cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
RNS sign detector based on chinese remainder theorem II (CRT II)

Abstract In this paper, we introduce a new algorithm for sign detection in a residue number system, which can be applied to any number of moduli set. This technique is faster than most competitive published works, based on MRC or CRT. The CRT requires large modulo M and is therefore costly to implement. The mix radix conversion (MRC) is a sequential process which causes long delay. The proposed algorithm is based on CRT 11. No big modulo M = Π i =1 pi n pi operations are needed for the CRT II. The modulo multipliers in the CRT II are bounded by size √ M . The new sign detector uses less hardware than previous techniques. Using the new moduli set (2, 2 n − 1, 2 n + 2 n −1 − 1, 2 n +1 + 2 n − 1), the implementation of a sign detector is further simplified.
Intracerebral penetration and tissue distribution of 2,5-diaziridinyl 3,6-bis(carboethoxyamino) 1,4-benzoquinone (AZQ, NSC-182986)

[14C]AZQ (2–4 mg/m2, 100–200 mCi) was administered at varying times to five patients undergoing surgical resection of intracerebral tumors. Plasma, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), edematous brain, and tumor specimens were obtained during surgery and the concentration of AZQ was determined radiochemically and chromatographically. Total [14C]AZQ equivalent concentration in tumor for two patients was determined to be 47.5% and 85% of concurrent plasma concentration which was similar to that found in normal brain (60.4% and 75.5% respectively). Only 18–45% of the total radioactivity in tumor tissue and 30–56% in plasma were accounted for by unchanged AZQ. These findings suggest that AZQ may be metabolized to a certain extent. Tissue samples from various organs were obtained during autopsy in a patient who expired ten days after AZQ administration. The highest AZQ concentration was found in the liver, followed by the kidney. Comparable amounts were found in normal brain and brain tumor (22 ng/ g vs. 31 ng/ g respectively). These results indicate that AZQ penetrates readily into the normal brain and brain tumor with a tendency to persist.
World Bank Group’s support to the Ebola virus response effort

Grepin greatly underestimates the World Bank Group’s support to the Ebola virus response effort.1 The International Development Association—our fund for the poorest countries—has committed $518m (£340m; €469m), not $230m, of which $289m (56%), not $117m,1 has been disbursed to the affected countries and implementing UN and …
Managing nasopharyngeal carcinoma with intracavitary brachytherapy: one institution's 45-year experience.

Abstract Purpose: At our institution, we have been using intracavitary brachytherapy as a boost in selected cases of both primary and recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The local control, distant metastasis–free rate, overall survival, and morbidity are presented. Methods and Materials: Between January 1, 1955, and August 2000, 576 patients with a diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma were seen at the department of radiation oncology, University of California–San Francisco, and 55 patients received intracavitary brachytherapy as one part of their treatment. All patients were treated with megavoltage external beam radiation, including 43 patients treated for initial disease and 12 for recurrence. Brachytherapy was routinely used for early cases of T1 and T2 lesions and selected cases of more advanced lesions, as well as recurrent lesions. The median age was 48 years (range 22–85 years); there were 17 women and 38 men, and 39 patients were ethnic Chinese, 13 were white, and 3 were other races. Stage at treatment (primary and recurrent) was I (n = 13), II (n = 18), III (n = 19), and IV (n = 5); 18 patients had concurrent chemotherapy. The brachytherapy applicators used were Rotterdam (n = 24), balloon (n = 16), ovoid (n = 14), and ribbon (n = 1). The dose rate was high (n = 24), low (n = 29), or pulsed (n = 2). External beam doses ranged from 54 to 72 Gy for primary disease and 30 to 42 Gy for recurrent disease. Brachytherapy doses ranged from 5 to 7 Gy for high dose rate and 10 to 54 Gy for low dose rate. Results: With a median follow-up of 36 months in those who were treated for primary carcinoma, the 5-year estimate of local control was 89%, the distant metastasis–free rate was 75%, and the overall survival estimate was 86%. Recurrent patients had a median follow-up of 50 months; the 5-year estimate of local control was 64%, the distant metastasis–free rate was 100%, and the overall survival estimate was 91%. Patients with Stage I or II disease had a longer overall survival compared with those with Stage III or IV (p = 0.05). There was a significant difference in the rate of distant metastases due to nodal status (N0 vs. N1–N3, p = 0.02) or to overall stage (I/II vs. III/IV, p = 0.005). Conclusions: Intracavitary boost brachytherapy was found to be effective and well tolerated in selected cases of both primary and recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
A Confidence Interval for the Lognormal Hazard

Nadas [5] has obtained confidence intervals for X based on a given confidence rectangle for the vector parameter (u, or). His intervals do not depend on the method of sampling that produces the confidence rectangle, nor does he require "large" sample sizes. Our confidence intervals should be shorter than those obtained by the method of [5] as applied to simple random sampling because of the efficient nature of confidence intervals based on the maximum likelihood estimator. [See [2] p. 374].
Aspiration Efficiency of IOM-Like Personal Aerosol Samplers from Experiments with a New Rapid Data Acquisition System

