cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Extracellular matrix heparan sulfate modulates endothelial cell susceptibility to Staphylococcus aureus.

The ability of extracellular matrix heparan sulfate to alter the susceptibility of human endothelial cells to S. aureus was investigated. Endothelial cells grown on extracellular matrix synthesized by S. aureus-infected endothelial cells were more susceptible to subsequent staphylococcal infection than endothelial cells grown on the extracellular matrix synthesized by untreated endothelial cells. Endothelial cells were more susceptible to S. aureus infection when (1) grown on heparitinase-treated extracellular matrix that removed heparan sulfate chains, (2) grown on extracellular matrix produced by chlorate-treated endothelial cells that reduced sulfation in the matrix heparan sulfate proteoglycans, (3) grown on heparan sulfate purified from extracellular matrix elaborated by infected endothelial cells, and (4) endothelial cells were chlorate-treated and therefore expressed desulfated cellular heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Extracellular matrix produced by S. aureus-infected endothelial cells contained heparan sulfate proteoglycans with reduced sulfation. The altered extracellular matrix with reduced sulfated heparan sulfate proteoglycans signalled the uninfected endothelial cells to produce under sulfated cellular heparan sulfate proteoglycans that increased S. aureus adherence to the endothelial cells. J. Cell. Physiol. 173:102–109, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Quantification of Eu3+in Quantum-Dye-Labeled Materials by Ashing and Dissociation Enhancement

Abstract Quantum Dye (QD) is an extremely stable macrocyclic chelate of Eu 3+ , measurable with a time-resolved fluorometer even without the aid of enhancement solution, albeit at a low sensitivity. However, QD is not easily quantified by the popular dissociation-enhancement methodology (I. Hemmila et al., 1984, Anal. Biochem. 137, 335–343), because of difficulty in dissociating Eu 3+ completely from QD. We found that Eu 3+ in QD can be accurately measured by simple ashing followed by the dissociation-enhancement methodology. Validity of the method was tested by determining Eu(NO 3 ) 3 with or without ashing and analyzing Eu 3+ in other chelates known to be amenable to accurate measurement by the dissociation enhancement.
Interpreting 16S rDNA T-RFLP Data: Application of Self-Organizing Maps and Principal Component Analysis to Describe Community Dynamics and Convergence.

Interpreting the large amount of data generated by rapid profiling techniques, such as T-RFLP, DGGE, and DNA arrays, is a difficult problem facing microbial ecologists. This study compares the ability of two very different ordination methods, principal component analysis (PCA) and self-organizing map neural networks (SOMs), to analyze 16S-DNA terminal restriction-fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) profiles from microbial communities in glucose-fed methanogenic bioreactors during startup and changes in operational parameters. Our goal was not only to identify which samples were similar, but also to decipher community dynamics and describe specific phylotypes, i.e., phylogenetically similar organisms, that behaved similarly in different reactors. Fifteen samples were taken over 56 volume changes from each of two bioreactors inoculated from river sediment (S2) and anaerobic digester sludge (M3) and from a well-established control reactor (R1). PCA of bacterial T-RFLP profiles indicated that both the S2 and M3 communities changed rapidly during the first nine volume changes, and then became relatively stable. PCA also showed that an HRT of 8 or 6 days had no effect on either reactor communtity, while an HRT of 2 days changed community structure significantly in both reactors. The SOM clustered the terminal restriction fragments according to when each fragment was most abundant in a reactor community, resulting in four clearly discernible groups. Thirteen fragments behaved similarly in both reactors, eight of which composed a significant proportion of the microbial community as judged by the relative abundance of the fragment in the T-RFLP profiles. Six Bacteria terminal restriction fragments shared between the two communities matched cloned 16S rDNA sequences from the reactors related to Spirochaeta, Aminobacterium, Thermotoga, and Clostridium species. Convergence also occurred within the acetoclastic methanogen community, resulting in a predominance of Methanosarcina siciliae-related organisms. The results demonstrate that both PCA and SOM analysis are useful in the analysis of T-RFLP data; however, the SOM was better at resolving patterns in more complex and variable data than PCA ordination.
Clinical and economic factors important to anaesthetic choice for day-case surgery.

