cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of porcine calcitonin on hypercalcemia in man.

ABSTRACT Porcine calcitonin was administered intramuscularly to 8 patients with hypercalcemia of diverse etiology. In the 7 patients given a uniform dose of 4 MRC U/kg body weight, including one patient who did not respond, a mean change in serum calcium concentration of −1.97 mg/100 ml, with a standard error of .49 mg/100 ml, was observed. The calcium-lowering effect was measurable at 2 hr and maximal at 6–9 hr; by 20–24 hr the serum calcium had begun to rise. Patients with malignancy as well as patients with hyperparathyroidism responded. There was no evidence of toxicity. Calcitonin may become a useful adjunct to the therapy of hypercalcemia in man.
Properties of tektites pertinent to their origin

Abstract Theories of the origin of tektites are examined to see if they explain the following critical properties: chemical properties, lechatelierite particles, two periods of melting, flow structure, shapes and sizes, and distribution of age. A volcanic origin either from the earth or the moon cannot explain the above properties; neither can an origin from lightning, or as impactites from the moon, or from collisions of asteroids with each other. The impact theory of Urey can explain the tektites if the molten rock was thrown beyond the earth's atmosphere and was remelted upon its return. The absence of partially fused tektites is against such a hypothesis. The formation of tektites by the destruction of a planet similar to the earth should not be overlooked.
On asymptotically best norms for powers of operators

In the study of the successive overrelaxation iterative method for solving large systems of linear equations, a frequently considered problem is the behavior of the norm of powers of the successive overrelaxation matrix,L ?b m both as a function ofm and of the given norm. Our main result is a rather natural necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of a norm asymptotically best for a non-nilpotent matrixA. As a corollary of our main result, it is shown here that there isno asymptotically best norm for the successive overrelaxation matrixL ?b m .
High precision gaging with computer vision systems

Abstract In order to use a computer vision system for high accuracy gaging, the intensityarray reported to the computer from the camera must correspond closely to the geometry of the part to be measured. To verify this correspondence for two different vision systems, a number of tests are reported and discussed. A number of effects due to the camera sensor geometry, the type of edge finder employed, the thermal properties of the camera, and the interface method used between the camera and computer are explored.
URINE CATECHOLAMINE EXCRETION AFTER LARGE DOSES OF FENTANYL, FENTANYL AND DIAZEPAM AND FENTANYL, DIAZEPAM AND PANCURONIUM

The effects of fentanyl (0.5 mg/kg iv), fentanyl with diazepam (1 mg/kg iv) and fentanyl, diazepam and pancuronium (0.1 mg/kg iv) on heart rate (HR), mean arterial blood pressure (BP), cardiac output (QT), urine flow rate and urine epinephrine and norepinephrine excretion were determined in nine dogs. Fentanyl did not significantly change QT or BP but did reduce HR and urine flow rate (P less than 0.05). Urine epinephrine and norepinephrine excretion rates were signicantly increased by fentanyl (P less than 0.05). Diazepam caused no significant further changes in QT, BP or HR 30 minutes after administration, but urine epinephrine and norepinephrine excretion rates were reduced to control (pre-fentanyl) levels. Addition of pancuronium after fentanyl and diazepam increased urine flow rate to pre-fentanyl levels and elevated QT, BP and HR above controls but produced no significant change in urine epinephrine or norepinephrine excretion. These data suggest that fentanyl increases catecholamine blood levels and imply that the latter may be one mechanism by which cardiovascular dynamics are maintained stable during fentanyl anaesthesia. Our findings also demonstrate that cardiovascular stimulation after pancuronium is not associated with increased urinary catecholamine excretion.
Isolation and purification of rabbit adrenal norephinephrine N-methyl transferase isozymes

Abstract Five charge isozymes of rabbit adrenal norepinephrine N-methyl transferase have been isolated and purified to apparent homogeneity. The isolation and purification procedures include ammonium sulfate precipitation, diethylaminoethyl-cellulose chromatography, isoelectric focusing, and hydroxylapatite chromatography. Homogeneity was judged by disc gel electrophoresis. The isozymes appear to be monomeric charge isozymes with molecular weights in the range of 35,000 to 40,000. The ratio of activities of the five isozymes is different when isolated from the adrenal glands of young rabbits than when isolated from those of adult rabbits.
La0.75Sr0.25Cr0.5Mn0.5O3−δ + Cu composite anode running on H2 and CH4 fuels

