cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MIF Deficiency Does Not Alter Glucose Homeostasis or Adipose Tissue Inflammatory Cell Infiltrates during Diet-Induced Obesity

Objective Circulating macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) levels have been shown to positively correlate with body mass index (BMI) in humans. Our objective in this study was to determine the effects of MIF deficiency in a model of high-fat diet-induced obesity. Design and Methods MIF wild type (MIF WT) and MIF deficient (MIF–/–) C57Bl/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for up to 15 weeks. Weight and metabolic responses were measured over the course of the disease. Immune cell infiltrates in visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue were examined by flow cytometry. Results There was no difference in weight gain or adipose tissue mass in MIF–/– mice compared to MIF WT mice. Both groups fed HFD developed glucose intolerance at the same rate and had similar elevations in fasted blood insulin. MDSC abundance was evaluated and showed no MIF-dependent differences. Macrophages were elevated in the visceral adipose tissue of obese mice, but there was no difference between the two groups. Conclusions While HFD feeding induced obesity with the expected perturbations in glucose homeostasis and adipose tissue inflammation, the presence or absence of MIF had no effect on any parameter examined.
Growth and development of competence in the group H streptococci.

Abstract The growth and development of competence by group H streptococci, strain Challis, were compared in synthetic, semisynthetic, and complex media with respect to the cultural conditions required, time of onset and persistence of competence and transformation efficiency. Provided that cultural conditions were strictly controlled in the synthetic system, transformation frequencies of 1% or above were routinely observed. The initial pH must be between 7.3 and 7.6, and the addition of freshly prepared bicarbonate ion was required. Furthermore, competence was sensitive to the degree of initial agitation of the culture. There was no evidence that “step-down” or “unbalanced” growth conditions were required. Competence could be provoked in the incompetent strain Wicky, growing in complex or semisynthetic media, by the addition of heat-killed or filtered cultures of strain Challis prepared during the competent period of growth in synthetic medium.
Postmortem intubation training: patient and family opinion.

OBJECTIVE Endotracheal intubation is a life-saving skill which requires training to master. Learning opportunities for endotracheal intubation must be balanced with patient rights and intentions. This study was conducted to explore patient and family opinions about postmortem endotracheal intubation training. METHODS We carried out an observational, cross-sectional survey study in an urban, teaching hospital, on the day of hospital discharge. Subjects were neurologically unimpaired neurosurgical patients discharged from hospital in 2004-2005, and their relatives. We carried out interviews using a standardised script to determine whether subjects would permit postmortem intubation training on themselves or relatives, and whether permission should be granted by relatives before training. RESULTS A total of 85% of patient and family respondents would allow intubation training after death on themselves, 76% would allow endotracheal intubation to be practised on a relative, and 81% felt the deceased's next-of-kin should be asked for permission prior to endotracheal intubation training. Subjects responded consistently as to what they would allow on self and family. Knowledge that the deceased person would have agreed to his or her body being used in endotracheal intubation training increased their likelihood of granting permission for training (P = 0.008). White subjects were 4.6 times more likely than non-Whites to allow intubation training on themselves (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Patients and families are agreeable to postmortem intubation training; however, most expect to be asked for permission. Utilising existing mechanisms which communicate desired treatment, such as advance directives, hospital admissions documents, donor registries or community health fairs may facilitate training opportunities and altruistic patient intentions.
Habitual sleep variability, mediated by nutrition intake, is associated with abdominal obesity in adolescents

Abstract Objective To investigate habitual sleep duration (HSD) and habitual sleep variability (HSV) in relation to abdominal obesity and nutrient intake as mediating factors in adolescents. Methods We analyzed data from 305 adolescents who participated in the Penn State Child Cohort follow-up examination. An actigraphy device was used for seven consecutive nights to calculate HSD and HSV. Abdominal obesity was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. The Youth/Adolescent Food Frequency Questionnaire was used to obtain daily total caloric, protein, fat, and carbohydrates intakes. Linear regression models were used to associate HSD and HSV with abdominal obesity and to qualitatively identify mediating factors. The mediating effect was quantitatively estimated by mediation models. Results After adjusting for major covariates and HSD, higher HSV was significantly associated with abdominal obesity measures. For example, with 1-hour increase in HSV, android/gynoid fat ratio and visceral fat area increased by 0.02 cm 2 (standard error = 0.01, p = 0.03) and 6.86 cm 2 (standard error = 2.82, p = 0.02), respectively. HSD was not associated with abdominal obesity in HSV-adjusted models. Total caloric, fat, and carbohydrate intakes were significant mediating factors. For instance, 20% of the association between HSV and visceral fat can be attributed to carbohydrate intake. Conclusions Higher HSV, not HSD, is significantly associated with abdominal obesity, which can be partially explained by increased caloric intake, especially from carbohydrate, in adolescents. This study suggests that more attention should be paid to establish and maintain regular sleep patterns in adolescents.
Admission vitamin D status is associated with discharge destination in critically ill surgical patients

