cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regional differences in the subacute response of rabbit orbicularis oculi to bupivacaine-induced myotoxicity as quantified with a neural cell adhesion molecule immunohistochemical marker.

PURPOSE: This study examined the subacute myotoxic effects of injection of the local anesthetic bupivacaine on the orbicularis oculi muscle in the rabbit eyelid. In contrast to other muscles, the orbicularis oculi was resistant to injury by the usual anesthetic doses of bupivacaine when local infiltration is used. An attempt was made to assess the sensitivity of orbicularis oculi muscle to bupivacaine using a variety of increased bupivacaine concentrations and in combination with hyaluronidase. METHODS: Bupivacaine was injected into rabbit lower eyelids at a variety of doses with and without the injection of hyaluronidase before bupivacaine treatment. Muscle injury was assessed immunohistochemically using an antibody to an isoform of neural cell adhesion molecule, anti-leu-19, a molecule shown to localize on the surface of regenerating muscle fibers. The number of neural cell adhesion molecule-positive muscle fibers was assessed 4 and 7 days after bupivacaine injection to determine the number of fibers that were injured. RESULTS: When bupivacaine was injected into the lower eyelid at a dose of 1.5 mg, only 10% of the orbicularis oculi muscle was injured. The most effective injury involved either multiple injections of 3 mg bupivacaine or of hyaluronidase 20 minutes before the injection of 3 mg bupivacaine, resulting in injury of up to 58% of the muscle fibers. In all cases, the preseptal region of the orbicularis oculi showed a greater percentage of injury than the pretarsal portions of the muscle. CONCLUSIONS: Although multiple injections of bupivacaine and bupivacaine combined with hyaluronidase significantly increased the percentage of muscle cells injured, total destruction of the orbicularis oculi muscle was never seen. Neural cell adhesion molecule was a good marker for the quantification of the regenerating muscle fibers. It is proposed that the tight fasciculation of the orbicularis oculi muscle may play a role in preventing access of the local anesthetic to the individual muscle fibers. This demonstrates the relative clinical safety of local anesthetic injection into the eyelid.
Animal Models of Human Behaviour

Animal models should be viewed only as generating hypotheses about human behaviour, because there are differences between animal and human behaviour as well as similarities. There are two ways that gene-based behavioural variants of animals can be used for this. The first way is in identifying and mapping genes with effects on human behaviour. This is considered for genes with effects on alcohol consumption, tolerance and withdrawal in mice. The second way is in developing hypotheses about the biological causes of human behaviour. This is considered for the role of the cyclic amp response element-binding protein (CREB) gene and protein in learning and memory of a mollusc, fruitflies and mice. CREB is a transcription factor. The success and relevance of these and other gene-based animal models of human behaviour depends on the occurrence of homologous genes in animals and humans and on the occurrence of similar biological mechanism for the animal and human behaviour. Key Concepts: Animal and humans are both similar and different biologically and behaviourally. Gene-based animal models of human behaviour may be due to homologous genes acting on homologous behaviours or to homologous genes acting on analogous behaviours. Gene-based animal models of human behaviour are best considered as hypothesis generators. Animal models generate hypotheses as to which genes may be involved in a human behaviour and how to find those genes from either comparative gene maps or molecular similarity. Animal models generate hypotheses as to the developmental, molecular, cellular or physiological effects of a gene on human behaviour. Keywords: animal models; alcohol and alcoholism; learning and memory; gene homology; gene mapping; gene effects; aplysia; fruitflies; mice
Presenting characteristics of trisomy 8 as the primary cytogenetic abnormality associated with childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A pediatric oncology group (POG) study (8600/8493)

Although trisomy 8 is the single most common numerical abnormality in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), relatively few cases with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and trisomy 8 have been reported. We report the clinical and laboratory features of seven children with ALL and trisomy 8 as the sole cytogenetic abnormality and review nine similar cases from the literature. Among the children studied by the Pediatric Oncology Group (POG) with newly diagnosed ALL, only 0.3% had trisomy 8 as the sole abnormality. Four of our patients had T-cell ALL and three had early pre-B ALL. Presenting clinical features were typical for the respective immunophenotypes. Six of the seven children achieved complete remission. Our study suggest that trisomy 8 is an infrequent, recurring abnormality among children with ALL, which appears to be associated with a T-cell immunophenotype.
Molecular memory by reversible translocation of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II.

Synaptic plasticity is thought to be a key process for learning, memory and other cognitive functions of the nervous system. The initial events of plasticity require the conversion of brief electrical signals into alterations of the biochemical properties of synapses that last for much longer than the initial stimuli. Here we show that a regulator of synaptic plasticity, calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIα (CaMKII), sequentially translocates to postsynaptic sites, undergoes autophosphorylation and gets trapped for several minutes until its dissociation is induced by secondary autophosphorylation and phosphatase 1 action. Once dissociated, CaMKII shows facilitated translocation for several minutes. This suggests that trapping of CaMKII by its targets and priming of CaMKII translocation may function as biochemical memory mechanisms that change the signaling capacity of synapses.
Logic Machine Architecture: Inference Mechanisms

