cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhanced reduction in hyperalgesia by combined administration of clonidine and TENS

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) partially reduces primary hyperalgesia and is frequency dependent such that high frequency TENS produces approximately a 30% reduction in hyperalgesia whereas low frequency TENS has no effect. Both high and low frequency TENS completely reduce secondary hyperalgesia by activation of mu and delta- opioid receptors in the spinal cord and rostral-ventral medulla suggesting an opiate mediated analgesia. Clonidine in combination with opiates produces a synergistic interaction such that there is a potentiated reduction in hyperalgesia. Thus, we tested if combined application of clonidine with TENS would enhance the reduction in primary hyperalgesia. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were inflamed by subcutaneous injection of 3% carrageenan into one hindpaw. Withdrawal latency to radiant heat and withdrawal threshold to mechanical stimuli were assessed before and after inflammation and after administration of clonidine (0.002-2 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (i.p.)) with either low (4 Hz) or high (100 Hz) frequency TENS. Clonidine alone reduced both heat and mechanical hyperalgesia with ED50s of 0.02 and 1.0 mg/kg, respectively. In combination with either low or high frequency TENS, the dose-response curve shifted to the left and was significantly different from clonidine alone. The ED50s for heat and mechanical hyperalgesia following low frequency TENS with clonidine were 0.002 and 0.2 mg/kg, respectively and those following high frequency TENS with clonidine were 0.005 and 0.15 mg/kg, respectively. Thus, combined use of clonidine and TENS enhances the reduction in analgesia produced by TENS and enhances the potency of clonidine. It would thus be expected that one would reduce the side effects of clonidine and enhance analgesic efficacy with combinations of pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical treatments.
The relevance of Husserl today

We are remembering Husserl’s passing away after fifty years of the event. When one celebrates the birthday of a philosopher, or the date of publication of his major work, it is appropriate to recall what new ideas he brought into existence. On the contrary, when one remembers the passing away of such a philosopher, it is most appropriate to reflect upon the question: how has time, in our present case half-acentury, dealt with his thought? We of course expect quite naturally that the death of the philosopher does not imply demise of his ideas. There seem to be good reasons to expect that the philosopher’s demise releases his ideas from his personal authority to be its custodian and onto the public domain for interpretation, appropriation and judgment. Here in the competitive marketplace of the western thought world, where fashions and styles change and along with them the standards that philosophy as a vocation imposes on its practitioners, the fortunes of ideas face an uncertain future. Let us first take stock of, how Husserl’s philosophy has fared in this regard. But my taking stock of it cannot be separated from my own personal experience. I began reading Husserl in 1950. Having been trained in an Indian University where Oxford still exercised the major influence, everything I read in Husserl’s Ideas seemed to run counter to the reigning philosophical orthodoxy. Its essentialism was opposed to the prevailing nominalism aided by the idea of family resemblance. Its mentalism
Giant thoracic osteophyte: A distinct clinical entity

Calcified lesions described within the neural axis are classified as either an ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, or ossification of the ligamentum flavum. We aim to describe a unique pathologic entity: the giant thoracic osteophyte. We identified four patients who were surgically treated at the Massachusetts General Hospital from 2006 to 2012 with unusual calcified lesions in the ventral aspect of the spinal canal. In order to differentiate giant thoracic osteophytes from calcified extruded disc material, disc volumetrics were performed on actual and simulated disc spaces. All patients underwent operative resection of the calcific lesion as they had signs and/or symptoms of spinal cord compression. The lesions were found to be isolated, large calcific masses that originated from the posterior aspect of adjacent thoracic vertebral bodies. Pathological examination was negative for tumor. Adjacent disc volumes were not significantly different from the index disc (p=0.91). A simulated calculation hypothesizing that the calcific mass was extruded disc material demonstrated a significant difference (p=0.01), making this scenario unlikely. In conclusion, giant thoracic osteophyte is a unique and rare entity that can be found in the thoracic spine. The central tenant of surgical treatment is resection to relieve spinal cord compression.
On a recently proposed method for the calculation of partition functions

Abstract A recently proposed “exact calculation method of the partition function for one-component classical systems with two-body interactions” [Phys. Lett. A 147 (1990) 442] is disproven by counterexample, and the most likely source of the error is suggested.
Hybridization Probe for Femtomolar Quantification of Selected Nucleic Acid Sequences on a Disposable Electrode

Mixed monolayers of electroactive hybridization probes on gold surfaces of a disposable electrode were investigated as a technology for simple, sensitive, selective, and rapid gene identification. Hybridization to the ferrocene-labeled hairpin probes reproducibly diminished cyclic redox currents, presumably due to a displacement of the label from the electrode. Observed peak current densities were roughly 1000× greater than those observed in previous studies, such that results could easily be interpreted without the use of algorithms to correct for background polarization currents. Probes were sensitive to hybridization with a number of oligonucleotide sequences with varying homology, but target oligonucleotides could be distinguished from competing nontarget sequences based on unique “melting” profiles from the probe. Detection limits were demonstrated down to nearly 100 fM, which may be low enough to identify certain genetic conditions or infections without amplification. This technology has rich potent...
Diabetic Kidney Disease: Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Targets

