cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Kynurenine pathway enzymes in a rat model of chronic epilepsy: immunohistochemical study of activated glial cells.

Abstract The kynurenine pathway metabolites quinolinic acid and kynurenic acid have been hypothetically linked to the occurrence of seizure phenomena. The present immunohistochemical study reports the activation of astrocytes containing three enzymes responsible for the metabolism of quinolinic acid and kynurenic acid in a rat model of chronic epilepsy. Rats received 90 min of patterned electrical stimulation through a bipolar electrode stereotaxically positioned in one hippocampus. This treatment induces non-convulsive limbic status epilepticus that leads to chronic, spontaneous, recurrent seizures. One month after the status epilepticus, the rats showed neuronal loss and gliosis in the piriform cortex, thalamus, and hippocampus, particularly on the side contralateral to the stimulation. Astrocytes containing the kynurenic acid biosynthetic enzyme (kynurenine aminotransferase) and the enzymes for the biosynthesis and degradation of quinolinic acid (3-hydroxyanthranilic acid oxygenase and quinolinic acid phosphoribosyltransferase, respectively) became highly hypertrophied in brain areas where neurodegeneration occurred. Detailed qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed in the hippocampus. In CA1 and CA3 regions, the immunostained surface area of reactive astrocytes increased up to five-fold as compared to controls. Enlarged cells containing the three enzymes were mainly observed in the stratum radiatum, whereas the stratum pyramidale, in which neuronal somata degenerated, showed relatively fewer reactive glial cells. Hypertrophied kynurenine aminotransferase- and 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid oxygenase-immunoreactive cells were comparable in their morphology and distribution pattern. In contrast, reactive quinolinic acid phosphoribosyl transferase-positive glial cells displayed diversified sizes and shapes. Some very large quinolinic acid phosphoribosyl transferase-immunoreactive cells were noticed in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus. In the hippocampus, the number of immunoreactive glial cells increased in parallel to the hypertrophic responses. In addition, pronounced increases in immunoreactivities, associated with hypertrophied astrocytes, occurred around lesioned sites in the thalamus and piriform cortex. These findings indicate that kynurenine metabolites derived from glial cells may play a role in chronic epileptogenesis.
Psychology of computer use: XXXI. Relating computer users' stress, daily hassles, somatic complaints, and anxiety.

The relation of computer users' stress, measured by the Computer Hassles Scale, and global stress, measured by the Daily Hassles Scale, with stress reactions, measured by the somatization-anxiety items of the SCL-90, was investigated in a college sample (N = 101). Computer hassles ratings were correlated .54 with daily hassles ratings and .57 with somatization-anxiety ratings. Daily hassles ratings were correlated .74 with somatization-anxiety ratings. These results provide important evidence on convergent validity for the Computer Hassles Scale as a measure of computer users' stress.
Efficacy of pharmacological estrogen receptor antagonists in blocking activation of zebrafish estrogen receptors.

Abstract A variety of pharmacological agonists, antagonists and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERM) have been used to better understand the role of specific receptors in various physiological processes. Despite similar structure and function, less is known about the effect of agonists and antagonists on teleost estrogen receptors and the results of these studies have indicated wide variation among species. The goal of this study was to determine the ability of two human SERMs to modulate activation of three zebrafish estrogen receptor isoforms. Full length cDNA of zebrafish estrogen receptor 1 (esr1), estrogen receptor 2a (esr2a) and estrogen receptor 2b (esr2b) were cloned into expression vectors and transfected into cells that do not endogenously express any estrogen receptor along with an estrogen responsive luciferase vector. Cells transfected with any of the zebrafish estrogen receptors individually and then exposed to 17β-estradiol (E 2 ) or 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE 2 ) exhibited a dose dependent increase in luciferase activity. None of the pharmacological antagonists, ICI 182, 780, methyl-piperidino-pyrazole (MPP) or pyrazolo [1,5-a] pyrimidine (PHTPP), were able to independently transactivate luciferase expression with any of the zebrafish estrogen receptors. Of the three ER antagonists, only ICI 182, 780 was able to block EE 2 induced luciferase activity, although a 10 to 100-fold excess of ICI 182, 780 was necessary with all receptors. Neither MPP nor PHTPP were able to block EE 2 induced luciferase activity with any isoform of zebrafish estrogen receptor. These results indicate that the difference between human ER and zebrafish ER ligand binding is not conserved enough for the SERMs MPP or PHTPP to elicit similar effects in zebrafish as those manifested in humans.
Morning report: is the time ripe for a change?

