cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Progress and direction of gastrointestinal nuclear medicine.

In summary, gastrointestinal nuclear medicine has made much progress in recent years due to advances in instrumentation, new radiopharmaceuticals, new clinical indications, and the development of new and better methodologies. This has been a personal view and I have only touched on some of these recent advances. This continues to be an area where radionuclide techniques truly demonstrate their ability to investigate the pathophysiological basis of disease and to evaluate directly the mechanisms and effectiveness of therapies.
Low-dose dobutamine in patients with acute myocardial infarction identifies viable but not contractile myocardium and predicts the magnitude of improvement in wall motion abnormalities in response to coronary revascularization

Abstract To assess the effects of coronary revascularization on viable but noncontractile myocardium, we examined 21 patients with a documented anterior acute myocardial infarction who had a significant improvement in wall motion abnormality evaluated by two-dimensional echocardiography in the infarct-related artery in response to low-dose dobutamine infusion. All patients had a significant residual stenosis in the infarct-related artery. In response to low-dose dobutamine, there was a marked improvement in contractility in the infarct-related area segments and this was reflected by a decrease in echocardiographic score index from 1.5 ± 0.15 to 1.09 ± 0.08 ( p = 0.0001). Of these 21 patients, 13 underwent successful revascularization: 10 had percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and three had coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG) (group I). Eight patients received medical therapy only (group II). At 40 ± 15 days of follow-up, both groups had improvement in their segmental wall motion abnormalities. However, the improvement in group I was greater than that in group II, 1.1 ± 0.13 and 1.35 ± 0.1, respectively ( p = 0.0002). We conclude that: (1) low-dose dobutamine infusion may identify viable but noncontractile myocardium in patients with acute myocardial infarction and (2) in these patients revascularization causes a greater improvement in left ventricular function over time when compared with a nonrevascularized group.
The Vitamin B12 Requirement of the Syrian Hamster.

SummaryA vit. B12 requirement was not demonstrated for the Syrian hamster when fed either a corn-soybean oil meal ration with or without iodinated casein, or a casein basal ration with or without iodinated casein. No increase in the rate of gain was observed when 2% whole liver substance was added to these rations. Parallel experiments were conducted with rats fed the corn-soybean oil meal ration plus iodinated casein in which a vit. B12 requirement was demonstrated. A reduction in food efficiency was observed in rats attributable to the vit. B12 deficiency.
Active Multispectral 3D Vision Sensor Image Evaluation

The first laboratory images from an active multispectral 3D imaging sensor under development for cross-country navigation of an autonomous vehicle are presented. Images of the reflected return from three spectral channels, 0.532 μm, 0.802 μm, and 1.064 μm, and a range channel were acquired simultaneously in performance tests during the first stage of development of the sensor. An analysis of the image data showed strong agreement between the actual sensor performance and calculated estimates. Position, shape, and spectral discrimination of objects are evident in the images and will function as input to the autonomous vehicle for locating and classifying obstacles and terrain.
Prenatal chronic gamma irradiation and audiogenic seizures in rats

Abstract A study dealing with sixty-one prenatally irradiated and forty-nine control Wistar-strain rats, which received 20 R of gamma irradiation delivered at the rate of 2 R per day for the first 10 days of gestation, revealed an increase in the number of females that entered full audiogenic seizure during testing and some decrease in latency. The frequency in prenatally irradiated females equaled that of either the nonirradiated or irradiated males. A significant decrease in the run-only reactions contributes to the validity of the run-only response as a type of seizure response to low levels of radiation in different strains of rats, as in mice, since the over-all results vary from related but different studies by other workers in another strain. The report strengthens the concept that changes in audiogenic seizure may serve as indicators of low-level irradiation damage, especially since the phenomenon is not host-specific.
Effect of Cortisone Acetate and of Certain Stressors on Blood Pressure and on the Pathology of Heart and Kidney in Uninephrectomized Male Rats

This study is a partial test of the hypothesis that severe stress should suppress the signs of hypercorticalism in rats overdosed with cortisone acetate. Male rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain were uninephrectomized and maintained on a high sodium chloride, medium carbohydrate diet. Some rats also were adrenalectomized. Cortisone acetate was given in doses ranging from 2.5 to 5 mg per rat per day for 6 weeks. In one experiment, stressing the rats by the daily injection of 1.5% HCHO was associated with suppression of the mild hypertension that otherwise developed in rats overdosed with cortisone. There was no suppression of renal pathology. In some experiments, fracturing a bone twice each week was associated with lower average blood pressures, but there was no reduction in the amount of pathology caused by overdosage with cortisone. The stressors tested did not block the loss of weight or the regression of thymus and spleen in rats overdosed with cortisone. The stressors tested failed to cause hypertensio...
Poly(4-methyl-1-pentene)-Supported Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Films: Preparation and Gas Permeability1

