cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Denaturation and aggregation of three alpha-lactalbumin preparations at neutral pH.

The denaturation and aggregation of reagent-grade (Σα-La), ion-exchange chromatography purified (IEXα-La), and a commercial-grade (Cα-La) α-lactalbumin were studied with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and turbidity measurement. All three preparations had similar thermal denaturation temperatures with an average of 63.7 °C. Heating pure preparations of α-lactalbumin produced three non-native monomer species and three distinct dimer species. This phenomenon was not observed in Cα-La. Turbidity development at 95 °C (τ95°C) indicated that pure preparations rapidly aggregate at pH 7.0, and evidence suggests that hydrophobic interactions drove this phenomenon. The Cα-La required 4 times the phosphate or excess Ca2+ concentrations to develop a similar τ95°C to the pure preparations and displayed a complex pH-dependent τ95°C behavior. Turbidity development dramatically decreased when the heating temperature was below 95 °C. A mechanism is provided, and the interrelati...
Diagnostic value pharmacological autonomic blockade in patients with suspected sick sinus syndrome

The study comprised 67 subjects, mean age 43.7 years, with suspected sick sinus syndrome, in whom rapid atrial pacing before and after combined atropine and propranolol was performed by Narula's method. Three groups were formed: group I--with normal sinus node recovery time (SNRT) and corrected sinus node recovery time (CNRT) before and after the autonomic blockade; group II--with functional disorders of the sinus node and group III--with intrinsic sinus node dysfunction. After autonomic blockade in groups I and II mean SNRT, CNRT, post-stimulation cycle lengths (except No. 2 and Nos. 5, 6, 10, respectively) shortened, whereas HR rose. In contrast, in group III mean SNRT, CNRT, post-stimulation cycle lengths (Nos. 1, 2, 6, 10) and HR increased. Significant differences in post-stimulation cycle lengths were observed between groups I and III as well as groups II and III. In conclusion, rapid atrial pacing after combined atropine and propranolol helps us to diagnose latent sick sinus syndrome and extrinsic sinus node dysfunction more precisely, and significant differences in post-stimulation cycle lengths between the groups confirm diagnostic value.
Adequacy of urine cytology specimens: an assessment of collection techniques.

The objective of this study was to determine whether the method of urine collection impacts the adequacy and cell counts of cytology specimens in a low-risk population. Voided, post-cystometrogram (CMG), and bladder irrigant specimens were collected and evaluated for cytologic adequacy and average cell count by a single cytopathologist masked to the source of each sample. Data were analyzed to detect differences in specimen adequacy and cell counts based on method of collection. Both the voided and post-CMG specimens (97.3%, 93.7% respectively) were significantly more likely to be adequate compared to the bladder irrigant specimen (11.7%, p < 0.0001). The spontaneously voided specimen (211.4 ± 100.1) had significantly higher cell counts than both the post-CMG specimen (85.9 ± 86.6) and the cystoscopy specimen (6.4 ± 19.6, p < 0.0001). In a multivariate linear model, collection method and specimen adequacy were associated with increased cell count/hpf (p < 0.001), as was the presence of hematuria on urine dipstick (p = 0.03). No cytologic abnormalities were diagnosed. Whereas both spontaneously voided and post-CMG specimens were consistently adequate for interpretation, spontaneous voided specimens were optimal with regard to maximizing cell count/hpf.
Analysis of the base substitutions found in the Xenopus laevis 5 S RNA pseudogene.

Abstract A 5 S RNA pseudogene is associated with the major oocyte 5 S RNA gene of Xenopus laevis. X. borealis has several oocyte specific 5 S RNA genes. Gene 1 is the dominant 5 S RNA gene. Gene 3 has sometimes been referred to as a pseudogene. We show that the base substitutions in the X. laevis 5 S pseudogene are non-random with respect to double and single-stranded regions of the 5 S RNA using the χ2 test of homogeneity with Yates correction for continuity. In addition, conserved positions of eukaryotic 5 S RNAs are predominantly maintained. X. borealis gene 3 is random in mutations.
Contamination of broadband photometry by nebular emission in high-redshift galaxies: Investigations with Keck's Mosfire near-infrared spectrograph

Earlier work has raised the potential importance of nebular emission in the derivation of the physical characteristics of high-redshift Lyman break galaxies. Within certain redshift ranges, and especially at z ≃ 6-7, such lines may be strong enough to reduce estimates of the stellar masses and ages of galaxies compared with those derived assuming the broadband photometry represents stellar light alone. To test this hypothesis at the highest redshifts where such lines can be probed with ground-based facilities, we examine the near-infrared spectra of a representative sample of 28 3.0 < z < 3.8 Lyman break galaxies using the newly commissioned MOSFIRE near-infrared spectrograph at the Keck I telescope. We use these data to derive the rest-frame equivalent widths (EWs) of [O III] emission and show that these are comparable with estimates derived using the spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting technique introduced for sources of known redshift by Stark et al. Although our current sample is modest, its [O III] EW distribution is consistent with that inferred for Hα based on SED fitting of Stark et al.'s larger sample of 3.8 < z < 5 galaxies. For a subset of survey galaxies, we use the combination of optical and near-infrared spectroscopy to quantify kinematics of outflows in z ≃ 3.5 star-forming galaxies and discuss the implications for reionization measurements. The trends we uncover underline the dangers of relying purely on broadband photometry to estimate the physical properties of high-redshift galaxies and emphasize the important role of diagnostic spectroscopy.
Language outcomes and service provision of preschool children with congenital hearing loss.

