cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Long-term survival and complications in patients with malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmias: treatment with a nonthoracotomy implantable cardioverter defibrillator with or without a subcutaneous patch.

The Endotak lead system and ICD has been used to treat patients with malignant ventricular arrhythmias. We analyzed The clinical characteristics of 1,053 patients who underwent implantation of The Endotak lead system with or without a subcutaneous patch. Group A consisted of 567 patients receiving The Endotak lead with a subcutaneous patch: group B consisted of 486 patients receiving The Endotak lead alone. The 2-year survivals from sudden death, cardiac death, and total death in groups A and B were 97.6%/98.2% (P = 0.38), 88.6%/92.7% (P = 0.09), and 84.7%/86.8% (P = 0.06). respectively. Minimum tested effective defibrillation energy at implantation was 17.2 ± 5.2 J for group A and 15.8 ±5.1 J for group B (P < 0.01). The operative mortality was 1.8% in group A and 0.6% in group B (P = 0.09). The incidence of lead dislodgment, malfunction, and infection was 6,7% for group A and 3.5% for group B (P < 0,01), Sudden death survival was excellent in both groups with less lead complications in group B. The Endotak lead alone may be The preferred choice of lead configuration in those patients who have adequate defibrillation thresholds at implant. (PACE 1997: 20[Pt. I]:1305-1311)
Corporate travel policy

Abstract In the USA expenditure on travel and entertainment by many businesses has reached the point where it is vital to have a written employee travel policy. Joyce Rothschild, Researcher in the Travel and Tourism Programme at George Washington University, describes the development and formulation of an effective corporate travel policy.
A variable critical-volume model for normal tissue complication probability.

Predicting late-term normal-tissue complication probability (NTCP) after radiotherapy is an important factor in the optimization of conformal radiotherapy. We propose a new NTCP model, based on the properties of the high dose region. The principal assumption of the new model is that a whole-organ complication will occur when the radiation damage to a normal organ volume (a portion of the total organ) exceeds a threshold value. The dose threshold for complications varies with the size of the volume (percent of the total organ). We hypothesize that a complication occurs if the complication threshold is exceeded for any organ volume. We used the average dose to a volume as a measure of radiation damage to that volume. Also, we used the power law to scale the average dose to various organ volumes to a whole-organ equivalent dose, and to identify the volume with the most harmful dose-size combination—the critical volume. We used a logistic distribution to calculate the probability that the patient will develop a complication, given the dose delivered to the critical volume. We used a maximum likelihood fit to estimate the model parameters for late-term rectal complications in a set of patients treated for prostate carcinoma with external photon beam radiotherapy (EBRT). Good correspondence was found between the experimental data and the model predictions.
Drugs of abuse: anatomy, pharmacology and function of reward pathways

Drugs of abuse are very powerful reinforcers, and even in conditions of limited access (where the organism is not dependent) these drugs will motivate high rates of operant responding. This presumed hedonic property and the drugs' neuropharmacological specificity provide a means of studying the neuropharmacology and neuroanatomy of brain reward. Three major brain systems appear to be involved in drug reward--dopamine, opioid and GABA. Evidence suggests a midbrain-forebrain-extrapyramidal circuit with its focus in the nucleus accumbens. Data implicating dopamine and opioid systems in indirect sympathomimetic and opiate reward include critical elements in both the nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental areas. Ethanol reward appears to depend on an interaction with the GABAA receptor complex but may also involve common elements such as dopamine and opioid peptides in this midbrain-forebrain-extrapyramidal circuit. These results suggest that brain reward systems have a multidetermined neuropharmacological basis that may involve some common neuroanatomical elements.
A Three-Dimensional Model of Dentin Apposition

Since we have found that conventional methods of dentin apposition measurements are inaccurate, we have devised a three dimensional model. This model allows the investigator to measure dentin apposition volumetrically, and simultaneously consider odontoblast activity and the geometric relationships which influence the configuration of the dentin.
Detection of dominant lethal mutation in mice after repeated low-dose administration of 6-mercaptopurine.

ABSTRACTDetection of dominant lethality after repeated low-dose administration was investigated, using the base analog 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP). The compound was administered to groups of 30 outbred CD-1 male mice by i.p. injection at dosage levels of 12.5, 25.0, or 50.0 mg/kg/day 5 days a week for 8 weeks. At the end of treatment, each male was cohoused for 1 week with two untreated females of different strains: one CD-1 and one (C3H x C57BL/10)F1. Negative (solvent) and positive (triethylenemelamine, TEM) control groups were included. Implant data were analyzed statistically. Exposure of male mice to 6-MP at 50 mg/kg/day resulted in 93% mortality and severe weight loss of the survivors. Body weights were also reduced in the group given 25 mg/kg/day. At the lowest dose level of 12.5 mg/kg/day, 6-MP had no noticeable toxic effect on the treated males. Dominant lethal analysis of the implant data showed that a statistically significant increase in dead implantations was induced in CD-1 but not in (C3H x C57...
Apparent opposing effects of cyclic AMP and dibutyryl-cyclic GMP on the neuronal firing of the blowfly chemoreceptors

