cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A cost analysis of film image management and four PACS based on different network protocols

Picture Archive and Communication Systems (PACS), which allow the electronic acquisition, storage, transportation, and viewing of medical images, hold the eventual promise of reduced costs, improved imagemanagement logistics, and ultimately, improved patient care. But at what point in the future will PACS really cost less than film-based image management for a given hospital size; and how are these costs affected by the choice of the digital communication network? To address these questions, a static differential cost model has been constructed. PAC systems based on two high-speed networks (less than 150 megabytes per second Mbps) and two lowspeed networks, as well as film, were considered for five different sized hospitals (ranging from 15,000 to 125,000 procedures per year) and two time periods (1995 and 2000). PACS equipment was assumed to have a payoff of five years. The model considered all capital and supply costs and personnel costs for the PACS and for film storage and retrieval. It did not consider any possible cost savings from logistics improvement likely to result from the adoption of a PACS. Based on the assumptions outlined, high-speed-network PACS are less costly than those based on low-speed networks for all scenarios considered. Further, even though all possible PACS cost savings were not considered, high-speed network PACS appear to be less costly than film for hospitals larger than 60,000 procedures in 1995 and larger than 15,000 in 2000, while low-speed-network PACS should cost less than film for 60,000 and 30,000 procedure hospitals in 1995 and 2000 respectively.
SPLICING AND INTRON-INTERNAL RNA EDITING OF TRNK-MATK TRANSCRIPTS IN BARLEY PLASTIDS: SUPPORT FOR MATK AS AN ESSENTIAL SPLICE FACTOR

Abstract Group II introns frequently require assistance by specific factors, maturases, for folding and effective splicing in vivo . The only putative maturase of higher plant chloroplasts is encoded by matK , located in the intron of trnK . We show that in barley matK transcripts are modified at a first codon base by C-to-U RNA editing. The resulting H→Y substitution restores a sequence motif that is present in maturases of yeast and plant mitochondria and of Lactococcus ltrA and that is positioned within the X domain. Processing of trnK - matK transcripts was further investigated in plastids lacking functional ribosomes due to a mutation. Absence of the intron-encoded matK gene product in these plastids is correlated with the accumulation of precursor transcripts for tRNALys UUU - matK , processed to different degrees, and by the lack of mature and spliced tRNA molecules. These results suggest an essential role of MatK for splicing of its own transcript in vivo . Processing of the 5′ end of trnK exon 1 was found to proceed efficiently also in the mutant plastids although the two tRNA exons were separated by the 2481 nt intron. Consequently, presence of the intron does not interfere with the formation of mature 5′ termini.
Development of antibodies against the rat brain somatostatin receptor.

Abstract Somatostatin (SRIF) is a neurotransmitter in the brain involved in the regulation of motor activity and cognition. It induces its physiological actions by interacting with receptors. We have developed antibodies against the receptor to investigate its structural properties. Rabbit polyclonal antibodies were generated against the rat brain SRIF receptor. These antibodies (F4) were able to immunoprecipitate solubilized SRIF receptors from rat brain and the cell line AtT-20. The specificity of the interaction of these antibodies with SRIF receptors was further demonstrated by immunoblotting. F4 detected SRIF receptors of 60 kDa from rat brain and adrenal cortex and the cell lines AtT-20, GH3, and NG-108, which express high densities of SRIF receptors. They did not detect immunoreactive material from rat liver or COS-1, HEPG, or CRL cells, which do not express functional SRIF receptors. In rat brain, 60-kDa immunoreactivity was detected by F4 in the hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and striatum, which have high densities of SRIF receptors. However, F4 did not interact with proteins from cerebellum and brain stem, which express few SRIF receptors. Immunoreactive material cannot be detected in rat pancreas or pituitary, which have been reported to express a 90-kDa SRIF receptor subtype. The selective detection of 60-kDa SRIF receptors by F4 indicates that the 60- and 90-kDa SRIF receptor subtypes are immunologically distinct. The availability of antibodies that selectively detect native and denatured brain SRIF receptors provides us with a feasible approach to clone the brain SRIF receptor gene(s).
Projection Codes - A New Class of FEC, Burst Correction and ARQ Codes

A new class of error-correcting codes, with random and burst error correcting capability is described. The main features of this code are: (1) The codec can be used for random, burst and ARQ encoding. When used for burst error correction it operates at the theoretical maximum efficiency as defined by the Reiger Bound. Any rate code is readily obtained. (2) Extreme simplicity of design of the decoder as well as the encoder. For example, the decoding algorithm is of significantly less complexity than that of the Viterbi algorithm for the same error rate performance. (3) When used for ARQ, the codec is less complex and provides a higher throughput for the same error rate than other ARQ coding systems, such as Chase's Code Combiner. (4) The code is adaptive, i.e., the rate can be changed through the use of side information. The decoder can also readily be changed adaptively. (5) The code can be used for M-ary PSK and M-ary QAM transmission using symbol encoding and decoding and maintain ease of implementation.
A CPU scheduling simulation from structured programming to object-oriented design