Clinical and economic factors that are important to consider when selecting anaesthesia for day-case surgery can differ from those for inpatient anaesthesia. Patients undergoing day-case surgery tend to be healthier and have shorter durations of surgery. They expect less anxiety before surgery, amnesia for the surgical experience, a rapid return to normal (normal mentation with minimal pain and nausea) after surgery, and lower expenses. However, the latter 2 expectations can conflict; older generic drugs have lower acquisition costs but often impose longer recovery times. Longer recovery periods can increase costs by prolonging the time to discharge from labour-intensive areas such as the operating suite or the post-anaesthesia recovery unit. The challenge for today's anaesthetist is to use newer drugs judiciously to minimise their expense without compromising the rate or quality of recovery. Several approaches can secure these aims. Most apply the least anaesthetic needed. 'Least anaesthetic' may mean the particular form of anaesthetic (e.g. local infiltration with monitored anaesthesia care versus a general anaesthetic), or may mean the delivery of the smallest effective dose, perhaps guided by anaesthetic monitors such as end-tidal analysers or the bispectral index. For patients requiring general anaesthesia, a combination of several drugs usually secures the closest approach to the ideal. Drug combinations used usually include a short-acting properative anxiolytic (e.g. midazolam), intravenous propofol (a short-acting potent anxiolytic and amnestic agent) for induction of anaesthesia (and sometimes for maintenance) and primary maintenance of anaesthesia with inhaled nitrous oxide combined with a poorly soluble (low solubility produces rapid recovery; the least soluble is desflurane) potent inhaled anaesthetic delivered at a low inflow rate (to minimise cost). Although old, nitrous oxide is inexpensive and has favourable pharmacokinetic and cardiovascular advantages; however, it is limited in its anaesthetic/amnestic potency, and has the capacity to increase nausea. In children, induction of anaesthesia is often accomplished with sevoflurane rather than desflurane; although sevoflurane is modestly more soluble than desflurane, it is non-pungent whereas desflurane is pungent. Moderate- or short-acting opioids (fentanyl is popular) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (especially ketorolac), or local anaesthetics are added to secure analgesia during and after surgery. Similarly, when needed, moderate- or short-acting muscle relaxants are selected. Before the end of anaesthesia, an intravenous antiemetic may be given. With this drug combination, patients usually awaken within minutes after anaesthesia and can often move themselves to the vehicle for transport to the recovery unit. These combinations of anaesthetics and techniques minimise use of expensive drugs while expediting recovery (again minimising cost) with minimal or no compromise in the quality of recovery.
Differential distribution of pentazocine-3H and cis-3-chloroallylnorpentazocine-3H in the cat.

Abstract The distribution of pentazocine, 2′-hydroxy-5,9-dimethyl-2-(3,3-dimethylallyl)-6,7-benzomorphan, a nonaddicting analgesic in man was compared in the cat with that of its chloroallyl isolog, cis-2-(3-chloroallyl)-2′-hydroxy-cis-5,9-dimethyl-6,7-benzomorphan (CHDB), also a strong analgesic but clinically unsuitable because of its dysphoric effects. Representative tissue samples were analyzed for tritium content by the oxygen flask combustion technique followed by liquid scintillation counting. Peak levels of either benzomorphan and metabolites occurred in blood and in brain tissue within 40 minutes of intramuscular injection of the tritiated drug. The molecular species representing nearly all the radioactivity in brain was the parent drug rather than a tritiated metabolite. There did not seem to be a blood to brain penetration barrier for either benzomorphan like that reported to exist for morphine. Preferential lipid solubility of the chloroallyl isolog, revealed by its partition coefficient, provided an explanation for its greater concentration in white matter rather than gray matter in contrast to the behavior of pentazocine in this respect. Differences in distribution were also noted in peripheral tissues of the cat. After 8 hours, over 50% of the absorbed chloroallyl isolog and its metabolites was sequestered in the bile. Pentazocine or its metabolites were especially concentrated in the liver and gastrointestinal tract. Furthermore, the distribution of these benzomorphans considered together was quite unlike that reported for morphine in the cat.
Latent inhibition in human adults without masking.

Latent inhibition refers to attenuated responding to Cue X observed when the X-outcome pairings are preceded by X-alone presentations. It has proven difficult to obtain in human adults unless the preexposure (X-alone) presentations are embedded within a masking (i.e., distracting) task. The authors hypothesized that the difficulty in obtaining latent inhibition with unmasked tasks is related to the usual training procedures, in which the preexposure and conditioning experiences are separated by a set of instructions. Experiment 1 reports latent inhibition without masking in a task in which preexposure and conditioning occur without interruption. Experiments 2 and 3 demonstrate that this attenuation in responding to target Cue X does not pass a summation test for conditioned inhibition and is context specific, thereby confirming that it is latent inhibition. Experiments 3 and 4 confirm that introducing instructions between preexposure and conditioning disrupts latent inhibition.
Adaptive modelling of materials test results: tear energy in filled rubber networks

We have elaborated a procedure for numerically modelling the behaviour of polymer-based materials as a function of two independent variables such as temperature and rate. The parameters of the model are chosen to have close physical significance, e.g. in terms of molecular theories or other measurements. The model may be adjusted to the data by a least-squares fit, yielding the optimal parameters provided the chi-squared test shows the fit to be acceptably good. Specimens may be compared by studying the dependence of individual fitted model parameters on preparation variables. Under certain conditions this procedure can be extended to result in the quantitative prediction of the ingredients and preparation needed to produce a material of desired properties. We describe the implementation of the procedure on a computergraphics facility, and apply it to the study of the tear energy in filled vulcanizates.
Expression of a synthetic antimicrobial peptide, D4E1, in Gladiolus plants for resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. gladioli

