cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantitative enriched PCR (QEPCR), a highly sensitive method for detection of K-ras oncogene mutation.

Abstract We have developed a rapid and highly sensitive method for the detection of mutant K-ras codon 12 allele in the presence of 10(5) copies of the wild-type alleles. This sensitivity is achieved by selective amplification of mutant K-ras sequences, using a two-stage procedure with modified primers. In the first stage, primers consist of K-ras sequences in the 3' portion and polyomavirus sequence (to minimize homology with human genome) on the 5' portion. The 3' portion also consists of mismatch sequence that generates an MvaI site in normal, but not mutant, K-ras codon 12 alleles. Thus, following the first round of 20 cycles, restriction enzyme cleavage is carried out to selectively digest normal K-ras codon 12 alleles. To enrich mutant alleles, a second amplification is performed using tail primers that recognize the polyoma, but not human sequences. This design ensures that in the second amplification only mutant alleles that were pre-amplified in the first round would serve as template for this reaction. Ethidium bromide-stained polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) of second-stage PCR product that has been digested with MvaI is used to monitor the presence of mutant alleles, detected at sensitivity of 1/10(5). This technique offers high sensitive detection of mutant K-ras alleles using a new concept of tail-primer design and is likely to assist in identifying patients at risk to develop pancreatic, colon, or lung cancer, which harbor high incidence of mutant ras alleles.
Development of an empirical model to aid in designing airborne infection isolation rooms.

Airborne infection isolation rooms (AIIRs) house patients with tuberculosis, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and many other airborne infectious diseases. Currently, faci-lity engineers and designers of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems have few analytical tools to estimate a room's leakage area and establish an appropriate flow differential (ΔQ) in hospitals, shelters, and other facilities where communicable diseases are present. An accurate estimate of leakage area and selection of ΔQ is essential for ensuring that there is negative pressure (i.e., pressure differential [ΔP]) between an AIIR and adjoining areas. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) researchers evaluated the relationship between ΔQ and ΔP in 67 AIIRs across the United States and in simulated AIIR. Data gathered in the simulated AIIR was used to develop an empirical model describing the relationship between ΔQ, ΔP, and leakage area. Data collected in health care facilities showed t...
Microcomputers in the adolescent treatment facility: Specifications and utilizations☆

Abstract Specifications and utilizations of microcomputers within the adolescent residential treatment facility are presented. Hardware, software, and programming are briefly described. Case management, educational and therapeutic uses, staff training, and office management in relationship to the treatment facility are explored in context of the microcomputer. Implementation of the microcomputer system is also presented.
Spur Mitigation in High-Sensitivity GNSS Receivers

The presence of spurious tones in a Global Navigation Satellite Signal (GNSS) receiver's RF and analog front-end signal spectrum leads it to compute receiver's position erroneously. Addressing spurs is crucial in modern multiconstellation GNSS receivers as their wide bandwidth and coexistence on a shared chip or board with other radios and processors make them highly susceptible to corruption by dynamically varying spurs. Proposed here is a solution to mitigate a large number of spurs in GNSS receivers using a combination of limited number of frequency-tracked digital hardware filters, fast Fourier transform-based spur detectors, and a firmware algorithm predicting and weeding out potentially corrupt satellite measurements. Laboratory validation results from an experimental GNSS receiver in a CMOS system-on-chip are shown to demonstrate its effectiveness.
Low lying levels in 124 Sb

The level structure of124Sb is investigated through the124Sn(p, nγ-γ)124Sb reactions using on-lineγ- γ coincidence techniques. A total of 13 levels in124Sb below 600 keV excitation are identified. In addition some conclusions regarding spins and parities are made for some of these levels, based on the transitions observed in this work and comparisons with previous data.
Radiation exposure risk to the surgeon during operative angiography.

Abstract Intraoperative angiography has become an essential adjunct to reconstructive vascular surgery. Therefore, radiation exposure and its potential risks to the performing surgeon need to be known. To study this, we designed experimental and clinical tests quantifying the radiation exposure to the surgeon during different intraoperative angiograms. Radiation exposure to various parts of the surgeon's body was quantified by thermoluminescence dosimetry. During each exposure a surgeon standing one foot from the x-ray tube received an absorbed dose equivalent to 0.24 to 1.4 millirems, which is about half that of an intraoperative cholangiogram. With 5000 millirems considered the maximum permissible dose, this would imply that an upper limit of about 3500 intraoperative angiograms each year (68 each week) could be performed safely. Comparatively, abdominal angiography carried the most significant risk (p = 0.01) and peripheral angiography was the least hazardous. Fluoroscopy increased radiation exposure more than four times that of nonfluoroscopic procedures (p = 0.05). The surgeon's extremities received the greatest dose, followed by the eyes and neck, suggesting the need for individual monitoring devices for those parts to be worn by surgeons who perform operative angiograms more frequently than average. Our study indicates that the radiation dose received by the surgeon during operative angiography, especially that of peripheral vessels, is minimal. Operative arteriography is not only a simple and readily available diagnostic tool, but it is quite a safe procedure if applied correctly. (J VASC SURG 1986;4:224-8.)
Development of 37 microsatellite loci for the great gray owl (Strix nebulosa) and other Strix spp. owls

We developed 37 great gray owl (Strix nebulosa) microsatellite primers from CA and TAGA enriched genomic libraries. Primers were tested in 15 great gray owls from California, USA and Alberta, Canada as well as two other Strix species, spotted owl (S. occidentalis) and barred owl (S. varia). These markers will have broad application in investigations of Strix population structure and genetic diversity.
Modulation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration in brain microvascular endothelial cells in vitro by acoustic cavitation.

