cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Glutathione monoethyl ester can selectively protect liver from high dose BCNU or cyclophosphamide.

Normal Swiss Webster mice were treated with monocrotaline or high doses of three antitumor alkylating agents (BCNU, cyclophosphamide, or mitomycin C), all of which have been connected with hepatic venoocclusive disease at our clinic. Prior administration of WR-2721 did not improve the survival of mono-crotaline-treated animals. Glutathione (GSH) improved the survival of these animals to a small degree. Glutathione monoethyl ester (GSHet) almost completely protected animals from the toxicity of monocrotaline. Pretreatment with WR-2721 produced moderate increases in survival at the highest doses of BCNU, and at the lower BCNU doses none of the animals pretreated with WR-2721 died before they were killed on day 150. Pretreatment with GSHet gave good protection from BCNU toxicity at the highest dose of the drug, and there were no deaths in the groups of animals treated with GSHet 1 hour before BCNU. On a multiple dose schedule, GSH provided some protection from cyclophosphamide toxicity; GSHet gave a very good level of protection from cyclophosphamide. In none of these treatment groups were lesions suggestive of hepatic or pulmonary venoocclusive disease identified. In all three experimental protocols (monocrotaline, BCNU, and cyclophosphamide), there was a consistent decrease in hepatic toxicity after GSHet pretreatment; this was not observed in GSH- or WR-2721-pretreated animals. There was no evidence of protection of the FSaIIC fibrosarcoma growing in C3H mice as assayed by tumor growth delay or tumor cell survival in groups treated with two different doses of GSHet 1 hour before each drug injection compared to those treated with the BCNU or cyclophosphamide alone, or BCNU with cyclophosphamide. Pretreatment with GSHet did not alter the toxicity of these drugs to bone marrow. GSHet appears to be an effective protector of critical normal tissue and does not appear to protect tumor.
The effect of anticipated future interaction on reward allocation in same- and opposite-sex dyads

Hypotheses were tested concerning the relationship of anticipated future interaction and sex of allocator vs. sex of recipient on reward allocation norm choice. Male and female college students worked on a sex-neutral, attributionally ambiguous task. Subjects participated in same- and mixed-sex dyads, but were kept isolated from one another. All received feedback that they had contributed higher input than their partner and had been randomly chosen to apportion a group reward. The primary dependent variable was amount of reward allocated to self. As predicted, there was a significant difference in allocation norm choice in the no future interaction condition (with males favoring equity and females employing equality), while both sexes divided the reward equally between themselves and the coworker in the future interaction condition. A model was proposed to explain these findings in terms of a continuum of social interaction levels. Rather than being viewed as independent causal entities, sex of allocator and sex of recipient were demonstrated to play roles of differing importance as a function of the level of interaction experienced or anticipated.
The corporation and private politics

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to examine the increased public pressure on corporations to express a point of view on social politics such as same-sex marriage that have no intrinsic connection to their line of business. Design/methodology/approach – By analyzing recent cases in which corporations have suffered from negative public sentiment regarding their policies on social issues, the authors adduce some guidelines for handling the intersection of corporate reputation and private politics. Findings – This analysis led the authors to propose four strategies for coping with reputation assaults relating to private politics: dynamic sentiment mapping, developing points of view, continuous consumer conversations and decision clarity. Originality/value – There is existing literature on this subject, but few recommendations for how to handle the issue.
I—The Third Horse: On Unendorsed Association and Human Behaviour

On one standard reading, Plato's works contain at least two distinct views about the structure of the human soul. According to the first, there is a crucial unity to human psychology: there is a dominant faculty that is capable of controlling attention and behaviour in a way that not only produces right action, but also ‘silences’ inclinations to the contrary—at least in idealized circumstances. According to the second, the human soul contains multiple autonomous parts, and although one of them, reason, normatively dominates the others, it may fail to do so descriptively: even in the face of full, explicit, well-reasoned, conscious awareness of the truth of a claim, a person may continue to feel residual inclinations towards disavowed, inappropriate and misguided experiences and courses of action. In this paper, I will argue that even the second of these views does not fully capture the ways in which reflective commitment fails to guide human action. Whereas the traditional multi-part soul view is well suited to explaining phenomena that involve a cognitive conflict between our reflective attitudes and our non-reflective endorsements (such as weakness of the will), it falls short when we turn to the full array of human patterns of response, because it neglects a further source of challenge to reason's rule, namely, the mediation of associative and heuristic processes. These processes introduce complications for which the simple faculty psychology view cannot adequately account. Because they produce challenges to reason's rule that are phenomenologically invisible, traditional strategies for self-regulation cannot be straightforwardly applied to their management.
ONION MAGGOT, DELIA ANTIQUA, SURVIVAL AND DEVELOPMENT ON ONIONS IN THE PRESENCE AND ABSENCE OF MICROORGANISMS