Object-oriented programming has become increasingly popular in the past few years. This paper presents a cpu scheduling simulation project that we feel can convince students of the benefits of object-oriented design and spur their interest. We will first describe the project and discuss its solutions in three levels of abstraction: structure programming using Pascal, object-based programming using Ada, and object-oriented programming using C++. We will present our experiences in this assignment and explain why the object-oriented design is the best approach. This paper is intended to serve as a case study in an object-oriented language course or a programming languages course.
Quantitative measurements of NO reaction kinetics with a Clark-type electrode

Nitric oxide (NO) plays important physiological roles in the body. Knowledge regarding the kinetics of NO catabolism is important for understanding the biological functions of NO. Clark-type NO electrodes have been frequently employed in measuring the kinetics of NO reactions; however, the slow response time of these electrodes can cause measurement errors and limit the application of the electrode in measurements of fast NO reactions. In this study, a simplified diffusion model is given for describing the response process of the NO electrode to the change of NO concentration. The least-square method is used in fitting the currents calculated from the diffusion equation to the experimental curves for determining the diffusion parameters and rate constants. The calculated currents are in excellent accordance with the experimental curves for different NO reaction kinetics. It has been demonstrated that when using an NO electrode with a response time of approximately 6 s to measure fast NO reactions with a half-life of approximately 1s, the response currents of the electrode have large differences compared to the curve of actual NO concentration in the solution; however, the rate constant of NO decay can still be accurately determined by computer simulations with the simplified diffusion model. Theoretical analysis shows that an NO electrode with a response time of 6 s (D/L2=0.06 s-1) and the lowest detection limit of 1 nM NO can be used in measuring kinetics of extremely rapid NO reactions with a half-life below 10 ms.
Phytoplankton bloom on iron rations

An iron-enrichment experiment in the equatorial Pacific Ocean shows that increased availability of this trace nutrient induces dramatic biological and biogeochemical changes in the surface waters.
DC drift of X-cut LiNbO/sub 3/ modulators

DC drift of unbuffered dc bias electrode port of x-cut LiNbO/sub 3/ (LN) modulators is investigated. Unlike buffered LN modulators, their dc drift is irreversible and relatively suppressed after biased aging. Additionally, they show rolling-over-type drift and do not drift divergently. Extended temperature-voltage accelerated drift tests find temperature activation energy of 1.2 eV and a proportional relationship between drift rates and initially applied bias voltages. Such drift behaviors characteristic of unbuffered x-LN can demonstrate their high reliability with respect to dc bias drift.
Commercial CFD Code Validation for Simulation of Heavy-Vehicle External Aerodynamics

The issue of energy economy in transportation has grown beyond traditional concerns over environment, safety and health to include new concerns over national and international security. In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy Office of FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies’ Working Group on Aerodynamic Drag of Heavy Vehicles, Argonne National Laboratory is investigating the accuracy of aerodynamic drag predictions from commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Software. In this validation study, computational predictions from two commercial CFD codes, Star-CD [1] and PowerFLOW [2] , will be compared with detailed velocity, pressure and force balance data from experiments completed in the 7 ft. by 10 ft. wind tunnel at NASA Ames [3, 4] using a Generic Conventional Model (GCM) that is representative of typical current-generation tractor-trailer geometries.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Backwater and river plume controls on scour upstream of river mouths: Implications for fluvio‐deltaic morphodynamics

Sediment flux from rivers to oceans is the fundamental driver of fluvio-deltaic morphodynamics and continental margin sedimentation, yet sediment transport across the river-to-marine boundary is poorly understood. Coastal rivers typically are affected by backwater, a zone of spatially decelerating flow that is transitional between normal flow upstream and the offshore river plume. Flow deceleration in the backwater zone, as well as spreading of the offshore plume, should render rivers highly depositional near their mouths, leading to sedimentation and eventual elimination of the backwater zone at steady state. This reasoning is counter to observations of riverbed scour, erosional bed forms, and long-lived backwater zones near the mouths of some coastal rivers (e.g., Mississippi River, United States). To explain these observations, we present a quasi-2-D model of a coupled fluvial backwater and offshore river plume system and apply it to the Mississippi River. Results show that during high-discharge events the normal-flow depth can become larger than the water depth at the river mouth resulting in drawdown of the water surface, spatial acceleration of flow, and erosion of the riverbed. As proposed by Lane (1957), the transition to drawdown and erosion is ultimately forced by spreading of the offshore river plume. This points to the need to model coupled river and river plume systems with a dynamic backwater zone under a suite of discharges to accurately capture fluvio-deltaic morphodynamics and connectivity between fluvial sediment sources and marine depositional sinks.
Rydberg states of helium: A new recoil term

It is shown that the mass-polarization shift in the energy levels of 1sNL Rydberg states of helium contains a term of second order, in the ratio of the electron mass to that of the nucleus, that is independent of L. The derivation of this new recoil term, based on the method of Drachman (1986), is very simple. It yields a correction of significance for the calculation of absolute ionization energies.
Regulation of lung surfactant secretion by phospholipase A2.

