cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of self‐anchoring bone implants. I. Processing and material characterization

We recently designed and produced a family of new swelling-type materials that are potentially capable of self-fixation in bone. These materials are designed to absorb body fluids and swell by small amounts, which will allow the implants made from these materials to achieve self-fixation by an expansion-fit mechanism. The developed material system is essentially a crosslinked random copolymer based on poly (methyl methacrylate-acrylic acid). For potential structural (load-bearing) bioimplant applications, we reinforced this copolymer with AS-4 carbon and Kevlar 49 fibers. The details of processing these materials and the steps involved in optimizing their microstructures are presented in this article. A set of mechanical tests were performed on these materials in both dry and swollen conditions to measure their moduli and yield strengths. In the dry state, the copolymers were found to exhibit Young's moduli in the range of 3 to 4 GPa and yield strengths in the range of 70 to 85 MPa. The reinforced composites exhibited moduli in the range of 15 to 65 GPa and yield strengths in the range of 125 to 500 MPa. Upon controlling the volumetric swelling in these materials to be less than about 10%, the loss in mechanical properties was found to be less than about 30%. These hygromechanical properties are well suited for self-anchoring bone implant applications.
Scopolamine impairs auditory delayed matching-to-sample performance in monkeys.

Abstract Information concerning the major neurotransmitters critical for auditory memory is sparse. One possibility is the cholinergic system, important for performance in some tasks requiring visual short-term memory and attention [T.G. Aigner, M. Mishkin, The effects of physostigmine and scopolamine on recognition memory in monkeys, Behav. Neural. Biol. 45 (1986) 81–87; N. Hironaka, K. Ando, Effects of cholinergic drugs on scopolamine-induced memory impairment in rhesus monkeys, Jpn. J. Psychopharmacol. 16 (1996) 103–108; T.M. Myers, G. Galbicka, M.L. Sipos, S. Varadi, J.L. Oubre, M.G. Clark, Effects of anticholinergics on serial-probe recognition accuracy of rhesus macaques ( Macaca mulatta ), Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. 73 (2002) 829–834; H. Ogura, T.G. Aigner, MK-801 Impairs recognition memory in rhesus monkeys: comparison with cholinergic drugs, J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 266 (1993) 60–64; D.M. Penetar, J.H. McDonough Jr., Effects of cholinergic drugs on delayed match-to-sample performance of rhesus monkeys, Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. 19 (1983) 963–967; M.A. Taffe, M.R. Weed, L.H. Gold, Scopolamine alters rhesus monkey performance on a novel neuropsychological test battery, Cogn. Brain Res. 8 (1999) 203–212]. Five rhesus monkeys were trained to perform an auditory go/no-go delayed matching-to-sample (DMTS) task wherein two acoustic stimuli (500 ms), separated by variable memory delays (500 ms, 2500 ms, or 5000 ms), were either identical sound presentations, i.e., match trials, or two different sound presentations, i.e., nonmatch trials. Sound stimuli were chosen semi-randomly from a large set sound set (∼900). After reaching a criterion of 80% correct on the behavioral task, monkeys were injected with saline or doses of scopolamine hydrochloride mixed in saline (3 μg, 5 μg, and 10 μg per 1 kg of weight), 30 min before training. Scopolamine impaired performance accuracy on match trials in a dose-dependent manner. Blocking muscarinic receptors with scopolamine did not significantly impair motor responses, food motivation, or responses to rewarded sound. These findings support the hypothesis that the cholinergic system is important for auditory short-term memory.
Mobility management for VoIP service: Mobile IP vs. SIP

Wireless Internet access has gained significant attention as wireless/mobile communications and networking become widespread. The voice over IP service is likely to play a key role in the convergence of IP-based Internet and mobile cellular networks. We explore different mobility management schemes from the perspective of VoIP services, with a focus on Mobile IP and session initiation protocol. After illustrating the signaling message flows in these two protocols for diverse cases of mobility management, we propose a shadow registration concept to reduce the interdomain handoff (macro-mobility) delay in the VoIP service in mobile environments. We also analytically compute and compare the delay and disruption time for exchanging signaling messages associated with the Mobile IP and SIP-based solutions.
Fully synthesizable delay cell design for emulation environment

This paper presents two fully synthesizable and emulation friendly delay cell designs that the authors have successfully implemented in a real emulation environment. Due to the analog nature of delay logics, none of the commercial emulators were able to support the actual delay behavior. Thus, manual additions of register were needed for each customized scenario. The effort required is huge and highly dependent on the complexity of the design. Both of these designs use conventional clock synchronous flip flops and simple logic gates to construct emulation friendly delay cell modules. The first design was constructed to support asynchronous based inputs while the latter design is capable of supporting various types of clock signals. Both of these two proposed designs have two parameters settings. The first parameter is used to configure the multiplier value of intended delay while the second parameter is used to configure the width of the input and output ports. These designs also require a reference clock, reset signal and user input to be connected to their input ports as well. The output from these designs is a delayed version of the user input. Finally the functionality of these designs have been verified on both simulation and emulation platforms.
Berkeley EUV spectrometer microchannel plate detectors for ORFEUS