Background: Morning report is a time-honored part of the medical day. However, recent changes in house officer training and staffing raise questions about the educational efficacy of this daily conference. Summary: As it is currently conducted, Morning Report is an exercise in role playing that fails to achieve its main teaching objectives. This article suggests ways to modify Morning Report in an attempt to sustain the valuable purpose for which it was initially conceived. Conclusions: Refocusing the objectives of Morning Report and shifting the time to noon may restore the educational value of this important conference.
Application of the Total Transmittance Nonhomogeneous Radiation Model to Methane Combustion

The total transmittance nonhomogeneous model (TTNH) is about 500 timesfastr faster than narrow-band models, and it is usually within 10 percent of the more accurate computation. The purpose of this article is to extend the TTNH model to include CH/sub 4/ and CO as well as CO/sub 2/ an H/sub 2/O, and to include interaction with a black bounary where previously the model had been limited to transparent bounaries. Several realistic combustion examples are presented in which the radiant intensity from a hot, black wall interacts with a nonisothermal volume containing variable concentrations of CO/sub 2/, H/sub 2/O,, CH/sub 4/, CO, and soot. The calculations indicate that the TTNH model can be reliably applied to nonhomogeneous combustion environments containing methane and that the presence of a radiative boundary poses no computational difficult.
CaMKIIα enhances the desensitization of NR2B-containing NMDA receptors by an autophosphorylation-dependent mechanism

Abstract Long-term potentiation or depression of synaptic function often requires Ca 2+ influx via NMDA-type glutamate receptors (NMDARs) and changes in the autophosphorylation of Ca 2+ /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) at Thr 286 . Autophosphorylated CaMKII binds directly to NMDAR subunits, co-localizes with NMDARs in the postsynaptic density, and phosphorylates NR2B subunits at Ser 1303 . Here, we demonstrate that CaMKIIα enhances the extent and/or rate of desensitization of NMDA-induced macroscopic currents in HEK293 cells co-expressing NR2B with either the NR1 011 or NR1 101 splice variants, without significantly changing other current parameters. In contrast, the extent of desensitization of NMDARs containing NR2A in place of NR2B is significantly decreased by co-expression of CaMKIIα. Kinases harboring K42R (inactive kinase) or T286A (autophosphorylation-deficient) mutations are defective in enhancing the desensitization of NR1/NR2B channels. In addition, the CaMKII-dependent enhancement of NR1/NR2B channel desensitization is abrogated by intracellular loading with BAPTA. These data suggest a novel mechanism for Ca 2+ -dependent negative-feedback regulation of NR2B-containing NMDARs in a CaMKII activity- and autophosphorylation-dependent manner that may modulate NMDAR-mediated synaptic plasticity.
SU‐E‐J‐102: The Impact of the Number of Subjects for Atlas‐Based Automatic Segmentation

Purpose: To determine the impact of atlas size on the performance of atlas‐based automatic segmentation (ABAS) in delineation of organs at risk for adaptive radiation therapy.Methods: A total of 25 patients who had undergone intensity modulated radiation therapy for various head and neck cancers were retrospectively selected for inclusion in a library to be used for ABAS with the MIM VISTA software package (MIM Software, Cleveland OH). Treatment planningcomputed tomography(CT) scans and subsequent organ at risk (OAR) contours generated as part of the treatment planning process for these patients were added to the library. This library of 25 patients was then successively pruned to generate 5 atlases with 25, 20, 15, 10, and 5 patient subjects respectively. Atlas based segmentation was performed on 10 retrospectively selected treatment planningCT scans to automatically generate right and left parotid glands and brainstem contours. These planning CT scans belonged to a unique set of 10 patient subjects different from the ones used for generating the atlases. One physician (JW), who was blinded to the ABAS results, manually delineated gold‐standard contours for the right and left parotid glands and brainstem. Dice similarity coefficients were calculated and analyzed as a function of atlas subject size. Results: For the sites selected in this study, the performance of ABAS was relatively insensitive to atlas size. Furthermore, some patient subjects were repeatedly selected implying that the adoption of a single standard patient for ABAS may be of benefit. Conclusions: Our preliminary results indicate that the performance of the atlas based segmentation module in MIM VISTA Version 5.2 for the organs studied here may be relatively insensitive to the atlas size.
Reframing rights: bioconstitutionalism in the genetic age

Reframing rights: bioconstitutionalism in the genetic age is a remarkable volume on the emergence of novel social orders in the genetic age. Drawing on case studies from many countries, its authors...
Inheritance of Fusarium resistance in a jointless tomato as affected by the X gametophytic factor

Hybridization between tomato with xx and XX gametophytic genotypes exhibited in segregating generations, deviations from the expected monogenic inheritance of Fusarium wilt resistance conditioned by gene I. These deviations resul ted from gametophytic preference, linkage and the presence of modifying loci associated with the gene I. Although information on the inheritance of Fusarium wilt resistance is based on backcross data, information obtained from the pedigree procedure and testcrosses made with BC1S2 plants all supports the presence of modifiers.
Public Involvement Practices and Perspectives of Florida's Metropolitan Planning Organizations

Results from a statewide survey on current public involvement practices of Florida's metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) are described. Of Florida's 26 MPOs, 25 responded to the six-page electronic survey. Overall, the most commonly used techniques were newsletters and public meetings, followed closely by brochures, individual and small-group briefings, and newspaper advertisements in general circulation publications. Although public meetings and hearings were widely used, many MPOs identified them as their least-effective public involvement technique and emphasized the importance of "going to the public, rather than asking people to come to you." Most respondents indicated that they would rate the public's response to their public involvement process as favorable or better, but nearly as many said that they would rate the public's response to their process as fair. Florida MPOs believed that the greatest challenges they face in the public involvement process include poor attendance at meetings (60...
Measurement precision of optical scatterometry