Spontaneous sequential adsorption of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) and poly(sodium styrene sulfonate) (layer-by-layer deposition) onto surface-oxidized poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) film was studied with the objective of creating an asymmetric gas separation membrane consisting of a thin multilayer barrier layer on a more permeable polymer film. Poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) film was first surface-oxidized with chromic acid solution to introduce carboxylic acid functionality to the surface for depositing the first layer. By alternating the poly(allylamine hydrochloride) and poly(sodium styrene sulfonate) depositions, multilayered structures were prepared with the total number of layers up to 104. Gas permeabilities of composite membranes prepared by this layer-by-layer deposition technique were determined for hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. The depressed gas permeabilities of the composite membranes are explained by dense and rigid packing of the polyelectrolytes in stratified layers. The multilayered poly(allylam...
Use of a Novel Cage System to Measure Postrecompression Survival of Northeast Pacific Rockfish

Abstract We used a caging system designed to minimize the adverse effects of caging fish in marine waters to evaluate the discard mortality of seven species of rockfish Sebastes with barotrauma. Altogether, 288 rockfish were captured, scored for barotrauma, evaluated behaviorally at the surface, and caged individually on the seafloor for 48 h to determine survival. With the exception of three blue rockfish S. mystinus, the condition of surviving fish after cage confinement from 41 to 71 h was excellent. At capture depths up to 54 m, survival was 100% for yelloweye rockfish S. ruberrimus (n = 25) and copper rockfish S. caurinus (n = 10) and 78% for blue rockfish (n = 36). At capture depths up to 64 m, survival was 100% for canary rockfish S. pinniger (n = 41) and quillback rockfish S. maliger (n = 28) and 90% for black rockfish S. melanops (n = 144). Black rockfish survival was negatively associated with capture depth (m) and the surface–bottom temperature differential (°C). Blue rockfish survival was nega...
“I Will Be a Person of Two Generations”: Temporal Perspectives on Sociolinguistic Change in Northern Thailand

This article examines how speakers of Kam Muang in Northern Thailand draw on distinct temporalities (the slow paced, long-term historical temporality of longue duree; the medium paced, autobiographical temporality of intermediate time frames; and the fast-paced, immediate temporality of the courte duree) to conceptualize their community's shifting language practices and language policies. The analysis demonstrates how the traces of these temporalities in speakers' language ideologies, language practices, and language socialization practices reflect their lived experiences in distinct, class-based trajectories of socialization.
The Effects of Two New Inotropic Agents on Microsomal Liver Function in Patients with Congestive Heart Failure

The aminopyrine breath test (APBT) was used to study patients with chronic congestive heart failure before and after treatment with two chemically similar inotropic agents, amrinone (AR) and milrinone (MR), to determine their effects on hepatic microsomal function. Liver chemistries and cardiac indices were measured and correlated with the 2-hour APBT score in 11 patients with chronic congestive heart failure (5 treated with AR, 6 with MR) and five healthy control subjects. Despite normal or near-normal liver chemistries, patients with chronic congestive heart failure demonstrated overall depressed hepatic microsomal oxidative function. Patients with severe congestive heart failure had a lower mean pretreatment APBT score (AR = 3.05 +/- 1.02, MR = 5.38 +/- 3.09) when compared with healthy controls (10.02 +/- 1.02). However, the APBT score for each individual could not be predicted from the cardiac index. Although the mean cardiac index increased significantly in both the AR and the MR treated patients by 26.14% +/- 15.28 (p less than 0.01) and 40.0% +/- 42.27 (p less than 0.025), respectively, compared with pretreatment values, the mean APBT score fell by 62.02% +/- 22.5 (p less than 0.005) in the former and increased by 38.35% +/- 25.69 (p less than 0.01) in the patients receiving MR. This discordance between the effects of AR and MR suggests possible differences in the effects of the two drugs on hepatic microsomal function.
Mechanistic Insight into the Electronic Influences Imposed by Substituent Variation in Polyazine‐Bridged Ruthenium(II)/Rhodium(III) Supramolecules

Unusual and unprecedented multipathway electrochemical mechanisms for a new class of supramolecular Ru/Rh bimetallic photocatalysts have been uncovered. The near isoenergetic Rh(dσ*) and bridging ligand(π*) molecular orbitals and a rate of halide loss that occurs on the cyclic voltammetry timescale provide a series of closely related complexes which display four different electrochemical mechanisms. A single complex displays two concurrent electrochemical pathways in marked contrast to all previously studied cis-[Rh(NN)2X2] motifs.
Questions About Magnetic Lineations in the Ancient Crust of Mars

Connerney et al . ([1][1]) claim to have discovered sea floor spreading–type magnetic anomalies in the measurements of the martian magnetic field done by the Mars Global Surveyor. It is possible that sea floor spreading may have occurred on Mars, but the information that these authors use to
Nanoscale rings from silicon-containing triblock terpolymers.