Abstract Cyclic AMP and its dibutyryl derivative inhibit neuronal firing of the labellar sugar sensitive receptor of the blowfly when applied in conjunction with the stimulant sucrose. Furthermore, simultaneous application of aminophylline (phosphodiesterase inhibitor) and sucrose or in combination with cyclic AMP caused a similar depression of the sugar receptors response. In contrast, dibutyryl cyclic GMP elicited an increase in sugar receptor firing when applied with sucrose to the sugar receptor. Either 5′-AMP or 5′-GMP in combination with sucrose had no discernable effect on the sugar receptors response. Different ratio combinations of cyclic AMP and dibutyryl cyclic GMP showed the striking inhibitory effect of cyclic AMP upon the dibutyryl cyclic GMP elicited increases in receptor firing frequency. Therefore, it is suggested that these two nucleotides may be mediating different but complimentary aspects of sugar receptor function in a push-pull manner.
Cortical Layer-dependent Arterial Blood Volume Changes: Improved Spatial Specificity relative to BOLD fMRI

Abstract The spatial specificity of functional hemodynamic responses was examined by simultaneous mapping of BOLD changes and quantitative changes in cerebral arterial blood volume (ΔCBV a ) across the cortical depth in cats ( n = 7) during 40-s visual stimulation. Studies were performed at 9.4 T using the recently developed, non-invasive magnetization transfer (MT)-varied gradient-echo (GE) fMRI technique to separate signals from MT-independent arterial blood and MT-dependent tissue. The highest conventional BOLD signal changes occurred at the cortical surface, where large pial veins exist, whereas the highest CBV a changes occurred in the middle of the cortex, where T 1 -weighted images show a hyperintense layer. In the middle cortical region, the average BOLD change (echo time = 20 ms) was 1.16 ± 0.45% during stimulation and − 0.59 ± 0.31% during the post-stimulus period, while the average ΔCBV a was 0.33 ± 0.02 ml/100 g during stimulation and −0.08 ± 0.12 ml/100 g post-stimulus (post-stimulus ΔCBV a is not statistically significant). Time-dependencies of the ΔCBV a cortical profiles are similar to total CBV responses previously measured during visual stimulation in cats with a susceptibility contrast agent indicating, that blood volume changes mostly originate from arterial vessels. Our findings demonstrate the value of non-invasive and quantitative ΔCBV a measurement in high-resolution MT-varied GE fMRI studies, where spatial specificity is better localized to sites of neural activity as compared with conventional GE BOLD changes.
Within-S ISI variations in GSR conditioning

Twenty Ss received 15 trials a day for 2 days to each of two CSs. One CS (CS-S) was reinforced with a 1.0-sec ISI and the other (CS-L), with a 8.0-sec ISI. There were, in addition, five unreinforced presentations of each CS on each day. The major finding was that there was no overall difference in GSR magnitude to the two stimuli but that there was a significant ISI by Days interaction, i.e., GSR magnitude was greater to CS-L on Day 1 but smaller on Day 2 than it was to CS-S. The data supported the contention that the ISI variable behaves differently in the between- and within-S designs.
The Solvent Role in the Lewis Acidity of Cobalt(I)

Abstract The complexes. [CoL1An2](B4)2 and [CoL2An2](B4)2, where L1 and L2 are macrocyclic ligands containing the bis-a-diimine function, undergo spontaneous reduction to the corresponding Co1 complexes in N,N-dimethylformamide. These Co1 complexes act as potent Lewis acids toward a number of monodentate ligands. Equilibrium constants for adduct formation between the Co1 complexes and the donors pyridine, N-methylimidazole, triphenylphosphine, and Br− have been measured spectrophoto-metrically and are reported herein.
Frailty, morbidity and survival

Frailty, as a reflection of decreased physical reserve rather than disability, is assessed by various functional tests rather than by specific disease burden. We investigated association of measures of frailty to disease outcomes and survival in a population-based study of Midwestern adults. The markers of frailty we evaluated were: time to walk a measured course (gait-time), handgrip strength, peak respiratory flow rate, ability to stand from a sitting position without using arms, and best corrected visual acuity. A history of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and hypertension were obtained. Data were collected at the third examination (1998--2000) of the Beaver Dam Eye Study cohort (n=2962). Follow-up for mortality occurred up to 412 years after the 1998--2000 examinations. Markers of frailty were significantly associated with age. Values in the highest quartile (slowest) of gait-time, lowest quartile of peak expiratory flow rate, lowest quartile of handgrip strength, inability to stand from sitting in one try (those not in a wheelchair), and visual impairment were combined in an index to denote a general description of frailty. The range of the index was 0 (no frailty) to 5 (maximum frailty). Greater frailty was significantly associated with cardiovascular disease and hypertension. Frailty was associated with poorer survival over an interval of 412 years after adjusting for age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Greater frailty was associated with greater likelihood of concurrent medical conditions and with decreased survival.
Linear 2,2-diaryl-substituted trisilanes: Structure and photolysis to disilenes

