cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Early results of external iliac artery stenting combined with common femoral artery endarterectomy.

Abstract Purpose: The endovascular approach to external iliac artery (EIA) disease extending into the common femoral artery (CFA) has been avoided because of problems with stent placement across the inguinal ligament. Surgical treatment for this disease distribution includes extensive endarterectomy or bypass procedures or both. We report our initial experience with a combined open and endovascular approach to these patients. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent intraoperative EIA stenting after CFA endarterectomy/patch angioplasty between 1997 and 2000. Stents were positioned to end at the proximal endarterectomy endpoint, without crossing the inguinal ligament. Technical success, hemodynamic success, and clinical success were determined according to Society of Vascular Surgery/International Society of Cardiovascular Surgery criteria. Life-table analysis was performed for patency. Results: Thirty-four patients (mean age, 68 years; 23 male, 11 female) had combined endovascular and open treatment of iliofemoral occlusive disease. Indications were claudication in 41% and critical limb ischemia in 59%. Femoral reconstruction included endarterectomy with patch angioplasty in all patients. EIA stent deployment incorporated the stenotic iliac segment and the proximal endpoint of the endarterectomy in all patients. Four patients (12%) also needed common iliac angioplasty at the same time for proximal iliac disease, and 14 patients (41%) also needed distal revascularization for associated femoropopliteal or tibial disease. Technical success and hemodynamic success were achieved in 100% of patients. Clinical success was achieved in 97% of patients. The mean postoperative increase in ankle-brachial index in patients with inflow procedures only was 0.36 (range, 0.1 to 0.85). The overall complication rate was 15%. With a mean follow-up period of 13 months (range, 0.5 to 28 months), 1-year primary patency and primary-assisted patency rates were 84% and 97%, respectively. No perioperative mortality was seen. Conclusion: EIA stenting as an adjunct to CFA endarterectomy/patch angioplasty allows for more localized surgery than conventional bypass. This approach also allows a better interface between the stent and endarterectomy than staged preoperative stenting. Technical success and early patency rates are excellent. (J Vasc Surg 2002;35:1107-13.)
Statistical Initiation and Crack Growth Models for Stress Corrosion Cracking

Statistical distributions of initiation times and crack growth rates are needed for probabilistic fracture mechanics models. Times to failure in laboratory tests on small specimens are about a factor of 1000 shorter than the times to failure of comparably sized “specimens” in the field would have to be in order to get realistic component failure rates. Thus while specimen tests are useful in identifying parametric dependencies, it is unlikely that they can be used directly to develop initiation models for field components without using field data. A scaling approach is proposed to provide a method for pooling data from different size components and for extrapolating experience from one set of components to another set. Estimates of statistical distributions for initiation of stress corrosion cracks are developed from field data for BWR pipe cracking and CRDM cracking. Estimates of statistical distributions of crack growth rates are developed by combining phenomenological models for crack growth rates with expert judgment on the range of input parameters to those models.Copyright © 2007 by UChicago Argonne LLC, Operator of Argonne National Laboratory
Stent deformation and intimal hyperplasia complicating treatment of a post- carotid endarterectomy intimal flap with a Palmaz stent

We report a case of common carotid artery Palmaz stent placement for treatment of an intimal flap after surgical endarterectomy. Despite technical success with an excellent immediate result, a significant stenosis detected by duplex sonographic examination developed at 10 months. This stenosis, the result of stent compression and intimal hyperplasia, illustrates the previously theoretic risk associated with placement of the balloon-expandable stent in a compressible site such as the cervical carotid artery. In addition, we demonstrate that significant intimal hyperplasia may occur after carotid artery stent placement, potentially limiting long-term patency.
Cardiac magnetic resonance detection of dynamic apoptotic signaling in vivo following anti-apoptotic therapy

Background Doxorubicin (DOX) is a widely used chemotherapy drug that causes irreversible cardiomyopathy in a growing number of patients. An early detection method for this side effect could positively impact patient care. Previous work validated a molecular MRI probe that linked human Annexin V (ANX), a protein that binds strongly to early apoptotic cells, to superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO). T2 weighted (T2W) cardiac MRI of ANX-SPIO was found to detect DOX-induced cardiac apoptosis in mice. Alpha-1AR adrenergic stimulation with A61603 (A6) has been shown to prevent DOX-induced apoptosis and cardiac dysfunction in mice.
Simple modification of a pancreatic duct stent to prevent proximal migration