The main pathogen of Gladiolus plants is Fusarium oxysporum, a soilborne fungus that infects roots and corms resulting in death of the plant. Purified D4E1, a synthetic antimicrobial peptide, was previously reported (De Lucca et al. 1998) to inhibit F. oxysporum spores from forming mycelial colonies in vitro at a concentration of 3 μM making it a candidate gene for genetic engineering of Gladiolus for resistance to F. oxysporum. Gladiolus cv. Peter Pears plants were transformed by particle bombardment with plasmid DNA containing a 90 bp D4E1 gene that was under the control of the duplicated CaMV 35S promoter. Five of the 14 independently transformed plant lines were evaluated for resistance to F. oxysporum. Transgenic plants were tested in vitro for resistance to F. oxysporum, and several lines appeared to be more resistant than the control plants that lacked D4E1. Cell extracts of transgenic Gladiolus lines 6(1) and 7(1) inhibited germinated spores of F. oxysporum f. sp. gladioli from forming mycelial colonies by 34 and 38 %, respectively, in vitro. F. oxysporum f. sp. gladioli was transformed with the ECFP (cyan) gene allowing us to follow the growth of F. oxysporum during infection of D4E1-transformed and non-transformed roots. Fluorescence observations using confocal laser scanning microscopy showed that 3–10 days after infection, F. oxysporum covered the surface of the root and formed pseudo-appressoria, but hyphae were never observed to penetrate cells of the root. Ten days after infection with F. oxysporum, non-transformed roots had completely disintegrated whereas transgenic roots of line 7(1) were just beginning to lose their cellular integrity. Cell extracts from the five transgenic lines showed either an inhibition of F. oxysporum mycelial colony formation or less fungal hyphae were observed to infect their roots as compared to non-transformed Gladiolus plants.
Thrombotic microangiopathy in renal allografts: the diagnostic challenge.

Purpose of review The diagnosis of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is complex and often difficult. This review provides an approach to the diagnosis with emphasis on recent relevant developments. Recent findings There is increasing evidence that most cases of recurrent TMA in renal allografts are secondary to mutations in genes encoding complement regulatory factors and complement components, such as factor H, factor I, membrane cofactor protein, C3, and others. Genetic work-up for these potential complement abnormalities is now available and recommended. Another important cause for recurrent TMA is the presence of autoantibodies, such as antibodies to factor H and antiphospholipid antibodies. De-novo TMA is much more common than recurrent TMA in renal allografts. De-novo TMA can be secondary to calcineurin inhibitor treatment, mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor treatment, but frequently also to antibody-mediated rejection and less commonly to infections. Systemic signs of TMA are often absent, and the gold standard for diagnosis is the renal allograft biopsy. Unfortunately, diagnostic criteria for TMA are somewhat subjective, and the biopsy provides limited information regarding the exact underlying cause. Summary TMA is a serious complication of renal transplantation, usually with poor outcome. However, with improving understanding of underlying pathogeneses, more effective disease-specific therapeutic interventions can be designed. Appropriate treatment depends on the correct diagnosis, which relies primarily on renal allograft biopsy. Standardization of pathologic criteria and introduction of new molecular testing methods in renal biopsy specimens hopefully will improve diagnostic accuracy.
Psychotherapy in neurotic patients with somatic disease

Because of the increasing interest in the personality factors in somatic disease, the type of case herein mentioned is worthy of our attention from a psychotherapeutic, social and mental hygiene standpoint. However, much knowledge is yet to be obtained before any definite conclusions can be reached concerning all factors in the symptomatology and treatment of somatic disease as well as the personality manifestations occurring prior to and in their course.
Quantitative immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy of the topoisomerase IIα associated with nuclear matrices from wild‐type and drug‐resistant Chinese hamster ovary cell lines

Topo II alpha is considered an important constituent of the nuclear matrix, serving as a fastener of DNA loops to the underlying filamentous scaffolding network. To further define a mechanism of drug resistance to topo II poisons, we studied the quantity of topo II alpha associated with the nuclear matrix in drug-resistant SMR16 and parental cells in the presence and absence of VP-16. Nuclear matrices were prepared from nuclei isolated in EDTA buffer, followed by nuclease digestion with DNase II in the absence of RNase treatment and extraction with 2 M NaCl. Whole-mount spreading of residual structures permits, by means of isoform-specific antibody and colloidal-gold secondary antibodies, an estimate of the amount of topo II alpha in individual nuclear matrices. There are significant variations in topo II alpha amounts between individual nuclear matrices due to the cell cycle distribution. The parental cell line contained eight to ten times more nuclear matrix-associated topo II alpha than the resistant cell line matrices. Nuclear matrix-associated topo II alpha from wild-type and resistant cell lines correlated well with the immunofluorescent staining of the enzyme in nuclei of intact cells. The amount of DNA associated with residual nuclear structures was five times greater in the resistant cell line. This quantity of DNA was not proportional to the quantity of topo II alpha in the same matrix; in fact they were inversely related. In situ whole-mount nuclear matrix preparations were obtained from cells grown on grids and confirmed the results from labeling of isolated residual structures.
The Effect of Angiotensin II and Saralasin on 18-Hydroxy-ll-Deoxycorticosterone Production by Isolated Human Adrenal Glomerulosa Cells