We have developed detectors design for high resolution spectroscopic imaging for the EUV spectrometer on the ORFEUS-SPAS mission. The detectors employ spherically curved microchannel plates and a delay line read out system. We present results from the testing and calibration of the detectors prior to their integration into the spectrometer. The design, MCP preconditioning, and imaging characteristics are discussed for 2 rectangular spectral detectors and for the fine guidance detector. Each spectral detector achieves a 30 X 100 micrometers FWHM resolution element size over a 95 mm X 25 mm anode format with good linearity (< 30 micrometers ) in the spectral direction. The fine guidance detector, used for drift corrections, achieves good resolution and will meet the necessary centroiding requirements.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A taste for greeting cards: Distinction within a denigrated cultural form

Greeting cards are a denigrated product category in the USA, and yet consumers use them at high rates across taste formations. Consumers with relatively high cultural capital place a premium on originality in their self-expression, hence greeting cards present a consumption problem because they are a mode of expressing the self through mass-produced means. Based on interviews with 46 women, I show that consumers with higher cultural capital are more likely to prioritize card design over sentiment; select smaller, simpler designs and sentiments; prefer cards that are handmade, look handmade, or remind them of fine art; and are more likely to use cards ironically. In this way, consumers perform exclusivity through their taste, even through a form of mass culture. However, the social embeddedness of greeting card communication means that many consumers balance considerations of taste with the requirements of effective interpersonal communication. The ability to self-consciously modulate signifiers of taste i...
Quantitation of the polypeptide, galanin, by protein precipitation and external calibration LC/MS

Abstract The quantitation of galanin from rat plasma was conducted using protein precipitation and LC/MS. This method was externally calibrated, as no suitable internal standard was available. Galanin was detected in the positive ion mode by selected ion monitoring of the 3+‐charge state. The lower limit of quantitation was 10 ng/mL and calibration curves were linear over the concentration range from 10 to 1,000 ng/mL. Within and between run precision and accuracy was less than 12% at all validation points. The method was demonstrated by a limited pharmacokinetic study of galanin in rats.
Photoregulatory behavior of bluegill,Lepomis macrochira, in a virtual light gradient

Vertical movements of bluegill were monitored in gradients of light intensity to assess this fish's photoregulatory ability and mechanisms. A computerized monitoring and control system created virtual gradients of light intensity by adjusting an overhead lamp's output in response to fish movements, in a vertical tube, to produce a programmed intensity at the fish's depth position. This approach separated the process of gradient formation from normal clues for photoregulation and allowed formation of light gradients incompatible with natural taxic responses to intensity. Hourly shifts in gradient position minimized the possibility of confounding photoregulation with position regulation. Observed patterns of movement reduced the extremes of light intensity to which bluegill were exposed, compared to no movement or random movement. Seven fish were tested, producing 10 experiments. In 4 of 10 experiments, the fish effectively photoregulated in gradients in which light intensity decreased with depth, as in natural habitats. In 1 of 10 experiments, the fish photoregulated in an inverse gradient, with intensity increasing with depth. Evidence of regulation in an inverse gradient suggests that normal taxic responses are not essential for photoregulation in bluegill.
The ultrastructure of normal and denervated neuromuscular synapses in mouse gastrocnemius muscle.

STUDIES on the ultrastructure of the normal neuromuscular synapse [l, 5,7,8,9, lo] furnish a basis for experimental investigations using the electron microscope. Further investigation is needed in an attempt to learn more about the synaptic vesicles and membranes and their possible role in neuromuscular transmission. The following is a preliminary report of a study on the normal and denervated neuromuscular ultrastructure. Material and mh they are found in the postsynaptic sarcoplasm as well, though fewer in number. The sarcoplasm of the end-plate also contains granules approximately 100 A in size. Denervated neuromuscular junction. After 48 hours denervation the axolemmal portion of the synaptolemma has almost completely retracted from the sarcolemma and lysis of the axolemma has begun (Fig. 2). A postsynaptic membrane free of axolemma remains, except in one area where a definitive axolemma may be seen.
The role of hormone binding in the cold suppression of hormone stimulation of the pituitary, thyroid, and testis of the turtle.

The ability of hormones to bind to their functional receptors on turtle (Pseudemys scripta) endocrine target tissues in the cold was tested by treating tissues with secretagogues at low temperatures (5–15°) and then following subsequent target stimulation in the absence of secretagogue at a warm temperature (28°). Administration of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), corticotropin-releasing hormone, and growth hormone-releasing hormone to pituitaries at low temperatures (20° or below) suppressed responses in growth hormone (GH) and thyrotropin (TSH) secretion and there was little or no response in pituitaries subsequent to warming. In contrast, gonadotropin-releasing hormone treatment of pituitaries, TSH treatment of thyroid glands, and gonadotropin (FSH and LH) treatment of testes in the cold (down to 5°) was followed by a large response in the target glands (secretion of LH, thyroxine, and testosterone (T), respectively) following warming. Additional studies with FSH and LH showed that these hormones can bind to testes rapidly (within 5 min) at low temperatures where no acute response is observed, although the dose sensitivity and the extent of this priming in the cold are less than at warm temperatures. Thus, postreceptor events may be more important than binding per se for temperature effects on hormone responses of tissues, but even this component of cell function varies among tissues. The effects of a receptor-independent secretagogue (tetraethylammonium chloride), which causes cell depolarization by blocking K+ efflux, were also blocked at low temperatures in thyrotropes and somatotropes but not in gonadotropes. Rapid depressions in TSH and GH secretions following cooling of TRH-stimulated pituitaries and of T secretion in LH-stimulated testes provide further evidence for cold sensitivity of postreceptor processes in these tissues.
Prospective Study of Restless Legs Syndrome and Coronary Heart Disease Among Women

