cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In‐Vitro Stability, Metabolism, and Transport of Dental Monomers Made from Bisphenol A and Bisphenol F

The stability and bioavailability of the biomaterial monomers, bisglycidyl methacrylate (BISGMA), bisphenol F diglycidyl ether (BFDGE), and bisphenol A dimethacrylate (BPADM) were investigated using in-vitro techniques. A reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatographic/mass spectrometric (HPLC/MS) system was developed to quantitate each monomer and its primary metabolite. Each monomer (10 x 10 -6 M) was incubated at 37 °C under various conditions. Aliquots (N = 3) were removed at various time intervals and quantitated from a standard curve. The in-vitro transport of each parent monomer and its tetrahydroxy metabolite was measured in a Caco-2 system. BISGMA and BPADM were stable in aqueous solution at pH 1. However, BFDGE, was unstable. Plasma esterase of the rat rapidly hydrolyzed the ester compounds, but human esterase did not have a hydrolytic effect on BISGMA or BPADM. BFDGE disappeared in both rat and human plasma, but no tetrahydroxy metabolite was observed. All three parent compounds were unstable in human- and rat-hepatic fractions producing either tetrahydroxy metabolites or bisphenol A (BPA). The tetrahydroxy metabolites, however, were relatively stable under identical conditions, but BPA disappeared when incubated in hepatic-microsomal fractions. While BPADM metabolism produced BPA, an estrogen disrupter, BISGMA and BFDGE did not appear to produce BPA. These results suggest that the potential toxicity of leached dental monomers is more likely to be a result of the metabolite rather than the parent monomer. From Caco-2 transport studies, BFDGE and its tetrahydroxy metabolite both crossed the Caco-2 membrane at a low rate of transport in 2 h (approximately 3 and 5.2%, respectively). The BISGMA metabolite crossed at approximately 8%, indicative of a moderate rate of transport, and BPA crossed at approximately 10% in 1 h (high rate of transport). The transport of BPADM and BISGMA was unable to be determined due to nonspecific absorption to the acrylic vertical transport well. The transport of BFDGE tetrahydroxy metabolite is of particular interest as BFDGE is likely to be chemically hydrolyzed in stomach acid. It is well known that epoxies react with acids resulting in ring opening, so it is not surprising that BFDGE decomposes at pH 1. As a result, it is necessary to identify the decomposition (hydrolysis) products and test their bioavailability.
A Low Carbon City Action Plan for one of China’s Low Carbon Pilot Cities

In Chinese cities urbanization, industrialization and a changing life style of the population are driving growing energy consumption in buildings, industries and transportation and an increase in CO2 emissions. Facing these challenges, the National Development and Reform Commission has recognised an urgent need for transformation and designated 8 Cities and 5 Provinces in China to pioneer the planning and implementation of concrete low carbon measures, aiming to decrease the CO2 intensity of the economic development, to increase the energy efficiency of urban systems and to improve the quality of life in growing urban regions. In this context, a Sino-Austrian cooperation has been initiated between the Development and Reform Commission of Nanchang, one of the 8 selected Low Carbon Pilot Cities, and the Austrian Institute of Technology to develop a comprehensive set of Low Carbon City Measures and a Low Carbon City Action Plan, proposing specific technological and non-technological measures and concrete actions, capable of introducing important impulses targeting the increase of energy efficiency and the reduction of CO2 emissions in Nanchang. A team of experts has developed an integrated Low Carbon City Action Plan, including sectors such as buildings, energy supply and consumption, industries, transportation, agriculture and urban planning.
Regulation of glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase by hydrocortisone in rat brain explants.

Abstract Hydrocortisone (HC) increased the total and specific activity of cytoplasmic glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH; E.C.I.1.1.8) in cultured expiants from fetal rat brain areas. HC had no effect on total and soluble protein, protein synthesis or the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; E.C.I.1.1.27). GPDH was inducible in explants from cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem and midbrain. The induced steady-state level of GPDH in cerebral expiants was 10 times higher than the non-induced level and was similar to the specific activity of GPDH in the adult rat cerebrum. HC had to be continuously present to maintain the induced level of GPDH since upon withdrawal of the steroid the enzyme activity decreased to basal level. The induction of GPDH by HC was inhibited by actinomycin D, cordycepin, α-amanitin, cycloheximide, acetoxycycloheximide and puromycin, but was unaffected by cytosine arabinoside. These results indicate that protein and RNA syntheses are necessary for the induction but that DNA synthesis is not required. The inducibility of GPDH over a 48 h period in cerebral explants increased with the age of the culture until a plateau was reached after 15 to 21 days in vitro. These explants also differentiated morphologically with time in culture.
Analysis of L-alanine:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase isozymes in maize.

