cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cannabinols and feeding in sheep.

Marijuana, long used for the euphoria which results, recently has been found to stimulate hunger in humans but in several laboratory animals cannabinoids decrease food intake. Sheep, relatively more sensitive to chemicals that affect food intake, were injected IV with the d-and l-isomers of tetrahydrocannabinol and with a 9-aza-cannabinol) 9-AC) (8-(1,2-dimethylheptyl)-5,5-dimethyl-5H-[1]benzopyranol[3,4]pyridin-10-01, HCl) and feeding behavior was monitored. In the first 30 min, food intake was increased by the l-isomer and by 9-AC but not affected by d-Δ9-THC. After 24h, feed intake was decreased by at least one dose of d-and l-Δ9-THC and 9-AC. The l- but not d-isomer was active at very low doses compared with doses used in many laboratory animals.
Synthesis and antitumor activity of a series of (aminoethylpyrrolidine) platinum complexes.

A series of aminoethylpyrrolidine-platinum complexes were synthesized and partially characterized for chemical structure. The leaving groups in this series of complexes were varied in an attempt to identify cytotoxic, water-soluble aminoethylpyrrolidine-platinum complexes. The cytotoxic activity was tested in vitro against L1210 cells sensitive to cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (L1210/0), L1210 cells resistant to cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (L1210/DDP), and L1210 cells resistant to 1,2-diaminocyclohexane platinum (L1210/DACH). The complexes were also tested for in vivo antitumor activity against L1210/0 cells injected i.p. The results of these studies indicate that the aminoethylpyrrolidine-platinum complexes have moderate antitumor activity but are cross-resistant in L1210/DDP cells. The degree of antitumor activity was dependent on the characteristic leaving group of a given complex.
Women, peacekeeping and peacemaking: gender balance and mainstreaming.

Without a UN Security Council authorization, the case for humanitarian intervention in Kosovo cannot justify NATO's use of force against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1999. By contrast NATO member states could have defended an armed intervention as a collective self‐defence action under Article 51 of the UN Charter, though the campaign would have been significantly different than Operation Allied Force. Because it demands that one consider the legal interest of the intervening states in the defence of the victim and whether the forceful intervention is sufficiently targeted at the violation in question, the doctrine of self‐defence may provide a legal basis for interventions in humanitarian crises and a useful set of criteria to evaluate their legality, especially when the UN Security Council fails to act.
Multimedia-based delivery of research findings

This paper describes the use of multimedia technology to deliver the results of a study to investigate whether investments in R&D could have significant impact in either reducing the cost and/or enhancing the effectiveness of manufacturing assembly. The electronics assembly area is specifically considered and opportunities for R&D investment are presented. We use extensive graphics, sound, and animation in a multimedia software system to explain the findings of this research to audiences with widely varied backgrounds. We describe how this approach to research documentation is effectively used to convey complex, interrelated concepts that are uncovered during a research effort by concurrently building the delivery system with the ongoing research. We envision the use of this technology as an improvement on the conventional technical report and describe our experience with the technology.
Structure-based mechanism of photosynthetic water oxidation

The recently-published 3.5 A resolution X-ray crystal structure of a cyanobacterial photosystem II (PDB entry 1S5L) provides a detailed architecture of the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) and the surrounding amino-acids [K. N. Ferreira, T. M. Iverson, K. Maghlaoui, J. Barber and S. Iwata, Science, 2004, 203, 1831–1838]. The revealed geometry of the OEC lends weight to certain hypothesized mechanisms for water-splitting, including the one propounded by this group, in which a calcium-bound water acts as a nucleophile to attack the oxygen of a MnVO group in the crucial O–O bond-forming step [J. S. Vrettos, J. Limburg and G. W. Brudvig, Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 2001, 1503, 229–245]. Here we re-examine this mechanism in the light of the new crystallographic information and make detailed suggestions concerning the mechanistic functions (especially the redox and proton-transfer roles) of calcium, chloride and certain amino-acid residues in and around the OEC. In particular, we propose an important role for an arginine residue, CP43–Arg357, in abstracting protons from a substrate water molecule during the water-splitting reaction.
Histochemical observations on rodent brain melanin

The presence or absence of melanin and neuromelanin in rodent brain was determined by means of light microscopic histochemistry. Melanin in melanocytes located in meninges and along cerebral capillaries occurred in abundance in C57 black mice and to a lesser extent in pigmented rats. Meningeal melanin bound cupric and ferrous ions, reduced ferricyanide, and appeared golden-brown in the bright field, light scattering in the dark field, and absorbant in the ultraviolet. Eleven aging albino rats were utilized to ascertain if the age related pigment, neuromelanin was present in neurons of the substantia nigra. Evidence of neuromelanin was not obtained as the cupric and ferrous ion uptake reactions were negative and neuromelanin could not be seen in the bright or dark field. Substantia nigra neurons did exhibit histochemical reactions for lipofuscin, however, as acid phosphatase positive, periodic acid-Schiff positive, and autofluorescent granules were demonstrated.
Differential effects of mutations on discrete steps in transcription initiation at the λ PRE promoter

