 Petzold, 41 Mankovsky, and 91 Gulf of Mexico phase functions; collective fits to Petzold phase functions; and analytical representations that take into account dependencies between inherent optical properties of seawater. The proposed phase functions may be used for problems of radiative transfer, remote sensing, visibility and image propagation in natural waters of various turbidity.
Racism and Asian American Student Leadership

This article provides a theoretical analysis and ethnographic account of Asian American student leadership in higher education. Existing literature highlights Asian and Asian American leadership styles as cultural differences. I shift the analysis from culture to racism in order to work toward a more socially just conception of Asian American student leadership, grounded in the social and historical realities of racism in the U.S. I bring the issue of racism to the forefront by framing this project in racial formation theory and Orientalism and by looking at Asian American student leadership in the context of anti-racism activism. Participants challenged the notion of “Asian American leadership” in two ways: First, students described how they struggled with the Asian American racial category in their day-to-day lives as student leaders, and second, they discussed the negative consequences of being racialized as Asian American leaders.
FT-IR Step-Scan Photoacoustic Phase Analysis and Depth Profiling of Calcified Tissue

Rapid-scan- and step-scan-based Fourier transform infrared photoacoustic depth profiling results of an extracted but intact human tooth are compared. The effects of various data processing methods are examined. Analysis of the phase dispersion of the photothermal signal along with spectral linearization is used to access the extent of photoacoustic saturation in the photoacoustic spectra. Phase-modulated/phase-resolved depth profiling methods are less prone to photoacoustic saturation and provide superior localization of the surface and subsurface absorbers distributed in the tooth enamel. Mid-infrared depth profiling studies of calcified tissues can aid in the understanding of degenerative bone diseases, bone growth, and modeling, as well as tissue mineralization.
Examining Parental and Peer Social Support as a Buffer Between Dating Violence Victimization and Negative Outcomes Among Female Adolescents

Social support has been linked to a lower rate of negative outcomes among adult women who have experienced intimate partner violence victimization; however, little is known about the potential buffer effects of social support for adolescent girls who have been victimized by a dating partner. Using data from the Toledo Adolescent Relationship Study (n=495), we examine the impact of social support from parents and peers on negative outcomes, including low self-esteem, depression, and unhealthy weight control, among female youth who have experienced physical and/or emotional dating violence victimization (n=198). Multivariate regression analyses demonstrate that social support from parents and peers protects against low self-esteem but not against depression or unhealthy weight control. Implications for dating violence programming and future research are addressed.
Information Embedding in Sonar for Authentication and Identification

In complex undersea environments, where a multitude of simultaneous sonar transmissions may exist, it is desirable to identify a received sonar echo based on its point of origin, platform, and mission etc. This capability can help distinguish friendly sonar sources from counter fraudulent transmissions intended to confuse or mislead. The solution proposed for this problem is to secure embedding of a robust digital watermark in sonar transmissions. The complex short time Fourier transform (STFT) is selected as the domain for embedding the watermark. We show that the watermark can be recovered from a single ping. Moreover, the watermark survives various channel impairments including noise, seabed clutter and multipath. The same concept can be used for covert undersea communications using biologically occurring signals as cover.
Gonzales (Goa), A New Blood Group Character

A new blood group character, Gonzales (Goa), has been described. The antibody was found during the investigation of a case of erythroblastosis fetalis. Goa occurs almost exclusively in individuals of Negro parentage. Goa has been shown to segregate independently from the ABO, Rh, MNS, Kell, Duffy, Kidd and Xg blood group systems and may represent an entirely new blood group system.
Sliding mode end point trajectory control of a two link elastic manipulator

A variable structure (VS) system scheme for controlling the end effector trajectory of a two-link flexible robotic arm is introduced. Since control of the actual tip position leads to unstable zero dynamics, control of points in the neighborhood of the tip is considered. An output is chosen as the sum of the joint angle and tip elastic deformation times a constant factor for each link. For the chosen output, a discontinuous output control law is derived based on the VS theory. The control law thus derived accomplishes the desired trajectory tracking of the output. A linear stabilizer is designed using the pole assignment technique for the final capture of the terminal state and stabilization of the elastic modes. Simulation results showing that, in the closed-loop system, large maneuvers can be performed in the presence of payload uncertainty, indicating the robustness of the controller are presented. >
So how hard does a head hit a disk

A model which appears to provide improved estimates of representative forces, pressures, etc., during a head/disk collision is presented. This model takes account of asperity deformation and the statistical nature of asperity interaction. What results is a total contact force of the order of 0.2 newtons for a duration of the order of a few microseconds. These values check with physical observations made by others. The model further yields contact areas, expected numbers of contacting asperities, and mean contact pressures. The authors apply the model to a variety of systems to gauge the effects of different incident velocities, alternative slider sizes, varying the interface topography, etc. >
Designing interfaces for presentation of opinion diversity

News aggregators rely on links and users votes to select and present subsets of the large quantity of news and opinion items generated each day. Opinion diversity in the output sets can provide several benefits. We outline a range of diversity goals and discuss user reactions to a pilot implementation that selects for diversity as well as popularity. We then describe plans for research on alternative presentations and their impacts on users.