1. Tada M, Karita M, Yanai H, Takemoto T. Treatment of early gastric cancer using strip biopsy, a new technique for jumbo biopsy. In: Takemoto T, Kawai K, eds. Recent topics of digestive endoscopy. Tokyo: Excerpta Medica, 1987:137-42. 2. Takekoshi T, Fujii A, Takagi K. Indication for endoscopic double-snare polypectomy (EDSP) [in Japanese]. Stomach Intest 1988;23:387-98. 3. Morson BC, Bussey HJR, Samoorian S. Policy of local excision for early cancer of the colorectum. Gut 1977;18:1045-50. 4. Inoue H, Endo M. Endoscopic esophageal mucosal resection using a transparent tube. Surg Endosc 1990;4:198-201. 5. Stiegmann GV, Cambre T, Sun JH. A new endoscopic elastic band ligating device. Gastrointest Endosc 1986;32:230-3. 6. Endo M, Takeshita K, Yoshida M. How can we diagnose the
Static osmolyte concentrations in microbial biomass during seasonal drought in a California grassland

Abstract Microbes cope with environmental changes by physiologically adapting to cues such as moisture and temperature. These responses happen at the molecular scale, but ultimately serve as controls on ecosystem level biogeochemical cycles. One example of this response is the accumulation of osmolytes, cellular compounds used to prevent desiccation under osmotic stress. We explored microbial biomass levels of nitrogenous osmolytes including amino acids glutamate and proline, and the tertiary amine glycine betaine, monthly in a seasonally dry California grassland using high performance liquid chromatography and either fluorescence or mass spectrometry-based detection. We also examined the behavior of amino acids in soil to analyze our ability to accurately measure putative osmolytes and determine contributions of microbial consumption and abiotic adsorption during extraction. We determined there was limited microbial consumption or abiotic adsorption of amino acids during extraction, and found no accumulation of expected nitrogenous osmolytes during the summer dry period with glutamate levels consistently 2–3% of the microbial biomass pool, and below detection limit levels of proline and glycine betaine. The lack of osmolyte use suggests the physiological response expected based on pure culture studies of individual microorganisms, and that of mixed soil consortia may be different due to a lack of sufficient osmotic stress or resource limitation in an environmental system.
Hierarchical actuator systems

Mechanical actuators are integral components of many engineered systems. Many of the presently available actuator systems lack the desired stroke, power, controllability and reliability. The hierarchical actuator is a natural extension of the trend toward improving the performance of actuators through increments in geometric complexity and control. The hierarchical concept is to build integrated actuators out of a combination of smaller actuators. The smaller actuators are arranged geometrically and controlled so as to extend the performance of the total actuator into ranges that are not possible with actuators that are based on a few active elements and levels of control. Precision, speed increase, force output, load sharing, efficiency under smooth load/displacement control, smooth motion, stroke amplification/reduction and redundancy are all possible. Mechanics and mechanisms of hierarchical actuators are examined, along with a few experiments to demonstrate the operating principles.
Zone-plate-array lithography (ZPAL): optical maskless lithography for cost-effective patterning

Zone-Plate-Array Lithography (ZPAL) is an optical-maskless-lithography technique, in which an array of tightly focused spots is formed on the surface of a substrate by means of an array of high-numerical-aperture zone plates. The substrate is scanned while an upstream spatial-light modulator, enabling "dot-matrix" style writing, modulates the light intensity in each spot. We have built a proof-of-concept system using an array of zone plates, and the Silicon Light Machines Grating Light Valve (GLVTM) as the light modulator. We have demonstrated fully multiplexed writing, multilevel alignment and resolution corresponding to k1 < 0.3. This system currently operates at l = 400nm and utilizes well-known I-line processes. Diffractive optics such as zone plates offer significant advantages over refractive approaches since near-ideal performance is achieved on axis, reliable planar fabrication techniques are used, costs are low, and the approach can be readily scaled to shorter wavelengths. In this paper, we also developed models and analyzed the cost-of-ownership of maskless lithography (ZPAL) versus that for optical-projection lithography (OPL). In this context, we propose the use of an effective throughput to consider the photomask delivery times in the case of OPL. We believe that ZPAL has the potential to become the most practical and cost-effective method of maskless lithography, enabling circuit designers to fully exploit their creativity, unencumbered by the constraints of mask-based lithography. This may revolutionize custom circuit design as well as research in electronics, NEMS, microphotonics, nanomagnetics and nanoscale science and engineering.© (2005) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Drought acclimation and the morphology of mycorrhizal Rosa hybrida L. cv. ‘Ferdy’ is independent of leaf elemental content