Logic Machine Architecture (LMA) is a layered implementation of theorem-proving tools. The kernel of formula storage, retrieval, and manipulation primitives (layers 0 and 1) is described elsewhere[2]. The layer described here (layer 2) contains resolution- and equality-based inference rules, subsumption, and demodulation. It is designed to provide all of the tools required to create a theorem-prover with minimal effort. Although LMA is currently implemented in Pascal, an interface to LISP will be included in the original release. This paper includes the design principles and techniques used in layer 2, as well as two simple theorem provers which illustrate the services of layer 2 — one written in LISP and the other in Pascal.
Multi-species sequence comparison reveals dynamic evolution of the elastin gene that has involved purifying selection and lineage-specific insertions/deletions

The elastin gene (ELN) is implicated as a factor in both supravalvular aortic stenosis (SVAS) and Williams Beuren Syndrome (WBS), two diseases involving pronounced complications in mental or physical development. Although the complete spectrum of functional roles of the processed gene product remains to be established, these roles are inferred to be analogous in human and mouse. This view is supported by genomic sequence comparison, in which there are no large-scale differences in the ~1.8 Mb sequence block encompassing the common region deleted in WBS, with the exception of an overall reversed physical orientation between human and mouse. Conserved synteny around ELN does not translate to a high level of conservation in the gene itself. In fact, ELN orthologs in mammals show more sequence divergence than expected for a gene with a critical role in development. The pattern of divergence is non-conventional due to an unusually high ratio of gaps to substitutions. Specifically, multi-sequence alignments of eight mammalian sequences reveal numerous non-aligning regions caused by species-specific insertions and deletions, in spite of the fact that the vast majority of aligning sites appear to be conserved and undergoing purifying selection. The pattern of lineage-specific, in-frame insertions/deletions in the coding exons of ELN orthologous genes is unusual and has led to unique features of the gene in each lineage. These differences may indicate that the gene has a slightly different functional mechanism in mammalian lineages, or that the corresponding regions are functionally inert. Identified regions that undergo purifying selection reflect a functional importance associated with evolutionary pressure to retain those features.
Frye, Frye, Again: The Past, Present, and Future of the General Acceptance Test

Part I of this paper briefly reviews the history of the Frye rule from its origins in 1923 to its demise in federal court in Daubert in 1993. This section focuses especially on how Frye, a rule that for decades applied almost exclusively in criminal cases, came to be the focal point of the controversy over the admissibility of scientific evidence in toxic tort cases in the early 1990s. Part II of this paper discusses the development of the Frye test since 1993. Following the lead of federal courts operating under Daubert's broad gatekeeper mandate, Frye jurisdictions are increasingly applying their tests for the admissibility of expert evidence to civil cases, especially toxic tort cases. However, Frye jurisdictions are divided regarding whether the general acceptance test applies primarily to the expert's general methodologies or must be applied to the expert's conclusions. Recently, several courts have followed Joiner's lead, and instead of focusing on the methodologies/conclusions distinction have scrutinized experts' reasoning process. Meanwhile, Frye jurisdictions also must decide whether to follow the lead of federal courts applying Kumho Tire and apply Frye to non-scientific evidence, especially social science evidence. Thus far, few Frye courts have done so. One alternative adopted by some courts is to apply Frye only to novel scientific evidence, but to subject social science evidence to a separate reliability test under state versions of Federal Rule of Evidence 702. Part III of this article concludes that case law under Frye is slowly converging with Daubert jurisprudence. Rather than allowing this process to continue haphazardly and inconsistently, with all the awkwardness that shoehorning the Frye general acceptance test into Daubert-Joiner-Kumho reliability precedents entails, state legislatures should enact state versions of new Federal Rule of Evidence 702, which explicitly adopts the Daubert trilogy.
Nearly ideal Schottky contacts of n-InP

Nearly ideal Schottky contacts were realized on n-InP by oxide-free surface cleaning techniques. Current-voltage (I-V) and capacitance-voltage (C-V) characteristics of the metal-semiconductor (MS) diodes are presented for the temperature range of 100 to 300 K. The current transport mechanism is found to be dominated by thermionic emission (TE) rather than thermionic field emission (TFE) theory. The ideality factor, n, is nearly constant in the temperature range of 150 to 300 K. The superior behavior of the diodes, such as ideal electrical characteristics, n values of around 1.01, and linear 1/C/sup 2/-V plots, is attributed to the preservation of the surface integrity and the reduction of the interface states. >
Ultrasound of the horizontal rectus muscle insertion sites: implications in preoperative assessment of strabismus.