Arachidonic acid has been shown to stimulate lung surfactant secretion from alveolar epithelial type II cells. To identify the (phospho)lipases responsible for generating arachidonic acid during lung surfactant secretion, the effects of various (phospho)lipase inhibitors on phosphatidylcholine (PC) secretion from rat alveolar type II cells were investigated. N-(p-amylcinnamoyl)anthranilic acid (ACA), a general inhibitor of phsopholipase A2 (PLA2), inhibited ATP-stimulated PC secretion in a dose-dependent manner. ACA also blocked PC secretion from type II cells stimulated by other secretagogues including phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, Ca2+ ionophore A23187 and terbutaline, indicating that PLA2 acts at a late step distal to the generation of second messengers. To determine which PLA2 isoform(s) is involved in lung surfactant secretion, selective inhibitors to different types of PLA2 were used to inhibit PLA2 activity in type II cells. The cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2) inhibitor, arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone, was found to inhibit ATP-stimulated PC secretion, whereas the secretory PLA2 inhibitors, oleoyloxyethylphosphocholine, aristolochic acid, or p-bromophenacyl bromide, and the Ca2+-independent PLA2 inhibitors, palmitoyl trifluoromethyl ketone, or haloenol lactone suicide substrate, had no effect. In addition to PLA2, arachidonic acid is released from diacylglycerol (DAG) by DAG and monoacylglycerol lipases. The DAG lipase inhibitor, RHC-80267 also blocked ATP-stimulated PC secretion. The results suggest that both pathways for generating arachidonic acid via cPLA2 and DAG lipase may participate in lung surfactant secretion. J. Cell. Biochem. 72:103–110, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Protest and Perish: a history of the writers' association of Iran

(1985). Protest and Perish: a history of the writers' association of Iran. Iranian Studies: Vol. 18, No. 2-4, pp. 189-229.
The RAD2 Domain of Human Exonuclease 1 Exhibits 5′ to 3′ Exonuclease and Flap Structure-specific Endonuclease Activities

The RAD2 family of nucleases includes humanXPG (Class I), FEN1 (Class II), andHEX1/hEXO1 (Class III) products gene. These proteins exhibit a blend of substrate specific exo- and endonuclease activities and contribute to repair, recombination, and/or replication. To date, the substrate preferences of the EXO1-like Class III proteins have not been thoroughly defined. We report here that the RAD2 domain of human exonuclease 1 (HEX1-N2) exhibits both a robust 5′ to 3′ exonuclease activity on single- and double-stranded DNA substrates as well as a flap structure-specific endonuclease activity but does not show specific endonuclease activity at 10-base pair bubble-like structures, G:T mismatches, or uracil residues. Both the 5′ to 3′ exonuclease and flap endonuclease activities require a divalent metal cofactor, with Mg2+ being the preferred metal ion. HEX1-N2 is ∼3-fold less active in Mn2+-containing buffers and exhibits
Transient hyperthermia protects against subsequent forebrain ischemic cell damage in the rat

We heated Wistar rats (n = 10) to 41.5 ± 0.2 °C for 15 minutes, 24 hours before the induction of forebrain cerebral ischemia. We subjected 23 rats to forebrain ischemia without prior heating. Ischemic cell damage in the medial, lateral, and overall CA 1/2 hippocampus, inferior frontal cortex, and dorsal-lateral striatum was significantly ( p
A model for enzyme-substrate interaction in alanine racemase.

We report on a theoretical model for the complex of the enzyme alanine racemase with its natural substrate (l-alanine) and cofactor (pyridoxal 5‘-phosphate). Electrostatic potentials were calculated and ionization states were predicted for all of the ionizable groups in alanine racemase. Some rather unusual charge states were predicted for certain residues. Tyr265‘ has an unusually low predicted pKa of 7.9 and at pH 7.0 has a predicted average charge of −0.37, meaning that 37% of the Tyr265‘ residues in an ensemble of enzyme molecules are in the phenolate form. At pH 8−9, the majority of Tyr265‘ side groups will be in the phenolate form. This lends support to the experimental evidence that Tyr265‘ is the catalytic base involved in the conversion of l-alanine to d-alanine. Residues Lys39 and Lys129 have predicted average charges of +0.91 and +0.14, respectively, at pH 7.0. Lys39 is believed to be the catalytic base for the conversion of d-alanine to l-alanine, and the present results show that, at least so...
Antitumor Functions of Natural Killer Cells and Control of Metastases

Natural killer (NK) cells have been recognized as effector cells responsible for the elimination of blood-borne metastases. Newer evidence suggests that NK cells play an important role in the control of solid tissue metastases. NK cells have the ability to kill a broad variety of fresh or cultured “NK-resistant” tumor cell targets by mechanisms that are not dependent on perforin or granzyme secretion. Also, a subset of interleukin 2 (IL-2)-activated NK cells, which are called A-NK cells, is capable of extravasation, movement in solid tissues, localization to the sites of metastases, and killing tumor cellsin situ.Studies in experimental animals and in cancer patients indicate that systemic adoptive immunotherapy with A-NK cells and IL-2 is a tolerable and promising treatment for advanced solid tissue as well as hematologic neoplasms. In this article, antitumor functions of A-NK cellsin vitroandin vivoare reviewed, and the mechanisms responsible for their antitumor effects are considered.
Catalytic steam gasification of graphite: Effects of intercalated and externally added Ru, Rh, Pd and Pt