Abstract La 1− x Sr x Cr 1− x M x O 3− δ (M = Cr, Fe, V) system has been studied as anode materials for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The perovskite La 0.75 Sr 0.25 Cr 0.5 Mn 0.5 O 3− δ (LSCM) is stable in both H 2 and CH 4 atmospheres at temperatures up to 1000°C. However, in the reducing atmospheres of H 2 and CH 4 , its electronic conductivity is greatly reduced from its value in air. We have characterized LSCM as the anode of a SOFC having 250 μm-thick La 0.8 Sr 0.2 Ga 0.83 Mg 0.17 O 2.815 (LSGM) as the electrolyte and SrCo 0.8 Fe 0.2 O 3− δ (SCF) as the cathode. We report a comparison of the overpotentials at the following anodes: (1) La 0.4 Ce 0.6 O 1.8 (LDC) + NiO composite in H 2 , (2) porous LSCM in H 2 and CH 4 , (3) porous LSCM impregnated with CuO in H 2 and CH 4 and (4) porous LSCM impregnated with CuO and sputtered with Pt in H 2 and CH 4 . An LSCM + CuO + Pt anode gave a maximum power output at 850 °C of 850 mW/cm 2 and 520 mW/cm 2 , respectively, with H 2 and CH 4 as fuel whereas anode (1) gave 1.4 W/cm 2 at 800 °C in H 2 . There was no noticeable coke formation in CH 4 with anodes (2), (3) and (4), which demonstrates that the perovskite oxide is a plausible option for the anode of a SOFC operating with hydrocarbon fuels. We also report the moisture effect in the H 2 and CH 4 fuel-oxidation process.
Cyclotron Resonance of Polarons in KBr

A new method is described for observing cyclotron resonance in photoconductors such as the alkali halides, where it is difficult to generate a high density of free carriers. The method consists of observing the changes in transient photocurrents brought about by switching on a microwave (70-Gc/sec) electric field in a plane to which static magnetic and electric fields are perpendicular. The maximum effect occurs at cyclotron resonance and is due to an electron heating phenomenon. By means of this technique the mass of the electron polaron in KBr is found to be ${m}^{*}=(1.1\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.15){m}_{e}$. On the basis of the Feynman polaron model, this corresponds to a band mass of $m=0.48{m}_{e}$ and a coupling constant of $\ensuremath{\alpha}=3.7$.
Mitotic domains reveal early commitment of cells in Drosophila embryos.

The importance of cell–cell interactions in embryonic development was first described by Driesch (1891), who showed that any of the blastomeres of the 2-cell or 4-cell sea-urchin embryo is capable of forming a complete embryo if cultured in isolation; this implied that in normal development each blastomere is aware of the other and will only form a half- or quarter-embryo, as appropriate. And it was only ten years later that Spemann (1901) discovered the phenomenon of embryonic induction, recently reviewed by Gurdon (1987) and defined as an interaction in which the differentiation of one group of cells is affected by a signal from an adjacent group. Thus the significance of cell signalling during development has been appreciated for almost a century, but, as has frequently been remarked, progress in the molecular analysis of the phenomenon has been slow compared with that in the younger disciplines of, for example, immunology and molecular biology.
Evidence for common sites of contact between the antisigma factor SpoIIAB and its partners SpoIIAA and the developmental transcription factor sigmaF in Bacillus subtilis.

The activity of the developmental transcription factor sigmaF in Bacillus subtilis is governed by a switch involving the dual function protein SpoIIAB. SpoIIAB is an antisigma factor that forms complexes with sigmaF and with an alternative partner protein SpoIIAA. SpoIIAB is also a protein kinase that can inactivate SpoIIAA by phosphorylating it on a serine residue. We sought to identify amino acids in SpoIIAB that are involved in the formation of the SpoIIAB-SpoIIAA complex by screening for mutants that were defective in the activation of sigmaF. This genetic screen, in combination with biochemical analysis and the construction of loss-of-side-chain (alanine substitution) mutants, led to the identification of amino acid side-chains in the N-terminal region of SpoIIAB that could contact SpoIIAA. Unexpectedly, the same amino acid side-chains (R20 and N50) that appear to touch SpoIIAA are required for binding to, and may represent sites of contact with, sigmaF. We propose that the N-terminal region of SpoIIAB forms a binding surface that is responsible for the formation of both the SpoIIAB-SpoIIAA and the SpoIIAB-sigmaF complexes, and that in some cases the same amino acid side-chains contact both partner proteins. N50 is also the defining residue of a region of amino acid sequence homology known as the N-box that is shared by SpoIIAB and related serine protein kinases, as well as by members of a mechanistically dissimilar family of protein kinases that undergo autophosphorylation at a histidine residue. We discuss the implications of this finding for the mechanism of histidine autophosphorylation.
Optical activity in mixed-ligand terbium complexes containing 5-sulfosalicyclic acid and chiral hydroxycarboxylic acids

Abstract The optical activity associated with the f-f; emission bands of Tb(III) complexes which contain chiral hydroxycarboxylic acids has been studied by means of circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) spectroscopy. Complexes having the general formula Tb(SSA)2(L) were studied (where SSA signifies 5-sulphosalicylic acid), with the chiral ligand (L) being L-lactic acid, L-mandelic acid, L-aspartic acid, and L-malic acid. The CPL spectra were found to be sensitive to the mode of bonding between the metal and the chiral ligand and therefore allowed predictions to be made regarding how the hydroxycarboxylic acid ligands attach to the Tb(III) ion. Also, the degree of optical activity varied systematically with the concentration of chiral ligand, and we have used this dependence to calculate formation constants for the addition of a hydroxycarboxylic acid ligand to the Tb/SSA complex. Finally, the line shape and magnitudes of the CPL spectra provide information regarding the type of chirality experienced by the Tb(III) ion.
Guest Editorial: Medical Imaging