Development and survival of axenic onion fly (Delia antiqua (Meigen)) larvae reared on axenic onions were similar to that of larvae reared in the presence of naturally associated microorganisms. The only consistent difference was a 20–50% increase in the duration of the larval stage for axenic larvae. Contrary to current opinions, onion fly larvae can function as true herbivores on onions. RESUME La mouche de l'oignon, Delia antiqua: sa survie et son developpement sur oignons en presence ou en absence de microorganismes Le besoin en microorganismes dans les relations entre Delia antiqua (Meigen) et l'oignon est admis depuis plusieurs decennies. Nous avons constate que le developpement et la survie de larves axeniques elevees sur oignon sont semblables a ceux des larves elevees en presence des microbes normalement associes aux oignons ou aux larves. La principale difference entre les conditions axeniques ou non a ete une prolongation de 20 a 50% developpement larvaire en conditions axeniques. Bien que cette difference puisse ětre ecologiquement importante, nous suggerons que les microorganismes peuvent ětre interessants pour des raisons autres que nutritives si ces relations entre insectes et microbes ne sont pas fortuites. En clair, les larves de mouches de l'oignon peuvent agir comme de veritables herbivores sur l'oignon.
IDeC(k): A new velocity reconstruction algorithm on arbitrarily polygonal staggered meshes

We propose a novel algorithm for velocity reconstruction from staggered data on arbitrary polygonal staggered meshes. The formulation of the new algorithm is based on a constant polynomial reconstruction approach in conjunction with an iterative defect correction method and is referred to as the IDeC(k) reconstruction. The algorithm is designed for second order accuracy of the reconstructed velocity field and also leads to a consistent estimate of velocity gradients. Accuracy, convergence and robustness of the new algorithm are studied on different mesh topologies and the need for higher-order reconstruction is demonstrated. Numerical experiments for several cases including incompressible viscous flows establish the IDeC(k) reconstruction as a generic, fast, robust and higher-order accurate algorithm on arbitrary polygonal meshes.
Effects of subacute treatment with cocaine on activities of N-demethylase, UDP-glucuronyltransferase and sulfotransferase in WKY and SHR rat liver--sex and strain differences

The effects of subacute treatment with cocaine on activities of cocaine N-demethylase, UDP-glucuronyltransferase (GT) toward 4-nitrophenol and phenolphthalein and sulfotransferase (ST) toward androsterone and 4-nitrophenol in livers from Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were investigated. Hepatic metabolism of cocaine was different between the sexes (with males having higher N-demethylase activity) and the strains (with WKY rats having higher activity). The effects of subacute cocaine administration on the activity of cocaine N-demethylase were also sex- and strain-related. Whereas cocaine administration increased activity of hepatic N-demethylase in both female strains, it decreased activity in male WKY and had no effect on activity in male SHR. Sex and strain-related as well as cocaine-induced differences were also found in activities of hepatic GT toward 4-nitrophenol and phenolphthalein as well as in activity of hepatic ST towards andersterone and 4-nitrophenol. These results suggest that some of the individual variation in the effects of cocaine may be due to sex and genetic differences in the hepatic metabolism of cocaine and/or in sexually and/or/genetically-determined differences in how cocaine affects hepatic metabolism of other xenobiotics.
The Cytoplasmic Translation Inhibitory RNA Species of Chick Embryonic Muscle: Fractionation of Biologically Active Subspecies by High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract A RNA species (iRNA) isolated from chick embryonic muscle which is a potent inhibitor of mRNA translation in vitro shows heterogeneity in the 70–100 nucleotide size range (Sarkar, S., Mukherjee, A. K., and Guha, C. (19) J. Biol. Chem., 256, 5077–5086). The iRNA was fractionated by HPLC on different size exclusion columns using a variety of elution conditions. Chromatography of iRNA on a TSK 4000 SW column and elution with a low ionic strength buffer gave three components, one of which contained a pure subspecies of about 90–100 nucleotides ze, as shown by a single band on PAGE analysis in 99% formamide. The biological activity of this purified subspecies showed that this is a more potent inhibitor of globin mRNA translation than unfractionated iRNA (Sarkar, S., Mukherjee, A.K., and Guha, C., (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 5077–5086). Partial resolution of three additional low molecular weight iRNA subspecies in the 70–80 nucleotide size range in biologically active form was obtained on chromatography...
BZR1 Is a Transcriptional Repressor with Dual Roles in Brassinosteroid Homeostasis and Growth Responses

Brassinosteroid (BR) homeostasis and signaling are crucial for normal growth and development of plants. BR signaling through cell-surface receptor kinases and intracellular components leads to dephosphorylation and accumulation of the nuclear protein BZR1. How BR signaling regulates gene expression, however, remains unknown. Here we show that BZR1 is a transcriptional repressor that has a previously unknown DNA binding domain and binds directly to the promoters of feedback-regulated BR biosynthetic genes. Microarray analyses identified additional potential targets of BZR1 and illustrated, together with physiological studies, that BZR1 coordinates BR homeostasis and signaling by playing dual roles in regulating BR biosynthesis and downstream growth responses.
An Efficient Implementation of the Gliding Box Lacunarity Algorithm

