cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improved Monte-Carlo simulations for dynamic PET

565 Objectives: The objective of this research is to improve the speed and implementation convenience of computer simulations of positron emission tomography (PET) by combining SimSET (Simulation System for Emission Tomography) and GATE (Geant4 Application for Tomography Emission) Monte-Carlo codes. The improvement is particularly important for simulating dynamic FDG PET studies Methods: The new technique for computer simulations involves combination of two powerful and well validated Monte-Carlo codes, SimSET and GATE. It takes advantage of the shorter simulation times for photon propagation inside a voxelized phantom using SimSET as compared to GATE. The histories of all photons, single and coincidence, escaping from the phantom are stored in a file which serves as the input to GATE. The convenience and precision of GATE interface to define and visualize complex scanner geometries is explored to simulate experimental data from specific PET systems. We used the design parameters and the geometry of the scintillators and the detector circuitry of a GE Advance PET scanner for generation of the preliminary data. The new technique was validated by comparing the simulated projection data of a simple source inside a uniform water phantom generated using the GATE code alone and using the new method with a combination of the SimSET and GATE codes. The two simulated projection data sets and the total computer times used to generate them were compared. To evaluate the new Monte-Carlo simulation method for realistic clinical applications, we simulated positron emission, annihilation and photon transport inside a voxelized 3D NCAT phantom with activity distribution modeling that of a typical F-18 FDG patient study Results: We found the simulated coincidence projection data of the simple voxelized source inside a uniform water phantom obtained by using GATE alone and the new method with the combined Monte-Carlo codes are identical asides from statistical fluctuations. The total simulation times using the new technique on AMD Athlon® processors of our computer cluster are about 12 times shorter than that using GATE alone and are only about twice as long as the time required for the photon history generation with SimSET. The time required to generate 1 minute of coincidence projection data from the 3D NCAT phantom with simulated 10 mCi of injected F-18 FDG using the new method is about 1.5 hours using 80 AMD Athlon® MP 2200 CPUs Conclusions: Our preliminary results indicate that the new technique can be used for efficient Monte-Carlo simulations of a realistic voxelized phantom using an accurate model of the complex configuration and detector geometry of a modern PET scanner. The new simulation method is particularly useful in studying cardiac and respiratory motions and other dynamic studies using PET imaging techniques and instrumentation Research Support (if any): NIH grant #R01EB168
The Authenticity Challenge: How a Value Affirmation Exercise Can Engender Authentic Leadership

In this paper, we introduce a brief and effective way to increase leader’s perceived authenticity in the form of a values affirmation exercise. Personal values reflect what people consider as most ...
The Formation of Ethylene from 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylic Acid

Since Adams and Yang (1) demonstrated that ethylene is biosynthezed in apple tissue via the following sequence: methionine → SAM → ACC → ethylene, this pathway has been shown to operate throughout the diversity of higher plant tissues. Although EFE, which catalyzes the terminal step in the sequence, has not been well charactezed in vitro, it is clear from the in vivo data that the reaction is oxygen-dependent, inhibited by various agents, activated by CO2, and exhibits stereoselectivity toward ACC analogs. In this paper I shall summarize the present status of knowledge pertaining to the mechanism and regulation of this reaction in various plant systems.
Development and Validation of a Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry Assay for AZD3965 in Mouse Plasma and Tumor Tissue: Application to Pharmacokinetic and Breast Tumor Xenograft Studies

Abstract AZD3965, a pyrole pyrimidine derivative, is a potent and orally bioavailable inhibitor of monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1), currently in a Phase I clinical trial in UK for lymphomas and solid tumors. There is currently no published assay for AZD3965. The objectives of this study were to develop and validate a LC/MS/MS assay for quantifying AZD3965 in mouse plasma and tumor tissue. Protein precipitation with 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile was used for sample preparation. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a C18 column followed by tandem mass spectrometry detection in multiple reaction monitoring mode with utilizing Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization. AR-C155858 was used as the internal standard. The inter-day and intra-day precision and accuracy of quality control samples evaluated in plasma and tumor tissue were less than ±7% of the nominal concentrations. The extraction recovery, matrix effect and stability values were all within acceptable levels. Sample dilution integrity, accessed by diluting plasma spiked with AZD3965 10-fold with blank plasma, was 101%. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) and upper limit of quantification (ULOQ) were 0.15 ng/mL and 12 μg/mL, respectively, in plasma. The assay of AZD3965 in tumor tissue was also validated with good precision and accuracy. The LLOQ was 0.15 ng/mL in tumor tissue. This assay was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic and murine 4T1 breast tumor xenograft studies of AZD3965 in mice.
The Sounds of Gender: Textualizing Barbershop Performance