Background Discharge destination after critical illness is increasingly recognized as a valuable patient-centered outcome. Recently, vitamin D status has been shown to be associated with important outcomes such as length of stay (LOS) and mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Our goal was to investigate whether vitamin D status on ICU admission is associated with discharge destination.
Application of light and ultrasound for medical diagnostics and treatment

We develop novel optical and ultrasound techniques for medical noninvasive diagnostics and treatment. In this review, we present our results on the development of: (1) optoacoustic technique for detection of small tumors; (2) optoacoustic monitoring of blood oxygenation; (3) optoacoustic monitoring during thermotherapy; (4) optical coherence tomography for monitoring of blood glucose concentration; and (5) laser- and ultrasound-based anti- cancer drug delivery technique. Motivation, experimental methods, results obtained in vitro and in vivo with the use of these techniques are presented.
Diastereomeric selectivity of carbon-coated zirconia reversed-phase liquid chromatographic media.

The determination of enantiomeric excess, that is, the relative amount of any pair of optical antipodes, constitutes a integral part of the work of analytical and synthetic chemists involved in natural products research or pharmaceutical development. Mosher's reagent [α-methoxy-α-(trifluoromethyl)phenylacetyl chloride] has evolved into a major tool for the determination of absolute configuration by NMR. We report here on the separation of diastereomers formed by derivatizing enantiomers with Mosher's reagent. We have shown that reversed-phase liquid−solid adsorption chromatography on carbon surfaces frequently gives considerably superior resolution of diastereomeric pairs than does RPLC on conventional bonded phases. The improved resolution results from the very high sensitivity of solid carbon surfaces to the geometric organization of the solute rather than from differences in column efficiency. We compare the separation of pharmaceutically and biologically important stereoisomeric mixtures, including (±...
Polar gyroscopic tests of general relativity.

Gyroscopic precession at the terrestrial poles is treated using the original Kerr metric in Cartesian coordinates and an isometry method for treating accelerating observers. The results corroborate predictions for gyroscopic precession obtained by gravitomagnetic methods and reinforce recent suggestions that ground-based precession experiments may be viable.
Dose-dependent, amphetamine-induced changes in permeability of the blood-brain barrier of normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The permeability of the blood-brain barrier to 131I-radioiodinated human serum albumin can be changed by the acute administration of amphetamine intravenously. In normotensive rats (WKY), the response was dose dependent and biphasic. The permeability was increased by doses of 7.5 mg/kg or less and the permeability was decreased by doses of 15 and 30 mg/kg. The response to amphetamine in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) was quite different. The permeability of the blood-brain barrier was greater in the saline-treated spontaneously hypertensive animals than in the saline-treated normotensive animals. Doses of amphetamine to as much as 5 mg/kg caused an increase in permeability, but much less than was found in the normotensive animals. At doses of amphetamine from 7.5 to 30 mg/kg, there were no significant changes in permeability of the blood-brain barrier. There was a high correlation between the acute change in blood pressure caused by the administration of amphetamine and the change in permeability of the blood-brain barrier.
Nervous about immunity: neuronal signals control innate immune system.

The molecular mechanisms by which the nervous system influences innate immunity to pathogens remain mysterious. Two new studies show that neuronal products modulate established innate immune signaling pathways operative in the Caenorhabditis elegans intestine.
The brachial artery-brachial vein fistula: Expanding the possibilities for autogenous fistulae

Objective The National Kidney Foundation Dialysis Outcomes and Quality Initiative recommends autogenous access for new dialysis procedures. The patient requiring hemodialysis with inadequate superficial arm veins represents a formidable challenge to the surgeon. Our objective is to describe results with an alternative access procedure, the autogenous brachial-brachial artery (ABBA) access in patients with inadequate superficial arm veins. Methods One surgeon created 163 new dialysis accesses in 122 patients during 40 consecutive months at a university hospital. There was 97% patient follow-up. All patent but diminutive superficial arm veins as judged by preoperative ultrasound were explored. Arms with inadequate veins at exploration or arms with thrombosed veins on ultrasound received either prosthetic or ABBA procedures. Upper-arm access was often staged, involving a second "superficialization" procedure. This is a retrospective case series based on a comprehensive medical record review. Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare access patency for individual as well as multiple factors suspected or known to influence dialysis access outcomes. Society for Vascular Surgery reporting guidelines were used except where specifically noted and justified otherwise. Results One hundred thirty-five autogenous and 28 prosthetic dialysis operations were performed. Primary patency for all access procedures at 12, 24, and 36 months was 58%, 50%, and 38%, respectively. Primary assisted patency for all access procedures at 12, 24, and 36 months was 97%, 91%, and 85%, respectively. Secondary patency at 12, 24, and 36 months was 99%, 97%, and 97%, respectively. Finally, functional patency at 12, 24, and 36 months was 71%, 67%, and 44.0%, respectively. Of the 122 patients, 70 patients received either ABBA or prosthetic access. ABBA out-performed prosthetic access in terms of primary patency (hazard ratio for prosthetic vs ABBA: 4.21 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.49, 11.91) and functional patency (hazard ratio for prosthetic vs ABBA: 6.27 95% CI: 1.24-31.72) in patients referred early. Functional patency was more likely to be compromised in elderly patients and in patients with hypercoagulable diagnoses. Conclusions Autogenous brachial-brachial access for dialysis out-performed prosthetic access with respect to primary and functional patency in patients referred early without differences in overall complications.
Regularization of the cauchy problem for the heat equation by norm bounds