Lacunarity is a measure of how data fills space. It complements fractal dimension, which measures how much space is filled. Many researchers use the gliding box algorithm to calculate lacunarity. This paper introduces a fast algorithm for making this calculation. This algorithm is akin to fast box-counting algorithms used by some researchers to estimate fractal dimension. A simplified gliding box measure equation, along with key pseudo code implementations for the algorithm, are presented. Applications for the gliding box lacunarity measure have ranged from biological community modelling to target detection.
Some theorems on (CA) analytic groups, II

An analytic group G is called (CA) if the group of inner automorphisms of G is closed in the Lie group of all (bicontinuous) automorphisms of G. We show that each non-(CA) analytic group G can be written as a semidirect product of a (CA) analytic group and a vector group. This decomposition yields a natural dense immersion of G into a (CA) analytic group H, such that each automorphism of G can be extended to an automorphism of H. This immersion and extension property enables us to derive a sufficient condition for the normal part of a semidirect product decomposition of a (CA) analytic group to be (CA).
Conformal array design with transformation electromagnetics

We apply the theory of transformation electromagnetics to source arrays and show that a complex conformal antenna array can be made to behave like a geometrically different array when surrounded with a properly designed transformation electromagnetics medium. Numerical simulations are presented to show how a nonuniform circular array can be made to radiate and receive as a uniformly spaced linear array. In this way, transformation electromagnetics provides a method by which all of the advantages of simple arrays in array processing, such as beamforming, can be retained in an array whose elements are constrained to a complex geometry.
Stereoselective Synthesis of myo-Inositol via Ring-Closing Metathesis: A Building Block for Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) Anchor Synthesis

Here we report a concise stereoselective synthesis of myo-inositol via ring-closing metathesis. A readily available bis-Weinreb amide of d-tartrate served as a key intermediate.
Integrable optical-fiber source of polarization-entangled photon pairs in the telecom band

We demonstrate an optical-fiber-based source of polarization-entangled photon pairs with improved quality and efficiency, which has been integrated with off-the-shelf telecom components and is, therefore, well suited for quantum communication applications in the 1550-nm telecom band. Polarization entanglement is produced by simultaneously pumping a loop of standard dispersion-shifted fiber with two orthogonally polarized pump pulses, one propagating in the clockwise and the other in the counterclockwise direction. We characterize this source by investigating two-photon interference between the generated signal-idler photon pairs under various conditions. The experimental parameters are carefully optimized to maximize the generated photon-pair correlation and to minimize contamination of the entangled photon pairs from extraneously scattered background photons that are produced by the pump pulses for two reasons: (i) spontaneous Raman scattering causes uncorrelated photons to be emitted in the signal and idler bands and (ii) broadening of the pump-pulse spectrum due to self-phase modulation causes pump photons to leak into the signal and idler bands. We obtain two-photon interference with visibility $g90%$ without subtracting counts caused by the background photons (only dark counts of the detectors are subtracted), when the mean photon number in the signal (idler) channel is about 0.02/pulse, while no interference is observed in direct detection of either the signal or idler photons.
Hybrid rocket combustion with prevaporized zone

Purpose – Low combustion completeness has been the main defect of hybrid rockets. The present study tries to address the problem by bringing up the setup of the precombustion zone, which do not increase the manufacture cost and complexity.Design/methodology/approach – A precombustion zone can provide a space for the liquid oxidizer to vaporize before entering the combustion zone, and prevents the endothermic effect of liquid oxidizer which can block the chemical reaction as well as the fuel regression. Therefore, this design is expected to raise the combustion completeness. The numerical simulation focuses on the flow field inside a cylindrical hybrid combustor. The distribution of temperature, combustion mode, mass fraction of reactants, velocity, combustion completeness, and solid‐fuel regression rate are presented.Findings – With the setup of prevaporized zone of appropriate length, the upstream separation bubble which is unobvious for the case with no prevaporized zone can increase the mixing of react...
Lamotrigine in the treatment of unipolar depression with and without comorbidities: a literature review.

To review the available data behind the use of lamotrigine in unipolar depression and common comorbid conditions. A PubMed based literature review was conducted using keywords related to lamotrigine, depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), and personality disorders. A large number of trials using lamotrigine for unipolar depression and various comorbid conditions were reviewed. A major limitation behind the majority of studies was a limited course of the treatment phase. The most robust data was found among studies that followed patients for over 8 weeks, and used higher dosages. Patients with comorbid anxiety states appeared to benefit. Patients with borderline personality disorder also appeared to benefit. The benefits of lamotrigine in unipolar depression have been inconsistently noted in a number of studies. This is due in part to short treatment phases, atypical domains of benefit and different patient populations across studies. Patients with more treatment-resistance, comorbid anxiety and borderline personality disorder may be more able to benefit from lamotrigine.
SU-GG-I-130: National Assessment of Research Imaging Centers for Design of the C-TRIC