To assess the role of angiotensin II (All) in regulating 18-hydroxy-ll-deoxycorticosterone (18-0HD0C) secretion in man, isolated human adrenal glomerulosa cells were incubated with All and/or its competitive antagonist, saralasin. All (2.4 × 108 M) elicited an 80% increase in 18-OHDOC levels as well as similar increases in aldosterone, 18-hydroxycorticosterone, and corticosterone (P < 0.01). Saralasin (108 M) caused a partial but significant inhibition of All-stimulated 18-OHDOC production, while 106 M saralasin blocked All-stimulated steroidogenesis completely. In addition, both concentrations of saralasin caused 10–30% decrements in basal steroid levels. The direct All effect on 18-OHDOC secretion and the antagonistic effect of saralasin on both exogenous and endogenous All-stimulated steroidogenesis, documented in these experiments, indicate that the increase in 18-OHDOC levels after sodium restriction reported in man is probably mediated by the renin-angiotensin system. Furthermore, because high conce...
Analysis of self-powered gamma ray detector with directional discrimination

Abstract The results of a combined Monte Carlo simulation and experimental investigation of the directional and energy dependent response of a self-powered gamma detector with a flat plate Pb-C central electrode are presented. The electron yield of the central electrode in a three dimensional mockup of the detector was calculated for photons of several discrete energies, emanating from an infinitely thin planar source, incident on the outer surface of the detector. Separate computations were done with the source facing the lead side and carbon side of the central electrode. Experimental measurements with a detector that closely matched the design used in the simulation were conducted in a graphite column next to a neutron leakage face of a low flux reactor. A localized gamma ray source was created by positioning a 235 U strip between the leakage face of the reactor and the detector. A comparison of results obtained in both cases showed good agreement. Also experimental measurements to determine the effect of the thickness of lead shielding surrounding the outer wall of the detector and space charge in the vacuum insulator between the central electrode and the inner wall on the response of the detector were performed.
Energetics and dynamics of solvent reorganization in charge-transfer excited states

Abstract The dynamics of solvation of the Ru(bpy) 2 (CN) 2 metal-to-ligand charge-transfer excited state have been examined in a series of aliphatic alcohols. Steady-state emission spectra recorded at low temperature (≈ 10 K) and at room temperature were used to resolve internal-mode and solvent contributions to the emission bandshape. Time-resolved emission spectra were fit to a model that takes into account internal-mode distortions as well as time-dependent broadening and shifts in emission maxima. A single-exponential solvent relaxation function does not adequately describe the temporal development of the emission profile of Ru(bpy) 2 (CN) 2 in alcohols. The evolution of the emission spectrum is clearly biphasic, and can be reasonably fit with a biexponential function. The slower of the two relaxation times is comparable to the longest longitudinal relaxation time reported for the bulk solvent. These slower components, however, represent less than half of the overall approach to equilibrium. Local heating due to above-threshold excitation, and local solvent relaxation are two likely sources of the faster dynamics.
Childhood iron deficiency anemia, maternal nutritional knowledge, and maternal feeding practices in a high-risk population.

Abstract Background. Despite the proven success of national efforts such as the Special Supplementary Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to curb childhood iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in the United States, aggregate programmatic data may not accurately represent the experience of particularly high risk groups, such as the children of adolescent mothers of low socio-economic status. Methods. This study evaluated the prevalence and severity of childhood anemia and associated risk factors, at one urban teen health center serving primarily low-income adolescent mothers and their children. A total of 175 pediatric WIC charts were reviewed to abstract hemoglobin status and other data. Additionally, 81 mothers were interviewed with regard to their nutritional knowledge and feeding practices; these findings were compared with the measured hemoglobin (Hgb) of their children. Results. A total of 34.9% of children in the study population were found to be anemic (Hgb ≤ 11.2). Low childhood Hgb status was significantly correlated with racial identification, child age, maternal perception of feeding difficulty, and the presence of concurrent pediatric medical illness. Report of extensive nutritional discussion with a physician was correlated with normal Hgb levels. No differences in nutritional knowledge or feeding practices were detected between mothers of children with low iron status. Conclusions. We conclude that the risk of iron deficiency, even among children receiving WIC services, may be underestimated in certain “nutritionally very high risk” populations. Further study of interventions for IDA in children of young, low-income mothers is recommended.
Selection Affects Genes Involved in Replication during Long-Term Evolution in Experimental Populations of the Bacteriophage φX174

