cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Representation and Strategy in Diagnostic Problem Solving

Four experiments investigating diagnostic problem solving by clinical neurologists were performed. From protocols or verbal reports of physicians diagnosing neurological diseases we have identified several elementary structures used in clinical decision-making and compared them to some precisely defined information-processing primitives. A separate experiment established the reliability of the protocol information. The use of a tree structure as a representational model of the diagnostic process was tested, but not confirmed. In another experiment we discussed the implications of the elementary structures for the diagnostician's search strategy and noted two more strategy characteristics. Some hypotheses for an alternative representation and strategy were offered and it was suggested that a computer program could be used as a final test of this model.
Abstract 3811: Arsenic trioxide induces cell cycle arrest, apoptosis through interaction of DAXX and degradation of MDM2 in acute leukemia cells

Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA Arsenic trioxide (ATO) alone or combination with all trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has been successfully used in the treatment of all age group of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) patients. Recent human clinical trails result of ATO and their combination with ATRA shown complete remission in both de novo and relapsed APL patients. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms of its anti-leukemic action through cell cycle arrest and apoptosis are poorly known. We have used APL cell line and transgenic mice model to elucidate the anti-cancer properties of arsenic trioxide. We hypothesized that ATO arrests cell cycle and apoptosis through activation of p53 and interaction of death domain-associated protein (DAXX), which disrupted the MDM2-DAXX-HAUSP interactions. It also promoted MDM2 self-ubiquitination and degradation. To test the hypothesis, we used western blotting, confocal imaging and other molecular techniques to identify detailed cellular and molecular mechanisms of ATO action in APL cells and transgenic mice hepatocytes as well as bone marrow cells. We found that the expression levels of p53 and p21 increased significantly, whereas MDM2, DAXX and HAUSP decreased dose dependent manner. Our immunoprecipitation (IP) studies shown that they are well associated each other in cells and ATO disrupts associations. After 21 days treatment of ATO different doses (1.25, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 mg/kg body wt) in transgenic mice, we have collected liver tissue and isolated hepatocytes and bone marrow. In liver tissue, we found p53 nicely activated dose dependent ATO treated mice. On the basis of these findings, we conclude that ATO induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in APL cell line as well as mice hepatocytes through p53 activation, MDM2 self-ubiquitination and disruption of MDM2-DAXX-HAUSP interaction. It is novel target for treatment of APL patients through designing of new anti-leukemic drugs. Keywords: Arsenic trioxide, HL-60 cells, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, mitochondrial pathway, Mice hepatocytes and bone marrow. Acknowledgements: This research was financially supported by National Institutes of Health NCRR Grant No. 5G12RR013459 and MIMHD Grant No. 8G12MD007581, through the RCMI-Center for Environmental Health at Jackson State University. Citation Format: Sanjay Kumar, Paul B. Tchounwou. Arsenic trioxide induces cell cycle arrest, apoptosis through interaction of DAXX and degradation of MDM2 in acute leukemia cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 3811. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-3811
Advances in diffractive optical laser resonators

Diffractive optics are employed as cavity mirrors and intracavity elements in advanced laser resonator designs. The diffractive elements are used to produce custom fundamental mode shapes, discriminate against higher-order modes, and correct thermal aberrations in laser crystals.
CPA Examination Preparation and Intermediate Accounting Textbooks -- An Update

This paper is a follow up study to a survey conducted in 1985-1986. The original survey was designed to determine if the intermediate accounting instructors opinion regarding the elimination or combination of the first three or four chapters of intermediate accounting textbook (review chapters) have been changed because of the large volume of new FASB pronouncements and standard that have been added to the intermediate textbook. About 75 percent of the Financial Accounting and Reporting topics listed in the AICPA’s Content and Skill Specifications for the Outlines (updated May, 2009-2010) for the CPA examination are covered in intermediate accounting textbooks. Intermediate accounting textbooks could possibly be supplemented to include even more topics of the CPA examination. The textbooks, however, are already very lengthy. This follow up paper reports the results of a survey of intermediate accounting instructors to assess their reaction to eliminating one or more of the first four chapters of current textbooks; chapters that cover material introduced in prerequisite courses. Almost all (30 of 31) responding instructors were against cutting any topics in these chapters, and almost 71 percent would neither eliminate nor consolidate any of these chapters. In about 87 percent of the schools, intermediate accounting is offered as a junior level course. Very little or no significant difference was found in the treatment of first four chapters, or in total number of chapters covered in intermediate accounting, between schools offering the course as a junior level versus those permitting sophomore enrollments.
The descending and intrinsic serotoninergic innervation of an elasmobranch spinal cord