Isozyme analysis ofl-alanine:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase (ALT) in maize indicates that there are three genes encoding this enzyme activity. Two of the gene products interact with each other to form heterodimers, while the third gene product does not interact with the other two. Another isozyme that appears after gel electrophoresis and ALT staining is shown to be glutamate dehydrogenase-1. Anaerobic treatment does not result in increased ALT levels, indicating that the previously reported increase in alanine levels caused by this treatment may be due to increases in the level of pyruvate, a substrate of ALT.
SU-E-I-60: The Correct Selection of Pitch and Rotation Time for Optimal CT Scanning : The Big Misconception

Purpose: To provide correct guidance in the proper selection of pitch and rotation time for optimal CT imaging with multi-slice scanners. Methods: There exists a widespread misconception concerning the role of pitch in patient dose with modern multi-slice scanners, particularly with the use of mA modulation techniques. We investigated the relationship of pitch and rotation time to image quality, dose, and scan duration, with CT scanners from different manufacturers in a way that clarifies this misconception. This source of this misconception may concern the role of pitch in single slice CT scanners. Results: We found that the image noise and dose are generally independent of the selected effective mAs (mA*time/ pitch) with manual mA technique settings and are generally independent of the selected pitch and /or rotation time with automatic mA modulation techniques. However we did find that on certain scanners the use of a pitch just above 0.5 provided images of equal image noise at a lower dose compared to the use of a pitch just below 1.0. Conclusion: The misconception that the use of a lower pitch over-irradiates patients by wasting dose is clearly false. The use of a lower pitch provides images of equal or better image quality at the same patient dose, whether using manual mA or automatic mA modulation techniques. By decreasing the pitch and the rotation times by equal amounts, both helical and patient motion artifacts can be reduced without affecting the exam time. The use of lower helical pitch also allows better scanning of larger patients by allowing a greater scan effective mAs, if the exam time can be extended. The one caution with the use of low pitch is not related to patient dose, but to the length of the scan time if the rotation time is not set short enough. Partial Research funding from GE HealthCare
RhoC Promotes Human Melanoma Invasion in a PI3K/Akt-Dependent Pathway

Overexpression of the small GTPase, RhoC, in various human cancers has been correlated with high metastatic ability and poor prognosis. Rho-kinase (ROCK) is an important effector of Rho GTPases. The oncogenic serine/threonine kinase Akt (also known as PKB) is a downstream effector of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K). Akt activation contributes to the neoplastic phenotype by promoting cell cycle progression, increasing antiapoptotic functions, and enhancing tumor cell invasion. Rho signaling via ROCK has been previously shown either to activate or to downregulate PI3K/Akt. Using a human radial growth phase melanoma cell line, WM35, we have established stable transfectants that overexpress RhoC (called WM35RhoC). We found that overexpression of RhoC increased phosphorylated-Akt (Ser473/474/472, pAkt) expression and promoted cell invasion. Inhibition of RhoC with C3 transferase downregulated pAkt expression and decreased cell invasion in these cells. In addition, inhibition of PI3K, Akt, or ROCK partially decreased invasion. Further, inhibition of PI3K but not ROCK decreased the pAkt level. These results suggest that RhoC promotes invasion in part via activation of a PI3K/Akt pathway, in a manner independent of ROCK signaling. We propose that RhoC promotes melanoma progression via separate mechanisms that regulate the PI3K/Akt pathway and the ROCK signaling pathway.
Comparison of insulin-like growth factor interaction with satellite cells and embryonic myoblasts derived from the turkey.

Abstract 1. 1. The interaction of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) with receptors on clonal-derived turkey satellite cells and embryonic myoblasts was compared using competitive binding assays and affinity cross-linking analysis. 2. 2. Although [125I]IGF-I and [125I]IGF-II were displaced similarly by IGF-I and IGF-II within cell lines (P > 0.05), displacement, and therefore dissociation constants, differed between cell lines (P 3. 3. Receptor cross-linking analysis using iodinated IGFs suggests that both IGF-I and IGF-II interact with the type I receptor on turkey embryonic and posthatch myogenic cells.
Chronic hypotony associated with the Boston type 1 keratoprosthesis.

Purpose To report the occurrence of chronic hypotony as a complication following Boston type 1 keratoprosthesis (KPro) implantation and to determine associated risk factors. Design Retrospective case series. Methods The medical records of all patients undergoing KPro implantation between January 2004 and November 2010 at the Wilmer Eye Institute were reviewed. Patients who developed chronic hypotony following Boston type 1 KPro implantation not attributable to anatomic problems (eg, retinal detachment, overfiltering glaucoma tube shunts, tissue necrosis with aqueous leak) or other causes were identified. Demographics and preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative clinical findings were analyzed. Light microscopic examination of an enucleated globe as well as fibrous retroprosthetic membranes excised at the time of vitrectomy from another patient was performed. Results Sixty-eight eyes received KPro implantation over the study period. Six eyes experienced chronic hypotony, with a median time of 18.5 months between KPro implantation and the onset of hypotony. The incidence of chronic hypotony in this series was calculated to be 3.7% at 1 year (95% CI=0.9%–14.0%) and 13.3% at 2 years (95% CI=5.5%–30.0%). Of the 6 eyes that developed chronic hypotony, 5 had a previous history of glaucoma or ocular hypertension, but only 3 had a glaucoma drainage implant. All eyes progressing to chronic hypotony were noted to have a retroprosthetic membrane prior to the onset of hypotony. Cox regression modeling demonstrated an increased risk of chronic hypotony in eyes with retroprosthetic membranes ( P P > .1), eyes with glaucoma drainage implants ( P > .5), or a previous history of multiple donor corneal transplants ( P > .5). Conclusion Chronic hypotony can be a significant complication of KPro implantation and should be assessed carefully in eyes with retroprosthetic membranes. Further study of an association between hypotony and retroprosthetic membrane formation may be useful to gain insight into the mechanism of this complication and potential prevention or treatment options.
Analysis of polyunsaturated aminophospholipid molecular species using isotope-tagged derivatives and tandem mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry

Abstract When aminophospholipids with only saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids esterified to the glycerol backbone were labeled with isotopically enriched N-methylpiperazine acetic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester reagents, it was found that they could be readily detected as N-methylpiperazine-amide-tagged aminophospholipids using a precursor scan of the stable isotope reporter ion (m/z 114–117) formed by tandem mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry. However, it was found in the current study that these precursor ion scans are not useful in determining the changes of aminophospholipids with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) esterified to the glycerol backbone due to the presence of interfering ions in the reporter ion region. Therefore, a method was developed using tandem mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (MS3) to obtain reporter ion ratios that were not distorted by interfering ions present in the collision-induced dissociation spectra of nontagged aminophospholipids with PUFAs. This new MS3 method for N-methylpiperazine- amide-tagged aminophospholipids was used to examine the fate of diacyl, ether, or plasmalogen glycerophosphoethanolamine (GPEtn) species after exposure of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes to A23187 and granulocyte macrophage–colony-stimulating factor/formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine stimuli, which can induce eicosanoid biosynthesis, to follow those GPEtn molecular species which were the source of arachidonic acid released. Upon stimulation of the human polymorphonuclear leukocyte, it was found that the abundant arachidonoyl GPEtn plasmalogen molecular species were uniquely reduced in relative content compared to ether or diacyl species and this subclass of GPEtn may be a source of the arachidonic acid converted to leukotrienes by the 5-lipoxygenase pathway activated in this cell.
Pictures of Remembering

Winter traces scientific and cultural aspects of our understanding of memory through the 20th century.
Methacrylamide Copolymer Resists For Electron Beam Lithography

Polymethacrylamide (PMAAm) and copolymers of MAAm with methyl methacrylate were synthesized and evaluated for their applicability to electron beam lithography. The sensitivity of PMAAm has previously been reported as less than 1 μC/cm2, with thermal stability at temperatures up to 330°C.' Despite these claims, further lithographic evaluation of this resist system is apparently absent from the literature. This research was conducted to further investigate the lithographic performance of these resists and to determine their sensitivity using current definitions. Using PMAAm homopolymer (Mw = 8.1 x 105), with a 15 minute prebake at 200°C, the lithographic results were much poorer than expected. Patterns exposed to doses of 10 μC/cm2 or lower could not be developed using water as the developing solvent. Forced developing with Na2SiO3 solution (pH=10) developed lower doses than water, but much greater thinning was observed. An unexposed thinning of 10% occurred when developing exposures of 15 μC/cm2 with water, and 40 μC/cm2 with Na2SiO3 solution (20 KV). Swelling of the unexposed polymer and some adhesion problems were observed. The high sensitivity previously reported for PMAAm' can not be attributed solely to chain scission efficiency (Gs), which has been reported to be only 1.5 times that of PMMA (Gs determined by Y-irradiation). An induction period in the dissolution of unexposed polymer has also been sugggested as contributing to the sensitivity of this resist. In the present work, dissolution induction periods were observed with laser interferometry for the unexposed films, but the magnitude of these induction periods could not account for a large enhancement of sensitivity. Imide crosslink formation may have been responsible for the previously reported sensitivity of PMAAm.' In the present work, imid formation was not observed, either after prebaking coated wafers at 180 to 240°C or heating of polymer solutions for 7 hours at 80°C. Apparently, the conditions for useful formation of imide are difficult to reproduce. Because of the problems encountered with the PMAAm homopolymer during lithography, a series of MMA MAAm copolymers were synthesized and evaluated as potential resists. These copolymers eliminated the problems of swelling and poor solubility of the homopolymer, but sensitivity enhancement over that of PMMA was minimal.© (1986) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The generation of a transposon-mutagenized Burkeholderia glumae library to isolate novel mutants ☆

Abstract The gram-negative bacterium, Burkeholderia glumae , is a pathogen of rice. As a step toward identifying pathogenicity determinants, a transposon mutagenized B. glumae library was generated. A transposition frequency of 2.1×10 6 cfu/μg of DNA was achieved using a recently developed Tn 5 -derived transposon system. Southern-blot analysis of several randomly selected colonies indicated that the transpositions were single, random events. Two genetic screens were conducted to assess the mutagenic frequency of the generated library. Screening of 1000 colonies for auxotrophs resulted in the identification of 46 mutants. The 46 mutants were subdivided into five classes based on their ability to grow on supplemented medias. Exposure of 1000 mutagenized colonies to UV light, as part of a second screen, identified two fluorescent mutants. The transposon library will be a useful tool in the investigation of metabolic pathways in B. glumae and allow a direct route to the affected gene. Current emphasis is directed toward identifying the factors required for plant infection.
Identification of Tetrahydropyrido[4,3-d]pyrimidine Amides as a New Class of Orally Bioavailable TGR5 Agonists