Background—Previous cross-sectional studies suggested a positive association between restless legs syndrome (RLS) and coronary heart disease (CHD). This observation was not confirmed by subsequent prospective studies. However, these prospective studies did not take into account the duration of RLS symptoms. Therefore, we prospectively examined whether RLS was associated with an increased risk of CHD in women who participated in the Nurses' Health Study, taking into account the duration of RLS symptoms. Methods and Results—A total of 70 977 women (mean age, 67 years) who were free of CHD and stroke at baseline (2002) were followed up until 2008. Physician-diagnosed RLS was collected via questionnaire. CHD was defined as nonfatal myocardial infarction or fatal CHD. Women with RLS at baseline had a marginally higher risk of developing CHD (multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio, 1.46; 95% confidence interval, 0.97–2.18) compared with women without RLS. The risk was dependent on duration of symptoms: 0.98 (95% c...
Effect of composite layering on the fracture toughness of brittle matrix/particulate composites

Abstract Glass matrix/Ni particulate composites, ranging from 0 to 25% particulate phase, were prepared both as single-volume-fraction composites and as multi-volume-fraction layered composites. Fracture toughness (K c ) measurements were made on all composites using the applied moment double cantilever beam technique. The measured toughness values for the layered composites were found to be equivalent to those of the single-volume-fraction composites. The fracture toughness measured for the layered composites was found to be dependent on the volume of composite phase tested and ultimately on the number of crack-particle interactions which occurred. R-curve like behaviour was observed in the layered composites.
Inelastic titanium-titanium collisions

We have measured cold inelastic collisions between neutral ground-state titanium atoms: collisions that cause transitions between the different magnetic sublevels of the $[3{d}^{2}4{s}^{2}]{^{3}F}_{2}$ ground state of $^{50}\text{T}\text{i}$, as well as collisions that cause transitions between the fine-structure levels of the $[3{d}^{2}4{s}^{2}]{^{3}F}_{J}$ electronic ground state. Both processes occur with large rate coefficients, as would be expected from titanium's anisotropic electronic potential.
Mapping of Low-Frequency Chimeric Yeast Artificial Chromosome Libraries from Human Chromosomes 16 and 21 by Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization and Quantitative Image Analysis

Abstract Yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clones from low-frequency chimeric libraries of human chromosomes 16 and 21 were mapped onto human diploid fibroblast metaphase chromosomes using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and digital imaging microscopy-YACs mapped onto chromosome 21 were selected to provide subregional location and ordering of known and unknown markers on the long arm of chromosome 21, particularly in the Down syndrome region (q22). YACs mapped onto chromosome 16 were selected to overlap regions spanning chromosome 16 cosmid maps. YAC clones were indirectly labeled with fluorescein, and the total DNA of the chromosome was counterstained with propidium iodide. A single image containing both the FISH signal and the whole chromosome was acquired for each chromosome of interest containing the fluorescent probe signal in a metaphase spread. From the digitized image, the fluorescence intensity profile through the long axis of the chromosome gave the total chromosome length and the probe position. The map position of the probe was expressed as the fractional length (FL) of the total chromosome relative to the end of the short arm (FLpter). From each clone hybridized, 20-40 chromosome images were analyzed. Thirty-eight YACs were mapped onto chromosome 16, and their FLs were distributed along the short and long arms. On chromosome 21, 47 YACs were mapped, including 12 containing known markers. To confirm the order of a dense population of YACs within the Down syndrome region, a two-color mapping strategy was used in which an anonymous YAC was located relative to one or two known markers on the metaphase chromosome. Our chromosome FL maps have a 1- to 2-Mb resolution, and the FL measurement of each probe has a typical standard error of 0.5-1 Mb.
Do interventions to limit sedentary behaviours change behaviour and reduce childhood obesity: a critical review of the literature

We sought to determine whether interventions that emphasize decreasing sedentary behaviours in children and adolescents result in behaviour change and weight control. A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify all comparative studies of interventions to reduce sedentary behaviour among children, alone or in combination with other health messages. Two investigators evaluated articles for eligibility and validity. As methods, settings and interventions differ across studies, results were synthesized narratively. Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria and provided relevant data. Six targeted clinic-based populations that were overweight or at risk of overweight, and six were population-based prevention studies. Approaches varied, but all reduced sedentary behaviour and improved weight indices. An emphasis on decreasing sedentary behaviours is an effective intervention to decrease sedentary behaviours and control weight in children and adolescents.
Monitoring Pc 4-mediated Photodynamic Therapy of U87 Tumors with 18F-fluorodeoxy-glucose PET Imaging in the Athymic Nude Rat