Abstract Background Children with congenital hearing loss (HL) are at increased risk of speech and language delays and require increased resource needs. Methods Assessments of language, adaptive behavior, and resource needs at mean age of 60 ± 5 months. Effects of age of enrollment in Early Intervention (EI) and degree of HL were evaluated. Results Children with HL had lower Reynell verbal comprehension scores (77.6 ± 18 versus 94.8 ± 15; p = 0.0001) and expressive language scores (85.9 ± 19 versus 97.4 ± 15; p = 0.0051) than hearing children. Children with HL enrolled in EI ≤ 3 months versus > 3 months had higher verbal comprehension (86.6 ± 21 versus 70.3 ± 12; p = 0.0143) and expressive language scores (92.1 ± 12 versus 80.5 ± 21; p = 0.0601), respectively. Children with bilateral moderate to profound HL and children with unilateral or bilateral mild HL were more likely to have low verbal comprehension scores versus children with hearing (75.8 ± 17 and 81.0 ± 22 versus 94.8 ± 15; p = 0.001), and receive more special educational services (100% and 100% versus 42%) respectively. After adjusting for degree of HL and Vineland adaptive scores Conclusions Persistent beneficial effects of early age of entry to EI on verbal comprehension scores are observed for children with congenital HL at preschool age. Children with HL continue to need comprehensive education services.
Modulation of endothelial cell phenotype by cyclic stretch: inhibition of collagen production.

Abstract Endothelial cells (EC) are constantly subjected to pulsatile stretch in vivo, but most studies of EC are performed under stationary tissue culture conditions. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of repetitive mechanical stretching on EC collagen production. Bovine EC were seeded in 35-mm flexible-bottom culture wells, allowed to attach for 24 hr, and then subjected to up to 24% elongation cyclic deformation, 3 cycles/min, 10 sec of elongation alternating with 10 sec of relaxation, for 5 days. Twenty-four hours prior to harvesting, serum-free media containing 50 μCi [3H]proline (PRO), an amino acid hydroxylated (OH) in collagen, and 50 μg/ml ascorbate were added per well. On Days 1, 3, and 5, the media and cells were collected, precipitated with TCA, sedimented, lyophilized, and analyzed by HPLC for OH-PRO and PRO. The results of this study indicate that EC production of collagen is inhibited with repetitive deformation. Since previous studies have shown that EC proliferation is increased after 3 cycles/min stretching, this supports the theory that collagen gene expression varies inversely with the proliferative state.
Reciprocal synapses between inner hair cell spines and afferent dendrites in the organ of corti of the mouse.

We provide, for the first time, ultrastructural evidence for the differentiation of reciprocal synapses between afferent dendrites of spiral ganglion neurons and inner hair cells. Cochlear synaptogenesis of inner hair cells in the mouse occurs in two phases: before and after the onset of hearing at 9-10 postnatal (PN) days. In the first phase, inner hair cells acquire afferent innervation (1-5 PN). Reciprocal synapses form around 9-10 PN on spinous processes emitted by inner hair cells into the dendritic terminals, predominantly in conjunction with ribbon afferent synapses. During the second phase, which lasts up to 14 PN, synaptogenesis is led by the olivocochlear fibers of the lateral bundle, which induce the formation of compound and spinous synapses. The afferent dendrites themselves also develop recurrent presynaptic spines or form mounds of synaptic vesicles apposed directly across inner hair cell ribbon synapses. Thus, in the adult 2-month mouse, afferent dendrites of spiral ganglion neurons are not only postsynaptic but also presynaptic to inner hair cells, providing a synaptic loop for an immediate feedback response. Reciprocal synapses, together with triadic, converging, and serial synapses, are an integral part of the afferent ribbon synapse complex. We define the neuronal circuitry of the inner hair cell and propose that these minicircuits form synaptic trains that provide the neurological basis for local cochlear encoding of the initial acoustic signals.
State based multiple channel selection in multi-channel wireless networks

In this paper, we present an innovative scheme to favor the selection of M out of N available high-performing channels in multi-channel wireless networks through the application of states to individual channels. One channel selection scheme is random selection, which can lead to poor network performance when one or more data channels are disadvantaged. This is due to the inability of random selection to discriminate between high performing and disadvantaged channels. The novel proposed channel selection scheme is shown to perform nearly as well as the highest performing of N channels when one or more channels are disadvantaged. We develop a Markov-chain-based theoretical model and then present simulation results validating a significant performance increase of the proposed channel selection scheme.
Intratumor temperature measurements during photodynamic therapy.