SUMMARY Rosa hybrida L. cv. ‘Ferdy’ is a low maintenance landscape plant which is considered drought resistant. To determine the effects of endomycorrhizae on plant water relations and growth, rooted cuttings of uniform size were established in containers under moderately high P fertilization. Vesicular-arbuscular (VA) mycorrhiza inoculated and noninoculated plants were placed under three water regimes: drought acclimated, non-acclimated and later exposed to drought, or non-stressed. Acclimated plants were conditioned by four 3-d and three 4-d drought cycles. Non-acclimated plants received water daily prior to a single 4-d drought cycles, and non-stressed plants were watered daily throughout the study. Under water deficits, non-acclimated plants had lower leaf water potentials (ΨL), transpiration rates (E) and stomatal conductances (g), than acclimated or non-stressed plants. Non-acclimated plants also had a greater leaf area, leaf number and shoot dry weight than acclimated plants, yet had a comparable leaf area ratio (LAR) and root-shoot ratio. Mycorrhizal plants had a higher E, than non-mycorrhizal plants, even though non-mycorrhizal plants were of comparable biomass (leaf area, shoot and root dry weight and LAR). However, the root-shoot ratio was greater with mycorrhizal plants which had fewer leaves (due to abscission), and lower cuticle and epicuticular wax weights than non-mycorrhizal plants. There was no affect of VA mycorrhiza on leaf osmotic potential (Ψn) stomatal density, leaf cell density, leaf area, or macronutrient uptake. Acclimation of this low-maintenance landscape rose cultivar to water deficits and the mechanism of drought avoidance via leaf abscission, were as beneficial to drought resistance as was mycorrhizal symbiosis.
Modulation of Activin Signal Transduction by Inhibin B and Inhibin-Binding Protein (InhBP)

An antagonistic relationship between inhibin and activin is essential to the control of pituitary FSH release and to normal gonadal function. Two inhibin ligands, inhibin A and inhibin B, are made by the ovary in females, and each regulate pituitary FSH at different times during the reproductive cycle. Inhibin B, but not inhibin A, is produced by the testes and is therefore responsible for all inhibin-dependent FSH regulation in males. Although the activin signal transduction pathway has been well characterized, little is known about the mechanism of inhibin signaling and its relationship to activin antagonism. A recently cloned inhibin-binding protein, InhBP (p120), associates strongly with the type IB activin receptor (Alk4) in a ligand-responsive manner and interacts to a lesser extent with other activin and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) type I and activin type II receptors. Activin stimulates the association of InhBP and Alk4, and inhibin B, but not inhibin A, interferes with InhBP-Alk4 complex for...
Constructing projections on sums and intersections

Abstract In this note, we list several formulas for computing orthogonal projections onto the linear sum and intersection of two subspaces of C n in terms of the projections on the individual subspaces.
Use of microbial cultures and antibiotics in the prevention of infection-associated preterm birth.

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to summarize recent evidence regarding infection-associated preterm birth and to make appropriate recommendations. Antepartum treatment of lower genital tract infection or bacterial colonization has been found to reduce the incidence of preterm birth in the case of asymptomatic bacteriuria and bacterial vaginosis in selected patients but has been proved to be ineffective for vaginal colonization with organisms such as Ureaplasma urealyticum and group B streptococcus Study design This is a clinical opinion based on a review of recent data related to 1) the association between lower genital tract infection and preterm birth and 2) antibiotic trials to prevent preterm birth. Results Antepartum treatment of lower genital tract infection or bacterial colonization has been found to reduce the incidence of preterm birth in the case of asymptomatic bacteriuria and bacterial vaginosis in selected patients, but has been proven to be ineffective for vaginal colonization with organisms such as Ureaplasma urealyticum and group B streptococcus. Large well-designed trials have shown that the routine administration of antibiotics to women with preterm labor and intact membranes is not beneficial; however, antibiotic regimens including macrolides are recommended for preterm premature rupture of the membranes. Conclusion Large well-designed trials have shown that the routine administration of antibiotics to women with preterm labor and intact membranes is not beneficial; however, antibiotic regimens that include macrolides are recommended for preterm premature rupture of the membranes.
Screening tests of sodium nitrate decomposition

Abstract The decomposition of sodium nitrite in air was investigated at 623 and at 923 K. The following eight variables and their effects on sodium nitrite decomposition were studied: temperature, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, water, gas flow rate, sample size and sample surface area. Temperature had the greatest influence on the decomposition of sodium nitrite, which was manifested by increased basicity of the salt, discoloration, and formation of nitrate and carbonate in the nitrite.
Chlorpyrifos sprays for control of Xylosandrus compactus in flowering dogwood.

Initial studies with chlorpyrifos applied at a rate of 2.4g/liter water (2 lb AI/100 gal water) with a hand sprayer on individual flowering dogwood twigs infested with Xylosandrus compactus (Eichhoft) resulted in 70% mortality of all beetle stages. In further field tests, hydraulic sprays of chlorpyrifos at 0.6, 1.2, 2.4, or 4.8g AI/liter water (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 lb AI/100 gal water) gave 83, 80, 93, and 92% mortality of all beetle stages/infested twig, respectively, while the corresponding check mortality was 19%. Mortality was not significantly different among the 4 insecticide rates.
The aging male rat: Structure and function of the kidney