Over the past couple of decades, considerable effort has been directed towards identification of methods to quantify the physical characteristics of imaging systems which are essential to effective use of these systems in medical diagnosis. Results of this effort have provided techniques to characterize imaging variables such as resolution, contrast, low contrast perceptability and noise in a reasonably exact manner, and have facilitated the inter-comparison of imaging systems and techniques in attempts to delineate the most effective approach to a particular imaging application. In applying these quantitative analytic techniques to the imaging process, however, one is confronted with the uncertainty of whether the techniques really characterize the variables of importance to the clinician in his use of the imaging process to arrive at a medical diagnosis.
Cutaneous Blastomycosis Masquerading as Pyoderma Gangrenosum

Cutaneous blastomycosis (CB) is associated with a variety of skin manifestations. Among other entities, CB may be mistaken for pyoderma gangrenosum due to overlap of findings on histopathologic examination. We report a case of CB, initially diagnosed as pyoderma gangrenosum and treated with steroids, leading to disseminated blastomycosis and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
Possible mechanisms for glacial earthquakes

The large glacial earthquakes reported on by Ekstrom et al. (2003, 2006) and Tsai and Ekstrom (2007) have previously been evaluated in terms of their seismic characteristics. In this paper we attempt to take constraints such as known glacial ice properties, outlet glacier size, calving style, and meltwater variability to construct a self-consistent physical model of the glacial earthquake process. Since many glaciological parameters are poorly constrained, we parameterize a number of important processes and estimate a wide range of possible values for some properties. The range of model outputs is thus fairly large, but it is still difficult to match observational constraints under most conditions. We find that only a small class of models is able to satisfy the major observational constraints. These models are characterized by (1) lost basal resistance coupled to viscoelastic deformation with extensive internal crevassing or with low effective elastic modulus and possibly low effective viscosity or (2) by nonequilibrium calving, such as having large icebergs capsize into the glacier front. Although observational constraints cannot definitively rule out any of the proposed classes of mechanisms, the calving model has much stronger support. Fortunately, the various models make different predictions regarding observables that can potentially be measured in the near future.
Mild cognitive impairment as a diagnostic entity

The concept of cognitive impairment intervening between normal ageing and very early dementia has been in the literature for many years. Recently, the construct of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has been proposed to designate an early, but abnormal, state of cognitive impairment. MCI has generated a great deal of research from both clinical and research perspectives. Numerous epidemiological studies have documented the accelerated rate of progression to dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD) in MCI subjects and certain predictor variables appear valid. However, there has been controversy regarding the precise definition of the concept and its implementation in various clinical settings. Clinical subtypes of MCI have been proposed to broaden the concept and include prodromal forms of a variety of dementias. It is suggested that the diagnosis of MCI can be made in a fashion similar to the clinical diagnoses of dementia and AD. An algorithm is presented to assist the clinician in identifying subjects and subclassifying them into the various types of MCI. By refining the criteria for MCI, clinical trials can be designed with appropriate inclusion and exclusion restrictions to allow for the investigation of therapeutics tailored for specific targets and populations.
The relationship of structure of glucoamylase and glucose oxidase to antigenicity

Glucoamylase and glucose oxidase fromAspergillus niger have been purified to homogeneity by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and the purified enzymes have been used to investigate structural and antigenicity relationships. In structure, glucoamylase and glucose oxidase are glycoproteins containing 14% and 16% carbohydrate. Earlier methylation and reductive β-elimination results have shown that glucoamylase has an unusual arrangement of carbohydrate residues, with 20 single mannose units and 25 di-, tri-, or tetrasaccharide chains of mannose, glucose, and galactose, all attached O-glycosidically to serine and threonine residues of the protein moiety. The antigenicity of the glucoamylase has now been found to reside predominantly in the types and arrangement of the carbohydrate chains. Glucose oxidase contains mannose, galactose, and glucosamine in the N-acetyl form in the native enzyme, but the complete structure of the carbohydrate chains has not yet been determined. The antigenicity of this enzyme does not reside in the carbohydrate units, but rather in the polypeptide chains of the two subunits of the enzyme. Glucose oxidase can be dissociated into subunits by mercaptoethanol and sodium dodecyl sulfate treatment, while glucoamylase cannot be dissociated, but undergoes only an unfolding of the polypeptide chain under these conditions. The subunits of glucose oxidase do not react with the anti-glucose oxidase antibodies, but the unfolded molecule and peptide fragments produced from glucoamylase by cyanogen bromide cleavage do react with antiglucoamylase antibodies.
Structural optimization of Zn(II)-activated magnetic resonance imaging probes.