In the work reported here, we discuss the measurement precision of two scatterometry techniques, the variable angle and the variable wavelength techniques. The issue of interest is the measurement precision of the sample parameters. This is determined by both the sensitivity of the diffraction measurable to changes in sample parameters and the precision with which the measurable can be determined. This approach includes taking into account the correlation effect between the contribution to the measurable of the various grating parameters to be determined, such as linewidth and height. The comparison of the theoretical predictions of precision for angle-resolved and wavelength-resolved scatterometer measurements shows no conclusive hierarchy. Practical considerations, however, indicate that angular-resolved scatterometry is a more advantageous technique. For both methods, decreasing the wavelength of the light source improves the determination precision of the sample parameters.
Picture Segmentation by a Tree Traversal Algorithm

In the past, picture segmentation has been performed by merging small primitive regions or by recursively splitting the whole picture. This paper combines the two approaches with significant increase in processing speed while maintaining small memory requirements. The data structure is described in detail and examples of implementations are given.
Observations and Model Simulations of Carbon Monoxide Emission Factors from a California Highway

A series of twelve intensively monitored 1-hr CO dispersion studies were conducted near Davis, CA, in winter 1996. The experimental equipment included twelve CO sampling ports at elevations up to 50 m, three sonic anemometers, a tethersonde station, aircraft measurements of wind and temperature profile aloft, and a variety of conventional meteorological equipment. The study was designed to explore the role of vehicular exhaust buoyancy during worst-case meteorological conditions, such as low winds oriented in near-parallel alignment with the road during a surface-based nocturnal inversion. From the study, field estimates of the CO emission factor (EF) from a California vehicle fleet were computed using two different methods. The analysis suggests that the CT-EMFAC/EMFAC (EMission FACtor) models currently used to conduct federal conformity modeling significantly overpredict CO emissions for high-speed, free-flowing traffic on California highways.
A Theoretical Framework for Generating Copious Multi-Sensory Feedback From Virtual Buttons

This research describes a theoretical framework for designing multimodal feedback for 3D buttons in a virtual environment. Virtual button implementations often suffer from inadequate feedback compared to their mechanical, real-world, counterparts. This lack of feedback can lead to accidental button actuations and reduce the user’s ability to discover how to interact with the virtual button. We propose a framework for more expressive virtual button feedback that communicates visual, audio, and haptic feedback to the user. We apply the theoretical framework by implementing a software library prototype to support multimodal feedback from virtual buttons in a 3D virtual reality workspace.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
A Multi-Outcome Evaluation of an Independent Living Program

This study evaluated an Independent Living (IL) program targeting foster youths in Florida. The IL group composed of 49 young adults, and the comparison group of 18 young adults was utilized. Data were collected via a mailed survey and case record reviews. Results suggest that IL program participation is associated with better educational, employment, income, housing, early parenting-prevention, transportation, anger control, criminal-prevention, and self-evaluation outcomes. However, IL participation is not associated with better social support, perceived parenting competence, substance abuse-prevention, sexual risk-prevention outcomes, increased knowledge in money management skills, job seeking and job maintenance skills, interpersonal skills, or lower depression. Implications are discussed for program design and future research.
Superior vena cava and innominate vein reconstruction in thoracic malignancies: double-vein reconstruction.

Extensive major venous resection and reconstruction with prosthetic vascular conduits are feasible with very good shortand long-term results. Okereke et al1 described the use of an externally stented polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) conduit for bypass of the superior vena cava (SVC) with 90% patency at a mean of 24 months. Sekine et al2 expanded on the traditional method of reconstruction by using direct independent grafts between the left and right innominate veins (IV) and the right atrium. We describe our technique for independent reconstruction of the left and right innominate venous systems by using ringed PTFE prosthetic vascular grafts.
Magnetic Transitions of Superconducting Thin Films and Foils. I. Lead

The perpendicular and parallel magnetic transitions for pure Pb films and foils have been determined from transverse magnetization and ac susceptibility measurements as a function of thickness (400 \AA{} to 35 \ensuremath{\mu}) and temperature (1.4 to 4.2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K). The perpendicular critical field (${H}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$) for thicknesses less than a critical thickness, ${d}_{c}\ensuremath{\approx}15$ k\AA{}, is in good agreement with the theory of Tinkham if it is assumed that the penetration depth is thickness-dependent. The data for thicknesses above ${d}_{c}$ follow a thickness dependence predicted from the effect of a positive surface energy on the free energy of the intermediate state. At ${d}_{c}$ there is a minimum in ${H}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$. The parallel critical field (${H}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}$) up to ${d}_{c}$ is in good agreement with the theory of Saint James and de Gennes for a second-order transition. Above ${d}_{c}$, ${H}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}$ agrees with the bulk value of ${H}_{c3}$ for lead. In the vicinity of ${d}_{c}$ the magnetization curve starts to exhibit a reversible tail which persists to larger thicknesses and whose slope is in reasonable agreement with theory. From the data, the bulk values of $\ensuremath{\kappa}(T)$, $\ensuremath{\lambda}(T)$, ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{L}(0)$, and ${\ensuremath{\xi}}_{0}$, as well as the thickness dependence of these quantities, have been computed.
Isolation and characterization of glucocapparin in Isomeris arborea nutt