We consider the non-characteristic Cauchy problem for the heat equation in a non-cylindrical domain. We impose norm bounds on the unknown boundary flux and study the amount of regularization by estimating the module of continuity. In addition to interior Holder estimates for temperature and gradient we also get uniform estimates of logarithmic type.
Determination of endogenic and exogenic hydrocarbons by the combined application of liquid, thin-layer and gas chromatography

Abstract A method is described for the combined application of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and capillary gas chromatography (GC) to the rapid determination of hydrocarbons in hydrobionts. Specific procedures have been developed for preliminary and final separations. The analytical scheme consists of saponification, extraction, TLC, GC and HPLC determinations. Alkanes, alkenes, mono-, di-, tri- and polynuclear arenes were investigated. The method is suitable for routine determinations.
On “epistemic possibility”

Possibly Teller's at tempt to explicate the concept of epistemic possibility along the lines proposed by Moore and Hacking is correct in principle if not in detail; on the other hand, possibly it's not. No doubt Teller would assent to the claim, "Possibly Teller is right", if not to the somewhat stronger formulation, "Necessarily Teller is right". Evidently, in committing himself to the former assertion Teller does not thereby commit himself to the latter one as well. If I am going to commit myself to the contrary claim by asserting now, "I know he's wrong", however, it appears as though I have no choice but to defend my claim by demonstrating, "Necessarily Teller is wrong". Among these possibilities, therefore, at least one is gone for good; for that Teller and I are both right is no possibility at all. That Teller's explication is mistaken in detail is perhaps easily shown but not philosophically very consequential. The definition he recommends is this: D4: It is possible that p if and only if
TU‐A‐218‐09: Hybrid Pyroelectric/Nanotube LiTaO3/TiO2 X‐Ray Source

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to fabricate and study performance of an X‐ray source based on hybrid pyroelectric/nanotube LiTaO3/TiO2 system. Methods: TiO2 nanotubes were grown via electrochemicaloxidation of Ti sheets using ethylene glycol + NH4F electrolyte and anodization potential in the range 30 – 60 V. TiO2 nanotubes were attached to LiTaO3 pyroelectric crystal with conductive carbon paste. Generated x‐rays from LiTaO3/TiO2 hybrid system were detected by an Ortec NaI (Tl) detector. Working vacuum level was in the range 0.03–3 mTorr. Thermal cycling to a difference of 140 °C was provided by use of a battery‐based thermostatic controller which raised the temperature at 1.2 C°/s until the desired temperature difference was achieved. Results: The X‐ray spectrum of pyroelectric of‘pure’ LiTaO3 X‐ray source measured ranged from 10 to 90 keV and had a maximum at 27.2 keV. After covering the Z surface of LiTaO3 pyroelectric with TiO2 nanotubes the spectrum of the hybrid TiO2/LiTaO3 system peaked at 23.5 keV and spanned from 10 to 50 keV. Photon flux from TiO2/LiTaO3 system was significantly higher than that for ‘pure’ LiTaO3 pyroelectric system. After increasing the pressure from 0.03 mTorr to 3.0 mTorr the peak position shifted to 18.5 keV, and photon flux dropped by about 50% due to reduced electron mean free path. Conclusions:Pyroelectric X‐ray source based on hybrid TiO2/LiTaO3 system has been fabricated and its performance was studied. It is observed that this type of X‐ray source has greater X‐ray emission due to electric field amplification on the nanotube tips and the spectrum has a lower energy in the range 10–50 keV.
SYNTHESIS OF METASTABLE PHASES BY SHOCK-IMPACT GENERATED TENSILE STRESS PULSES

Etude dans l'alliage NiTi des transformations de phase stable-metastable induites par des impulsions de contraintes de traction. Influence de l'amplitude de la contrainte et de la duree de l'impulsion sur le type de transformation. Analyse microstructurale de l'echantillon apres transformation par diffraction RX, calorimetrie differentielle a balayage et microscopie electronique en transmission
Rural Trauma: Is Trauma Designation Associated With Better Hospital Outcomes?