Purpose: The expanding capacity of biomedical imaging devices such as CT,MRI,US, PET, SPECT to measure in vivo distributions of tissuecharacteristics, blood flow, molecular concentrations, and other parameters in 4 and more dimensions increases demand and cost of research imaging. Past funding at NIH and NSF favored proliferation in multiple departments and/or centers. The University of Colorado Denver (UCD) has six such independent centers. Lack of coordination caused excessive charge‐back fees and inefficiencies. The purpose of this study was to review the structure and organization of research imaging centers of excellence to recommend restructuring of UCD research imaging resources to make researchers more competitive for future funding.Methods and Materials: A planning grant from the UCD School of Medicine funded nine 1.5 day events 1) 3‐person team visits to three research imaging centers of excellence, 2) participation of three Directors of Centers as visiting Professors to UCD, and 3) consultation with the research teams of three major imaging equipment manufacturers. In addition, 36 UCD research leaders were interviewed one‐on‐one to measure need. Results: The national study of architectural plans showed that ALL major medical research centers have consolidated research imaging resources. The research in Centers of Excellence has two major goals, 1) Design and construction of new, cutting‐edge imaging instrumentation and 2) Facilitation of biomedical imaging research by investigators from medical specialties outside of radiology. Conclusions: Following presentation of this report to research faculty of the University of Colorado the decision was made to incrementally consolidate existing research imaging resources into a single operational unit and initiate the process of physically consolidating research imaging resources to increase the productivity of research projects from the Rocky Mountain region as well as the UCD Anschutz Medical Campus.
Estimation of growth of Clostridium perfringens in cooked beef under fluctuating temperature conditions

Abstract A new concept for estimating the bacterial growth under temperature fluctuations was hypothesized and validated using Clostridium perfringens as a test organism. This new methodology was based on the Gompertz models to calculate the equivalent growth times under different temperatures, and estimated the bacterial population under temperature fluctuations. The new concept was tested in ground beef maintained under fluctuating temperature conditions. The estimation accuracy of this methodology was generally within 1.0 log 10 (cfu/g). Although the methodology was based on C. perfringens , it can potentially be applied to other foodborne pathogens to predict the bacterial growth under temperature fluctuations.
Chords and disjoint paths in matroids

Abstract A chord of a circuit C of a matroid M on E is a cell e ϵ S \ C such that C spans e . Menger's theorem gives necessary and sufficient conditions for a cell of a graphic matroid to be a chord of some circuit. We extend this result to a large class of matroids and find all minimal counterexamples. The theorem is used to obtain results on disjoint paths and to characterize a class of matroid sums.
A facile method for the direct synthesis of lanthionine containing cyclic peptides

A series of disulfide bridged peptides were designed as potential inhibitors of protein-protein interactions. Following solid phase synthesis, completely deprotected linear peptides were first oxidized to their disulfide analogs and then transformed into their lanthionine equivalents via a base-assisted reaction in water. Peptides consisting of cystine bridges of length i, i+3, with and without discrimination of the chiral centers, were studied for this transformation. Lanthionine peptides were also obtained directly from the reduced linear peptides under mild alkaline treatment, and the reaction proceeded via disulfide bond formation. The extent of conversion of a disulfide bridge into its lanthionine counterpart varied according to the primary sequence. Product characterization revealed diastereomeric lanthionine formation. The presence of D-amino acids, peptide conformation, and/or position of the cystine bridge are among the factors determining the facility of this reaction. Elimination of the backbone proton beta to the sulfur atom followed by intramolecular thiol Michael addition is the most likely mechanism for this transformation.
CONDITIONED CARDIAC AND BEHAVIORAL RESPONSE TOPOGRAPHY TO AN OLFACTORY CS DISSOCIATES WITH AGE

Conditioned cardiac and behavioral responses to an olfactory stimulus (CS) paired with electric shock (US) were studied in 16-, 23-, and 75-day-old rats. Heart rate and behavior were recorded during a single 15-trial training session in which a 10-sec olfactory stimulus (amyl acetate) was either paired or explicitly unpaired with the US. In the preweanling rats, the conditioned cardiac response consisted of anincrease in heart rate (tachycardia) and a slight increase in investigatory behaviors. In contrast, the conditioned cardiac response in the adult rats consisted of adecrease in heart rate (bradycardia) and a striking increase in behavioral immobility (freezing). The 23-day-old rats showed a dichotomous pattern of responding; some showed preweanling-like conditioned responses and some showed adultlike responses. Developmental changes in neural organization and degree of learning are discussed as possible determinants of the transition from infant to adult modes of responding.
B cell and T cell lymphopenia in systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract The absolute number and proportion of B and T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood was determined in 16 active and 11 inactive patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. The total number of B and T lymphocytes was significantly reduced when compared to normals. The population of thymus-derived cells seems to be the one predominately affected. These abnormalities improve, but are not completely reversed, when patients are in remission.
Regulating Drug Prices: Where Do We Go from Here?