Diabetes is a worldwide epidemic that has led to a rise in diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Over the past two decades, there has been significant clarification of the various pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of DKD. Nonetheless, very little has changed in the way clinicians manage patients with this disorder. Indeed, treatment is primarily centered on controlling hyperglycemia and hypertension and inhibiting the renin-angiotensin system. The purpose of this review is to describe the current understanding of how the hemodynamic, metabolic, inflammatory, and alternative pathways are all entangled in pathogenesis of DKD and detail the various therapeutic targets that may one day play a role in quelling this epidemic.
A system for the experimental study of flash evaporation

Abstract The performance of meaningful experiments on heat, mass and momentum transport phenomena during flash evaporation in water desalination Multi-Stage Flash units requires careful design and construction of the experimental apparatus due to the very small thermodynamic driving potentials and the generally hostile nature of the fluid. The paper describes the design philosophy and considerations utilized in the construction of a two-stage scaled-down model of a flash evaporator, and the instrumentation and techniques developed or adapted for the measurement of temperature, pressure, flow, level and salinity, and for the visualization of the flow.
Evaluating HIV‐Infected Patients With Headache: Who Needs Computed Tomography?

Objective.—To empirically test a clinical prediction rule for evaluating HIV-infected patients complaining of headache and to identify those at low risk for intracranial mass lesion who do not need immediate computed tomography of the head. Design.—Two retrospective clinical cohorts of HIV-infected patients clinically evaluated for headache. Methods.—To describe the headache clinical outcomes, medical records were abstracted from all HIV-infected patients evaluated for headache with computed tomography of the head at two urban hospitals. Patients were categorized as low, intermediate, or high risk based on clinical criteria (focal neurological signs, altered mental status, history of seizure) and immune status (CD4 lymphocytes≤200/μL). Records were abstracted from a second unselected cohort of HIV-infected outpatients with headache who were all treated and followed in primary care (N=101). Results.—Of 101 unselected HIV-infected outpatients followed in primary care after headache, 1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0% to 6%) had a treatable intracranial lesion. Of 364 HIV-infected patients with headache sent for evaluation with computed tomography of the head, the rate of any abnormality was zero in the low-risk group (95% CI, 0% to 10%; n=35); 9% in the intermediate-risk group (95% CI, 2% to 16%; n=242); and 21% in the high-risk group (95% CI, 12% to 29%; n=87). Conclusion.—Most HIV-infected patients with headache may be treated with analgesics and followed up clinically. Those without focal neurological signs, altered mental status, seizure, or decreased CD4 lymphocytes are unlikely to have intracranial mass lesions.
Single Molecule Adhesion Measurements Reveal Two Homophilic Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule Bonds with Mechanically Distinct Properties

Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) is a cell surface adhesion glycoprotein that plays an important role in the development and stability of nervous tissue. The homophilic binding mechanism of NCAM is still a subject of debate on account of findings that appear to support different mechanisms. This paper describes single molecule force measurements with both full-length NCAM and NCAM mutants that lack different immunoglobulin (Ig) domains. By systematically applying an external, time-dependent force to the bond, we obtained parameters that describe the energy landscape of NCAM-NCAM bonds. Histograms of the rupture forces between the full-length NCAM extracellular domains revealed two binding events, one rupturing at higher forces than the other. These bond rupture data show that the two bonds have the same dissociation rates. Despite the energetic and kinetic similarities, the bond strengths differ significantly, and are mechanically distinct. Measurements with NCAM domain deletion mutants mapped the weaker bond to the Ig1-2 segment, and the stronger bond to the Ig3 domain. Finally, the quantitative agreement between the fragment adhesion and the strengths of both NCAM bonds shows that the domain deletions considered in this study do not alter the intrinsic strengths of either of the two bonds.
Developmental Stages of Age and Moral Reasoning as Predictors of Juvenile Delinquents' Behavioral Intention to Steal Clothing

This study explored juvenile delinquents' moral reasoning and behavioral intention to steal clothing using age group and the aligned theories of planned behavior and cognitive developmental moralization. Participants (n = 100) were preteen and teen first-time theft/shoplifting offenders participating in a diversion program aimed at preventing future offenses. Factor analysis revealed three strongly correlated dimensions of moral reasoning: risk and need (preconventional ethics), and peers (conventional ethics). Multiple regressions predicted positive moral reasoning that justified stealing clothing for risk, need, and peers by preteens but not teens. Risk and need, but not peers or age group, predicted behavioral intention to steal clothing. Adevelopmental shift existed from preteens to teens in their moral reasoning to steal clothing. Juvenile delinquents that identified with preconventional ethics exhibited behavioral intention to steal clothing.
"I Am Not a Lawyer": Copyright Q&A in Online Creative Communities

Once referred to by the Supreme Court as the "metaphysics" of law, many parts of copyright policy are historically confusing. Therefore, it isn't surprising that in communities where amateur content creators work within a legal gray area, copyright is a frequent topic of conversation. Here, people with often little knowledge of the letter of the law are asking and answering complex legal questions in the context of their creative activities. Working from a content analysis of public forum conversations in eight different online communities, we have examined these questions and answers more closely. By studying these interactions, what can we learn about how people engage with the law and how non-expert advice affects behavior and knowledge?
Additive Edman Degradation to sequence Small Peptides