Takeda G-protein-coupled receptor 5 (TGR5) represents an exciting biological target for the potential treatment of diabetes and metabolic syndrome. A new class of high-throughput screening (HTS)-derived tetrahydropyrido[4,3-d]pyrimidine amide TGR5 agonists is disclosed. We describe our effort to identify an orally available agonist suitable for assessment of systemic TGR5 agonism. This effort resulted in identification of 16, which had acceptable potency and pharmacokinetic properties to allow for in vivo assessment in dog. A key aspect of this work was the calibration of human and dog in vitro assay systems that could be linked with data from a human ex vivo peripheral blood monocyte assay that expresses receptor at endogenous levels. Potency from the human in vitro assay was also found to correlate with data from an ex vivo human whole blood assay. This calibration exercise provided confidence that 16 could be used to drive plasma exposures sufficient to test the effects of systemic activation of TGR5.
Studies of the Structure of the Metastasis-Associated 67 kDa Laminin Binding Protein: Fatty Acid Acylation and Evidence Supporting Dimerization of the 32 kDa Gene Product To Form the Mature Protein

The level of expression of the 67 kDa high-affinity laminin binding protein (LBP) correlates with the progression of many solid tumors. The cDNA clone for the 67 kDa LBP is sufficient to encode a polypeptide of only 32 kDa, and there is no readily identifiable mechanism for membrane association. We have overexpressed the transfected 67 kDa hamster LBP in quantities that have enabled us to analyze the membrane-bound form of the protein. Treatment of the purified LBP with methyl transesterification reagents, followed by GC-MS, identified the covalently bound fatty acids palmitate, stearate, and oleate. The fatty acid modification may provide a mechanism for membrane association. Molecular mass determination by MALDI-TOF MS demonstrated the true molecular mass of the protein to be 66.7 kDa, compatible with the SDS-PAGE observation of 67 kDa. Treatment of the LBP with neuraminidase, O-glycanase, or Endo-F glycosidase has no detectable effect on the apparent molecular mass of the protein, and the MALDI-TOF MS did not show evidence of mass heterogeneities typically observed with glycosylated proteins. Reduction with dithiothreitol or beta-mercaptoethanol had no effect on the apparent molecular mass on SDS-PAGE or on the relative quantities of molecular mass species on MALDI-TOF MS. The experimentally determined amino acid composition, however, was found to be consistent with the 67 kDa form being a homodimer of the 32 kDa precursor. Preliminary experiments also suggest that the high-affinity laminin binding characteristic of the protein may be modulated by an, as yet, unidentified membrane accessory molecule.
Low-dose adolescent nicotine and methylphenidate have additive effects on adult behavior and neurochemistry.

Adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have higher rates of smoking than adolescents without ADHD. Since methylphenidate is the primary drug used to treat ADHD, it is likely that many adolescents are exposed to both methylphenidate and nicotine. Recent studies have established that adolescent nicotine induces long-term changes in several neurobehavioral variables. Limited data also suggest that adolescent methylphenidate may affect neural development. Nicotine tolerance is a well-established behavioral phenomenon in rodents, yet the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Recent theories suggest that changes in ventral striatal dopamine indices may relate to nicotine tolerance. As an initial determination of whether nicotine and methylphenidate have additive effects on neurobehavioral development, the present study investigated the combined effects of adolescent nicotine [2mg/kg/d] alone or in conjunction with methylphenidate [1.5mg/kg, 2× daily] following a one-month drug free period on adult behavioral tolerance to nicotine [0.5mg/kg s.c.] and its relation to dopamine receptor mRNA expression in the ventral striatum. Animals with chronic combined (nicotine+methylphenidate) adolescent exposure displayed stronger tolerance as adults to the nicotine-induced locomotor effects in comparison to animals with adolescent exposure to nicotine alone, methylphenidate alone, or controls. Combined chronic adolescent exposure significantly elevated adult D3nf mRNA expression levels in the nucleus accumbens, however a single nicotine injection in adults increased D3nf mRNA levels in naive animals and decreased D3nf mRNA levels in those that had been previously exposed to combined stimulants during adolescence. Conversely, a single adult nicotine injection increased D1 mRNA levels in the adult nucleus accumbens, particularly in the shell, but only in rats previously exposed to nicotine or methylphenidate as adolescents. To our knowledge this is the first study that has shown long-term behavioral and neurochemical changes stemming from low chronic exposure of these two commonly co-consumed stimulants during adolescence.
Examining the validity of autism spectrum disorder subtypes.