Introduction: We have previously demonstrated the use of phthalocyanine Pc 4 for the photodynamic therapy (PDT) of ectopic human glial tumors in the athymic nude rat brain. We wish to determine whether 18F-fluorodeoxy-glucose ( 18 F-FDG) Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging can detect the reduction in tumor metabolism that must occur after Pc 4-PDT-induced necrosis. Methods: 2.5 x 10 5 U87 cells were injected into the brains of 12 athymic nude rats. After 7 days of tumor growth, all 12 animals were imaged functionally by 18 F-FDG micro-PET (mPET) and structurally by micro-CT and/or micro-MR. These animals received 0.5 mg/kg b.w. Pc 4 via tail-vein injection. One day later the scalp was re-incised and the tumor illuminated with 30 J/cm 2 of 672-nm light from a diode laser. The next day these animals were again 18 F-FDG mPET imaged. Next, the animals were euthanized and their brains were explanted for H&E histology. Results: Histology showed that tumors in the 6 Pc 4-PDT-treated animals demonstrated necrosis ranging from full to frank (severe). Preliminary analysis showed that 18F-FDG mPET activity in 3 of the 6 non-PDT group (i.e., no tumor necrosis observed) animals was seen to increase 2.28 times following tumor photoirradiation, whereas 18 F-FDG mPET activity in 5 of the 6 PDT group ( i.e. , tumor necrosis observed) animals was seen to increase 1.15 times following tumor photoirradiation. Discussion: The increased 18 F-FDG mPET activity in the PDT group was unexpected. We had expected this activity to decrease and are presently investigating the cause of this observation.
Effects of arsenite on p53, p21 and cyclin D expression in normal human fibroblasts -- a possible mechanism for arsenite's comutagenicity.

Abstract Arsenite, the most likely environmental carcinogenic form of arsenic, is not significantly mutagenic at non-toxic concentrations, but is able to enhance the mutagenicity of other agents. Evidence suggests that this comutagenic effect of arsenite is due to inhibition of DNA repair, but no specific repair enzyme has been found to be sensitive to low (
Arterial Blood Gas, pH, and Bicarbonate Values in Laying Hens Selected for Thick or Thin Eggshell Production

Bicarbonate, pH, carbon dioxide partial pressure (pCO2), and oxygen partial pressure (pO2) were measured in blood samples collected anaerobically from the brachial arteries of domestic fowl from lines selected for thick (TK) or thin (TN) eggshell production. The blood values of TK and TN hens were compared 6 hr prior to oviposition and continued at 2-hr intervals until 10 hrs postoviposition. Percent shell values were measured for eggs laid 2 days prior to and during blood sampling. Hens with TK shells had significantly (P less than .001) higher percent shell values than hens with TN shells. The measured blood parameters (bicarbonate, pH, pCO2, and pO2) did not differ significantly (P greater than .05) when TK and TN hens were compared at the time of oviposition. However, between 2 and 6 hr postoviposition, TN hens had significantly lower blood pH, pO2, and bicarbonate than did TK hens. Arterial pCO2 tended to be higher in TN hens than in TK hens, but this difference was significant only at 6 hr preoviposition. These results show that TN hens develop metabolic acidosis relative to TK hens during the first 6 hr postoviposition.
Pulse Power Failure Modes in Semiconductors

Semiconductor devices operating under both biased and unbiased conditions are vulnerable to permanent damage from relatively moderate levels of pulsed electrical energy, particularly of submicrosecond pulse duration. An experimental study was performed to determine the permanent damage levels associated with a number of different devices and to identify the failure mechanisms associated with each. The device types investigated included general purpose and high speed computer diodes, a medium power diode, medium frequency and UHF transistor amplifiers, and a dielectrically isolated diode gate expander. The permanent damage levels associated with these devices were determined both for positive and negative polarity pulses at different conditions of quiescent bias and pulse width. The pulse duration times included the range of 30 to 300 nanoseconds, and in some instances, up to 1 microsecond. Failure models for both thermal second breakdown induced damage to the semiconductor junction and thermal damage to the device interconnecting leads and metallization patterns were also developed.
Effects of neonatal castration and testosterone treatment on sexual partner preference in the ferret.

Abstract Groups of male and female ferrets were tested in a T maze to determine whether they preferred to approach and interact with a sexually active male or an estrous female. Control male and female ferrets gonadectomized (GX) on postnatal Day 35 and tested in adulthood while receiving no hormone or testosterone (T) displayed no significant preference. When given estradiol benzoate (EB), however, control males preferred stimulus females whereas control females preferred stimulus males. When tested in adulthood with EB treatment, males GX on postnatal Day 5 showed a significant reduction in their approach to stimulus females, although they did not switch their preference to stimulus males and thereby resemble control females. Female ferrets GX on postnatal Day 5 and given a high dosage of T over postnatal Days 5–20 showed a significant reduction in their approach to stimulus males, although they did not switch their preference to stimulus females, and thereby resemble control males. The results suggest that extended perinatal exposure of male ferrets to T is required for the development of a sociosexual preference for females.
The digestion of protein and carbohydrate by the stream detritivore, Tipula abdominalis (Diptera, Tipulidae)