Abstract The catalytic effect of platinum-group metals on the steam gasification of graphite was compared for two sets of samples. In one series the catalysts were introduced by impregnation from solutions, and in the other series they were intercalated between graphite basal planes. For a given metal, the specific gasification rates per unit of carbon-surface area were found to be similar in both instances. However, the catalytic activity differed very strongly. The difference in the gasification rate, measured at 850°C, was approximately one order of magnitude from one metal catalyst to the next, increasing in the order Pt, Pd, Ru, Rh. Changes in the intercalation structure during gasification were studied by X-ray diffraction. The morphology of the catalyst particles was followed by electron microscopy. Apparent activation energies were measured as a function of burn-off to distinguish between reaction regimes controlled by pore diffusion and by surface reaction. Frequently, the catalytic gasification was clearly impeded by pore diffusion, even after a large percentage of a sample had been gasified. An attempt was made to establish whether the catalytic action truly lowers the activation energy of carbon gasification, but a clear conclusion could not be reached.
STM study of single-walled carbon nanotubes

The electronic density of states of atomically resolved single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have been investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Peaks in the density of states due to the one-dimensional nanotube band structure have been characterized and compared with the results of tight-binding calculations.
Multivariate sexual selection in a rapidly evolving speciation phenotype

Estimating the fitness surface of rapidly evolving secondary sexual traits can elucidate the origins of sexual isolation and thus speciation. Evidence suggests that sexual selection is highly complex in nature, often acting on multivariate sexual characters that sometimes include non-heritable components of variation, thus presenting a challenge for predicting patterns of sexual trait evolution. Laupala crickets have undergone an explosive species radiation marked by divergence in male courtship song and associated female preferences, yet patterns of sexual selection that might explain this diversification remain unknown. We used female phonotaxis trials to estimate the fitness surface for acoustic characters within one population of Laupala cerasina, a species with marked geographical variation in male song and female preferences. Results suggested significant directional sexual selection on three major song traits, while canonical rotation of the matrix of nonlinear selection coefficients (γ) revealed the presence of significant convex (stabilizing) sexual selection along combinations of characters. Analysis of song variation within and among males indicated significantly higher repeatability along the canonical axis of greatest stabilizing selection than along the axis of greatest linear selection. These results are largely consistent with patterns of song divergence that characterize speciation and suggest that different song characters have the potential to indicate distinct information to females during courtship.
High-resolution aeromagnetic data, a new tool for mapping intrabasinal faults: Example from the Albuquerque basin, New Mexico

High-resolution aeromagnetic surveys flown over the Albuquerque basin, New Mexico, demonstrate that aeromagnetic methods can successfully map concealed and poorly exposed faults in sediment-filled basins. This is the first known use of aeromagnetic data as an aid to surficial mapping and hydrogeologic studies in a basin. Aeromagnetic maps show detailed fault patterns within the basin fill that revise the structural view of the basin. Concealed faults are more numerous and more closely spaced than expected. The Hubbell Springs fault is the central splay of three generally north-striking fault splays that can be traced for nearly 50 km. The splays converge on the north and may represent the southern extension of the Tijeras fault, contradicting the proposed southwest extension of the Tijeras fault across the basin. In profile view, the linear aeromagnetic anomalies associated with faults show a variety of signatures. One signature has potential for mapping fault-controlled sedimentation in the subsurface because it identifies increases in magnetic, likely coarse-grained, material in the hanging walls of faults.
Coherent-feedback formulation of continuous quantum error correction protocols

We propose an approach to continuous-time quantum error correction based on the coherent feedback of optical probes that naturally utilizes photonic device physics to implement a stationary and ‘on-chip’ protected quantum memory.
Meeting the Academic Needs of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students

In this article, we discuss ways for teachers to address the academic needs of students who are culturally and linguistically diverse (i.e., have a language background other than English) in inclusive classrooms through the modification of science instruction. We provide an example of a lesson plan showing specific suggestions and offer multiple strategies for modifying science instruction to promote "science for all."
Quantitative changes in cholinesterase activity of denervated muscle fibers and sole plates

Abstract Histochemical studies have indicated that normal muscle fibers exhibit little cholinesterase activity at regions other than the sole plate and that denervated muscle fibers manifest no decreased activity within 2 to 4 weeks. Because histochemical data may be quantitatively unreliable, it was decided to reinvestigate the distribution of cholinesterase with a microchemical modification of Ellman's quantitative cholinesterase method. Alternate frozen cross section (28 μ) from muscle stretched to constant length were examined histochemically and quantitatively. By counting the number of sole plates in the histochemical preparations it was possible to estimate the relative contributions of the sole-plate and the nonsole-plate tissue to the cholinesterase activity of the adjacent quantitatively analyzed tissue slice. Following denervation the sole-plate and non-sole-plate activity both decreased rapidly, reaching approximately 50 per cent of normal within 1 week. A very small additional loss in activity occurred during the following 7 weeks. The total protein content of the tissue slices declined more gradually, reaching 50 per cent of normal after 3 weeks. It is concluded that there is considerable cholinesterase activity not associated with sole plates and that denervation produces a very rapid decrease in cholinesterase activity. The neural influence on cholinesterase level is fairly specific inasmuch as denervation produces a more rapid decrease in cholinesterase activity than in total protein content whereas tenotomy produces less of a decrease in cholinesterase activity than in total protein content of the muscle.
Correlates of Marijuana Use Among College Students1