Isomeris arborea (Capparaceae), is the only woody caper endemic to southern California and northern Baja. Methylglucosinolate, also known as glucocapparin, was the only glucosinolate found inI. arborea organs by paper chromatography of the thiourea derivatives and was quantitatively determined by gas chromatography by hydrolytic products. The concentration of glucocapparin ranged from an average of 4.6 mg/g wet weight in mature leaves to 5.2 mg/g wet weight in immature leaves. Buds averaged 6.2 mg/g wet weight and capsule walls 1.8 mg/g wet weight. Seeds contained an average of 14.3 mg/g wet weight of glucocapparin. Glucocapparin concentration was found to vary significantly among the mature leaves of individuals within a single population. This compound is known to be deleterious to nonadapted herbivores and may be implicated in the chemical defense mechanism ofI. arborea.
Graph-based optimal reconfiguration planning for self-reconfigurable robots

Abstract The goal of optimal reconfiguration planning (ORP) is to find a shortest reconfiguration sequence to transform a modular and reconfigurable robot from an arbitrary configuration into another. This paper investigates this challenging problem for chain-type robots based on graph representations and presents a series of theoretical results: (1) a formal proof that this is an NP-complete problem, (2) a reconfiguration planning algorithm called MDCOP which generates the optimal graph-based reconfiguration plan, and (3) another algorithm called GreedyCM which can find a near-optimal solution in polynomial time. Experimental and statistical results demonstrate that the solutions found by GreedyCM are indeed near-optimal and the approach is computationally feasible for large-scale robots.
Prosthetic restoration of a maxilla and associated structures

Abstract A technique for the fabrication of a prosthesis to replace an orbit and maxilla has been described. The special features of the technique are the use of a compressible spongelike material for the obturator. This material makes the difference between a fair and a good result. A seemingly complex prosthesis has been divided into four simple parts, which are retained in relation to each other by magnets and undercuts in the materials.
Effects ofBlepharipa pratensis [Dip.: Tachinidae] on the pathogenicity of nucleopolyhedrosis virus in stage V ofLymantria dispar [Lep.: Lymantriidae]

The effects of myiasis caused byBlepharipa pratensis (Meigen) on the pathogenicity of 3 dosages (1.00×104 PIB, 3.75×104 PIB and 7.50×104 PIB) of nucleopolyhedrosis virus (NPV) in stage V ofLymantria dispar (L.) were tested. When fed only NPV, 44% of the larvae fed the low dosage died, 67% of the larvae fed the mid-level dosage died, and 73% of those fed the high-level dosage died. At the low dosage, mortality was significantly lower than at the other dosages. The presence of the parasite significantly increased mortality due to NPV; 65% of the larvae fed the low dosage died, 77% of the larvae fed the mid-level dosage died, and 80% of the larvae fed the high-level dosage died. For biological control, the combination of NPV and parasite would increase mortality, but at the expense of the parasite.
Learning curve for transanal endoscopic microsurgery: a single-center experience.

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) was first published by the late Professor Buess in 1983. The procedure initially had a slow acceptance due to its perceived difficulty, the cost of the equipment, and limited indications. However, the widespread adoption of laparoscopic colorectal surgery provided an impetus to increase the penetration of the platform. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the TEM learning curve (LC). After institutional review board approval, all patients who underwent TEM, from November 2005 to October 2008 were identified from a prospective database. The operations were performed by a single, board-certified colorectal surgeon (DRS), after learning the technique from Professor Buess. Patient, operative, and postoperative variables were obtained by retrospective chart review. Rates of excision in minutes per cm2 of tissue were calculated. The CUSUM method was used to plot the LC. Variables were compared using χ 2 and Student’s t test. A p < 0.05 was considered significant. Twenty-three patients underwent TEM (median age 61 years, 69.5 % male). Mean operative time was 130.5 (range 39–254) min, and the mean specimen size was 16.6 (7.4–42) cm2. Average rate of excision (ARE) was 8.9 min/cm2. A stabilization of the LC was observed after the first four cases, showing an ARE of 13.8 min/cm2 for the first four cases versus 7.9 min/cm2 for the last 19 cases (p = 0.001). An additional rising and leveling of the LC was observed after the first 10 cases, when an increasing number of lesions located cephalad to 8 cm from the dentate line were being resected (lesions above 8 cm in the first 10 cases: 20 % vs. last 13 cases: 61 %; p = 0.04). The ARE significantly declined after the first four cases. The LC for TEM is associated with a significant decrease in operative time after four cases.
Evidence for in vivo upregulation of the intestinal vitamin D receptor during dietary calcium restriction in the rat.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] increases intestinal calcium absorption through events that include binding of 1,25(OH)2D3 to the intracellular vitamin D receptor. In vitro studies using mammalian cell cultures reveal an increase in vitamin D receptor content after exposure to 1,25(OH)2D3. To test the hypothesis that 1,25(OH)2D3 increases enterocyte vitamin D receptor content in vivo, male rats were fed either a normal calcium diet (NCD, 1.2% Ca) or low calcium diet (LCD, 0.002% Ca). After 21 d LCD increased serum 1,25(OH)2D3 levels (27 +/- 3 vs. 181 +/- 17 pg/ml, P less than 0.001) and increased transepithelial mucosal to serosal calcium fluxes (Jms) across duodenum (65 +/- 21 vs. 204 +/- 47 nmol/cm2.h, NCD vs. LCD, P less than 0.01) and jejunum (23 +/- 3 vs. 46 +/- 4, P less than 0.007). No change in serosal to mucosal calcium fluxes (Jsm) were observed. LCD increased 1,25(OH)2D3 receptor number threefold in duodenum (32.9 +/- 6.7 vs. 98.7 +/- 13.7 fmol 1,25(OH)2D3/mg protein) and jejunum (34.1 +/- 9.5 vs. 84.9 +/- 7.7) without a change in the receptor affinity for 1,25(OH)2D3 (Kd is 0.17 +/- 0.06 vs. 0.21 +/- 0.02 nM for NCD and LCD duodenum, respectively). Duodenal polyadenylated vitamin D receptor mRNA determined by Northern blot analysis did not increase appreciably during LCD, suggesting that upregulation in vivo may not be due primarily to increased receptor synthesis. The results of this study indicate that under physiologic conditions as during chronic dietary calcium restriction, increased intestinal vitamin D receptor content accompanies increased calcium active transport. Upregulation of the vitamin D receptor by 1,25(OH)2D3 may result primarily from posttranslational processes that decrease degradation of the receptor with increased receptor synthesis responsible for a negligible portion of the accumulation.
Brain evolution relating to family, play, and the separation call.