Abstract Localized delivery of therapeutic agents through the blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a clinically significant task that remains challenging. Ultrasound (US) application after intravenous administration of microbubbles has been shown to generate localized BBB opening in animal models but the detailed mechanisms are not yet fully described. The current study investigates the effects of US-stimulated microbubbles on in vitro murine brain microvascular endothelial (bEnd.3) cells by monitoring sonoporation and changes in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) using real-time fluorescence and high-speed brightfield microscopy. Cells seeded in microchannels were exposed to a single US pulse (1.25 MHz, 10 cycles, 0.24 MPa peak negative pressure) in the presence of Definity™ microbubbles and extracellular calcium concentration [Ca2+]o = 0.9 mM. Disruption of the cell membrane was assessed using propidium iodide (PI) and change in the [Ca2+]i was measured using fura-2. Cells adjacent to a microbubble exhibited immediate [Ca2+]i changes after US pulse with and without PI uptake and the [Ca2+]i changes were twice as large in cells with PI uptake. Cell viability assays showed that sonoporated cells could survive with modulation of [Ca2+]i and uptake of PI. Cells located near sonoporated cells were observed to exhibit changes in [Ca2+]i that were delayed from the time of US application and without PI uptake. These results demonstrate that US-stimulated microbubbles not only directly cause changes in [Ca2+]i in brain endothelial cells in addition to sonoporation but also generate [Ca2+]i transients in cells not directly interacting with microbubbles, thereby affecting cells in larger regions beyond the cells in contact with microbubbles. (E-mail: cxdeng@umich.edu )
Execution Assurance for Massive Computing Tasks

Consider a client who intends to perform a massive computing task comprsing a number of sub-tasks, while both storage and computation are outsourced by a third-party service provider. How could the client ensure the integrity and completeness of the computation result? Meanwhile, how could the assurance mechanism incur no disincentive, e.g., excessive communication cost, for any service provider or client to participate in such a scheme? We detail this problem and present a general model of execution assurance for massive computing tasks. A series of key features distinguish our work from existing ones: a) we consider the context wherein both storage and computation are provided by untrusted third parties, and client has no data possession; b) we propose a simple yet effective assurance model based on a novel integration of the machineries of data authentication and computational private information retrieval (cPIR); c) we conduct an analytical study on the inherent trade-offs among the verification accuracy, and the computation, storage, and communication costs.
Finding Their Place in the Swahili World: an archaeological exploration of southern Tanzania

Finding Their Place in the Swahili World: an archaeological exploration of southern Tanzania. University of Virginia, 2011. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0067270X.2012.677331 Large-scale systems of int...
Effects of Loading Frequency on Mechanically Induced Bone Formation

The anabolic effect of mechanical loading on bone tissue is modulated by loading frequency. The objective of this study was to characterize the new bone formation on the periosteal and endocortical surfaces of the ulnar diaphysis in adult, female rats in response to controlled dynamic loading and to examine the interactions between strain magnitude, loading frequency, and bone formation rate (BFR/BS) for frequencies ranging from 1 to 10 Hz. Cyclic, compressive loading was applied to the ulnas of 60 adult, female rats divided into 12 loading groups. Loading was applied for 360 cycles/day with peak loads ranging from 4.3 to 18N at frequencies of 1, 5, and 10 Hz. After 2 weeks of loading, bone formation on the periosteal and endocortical surfaces of the ulna was quantified using double-label histomorphometry on transverse sections obtained at the middiaphysis. Periosteal bone formation increased in a dose-response manner with peak load at each of the three loading frequencies tested. Loading frequency significantly affected the x intercepts and slopes of the peak strain versus BFR/BS (p < 0.001) and peak strain versus mineralizing surface (MS/BS; p < 0.001) curves. Periosteal osteogenesis was best predicted by a mathematical model that assumed: (1) bone cells are activated by fluid shear stresses and (2) that stiffness of the bone cells and the extracellular matrix near the cells increases at higher loading frequencies because of viscoelasticity. Consequently, mechanotransduction appears to involve a complex interaction between extracellular fluid forces and cellular mechanics.
Morphologic and functional effects of piroxicam on myocardial scar formation after coronary occlusion in dogs.