Abstract The effects of cy mutations on transcription initiation at the λ P RE promoter were determined using abortive initiation analysis (McClure, 1980). In the presence of λ cll protein, which activates P RE , three mutations in the −10 region dramatically reduce k 2 , the forward rate constant for the isomerization of closed to open complexes, but only slightly affect K B , the equilibrium constant for the initial recognition by RNA polymerase to form closed complexes. In contrast, five −35 region mutations caused decreases of 30 to 150 times in K B with much smaller effects on K 2 . In the absence of cll protein, the effects of mutations in the −10 region are qualitatively similar to those observed in the presence of cll protein, although the reductions in K 2 are much less dramatic. In contrast, none of the mutants with defects in the −35 region is distinguishable from wildtype P RE in the absence of cll protein. Thus RNA polymerase may recognize different sequences in the −35 region in the absence of cll protein than in its presence.
Managing Organizational Transitions

The article presents a review of the book “Managing Organizational Transitions,” edited by John R. Kimberley and Robert E. Quinn.
Physiologic effects of brain extracts from hibernating and non-hibernating rodents on isolated perfused rat heart.

Abstract 1. 1. Extracts of brains from hibernating ground squirrels ( Citellus tridecemlineatus ) lowered heart rate and increased coronary flow and oxygen consumption of isolated perfused rat hearts. 2. 2. These effects were not different from those of alert thirteen-lined ground squirrels, antelope ground squirrels, guinea-pigs or mice. 3. 3. Rat brain extracts depressed coronary blood flow and oxygen consumption. 4. 4. The heart was not demonstrated to be a target organ for the antimetabolic activity of hibernating ground squirrel brain extracts. 5. 5. Non-homologous rodent brain extracts increase coronary perfusion rate and oxygen uptake of the isolated rat heart.
In vivo evaluation of vaginal films for mucosal delivery of nitric oxide

Nitric oxide (NO)-releasing vaginal films were developed and evaluated as a potential advanced treatment option for female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD). The polymeric films containing s-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), an endogenous NO donor, were prepared using the reduced-pressure drying method. The surface morphology, thermal/mechanical properties, stability, loading efficiency and physicodynamic properties were characterized and the pharmacological activities were evaluated through in vitro and in vivo studies. The GSNO films were homogeneous and transparent, and showed suitable mucoadhesiveness and mechanical properties. The release profiles of NO from the GSNO films followed the first-order kinetic pattern and NO activated the NO-cGMP signaling pathway in vaginal cells. The GSNO films significantly enhanced the duration of action of GSNO and vagina blood perfusion in the rat model without causing any cytotoxic effects. The NO-releasing vaginal films might be used as a promising treatment device against FSAD.
Boosting systems for large vocabulary continuous speech recognition

We employ a variant of the popular Adaboost algorithm to train multiple acoustic models such that the aggregate system exhibits improved performance over the individual recognizers. Each model is trained sequentially on re-weighted versions of the training data. At each iteration, the weights are decreased for the frames that are correctly decoded by the current system. These weights are then multiplied with the frame-level statistics for the decision trees and Gaussian mixture components of the next iteration system. The composite system uses a log-linear combination of HMM state observation likelihoods. We report experimental results on several broadcast news transcription setups which differ in the language being spoken (English and Arabic) and amounts of training data. Additionally, we study the impact of boosting on maximum likelihood (ML) and discriminatively trained acoustic models. Our findings suggest that significant gains can be obtained for small amounts of training data even after feature and model-space discriminative training.
An Improved Global EDF Schedulability Test for Uniform Multiprocessors

The global EDF scheduling of sporadic task systems upon uniform multiprocessor platforms is studied. A new sufficient schedulability test is presented and proved correct. Some interesting issues are discussed, that arise regarding the choice of an appropriate metric for evaluating the test quantitatively. Metrics based on processor speedup factor are proposed, and the test is quantitatively evaluated in terms of these metrics.
Alkaline phosphatase expression in human cell lines derived from various malignancies

A search for expression of heat-stable placental-type alkaline phosphatase (ALP) has been carried out in 19 unselected human tumor cell lines, known not to be HeLa. All cell lines showed measureable ALP activity and in 15 of the lines at least low levels of a heart-stable, presumptively placental-type ALP were detected. In five of these lines where the level of this heat-stable activity was sufficient, further, investigation, (immunologic, inhibition and electrophoretic studies) demonstrated that this ALP was placental-type in its characteristics and clearly different from liver/bone/kidney or intestinal ALPs. In 10 lines the heat-stable activity was too low to allow further characterization, In four lines no heat-stable activity in these various lines was liver-bone-kidney in type. This study suggests that the placental ALP locus may be expressed in at least at low levels in a much higher proportion of tumors and tumor cell lines than previously reported. The findings taken together with recent reports that low levels of placental-type ALP are present in some normal adult tissues (cervix, Goldstein et al., 1980; testis, Chang et al., 1980), indicate that so-called "ectopic" synthesis of placental ALP in tumor cells may not necessarily be due to derepression of a structural locus which is completely unexpressed in normal adult tissues. It may represent an enhancement of expression in malignancy or there may be clonal expansion of a particular cell type which normally expresses the alkaline phosphatase at a high level.
The static dipole polarizabilities of all the neutral atoms in their ground states