The digestive system of larvae of Tipula abdominalis (Diptera, Tipulidae), a stream detritivore, is poorly adapted for the digestion of the major polysaccharides in its diet, but well adapted for the digestion of protein. These crane fly larvae are unable to digest the major cell wall polysaccharides of higher plants, i.e., cellulose, hemicellulose and pectin. The only polysaccharides toward which the midguts of T. abdominalis exhibited any activity were α-amylose and laminarin, indicating that polysaccharide digestion is restricted to α-1,4-and β-1,3-glucans. The most concentrated source of these two classes of carbohydrates in submerged leaf litter would be associated fungal tissue. The midgut of T. abdominalis is strongly alkaline throughout, with a maximum pH near 11.5 in a narrow zone near the midpoint. Proteolytic activity in the midgut is extraordinarily high, and the pH optimum for midgut proteolytic activity is above 11. We conclude that the high alkalinity and high proteolytic activity observed in T. abdominalis larvae are manifestations of a highly efficient protein-digesting system, a system of crucial importance to a nitrogen-limited organism which must derive its nitrogen from a resource in which much of the limited nitrogen present is in a "bound" form in complexes of proteins with lignins and polyphenols.
Optimal Shift Scheduling with Multiple Break Windows

This paper presents a new integer programming model for optimal shift scheduling with multiple rest and lunch breaks, and break windows. A set-covering approach for this problem was originally developed by Dantzig 1954. Since then, a number of set-covering-based formulations have been proposed in the literature. These formulations require an integer variable for every shift type, shift start time, and rest/lunch break placement combination. Unfortunately, the number of integer variables required is rather large, making them impractical to solve for an optimal solution in most applications. We present a new approach in which a set of break variables is introduced for every shift-break type combination to determine the break placements. This approach leads to a significantly improved integer programming model requiring substantially smaller number of variables and computer memory. We tested the proposed approach with 40 test problems involving between 1,728 and 8,640 shift variations, and five demand patterns. Our results showed that the proposed formulation is very useful in solving large shift scheduling problems optimally.
Effect of colchicine on the delayed appearance of labelled protein into synaptosomal soluble proteins.

— The effect of colchicine administration on the accumulation of radiolabelled soluble protein of brain synaptosomes was studied. Following injection of radiolabelled leucine, colchicine (injected bitemporally) was shown to block this delayed accumulation in limited brain areas. This effect supports the conclusion that the delayed appearance of label is a reflection of axoplasmic transport and demonstrates that colchicine can be utilized to block such transport in limited brain areas.
A second look at cellular mRNA sequences said to function as internal ribosome entry sites

This review takes a second look at a set of mRNAs that purportedly employ an alternative mechanism of initiation when cap-dependent translation is reduced during mitosis or stress conditions. A closer look is necessary because evidence cited in support of the internal initiation hypothesis is often flawed. When putative internal ribosome entry sequences (IRESs) are examined more carefully, they often turn out to harbor cryptic promoters or splice sites. This undermines the dicistronic assay, wherein IRES activity is measured by the ability to support translation of the 3′ cistron. Most putative IRESs still have not been checked carefully to determine whether the dicistronic vector produces only the intended dicistronic mRNA. The widespread use of the pRF vector is a major problem because this vector, which has Renilla luciferase as the 5′ cistron and firefly luciferase as the 3′ cistron, has been found to generate spliced transcripts. RNA transfection assays could theoretically circumvent these problems, but most candidate IRESs score very weakly in that test. The practice of calling even very weak results ‘positive’ is one of the problems discussed herein. The extremely low efficiency of putative IRESs is inconsistent with their postulated biological roles. ‘…if it is a Miracle, any sort of evidence will answer, but if it is a Fact, proof is necessary’ —Mark Twain, Letters from the Earth
Ethical and Economic Issues in Interventional Cardiology

Complex ethical and significant economic issues are encountered in the practice of interventional cardiology. The interventionalist must strive to carefully assess the indications, benefit/risk ratio, and quality of life implications of planned therapy, and communicate this best estimate to the patient in understandable terms that allow informed patient involvement in decisions regarding revascularization strategy. When investigational devices are contemplated, institutionally approved protocols should be utilized by individuals without potential conflict of interest. At the same time, when not in conflict with ethical decisions, economic consequences of device selection must be considered as well.
Rapid repair of hepatic DNA damage induced by camptothecin in the intact rat

Abstract Administration of camptothecin (7,14 or 28 mg per 100 g body wt.) to rats intraperitoneally, induced single strand breaks in hepatic DNA. Fragmentation of liver DNA on alkaline sucrose gradients was noted within 5 minutes and reached a maximum by 30 to 60 minutes after the administration of the drug. By about 4 hours, the DNA damage was almost completely repaired. However, using neutral sucrose gradients, significant fragmentation of DNA could not be seen. The rapid repair of the liver DNA in vivo induced by camptothecin, a cancer chemotherapeutic agent, is interesting in view of the long delay in the repair of the DNA damage induced by several chemical carcinogens in an intact animal (9,10).
Development and Implementation of a Smoking Cessation Clinic in Community Pharmacy Practice