We report the structural optimization and mechanistic investigation of a series of bioactivated magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents that transform from low relaxivity to high relaxivity in the presence of Zn(II). The change in relaxivity results from a structural transformation of the complex that alters the coordination environment about the Gd(III) center. Here, we have performed a series of systematic modifications to determine the structure that provides the optimal change in relaxivity in response to the presence of Zn(II). Relaxivity measurements in the presence and absence of Zn(II) were used in conjunction with measurements regarding water access (namely, number of water molecules bound) to the Gd(III) center and temperature-dependent 13C NMR spectroscopy to determine how the coordination environment about the Gd(III) center is affected by the distance between the Zn(II)-binding domain and the Gd(III) chelate, the number of functional groups on the Zn(II)-binding domain, and the presence of...
Adsorption of Nitrogen and Oxygen in the Zeolites LiA and LiX Investigated by 6Li and 7Li MAS NMR Spectroscopy

The dehydrated zeolites LiX-1.0 [(SiAlO4)96Li96], LiX-1.25 [(Si106Al86O384)Li86], LiA [(SiAlO4)96Li96], and LiA-1.15 [(Si102.7Al89.3O384)Li89.3] have been studied in a vacuum and in the presence of oxygen and nitrogen gases by 7Li and 6Li MAS NMR spectroscopy. The adsorption of N2 molecules causes a small shift (Δδ = 0.2 ppm) to higher frequencies for the component belonging to cations interacting with N2 molecules. In contrast, the adsorption of oxygen causes a strong downfield (paramagnetic) shift depending on the accessibility of the Li cations. Observations made in the 7Li MAS NMR spectra recorded at the different conditions were used to propose a model for the location of the Li cations in zeolite LiA. As determined from the NMR spectra, the difference in nitrogen adsorption capacity of LiX and LiA is directly related to the accessibility of Li cations in each material.
Transforming an Atmospheric Science Curriculum to Meet Students' Needs

The Department of Meteorology (now Atmospheric Sciences) at the University of Utah faced reductions in state funding in 2008 that reduced support for nontenured instructors at the same time that the faculty were becoming increasingly successful obtaining federally supported research grants. A faculty retreat and subsequent discussions led to substantive curriculum changes to modernize the curriculum, enhance course offerings for undergraduate and graduate students, and improve the overall efficiency of the academic program. Maintaining discipline standards and existing teaching loads were important constraints on these changes. Key features of the curriculum revisions for undergraduate majors included eliminating a very rigid course progression; shifting the emphasis from required courses to elective courses; offering many courses only every other year; and relying on half-semester short courses to survey subject areas rather than focusing in depth on fewer ones. The curriculum changes were evaluated thro...
Comparative effectiveness clinical trials in psychiatry: superiority, noninferiority, and the role of active comparators.

UNLABELLED The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, part of the US Department of Health and Human Services, has issued several Requests for Applications to conduct comparative effectiveness research (CER). Many of the applications will involve randomized controlled clinical trials that include an active comparator. The inclusion of an active comparator has implications for clinical trial design. Despite a common misperception, a clinical trial result of no significant difference between active treatment groups does not imply equivalence or noninferiority. A noninferiority trial, on the other hand, can directly test whether one active treatment group is noninferior to the other. For example, noninferiority of an inexpensive generic could be tested in comparison with a novel, more costly intervention. Although seldom used in psychiatry, noninferiority clinical trials could play a fundamental role in CER. Features of noninferiority and the nearly ubiquitous superiority designs are contrasted. The noninferiority margin is defined and its application and interpretation are discussed. CONCLUSIONS Evidence of noninferiority can only come from well-designed and conducted noninferiority CER. Sample sizes needed in noninferiority trials and in superiority trials that include an active comparator are substantially larger than those needed in trials that can utilize a placebo control in their scientific design. As a result, trials with active comparators are more costly, require longer recruitment duration, and expose more participants to the risks of an experiment than do trials in which the only comparator is placebo.
Scaling first-principles plane-wave codes to thousands of processors

We present some novel computational methods for scaling up first-principles plane-wave based codes to thousands of processors avoiding communication and latency bottlenecks. This allows our code to scale to more processors and larger systems than previous plane-wave codes that are typically limited in scaling to a few hundred processors. We present performance data for the plane-wave pseudopotential code PARATEC (PARAllel Total Energy Code) on the IBM SP, Cray X1, NEC SX6 Earth Simulator in Japan and the SGI Altix. This data shows how plane-wave codes can be scaled to the teraflop regime even though they require global communications on parallel machines.
Network topology with broken Onsager symmetry allows directional and highly efficient energy transfer

Time-reversal symmetry of most conservative forces constrains the properties of linear transport in physical systems. Here, we study the efficiency of energy transfer in dissipative oscillator networks where time-reversal symmetry is broken locally by Lorentz-force–like couplings. Despite their linearity, such networks can exhibit mono-directional transport and allow isolation of energy transfer in subsystems. New mechanisms and general rules for mono-directional transport are discussed. Combining network topology with Lorentz-force–like coupling, we show how efficiency at maximum power can surpass the common bound of 1/2 and may even approach unity.
An embolic complication in a donor twin with severe twin-twin transfusion syndrome after fetoscopic intervention