Students who have smoked marijuana are compared with non-users on a variety of attitudinal and demographic characteristics. Approximately 36% of the sample of over 5,000 college students from a national survey report usage of the drug. The major demographic characteristics that separate users from non-users are religious affiliation, region of the country, and sex. With respect to collegiate institutions, the selectivity of the institution, the students' academic aspirations, and grade-point average all prove to play a significant role. Anti-war activities and sentiments also prove highly significant. A Multiple Classification Analysis (MCA), which compares the relative contribution of each variable to drug usage, shows that anti-war protest, religious affiliation, and sex are the most significant predictors of marijuana usage. A variety of mechanisms playing a possible role in fostering drug use are discussed.
Honors Programs in Community Colleges: A Review of Recent Issues and Literature.

The author examined information about honors programs and curricula in 38 community colleges and districts in 19 states from a 24-year period (1974 to 1998). Four primary issues framed the literatu...
Activation and stoichiometric reduction of carbon monoxide

Abstract Several approaches to the catalyzed hydrogenation of carbon monoxide are discussed. These include multipoint binding of CO to a metal triangle, insertion into metal-alkyl bonds to form a dihapto acyl group and binding to a single, high-valent metal atom. Attempts to activate CO with metals other than the early transition metals are described.
Inhibition of Human Low-Density Lipoprotein Oxidation in Relation to Composition of Phenolic Antioxidants in Grapes (Vitis vinifera)

Antioxidant activities of phenolic extracts from fourteen different types of fresh grapes were investigated by measuring the inhibition of human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation in vitro. The inhibition of LDL oxidation ranged from 22% to 60% at 10 μM gallic acid equivalents (GAE) of total phenols and from 62% to 91% at 20 μM GAE. The antioxidant activities were thus comparable to those previously found for wines. The relative LDL antioxidant activity correlated with the concentration of total phenols (r = 0.89, p < 0.01), with the level of anthocyanins (r = 0.56, p < 0.05) and flavonols (r = 0.54, p < 0.05) in the grape extracts as analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). When seed crushing and longer extraction times were employed, high amounts of flavan-3-ols and hydroxybenzoates were extracted. With these extracts relative LDL antioxidant activity correlated highly with the levels of flavan-3-ols (r = 0.86, p < 0.01), total phenols (r = 0.79, p < 0.05), and hydroxybenzoates (r...
In Vivo Conversion of 14C-Labeled Cyclamate to Cyclohexylamine

To determine the effects of long-term, low-level feeding of cyclamate on cyclamate metabolism, two groups of weanling rats were fed a chow diet and a chow diet containing 0.1% calcium cyclamate, respectively, for 8 months. Twelve rats from each group were then intubated with 14C-cyclamate; urine was collected for analysis by a paper electrophoretic method which separates cyclamate, cyclohexylamine, dicyclohexylamine, and N-hydroxycyclohexylamine. Elution of the radioactive areas from the paper indicated that none of the controls converted 14C-cyclamate to additional products, but seven of 11 cyclamate-fed rats converted cyclamate to cyclohexylamine. The labeled cyclohexylamine accounted for 12–25% of the total radioactivity in urine. Two of these urine samples contained traces of radioactive dicyclohexylamine, but N-hydroxycyclohexylamine was not found. Isolated liver perfusion studies indicated that the liver is probably not the site of conversion.
[3H]‐adenosine nucleotide and [3H]‐noradrenaline uptake by cold stored guinea‐pig taenia caecum; mechanical effects and release of [3H]‐adenosine nucleotide by noradrenaline, papaverine, and nitroglycerine

Abstract 1. Cold storage (2° C) treatment progressively reduced noradrenaline uptake by the taenia caecum of the guinea-pig. After 15 days of cold treatment, [3H]-noradrenaline uptake by tissue was reduced to about 10% of control. On the other hand, prolonged cold storage failed to decrease [3H]-adenosine uptake by the taenia caecum. 2. Cocaine (10 μM) inhibited noradrenaline uptake by about 82% but nucleoside uptake was inhibited by 20%. Cocaine treatment failed to decrease the residual noradrenaline uptake in the cold stored strips (more than 10 days). Phenoxybenzamine (1 μM) or oligomycin (1 μg/ml) treatment decreased the tissue adenosine uptake to about 34% and 28% of the respective controls. 3. Based on thin layer chromatography, it was estimated that approximately 68% of [3H]-adenosine was converted into and retained as [3H]-ATP in the fresh tissues, a small fraction was accountable as [3H]-adenosine (18%) but virtually no [3H]-AMP, [3H]-cyclic AMP or [3H]-ADP was detected. Similar distribution of radioactivity of nucleotides was observed in tissues cold stored for 8 days. 4. The inhibition of the mechanical activity of taenia by noradrenaline (10 μM), papaverine (100 μM) and nitroglycerine (100 μM) was accompanied by [3H]-adenine nucleotide but not [3H]-noradrenaline release. Treatment with phentolamine and propranolol (both 1 μM) had no effect on the adenine nucleotide release elicited by nicotine and electrical field stimulation, whereas such treatment reduced the inhibitory action of both stimuli. 5. These results suggest that the nucleotide release after application of electrical and chemical stimulation may be from an extraneurogenic source. Thus, we conclude that ATP or a related nucleotide is not the chemical transmitter of the non-adrenergic inhibition in the taenia caecum of the guinea-pig.
TU‐A‐350‐02: Monte Carlo Dose Calculation for Clinical IMRT Treatment Planning