Objective: To describe a pharmacist-operated program to help people stop smoking. Setting: Community chain (mass-merchandise) pharmacy practice sites in Virginia. Participants: Faculty at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy (VCU) and 15 practicing pharmacists. Practice Description: Smoking cessation clinics within the pharmacy departments of seven Target stores. Practice Innovation: With input from the practicing pharmacists and using the most current strategies reported in the literature, faculty at VCU developed a training manual for smoking cessation counseling. This manual was used to facilitate a 4-hour training session and also served as a resource for pharmacists in the smoking cessation clinics. Pharmacists were taught about behavioral modifications, the Transtheoretical Model of Change as applied to smoking cessation, documentation, the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence, smoking cessation therapies, patient counseling techniques, physical assessment skills, and how to develop an individualized action plan for smoking cessation. As pharmacists established smoking cessation clinics, issues such as workflow, continuous quality improvement, and marketing were addressed by the faculty members and practitioners. Results: Using the process and tools described in this article, pharmacists successfully established and operated smoking cessation clinics. Conclusion: The process and materials developed for this demonstration project can serve as templates for other pharmacy faculty members and community pharmacists who wish to offer smoking cessation clinics.
TU‐EE‐A2‐06: Are Dosimetric Guidelines of Adult Lung Cancer for Preventing Radiation Pneumonitis Applicable to Pediatric Radiotherapy Involving Lungs?

Purpose: Pediatric patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma and thoracic or paraspinal sarcomas who received radiotherapy may develop clinically significant radiation pneumonitis (RP) requiring the use of steroids. There are no dosimetric planning guidelines for pediatric lung to assess the likelihood of complication. We reviewed dose‐volume histograms (DVHs) and clinical complication data of 63 children treated on 2 prospective studies and evaluated the applicability of adult planning guidelines and risk models.Method and Materials: Forty children with Hodgkin's lymphoma and 23 with sarcoma receiving radiation to the thorax were studied. Patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma received 25.5 Gy involved‐field radiotherapy. Eight of which received 8 Gy to the entirety of one or both lungs through partial transmission blocks. Patients with sarcomas received 41.4–70.2 Gy conformal radiotherapy to the primary tumor. Clinical data on RP were collected from protocol databases and chart review with IRB approval. DVH parameters V13, V20, mean lungdose and normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) from adult lungmodels were calculated. Results: Four patients developed RP following radiotherapy. Two required the use of steroids (NCI CTC grade II). Of the 3 patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma who developed RP, 2 had received 8 Gy delivered to their entire right lung. Children with grade II RP have higher total lung DVHs, a V20 ⩾35% and mean lungdose above 16 Gy, consistent with the planning constraints set for adult lungcancer and Hodgkin's lymphoma. However, adult lung NTCP and risk models predicted low probability (0.2–0.3) for children who actually developed RP. Conclusion: The V20 and mean lungdose guidelines developed for adult lungcancer identify children at higher risk for RP. Better understanding of other clinical factors such as chemotherapeutic agents and individual sensitivity may be required to improve the predicability of NTCP models for children.
Atmospheric Chemistry of Diethyl Methylphosphonate, Diethyl Ethylphosphonate, and Triethyl Phosphate

Rate constants for the reactions of OH radicals and NO3 radicals with diethyl methylphosphonate [DEMP, (C2H5O)2P(O)CH3], diethyl ethylphosphonate [DEEP, (C2H5O)2P(O)C2H5], and triethyl phosphate [T...
Controlling Preemption for Better Schedulability in Multi-Core Systems

Interest in real-time multiprocessor scheduling has been rekindled as multi-core chips are increasingly used for embedded real-time systems. While tasks may be preemptive or non-preemptive (due to their transactional operations), deadline guarantees are usually made only for those task sets in each of which all tasks are preemptive or non-preemptive, not a mixture thereof, i.e., all or nothing. In this paper, we develop a schedulability analysis framework that guarantees the timing requirements of a given task set in which a task can be either preemptive or non-preemptive. As an example, we apply this framework to the prioritization policy of EDF (Earliest Deadline First), yielding schedulability tests of mpn-EDF (Mixed Preemptive/Non-preemptive EDF), which is a generalization of both fp-EDF (fully-preemptive EDF) and np-EDF (non-preemptive EDF). In addition to their deadline guarantees for any task set that is composed of a mixture of preemptive and non-preemptive tasks, the tests outperform the existing schedulability tests of np-EDF (a special case of mpn-EDF) by up to 109.1%. Using these tests, we also improve schedulability by disallowing preemptions of some preemptive tasks. For this, we develop an algorithm that optimally disallows preemption of a preemptive task under a certain assumption, and demonstrate via simulation that the algorithm discovers up to 30.9% additional task sets that are schedulable with the proposed scheduling scheme, but not with fp-EDF or np-EDF.
Matrix metalloprotease-3 and tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease-1 mRNA and protein levels are altered in response to traumatic skeletal muscle injury