Abstract Synthesis of the new disilene, E/Z-IsMesSi=SiIsMes (1) is reported; the isomer Is2Si=SiMes2 (2) was obtained by photolysis of a mixture of Mes2Si(SiMe3)2 (3) and Is2Si(SiMe3)2 (5). Isomerization of 1 2 does not take place up to 80°C. X-Ray crystal structures are reported for trisilanes 3, IsMesSi(SiMe3)2 (4), and 5.
Art and war: Paradox of the Bhagavad Gitā

Abstract The first several chapters of the Bhagavad Gitā set themselves a daunting task: to explain how a life of action can be rendered compatible with a life of renunciation of desire. The situation, in fact, is designed to raise the issue in an excruciatingly intense form. As Krsna and Arjuna pause on the verge of the great battle, Arjuna asks how killing people—including his own teachers and members of his own family—in order to secure power and fame, can be squared with his religious and ethical convictions. This paper is an attempt to explicate Krsna's solution of the paradox, not from the point of view of Hindu tradition (in which it has, of course, driven whole movements of thought), but simply as a philosophical problem in its own right. I will argue that the paradox of the Gitā suggests a reconstrual of the way we conceive the relation of means and ends in our activities, a reconstrual that can be profitably elucidated through the concept of art. And I will argue that this reconstrual has the po...
Förster resonance energy transfer measurements are consistent with a helical bundle model for lipid-free apolipoprotein A-I.

Apolipoprotein (apo) A-I mutants were constructed for FRET studies to distinguish between two possible lipid-free conformers, a globular helix bundle and an elongated helical hairpin. Mutants containing a single Trp at position 50 were prepared by replacing Trps at positions 8, 72, and 108 with Phe (W@50). Two mutants were constructed from W@50 by incorporating Cys at Arg83 (W@50R83C) or Arg173 (W@50R173C) for attachment of the fluorescent probe AEDANS. Secondary structure of the mutants is very similar to wild type (wt) apo A-I, and fluorescence emission indicates that W50 is protected from solvent. Thermal stabilities of the AEDANS-labeled mutants are also similar to wt. These results indicate that no discernible changes occur in structure or stability as a result of mutations or labeling. The FRET data from W@50 to AEDANS are well-represented by a single distance distribution function with a distance of ∼22 A for W@50R83C and ∼19 A for W@50R173C. These distances are consistent with theoretical values c...
Improved Hylleraas calculations for ground state energies of lithium ISO–electronic sequence

The 2S ground state of lithium iso–electronic sequence is calculated by the use of Hylleraas-type wave functions. A 92 term one-spin wave function was used for lithium atom calculations. The energy obtained was −7.478031 a.u. as compared with the previous best value of −7.478025 a.u. calculated by Larsson. In addition, improved energies for Z = 4 to 8 were calculated by the use of 60 term wave functions. This work thus provides the lowest ab initio ground state energies for lithium sequence to date.
Oil red-O stains non-adipogenic cells: a precautionary note

Bovine adipofibroblasts, 3T3-L1 cells, L-6 myogenic cells, and sheep satellite cells were allowed to proliferate for 48 h. Oil red-O (ORO) was dissolved in three different solvents isopropanol, propylene glycol and triethyl phosphate. At 48 h, the proliferative cultures were stained with the three stains. ORO stain prepared in both propylene glycol and triethyl phosphate resulted in bright red droplets appearing in all cultures, whereas ORO dissolved in isopropanol was not taken up by any of the cells. These data suggest that certain preparations of ORO may stain cells in non-adipogenic lineages as well as undifferentiated pre-adipocytes. Caution must be exercised when choosing solvents for ORO in differentiation studies using cells of the fat/adipose lineage.
Altered Platelet-Activating Factor Levels and Acetylhydrolase Activities Are Associated With Increasing Severity of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Lipid inflammatory mediators are thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of neonatal lung injury and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Because preliminary studies from the intensive care nursery of the University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville, revealed linear increased in blood platelet-activating factor (PAF) levels in very low birthweight infants developing chronic lung disease and lower cord blood PAF acetylhydrolase activities in premature infants, it was theorized that altered platelet-activating factor levels and PAF acetylhydrolase activities are associated with increasing severity of BPD. Platelet-activating factor levels (blood and tracheal lavage) and PAF acetylhydrolase activities (blood and tracheal lavage) were measured over days 1 to 2, 3 to 5 and 6 to 7 in 16 ventilated infants and weekly in 9 infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Platelet-activating factor values were normalized per nanogram of lavage blood urea nitrogen. Severity of bronchopulmonary dysplasia was estimated using the scoring system developed by Toce. Mean blood and lavage PAF levels and PAF acetylhydrolase activities were compared in infants developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia with those without the disease over the first seven days of life. Infants developing chronic lung disease were significantly smaller and of younger gestational age. In infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, higher PAF levels in blood were seen on days 3 to 5, along with increased lavage acetylhydrolase activities on days 1 to 2. Increased levels of PAF in lavage on days 3 to 5 were associated with increasing severity of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Altered blood and lavage platelet-activating factor levels and PAF acetylhydrolase activities appear to be associated with the pathogenesis and severity of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
The α1-antitrypsin in man