Abstract To determine whether piroxicam, a widely used, long-acting anti-inflammatory agent, causes scar thinning after acute myocardial infarction (MI), MI was produced in 16 anesthetized, open-chest dogs by ligation of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery. The dogs were randomized into 2 groups and treated in a blinded fashion, 8 with piroxicam, 1 mg/kg i.v. at 15 minutes and at 3 hours after ligation (Group 1) and 8 with saline solution (Group 2). Two-dimensional echocardiograms were performed 7 days and 6 weeks after ligation. At 6 weeks, the dogs were killed and the hearts examined. Scar thickness was 7.1 ± 0.3 mm in control dogs and 5.2 ± 0.4 mm in piroxicam-treated dogs (p
Measles virus vaccination of measles seropositive individuals suppresses lymphocyte proliferation and chemotactic factor production

Abstract Measles virus vaccination of adults seropositive for measles resulted in suppression of chemotactic factor production in response to concanavalin A (Con A), purified protein derivative (PPD), and purified measles virus antigen, and of lymphoproliferative responses to high doses of phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Persons receiving the vaccine had no clinical signs of infection, no detectable viremia, and no rise in antibody titers to measles virus. The suppression of both chemotactic factor production and lymphoproliferation was of shorter duration than that observed in studies of acute measles virus infection. Suppression could not be related to increases in the number of circulating cells capable of suppressing the Con A or PHA responses of normal lymphocytes. These studies indicate that measles virus may cause immunosuppression in the absence of detectable virus replication in mononuclear cells.
Jewish argument as sociability

Talk that is argumentative in form can have sociable functions for members of some groups. In sociable argument, speakers repeatedly disagree, remain nonaligned with each other, and compete for interactional goods. Yet they do so in a nonserious way, and in ways which actually display their solidarity and protect their intimacy. The analysis raises questions about the adequacy of many current views about conversational cooperation, showing that the levels at which cooperation (and competition) exist are not always overt. The analysis also demonstrates the cultural relativity of norms of evaluation about dispute. (Conflict, conversation, cooperation, culture, evaluation, frames, key, pragmatics, rhetoric)
Thermally stimulated desorption from class I CdS crystals and its effect on their electrical properties

The thermally stimulated desorption (TSD) curves of oxygen (AMU 16) and cadmium from Class I photoconducting CdS platelets, grown in a N2H2S atmosphere, were studied in the temperature range from room temperature to 550°C. Substantial desorption of oxygen with a maximum around 350°C was observed. The TSD curve for cadmium exhibited a plateau near 400°C, attributed to the desorption of overstoichiometric cadmium from a thin layer near the crystal surface, followed by a sharp rise above 470°C associated with CdS evaporation. Changes in the spectral distribution of the photocurrent (SDP) and dark current were observed upon desorption. Their correlation with desorption and their reversibility upon exposure of the investigated platelets to O2 and an O2H2O mixture and to electron bombardment were investigated. A model for Class I crystals is presented, involving the existence of a Cd-rich semiconducting layer near their surface, that explains the observed SDP and dark current behavior. In particular, the disappearance of such a layer upon desorption to around 400°C can account for the observed transition from Class I to Class II SDP. Die thermisch angeregten Desorptionskurven (TSD) von Sauerstoff und Kadmium von photoleitenden CdS (Klasse I) Plattchen, die in einer N2H2S-Atmosphare gezuchtet wurden, wurden im Temperaturbereich von 20 bis 550°C untersucht. Betrachtliche Desorption von Sauerstoff mit einem Maximum nahe 350°C wurde beobachtet. Die TSD-Kurven zeigen ein Plateau bei 400°C, das der Desorption von uberstochiometrischem Kadmium von oberflachennahen Schichten zugeschrieben wird. Es wird von einem steilen Anstieg oberhalb 470°C gefolgt, verursacht durch beginnende Verdampfung von CdS. Anderungen in der spektralen Verteilung der Photoleitung (SDP) und der Dunkelleitung werden nach der Desorption beobachtet. Reproduzierbarkeit nach Zulassen von O2 und O2H2O oder Elektronenbeschus wurden untersucht. Ein Modell fur Klasse-I-CdS-Kristalle wird vorgeschlagen. Es enthalt eine kadmiumreiche halbleitende Schicht in der Nahe der Oberflache. Das Verschwinden dieser Schicht nach Desorption oberhalb 400°C kann den Ubergang von Klasse-I- zu Klasse-II-Kristallen verstandlich machen.
The dynamics of magnetically trapped fluids. I - Implications for umbral dots and penumbral grains

A study of the magnetohydrodynamic system in which a nonmagnetized fluid in a gravitational field is surrounded by a fluid carrying a vertical magnetic field is presented. It is pointed out that this study can throw some light on the fine-structural features of a sunspot. The equilibrium configuration of the field-free fluid is a tapering column ending at an apex. The regions away form the apex can be studied by the slender flux tube approximation. A scheme developed to treat the apex indicates that, just below the apex, the radius of the tapering column opens up with a 3/2 power dependence on the depth below the apex. If the internal pressure of the field-free fluid is increased, the apex rises, and a static equilibrium may not be possible beyond a limit if the magnetic pressure drops quickly above a certain height. The nature of steady-flow solutions beyond this limit is investigated. Under conditions inside a sunspot, a column of field-free gas is found to rise with a velocity of about 100 km/hr. If umbral dots and penumbral grains are interpreted as regions where the field-free gas ultimately emerges, a very natural explanation of most of their observed properties is obtained.
p21WAF1/CIP1 protein expression in primary ovarian cancer.