PURPOSE To determine the reproducibility and accuracy of ultrasonographic (US) measurements of distances between the corneoscleral limbus and the insertion site of the medial (MR) or lateral rectus (LR) muscle compared with intraoperative measurements in patients with strabismus. METHODS One eye in each of 17 patients with postoperative secondary strabismus caused by over- or undercorrected eso- and exotropia and one eye of each of 19 patients with previously untreated strabismus underwent five repeated measurements by high-resolution ultrasonography of the distance from the corneoscleral limbus to the muscle insertion and three actual intraoperative measurements. Reproducibility, expressed as the coefficient of variation, accuracy (relative error) of US measurements, and the agreement with intraoperative measurements were assessed. RESULTS The coefficients of variation for US data were 2.02% and 3.18% for the MR and 7.33% and 11.77% for the LR, in the surgical and untreated groups, respectively. The relative error was 6.15% +/- 8.14% (mean +/- SD) and 3.66% +/- 12.83% for the MR muscle, and 12.21% +/- 10.66% and -7.69% +/- 7.83% for the LR muscle, in the surgical and untreated groups, respectively. The 95% limits of agreement (mean +/- 2 SD) between the US and intraoperative measurements were 0.65 +/- 1.82 and 0.15 +/- 1.42 mm for the MR muscle, and 1.12 +/- 2.01 and -0.49 +/- 0.98 mm for the LR muscle, in the surgical and untreated groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate good reliability and accuracy of US readings and suggest a potential usefulness in preoperative assessment of patients with strabismus with surgical failure and missing preoperative clinical data.
Maximum likelihood estimation for mixtures

This paper studies maximum likelihood estimation of mixing probabilities ρk, k ≥ l, when the data have a density of the form g = Σpkfk for known densities fk. An application to the shock model of Esary, Marshall and Proschan (1973) is considered in some detail. A simulation study which compares the maximum likelihood estimator to other available estimators for the case of finite mixtures is summarized. Dans cet article nons etudions l'estimation par la methode du maximum de vraisemblance des probabilites pk k ≥ 1, quand l'echantillon a une densitee g = Σpkfk ou les fk sont des densites connues. Une application de cette technique d'estimation au “shoch model” de Esary. Marshall and Proschan 1973 est preesentee. La derniere section contient les grandes lignes d'une etude de Monte Carlo comparant l'estimateur du maximum de vraisemblance avec d'autres estimateurs obtenus si on suppose que seulement un nombre fixe de pk est non nul.
Optimization of Cell Disruption for Alfalfa Leaf Protein Concentration (Pro‐Xan) Production

Leaf protein concentrate (Pro-Xan) production requires cell maceration for protein release. Alfalfa cell rupture was studied with a commercial scale vertical hammer mill with respect to feed rate, hammer-wall clearance, type and number of hammers, agitation rate, energy input, and juice recycle. Degree of cell rupture was measured by comparing the amount of true protein nitrogen liberated by cell maceration to that present in the raw material. Degree of cell rupture, degree of cell rupture per unit of energy input, and mass of protein released were optimized independently with respect to operating parameters by the linear programming technique known as the Simplex method.
Classification and identification of marine mammals by their click signatures

In this paper, the author presents recent findings of applying passive Broadband Bionic Sonar technique to same data files with marine mammal "clicks". Using a resonance detection technique, a number of data files with mammal clicks were analyzed. From these data files, many unique mammal "click" signatures were observed. These results seem to indicate that individual marine mammals can be classified and possibly identified.
Exogenous endophthalmitis initially treated without systemic antibiotics.

Purpose: In 1987, the authors reported the successful eradication of infection in 16 patients with culture-proven acute exogenous bacterial endophthalmitis using intravitreal but no systemic antibiotics. They retrospectively reviewed additional consecutive cases since then to determine if the initial omission of systemic antibiotics remained reasonable. Methods: Twenty patients had culture-proven endophthalmitis. Four patients initially received systemic antibiotics for orbital cellulitis (2 patients), prevention of a possible scleral buckle infection (1 patient), and ascending cholangitis (1 patient). The remaining 16 patients were treated initially with intravitreal antibiotics only. Findings: Three of these additional 16 patients ultimately required systemic antibiotics for orbital cellulitis (1 patient), infectious scleritis (1 patient), and prevention of central nervous system infection with Neisseria meningitidis (1 patient). Only in one patient who had a neglected endophthalmitis and in whom an orbital cellulitis ultimately developed were we unable to clear the intraocular infection. In the overall series of 32 patients, cultures yielded staphylococcal species in 16 eyes, gram-positive bacilli in 3, streptococcal infection in 5, gram-negative cocci in 1, and gram-negative bacilli in 7. Half of the 14 specimens (1 aqueous and 13 vitreal) collected at the time of 16 reinjections in 13 eyes yielded organisms. Half (16/32) of the eyes attained visual acuity of 20/40 or better; 87.5% (28/32) attained visual acuity of 20/400 or better. Conclusions: Therapy with intravitreal antibiotics without systemic antibiotics is reasonable, unless the infection has extended (or is at risk to extend) beyond the globe. Such evidence includes an elevated temperature or leukocyte count, corneal ring abscess, proptosis, loss of extraocular movements, scleral abscesses or infectious scleritis, and, perhaps, the presence of a scleral buckle.
Electrochemical Principles for Active Control of Liquids on Submillimeter Scales

Electrochemical methods were combined with redox-active surfactants to actively control the motions and positions of aqueous and organic liquids on millimeter and smaller scales. Surfactant species generated at one electrode and consumed at another were used to manipulate the magnitude and direction of spatial gradients in surface tension and guide droplets of organic liquids through simple fluidic networks. Solid microparticles could be transported across unconfined surfaces. Electrochemical control of the position of surface-active species within aqueous films of liquid supported on homogeneous surfaces was used to direct these films into periodic arrays of droplets with deterministic shapes and sizes.
Nuclear data sheets for A = 202