The recent interest in the a,-antitrypsin in man began eight years ago in Sweden, where Drs. Laurel1 and Erikssonl first noted that a deficiency of the a,-antitrypsin, the major a,-globulin in serum, could be detected on routine screening of paper electrophoretic strips. These authors noted the association between this deficiency state and chronic pulmonary disease and were first to point out that it is hereditary. In 1965, Erikssor? published a monograph which contained the clinical description of 14 families with hereditary w antitrypsin deficiency and chronic pulmonary disease. Since that time, the deficiency state has been reported in numerous families both in the United States and in several European countries.3-5 al-Antitrypsin deficiency is characteristic of some, but not all, families with an increased incidence of emphysema among siblings.
Take the money and sun: elderly migration as a consequence of gains in unaffordable housing markets.

We tested the hypothesis that elderly migration both seasonal and permanent to [U.S.] Sunbelt states such as Arizona is the result in part of economic gains made in unaffordable housing markets. The results of a multiple regression analysis of interstate migration flows to Arizona support the hypothesis. Moreover the stronger relationship for seasonal migration suggests that elderly households are unwilling to realize housing gains in unaffordable markets but nevertheless spend the gains on seasonal migration. Such behavior is rational if housing is viewed as an investment and expectations of future returns are greater in unaffordable markets. Given that the study was based on housing gains of the 1970s the results suggest that more recent elderly migration may be even more influenced by such gains inasmuch as regional differences in housing affordability have become more pronounced. (EXCERPT)
Monochorionic Twin Pregnancies

The monochorionic placenta should be considered a developmental malformation and, as such, represents one of the most common birth defects. Great strides are being made to unravel the progression of nature's successful attempt at human cloning through fission. Critical to any strategy to reduce the perinatal morbidity and mortality associated with monochorionic placentas is early detection. Intense surveillance in at risk pregnancies will provide a better understanding of their natural progression, improve the prognosis with early intervention, and ultimately provide the key to prevent many of the complications unique to the monochorionic placenta.
Evaluation of urovysion and cytology for bladder cancer detection: a study of 1835 paired urine samples with clinical and histologic correlation

Background Urine cytology has been used for screening of bladder cancer but has been limited by its low sensitivity. UroVysion is a FISH assay that detects common chromosome abnormalities in bladder cancers. The present study evaluates the effectiveness of UroVysion and urine cytology in detecting urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) in same urine sample.
Role of age, education, and gender on cognitive performance in the Framingham Heart Study: community-based norms

Normative data are presented for a neuropsychological test battery (Kaplan-Albert) consisting of subtests from the original Wechsler Adult Intelligence and Memory Scales and the Benton and Hamsher Aphasia Examination. Analyses were based on archival data resulting from administration (1976-1978) of the battery to community residents participating in the Framingham Heart Study, a prospective, longitudinal study of cardiovascular risk factors. Using 3 age groups (55-64, 65-74, and 75-88 years) and 4 education levels (5-8, 9-11, 12, > 12 years), individuals were stratified by age, gender, and education. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to relate main effects (age, education, and gender) and interactions of these effects to 9 test scores and to 2 composite scores identified by factor analysis. The oldest participants who had the fewest years of formal education had the lowest performance levels, with lower levels of performance for men than women in this least educated elderly cohort.
Resolution of Meta-Accuracy Should People Trust Their Beliefs About How Others See Them?

Do people know when they can trust their metaperceptions (i.e., their beliefs about how they are seen)? The current study is the first to examine whether people can recognize which of their metaperceptions are more or less accurate, and it examines the source of this “resolution.” In two samples, we assessed meta-accuracy, or the degree to which people’s beliefs about the impressions they made corresponded to the actual impressions they made, for several close acquaintances (e.g., family, friends). We also assessed people’s confidence in the accuracy of their metaperceptions for each acquaintance. Results showed that people recognized when they were more or less “meta-accurate,” particularly in terms of the ways in which they were perceived as distinctive and unique individuals. This ability was partially driven by relationship quality. In sum, people seem to know when to trust their metaperceptions about individuals from their everyday lives.
Image Coding on a Hexagonal Pyramid with Noise Spectrum Shaping

A hexagonally sampled image is split into a low pass band and nine pass bands of one octave width and sixty degrees angular orientation. The conditions to be satisfied by the filter banks for perfect reconstruction are presented. The human visual system's response to stimuli at differing spatial frequencies is then employed to shape the coding noise spectrum. Rate is allocated under a frequency weighted mean squared error distortion measure. A framework is presented for doing this employing either the power spectral density of the image or the variance of the subbands. Both adaptive and non-adaptive entropy coding simulations are carried out under a Laplacian source distribution. Transparent coding results are presented at rates below 1 bit per pixel.
Biodistribution and feasibility of non-viral IGF-I gene transfers in thermally injured skin.