Context: While trauma designation has been associated with lower risk of death in large urban settings, relatively little attention has been given to this issue in small rural hospitals.Purpose:To examine factors related to in-hospital mortality and delayed transfer in small rural hospitals with and without trauma designation. Methods: Analysis of data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample for discharges between 1998 and 2003 of patients hospitalized with moderate to major traumatic injury in nonfederal, short-stay rural hospitals with annual discharges of 1,500 or fewer patients (N = 9,590). Logistic regression was used to control for patient and hospital characteristics, stratifying by hospital volume. Main outcome measures were in-hospital death and transfer to another acute care facility after initial admission. Findings: A total of 333 patients (3.5%) died in-hospital. After adjusting for patient, injury and hospital characteristics, in-hospital death was more likely among patients treated at the non-designated hospitals with fewer than 500 discharges per year (OR 2.35; 95% CI 1.25-4.41) than among patients treated at similar trauma-designated hospitals. Patients admitted to non-designated hospitals were more likely to be transferred after admission, although this finding was significant only in the larger-volume hospitals with discharges of 500-1,500 per year (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.08-1.83). Conclusions: Associations between trauma designation and outcomes in rural hospitals warrant further study to determine whether expanding designation to more rural hospitals might lead to further improvement in trauma outcomes. Language: en
Localization and inhibitory actions of galanin at the feline lower esophageal sphincter.

Abstract Intrinsic reflexes of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) are mediated by specific arrangements of excitatory and inhibitory nerves. We have previously described an excitatory reflex at the feline LES mediated by a bombesin-like peptide (BN) which causes release of substance P (SP) to directly contract the LES. Galanin is a neurotransmitter in the enteric nervous system which colocalizes in neurons containing vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). The aims of this study were to determine: (1) the distribution of galanin at the feline LES; (2) the effect of galanin on basal LES tone; (3) the effect of galanin on agonist-induced LES contractions by BN, SP and bethanechol; and (4) the effect of galanin on LES relaxation induced by esophageal distension and exogenous VIP. Galanin-like immunoreactivity (galanin-LI) was localized in neurons that were widely distributed throughout the LES and adjacent organs. Galanin-LI was most abundant in the circular muscle, muscularis mucosa and myenteric plexus of the LES. In anesthetized cats, intra-arterial galanin had no effect on basal LES pressure in a dose range of 10−11 to 10−6 g/kg. Galanin (5ṡ10−7 g/kg) reduced the LES contractile response to SP by 65 ± 8% (P = 0.0001). This galanin-mediated inhibition of SP was not blocked by tetrodotoxin. Galanin similarly decreased the LES contractile response to BN (63 ± 7%, P = 0.005) and bethanechol (55 ± 17%, P = 0.012). Galanin had no effect on the LES relaxation induced by esophageal distension or exogenous VIP. We conclude: (1) galanin-LI is present in neurons at the feline LES; (2) galanin has no effect on basal sphincter tone, but inhibits contractions of the LES by both direct and indirect agonists; and (3) galanin does not effect the LES relaxation induced by esophageal distension or VIP.
An accelerated successive approximation technique for analog to digital converter design

This paper presents a novel technique to reduce the power consumption and potentially improve the conversion speed of successive approximation register (SAR) ADCs. Conventional SAR ADCs use binary search algorithm and they update only one bound, either the upper or lower bound, of the search space during one conversion cycle. The proposed approach, referred to as accelerated-SAR, is capable of updating both the lower and upper bounds during a single conversion cycle. Even in cases that it can only update one bound, the proposed technique updates the bound more aggressively during the conversion. Logic circuits to execute the accelerated-SAR operation are developed. The proposed techniques are implemented in a 0.5V 10-bit ADC. Simulation results are presented to validate the proposed techniques.
NEA Presidential Address: Black Economists of the World you Cite!!:

Economists who publish research in the economics and political economy of race seem averse to citing similar research by black economists. As citations are an important determinant of success as a research economist, black economists can possibly offset the aversion of non-black economists in citing black economists, by citing black economists themselves. This NEA Presidential address considers the relevance of black economist citations, and evaluates the extent to which black economists cite other black economists.
Redefining social and environmental relations at the ecovillage at Ithaca: A case study

Abstract The goal of the recently constructed ecovillage at Ithaca (EVI) is to create a “socially harmonious, economically viable and ecologically sustainable settlement that will demonstrate that human beings can live cooperatively with each other and with the natural environment.” (EVI Housing Cooperative, undated) This paper examines the blend of social vision and personal factors that brought the 30 households together to realize this project. Interviews were conducted with residents that explored their initial motivations in becoming involved with the project, and solicited their impressions of the first 5 years of the ecovillage's existence. The interplay of personal and ideological factors emerges, revealing an implicit and explicit critique of the existing social mode, as residents seek reconnection with each other and with the natural environment. This paper explores the nature of the community that has been created, socially, spatially and imaginatively. In so doing, it reveals the challenges, rewards and disappointments that residents have experienced in realizing their vision. The various ways that residents seek to connect with the world are enumerated, and these are proposed as the dimensions that constitute a sustainable lifestyle.
Hydrological effects of hypothetical climate change in the East River basin, Colorado, USA