DURING the determination by Edman degradation of the amino-acid sequence of small peptides and the C-terminal region of longer peptides, extensive losses of material can occur when the 2-methylamino-5-thiazolinone obtained from the N-terminal amino-acid is extracted from the remaining peptide. This problem is encountered in degradations in which the thiohydantoin is identified directly as well as in the subtractive Edman degradation2,3. In the latter procedure the amino-acids in the peptide are determined before and after removal of the N-terminal residue; the identity of the N-terminal amino-acid is established by difference. Because a separate peptide hydrolysis step and amino-acid analysis is required for each amino-acid in the sequence, the subtractive procedure is also relatively time consuming.
Effects of hydrogen on ISS analysis of dispersed metal catalysts

The origin of inelastic scattering in ISS spectra at low energy ratios (E/E0 ≤ 0.3) is discussed, and a description of results from ISS and XPS experiments on well-characterized Co/ZSM-5 catalysts after calcination in air and reduction in H2, H2 + CO, or CO is given. These treatments show that the chemisorption of hydrogen on highly dispersed metallic Co and Fe causes shielding of the metal from ISS detection. Additionally, the presence of hydrogen, whether in a chemisorbed form or in other forms such as hydrocarbons or H2O, affects significantly the intensity of the inelastic scattering.
Quantitative measurement of C-reactive protein in acute otitis media.

Des diverses caracteristiques, dont le dosage de la proteine C-reactive serique, etudiees chez 199 enfants de 1 a 24 mois atteints d'otite moyenne aigue, les leucocytes et les neutrophiles sont peu utiles au diagnostic entre otite bacterienne et virale; la fievre est plus frequente dans les otites bacteriennes et la CRP plus volontiers elevee dans les otites a S. pneumoniae et H. influenzae meme non compliquees
Outer and Inner Confidence Intervals for Finite Population Quantile Intervals

Abstract Let π N be a finite population of size N whose elements have distinct X values X (1) < … < X (N). Let x (1) < … < x (n) denote the order statistics of a simple random sample of size n taken from π N without replacement. An outer confidence interval is formed for the quantile interval [X (t), X (u)] (1 ≤ t < u ≤ N) of the form [x (r),x(s)], where 1 ≤ r < s ≤ n and r ≤ t, and an exact expression is derived for the associated confidence coefficient as Pr[x (r) ≤ X (t) < X (u) ≤ x (s)]. A brief table (see Table 1) of confidence coefficients is included, along with several extensions. For example, consider a population of size N = 399 distinct elements. Suppose that we want a 95% or greater confidence interval for the interval in which the middle half of the population lies: [X (100), X (300) Table 1 shows that, based on a simple random sample of size n = 20, the second and nineteenth order statistics of the sample yield a confidence interval [x (2), x (19)] with confidence coefficient 95.7%. In a sim...
The presence of constipation and methane on lactulose breath test in ibs subjects is associated with lower serotonin levels compared to hydrogen alone

The presence of constipation and methane on lactulose breath test in ibs subjects is associated with lower serotonin levels compared to hydrogen alone
Sources of variability in data center lifecycle assessment

As large consolidated data centers and cloud computing infrastructures proliferate worldwide in response to the continued global demand for information technology (IT) applications, there has been a renewed interest in understanding the environmental impacts of the data centers housing these IT services. A relatively understudied aspect of data center environmental assessments, however, is the variability that may occur across the data center lifecycle. In this paper, we seek to address this gap by identifying those parameters which have the largest influence on different environmental impacts.
Glycyl-L-glutamine injected centrally suppresses alcohol drinking in P rats.

Recent reports show that central beta-endorphin (1-31) injection augments the volitional intake of alcohol. Correspondingly, alcohol drinking stimulates beta-endorphin (1-31) release from the hypothalamus of the rat. Glycyl-l-glutamine (Gly-Gln) is produced in beta-endorphin-containing neurons and is co-released with beta-endorphin(1-31) and other processing products. Because Gly-Gln is apparently an endogenous antagonist of beta-endorphin(1-31) in several systems, the present study was designed to investigate the hypothesis that Gly-Gln injected i.c.v. would alter voluntary alcohol drinking in the genetic, high-alcohol-preferring P rat. After a guide tube was implanted stereotaxically above the lateral cerebral ventricle, the rats were offered 3-30% alcohol over 10 days, and then given their maximally preferred concentration of alcohol in the presence of water for the remainder of the experiment. Gly-Gln or artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) vehicle then was injected i.c.v. in a dose of 10 or 100 nmol for 3 consecutive days, which was followed by a 7-day postinjection interval. Gly-Gln suppressed significantly the intakes of alcohol in terms of both g/kg and proportion to total fluid. During the postinjection days, alcohol drinking continued to be suppressed, whereas neither the daily intakes of food or water nor the body weights of the rats were changed. The present results are consistent with the concept of a functional antagonism by Gly-Gln of the role of beta-endorphin(1-31) in mediating certain central functions. These results demonstrate that alcohol consumption is suppressed by the direct intracerebral application of this unique peptide.
Granuloma formation to Capillaria hepatica eggs I. Descriptive definition