Gene therapy using cationic liposomes containing cDNA is a relatively new approach with great potential; however, little is known about the mechanisms of dermal gene transfer, its biodistribution, systemic transfection, and cellular uptake. This study identifies mechanisms, transfection rates, and biodistribution of liposomal gene transfers in the skin of thermally injured rats using cDNA gene constructs coding for insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and Lac Z. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (350 to 375 g) were given a 60% total body surface area full-thickness scald burn that was followed by weekly subcutaneous injections of normal saline (control, n = 10), liposomes plus 0.2 μg Lac Z cDNA construct driven by a cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter (vehicle, n = 10), or liposomes containing 2.2 μg cDNA coding for IGF-I plus 0.2 μg Lac Z cDNA construct driven by a CMV promoter (IGF-I cDNA, n = 10). Gene transfection was determined by histochemical and luminescent β-galactosidase assays of blood, skin, liver, spleen, and kidney. Transcription of IGF-I cDNA to IGF-I mRNA was determined in skin cells by Northern blot analyses. Levels of IGF-I protein in blood, skin, liver, spleen, and kidney were measured by radioimmunoassay. The biological activity of the translated IGF-I was evaluated by the mitogenic activity in dermal cells and the rate of re-epithelization. Gene transfection was observed only in skin cells. The expression of IGF-I mRNA increased in skin cells of burned rats receiving liposomes containing the IGF-I cDNA construct compared with liposomes without the construct or normal saline. IGF-I protein levels in the skin of rats receiving the IGF-I cDNA was 176 ± 4 ng/ml compared with 105 ± 6 ng/ml for liposomes alone or 90 ± 3 ng/ml for saline (p < 0.05). The translated IGF-I protein was found biologically active in the skin by increasing skin cell proliferation and accelerating re-epithelization 33 days after thermal injury (p < 0.05). No systemic transfection could be detected. Skin cells transfected with liposomes encapsulating the IGF-I cDNA constructs increased the expression of IGF-I mRNA transcript and the expression of a biologically active IGF-I protein. Liposomes containing the cDNA coding for IGF-I present an effective approach to gene therapy in the skin.
Two-dimensional resonance ionization imaging with a low pressure mercury atom vapor cell

The first experiments in which two-dimensional (2D) pictures are obtained by an ultranarrowband mercury vapor resonance ionization image detector (RIID) are demonstrated. It is shown that the use of a microchannel plate in an atomic vapor cell allows the achievement of true 2D ultranarrowband imaging, as well as a dramatic improvement in spatial resolution and signal level.
TH‐D‐L100J‐06: Streaming Architectures for Cone‐Beam CT Image Reconstruction and Deformable Registration

Purpose: To develop data‐parallel algorithms for tomographic reconstruction and deformable registration within a stream‐processing paradigm, and execute them on cheap stream processors such as graphics processing units (GPUs). Method and Materials: In the computer sciences, the stream‐processing paradigm is emerging as a cost‐effective way of solving large‐scale parallel computing problems. This is due to the recent introduction of high‐performance stream‐processing hardware such as the Cell processor and GPUs—both are commodity stream (or vector) processors, designed specifically to support large‐scale parallel computing on a single chip. This presentation describes how to use the stream‐processing model to significantly accelerate the complex problems of data reconstruction and fusion for radiotherapy. Highly data‐parallel models were developed for: (1) the Feldkamp, Davis, and Kress (FDK) reconstruction algorithm, and (2) Demon's algorithm for optical‐flow based deformable registration. These models were implemented within the Brook programming environment and executed on an nVIDIA 8800 GPU. Results: The performance of GPU‐based implementations of the FDK and Demon's algorithms was analyzed using data obtained from an IGRT testbed of a preserved swine lung. The results indicate a substantial speedup of up to 17 times for FDK, and up to 33 times for Demons, when compared with a 2.4 GHz Intel Duo‐Core processor. In addition, the GPU was found to be capable of high‐quality reconstructions, with differences within a few Hounsfield unit. Conclusions: Results indicate that data‐parallel image‐processing algorithms, when properly designed and executed on a GPU, achieve significant speedup when compared to high‐end desktop CPUs. The acceleration of key data‐processing stages will decrease the time needed to perform image‐guided patient positioning and analysis.
Hormonal Effects on Calcium Metabolism in Crustacea

Cyclic shifts of calcium in the exoskeleton and soft tissues, as they are related to the intermolt cycle in crayfish, are reviewed. Regulatory factors, derived from the eyestalk, influence levels of exoskeletal calcium; eyestalk extracts prepared from animals in premolt decrease shell calcium, while reciprocally extracts from animals in intermolt increase it when these hormonal sources are injected into animals in the premolt stage (D-D4) . In addition, premolt eyestalk extract results in an increase in gastrolith calcium. In the exchange of calcium between the animal and its environment there is evidence for differentialdeposition of recently available calcium in the exoskeleton. Further, intermolt and early premolt animals maintained in Ca45-labelled water for 15 days concentrate it 4 and 3—fold in the exoskeleton and stomach, respectively. However, removal of a molt-inhibiting factor through ablation of eyestalks results in a 20 and 40—fold increase in incorporation inthese same sites relative to environmental concentrations. Treatment with mammalian parathyroid extract mobilizes both exoskeletal and gastric calciumand leads to a rise in blood calcium. However, there is little or no effect on levels of exoskeletal citric acid. Further, citric acid is higher in the crayfish carapace during stage C, the period of mineralization, than in stage D, the period of demineralization. There are both similarities and differences between the effects of crustacean and mammalianregulating factors with respect to the direction and extent of mineralization. Biochemical studies should elucidate the mechanisms regulated by these hormones.
Separation of tubulin subunits by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