Were one to compare a contemporary barbershop performance to a score of the same song, one might be surprised at the differences. Rather than rendering a score exactly as a composer or arranger indicates, most barbershoppers create their own “interpretations,” or understandings of what the song means, and use these to alter the rhythms, tempi, and notes of the written page. Instead of a gold standard, the barbershop score provides a starting place or guide for quartets and choruses, which have the final artistic authority over their performance. This tradition of song interpretation in modern barbershop singing emerged alongside much of the barbershop musical repertory in dialogue with the sheet music, vaudeville, and recording industries of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, a conversation that can still be heard today; as other studies have demonstrated, contemporary barbershop organizations and praxis continue to reflect the gender, race, and class discourses of the Victorian era (Averill, Four parts, no waiting: A social history of American Barbershop harmony. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003; Mook, Journal of the Society for American Music, 1, 453–483, 2007; Garnett, The British Barbershopper: A study in socio-musical values. Aldershot: Ashgate Press, 2005). However, when confronting practical matters of song interpretation, barbershoppers must also negotiate contemporary discourses of race, gender, class, age, and genre. They debate, for example, how to imagine the bourgeois, female object of a song’s lyrics, how young or old should they imagine themselves to be when performing, and whether certain styles of black music can fit within their genre. While referencing the history of barbershop singing, these internal debates also link the genre with its current social and cultural contexts, and empower barbershop performers to create meaning.
Calcaneal decompression for heel pain.

Abstract The causes and treatments for heel pain can vary significantly and, many times, can present a challenging problem for both conservative and operative care. This article describes the most common cause of heel pain, with a focus on the use and proper application of the calcaneal decompression procedure. A review of the literature, anatomic considerations, mechanism of action, surgical technique, and case presentations are offered.
Quantum signature of exciton condensation

Exciton condensation, a Bose-Einstein-like condensation of excitons, was recently reported in an electronic double layer (EDL) of graphene. We show that a universal quantum signature for exciton condensation can be used to both identity and quantify exciton condensation in molecular systems from direct calculations of the two-electron reduced density matrix. Computed large eigenvalues in the particle-hole reduced-density matrices of pentacene and hexacene EDLs reveal the beginnings of condensation, suggesting the potential for exciton condensation in smaller scale molecular EDLs.
Human rights education in US social work: Is the mandate reaching the field?

AbstractSocial work education in the United States takes place not only in classrooms but also in the many workplaces where students complete their mandatory internships. This practicum, known as “...
Current-Driven Terahertz Light Emission from GraphenePlasmonic Oscillations

Graphene is a promising materials system for basic studies and device applications in THz optoelectronics with several key functionalities, including photodetection and optical modulation, already ...
Digital Ethics in Social Work Education

Attention has been given to the revised National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics that guides social worker use of technology. The revision of the NASW Code of Ethics has signale...
Applying luminescence dating of ceramics to the problem of dating Arctic archaeological sites

Abstract Dating Arctic archaeological sites is challenging because of limited terrestrial bone and the high probability of old wood in northern regions. Luminescence dating of ceramic materials, abundant in western Arctic late Holocene archaeological sites, offers another potential source of chronological information. We set out to evaluate whether luminescence can provide chronological information in one particular region. We obtained luminescence ages on 14 pottery samples from seven study sites located on the coast and interior regions of northwest Alaska. Twelve of the luminescence dates are in accord with radiocarbon, tree ring, and artifact data from the study sites. Results indicate that all of the study sites may be older than previously established, suggesting previously unknown early Thule or Birnirk occupation of the coast and interior of northwest Alaska. We conclude that luminescence dating of ceramic materials from this region is possible and can complement other dating methods that are more widely accepted in the western Arctic. There is considerable potential through future applications of luminescence dating for improving northeast Asian and Arctic chronologies and expanding our understanding of circumpolar Holocene migration, cultural interaction, and change.
Sepsis after elective neurosurgery: Incidence, outcomes, and predictive factors.

Abstract Sepsis is a life-threatening condition resulting from systemic infection, with mortality rates approaching 30%. Most neurological surgeries are now performed electively, which permits medical optimization preoperatively. We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of 122,466 adult elective neurosurgical patients from 2012 to 2018 in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. To select for a medically optimized population, patients were included if they arrived from home on the day of surgery, were not pregnant or puerperium, and had no documented evidence of preexisting infection. We analyzed demographic, comorbidity, and operative information; performed multivariate logistic regression to explore factors predictive of postoperative sepsis; and evaluated outcomes for patients who developed sepsis. Overall, 0.87% of patients developed postoperative sepsis (n = 1,067). The rate of sepsis was higher in the cranial subpopulation (1.21%; n = 330) and lower in the spinal subpopulation (0.77%; n = 733). The overall sepsis cohort was older, had more males, was more functionally dependent, had longer operation durations, and had higher rates of medical comorbidities. Minority race and smoking were not associated with sepsis. The sepsis cohort fared worse than the control cohort across all outcome measures, including prolonged length-of-stay (≥90th percentile), discharge anywhere but home, 30-day readmission, 30-day reoperation, and 30-day mortality. Results for the cranial and spine subpopulations follow similar trends. In summary, sepsis in the elective neurosurgical population is an uncommon but devastating cause of excess morbidity and mortality.
Strategy for functionalization of electrodes with discrete, unmodified small molecules exhibiting aqueous stability

The electrochemical and solution stability of discrete molecules trapped in silica-based films on glassy carbon electrodes in aqueous solution was investigated. The films exhibit stability over a wide range of pH values and importantly are created via a simple mixture of commericially available sillanes and the electroactive complexes without a need to synthetically modify the target molecules.
Evaluating the robustness of the CMS Hospital Value-Based Purchasing measurement system.