Abstract Photodynamic therapy has been under investigation as a form of cancer treatment for a number of years. This procedure uses a light source of 630 nm to photoactivate the drug, Photofrin II. Researchers in the past have reported temperature increases during photodynamic therapy, by measuring surface temperature of the tumor or a single point temperature within the tumors. Three temperature points within the tumors have been measured in this study, to quantify the temperature distribution within the lesion. These temperatures were measured for photodynamic therapy treated mice and control mice receiving an exposure to the treatment light without the drug. The use of a filtered xenon arc lamp for the 630 nm light source produced larger temperature increases and thermal gradients within the tumors, than when an Argon dye laser was employed. This temperature increase is due in part to the broad wavelength output of this filtered lamp. When this thermal effect is present during PDT treatment, researchers have observed the development of shock proteins resulting in the induction of thermotolerance and resistance to subsequence hyperthermia treatments. Using the filtered arc lamp, mice receiving photodynamic therapy treatments displayed consistently higher temperature increases than control mice. The use of an argon dye laser, with sufficient air cooling of the tumor, can eliminate this thermal effect. It has been demonstrated that the use of filtered lamps produce thermal effects which cannot be eliminated, demonstrating that lasers should be the primary source of light used to photoirradiate animals for photodynamic therapy studies. The intratumor temperature increases should be documented at multiple positions, to determine the amount of thermotolerance which can be induced. When photodynamic therapy is followed with a subsequent hyperthermia treatment, this induced thermotolerance can then be taken into consideration.
Behavior of intact and damaged honeycombs: a finite element study

Abstract The Young’s moduli, the elastic buckling strength and the plastic collapse strength of regular honeycombs with defects consisting of missing cells in the structure were analyzed using the finite element method. The behavior of intact honeycombs was first analyzed; the results of this numerical study are consistent with those of previous analyses. The effect of single, isolated defects of varying sizes and the effect of the separation distance between two defects on the elastic and plastic behaviors were then analyzed. Single, isolated defects reduce the modulus and strength. The elastic buckling strength of a honeycomb with a defect normalized by the intact strength decreases directly with the ratio of the minimum net cross-sectional area normalized by the intact cross-sectional area. The plastic collapse strength of a honeycomb with a defect normalized by the intact strength decreases less rapidly than the ratio of the minimum net cross-sectional area normalized by the intact cross-sectional area. Two closely spaced, separate defects interact to reduce the elastic buckling strength of a honeycomb; at a separation distance of about ten cells separate defects act independently. The separation distance between two defects has little effect on the Young’s modulus or the plastic collapse strength of a honeycomb. The finite element analysis allows localization behavior to be studied: we find that the localization strain decreases with increasing t/ l .
Laser thomson scattering measurements in the anode boundary lyaer of high intensity arcs

Summary form only given. Anode boundary layers of high intensity arcs are important for many industrial applications, such as plasma spray torches. In this study, laser Thomson scattering has been used to measure the distributions of the electron temperature and the electron density in the anode boundary layer of an atmospheric pressure, high intensity transferred argon arc. The electron temperature and the electron density up to a position 0.1 mm from the anode have been obtained. Two theories (random phase approximation (RPA) and memory function formalism (MFF)) for evaluating the scattering signal have been compared. It has been found that the RPA and the MFF yield electron temperature values which are close, while the MFF yields electron densities about 30% higher than the RPA. The measurements were performed with a wide range of plasma gas flow rates (2 slpm to 15 slpm) and arc currents (60 A to 100 A) to obtain data for both diffuse anode attachment and constricted anode attachment. For a typical diffuse attachment, the electron temperature remains high (>9000 K) and has a sharp drop (25%) in a region less than 0.5 mm from the anode. This result is in good agreement with previous Langmuir probe measurements. The electron density remains high after a 50% decrease in a region 2 mm from the anode. For a typical constricted attachment, the electron temperature first drops slowly in the anode boundary layer and shows an increase from a position about 0.5 mm from the anode. The electron density values are lower than in the case of a diffuse arc. The changes of the electron temperature and the electron density distributions when a cold gas flow is introduced parallel to the anode are also presented
Estimating Climate Trends: Application to United States Plant Hardiness Zones

The United States Department of Agriculture classifies plant hardiness zones based on mean annual minimum temperatures over some past period (currently 1976–2005). Since temperatures are changing, these values may benefit from updating. I outline a multistep methodology involving imputation of missing station values, geostatistical interpolation, and time series smoothing to update a climate variable’s expected value compared to a climatology period and apply it to estimating annual minimum temperature change over the coterminous United States. I show using hindcast experiments that trend estimation gives more accurate predictions of minimum temperatures 1-2 years in advance compared to the previous 30 years’ mean alone. I find that annual minimum temperature increased roughly 2.5 times faster than mean temperature (~2.0 K versus ~0.8 K since 1970), and is already an average of 1.2 0.5 K (regionally up to ~2 K) above the 1976–2005 mean, so that much of the country belongs to warmer hardiness zones compared to the current map. The methods developed may also be applied to estimate changes in other climate variables and geographic regions.
Increased Resistance to Multiple Antimicrobials and Altered Resistance Gene Expression in CMY-2-Positive Salmonella enterica following a Simulated Patient Treatment with Ceftriaxone