The descending and the intrinsic components of the serotoninergic (5HT) innervation of the Atlantic stingray spinal cord were described by comparing the distributions of neuronal elements exhibiting 5HT-like immunoreactivity (peroxidase-antiperoxidase method) in sections caudal and rostral to spinal transections. The cells of origin of the descending 5HT system were located with a double labeling method for both retrogradely transported horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and 5HT staining. The descending system provides virtually the entire 5HT innervation of the dorsal horn, the intermediate zone, and the dorsal and lateral portions of the ventral horn. Fibers of the descending 5HT system course in the lateral funiculus, the dorsal portion of the ventral funiculus, and in the submeningeal zones of the dorsal and lateral aspects of the spinal cord. This projection primarily originates from the 5HT cell groups of the caudal rhombencephalon (groups II and III; Ritchie et al., '83), with a minor contribution from group IV in the rostral rhombencephalon. The organization of the descending 5HT system in stingrays is remarkably similar to that of mammals. The intrinsic spinal 5HT system consists of cells distributed in the ventromedial spinal cord that have processes extending longitudinally in a ventral submeningeal fiber network. Fibers were traced from the submeningeal system to the ventral horn, where varicose processes were restricted largely to the neuropil ventral to the somata of the fin motoneurons. The existence of a well-defined intrinsic 5HT system in stingrays supports the hypothesis that such a system exists in the spinal cords of a variety of vertebrates.
A Comparison of Sexual Health History and Practices among Monogamous and Consensually Nonmonogamous Sexual Partners

Abstract Introduction Although consensually nonmonogamous (CNM) relationships are presumed to be far riskier for partners' sexual health compared with monogamous relationships, the disparity between them may be smaller than assumed. A growing body of research finds that many partners who have made monogamy agreements cheat, and when they do, they are less likely to practice safe sex than CNM partners. Aim Extant comparisons of monogamous and CNM relationships are rare and have yet to establish whether rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and STI testing differ between these groups. The present research compared self-reported STI history, lifetime number of sex partners, and condom use practices among monogamous and CNM partners. Methods Participants (N=556) were recruited for an online survey of "attitudes toward sexual relationships." Approximately two-thirds of the sample reported current involvement in a monogamous relationship, with the remainder indicating involvement in a CNM relationship. Main Outcome Measures All participants completed a questionnaire that included measures of condom use practices with primary and extra-pair partners, as well as their STI history. Results CNM partners reported more lifetime sexual partners than individuals in monogamous relationships. In addition, compared with monogamous partners, CNM partners were more likely to (i) report using condoms during intercourse with their primary partner; (ii) report using condoms during intercourse with extradyadic partners; and (iii) report having been tested for STIs. Approximately one-quarter of monogamous partners reported sex outside of their primary relationship, most of whom indicated that their primary partner did not know about their infidelity. The percentage of participants reporting previous STI diagnoses did not differ across relationship type. Conclusions CNM partners reported taking more precautions than those in monogamous relationships in terms of greater condom use during intercourse with all partners and a higher likelihood of STI testing. Thus, although persons in CNM relationships had more sexual partners, the precautions they took did not appear to elevate their rate of STIs above an imperfect implementation of monogamy. Lehmiller JJ. A comparison of sexual health history and practices among monogamous and consensually nonmonogamous sexual partners.
Risk of venous thromboembolism with cyproterone or levonorgestrel contraceptives

Summary Results of studies have shown that there is an excess risk of venous thromboembolism in users of oral contraceptives containing cyproterone compared with those containing levonorgestrel. We did a case-control study, in which we assessed the risk of idiopathic venous thromboembolism in women taking combined low-dose oestrogen oral contraceptives containing cyproterone (n=24 401) or levonorgestrel (n=75 000). We compared the 26 women in this population who had idiopathic venous thromboembolism with 144 matched controls. 12 individuals and 30 controls were taking contraceptives that contained cyproterone. Our results suggest that risk of venous thromboembolism is increased four-fold in women taking contraceptives containing cyproterone by comparison with those exposed to levonorgestrel.
STATISTICAL PEDAGOGY: EMPLOYING STUDENT-GENERATED DATA SETS IN INTRODUCTORY STATISTICS

A procedure for involving introductory statistics students in data production is described. The procedure was designed to provide a data set with which students would be intimately familiar and so able to manipulate. Students reported improved understanding of the data over artificial data sets.
Scaling violations in electromagnetic and neutrino scattering

Scaling violations in neutrino and antineutrino charged- current interactions are studied using phenomenological power and logarithmic descriptions determined from eN/ and ..mu..N scattering. Results for the two descriptions are very similar to one another and to the predictions from the full machinery of asymptotically free quantum chromodynamics. The accuracy of presently available ..nu..N and ..nu..N experimental results, and in some cases the large spread between different experiments, permits only a qualitative test of the expectations for scale breaking at this time.
Altering Arabidopsis Oilseed Composition by a Combined Antisense-Hairpin RNAi Gene Suppression Approach