The progression of anatomic and functional changes that occur with aging in normal male Sprague-Dawley rats was investigated. Renal function studies were followed by vascular perfusion fixation of the kidneys. The kidneys were examined with light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The glomerular filtration rate of 12-month-old rats (0.30 +/- 0.06 ml/min/100 gm body weight) was significantly lower (P less than .05) than the rates of the 3-month-old (0.91 +/- 0.08 ml/min/100 gm body weight) and 5-month-old (0.99 +/- 0.16 ml/min/100 gm body weight) rats. Urine protein levels were moderately elevated in 12-month-old rats. Structural changes mainly involved the renal corpuscle and proximal tubule. The parietal layer of Bowman's capsule was transformed from a squamous to a columnar epithelium resembling that of the proximal tubule in 48% of the capsules surveyed in 12-month-old rats. This value was significantly higher (P less than .05) than that of the 5- (14%) or 3- (6%) month-old rats. Thin sheets of cytoplasm extended from podocytic cell bodies over the layer of pedicels. The proximal tubule displayed focal areas of cell injury and necrosis. Basement membranes associated with the renal corpuscle, glomerulus, and proximal tubule were considerably thickened in the oldest group of rats. Some cellular infiltration occurred in the interstitium. Therefore, kidneys of aging Sprague-Dawley rats exhibited capsular metaplasia, death, and injury of proximal tubular epithelial cells, and other structural changes not seen in younger animals. Some of these changes may underlie the functional deterioration of their kidneys.
Estimation of CO Exposure of Road Construction Workers in Tunnel.

Carbon monoxide (CO) level in three different tunnels in Boston area have been measured during rush hour periods, and expected CO exposure of construction workers who possibly work there was also estimated. CO levels in these tunnels have been measured at outside of a car running through the tunnels. The data collected in this study include vehicle speed, length of tunnels and traffic volume. In addition, structure of each tunnel was investigated. These data were used to estimate relationship between CO level and the distance of sampling points from entrance/exit of each tunnel. CO concentration in each tunnel was distributed in the range of 5 ppm-42 ppm, and linear relationship between CO concentration and distance from entrance/exit has been observed. This study had been held from April 1989 to May 1989 in Boston, MA, USA.
Telomere Uncapping, Chromosomes, and Carcinomas

Summary Data from mouse models and from human cancers have supported the idea that telomere shortening leads to chromosomal instability and epithelial carcinogenesis. In this issue of Cancer Cell , Else et al. demonstrate that telomere uncapping—altering a protein that protects chromosome ends without shortening telomeres—also results in epithelial cancers.
Older adults and the new public sphere

As governments and other agencies increasingly turn to the Internet to engage in public discourse and the exchange of ideas, relatively little attention has been paid to how older adults participate in this new and developing public sphere. This inattention will become even more of an issue in the future, as the sustained involvement of a significant and growing portion of our population is needed across the board, but notably in areas of health, family, and community sustainability. In-depth interviews were conducted with 18 participants in the Senior Odyssey program, who ranged in age from 62 to 84 (mean: 73 years). An attempt was made to gain a qualitative picture of their online engagement. Responses suggest that participants viewed the Internet as a one-way, transmissive information source, and as a supplementary means of communication, primarily with friends and family. Unlike many of today's youth, they exhibited little awareness of an online participatory culture.
Underlying psychometric function for detecting gratings and identifying spatial frequency

Observers detected and/or identified the spatial frequencies of grating stimuli. Spatial frequency varied from 3.8 to 5.5 cycles per degree, and contrast varied from 0.001 to 0.33. In nearly all cases, the psychometric functions that relate performance on the different tasks to contrast are multiples of one underlying function, provided that the functions are expressed in standard normal deviates. The underlying function is positively accelerated at contrasts less than 0.01 and levels off at contrasts greater than 0.05. A vector model interprets the results and relates them to the responses of individual spatially tuned mechanisms.
The Stability of Inhibitory and Working Memory Deficits in Children and Adolescents Who are Children of Parents With Schizophrenia

Cognitive deficits are a central feature of schizophrenia and occur in first-degree relatives of schizophrenic probands, even in the absence of psychotic symptoms. A number of cognitive domains have been implicated including measures of response inhibition and working memory. While the stability of cognitive deficits has been demonstrated in individuals with schizophrenia, stability of deficits has not been explored in first-degree relatives. This report focuses on 25 children (ages 6-15 years), all with at least one schizophrenic parent. The children were assessed twice, utilizing inhibitory and working memory tasks, with a mean 2.6 years between visits. Stop reaction time (a measure of motor inhibition) and performance on a counting span task (a measure of verbal working memory) were borderline to mildly impaired (compared with a typically developing comparison group) at both visits with similar effect sizes (stopping task time 1, effect size = 0.46, time 2 effect size = 0.50; counting span time 1 effect size = 0.53, time 2 effect size = 0.42). For these 2 tasks, individual age-adjusted scores also correlated across both time points (r = 0.41-0.76) suggesting that individual children maintained deficits across time. As etiologically driven strategies are developed for the cognitive deficits of schizophrenia, expansion of these treatments to relatives who share the cognitive but not the psychotic symptoms may be worth exploring.
CO2-induced prolongation of expiratory time during early development.