New automated instrumentation for the rapid acquisition of aerosol sampler aspiration efficiency data has been applied to an investigation of a range of personal aerosol samplers of the type developed during the 1980s at the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) in Edinburgh, Scotland, U.K. The experimental research was carried out in a small wind tunnel, and the relation of the results for IOM-like samplers to full-scale life-size personal aerosol sampling scenarios—like those encountered in occupational aerosol exposure assessment—was investigated by reference to the scaling laws that have been developed based on familiar aerosol mechanics as they apply to the physics of aerosol sampling. In the small-scale experimental study, the IOM-like sampler was mounted centrally on a rectangular bluff body, simulating the wearing of the sampler on the body (e.g., as by a worker in an industrial setting). Scaling with respect to the corresponding, more-realistic full-scale system for a corresponding full-scale ...
Glacial Loading and Unloading: A Possible Cause of Rock Salt Dissolution in the Western Canada Basin

Each of the five main bedded Devonian rock salts in the Western Canada Basin has been leached in places more-or-less continuously since shortly after deposition. For the most part, salt dissolution has been self-sustaining and relatively slow. At various times however, leaching has been significantly accelerated by large-scale external processes such as regional uplift and erosion (during the pre-Cretaceous hiatus), and regional faulting (during the mid-Late Cretaceous). The most recent phase of accelerated leaching occurred during the Quaternary, probably as a result of glacial loading and unloading. Two principal lines of evidence support the thesis that accelerated rates of salt dissolution occurred during the Quaternary. First, there is an apparent correlation between surface drainage patterns and the active dissolution margins of the Devonian rock salts. A significant percentage of the lakes and rivers in proximity to active salt dissolution margins are situated along the near-zero edge of the respective salt bodies. Second, salt-related subsidence features at the pre-Quaternary subcrop level have been mapped on seismic data in the immediate proximity of active salt dissolution margins. The Quaternary subsidence features associated with the Prairie Formation rock salt for example, parallel the active salt margin and can be up to several kilometers wide. The areal extent of these shallow subsidence features and the high volume of rock salt dissovled at these sites suggest that accelerated rates of leaching occurred during the Quaternary (relative to the average rate of dissolution throughout the Cretaceous). The magnitude of these shallow structural features demonstrates clearly that subsidence associated with Recent salt dissolution can influence surficial drainage patterns to the extent suggested by the distribution of the lakes and rivers in proximity to the salt dissolution margins. The accelerated rates of salt dissolution during the Quaternary are attributed to glacial loading and unloading, and associated processes. Glacial loading could result in the compaction of subsurface strata, an increase in geothermal gradient, the thermal expansion of the deep aquifers, and the expulsion of interstitial water. These effects could increase both the rate of centrifugal fluid flow within a basin and the rate of salt dissolution. Glacial unloading could also affect the rate of salt dissolution. This rapid decrease in applied load is manifested as glacial rebound, a process which could increase the porosity and fracture permeability of the subsurface, and decrease the geothermal gradient. Potentially, the rate of centripetal fluid flow (at least around the basin margins) could be increased. Increased centripetal fluid flow, accompanied by an influx of understurated glacial melt waters would enhance the rate of salt dissolution.
Psychophysical measurements during lumbar discography: a heart rate response study.

STUDY DESIGN Prospective clinical data analysis. OBJECTIVE To determine if heart rate (HR) response correlates with positive discography results. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Lumbar discography is a controversial tool for the diagnosis of discogenic low back pain. The subjective nature of discography can make data interpretation difficult, leading to false-positive and false-negative results. HR changes have been found in numerous studies to be a reliable and valid indicator of acute pain. To date, there is no study analyzing the HR response to discography-induced pain. METHODS The HR measurements were recorded immediately preceding and after contrast injection into the each disc, and statistically correlated with the provocation of concordant pain, nonconcordant pain, and nonpainful discs. RESULTS Discography was performed in 26 subjects with low back pain. Among 75 discograms, 26 discs elicited concordant pain, 9 provoked nonconcordant pain, and 40 elicited no pain response. There was no significant change in HR during disc stimulation for negative [no pain response (P=0.19) and nonconcordant (P=0.26)] discograms, whereas positive discograms [concordant pain (numerical rating scale> or =6/10)] were associated with a statistically significant increase in HR (P=0.000002). CONCLUSIONS Lumbar discography induces positive HR response only in positive discograms. Although there is no immediate practical application of these results, 2 implications may deserve future research: (a) correlation of HR response with surgical and intradiscal electrotherapy treatment outcomes; (b) evaluation of HR measurement in cases of false-positive results (concordant pain on discography but no HR response).
Photolithographically patterned thin-film multilayer devices of YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-x/

Thin-film YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-x/-SrTiO/sub 3/-YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-x/ multilayer interconnect structures in which each in situ laser-deposited film is independently patterned by photolithography have been fabricated. The two key components necessary for a superconducting multilayer interconnect technology have been constructed: crossovers and window contacts. As a further demonstration of the technology, the authors have fabricated a thin-film flux transformer which is suitable for use with a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) and includes a ten-turn input coil with 6- mu m linewidth. Transport measurements showed that the critical temperature was 87 K and the critical current was 135 mu A at 82 K.
Effect of alloxan-induced diabetes on the hypertrophic response of rat heart.