p21WAF1/CIP1 protein is a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, able to prevent the CDK2/cyclin E induced retinoblastoma protein (pRB) phosphorylation, thus inhibiting cell cycle progression at G1 phase. p21WAF1/CIP1 protein levels were examined in a series of 102 ovarian tissue samples including normal ovary, primary ovarian tumors, omental metastasis, recurrent disease and residual tumor after chemotherapy exposure, by Western blot analysis. The association of p21WAF1/CIP1 status with clinicopathological parameters and clinical outcome was also investigated. p21WAF1/CIP1 protein was detectable in 76 out of 102 (74%) ovarian tissue samples. We observed a significant trend of p21 levels to gradually increase from normal ovarian tissues (median 0 a.u.) through primary ovarian cancers (median 0.19 a.u.), omental metastases (median 0.33 a.u.) and recurrence of disease (median 0.44 a.u.) (p=0.015). In the group of stage III-IV ovarian cancer patients, p21-positive cases showed a more favourable prognosis with respect to p21-negative cases: the 3-year time to progression (TTP) rate was 58% for p21-positive compared with 33% of p21-negative cases (p=0.036). In conclusion, p21WAF1/CIP1 expression levels seem to be correlated with tumor status at the time of diagnosis and can predict TTP in a selected group of patients.
Biomechanical Studies of Double-Bundle Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstructions

Background: Double-bundle reconstruction of the posterior cruciate ligament has been advocated to better replicate the anatomy of the native ligament and restore normal knee biomechanics. The goal of this study was to measure knee laxities and graft forces following single and double-bundle reconstr
Rituximab as adjuvant to high-dose therapy and autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation for aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Based on the favorable safety profile and the independent activity of rituximab in B-cell lymphoma, we evaluated its efficacy and toxicity after high-dose therapy (HDT) and autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Thirty-five patients with diffuse large cell (25 patients), mantle cell (3 patients), transformed (3 patients), or other (4 patients) subtypes of B-cell lymphoma received HDT followed by a purged autologous graft. The rituximab schedule was 4 weekly infusions (375 mg/m(2)) starting at day 42 after HCT and, for patients 5 to 35, a second 4-week course 6 months after HCT. All planned therapy was completed in 29 patients. With 30 months' median follow-up, the 2-year event-free survival (EFS) rate was 83% and the overall survival (OS) rate was 88%. For 21 patients with relapsed or refractory large cell lymphoma, the EFS rate was 81% and the OS rate was 85%. Grades 3 to 4 neutropenia occurred in 19 (54%) patients. A prospective study of immune reconstitution included measurements of lymphocyte subsets, immunoglobulins, and response to vaccination. Serious infections were not observed despite delayed B-cell recovery in all patients and suppressed immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels and low pneumococcus antibody titers in a subset. Rituximab after HDT and HCT is feasible, and these phase 2 data support the current US Intergroup phase 3 trial in recurrent/refractory diffuse large cell lymphoma.
A low-noise microphone preamplifier

This paper describes a low-noise two-transistor pre-amplifier which has been developed for use with microphones. For a source resistance of 1000 Ω, a noise figure of 1.3 db has been achieved. A corresponding middle-frequency gain of 40 db, bandwidth of 30 kc and output impedance of 175 Ω resulted.
Abstract 305: EphB4 and EphrinB2 regulates ovarian cancer progression

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL EphB4 belongs to the Eph Receptor Tyrosine Kinase family. EphB4 regulates angiogenesis, neuron migration and breast morphogenesis. Overexpression of EphB4 has been observed in numerous cancer types, including breast, ovarian and prostate cancers. How EphB4 regulates cancer progression is still largely unknown. EphrinB2 is the unique ligand for EphB4. EphrinB2 triggers phosphorylation, activation and down-regulation of EphB4. We analyzed various ovarian cancer cell lines and patient derived xenograft samples by in vitro and in vivo assays including siRNA knockdown and gene expression profiling. A large portion of ovarian cancer models express both EphB4 and ephrinB2. SiRNA targeting of EphB4 induced growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis in several cell lines. Serous ovarian carcinoma cell line, Ovcar-3 which expresses both EphB4 and ephrinB2 was most sensitive to siRNA targeting. Non ephrinB2 expressing cell lines were less sensitive suggesting that sensitivity to EphB4 siRNA targeting is not only dependent on the levels of EphB4 but also the status of ephrinB2. Gene expression profiling studies showed that EphB4 is implicated in signaling transduction, cell attachment and growth. Currently, we are examining how ephrinB2 expression modulates EphB4 signaling and the down-stream effectors of EphB4 signaling pathway. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 305. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-305
Power Supply for NSTX Resistive Wall Mode Coils