Antisense (AS) and hairpin (HP) RNA interference (RNAi) targeted gene suppression technologies have been used to modify seed oil composition. Larger numbers of AS transgenics have to be screened to achieve a targeted level of suppression compared to RNAi. We hypothesized combining AS with RNAi might result in enhanced gene suppression compared to either method individually. AS and HP-RNAi were combined as hairpin antisense (HPAS) constructs containing ~125 bp sense and antisense portions of an untranslated region of the target gene separated by an intron containing an antisense copy of a portion of the target coding region. The Δ12-desaturase FAD2, the ω3-desaturase FAD3 and β-ketoacyl-ACP synthase (KAS) II were targeted in Arabidopsis to evaluate changes in oil composition with AS, HP and HPAS constructs driven by the phaseolin promoter. Modest but statistically significant enhancements in oilseed phenotypes were observed with HPAS relative to AS and HP-RNAi. Phenotypes for HPAS suppression of FAD2 and FAD3 were indistinguishable from their strongest mutant alleles. Our data suggest that HPAS may be useful for: (1) achieving levels of suppression comparable to those of gene knockouts in a tissue specific manner. (2) Maximizing suppression of suboptimal RNAi constructs and (3) minimizing the screening of transgenics to achieve desired oilseed composition.
Proton character of the peptide unit in the Ca2+-binding sites of calcium pump.

The effect of forming calcium pump structures in biological systems on the proton character of the peptide unit has been studied theoretically using the density-functional theory calculations with a large basis set. One acetic acid, one acetate, and three acetamide molecules as well as the modeling peptide unit (MPU) have been employed to mimic the amino acid residues forming the Ca2+-binding sites. To highlight the limiting case of the Ca2+-binding effect on the proton property and the proton countertransport possibility in the direction opposite to the ion, the MPU bounded by the bare or the hydrated Ca2+ has also been investigated. The natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis indicates that the increase of the p-character of the (N−H) σ orbital results in weakening of the N−H bond which is lengthened when a Ca2+ ion is introduced to the MPU. Calculated NMR shielding σ(H1) of the MPU shifts upfield upon the Ca2+ ion combination, which reveals the donating of the electron from the amide H as represented by th...
On the Orbital Ground State and the Magnitude of the Quadrupole Interaction in Some High-spin Iron(II) Pyridine Complexes

Abstract Mossbauer spectra of the pseudooctahedral complex trans -Fe(pyridine) 4 (NCS) 2 have been measured at 4.2°K in applied magnetic fields of up to 60 kG. The principal component of the electric field gradient tensor is positive and consistent with a 5 B 2g ground electronic state in a tetragonal local site symmetry. The sign of the quadrupole interaction is discussed in relation to a number of recent investigations in which orbital ground terms are assigned solely on the basis of the magnitude and temperature of the quadrupole interaction.
Simian Immunodeficiency Virus—Induced Intestinal Cell Apoptosis Is the Underlying Mechanism of the Regenerative Enteropathy of Early Infection

The enteropathic manifestations of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) in late infection are usually due to infection by other microbes, but in early infection the viruses themselves cause an enteropathy by heretofore undetermined mechanisms. Here we report that SIV induces massive apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells lining the small and large bowel, thus identifying apoptosis as the driving force behind the regenerative pathology of early infection. We found that apoptosis of gut epithelium paralleled the previously documented apoptosis and massive depletion of CD4 T cells in gut lamina propria, triggered by established mechanisms of gut epithelial cell apoptosis and, at peak, possibly by virus interactions with GPR15/Bob, an intestinal epithelial cell-associated alternative coreceptor for SIV and HIV-1. Apoptosis in early SIV infection is thus the common theme of the pathological processes that quickly afflict the innate as well as adaptive arms of the gut immune system.
Kv4.2 mediates histamine modulation of preoptic neuron activity and body temperature.

Histamine regulates arousal, circadian rhythms, and thermoregulation. Activation of H3 histamine receptors expressed by preoptic GABAergic neurons results in a decrease of their firing rate and hyperthermia. Here we report that an increase in the A-type K+ current in preoptic GABAergic neurons in response to activation of H3 histamine receptors results in decreased firing rate and hyperthermia in mice. The Kv4.2 subunit is required for these actions in spite of the fact that Kv4.2−/− preoptic GABAergic neurons display A-type currents and firing characteristics similar to those of wild-type neurons. This electrical remodeling is achieved by robust upregulation of the expression of the Kv4.1 subunit and of a delayed rectifier current. Dynamic clamp experiments indicate that enhancement of the A-type current by a similar amount to that induced by histamine is sufficient to mimic its robust effect on firing rates. These data indicate a central role played by the Kv4.2 subunit in histamine regulation of body temperature and its interaction with pERK1/2 downstream of the H3 receptor. We also reveal that this pathway provides a mechanism for selective modulation of body temperature at the beginning of the active phase of the circadian cycle.
Signaling by the TNF receptor superfamily and T cell homeostasis.