Values of the static dipole polarizabilities of all neutral atoms in their ground electronic states have been collected and tabulated. A bibliography for both theoretical and experimental determinations is included.
Cities in the suburbs: heterogeneous communities on the US urban fringe, 1920–60

While the scholarly literature largely ignores issues of suburban population size, density and heterogeneity, during the 1920s a number of large, densely-settled, heterogeneous suburbs emerged on the fringe of the largest US cities. The article identifies forty-one of these potential ‘city suburbs’ which are defined as communities having minimum thresholds of 25,000 population and residential densities of 6,000 per square mile. City suburbs may have claimed nearly 25 per cent of the suburban populations of the nation's ten largest metropolitan districts. Drawing largely on data for midwestern cities, city suburbs are further identified through their diverse populations by class, ethnicity and race; varied housing stocks and economic activities including retailing, professional services and manufacturing; and political independence from their central city. Nearly equally divided between residential and industrial suburbs, the former, including Oak Park, Illinois, ‘fit’ traditional middle-class suburban descriptions while neighbouring Cicero represented workingclass, industrial communities.
The nitric oxide-cGMP pathway may mediate communication between sensory afferents and projection neurons in the antennal lobe of Manduca sexta.

The nitric oxide (NO)–cGMP signaling system is thought to play important roles in the function of the olfactory system in both vertebrates and invertebrates. One way of studying the role of NO in the nervous system is to study the distribution and properties of NO synthase (NOS), as well as the soluble guanylyl cyclases (sGCs), which are the best characterized targets of NO. We study NOS and sGC in the relatively simple and well characterized insect olfactory system of the hawkmoth, Manduca sexta . We have cloned Manduca sexta nitric oxide synthase (MsNOS) and two sGCs (MsGCα1 and MsGCβ1), characterized their basic biochemical properties, and studied their expression in the olfactory system. The sequences of the Manduca genes are highly similar to their mammalian homologs and show similar biochemical properties when expressed in COS-7 cells. In particular, we find that MsGC functions as an obligate heterodimer that is stimulated significantly by NO. We also find that MsNOS has a Ca2+-sensitive NO-producing activity similar to that of mammalian neuronal NOS. Northern and in situ hybridization analyses show that MsNOS and the MsGCs are expressed in a complementary pattern, with MsNOS expressed at high levels in the antennae and the MsGCs expressed at high levels in a subset of antennal lobe neurons. The expression patterns of these genes suggest that the NO–sGC signaling system may play a role in mediating communication between olfactory receptor neurons and projection neurons in the glomeruli of the antennal lobe.
Validation methods for calibrating software effort models

COCONUT calibrates effort estimation models using an ex-haustive search over the space of calibration parameters in a COCOMO I model. This technique is much simpler than other effort estimation method yet yields PRED levels com-parable to those other methods. Also, it does so with less project data and fewer attributes (no scale factors). How-ever, a comparison between COCONUT and other methods is complicated by differences in the experimental methods used for effort estimation. A review of those experimental methods concludes that software effort estimation models should be calibrated to local data using incremental hold-out (not jack knife) studies, combined with randomization and hypothesis testing, repeated a statistically significant number of times.
Up and Down States in Striatal Medium Spiny Neurons Simultaneously Recorded with Spontaneous Activity in Fast-Spiking Interneurons Studied in Cortex–Striatum–Substantia Nigra Organotypic Cultures

In vivo intracellular spontaneous activity in striatal medium spiny (MS) projection neurons is characterized by "up" and "down" states. How this type of activity relates to the neuronal activity of striatal fast-spiking (FS) interneurons was examined in the presence of nigral and cortical inputs using cortex-striatum-substantia nigra organotypic cultures grown for 45 +/- 4 d. The nigrostriatal projection was confirmed by tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity. Corticostriatal (CS) projection neurons, striatal MS neurons, and FS neurons were intracellularly recorded and morphologically and electrophysiologically characterized. Intracellular spontaneous activity in the cultures consisted of intermittent depolarized periods of 0.5-1 sec duration. Spontaneous depolarizations in MS neurons were restricted to a narrow membrane potential range (up state) during which they occasionally fired single spikes. These up states were completely blocked by the glutamate antagonist CNQX. In FS interneurons, depolarized periods were characterized by large membrane potential fluctuations that occupied a wide range between rest and spike threshold. Also, FS interneurons spontaneously fired at much higher rates than did MS neurons. Simultaneous intracellular recordings established that during spontaneous depolarizations MS neurons and FS interneurons displayed correlated subthreshold neuronal activity in the low frequency range. These results indicate that (1) the CS projection neurons, striatal MS neurons, and FS interneurons grown in cortex-striatum-substantia nigra organotypic cultures show morphological and electrophysiological characteristics similar to those seen in vivo; (2) striatal MS neurons but not FS interneurons show an up state; (3) striatal MS neurons and FS interneurons receive common, presumably cortical inputs in the low frequency range. Our results support the view that the cortex provides a feedforward inhibition of MS neuron activity during the up state via FS interneurons.
Solving large-scale linear circuit problems via convex optimization