Abstract In these studies, we determined the contribution of central mechanisms and the role of GABA A -receptor signal transduction pathways in mediating hypercapnia-induced slowing of breathing frequency. Experiments were performed in decerebrate, vagotomized, paralyzed and mechanically ventilated piglets of 3–5 days and 2–3 weeks of age ( n =19). Repeated exposure to progressive hyperoxic hypercapnia induced a reproducible increase in phrenic nerve activity, accompanied by a CO 2 concentration-dependent increase in expiratory duration. No differences were observed in piglets with intact or cut carotid sinus nerves. Intravenous administration of bicuculline (2 mg/kg; n =7), a γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA A ) receptor antagonist, significantly reduced the CO 2 -induced prolongation of Te . These data demonstrate for the first time that in early postnatal life, hypercapnia induced increase in phrenic activity is associated with centrally mediated prolongation of expiratory duration. Furthermore, the results suggest that brainstem GABAergic mechanisms play an important role in CO 2 -induced prolongation of expiratory time during early development.
The Effect of Temperature in Sweet Corrosion of Horizontal Multiphase Carbon Steel Pipelines

The effect of temperature on sweet corrosion in carbon steel pipelines at different liquid velocities under various oil-water concentrations was studied. Carbon steel coupons were used to study the corrosion products formed. With an increase of temperature up to 60 C, corrosion rate increases. Above 60 C, protective carbonate layers were observed. At lower temperature and pressures, the corrosion rates are similar to those predicted by de Waard and Milliams, With an increase in temperature, the corrosion rate increase is more pronounced at higher pressures and is greater than the de Waard and Milliams. No maximum in the corrosion rate is seen for oil water mixtures for temperatures up to 80 C.
Thermal modelling in low-pressure/high-temperature metamorphic belts

Abstract Low-pressure/high-temperature metamorphic belts occur throughout the world. They display a characteristic metamorphic style which has remained unchanged with time. They are found in disparate tectonic settings, including magmatic arcs, regions of extension, regions of thickened crust in continent-continent collision zones, and accretionary wedges. They are commonly characterized by an abundance of granitoid plutons. Pressures of metamorphism are primarily less than or equal to that of the aluminosilicate triple point (approximately 4 kbar), while temperatures are in the range 500–750 °C. With rare exceptions, inferred PTt paths are nearly isobaric and recrystallization was rapid and prograde. Metamorphic thermal gradients are commonly in the range 60–150 °C/km. These conditions necessitate the presence of a large component of advective heat transfer and/or anomalously high basal heat flow during metamorphism. The large magmatic fluxes associated with the formation of magmatic arcs provide an adequate heat source for low pressure metamorphism (LPM). Lithospheric extension is likely to produce LPM only if the degree of thinning is large ( β > 3) and there is additional heat from magmas. The generation of LPM by crustal thickening requires either a large component of advective heating by magmas, anomalously high basal heat flow, or pre-thickening lithospheric extension. LPM in this environment must necessarily be accompanied by plutonic activity. Advection of heat by aqueous fluids may provide a significant contribution to the thermal budget but, acting along, is unlikely to produce LPM. Regional LPM induced by advective sources, rarely occurs along a geotherm which increases monotonically with depth, or synchronously across the region at a given depth; it occurs over time as a series of overlapping temporally separate and spatially localized thermal events.
Isolation and initial characterization of virescent mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana.

In higher plants, development of the chloroplasts must be coordinated with development of the leaf. In order to study the signals that synchronize these two developmental processes, we have isolated virescent (delayed in greening) mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana. Two such mutants that have pale-green young leaves which gradually green more fully during leaf maturation have been partially characterized. The two, vir1 and vir2, are due to separate nuclear recessive mutations. The pale leaves of vir1 and vir2 both had reduced 77°K fluorescence emission at 730–734 nm relative to that at 686–687 nm, indicating a reduction in the relative amount of LHC I compared to WT. As leaves greened, the amount of LHC I increased to near wildtype levels. The shift in the fluorescence emission peak from 730 nm to 734 nm, characteristic of maturing LHC I, was seen for vir1, but not vir2, suggesting that vir1 is a regulatory mutant while vir2 may be defective in a specific aspect(s) of LHC I function.
Preventing and treating periodontal disease with the keyes technique: A preliminary assessment

Abstract This article uses data from 190 patient records in 18 dental practices to conduct a shortterm assessment of the effectiveness and costs of the Keyes technique, a nonsurgical method for treating and preventing periodontal disease. The results of this study, based on nonexperimental data, suggest that controlled clinical trials are called for in assessing the long-term effectiveness of the Keyes technique. If clinical trials support the study's short-term results, then the Keyes technique would provide a cost-effective alternative to surgery for the prevention and treatment of periodontal disease.
Birth Weight, Math and Reading Achievement Growth: A Multilevel Between-Sibling, Between-Families Approach