Abstract Nuclear structure data from reaction and radioactivity studies on A = 202 nuclei arecompiled, and adopted level properties and decay schemes are presented. The internal-conversion and lifetime data are compared with theoretical predictions to deduce gamma-ray multipolarities and level spins and parities. The level of our knowledge about the structure of these nuclei is found to have changed relatively little since the previous (1962) compilation. The present compilation includes all data available through February 1971.
Bone healing after amputation of mouse digits and newt limbs: Implications for induced regeneration in mammals

Postamputational healing was compared in nonregenerating and regenerating animals to determine whether bone healing might interfere with a regenerative response in mice. More than 150 mouse toes and 100 newt limbs were examined at the light microscope level. Stages of normal bone healing with approximate times of occurrence were established. Major differences in healing of these two species were seen. The periosteum produced hyaline cartilage, woven bone, and chondroid bone in mice, but only hyaline cartilage in newts. The endosteum produced woven bone in mice but no new growth in newts. Dead bone persisted in mice but was removed in newts. The marrow cavity became sealed in mice but remained open in newts. Despite these differences both animals produced skeletal tissue distal to the amputation plane. Woven bone formed distal to the amputation plane of mice. Cartilage formed distal to the amputation plane of newts, but cartilage was never seen distal to the plane of mice. Results of previous studies reveal that cartilage can be formed distal to the amputation plane of experimentally treated mice. Thus, although it does not regenerate, mouse bone is capable of producing, distal to the amputation plane, the type of skeletal tissue which appears at that location during an epimorphic regenerative response. This observation, in combination with other experimental results, indicates that both skeletal and soft tissues at the amputation site of treated mammals can resemble comparable tissues of newt limbs at an early stage of regeneration.
The pulmonary toxicity of an ash sample from the MT. St. Helens Volcano.

Volcanic ash was collected from the Moses Lake region of Washington State after the 18 May 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens. The ash was tested in a short-term bioassay system using hamsters exposed...
Kinetics of RNA polymerase initiation and pausing at the lambda late gene promoter in vivo.

We have measured the kinetics of transcription initiation and pausing byEscherichia coliRNA polymerase (RNAP) at the bacteriophage lambda late promoter, pR′ , in growing cells. RNAP initiating transcription from pR′ pauses after transcribing 16 or 17 nucleotides, and escape from this pause could in theory be the rate-limiting step in promoter function. We tested this hypothesis by analyzing pausing and non-pausing variants of both the pR′ promoter segment and a more active mutant version of pR′ ; we measured reporter gene expression and used KMnO4footprinting to measure directly occupancy of the promoter and pause sites in growing cells. We find that RNAP paused at +16/+17 does not limit expression of pR′ . However, RNAP paused at +16/+17 does limit expression from the more active promoter by impeding formation of open complex. Therefore, the activity of the late gene regulatory protein Q to suppress the early pause, in addition to its antitermination activity, is unlikely to be important in phage gene expression.
Isotopic and chemical investigations of Fe (III) reduction by Shewanella putrefaciens strain 200R

Experiments were conducted using the Fe+3-reducing bacterium Shewanella putrefaciens strain 200R to determine the stable carbon isotope fractionation during dissimilatory Fe (III) reduction and associated lactate oxidation at circum-neutral pH. Previous studies used equilibrium fractionation factors (~14.3‰) between bacterial biomass and synthesized fatty acids to identify the predominant carbon fixation pathways for some of the most frequently isolated microbes including Shewanella under anaerobic conditions. We investigated the carbon isotope disproportionation among organic carbon substrate (lactate), biomass and respired carbon dioxide at the lag to stationary phase of the growth curve. Ferric citrate and sodium lactate were used as electron acceptor and donor, respectively. Sodium bicarbonate or potassium phosphate was used as buffering agent. Iron (II), iron (III), dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and carbon isotope ratios were measured for both bicarbonate- and phosphate-buffered systems. Carbon isotope ratio measurements were made on the respired CO2 (as DIC) and microbial biomass for both buffering conditions. The fraction of lactate consumed was estimated using DIC as a proxy and was verified by direct measurement using HPLC. Our result showed that bicarbonate-buffered system has an enhancing effect in the reduction process compared to the phosphate system. Both systems resulted in carbon isotope fractionations between the lactate substrate and DIC that could be modelled as a Rayleigh process. The biomass produced under both buffer conditions was depleted on average by ~2‰ relative to the substrate and enriched by ~5‰ relative to the DIC. This translates to an overall isotopic fractionation of 10–12‰ between the biomass and respired CO2 in both buffering systems.
Glucocorticoid receptor IB: mediator of anti-inflammatory and teratogenic functions of both glucocorticoids and phenytoin.