Salmonellosis is one of the most common causes of food-borne disease in the United States. Increasing antimicrobial resistance and corresponding increases in virulence present serious challenges. Currently, empirical therapy for invasive Salmonella enterica infection includes either ceftriaxone or ciprofloxacin (E. L. Hohmann, Clin. Infect. Dis. 32:263–269, 2001). The blaCMY-2 gene confers resistance to ceftriaxone, the antimicrobial of choice for pediatric patients with invasive Salmonella enterica infections, making these infections especially dangerous (J. M. Whichard et al., Emerg. Infect. Dis. 11:1464–1466, 2005). We hypothesized that blaCMY-2-positive Salmonella enterica would exhibit increased MICs to multiple antimicrobial agents and increased resistance gene expression following exposure to ceftriaxone using a protocol that simulated a patient treatment in vitro. Seven Salmonella enterica strains survived a simulated patient treatment in vitro and, following treatment, exhibited a significantly increased ceftriaxone MIC. Not only would these isolates be less responsive to further ceftriaxone treatment, but because the blaCMY-2 genes are commonly located on large, multidrug-resistant plasmids, increased expression of the blaCMY-2 gene may be associated with increased expression of other drug resistance genes located on the plasmid (N. D. Hanson and C. C. Sanders, Curr. Pharm. Des. 5:881–894, 1999). The results of this study demonstrate that a simulated patient treatment with ceftriaxone can alter the expression of antimicrobial resistance genes, including blaCMY-2 and floR in S. enterica serovar Typhimurium and S. enterica serovar Newport. Additionally, we have shown increased MICs following a simulated patient treatment with ceftriaxone for tetracycline, amikacin, ceftriaxone, and cefepime, all of which have resistance genes commonly located on CMY-2 plasmids. The increases in resistance observed are significant and may have a negative impact on both public health and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella enterica.
Response of a Georgia 5 tall fescue-common bermudagrass mixture to season of nitrogen fertilization on the Coastal Plain

Abstract Georgia 5 tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) has the potential to grow in a mixture with warm‐season perennial grasses and provide a year‐round permanent pasture on the Coastal Plain. Season of fertilization with nitrogen (N) was evaluated as a determinant of yield and botanical composition on a Georgia 5 tall fescue‐common bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] stand on a slope extending from a dry Bowie sandy loam (Plinthic Paleudults) soil to a moist Beauregard sandy loam (Plinthaquic Paleudults) soil. Fertilization with 150 kg N ha−1 split into three applications in the cool season (November, January, and March) over three years resulted in greater tall fescue survival (77% basal cover) than an equal amount of N in the warm season (May, July, and September) or the two N treatments combined (42 and 52% tall fescue basal cover) by March 1998. Tall fescue yields were greatest in May. The harvest frequency of once every two months was perhaps too infrequent, thus allowing shade effects...
Drosophila skpA, a component of SCF ubiquitin ligases, regulates centrosome duplication independently of cyclin E accumulation.

Centrosome duplication must be coupled to the main cell cycle to ensure that each cell has precisely two centrosomes at the onset of mitosis. Supernumerary centrosomes are commonly observed in cancer cells, and may contribute to tumorigenesis. Drosophila skpA , a component of SCF ubiquitin ligases, regulates the link between the cell and centrosome cycles. Lethal skpA null mutants exhibit dramatic centrosome overduplication and additional defects in chromatin condensation, cell cycle progression and endoreduplication. Surprisingly, many mutant cells are able to organize pseudo-bipolar spindles and execute a normal anaphase in the presence of extra functional centrosomes. SkpA mutant cells accumulate higher levels of cyclin E than wildtype cells during S and G2, suggesting that elevated cdk2/cyclin E activity may account for the supernumerary centrosomes in skpA – cells. However, centrosome overduplication still occurs in skpA – ; cycE – mutant animals, demonstrating that high cyclin E levels are not necessary for centrosome overduplication. These data suggest that additional SCF targets regulate the centrosome duplication pathway.
A remote stomach clamp to evaluate oral and gastric controls of drinking in the rat

Abstract A remote stomach clamp is described for use in the rat. The device blocks stomach clearance and thereby allows the study of oral and gastric controls of drinking uncoupled from the postabsorptive effects of water ingestion. Preliminary data suggest that distension and oral metering contribute subtly to the cessation of drinking following water deprivation.
The logic of thought experiments

In this paper I argue that (at least many) philosophical thought experiments are unreliable. But I argue that this notion of unreliability has to be understood relative to the goal of thought experiments as knowledge producing. And relative to that goal many thought experiments in science are just as unreliable. But in fact thought experiments in science play a varied role and I will suggest that knowledge production is a goal only under quite limited circumstances. I defend the view that these circumstances can (sometimes) arise in philosophy as well.
Numerical solution of the eigenvalue problem for efficiently structured Hermitian matrices

Abstract An iterative procedure is proposed for computing the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a class of specially structured Hermitian Toeplitz matrices which includes Hermitian Toeplitz and Toeplitz-plus-Hankel matrices. The computational cost per eigenvalue-eigenvector for a matrix of order n is O ( n 2 ) in serial mode. Results of numerical experiments on Kac-Murdock-Szego matrices and randomly generated real symmetric Toeplitz matrices and Toeplitz-plus-Hankel matrices of orders as high as 2000 are included.
The incidence of anaphylaxis following intravenous phytonadione (vitamin K1): a 5-year retrospective review.

