cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cardiovascular effects of rapid infusion of crystalloid in the hypovolaemic cat

The effects of rapidly infused lactated Ringer's solution were studied in ten cats made hypovolaemic by acute bleeding and subsequently given, intravenously, crystalloid in an amount approximately equal to 1 blood volume (five cats) or 2 blood volumes (five cats). Fluid administration was begun approximately 30 min after the cats were bled and completed in 1 hour. A control group of three cats was instrumented but not bled or treated. Cardiovascular haemodynamics were measured before bleeding, 30 min after bleeding, at the half-way point of fluid administration, and immediately after total fluid administration. While the catheterization and vessel ligation had minimal effects, both blood removal and fluid administration had marked effects on haemodynamics. Cats which received fluids equal to 2 blood volumes were severely affected by hypervolaemia. Central venous pressures in these cats were significantly higher during and after fluid administration. Seventy per cent of the experimental cats survived long term; however, several surviving cats had complicated or prolonged recoveries in which clinical signs consistent with acute pulmonary oedema were seen during the treatment and recovery period.
Effects of land-surface heterogeneity on numerical simulations of mesoscale atmospheric boundary layer processes

Landscape heterogeneity that causes surface flux variability plays a very important role in triggering mesoscale atmospheric circulations and convective weather processes. In most mesoscale numerical models, however, subgrid-scale heterogeneity is somewhat smoothed or not adequately accounted for, leading to artificial changes in heterogeneity patterns (e.g., patterns of land cover, land use, terrain, and soil types and soil moisture). At the domain-wide scale, the combination of losses in subgrid-scale heterogeneity from many adjacent grids may artificially produce larger-scale, more homogeneous landscapes. Therefore, increased grid spacing in models may result in increased losses in landscape heterogeneity. Using the Weather Research and Forecasting model in this paper, we design a number of experiments to examine the effects of such artificial changes in heterogeneity patterns on numerical simulations of surface flux exchanges, near-surface meteorological fields, atmospheric planetary boundary layer (PBL) processes, mesoscale circulations, and mesoscale fluxes. Our results indicate that the increased heterogeneity losses in the model lead to substantial, nonlinear changes in temporal evaluations and spatial patterns of PBL dynamic and thermodynamic processes. The decreased heterogeneity favor developments of more organized mesoscale circulations, leading to enhanced mesoscale fluxes and, in turn, the vertical transport of heat and moisture. This effect is more pronounced in the areas with greater surface heterogeneity. Since more homogeneous land-surface characteristics are created in regional models with greater surface grid scales, these artificial mesoscale fluxes may have significant impacts on simulations of larger-scale atmospheric processes.
Alcohol induction of interdigitation in distearoylphosphatidylcholine: fluorescence studies of alcohol chain length requirements.

Although it is now well established that the fully interdigitated phase is induced in saturated like-chain phosphatidylcholines (PCs) by a variety of amphipathic molecules including alcohols, no systematic study of the properties of the inducing molecules has been reported. To elucidate the stereochemical features that lead to the alcohol induction of interdigitation in PCs, we have investigated the induction of interdigitation in distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC) by a series of alcohols. Our previously established DPH (1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene) fluorescence intensity method has been expanded (P. Nambi, E. S. Rowe, and T. M. McIntosh (1988), Biochemistry 27:9175–9182) and used to determine which of the alcohols induce interdigitation and to determine the threshold concentrations for each. We have found that each of the n-alcohols up to heptanol and several branched alcohols are capable of inducing interdigitation in DSPC; octanol and nonanol do not appear to induce interdigitation by these criteria. The threshold concentrations for interdigitation for each of these alcohols up to heptanol were found to be correlated with the membrane: buffer partition coefficients. The mole fraction of bound alcohol at the threshold concentration was similar for each of the alcohols up to pentanol. These results are discussed in terms of a general mechanism of the formation of the interdigitated phase.
Mixed convection between horizontal plates—II. Fully developed flow

Fully developed velocity profiles of longitudinal convection rolls in mixed convection between horizontal plates were measured in nitrogen by laser Doppler anemometry for a range 2472 < Ra < 8300 and 15 < Re < 150. It is shown analytically and experimentally that the transverse velocities of the longitudinal convection rolls are independent of the forced flow. The experimentally and numerically obtained w-profiles (Pr = 0.71) are in good agreement with theoretical predictions (Pr → ∞) and other experimental results (Pr = 11.1 and 930) for Rayleigh-Benard convection. A detailed study of the longitudinal velocity modulation Δu[wmax(Ra), Re] is presented. Also, asymmetric roll patterns were found in spite of the small temperature differences used between the horizontal plates.
Intense Field Multiphoton Ionization via Complex Dressed States: Application to the H Atom

Extension of Floquet theory to include continuum as well as bound atomic states yields a practical technique for computation of multiphoton ionization rates in the region where rms field strengths approach the strength of the internal atomic fields.
Effects of perfluorocarbon exchange transfusion on reducing myocardial infarct size in a primate model of ischemia-reperfusion injury: A prospective, randomized study