We used multilevel covariance structure analysis to study the relationship between birth weight, family context and youth math and reading comprehension growth from approximately ages 5 through 14 within and between families. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth Child Sample, we examined the relationship between birth weight and subsequent academic achievement growth disparities, distinguishing between birth weight and other contextual social confounders. We found that smaller birth weight is associated with lower math and reading scores at age 5. Additional findings indicated that the home environment has important developmental consequences from early childhood and into adolescence. Overall, the pattern of findings painted a complex picture of disadvantage, beginning in the womb and extending through a variety of mechanisms into adolescence.
Comparison of the pulmonary vascular response to prostaglandin A1, prostaglandin F2α and angiotensin II; Metabolism of PGA1 in lung☆

Abstract A rabbit lung preparation, perfused in vitro , was used to examine pulmonary metabolism of prostaglandin A1 (PGA1) and to compare the vasoconstrictor actions of PGA1, prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) and angiotensin II. PGF2α caused significantly more, and angiotensin II significantly less, vasoconstriction than did an equimolar concentration of PGA1. Of three likely PGA1 metabolites only 15-keto-PGA1 had any significant vasoconstrictor action. Furosemide and aminophylline (10−3 M) reduced PGA1, PGF2α or angiotensin II-induced vasoconstruction. Diphloretin phosphate potentiated the vascular effect of angiotensin II. Furosemide (10−3 M) and DPP (9.5 × 10−6 M) significantly reduced pulmonary metabolism of PGA1 while aminophylline (10−3 M) had no effect on this process. Perfusion of the lungs with a hypoxic medium had no effect on PGA1 metabolism.
On changing the culture of empirical internet assessment

Over the last 20 years empirical assessment of the Internet has become a crucial task with two first-order goals. The first goal is to understand the vast global network as it exists. This informs our mental models on which we can then develop and extend the Internet in myriad ways. The second goal is to understand the problems facing the Internet in a concrete fashion such that the community can then develop solutions. While empirical assessment often appears straightforward at first blush, soundly investigating some facet of the network often results in subtle and nuanced analysis that was unforeseen at the outset of an investigation. While we are getting better as a community at thorough empirical investigation, more work in this direction is needed. In this paper we discuss two (related) problems faced by Internet empiricalists:
SWELLING OF NEGATIVE RESIST SYSTEMS USED IN E-BEAM LITHOGRAPHY†

Radiation-crosslinking polymeric resist systems are compared on the basis of number of components, molecular structure, average molecular weight and molecular weight distribution. These factors can be correlated with sensitivity, contrast, resolution, and ease of removal (stripping). Systems include single component polymers (including derivatized chains) as well as two-component systems where a reactive plasticizer participates. For the crosslinking, negative-working resists, swelling is the paramount factor governing resolution. Swelling can be diminished by: 1. Choosing a polymer-solvent combination with low interaction, that is, a high interaction parameter, χ, 2. Using a low-molecular-weight polymer, and, 3. Adding a network-forming monomer that is polyfunctional and compatible in monomeric and polymeric states with the host polymer
Interval Monte Carlo as an Alternative to Second-Order Sampling for Estimating Ecological Risk

Interval Monte Carlo offers an alternative to second-order approaches for modeling measurement uncertainty in a simulation framework. Using the example of computing quasi-extinction decline risk for an ecological population, an interval Monte Carlo model is built. If the model is not written optimally, the mean and standard deviation of the growth rate repeat, then the bounds on the quasi-extinction risk will be sub-optimal. Depending on your operational definition of what an interval is, the sub-optimal bounds may be the best possible bounds. A comparison between second-order and interval Monte Carlo is made, which reveals that second-order approaches can underestimate the upper bound on the quasi-extinction decline risk to the population when there are a large number of parameters that need to be sampled.
Cytochemical observations of hemolymph cells during coagulation in the crayfish, Orconectes virilis.

Smears of Orconectes virilis hemolymph were prepared by fixation in 10% formalin immediately upon withdrawal, and after an interval of 1, 5, or 15 minutes. These smears were then stained by a variety of histochemical means designed to identify a material which is released from both hyaline and granular cells during the coagulation process. Based upon reactions to various carbohydrate, lipid and protein tests, this material appears to consist of a glycoor muco-protein, and its localization and activity coincide with the „fibrin ferment” described by Hardy (1892). Its release is probably initiated from the hyaline cells, followed shortly thereafter by a similar activity of the granulocytes. While it cannot be ascertained by the methods used in this study whether or not this material participates actively in clotting, its release is nevertheless coincidental with coagulation.
Information flow in the brain: Computer requirements (A tutorial)