Observing organisms that evolve in response to strong selection over very short time scales allows the determination of the molecular mechanisms underlying adaptation. Although dissecting these molecular mechanisms is expensive and time-consuming, general patterns can be detected from repeated experiments, illuminating the biological processes involved in evolutionary adaptation. The bacteriophage φX174 was grown for 50 days in replicate chemostats under two culture conditions: Escherichia coli C as host growing at 37°C and Salmonella typhimurium as host growing at 43.5°C. After 50 days, greater than 20 substitutions per chemostat had risen to detectable levels. Of the 97 substitutions, four occurred in all four chemostats, five arose in both culture conditions, eight arose in only the high temperature S. typhimurium chemostats, and seven arose only in the E. coli chemostats. The remaining substitutions were detected only in a single chemostat, however, almost half of these have been seen in other similar experiments. Our findings support previous studies that host recognition and capsid stability are two biological processes that are modified during adaptation to novel hosts and high temperature. Based upon the substitutions shared across both environments, it is apparent that genome replication and packaging are also affected during adaptation to the chemostat environment, rather than to temperature or host per se. This environment is characterized by a large number of phage and very few hosts, leading to competition among phage within the host. We conclude from these results that adaptation to a high density environment selects for changes in genome replication at both protein and DNA sequence levels.
The scope and control of attention: Sources of variance in working memory capacity

Working memory capacity is a strong positive predictor of many cognitive abilities, across various domains. The pattern of positive correlations across domains has been interpreted as evidence for a unitary source of inter-individual differences in behavior. However, recent work suggests that there are multiple sources of variance contributing to working memory capacity. The current study (N = 71) investigates individual differences in the scope and control of attention, in addition to the number and resolution of items maintained in working memory. Latent variable analyses indicate that the scope and control of attention reflect independent sources of variance and each account for unique variance in general intelligence. Also, estimates of the number of items maintained in working memory are consistent across tasks and related to general intelligence whereas estimates of resolution are task-dependent and not predictive of intelligence. These results provide insight into the structure of working memory, as well as intelligence, and raise new questions about the distinction between number and resolution in visual short-term memory.
Synaptic reorganization by mossy fibers in human epileptic fascia dentata

This study was designed to identify whether synaptic reorganizations occur in epileptic human hippocampus which might contribute to feedback excitation. In epileptic hippocampi, (n = 21) reactive synaptogenesis of mossy fibers into the inner molecular layer of the granule cell dendrites was demonstrated at the light microscopic and electron microscopic levels. There was no inner molecular layer staining for mossy fibers in autopsy controls (n = 4) or in controls with neocortex epilepsy having no hippocampal sclerosis (n = 2). Comparing epileptics to controls, there were statistically significant correlations between Timm stain density and hilar cell loss. Since hilar neurons are the origin of ipsilateral projections to the inner molecular layer, this suggests that hilar deafferentation of this dendritic zone precedes mossy fiber reafferentation. Quantitative Timm-stained electron microscopy revealed large, zinc-labelled vesicles in terminals with asymmetric synapses on dendrites in the inner molecular and granule cell layers. Terminals in the middle and outer molecular layers did not contain zinc, were smaller and had smaller vesicles. These histochemical and ultrastructural data suggest that in damaged human epileptic hippocampus, mossy fiber reactive synaptogenesis may result in monosynaptic recurrent excitation of granule cells that could contribute to focal seizure onsets.
Heart rate conditioning in mice.

Two strains of highly inbred mice were given classical conditioning with noise as CS and shock as US. Control groups for pseudoconditioning were included, and heart rate was measured before and after conditioning. Heart rate was elevated after conditioning (p<0.01) but without evidence of classical conditioning. The control procedure increased heart rate more than the classical procedure (p<0.02), indicating an anxious response, independent of the pseudoconditioned stimulus, which complicates use of this procedure as control in studying classical conditioning. The extent of the anxious response varied with strain (p=0.02). There was also a significant (p<0.01) main effect of strain on heart rate.
Non-leptonic weak decay rate of explicitly flavored heavy mesons

It is argued quantitatively that a large difference between the D0 and D+ lifetimes is mainly due to non-perturbative long-distance effects. The total non-leptonic weak decay rates are related to the soft limit of short-distance processes. Scaling laws for the decay rates of heavy mesons with respect to mass are inferred from the QCD analysis of the soft limit of fragmentation. It is found that the decay rates are not determined by the disconnected spectator diagrams alone even in the limit of the heavy quark mass M going to infinity (< MW), since the leading term after the QCD correction scales like M5 exp √clog M. Some numerical discussion is made for the decay of B mesons and T mesons.
Lateral spread of an amplification signal using an enzymatic system on a conductive surface.

In this letter, we report a novel signal amplification phenomenon that rapidly and dramatically increases both the magnitude and the lateral extent of the original signal. This phenomenon utilizes an enzyme immobilized on a conductive surface to generate amplified signals at locations remote from the original site of enzyme activity. The result is demonstrated on a microfluidic platform using the established precipitating enzyme−substrate system of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and 3,3‘,5,5‘-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) on a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) imaging system.
Dopamine-related tetrahydroisoquinolines: significant urinary excretion by alcoholics after alcohol consumption