BACKGROUND The Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program (HVBP) is a pay for performance system that impacts traditional Medicare fee-for-service payments to hospitals through rewards and penalties. OBJECTIVES To explore variation in overall and individual-hospital total performance score (TPS) and embedded domains for hospitals during 2014-2018. DATA SOURCE Hospital data were retrieved from the publicly available HOSArchive dataset. STUDY DESIGN Distribution of annual TPS and HVBP domain scores for 2014-2018 was evaluated using descriptive statistics. Transitional probabilities were analyzed to evaluate annual movement in the TPS ranking for outlier hospitals in the Top and Bottom 5%. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS TPS scores are positively skewed while the distribution of domain scores vary with patient experience, (clinical) outcome, and efficiency domains having a large number of (positive) outliers. Mean TPS score decreased from 40.54 in 2014 to 38.04 by 2018. Improvement was shown in mean domain scores for clinical process of care and clinical outcome using 95% confidence intervals, with hospitals gaining 10 points over the study period in clinical outcome. Changes in the mean scores for other domains did not show consistent increases or decreases. Chi-square analyses of hospital ranking categories showed some evidence that, as a group, hospitals initially ranked in the Bottom 5% are making consistent annual movements to higher categories. In contrast, over half of the hospitals ranking in the initial Top 5% remained in the top category across all study years. CONCLUSIONS It may be time for CMS to redesign the HVBP incentive program to assure the measures accurately demonstrate sustained improvement, the domain weights appropriately reflect the level of importance, and the TPS comparative ranking methodology does not discourage lower-performing hospitals from actively improving the care they deliver and achieving top ranks.
A Generalizable Multimodal Scrub Training Curriculum in Surgical Sterile Technique

Introduction Recent endeavors from governing bodies such as the AAMC have formally recognized the importance of aseptic technique. AAMC guidelines include activities that all graduating physicians ...
Program Personnel and Regulatory Requirements

In this chapter, we discuss and outline the minimal requirement for a PI program. We describe what data acquisition resources are necessary. Meetings and discussions are critical to self-examination, and we discuss how these meetings should be structured and recorded. The leadership of the trauma is critical to enhancing and optimizing care. The personnel include the trauma program manager, trauma registrar, and a PI coordinator. The leadership is responsible for guiding the PI process and for ensuring loop closure. The PI coordinator or program manager administers the PI program, gathers event, analyzes cases, and makes recommendations. The trauma registrar is essential for providing context to problems and querying the trauma registry for information necessary for improvement. It is critical that data collection be accurate and timely. The multidisciplinary PI meeting is the essential meeting that must be attended by trauma program leadership and the liaisons from the key specialties. This meeting is where cases are discussed and corrective action plans are created.
Low-Thrust Gravity-Assist Trajectory Design Using Optimal Multimode Propulsion Models

The complexities in using indirect optimization methods get compounded for practical co-optimization problems in the presence of continuous and discrete design variables. In this paper, realistic m...
Corporal punishment and early childhood development in 49 low- and middle-income countries.

Abstract Objective To systematically assess the association between corporal punishment and young children's development in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Method Data for 69 population-based surveys from the Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey (MICS) were combined. The sample included 131,164 children aged 36–59 months living in 49 LMICs. The surveys included information about children's developmental status and exposure to corporal punishment in the prior month. Logistic models, random-effects meta-analysis, and moderation analysis were used to obtain pooled estimates and assess the extent to which the association between corporal punishment and child developmental outcomes varied across countries. Results On average, children exposed to corporal punishment were about 24% (β = 0.76, 95% CI 0.72–0.80) less likely to be developmentally on track than children who were not exposed to corporal punishment. Challenges in social-emotional development may drive the association between child development and corporal punishment. Corporal punishment was not associated with any positive developmental outcome in any country. There was minor heterogeneity in the estimated associations, which was not explained by the extent to which corporal punishment was normative within countries. Conclusions All forms of corporal punishment – including spanking – are likely to be harmful to young children's development and wellbeing. Public education, legal prohibition of corporal punishment, and other efforts are needed to protect children from corporal punishment and promote their wellbeing, health, and development.
Physician-pharmacist collaboration: a millennial paradigm to reduce medication errors.