Necrotic injury of an extremity in a donor twin is a rare complication of twin-twin transfusion syndrome after selective fetoscopic laser photocoagulation. We present the case of a 20-year-old gravida 2, para 1 with a twin gestation with severe twin-twin transfusion syndrome (Quintero Stage 3B) who had treatment with selective fetoscopic laser photocoagulation. Selective fetoscopic laser photocoagulation may be associated with extremity necrosis in a donor twin.
Knowledge structures for planning in realistic domains

Abstract In this paper we discuss techniques for representing and organizing knowledge that enable a planning system to work effectively in large and realistic task domains. We consider the following engineering issues: (i) generating and manipulating large and complex plans; (ii) managing large and complex knowledge bases; and (iii) operating with an incomplete knowledge base and/or world model. A theme reflected throughout the paper is the policy of developing common representations useful in many modules of the planning system. We believe these representations will be useful in other artificial intelligence systems with similar demands on knowledge and reasoning skills. We present uniform representations for (i) descriptions of objects and actions, including partial and indefinite descriptions, (ii) world knowledge of task domains, (iii) a trace of the planning process that includes alternative solutions, and (iv) an organizational mechanism for both the world knowledge as well as the knowledge gathered during the planning process (e.g. the constraints among the objects and actions contained in a plan solution).
LDC-1: a transportable, knowledge-based natural language processor for office environments

During the 1970s, a number of systems providing limited English-language processing capabilities were developed to permit computer access by casual or untrained users. The authors interest is in adapting and extending techniques developed for these systems, especially those used in database query systems and their own English-language programming language system (NLC), for use in office environments. This paper describes the layered domain class system LDC, a state-of-the-art natural language processor whose major goals are (1) to provide english-language retrieval capabilities for medium-sized office domains that have been stored on the computer as text-edited files, as opposed to more restrictive database structure; and (2) to eliminate the need to call in the system designer when extensions into new domains are desired, without sacrificing the depth or reliability of the interface. In this paper the authors (a) provide an overview of LDC, including sample inputs; (b) briefly discuss the role of each module of the system, with special attention to provisions for users to adapt the system to deal with new types of data; and (c) consider the relation of our system to other formal and natural language interfaces that are in use or under development. 77 references.
Speech Enhancement Based on a Sinusoidal Model

Sinusoidal modeling is a new procedure for representing the speech signal. In this approach, the signal is divided into overlapping segments, the Fourier transform computed for each segment, and a set of desired spectral peaks is identified. The speech is then resynthesized using sinusoids that have the frequency, amplitude, and phase of the selected peaks, with the remaining spectral information being discarded. Using a limited number of sinusoids to reproduce speech in a background of multi-talker speech babble results in a speech signal that has an improved signal-to-noise ratio and enhanced spectral contrast. The more intense spectral components, assumed to be primarily the desired speech, are reproduced, whereas the less intense components, assumed to be primarily background noise, are not. To test the effectiveness of this processing approach as a noise suppression technique, both consonant recognition and perceived speech intelligibility were determined in quiet and in noise for a group of subjects with normal hearing as the number of sinusoids used to represent isolated speech tokens was varied. The results show that reducing the number of sinusoids used to represent the speech causes reduced consonant recognition and perceived intelligibility both in quiet and in noise, and suggests that similar results would be expected for listeners with hearing impairments.
Emotion as an Argumentation Engine: Modeling the Role of Emotion in Negotiation

The purpose of this paper is to present a model of emotion in negotiation, which reflects the active role emotions play in decision taking as modifiers of theory-of-mind models, goals and strategies. The model is based on empirical studies of human interaction in different activities such as plea bargains, simulated negotiations, doctor patient consultations, and virtual human–human interactions. We use empathy as an example of emotion, which has a natural and powerful function in the shaping and re-contextualization of decision processes. We study also the linguistic realization of emotions as forms of argumentation in authentic discourse.
Gene disruption of the calcium channel Orai1 results in inhibition of osteoclast and osteoblast differentiation and impairs skeletal development

Gene disruption of the calcium channel Orai1 results in inhibition of osteoclast and osteoblast differentiation and impairs skeletal development
Mode-coupling Coefficients of Semiconductor/Shiny-metal Waveguides for DFB Lasers

A model can show the difference in mode-coupling coefficients of semiconductor-metal corrugated waveguides by using different metals. Floquet-Bloch and Ray-optics methods are used to calculate coupling coefficients and have close results.
Bargaining over reform

Abstract This paper models the delay in a macroeconomic stabilization as the outcome of a bargaining game between two parties who must reach an agreement over how the stabilization cost is to be shared. The paper modifies Alesina and Drazen's (1991, American Economic Review 81, 1170–1189) war of attrition model by endogenizing the distribution of the stabilization costs through a bargaining game. Using this bargaining framework, the paper analyzes the role of crises and foreign assistance in bringing about a settlement to the distributional conflict. In the bargaining game, a crisis that increases the welfare loss from not stabilizing the economy will lower the probability of delay. In contrast, foreign aid that is used to reduce the stabilization costs will further increase the delay in reaching an agreement between the two parties.
Mechanisms of the dose-dependent kinetics of trichloroethylene: oral bolus dosing of rats.