Concentrations of dopamine-related tetrahydroisoquinolines (salsolinol and O-methylated salsolinol) were significantly higher in the daily urine samples of alcoholic subjects admitted for alcohol detoxification than in the daily urine samples of nonalcoholic control subjects. Salsolinol concentrations in alcoholic subjects appeared to drop to trace (control) values 2 to 3 days after admission, following the disappearance of ethanol and its reactive metabolite acetaldehyde from the blood. These results indicate that physiologically active tetrahydroisoquinolines increase in humans during long-term alcohol consumption, presumably because of acetaldehyde's direct condensation with catecholamines. The presence of these or similar condensation products in the urine could be useful as clinical indicators of prior blood acetaldehyde concentrations in chronic alcoholics.
Metabolic scaling, buoyancy, and growth in larval Atlantic menhaden, Brevoortia tyrannus

We measured growth of larval Atlantic menhaden, Brevoortia tyrannus in terms of mass, volume, and weight in water as well as the mass-specific activities of the metabolic enzymes citrate synthase, lactate dehydrogenase, and malate dehydrogenase. Weight in water, the force the fish must exert to maintain vertical position, increases by a factor of 18 in larvae growing from 10 to 15 mm. The weight increase coincides with the development of the larval swim bladder. The activities of all three enzymes per unit mass of fish tissue decline greatly over this time period, indicating that the fish does not further develop its aerobic and anaerobic metabolic capacity for swimming during this growth interval.
Naloxone abolishes obsessive-compulsive behavior in Tourette's syndrome.

(1987). Naloxone Abolishes Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior in Tourette's Syndrome. International Journal of Neuroscience: Vol. 35, No. 1-2, pp. 93-94.
Recent Changes of Arctic Multiyear Sea Ice Coverage and the Likely Causes

aMerICaN MeTeOrOLOGICaL SOCIeTy | 145 AffiliAtions: Polyakov and Walsh—International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska; kWok—Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California CoRREsPonDinG AUtHoR: Igor V. Polyakov, International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, P.O. Box 757335, Fairbanks, AK 99775 E-mail: igor@iarc.uaf.edu
4D Imaging of Transient Structures and Morphologies in Ultrafast Electron Microscopy

With advances in spatial resolution reaching the atomic scale, two-dimensional (2D) and 3D imaging in electron microscopy has become an essential methodology in various fields of study. Here, we report 4D imaging, with in situ spatiotemporal resolutions, in ultrafast electron microscopy (UEM). The ability to capture selected-area-image dynamics with pixel resolution and to control the time separation between pulses for temporal cooling of the specimen made possible studies of fleeting structures and morphologies. We demonstrate the potential for applications with two examples, gold and graphite. For gold, after thermally induced stress, we determined the atomic structural expansion, the nonthermal lattice temperature, and the ultrafast transients of warping/bulging. In contrast, in graphite, striking coherent transients of the structure were observed in both image and diffraction, directly measuring, on the nanoscale, the longitudinal resonance period governed by Young's elastic modulus. The success of these studies demonstrates the promise of UEM in real-space imaging of dynamics.
Plant thioredoxins: role of the French School

Abstract A seminal discovery made by Pierre Gadal and his collaborators in Nancy, almost 30 years ago, has served as a nucleus for further development of research on plant thioredoxins. By attracting other investigators, research in the area has flourished and enabled France to assume a leadership position in the field. The chronology of development of this research is traced in the present review, from its origin in Nancy to its current distribution throughout France. A summary of the achievements of participating French scientists documents their influence on the field and the international thioredoxin community. The article closes with a personal perspective of Gadal’s scientific and professional contributions that was developed by the senior author during visits to Orsay over the past three decades.
Adolescent Health-Risk Behavior and Community Disorder

Background Various forms of community disorder are associated with health outcomes but little is known about how dynamic context where an adolescent spends time relates to her health-related behaviors. Objective Assess whether exposure to contexts associated with crime (as a marker of community disorder) correlates with self-reported health-related behaviors among adolescent girls. Methods Girls (N = 52), aged 14–17, were recruited from a single geographic urban area and monitored for 1 week using a GPS-enabled cell phone. Adolescents completed an audio computer-assisted self-administered interview survey on substance use (cigarette, alcohol, or marijuana use) and sexual intercourse in the last 30 days. In addition to recorded home and school address, phones transmitted location data every 5 minutes (path points). Using ArcGIS, we defined community disorder as aggregated point-level Unified Crime Report data within a 200-meter Euclidian buffer from home, school and each path point. Using Stata, we analyzed how exposures to areas of higher crime prevalence differed among girls who reported each behavior or not. Results Participants lived and spent time in areas with variable crime prevalence within 200 meters of their home, school and path points. Significant differences in exposure occurred based on home location among girls who reported any substance use or not (p 0.04) and sexual intercourse or not (p 0.01). Differences in exposure by school and path points were only significant among girls reporting any substance use or not (p 0.03 and 0.02, respectively). Exposure also varied by school/non-school day as well as time of day. Conclusions Adolescent travel patterns are not random. Furthermore, the crime context where an adolescent spends time relates to her health-related behavior. These data may guide policy relating to crime control and inform time- and space-specific interventions to improve adolescent health.
Prenatal diagnosis of duplex system hydronephrosis: effect on renal salvage