Abstract The course of the cellular response in the liver to nonembryonated Capillaria hepatica (Bancroft, 1893) eggs given by intravenous injection into the portal circulation of unsensitized and sensitized mice was studied qualitatively and quantitatively. A gradual infiltration of predominantly mononuclear cells occurred around the eggs in the liver, leading to the formation of distinct granulomatous lesions characterized by macrophages and lymphocytes. This was followed by an infiltration of eosinophils. Previous intraperitoneal sensitization led to an earlier and an enhanced reaction to an intravenous challenge with eggs. Specificity of the cellular response was suggested by the lack of an enhanced reaction to presensitization with eggs of a closely related species, Trichuris muris . These studies indicate that granuloma formation to C. hepatica eggs has an immunological basis and furthermore the cell composition of the granuloma would suggest that a cell-mediated component may be involved as part of the specific response.
Discussion of problems of nonequilibrium thermodynamics of polymers as presented in the paper by Sommer and Reiter

Abstract A number of discussion points are raised concerning the nonequilibrium melting and crystallization as described in the paper by Sommer and Reiter. 1
Heme oxygenase, a novel target for the treatment of hypertension and obesity?

Heme oxygenase (HO) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the metabolism of heme-releasing bioactive molecules carbon monoxide (CO), biliverdin, and iron, each with beneficial cardiovascular actions. Biliverdin is rapidly reduced to bilirubin, a potent antioxidant, by the enzyme biliverdin reductase, and iron is rapidly sequestered by ferritin in the cell. Several studies have demonstrated that HO-1 induction can attenuate the development of hypertension as well as lower blood pressure in established hypertension in both genetic and experimental models. HO-1 induction can also reduce target organ injury and can be beneficial in cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attack and stroke. Recent studies have also identified a beneficial role for HO-1 in the regulation of body weight and metabolism in diabetes and obesity. Chronic HO-1 induction lowers body weight and corrects hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia. Chronic HO-1 induction also modifies the phenotype of adipocytes in obesity from one of large, cytokine producing to smaller, adiponectin producing. Finally, chronic induction of HO-1 increases oxygen consumption, CO2, and heat production and activity in obese mice. This review will discuss the current understanding of the actions of the HO system to lower blood pressure and body weight and how HO or its metabolites may be ideal candidates for the development of drugs that can both reduce blood pressure and lower body weight.
Adrenal insufficiency in pregnancy: challenging issues in diagnosis and management

Adrenal insufficiency (AI) in pregnancy is relatively rare, but it is associated with significant maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality if untreated during ges- tation or in the puerperium. Hence, timely diagnosis and decisive treatment by the clinician are critical. However, due to pregnancy-induced metabolic and endocrine chan- ges and the resemblance of symptomatology of AI to those of pregnancy, the diagnosis is often difficult to recognize and challenging to confirm. Normal pregnancy is a state of glucocorticoid excess particularly in the latter stages, and normative values for serum cortisol levels are not well- established. Furthermore, testing the hypothalamic-pitui- tary-adrenal axis using validated stimulation tests during pregnancy are lacking. Therefore, it is the aim of the present review to discuss and to summarize the current knowledge, focussing on the challenges in recognizing AI in pregnancy and interpreting the diagnostic tests, and to propose a clinical approach for optimizing the management of AI in women diagnosed before or during pregnancy.
Novel action of epidermal growth factor on caspase 3 and its potential as a chemotherapeutic adjunct for neuroblastoma

Abstract Purpose We previously reported that epidermal growth factor (EGF) induced cleaved caspase 3 expression and apoptosis in human neuroblastoma cells. We hypothesized that EGF upregulates total caspase 3 expression, thereby enhancing the cytotoxic potency of chemotherapeutic agents. Methods Wild-type (WT) and doxorubicin-resistant (Dox-R) SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells were incubated with EGF 0 to 250 ng/mL for 24 hours or with 5 ng/mL for 0 to 5 days, and total caspase 3 expression and transcription were determined by immunoblots and reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Cell proliferation was determined after EGF (5 ng/mL) incubation for 1 to 5 days. Cells incubated with EGF (5 ng/mL) for 24 hours before doxorubicin treatment were used to determine the effect of EGF on cell replication and cleaved caspase 3 expression. Results Wild-type and Dox-R cells had maximal total caspase 3 expression after incubation with EGF (5 ng/mL) for 3 and 5 days, respectively, and a corresponding increase in DNA transcription. Treating the cells with or without EGF (5 ng/mL) resulted in similar replication rate. However, cell death was increased by EGF pretreatment and doxorubicin when compared with that by doxorubicin alone (WT, 53% ± 8%; Dox-R, 44% ± 9%; P Conclusion Epidermal growth factor upregulates the expression and transcription of total caspase 3 in WT and Dox-R cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Epidermal growth factor pretreatment augments the cytotoxic effect of doxorubicin.
A Rainbow Coalition or Separate Wavelengths? Negotiations Among Employee Network Groups