Background Phytonadione (vitamin K 1 ) administered intravenously (IV) has been associated with anaphylaxis, although the incidence is not known. The anaphylaxis is thought to be attributable to the solubilizing vehicle, polyethoxylated castor oil (Cremophor EL, BASF AG, Ludwingshafen, Germany). Objective To estimate the incidence of anaphylaxis after IV administration of phytonadione. Methods A retrospective review of anaphylaxis after IV phytonadione over a 58-month period at a large academic center was performed. During the period of the study a protocol for the administration of IV phytonadione was in place. A review of computerized records and survey of staff identified cases of anaphylaxis meeting predefined inclusion criteria. In addition, a literature review was performed for articles concerning anaphylaxis after IV phytonadione. Results Over the 58 months of the study, a total of 6,572 doses of IV phytonadione were administered. Two cases of anaphylaxis after IV phytonadione were identified. The incidence of anaphylaxis was 3 per 10,000 doses with 95% confidence intervals of 0.04 to 11 per 10,000 doses. The literature review identified 14 cases meeting inclusion criteria with no reviews of the literature or estimates of incidence. Conclusions The incidence of anaphylaxis after IV phytonadione is overall comparable or slightly less than other drugs known to cause anaphylaxis. We do not recommend routine pretreatment with antihistamines or corticosteroids before administration of phytonadione.
The use of alcohol mixed with energy drinks and experiences of sexual victimization among male and female college students

Much research has documented negative associations with the consumption of alcohol mixed with energy drinks (AmED). To date, few research studies have examined the relation between AmED and sexual victimization. Furthermore, research on sexual victimization among men is less studied. The present study employed a sample of 253 men and 545 women to examine the differential associations between AmED consumption and sexual victimization as a function of gender. Results from this study suggest that AmED consumption is robustly associated with being sexually victimized among men, but not women. These results were robust while controlling for demographic factors and other substance use. Results add to the literature on sexual victimization by potentially identifying a new high-risk drinking behavior among males who have been sexually victimized.
Sexual Risk among Impoverished Women: Understanding the Role of Housing Status

HIV/AIDS increasingly affects women, and housing status is important to understanding HIV risk behaviors among women. The goal of this study is to enhance understanding of the association between housing status and a key sexual risk behavior, having multiple sex partners, by investigating the extent to which housing status differences can be accounted for by hypothesized explanatory factors. In a probability sample of 833 women in Los Angeles, results indicated that homeless African American and Hispanic women had from two to almost five times greater odds than low-income housed women of having multiple sex partners in the past 6 months. These disparities in risk behavior were accounted for by housing status differences in perceived susceptibility to HIV/AIDS, recent victimization by physical violence, drug use severity, and avoidant coping. Findings provide further evidence that interventions should address a multifaceted context of HIV risk for impoverished women.
Evolution of the Tasman Sea reappraised

Abstract We reexamined available marine magnetics data from the Tasman Sea and reidentified sea-floor spreading anomalies in the southern portion of the basin. From the revised magnetic lineations and fracture zones we calculated new finite rotations which descrobe the evolution of the basin in terms of a simple two-plate spreading system active between about 82 and 60 m.y. ago. Allowing for the probable continental origin of the Dampier ridge, the predicted displacement of the western margin of the Lord Howe rise relative to the eastern Australian margin in the northern Tasman basin is consistent with their observed separation. Thus, the controversial episode of subduction of Tasman basin crust at the east Australian margin proposed in earlier studies is no longer necessary.
The Political Economy of Developmental Disability

Using a historical materialist approach, this paper maintains that the treatment of people with developmental disabilities is strongly related to the forces of production. While 19th century capitalism ameliorated some past abuses, early 20th century apologists for inequality advanced the idea that "defective" people were responsible for crime, poverty and urban distress. The adverse attitudes, stereotypes and policies supported by this ideology have shaped a culture that, despite reform efforts, largely defames and harms people with developmental disabilities. In the late 20th century, widespread devaluation of people with disabilities remains and continues to help legitimate social inequality.
Preference for ethanol and diazepam in light and moderate social drinkers: a within-subjects study.