This paper covers mathematical, statistical, and experimental design considerations needed to design a computer system for EEG data acquisition, spectrum, and cross-spectrum analyses. A tutorial approach is used in which no formal proofs are offered. Conclusions are stated simply and in summary fashion, without justifying arguments. References to formal works are given. Conclusions about system design are discussed. Frequently encountered design issues are mentioned with various alternatives.
State mental health parity mandates

Discrimination toward individuals experiencing mental illness, substance abuse, and addiction has led mental health advocates in the United States to challenge inequitable health care insurance coverage for mental health care benefits. The Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 was passed to eliminate mental health insurance discrimination in the private sector. As mandated, mental health care benefits provided by larger commercial employers are to be equitable in terms of treatment limitations and financial requirements with physical health care benefits. On the federal level, mental illness is defined as the severe biologically based mental illnesses, for the 1996 law. Parity legislation for substance abuse and chemical addiction has been introduced in Congress and legislation is being introduced and passed across the states. Although the Democratic Party historically has been the champion of health and welfare programs, there is growing bipartisan support for mental health, substance abuse, and addictions pa...
Surface complexation and dissolution of hematite by C 1 -C 6 dicarboxylic acids at pH = 5.0

Adsorption of organic ligands to the surfaces of minerals is a ubiquitous environmental process that often regulates interfacial aqueous chemistry. In the current work, the infrared spectra of dicarboxylate ligands adsorbed to hematite are collected by attenuated total reflectance (ATR) spectroscopy. For each ligand, spectra are recorded at several concentrations at pH = 5.0. Each series of spectra is analyzed by singular value decomposition constrained to a Langmuir adsorption surface model. Oxalate, malonate, and glutarate form bidentate surface complexation structures, whereas succinate and adipate form monodentate structures. The absence of a linear trend in the qualitative form of the binding structure (e.g., bidentate for n = 0, 1, and 3 and monodentate for n = 2 and 4 where n is the length of the carbon chain between carboxylate groups) is attributed to the variation of strain energies for the geometries of possible surface complexation structures. For the bidentate ligands, a linear relationship between the Langmuir binding constant and the second acidity constant is demonstrated. The ligand-promoted dissolution rates at pH = 5.0 are also determined through batch reactor experiments. For the bidentate surface complexes, the dissolution rate at monolayer ligand surface coverage slows in the order oxalate, glutarate, to malonate. Linear relationships are found between the ligand-promoted dissolution rate constants and both the Langmuir binding constants and the second acidity constants. In contrast, succinate and adipate form monodentate surface structures that dissolve slowly, if at all. In this manner, a connection is established between the macroscopic dissolution rate and the microscopic surface complexation structures.
The effects of exogenous progesterone on drug craving and stress arousal in cocaine dependence: impact of gender and cue type.

Summary Aims Exogenous progesterone has been shown to attenuate the rewarding effects of cocaine. However, its effects on provoked drug craving, stress arousal and cognitive performance has not been systematically investigated in cocaine dependent men and women. Thus, we conducted a double-blind placebo-controlled study assessing the efficacy of progesterone in reducing provoked drug craving, stress system arousal and improving cognitive performance in cocaine dependent men and women. Methods Forty-two early abstinent treatment-seeking cocaine dependent individuals were randomly assigned to either daily doses of placebo (12M/9F) or micronized progesterone (12M/9F) (400 mg/day), for 7 days. Under experimental conditions, all subjects were exposed to three 5-min personalized guided imagery conditions (stress, cocaine cue, relaxing), one per day, consecutively in a random, counterbalanced order. Subjective craving, mood, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and cardiovascular output, and a cognitive measure of inhibitory control (Stroop Color Word Task) were assessed pre- and post imagery. Results Progesterone relative to placebo significantly decreased cue-induced craving and cortisol responses and increased cue-induced ACTH. In addition, women but not men receiving progesterone reported lower ratings of negative emotion and higher ratings of relaxed mood following stress exposure. Improved Stroop performance was observed in all participants receiving progesterone, across all conditions. Conclusions Progesterone was selectively effective in reducing cocaine cue-induced but not stress-related cocaine craving as well as specific measures of the provoked arousal state. Findings suggest that progesterone's effects on drug craving and arousal are moderated by both the type of environmental cue exposure and gender.
The effects of substratum type on the population dynamics of three common intertidal animals

Abstract In the rocky intertidal of western North America species found on rocks also live on the shells of the mussel Mytilus californianus Conrad. Since at most sites the mid-intertidal zone contains both rocks and mussels, organisms face a choice of which substratum to live upon. Because the two substrata differ in physical characteristics, and biological interactions could differ on the two substrata, it may be better to live on one substratum than the other. Comparisons of population dynamics of three species common on both substrata revealed that while growth and reproductive status were not affected by the type of substratum, both survivorship and recruitment were higher on mussels. Therefore, this suggests that it is better to live on mussels. However, due to the spatial and temporal variability in the conditions which may have contributed to these results, species should retain the ability to live on both substrata.
Improving the Performance of Online Auctions Through Server-side Activity-based Caching