Employee network groups are increasingly common in the workplace, such as a women’s network, an African American caucus, or a GLBT resource group. These groups may seem like natural allies for addressing inequality at work, particularly subtle forms of second generation discrimination. However, they often compete for attention, resources, and the limited political will of top managers to make changes. This article examines four cases in which employee groups were able to negotiate effective alliances across their own differences. They do so by reframing areas of shared interests, using and adapting social movement tactics, and reaching for outcomes with broader societal significance for equal economic opportunity.
Analysis of intrathymic differentiation patterns during the course of AKR leukemogenesis

Abstract Thymocytes from AKR mice in different stages of leukemia development were analyzed with the fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) using monoclonal antisera to Lyt-1, Lyt-2, Thy-1.1, H-2K k , and Ia k . In addition, the number of cells bearing receptors for peanut agglutinin (PNA) was assessed. The results were correlated with the expression of murine leukemia virus (MuLV) antigen. Thymocytes from late preleukemic and leukemic stages were found to have a phenotype characteristic of a more mature cell population in that there was an increase in the expression of determinants encoded within the K end of H-2 k and Ia k . This was associated with a decrease in the number of thymocytes bearing receptors for PNA during the leukemic stage. Simultaneously, a shift from a Lyt-1 + 2 + thymocyte population to cells with varying expressions of Ly antigens was observed. Analysis of Lyt determinants on thymomas indicated that they could arise from cells bearing any of the different possible combinations of Ly phenotypes. The cell surface antigen changes occurred in temporal correlation with an increased expression of MuLV antigens.
Inhibition of human leukocyte pyrimidine deoxynucleoside synthesis by allopurinol and 6-mercaptopurine.

Abstract Allopurinol and 6-mercaptopurine, two clinically useful purine antagonists, are inhibitors of deoxythymidine phosphorylase and pyrimidine deoxyribosyltransferase from human leukocytes. The inhibition of these enzyme activities is only in the direction of nucleoside synthesis and is not competitive with either substrate (thymine or deoxyribose-1-phosphate). 6-Mercaptopurine, but not allopurinol, also inhibits uridine phosphorylase.
An application of TQFT: Determining the girth of a knot

A knot diagram can be divided by a circle into two parts, such that each part can be coded by a planar tree with integer weights on its edges. A half of the number of intersection points of this circle with the knot diagram is called the girth. The girth of a knot is the minimal girth of all diagrams of this knot. The girth of a knot minus one is an upper bound of the Heegaard genus of the 2-fold branched covering of that knot. We will use Topological Quantum Field Theory (TQFT) coming from the Kauffman bracket to determine the girth of some knots. Consequently, our method can be used to determine the Heegaard genus of the 2-fold branched covering of some knots.
INFLUENCE OF ADRENALECTOMY UPON THE SEX DIFFERENCE IN KETOSIS

The higher level of ketonuria during fasting in women than in men was first noted by Deuel and Gulick (1). Butts and Deuel (2) have found that an artificial ketonuria, produced by administration of sodium acetoacetate to rats, also showed similar sex differences. The discovery by Burn and Ling (3, 5) and others (4) that preparations of the anterior pituitary gland have the ability to produce a ketonuria in fasting rats that otherwise have no measurable quantity of ketone bodies led Butts et al (6) to consider the possibility that the sex difference in ketosis rested in the activity of the pituitary gland. It has been found (7, 8, 9) that the ketosis due to APE is greatly reduced or abolished following the removal of the adrenal glands. Furthermore, the fasting ketosis of pregnancy (9), which might well be related to anterior pituitary activity, is abolished by adrenalectomy. It would seem possible that if the sex difference in ketosis was a function of the anterior pituitary it might disappear when the ad...
ORIGIN, SPECIATION, AND FLUXES OF TRACE-ELEMENT GASES AT AUGUSTINE VOLCANO, ALASKA : INSIGHTS INTO MAGMA DEGASSING AND FUMAROLIC PROCESSES

Thermochemical modeling predicts that trace elements in the Augustine gas are transported from near-surface magma as simple chloride (NaCl, KCl, FeCl2, ZnCl2, PbCl2, CuCl, SbCl3, LiCl, MnCl2, NiCl2, BiCl, SrCl2), oxychloride (MoO2Cl2), sulfide (AsS), and elemental (Cd) gas species. However, Si, Ca, Al, Mg, Ti, V, and Cr are actually more concentrated in solids, beta-quartz (SiO2), wollastonite (CaSiO3), anorthite (CaAl2Si2O8), diopside (CaMgSi2O6), sphene (CaTiSiO5), V2O3(c), and Cr2O3(c), respectively, than in their most abundant gaseous species, SiF4, CaCl2, AlF2O, MgCl2 TiCl4, VOCl3, and CrO2Cl2. These computed solids are not degassing products, but reflect contaminants in our gas condensates or possible problems with our modeling due to “missing” gas species in the thermochemical data base. Using the calculated distribution of gas species and the COSPEC SO2 fluxes, we have estimated the emission rates for many species (e.g., COS, NaCl, KCl, HBr, AsS, CuCl). Such forecasts could be useful to evaluate the effects of these trace species on atmospheric chemistry. Because of the high volatility of metal chlorides (e.g., FeCl2, NaCl, KCl, MnCl2, CuCl), the extremely HCl-rich Augustine volcanic gases are favorable for transporting metals from magma. Thermochemical modeling shows that equilibrium degassing of magma near 870°C can account for the concentrations of Fe, Na, K, Mn, Cu, Ni and part of the Mg in the gases escaping from the dome fumaroles on the 1986 lava dome. These calculations also explain why gases escaping from the lower temperature but highly oxidized moat vents on the 1976 lava dome should transport less Fe, Na, K, Mn and Ni, but more Cu; oxidation may also account for the larger concentrations of Zn and Mo in the moat gases. Nonvolatile elements (e.g., Al, Ca, Ti, Si) in the gas condensates came from eroded rock particles that dissolved in our samples or, for Si, from contamination from the silica sampling tube. Only a very small amount of rock contamination occurred (water/rock ratios between 104 and 106). Erosion is more prevalent in the pyroclastic flow fumaroles than in the summit vents, reflecting physical differences in the fumarole walls: ash vs. lava. Trace element contents of volcanic gases show enormous variability because of differences in the intensive parameters of degassing magma and variable amounts of wall rock erosion in volcanic fumaroles.
Optimized surgical tool for pectus bar extraction