Abstract We studied the glucocorticoid receptor complexes of pulmonary and thymic cytosols of female A J and CD-1 mice and of hepatoma G2 cells by two column-chromatographic systems, using both [3H]dexamethasone (DEX) and [3H]phenytoin (DPH) as ligands. Three DNA-cellulose adsorbable [3H]DEX-receptor complexes were separated in each system. Molecular sieving gave a 7-, a 5.4-, and a 3.5-nm complex (Stokes radii), and DEAE-Sephadex A-50 chromatography gave a complex eluting in the wash, one at 0.14 m KCl, and one at 0.20 m KCl by a KCl gradient. DPH blocked the binding of the 7- and 3.5-nm, wash, and 0.14 m KCl [3H]DEX complexes. Only two DNA-cellulose adsorbable [3H]DPH complexes, each blocked by DEX, were obtained in each system: a 7- and a 3.5-nm, a wash, and a 0.14 m KCl complex. Thus, there is a common receptor for both DPH and DEX. This receptor has two properties which distinguish it from the 5.4-nm DEX-specific receptor: (i) it binds with a variety of steroids other than glucocorticoids and DPH, and (ii) it rebinds new [3H]DEX or [3H]DPH after loss of ligand during chromatographic separation. These results indicate that DPH binds to receptor IB and not to receptor II of Litwack. [G. Litwack, 1976, in Glutathion: Metabolism and Function (Arias, I. M., and Jakoby, W. B., eds.), pp. 285–299, Raven Press, New York] . We have also found that hepatoma G2 cells have only receptor II. DPH affects neither the induction of tyrosine aminotransferase by DEX nor the basal level of this enzyme in these cells. Moreover, neither DEX nor DPH inhibits the release of [3H]arachidonic acid prelabeled in these cells, as they do in thymocytes which have the common receptor. Thus, it appears that glucocorticoid receptor IB binds DEX and DPH as glucocorticoid agonists mediating the anti-inflammatory and teratogenic action of these drugs, while receptor II apparently is responsible for the induction of tyrosine aminotransferase by DEX.
Ventroloquial and Locatable Vocalizations in Birds

The acuity of acoustically evoked orientation was studied in great horned owls and red-tailed hawks to recordings of passerine alarm and mobbing calls. Video taped records of the orientation response of captive birds under semi-naturalistic conditions revealed that the localization of hawk alarm calls was inaccurate and the call appeared to actively disorient the subject. In contrast, the mobbing call was readily localized. The results suggest that the hawk alarm signal may have evolved as an evasive ploy, and its ventroloquial character may be dependent upon the pressure-gradient characteristics of the avian auditory system. Zusammenfassung Im Gegensatz zu ihrer Reaktion auf Has-Rufe orten Amerikanische Uhus und Rotschwanzbussard die Wiedergabe von Luftfeind-Alarmrufen ungenau. Vom Videoband analysierte Reaktionen gefangener Vogel, die unter halbnaturlichen Bedingungen beobachtet wurden, ergaben, das der mittlere Ortungsfehler auf Hasrufe bei 51,5° lag, der entsprechende Fehler auf Alarm-rufe aber bei 124,5°. Der Fehler war am Anfang des Alarmrufes kleiner als nach dem voll vorgespielten Ruf. Wie es scheint, hat der Luftfeind-Alarmruf (anders als andere Alarmrufe) Tarn-Eigenschaften. Verantwortlich dafur konnte seine Frequenzstruktur sein, zusammen mit der Druckgradienten-Charakteristik des Gehorsystems der Greifvogel.
An economic theory of governability: Choosing policy and optimizing performance

When collective violence occurs, a management and decision-making crisis exists for governmental authorities. We examine this situation with an economic model of governability within states. Political decision-makers wish to minimize two goals that enter as components of the government's performance function: political violence and revolutionary change of regime. We further assume that authorities have only a scarce supply of two policy instruments available with which to respond to violence: the accommodation and repression of the demands of their oppositions. Moreover, these elites confront a number of structural determinants of violence and revolution. After laying out these basic components of the model, we propose several theorems about the causes of political performance and about the regime's decision-calculus. These are then proven through a comparative static analysis of the model and by optimizing the performance function. The deductions indicate that the regime's policy instruments produce contradictory effects on the targetted levels of violence and revolution. In general, both accommodation and repression of opponents will, up to some point, reduce violence (an intended consequence) but increase revolution (an unintended consequence). Thus, upon close examination the goals of political decision-makers, to simultaneously minimize both violence and revolution, turn out to be inconsistent. Authorities therefore select an optimal level of performance by balancing the costs and benefits that come from accommodating and repressing their opponents.
Epidermal Growpi Factor: Its Relevance to Dermatology

AbstractSince epidermal growth factor (EGF) and related growth factors have been cloned and are available for clinical trials, the field of peptide growth factors is of general clinical interest. All known effects of EGF are mediated by its binding and activating specific membrane receptors, which contain a tyrosine protein kinase intrinsic to the EGF receptor. In psoriasis and other proliferative skin conditions, levels of EGF receptors are increased because of persistent expression proportional to the degree of abnormal differentiation. What factors cause these EGF receptor abnormalities is unknown, but factors other than EGF, such as transforming growth factors (TGFs), may regulate EGF receptors. For example, in a patient with malignant melanoma the sign of Leser-Trelat, malignant acanthosis nigricans and eruptive achrochordons, was due to changes in EGF/TGFa metabolism. Therefore, growth factor interactions may play a controlling role in proliferative skin diseases, wound healing, cancers, and paraneo...
Identification of dual conformers of Coumarin 153 under jet-cooled conditions