A broad class of problems in circuits, electromagnetics, and optics can be expressed as finding some parameters of a linear system with a specific type. This paper is concerned with studying this type of circuit using the available control techniques. It is shown that the underlying problem can be recast as a rank minimization problem that is NP-hard in general. In order to circumvent this difficulty, the circuit problem is slightly modified so that the resulting optimization becomes convex. This interesting result is achieved at the cost of complicating the structure of the circuit, which introduces a trade-off between the design simplicity and the implementation complexity. When it is strictly required to solve the original circuit problem, the elegant structure of the proposed rank minimization problem allows for employing a celebrated heuristic method to solve it efficiently.
Effect of Growth Hormone upon Body Weight and Incidence of Bacterial Endocarditis in Rats Exposed to Hypoxia

Somatotropic hormone (STH) administration accelerated the rate of gain of body weight in normal rats, and effectively neutralized the inhibitory effect of hypoxia on gain in body weight. STH administration caused a nonsignificant reduction in the incidence of bacterial endocarditis. STH had no detectable effect upon the usual hypertrophy of the adrenal glands and cardiac ventricles resulting from the stressful exposure. A sex difference was noted in the weight gain response of rats receiving STH.
An isolation approach to symbolic execution-based verification of Ada tasking programs

Abstract The traditional approach to symbolic execution of concurrent programs relies on interleaving the execution of sequential components to model concurrency. This approach suffers from well-known combinatorial problems, making it unsuitable for formal verification. The paper describes an alternate approach that directly supports formal verification. Symbolic execution is based on an axiomatic proof system for concurrent programs, in which processes are verified separately and then checked for cooperation. Two Hoare-style proof systems for tasking subsets of Ada are adapted for this purpose. The result is a computationally tractable approach to symbolic execution which produces verification conditions for proving safety properties of tasking programs. The generation of verification conditions for the partial correctness proof is described in the paper. A companion paper describes the generation of verification conditions for more general safety properties [5]. The isolation approach provides a basis for automating the verification of Ada tasking programs.
Minimizing power under performance constraint

Power dissipation is becoming the most challenging design constraint in nanometer technologies. Among various design implementation schemes, standard cell ASICs offer the best power efficiency for high-performance applications. The flexibility of ASICs allow for the use of multiple voltages and multiple thresholds to match the performance of critical regions to their timing constraints, and minimize the power everywhere else. We explore the trade-off between multiple supply voltages arid multiple threshold voltages in the optimization of dynamic arid static power. The use of multiple supply voltages presents some unique Physical and electrical challenges. Level shifters need to be introduced between the various voltage regions. The physical layout needs to be designed to ensure the efficient delivery of the correct voltage to various voltage regions. More flexibility can be gained by using appropriate level shifters.
IL-18 activation is dependent on Toll-like receptor 4 during renal obstruction

Abstract Purpose Interleukin 18 (IL-18) is a critical mediator of obstruction-induced renal injury. Although previous studies have demonstrated that IL-18 participates in a positive feedback loop via the IL-18 receptor (IL-18R) and localized renal IL-18 and IL-18R production to tubular epithelial cells (TEC), the mechanism of IL-18 activation during obstruction remains unclear. We hypothesized that IL-18 activation is dependent on Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling during renal obstruction. Materials and methods Male C57BL6 TLR4 knockout (TLR4KO) and wild-type (WT) mice were subjected to unilateral ureteral obstruction versus sham operation for 1 wk. The animals were sacrificed, and renal cortical tissue was harvested and analyzed for TLR4 expression (Western blot), active IL-18 production (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, real-time polymerase chain reaction), IL-18 receptor expression (real-time polymerase chain reaction), and TLR4/IL-18 versus IL-18R cellular localization (dual immunofluorescent staining). Results Renal TLR4 expression increased significantly in WT mice in response to obstruction, but remained at sham treatment levels in TLR4KO mice. IL-18 and IL-18R gene expression and active IL-18 production were similarly increased in WT mice in response to obstruction, but decreased significantly to sham treatment levels in the absence of TLR4. Dual immunofluorescent staining revealed co-localization of TLR4 and IL-18 to renal TEC during obstruction. Conclusion IL-18 production and activation during renal obstruction is dependent on intact TLR4 signaling. Co-localization of IL-18 and TLR4 production to TEC during obstruction suggests that TEC are the primary site of IL-18 production and activation. Further characterization of the pathway may be necessary to develop targeted therapy in obstruction-induced renal injury.
Design of inline amplifier gains and spacings to minimize the phase noise in optical transmission systems