Surgeons on a daily basis improve or rescue human lives. Therefore, they should be provided with the most optimal tools so their skills are fully utilized. In this paper, we present such an optimized tool for surgeons who employ the Nuss procedure to correct pectus excavatum - a congenital chest wall deformity. The Nuss procedure is a minimally invasive procedure that results in the placement of a metal bar inside the chest cavity. The bar is removed after approximately two years. Surgeons have been reporting that the currently available tools for the bar extraction do not provide the most optimal functionality. Therefore, we have proposed an optimized and improved design of the tool for the bar extraction. The improved design tool is further analyzed using finite element techniques. Additionally, we have built a physical prototype to ensure that the new tool to seamlessly integrate with the bar and to further evaluate by the surgeons who routinely practice the Nuss procedure. In order to validate in the future the final design, we have manufactured wax models that will serve as the patterns in the casting process of metal prototypes. They should provide enough strength to withstand stresses present in the bar straightening process.
Requirement of PI3-kinase activity for the nuclear transport of prolactin in cloned murine T lymphocytes

The murine T-cell clone, L2, requires both IL2 and PRL to proliferate. Proliferation and selected IL2-driven gene expression are blocked by treatment with rapamycin. Since prolactin translocation to the nucleus is IL2 dependent and required for proliferation, experiments were performed to identify activation pathways that might be involved in nuclear transport and proliferation. L2 cells were stimulated with IL2 in the presence and absence of the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin, PI3-kinase inhibitors (wortmannin, LY294002), the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB203580 and the vitamin D analog calcipotriol. The immunosuppressant rapamycin markedly inhibited IL2-induced proliferation and prolactin translocation to the nucleus. Similarly, wortmannin and LY294002 inhibited IL2-induced proliferation and markedly decreased the amount of prolactin transported to the nucleus. SB203580 and calcipotriol partially inhibited IL2-induced proliferation but had no effect on prolactin translocation. None of the inhibitors affected Lucifer Yellow uptake indicating that rapamycin, wortmannin and LY294002 did not inhibit early endosomal formation but rather worked to inhibit prolactin translocation at a later point in the retrograde transport pathway.
How number line estimation skills relate to neural activations in single digit subtraction problems

The Number Line (NL) task requires judging the relative numerical magnitude of a number and estimating its value spatially on a continuous line. Children's skill on this task has been shown to correlate with and predict future mathematical competence. Neurofunctionally, this task has been shown to rely on brain regions involved in numerical processing. However, there is no direct evidence that performance on the NL task is related to brain areas recruited during arithmetical processing and that these areas are domain-specific to numerical processing. In this study, we test whether 8- to 14-year-old's behavioral performance on the NL task is related to fMRI activation during small and large single-digit subtraction problems. Domain-specific areas for numerical processing were independently localized through a numerosity judgment task. Results show a direct relation between NL estimation performance and the amount of the activation in key areas for arithmetical processing. Better NL estimators showed a larger problem size effect than poorer NL estimators in numerical magnitude (i.e., intraparietal sulcus) and visuospatial areas (i.e., posterior superior parietal lobules), marked by less activation for small problems. In addition, the direction of the activation with problem size within the IPS was associated with differences in accuracies for small subtraction problems. This study is the first to show that performance in the NL task, i.e. estimating the spatial position of a number on an interval, correlates with brain activity observed during single-digit subtraction problem in regions thought to be involved in numerical magnitude and spatial processes.
Some classes of integral matrices

Integral matrices A for which the system Ax=b will have an integral basic solution are considered. Results for these matrices are presented which parallel results concerning other matrices for which the system has integral solutions.
Androgen Modulation of Adrenal Angiotensin Receptors

Several polar androgens increased the binding of angiotensin and its stimulation of aldosteronogenesis in bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells. The effect was seen only if the steroids were applied to the cells and then washed away. This phenomenon and the technique for demonstrating it may have implications for studies of receptor modulation and for clinical states in which responsiveness to angiotensin is increased.
A nonlinear kinetic model of γ-aminobutyric acid metabolism in a rabbit model of acute liver failure