Abstract In 1988, the US Geological Survey began a study of the effects of potential climate change on the water resources of the Gunnison River basin. The Gunnison River, in southwestern Colorado, is an important tributary of the Colorado River, contributing approximately 40% of the flow of the Colorado River at the Colorado/Utah stateline. As part of the study, the sensitivity of annual and seasonal runoff in the East River basin, a sub-basin of the Gunnison River basin, to changes in temperature and precipitation was examined. To perform the sensitivity analyses, hypothetical climate changes were used to alter current time series of temperature and precipitation. The altered time series were then used as inputs to a hydrological model that translated these inputs into estimates of runoff. Mean annual and seasonal runoff resulting from a range of hypothetical climate changes were compared and evaluated. Results indicated that in general, changes in precipitation had a larger effect on changes in runoff ...
Spatial relationships between neuromuscular junctions and microvessels in hamster cremaster muscle

Acetylcholine (ACh) dilates arterioles in skeletal muscle. Neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) are the known source of ACh in this tissue. We hypothesized that microvascular topology is related to the distribution of NMJs. To test this, the spatial relationships between NMJs, arterioles, and capillaries in the hamster cremaster muscle were investigated. Male hamsters (n = 5, 80-100 g) were anesthetized (sodium pentobarbital, 60 mg/kg) and the cremaster was perfused with fluorescein isothiocyanate-bovine serum albumin (FITC-BSA) and Microfil compound. Excised muscles were stained for NMJs (cholinesterase reaction) and cleared in glycerin. Grid overlays divided each cremaster evenly into proximal and distal regions and 40 numbered 3 × 3-mm study fields. Five fields/region (∼25% of muscle area) were chosen randomly. Point counting ("counts") on a coherent test grid (component grid dimensions at × 144 magnification: 150 × 150, 300 × 300, and 450 × 450 μm) quantified NMJs, arterioles, and capillaries, respectively, NMJ:arteriole and NMJ:capillary nearest distances were obtained and arterioles nearest NMJs were classified by branch order. Filling with FITC-BSA vs Microfil indicated that all arterioles and ∼92% of capillaries were perfused with Microfil. Relative counts (i.e., volume fractions) for capillaries were five- to sixfold greater than those for arterioles, which were two- to fivefold greater than those for NMJs. Capillary counts were similar between muscle regions and did not correlate with NMJ counts. In the distal muscle. arteriole and NMJ counts were correlated (r = 0.55, P < 0.05) and counts for both structures were greater than those in proximal regions. NMJ:capillary distances (proximal, 11.9 ± 0.9 μm; distal, 14.5 ± 0.6 μm) were less (P < 0.05) than respective NMJ:arteriole distances (111.1 ± 7.1 and 89.8 ± 3.2 μm). Fourth-and fifth-order arterioles accounted for 69% of arterioles nearest NMJs. These findings suggest that NMJs may provide a vasoactive stimulus which varies with muscle region and with location in the microvascular network.
P02.26. Integrative care for adolescent mood problems: brief report from a second opinion clinic

Results Of the 75 new patients, 34 (45%) noted a concern about mood. The average age was 13 ± 4 years, 68% were female, and patients had an average of 8.6 health concerns such as fatigue, anxiety, headaches, constipation, and pain. Most (88%) received care from other specialists and 71% took medications (average 2.4/patient), most often antidepressants. There was great interest in discussing stress management (86%), nutrition (84%), sleep (82%), and exercise/activity (78%). Most had suboptimal levels of ferritin (65%) and vitamin D (65%). Most parental questions were about fish oil (82%), multivitamins (48%), and minerals (63%).
WE-G-218-02: The Measurement of Absorbed Dose to Active Intravenous Cardiac Devices in Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy.

Radiotherapy departments are seeing an increasing number of patients presenting for treatment with active intravenous cardiac devices (AICDs). This is due to an increasing aging population and technology advances in these devices. The AAPM TG‐34 addressed the radiation effects in these devices and provided recommendations for patients with these devices undergoing radiotherapy. The current devices utilizing CMOS technology are more sensitive to radiation then the older bipolar devices. Therefore, it is important to estimate the dose to the device to ensure that the radiation does not adversely affect the performance of the device. This is particularly important for patients dependent on their accurate functioning. The dose to the device is generally from secondary radiation and is typically below 0.05 Gy with most of it coming from lower energy scatter radiation.Treatment planning systems can be used to estimate the dose to the device. However, these systems do not accurately calculate doses at distances more than 2–3 cm from the field edge. For these out–of–field dose measurements the dosimeter requires a high sensitivity and a relatively flat energy response. Thermoluminescent detectors and optically stimulated luminescent detectors satisfy these requirements and they are relatively unobtrusive. The newer formulations of radiochromic film with higher sensitivity can also be used. The detector should be place under 0.5 to 1.0 cm of bolus to minimize the contaminating head‐scatter electrons provide a more realistic measurement of the dose to the device. Learning Objectives: 1. List the reasons for estimating the dose to the AICDs 2. Provide a discussion on the various methods which include calculations and measurements to estimate the dose to the device as well as the uncertainties in these estimates. 3. Identify detectors that satisfy the requirements for these in‐vivo out‐of‐field dose measurements as well as describe the appropriate correction factors to apply for accurate dose measurements.
Morbidity of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children: Facts and Theory