Background . This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that perfluorocarbons were able to reduce myocardial infarct size in a baboon model of ischemia-reperfusion injury. Exchange transfusion of perfluorocarbons has been shown to reduce myocardial infarct size in the dog, who, unlike the baboon, has an extensive collateral circulation. Methods . After 15 minutes of occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery, 14 baboons were bled to attain a hematocrit of 24% to 26% and were simultaneously transfused, six with Flusol-DA 20% emulsion and eight with FC-43 emulsion. After 2 hours of ligation, the coronary arteries were reperfused. Baboons were killed 24 hours after ligation, and the hearts were excised. Microvascular dye was infused into the coronary artery to delineate its perfusion bed. Ratios of the mean volume of infarct to the mean volume of perfusion bed were calculated and compared by use of planimetry. A similar protocol was followed in two other groups of baboons except that lactated Ringer's solution was infused into six of them, whereas eight had no exchange transfusions. Results. The ratios of the mean volume of infarct to the mean volume of perfusion bed of the four groups were as follows: Fluosol-DA, 38.1%±7.5%; FC-43, 37.7%±8.3%; lactated Ringer's, 46.9%±10.5%; controls, 65.6%±6.9%. Statistical significance was reached when comparing both perfluorocarbon-treated groups with the controls (p Conclusions. Results suggest that the beneficial effects of exchange transfusion with the perfluorocarbons may be primarily due to hemodilution.
HEART FAILURE BURDEN IN CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH FRIEDREICH ATAXIA

Friedreich Ataxia (FA) is a neurosensory disorder with an underlying mitochondrial frataxin deficiency. In addition to the progressive gait and limb ataxia, cardiomyopathy is common. Data on heart failure (HF) related hospitalizations in FA patients is lacking. A retrospective analysis of the
Identification of a membrane protein and a truncated LysR-type regulator associated with the toluene degradation pathway in Pseudomonas putida F1.

A 3 kb DNA region upstream of the toluene degradation (tod) genes, todFC1C2BADEGIH, in Pseudomonas putida F1 (PpF1) was sequenced. Two divergently arranged open reading frames, todR and todX, were identified. A toluene-inducible promoter was localized in front of todX, and the transcription start point was mapped. This promoter is probably responsible for the expression of all tod structural genes. TodX was found to be a membrane protein. Its predicted amino acid sequence (453 residues; M r 48265) exhibits considerable similarity with the FadL protein of Escherichia coli, an outer membrane protein required for binding and transport of long-chain fatty acids. An apparent function of TodX is likely to be involved in facilitating the delivery of exogenous toluene inside the PpF1 cells. The sequence of TodR (100 residues) exhibits extensive homology with the DNA-binding domain of transcriptional activators of the LysR family, but todR was found to have a negligible role in tod gene regulation.
Computer simulations of the rupture of a gas bubble at a gas—liquid interface and its implications in animal cell damage

Abstract Hydrodynamic information of the flow occurring as a bubble breaks at a gas—liquid interface has been obtained from computer simulations. The transient rate of energy dissipation per unit volume in the region close to the bubble interface has been calculated. It was found that when a bubble collapses, there is a very high, localized energy dissipation which can be used to explain animal cell damage in sparged suspended animal cell cultures. The rate of energy dissipation was found to be a strong function of bubble size, increasing rapidly as the bubble size decreases.
A GOLDEN GOLDEN‐RULE FOR WELFARE‐MAXIMIZATION IN AN ECONOMY WITH A VARYING POPULATION GROWTH RATE

It is demonstrated mathematically that for an economy with a variable rate of population growth over a large finite period of time th e Samuelson-Diamond criterion for social welfare is not optimized at the Swan-Phelps Golden Rule level for constant population growth but rather at a lower level which is called the Golden Golden-Rule. The Swan-Phel ps Rule states that for constant population growth the most efficient golden-age path equates the interest rate to the rate of population growth. However the optimum golden-age state in an economy in which the rate of population growth varies will be at a lower ratio than the Swan-Phelps Golden-Rule State when the population growth rate is an incr easing function of the capital-labor ratio and at a higher capital-labor ratio when the rate is a decreasing function. The derivation of the golden golden-age path is the same whether the rate of population growth is an increasing or decreasing function of the capital-labor ratio. Basically a planner following the Golden Golden-Rule will tell society to consume at a higher rate in the beginning thus lowering per capita wealth and hence the rate of population increase (assuming the representative man likes children and will produce more as his income permits and fewer as his income does not permit) until the economy is operating at desired or turnpike level. Society should continue to consume at that level until nearly the end of the time period when it would move away from the turnpike level back toward the preassigned old level of operation. In this manner per capita consumption is maximized. If a planner should prefer the Bentham-Lerner criterion for maximizing the total utility of all people who will ever live the turnpike solution depends upon the utility origi n. However it is both stated and demonstrated mathematically that ther e is an upper bound on the optimal capital-labor ratio which is always b elow the Schumpeter captial-saturation level. It is noted that there is nothing sacred about the Golden Golden-Rule and that a change in one of its basic assumptions would invalidate it.
Procoagulant phospholipid concentration in canine erythrocyte concentrates stored with or without prestorage leukoreduction