The classification of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) is a topic of debate among clinicians and researchers with many questioning the validity of the distinction among subtypes. This manuscript examines the validity of three ASD subtypes (Autism, Asperger’s, and PDDNOS) by reviewing 22 studies published between 1994 and 2006. We reviewed studies that examined differences between the subtypes in terms of clinical and demographic characteristics, neuropsychological profiles, comorbidity, and prognosis. Results largely did not support differences between autism and Asperger’s disorder based on current diagnostic criteria. Overall, the most salient group differences were noted when samples were categorized on IQ. Drawing definitive conclusions is difficult due to the inconsistent application of diagnostic criteria and circularity in methods.
Large-stroke and high-strength actuator materials for adaptive structures

The most important actuator materials in adaptive structures are shape memory alloys, piezoelectric and magnetostrictive materials and electrorheological fluids. However, no such material is available which would produce rapid and large strokes with high forces. Shape memory alloys exhibit large strokes and forces but their response is slow. Piezoelectric materials and magnetostrictive intermetallics are rapid, but the strokes are small. In the present study, employment of magnetic control of shape memory effect as a principle for rapid large stroke actuator materials is discussed. In such materials, detwinning is controlled by an external magnetic field. Twins in favorable orientation to the magnetic field grow at the expense of other twins and cause a shape change of the actuator. Strokes can be as high as those in shape memory alloys, but response times are short due to magnetic control. Another method which may be applied in actuators is inducing the martensitic transformation and controlling the growth of the martensite plates by magnetostrictive distortions of giant magnetostrictive particles embedded in the shape memory alloy matrix. Magnetostrictive inclusions can also be used as stress sensors in shape memory materials. In pre-stressing and fastening applications, materials which exhibit large strokes and high recovery stresses are required. Nitrogen alloyed shape memory steels, developed for actuators for those applications, is the second topic of this study. In nitrogen alloyed shape memory steels, yield strengths over 1100 MPa and tensile strengths even 1600 MPa were attained. Recoverable strains can be over 4% and recovery stresses 330 MPa. Stresses over 700 MPa were achieved in fasteners at room temperature. Nitrogen alloyed shape memory steels possess good corrosion properties, machinability and weldability (even the welds exhibit shape memory effect). They are economical to manufacture and use and they are expected to have applications in many fields of engineering.
A history of the TeraGrid science gateway program: a personal view

This paper describes the NSF TeraGrid Science Gateways program, its formation, progress, lessons learned and current contributions over its seven-year life and new directions in the NSF XSEDE program. Early requirements analysis work with path-finding gateways that formed the underpinning of the program are described as are current projects and their unique contributions to the larger program. Future directions both within the XSEDE program and for gateways more generally are discussed.
Rotational analysis of the A2Πu-X2Πg Second Negative band system of O2+

Abstract Existing high-resolution data for the O 2 + A 2 Π u - X 2 Π g Second Negative band system have been analyzed using a nonlinear least-squares fit that employs numerically diagonalized Hamiltonians. Values for the full set of molecular constants of the A2Πu and X2Πg states are obtained for the first time. In addition to values for ν0(v′, v″), Bv, and Dv, the values for the spin-orbit coupling constants Av are determined for both states. For the X2Πg state, which is near Hund's case (a), the agreement between these Av″ values and those predicted by theory is good. However, for the A2Πu state, which is much nearer to case (b), these Av′ values and theory disagree both in magnitude and in variation with vibrational level. The A2Πu state is an inverted state for vibrational levels v′ ≤ 5 and is a regular state for levels v′ = 6–8 (the upper limit of present high-resolution data). Λ-doubling parameters are determined for the X2Πg state, the only state where Λ-doubling is statistically significant. Spin-rotation interaction is not statistically significant for either state. Dunham Yi0 and Yi1 expansion coefficients are determined for each state. Theoretical Dv values calculated from RKR potentials are used to improve the Bv values in the reduction of the data.
Attenuation of NMDA-induced spinal hypersensitivity by adrenal medullary transplants

Abstract Abnormal sensory hyperexcitability consequent to peripheral injury most likely involves activation of N -methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the spinal cord. This activation may lead to a cascade of neuroplastic events resulting in the exaggeration of sensory responses and the persistence of pathological pain states. Recent studies in our laboratory have demonstrated that the transplantation of adrenal medullary cells into the spinal subarachnoid space can alleviate pathological pain symptoms, possibly by reducing spinal hyperexcitability. The purpose of this study was to assess spinal NMDA activation-induced hypersensitivity to noxious and innocuous stimuli, and determine whether adrenal medullary transplants can intervene favorably to reduce these responses. Animals with either adrenal medullary or control transplants were injected intrathecally with several doses of NMDA, and responses to sensory stimuli were determined over time. NMDA at all doses tested (1–50 nmol) produced significant thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia and tactile allodynia in control transplanted animals, with peak severity at 30 min post-injection. In contrast, both the severity and duration of these exaggerated sensory responses were markedly reduced in animals with adrenal medullary transplants. To assess a possible contribution of released opioid peptides and catecholamines from the transplanted chromaffin cells, animals were pretreated with opiate antagonist naloxone or α-adrenergic antagonist phentolamine. While naloxone was ineffective, the phentolamine partially attenuated, but did not completely abolish, the antinociceptive effects of the transplants. The results of these studies demonstrate that adrenal medullary grafts can reduce hypersensitivity responses to NMDA-mediated activation via α-adrenergic modulation in addition to other neuroprotective mechanisms.
Genotype-dependent response of spinach cultivars to in vitro callus induction and plant regeneration