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is a frequent, albeit underdiagnosed, problem in children. If left untreated, SDB may lead to substantial morbidities affecting multiple target organs and systems. This review provides a detailed and current description of the current status of our understanding of SDB-associated morbidity in children, and provides recommendations of future research directions necessary for increasing our knowledge and awareness on the short- and long-term consequences of SDB during childhood.
LEAD INTOXICATION: EVIDENCE FOR A RAPIDLY DISPLACEABLE REDCELL-LEAD (RBC-Pb) COMPARTMENT

Previous in vitro studies revealed a rapid displacement by ionized calcium(Ca++) of RBC-Pb. This displacement followed a linear dose-response curve above a threshold Ca++ concentration of 4mg%. To characterize the specificity of this effect and RBC-Pb compartments,other metals and the fate of Ca++ were investigated. RBC s were collected from Pb-intoxicated rats, washed,and incubated for 15 min. at pH 7.40 in a balanced salt solution, to which Mg++ (2.5mM), Ca++(2.5mM),Cu++(1.0mM), Zn++ (1.0mM), and La3+ (to 2.5mM) were added. Ca++ and Pb levels were measured by ion-specific electrode and carbon rod, respectively. La3+, an ion that does not permeate cells, also displaced RBC-Pb according to a linear dose-response curve with a higher affinity compared to Ca++. Cu,Zn,and Mg had little, if any, effect. At pre-incubation RBC-Pb levels (μg%) of <50, 51-99, 100-180, the percent decrease in RBC-Pb was negligible, 15.3±1.3, and 37.8±2.1, respectively. A distinct stoichiometric relationship was observed in the constant ratio of Ca++ medium/RBO-Pb both pre and post incubation. This rapidly displaceable fraction, above a threshold level of RBC-Pb, is probably membrane bound and accessible for rapid exchange and complex formation with Ca++. This fraction, compared to tightly bound endogenous RBC-Pb, may be the main source of soft tissue Pb and thus of utmost clinical importance. (Supported by the John A. Hartford Foundation, Inc., & PHS AM 11431).
Analysis of Prey Selection by Double-Crested Cormorants: A 15-Year Diet Study in Oneida Lake, New York

Abstract Piscivorous birds, in particular cormorants Phalacrocorax spp., have been reported to cause declines in some fish populations in both Europe and North America, but not in others. This difference may be due to prey selection by cormorants that is further dependent on the composition of the fish assemblage present. We present 15 years of diet data collected from Oneida Lake, New York, where we have previously documented negative effects of double-crested cormorants Phalacrocorax auritus on two fish populations valued by anglers: Walleye Sander vitreus and Yellow Perch Perca flavescens. The Oneida Lake fish community changed through the study period and this change was reflected in cormorant diet samples. Diet samples were variable based on season and year with Emerald Shiner Notropis atherinoides, Gizzard Shad Dorosoma cepedianum, Lepomis spp., Logperch Percina caprodes, Walleye, and Yellow Perch having the highest overall relative importance. In years when age-0 Gizzard Shad were abundant they dom...
Prenatal lead exposure in relation to gestational age and birth weight: A review of epidemiologic studies

Although the adverse effect on pregnancy outcomes at high levels of lead exposure in the workplace has been recognized for years, there is uncertainty regarding the impact of exposure at the lower community exposure levels commonly encountered today. This review summarizes the epidemiologic literature and discusses pertinent methodologic issues and possible sources of interstudy variation. The authors conclude that prenatal lead exposure is unlikely to increase the risk of premature membrane rupture but does appear to increase the risk of preterm delivery. Whether prenatal lead exposure decreases gestational age in terms of infants is unclear. Prenatal lead exposure also appears to be associated with reduced birth weight, but results vary in relation to study design and degree of control for confounding. Adjustment for gestational age, a possible confounder of the birth weight-lead exposure association, did not yield clearer results.
Morphological Modeling Using Fractal Geometries

The application of fractal concepts to the analysis of non-linear dynamics and morphology has expanded our insight into many diverse natural phenomena. Fractal mathematics provides new methods of analysis also applicable to biophysical phenomena including the structure and function of systems comprising the human body. The brain, heart and the tracheo-bronchial tree possess characteristics common to fractal objects including: (a) a large degree of heterogeneity, (b) self-similar structures over many size scales, and (c) no well defined (characteristic) scale of measure. The fractal dimension, DF is a measure of the structural complexity. This paper presents an overview of some of the general concepts underlying fractals and their relationship to non-linear dynamics and morphology. Areas of investigation that benefit from the application of these concepts to biological phenomena and modeling are discussed and an algorithm for modeling lung development based on fractal concepts is presented. Structures that are in good agreement with actual morphological data may be generated using simple recursive algorithms and constraints.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN μ+μ− COLLIDERS