Rats with alloxan-induced moderate and severe diabetes underwent banding of the ascending aorta. The increase in myocardial tissue and RNA was similar to controls in both groups of diabetic animals. This study indicates that the myocardial response to increased afterload is normal in the diabetic animal.
Trace element profiles in the hair of cancer patients

The trace element profiles of the scalp hair of cancer patients were measured and compared with those of healthy people. Significant differences were observed for several elements, especially for Au, I and Se.
Augmented Coupled Dictionary Learning for Image Super-Resolution

Recent approaches in image super-resolution suggest learning dictionary pairs to model the relationship between low-resolution and high-resolution image patches with sparsity constraints on the patch representation. Most of the previous approaches in this direction assume for simplicity that the sparse codes for a low-resolution patch are equal to those of the corresponding high-resolution patch. However, this invariance assumption is not quite accurate especially for large scaling factors where the optimal weights and indices of representative features are not fixed across the scaling transformation. In this paper, we propose an augmented coupled dictionary learning scheme that compensates for the inaccuracy of the invariance assumption. First, we learn a dictionary for the low-resolution image space. Then, we compute an augmented dictionary in the high-resolution image space where novel augmented dictionary atoms are inferred from the training error of the low-resolution dictionary. For a low-resolution test image, the sparse codes of the low-resolution patches and the lowresolution dictionary training error are combined with the trained high-resolution dictionary to produce a high-resolution image. Our experimental results compare favourably with the non-augmented scheme.
Evidence for “internal surface” superconductivity in severely deformed niobium

Abstract The disappearance of resistive critical field anisotropy at t ≅ 0.95 for severely deformed Nb supports a model for heterogeneous nucleation of superconductivity at cell boundaries (i.e., “internal surfaces”) thus explaining large discrepancies from the GLAG predictions based on bulk parameters.
Bioinformatic Analysis of Differential Protein Expression in Calu-3 Cells Exposed to Carbon Nanotubes

Carbon nanomaterials are widely produced and used in industry, medicine and scientific research. To examine the impact of exposure to nanoparticles on human health, the human airway epithelial cell line, Calu-3, was used to evaluate changes in the cellular proteome that could account for alterations in cellular function of airway epithelia after 24 hexposure to 10 μg/mL and 100 ng/mLof two common carbon nanoparticles, single- and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT, MWCNT). After exposure to the nanoparticles, label-free quantitative mass spectrometry (LFQMS) was used to study the differential protein expression. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) was used to conduct a bioinformaticanalysis of proteins identified in LFQMS. Interestingly, after exposure to ahigh concentration (10 mg/mL; 0.4 mg/cm2) of MWCNT or SWCNT, only 8 and 13 proteins, respectively, exhibited changes in abundance. In contrast, the abundance of hundreds of proteins was altered in response to a low concentration (100 ng/mL; 4 ng/cm2) of either CNT. Of the 281 and 282 proteins that were significantly altered in response to MWCNT or SWCNT respectively, 231 proteins were the same. Bioinformatic analyses found that the proteins in common to both nanotubes occurred within the cellular functions of cell death and survival, cell-to-cell signaling and interaction, cellular assembly and organization, cellular growth and proliferation, infectious disease, molecular transport and protein synthesis. The majority of the protein changes represent a decrease in amount suggesting a general stress response to protect cells. The STRING database was used to analyze the various functional protein networks. Interestingly, some proteins like cadherin 1 (CDH1), signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), junction plakoglobin (JUP), and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (PYCARD), appear in several functional categories and tend to be in the center of the networks. This central positioning suggests they may play important roles in multiple cellular functions and activities that are altered in response to carbon nanotube exposure.
4fnl Configurations of Doubly Ionized Cerium (Ce III)

A theoretical interpretation is given for the configurations of the type 4fnl of Ce iii. New values for radial parameters are obtained by least-squares. Percentage compositions in the appropriate coupling schemes are given for the energy levels. The rms error is less than 0.7% for most cases.
Complementary Peptide Sequence Coverage Using Alternative Enzymes for On-Line Digestion with a Triaxial Electrospray Probe