OBJECTIVE To evaluate canine erythrocyte concentrates (ECs) for the presence of procoagulant phospholipid (PPL), determine whether PPL concentration changes during the course of storage of ECs, and ascertain whether prestorage leukoreduction (removal of leukocytes via gravity filtration) reduces the development of PPL. SAMPLE 10 whole blood units (420 g each) collected from 10 random-source, clinically normal dogs (1 U/dog). PROCEDURES The dogs were randomized to 1 of 2 groups. Of the 10 whole blood units collected, 5 were processed through a standard method, and 5 underwent leukoreduction. Whole blood units were processed to generate ECs, from which aliquots were aseptically collected from each unit weekly for 5 weeks. Supernatants from the concentrates were evaluated for procoagulant activity, which was converted to PPL concentration, by use of an automated assay and by measurement of real-time thrombin generation. RESULTS Supernatants from stored canine ECs contained procoagulant activity as measured b...
A procedure for rapid evaluation of the discriminative stimulus effects of drugs

Rhesus monkeys were trained in a two-lever drug-discrimination procedure with several discrete trials per session. During training sessions, either a sham injection or a subcutaneous injection of the training drug was administered ten minutes prior to each trial. During each trial, completion of 100 consecutive responses on the lever appropriate for the animal's pharmacological condition (e.g., left for sham, right for drug) resulted in the delivery of three grams of food. Training sessions consisted of from zero to four sham trials that preceded two consecutive drug trials. The number of sham trials varied unsystematically to preclude discrimination of the drug trials on the basis of the number of preceding trials. Discriminations were established with each of the training drugs employed (codeine, methohexital, and ketamine). During dose-effect evaluations of the training drug or other drugs (test sessions), a progressively large dose of drug was injected prior to each trial and 100 consecutive responses on either the sham- or drug-appropriate lever resulted in the delivery of food. Test sessions continued until either drug-lever responding or a marked suppression in the rate of responding occurred. Thus, a cumulative dose-effect curve for each drug was generated within a single session. Preliminary findings suggest that the pattern of cross-drug generalization generated by this cumulative-dosing procedure is similar to that obtained with procedures that evaluate only a single dose of drug per session.
Bioavailability of tryptophan in soybean meal and tryptophan retention in the carcasses of four-week-old ducks

The objectives of the experiment were to determine the bioavailability of tryptophan in soybean meal for 4-wk-old ducks using the slope-ratio bioassay with L-tryptophan as the reference diet and estimate the efficiency of dietary tryptophan retention in the carcasses of 4- to 7-wk-old ducks. An initial representative group of 12 ducks with an average body weight of 1,951 g (SD = 69) were killed for carcass compositional analysis. A basal diet formulated to contain 1.13 g of tryptophan/kg and adequate in all other amino acids, was supplemented with 0.2, 0.4, or 0.6 g tryptophan/kg from L-tryptophan, or 0.2 or 0.4 g tryptophan/kg from soybean meal. Four pens of three 4-wk-old ducks received each of the six diets for 21 d. Ducks fed the basal diet and the basal diet supplemented with 0.2 or 0.4 g of L-tryptophan/kg for 21 d were used as the final slaughter groups for carcass compositional analysis. Dietary supplemental tryptophan from either L-tryptophan or soybean meal linearly increased final weight (P < 0.05), weight gain (P < 0.10), and gain:feed ratio (P < 0.05). Common-intercept, multiple linear regressions in slope-ratio methodology performed using weight gain and gain:feed ratio as dependent variables and grams of supplemental tryptophan/kg of diet as the independent variable gave 94 and 92% tryptophan bioavailability in soybean meal relative to L-tryptophan, respectively. Linear regression of tryptophan deposition in the carcass on tryptophan intake resulted in a 21% efficiency of carcass tryptophan retention above maintenance.
Vertical Distribution and Persistence of Insecticidal Residues in Soils as Influenced by Mode of Application and a Cover Crop

To determine, the effect of mode of application and a cover Crop on the persistence and vertical distribution of insecticides in soils, field tests were conducted over a 3-year period. Aldrin and heptachlor were applied either to the soil surface only or incorporated into the soil by rototilling to approximately 5 inches. Recoveries of insecticidal residues ranged from 2.7% to 5.3% of the applied dosages, 4 months after a soil-surface application. However, incorporation of insecticidal deposits into the upper soil layers increased the persistence of the residues by a factor of 10. One year after treatment of the upper soil layers, 90% of the recovered residues were located within the upper 3 inches of the soil. The highest concentration of the insecticides was found within the second in the of the soil layer. A deeper penetration and a more equal distribution of the insecticidal residues was noticed 3 year after soil treatment. Two to 3 times more insecticidal residues were recovered from alfalfa-covered plots than from fallowed ones. Volatilization appears to be the major factor in the loss of insecticidal residues. Their longer persistence after having been incorporated into the soil, may be extended by reducing the volatilization of the insecticides at the soil-air interface with a dense cover crop.
Genetic testing for risk of Alzheimer's disease: benefit or burden?