Abstract Coumarin 153, examined under supersonic jet conditions, is found to exist in two conformations. These have the same rotational coherence signals and fluorescence decay times, and they show similar spectral shifts for two different attachment sites in the presence of a single water molecule. However, their vibronic spectra in the low-frequency region are significantly different. Semi-empirical calculations (AM1) suggest structure assignments corresponding to syn and anti conformations of the saturated rings. Coumarin 337, which has a similar ring structure, also reveals two conformers having similar properties to those of Coumarin 153.
Modulations of Starch Structure with Potential to Influence Health

Starch is typically a mixture of essentially linear amylose and highly branched amylopectin. The difference is in the nature of the covalent bonding, with multiple branch points emanating from 1–6 glycosidic linkages of amylopectin. Equally important as the chemical structure is the physical structure: single helices and double helices exist and may be the basis for crystallinity. Starch chemical structure has been modulated through breeding: high-amylose maize starch is well studied with respect to its potential to influence health. Its altered chemical structure leads to differences in the physical structure as well. Physical treatments can also lead to altered physical structure. Modulation of chemical and/or physical structures may influence health by altering the rate and extent of starch digestion in the small intestine. Undigested starch (resistant starch) reaches the large intestine where it is fermented to potentially beneficial microbial by-products that are absorbed there.
Inositol metabolism in plants

When detached flowers or isolated pistils of Lilium longiflorum are given myoinositol-U-14C or -2-3H as dilute solution through the severed pedicel, label is quickly distributed by the vascular system. In the case of pistils, a pattern of labeling in ovary, style, and stigma is obtained which indicates that products of myoinositol metabolism are utilized in the biosynthesis of exudate (secretion product) of the stigma and style as well as for components of pistil cell walls. Pollination had no discernible effect on labeling pattern.
Changes in endometrial vascularity during implantation and pregnancy in the rabbit.

Sixty-five pregnant rabbits were autopsied at different stages of pregnancy 2 to 28 days post coitum (p.c.). The vascularity of the endometrium and placenta was studied using intervascular injections of neoprene latex cast, by clearing injected specimens and by the study of frozen and paraffin embedded sections. At 6 days p.c. the implantation sites were identified; the endometrium at the inter-conceptus was similar to that during pseudopregnancy. The subepithelial capillary plexus increased in thickness, reaching a maximum at 6–11 days p.c. Marked endometrial branching occurred 10 days p.c. After 15 days p.c. the endometrium formed a thin irregular layer. Most of the endometrial epithelial cells showed cytoplasmic projections at 6 days p.c. and were transformed into syncytial epithelial cells 8 days p.c. At 24–28 days p.c. the conceptus and interconceptus areas were unidentifiable. The size of the obplacental folds diminished at 6 days p.c., and the placental folds increased in size after 7 days p.c. At 9 days p.c. blastocyst attachment was observed histologically. The surface capillaries were dilated and changed into surface sinuses. Networks of blood pathways were established; the pathways connected with large veins in the core of the fold. The veins extended to the hemorrhage areas representing the origin of fetal placenta. The fetal vessels were recognizable near the base of the fetal placenta at 11 days p.c. The maternal circulation in the fetal placenta started before the fetal vessels reached the fetal placenta. At 10 days p.c. the perivascular sheath of the maternal vessels, in the placental folds, developed markedly as to replace most of the connective tissue. With advancing pregnancy the number of vessels within the maternal placenta decreased and some vessels increased in size. At 13 days p.c. the zone of separation was formed. At 15 days p.c. the lobes were formed in the fetal placenta; all placental elements were established anatomically. Subsequent stages were characterized by developmental changes in the fetal placenta and degenerative changes in the maternal placenta.
Review article: The prevention and reversal of hepatic fibrosis in autoimmune hepatitis.

Summary Background Immunosuppressive treatment of autoimmune hepatitis can prevent or reverse hepatic fibrosis, but these anti-fibrotic effects are inconsistent secondary gains. Aim To describe the anti-fibrotic effects of current therapies for autoimmune hepatitis, discuss the pathogenic mechanisms of hepatic fibrosis that might be targeted by anti-fibrotic interventions, indicate the non-invasive diagnostic tests of hepatic fibrosis that must be validated in autoimmune hepatitis and to suggest promising treatment opportunities. Methods Studies cited in PubMed from 1972 to 2013 for autoimmune hepatitis, hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, anti-fibrotic therapy and non-invasive tests of hepatic fibrosis were selected. Results Hepatic fibrosis improves in 53–57% of corticosteroid-treated patients with autoimmune hepatitis; progressive fibrosis slows or is prevented in 79%; and cirrhosis may be reversed. Progressive hepatic fibrosis is associated with liver inflammation, and the inability to fully suppress inflammatory activity within 12 months is associated with progression to cirrhosis (54%) and death or need for liver transplantation (15%). Liver tissue examination remains the gold standard for assessing hepatic fibrosis, but laboratory and radiological tests may be useful non-invasive methods to measure the fibrotic response. Severe liver inflammation can confound radiological assessments, and the preferred non-invasive test in autoimmune hepatitis is uncertain. Individualised treatment adjustments and adjunctive anti-fibrotic therapies are poised for study in this disease. Conclusions The prevention and reversal of hepatic fibrosis are achievable objectives in autoimmune hepatitis. Strategies that evaluate individualised therapies adjusted to the rapidity and completeness of the inflammatory response, and the use of adjunctive anti-fibrotic interventions, must be evaluated.
Evaluation of a Model Adaptable to Satellite Data for Estimating Daily Gross Photosynthesis