TNFR-like receptors are critical mediators of both healthy and pathogenic immune responses. Recent therapeutic approaches aiming at disruption of TNF-TNFR interactions have proven to be effective in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. However, current treatments with anti-TNF antibody or soluble TNFR proteins do not discriminate between TNFR-1 and TNFR-2. The identification of the PLAD and its role in mediating pre-ligand complex formation and receptor function may be exploited as a novel therapeutic target in diseases that involves TNF- and TNFR-like ligand-receptor pairs. For example, it is possible that a PLAD-mimicking peptide could specifically block receptor complex formation and function. Future experiments shall help to address the questions of how these preformed TNFR complexes signal, their role in achieving immune homeostasis, and whether they are feasible targets for intervention in specific diseases.*To whom correspondence should be addressed (e-mail: mlenardo@nih.gov).
A study of common pitfalls in simple multi-threaded programs

It is generally acknowledged that developing correct multi-threaded codes is difficult, because threads may interact with each other in unpredictable ways. The goal of this work is to discover common multi-threaded programming pitfalls, the knowledge of which will be useful in instructing new programmers and in developing tools to aid in multi-threaded programming. To this end, we study multi-threaded applications written by students from introductory operating systems courses. Although the applications are simple, careful inspection and the use of an automatic race detection tool reveal a surprising quantity and variety of synchronization errors. We describe and discuss these errors, evaluate the role of automated tools, and propose new tools for use in the instruction of multi-threaded programming.
Outcomes of microfracture in professional basketball players

Surgical treatment for chondral defects of the knee in competitive running and jumping athletes remains controversial. This study evaluated the performance outcomes of professional basketball players in the National Basketball Association (NBA) who underwent microfracture. Data from 24 professional basketball players from 1997 to 2006 was obtained and analyzed. NBA player efficiency ratings (PER) were calculated for two seasons before and after injury. A control group of 24 players was used for comparison. Study group and control group demographics including age, NBA experience, and minutes per game demonstrated no statistical difference. Mean time to return to an NBA game was 30.0 weeks from the time of surgery. The first season after returning to competition PER and minutes per game decreased by 3.5 (P 0.05) and 3.0 min (P < 0.26), respectively. A multivariant comparison versus controls demonstrated that power rating during the 2 years after surgery decreased by 3.1 (P < 0.01); while minutes per game decreased by 5.2 (P < 0.001). Twenty-one percent (n = 5 of 24) of the players treated with microfracture did not return to competition in an NBA game. On return to competition player performance and minutes per game are diminished.
Endoscopic Management of Malignant Bile Duct Strictures

Malignant biliary obstruction can arise from intrahepatic, extrahepatic, and hilar locations from either primary or metastatic disease. Biliary-enteric surgical bypass has been surpassed in the last 20 years by endoscopic balloon dilation and stenting. The goal of stenting for biliary decompression is to palliate obstructive symptoms; it has not been shown that survival is affected by stenting alone. Novel endoscopic therapies, including photodynamic therapy and radiofrequency ablation, have been evaluated and show promise. Both therapies seem to be safe and effective in the treatment of malignant bile duct strictures but are in need of prospective studies of longer duration.
Lectin Labeling of Surface Carbohydrates on Gametes of Three Bivalves: Crassostrea virginica, Mytilus galloprovincialis, and Dreissena bugensis

ABSTRACT The distribution of carbohydrates on the surface of freshwater and marine bivalve gametes was examined based on labeling by 5 lectins. The 3 species of interest were Dreissena bugensis, Mytilus galloprovincialis, and Crassostrea virginica. The lectins used to identify the surface carbohydrates are Arachis hypogaea (PNA), concanavalin A, Griffonia simplicifolia, Lens culinaris (LcH), and wheat germ agglutinin. Live eggs and sperm from each species were examined for lectin affinity. Lectin labeling differed greatly between the 3 species, with very few, if any, conserved trends. Furthermore, there was no obvious difference in labeling between marine and dreissenid species. Of particular interest were LcH labeling of M. galloprovincialis sperm that labeled the tip of the outer sperm acrosome and PNA labeling of C. virginica gametes that was specific only to the sperm inner acrosomal membrane. Fertilization series looking at the distribution of PNA labeling of the sperm acrosome showed localization to...
Properties and behavior of purified human plasma cholinesterase. I. Stability and thermal denaturation.