The purpose of this study was to characterize the time course of matrix metalloprotease-3 (MMP-3) and tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease-1 (TIMP-1) expression in mouse tibialis anterior (TA) muscle post-injury. Mice were anesthetized, the TA muscle exposed, and injury induced by applying a cold steel probe (−79°C) to the muscle for 10 s. Muscle was collected from uninjured and injured legs at 3, 10, 24, 48, and 72 h post-injury. qRT-PCR, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry were used to quantify/localize MMP-3 and TIMP-1. MMP-3 transcripts increased 19- and 12-fold, 10 and 24 h post-injury (p < 0.01), respectively. TIMP-1 transcript levels increased 9-, 34-, and 60-fold, 10, 24, and 48 h post-injury (p = 0.01), respectively, with a subsequent decrease 72 h post-injury (p < 0.01). Protein levels of the pro-form of MMP-3 increased within 3 h post-injury and remained elevated (p < 0.05). Active MMP-3 decreased over time, reaching a 72% decrease 72 h post-injury (p < 0.05). TIMP-1 protein decreased 75% within 3 h post-injury, returning to baseline by 72 h post-injury. In response to injury, injured skeletal muscle preferentially produces increased levels of the latent form of the MMP-3 protein with a concomitant decrease in the active form, and a significant decrease in TIMP-1 expression. The altered pattern of MMP-3/TIMP-1 expression may be due to alterations in post-transcriptional mechanisms that are responsible for specific regulation of the MMP-3/TIMP-1 system. These data suggest that there is a disproportionate regulation of the MMP-3/TIMP-1 system following traumatic injury and this response may contribute to impaired extracellular matrix remodeling.
Casual Stereoscopic Photo Authoring

Stereoscopic 3D displays become more and more popular these years. However, authoring high-quality stereoscopic 3D content remains challenging. In this paper, we present a method for easy stereoscopic photo authoring with a regular (monocular) camera. Our method takes two images or video frames using a monocular camera as input and transforms them into a stereoscopic image pair that provides a pleasant viewing experience. The key technique of our method is a perceptual-plausible image rectification algorithm that warps the input image pairs to meet the stereoscopic geometric constraint while avoiding noticeable visual distortion. Our method uses spatially-varying mesh-based image warps. Our warping method encodes a variety of constraints to best meet the stereoscopic geometric constraint and minimize visual distortion. Since each energy term is quadratic, our method eventually formulates the warping problem as a quadratic energy minimization which is solved efficiently using a sparse linear solver. Our method also allows both local and global adjustments of the disparities, an important property for adapting resulting stereoscopic images to different viewing conditions. Our experiments demonstrate that our spatially-varying warping technique can better support casual stereoscopic photo authoring than existing methods and our results and user study show that our method can effectively use casually-taken photos to create high-quality stereoscopic photos that deliver a pleasant 3D viewing experience.
The formamidine pesticides chlordimeform and amitraz decrease hepatic glutathione in mice through an interaction with alpha2‐adrenoceptors

Recent studies have provided evidence that formamidine pesticides, such as chlordimeform (CDM; N'-4-chloro-o-tolyl-N,N-dimethylformamidine) or amitraz (AMZ; N'-2-4-(dimethylphenyl)-N-[((2,4-dimethylphenyl)imino)methyl]-N- methanimidamide) exert some of their toxic effects by an interaction with alpha 2-adrenoceptors. Since epinephrine and clonidine have been shown to decrease hepatic glutathione (GSH) by activating alpha 2-adrenoceptors, and alpha 2-antagonists partially antagonize GSH depletion and hepatotoxicity caused by bromobenzene and cocaine, we have investigated whether the formamidines would affect hepatic GSH levels in mice. Both CDM and AMZ decreased hepatic nonprotein sulfydryls (NPSH) to a maximum of about 40%, in a dose-dependent manner. The effect of AMZ was longer lasting than that of CDM. For both compounds, decrease of hepatic NPSH was antagonized by the alpha 2-antagonist yohimbine but not by the alpha 1-antagonist prazosin or the beta-antagonist propanolol. The alpha 2-agonist clonidine also caused a dose-dependent decrease of hepatic NPSH (to a maximum of 40%), which was prevented only by yohimbine. The effects of AMZ, CDM, and clonidine were not additive, suggesting that all compounds act on a common site and/or with a common mechanism. Adrenalectomy or destruction of peripheral sympathetic nerves with 6-hydroxydopamine did not alter the ability of CDM and AMZ to decrease hepatic NPSH. These results indicate that formamidine pesticides can affect the levels of hepatic GSH, possibly through a direct interaction with hepatic alpha 2-adrenoceptors.
Explicit Jordan form for certain block triangular matrices. II

Abstract Let A ϵ Mn, B ϵ Mm, and λ ϵ C be given. For X ϵ Mn,m we seek to determine the Jordan structure of M= A X O B associated with λ in terms of the Jordan structure of A and B associated with λ and properties of X. The principal result is an explicit prescription for the Jordan structure of M associated with λ in the case that the geometric multiplicity of λ in B is one.
Specificity of Vitamin B 12 for Euglena