Abstract A model for instantaneous gross canopy photosynthesis, considering sunlit and shaded leaves, variation of maximum rate of leaf photosynthesis within the canopy, and a solution of the radiative transfer equation for propagation of direct and diffuse photosynthetically active radiation, is numerically integrated in space (angular variation of radiances and depth within the canopy) and time (diurnal cycle) to obtain daily total photosynthesis for varied incident irradiances and leaf and canopy characteristics. These numerical results are used to evaluate an analytic model for daily photosynthesis that requires daily total irradiance, recognizing that readily available global satellite data provide daily total irradiance rather than diurnal values of direct and diffuse irradiances. The analytic model is derived by considering the light response function for leaf photosynthesis to be a rectangular hyperbola. The evaluation was done by using field observations for 27 canopies representing four cultivated and seven uncultivated species and having a leaf area index between 0.6 and 5.9. The evaluation gives a mean maximum uncertainty of 32% for the analytic equation. The magnitude of uncertainty can be reduced by knowing the diffuse fraction of incident radiation.
A 13-week vapor inhalation study of 3,3-dimethyl-2-butanol in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Four groups of male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed for 13 weeks to 3,3-dimethyl-2-butanol (PA) at concentrations of 0.00, 0.20, 1.00 or 5.00 mg/l (1 mg/l = 240 ppm). Exposures were for 6 hr per day, 5 days per week with sacrifices at 7 and 13 weeks of exposure, and at 4 weeks after exposure. The test animals were evaluated for abnormalities in physiology, behaviour, clinical laboratory parameters, and gross and microscopic morphology. No abnormalities were detected in electrocardiograms, respiratory indices, spontaneous activity, passive avoidance activity and open-field behaviour. Clinical signs related to PA exposure included alopecia, ataxia and lacrimation. There were no biologically significant between-group differences in body-weights during the study. The clinical laboratory data demonstrated a 30% increase in serum cholesterol and bilirubin at 7 weeks in high-dose males and an increase in urea nitrogen in intermediate and high-dose males at 13 weeks. There were no abnormalities in hematologic or coagulation parameters. At necropsy there were no significant gross abnormalities; however, examination of organ weights revealed enlarged kidneys in high-dose male rats at 13 weeks, enlarged ovaries in high-dose female rats at 13 weeks, and microscopic study of tissue sections revealed minimal to mild renal tubular injury in high and possibly intermediate dose males at several sacrifices. These findings suggest that the primary target organ of PA, when given by inhalation, is the kidney in male rats and possibly the ovary in female rats. The renal changes in the high-dose males were not fully reversible during the recovery period. Because abnormalities were also observed in the intermediate-dose males, the no-observed-effect level is 0.2 mg/I. The renal lesions were morphologically similar to those reported in male rats exposed to hydrocarbons and may be unique to male rats. It must be emphasized that PA, like most alcohols, is not highly toxic by the inhalation route.
Nonlinear calculations for BL Her stars

From the linear and nonlinear calculations it is evident that bumps occur in the velocity and light curves when there is a near resonance between ..pi../sub 0/ and ..pi../sub 2/. In addition, these resonance bumps do not seem to depend on the limit cycle amplitude, and cannot be attributed to the surface shock encountered when models are driven to excessively high amplitudes.
Pericardial flap interposition for the definitive management of recurrent tracheoesophageal fistula

From 1974 to 1988, six children with fistula recurrence following primary tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) repair have been managed at our hospital. Reclosure of the fistula with pleural flap interposition was used as the initial corrective procedure in five patients, with an 80% incidence of second TEF recurrences. Due to these discouraging results, we have abandoned this technique and instead favor fistula reclosure with interposition of a pedicle of vascularized pericardium between the esophageal and tracheal suture lines. The pericardial pedicle is easy to mobilize, effectively isolates the tracheal and esophageal suture lines, and eliminates the often difficult task of finding sufficient pleural tissue for fistula interposition in small infants. Furthermore, the vascularized pedicle serves as a template for the ingrowth of neomucosa from the existing esophageal mucosa should an anastomotic leak occur. Since adopting this approach, we have used this technique on four children, three of whom had second recurrences after pleural interposition, and have had no evidence of recurrent fistula formation at follow-up ranging from 2 to 6 years. With at least a 20% incidence of second recurrences reported following conventional management with fistula closure and pleural interposition, we believe use of a pericardial flap in the management of the recurrent TEF is the most appropriate surgical procedure.
ELECTRIC PHASE ANGLE OF CELL MEMBRANES