This paper examines the arguments for changing the ways that UK drug prices are regulated. In the UK, NHS pharmaceutical expenditures on branded drugs, currently worth about £3 billion a year, have been regulated by the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) since 1978. We argue that, in publicly funded healthcare systems, pharmaceutical price regulation is necessitated by a tendency towards excessive government expenditure because of over-prescription and the monopoly power of firms with on-patent drugs. We briefly explain the operation of the PPRS, which is based on rate-of-return regulation, and discuss its merits and drawbacks. We then consider five alternative pricing systems: free pricing, therapeutic benefit pricing, international reference pricing, therapeutic reference pricing and RPI – X price regulation. However, we reject all these alternatives in favour of a reformed PPRS. We suggest three potential reforms of the PPRS: an RPI – X cost allowance if feasible or a widening of the rate-of-return bands otherwise; the
Chronopotentiometric study of electroenzymatic processes with homogeneous mediation

Abstract A chronopotentiometric study for the system glucose-glucose oxidase in the presence of diaminodurene as an electron mediator is presented. The changes of the anodic overpotential of the mediator with time during constant current oxidation or used to discuss the kinetics in an electroenzymatic system with homogenous mediation. The shape of the chronopotentiograms is strongly dependent on the current range and for currents close to the diffusion limiting current of the mediator (I → Id), the potential approaches a time-independent value. As the current increases, the shape of the chronopotentiograms changes to a sigmoid, with a transition time (τ) larger than the corresponding diffusion transition time (τd) of the free mediator. The limiting current of the mediator-enzyme-substrate system (Ilim) is considerably larger than Id. The ratio Iτ 1 2 Iτ d 1 2 decreases with increasing currents, approaching a constant value as I → Ilim. The observed features are explained in terms of a theoretical model, which also enables an estimate of the rate constant for the catalytic process.
Virtual ventriculostomy with 'shifted ventricle': neurosurgery resident surgical skill assessment using a high-fidelity haptic/graphic virtual reality simulator

Based on a study of 48 neurological residents using a high fidelity haptic/graphic virtual reality simulator to perform ventricular cannulation, we recorded absolute Euclidean distance from the catheter tip to the foramen of Monroe within the ventricle. The data suggest that as expected, successful first attempts to cannulate the virtual 'shifted ventricle' are much less frequent than previous assessments with normal virtual ventricular anatomy. Furthermore, the significant improvement observed by the second attempt implies that the learning curve has been affected and the process 'jump started'.
Study of Fuel Composition Effects on Flashback Using a Confined Jet Flame Burner

Flashback is the main operability issue associated with converting lean, premixed combustion systems from operation on natural gas to operation on high hydrogen content fuels. Most syngas fuels contain some amount of hydrogen (15–100%) depending on the fuel processing scheme. With this variability in the composition of syngas, the question of how fuel composition impacts flashback propensity arises. To address this question, a jet burner configuration was used to develop systematic data for a wide range of compositions under turbulent flow conditions. The burner consisted of a quartz burner tube confined by a larger quartz tube. The use of quartz allowed visualization of the flashback processes occurring. Various fuel compositions of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and natural gas were premixed with air at equivalence ratios corresponding to constant adiabatic flame temperatures (AFT) of 1700 K and 1900 K. Once a flame was stabilized on the burner, the air flow rate would be gradually reduced while holding the AFT constant via the equivalence ratio until flashback occurred. Schlieren and intensified OH* images captured at high speeds during flashback allowed some additional understanding of what is occurring during the highly dynamic process of flashback. Confined and unconfined flashback data were analyzed by comparing data collected in the present study with existing data in the literature. A statistically designed test matrix was used which allows analysis of variance of the results to be carried out, leading to correlation between fuel composition and flame temperature with (1) critical flashback velocity gradient and (2) burner tip temperature. Using the burner tip temperature as the unburned temperature in the laminar flame speed calculations showed increased correlation of the flashback data and laminar flame speed as opposed to when the actual unburned gas temperature was used.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
NADPH-diaphorase-positive nerves and the role of nitric oxide in CGRP relaxation of uterine contraction.

Abstract We previously demonstrated calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactivity in sensory nerves in the rat uterus and that CGRP inhibits stimulated uterine contraction in vitro. The present study was undertaken to: 1) examine possible roles nitric oxide (NO) may have in the inhibitory action of CGRP on uterine contraction and 2) identify sites where NO may be synthesized. The relaxing effect of CGRP on SP-stimulated uterine contraction was established in vitro on uterine horns from diethylstilbestrol-treated rats. These experiments were repeated with or without an arginine analog [ N G - monomethyl - l -arginine ( l -NMMA)] that inhibits NO formation. The localization of the synthetic enzyme for NO production. NO synthase, was accomplished by histochemically staining for NADPH-diaphorase. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (10 −7 M ) significantly reduced SP (10 −5 or 10 −6 M )-stimulated uterine contraction. The l -NMMA (10 −3 M ) blocked the relaxing action of CGRP on SP-stimulated uterine contraction. The l -NMMA alone had no effect on SP-stimulated uterine contraction. NADPH-diaphorase-positive nerve fibers were located in the myometrium, endometrium, and adjacent to the vasculature. These data demonstrate that: 1) l -NMMA suppresses the relaxant effect of CGRP on myometrial activity and 2) NADPH-diaphorase (indicative of NO synthase) is localized in uterine nerve fibers. These data suggest that the inhibitory action of CGRP may be dependent on NO formation and that the enzyme necessary for NO production is present in nerves in areas optimal to affect myometrial activity.
Fabry-Perot techniques for observation of diffuse atmospheric sources