The National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) has been designed and installed in the existing facilities at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL). Most of the hardware, plant facilities, auxiliary sub-systems, and power systems originally used for the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) have been used with suitable modifications to reflect NSTX needs. Until 2004, the NSTX power system was feeding twelve (12) circuits in the machine. In 2004, resistive wall mode (RWM) coils were installed in the machine to suppress resistive wall modes and to correct error fields. There are six of these coils installed around the machine on the mid-plane. Since these coils need fast and accurate controls, a switching power amplifier (SPA) has been procured, installed and commissioned along with other circuit components. One of the existing thyristor rectifiers is used as the DC source to the SPA. The controls for the RWM have been integrated into the overall computer control of the DC power systems for NSTX. This paper describes the RWM power supply for NSTX
Do some patients with seckel syndrome have hematological problems and/or chromosome breakage?

We report on a 12-yr-old female and a 14-yr-old male with Seckel syndrome. The 12-yr-old female had pancytopenia, which is seen occasionally in patients with Seckel syndrome and is also a feature of Fanconi anemia, a well-recognized autosomal recessive dwarfism syndrome with chromosome instability. Chromosome breakage analysis of both of our patients also indicated chromosome instability. We suggest that there may be a subgroup of Seckel syndrome patients with chromosome instability and/or hematological problems.
Role of oxidative stress in alcohol-induced liver injury

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly reactive molecules that are naturally generated in small amounts during the body’s metabolic reactions and can react with and damage complex cellular molecules such as lipids, proteins, or DNA. Acute and chronic ethanol treatments increase the production of ROS, lower cellular antioxidant levels, and enhance oxidative stress in many tissues, especially the liver. Ethanol-induced oxidative stress plays a major role in the mechanisms by which ethanol produces liver injury. Many pathways play a key role in how ethanol induces oxidative stress. This review summarizes some of the leading pathways and discusses the evidence for their contribution to alcohol-induced liver injury. Special emphasis is placed on CYP2E1, which is induced by alcohol and is reactive in metabolizing and activating many hepatotoxins, including ethanol, to reactive products, and in generating ROS.
Chemical Control of Superparamagnetic Properties of Magnesium and Cobalt Spinel Ferrite Nanoparticles through Atomic Level Magnetic Couplings

A correlation between the electron spin−orbital angular momentum coupling and the superparamagnetic properties has been established in MgFe2O4 and CoFe2O4 spinel ferrite nanoparticles. The contribution to the magnetic anisotropy from the Fe3+ lattice sites is almost the same in both nanocrystallites as neutron diffraction studies have shown a similar cation distribution in these two types of spinel ferrite nanoparticles. Due to the strong magnetic couplings from Co2+ lattice sites, the blocking temperature of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles is at least 150 deg higher than the same sized MgFe2O4 nanoparticles. Mossbauer spectroscopy studies demonstrate that the magnetic anisotropy of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles is higher than that of the same size MgFe2O4 nanoparticles. These studies indicate that the superparamagnetic properties of nanoparticles can be controlled through chemically adjusting the magnetic anisotropy energy.
Quantitation of age-related mitochondrial DNA deletions in rat tissues shows that their pattern of accumulation differs from that of humans

Abstract Three age-related mtDNA deletions were identified, and the competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to quantitate their levels in different Fisher 344 rat tissues. Deletions that removed 4834; 13 273; or 13 415 nt of the mitochondrial genome were shown to be associated with 16 (mtDNA 4834 ), nine (mtDNA 13 273 ), or five (mtDNA 13 415 ) nt direct repeats, respectively. The mtDNA 4834 deletion was detected in an age-related manner in all tissues screened; the mtDNA 13 415 deletion was detected in old heart, and in both young and old brain; and the mtDNA 13 273 deletion was only detected in old brain tissues. The mtDNA 4834 deletion was found to be at its highest level in the liver (1.88×10 −2 %), followed by the brain (0.22×10 −2 %) and kidney (0.40×10 −2 %) of old animals. Much lower levels were observed in old heart (0.07×10 −2 %) and lung (0.04×10 −2 %). This distribution of mtDNA deletions in old rat tissues is in contrast to work done in humans where age-related deletions are present at the highest levels in post-mitotic tissues with much lower levels in more mitotic tissues. An inverse relationship was observed between the level of mtDNA deletions and the size of the deleted region, since the mtDNA 13 415 deletion was present at about a 100-fold lower level (0.53×10 −5 %) than the smaller mtDNA 4834 deletion in old heart tissue.
Factor Analysis of Data on the Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory from Married Couples:

The Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory was administered to 264 husbands and 259 wives and the data were factor analyzed separately for males, females, and total sample. The inventory's five subscales (Level of Regard, Empathic Understanding, Congruence, Unconditionality of Regard, and Willingness To Be Known) did not emerge as factors. Instead, two general factors were identified, one related to positive affect and attitudes and the other to negative affect and indifference. Findings were briefly discussed in terms of the work of Bradburn and others.
Echo character of the East Brazilian continental margin and its relationship to sedimentary processes