Abstract Callus was induced from leaf explants of four spinach ( Spinacia oleracea L.) cultivars on Murashige-Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2 mg 1 −1 6-(furfurylamino)purine (kinetin) and 0.1, 0.5 or 1 mg 1 −1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) either in darkness or exposed to light (50 μE m −2 s −1 ). Callus production was cultivar dependent. Maximum callus proliferation was obtained with 0.5 mg 1 −1 2,4-D, which also gave rise to the highest percentage of shoot formation. Callus induced in darkness exhibited higher regeneration capacity than callus induced in the light. Regeneration capacity of the callus varied among cultivars and was enhanced by the addition of ascorbic acid. Gibberellic acid was required for shoot regeneration. Complete plants were obtained by inducing the shoots to root with 1 mg 1 −1 indole butyric acid (IBA).
An application of the cusp catastrophe model to user information satisfaction

Abstract This study shows that there is a nonlinear relationship between overall user information satisfaction (UIS) and an index created by combining satisfaction responses to various information systems components/attributes. Several instruments have been developed in the IS literature to measure UIS. These measure UIS by asking respondents to rate their satisfaction/dissatisfaction with a variety of IS attributes; for example, EDP services, EDP staff, information products, and involvement in IS development. Tests of predictive validity, in the past, have shown only a 55% correlation between global UIS and UIS scores. Here, we show that the global UIS measure and IS factor scores follow a nonlinear relationship and are, in fact, cusp-distributed. The extent of use of IS is shown to be a splitting factor in this distribution and produces abrupt, catastrophic changes. Responses from faculty members at an academic institution were used to test for the distribution using IS component scores as the normal independent variable and the extent of use of IS as the splitting variable. The cusp model was a more efficient predictor than the linear model or a control equation using bimodal transformation.
Temperature excursion infrared (TEIR) spectroscopy used to study hydrogen bonding between water and biomolecules

Water is a highly polar molecule that is capable of making four H-bonding linkages. Stability and specificity of folding of water-soluble protein macromolecules are determined by the interplay between water and functional groups of the protein. Yet, under some conditions, water can be replaced with sugar or other polar protic molecules with retention of protein structure. Infrared (IR) spectroscopy allows one to probe groups on the protein that interact with solvent, whether the solvent is water, sugar or glycerol. The basis of the measurement is that IR spectral lines of functional groups involved in H-bonding show characteristic spectral shifts with temperature excursion, reflecting the dipolar nature of the group and its ability to H-bond. For groups involved in H-bonding to water, the stretching mode absorption bands shift to lower frequency, whereas bending mode absorption bands shift to higher frequency as temperature decreases. The results indicate increasing H-bonding and decreasing entropy occurring as a function of temperature, even at cryogenic temperatures. The frequencies of the amide group modes are temperature dependent, showing that as temperature decreases, the amide group H-bonds to water strengthen. These results are relevant to protein stability as a function of temperature. The influence of solvent relaxation is demonstrated for tryptophan fluorescence over the same temperature range where the solvent was examined by infrared spectroscopy.
Experimental evaluation of a synthetic viscoelastic material on intraocular pressure and corneal endothelium

Abstract We compared the effects of 1.0% hyaluronic acid (Healon®) and a synthetic viscoelastic polyacrylamide on postoperative intraocular pressure, the corneal endothelium, and various clinical parameters in rabbit and monkey models. Seven rabbit eyes received polyacrylamide and seven received hyaluronic acid during extracapsular cataract extraction with implantation of a polymethylmethacrylate posterior chamber intraocular lens. Intraocular pressure was measured preoperatively, immediately postoperatively, and at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively. Slitlamp examination was performed preoperatively and postoperatively at 3, 7, and 14 days. Axial corneal buttons were taken and scanning electron microscopy of the endothelium was performed. Sections of the globe were studied by light microscopy. Six monkey eyes received polyacrylamide, three received hyaluronic acid, and three received balanced salt solution to reform the anterior chamber after timbal incision with evacuation of aqueous. Intraocular pressure was measured preoperatively, postoperatively, and at 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 hours postoperatively. Slitlamp examination was performed preoperatively, and at 1, 2, 7, and 14 days postoperatively. Specular endothelial microscopy was performed preoperatively and at 7, 14, and 90 days postoperatively. In the studies performed no significant difference between the eyes receiving polyacrylamide and hyaluronic acid was seen. In the rabbit and monkey models, poly acrylamide is as safe and biocompatible as hyaluronic acid.
A Biobehavioral Perspective on Crying in Early Infancy

The central role of crying in early infancy has been discussed by parents, pediatricians, and theorists. In Western cultures crying is the primary mode of communication through which the young infant’s needs and wants are expressed. The affective messages transmitted by the cry tell the caregivers that the infant needs attention, and in most cases crying is terminated when the infant’s needs are met. There are times, however, when the immediate cause of crying is not clear—socalled “unexplained fussiness”—when the infant cannot be easily soothed.
Inferior vena caval filters: review of a 26-year single-center clinical experience.