ABSTRACT An imaging Fabry-Perot interferometer combined with a CCD detector can provide extremely high sensitivityfor the detection of diffuse atmospheric spectral emission features. We present a description of the theory and operation of a modern servo—stabilized Fabry-Perot etalon, derive the limiting sensitivity for typical optical configurations, and present astronomical observations of faint, diffuse emission line sources as examples of thetechnique. We show that sources with intensity as faint as 1O_2 Rayleigh can be detected with a few hours of integration. 1 DIFFUSE ATMOSPHERIC EMISSION Many studies of the Earth's atmosphere are based on measurement of diffuse spectral emission features in theultraviolet, optical, or infrared regions. In addition to naturally occurring emission, artificially induced emissioncan be studied, as in the release of chemical clouds from rockets' or in the radio-wave heating of the ionosphere.2The author's interests are in astronomy, and we routinely measure faint atmospheric spectral features3 (whichwe regard as tiresome nuisances rather than fascinating objects of investigation). We find that spectrographicinstruments based upon Fabry—Perot interferometers (FP) are powerful tools for the study of faint diffuse emissionsources. FP spectrometers can accept a wide angular field of view, provide a broad range of spectral resolutions,
Characterization of 5' untranslated regions of the voltage-gated sodium channels SCN1A, SCN2A, and SCN3A and identification of cis-conserved noncoding sequences.

Abstract The human voltage-gated sodium channel gene cluster on chromosome 2q24 contains three paralogs, SCN1A, SCN2A , and SCN3A , which are expressed in the central nervous system. Mutations in SCN1A and SCN2A cause several subtypes of idiopathic epilepsy. Furthermore, many SCN1A mutations are predicted to reduce protein levels, emphasizing the importance of precise sodium channel gene regulation. To investigate the genetic factors that regulate the expression of SCN1A, SCN2A , and SCN3A , we characterized the 5′ untranslated region of each gene. We identified multiple noncoding exons and observed brain region differences in the expression levels of noncoding exons. Comparative sequence analysis revealed 33 conserved noncoding sequences (CNSs) between the orthologous mammalian genes and 6 CNSs between the three human paralogs. Seven CNSs corresponded to noncoding exons. Twelve CNSs were evaluated for their ability to alter the transcription of a luciferase reporter gene, and 3 resulted in a modest, but statistically significant change.
Cross-Subsidization in Nursing Homes: Explaining Rate Differentials Among Payer Types

Are Medicaid patients being subsidized by other residents in nursing homes? This article employs cross-sectional data on nursing homes and residents in a multiproduct empirical cost analysis to obtain the benchmark magnitudes of patient service costs needed to assess the issues. The estimated cost function provides evidence that Medicaid reimbursement rates are lower than the average incremental cost of care for Medicaid patients in approximately one quarter to one third of Florida nursing homes. One possible explanation for this apparent cross-subsidization, considered here, is that patients pay a premium in self-insured rates early in their residency to fairly cover the expected future losses if they later convert to Medicaid. Based on the empirical frequencies of patient transitions to different payer status over the length of the nursing home stay, it is shown that the apparent cross-subsidization is explained, to a large extent, by an intertemporal conversion surcharge.
Electrochromic behavior in ITO and related oxides.

Electrochromic properties, are reported for thin films of the transparent conducting oxides In/sub 2/OCd3:Sn are doped SnO/sub 2/.
In vivo stresses in the human left ventricular wall: analysis accounting for the irregular 3-dimensional geometry and comparison with idealised geometry analyses.

Abstract The in vivo stresses in the left ventricular wall are of interest to a cardiologist in evaluating the state of response or adjustment of the left ventricle to a heart disease. To determine the instantaneous in vivo stresses, we employ data consisting cineangiocardiographic determination (in single plane antero-posterior projection) of the instantaneous dimensions of the left ventricle and the left ventricular and chamber pressure. At each frame, an irregular planor outline of the LV is obtained from the X-ray film; each half of the frame is revolved into an irregular shell chamber of revolution, which is analysed for the wall stresses (due to the chamber pressure loading) by finite element procedure. The characteristic features of the finite element procedure are: (i) the left ventricular shell is divided into shell ring elements; the meridian of each element is represented by a 4th order polynomial passed through closely spaced points on the cineangiographically obtained single plane contour of the left ventricle, (ii) the geometrical properties of the shell are found from the derivatives of the equation of the meridional curve, (iii) the governing equilibrium equations of a shell ring element include effects of bending and transverse shear deformation, (iv) Displacement method of solution is employed; this is essentially an application of Ritz method utilizing the principle of minimum total potential energy, (v) the high order displacement polynomials that are employed in the analysis, provide good approximations for the displacements as well as for the stresses. The wall stress results obtained from finite element analysis are compared with the ventricular wall stresses obtained by Mirsky and Ghista (thick shell and exact elasticity, respectively) idealised geometry (ellipsoidal shaped) models of the left ventricle. The peak stress states obtained from the two models are nearly the same, with the idealised geometry models underestimating the peak circumferential stress at the apex. So the finite element analysis of the left ventricle is effectively able to incorporate the effect of variations in the curvature of the left ventricular wall boundary on the stress distribution across the wall thickness and on, the level of stress concentrations.
Code design for the low SNR noncoherent MIMO block Rayleigh fading channel