Using alternative enzymes for on-line digestion with a triaxial electrospray probe extends sequence coverage. This is the first report of utilization of our triaxial probe for on-line analysis with enzymes other than pepsin, suggesting potential for broader application. The probe allows access to processes occurring on a timescale and/or involving substrate conformations complementary to those for conventional (off-line) digestion. Some of the features observed in application to Aβ fibrils are suggestive of unique reactive intermediates during dissolution. Data obtained with enzyme mixtures suggest synergistic effects.
Inhaled nitric oxide in congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Pulmonary hypertension is a major complication of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) is a selective pulmonary vasodilator because it produces vasodilatation of the pulmonary vasculature without systemic hypotension. In experimental and clinical studies, inhaled NO ameliorates pulmonary hypertension and improves gas exchange. The goal of the present study was to determine the extent to which infants with CDH respond to inhaled NO. Four newborn infants with CDH complicated by severe respiratory insufficiency and right-to-left shunting received inhaled NO. In three patients, postductal oxygenation improved in response to small concentrations of NO (5 to 10 ppm); two received NO after operative repair, and the third both before and after repair. However, tachyphylaxis developed in all cases within 1 to 6 days. A fourth patient received inhaled NO in an attempt at weaning from ECMO. He did not respond, remaining hypoxic despite 80 ppm NO, and continued to require ECMO. In the three patients who responded to inhaled NO, plasma nitrites and nitrates (stable oxidative end products of NO) accumulated over time, but not in the patient who did not respond. The accumulation of nitrite and nitrate in plasma may reflect alveolar-capillary NO absorption, and may identify patients who will respond to continued inhaled NO. Methemoglobin remained below 1.9% in all four babies. Selected infants with CDH may respond to NO, but the benefit may be temporary.
Ethnic Similarity, Therapist Adherence, and Long-Term Multisystemic Therapy Outcomes

The current study investigated relations among ethnic similarity in caregiver-therapist pairs of youth participating in Multisystemic Therapy, therapist adherence, and youth long-term behavioral and criminal outcomes. Participants were 1,979 youth and families treated by 429 therapists across provider organizations in 45 sites. Relations were found, independently, and in the presence of ethnic similarity, between adherence and reductions in youth externalizing and internalizing behavior problems 1-year posttreatment and youth criminal charges 4 years posttreatment. Relations between ethnic similarity and outcomes were found only for reductions in youth externalizing behavior problems and not when adherence was included in the model. Adherence ratings were higher, however, in ethnically similar caregiver-therapist pairs, and evidence was found that this increased adherence predicted slightly better outcomes for youth. Implications for further research and clinical practice are considered.
Studies in atopic dermatitis. V. Problems in inhalant hyposensitization and results of treatment.

Abstract Hyposensitization with extracts of inhalant allergens, including house dust, ragweed, and timothy pollens and such atmospheric molds as alternaria and hormodendrum, is associated at times with certain difficulties which are reviewed in the present report. Of 183 patients with atopic dermatitis, either alone or combined with other allergic manifestations, 125 received hyposensitizing injections of extracts of one or more of the above-mentioned allergens. Thirty-four patients had a total of forty-nine reactions, usually after the injection but also in a few patients after skin testing or deliberate experimental induction. The reaction usually was temporary and could be obviated by reducing the dose and later increasing it more gradually. In five patients, however, reactions consistently followed extremely minute dosage, with subsequent attempted increases resulting in aggravation of the dermatitis rather than its amelioration. Reactions following injections are delayed in onset from twelve to twenty-four hours or longer. They may go unrecognized, which explains some of the reported failures in hyposensitization treatment. Awareness of this possibility and exercise of adequate caution to prevent the onset of reactions will bring about better response to treatment. Results of treatment were evaluated in 101 patients. Six patients were successfully treated by elimination of foods or inhalants alone, and ninety-five also received hyposensitization treatment. Excellent or good results were obtained in seventy-three and actual failures in only six. On the whole, the results obtained compare favorably with those obtained in patients with allergic asthma treated in similar fashion.
Microcystic adnexal carcinoma

We describe a patient with microcystic adnexal carcinoma, a recently recognized cutaneous neoplasm. The patient, a middle-aged woman, had an induration of the left side of her upper lip. At the time of initial resection, the neoplasm also involved the left side of the nose. An extensive recurrence, 27 months later, involved the left turbinates and left orbit. Microscopically the tumor consisted of nests, strands, and cysts composed of mildly to moderately atypical squamous cells that lacked connections with the epidermis. The cysts contained dense, laminated keratin. The tumor was distributed throughout the dermis and infiltrated subcutaneous tissue, skeletal muscle, perichondrium, periosteum, vascular adventitia, and perineural spaces. A few fields contained nests of clear cells, but ductular differentiation, prominent in some microcystic adnexal carcinomas, was not found. There was a distinctive, dense, selerotic stroma. The foregoing clinical and pathologic findings are characteristic of microcystic adnexal carcinoma. Our observations and available information from the literature suggest the existence of an important family of locally aggressive carcinomas of the face characterized by squamous nests and cysts, variable ductular differentiation, and perineural growth. Such tumors must be clearly differentiated from the more common forms of epidermal and adnexal neoplasia.
Masquerade detection on GUI-based Windows systems

A masquerader is an attacker who attempts to mimic the behaviour of a legitimate user so as to evade detection. Much previous research on masquerade detection has focused on analysis of command-line input in UNIX systems. However, these techniques may fail to detect attacks on modern graphical user interface GUI-based systems, where typical user activities include mouse movements, in addition to keystrokes. We have developed an event logging tool for Windows systems which has been used to collect a large, publicly available dataset suitable for testing masquerade detection strategies. Using this dataset, we employ hidden Markov model HMM analysis to compare the effectiveness of various detection strategies. Our results show that a linear combination of keyboard activity and mouse movements, yields stronger results than when relying on keyboard activity alone, or mouse movements alone. These preliminary results can serve as a baseline for future masquerade detection research.
Change in the Proton T1 of Fat and Water in Mixture