Monte Carlo(MC) dose calculation algorithms are now available in some commercial treatment planning systems for applications in photon beam IMRT planning. This course will examine the various stages of a MCIMRT dose calculation, including methods for particle sourcing, fluence modulation, and patient dose computation dose. The use MC as a QA tool to validate commercial IMRT dose calculation algorithms and its use as a QA tool to validate 3D dose distributions for individual IMRT plans will be reviewed. To this end, large‐scale comparison of clinical IMRT plans created with a commercial planning system with MC dose re‐calculation will be presented. Advantages of using MC algorithms directly in the IMRToptimization loop to circumvent optimization convergence errors and strategies to reduce MC dose calculation time when used within an optimization framework will be discussed. Educational Objectives: 1. To understand the stages of a Monte Carlo dose calculation when applied to clinical IMRTtreatment planning. 2. To illustrate the role of Monte Carlo for IMRTtreatment planningquality assurance. 3. To evaluate the dose accuracy of a commercial non‐Monte Carlo IMRT dose calculation algorithms with respect to Monte Carlo dose computations. 4. To demonstrate methods for Monte Carlo‐based clinical IMRT dose optimization. The author is supported in part by NCI Grant P01 CA116602, by Philips Medical Systems and by Varian Medical Systems.
Noninvasive assessments of optic nerve neurodegeneration in transgenic mice with isolated optic neuritis.

RESULTS. We found an almost 3-fold elevation in serum pNF-H levels in MOGþ mice relative to MOG-littermates (P ¼ 0.02). 2D-DIGE revealed a 3-fold reduction in optic nerve neurofilaments. Visual function assessed by the PERG was reduced by one-quarter (P ¼ 0.033) and latencies increased by 38% (P ¼ 0.036). MOGþ mice with the lowest PERG amplitudes had optic nerve atrophy visualized by MRI. Optic nerve diameters were reduced by one-third (P ¼ 0.0001) and axon counts reduced by more than two-thirds. Histopathology of the spinal cords was normal. CONCLUSIONS. Elevated serum pNF-H levels and the PERG are useful markers of neurodegeneration of the optic nerve in isolated experimental optic neuritis. Our findings suggest that elevations of this axonal protein in patients with optic neuritis who had a poor visual outcome are likely also due to demise of optic nerve axons.
A small animal image guided irradiation system study using 3D dosimeters

In a high resolution image-guided small animal irradiation platform, a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is integrated with an irradiation unit for precise targeting. Precise quality assurance is essential for both imaging and irradiation components. The conventional commissioning techniques with films face major challenges due to alignment uncertainty and labour intensive film preparation and scanning. In addition, due to the novel design of this platform the mouse stage rotation for CBCT imaging is perpendicular to the gantry rotation for irradiation. Because these two rotations are associated with different mechanical systems, discrepancy between rotation isocenters exists. In order to deliver x-ray precisely, it is essential to verify coincidence of the imaging and the irradiation isocenters. A 3D PRESAGE dosimeter can provide an excellent tool for checking dosimetry and verifying coincidence of irradiation and imaging coordinates in one system. Dosimetric measurements were performed to obtain beam profiles and percent depth dose (PDD). Isocentricity and coincidence of the mouse stage and gantry rotations were evaluated with starshots acquired using PRESAGE dosimeters. A single PRESAGE dosimeter can provide 3 -D information in both geometric and dosimetric uncertainty, which is crucial for translational studies.
Densitometric and Electrical Investigation of Boron in Silicon

New analytical, x-ray diffraction, precision density, and electrical resistivity studies of boron-doped silicon show that boron resides in the silicon lattice substitutionally.
A self-tuning guidance and control system for marine surface vessels

An integrated guidance and control system has been developed to enable underactuated marine surface vessels to operate autonomously and yield robust tracking performance in spite of significant external disturbances and modeling imprecision. A nonlinear ship model, accounting for all six degrees-of-freedom of the ship, has been used as a test bed to assess the performance of the proposed scheme. The controller combines the advantages of the variable structure systems (VSS) theory with the self-tuning fuzzy logic scheme. It does not require an accurate dynamic model of the ship or the construction of a rule-based expert system. Its asymptotic stability is ensured by knowing the upper bounds on modeling imprecision and external disturbances and by forcing the tuning parameters to satisfy the sliding conditions. The guidance system is based on the concepts of the variable radius line-of-sight (LOS) and the acceptance circle around the waypoints. The current system varies the LOS radius exponentially with the cross track error in order to achieve a fast convergence rate of the ship to its desired trajectory. The simulation results demonstrate the robust tracking characteristic of the integrated guidance and control system in spite of significant modeling uncertainties and environmental disturbances.
Can we afford to do anaerobic cultures and identification? A positive point of view