The Institute of Medicine has reported that medication errors cause an estimated 7000 deaths annually. Additionally, drug-related adverse events increase the risk of mortality by 1.88, with approximately 27% of reported adverse drug events attributed to negligence. As the healthcare system is faced with the challenge of reducing medication errors and adverse drug events, one viable solution may be to increase physician-pharmacist collaboration. According to the recent literature, increasing physician-pharmacist collaboration may result in a reduction in total drug morbidity and mortality.
Sex Therapy, Female

Sex therapy is goal-specific and is concerned with alleviating sexual impairments that cause distress; it may also include broader goals such as improvement of a couple's communication and relationship quality. The initial phase of sex therapy is concerned with the accurate diagnosis of the sexual dysfunction presented by the patient. This may pose a difficulty for many psychotherapists, considering that (1) the diagnostic criteria provided by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR; American Psychiatric Association [APA] 2000) is often unclear, (2) there is high comorbidity with respect to sexual dysfunctions, and (3) there is a paucity of research examining age-related norms for the female sexual response. Keywords: sex therapy; sexual desire; sexual arousal; orgasm; sexual pain
Manufacturing and packaging of optoelectronic components

Summary form only given. Wide-scale system deployment of optoelectronic components requires continuing reductions in product selling price. Particularly price-sensitive applications include computer local area networks and fiber-to-the-curb interconnects. To satisfy market needs a successful manufacturer must have a highly flexible, efficient, and robust production capability. This paper reviews how device technologies, assembly techniques, packaging materials, and designs are evolving to meet this challenge without sacrificing component quality and reliability.
Specific and Irreversible Inactivation of Pepsin by Substrate-like Epoxides

Abstract Several substrate-like epoxides were found to act as specific and irreversible inactivators of pepsin. Of these, 1,2-epoxy-3-(p-nitrophenoxy) propane (EPNP) was the most potent. When EPNP reacted with pepsin, all enzyme activity was lost. Two molecules of EPNP were found to be covalently bound to each molecule of completely inactivated enzyme. In this reaction, two carboxyl groups of the enzyme are each apparently esterified by one hydroxyl group of glycol formed from EPNP. The esterification of carboxylates by epoxides is a well established reaction. The modified enzyme, EPNP-pepsin, released the bound EPNP groups in alkaline solution. On thin layer chromatography, the released modifying group was identified as the glycol of EPNP. These observations support the view that esterification was the inactivation reaction. Prior reaction of pepsin with diazoacetyl-dl-norleucine methyl ester or p-bromophenacyl bromide was still followed by the reaction of 2 EPNP residues per pepsin molecule. The EPNP-reactive carboxyl group must, therefore, differ from those carboxyl groups reacted with diazoacetyl-dl-norleucine methyl ester and p-bromophenacyl bromide. EPNP failed to inactivate pepsinogen. Moreover, in the presence of synthetic substrates or their hydrolytic products, the inactivation of pepsin by EPNP was significantly slower. Results on the EPNP incorporation in the presence and absence of substrates indicated that only one of the two modified carboxyl groups was protected by the presence of the dipeptide substrate. This "active center carboxyl group" may participate in the catalysis of the enzyme. The second EPNP-reactive carboxyl group was apparently not essential for enzyme activity. EPNP was found to inactivate other gastric proteases: human gastricsin, human pepsin, and bovine rennin. The stoichiometry of the reaction in human gastricsin and pepsin was identical with that in porcine pepsin.
Design of a P System based Artificial Graph Chemistry

AbstractArtiﬁcial Chemistries (ACs) are symbolic chemical metaphors for the exploration ofArtiﬁcial Life, with speciﬁc focus on the origin of life. In this work we deﬁne a P systembased artiﬁcial graph chemistry to understand the principles leading to the evolution oflife-like structures in an AC set up and to develop a uniﬁed framework to characterize andclassify symbolic artiﬁcial chemistries by devising appropriate formalism to capture semanticand organizational information. An extension of P system is considered by associatingprobabilities with the rules providing the topological framework for the evolution of a labeledundirected graph based molecular reaction semantics. 1 Basic Framework of Artiﬁcial Chemistries Aim of this section is to present a brief introduction to artiﬁcial chemistries. We will start witha discussion on the epistemological foundations of the area and will illustrate further detailsusing examples relevant to this proposal. The examples are followed by discussions to motivatethe main theme of the proposal which is elaborated in coming sections.
Real-Time First Order Guidance Strategies for Trajectory Optimization in UAVs by Utilizing Wind Energy

This paper presents real-time guidance strategies for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that can be used to enhance their flight endurance by utilizing {\sl insitu} measurements of wind speeds and wind gradients. In these strategies, periodic adjustments would be made in the airspeed and/or heading angle command for the UAV to minimize a projected power requirement at some future time. In this paper, UAV flights are described by a three-dimensional dynamic point-mass. Onboard closed-loop trajectory tracking logics that follow airspeed vector commands are modeled using the method of feedback linearization. A generic wind field model is assumed that consists of a constant term plus terms that vary sinusoidally with respect to the location. To evaluate the benefits of these strategies in enhancing UAV flight endurance, a reference strategy is introduced in which the UAV would seek to follow the desired airspeed in a steady level flight under zero wind. A performance measure is defined as the average power consumption both over a specified time interval and over different initial heading angles of the UAV. A relative benefit criterion is then defined as the percentage improvement of the performance measure of a proposed strategy over that of the reference strategy. Extensive numerical simulations are conducted. Results demonstrate the benefits and trends of power savings of the proposed real-time guidance strategies.
Income Inequality and Property Crime. A Cross-National Analysis of Relative Deprivation Theory