Nanoscopic ring arrays of various materials show promise for both technological applications and fundamental studies. In this work we report the preparation of sub-50 nm diameter ring arrays from metallic thin films using a block polymer lithographic pattern transfer approach. We prepared a triblock terpolymer that adopts a core–shell cylindrical morphology where the shell is an oxidizable polydimethylsiloxane block. Solvent annealed thin films of this terpolymer produce cylindrical features oriented perpendicular to the substrate surface. The polydimethylsiloxane shell is then converted into SiOx rings by an oxygen reactive ion etch. The resultant hard mask pattern is then transferred into Au, Ni80Fe20, and Ni80Cr20 thin films via Ar ion beam milling, demonstrating the generality of the approach.
Determination of Color, Pigment, and Phenolic Stability in Yogurt Systems Colored with Nonacylated Anthocyanins from Berberis boliviana L. as Compared to Other Natural/Synthetic Colorants

Anthocyanins are of interest to the food industry because of their antioxidant power, attractive color, and stability in high acid foods. Powder from the Peruvian berry Berberis boliviana Lechler, rich in nonacylated anthocyanins (7% to 8% dry weight), was incorporated into yogurt samples containing 3 different fat levels. Color (CIE L, a, b, chroma, and hue angle), pigment (monomeric anthocyanin and polymeric color), and total phenolics were monitored over 8 wk of storage and compared to yogurt treatments containing purple carrot acylated anthocyanins, red beet betalaines, or FD&C Red nr 40. Anthocyanin profiles were analyzed by HPLC coupled to photodiode array and mass detectors. Color of yogurt containing B. boliviana anthocyanins at 20 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside (cy-3-glu) equivalents/100 g yogurt (L*= 65, chroma = 14, and hue angle = 335 degrees ) was similar to commercial blueberry yogurt (L*= 65, chroma = 10.5, and hue angle = 341 degrees ). High color, pigment, and phenolic stability were observed in yogurts colored with B. boliviana, independent of the fat matrix. Acylated anthocyanins from purple carrot extracts exhibited increased stability with higher fat content. Anthocyanin degradation followed 1st-order kinetics. Pigment half-lives were 125 and 104 d for nonacylated anthocyanins at 10 and 20 mg cy-3-glu equivalents/100 g yogurt and 550.2, 232.6, and 128.9 d for acylated anthocyanins at 20 mg of cy-3-glu equivalents/100 g of 4%, 2%, and 0% fat yogurt. Addition of B. boliviana whole berry powder to yogurt matrices produced an attractive, stable anthocyanin-rich product, eliminating the need for industrial colorant extraction.
Effects of frequency and pulse duration on magnetostimulation limits for MPI

The time-varying drive field in MPI is subject to magnetostimulation and specific absorption rate (SAR) limits. For frequencies up to 50 kHz, magnetostimulation is the dominant safety concern [1-2]. In this work, we investigate both the frequency and duration dependence of magnetostimulation limits for the drive field in MPI.
Time domain analysis of causal and noncausal fractional wave equations

The attenuation of ultrasound propagating in human tissue follows a power law with respect to frequency. Several different models for power law attenuation have been developed, where many of these are partial differential equations that contain fractional derivatives in time or space. Some of these models are causal, and some are noncausal, yet all of these models describe attenuation that follows a power law in the frequency domain. To demonstrate the similarities and differences in the time domain responses predicted by the causal and noncausal models, Green's functions are calculated numerically for the power law wave equation and for the Caputo fractional wave equation. These Green's functions are evaluated numerically for liver with a power law exponent of y=1.139 and breast with a power law exponent of y=1.5. Simulation results show that, although the power law attenuation observed in the frequency domain is comparable over the range of ultrasound frequencies of interest, the time domain responses for these fractional wave equations differ in the nearfield region. Furthermore, the noncausal features of the numerically calculated time domain response, if present, are only evident in the extreme nearfield region. Simulation results also show that, the causal and the noncausal Green's functions converge to the same time domain waveform in the farfield. Thus, in the context of these two time-fractional wave equations, causality is essentially a phenomenon of the extreme nearfield, and the difference between causal and noncausal solutions is insignificant elsewhere.
The effect of drip line placement on yield and quality of drip-irrigated processing tomatoes

Subsurface drip irrigation of processing tomatoes is increasing in California. The common design approach is to bury drip lines 0.2–0.36 m deep in the middle of the plant row, which places drip lines directly beneath plant rows. This design limits the use of the drip irrigation system to only those crops compatible with this drip line and bed spacing, and thus, other design approaches are being investigated to increase the flexibility of the drip systems. These approaches are installing drip lines in alternate furrows and installing drip lines in every furrow, both of which place drip lines midway between plant rows. The furrows are the result of the cultural practices used to form beds for planting.This study investigated the effect of the different drip line placements on crop yield and quality. Results showed that the highest yields occurred for the buried placement and the smallest yields for the alternate furrow placement. For the buried placement, soil water content and root density were concentrated around the drip lines, directly beneath the plant rows, while for the furrow placements, zones of high soil water content and root density did not coincide with the plant rows. However, some growers have found the furrow placement to reduce some of the disease problems normally experienced with the traditional furrow irrigation methods.
Self-calibrating shift-and-add technique for speckle imaging

An image-reconstruction technique for astronomical speckle interferometric data is described. This variant of the shift-and-add algorithm originally developed by Lynds et al. [ Astrophys. J.207, 174 ( 1976)] utilizes a weighted impulse distribution of speckle positions to extract an average speckle for a data set. This is done by means of a weighted deconvolution procedure, similar in form to a Weiner filter, which deconvolves the specklegram by the impulse distribution. Results show that this method appears to be self-calibrating for seeing effects. It yields point-spread functions, for observations of an unresolved star, that compare quantitatively with computed Airy patterns for both simple apertures and the fully phased multiple mirror telescope array. Images of the resolved object Alpha Orionis show evidence of an extended stellar envelope.
Metamorphosis and gene action--I. Electrophoresis of dehydrogenases, esterases, phosphatases, hemoglobins and other soluble proteins of tadpole and adult bullfrogs.