• Mammals stem from the mammal-like reptiles (therapsids) that were widely prevalent in Pangaea 250 million years ago. In the evolutionary transition from reptiles to mammals, three key developments were (1) nursing, in conjunction with maternal care; (2) audiovocal communication for maintaining maternaloffspring contact; and (3) play. The separation call perhaps ranks as the earliest and most basic mammalian vocalization, while play may have functioned originally to promote harmony in the nest. How did such family related behavior develop? In its evolution, the forebrain of advanced mammals has expanded as a triune structure that anatomically and chemically reflects ancestral commonalities with reptiles, early mammals, and late mammals. Recent findings suggest that the development of the behavioral triad in question may have depended on the evolution of the thalamocingulate division of the limbic system, a derivative from early mammals. The thalamocingulate division (which has no distinctive counterpart in the reptilian brain) is, in turn, geared in with the prefrontal neocortex that, in human beings, may be inferred to play a key role in familial acculturation.
Salt‐water intrusion in the Connecticut River

The intrusion of salt water in the lower Connecticut River Basin was studied during October 1, 1934, to June 30, 1939. The field- and laboratory-work was done as a project of the Works Progress Administration under the sponsorship of the State Water Commission of the State of Connecticut. Some technical assistance was given by the Geological Survey through cooperation with the State Water Commission.
Using delta differential one-way range to determine highly elliptical earth orbits

Acquisition strategies for delta differential one-way range measurements are designed for determining highly elliptical Earth orbits. The mission orbit for the U.S. Charged Composition Explorer spacecraft of the international Active Magnetospheric Particle Tracer Explorers serves to illustrate these acquisition techniques. The study assumes intercontinental baselines formed by Deep Space Network antennas at Goldstone, Canberra, and Madrid. The best performing strategy employs data spanning baseline view periods covering both inbound and outbound legs near the same orbit periapse. Rapidly changing viewing geometry yields both angular position and velocity information but frequently imposes the need for a different reference quasar for each observation. Although limited by an S-band transponder and a small bandwidth, the addition of delta differential one-way range to coherent Doppler and range improves apogee position accuracy by more than an order of magnitude. The measurement noise, highly dependent on acquisition geometry, varies several orders of magnitude across the baseline view periods primarily due to parallax. Careful selection of observation times minimizes the geometric influence on data noise. Additional measurement accuracy improvements, possible with dual frequency calibration, increased spanned bandwidth, and water vapor radiometry, are presented for comparison. Quasar position uncertainties then dominate the measurement noise.
Minimizing Contamination to Multilayer Dielectric Diffraction Gratings Within a Large Vacuum System

The University of Rochester's Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) has recently completed the construction of the OMEGA EP short-pulse, petawatt laser system. A major structure for OMEGA EP is the grating compressor chamber (GCC). This large (15,750-ft3) vacuum chamber contains numerous optics used in laser-pulse compression of two 40-cm-sq-aperture, IR (1054-nm) laser beams. Critical to this compression, within the GCC, are eight sets (four per beamline) of tiled (e.g., three optical elements precisely held side by side to act as one element) multilayer-dielectric (MLD)-diffraction-grating assemblies (three gratings per assembly) that provide the capability for producing 2.6-kJ output IR energy per beam at 10 ps. The primary requirements for each of the 24 large-aperture (43-cm × 47-cm) gratings are a high diffraction efficiency greater than 95%, a peak-to-valley wavefront quality of less than l/4 waves at 1054 nm, and a laser-induced-damage threshold greater than 2.7 J/cm2 at 10-ps pulse width (measured at normal beam incidence). Degradation of grating laser-damage thresholds due to adsorption of contaminants must be prevented to maintain system performance.
CFD Analysis of a Continuous Inkjet Print Head for Direct Write Fabrication