Abstract Trichloroethylene (TCE), a common contaminant of drinking water, is oxidized by high-affinity, low-capacity cytochrome P450 isozymes and subsequently converted to metabolites, some of which are carcinogenic in mice and rats. Although the initial oxidation step is known to be rate-limiting and saturable, the oral dosage-range over which saturation materializes is unclear. One objective of this study was to characterize the dose-dependency of gastrointestinal (GI) absorption of TCE and its kinetics over a wide range of oral bolus doses. A related objective was to investigate cause(s) of the apparent saturation kinetics observed. Cannulas were surgically implanted into a carotid artery and the stomach of male Sprague–Dawley rats. TCE was incorporated into a 5% aqueous Alkamuls emulsion and given in doses of 2 to 1200 mg/kg bw via the stomach tube. Serial blood samples were taken from the arterial cannula for up to 14 h postdosing and analyzed for TCE content by headspace gas chromatography. The rate of GI absorption of TCE diminished as the dosage increased. Pharmacokinetic analysis indicated that TCE was eliminated by capacity-limited hepatic metabolism, with incursion into nonlinear kinetics with bolus doses ≥8 to 16 mg/kg. Effects of p -nitrophenol, a competitive metabolic inhibitor, were manifest at a high, but not at a low TCE dose. Gavage bolus doses as high as 1200 mg/kg did not cause rapid elevation of serum enzyme levels, typical of the solvation of hepatocellular membranes observed after portal vein administration of TCE (Lee et al., Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 163, 000–000, 2000). No evidence of cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1) destruction was seen with oral doses up to 1000 mg/kg. Instead, CYP2E1 activity was induced as early as 1 h postdosing. Induction was maximal at 12 h, then returned toward controls during the next 12 h. Pretreatment with cycloheximide did not reduce CYP2E1 activity in rats given 432 or 1000 mg TCE/kg, suggesting that binding of TCE to CYP2E1 may stabilize the isozyme. Metabolic saturation, in concert with relatively slow GI absorption, are responsible for the prolonged elevation of blood TCE levels in rats given high TCE doses, while suicidal inactivation of CYP2E1 and hepatocellular injury apparently play little role.
STUDIES OF THE MECHANISM OF AUGMENTED SYNTHESIS OF CHOLESTERYL ESTER IN ATHEROSCLEROTIC RABBIT AORTIC MICROSOMES

Abstract A study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that an abnormally high concentration of acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase in atherosclerotic microsomes is partly responsible for augmented esterification of cholesterol. We approached the problem indirectly by measuring the incorporation of radioactivity into cholesteryl ester from [1- 14 C]palmityl-CoA in normal microsomes after enrichment of their concentration of microsomel free cholesterol to levels characteristic of atherosclerotic microsomes. Elevation of free cholesterol content induced increased cholesterol esterification approximately linearly over the range studied. The cholesterol-esterifying activity of atherosclerotic microsomes was not greater than that of normal microsomes having the same concentration of cholesterol. The results suggest that, with acyl-CoA constant, augmented cholesterol esterification in atherosclerotic microsomes is an effect of high microsomal cholesterol concentrations and not due to an increase in the concentration of the enzyme.
Clostridium difficile Infection in Long-term Care Facilities: A Call to Action for Antimicrobial Stewardship

Across the United States, the baby boomers are entering into their elderly years. As they are America's largest generation to do so to date, their need for care will greatly affect nursing homes, long-term care facilities, and long-term acute-care hospitals (LTACHs). Unfortunately, the rise of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), particularly in extended-care facilities, might become the biggest obstacle in their care. Elderly extended-care-facility residents are at an elevated risk of CDI simply due to their advanced age and the fact that they are receiving care in an extended-care facility. LTACHs experience a high incidence rate of CDI, and these infections can lead to major complications for a patient's health. Other factors that contribute to higher risk for CDI include receiving multiple courses of antibiotics, longer length of antibiotic treatment, and previous CDI. Although this obstacle to proper care is great, some simple solutions are available to healthcare providers. Probiotics may help improve natural immunity in patients, and strict adherence to antimicrobial stewardship standards could help reduce this serious bacterial threat.
Acoustic Emission Produced During Burst Tests of Filament-Wound Bottles

Acoustic emission was recorded during burst tests of filament-wound, composite pressure vessels. Organic and graphite fibers were tested, and two different epoxy resin systems were used: one with a low and another with a relatively high cure temperature. Acoustic emission was studied for the effects of different winding patterns, artificial flaws, winding-induced fiber fraying, different resins, and different fibers. Small effects produced in the vessels by changes in these variables were greatly magnified when they appeared as changes in acoustic emission. They would, in fact, be difficult or impossible to detect by other test means.
Introductory Critical Literacy Practices for Urban Preservice Teachers