This work describes observed changes in the proton T1 relaxation time of both water and lipid when they are in relatively homogeneous mixtures. Results obtained from vegetable oil–water emulsions, pork kidney and lard mixtures, and excised samples of white and brown adipose tissues are presented to demonstrate this change in T1 as a function of mixture fat fraction. As an initial proof of concept, a simpler acetone-water experiment was performed to take advantage of complete miscibility between acetone and water and both components’ single chemical shift peaks. Single-voxel MR spectroscopy was used to measure the T1 of predominant methylene spins in fat and the T1 of water spins in each setup. In the vegetable oil–water emulsions, the T1 of fat varied by as much as 3-fold when water was the dominant mixture component. The T1 of pure lard increased by 170 msec (+37%) when it was blended with lean kidney tissue in a 16% fatty mixture. The fat T1 of lipid-rich white adipose tissue was 312 msec. In contrast, the fat T1 of leaner brown adipose tissue (fat fraction 53%) was 460 msec. A change in the water T1 from that of pure water was also observed in the experiments.
First Report of Acidovorax avenae subsp. avenae Causing Bacterial Leaf Stripe of Strelitzia nicolai

White bird of paradise (Strelitzia nicolai Regel & K. Koch) is a commonly grown ornamental in central and south Florida. Each summer of 2004 to 2007, a reoccurring disease was observed at a commercial nursery in central Florida. Diseased plants had brown, necrotic stripes between the lateral leaf veins, which usually appeared along the midvein and spread toward the leaf edge. Lesions developed on the youngest leaves as they emerged from the central whorl. During 2004 and 2005, 20 symptomatic leaves were sampled. A white, nonfluorescent bacterium was consistently isolated from symptomatic tissue. It induced a hypersensitive response (HR) on tomato, grew at 41°C, and was identified as a Acidovorax sp. based on fatty acid analysis and as Acidovorax avenae subsp. avenae by Biolog metabolic phenotype analysis (similarity 0.76 to 0.86). A partial 16S rRNA gene sequence (1,455 bp) (Accession No. EF418616) was identical to four sequences in the NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) database: one fr...
Dipolar and Scalar Couplings in Solid State NMR of Quadrupolar Nuclei

Most NMR-active nuclei found in the periodic table have a quadrupole moment. In combination with a nonsymmetric electron distribution a strong NMR-active interaction results, which very often overshadows the dipolar and scalar couplings. This article aims at reviewing how these interactions manifest themselves in quadrupolar NMR and how they can be exploited for resonance assignment and structure elucidation, in spite of the presence of a strong quadrupolar interaction.
Di-isodityrosine Is the Intermolecular Cross-link of Isodityrosine-rich Extensin Analogs Cross-linked in Vitro

Extensins are cell wall hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins that form covalent networks putatively involving tyrosyl and lysyl residues in cross-links catalyzed by one or more extensin peroxidases. The precise cross-links remain to be chemically identified both as network components in muro and as enzymic products generated in vitro with native extensin monomers as substrates. However, some extensin monomers contain variations within their putative cross-linking motifs that complicate cross-link identification. Other simpler extensins are recalcitrant to isolation including the ubiquitous P3-type extensin whose major repetitive motif, Hyp)4-Ser-Hyp-Ser-(Hyp)4-Tyr-Tyr-Tyr-Lys, is of particular interest, not least because its Tyr-Tyr-Tyr intramolecular isodityrosine cross-link motifs are also putative candidates for further intermolecular cross-linking to form di-isodityrosine. Therefore, we designed a set of extensin analogs encoding tandem repeats of the P3 motif, including Tyr → Phe and Lys → Leu variations. Expression of these P3 analogs in Nicotiana tabacum cells yielded glycoproteins with virtually all Pro residues hydroxylated and subsequently arabinosylated and with likely galactosylated Ser residues. This was consistent with earlier analyses of P3 glycopeptides isolated from cell wall digests and the predictions of the Hyp contiguity hypothesis. The tyrosine-rich P3 analogs also contained isodityrosine, formed in vivo. Significantly, these isodityrosine-containing analogs were further cross-linked in vitro by an extensin peroxidase to form the tetra-tyrosine intermolecular cross-link amino acid di-isodityrosine. This is the first identification of an inter-molecular cross-link amino acid in an extensin module and corroborates earlier suggestions that di-isodityrosine represents one mechanism for cross-linking extensins in muro.
A TEST OF THE ANNUAL GROWTH LINE HYPOTHESIS IN TRACHEMYS SCRIPTA ELEGANS

The annual growth line hypothesis predicts that a single, countable growth line is deposited annually in turtles. Support for this hypothesis is implied whenever growth line counts are used to estimate age in turtles. However, the hypothesis has not been thoroughly tested. We tested the annual growth line hypothesis by calibrating growth line counts against elapsed time in a population of red-eared sliders, Trachemys scripta elegans, in central Oklahoma. Thirty-one percent of all individuals (349/1129) had countable growth lines. The maximum number of growth lines that could be reliably counted was four. In each year of the study, the first turtles were captured early in March, yet the first new growth lines were not documented until late April. We recorded 1569 captures of 106 turtles that were captured in consecutive years and had countable growth lines throughout the study. Within these turtles, the annual growth line hypothesis was supported. Growth line counts agreed with elapsed time for 100 (94%) t...
Recovery of function after brain damage: On deposits to the memory bank