Cultural issues that act as intervening variables in the inequality-crime relationship have been neglected in the literature on inequality and crime. The present article explores the interaction between inequality and variables thought to be associated with a perception that inequality is illegitimate. The central argument is that the strength of inequality-crime relationship is dependent on a contextual factor, a radical egalitarian culture promoting the view that inequality is illegitimate. Data on property crime from 62 nations are analyzed. The results generally indicate that neither inequality nor the interaction between inequality and egalitarian culture exerts independent effects on property crime.
Perception: A Concept Analysis

PURPOSE: Concept analysis methodology by Walker and Avant (2005) was used to define, describe, and delimit the concept of perception. DATA SOURCE: Nursing literature in the Medline database was searched for definitions of “perception.” DATA SYNTHESIS: Definitions, uses, and defining attributes of perception were identified; model and contrary cases were developed; and antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents were determined. CONCLUSIONS: An operational definition for the concept was developed. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nurses need to be cognizant of how perceptual differences impact the delivery of nursing care. In research, a mixed methodology approach may yield a richer description of the phenomenon and provide useful information for clinical practice.
Numerical correction of multichannel analyzer data for system nonlinearity

Abstract A correction technique using a computer for elimination of differential and integral nonlinearity in a multichannel pulse-height-analyzer (MCPHA) system is presented. Nonlinear histogram data are redistributed into a new set of channels having equal width by use of an accurate differential nonlinearity measurement and a suitable approximation. Experimental considerations of importance for achieving a rapid, accurate differential nonlinearity measurement are treated carefully for a time-to-amplitude converter (TAC) system. Tests of the procedure with a system comprised of a TAC, biased amplifier, and MCPHA are described.
On diameter of permutation graphs

Let G be a connected graph with n vertices. Let α be a permutation in Sn. The α-generalized graph over G, denoted by Pα(G), consists of two disjoint, identical copies of G along with edges να(ν). In this paper, we investigated the relation between diameter of Pα(G) and diameter of G for any permutation α ∈ Sn. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Networks 33: 161–166, 1999
Recovery and characterization of hybrid dysgenesis-induced mei-9 and mei-41 alleles of Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract X-linked methyl methanesulfonate (MMS)-sensitive mutations were induced with hybrid dysgenesis using four P strains: π2, Harwich, T-007 and OK-1. Mutations were identified after two generations of backcrosses to M strain females to replace the autosomes. Among 51471 X-chromosomes examined 10 carried stable MMS-sensitive mutations representing 8 independent events. Males of the mutant strains failed to induce gonadal dysgenesis in crosses to Oregon-R females at 28.5°C. Complementation tests showed that 3 of the induced mutations were mei-9 alleles, 2 were mei-41 alleles, 1 was a mus102 allele, and 2 were alleles at a newly identified MMS-sensitive locus, mus112 (map position: 1–32.8). As assayed by in situ hybridization on polytene chromosomes, each X-chromosome had no more than four P element insertions. 4 of the 8 mutations recovered in this study proved to have P element insertions at or very close to sites to which MMS sensitivity has been mapped. Hybrid dysgenesis-induced reversion of 2 mutants, mei-9 RT1 and mei-41 RT2 , is associated with the loss of the P element from regions 4B and 14C respectively.
Evidence for the simulaneous translocation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor and G protein by carbachol

Interactions between guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins (G proteins) and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) were studied in vivo following carbachol treatment. Rat brain homogenates were separated by high speed ultracentrigation into heavy and light membrane and 300,000 g supernate franctions. The G proteins were partially purified by Sephadex-G200 and heptylamine-Sepharose and the mAChRs by (3,2′-aminobenzhydryloxy)-tropane-(ABT)-affinity chromatographies. Radioligand binding assays showed that acute carbachol induced a biphasic translocation of the mAChRs and G proteins into the light membrane fraction with an initial release at 5–10 min and a second phase at 60 min. Portions of the released mAChRs and the G proteins, were found in the 300,000 g supernates and light membranes and were eluted in the same peak fractions from a Sephadex G-200 column. This dually labelled peak dissociated in the presence of digitonin, suggesting close association between the mAChR and G protein. ABT-affinity chromatography yielded dually labelled mAChR-G protein fractions which eluated as a single radioactive peak on a second ABT column. the partially purified G proteins from these fractions were photoaffinity labelled with 8-azidoguanosine-5′-triphosphate, [γ-32P]. SDS-PAGE autoradiography revealed the presence of G0ξ and Giα which may be released simultaneously with the mAChRs from the plasma membrane. In addition, a 110,000 molecular weight polypeptide was dually labelled by [3H]-PrBCM and [γ-32P]-8-azido-GTP suggesting the presence of a “mAChR-G protein complex.” These findings provide direct evidence for the release of mAChRs and G proteins and a mAChR-G protein complex by agonist occupation of the mAChRs.
Physiological and biochemical adaptations to training in Rana pipiens