Code design for the low SNR MIMO noncoherent correlated Rayleigh fading channel is considered. Design rules which exploit the correlations in the transmit antennas in the MIMO case, to provide gains over the corresponding SIMO case are presented. The Chernoff bound on the average pairwise error probability (APEP) is used to study the effect of the receive correlation matrix on system performance at different SNR regimes. Based on a lower bound on the APEP, which is related to the Bhattacharya coefficient, a technique is proposed to design codes for use with transmit beamforming, with codewords having unequal prior probabilities. The motivation for such codes with unequal priors arises from recent information theoretic results on the low SNR channel. Such constellations are shown to perform substantially better than constellations designed assuming equal priors, at low SNRs
Energetics and mechanics of human running on surfaces of different stiffnesses

Mammals use the elastic components in their legs (principally tendons, ligaments, and muscles) to run economically, while maintaining consistent support mechanics across various surfaces. To examine how leg stiffness and metabolic cost are affected by changes in substrate stiffness, we built experimental platforms with adjustable stiffness to fit on a force-plate-fitted treadmill. Eight male subjects [mean body mass: 74.4 +/- 7.1 (SD) kg; leg length: 0.96 +/- 0.05 m] ran at 3.7 m/s over five different surface stiffnesses (75.4, 97.5, 216.8, 454.2, and 945.7 kN/m). Metabolic, ground-reaction force, and kinematic data were collected. The 12.5-fold decrease in surface stiffness resulted in a 12% decrease in the runner's metabolic rate and a 29% increase in their leg stiffness. The runner's support mechanics remained essentially unchanged. These results indicate that surface stiffness affects running economy without affecting running support mechanics. We postulate that an increased energy rebound from the compliant surfaces studied contributes to the enhanced running economy.
Automated interpretation of brainstem auditory evoked potentials: a prototype system

A description is given of a preliminary version of an expert decision-support system for interpretation of brainstem auditory evoked potentials. The design combines an analytical signal-processing module with a rule-based module that incorporates the kinds of heuristic criteria used by human interpreters. The prototype system determines whether a sensory response is present in the waveforms; if so, it identifies peak V, the most prominent peak. A level of confidence is associated with the identification. Results of applying the system to a test set of 20 waveforms, including some waveforms from comatose patients that showed no sensory response, are described. The system performed well when a response was present, but it was not as effective in interpreting waveforms with no response present. >
Biochemical and Structural Evidence in Support of a Coherent Model for the Formation of the Double-Helical Influenza A Virus Ribonucleoprotein

ABSTRACT Influenza A virions contain eight ribonucleoproteins (RNPs), each comprised of a negative-strand viral RNA, the viral polymerase, and multiple nucleoproteins (NPs) that coat the viral RNA. NP oligomerization along the viral RNA is mediated largely by a 28-amino-acid tail loop. Influenza viral RNPs, which serve as the templates for viral RNA synthesis in the nuclei of infected cells, are not linear but rather are organized in hairpin-like double-helical structures. Here we present results that strongly support a coherent model for the assembly of the double-helical influenza virus RNP structure. First, we show that NP self-associates much more weakly in the absence of RNA than in its presence, indicating that oligomerization is very limited in the cytoplasm. We also show that once NP has oligomerized, it can dissociate in the absence of bound RNA, but only at a very slow rate, indicating that the NP scaffold remains intact when viral RNA dissociates from NPs to interact with the polymerase during viral RNA synthesis. In addition, we identify a previously unknown NP-NP interface that is likely responsible for organizing the double-helical viral RNP structure. This identification stemmed from our observation that NP lacking the oligomerization tail loop forms monomers and dimers. We determined the crystal structure of this NP dimer, which reveals this new NP-NP interface. Mutation of residues that disrupt this dimer interface does not affect oligomerization of NPs containing the tail loop but does inactivate the ability of NPs containing the tail loop to support viral RNA synthesis in minigenome assays. IMPORTANCE Influenza A virus, the causative agent of human pandemics and annual epidemics, contains eight RNA gene segments. Each RNA segment assumes the form of a rod-shaped, double-helical ribonucleoprotein (RNP) that contains multiple copies of a viral protein, the nucleoprotein (NP), which coats the RNA segment along its entire length. Previous studies showed that NP molecules can polymerize via a structural element called the tail loop, but the RNP assembly process is poorly understood. Here we show that influenza virus RNPs are likely assembled from NP monomers, which polymerize through the tail loop only in the presence of viral RNA. Using X-ray crystallography, we identified an additional way that NP molecules interact with each other. We hypothesize that this new interaction is responsible for organizing linear, single-stranded influenza virus RNPs into double-helical structures. Our results thus provide a coherent model for the assembly of the double-helical influenza virus RNP structure.
Proteasomal degradation of O-GlcNAc transferase elevates hypoxia-induced vascular endothelial inflammatory response