Abstract 1. 1. The thermal denaturation of human plasma cholinesterase has been studied, using purified preparations obtained through the Plasma Fractionation Program. 2. 2. Under the conditions of these experiments, the apparent energy of activation in the denaturation process (on the assumption of a first-order reaction) is approximately 60,000 cal./mole, and the corresponding temperature coefficient about 1.3/degree, at the pH of optimal stability. Denaturation is measured in months at 0 °, days at 37 °, and minutes at 50 °. 3. 3. A broad pH optimum for stability is found, centering about pH 6. Denaturation is greatly accelerated above pH 7 and below pH 5. The region of optimal stability does not include the more acidic isoelectric point of the enzyme or the more alkaline pH of optimal enzyme activity. 4. 4. Thermal denaturation is more rapid at low ionic strength than at physiological salt concentration. 5. 5. Enzyme dilution results in a loss of stability which can be prevented by albumin. 6. 6. Human plasma albumin (2–4%) stabilizes cholinesterase, but only in the pH range of optimal stability. The high order of stability of the enzyme in blood serum can be nearly duplicated in a solution of purified cholinesterase made to resemble serum in enzyme activity, ionic strength, and albumin concentration. 7. 7. The reversible inhibitors, prostigmine and methylene blue, stabilize cholinesterase against thermal denaturation. 8. 8. The thermal denaturation of the enzyme does not proceed as a first-order reaction. The denaturation rate diminishes excessively with time and this behavior is not altered by albumin. The most satisfactory explanation appears to be that active enzyme is stabilized by denatured enzyme or by denatured impurities in the fractions employed.
Calculating similitude and difference: John Seller and the ‘placing’ of English subjects in a global community of nations

This article examines uses of calculation in the works of John Seller, a seventeenth-century publisher of sea atlases, navigation manuals and popular geography texts. It is argued that Seller led his readers to calculate overseas places as distant but accessible and to calculate overseas peoples as different but similar. Foreign places thus were constructed as knowable, opening up a world wherein the English could engage in commerce and, in some instances, territorial domination. By inviting his readers to constitute projections of similitude and difference across time and space, Seller enabled them to use calculation to construct themselves as English subjects who knew their ‘place’, within the English nation and within the global community of nations. Calculer la similitude et la difference: John Seller et le «positionnement» des sujets anglais dans la communaute mondiale des nations Cet article etudie l'emploi du calcul dans les travaux de John Seller, editeur au dix-septieme siecle d'atlas maritimes, ...
Word frequency in problem solving

In a modification of an earlier study, Ss were presented with problems consisting of five words varying in printed language frequency. In different groups, Ss tried to guess the Word at a particular frequency level in each problem. The words used within a problem were structurally more similar to each other than had been the case in the previous study. The result was that, in the present experiment, the word-frequency dimension emerged even more clearly as a habit strength variable in problem solving.
Corneal Damage in Larvae of Striped Bass Morone saxatilis Exposed to Copper

Abstract Four-week-old striped bass larvae were exposed for 24 h to 60, 80, 110, or 150/zg Cu++/L prior to an examination of their corneas by light and electron microscopy. Epithelial cells were sloughed from the corneas in a dose-dependent manner; corneas from fish exposed at the highest concentration were so denuded that the stromas were exposed. Corneas from fish exposed to 80 and 110 μg/L also exhibited a second type of pathological response that was concentration-dependent and resulted in greatly enhanced cytoplasmic density, condensed nuclear chromatin and pyknosis, extensive cytoplasmic vacuolation, and mitochondrial swelling and degeneration in the epithelial cells. Copper-induced pathological changes of the visual system may affect the ability of larvae to feed and to respond normally to visual stimuli.
reply: Kinase regulation in inflammatory response

Ozes et al . reply Delhase et al. take issue with our claim1 that Akt induces activation of NF-κB by phosphorylating IKKα, contending that IKKα plays no role in the activation by TNF of NF-κB, and consequently that Akt could not affect NF-κB through IKKα. They point out that Hu et al.2 have shown that cells deficient in IKKα have normal TNF-induced NF-κB activity, but this has been refuted by Li et al.3, who reported significant reduction of TNF-induced NF-κB in IKKα-deficient cells. Indeed, the observations of Hu et al.2 show that degradation of IκBα is diminished in cells from IKKα-deficient mice and are therefore not consistent with the conclusion that IKKα plays no role in TNF induction of NF-κB. Furthermore, deficiency of IKKβ only partially impairs TNF-induced NF-κB activation4,5, which reserves a role for IKKα in this pathway. Others5,6,7 have shown that activation of the IKK complex is dependent on the kinase activity of IKKα to activate IKKβ. Thus, strong evidence supports a role for IKKα in TNF induction of NF-κB.
Effects of daily soman administration on rabbit blood pressure, temperature, body weight, and erythrocyte and plasma cholinesterases.

Soman (pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate), and other organophosphate acetylcholinesterase (ACHE) inhibitors, in toxic doses usually cause a marked reduction in blood pressure. With some AChE inhibitors (AChEI) this is due primarily to a bradycardia-induced reduction in cardiac output (Holmstedt, 1951; Daly and Wright 1956; Fukuyama and Stewart, 1961). However, these organophosphate AChEI also constrict peripheral blood vessels to increase vascular resistance, thus opposing the usually predominant decrease in blood pressure (Holmstedt, 1951; Daly and Wright, 1956; Fukuyama and Stewart, 1961). Hypotension, however, can also be observed in anesthetized rabbits in which bradycardia is blocked by atropine (Preston and Heath, 1972 a,b). This was attributed to decreased central vasomotor output. In several species including rats and dogs, and in human subjects, sub-lethal doses of AChEI increase blood pressure through a central mechanism (Buccafusco and Brezenoff, 1979; Phillippu, 1981; Brezenoff and Giuliano, 1982; Brezenoff et al., 1984). Effects of repeated sub-lethal soman injections on blood pressure and correlation with plasma and erythrocyte cholinesterases have not been done.
Caffeine elevates blood pressure response to exercise in mild hypertensive men