Abstract The nature and regional distributions of various types of bottom echoes recorded on 3.5-kHz echograms from the East Brazilian continental margin (8–30°S) provide valuable information about sedimentary processes which have been active on a regional scale. The ten types of echoes observed fall into two major classes: distinct and indistinct. Indistinct echoes have two sub-classes; prolonged and hyperbolic. A qualitative correlation is observed between three types of distinct and indistinct-prolonged echoes and the relative abundance of coarse, bedded sediment (silt, sand, gravel) in piston cores. Regions returning distinct echoes with continuous parallel sub-bottoms contain little or no coarse sediment; regions returning indistinct very prolonged echoes with no sub-bottoms contain very high concentrations of coarse sediment; and regions returning indistinct semiprolonged echoes with intermittent sub-bottoms contain moderate or intermediate amounts of coarse sediment. Thus the regional distributions of these three echo types reflect the dispersal of coarse terrigenous sediment throughout the region. High concentrations of coarse sediment are restricted to relatively small areas which are generally proximal to large deep-sea channels, whereas very low concentrations occur in distal regions such as the lowermost continental rise and adjacent abyssal plain. Moderate concentrations of coarse sediment occur throughout most of the continental rise. Five of the six types of hyperbolic echoes observed are reflected from erosional/depositional bed forms. Although some of these bed forms (especially on the upper continental rise) have probably been produced by gravity-controlled mass flows (turbidity currents, slumps, etc.) the fact that the most extensive and widespread regions of hyperbolic echoes occur in distal regions beneath the present axis of flow of the Antarctic Bottom Water suggests that most of these bed forms are the result of sediment reworking by the contour-following bottom currents of this water mass.
Analysis of prognostic factors for patients with single brain metastasis treated with stereotactic radiosurgery

To evaluate and define treatment prognostic factors and selection criteria for patients with solitary brain metastasis treated with stereotactic radiosurgery. Between March 1990 and January 1995, 48 patients with solitary brain metastasis were treated with stereotactic radiosurgery at our tertiary care institution. Eleven patients were treated for progression or relapse of intracranial disease after whole-brain external beam radiotherapy or surgical resection. Patients were eligible for radiosurgery if they had a (1) Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) of at least 70, (2) a solitary, radiographically distinct lesion <4 cm in diameter, (3) lesion at least 1 cm from the optic chiasm, and (4) a reasonably well-controlled primary tumor. The factors subjected to univariate and multivariate analysis for local control and survival correlations were age, histology, control of systemic disease, surgical debulking, whole-brain irradiation, dose delivered, lesion volume, location (supratentorial vs. infratentorial), and new versus recurrent metastasis. Sex and initial KPS were also analyzed for survival. Local control was achieved in 39 (81%) patients. The only prognostic factor in the univariate analysis that significantly correlated with local control was new versus recurrent lesion (P = .009). Initial KPS of at least 80 and age <65 years were significant with regard to survival in the univariate and multivariate analyses. Median survival after radiosurgery was 8 months. This study corroborates the usefulness of stereotactic radiosurgery for patients with a small solitary metastatic brain lesion. In our series, as well as in others, several characteristics (young age, optimal KPS, newly diagnosed metastasis, controlled or absent systemic disease) provide clues as to which patients will most benefit. Studies, including randomized trials, are needed to clarify patient and tumor characteristics that predict which patients will benefit from stereotactic radiosurgery. Radiat. Oncol. Invest. 5:31–37, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Host subversion by formation of intracellular bacterial communities in the urinary tract

Urinary tract infections pose a serious health threat with respect to antibiotic resistance and high recurrence rates. While the host robustly responds to bacterial infiltration into the bladder, uropathogenic Escherichia coli can survive the onslaught to persist for months after initially infecting. To accomplish this feat, uropathogenic E. coli forms intracellular bacterial communities, with many biofilm-like properties, within the bladder epithelium. These communities may allow bacteria to subvert host defenses and form a persistent reservoir in the bladder.
Evaluating the use of model-based requirements verification method: A feasibility study

Requirements engineering is one of the most important and critical phases in the software development life cycle, and should be carefully performed to build high quality and reliable software. However, requirements are typically gathered through various sources and represented in natural language (NL), making requirements engineering a difficult, fault prone, and a challenging task. To address this challenge, we propose a model-based requirements verification method called NLtoSTD, which transforms NL requirements into a state transition diagram (STD) that can be verified through automated reasoning. This paper analyzes the effect of NLtoSTD method in improving the quality of requirements. To do so, we conducted an empirical study at North Dakota State University in which the participants employed the NLtoSTD method during the inspection of requirement documents to identify the amibiguities and incompleteness of requirements. The experiment results show that the proposed method is capable of finding ambiguities and missing functionalities in a set of NL requirements, and provided us with insights and feedback to improve the method. The results are promising and have motivated the refinement of NLtoSTD method and future empirical evaluation.
"Underwater" EMR of sporadic laterally spreading nonampullary duodenal adenomas (with video).