Abstract Objectives: To determine if prenatal identification of significant renal duplication anomalies affects the management of the patient or the clinical outcome. Methods: This is a retrospective review of 79 consecutive children with severe hydronephrosis involving a duplex renal collecting system, identified by either prenatal ultrasound (asymptomatic), or symptoms, most often urinary tract infection, but also including abdominal mass, hematuria, or incontinence. An individualized combination of voiding cystourethrogram, ultrasound, intravenous urogram, and nuclear renal scan was used to assess anatomy and function. Ablation of the involved segment was carried out if no or extremely poor function was identified; a definitive reconstructive procedure was elected in the face of easily measureable function. Outcome was determined clinically and by repeat imaging. Results: There was no difference in the rate of renal segment salvage between the prenatally and clinically diagnosed groups. Of the cases analyzed, 20/79 were prenatally identified, of which 13/20 (65%) were reconstructed; 59/79 were identified on clinical grounds, of which 34/59 (58%) were reconstructed. One patient in the prenatal salvage group underwent removal of the affected kidney 5 years later. Another, in the clinical salvage group, underwent a successful secondary procedure for closure of a ureteral fistula. All others have shown improved function, drainage, or both in follow-up. No secondary procedures have been required for the ablation group to date. Follow-up ranges from 4 months to 12 years. Conclusions: Prenatal identification of significant duplex system hydronephrosis does not improve the rate of renal segment salvage, as determined by standard radiographic means, compared to later identification on clinical grounds. The decision for reconstruction versus ablation in significant duplex system hydronephrosis can be made on the basis of function alone.
A noise-resilient collaborative learning approach to content-based image retrieval

We propose to combine short-term block-based fuzzy support vector machine (FSVM) learning and long-term dynamic semantic clustering (DSC) learning to bridge the semantic gap in content-based image retrieval. The short-term learning addresses the small sample problem by incorporating additional image blocks to enlarge the training set. Specifically, it applies the nearest neighbor mechanism to choose additional similar blocks. A fuzzy metric is computed to measure the fidelity of the actual class information of the additional blocks. The FSVM is finally applied on the enlarged training set to learn a more accurate decision boundary for classifying images. The long-term learning addresses the large storage problem by building dynamic semantic clusters to remember the semantics learned during all query sessions. Specifically, it applies a cluster-image weighting algorithm to find the images most semantically related to the query. It then applies a DSC technique to adaptively learn and update the semantic categories. Our extensive experimental results demonstrate that the proposed short-term, long-term, and collaborative learning methods outperform their peer methods when the erroneous feedback resulting from the inherent subjectivity of judging relevance, user laziness, or maliciousness is involved. The collaborative learning system achieves better retrieval precision and requires significantly less storage space than its peers. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
ψ Compaction of poly[d(AT)] · poly[d(AT)]

The compaction of poly[d(A–T)] · poly[d(A–T)] by Co(III) is accompanied by the formation of ψ(+)- and ψ(-)-structures. The chirality of the ψ-structure depends on the Co(III) concentration, ionic strength, temperature, pH, and the chain length of the polymer. The two forms can be readily interconverted by manipulating these factors. Phase diagrams have been constructed that demonstrate the regions of stability of the enantiomers as a function of two variables, while other factors are held constant. At critical points in the phase diagram the two forms are in such unstable equilibrium that mechanical motion will cause ψ(+) ⇆ ψ(-) interconversion. The formation of both ψ(+)- and ψ(-)-structures by the action of Co(III) on poly[d(A–T)] · poly[d(A–T)] contrasts markedly with the behavior of poly[d(G–C)] · poly[d(G–C)] in similar circumstances by forming only the ψ(+)-structure and that of native DNA to produce no ψ at all. Thus the base sequence is important in determining the structure of chirally associated DNA molecules.
Serotonergic inhibition of catecholamine-induced behavioral arousal

Abstract Amphetamine-induced locomotor activity in rats was potentiated by treatment with p -CPA, a depletor of brain serotonin. At stronger doses, p -CPA and amphetamine acted synergistically to produce activity levels that were greater than would be expected if the effects of the two drugs were simply additive. Administration of 5-HTP, the precursor of serotonin, prevented this effect. When rats treated with p -CPA were given an acute injection of reserpine, there resulted a biphasic action, p -CPA enhanced the heightened locomotor activity that immediately follows acute reserpine, but the subsequent level of sedation was not affected. These findings suggest that there is a serotonergic inhibitory system controlling catecholaminergic arousal.
An Exact Confidence Interval for the Ratio of Two Related Proportions

I propose an exact confidence interval for the ratio of two proportions when the proportions are not independent. One application is to estimate the population prevalence using a screening test with perfect specificity but imperfect sensitivity. The population prevalence is the ratio of the observed prevalence divided by the test's sensitivity. I describe a method to calculate exact confidence intervals for this problem and compare these results with approximate confidence intervals given previously.
Solution properties of stilbene‐containing sterically crowded alternating polyanions