From the theory of an electric network containing any combination of resistances and a single variable impedance element having a constant phase angle independent of frequency, it is shown that the graph of the terminal series reactance against the resistance is an arc of a circle with the position of the center depending upon the phase angle of the variable element. If it be assumed that biological systems are equivalent to such a network, the hypotheses are supported at low and intermediate frequencies by data on red blood cells, muscle, nerve, and potato. For some tissues there is a marked divergence from the circle at high frequencies, which is not interpreted.
Autonomic nervous system evaluation in allergic rhinitis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relationship between allergic rhinitis (AR) and autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction.METHODS: Quantitative ANS testing was completed in 10 patients with AR confirm...
Theoretical investigations into the intermediacy of chlorinated vinylcobalamins in the reductive dehalogenation of chlorinated ethylenes

The reductive dehalogenation of perchloroethylene and trichloroethylene by vitamin B12 produces ∼95% (Z)-dichloroethylene (DCE) and small amounts of (E)-DCE and 1,1-DCE, which are further reduced to ethylene and ethane. Chloroacetylene and acetylene have been detected as intermediates, but not dichloroacetylene. Organocobalamins (RCbls) have been proposed to be intermediates in this process. Density functional theory based approaches were employed to investigate the properties of chlorinated vinylcobalamins and chlorinated vinyl radicals. They reveal that all vinyl radicals studied have reduction potentials more positive (E° ≥ −0.49) than that of the CoII/CoI couple of B12 (E° = −0.61 V), indicating that any (chlorinated) vinyl radicals formed in the reductive dehalogenation process should be reduced to the corresponding anions by cob(I)alamin in competition with their combination with Co(II) to yield the corresponding vinylcobalamins. The computed Co−C homolytic bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs) of the...
Obstructive nephropathy in the neonatal rat is attenuated by epidermal growth factor

Obstructive nephropathy in the neonatal rat is attenuated by epidermal growth factor. Background Obstructive nephropathy is a primary cause of renal failure in infancy. Chronic unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in the neonatal rat results in reduced renal expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF), renal tubular epithelial (RTE) cell apoptosis and interstitial fibrosis. We wished to determine whether these changes could be prevented by exogenous administration of EGF. Methods Thirty-three Sprague-Dawley rats underwent UUO within the first 48hours of life, and received daily injections of either EGF (0.1mg/kg/day) or saline (control) for the following seven days, after which obstructed and intact opposite kidneys were removed for study. These were compared to 11 sham-operated rats that received either no injections, EGF injections, or saline injections. Renal cell proliferation was determined by proliferating cell nuclear antigen, apoptosis was measured by the TUNEL technique, and the distribution of vimentin, clusterin, transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF- β 1), and α -smooth muscle actin were determined by immunohistochemistry. Tubular dilation, tubular atrophy, and interstitial collagen deposition were quantitated by histomorphometry. Results Compared to controls, EGF treatment increased RTE cell proliferation in the obstructed kidney by 76%, decreased apoptosis by 80%, and reduced vimentin, clusterin and TGF- β 1 immunostaining (all P P Conclusions We conclude that EGF stimulates RTE cell proliferation and maturation and reduces apoptosis in the neonatal rat kidney subjected to chronic UUO. These effects may contribute to the reduction in tubular dilation, tubular atrophy, and interstitial fibrosis. By preserving renal development, administration of EGF attenuates the renal injury resulting from chronic UUO.
Spatial Characteristics of Regional Wildfire Frequencies in Intermountain West Grass-Dominated Communities

Understanding the environmental factors that influence spatial patterns of rangeland wildfires facilitates both fire and land management decisions. I used discriminant analysis to examine ignition frequency of lightning-initiated fires in grass-dominated communities in the Intermountain West between 1980 and 1994, then mapped regional fire frequencies to illustrate spatial patterns. Two canonical discriminant functions effectively separate groups of high, medium, and low ignition frequencies, based on climate conditions and fuel characteristics. Regions of highest frequency tend to have large elevational differences, more mesic climates, and less annual grass cover. Spatial patterns of ignition frequencies tend to reflect local topography, with higher frequencies west of 119° W. Expansion of exotic annual grasses throughout the region may be reducing differences in ignition frequency between regions of highest and lowest frequency.
Studies of cation-anion and cation-polymer association in poly(ethylene oxide) : Pb(CF3SO3)2 complexes

Solid polymer electrolytes consisting of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and Pb(CF3SO3) were investigated by vibrational (Raman and infrared) and 207Pb nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies. The vs(SO3) symmetric stretch and δ(CF3) deformation vibrational modes both yield information on cation–anion association effects, while the CH2 rocking mode is very sensitive to cation–polyether oxygen interactions. The free ion concentration decreases with increasing temperature, as commonly observed for many other polymer electrolyte systems. In the present case, the largest decrease occurs in the temperature interval between 60° and 70°C, coinciding with melting of the pure PEO phase in the material. However, significant changes in polymer segmental conformation are also observed beginning around 50°C. Both temperature ranges in which the vibrational results exhibit large changes (50–60° and 60–70°C) also show substantial but separate transformations of the 207Pb NMR chemical shift interaction, which is dominated by cation–oxygen association. Both spectroscopic methods, which are sensitive to dynamic processes occurring on vastly different time scales, are nevertheless consistent in demonstrating the presence of at least two steps in the transition between the low temperature, partially crystalline phase and the high temperature, amorphous phase.