This paper investigates the fluid generation mechanism in a modified Continuous Inkjet Print (CIJ) method. The CIJ technique is utilized to deposit a variety of conductive nano particulate materials for building miniaturized devices that can sustain harsh environments. These include devices and structures that can sustain high temperature and humidity applications. Given the complex drop formation mechanism a CFD model is developed that is further validated using an ultrahigh speed photography experimental setup. Various input parameters such as frequency, voltage and fluid pressure can be tuned using the model for different fluid types to obtain an optimal drop formation. These findings can be useful for the fabrication of freeform miniaturized devices in 3 dimensional space.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Evidence for thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) biosynthesis in rat prostate

TRH occurs in very high concentration in rat prostate. A species specific protein with repetitive -Gln-His-Pro-Gly- sequences, which are flanked on the N- and C-terminus by paired basic residues, has been shown to be the source of TRH in frog skin and rat hypothalamus. Following cleavage by trypsin-like enzymes, the peptide fragments with N-terminal Gln spontaneously cyclize to pGlu while Gly within the C-terminally extended peptides serves as the -NH2 donor for the alpha-amidation of the proline residue. Because this last step in the biosynthesis of TRH is rate limiting for pGlu-His-Pro-Gly, we have combined several chromatographic and radioimmunoassay techniques to identify this TRH precursor in rat prostate.
Nimodipine Suppresses Preferential Reinnervation of Mouse Soleus Muscles by Slow α-Motoneurons

Denervation of mouse soleus muscle followed by self-reinnervation causes a significant increase in slow twitch (type I) muscle fiber content, suggesting preferential reinnervation by slow α-motoneurons. Since intracellular Ca2+influences both axonal elongation rate and branching, we examined the process of self-reinnervation in mouse soleus muscles in the presence of the L-type Ca2+channel blocker nimodipine. Soleus muscles in both control and experimental animals were denervated by crushing the soleus nerve where it enters the muscle. Experimental animals received a daily i.p. injection of a 0.1% nimodipine solution beginning 4 days prior to denervation and ending 2 weeks postdenervation. At 2 months postdenervation reinnervated and contralateral muscles from both control and experimental animals were sectioned and histochemically stained for myosin ATPase to determine the percentage of slow twitch fibers in the muscles. It was found that, in agreement with previous experiments, untreated reinnervated muscles had a significantly higher percentage of slow twitch fibers than did their contralateral controls (91.3 versus 74.6%). However, in nimodipine-treated animals only a small, but not statistically significant, difference between reinnervated and contralateral control muscles was observed (76.5 versus 72.8%). These results suggest that Ca2+influx through L-type calcium channels in growing neurites may play a role in the outcome of the reinnervation process.
What is Asthma? Pathophysiology, Demographics, and Health Care Costs

Asthma is an obstructive pulmonary disorder with exacerbations characterized by symptoms of shortness of breath, cough, chest tightness, and/or wheezing. Symptoms are caused by chronic airway inflammation. There are multiple cell types and inflammatory mediators involved in its pathophysiology. The airway inflammation is frequently mediated by Th2 lymphocytes, whose cytokine secretion leads to mast cell stimulation, eosinophilia, leukocytosis, and enhanced B-cell IgE production. Although various genes have been identified as likely contributors to asthma development, asthma is largely environmentally triggered and has a multifactorial cause. Asthma is extremely common, especially in poor, urban environments. Asthma is the third most common reason for pediatric hospitalizations.
1.3.2 Enterprise Capability Assessment and Prioritization

The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is a science-based, applied engineering national laboratory dedicated to supporting the U.S. Department of Energy's missions in nuclear and energy research, science, and national security. This paper describes the development of a qualitative approach (and tool) for assessing and prioritizing capability gaps of an enterprise (i.e., based on similar effort for a U.S. Army Brigade Combat Team) along with the assessment of potential solutions for reducing or closing those gaps. It discusses the effort to create a common information model (i.e., within a qualitative process and toolset) that can assist an enterprise to capture and visualize relationships between its mission(s), required capabilities, performance objectives, gaps and potential solutions. Key to this effort was the establishment of an analysis framework containing unique (i.e., mostly independent) capabilities organized within a hierarchy which allows for appropriate visibility into problem areas while eliminating redundancy that would bias assessment results. Finally, the paper presents the tool developed to manage and display relationships between multiple required capabilities, their gaps, and the solutions proposed for gap closure, such that the enterprise can better fulfill its mission(s).
Investigation on jet stability, fiber diameter, and tensile properties of electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofibrous yarns

Electrospinning is a flexible and efficient method for producing nanofibers by using relatively dilute polymer solution. However, there are many parameters related to material and processing that influence the morphology and property of the nanofibers. This study investigates the influence of electric field and flow rate on diameter and tensile properties of nanofibers produced using polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-dimethylformamide (DMF) solution. Stability of the spinning jet is investigated via fiber current measurement and an image system at different electric fields and solution flow rates. It is observed that a set of electric field and flow rate conditions favor producing thinnest, strongest, and toughest nanofibers during electrospinning process. Other conditions may lead to instability of the Taylor cone, discontinuous jet, larger diameter fiber, and lower mechanical properties. Finally, a simple dynamic whipping model is adopted to correlate the nanofiber diameter with volumetric charge density and is found to be excellent validating our experimental results. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41918.
Pyrimidine dimer-DNA glycosylases: studies on bacteriophage T4-infected and on uninfected Escherichia coli.