The availability of spared memories following neocortical injury has been shown to be related to the similarity of preoperative learning and postoperative recovery situations. In the present research we questioned whether the nature of the memory itself might also be an important determinant of the availability of spared memories following neocortical brain injury. It was found that the changes that interfere with the postoperative retrieval of memories of behaviors learned for a single motivational state do not interfere with the postoperative retrieval of memories of behaviors learned to satisfy two concurrent motivational states. Apparently, the nature of the memory is an important determinant of its availability following neocortical injury.
Observations concerning the determination of porosities in graphites

Abstract The porosities of a number of graphites were determined by mercury porosimetry and helium intrusion methods, and in addition, vapor pressures and mercury distillation data were obtained on graphite specimens intruded with mercury in a porosimeter. All of the results were in agreement with the conclusions that mercury porosimetry can cause damage to graphite specimens above some critical pressure range, and that this damage can cause the results of porosimetry measurements to be misleading.
Decreased adrenergic sensitivity in patients with hypothyroidism

Cardiovascular sensitivity to catecholamines was assessed in 15 patients with hypothyroidism (mean [± SEM] thyroxine [T4] index 2.7 ± 0.5 μg/100 ml, thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] 136.9 ± 48.3 μU/ml), aged 45 ± 4 years and in 8 healthy control subjects. The study was repeated in 10 patients with hypothyroidism 4.0 ± 0.5 months after thyroid replacement therapy (T4 index 9.9 ± 2.1 gmg/100 ml, TSH 3.5 ± 1.3 μU/ml). In addition, basal, average and maximal heart rates were measured using 24 h ambulatory electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring, and plasma levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine were determined before and after thyroid replacement. Heart rate increased less after bolus injection of 0.8, 1.6 and 3.2 μg of isoproterenol in the hypothyroid (10 ± 2, 15 ± 2 and 21 ± 4 beats/min, respectively) than in the euthyroid (16 ± 3, 22 ± 3 and 30 ± 4 beats/min, respectively) state (p < 0.05). Control subjects reacted similarly to patients receiving thyroid replacement. Basal heart rate (64 ± 3 versus 68 ± 3 beats/min, p < 0.05) and maximal heart rate (116 ± 5 versus 133 ± 5 beats/min, p < 0.05) were lower on 24 h ambulatory ECG monitoring in the hypothyroid than euthyroid state despite higher basal plasma norepinephrine levels (394 ± 45 versus 315 ± 45 pg/ml, p < 0.05). Thus, patients with hypothyroidism display a decreased cardiac chronotropic response to beta-adrenergic stimulation. This may contribute in part to the decreased basal and maximal daily heart rates seen in patients with hypothyroidism, which occurs despite elevated plasma norepinephrine levels.
Determination of uric acid and creatinine in human urine using hydrophilic interaction chromatography

Uric acid is the end-product of purine metabolism and a major antioxidant in humans. The concentrations of uric acid in plasma and urine are associated with various diseases and routinely measured in clinical and biomedical laboratories using enzymatic conversion and colorimetric measurement. In this study a hydrophilic interaction chromatographic (HILIC) method was developed for simultaneous determination of uric acid and creatinine, a biomarker of urine dilution and renal function, in human urine. Urine samples were pretreated by dilution, protein precipitation, centrifugation and filtration. Uric acid and creatinine were separated from other components in urine samples and quantified using HILIC chromatography. A linear relationship between the ratio of the peak area of the standards to that of the internal standard and the concentration of the standards was obtained for both uric acid and creatinine with the square of correlation coefficients >0.999 for both analytes. The detection limits were 0.04 μg/mL for creatinine and 0.06 μg/mL for uric acid. The described HILIC method has proved to be simple, accurate, robust and reliable.
A Participation Requirement to Engage Students in a Pharmacokinetics Course Synchronously Taught at a Local and Distant Campus

Objective. To design, implement, and evaluate a strategy to actively engage doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students at local and distant sites in a pharmacokinetics course. Design. A Web-based system was designed that allowed second-year pharmacy students to choose whether to participate in a instructor-led class discussion session by registering prior to or during the first 10 minutes of each class. The instructor then used the program to randomly select students to respond to questions based on the assigned reading. Five percent of the overall course grade was based on class participation. Assessment. For each class session, an average of 85% of students at both the local and distant campuses registered for participation in class discussion and approximately 5% were called on to respond to questions. Student responses to course survey questions regarding the participation strategy were overwhelmingly positive, with 75%-90% agreeing that the strategy more actively engaged them in classroom activities, resul...
CALIBRATING GELATIN ZYMOGRAMS WITH HUMAN GELATINASE STANDARDS