IN an earlier publication1 we reported that vitamin B12 could not be replaced for Euglena gracilis var. bacillaris by vitamin-free casein hydrolysate, carbon-treated peptone, methionine, ascorbic acid, pteroylglutamic acid, a variety of purine and pyrimidine bases or by xanthopterin and a number of related compounds. Hutner et al.2 found thymidine to be ineffective. Vitamin B12a (hydroxocobalamin) was active1. We have examined a number of additional compounds for vitamin B12 activity on Euglena.
Music in film and animation: experimental semiotics applied to visual, sound and musical structures

The relationship of music to film has only recently received the attention of experimental psychologists and quantificational musicologists. This paper outlines theory, semiotical analysis, and experimental results using relations among variables of temporally organized visuals and music. 1. A comparison and contrast is developed among the ideas in semiotics and experimental research, including historical and recent developments. 2. Musicological Exploration: The resulting multidimensional structures of associative meanings, iconic meanings, and embodied meanings are applied to the analysis and interpretation of a range of film with music. 3. Experimental Verification: A series of experiments testing the perceptual fit of musical and visual patterns layered together in animations determined goodness of fit between all pattern combinations, results of which confirmed aspects of the theory. However, exceptions were found when the complexity of the stratified stimuli resulted in cognitive overload.
Facilitativeness in small groups: a process-oriented study using Lag Sequential Analysis.

This study assessed the interaction patterns between leaders and members of small groups over time. The interactions were coded self- or other-directed and facilitative or nonfacilitative to open communication. There were a total of 3,174 interactions scored by trained raters from 20 videotapes collected from 5 groups. Lag Sequential Analysis was used to assess the influence of the leaders' communication on members' communication over a period of several interactions. When leaders were facilitative and directed their communication to the group, members were significantly more facilitative than when leaders referred to themselves and/or expressed nonfacilitative communication. The leaders' influence persisted over time.
Time, Temperature, and Food as Determinants of Population Persistence in the Temperate Mantid Tenodera sinensis (Mantodea: Mantidae)

Characteristics of a well–established population of the mantid, Tenodera sinensis (Saussure), were examined during the adult portion of its life cycle, for three consecutive years (1990–1992). During the fall of 1992, changes in body mass of females in well-fed and starved experimental cohorts were compared with those in the open field, as a measure of food limitation in this population. The open field cohort maintained mean body mass at a level intermediate to the experimental cohorts. However, some individuals in the field did as well as those in the well–fed cohort, whereas none did as poorly as in the starved cohort. Ootheca production was greatly reduced in 1992 compared with the previous 2 yr. This could not be attributed to food limitation, because even well–fed experimental animals failed to oviposit. Lower temperatures in 1992 slowed development rate, reducing the number of females that reached imago in time to oviposit before killing frost. Thus, even when food limitation is not severe, stochastic reduction in degree–days could cause local or even regional extinction, especially in temperate univoltine species of low vagility such as T. sinensis .
Climate sensitivity of the century-scale hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) record preserved in 23 ice cores from West Antarctica

Author(s): Frey, MM; Bales, RC; McConnell, JR | Abstract: We report new century-scale ice core records of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a major atmospheric oxidant, from 23 locations across the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) and use the spatial variability of (multi-) annual mean H2O2 concentrations in snow and firn to investigate the sensitivity of ice core H2O2 preservation to mean annual temperature and accumulation rate. In agreement with the ice-air equilibrium partitioning, H2O2 uptake in near-surface firn was found to be greatest at low temperatures, while postdepositional losses from degassing increase as accumulation rates decrease. This resulted in almost complete loss of H2O2 at warm (g-25°C), low-accumulation sites (l13 cm yr-1), but excellent preservation of records at cold, high-accumulation sites. A two-parameter semiempirical model fitted to the 1911-1960 H2O2 means across all sites predicts g94% deviations from the ice-air equilibrium at high-accumulation sites (g30 cm yr-1), but close-to-equilibrium values on the East Antarctic Plateau, where it is dry (l11 cm yr-1). It also estimates a weighted average of the annual atmospheric H2O2 cycle of 1-3 pptv, about 10% of the levels at the bottom of the H2O2 range observed in winter and early spring in coastal Antarctica. Sensitivities from the model fit suggest that recent changes of annual mean temperature observed in Antarctica have no noticeable effect on the H2O2 record in the interior of West Antarctica and that interannual variability of annual H2O2 is dominated by variations in regional-scale accumulation under the current WAIS climate. Intermittent correlations between the first PC time series of accumulation rate and H2O2 concentration anomalies and the annualized SOI during the 20th century are statistically significant (r g 0.6, p l 0.05) during extended El Nino-La Nina events and explain the occurrence of significant spectral peaks at ENSO-like periodicities (2-7 years) in the H2O2 record. Core records of H2O2 at high-accumulation sites (g30 cm yr-1) are most suitable for detection of temporal changes in atmospheric concentration, although a long-term H2O2 record will be well preserved under the current environment at the WAIS Divide core site. Copyright 2006 by the American Geophysical Union.