Sterically crowded stilbene-containing alternating polyanions were prepared via an indirect strategy of synthesizing “protected” monomers followed by deprotection and neutralization of the polyanion precursors. The solution properties of these new sterically crowded polyelectrolytes were studied. Steady-state solution shear rheology showed a pronounced polyelectrolyte effect. The persistence lengths of these polyelectrolytes were determined. The dissociation behavior of the polyanions was investigated by pH titration with HCl, and multistep dissociation behavior was observed. Chain size and aggregation were studied by using DLS at varying ionic strengths. Polyelectrolytes behaved like rigid-rods and formed concentrated solutions at the polymer concentration of 1.0 mg mL−1. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2013, 51, 1565–1570
Silicon-germanium alloys and heterostructures: Optical and electronic properties

Abstract The study and characterization of Ge-Si structures began shortly after the discovery and initial development of the transistor, motivated in part by fundamental curiosity and in part by the hope of improving the performance of semiconductor devices.1–5 Ge and Si are miscible, and alloy solid solutions can be prepared in bulk or by epitaxial growth.6 However, while Ge and Si share a common crystal structure, the diamond cubic lattice, they do not have the same lattice parameter. The lattice parameter of Ge-Si alloys obeys Vegard's law, varying linearly between 5.43 A for Si and 5.65 A for Ge.7 Consequently, Ge-Si alloys cannot be grown epitaxially on Si or Ge substrates without introducing large amounts of strain (see Figure 1).
Density functional for short-range correlation: Accuracy of the random-phase approximation for isoelectronic energy changes

Within a density-functional context, the random-phase approximation (RPA) for the correlation energy makes a short-range error that is well suited for correction by a local spin density or generalized-gradient approximation (GGA). Here we construct a GGA for the short-range correction, following the same reliable procedure used earlier to construct the GGA for the whole exchange-correlation energy: real-space cutoff of the spurious long-range contribution to the gradient expansion of the hole around an electron. The resulting density functional is nearly local and predicts a substantial correction to the RPA correlation energy of an atom but very small corrections to the RPA atomization energy of a molecule, which may by itself come close to ``chemical accuracy'' and to the RPA surface energy of a metal. A by-product of this work is a density functional for the system-averaged correlation hole within RPA.
Results of thoracic endovascular aortic repair 6 years after United States Food and Drug Administration approval.

Background Since United States Food and Drug Administration approval in 2005, the short-term safety and efficacy of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) have been established. However, longer-term follow-up data remain lacking. The objective of this study is to report 6-year outcomes of TEVAR in clinical practice. Methods A prospective cohort review was performed of all patients undergoing TEVAR at a single referral institution between March 2005 and May 2011. Rates of reintervention were noted. Overall and aortic-specific survival were determined using Kaplan-Meier methods. Log-rank tests were used to compare survival between groups. Results During the study interval, 332 TEVAR procedures were performed in 297 patients. Reintervention was required after 12% of procedures at a mean of 8 ± 14 months after initial TEVAR and was higher in the initial tercile of patients (15.0% vs 9.9%). The 6-year freedom from reintervention was 84%. Type I endoleak was the most common cause of reintervention (5%). Six-year overall survival was 54%, and aorta-specific survival was 92%. Long-term survival was significantly lower than that of an age- and sex-matched United States population ( p p = 0.26). Survival was different based on indication for TEVAR ( p = 0.007), and patients with degenerative aneurysms had the lowest survival (47% at 6 years). Cardiopulmonary pathologies were the most common cause of death (27 of 93 total deaths). Conclusions Long-term aortic-related survival after TEVAR is high, and the need for reintervention is infrequent. However, overall long-term survival is low, particularly for patients with degenerative aneurysms, and additional work is needed to identify patients unlikely to derive a survival benefit from TEVAR.
UNRAVELING PULSATILE TINNITUS IN FMD: A REPORT OF THE UNITED STATES REGISTRY FOR FIBROMUSCULAR DYSPLASIA

Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD) is an arteriopathy which may lead to stenosis, aneurysm, and dissection. Pulsatile tinnitus (PT) is a common, debilitating symptom of FMD. Data were queried from the United States Registry for FMD from 11 clinical centers. Of the 873 patients (pts) enrolled, data
Wall Pressure Fluctuations in a Turbulent Boundary Layer

In the flow of air past a solid surface, a turbulent boundary layer is produced. The turbulence is ordinarily thought of as velocity fluctuation but in addition pressure, temperature and density fluctuations also occur. The turbulent boundary layer causes a sound field to be set up in the free stream and also induces fluctuating normal loads on the boundary. If the boundary is elastic, its motion will set the air on each side into motion. Thus, additional sound radiation is to be expected. In an initial investigation of this problem some of the properties of the wall pressure fluctuations in a turbulent boundary layer have been measured. The equipment used in the investigation includes: a specially designed low noise and turbulence level wind tunnel, a small barium titanate microphone for frequencies up to 50 kc and the necessary electronic equipment. The quantities measured were the root‐mean‐square pressure at the wall and the power spectrum of the wall pressure. It was found that the root‐mean‐square w...