The present study examined the effects of caffeine on blood pressure (BP) regulation in hypertensive men during exercise. Twenty unmedicated, mild hypertensives (HT, BP = 140/90 to 160/105 mm Hg) and 12 age-matched, normotensives (NT, BP 230 for systolic or > 120 for diastolic) during exercise. In conclusion, caffeine has significant hemodynamic effects on mild hypertensives at rest and during exercise. The increased rate-pressure products following caffeine during exercise place a greater workload on the heart, and abstinence from caffeine, especially before exercise, may be beneficial for persons with hypertension.
Adaptive technique for image compression based on vector quantization using a self-organizing neural network

A novel image compression technique employing the self-organized clustering capability of Fuzzy-ART neural network and 2D runlength encoding is presented. Initially the image is divided into 4×4 blocks and the 16 element vectors representing the pixels in the blocks are applied to the Fuzzy-ART network for classification. The image is then represented by the block codes consisting of the sequence of class indices, and the codebook consisting of the class index and their respective gray levels. Further compression is achieved by 2D runlength encoding, making use of the repetitions of the class index in the block codes in x and y directions. By controlling the vigilance parameter of Fuzzy-ART, a reasonable compression of the image without sacrificing the image quality can be obtained. From the experimental results, it can be seen that the proposed method of image compression can be used for image communication systems where large compression ratio is required. An efficient technique for automatic computation of the value of vigilance parameter based on the image characteristics for optimum compression of the image is also presented in this paper. With the introduction of a new class of Fuzzy-ART network, namely Force Class Fuzzy-ART, hardware implementation of the image compression module is made feasible. This architecture constrains the maximum number of classes in the output of the network by forcing the new vectors into one of the closest categories.
Producer gas from pulverised fuel

The use of solid fuels in powdered form is extending in this country, and rapid developments are expected. This article indicates one of the many lines of investigation that could profitably be followed by those interested in such developments.
Within-compound associations between the context and the conditioned stimulus

Abstract Three experiments were conducted to test for the presence of associations between contextual cues and the nominal conditioned stimulus (CS) in fear conditioning. Rats were given tone-footshock pairings and were tested for their fear of the nominal CS, the tone, in a different context. Experiments 1 and 2 demonstrated that rats given nonreinforced exposure to the training context following conditioning were less fearful of the CS. Experiment 3 indicated that additional footshock presentations in the training context following conditioning produced greater fear of the CS. In both procedures postconditioning treatments designed to directly alter only the associative strength of the training context yielded parallel changes in the conditioned response to the CS. These data suggest that within-compound associations are formed between the context and the CS during classical conditioning.
SEASONAL AND LIFETIME ALLOCATION PATTERNS OF THE WOODY GOLDENROD, SOLIDAGO PAUCIFLOSCULOSA MICHAUX. (COMPOSITAE)

Both seasonal and lifetime allocation patterns were determined for S. pauciflosculosa, a woody composite, by monitoring biomass loss and gain of each age class in a population for one year. Seasonal allocation patterns were typical of woody plants in stressed environments and did not differ significantly among different aged plants of the same reproductive status. The standing biomass of a mature individual was partitioned as follows: roots 15%, stems 55%, leaves 19%, and reproductive tissues 111%. Lifetime allocation to these particular tissues were 5%, 15%, 50%, and 30% respectively. Lifetime allocation to reproduction was similar to values for related annuals. The implications of these findings for energy allocation theory are discussed. RESOURCE PARTITIONING within plants has interested workers in the agricultural and ecological sciences for many years. While agriculturalists have worked with selective forces of known intensity and direction under controlled environments, ecologists have attempted to understand selection in the natural environment. Consequently, the need for comparing responses of genetic systems to divergent selection pressures has arisen. Terms such as "fruit load," "harvest index," and "reproductive effort," measured as the percent of the total standing biomass consisting of repro
The perceptual benefits of a tangible interface decrease with users' expertise

In this paper, I describe an empirical study where I investigated the way users learn new concepts using a Tangible User Interface (TUI). In this study, 27 pairs of apprentices in logistics (N=54) interacted with an interactive simulation of a warehouse. Their task was to memorize, analyze and optimize several warehouses' layouts. In one condition, half of the participants used physical, 3D shelves; in another condition, shelves were represented by 2D paper rectangles. This manipulation allowed me to control for the "representational effect" of 3D tangibles: the first group saw the warehouse as a small-scale model with realistic shelves, while the second group had access to a more abstract view with rectangular pieces of paper. I found that participants who used 3D shelves better memorized a warehouse layout, built a more efficient model, and scored higher on a learning test. Interestingly, these effects decreased with students' expertise: third-year students (compared to first-years and second-years) performed as well and learnt as much in both conditions.
Effects of tape-recorded hypnotic preparation for surgery.