In optical fiber transmission systems using inline amplifiers, the interaction of a signal and an amplifier noise through the Kerr effect leads to a nonlinear phase noise that can impair detection of phase-modulated signals. The authors show how to minimize the variance of the total phase noise (linear plus nonlinear) by a choice of the number of inline amplifiers N and their spacings and gains, assuming a fixed total system length L and an overall compensation of the fiber loss. In the case of a uniform amplifier spacing and a per-span loss compensation, there exists a finite N that minimizes the total phase noise. This contrasts with the well-known observation that a linear phase noise alone is minimized by a choice of an infinite N. Relaxing the constraints of the uniform spacing and/or the per-span loss compensation leads to further reduction of the total phase noise. The optimization of the spacings and the gains can be approximately formulated as a convex problem. In typical terrestrial and transoceanic systems, the total-phase-noise variance can be reduced by up to 45% and 83%
A Longitudinal Investigation of Employment Among Low-Income Youth Patterns, Predictors, and Correlates

Drawing on previous research linking patterns of adolescent employment—defined in terms of duration and intensity—to educational and occupational outcomes later in life (Staff & Mortimer, 2008), th...
Comparison of reconstructive procedures for glenoid bone loss associated with recurrent anterior shoulder instability.

Hypothesis: A tibial plafond allograft, iliac crest allograft, and coracoid autograft in a congruent arc Latarjet reconstruction better restore radius of curvature, depth, and surface area for glenoid bone loss in recurrent instability compared with the coracoid autograft in a standard Latarjet reconstruction for anteroinferior glenoid bone loss of the shoulder. Methods: Three-dimensional shoulder models were generated from bilateral computed tomography scans in 15 patients, who were a mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of 23 (7.7) years, with recurrent anterior shoulder instability and known glenoid bone loss. The surface areas of the glenoid in the involved and contralateral normal shoulder were measured. Virtual surgery was then performed using standard and congruent arc Latarjet reconstruction, tibial plafond, and iliac crest allografts. Grafts were optimally positioned to restore articular congruity and defect fill. Radius of curvature and restoration of glenoid depth were compared with the contralateral glenoid. Results: Glenoid surface area (11.04% [6.95% SD]) and depth (0.75 [0.57 SD] vs 1.44 [0.65 SD] mm) were significantly reduced (P < .012) in the injured glenoid. The mean (SD) coronal plane radius of curvature of the congruent arc Latarjet reconstruction (60.3 [39.0 SD] mm) more closely matched the radius of curvature of the injured glenoid (67.5 [33.2 SD] mm) compared with the other grafts. Restored glenoid depth was greater in the tibial plafond (1.8 [1.1 SD] mm) and iliac crest (2.0 [0.6 SD] mm) allografts compared with other grafts (P < .002). Conclusion: Congruent arc Latarjet reconstruction more closely restores native glenoid coronal radius of curvature, whereas tibial plafond and iliac crest allografts more adequately restore depth compared with standard Latarjet reconstruction. Level of evidence: Basic Science, Computer Modeling Study. 2014 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees.
Automated assembly as situated development: using artificial ontogenies to evolve buildable 3-D objects

Artificial Ontogenies, which are inspired by biological development, have been used to automatically generate a wide array of novel objects, some of which have recently been manufactured in the real world. The majority of these evolved designs have been evaluated in simulation as completed objects, with no attention paid to how, or even if, they can be realistically built. As a consequence, significant human effort is required to transfer the designs to the real world. One way to reduce human involvement in this regard is to evolve how to build rather than what to build, by using prescriptive rather than descriptive representations. In the context of Artificial Ontogenies, this requires what we call Situated Development, in which an object's development occurs in the same environment as its final evaluation. Not only does this produce sufficient information on how to build evolved designs, but it also ensures that only buildable designs are evolved. In this paper we explore the consequences of Situated Development, and demonstrate how it can be incorporated into Artificial Ontogenies in order to generate buildable objects, which can be sequentially assembled in a realistic 3-D physics environment.
Flow Cytometry Analysis of DNA Damage and the Evaluation of Cytotoxicity of Alkylating Agents