Online auction sites have very specific workloads and user behavior characteristics. Previous studies on workload characterization conducted by the authors showed that (1) bidding activity on auctions increases considerably after 90% of an auction's life time has elapsed, (2) a very large percentage of auctions have a relatively low number of bids and bidders and a very small percentage of auctions have a high number of bids and bidders, (3) prices rise very fast after an auction has lasted more than 90% of its life time. Thus, if bidders are not able to successfully bid at the very last moments of an auction because of site overload, the final price may not be as high as it could be and sellers, and consequently the auction site, may lose revenue. In this paper, we propose server-side caching strategies in which cache placement and replacement policies are based on auction-related parameters such as number of bids placed or percent remaining time till closing time. A main-memory auction cache at the application server can be used to reduce accesses to the back-end database server. Trace-based simulations were used to evaluate these caching strategies in terms of cache hit ratio and cache efficiency. The performance characteristics of the best policies were then evaluated through experiments conducted on a benchmark online auction system.
Clinal variation in morphology and assortative mating in the soldier beetle, Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus (Coleoptera: Cantharidae)

In north Georgia populations of the soldier beetle, Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus, the length of the elytral spot varies clinally. At the southern end of a 200 km cline the distribution of spot length is unimodal with longer spot lengths predominating while at the northern end of the cline the distribution is bimodal but with shorter spot lengths being more frequent. North of the cline only short elytral spot lengths are observed, while the converse is true south of the cline. The strength of assortative mating on the basis of elytral spot length increases from south to north along the cline, resulting in complete pre-mating isolation between short and long spot length morphs at the north end of the cline. Laboratory mate choice tests indicate that assortative mating in the field is not the result of differential timing of activity or microhabitat choice but rather that it represents a real behavioural preference. Individuals from monomorphic populations on either side of the cline do not mate assortatively in the laboratory, indicating that reproductive isolation has evolved on the cline.
The effects of diffusive exchange in heterogeneous systems on N.M.R. line shapes and relaxation processes

The effects of diffusive exchange on N.M.R. line shapes and relaxation times are of considerable importance in the interpretation of N.M.R. data from biological and heterogeneous systems, but have not been fully explored theoretically. In order to illustrate the effects, exact analytical solutions of the generalized Bloch equations are derived for various model situations describing heterogeneous systems. The first model treats the multi-exponential relaxation arising from one dimensional diffusion to an active surface. The results are used to interpret the relaxation of water protons in cellular systems. The second model provides exact analytical solutions for diffusive exchange between two one-dimensional compartments separated by a permeable membrane. By considering the compartments to be the inside and outside of a cell, organelle or vesicle, a variety of important N.M.R. experiments can be interpreted. Finally, we consider the case of diffusive exchange between two regions of heterogeneity which lack...
A general boundary integral formulation for the numerical solution of plate bending problems

Abstract A direct approach is employed to obtain a general formulation of plate bending problems in terms of a pair of singular integral equations involving displacement, normal slope, bending moment and shear on the plate boundary. These equations are coupled with prescribed boundary conditions involving these same variables furnishing a convenient basis for numerical solution. A simple discretization scheme is described and two model problems treated to illustrate the nature and quality of some typical results.
SIZE‐DISTRIBUTION OF EARNINGS AND HOUSEHOLD INCOMES IN SMALL SOCIALIST COUNTRIES

Part I: Availability and meaning of East European distributional statistics are discussed. Part II: Measures of inequality to be used in this study are examined: the Gini coefficient of concentration, though superior to some other single indicators, is found to be an unreliable comparative measure of inequality, and is therefore supplemented by a set of ratios of selected percentiles to the median. Part III: Inequality of full-time gross monthly earnings is measured for (almost) the whole civilian working population and for some subpopulations (selected industries, men, women) in Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia through 1970, in Hungary through 1968: the observed inequality appears to be less than in small capitalist countries, in spite of the reversal of the socialist egalitarian trend in the 'sixties. The main factor of equalization of socialist earnings are small interoccupational and interregional differentials and a very flat age profile. Part IV: The socio-economic structure of households, the size of samples underlying the distributional statistics, and the composition of household “revenues” (wage and salary earnings, agricultural incomes, social security payments, relatively unimportant property incomes, as well as non-income cash flows) are examined. Inequality coefficients are estimated for per capita revenues of all households as well as subpopulations of households in Czechoslovakia and Hungary, and some information is given on the distribution of household incomes in Yugoslavia. Part V: Limits of desirable equalization of earnings are discussed. With very narrowly dispersed short-term earnings, lifetime earnings tend to be rather unequally distributed because of the variation of earning years among occupations. With largely equalized primary incomes, per capita household incomes tend to be more unequally distributed, in spite of massive transfers, because of the varying ratio of earners to dependents within households. The need of income differentials as incentives to work, the probable trade-off between income equality and economic growth, and socialist distributive principles are outlined.