Abstract The day before surgery, 30 patients heard a tape recording that gave suggestions of relaxation, drowsiness, comfort during the operation, and quick recovery, and which also gave simple information about the forthcoming operation. A control group of 30 additional surgical patients heard a recording describing facilities available in the hospital. No differences between the 2 groups were found on surgeons ratings of degree of nervousness on the day of the operation, or on speed of recovery. However, there was a significant correlation within the experimental group between depth of relaxation while listening to the recording and absence of nervousness the day of the operation, and also between depth of relaxation and speed of recovery. Verbal reports of benefit from listening to the recording were unrelated to depth of relaxation.
The El Mozote Massacre: Anthropology and Human Rights/Power, Ethics and Human Rights: Anthropological Studies of Refugee Research and Action

The El Mozote Massacre: Anthropology and Human Rights. Leigh Binford. Tucson: University of Arizona Press, 1996. xix. 263 pp., illustrations, tables, notes, references, index. Power, Ethics and Human Rights: Anthropological Studies of Refugee Research and Action. Ruth M. Krelfeld and Jeffrey L. Macdonald. eds. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, Inc., 1998. vii. 203 pp., index, contributors.
Electrospun Hybrid Soy Protein/PVA Fibers

Rheological behavior and spinnability of biodegradable materials based on SPI and PVA were studied for the production of electrospun fibers. pH level, processing temperature, and heating time were adjusted to investigate the effects of denaturing of soy protein on the rheology of SPI/PVA solutions. The results show that zero shear viscosity and degree of shear thinning of the SPI solution can be controlled by adjusting pH level and thermal treatment. The continuous production of uniform SPI/PVA fibers was achieved by electrospinning. The presence and amount of soy protein in the electrospun fibers was determined by EMPA and elemental analysis, confirming that the SPI was well incorporated into the PVA and remained in the electrospun fibers.
Prosocial effects of oxytocin in two mouse models of autism spectrum disorders

Clinical evidence suggests that oxytocin treatment improves social deficits and repetitive behavior in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). However, the neuropeptide has a short plasma half-life and poor ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier. In order to facilitate the development of more bioavailable oxytocinergic compounds as therapeutics to treat core ASD symptoms, small animal models must be validated for preclinical screens. This study examined the preclinical utility of two inbred mouse strains, BALB/cByJ and C58/J, that exhibit phenotypes relevant to core ASD symptoms. Mice from both strains were intraperitoneally administered oxytocin, using either acute or sub-chronic regimens. Acute oxytocin did not increase sociability in BALB/cByJ; however, sub-chronic oxytocin had significant prosocial effects in both BALB/cByJ and C58/J. Increased sociability was observed 24 h following the final oxytocin dose in BALB/cByJ, while prosocial effects of oxytocin emerged 1-2 weeks post-treatment in C58/J. Furthermore, acute oxytocin decreased motor stereotypy in C58/J and did not induce hypoactivity or anxiolytic-like effects in an open field test. This study demonstrates that oxytocin administration can attenuate social deficits and repetitive behavior in mouse models of ASD, dependent on dose regimen and genotype. These findings provide validation of the BALB/cByJ and C58/J models as useful platforms for screening novel drugs for intervention in ASDs and for elucidating the mechanisms contributing to the prosocial effects of oxytocin.
Compatible glassy polyblends based upon poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide): Tensile modulus studies

The mechanical behavior of compatible glassy polyblends based upon poly(2.6-dimethyl- 1,4-phe nylene oxide) (PPO) was investigated. In particular, the influence of composition, molecular weight, and molecular weight distribution upon the tensile modulus of the blend was assessed. Various possible correlations between the experimentally determined moduli and theory are considered. Included are correlations with density, packing density, composite theory, and lattice fluid theory. The modeling of the properties of mixtures via Simplex lattice design is also presented. Finally, attention is given to the development of compatibility criteria based upon tensile modulus and density measurements.
Optic disk size in ischemic optic neuropathy.

We measured the horizontal diameter, vertical diameter, and area of the optic disk in fellow eyes of patients with unilateral nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy and in control eyes without ocular disease. The fellow eyes of patients with anterior ischemic optic neuropathy had a smaller horizontal than vertical disk diameter (P
Mechanosensory modulation of perioral neuronal groups during active force dynamics