Background EMR for the treatment of duodenal adenomas is challenging due to a thin wall and rich vascularity. Objective To evaluate a novel technique of "underwater" EMR without prior submucosal injection for the removal of large (≥2 cm) laterally spreading nonampullary duodenal adenomas. Design Prospective, observational study. Setting Tertiary academic referral center. Patients Twelve patients (median age, 60 years) meeting the inclusion criteria. Interventions Piecemeal EMR technique after sterile water submersion when using a double-channel endoscope. Main Outcome Measurements Technical success, adverse events, completeness of resection on follow-up endoscopy. Results Median adenoma size was 35 mm (25% greater than one-half circumference, 50% equal to one-third to one-half circumference, and 25% less than one-third circumference). Median procedure time was 65 minutes (range, 32-151). Final histology was tubular adenoma (7), tubulovillous adenoma (1), villous adenoma (3), and high-grade dysplasia (1). Eleven patients (92%) met the primary endpoint (technical success) and all patients met the secondary endpoint (completeness of resection). Median interval until follow-up endoscopy was 16 weeks (range, 11-56). Adverse events were as follows: delayed bleeding (3 patients, of whom 2 required transfusions), water intoxication syndrome manifested by altered mental status and hyponatremia (1), and stricture formation (1) that responded to balloon dilation. No perforation or postresection abdominal pain was found. Limitations Single operator, single center, small sample size, limited follow-up. Conclusion Underwater EMR for large sessile duodenal adenomas has high success rates for complete removal. The risk of delayed bleeding is significant, and precautions are needed when infusing a large volume of fluid into the GI tract.
NEW CONCEPTS IN THE APPROACH TO DIGITALIS THERAPY FOR ATRIAL FIBRILLATION.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS It has been the purpose of this presentation to bring into sharp focus the precise electrophysiologic mechanisms that may be associated with atrial fibrillation. An approach to the interpretation of these serious cardiac mechanisms has been outlined. Irregularity of the ventricular rate in the presence of atrial fibrillation may be due to a combination of the following electrophysiologic events in the atrioventricular junction: (1) physiologic effective refractory period of the A-V node junctional tissues; (2) interference of subsidiary escape or accelerated A-V nodal pacemakers; (3) concealed A-V conduction into the A-V junction; (4) entrance block into the A-V nodal tissues, and (5) exit block in the lower regions of the A-V nodal tissues. Finally, digitalis should be withheld in the presence of independent activation of atria and ventricles due to advanced entrance or exit block, or accelerated nodal rhythm (70-130/min.) A trial of intravenous acetyl strophanthidin (0.5 mg.) may be required when the accelerated nodal rate is greater than 130/min., with intermittent periods of A-V dissociation.
Reactions of Dithiolate Ligands in Mononuclear Complexes of Rhenium(V). 2. Cp‘ ‘ReCl2(η2-SC3H6S) and Related Derivatives†

The syntheses and characterizations of Cp‘ ‘ReCl2(SC3H6S), 1, Cp‘ ‘ReCl3(SCHMe2), 2, and Cp‘ ‘ReCl2(SCHMe2)2, 3, are reported (Cp‘ ‘ = C5Me4Et). Complex 2 has been characterized by an X-ray diffraction study, which confirms its mononuclear structure. Reactions of 1, 2, and 3 have been studied and compared with those characterized previously for Cp‘ ‘ReCl2(SC2H4S). For example, the thermal reaction of 1 in toluene at 100 °C, results in the elimination of HCl and formation of a complex with a chelated thiolate/thialdehyde ligand, Cp‘ ‘ReCl(SCH2CH2CHS), 5. Complex 5 can also be synthesized at a lower temperature by the reaction of 1 with excess triethylamine. Spectroscopic characteristics and reactivity of 5 are reported.
Reduced pulmonary surfactant interaction of daptomycin analogs via tryptophan replacement with alternative amino acids

Daptomycin was shown to interact in vitro with pulmonary surfactant leading to reduction of its antibacterial activity. We report herein the preparation and anti-staphylococcal activity of a series of daptomycin analogs with reduced pulmonary surfactant interaction by replacing tryptophan with various amino acids.
Nonequilibrium spin glass state in optical systems with coherence

Abstract We show that in a system of randomly distributed optically active atoms with quantum coherence, a nonequilibrium dipole spin glass state can be realized due to resonant dipole-dipole interactions. The proposed nonequilibrium spin glass state corresponds to the noncoherent steady state oscillations of the dipole moments of the atoms. We argue that such a situation can be achieved in a steady state for three level Λ systems showing the vanishing imaginary part of the polarizability near the resonance frequency. The critical concentration of the spin glass transition is estimated with the use of local mean field equations and computer simulations applied to dipole-dipole interactions.
Development of sensors for direct detection of organophosphates. Part I: immobilization, characterization and stabilization of acetylcholinesterase and organophosphate hydrolase on silica supports