Abstract When properly solubilized with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), α- and β-tubulin subunits from a variety of sources may be resolved at high yield by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), using a Waters μBondapak C 18 column and simple linear aqueous acetonitrile gradients containing TFA. The tubulin subunits are typically the most non-polar proteins present, with the β-tubulin subunit eluting before the α. Column temperatures above ambient improve both the resolution and the yield; less polar solvent systems do not. Tubulins not freely soluble in aqueous TFA may be solubilized in 6 M guanidine-hydrochloric acid with no change in retention time. Other columns with shorter carbon chain lengths and larger pore size produce a single, unresolved tubulin peak. Reversed-phase HPLC analysis provides an independent comparative evaluation of organelle-specific tubulins, with characteristic retention time differences observed between homologous ciliary and flagellar outer doublet tubulin subunits and also between them and their cytoplasmic counterparts.
Temperature effects on the intramolecular decay of the lowest triplet state of benzophenone

Abstract By monitoring the emission specturm, yield, and lifetime from 77 to 400°K for benzophenone in poly(chlorotrifluoroethylene), we have been able to establish the thermally activated delayed fluorescence process and have also observed a large temperature effect on the rate constant for nonradiative decay from the lowest triplet state to the ground singlet state.
Development of the rat salivary glands. I. Accumulation of parotid gland DNase activity

The parotid gland of the rat contains high levels of a secretory DNase with a substrate preference for native DNA, requirement for divalent cations (Mg+ +) and pH optimum at 7. 5. This enzyme appears not to be found in the submaxillary-sublingual gland complex, which has only a low level of DNase activity with a contrasting substrate preference for denatured DNA. Neonatal submaxillary and parotid glands both contain a constant, low level of activity which is similar in magnitude to that of the adult submaxillary gland. DNase activity in the neonatal parotid begins to increase between 10- and 15-days post-partum and rises 10,000-fold by 30-days. The substrate preference of the low DNase activity present in the parotid gland prior to ten days was determined for newborn rats, and was found similar to the adult submaxillary rather than to the adult parotid enzyme, since the newborn extract preferentially hydrolyzed denatured DNA. These results support the working hypotheses; that the parotid gland DNase is not found in the other salivary glands and is thus a specific marker of parotid differentiation, and that the synthesis of this enzyme in the parotid gland does not begin until after ten days post-partum. The results obtained here are discussed in terms of the possible relationships between early tissue interactions in the embryonic gland rudiments and their later assumption of a cell-specific pattern of protein synthesis, and these relationships are compared to those found in previous analyses of the embryonic pancreas (Rutter et al., '67a). It is suggested that the regulation of specific cytodifferentiation in the salivary glands may be basically different in mechanism than that of the pancreas.
Thermodynamic stability of chemical species in multiple reaction systems.

A general thermodynamic and stoichiometric method, recently developed by us to study subtle forms of stability/instability relations among chemical species, such as resonance and strain energies (Fishtik, I.; Datta, R. J. Phys. Chem. A 2004, 108, 5727−5739), is extended to stability relations in multiple chemical reaction systems. Namely, a new definition as well as a new algorithm of evaluation of the stabilities of chemical species, referred to as the overall stabilities, is proposed. It is further shown that the overall stabilities may be partitioned into a sum of contributions associated with a complete set of stoichiometrically unique response reactions (RERs). This finding reveals that the conventional stability analysis is stoichiometrically and thermodynamically inconsistent in that it involves only a part of RERs.
Transcatheter, Endovascular Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Feasibility, Noninvasive Diagnosis, Problems, and Follow‐Up

Until recently, the repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) required major surgery. Recently, the transcatheter technique has allowed minimally invasive endovascular stenting of infrarenal AAAs. This procedure is less traumatic and is associated with a shorter hospital stay than conservative surgery. With the stent placement, the effective aortic lumen diameter decreases and the aneurysmal space is excluded from the circulation. Ultrasonographic studies have allowed imaging of the abdominal aorta, its main branches, and the endovascular stent. The aortic blood flow after the repair is ideally limited to the stent lumen. Follow-up studies have permitted reevaluation of the aorta and the stent, with special emphasis on the aortic expansion and blood flow within the excluded space. These studies have correlated well with other imaging techniques such as intravascular ultrasound, computed tomography scanning, and aortography.
A perspective on the prevalence of DNA enteric virus genomes in anaerobic-digested biological wastes