Preference for ethanol (versus placebo) and diazepam (versus placebo) was assessed in light and moderate social drinkers. The study was designed to investigate the relationship of habitual alcohol use to the subjective and behavioral effects of the two drugs. A secondary purpose of the study was to investigate relationships within subjects in their responses to ethanol and diazepam. Light drinkers (n=13) who consumed one to five drinks per week and moderate drinkers (n=14) who consumed seven or more drinks per week participated in two seven-session choice experiments, one assessing preference for 0.5 g/kg ethanol versus placebo and the other assessing preference for 20 mg diazepam versus placebo. Drugs were administered double-blind and double-dummy, and the order of participation in the two experiments was counterbalanced. Sessions were conducted during the evenings in a comfortable laboratory environment. The primary dependent measure was the number of times each subject chose the drug (i.e., ethanol or diazepam) over placebo. Subjective and objective measures of the drugs' effects were obtained using standardized self-report questionnaires and psychomotor tests. Whereas both groups preferred the ethanol over placebo (i.e., 63% and 83% ethanol choice for light and moderate drinkers, respectively), only the moderate drinkers preferred the diazepam over placebo (i.e., 40% and 73% diazepam choice for light and moderate drinkers, respectively). Subjective responses to the drugs were generally similar across the groups, although on some measures the light drinkers reported more marked drug effects. The number of times each subject chose ethanol was positively correlated with the number of times he or she chose diazepam (r=0.57), and on subjective measures, responses to ethanol and diazepam were positively correlated. Thus, subjective and behavioral responses to diazepam and ethanol were related to habitual alcohol consumption, and most notably, moderate drinkers were more likely than light drinkers to prefer diazepam over a placebo.
Inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase limits nitric oxide production and experimental aneurysm expansion.

Abstract Purpose: Nitric oxide (NO), frequently cited for its protective role, can also generate toxic metabolites known to degrade elastin. Both abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) are associated with inflammatory states, yet the relationship between NO production by iNOS and AAA development is unknown. The current study examines iNOS expression, NO production, and the effects of selective inhibition of iNOS by aminoguanidine in experimental AAA. Methods: An intra-aortic elastase infusion model was used. Control rats received intra-aortic saline infusion and postoperative intraperitoneal saline injections (Group 1). In the remaining groups, intra-aortic elastase infusion was used to induce aneurysm formation. These rats were treated with intraperitoneal injections of saline postoperatively (Group 2), aminoguanidine postoperatively (Group 3), or aminoguanidine preoperatively and postoperatively (Group 4). Aortic diameter and plasma nitrite/nitrate levels were measured on the day of surgery and postoperative day 7. Aortas were harvested for biochemical and histologic analysis on postoperative day 7. Results: Infusion of elastase produced AAAs ( P P P P Conclusion: Expression of iNOS is induced and plasma nitrite/nitrate levels are increased in experimental AAA. Inhibition of iNOS limits NO production and iNOS expression, resulting in smaller aneurysm size. NO production by iNOS plays an important role with detrimental effects during experimental aneurysm development. (J Vasc Surg 2001;33:579-86.)
Pulsed-Field Gel Elec rophoresis Pa ern Recogni ion of Bac erial DNA: A Systemic Approach

Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) images contain ‘banding pattern’ information that can be used in bacterial identification.A systemic approach was designed to target the bacterial DNA PFGE pattern recognition problem that requires image processing, feature extraction, data pre-processing, classification and final decision-making. This paper describes the research, development and testing of a complete system to address this identification problem, including Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (ROC) analysis. Variations due to gel preparation in various laboratories by different technicians are considered. The approach was applied to recognition of E. coli O157:H7 bacteria with excellent results.
Compensating for heterogeneities in proton radiation therapy

The authors' method for predicting, and compensating for, the effects of surface irregularities and tissue heterogeneities in proton radiation therapy was evaluated by comparing the predicted and measured dose distributions. Two heterogeneity configurations in a D-shaped water-filled phantom were handled in exactly the same way as patients. Target volumes were designated on thin-section CT scans, a single en face portal was defined, compensating boli were designed and made, and the dose distribution behind the phantom measured and compared with that intended. The compensation was accurate to within 1 mm for the phantom with a single air heterogeneity and to within 2.5 mm for the phantom with multiple bone and air heterogeneities. The bolus and phantom were misaligned by 3 mm and the dramatic change in the dose distribution demonstrated the need to address the problems of patient motion and imperfect distribution demonstrated the need to address the problems of patient motion and imperfect immobilisation through compensator design. A philosophy of 'expanding' the bolus is described, and dose distributions measured with the 'expanded' boli indicate that target volume treatment can be assured within prespecified repositioning and motion uncertainties. The uncertainty in the alignment of bolus and heterogeneities leads to corresponding uncertainty in the penetration of the protons. Ranges within which they will stop are calculated and shown to encompass adequately the measured distributions in both the aligned and misaligned cases.
The Effect of Convective Response Time on WISHE Modes

Abstract Recent research has shown that a variety of wavelike oscillations in the tropics may be explained by instabilities driven by wind-induced surface heat exchange (WISHE). All such studies to date have implicitly assumed that moist convection is in quasi equilibrium with the flow in question. Here that assumption is relaxed by accounting for a small but nonzero lag between the large-scale forcing of convection and its response. Reaction times as short as 30 minutes damp the higher-frequency Kelvin-like equatorial modes, favoring zonal wavenumbers 1–4, and strongly bias the higher-order modes to westward-propagating disturbances of synoptic scale. An analysis of off-equatorial disturbances reveals a preference for poleward- and westward-propagating modes with wavelengths of the order of 1000 km.
Effectiveness and safety of long-term anticoagulation of patients >/=90 years of age with atrial fibrillation.