The spatiotemporal organization of the mechanically evoked perioral sensorimotor response was sampled from five normal females using a custom-designed linear motor operating under force feedback. Electromyographic activity was sampled from the superior and inferior segments of the orbicularis oris muscle during the production of a visually guided ramp-and-hold lip-rounding task. Brief mechanical inputs of approximately 0.45 N delivered to the left upper lip during the ramp-and-hold task produced a composite myogenic response characterized by phases of excitation and suppression. Modulation of the primary excitatory component (R1) of the mechanically evoked perioral response was found to be highly dependent upon the rate of force recruitment (1 N/s vs. 4 N/s) and the phase of force recruitment (20% vs. 50% vs. 80% of 1 N end-point force). Modulation of later occurring inhibitory (S1) and excitatory (R2) potentials were also found to be dependent upon differences in the rate and phase of force recruitment. The organization of the perioral sensorimotor response is considered in relation to speech motor control and the dynamic organization of neuronal groups subserving perioral sensorimotor activity.
Abstract 1714: Chemoresistance in patients with papillary serous carcinoma of the ovary

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL The majority of patients with ovarian carcinoma present at an advanced stage, with metastatic disease throughout the peritoneal cavity. Therefore, patients commonly undergo platinum-based chemotherapy. Even though the initial response rates can be high, the majority of patients will have recurrent disease and the 5-year survival rate is only 10-20%. The human lung resistance protein (LRP) is a multidrug resistance protein that has been shown to be overexpressed in models of chemotherapy resistance, but has not been adequately explored in platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). The primary aim of this study was to compare LRP expression in the tumor cells from ascitic fluid with tumor cells from omental metastasis in chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced EOC. The secondary aim was to explore possible mechanisms in which LRP might cause drug resistance. After IRB approval, patient ascites and metastatic implants were collected and evaluated for platinum sensitivity and expression of LRP, phospho-ERK, and AKT using western blots and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Both ascites and omental metastatic implants were treated with 50 uM carboplatin for 48 hours and cell viability was analyzed. LRP, phospho-ERK, and AKT were analyzed using IHC on samples treated with 50 uM carboplatin or phosphate buffered saline. Of 20 patients who had matched ascites and omental metastatic implants adequate for analysis, 4 were platinum resistant, 3 were platinum sensitive, and 13 displayed intermediate platinum sensitivity. Overall, the malignant cells in ascites were more resistant to carboplatin than the metastatic implants (p=0.001) and the malignant cells in ascites showed higher expression of LRP than the omental metastatic implants by IHC and western blotting. IHC and western blotting also demonstrated that the malignant cells in ascites had lower expression of phospho-ERK and higher expression of AKT than the metastatic implants. After treatment with 50 uM carboplatin, the platinum resistant patients had decrease in phospho-ERK and an increase in AKT versus the platinum sensitive patients who had an increase in phopho-ERK and a decrease in AKT and LRP. High expression of LRP in the tumor cells in ascitic fluid may indicate platinum resistance prior to initiation of platinum-based chemotherapy. Also, changes in phospho-ERK and AKT following platinum based therapy may indicate the extent of response of EOC to this therapy. Supported in part by the Kaleidoscope of Hope ovarian cancer foundation. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1714. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1714
Germline Sequence Variants and Prostate-Specific Antigen Interpretation

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)2 is the primary biomarker used to screen for prostate cancer. PSA has limited specificity as a marker, however, and it can be increased in multiple noncancerous conditions [e.g., prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)] and after prostatic manipulation (e.g., catheterization) (1, 2). There is now emerging evidence that PSA concentrations may also be affected by genetic variables. Through genome-wide association studies, investigators have identified >30 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are associated with prostate cancer susceptibility. Eeles et al. reported a strong association of SNPs on chromosomes 10 (rs10993994) and 19 (rs2735839) with PSA concentration and prostate cancer risk (3). It is noteworthy that rs2735839 is located near the KLK3 3 (kallikrein-related peptidase 3) gene on chromosome 19, which encodes PSA, potentially underlying the relationship. In 2009, our group further explored the potential implications of these intriguing findings for prostate cancer screening (4). With 505 men from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, we used mixed-effects models to evaluate the relationships between genotype, PSA, and prostate cancer risk. In a model with age and date, there was a 1.18-fold (18%) increased risk ratio for prostate cancer per unit increase in PSA. In an expanded model that also considered the SNP genotypes on chromosomes 10 (rs10993994) and 19 (rs2659056 and rs2735839) and the interaction between genotype and PSA, we found significant differences in prostate cancer risk by PSA that depended on genotype. Specifically, the risk ratio for prostate cancer was …
A new method of predicting the critical temperature of explosives for various geometries

A new method of predicting the critical steady-state boundary temperature of an explosive is presented. General expressions are derived for the critical boundary temperatures for a slab, solid and hollow cylinder, and solid and hollow sphere, Results of the method are compared with the results of previous investigators, when available, and with the results of numerical calculations. The new method was found to be in good agreement with the numerical results and the results of the previous techniques. The new method is simple and can be easily applied to various geometries and boundary conditions.
Comment on the nature of point sources in Yang-Mills theories

Using transport it is argued that for a point source in classical Yang-Mills theories one must require certain components of A/sub a/ be less singular than 1/r at the source. For time-independent solutions the requirement is that the Coulomb solution dominate near the source.