Abstract 1. 1. By a combination of starch gel electrophoresis and histochemistry, a variety of enzymes and other proteins were compared in extracts of various organs of two-year-old tadpole and adult bullfrogs, Rana catesbeiana . 2. 2. While several enzymes are the same in both phases of the life cycle, a number of quantitative and possible qualitative changes were observed, e.g. some esterases, muscle and gut glutamate dehydrogenases, liver malate dehydrogenase, heart α-glycerolphosphate dehydrogenase and heart alkaline phosphatase. 3. 3. More striking are the differences between tadpole and frog hemoglobin and among the major low ionic strength extractable proteins of homologous tadpole and frog organs. 4. 4. A genetic polymorphism of tadpole hemoglobin occurs which is not paralleled by a polymorphism of adult frog hemoglobin; furthermore, most of the polypeptide chain types of tadpole and frog hemoglobin are different. 5. 5. Such data indicate that metamorphosis involves differential gene action as the basis for at least some of the changing protein phenotype.
Combined local-density and dynamical mean field theory calculations for the compressed lanthanides Ce, Pr, and Nd

This paper reports calculations for compressed Ce $(4{f}^{1})$, Pr $(4{f}^{2})$, and Nd $(4{f}^{3})$ using a combination of the local-density approximation (LDA) and dynamical mean field theory (DMFT), or $\mathrm{LDA}+\mathrm{DMFT}$. The $4f$ moment, spectra, and the total energy among other properties are examined as functions of volume and atomic number for an assumed face-centered cubic (fcc) structure. These materials are seen to be strongly localized at ambient pressure and for compressions up through the experimentally observed fcc phases ($\ensuremath{\gamma}$ phase for Ce), in the sense of having fully formed Hund's rules moments and little $4f$ spectral weight at the Fermi level. Subsequent compression for all three lanthanides brings about significant deviation of the moments from their Hund's rules values, a growing Kondo resonance at the Fermi level, an associated softening in the total energy, and quenching of the spin orbit since the Kondo resonance is of mixed spin-orbit character while the lower Hubbard band is predominantly $j=5∕2$. While the most dramatic changes for Ce occur within the two-phase region of the $\ensuremath{\gamma}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\alpha}$ volume-collapse transition, as found in earlier work, those for Pr and Nd occur within the volume range of the experimentally observed distorted fcc (dfcc) phase, which is, therefore, seen here as transitional and not part of the localized trivalent lanthanide sequence. The experimentally observed collapse to the $\ensuremath{\alpha}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{U}$ structure in Pr occurs only on further compression, and no such collapse is found in Nd. These lanthanides start closer to the localized limit for increasing the atomic number, and so the theoretical signatures noted above are also offset to smaller volume as well, which is possibly related to the measured systematics of the size of the volume collapse being 15%, 9%, and none for Ce, Pr, and Nd, respectively.
Boundary Conditions for Self‐serving Attributions: Another Look at the Sports Pages1

Attributions (N =.310) by professional athletes were extracted from newspapers, and coded along the dimensions of locus, stability, controllability, and globality. Findings confirmed the existence of self-serving attributional biases, but showed these to be limited in extenthtensity by personal (ability and experience level) and situational (team vs. solo sport) factors. Losses were ascribed to external and wins to internal causes among athletes of low experience, high ability, and/or engaged in solo sports-but not under other circumstances. A similar pattern of results emerged only on the controllability dimension. Beyond indicating boundary conditions to the bias, results suggested that it might not even be “self-serving”, or hedonistic, in nature. Difficulties in this type of research, and possible improvements, are discussed.
L 1 -methods for low-power surveillance

In this paper we introduce two novel methods for application of `1-minimization. In the first method, sparse and low-rank decomposition and compressive sensing-based retrieval are combined and applied to a low power surveillance model. The method exploits the ability of sparse and low-rank decompositions to extract significant and stationary features and the ability of compressive sensing approaches to reduce the number of measurements necessary. In the second method, a contiguity prior is added to compressive sensing methods on images and a numerical approach is proposed to solve this novel problem. Results are displayed in which the contiguity constrained method is applied to the low power surveillance model.
Clinical characteristics, spontaneous clearance and treatment outcome of acute hepatitis C: a single tertiary center experience.