141 ISSN 1758-2024 10.2217/NMT.12.9 © 2012 Future Medicine Ltd Neurodegen. Dis. Manage. (2012) 2(2), 141–144 Genetic testing for the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) using APOE genotyping has been discouraged owing to its limited predictive value, a lack of AD treatment options and concerns about psychosocial harms (e.g., psychological distress, genetic discrimination). However, extant studies on the psychological and behavioral impact of APOE testing on asymptomatic individuals suggest that such harms are rare and modest, and may be outweighed by various benefits that at-risk indivi duals report as responses to test results (e.g., informing advanced planning and health behavior change). This editorial suggests reasons why the medical community may wish to reconsider a rigid stance against the disclosure of APOE information to interested indivi duals, and describes the opportunities and challenges involved in expanding access to this type of testing. The proper uses of genetic testing for risk of AD have been debated since the mid-1990s, when it was discovered that the e4 allele of the APOE gene confers a significantly elevated risk of disease. Several expert consensus statements, at the time, cautioned against the clinical use of APOE testing with asymptomatic individuals, citing the test’s limited predictive value (the e4 allele is neither necessary nor sufficient to cause AD), a lack of proven treatment and prevention options and concerns about potential psycho logical and social harms posed by test results [1]. An updated consensus statement from the American College of Medical Genetics and the National Society of Genetic Counselors continued to advise against the use of APOE testing for clinical purposes, although it allowed that in certain cases, “testing may be considered at the clinician’s discretion” [2]. Although these policy statements have sensible rationales and are provided with patient welfare in mind, I would argue that there are numerous reasons why we may want to reconsider a highly rigid stance against the disclosure of APOE genotype information by a qualified provider. First, the supposed psychological harms of risk information alluded to in initial policy statements have not materialized, at least when disclosure of APOE test results is conducted in a controlled research setting by expert clinicians. We have examined
D-GALACTOSE TRANSPORT BY SYNAPTOSOMES ISOLATED FROM RAT BRAIN

— Synaptosomes prepared by differential and Ficoll density gradient centrifugation took up d-galactose by two saturable transport systems: one. a high affinity system with a Km of 0-25 mn and Vmax of 075 nmol/mg protein 3 min, the other, a low affinity system with a Km of 47 mM and a Vmaxof 135 nmol/mg protein/3 min. The high affinity system was inhibited by 1-5 mM phlorizin but was unaffected by the absence of sodium ion or the presence of 1 mM ouabain. The low affinity system was unaffected by phlorizin or ouabain. Both systems were inhibited by high concentrations of glucose. 2-deoxyga-lactose. and inositol, and by 2.4-dinitrophcnol. Galactose was rapidly converted in synaptosomes to phos-phorylatcd intermediates and was more slowly oxidized to 14CO2
Chemical composition and volatile fatty acid production of male Ascaris lumbricoides before and after starvation.

Abstract Chemical composition and volatile fatty acid production of male Ascaris lumbricoides before and after starvation were studied by proximate analysis and gas-liquid chromatography. The amount of glucose in the perienteric fluid and glycogen in the entire body of the nematode was also determined. The starved worms contained somewhat smaller percentages of fat and protein, but the greatest losses appeared in the nitrogen-free extract. There was a 71.3% glycogen loss in the starved worms. One gram of the starved ascarids produced an average of 0.041 gm of volatile fatty acids during a 7-day period in a salt solution containing no organic nutrients. The major volatile fatty acids produced by the starved nematodes were α-methylbutyric (50.0%) and α-methylvaleric (27.1%). The minor acids were: valeric (6.5%), propionic (5.5%), tiglic (2.4%), acetic (2.2%), n-butyric (2.2%), iso-butyric (trace), caproic (trace). An unknown acid with more than six carbons in its chain comprised 4.1% of the total volatile fatty acid production.
Synchronization: moving beyond re‐engineering

Purpose – The re‐engineering movement focused on obliterating functional silos and creating processes. As processes become more prevalent, today's challenge is to overcome process silos and synchronize them within and across companies. This paper lays out the key drivers of synchronization challenges and many responses to address them.Design/methodology/approach – The article defines synchronization and uses examples to articulate its impact on businesses. It then identifies six key drivers of synchronization failure: uncertainty, ambiguity, complexity, volatility, urgency, and differing agency incentives across processes. The article then outlines strategies for responding to these shortcomings and examples of organizations that derive competitive advantages from synchronization.Findings – The article presents five steps to improving synchronization within an organization: identify key synchronization opportunities; identify responses to the opportunities; stimulate, evaluate and examine interdependencie...
The synthesis of labeled acetylcholine by the isolated cat heart and its release by vagal stimulation