This article describes introductory practices used to prepare future urban teachers to implement critical literacy strategies in their classrooms. Based in a teacher education program designed to prepare teachers for urban multicultural settings, the authors provide an overview of critical approaches to literacy instruction, a rationale for why critical literacy is important for future teachers in all settings, and a description of specific activities sequenced to encourage preservice teachers to utilize critical literacy practices in their urban classroom teaching. Bibliographies of children's critical literacy literature and professional resources related to critical literacy are also included.
A comparative analysis of nonverbal expressions as portrayed by Korean and American print‐media advertising

This study investigates whether nonverbal expressions of Korean and American advertising models reflect their indigenous cultures; and whether nonverbal expressions in advertising are influenced by the gender of the models and by the products advertised. Four hundred advertising illustrations selected from Korean and American magazines were analyzed, focusing on five nonverbal parameters. The findings show that nonverbal messages transmitted by models in Korean and American magazine advertisements generally reflect their respective cultural orientations, and that they are influenced by model gender and by products advertised.
Simulation and testing environments for the DARPA Urban Challenge

In this paper we provide an overview of the simulation and testing environments developed for the Ohio State Universitypsilas DARPA Urban Challenge vehicle OSU-ACT (Autonomous City Transport). These environments were used in the research and development process of the actual challenge vehicle, and also extended for classroom teaching purposes and for general autonomous vehicle research.
Market index depository liabilities: Analysis, interpretation, and performance

This paper examines a new financial instrument, the market index CD. This deposit offers an interest rate equal to a specified fraction of the change in the stock market over the life of the CD with a guaranteed minimum. We present a pricing formula, an examination of the effects of underlying variables, an evaluation of the early redemption feature, empirical results on the historical performance, and a discussion of some issues suggested by the introduction of this product.
Radioactive ion implantation for wear studies

Abstract Direct implantation of radioactive ions such as 7 Be or 22 Na into a surface allows precise, sensitive wear measurements by monitoring the γ-ray activity worn away. This technique complements and supplements the more standard surface-layer activation technique and offers several novel advantages: It is independent of the Z of the object being studied, thus allowing wear studies on low- Z materials such as plastics and ceramics. Also, the beam of implanted ions is considerably less intense (≈ 10 −5 ) than the beam used for activation, making it less likely that the surface to be studied is damaged by the beam. We present our techniques for producing the implantation beam by fragmentation of heavy-ion cyclotron beams, and we describe experiments demonstrating that the surface is indeed not significantly damaged by the implantation process.
One-year prevalence, comorbidities and cost of cachexia-related inpatient admissions in the USA.

Background Cachexia is a condition characterized as a loss in body mass or metabolic dysfunction and is associated with several prevalent chronic health conditions including many cancers, COPD, HIV, and kidney disease, with between 10 and 50% of patients with these conditions having cachexia. Currently there is little research into cachexia and our objective is to characterize cachexia patients, their healthcare utilization, and associated hospitalization costs. Given the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, it is important to better understand cachexia so that the condition can be better diagnosed and managed. Methods We utilized one year (2009) of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS). The NIS represents all inpatient stays at a random 20% sample of all hospitals within the United States. We grouped cachexia individuals by primary or secondary discharge diagnosis and then compared those with cachexia to all others in terms of length of stay (LOS) and total cost. Finally we looked into factors predicting increased LOS using a negative binomial model. Results We estimated US prevalence for cachexia-related inpatient admissions at 161,898 cases. Cachexia patients were older, with an average age of 67.95 versus 48.10 years in their non-cachexia peers. Hospitalizations associated with cachexia had an increased LOS compared to non-cachexia patients (6 versus 3 days), with average costs per stay $4641.30 greater. Differences were seen in loss of function (LOF) with cachexia patients, mostly in the major LOF category (52.60%), whereas non-cachexia patients were spread between minor, moderate, and major LOF (36.28%, 36.11%, and 21.26%, respectively). Significant positive predictors of increased LOS among cachexia patients included urban hospital (IRR=1.21, non-teaching urban; IRR=1.23, teaching urban), having either major (IRR=1.41) or extreme (IRR=2.64) LOF, and having a primary diagnosis of pneumonia (IRR=1.15). Conclusion We have characterized cachexia and seen it associated with increased length of stay, increased cost, and more severe loss of function in patients compared to those without cachexia.
Molecular and biophysical basis of glutamate and trace metal modulation of voltage-gated Cav2.3 calcium channels