Background and Aims: Acute hepatitis C is rarely diagnosed due to its predominantly asymptomatic course. However, early treatment results in viral eradication in a high number of patients thus, preventing chronicity. The aim of our study was to describe our experience with patients with acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who presented and followed-up in our liver unit, pointing on treatment strategy, and outcome. Patients and Methods: Retrospective, descriptive study of 30 patients with acute HCV infection (26 males and 4 females) with a mean age of 32 years. Results: The source of infection was mainly injection drug use in 17/30 (56.7) and medical procedures 6/30 (20%). Twenty patients (66.6%) were symptomatic. HCV-ribonucleic acid (RNA) was detectable at presentation in 26 (86.7%) patients. The genotype distribution was: 13/26 (50%) genotype 1, 3/26 (11.5%) genotype 2, 8/26 (30.8%) genotype 3 and 2/26 (7.7%) genotype 4. Totally, 9 patients (30%) experienced spontaneous viral eradication. No significant differences could be documented between patients who spontaneously cleared the virus and those who had viral persistence. Thirteen patients (44%) were treated with peginterferon-based regimen. All patients (100%) achieved non-detectable HCV-RNA and had normal serum alanine aminotransferase levels at the end of the treatment. Eleven patients achieved sustained virologic response (SVR), one relapsed and one was lost to follow-up. The overall SVR rate was 84.6%. None of the patients required dose reduction or stopped the treatment due to side effects. Conclusion: In conclusion, early initiation of anti-viral treatment in patients with acute hepatitis C results in high-SVR rates (independently of genotype) and is well-tolerated.
Alterations in myocardial cardiolipin content and composition occur at the very earliest stages of diabetes: a shotgun lipidomics study.

Recently, we have identified the dramatic depletion of cardiolipin (CL) in diabetic myocardium 6 weeks after streptozotocin (STZ) injection that was accompanied by increases in triacylglycerol content and multiple changes in polar lipid molecular species. However, after 6 weeks in the diabetic state, the predominant lipid hallmarks of diabetic cardiomyopathy were each present concomitantly, and thus, it was impossible to identify the temporal course of lipid alterations in diabetic myocardium. Using the newly developed enhanced shotgun lipidomics approach, we demonstrated the dramatic loss of abundant CL molecular species in STZ-treated hearts at the very earliest stages of diabetes accompanied by a profound remodeling of the remaining CL molecular species including a 16-fold increase in the content of 18:2-22:6-22:6-22:6 CL. These alterations in CL metabolism occur within days after the induction of the diabetic state and precede the triacylglycerol accumulation manifest in diabetic myocardium. Similarly...
Capitalizing property rights insecurity in natural resource assets

Property rights are commonly touted as a solution to common pool resource problems. In practice, however, the security of property rights over natural resources varies substantially; this may affect returns to ownership and asset values. We use an analytical model to examine the effects of insecure property rights to natural resources on the market value of assets. We then use a unique dataset of fisheries from three countries to examine empirically how differences in property rights affect market outcomes. We find significant asset market capitalization of insecurity arising from (1) ownership disputes, (2) illegal extraction from resource stocks, and (3) the possibility of government revocation of rights.
Factors associated with gingival inflammation among adults with systemic sclerosis

OBJECTIVE To identify factors associated with increased gingival inflammation in adults with systemic sclerosis (SSc, scleroderma).
Mesopontine median raphe regulates hippocampal ripple oscillation and memory consolidation

Sharp wave-associated field oscillations (∼200 Hz) of the hippocampus, referred to as ripples, are believed to be important for consolidation of explicit memory. Little is known about how ripples are regulated by other brain regions. We found that the median raphe region (MnR) is important for regulating hippocampal ripple activity and memory consolidation. We performed in vivo simultaneous recording in the MnR and hippocampus of mice and found that, when a group of MnR neurons was active, ripples were absent. Consistently, optogenetic stimulation of MnR neurons suppressed ripple activity and inhibition of these neurons increased ripple activity. Notably, using a fear conditioning procedure, we found that photostimulation of MnR neurons interfered with memory consolidation. Our results demonstrate a critical role of the MnR in regulating ripples and memory consolidation.
A soft hydrogel contact lens with an encapsulated sensor for tear glucose monitoring

We report a hydrogel-based contact lens with an encapsulated glucose sensor. The sensor is fabricated on a flexible transparent parylene film. The parylene-based sensor is then encased inside a soft contact lens made of poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (polyHEMA) hydrogel. We test the glucose sensor with different concentrations of glucose and interfering chemicals found in tear film, such as ascorbic acid. The rapid response, good linearity and repeatability demonstrate the basic functionality of this soft contact lens.
Crystal structure of RecA from Deinococcus radiodurans: insights into the structural basis of extreme radioresistance.

The resistance of Deinococcus radiodurans (Dr) to extreme doses of ionizing radiation depends on its highly efficient capacity to repair dsDNA breaks. Dr RecA, the key protein in the repair of dsDNA breaks by homologous recombination, promotes DNA strand-exchange by an unprecedented inverse pathway, in which the presynaptic filament is formed on dsDNA instead of ssDNA. In order to gain insight into the remarkable repair capacity of Dr and the novel mechanistic features of its RecA protein, we have determined its X-ray crystal structure in complex with ATPγS at 2.5 A resolution. Like RecA from Escherichia coli, Dr RecA crystallizes as a helical filament that is closely related to its biologically relevant form, but with a more compressed pitch of 67 A. Although the overall fold of Dr RecA is similar to E. coli RecA, there is a large reorientation of the C-terminal domain, which in E. coli RecA has a site for binding dsDNA. Compared to E. coli RecA, the inner surface along the central axis of the Dr RecA filament has an increased positive electrostatic potential. Unique amino acid residues in Dr RecA cluster around a flexible β-hairpin that has also been implicated in DNA binding.
Comparison of Si/Si1−x−yGexCy and Si/Si1−yCy heterojunctions grown by rapid thermal chemical vapor deposition