FifteenRana pipiens were trained on a treadmill thrice weekly for 6.5 weeks to assess the effects of training on an animal that supports activity primarily through anaerobiosis. Endurance for activity increased 35% in these frogs as a result of training (P=0.006, Fig. 1). This increased performance was not due to enhanced anaerobiosis. Total lactate produced during exercise did not differ significantly for the trained or untrained animals in either gastrocnemius muscle (2.77±0.21 and 2.82±0.13 mg/g, respectively) or whole body (1.32±0.10 and 1.47±0.06 mg/g, respectively). Glycogen depletion also did not differ between the two groups (Fig. 2c). The primary response to training appeared to involve augmentation of aerobic metabolism, a response similar to that reported for mammals. Gastrocnemius muscles of trained frogs underwent a 38% increase over those of untrained individuals in the maximum activity of citrate synthase (14.5±1.0 and 10.5±0.9 μmoles/(g wet wt·min);P=0.008). This enzyme was also positively correlated with the level of maximum performance for all animals tested (r=0.61,P<0.01) and with the degree of improvement in the trained animals (r=0.72,P<0.05). In addition to an increased aerobic capacity, the trained animals demonstrated a greater removal of lactate from the muscle 15 min after fatigue (Fig. 2b).
Drug elimination interactions: analysis using a mathematical model.

A mathematical model was developed to analyze the elimination kinetics of drug interactions in the rat. The model is based on physiological blood flow rates and organ weights and includes Michaelis-Menten equations for enzymatic processes which are involved in the elimination of the drug;competitive inhibition interactions are computed for shared pathways. Using data from the single drugs, the model can simulate the results of experiments of the acute warfarin-BSP interactions in rats.
The future role of monoclonal antibody therapy in childhood acute leukaemias

Leukaemia is the single most common childhood malignancy. With modern treatment regimens, survival in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) approaches 90%. Only about 70% of children with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) achieve long term survival. Patients who relapse have a dismal prognosis. Novel therapeutic approaches are needed to improve treatment outcomes in newly-diagnosed patients with a poor prognosis and for patients with relapsed/refractory disease that have limited treatment options. One promising approach in treating haematological malignancies has been the use of monoclonal antibodies to target cell surface antigens expressed on malignant cells. Most success with monoclonal antibody therapy in the treatment of haematological malignancies has come in the setting of adult B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma with the addition of the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab to standard treatment regimens. In order to further advance treatment of haematological malignancies, novel monoclonal antibodies continue to be developed that target a variety of cell surface antigens. Several antibodies continue to be investigated in childhood leukaemias. This review will discuss the development of monoclonal antibodies that target a variety of cell surface antigens for the treatment of childhood ALL and the use of the anti-CD33 antibody gemtuzumab ozogamicin in the treatment of childhood AML.
The Pit-1 transcription factor gene is a candidate for the murine Snell dwarf mutation

Two nonallelic mouse mutations with severe dwarf phenotypes are characterized by a lack of growth hormone, prolactin, and thyroid stimulating hormone. The cells that normally synthesize these pituitary hormones express a common transcription factor called GHF-1 or Pit-1. Using an intersubspecific backcross, we have demonstrated tight linkage of the Pit-1 and Snell dwarf (dw) genes on mouse chromosome 16. No recombination was observed between Pit-1 and dw in 110 individuals examined. Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA reveals that the Pit-1 gene is rearranged in C3H/HeJ-dwJ/dw mice but not in coisogenic +/+ animals, providing molecular evidence that a lesion in the Pit-1 gene results in the Snell dwarf phenotype. Demonstration of low levels of Pit-1 expression in Ames dwarf (df) mice implies that both Pit-1 and df expression may be required for pituitary differentiation.
Synthesis and Characterization of Magnetite Particles by Co-Precipitation Method

The Fe3O4 nanoparticles with different diameters were prepared by co-precipitation method in this paper. Magnetite particles with different diameters were fabricated by changing the concentration of the reactants and the reaction temperature. The influences of process parameters on the microstructure and properties of magnetic nanopariticles were studied. The obtained samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electronic microscopy. Besides, vibrating sample magnetmeter was used to characterize the magnetic properties. The results show that all the as-synthesized magnetite nanoparticles are well crystallized and can be indexed into spinel structure. The appearance and magnetism of the particles with different diameter are different from each other. When the ratio of Fe3+ and Fe2+ is 2:1 or 4:3, the product was pure and good crystalline. Furthermore, higher saturation magnetization was obtained in a higher bath temperature.
THE EFFECT OF SOME ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ON THE MOVEMENTS OF GUARD CELLS