New developments in crystal-based accelerator techniques for future μ+μ− colliders are outlined in the context of promising μ+μ− physics opportunities opening in the 250×250 GeV energy range (which will be discussed briefly). One of the novel schemes involves laser-driven high gradient (GeV/m) crystal acceleration combined with an effective crystal “cooler,” based on a stimulated radiation damping in a strain-modulated silicon crystal. The ultrastrong focusing environment of a crystal channel would provide effective transverse cooling without substantial blowup of the longitudinal momentum spread. An efficient cooling method is essential for enhancing the luminosity, while a high acceleration gradient would scale down the collider complex to a reasonable size. The conceptual design of a 250×250 GeV storage ring collider is outlined here. Two functional cells (accelerating and cooling) are described in more detail. The fundamental basis for this collider is that the μ± beams are not destroyed by either rad...
Agent-Based Architecture of a Distributed Laboratory System

We present a method for designing the architecture of an agent-based e-educational system. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our method by its application in the design of a computational grid built to be an environment for lab activities. An integrated lab package was developed to allow students to utilize the grid services and support the learning process. Our architectural design strategy ensures an outstanding feature of the system: It allows lab modules to be added into the system in an incremental fashion while ensuring the correctness of the system. Students are recruited in our research program to develop lab modules and build the grid. Initial use of the lab package indicates that it allows lab activities to be performed more efficiently and it enhances the learning effectiveness.
Investigation of taxol as a potential radiation sensitizer.

Background. The authors evaluated the effects of taxol, a microtubular inhibitor, as a possible radiation sensitizer on the human leukemic cell line (HL-60). Taxol acts as a mitotic inhibitor, blocking cells in the G2M-phase of the cell cycle. The differential radiation sensitivity of cells in various phases of the cell cycle has been well recognized. This study was focused on the possible interaction between radiation and a microtubular inhibitor, taxol, in regard to its ability to synchronize cells at the G2M-phase of cell cycle and, thereby, enhance the radiation sensitivity of the cells. Methods. HL-60 cells were exposed to 3 × 10−8 M concentrations of taxol for 1 hour at 37°CCfollowed by reculturing for 24 hours in drug-free medium. The cells were then seeded into 60-mm diameter plastic dishes at appropriate cell concentrations to estimate their colonyforming efficiency. The radiation dose ranged from 0–400 cGy and was delivered in a single fraction. The cellular survival after treatment with the drug and/or radiation was determined using a soft agar clonogenic assay. Results. When HL-60 cells were treated with taxol, up to 70% of the cells were blocked in G2M-phase, as determined by flow cytometric analysis. At the low cytotoxic dose of 3 × 10−8 M, the sensitizing enhancement ratio was 1.48. Conclusions. It appears that taxol has a radiation-sensitizing effect on HL-60 cells and deserves further investigation with other cell lines.
Influence of instantaneous fertility decline to replacement level on population growth: An alternative model

If age-specific birth rates m, of a stable population drop abruptly tomx/R0, whereR0 is the net reproduction rate, then, according to Keyfitz, the size of the ultimate stationary population relative to.that at the beginning of the process is given byI =be00R0 − 1)/(rμR0, whereb andr are the birth rate and the rate of growth, respectively, of the stable population,e00 the life expectancy at birth, andμ the average age at childbirth in the resulting stationary population. Noting that the decline inmx need not necessarily be uniform, investigation has been carried out to examine the effect on Iwhen fertility decline is more rapid at higher ages. In particular, the effect of the reduced age-specific rates such asmxe−rx (which also produces a stationary population) has been analyzed, and simplifications of the results carried out separately for three different models of the net maternity function. It has also been shown that when m, drops abruptly to somemx*, where the form ofmx* need not be specified except for the restriction that the resulting population will be stationary, the value of the index can be approximately obtained fromI* =be00 (1 -rμ/2), whereμ is the average age at childbearing of the initial stable population.
Small Blood Vessels: Big Health Problems National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Update

Because of the aging of our population, the burden of dementia is projected to double worldwide in the next generation, making it one of the greatest challenges faced by healthcare systems globally. Cerebral small-vessel disease is a major contributor to age-related cognitive impairment. Recent epidemiological research provides evidence that hypertension, cerebral infarction, and diffuse white matter disease (leukoaraiosis) are associated with increased risk of cognitive impairment. Most people who die with a diagnosis of dementia have a mixture of Alzheimer and vascular disease. Studies from Europe have reported recent decreases in dementia risk as might be expected from the decreased stroke risk that occurred over a similar time period. Although these correlative studies are important, we have not yet established causality. Besides control of blood pressure, there are no targeted therapies that exist for small-vessel disease. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)–funded Secondary Prevention of Small Subcortical Strokes study showed a strong trend toward a decrease in recurrent stroke with aggressive blood pressure …
Inhibitory substantia nigra inputs to the pedunculopontine neurons.