Summary The isolated perfused cat heart was used to study the synthesis of tritiated acetylcholine from choline-methyl-H 3 . Evidence for the synthesis of acetylcholine was provided by the chromatographic separation of a compound having the same R f value as authentic acetylcholine in two different solvent systems and by an isotope dilution analysis. The rate of synthesis of tritiated acetylcholine in the right ventricle and papillary muscles increased with increasing substrate concentrations. Isolated perfused cat hearts with the right vagus nerve intact were used to determine if vagal stimulation was capable of releasing the tritiated acetylcholine formed. A significant increase in the rate of release of tritiated acetylcholine was associated with a decrease in heart rate during vagal stimulation. It is concluded that the tritiated acetylcholine synthesized by the isolated perfused cat heart is associated with its vagal innervation.
Viral Strategies of Immune Evasion

The vertebrate body is an ideal breeding ground for viruses and provides the conditions that promote their growth, survival, and transmission. The immune system evolved and deals with this challenge. Mutually assured destruction is not a viable evolutionary strategy; thus, the study of host-virus interactions provides not only a glimpse of life at immunity's edge, but it has also illuminated essential functions of the immune system, in particular, the area of major histocompatibility complex-restricted antigen presentation.
A study of two measures of spatial ability as predictors of success in different levels of general chemistry

Preliminary data (Bodner and McMillen, 1986) suggested a correlation between spatial ability and performance in a general chemistry course for science and engineering majors. This correlation was seen not only on highly spatial tasks such as predicting the structures of ionic solids ® = 0.29), but also on tasks such as multiple-choice stoichiometry questions ® = 0.32) that might not be expected to involve spatial skills. To further investigate the relationship between spatial ability and performance in introductory chemistry courses, two spatial tests were given to 1648 students in a course for science and engineering majors (Carter, 1984) and 850 students in a course for students from nursing and agriculture (LaRussa, 1985) at Purdue. Scores on the spatial tests consistently contributed a small but significant amount to success on measures of performance in chemistry. Correlations were largest, however, for subscores that grouped questions that tested problem solving skills rather than rote memory or the application of simple algorithms, and correlations were also large for verbally complex questions that required the students to disembed and restructure relevant information.
Selenium teratogenesis in natural populations of aquatic birds in central California

The frequency and types of malformations are described that were encountered during the spring of 1983 in a natural population of aquatic birds exposed to agricultural drainwater ponds and food items containing high concentrations of selenium in central California. A total of 347 nests of aquatic birds containing 1,681 eggs was selected for study at Kesterson Reservoir located in the Kesterson National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Merced County, California. Embryos collected during incubation or from eggs that failed to hatch were examined to determine the age at death and presence of malformations. Embryonic death was generally high; approximately 17–60% of the nests of different species contained at least one dead embryo. The incidence of malformed embryos was also high; approximately 22–65% of the nests where at least two embryos were examined contained abnormal embryos. American coots (Fulica americana) and black-necked stilts (Himantopus mexicanus) experienced the highest incidence of malformed embryos. For all species, the average percentage of eggs containing dead or live abnormal embryos was 16.1 whereas the average percentage containing live abnormal embryos was 10.7. Multiple gross malformations of the eyes, brain, and feet were often present. Brain defects included hydrocephaly and exencephaly. Eye defects included both unilateral and bilateral anophthalmia and microphthalmia. Eye and foot defects with ectrodactyly and swollen joints were the most common in coots. Beak defects also occurred frequently and most often included incomplete development of the lower beak of ducks (Anas spp.) and stilts. Wing and leg defects were most prevalent in stilts and ducks, with ectromelia and amelia most prevalent in stilts. Other malformations occurring at lower frequencies included enlarged hearts with thin ventricular walls, liver hypopiasia, and gastroschisis. Based upon simultaneous examination of a control population of aquatic birds of the same species and published studies, the incidences of embryonic mortality and deformities were 9–30 times greater than expected. The role of the form of selenium responsible for teratogenesis in laboratory studies is discussed.
Subacute clot mimicking flow in a thrombosed arterial bypass graft on two-dimensional time-of-flight and three-dimensional contrast-enhanced MRA.

Subacute intravascular thrombus can contain methemoglobin, which results in very short spin-lattice (T1) relaxation times. We describe a case of a 78-year-old man with increasing right lower extremity claudication. The patient had a thrombosed arterial bypass graft showing high signal intensity that mimicked flow on both two-dimensional time-of-flight and three-dimensional contrast-enhanced MR angiography. Misinterpretation of the high signal thrombus as flowing blood can be avoided by obtaining a precontrast T1-weighted sequence. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2000;11:192–194. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Designing an introductory survey course in private security