Abstract We describe the use of gelatinase standards from human capillary whole blood for calibrating gelatin zymograms. Capillary blood was obtained by fingerstick puncture and prepared in nonreducing Laemmli SDS–PAGE sample buffer without heating. Gelatin zymography revealed that whole blood (0.25–1 μl) contained substantial fibroblast-derived (72-kDa) and neutrophil-derived (92-, 130-, and 225-kDa) gelatinases which could be used for calibration purposes. Calibration was linear under different electrophoretic conditions using 6.5–10% polyacrylamide gels containing 1–2 mg/ml gelatin (correlation range,r= 0.990–0.998; perfect correlation,r= 1.000). The use of the standards for characterizing gelatinases from arthritic joint fluid is demonstrated. The standards are easily obtained and well characterized, and should facilitate interlaboratory comparison and standardization.
Role of colonic cytochrome P‐450 in large bowel carcinogenesis

Rat colon mucosa microsomes contain a competent mixed function oxidase system that hydroxylates the N-methyl drugs benzphetamine and ethylmorphine, the O-alkyl drugs p-nitroanisole and p-nitrophenetole and the polycyclic carcinogen benzo[alpha]pyrene. The colon system's hydroxylation activities can be selectively induced by pretreatment with phenobarbital or beta-naphthoflavone and can be selectively inhibited by SKF-525A or 7,8-benzoflavone. The colon microsomal system has been solubilized with the non-ionic detergent Renex 690 and resolved by column chromatography into its components cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome P-450 reductase. Colon cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome P-450 reductase can be recombined to reconstitute hydroxylation activity. The colon system is also able to activate carcinogens to mutagenic metabolites as demonstrated in the Ames test system. In addition, the activity of the colon system is markedly increased by pretreatment with gastrointestinal hormones.
Treatment of helminth co-infection in individuals with HIV-1: A systematic review of the literature

Background and Objectives The HIV-1 pandemic has disproportionately affected individuals in resource-constrained settings. It is important to determine if other prevalent infections affect the progression of HIV-1 in co-infected individuals in these settings. Some observational studies suggest that helminth infection may adversely affect HIV-1 progression. We sought to evaluate existing evidence on whether treatment of helminth infection impacts HIV-1 progression. Review Methods This review was conducted using the HIV/AIDS Cochrane Review Group (CRG) search strategy and guidelines. Published and unpublished studies were obtained from The Cochrane Library (Issue 3, 2006), MEDLINE (November 2006), EMBASE (November 2006), CENTRAL (July 2006), and AIDSEARCH (August 2006). Databases listing conference abstracts and scanned reference lists were searched, and authors of included studies were contacted. Data regarding changes in CD4 count, HIV-1 RNA levels, clinical staging and/or mortality were extracted and compared between helminth-treated and helminth-untreated or helminth-uninfected individuals. Results Of 6,384 abstracts identified, 15 met criteria for potential inclusion, of which 5 were eligible for inclusion. In the single randomized controlled trial (RCT) identified, HIV-1 and schistosomiasis co-infected individuals receiving treatment for schistosomiasis had a significantly lower change in plasma HIV-1 RNA over three months (−0.001 log10 copies/mL) compared to those receiving no treatment (+0.21 log10 copies/mL), (p = 0.03). Four observational studies met inclusion criteria, and all of these suggested a possible beneficial effect of helminth eradication on plasma HIV-1 RNA levels when compared to plasma HIV-1 RNA changes prior to helminth treatment or to helminth-uninfected or persistently helminth-infected individuals. The follow-up duration in these studies ranged from three to six months. The reported magnitude of effect on HIV-1 RNA was variable, ranging from 0.07–1.05 log10 copies/mL. None of the included studies showed a significant benefit of helminth treatment on CD4 decline, clinical staging, or mortality. Conclusion There are insufficient data available to determine the potential benefit of helminth eradication in HIV-1 and helminth co-infected adults. Data from a single RCT and multiple observational studies suggest possible benefit in reducing plasma viral load. The impact of de-worming on markers of HIV-1 progression should be addressed in larger randomized studies evaluating species-specific effects and with a sufficient duration of follow-up to document potential differences on clinical outcomes and CD4 decline.
Recent trends in the epidemiology of alcoholic liver disease.