Abstract Monoclonal antibody (MAb) F7-26 generated against nitrogen mustard (HN2)-treated DNA (O. S. Frankfurt, Exp. Cell Res., 170: 369–380, 1987) reacted with regions of local DNA denaturation (distortion) induced by DNA alkylation. The relationship between immunoreactivity of cellular DNA with MAb F7-26 and cytotoxic effects of HN2, l-phenylalanine mustard (L-PAM), and 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea was studied in HeLa S3 cultures. Cells were treated with drugs for 1 h and assessed for cell survival by colony formation assay and for DNA immunoreactivity by flow cytometry. Cells were fixed in ethanol, exposed to MAb, and stained with fluorescein-labeled anti-mouse immunoglobulin. Immunofluorescence (IF) intensity was measured on a flow cytometer. For each drug the cell killing and the binding of MAb to DNA appeared in the same dose ranges. A strong correlation (r = 0.96) between cell survival (log10 surviving fraction) and IF was observed when data for HN2, L-PAM, and 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea were combined. This correlation was apparent in the range of 1–5 log10 cell killing. Enhancement of L-PAM cytotoxicity by buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) or hyperthermia was accompanied by a proportional increase of DNA immunoreactivity with MAb F7-26. The enhancement factors calculated from survival curves (a ratio of the dose decreasing cell survival by 1 log10 for L-PAM alone to that for L-PAM combined with modulating factor) were 1.67, 1.58, and 3.07 for BSO, hyperthermia, and BSO plus hyperthermia, respectively. For the same treatment regimens the enhancement factors calculated from drug dose-IF curves were 1.73, 1.34, and 3.79. A strong correlation between log10 surviving fraction and IF intensity (r = 0.93) was observed when data for L-PAM alone or L-PAM combined with BSO and/or hyperthermia were considered together in the range of 1–6 log10 cell killing. The cytotoxicity of alkylating agents and nitrosoureas and the effectiveness of factors modulating chemotherapeutic effects can be predicted by flow cytometry analysis of DNA immunoreactivity with MAb F7-26.
Fluorodeoxyglucose-induced allergic reaction: A case report

The number of diagnostic positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) procedures performed in the USA and worldwide is rapidly increasing. Although the benefits of these procedures are obvious, the increasing use of radiopharmaceuticals requires a better understanding of potential adverse affects and their proper management. We present herein the first report of an allergic reaction to fluorodeoxyglucose in the setting of repeated PET/CT scans for restaging purposes in a patient with pyriform sinus cancer.
A Genetic Model of Stress Displays Decreased Lymphocytes and Impaired Antibody Responses Without Altered Susceptibility to Streptococcus pneumoniae

Stress pathways affect immune function, the most notable of these pathways being activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Although HPA activation has generally been relegated to an immunosuppressive role, recent evidence suggests that stress and HPA activation can be immunoenhancing in certain situations. To investigate specific effects of stress on immune function, we used a genetic model of chronic stress wherein transgenic mice overexpress corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), a primary mediator of the stress response. In these mice, CRH is overproduced in the brain, leading to chronic activation of the HPA axis. We found that CRH-transgenic mice have decreased leukocyte numbers in lymphoid compartments, with preferential loss of B lymphocytes. They also exhibit decreased Ab production and impaired isotype switching in response to immunization with a thymus-dependent Ag, phosphocholine-keyhole limpet hemocyanin. Despite these deficits, immunization protected CRH-transgenic and wild-type mice equally well against lethal challenge with Streptococcus pneumoniae, an encapsulated Gram-positive bacterium known to require Ab-mediated opsonization for clearance. While IgG responses are severely depressed in these mice, IgM titers are only modestly decreased. This fairly robust IgM response may be sufficient to protect against S. pneumoniae. Additionally, while total leukocyte numbers are decreased in these mice, neutrophil numbers are increased. This increase in number of neutrophils may compensate for the depressed IgG response, allowing adequate host defense during chronic stress.
N-CET: Network-centric exploitation and tracking

The Network-Centric Exploitation and Tracking (N-CET) program is a research effort to enhance intelligence exploitation in a tactical environment by cross-cueing sensors and fusing data from on-board sources with processed information from off-board platforms and sharing the resulting products in a net-centric manner. At the core of N-CET are information management services that decouple data producers and consumers, allowing reconfiguration to suit mission needs. Network-centric algorithms utilize the availability of information from both homogeneous and complementary on-board and off-board sensors. Organic capabilities facilitate the extraction of actionable information from high bandwidth sensor data and ensure the necessary information arrives at other platforms and users in a timely manner. This paper provides an overview of the N-CET architecture and the sensors and algorithms currently implemented upon it. The extent to which such algorithms are enhanced in a network-centric environment is discussed and the challenges of managing the resulting dynamic information space in a tactical publish/subscribe/query model are presented.
The total meridional heat flux and its oceanic and atmospheric partition

Atmospheric meridional heat transport is inferred as a residual from the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) data and in situ oceanic estimates. Reversing the conventional approach of computing the ocean as an atmospheric model residual is done to permit calculation of a preliminary uncertainty estimate for the atmospheric flux. The structure of the ERBE errors is itself an important uncertainty. Total energy transport is almost indistinguishable from a hemispherically antisymmetric analytic function, despite the great asymmetry of the oceanic heat fluxes. ERBE data appear sufficiently noisy so that a considerable range of atmospheric transports remains possible: the maximum atmospheric value lies between 3 and 5 PW in the Northern Hemisphere, at one standard deviation, although the values are sensitive to the noise assumptions made here. The Northern Hemisphere ocean and atmosphere carry comparable poleward heat fluxes to about 28°N where the oceanic flux drops rapidly, but does not actually vanish until the oceanic surface area goes to zero. Within the estimated error bars, there is a remarkable antisymmetry about the equator of the combined ocean and atmospheric transports, despite the marked oceanic transport asymmetry.
Zen and the Art of Mechanosensation: How MscS-Like Mechanosensitive Channels Help Eukaryotic Cells and Organelles Reduce Stress