Here, we describe a new mechanism by which glutamate (Glu) and trace metals reciprocally modulate activity of the Cav2.3 channel by profoundly shifting its voltage-dependent gating. We show that zinc and copper, at physiologically relevant concentrations, occupy an extracellular binding site on the surface of Cav2.3 and hold the threshold for activation of these channels in a depolarized voltage range. Abolishing this binding by chelation or the substitution of key amino acid residues in IS1–IS2 (H111) and IS2–IS3 (H179 and H183) loops potentiates Cav2.3 by shifting the voltage dependence of activation toward more negative membrane potentials. We demonstrate that copper regulates the voltage dependence of Cav2.3 by affecting gating charge movements. Thus, in the presence of copper, gating charges transition into the “ON” position slower, delaying activation and reducing the voltage sensitivity of the channel. Overall, our results suggest a new mechanism by which Glu and trace metals transiently modulate voltage-dependent gating of Cav2.3, potentially affecting synaptic transmission and plasticity in the brain.
Self-transformation as a factor in the self-esteem and well-being of breast cancer survivors

Diagnosis with a life-threatening illness can lead to many changes in one's self. These changes, called self-transformation, are not well understood. The present study used triangulation of methods and measures to (i) describe individual differences in self-transformation among breast cancer survivors, (ii) examine factors associated with self-transformation in breast cancer survivors, and (iii) examine the relationships between self-transformation and self-esteem and well-being in breast cancer survivors and age-matched comparison women without cancer. Cancer survivors (n = 60) participated in structured interviews and both survivors and comparison women (n = 60) completed a set of questionnaires. Narrative analysis revealed three categories of transformation among breast cancer survivors: positive transformation, minimal transformation and feeling stuck. These groups differed by age, marital status and income, but not by disease or treatment variables. Breast cancer survivors in the positive transformation group had significantly higher self-esteem and well-being in comparison with (i) survivors grouped as feeling stuck and (ii) age-matched counterparts without cancer. Cancer survivors who reported feeling stuck had significantly lower self-esteem and well-being than the other groups of survivors and lower well-being in comparison with healthy women of the same age. Findings provide support for the concept of self-transformation and a new understanding of disease, demographic and treatment factors associated with the concept. Findings also suggest that self-transformation may be a factor in the self-esteem and well-being of breast cancer survivors.
Proposed High Intensity, High Energy Cyclotron for Light and Heavy Ions

Since ions with small charge are produced more copiously from ion sources than are highly charged particles, it is proposed to construct a sector-focused cyclotron of large diameter to obtain heavy ions in much greater number and at higher energies than are available from existing cyclotrons or linacs. In addition, the machine will produce protons at 120 MeV and other light ions in excess of 120 MeV.
Heirs of Sandino The Nicaraguan Revolution and the U.S.-Nicaragua Solidarity Movement

The 1979 triumph of the Sandinista Revolution and the Sandinista National Liberation Front’s resistance of U.S. efforts to oust it from power inspired thousands of individuals from all over the world to support Nicaragua’s struggle for self-determination. One of the most important constituencies to take up the Sandinista cause was a significant portion of the U.S. public. What moved this collection of individuals and organizations to join a movement to oppose their own government’s policy and often even identify with the Sandinista cause? To date Latin Americanists have neglected this movement and the role that Nicaraguans, both in their home country and in the United States, played in its rise and success. A transnational approach to the movement’s origins and its relationship to Nicaraguan revolutionary social forces allows one to understand it as it really was: a transnational social movement in which U.S. and Nicaraguan citizens acted together for a common purpose.
The effect of visual impairment on vision-related quality of life in American Indian/Alaska Natives

Purpose: To determine if National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25) scores decrease with worsening visual acuity (VA) in American Indian/Alaska Natives (Al/AN), as well as determine the other associated explanatory factors for vision-related quality of life. Methods: The study included 414 randomly selected AI/AN tribal members aged 40 years or older from the Pacific Northwest. We excluded candidates who were deceased, seriously ill, had dementia, or otherwise were unable to perform subjective testing such as visual field testing. The participants completed the NEI-VFQ-25, as well as a detailed eye examination. We defined visual impairment as presenting distance VA 20/40 or worse in the better-seeing eye. The main outcome measures were NEI-VFQ-25 composite and subscale scores. We compared median NEI-VFQ-25 composite and subscale scores in those with visual impairment to those without visual impairment. Results: Visual impairment occurred in 53 (12.8%, Cl: 9.6–16.0) participants. The...
Taking Ownership of Environmental Problems: How Local Nimby Groups Expand Their Goals

Frame theory and social-constructionist concepts are used to explain how local, environmental NIMBY (not-in-my-backyard) groups expand their narrow, reactive goals. NIMBYs may expand their goals by becoming "proactive" in orientation, i.e., initiating broader environmental programs that are new to the community. They can also expand to "watchdog" goals by actively monitoring every environmentally threatening plan. Using interview and survey data collected from leaders and members (N = 113) of six environmental NIMBY groups, fixed-goal NIMBYs are compared with ones that became proactive or watchdog in orientation. It is proposed that activists' rhetorical ability to take "ownership of a social problem" away from local and state authorities causes their groups to become "watchdog" or "proactive" in orientation. Ownership solidifies diagnostic, prognostic and motivational framing, thereby making expanded or future action more likely. Activists "own" a diagnosis by claiming to be experts on broader environmen...