In this study we explore the issue of the core components for an introductory survey course in private security. Using Hirsh's (1987) conceptual framework of cultural literacy, we question whether there is a body of knowledge considered central to security education by academics and practitioners. Data were drawn from three sources. The first involved benchmarking existing and available introductory textbooks in security. The second source of data was a large national sample of more than 5,600 security managers and directors representing various organizations, including Fortune 1,000 companies. We asked security professionals to identify the important topic areas or subjects that constitute the core of private security course work in the undergraduate program. Respondents ranked the importance of various security-related subjects. The third data source was the proceedings of a two-day symposium of academics and practitioners. The participants met in focus groups and used Delphi technique to design an intr...
Biology's response to dieting: the impetus for weight regain

Dieting is the most common approach to losing weight for the majority of obese and overweight individuals. Restricting intake leads to weight loss in the short term, but, by itself, dieting has a relatively poor success rate for long-term weight reduction. Most obese people eventually regain the weight they have worked so hard to lose. Weight regain has emerged as one of the most significant obstacles for obesity therapeutics, undoubtedly perpetuating the epidemic of excess weight that now affects more than 60% of U.S. adults. In this review, we summarize the evidence of biology's role in the problem of weight regain. Biology's impact is first placed in context with other pressures known to affect body weight. Then, the biological adaptations to an energy-restricted, low-fat diet that are known to occur in the overweight and obese are reviewed, and an integrative picture of energy homeostasis after long-term weight reduction and during weight regain is presented. Finally, a novel model is proposed to explain the persistence of the “energy depletion” signal during the dynamic metabolic state of weight regain, when traditional adiposity signals no longer reflect stored energy in the periphery. The preponderance of evidence would suggest that the biological response to weight loss involves comprehensive, persistent, and redundant adaptations in energy homeostasis and that these adaptations underlie the high recidivism rate in obesity therapeutics. To be successful in the long term, our strategies for preventing weight regain may need to be just as comprehensive, persistent, and redundant, as the biological adaptations they are attempting to counter.
Prognostic Stratification in Older Adults Commencing Dialysis

Epidemiology and Information Network score; and hospice eligibility criteria) for the prediction of 6-month mortality. We estimated the odds of death associated with each prognostic index using logistic regression with and without adjustment for age. Predictive indices were compared using the concordance (“c”)-statistic. Results. Of 44,109 eligible patients, 10,289 (23.3%) died within 6 months of dialysis initiation. The c-statistic for the Liu, Renal Epidemiology and Information Network, hospice eligibility criteria, and combined Liu/hospice eligibility criteria scores without and with age were 0.62/0.65, 0.63/0.66, 0.65/0.68, and 0.68/0.70, respectively. Discrimination was poorer at older ages, especially for the Liu and Renal Epidemiology and Information Network scores. Although sensitivity was poor, a Renal Epidemiology and Information Network score ≥9 or an hospice eligibility criteria ≥3 had relatively high specificity. Conclusions. Existing prognostic indices based on administrati ve data perform poorly with respect to prediction of 6-month mortality in older patients with end-stage renal disease commencing dialysis.
Quantum-Dot-Based Aptamer Beacon for the Detection of Potassium Ions

Monitoring serum potassium ion levels is very common in blood tests, for abnormal potassium ion levels are usually signs of many disease such as hyper blood pressure. This study reports the first use of quantum dot (QD)-based-aptamer beacons for the detection of potassium ion concentrations. In this paper, the detection of changes in potassium versus the fluorescence intensity of the beacon is obtained. In addition, for the same aptamer sequence, one with a six-base spacer and one without the spacer are also compared. The photoluminescence measurements indicate that beacons with six-base spacers exhibit a better on-off contrast due to a longer separation between QDs and the quenchers. Dissociation constants of the aptamer probes against potassium ions are also obtained. The large on-off contrast, which can be seen by the naked eye, points to the potential of the development for take-home potassium ion level sensor devices.
Biotinylation is a natural, albeit rare, modification of human histones

Previous studies suggest that histones H3 and H4 are posttranslationally modified by binding of the vitamin biotin, catalyzed by holocarboxylase synthetase (HCS). Albeit a rare epigenetic mark, biotinylated histones were repeatedly shown to be enriched in repeat regions and repressed loci, participating in the maintenance of genome stability and gene regulation. Recently, a team of investigators failed to detect biotinylated histones and proposed that biotinylation is not a natural modification of histones, but rather an assay artifact. Here, we describe the results of experiments, including the comparison of various analytical protocols, antibodies, cell lines, classes of histones, and radiotracers. These studies provide unambiguous evidence that biotinylation is a natural, albeit rare, histone modification. Less than 0.001% of human histones H3 and H4 are biotinylated, raising concerns that the abundance might too low to elicit biological effects in vivo. We integrated information from this study, previous studies, and ongoing research efforts to present a new working model in which biological effects are caused by a role of HCS in multiprotein complexes in chromatin. In this model, docking of HCS in chromatin causes the occasional binding of biotin to histones as a tracer for HCS binding sites.
Translational pain research: Lessons from genetics and genomics