Abstract To investigate the mechanisms by which serum levels of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) become elevated in experimental acute liver failure, a multicompartmental model of GABA metabolism has been constructed and used to simulate previously generated data on the kinetics of 3H-GABA uptake by isolated hepatocytes from normal rats and the kinetics of 3H-GABA in the plasma of normal rabbits, rabbits with galactosamine-induced acute liver failure, and rabbits with divascularized livers. Modeling analysis revealed that acute liver failure was associated with values for the mean fractional catabolic rate of GABA, plasma volume, and hepatic extraction of GABA that were 29%, 12%, and 49% less, respectively, than the corresponding control values. The defect in hepatic tissue extraction of GABA was sufficient to account for only 60% of the 10-fold increase in serum GABA levels that occurs in acute liver failure. Furthermore the 10-fold increase in serum GABA levels occured in acute liver failure before the onset of overt hepatic encephalopathy when hepatic extraction of GABA was not appreciably different from that found in normal rabbits. Thus the increase in serum GABA levels that occurs in acute liver failure cannot be attributed to a defect in hepatic extraction of GABA alone. Indeed, the modeling analysis indicated that in acute liver failure there is a 3—8-fold increase in the rate of delivery of GABA to the systemic circulation, but did not indicate its source.
Rapid and brief communication: Two-dimensional FLD for face recognition

This paper presents a new scheme of face image feature extraction, namely, the two-dimensional Fisher linear discriminant. Experiments on the ORL and the UMIST face databases show that the new scheme outperforms the PCA and the conventional PCA+FLD schemes, not only in its computational efficiency, but also in its performance for the task of face recognition.
A scanning rheo-magneto-acoustic method of current imaging in volume conductors

It can be shown that acoustic waves are generated when oscillating magnetic fields are applied to tissue supporting ionic current flows. These acoustic waves result from predictable and relatively well understood Lorentz forces. At microampere biological current levels and with 1-kHz and 0.2-T magnetic fields, the forces are on the order of 10/sup -10/ N and thus the acoustic responses are weak but rapidly detectable using microphones in small objects. This principle has been used in conjunction with a magnetic field scanning system to produce images of the flow of ion currents in 2 cm*2 cm*3 mm conductors. >
Estimation of the percentage of a normal distribution lying outside a specified interval

Point and interval estimation for the percentage of a normal population lying outside a specified Interval Is investigated. Resnikoff's (1955) confidence Interval procedure is shown to perform well when the percentage outside is small, and to be conservative otherwise.When the percentage to be estimated is large, an alternative interval is recommended.Monte Carlo studies show the sensitivity of these estimation procedures to violations of the normality assumption.Attempts to transform the sample to approximate normality prior to estimation were moderately successful in achieving robust estimation procedures.
Comparative species composition and relative abundance of decapod crustaceans in marine habitats of Panamá

The community structure of the decapod crustacean fauna of 7 tropical, shallowwater, marine habitats (sandy beaches, mangrove swamps and rocky intertidal habitats on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts of Panama, and Pocillopora damicornis coral habitat of the Bay of Panama) were examined and analyzed for species composition and relative abundances. Collections from the 7 habitats yielded 4361 individuals, representing 236 species. The number of species per habitat was (Pacific, Caribbean): sandy beach (16, 7); mangrove (20, 17); P. damicornis (53); rocky intertidal (78, 67). There were more species represented by more individuals in the Pacific habitats. An index of faunal similarity was calculated for each pair (Pacific-Caribbean) of habitats. This index is the number of ecologically similar congeneric species which occurred in both habitats expressed as a percentage of the total number of species present in the pair of habitats. For the sandy beach communities there were three Pacific species which were similar to three Caribbean species, a similarity of 6/23 or 26%. The index of similarity for the mangrove communities is 54% and for the rocky intertidal communities it is 37%. The P. damicornis community has affinities with the Pacific rocky intertidal community (18%), with that of the Caribbean rocky intertidal (16%) and with that of Indo-West Pacific pocilloporid corals (20%). A few specialized species dominated each of the communities. The habitats and the number of species accounting for over half of the individuals present are (Pacific, Caribbean): sandy beach (1, 1); mangrove (4, 4); P. damicornis (5); and rocky intertidal (3, 6). Most of the species in each community were represented by one or a few individuals.
Inhibition of muscarinic receptor-stimulated glial cell proliferation by ethanol