players and preserve their image. We can do even better in providing healthier food choices in the clubhouse—less of the food items in Figure 1 and more of those in Figure 2. In addition to lectures during spring training as to the perils of drugs,2 excess alcohol and tobacco, a registered dietitian could also meet with players, collectively and individually in certain cases. Team physicians need to realize that players have erratic schedules and eat out most of the year, making it harder to adhere to strict diets. Fortunately, we have very effective drugs that should be used when indicated, which can accomplish our therapeutic goals and not interfere with player performance.
High-resolution Seismic Imaging of a Deep Gas Reservoir From Azimuthal Offset VSP, Saudi Arabia

An azimuthal, offset VSP survey was acquired over the deep Unayzah sandstone gas reservoir in central Saudi Arabia to confirm the direction along which a proposed horizontal sidetrack to a vertical delineation well was to be drilled. Futhermore, the well test indicated a probable reservoir boundary less than 100 feet away from the well. It was hoped that some of the offset sections might image a small fault, if such were the cause. In addition to the normal zero-offset VSP conducted at the vertical well, two multi-offset VSPs at orthogonal azimuths, and four singleoffset VSPs at other azimuths were acquired. Due to excellent cased hole conditions for the receivers and uniform sandy terrain for the sources, the VSP records were practically noise-free. The dominant frequency in the VSP data was virtually twice that of the surface seismic data. The offset VSP sections show that the gas-bearing Unayzah-A sandstone reservoir is now better resolved and that it deteriorates to the NE while maintaining both its thickness and porosity towards the NW, the direction in which the horizontal section is proposed to be drilled. The shorter offset sections in each quadrant surrounding the well show the absence of any clear disruptions that may indicate faulting, which leads to the suspicion that the boundary detected from the well test may be due to facies change, cementation, or mineralized fractures associated with a major fault bounding the accumulation to the south.
Laparoscopy for the treatment of positional renal pain

Abstract Objectives. The differential diagnosis of renal pain is extensive. When the pain is altered by a change in position, two relatively uncommon etiologies, nephroptosis and ovarian vein syndrome, should be considered. We present an algorithm for the evaluation of positional renal pain and demonstrate the effectiveness of its treatment by laparoscopic surgery. Methods. Laparoscopic technique was used to resect the offending ovarian vein in a case of ovarian vein syndrome and to fix the kidney in position for a case of symptomatic nephroptosis. A review of the evaluation and management of these entities is presented. Results. The patient with nephroptosis and the patient with ovarian vein syndrome were both discharged on postoperative day 2, had complete relief of pain, and suffered no long-term complications. Conclusions. Nephroptosis and ovarian vein syndrome should be considered in the differential diagnosis of renal pain altered by change in position. Laparoscopy is an excellent approach for repair of these conditions because it is safe, effective, and causes minimal morbidity.
Studies on thrombopoiesis II. Effect of a non-dialyzable spleen preparation on the thrombocyte level.

Evidence is presented for the presence in normal bovine and canine spleen of a material that elevates the platelet count of rabbits. An extraction method and bioassay are outlined. The spleen extract is non-dialyzable, heat and pH resistant, and exhibits an absorption peak at 265 mμ. It is postulated that the extract effects new platelet production by causing the differentiation of precursor cells to megakaryoblasts. Activity was also found in red cells and platelets but not in a variety of other bovine organs.
Fundamentals and application of magnetic particles in cell isolation and enrichment: a review

Magnetic sorting using magnetic beads has become a routine methodology for the separation of key cell populations from biological suspensions. Due to the inherent ability of magnets to provide forces at a distance, magnetic cell manipulation is now a standardized process step in numerous processes in tissue engineering, medicine, and in fundamental biological research. Herein we review the current status of magnetic particles to enable isolation and separation of cells, with a strong focus on the fundamental governing physical phenomena, properties and syntheses of magnetic particles and on current applications of magnet-based cell separation in laboratory and clinical settings. We highlight the contribution of cell separation to biomedical research and medicine and detail modern cell-separation methods (both magnetic and non-magnetic). In addition to a review of the current state-of-the-art in magnet-based cell sorting, we discuss current challenges and available opportunities for further research, development and commercialization of magnetic particle-based cell-separation systems.
Reliability of Observers' Ratings of Single Utterances for Syntactic Complexity