Biosensors for organophosphates in solution may be constructed by monitoring the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) or organophosphate hydrolase (OPH) immobilized to a variety of microsensor platforms. The area available for enzyme immobilization is small (< 1 mm2) for microsensors. In order to construct microsensors with increased surface area for enzyme immobilization, we used a sol-gel process to create highly porous and stable silica matrices. Surface porosity of sol-gel coated surfaces was characterized using scanning electron microscopy; pore structure was found to be very similar to that of commercially available porous silica supports. Based upon this analysis, porous and non-porous silica beads were used as model substrates of sol-gel coated and uncoated sensor surfaces. Two different covalent chemistries were used to immobilize AChE and OPH to these porous and non-porous silica beads. The first chemistry used amine-silanization of silica followed by enzyme attachment using the homobifunctional linker glutaraldehyde. The second chemistry used sulfhydryl-silanization followed by enzyme attachment using the heterobifunctional linker N-gamma-maleimidobutyryloxy succinimide ester (GMBS). Surfaces were characterized in terms of total enzyme immobilized, total and specific enzyme activity, and long term stability of enzyme activity. Amine derivitization followed by glutaraldehyde linking yielded supports with greater amounts of immobilized enzyme and activity. Use of porous supports not only yielded greater amounts of immobilized enzyme and activity, but also significantly improved long term stability of enzyme activity. Enzyme was also immobilized to sol-gel coated glass slides. The mass of immobilized enzyme increased linearly with thickness of coating. However, immobilized enzyme activity saturated at a porous silica thickness of approximately 800 nm.
Corporate Political Strategy and Foreign Competition: The Case of the Steel Industry

An underplayed topic in the strategic management literature is firms' use of political strategies, such as lobbying the government for trade protection. This study developed and tested a simple mod...
Evaluation of help by a potential recipient

In order to test the hypothesis that the decision to accept or reject a prosocial offer is a joint function of (1) value and cost associated with the offer and (2) the recipients degree of dependence, a role-playing abilities test was created. As part of the role-playing task, undergraduate students were asked to consider a prosocial offer, consisting of either high or low value, which imposed minimal or restrictive constraints, under conditions of high or low dependence. As predicted, high value and low cost were significant factors in the decision to accept or reject the prosocial offer. In addition, two unexpected interactions, Value by Dependence and Cost by Dependence, were significant.
Cross-cultural similarities in reasoning about personal continuity in reincarnation: evidence from South India

Ethnographic reports suggest the cross-cultural recurrence of practices designed to determine who has returned to the human world through the process of reincarnation. This paper attempts to explain these trends by cross-culturally replicating experiments originally conducted in the US with participants from mixed-religious affiliations to Jains in South India. In a series of imaginative perspective-taking tasks, Jain adults reasoned about the likelihood of different people to be the reincarnation of a deceased person based on similar features between the two. Participants endorsed a concept of reincarnation as entailing a bodily change from death to rebirth. Nevertheless, in the tasks, they reasoned as though physical marks and episodic memories were superior cues to identifying reincarnated people as compared to other similarities, including other physical and mnemonic features. These decisions were heightened when the distinctiveness of the features was increased and thus the probability of another liv...
Evidence for Humoral Factors in Renoprival Hypertension

Plasma of renoprival hypertensive rats was found to have an exaggerated constrictor effect on isolated rat aorta strips, however, no pressor effect was produced in acutely nephrectomized rats cross-circulated with renoprival hypertensive animals. It is suggested that if the constrictor element of the plasma from renoprival hypertensive rats is not just an artifact of the aorta strip assay technic but does exist and play a role in renoprival hypertension, it does so by acting on arterioles sensitized by the chronic a-renal condition.
Boolean matching for complex PLBs in LUT-based FPGAs with application to architecture evaluation

In this paper, we developed Boolean matching techniques for complex programmable logic blocks (PLBs) in LUT-based FPGAs. A complex PLB can not only be used as a K-input LUT, but also can implement some wide functions of more than K variables. We apply previous and develop new functional decomposition methods to match wide functions to PLBs. We can determine exactly whether a given wide function can be implemented with a XC4000 CLB or other three PLB architectures (including the XC5200 CLB). We evaluate functional capabilities of the four PLB architectures on implementing wide functions in MCNC benchmarks. Experiments show that the XC4000 CLB can be used to implement up to 98% of 6-cuts and 88% of 7-cuts in MCNC benchmarks, while two of the other three PLB architectures have a smaller cost in terms of logic capability per silicon area. Our results are useful for designing future logic unit architectures in LUT based FPGAs.
Effect of age on [3H]nisoxetine binding to uptake sites for norepinephrine in the locus coeruleus of humans

[3H]Nisoxetine ([3H]NIS) was used to measure uptake sites for norepinephrine (NE) in the locus coeruleus (LC) of humans. Regression analysis demonstrated an inverse correlation between age and the binding of [3H]NIS to NE uptake sites in the LC (r = -0.6; P less than 0.01). Since considerable cell loss has been reported to occur with age in the human LC, the decreased binding of [3H]NIS probably reflects loss of LC cells rather than a down-regulation of these sites.