Responses of 43 pedunculopontine area (PPN area) neurons to electrical stimulation of the substantia nigra (SN) were studied in anesthetized rats. An intracellular recording technique was used to demonstrate that SN stimulation evoked hyperpolarizing potentials, which were identified by intracellular injections as inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs). These IPSPs were often followed by a rebound depolarization that originates several spike potentials. These IPSPs were characterized as monosynaptic, with latencies varying from 1.0 to 8.5 ms. Similar results were observed in some animals with chronic unilateral coronal lesion just rostral to subthalamic nucleus (STH), which severed the rostral afferents. PPN area neurons were also antidromically activated by SN stimulation. Two PPN area projection neurons were clearly identified. Mean latency of one group was 0.71 ms; mean latency of the second group was 5.16 ms. The morphological analysis of a neuron inhibited by SN stimulation and labeled with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) demonstrated that the soma was fusiform in shape, with the axon originating in the soma and collaterals and a large dendritic field extending in the ventrodorsalis direction. The results indicate that the PPN area is reciprocally connected with the SN, which elicits an inhibitory effect on PPN area neurons.
An Overview of Kinetics for the Evaluation of the Stability of Pharmaceutical Systems

(1984). An Overview of Kinetics for the Evaluation of the Stability of Pharmaceutical Systems. Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy: Vol. 10, No. 8-9, pp. 1163-1174.
[ON THE LOCALIZATION OF GLUCOSE-6-PHOSPHATE DEHYDROGENASE AND GLUCONATE-6-PHOSPHATE DEHYDROGENASE IN THE GUINEA PIG COCHLEA].

Unsere Untersuchungen sollten dem Zweck dienen, durch histochemischen Nachweis von zwei Dehydrogenasen (Glucose-6-phosphat-Dehydrogenase und Gluconat-6-phosphat-Dehydrogenase) des oxydativen Pentoseweges Hinweise auf die Bedeutung dieser Reaktionskette in den Geweben der Schnecke zu erhalten.
Offloading Mobile Traffic via Green Content Broker

A continuous surge of mobile data traffic not only congests mobile networks but also results in a dramatic increase in the energy consumption of mobile networks. Device-to-device (D2D) communications is a promising technique for offloading mobile data traffic and enhancing energy efficiency of mobile networks. By enabling D2D communications, the base stations (BSs) may reduce their energy consumption through traffic offloading, and mobile users may increase their quality of services by retrieving contents from their neighboring peers instead of the remote BSs. By leveraging D2D communications, we propose a novel mobile traffic offloading scheme—the content brokerage. In the content brokerage scheme, a new network node called the green content broker (GCB) is introduced to arrange the content delivery between the content requester and the content owner. The GCB is powered by green energy, e.g., solar energy, to reduce the ${\bf CO}_{\bf 2}$ footprints of mobile networks. In the scheme, maximizing traffic offloading with the constraints of the amount of green energy and bandwidth is an nondeterministic polynomial time (NP) problem. We propose a heuristic traffic offloading (HTO) algorithm to approximate the optimal solution with low computational complexity. Our simulation results valid the performance of the content brokerage scheme and the HTO algorithm.
Effect of an Oxidative Guanine Lesion on Nucleosome Stability

During cellular respiration, reactive oxygen species (ROS) escape from mitochondria to oxidize cellular components including DNA. Of all four DNA bases, guanine has the lowest redox potential, resulting in the oxidation of DNA to form 8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG). Because it has an even lower redox potential than guanine itself, 8-oxoG is likely to be even further oxidized. Of the potential products that can result from the oxidation of 8-oxoG, the formation of spiroiminodihydantoin (Sp) is of particular interest, as it appears to be even more mutagenic than 8-oxoG. Previous investigators demonstrated that the Sp lesion significantly destabilizes duplex DNA when compared to both its parent lesion 8-oxoG and guanine. As the structure of genomic DNA in chromatin is more complex, our goal is to examine the effect of the Sp lesion on nucleosome formation.The Sp lesion is placed in specific locations along a 146-mer DNA oligonucleotide duplex, and this DNA is assembled onto chicken histones to form mononucleosomes by a double-dialysis method. Our data show that rapid nucleosome formation leads to kinetic trapping in non-equilibrium states. At equilibrium, the fraction of nucleosomes formed was the same for control and Sp-containing duplexes, regardless of lesion location or diastereomer. As the free energy of nucleosome formation was comparable despite the presence of the Sp lesion, we questioned whether the Sp lesion affects the rotational orientation of the proteins relative to the DNA. DNase I footprinting indicates distinctly different cleavage patterns both proximal to the lesion site and at locations as far as 30 base pairs away on the distal side of the core particle. We expect that additional footprinting experiments using diverse chemical reagents will allow us to more precisely define the positioning of the nucleosome on lesion-containing DNA.
Sediment Resuspension Near the Keweenaw Peninsula, Lake Superior During the Fall and Winter 1990–1991

Abstract During the winter of 1990–1991 time series measurements of current velocity, temperature, and attenuation (a measure of water transparency) were made at a site in 91 m of water near Copper Harbor, MI. The observations show that bottom resuspension occurred several times during the unstratified period. The resuspension is the result of the interaction between high bottom current velocities and surface waves generated by strong winds. Transport during the storms was almost entirely alongshore, although some offshore transport of material occurred. Calculations show that suspended material could have been transported eastward several hundred km during the unstratified period.