group, and uc as an indcx of rynracric complcxiry the average (mean or median) of the scale wlues assigned ro rhem. This rrudy war designed to dcrermine whether obrerverr can r~l~ably rare language regmenrr consirring of ,znsls vrreranccr for rynrrcric rornplrxiry by means of the equal.appearing inwrval scaling mcrhod. Eorry utterances whrch had ken clicirrd from fivr-year-old children were rared individually by 72 observers on a seven-point equal-appearing inrerval rcalc of "inrricacy of language usage." These utterances had beeo randomly rrlecred from a larger available corpus. Half the observers rarrd the srimuli from rape recordings and half rared them from ryperrnprr. Borh modes were used ro arrerr the mnfluence of manner of rr!mulur prerenrarlon (vlrual or audlrory) on rhr rar~ngr The deflnmrion of "inrrlcacy of language urage" @"en rhe observers war rhar reported by Sherman and Stlverman (1968) The obrervers were undergraduare rtudenrs who had nor had any formal course work in the measurement of language The inrraclars correladon coefficienr for averages (Guilford. 1954, p. 375) war computed as nn esrilnare of the rcliabiliry of rhe rcalc valuer-meanr-derived from the raringr of the observers in each group. The inrraclasr correlarion coefficient lor the auditory prerenrarion group war 0.98 and for the visual presenrarion group war 0.97. The magnitudes of rherc coefficicnrs suggest rhar panels of observers can rare language regmenrr canrirring of single utterances for syntactic complexiry wlrh a high degree of rcliabiliry. To dcrermine whether mode of rrlmulur prerenrarlon ~nflucncrd the relarive complexlry of rhe 40 language segments, a Pearron r was computed &wren rhe mean rcale valuer derlved from the racings of the rwo groups of obrrrverr The rerulring r, 0.97, indi. carer char rhe ordcrlng of rhr regmrnrr bared upon judged cornplcuiry is errenr~nlly the same far both madcr of rrimulvr prcsenrarion. The validiry of the raungr wnr oor formally rvnluared Howc~cr, rhc ordering of the segment, bared upon their rcale valuer does suggest thar rhe ratings possess forc validity (Guilford, 1954).
Diabetes Reduces Growth and Body Composition More in Male Than in Female Rats

Food restriction and/or starvation has a consistently greater and more permanent effect on physical growth in males than in females. Because diabetes may be viewed as being analogous to starvation, we tested the hypothesis that diabetes would reduce growth more in male than in female rats. Diabetes was induced with streptozotocin (65-125 mg/kg IP) at 3 weeks of age in 7 female and 10 male Lewis rats. Body weight (BW) and blood glucose (bGlc) were measured over the following 8 weeks. Subsequently, animals were assessed for body (ano-nasal; ANL) and bone length (tibia; TBL) and chemically analyzed for body composition. Results were compared to age-matched controls (male = 11; female = 9). A 2-way factorial analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), with body weight as the covariate, was used to test for statistical significance for the effects of gender and diabetes on body composition (fat and protein mass) and linear growth because control males and females had significantly different body weights. There were no significant differences in bGlc between genders. However, males had a greater decrease from controls in BW (-45% vs. -13%), protein (-48% vs. -11%), fat (-89% vs. -65%), TBL (-13% vs. 0%), and ANL (-17% vs. -5%) compared to females. In addition, males had a greater absolute decrease from controls in protein (-40 g vs. -5 g) and fat (-39 g vs. -23 g) mass. These results suggest that male rats are more susceptible than females to the deleterious effects of diabetes on linear growth and body composition.
Autoimmune hyperthyroidism and thrombocytopenia developing in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

A 56-year-old white man is described whose course of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) was complicated by the Occurrence of the autoimmune hyperthyroidism/ thrombocytopenia syndrome. The implications of this syndrome on the treatment of CLL are discussed.
Schistosoma mansoni: Direct method for simultaneous recording of electrical and motor activity

Abstract A method utilizing suction electrodes for simultaneous recording of electrical activity and motility of adult male Schistosoma mansoni is described. Spontaneous body contractions, similar to peristaltic waves, occur in an approximately rhythmic manner. Surface electrical potentials are associated with these contractions. Stretch increases the rate of spontaneous contractions. 5-Hydroxytryptamine at a concentration of 10 −6 M increases the contraction rate and also the complexity of the contractions. Carbachol at 10 −5 M decreases the rate at which contractions occur and also decreases the complexity of each contraction burst and at 10 −4 M completely suppresses activity.
Lattice refinement strategies

This article quantitatively reconciles crystallographic and mechanics approaches to lattice refinement as part of X-ray diffraction procedures. The equivalence between the refinement based on unit-cell parameters to that based on a lattice deformation tensor is established from a fixed reference configuration. Justification for the small strain assumption, commonly employed in X-ray diffraction based stress analysis, is also derived. It is shown that relations based on infinitesimal strains are correct to within an error of quadratic order in strain. This error may be important to consider for high-precision or high-strain experiments. It is hoped that these results are of use for facilitating communication and collaboration between crystallography and experimental mechanics communities, for studies where X-ray diffraction data are the fundamental measurement.
Finite-difference time-domain method for antenna radiation

The finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is used to model and predict the radiation patterns of wire and aperture antennas of three basic configurations. A critical step in each is the modeling of the feed. Alternate suggestions are made and some are implemented. The first antenna is a quarter-wavelength monopole and the second is a waveguide aperture antenna. In both bases the antenna is mounted on ground planes, either perfectly conducting or of composite material. The results obtained using the FDTD technique are compared with results obtained using the geometrical theory of diffraction (GTD) and measurements. The third configuration of interest is a pyramidal horn antenna. To model the flared parts of the horn, a staircase approximation was applied to the antenna surface. The computed radiation patterns compared well with measurements. >