Pharmacological, surgical, psychological, and alternative medicine approaches for the treatment of chronic pain, including neuropathic pain, provide only partial relief for most patients, with the efficacy of existing medications often blunted by dose-limiting side effects arising from drug actions on cells outside the pain-signaling axis. The development of more effective treatments for pain—particularly chronic pain states such as neuropathic pain—has been hampered by lack of predictive animal models and biomarkers, variation in pain characteristics between patients or on a day-to-day basis for single patients, patient stratification on the basis of symptoms rather than mechanism, and a high rate of placebo responses. We discuss genetic and genomic approaches to translational pain research. We review examples of the identification and validation of human pain targets through rodent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and global mRNA expression studies, functional screening in flies and mice, human GWAS and whole-exome sequencing studies, and the targeted candidate gene approach. These and other emerging genetic and genomic strategies are likely to facilitate the development of new, more effective pain therapeutics.
On Efficient Coupling of ASR and SMT for Speech Translation

This paper presents an efficient tightly integrated approach for improved speech translation performance. The proposed approach combines the automatic speech recognition (ASR) and statistical machine translation (SMT) components in a bi-directional fashion. First, our SMT decoder takes the speech recognition lattice to perform an integrated search for the optimal translation by combining various ASR scores and translation models. Our approach is implemented within the recently proposed Folsom SMT framework that employs a multilayer search algorithm to conduct efficient operations on multiple graphs, which not only achieves memory efficiency and fast speed that is critical for real time speech translation applications, but also provides significant accuracy improvements. Secondly, we also report our experiments where the ASR is customized by reinforcing the language model to favor downstream translation component. We evaluated our approach on a large vocabulary speech translation task, and we obtain more than 2 point BLEU improvement over standard cascaded 1-best speech translation.
A Tensor Approach to the Mesh Resistance Matrix

This paper presents a tensor approach to obtain the mesh resistance matrix of a power system. The traditional approach to the mesh matrices naturally relates to graph theory, where the fundamental loops of a representative graph are found from a spanning tree. While valid, mesh identification is time consuming, involves unnecessary programming overhead, yields dense mesh matrices, and requires developing good search heuristics. The proposed approach uses a connection tensor to form a sparse mesh resistance matrix without resorting to graph theory. It allows for the interconnection of only those meshes circulating around the terminals of each power apparatus, which is more effective than searching for the meshes of an entire power system. Detailed steps to form the tensor and supporting examples illustrate the procedure presented in several scenarios. It is also shown that the mesh resistance matrix is sparse and that the computational effort to form the tensor is negligible.
Liquid‐liquid interfacial areas formed by turbine impellers in baffled, cylindrical mixing tanks

An extensive experimental study on the formation of liquid-liquid interfacial areas was conducted using flat-blade turbine impellers in standard mixing tank geometry. The interfacial areas were measured with a light probe for different combinations of volume fraction, continuous and dispersed phase physical properties, and mechanical mixing conditions.
Dolphin genome provides evidence for adaptive evolution of nervous system genes and a molecular rate slowdown

Cetaceans (dolphins and whales) have undergone a radical transformation from the original mammalian bodyplan. In addition, some cetaceans have evolved large brains and complex cognitive capacities. We compared approximately 10 000 protein-coding genes culled from the bottlenose dolphin genome with nine other genomes to reveal molecular correlates of the remarkable phenotypic features of these aquatic mammals. Evolutionary analyses demonstrated that the overall synonymous substitution rate in dolphins has slowed compared with other studied mammals, and is within the range of primates and elephants. We also discovered 228 genes potentially under positive selection (dN/dS > 1) in the dolphin lineage. Twenty-seven of these genes are associated with the nervous system, including those related to human intellectual disabilities, synaptic plasticity and sleep. In addition, genes expressed in the mitochondrion have a significantly higher mean dN/dS ratio in the dolphin lineage than others examined, indicating evolution in energy metabolism. We encountered selection in other genes potentially related to cetacean adaptations such as glucose and lipid metabolism, dermal and lung development, and the cardiovascular system. This study underlines the parallel molecular trajectory of cetaceans with other mammalian groups possessing large brains.
Experiments on Breaking Waves

Laboratory experiments on controlled deep-water breaking are reviewed. Following Longuet-Higgins (1974), breaking events were produced in a modulated wave packet generated by a computer-controlled wavemaker. Measurements of surface displacement, mixing down of surface material, and the velocity field due to breaking are presented. The repeatability of the wave generation procedure permitted the collection of ensemble-averaged data and the separation of the turbulent and average fields. It was found that the breaking process may be separated temporally into two periods: a fast initial period followed by a slower asymptotic evolution. Power laws in time were found to describe the evolution of the primary variables describing the evolution of the flow.
Duration-Dependent fMRI Adaptation and Distributed Viewer-Centered Face Representation in Human Visual Cortex