Resume L'activite pyrimidine-dimere (PD)-DNA glycosylase a ete rapportee chez les endonucleases-UV de M. luteus et du phage T4. Au cours du present travail la PD-DNA glycosylase de T4 a ete purifiee presque jusqu'a l'homogeneite physique en utilisant un test qui mesure la liberation de la thymine libre a partir du poly ([H 3 ]dT):poly (dA), apres photoreversion des dimeres thymine-thymine. L'activite a egalement ete demontree in vivo en suivant l'infection par le phage T4 de cellules d' E. coli uvr , irradiees aux UV. Dans ces conditions la DP-DNA glycosylase de T4 rend compte quantitativement de tous les PD contenant de la thymine, excises du DNA d' E. coli tritie. In vitro la DP-DNA glycosylase de T4 a une activite AP-endonuclease associee qui incise le DNA 3′ irradie aux UV, aux sites apyrimidiniques crees par la glycosylase. Neanmoins le mecanisme de la reaction glycosylase/endonuclease AP in vitro ne semble pas etre un mecanisme concerte. En outre, un phage T4, ayant une mutation thermo-sensible dans le gene denV , montre des niveaux de survie de type sauvage a temperature permissive, en depit du fait que, in vitro , des extraits d' E. coli infecte par ce mutant ne montrent aucune endonuclease AP codee par le phage a 28°, du moins decelable. Ainsi le role exact de l'endonuclease AP de T4 dans l'incision de DNA irradie in vivo n'est pas clair. Le rapport des nucleotides excises ne contenant pas de dimeres sur nucleotides contenant des dimeres apres infection d' E. coli irradie par T4 denV + donne une moyenne calculee de surface de reparation d'environ 7 nucleotides. En revanche la moyenne calculee de la surface est d'environ 70 nucleotides chez E. coli non infecte. Ainsi l'etendue de l'excision/resynthese de DNA irradie peut etre determinee par le mode specifique d'incision du DNA a DP. Lorsque E. coli (uvr + ) non infecte est expose aux radiations UV, une fraction des DP contenant de la thymine et excise contient une thymine photolabile, ce qui suggere la presence de DP-DNA glycosylase chez E. coli . Le role de cette activite putative dans le metabolisme du DNA irradie aux UV est a l'etude.
Comparison of methods of detection for free estrogens and estrogen acetates on thin-layer chromatograms

Abstract Fourteen methods are evaluated, for the detection of free estrogens and their acetates on thin-layer chromatograms. Of the procedures which do not disrupt the steroid molecule, and can be used for preparative chromatography, dichlorofluorescein in silica gel seems to be the most simple and sensitive method for the detection of free estrogens. Water spray is a preferable method for the detection of estrogen acetates. Of the procedures which disrupt the steroid, molecule, phosphoric acid spray containing p-phenolsulfonic acid is most sensitive, convenient, and reliable for both the free estrogens and their acetates.
Sucrose: Precise Determination of Crystal and Molecular Structure by Neutron Diffraction

This analysis provides the first precise molecular parameters for sucrose. All hydrogen atoms are included. Carbon-carbon distances are 1.51 1.53 A; carbon-oxygen 1.40 to 1.44 A; carbon-hydrogen 1.08 to 1.11 A; oxygen-hydrogen 0.94 to 0.99 A. The furanose ring conformation differs from that in sucrose sodium bromide dihydrate. Hydrogen bonds (two of them intramolecular) utilize every hydroxyl group except one.
Extraction of K + selective channels from excitable tissue.

ALTHOUGH the existence of ion conductance channels in excitable tissues is strongly suspected1, there has been no way of measuring the occurrence of such channels in extracts of nerve or brain until the advent of lipid bilayer techniques2, improved to the extent of allowing detection of a few channels3. The observation4 of ion channel formation in lipid bilayers by gramicidin A and its elucidation as a helical peptide structure5,6 has prompted the search for substances of similar properties in extracts of nervous tissue. This is made more plausible by the fact that the channel conductance Δ(Na+) for the alkyldiamide derivatives of gramicidin is close to the value of 2 × 10−10, which was estimated for nerve on pharmacological grounds7.
Sensitivity of Ascochyta Species Infecting Pea, Lentil, and Chickpea to Boscalid, Fluxapyroxad, and Prothioconazole

Management of Ascochyta blight in pea, lentil, and chickpea relies on repeated fungicide applications, which has led to development of fungicide resistance and disease control failures in some systems. In vitro assays were conducted to determine baseline fungicide sensitivity in Mycosphaerella pinodes (Ascochyta pinodes), A. lentis, and A. rabiei populations to the demethylation-inhibiting fungicide prothioconazole and the succinate dehydrogenase-inhibiting fungicides boscalid and fluxapyroxad by determining the effective concentration at which 50% of germination or fungal growth was inhibited (EC50). Mean boscalid EC50 values from conidial germination assays were 0.669, 0.639, and 0.171 μg/ml and from mycelial growth assays were 0.258, 0.791, and 0.443 μg/ml for M. pinodes, A. lentis, and A. rabiei, respectively. Mean fluxapyroxad EC50 values were 0.050, 0.763, and 0.057 μg/ml for M. pinodes, A. lentis, and A. rabiei, respectively. Mean baseline EC50 values for prothioconazole with mycelial growth were 0.541, 0.604, and 0.283 μg/ml for M. pinodes, A. lentis, and A. rabiei, respectively. A single discriminatory fungicide concentration of 1 μg/ml was selected for all species. Established sensitivity profiles and discriminatory concentrations will be used to monitor sensitivity shifts in populations of Ascochyta spp. and to make effective disease management recommendations.
Dual Effects of Angiotensin II Type 2 Receptor on Cardiovascular Hypertrophy