Because anaerobic bacteria cause significant human infections that require specific therapy and because anaerobes are resistant to certain antimicrobials, the isolation, identification, and determination of antimicrobial susceptibilities are as important for these bacteria as they are for other pathogenic bacteria. Anaerobic culturing can be made cost-efficient by strict adherence to several principles, including the selective culturing of only appropriate general specimens that are uncontaminated by normal flora (this can be achieved by educating physicians and nurses in recognizing likely sources of anaerobic infection); rapid transport of specimens and use of appropriate transport systems; use of a system of rejection and notification when inappropriate or when multiple specimens have been received; and use of a logical algorithm for determining the degree of isolation and identification to be performed, according to the numbers and types of organisms present. Testing of all significant gram-negative organisms for the production of β-lactamases can provide an early indication of antimicrobial susceptibility, and actual testing limited to screening of three or four drugs can be performed on selected isolates by using a rapid and simple method such as the Etest (AB BIODISK, Solna, Sweden). Although the number of anaerobic bacteremias has declined since the 1970s, this number has plateaued in recent years, and these infections are life-threatening. Routine culturing of blood for anaerobes is still indicated in many institutions because of the unpredictable clinical sources of some bacteremias and the improved yields of both anaerobes and some streptococci when anaerobic blood culture systems are used.
Anti-chaperone βA3/A1102-117 peptide interacting sites in human αB-crystallin

Purpose: Our previous work identified 23 low molecular weight (<3.5 kDa) crystallin peptides in the urea-soluble fractions of normal young, normal aged, and aged cataract human lenses. We found that one of these crystallin fragments, βA3/ A1102–117 peptide (SDAYHIERLMSFRPIC), that are present in aged and cataract lens, increased the scattering of light by β- and γ-crystallins and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and also reduced the chaperone-like activity of αB-crystallin. The present study was performed to identify the interacting sites of the βA3/A1102–117 peptide in αB-crystallin. Methods: βA3/A1102–117 peptide was first derivatized with sulfo-succinimidyl-2-[6-(biotinamido)-2-{pazidobenzamido}- hexanoamido] ethyl-1–3 dithio propionate (sulfo-SBED), a photoactivable, heterotrifunctional biotincontaining cross-linker. The biotin-derivatized peptide was then incubated with αB-crystallin at 37 °C for 2 h to allow complex formation followed by photolysis to facilitate the transfer of the biotin label from the peptide to αB-crystallin. Label transfer was confirmed by western blot, and the labeled αB-crystallin was digested with trypsin. Tryptic peptides from αB-crystallin carrying the biotin label were purified by avidin affinity chromatography, and βA3/A1102–117 peptide interacting sites in αB-crystallin were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and nanospray quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QqTOF MS/MS). Results: We found that the βA3/A1102–117 peptide interacted with αB-crystallin regions 70LEKDR74, 83HFSPEELKVK92, 91VKVLGDVIEVHGK103, 93VLGDVIEVHGKHEER107, and 121KYR123, which are part of the α-crystallin domain, and were previously shown to be part of the functional chaperone site in αB-crystallin. The βA3/A1102–117 peptide also interacted with regions at the COOH-terminal extension of αB-crystallin, 150KQVSGPER157, 164EEKPAVTAAPK174, and 164EEKPAVTAAPKK175. When two of the hydrophobic residues of βA3/A1102–117 peptide were replaced with hydrophilic residues, the resulting substituted peptide, SDADHGERLMSFRPIC, did not show the anti-chaperone property. Conclusions: This study confirmed the interactions between a low molecular weight peptide derived from βA3/A1- crystallin found in aged and cataract lenses and αB-crystallin. The binding of βA3/A1102–117 peptide to the chaperone site and the COOH-terminal extension of αB-crystallin may explain its anti-chaperone property.
Dynamic circuit synthesis using the Owens tool set

This paper overviews the Owens CAD tool set developed at Penn State University and illustrates its ability to synthesize dynamic CMOS circuits. The CAD system includes: a cell compiler with transistor sizing and I/O direction annotation; a simulation tool based on the switch-level logic model; tools for multi-level logic optimization; and tools for format conversion which establish a connection with the netlist specification, truth tables, Boolean equations and VHDL. The Owens tool set is able to implement various CMOS structures such as static gates, dynamic gates and transmission gates. In particular, since it supports transistor sizing, it creates an efficient design environment for dynamic circuit implementation and optimization. To show this feature, this paper illustrates the application of the Owens tool set to the design of zipper CMOS adders and Manchester carry chain adders which are typical dynamic circuits.
Clinically significant depressive symptoms and very mild to mild dementia of the Alzheimer type.