The major goal of this study is to gain a perspective on the prevalence of DNA enteric virus genomes in mesophilic anaerobic-digested (MAD) sewage sludge and manure by comparing their quantitative PCR (qPCR) concentrations and removals with traditional fecal indicators (Escherichia coli, enterococci, and Bacteroidetes). In addition, relationships between qPCR and culture measurements of fecal indicators (FIs) were determined. There was no significant difference between the qPCR concentrations of human adenovirus and E. coli/enterococci in MAD sewage sludge; however, the qPCR concentrations of bovine adenovirus were significantly lower than FIs and bovine polyomavirus (BPyV) in MAD manure. The qPCR concentrations of human polyomavirus were slightly lower than E. coli and enterococci (p ≤ 0.05), but no significant difference was observed between the qPCR concentrations of BPyV and FIs. The digestion treatment achieved higher genome removal of bovine DNA enteric viruses than FIs (p ≤ 0.05). Significant correlations were observed between qPCR and culture measurements of FIs, but the concentrations and removals of FIs determined by qPCR assays were still significantly different than those determined by culture assays. Overall, we determined that the prevalence of DNA enteric virus genomes in MAD biological wastes was high due to their comparable in qPCR concentrations to FIs, indicating that mesophilic anaerobic digestion treatment alone may not be effective enough to remove DNA viral pathogens in biological wastes.
The isolation of specific genes from the basidiomycete Schizophyllum commune

We have developed a routine way to isolate genes directly from the basidiomycete fungus, Schizophyllum commune. Plasmid DNA from a genomic gene library was used to isolate five specific genes by complementation of Schizophyllum mutations via transformation. The mutant strains were deficient in the ability to synthesize either adenine (ade2 and ade5), uracil (ural, encoding orotidine-5′-phosphate decarboxylase; OMPdecase), tryptophan (rpl, encoding indole-3-glycerol phosphate synthetase; IGPS) or para aminobenzoic acid (pab1). In each case, Southern analysis revealed that transformation to prototrophy was concomitant with the integration of vector sequence into the genome of the S. commune mutant. Total DNA from transformants was restricted, religated, and used to transform E. coli. Ampicillin resistant plasmids were recovered from E. coli and tested for their ability to transform the corresponding mutant of S. commune. Plasmids complementing the ade2, adeS, pabl, trpl, and ural mutations were recovered.
Community and inquiry: journey of a science teacher

In this case study, we examine a teacher’s journey, including reflections on teaching science, everyday classroom interaction, and their intertwined relationship. The teacher’s reflections include an awareness of being “a White middle-class born and raised teacher teaching other peoples’ children.” This awareness was enacted in the science classroom and emerges through approaches to inquiry. Our interest in Ms. Cook’s journey grew out of discussions, including both informal and semi-structured interviews, in two research projects over a three-year period. Our interest was further piqued as we analyzed videotaped classroom interaction during science lessons and discovered connections between Ms. Cook’s reflections and classroom interaction. In this article, we illustrate ways that her journey emerges as a conscientization. This, at least in part, shapes classroom interaction, which then again shapes her conscientization in a recursive, dynamic relationship. We examine her reflections on her “hegemonic (cultural and socio–economic) practices” and consider how these reflections help her reconsider such practices through analysis of classroom interaction. Analyses lead us to considering the importance of inquiry within this classroom community.
Grand Unification Symmetry Breaking by Radiative Corrections in Supergravity

Abstract We investigate the breaking of grand unification symmetry by radiative corrections in a class of supersymmetric theories coupled to N = 1 supergravity. Such theories have a continuum of supersymmetric minima in the absence of supergravity couplings. The potential minimum is actually generated in the desired region, M G = M P /10 1–4 , due to the logarithmic evolution of a Higgs mass term of soft supersymmetry breaking induced by the supergravity coupling.
IN PROCESS QUALITY CONTROL IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ESSENTIAL DRUGS

AbstractDuring the Thirty First World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization, Resolution WMA 31.32 on the Action Programme on Essential Drugs which recognized the importance of an adequate supply of essential drugs and vaccines to meet the real health needs of people living in developing countries was passed. The resolution also recognized the legitimate aspiration of developing countries to establish local production of those essential drugs wherever feasible.In implementing the resolution, the WHO has called a meeting of its Expert Committee on the Selection of Essential Drugs in October 1977. The report of that Meeting resulted in a model list of essential drugs which appeared in the WHO Technical Report Series 615.Continuing its efforts to fully implement WHA 31.32, the WHO has called the Meeting on Drug Policies: formulation and dosage forms and in-process quality control of essential drugs in developing countries in April 1979. The meeting discussed recommendations on criteria for the deve...
Rotation Identification in Geometric Algebra: Theory and Application to the Navigation of Underwater Robots in the Field

We report the derivation and experimental evaluation of a stable adaptive identifier to estimate rigid body rotations using rotors in Geometric Algebra GA. This work is motivated by the need for in situ estimation of the alignment between sensors commonly used in underwater vehicle navigation. Here we derive an adaptive identifier using a geometric interpretation of the error to drive first-order rotor kinematics. We prove that it is Lyapunov stable, and we show that it is asymptotically stable in the presence of persistent excitation. We use the identifier to estimate the alignment between the Doppler velocity log sonar and the fiber optic gyrocompass used by underwater vehicles for dead reckoning DR. We evaluate this method in the laboratory with a remotely operated vehicle ROV, and then with an autonomous underwater vehicle AUV operating in the field at 1,200i¾?m depth. Our results show that this technique reduces dead reckoning navigation errors on these platforms and provides comparable performance to previously reported SO3 constrained Linear Algebra LA approaches. The rotor identifier has a number of advantages over these previously reported methods, including a more straightforward derivation, simpler gain tuning, increased computational efficiency, and reduced data manipulation.
Higher-mode free-free beam micromechanical resonators