The movements of the guard cells have been shown by many studies to be affected by light, temperature and relative humidity. Most of these studies have been concerned with the separate effects of each of these factors rather than their interrelationship. Since the movements of the guard cells are affected by the total environment rather than any one single factor, it was considered that a study relating the movements of the guard cells to all of the factors should be undertaken. In addition, it was thought that since most of the theories which attempted to explain the movements of the guard cells were related to their photosynthetic activity, a study of the photosynthetic activity of the plants whose stomatal aperture was being measured should also be undertaken. These studies were conducted under both natural and controlled conditions.
Are Bordered Plots Necessary for Corn Performance Tests

The range of heights and maturities present in a corn hybrid test has the potential to influence the relative importance of border rows, yet many breeding and performance testing programs use unbordered, two-row plots. A series of experiments was conducted at three sites in two years to evaluate the need for border rows in small-plot corn hybrid tests containing hybrids that differ in maturity and height. The six environments provided average grain yields of 77 to 227 bu/acre. Four corn hybrids provided contrasting combinations of relative maturity (RM) and height: 102 RM, medium-short; 110 RM, medium-short; 110 RM, medium-tall; and 116 RM, tall. Hybrids were planted in plots with four rows, 30 ft long, in a randomized complete block experimental design. The outer two rows of each plot functioned both as the border rows for the 4-row, bordered plot treatment and as the plot rows for the 2-row, unbordered plot treatment in a type of split-plot arrangement. Hybrid yield ranks did not change significantly in response to presence or absence of border rows in any of the six environments, supporting the conclusion that bordered plots are not necessary for accurate estimation of yield ranks in corn hybrid performance tests.
Priming depletes soil carbon and releases nitrogen in a scrub-oak ecosystem exposed to elevated CO2

Abstract Elevated atmospheric CO 2 tends to stimulate plant productivity, which could either stimulate or suppress the processing of soil carbon, thereby feeding back to atmospheric CO 2 concentrations. We employed an acid-hydrolysis-incubation method and a net nitrogen-mineralization assay to assess stability of soil carbon pools and short-term nitrogen dynamics in a Florida scrub-oak ecosystem after six years of exposure to elevated CO 2 . We found that soil carbon concentration in the slow pool was 27% lower in elevated than ambient CO 2 plots at 0–10 cm depth. The difference in carbon mass was equivalent to roughly one-third of the increase in plant biomass that occurred in the same experiment. These results concur with previous reports from this ecosystem that elevated CO 2 stimulates microbial degradation of relatively stable soil organic carbon pools. Accordingly, elevated CO 2 increased net N mineralization in the 10–30 cm depth, which may increase N availability, thereby allowing for continued stimulation of plant productivity by elevated CO 2 . Our findings suggest that soil texture and climate may explain the differential response of soil carbon among various long-term, field-based CO 2 studies. Increased mineralization of stable soil organic carbon by a CO 2 -induced priming effect may diminish the terrestrial carbon sink globally.
Reaction zones in highly unstable detonations

Experimental images of detonation fronts are made for several fuel-oxidizer mixtures, including hydrocarbon–air systems. Schlieren and planar laser induced fluorescence techniques are used to image both the shock configurations and the OH reaction front structure in a single experiment. The experiments are carried out in a narrow rectangular channel. The degree of instability of detonation fronts in different mixtures is evaluated by comparing calculated mixture parameters with the longitudinal neutral stability curve. The images reveal that the structure of the front increases dramatically in complexity as the mixture parameters move away from the neutral stability curve into the unstable region. Of the mixtures studied, nitrogen-diluted hydrocarbon mixtures are predicted to be the most unstable, and these show the greatest degree of wrinkling in the shock and OH fronts, with distortion occurring over a wide range of spatial scales. In the most unstable cases, separation of the shock and OH front occurs, and localized explosions in these regions are observed in a high-speed schlieren movie. This is in dramatic contrast to the weakly unstable waves that have smooth reaction fronts and quasi-steady reaction zones with no evidence of localized explosions. A key feature of highly unstable waves is very fine scale wrinkling of the OH and shock fronts, which is absent in the low-activation energy cases. This may be due to the superposition of cellular structures with a wide range of cell sizes. In contrast to soot foils, images of the OH front have a more stochastic appearance, and organized cellular structure is not as apparent.
Cooperative R&D in government laboratories: comparing the US and Japan