Objective To compare depressive symptoms reported by persons with very mild or mild dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) with those reported for the person by a collateral source. Design Cross-sectional evaluation. Setting Washington University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. Participants Consecutive series of elderly volunteers (n = 156) enrolled in longitudinal studies with a Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) of 0.5 (very mild) or 1 (mild). Twenty-one per cent (n = 33) exhibited clinically significant depressive symptoms for which treatment was recommended. Main outcome measures Presence and frequency of DSM-IV depressive symptoms within the last year and last month reported by the participant or collateral source as ascertained by clinical examination and structured interviews. Results Collateral source information is essential in diagnosing clinically significant depressive symptoms. The Geriatric Depression Scale scores correlate with participant information only and therefore may substantially underestimate depression. Depressive symptoms fluctuate in individuals with DAT. The most consistent depressive symptoms are depressed mood, fatigue and indecision. Conclusions Clinically significant depressive symptoms may be common in individuals with very mild or mild DAT, although they may fluctuate. Information from both a knowledgeable collateral source and the participant is important for detection of depressive symptoms. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hyperuricemia and Incidence of Hypertension Among Men Without Metabolic Syndrome

The aim of this project was to study the risk of developing hypertension over a 6-year follow-up in normotensive men with baseline hyperuricemia (serum uric acid >7.0 mg/dL) but without diabetes/glucose intolerance or metabolic syndrome. We analyzed the data on men without metabolic syndrome or hypertension at baseline from the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial. These men (n=3073; age: 35 to 57 years) were followed for an average of 6 years by annual examinations. Follow-up blood pressure among those with baseline was consistently higher than among those with normal serum uric acid concentration. We used Cox regression models for adjustment for the effects of serum creatinine, body mass index, age, blood pressure, proteinuria, serum cholesterol and triglycerides, alcohol and tobacco use, risk factor interventions, and use of diuretics. In these models, normotensive men with baseline hyperuricemia had an 80% excess risk for incident hypertension (hazard ratio: 1.81; 95% CI: 1.59 to 2.07) compared with those who did not. Each unit increase in serum uric acid was associated with a 9% increase in the risk for incident hypertension (hazard ratio: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.17). We conclude that the hyperuricemia-hypertension risk relationship is present among normotensive middle-aged men without diabetes/glucose intolerance or metabolic syndrome.
The fast staggered transform, composite symmetries, and compact symmetric algorithms

The Fast Staggered Transform (FST) is a variant of the fast Fourier transform (FFT) and is introduced to simplify and unify Fourier methods for the Poisson equation with boundary conditions specified on a staggered grid—one for which the boundary of the computational domain does not coincide with grid points, but is staggered at half grid spacings. Composite symmetric extensions of the computational domain are introduced for cases in which the boundary conditions are nonsymmetric. For example, one boundary may coincide with grid points while the opposite boundary is staggered. This is referred to as a mixed grid. Compact symmetric FFT and FST algorithms are a relatively new family of algorithms which offer significant performance improvements compared to traditional pre- and post- processing algorithms. The results of performance tests of both types of algorithms are presented. Furthermore, compact symmetric algorithms make possible the application of Fourier methods to six mixed grid boundary conditions which previously could not be treated by Fourier methods.
Femtocell Base Station Deployment in Commercial Buildings: A Global Optimization Approach

While the deployment of femtocell in residential buildings has firmly positioned it as a major performance leap in wireless communications, its deployment in commercial buildings remains under-explored. In commercial building environments, the femtocell base station (FBS) placement planning is particularly challenging due to the impact of the building size, layout, structure, and wall/floor separation. In this paper, we study the problem of jointly optimizing FBS placement and power control in commercial building environments to prolong the battery life for mobile handsets. We first propose a mathematical model that captures the unique building features. Based on this model, we employ a set of novel transformation strategies to formulate the FBS placement problem as a mixed-integer convex program (MICP). Accordingly, we propose an effective global optimization algorithm based on using the convex relaxation of the formulated MICP within a branch-and-bound framework. This approach guarantees finding a global optimal solution. To demonstrate the efficacy of our algorithm, we conduct extensive numerical studies. Our proposed model and optimization approach offer useful insights into femtocell deployments in commercial buildings.
Evidence that β-Endorphin Binds to Specific Receptors in Rat Peripheral Tissues and Stimulates the Adenylate Cyclase-Adenosine 3′,5′-Monophosphate System

With the use of [125I]acetyl human 0-endorphin (Ac-hBE), specific binding sites for β-endorphin (BE) were identified in the liver, kidney, adrenal, spleen, and testis of adult male rats, whereas specific BE-binding sites were not present in the ventral prostate or pancreas. In those tissues containing specific BE-binding sites, microsomal membranes (15,000- 100,000 × g pellet) exhibited higher BE-bindihg capacity than the crude homogenate (125–100,000 × g pellet). The binding of BE was saturable, and maximal, specific binding was achieved with a 60-min incubation at 22 C. Furthermore, optimal BE binding was dependent on the presence of magnesium chloride. Scatchard analysis of BE binding to hepatic membranes revealed the existence of two classes of binding sites. One class had an apparent Kd of 0.019 × 109 M−1 and a lower number of binding sites (9.1 pmol BE/mg protein), whereas the other class had a lower affinity (apparent K, of 0.0006 × 109 M−1) and a higher number of binding sites (159 pmol/mg protein...