Abstract The materials and electronic properties of Si/Si 1− x − y Ge x C y and Si/Si 1− y C y heterojunctions grown by rapid thermal chemical vapor deposition are compared. Substitutional carbon incorporation is readily achieved in Si 1− x − y Ge x C y alloys by the addition of a carbon precursor such as ethylene or methylsilane during growth, using germane and dichlorosilane as the germanium and silicon sources respectively. In contrast, a significant fraction of the carbon is not substitutional in Si 1− y C y films grown using dichlorosilane in combination with either carbon source. A highly reactive silicon source, such as silane, enables the growth of high quality Si 1− y C y . Good agreement between the substitutional carbon concentration extracted from X-ray diffraction and the total carbon concentration measured by secondary ion mass spectrometry is observed in Si 1− y C y alloys grown at 550°C with silane, for carbon contents up to about 1.8 at.%. Si/Si 1− x − y Ge x C y and Si/Si 1− y C y metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitors show well-behaved electrical characteristics. Analysis of the capacitance-voltage data indicates that the band offsets are primarily in the valence band for Si/Si 1− x − y Ge x C y and the conduction band for Si/Si 1− y C y heterojunctions. The conduction band is lowered as carbon is added to Si and the effect is larger than expected from strain alone.
Immediate chromosome diagnosis on bone marrow cells: An aid to management of the malformed newborn infant

WHEN FACED with a severely malformed but viable newborn infant who requires immediate therapeutic measures to sustain life, a decision about the extent of treatment has to be made by parents and physicians. In most instances, the crucial question concerns the prospect for normal mental development, and vigorous treatment will most likely be initiated if there is no indication of a defective brain. Chromosomal imbalance is one cause of congenital anomalies associated with impaired central nervous system development. If karyotype results were available during the first day of life for those malformed infants in whom a chromosomal syndrome is suspected, a more rational decision could be made about providing or withholding life-sustaining treatment. The bone marrow provides an accessible source of metaphase cells for immediate chromosome analysis. Although this approach using standard chromosome staining was suggested several years ago, 1-3 it has not been routinely applied and no serial studies have been reported. We have employed trypsin-Giemsa (G-) and quinacrine mustard (Q-) banding methods to chromosome preparations from bone marrow. The use made by physicians and parents of the karyotype information establishes the value of the bone marrow karyotyping approach.
The effect of the firing schedule and slag additions on the homogeneity of silicon carbide products bonded with silica

With the addition of 5–10% scale and the same amount of silicon, the articles proved to be homogeneous without black cores.
Use of Drug-Eluting Stents in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease and Renal Insufficiency

Renal insufficiency (RI) has been shown to be associated with increased major adverse cardiovascular events after percutaneous coronary intervention. We reviewed the impact of RI on the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease and outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention in the form of drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation in these high-risk patients. We searched the English-language literature indexed in MEDLINE, Scopus, and EBSCO Host research databases from 1990 through January 2009, using as search terms coronary revascularization, drug-eluting stent, and renal insufficiency. Studies that assessed DES implantation in patients with various degrees of RI were selected for review. Most of the available data were extracted from observational studies, and data from randomized trials formed the basis of a post hoc analysis. The outcomes after coronary revascularization were less favorable in patients with RI than in those with normal renal function. In patients with RI, DES implantation yielded better outcomes than did use of bare-metal stents. Randomized trials are needed to define optimal treatment of these high-risk patients with coronary artery disease.
Ring contraction upon electron-impact as a function of ring size - The mass spectrometric fragmentation of 2,3,4,5-tetrahydrobenzoxepin and lower homologues

The origin of a prominent [M – CH3] ion in the mass spectrum of 2,3,4,5-tetrahydrobenzoxepin is investigated with the aid of extensive deuterium labelling of the saturated heterocyclic portion of the molecule, identifying the C-2 methylene group as the chief source of the methyl radical expelled. Ring contraction of the seven-membered cyclic molecular ion to a six-membered intermediate is proposed in accordance with interpretations of similar findings on related acylated cyclic amines.
HARRY S. HALL

Harry S. Hall, emeritus professor of political science, died at the age of 86 from natural causes on October 4, 2008.
Fate of acifluorfen and lactofen in common waterhemp (Amaranthus rudis) resistant to protoporphyrinogen oxidase–inhibiting herbicides

Abstract Studies were conducted to determine acifluorfen and lactofen absorption, translocation, and metabolism in protox-inhibiting herbicide-susceptible and -resistant common waterhemp. Acifluorfen and lactofen absorption was similar in both biotypes. Herbicide absorption was 12% in both susceptible and resistant common waterhemp 6 h after treatment (HAT). Absorption increased to 32 and 42% in susceptible and resistant plants, respectively, at 72 HAT. Translocation was similar in both biotypes for both herbicides. Herbicide translocation out of the treated leaf ranged between 5 and 15%. In a separate study, resistant common waterhemp plants were treated with acifluorfen or lactofen, alone or with tridiphane. Acifluorfen or lactofen injury to resistant common waterhemp was not altered with the addition of tridiphane. Treatments of 14C-acifluorfen or -lactofen on susceptible and resistant common waterhemp resulted in similar lactofen metabolism in both biotypes, but acifluorfen was not metabolized in eith...
Inability of T cells from mice with the CBA/N B-cell defect to amplify polyclonal B-cell responses to bacterial lipopolysaccharide.