A long-standing problem is how biological systems sense and perceive mechanical signals such as osmotic pressure, gravity, and touch. One well-established molecular mechanism for force sensing is the activation of mechanosensitive (MS) ion channels. The Mechanosensitive channel of Small conductance (MscS) from E. coli functions as a hypo-osmotic safety valve, opening in response to increased membrane tension and preventing cellular rupture. Genes predicted to encode MscS homologs are found in genomes from all three kingdoms of life. We have been characterizing the structure, function, and regulation of ten MscS-Like (MSL) proteins in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Based on their modest homology to MscS and high topological diversity, we have proposed that MSLs might (1) sense and respond to sources of membrane tension other than environmental hypo-osmotic stress; (2) be regulated by mechanisms in addition to membrane tension; and (3) signal in ways that are separable from ion flux. Evidence in support of all three of these hypotheses will be presented.
The Effects of Positive and Negative Online Customer Reviews: Do Brand Strength and Category Maturity Matter?

Research has shown brand equity to moderate the relationship between online customer reviews (OCRs) and sales in both the emerging Blu-ray and mature DVD player categories. Positive (negative) OCRs increase (decrease) the sales of models of weak brands (i.e., brands without significant positive brand equity). In contrast, OCRs have no significant impact on the sales of the models of strong brands, although these models do receive a significant sales boost from their greater brand equity. Higher sales lead to a larger number of positive OCRs, and increased positive OCRs aid a brand's transition from weak to strong. This creates a positive feedback loop between sales and positive OCRs for models of weak brands that not only helps their sales but also increases overall brand equity, benefiting all models of the brand. In contrast to the view that brands matter less in the presence of OCRs, we find that OCRs matter less in the presence of strong brands. Positive OCRs function differently than marketing commun...
Comparison of economic and plant phenology-based thresholds for management of Lygus lineolaris (Hemiptera: Miridae) in Minnesota strawberries.

Field studies were conducted in southeastern Minnesota, 2000-2002, to assess damage potential and management options for adult Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) in June-bearing strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa). The first study was designed to assess the efficacy of a published economic threshold for L. lineolaris nymphs compared with a plant phenology-based threshold management program, targeted at L. lineolaris adults. L. lineolaris nymphs were sampled using the standard white pan beat method; adults were sampled using yellow sticky traps. In the second study, during 2001-2002, caged strawberries were artificially infested with adult L. lineolaris at specific plant growth stages (i.e., vegetative, green bud, white bud, first blossom, peak blossom, first green fruit, and first ripe fruit) to determine the most susceptible growth stages of strawberry. The phenology-based thresholds proved to be more effective in managing L. lineolaris than the current economic threshold based on nymphs. Results from the infestation timing study indicate that early-growth stages (i.e., green and white bud) are most susceptible to adult L. lineolaris feeding damage. During the early-growth stages, only L. lineolaris adults were present; infestations of nymphs occurred primarily from first blossom to green berry. Results from both studies indicate that (1) management of adult L. lineolaris during the early strawberry growth stages is recommended for maximizing marketable yield and (2) the use of plant phenology-based thresholds, when adults are present, will significantly improve insecticide spray timing, and thus minimize the number of insecticide sprays.
Physician Integration into Mass Gathering Medical Care: The United States Air Show

INTRODUCTION: Limited information exists concerning physician staffing at mass gathering events. METHODS: A retrospective review of the preparation, planning, and provision of medical care for the United States Air Show was performed. Patient encounters from the air show for the years 1981-1991 also were evaluated. RESULTS: The frequency rate of overall encounters was 8.45 patients/10,000 spectators and hospital transport rate was 0.6/10,000 spectators. The majority of complaints were related to heat or minor injuries. During this period, emergency physicians played a vital role in both medical planning and on-site staffing. Emergency medicine residents also participated. A small patient population received direct benefit from on-site physician intervention. CONCLUSION: The on-site emergency physician is of benefit in event preplanning and reducing the burden on the EMS system during mass gathering events. Language: en
(5S)-4-(2,2-Dimethyl­prop­yl)-5-isopropyl-1,3,4-oxadiazinan-2-one

The title compound, C11H22N2O2, has one chiral center and packs in the monoclinic space group P21. The asymmetric unit has five crystallographically independent mol­ecules, four of which engage in inter­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bonding.
Understanding the Electronic Structure of Isoindigo in Conjugated Systems: A Combined Theoretical and Experimental Approach.

Isoindigo and derivatives thereof were synthesized and characterized by means of differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and UV–vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies. The experimental results were compared with the results of density functional theory (DFT) calculations to provide structure–property relationships on the basis of the type of substituent and attachment position (5,5′ vs 6,6′) on isoindigo. The integration of π-electron donors mainly affects the ionization potential (IP) as the isoindigo unit dictates the electron affinity (EA). The incorporation of electron withdrawing groups affects the EA through contributions of σ- and π-effects that depend on the electron deficiency of the substituent. Perspectives on the photostability of isoindigo and its derivatives are presented along with a discussion about the relation between substitution pattern and the strength of the optical transitions. Functionalization of the 5(5′) carbon in isoindigo leads to a smaller transition dipole moment when c...
A Painless Thoracic Aortic Dissection.

Thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) has a very high mortality rate and is often missed due to the atypical presentation of patients. We present a case of a man with chronic hypertension, atrial fibrillation (AF) (on regular warfarin) and a previous endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), who presented with dyspepsia and was incidentally found to have a ruptured distal thoracic aneurysm on imaging with no obvious clinical signs on examination, nor abnormalities on admission chest x-ray (CXR).
Rapid solution of hybrid surface-volume integral equations for EM scattering by multilevel fast multipole algorithm

Discusses the implementation of the multilevel fast multipole algorithm (MLFMA) for solving the hybrid integral equation of electromagnetic scattering. Tetrahedron volume cells are used to discretize the material region, and triangle patches are used to represent the conducting surfaces. This selection provides accurate and flexible representation for any complex object shapes. Due to a reduction of the computational complexity, the method presented in this paper can be applied to solve electromagnetic scattering problems with electrically larger dielectrics.
Hydrogels for Ocular Posterior Segment Drug Delivery

This chapter discusses emerging hydrogel technology for drug delivery to the back of the eye to treat retinal diseases. The review includes design, characterization and optimization of hydrogels, and advantages and disadvantages of intravitreally and subconjunctivally administrated hydrogels for retinal therapy. Future direction of hydrogel technology for targeted and sustained delivery of drugs to the retina for individualized medicine is also laid out.
Fine-tuning the fluorescent properties of Li and Na intercalated C60 with hydrogen

Abstract In this work we demonstrate how hydrogen can be utilized to fine tune the emission gap of C60 through the formation of direct C H bonds in sodium and lithium intercalated systems (M6C60Hx). Upon hydrogenation, a shift in the emission spectrum to shorter wavelengths (higher energy) is observed relative to alkali metal free fulleranes (C60Hx) and pure C60. This is attributed to the higher degree of hydrogenation of C60 that can be achieved upon intercalation with alkali metals which increases the sp3 hybridization of the system (decreases conjugation). Quantum yields of the sodium and lithium intercalated fulleranes are 1.3% and 1.8% respectively which are similar to those of alkali metal free fulleranes (1.4%). We also show that polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) can be infused with the metal intercalated fulleranes to produce a fluorescent polymer with excellent transparency over the visible spectrum. This could potentially lead to further use of these materials in luminescent down shifting applications.
Carbon allotropes as sensors for environmental monitoring

Summary Environmental pollutants are a major global concern as they threaten human safety and economic stability. As a result, on-site, low-cost and reliable monitoring is becoming essential. Carbon allotropes have proven their high potential in sensing applications due to their outstanding properties, especially in nanoscale. This article summarizes some of the recent advances in sensing of environmental pollutants using carbon allotropes, especially in the form of carbon nanomaterials. It also provides a critical perspective of the challenges and promising approaches for future applications.
Global Burden of Skin Disease: Inequities and Innovations.

We review the current understanding of the burden of dermatological disease through the lens of the Global Burden of Disease project, evaluate the impact of skin disease on quality of life in a global context, explore socioeconomic implications, and finally summarize interventions towards improving quality of dermatologic care in resource-poor settings. The Global Burden of Disease project has shown that skin diseases continue to be the 4th leading cause of non-fatal disease burden worldwide. However, research efforts and funding do not match with the relative disability of skin diseases. International and national efforts, such as the WHO List of Essential Medicines, are critical towards reducing the socioeconomic burden of skin diseases and increasing access to care. Recent innovations such as teledermatology, point-of-care diagnostic tools, and task shifting help to provide dermatological care to underserved regions in a cost-effective manner. Skin diseases cause significant non-fatal disability worldwide, especially in resource-poor regions. Greater impetus to study the burden of skin disease in low-resource settings and policy efforts towards delivering high-quality care are essential in improving the burden of skin diseases.
Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of two-dimensional pedestrian flow models

Abstract We employ an efficient list-based kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) method to study two-way and four-way pedestrian flow models on two-dimensional (2D) lattices based on the exclusion principle and Arrhenius microscopic dynamics. This model implements stochastic rules for pedestrians’ movements based on the configuration of the surrounding conditions of each pedestrian. Although the decision-making process of pedestrians is more complex and adaptive to dynamic conditions than vehicular flows, our rules can reflect the pedestrians’ decisions of action such as moving forward, stopping to wait, lane switching, back stepping, etc. The simulation results of both two-way and four-way flows exhibit a state transition from freely flowing to fully jammed, as a function of initial density of pedestrians. At different states the relationships of density–flow and density–velocity are different from each other. The KMC simulations reported in this paper are compared with those from other well-known pedestrian flow models and the corresponding empirical results from real traffic.