Alcohol remains the second most common cause of liver cirrhosis after hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the United States, contributing to approximately 20% to 25% cases of liver cirrhosis and about half of all admissions among patients with cirrhosis. Of the various factors responsible for liver disease, duration and amount of drinking alcohol is the most important factor. Pooled data from many epidemiological studies show a minimum intake of 30 g/day of alcohol in women and 50 g/day in men consumed over at least 5 years to cause liver cirrhosis. 3 Prevalence and mortality rates from cirrhosis parallel alcohol consumption prevalence rates in the population globally. Within Europe, which has the highest rate of consumption per capita in the implementation of policies on alcohol sale has resulted in changing epidemiology in different parts of Europe. Alcohol consumption rates have decreased in southern Europe, whereas they have increased in eastern Europe and some areas of northern Europe (including Ireland and the United Kingdom). 4 Because only 10% to 15% of people engaged in heavy drinking develop liver cirrhosis, other factors such as host factors and comorbidities are clearly important (Fig. 1). Women are more prone to the hepatotoxic effect of alcohol compared with men and are prone to develop liver cirrhosis at a lower amount of alcohol consumption. Type of alcohol consumed, binge drinking (five or more drinks at one time), drinking on an empty stomach, and participation in alcohol rehabilitation programs such as Alcoholic Anonymous are some of the other factors. Alcohol use and concomitant HCV infection act synergistically to cause more frequent and faster progression of fibrosis. 5 With the epidemic of obesity in the United States, prevalence rates of metabolic syndrome and visceral adiposity are increasing among alcoholics contributing to more prevalent and severe liver disease. 6 Alcohol remains the third most common preventable cause of death after smoking and hypertension. Alcohol-related mortality affects young and middle-aged population with loss of productive life years. Liver-related mortality from alcohol contributes to 4% of mortality and 5% of disability adjusted life years (DALY) globally, with highest impact in Europe, where these same figures are 7% and 12%, respectively (Fig. 2). 7 This huge disease burden has an economic impact of about €125 billion annually in Europe, about 1.3% of the gross domestic product. These figures are probably underestimates due to inaccuracies in death certificate reports, because mentioning alcohol as a contributing cause of death may have social and legal implications. Fortunately, over the last two to three decades, the mortality rates from liver cirrhosis have decreased from 20 to 25 per 100,000 population in the early twentieth century to less than 10/ 100,000 currently (Fig. 3). 8 Improved management of cir
The Role of Ischemia in Acquired Cystic Kidney Disease

Acquired cystic kidney disease (ACKD) is the result of cyst formation in failing noncystic kidneys. This condition occurs in patients with chronic renal failure and becomes more common with increasing time on renal replacement therapy. Its complications include hemorrhage and tumor formation, which have acquired greater significance as more patients are started on dialysis treatment. The causes of ACKD remain speculative thus far. Its occurrence in nondialyzed patients suggests that dialysis itself is not a necessary factor in its pathogenesis. Five cases of severe unilateral renovascular disease and associated cyst formation are reported. The authors conclude that ACKD may derive from primary renovascular occlusion or from the secondary arterial and arteriolar occlusions seen in the end-stage kidney.
Rhetorics of Display

Lawrence Prelli, ed., Rhetorics of Display (Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 2006), vii + 433 pp. $29.95 (paper). Rhetorics of Display is a well-organized and thought-provoking collect...
Height dependence of spread F bubble drift velocities

Vertical bubble velocities in equatorial spread F have been investigated analytically by Ott (1978), Osakow and Chaturvedi (1978), all of whom found a proportionality of the vertical velocity to bubble depletion density. The paper presents radar data from two equatorial sites which support theoretical predictions that vertical drift velocities of spread F bubbles increase with height on the bottomside of the F layer. This increase is shown to result from the proportionality of bubble drift velocity to density depletion amplitude, which itself increases with height. The measured rate of increase is found to be dU/dh equals about 2 m/s km. It is concluded that this is consistent with numerical simulation results within a factor of 2.
Equine platelets contain an anisotropic array of microtubules which reorganise upon activation

Electron microscopic and immunofluorescence studies of equine platelets reveal a distinctive distribution of microtubules. Resting cells have a crosslinked microtubule coil and an additional array of anisotropic microtubules. Thrombin activation of equine platelets results in platelet shape change accompanied by reorganisation of the microtubule arrays. The microtubule coil remains intact, while short linear microtubules are present within the pseudopodia. To examine the stability of these complex microtubule arrays, platelets were incubated with 2 μm-nocodazole for 2 h at room temperature. Immunofluoresence analysis of the distribution of tubulin showed that only the anisotropic array was depolymerised by nocodazole treatment. Western blot analysis demonstrates that in resting cells tubulin is only found in the detergent insoluble cytoskeleton, whereas in nocodazole-treated cells tubulin is present in the detergent-insoluble cytoskeleton as well as in the detergent-soluble supernatant. To determine whether post-translational modifications were associated with this differential stability, equine platelets were stained with antibodies to detyrosinated and acetylated tubulin. All parts of the complex microtubule array were stained by the polyclonal antibody to detyrosinated tubulin, and the monoclonal antibody to acetylated tubulin. Western blot analysis of resting and nocodazole-treated cells demonstrated that resting detergent-insoluble cytoskeletons contained both detyrosinated and acetylated tubulin. However, in nocodazole-treated cells detryosinated tubulin was also present in the detergent-soluble supernatant. Acetylated tubulin appears to be associated only with the stable microtubule fraction, the microtubule coil.
Intestinal epithelial enzyme abnormalities induced by 5-fluorouracil: translocation of NADPH2-dehydrogenase.

Graded doses of 5-fluorouracil were administered to mice. Histochemical studies for dehydrogenases, alkaline and acid phosphatase, and nonspecific esterases were performed. As small- and large-bowel tissue became more severely damaged, the enzyme activity was generally decreased. In the colon, but not in the small bowel, NADPH2D was noted to translocate from a diffuse normal pattern to a luminal border pattern. This was also observed in 1 patient treated with 5-FU.