Abstract An evaluation of the ability of T cells to provide amplifier function and of B cells to respond to these T-cell signals was conducted within the context of the CBA N immunodeficiency model. These studies revealed that although B cells from mice bearing this well-described X-linked B-cell deficit responded to T amplifier signals with enhanced polyclonal B-cell activation, T cells from these same mice were unable to provide such signals. This T-cell defect appeared to be qualitative rather than quantitative and was not attributable to the action of suppressor cells quelling normal amplifier function. The cells responsible for amplifying polyclonal B-cell responses were found to be sensitive to anti-thymocyte serum plus complement and were demonstrated within the thymuses of normal CBA mice but not of mice bearing the CBA N B-cell defect. Investigation of the ability of neonatal and adult thymocytes to augment polyclonal responses indicated that the T-cell deficit in these mice, in contrast to the B-cell defect, cannot be characterized as a maturation block.
Dynamics and dissipation in an externally forced system

We study numerically the influence of periodic and random external perturbations on the oscillating Selkov model by varying one dimensionless parameter, κ, of the model. When the variations of κ are periodic in time, the system responds with bursting oscillations in the case where the forcing frequency is different from the frequency of the oscillations without any perturbations. When the frequencies are almost equal, the system responds to the forcing by oscillating with almost the same frequency as the forcing, but with a higher amplitude linearly proportional to the amplitude of the perturbation. In the second case, κ varies randomly with time. The dynamics are described by stochastic differential equations. The computed ensemble averages of concentrations exhibit a decay or localization of the limit cycle for small amplitudes of the noise. This decay is faster when the amplitude of the noise is higher. As the noise amplitude increases, chaotic behavior begins to appear. For noise amplitudes high enough to push the system away from the oscillatory region, the system exhibits high-amplitude intermittent bursts in the concentrations for different realizations of the noise. We also computed the chemical entropy production for all the cited cases. When κ varies periodically with the same frequency, the entropy production increases nonlinearly with the amplitude of the forcing; the amplitude of the oscillations increases only linearly with the amplitude of the forcing. In general, when the system is periodically forced, strips of high dissipation and valleys of low dissipation exist in the space formed by the amplitude of the perturbation and winding number. In the second case, where κ is random the overall average entropy production is insensitive to the amplitude of the noise as long as κ does not leave the oscillatory region. When κ begins to cross into other regions, the overall average entropy production increases almost linearly with the amplitude of the noise.
Early TCD monitoring in brain death: what may be relevant?

Dear Editor,It is well-known that guidelines for the determination ofbrain death (BD) differ from one country to another [1].Our lab is requested by intensivists to daily evaluate byTCD critic patients (i.e., traumatic brain injuries and sub-arachnoid hemorrhages) since their admission in ICU, todetect possible cerebral hemodynamic changes.This allows us to early record the passage from areversible pattern of cerebral circulatory arrest (CCA, i.e.,systolic peaks) to irreversible patterns of CCA, and aboveall, to exclude all inadequate acoustic window.As in Italy, BD diagnosis has to be conﬁrmed byinstrumental test (EEG), the early TCD monitoring resultscrucial when EEG is not reliable (i.e., patients treated withbarbiturate coma), and clinical evaluation requires thewithdrawal of therapies.Obviously, two TCD examinations are performed onceagain after BD clinical diagnosis, according to the Italianguidelines on this matter [2].Sharma’s concerns about our paper do not take inaccount the Italian national medical standards on BDdiagnosis, which we reported as reference in our paper [2].1. The cut-off value of systolic blood pressure(\70 mmHg) mentioned in our paper was stated bythe Italian National Transplantational Council Guide-lines on brain death diagnosis, valid when we wrotethe article [2].2. Our Neurosonology Lab performs two different activ-ities in ICUs: (a) Early TCD monitoring in criticpatients since their admission, in order to detectpossible cerebral hemodynamic changes related toICP increasing.(b) Two TCD examinations, separatedby an interval of at least 30 min, as requested byItalian Guidelines when the mandatory conﬁrmatorytest (EEG) is not reliable [2].That is why we used the clinical diagnosis as goldstandard to evaluate the false positive cases.3. Regarding the assumption that TCD is not reliable inall patients with decompressive craniectomy, in ourexperience, out of 22 BD patients with decompressivecraniectomy, only four were false negative result dueto this condition. Therefore, TCD can be useful also inthese patients, even if decompressive craniectomycould be a well-known limit of the methodology, in afew cases. Our data about sensibility are in accordancewith those referred by the American Academy ofNeurology [3].4. TCD pattern of CCA in a patient with extracorporeallife support and intra-aortic balloon pump was detectedwithout putting the device on standby mode, accordingto the intensivists’ decision.In case of CCA conﬁrmation, the Doppler waveformhas to be considered rather than mean ﬂow velocity.The case reported by van der Naalt [4] does not matchwith our clinical experience in patients with intra-aorticballoon pump.References
PTEN regulates Akt kinase activity in hippocampal neurons and increases their sensitivity to glutamate and apoptosis