PURPOSE: To review a 26-year single-center clinical experience with inferior vena caval filters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During 1973–1998, 1,765 filters were implanted in 1,731 patients. Hospital files were reviewed, and data were collected about the indications, safety, effectiveness, numbers, and types of caval filters. Fatal postfilter pulmonary embolism (PE) was considered the primary outcome. Morbidity and mortality were determined as secondary outcomes. Survival and morbidity-free survival curves were calculated. RESULTS: The prevalence of observed postfilter PE was 5.6%. It was fatal in 3.7% of patients. In most patients, fatal PE occurred soon after filter insertion (median, 4.0 days; 95% CI: 2.2, 5.8 days). Major complications occurred in 0.3% of procedures. The prevalence of observed postfilter caval thrombosis was 2.7%. The 30-day mortality rate was 17.0% overall, higher among patients with neoplasms (19.5%) as compared with those without neoplasms (14.3%; P = .004). Filter efficacy and associat...
ANALYZING JET TOPOLOGY WITH THREE PARTICLE CORRELATIONS

Recent experimental and theoretical investigations have indicated that the topological features of jets can be significantly altered by interactions with the medium. Prime candidates for such a modification are (a) excitation of a Mach Cone in the medium and (b) flow induced deflection of the jet. Here we show that 3-particle correlations are able to distinguish between these different modification scenarios. An application of the method to Au+Au collisions at RHIC () yields results which are consistent with but not exclusive to the Mach cone scenario.
Postexertional hypotension: A brief review

A statistically and clinically significant reduction in arterial pressure occurs following a single bout of low intensity, short duration aerobic exercise in individuals with hypertension. The reduction in arterial pressure is most often associated with a decrease in total peripheral resistance, peripheral sympathetic nerve activity, and plasma norepinephrine concentration; however, cardiac output is often elevated without a change in heart rate. The purpose of this article is to review the literature and propose a model that analyzes the components contributing to the postexercise reduction in arterial pressure. The model implicates an attenuated vascular response to catecholamine stimulation and an enhanced inhibitory cardiopulmonary reflex response. Recent evidence has shown that a single bout of dynamic exercise significantly attenuated the vasoconstrictor response to phenylephrine in an isolated aortic ring preparation and in the intact conscious rabbit and rat. This suggests that the ability of the ...
Reading Development in Young Children: Genetic and Environmental Influences

The development of reading skills in typical students is commonly described as a rapid growth across early grades of active reading education, with a slowing down of growth as active instruction tapers. This study examined the extent to which genetics and environments influence these growth rates. Participants were 371 twin pairs, aged approximately 6 through 12, from the Western Reserve Reading Project. Development of word-level reading, reading comprehension, and rapid naming was examined using genetically sensitive latent quadratic growth curve modeling. Results confirmed the developmental trajectory described in the phenotypic literature. Furthermore, the same shared environmental influences were related to early reading skills and subsequent growth, but genetic influences on these factors were unique.
Traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the superficial temporal artery: Two cases and review of the literature

Aneurysms of the facial vasculature have been reported since the mid-seventeenth century from a variety of accidental, violent, and surgical injuries. Of the 386 cases of facial aneurysm reported in the world literature, 327 involve the superficial temporal artery. The nomenclature is somewhat confusing, because pseudoaneurysms are often referred to as simply "aneurysms" in the literature. Given that superficial temporal artery pseudoaneurysms might be seen in the guise of a cyst or lipoma, it is imperative that the dermatologist be aware of their presentation. To date, there have been 7 cases reported in the dermatologic literature. We report 2 additional cases of traumatic superficial temporal artery pseudoaneurysm and review the dermatologic literature.
Training Tolerance to Delay Using the Escalating Interest Task.

Background The present study examined the history effects of exposure to reinforcement that increased in magnitude as a function of time between responses in a first-person shooter video game preparation of the escalating interest task.
Deaths among child and adolescent psychiatric patients

Of 1,206 patients treated during the period 1970-1980 in a department of child psychiatry in a large city in Sweden 24 (2%) (14 boys and 10 girls) had died by the end of 1981. Twenty-one of these (88%) died of "injuries following external violence and poisoning", of whom 15 (63%) were suicides. Twenty subjects (83%) had grown up in surroundings characterised by one or more psychosocial stress factors. The study indicates a possible link between psychosocial background factors and deaths from "injuries following external violence and poisoning". Language: en
Blasticidin resistance: a new independent marker for stable transfection of Leishmania.

Protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania are the etiologic agents of a spectrum of human diseases referred to as leishmaniasis. Leishmania alternates life stage between an intracellular amastigote form residing within the phagolysosome of vertebrate macrophage and an extracellular promastigote form living in the gut of sand flies. Molecular characterization of the genome of Leishmania has been greatly facilitated by the development of stable transfection methods, expression vectors and gene knockouts [1,2]. Stable transfection of Leishmania and trypanosomes requires the use of dominant selectable markers, and a number of independent markers have been used successfully. These include neomycin phosphotransferase (NEO) [3]; hygromycin phosphotransferase (HYG) [4], streptothricin acetyltransferase (SAT) [5], puromycin acetyltransferase (PAC) [6] and the bleomycin binding protein from Streptoalloteichus hindustanus (PHLEO) [6], which confer resistance to G418, hygromycin B, nourseothricin, puromycin and phleomycin respectively. In addition, overexpression of N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate transferase (NAGT) or dihydrofolate reductasethymidylate synthase (DHFR-TS) can confer resistance to tunicamycin and methotrexate respectively, allowing their use as selectable markers on episomal vectors [7,8]. Since Leishmania is diploid and lacks an experimentally manipulable sexual cycle, generation of null mutants requires the inactivation of two alleles [4]. Typically this is accomplished by two rounds of targeting with independent selectable markers, with a third marker needed to generate an ‘add-back’ construct restoring gene expression; this is an essential control for biological function [9]. While the use of loss of heterozygosity approaches can reduce the number of markers needed for null mutant construction [10], with the current repertoire of markers one can manipulate Abbre6iations: BSD, gene encoding blasticidin deaminase. * Corresponding author. Tel.: +1-314-7472630; fax: +1314-7472634. E-mail address: beverley@borcim.wustl.edu (S.M. Beverley)
APL2 and the internet

From the very beginning, the APL community has struggled with displaying and printing APL characters. People normally use specialized programs and fonts to edit APL code. The fonts usually work by providing APL characters for code points originally intended for other characters. This technique is troublesome when sharing data with other applications because it often can't be determined reliably whether a particular code point represents an APL character or some other character. To make matters worse, the different APL vendors assign the APL characters to different code points.Recently these problems have arisen on the Internet. People want to use APL on web pages, in email, and in news groups. A variety of schemes have been proposed to address the problem. However, most of these schemes use keywords and require extra effort on the part of the users.With the widespread acceptance of Unicode, it is now easy to use APL characters on the Internet. Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), Network News Transfer Protocol (NNTP), and Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) provide unambiguous, reliable support for Unicode APL characters.The APL2 NETTOOLS workspace provides an HTTP/1.1 conditionally compliant server. This server is Unicode enabled and so provides native support for APL characters in web pages. Using the APL2 Keyboard Handler, APL characters can even be typed in web browsers.
Multiprocessed Simulation of Competing Folding Pathways in RNA: The Shaping of the Catalytic Site for Splicing

The open problem in RNA catalysis we focus on is how to predict which mitochondrial mRNA introns belonging to group I will splice exclusively in vivo. We have simulated competing folding pathways by a parallel distributed process in order to prove that early base-pair disruptions ultimately cause the internal guiding sequence (IGS) to function as intramolecular adaptor in an otherwise-inert structure. In this way, the participation of the IGS-3′exon pairing in promoting splicing in vivo is elucidated. The case of the YC4 intron is chosen as an illustration. Our approach requires implementing parallel-processed Monte-Carlo simulations to monitor the effect of base-pair disruptions, leading to competing folding pathways. The search for active structures is subject to time constraints characteristic of the assembling of pre-mRNA's.
Using SWAT to Model Streamflow in Two River Basins With Ground and Satellite Precipitation Data

Abstract: Both ground rain gauge and remotely sensed precipitation (Next Generation Weather Radar – NEXRAD Stage III) data have been used to support spatially distributed hydrological modeling. This study is unique in that it utilizes and compares the performance of National Weather Service (NWS) rain gauge, NEXRAD Stage III, and Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM) 3B42 (Version 6) data for the hydrological modeling of the Middle Nueces River Watershed in South Texas and Middle Rio Grande Watershed in South Texas and northern Mexico. The hydrologic model chosen for this study is the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), which is a comprehensive, physical-based tool that models watershed hydrology and water quality within stream reaches. Minor adjustments to selected model parameters were applied to make parameter values more realistic based on results from previous studies. In both watersheds, NEXRAD Stage III data yields results with low mass balance error between simulated and actual streamflow (±13%) and high monthly Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficients (NS > 0.60) for both calibration (July 1, 2003 to December 31, 2006) and validation (2007) periods. In the Middle Rio Grande Watershed NEXRAD Stage III data also yield robust daily results (time averaged over a three-day period) with NS values of (0.60-0.88). TRMM 3B42 data generate simulations for the Middle Rio Grande Watershed of variable qualtiy (MBE = +13 to −16%; NS = 0.38-0.94; RMSE = 0.07-0.65), but greatly overestimates streamflow during the calibration period in the Middle Nueces Watershed. During the calibration period use of NWS rain gauge data does not generate acceptable simulations in both watersheds. Significantly, our study is the first to successfully demonstrate the utility of satellite-estimated precipitation (TRMM 3B42) in supporting hydrologic modeling with SWAT; thereby, potentially extending the realm (between 50°N and 50°S) where remotely sensed precipitation data can support hydrologic modeling outside of regions that have modern, ground-based radar networks (i.e., much of the third world).