Two functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) face viewpoint adaptation experiments were conducted to investigate whether fMRI adaptation in high-level visual cortex depends on the duration of adaptation and how different views of a face are represented in the human visual system. We found adaptation effects in multiple face-selective areas, which suggest a distributed, viewer-centered representation of faces in the human visual system. However, the nature of the adaptation effects was dependent on the length of adaptation. With long adaptation durations, face-selective areas along the hierarchy of the visual system gradually exhibited viewpoint-tuned adaptation. As the angular difference between the adapter and test stimulus increased, the blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal evoked by the test stimulus gradually increased as a function of the amount of 3-dimensional (3D) rotation. With short adaptation durations, however, face-selective areas in the ventral pathway, including the lateral occipital cortex and right fusiform area, exhibited viewpoint-sensitive adaptation. These areas showed an increase in the BOLD signal with a 3D rotation, but this signal increase was independent of the amount of rotation. Further, the right superior temporal sulcus showed little or very weak viewpoint adaptation with short adaptation durations. Our findings suggest that long- and short-term fMRI adaptations may reflect selective properties of different neuronal mechanisms.
Hierarchical parallel coordinates for exploration of large datasets

Our ability to accumulate large, complex (multivariate) data sets has far exceeded our ability to effectively process them in searching for patterns, anomalies and other interesting features. Conventional multivariate visualization techniques generally do not scale well with respect to the size of the data set. The focus of this paper is on the interactive visualization of large multivariate data sets based on a number of novel extensions to the parallel coordinates display technique. We develop a multi-resolution view of the data via hierarchical clustering, and use a variation of parallel coordinates to convey aggregation information for the resulting clusters. Users can then navigate the resulting structure until the desired focus region and level of detail is reached, using our suite of navigational and filtering tools. We describe the design and implementation of our hierarchical parallel coordinates system which is based on extending the XmdvTool system. Lastly, we show examples of the tools and techniques applied to large (hundreds of thousands of records) multivariate data sets.
GHOSTS OF THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE IN BRACHIOPOD SYSTEMATICS

Abstract Three historical phases can be distinguished in the study of brachiopod systematics over the past 75 years. Prior to 1956, systematic neontologists and paleontologists struggled to reconcile differences in perceived evolutionary patterns (and thus classifications) based largely on static morphological differences observed separately among living brachiopods and among fossil brachiopods. Following 1956, patterns of morphological distribution began to be interpreted relative to the processes by which they were formed, and a more dynamic view of brachiopod phylogeny and classification resulted. Over the past decade, newer methodologies (phylogenetic systematics) have allowed older phylogenetic hypotheses to be tested and evaluated. The major challenges that brachiopod systematists now face are not unique to brachiopods; they concern improving the methods of phylogeny (and classification) reconstruction so that all the sources of data available to paleontologists can be utilized more effectively. In ...
PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS OF THE MARSUPIAL GENUS HYLADELPHYS BASED ON NUCLEAR GENE SEQUENCES AND MORPHOLOGY

Abstract Phylogenetic analyses of sequence data from the nuclear gene encoding the interphotoreceptor retinoid–binding protein (Irbp) provide compelling evidence that the recently described Amazonian marsupial genus Hyladelphys is a didelphid and suggest that it occupies an internal branch separating the traditionally recognized subfamilies Caluromyinae and Didelphinae. Although this phylogenetic position also is supported by morphological character data, analyses of sequence data from the dentin matrix protein 1 gene (Dmp1) place Hyladelphys within the didelphine radiation. A parsimony analysis of the combined morphological and molecular data supports the Irbp-only results, but a partitioned Bayesian analysis of the combined gene data does not provide strong support for either placement. The implications of these results are discussed in terms of long-branch attraction, base-compositional bias, and other possibly confounding factors. Whether Hyladelphys is the sister group of Didelphinae or an independen...
The role of visual comparison testing in material appearance modeling

Material appearance modeling should involve end user testing. These tests can be visual comparison experiments where decisions made with real physical samples are compared with choices done using computer graphic simulations. This type of evaluation is necessary to determine whether simulations derived from material appearance models can be used to accomplish such tasks as the design of new products or the sale of manufactured goods. Lighting conditions, viewing circumstances, decision criteria, and user expertise can vary widely in each situation where the results of material appearance modeling are used to make a choice. An experiment is currently underway to perform such tests for automotive paint simulation.
A Comprehensive Characterization of Sheep Alveolar Macrophage Function and Responsiveness

Resident alveolar cells were obtained from the in vivo bronchoalveolar lavage of an ovine model. Prior to purification, the cells were primarily comprised of macrophages (82–85%). After Sepracell purification, the cell preparation was 95 ± 1% alveolar macrophages (94% viability). An array of host defense mechanisms were assessed with the following results observed: The phagocytosis of antibody-coated [51Cr]sheep erythrocytes occurred in a time-dependent manner after being measured over 180 min. Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-stimulated su-peroxide anion production was 5.5-fold higher than that of resting sheep alveolar macrophages (AMs). Interestingly, when phagocytosis and superoxide anion generation were performed at 39°C (i.e., normal ovine body temperature), they both displayed an enhanced responsiveness compared to 37°C. Chemotaxis was stimulated by PMA in a concentration-related manner. Release of N-acetyl-β-D-glucos-aminidase (NAGA) was maximally stimulated after a 24 h incubation with opson...