The tumor suppressor phosphatase PTEN can promote apoptosis of mitotic cells by inhibiting activation of the cell survival kinase Akt. PTEN is essential for normal embryonic development, PTEN expression is associated with neuronal differentiation, and deletion of PTEN in the mouse brain results in seizures, ataxia, and other abnormalities. However, the possible roles of PTEN in regulating neuronal survival are not known. We provide evidence that PTEN sensitizes hippocampal neurons to excitotoxic death in culture and in vivo. Overexpression of wild-type PTEN decreased, while a dominant-negative PTEN increased, levels of activated Akt in cultured hippocampal neurons. Wild-type PTEN promoted, while dominant-negative PTEN prevented, apoptotic death of neurons exposed to the excitatory amino acid neurotransmitter glutamate. Hippocampal neurons of mice with reduced PTEN levels were more resistant to seizure-induced death compared to wild-type littermates. These findings demonstrate a cell death function of PTEN in hippocampal neurons and identify PTEN as a potential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative disorders that involve excitotoxicity and apoptosis. The ability of PTEN to modify neuronal sensitivity to glutamate also suggests possible roles for PTEN in regulating developmental and synaptic plasticity.
Luminescence and Microstructure of Nd Doped Y2Si2O7 Electrospun Fibers

Y2Si2O7:Nd3+ nanofibers were synthesized for the first time through a combination of sol–gel and electrospinning methods. Annealing effects on the Y2Si2O7 polymorph transformation and fiber morphology were examined under a scanning electron microscope. About 901, 1061, and 1337 nm emission bands were observed in the ultrafine nanofibers, while the rough fibers with pinholes and a larger grain size exhibited only slight photoluminescence. The one-dimensional surface stress and low-temperature crystalline distortion shifted the emission bands of the Nd3+- doped Y2Si2O7 fibers.
Suppression of human interferon production by inhibitors of glycosylation.

Abstract Treatment of diploid human foreskin cell cultures with either 2-deoxy- d -glucose or d -glucosamine resulted in dose-dependent inhibition of interferon production induced with polyinosinate-polycytidylate [poly(I) · poly(C)]. This inhibitory action was readily demonstrable even if the addition of the inhibitor was delayed until 1.5 hr after induction. The appearance of intracellular interferon activity was also inhibited, suggesting that synthesis of biologically active interferon, and not its secretion from the cell, was the main target of the inhibitory action. The inhibitory action of 2-deoxy- d -glucose on interferon production was completely reversible by d -mannose while the action of d -glucosamine was only slightly affected by the addition of mannose. Interferon produced in the presence of a partially inhibitory concentration of 2-deoxy- d -glucose was more heat-labile than control interferon. Residual active interferon made in the presence of d -glucosamine was less efficiently neutralized by anti-interferon antibody than control interferon. The results are compatible with the idea that the two inhibitors suppress the production of biologically active interferon by virtue of their interfering with the proper glycosylation of the molecule.
The History of Staining the Development of Cytological Staining

Perhaps no other period has contributed more to our knowledge of the cell than the period 1875-1895. During these years most fundamental cytological phenomena were seen and described. Mitosis, maturation and fertilization, the great cornerstones of cytology, were firmly laid by the remarkable researches of Flemming, Strasburger, Van Beneden, Oscar and Richard Hertwig, Boveri and many others. Upon these researches experimental cytology developed and the significance of the morphological phenomena to inheritance and development was pointed out by such masters as W. Roux, Weismann, O. Hertwig, Boveri and E. B. Wilson.
The Berserker/Blind Rage syndrome as a potentially new diagnostic category for the DSM-III.

It is proposed that a new type of disorder be incorporated in the DSM-III under the category of Dissociative Disorders. The disorder, the Berkserker/Blind Rage Syndrome is characterized by (a) viol...
Diluting the cosmological constant in infinite volume extra dimensions

We argue that the cosmological constant problem can be solved in a braneworld model with infinite-volume extra dimensions, avoiding no-go arguments applicable to theories that are four-dimensional in the infrared. Gravity on the brane becomes higher-dimensional at super-Hubble distances, which entails that the relation between the acceleration rate and vacuum energy density flips upside down compared to the conventional one. The acceleration rate decreases with increasing the energy density. The experimentally acceptable rate is obtained for the energy density larger than (1 TeV)$^4$. The results are stable under quantum corrections because supersymmetry is broken only on the brane and stays exact in the bulk of infinite volume extra space. Consistency of 4D gravity and cosmology on the brane requires the quantum gravity scale to be around $10^{-3}$ eV. Testable predictions emerging within this approach are: (i) simultaneous modifications of gravity at sub-millimeter and the Hubble scales; (ii) Hagedorn-type saturation in TeV energy collisions due to the Regge spectrum with the spacing equal to $10^{-3}$ eV.