Abstract Cooperative technology policy activities of US and Japanese government laboratories are compared to determine the extent, structural patterns, motives, and consequences of cooperative R&D. Based on survey data from US federal laboratories and Japanese national laboratories, the study shows that government laboratories of the respective nations are quite similar with regard to laboratory missions and motives for cooperative R&D. But the labs' cooperative R&D activities diverge in several ways. First, compared to Japanese government labs, US government labs have, on average, more than twice as many cooperative R&D agreements. However, Japanese labs have a higher percentage of agreements with industry and nonprofit organizations, and with foreign organizations. US laboratories with a larger number of cooperative R&D agreements have a larger number of patents and somewhat higher ratings of technology transfer effectiveness. Japanese labs with a larger number of R&D agreements also have more patents but lower ratings of technology transfer effectiveness. Finally, lab directors in the US and Japan diverge considerably in their assessments of the contribution of cooperative R&D to the effectiveness of various lab research missions.
The Ethical Use of the Old Testament in Luther and Calvin: A Comparison

‘The Holy Scriptures teach ethics, or the theory of duties, far better than any Ciceros or Aristotles’, claimed Luther, comparing the Bible with the standard ethical handbooks of antiquity, both Latin (Cicero's De Officiis) and Greek (Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics). Luther had in fact lectured on Aristotle's Ethics in 1508/9, a few years before he received the degree of ‘Doctor in Biblia’. It was as a Professor of Bible, mainly of the OT, that Luther earned his living for over thirty years, and Calvin too expended a large proportion of his efforts as preacher, commentator and lecturer on the OT. Comparisons of their use of the OT have tended to concentrate on the law and to a lesser extent on Christological (Christocentric) hermeneutics. This essay will endeavour to cast the net more widely and to broach the question of the law as it arises within a broader context.
Impurity-induced raman scattering studies of pure crystal anharmonicity in KBr

Abstract Raman spectra for Tl+-doped KBr are reported as functions of hydrostatic pressure at 30, 85 and 300 K, and as functions of temperature at zero pressure. The experiments can be understood in terms of the volume dependence of phonon frequencies alone, with no multiphonon effects. Peak shifts, calculated on the basis of pure crystal phonons and bulk anharmonicity, are seen to be in good agreement with experiment.
Rapid growth of Acanthamoeba in defined media: Induction of encystment by glucose-acetate starvation

Defined media are described that support 14-20 h generation times for Acanthamoeba castellanii and A. rhysodes in monolayer cultures. the media differ in minor ways from previously described media, but the growth rates are greatly improved over previously reported values. Maximum growth rates were observed for A, castellanii in a complex medium containing 21 amino acids, but near-maximum rates could be achieved in relatively simple media containing 9 amino acids. Growth occurred with 6 amino acids, as reported by others, but generation times exceeded 30 h. Amitosis was a common problem during early subcultures in defined media, but became infrequent after repeated transfers. Synchronous encystment resulting in 70-80% cyst formation could be induced in the defined media by glucose and acetate starvation. the rate of encystment varied with cell density at the time of starvation and was optimal at initial densities of 400-800 amebae/mm2.
Micromolar ammonia analysis and atmospheric contamination

Measurement of micromolar quantities of ammonia is generally done by spectrophotometric methods. However, these methods do not protect the sample from atmospheric contamination. Atmospheric contamination of samples with ambient ammonia during analysis is therefore investigated. A modification of Kjeldahl's apparatus for extracting micromolar quantities of ammonia from small samples without atmospheric contamination is proposed.
Linear HgCdTe Radiometer

The basic modes of electrical operation of photoconductive optical radiation detectors are analyzed. The nonlinearity inherent in "voltage mode" measurements can be eliminated by using "current mode" measurements. A HgCdTe photoconductive radiometer has been designed, based on this analysis, which measures the current through a biased detector. A built-in calibrating capability in the circuits of the radiometer makes it possible to eliminate the effects of a long-term drift in the bias voltage, thereby achieving a higher precision.
Colon carcinoma in patients undergoing liver transplantation

Abstract Background: Organ recipients are at risk for certain neoplasms. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is itself a strong risk factor for the development of colon carcinoma (CCa). Transplant patients with UC might be at higher risk for CCa. We analyzed these patients to compare the incidence and pattern of CCa development in these and non-UC patients following liver transplantation (OLTX). Patients and methods: Retrospective study of 1,085 OLTX patients. Results: In 1,022 patients without UC, 1 patient ( Conclusions: Coexistent UC in patients requiring OLTX constitutes a potentially high risk for the development of colonic cancer, a late-appearing event. These patients require close observation and frequent colonoscopic/histologic screening of the colon.
Precision pointing thrustor.

A satellite experiment to test the predicted relativistic precession of a gyroscope moving through a gravitational field has been under development at Stanford University for a number of years. The instruments will be located in a liquid helium bath to insure dimensional stability and to permit using superconducting types of circuitry for readout of the gyro orientation. Heat leaks in the system cause the helium to boil and the resultant helium gas is used for attitude control. The principal subject of the paper is the design and experimental evaluation of an electromagnetically actuated differential thrustor which was built and tested at Stanford University. The results are unique because most propulsion systems operate on-off in order to utilize propellant efficiently. In this case, the gas must flow continually to provide cooling, and the requirements are primarily for low power, small volume, and high reliability.