Abstract Roles of angiotensin II (Ang II) in the regulation of cardiovascular system under normal and pathological condition have been well documented. Although two major subtypes of Ang II receptors, AT 1 and AT 2 , are found in various proportions, the role and signaling mechanisms of AT 2 in the control of hypertrophic responses of cardiac ventricle and vasculature are not clear. Although earlier reports indicated that AT 2 's functions are essentially growth suppression, an increasing number of recent reports indicate that AT 2 in cardiovascular tissues are often growth promoting. In some tissues AT 1 and AT 2 seem to share a common signaling pathways, at least in part. This review focuses on the accumulating evidence for the AT 2 function in the cardiovascular system.
Abstract 3369: Differential biotherapeutic advantages of honey in targeting the Warburg effect and survival of MRC-5 and A549 cell lines

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Lung cancer is a one of the most prevalent and deadly cancers in United States. Experimental evidence support that cancer cells do exhibit higher glycolytic rates than normal cells (Warburg effect). To exploit this unique cancer-dependent ATP generation phenomenon, we hypothesize that exposure of cancer cells to organic inhibitors of glycolysis would negatively impact their survival and alter their growth and viability resulting from the vast decrease in their essential glycolytic ATP production; no negative consequences will be seen on normal lung cells. The human lung fibroblast cell line MRC-5 and the human alveolar epithelial cell line A549 were used as models for normal lung and lung cancer in vitro in this study. Using standard methods, both cell lines were maintained and exposed to honey and D-glucose reagents at concentration levels ranging from 31.3-2,000 µg/ml in 96 well plates in quadruplets and experiments repeated at least three times using MTT, and cell counting (T4 Cellometer) assays as well as phase-contrast photo-imaging. Our results indicate that exposure of both cell lines to these natural nutraceutic organics resulted in concentration dependent cell destruction/cell survival depending on the cell line exposed. Honey and D-glucose showed statistically significant (p<0.05) differential negative effects on the A549 line in comparison to its unexposed control as well as to their effects on the MRC-5 cell line. Results show a promising role of honey and D-glucose as metabolites of interest for selective management of cancerous cells. Citation Format: Ibrahim O. Farah, Veshell L. Lewis, Wellington K. Ayensu, Joseph A. Cameron. Differential biotherapeutic advantages of honey in targeting the Warburg effect and survival of MRC-5 and A549 cell lines. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3369. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3369
The Potential of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors in Niemann–Pick Type C Disease

Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease is a fatal complex neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorder caused by genetic mutations in either NPC1 (95% of patients) or NPC2 that decrease intracellular cholesterol trafficking resulting in accumulation of unesterified cholesterol and sphingolipids in lysosomal storage organelles. Unfortunately, treatment options for NPC disease are still very limited although miglustat, which inhibits glucosylceramide synthase, limiting ganglioside accumulation, has been approved for treatment of NPC disease. Here we discuss advances in understanding of NPC1 and its functions and several new strategies for interfering with cholesterol and sphingolipid accumulation in NPC1 null mice. We also describe several recent intriguing studies demonstrating that histone deacetylase inhibitors can correct cholesterol storage defects in human NPC1 mutant fibroblasts by increasing expression of the low transport activity NPC1 mutant protein. These studies might lead to development of new therapeutic approaches for treatment of NPC disease.
Monopolistic competition, aggregation of competitive information, and the amount of product differentiation☆

Abstract Consider an industry with a large number of homogeneous firms. Each firm's profits are a function of its own strategy and the strategies the other firms select. Suppose other firms' strategies enter into each firm's profit function only through one or more statistics. For example, average price in the market may parameterize every firm's profit function. We prove that, as a general rule, the industry's firms will in equilibrium follow at most M + 1 distinct strategies, where M is the number of statistics by which competitors' strategies affect each firm's profits.
Partial Separation and Characterization of Papaya Endo‐ and Exo‐Polygalacturonase

Exo- and endo-polygalacturonases (EC 3.2.1.40 and EC 3.2.1.15) in papayas were extracted, purified 20- and 90-fold, respectively, and characterized. Both enzymes functioned optimally at pH 4.6 and 45°C. Heat inactivation of the papaya PGases was biphasic and both phases followed first order kinetics. Decreasing the pH from 4.6 to 3.6 decreased the time required for their heat inactivation. The activation energies for the thermal inactivation at pH 3.6 and 4.6 were 85 and 92 kcal/mol, respectively, for endo-PGase (PG I) and 140 and 102 kcal/mol, respectively, for exo-PGase (PG II). The apparent molecular weight was determined by gel filtration to be 164,000 daltons for PG I and 34,000 daltons for PG II.