Acetylcholine and other muscarinic agonists stimulate the proliferation of rat cortical astrocytes and 132 1N1 human astrocytoma cells by activating muscarinic m3 cholinergic receptors. Ethanol was a potent inhibitor of carbachol-stimulated proliferation, measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation, with an IC50 of 10 mM. On the other hand, basal and serum-stimulated proliferation of astrocytes and astrocytoma cells was inhibited by ethanol with lower potency (IC50 = 200-250 mM). Concentration-response experiments with carbachol, in the presence of 10 mM ethanol, suggested that inhibition of proliferation by the alcohol was of the noncompetitive type. Experiments with acetaldehyde and with the alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor 4-methylpyrazole suggested that the inhibitory effect of alcohol was due to ethanol itself and not to its metabolite acetaldehyde. Proliferation of astrocytoma cells induced by carbachol and the inhibitory effects of ethanol were also confirmed by flow cytometry using the 5-bromodeoxyuridine-Hoechst 33258 method. Ethanol (10 mM) had no effect on proliferation induced by 50 micrograms/ml insulin and 100 ng/ml platelet-derived growth factor BB; on the other hand, the mitogenic effect of 1 mM histamine, 100 U/ml interleukin-1, and 100 ng/ml 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate were inhibited by approximately 50%. These results indicate that proliferation of glial cells induced by muscarinic agonists is especially sensitive to the inhibitory effect of ethanol. This action of ethanol may be relevant to its developmental neurotoxicity, particularly microencephaly, which is one of the common features of the fetal alcohol syndrome.
The First Inner Loop of Endothelin Receptor Type B Is Necessary for Specific Coupling to Gα13

Endothelin (EDN) receptor type B (EDNRB) activates serum response factor (SRF) via G(q/11) and G(12/13) G proteins. In this study, we investigated the involvement of intracellular loop sequences of EDNRB in coupling to these G proteins. EDNRB mutants were generated and tested for their abilities to activate SRF in NIH3T3 cells and in the mouse embryonic fibroblast cell line (F(q/11)) lacking both Galpha(q) and Galpha(11). EDNRB can activate SRF in NIH3T3 cells via G(q/11), although it can only activate SRF through G(12/13) in F(q/11) cells. Mutants with mutations in the second and third inner loops of EDNRB functioned in the same manner in both cell lines, either able or unable to activate SRF. This finding suggests that the second and third inner loops of EDNRB either participate or not in coupling to both G(q/11) and G(12/13) but are not specific for either one. However, in the first inner loop, a substitution of three Ala residues for Met(128)-Arg(129)-Asn(130) abolished the ability to activate SRF only in F(q/11) cells, suggesting that this mutation might specifically disrupt the coupling to G(12/13) rather than to G(q/11). Further characterization of this first inner loop mutant revealed that exogenous expression of Galpha(12) or Galpha(q) could restore SRF activation, whereas the expression of Galpha(13) did not. Therefore, we conclude that although the three intracellular loops of EDNRB may be involved in coupling to G proteins, residues Met(128)-Arg(129)-Asn(130) in the first intracellular loop are specifically required for activation of Galpha(13).
Acquired ichthyosis and pityriasis rotunda

The association between AI and underlying malignant processes was initially recognized in the 1940s when Ronchese described AI in association with Hodgkins’s disease.l Sneddon subsequently described four cases of Hodgkins’s disease with widespread ichthyosis.* Reiches reported the association of acquired ichthyosis with breast cancer in 1950.3 The skin manifestations of multiple myeloma were reviewed by Bluefarb in 1955; this included three patients in a series of eight with multiple myeloma who had ichthyosiform atrophy of the skin.4 Since then many authors have reported AI in conjunction with various malignancies, chronic diseases, endocrine disorders, connective tissue diseases, malnutrition, medication, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (Table 1).
Evidence against dephosphorylation of insulin-elicited phosphotyrosine proteins in vivo by the phosphatase PTP2C.

Abstract In order to determine whether the tyrosine phosphatase PTP2C dephosphorylates insulin-elicited phosphotyrosine proteins in vivo , we have compared the patterns of protein tyrosine phosphorylation and its reversal in the kidney 293 cell line with those in 293 cell lines overexpressing PTP2C and a catalytically inactive point mutant of PTP2C. In all three cell types insulin caused the rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of a 160 kD protein, which was shown not to be the insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) and may be the recently described IRS-2 as well as that of a 100 kD polypeptide, which is probably a mixture of the β subunits of the insulin and insulinlike growth factor I receptors. There was no difference among the three cell lines in the extent of tyrosine phosphorylation or in the rate of its reversal upon insulin withdrawal. These results indicate that PTP2C does not function to dephosphorylate these proteins significantly in vivo .
Improved Cartesian Coordinate Finite Difference Simulations of Small Cylindrical Objects

An analytical, cylindrical coordinate formula for the thermal resistance around small cylindrical objects has been incorporated into finite difference equations in Cartesian coordinates to improve the accuracy of the numerical simulations of hyperthermia cancer treatments. This is done by introducing a circular finite difference control volume which is centered on the cylindrical object. The temperature distributions calculated from this new formulation and from the formulation obtained from a conventional, rectangular control volume are compared to the predictions from an analytical solution. The results show that for a given Cartesian grid spacing, the new method is superior to the conventional one. This will allow more accurate numerical solutions to be obtained at larger grid spacings when the effect of blood vessels or other cylindrical objects, such as ferromagnetic implants, hot water tubes, etc., are being investigated.
International P/L Insurance Output, Input, and Productivity Comparisons

This research provides (bilateral) divisia and multilateral divisia indexes of output, input, and productivity for the property-liability (P-L) insurance industry for the following countries: United States, West Germany, Switzerland, France, and Japan. The time period studied is 1975 to 1987. The results indicate that considerable diversity exists among different countries, with Japan showing the weakest productivity growth. The United States and West Germany are associated overall with high productivity.