Polysilicon free-free beam micromechanical resonators based on MEMS technology operating in second and third-mode flexural vibrations have been demonstrated at frequencies as high as 102 MHz with Q's on the order of 11,500. Via strategic placement of electrodes, and careful determination of the exact support beam attachment locations that minimize anchor loss, these new resonators actually exhibit higher Q in the second mode than in the fundamental at the same frequency. Experiments to gauge the effect of variations in support beam dimensions and attachment locations on free-free beam microresonator performance show that an offset of only 0.6 /spl mu/m in the support beam attachment location results in a 7X degradation in the Q. In addition, measured temperature coefficients for second-mode free-free beam /spl mu/resonators are on the order of -13.1 ppm//spl deg/C, which is on par with that for fundamental mode resonance.
An analysis of the social context of children’s weekend discretionary activity participation

This paper examines the discretionary time-use of children, including the social context of children’s participations. Specifically, the paper examines participation and time investment in in-home leisure as well as five different types of out-of-home discretionary activities: (1) shopping, (2) social, (3) meals, (4) passive recreation (i.e., physically inactive recreation, such as going to the movies or a concert), and (5) active recreation (i.e., physically active recreation, such as playing tennis or running). The social context of children’s activity participation is also examined by focusing on the accompanying individuals in children’s activity engagement. The accompanying arrangement is classified into one of six categories: (1) alone, (2) with mother and no one else, (3) with father and no one else, (4) with both mother and father, and no one else, (5) with other individuals, but no parents, and (6) with other individuals and one or both parents. The utility-theoretic Multiple Discrete-Continuous Extreme Value (MDCEV) is employed to model time-use in one or more activity purpose–company type combinations. The data used in the analysis is drawn from the 2002 Child Development Supplement (CDS) to the U.S. Panel Study Income Dynamics (PSID). The results from the model can be used to examine the time-use choices of children, as well as to assess the potential impacts of urban and societal policies on children’s activity participation and time-use decisions. Our findings also emphasize the need to collect, in future travel surveys, more extensive and higher quality data capturing the intra- and inter-household interactions between individuals (including children). To our knowledge, the research in this paper is the first transportation-related study to rigorously and comprehensively analyze the social dimension of children’s activity participation.
Novel protein based pressure transducer

Abstract The need for intra-organ pressure measurement can only be facilitated by adapting existing pressure sensing technology to the specific tissues under test. The customization of these sensors has only increased cost and the need to explore new technologies has become increasingly more important. For this article, we explore the use of electrochemical pressure sensing to provide a low-cost pressure sensor to fill this need. Here we show that gelatin exhibits a change in impedance when pressurized if bubbles are first electrolyzed in the gel creating an aerogel. Using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and model fitting, it is shown that this effect occurs at the aerogel/hydrogel interface and the change in impedance is linearly related to the change in applied pressure. Micrographs were taken of the interface during pressurization and image analysis demonstrates that the change in surface area of the interface is also linearly related to the change in applied pressure.
Endothelin-A receptor antagonism attenuates carcinoma-induced pain through opioids in mice.

Abstract We previously reported that endothelin A (ET-A) receptor antagonism attenuates carcinoma-induced pain in a cancer pain mouse model. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of ET-A receptor-mediated antinociception and evaluated the role of endogenous opioid analgesia. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cell culture treated with the ET-A receptor antagonist (BQ-123) at 10 −6 M and 10 −5 M significantly increased production and secretion of β-endorphin and leu-enkephalin, respectively. Behavioral studies were performed by inducing tumors in the hind paw of female nude mice with local injection of cells derived from a human oral SCC. Significant pain, as indicated by reduction in withdrawal thresholds in response to mechanical stimulation, began at 4 days after SCC inoculation and lasted to 18 days, the last day of measurement. Local administration of either naloxone methiodide (500 μg/kg), selective antagonists for μ-opioid receptor (CTOP, 500 μg/kg), or δ-opioid receptor (naltrindole, 11 mg/kg) but not κ-opioid receptor (nor-BNI, 2.5 mg/kg) significantly reversed antinociception observed from ET-A receptor antagonism (BQ-123, 92 mg/kg) in cancer animals. These results demonstrate that antagonism of peripheral ET-A receptor attenuates carcinoma pain by modulating release of endogenous opioids to act on opioid receptors in the cancer microenvironment. Perspective This article proposes a novel mechanism for ET-A receptor antagonist drugs in managing cancer-induced pain. An improved understanding of the role of innate opioid analgesia in ET-A receptor–mediated antinociception might provide novel alternatives to morphine therapy for the treatment of cancer pain.