Aims Hypoxia induces vascular inflammation by a mechanism not fully understood. Emerging evidence implicates O -GlcNAc transferase (OGT) in inflammation. This study explored the role of OGT in hypoxia-induced vascular endothelial inflammatory response. Methods and results Hypoxia was either induced (1% O2 chamber) or mimicked by exposure to hypoxia-mimetic agents in cultured endothelial cells. Hypoxia increased hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α) and inflammatory response (gene and protein expression of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and E-selectin) but, surprisingly, reduced OGT protein (not mRNA) levels. Hypoxia-mimetic CoCl2 failed to reduce OGT when proteasome inhibitors were present, suggesting proteasome involvement. Indeed, CoCl2 enhanced 26S proteasome functionality evidenced by diminished reporter (UbG76V-GFP) proteins in proteasome reporter cells, likely due to increased chymotrypsin-like activities. Mechanistically, β-TrCP1 mediated OGT degradation, since siRNA ablation of this E3 ubiquitin ligase stabilized OGT. Administration of the oxidative stress inhibitors reversed both proteasome activation and OGT degradation. Furthermore, up-regulation of OGT by stabilization, overexpression, or activation mitigated CoCl2-elicited inflammatory response. These observations were recapitulated in a mouse (C57BL/6J) model mimicking hypoxia, in which lung tissues presented higher levels of HIF-1α, proteasome activity, and inflammatory response, but lower levels of OGT ( n = 5/group, hypoxia vs. normoxia, P < 0.05). However, administration of an activator of OGT (glucosamine: 1 mg/g/day, vehicle: saline, ip, 5 days) abolished the up-regulation of proteasome activity and inflammatory response ( n = 5/group, the treated vs. untreated hypoxia groups, P < 0.05). Conclusions 26S proteasome-mediated OGT reduction contributed to hypoxia-induced vascular endothelial inflammatory response. Modulation of OGT may represent a new approach to treat diseases characterized by hypoxic inflammation.
Technology Roadmapping through Intelligence Analysis: Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is predicted to create the Sixth Kondratieff period following the "Age of Information". It represents a new revolutionary approach in fundamental research moving from a macrocentric to nanocentric system. Nanotechnology is expected to stimulate 1 trillion dollars of production involving about 2 million workers in the next 10 to 15 years. More than 40 countries now have specific nanotechnology research funding programs with the common goal of finding greater uses for the emerging technologies and enacting measures to encourage commercialization. This study uses text mining to uncover trends in nanotechnology and changes in nanotechnology programs and applications since the first distribution of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) funds in 2001. Top keywords in current nanotechnology research will be analyzed to provide insight into the translation of government funding invested in applied research programs to resulting publications and patents. Future work will extend this text mining model to develop an emerging technology roadmap to uncover commercialization opportunities by using R&D project funding at this lowest level to roll up to the technology and product dimensions.
Recovery of interfering and β-lactamase-producing bacteria from group A β-haemolytic streptococci carriers and non-carriers

The purpose of this study was to compare the frequency of recovery of aerobic and anaerobic organisms with interfering capability against group A beta-haemolytic streptococci (GABHS) and beta-lactamase-producing bacteria (BLPB) from the tonsils of GABHS carriers and non-carriers. The presence of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria capable of such interference in vitro was evaluated in cultures obtained from the tonsils of 20 healthy children who were non-GABHS carriers and 20 who were GABHS carriers, and also from 20 children who were asymptomatic after completing a course of penicillin for acute GABHS pharyngo-tonsillitis (PT) and were non-GABHS carriers and 20 who were GABHS carriers. In healthy children, 32 interfering isolates were recovered from 16 non-GABHS carriers (1.6 per child) and 13 were isolated from 7 GABHS carriers (0.65 per child) (P<0.001). In children who had suffered acute GABHS PT, 26 interfering organisms were recovered from 15 non-GABHS carriers (1.3 per child) and 8 were isolated from 5 GABHS carriers (0.4 per child) (P<0.005). In healthy children, 13 BLPB were recovered from 5 non-GABHS carriers and 13 were isolated from 6 GABHS carriers. In children who had suffered acute GABHS PT, 14 BLPB were recovered from 5 (25 %) non-GABHS carriers and 32 were isolated from 17 (85 %) GABHS carriers (P<0.05). It was demonstrated in this study that there was a higher rate of recovery of aerobic and anaerobic organisms capable of interfering with GABHS in non-GABHS carriers than in GABHS carriers. This was observed in all GABHS non-carriers and included healthy children as well as those recently treated for symptomatic GABHS PT with penicillin that failed to eradicate GABHS. A higher rate of recovery of BLPB was observed only in GABHS carriers who were treated with penicillin for GABHS PT.
The relation of family name preferences to their frequency in the culture.

(1948). The Relation of Family Name Preferences to their Frequency in the Culture. The Journal of Social Psychology: Vol. 28, No. 1, pp. 19-37.