cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interaction of methadone and pentobarbital on chained fixed-interval performance in pigeons.

Abstract The effects of methadone, pentobarbital, and their combination were examined in pigeons key pecking under a chained FR 3 (FI 30 sec) schedule of food presentation. The delivery of grain followed the completion of three 30-second fixed-interval components associated with different colored key lights. Intramuscular injections of methadone alone produced small response rate increases at low doses (0.25 and 0.50 mg/kg) and a dose-dependent decrease in key pecking rates at high doses (1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg). Pentobarbital (2, 4, and 8 mg/kg) produced a dose-dependent increase in response rates; 16 mg/kg pentobarbital markedly reduced or abolished responding. Combinations of these doses of methadone and pentobarbital produced increases in key pecking rates greater than the rate increases produced by methadone alone, and in four of the seven subjects, greater than the rate-increasing effects of pentobarbital alone. Changes in overall response rates were a function of changes in pause time (minutes from food delivery to the first key peck) and running response rates (total key pecks divided by session length minus pause time). Responding in the individual FI 30 sec components varied with the dose of methadone; doses greater than 0.25 mg/kg produced a dose-related decrease in key pecking rates in the initial component and small increases in the middle and terminal components. Pentobarbital (2, 4, and 8 mg/kg) produced large dose-related increases in key pecking rates in the initial and middle components. The largest increase in response rate was observed in the middle component after the combination of drugs was administered. Pentobarbital's rate-increasing effect under the chained schedule attenuated the rate-reducing effect of methadone when administered in combination.
Interpretation of current-voltage relationships for "active" ion transport systems: I. Steady-state reaction-kinetic analysis of class-I mechanisms.

This paper develops a simple reaction-kinetic model to describe electrogenic pumping and co- (or counter-) transport of ions. It uses the standard steady-state approach for cyclic enzyme- or carrier-mediated transport, but does not assume rate-limitation by any particular reaction step. Voltage-dependence is introduced, after the suggestion of Lauger and Stark (Biochim. Biophys. Acta 211:458–466, 1970), via a symmetric Eyring barrier, in which the charge-transit reaction constants are written ask 12=k 12 0 exp(zFΔΨ/2RT) andk 21=k 21 0 exp(−zFΔΨ/2RT). For interpretation of current-voltage relationships, all voltage-independent reaction steps are lumped together, so the model in its simplest form can be described as a pseudo-2-state model. It is characterized by the two voltage-dependent reaction constants, two lumped voltage-independent reaction constants (K 12,K 21), and two reserve factors (r i,r 0) which formally take account of carrier states that are indistinguishable in the current-voltage (I–V) analysis. The model generates a wide range ofI–V relationships, depending on the relative magnitudes of the four reaction constants, sufficient to describe essentially allI–V data now available on “active” ion-transport systems. Algebraic and numerical analysis of the reserve factors, by means of expanded pseudo-3-, 4-, and 5-state models, shows them to be bounded and not large for most combinations of reaction constants in the lumped pathway. The most important exception to this rule occurs when carrier decharging immediately follows charge transit of the membrane and is very fast relative to other constituent voltage-independent reactions. Such a circumstance generates kinetic equivalence of chemical and electrical gradients, thus providing a consistent definition of ion-motive forces (e.g., proton-motive force, PMF). With appropriate restrictions, it also yields both linear and log-linear relationships between net transport velocity and either membrane potential or PMF. The model thus accommodates many known properties of proton-transport systems, particularly as observed in “chemiosmotic” or energy-coupling membranes.
From acute ER stress to physiological roles of the Unfolded Protein Response.

When protein folding in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is disrupted by alterations in homeostasis in the ER lumen, eucaryotic cells activate a series of signal transduction cascades that are collectively termed the unfolded protein response (UPR). Here we summarize our current understanding of how the UPR functions upon acute and severe stress. We discuss the mechanism of UPR receptor activation, UPR signal transduction to translational and transcriptional responses, UPR termination, and UPR signals that activate upon irreversible damage. Further, we review recent studies that have revealed that UPR provides a wide spectrum of physiological roles. Each individual UPR subpathway provides a unique and specialized role in diverse developmental and metabolic processes. This is especially observed for professional secretory cells, such as plasma cells, pancreatic β cells, hepatocytes, and osteoblasts, where high-level secretory protein synthesis requires a highly evolved mechanism to properly fold, process, and secrete proteins. There is a growing body of data that suggest that different subpathways of the UPR are required throughout the entire life of eucaryotic organisms, from regulation of differentiation to induction of apoptosis.
Monogamy on the Street: A Mixed Methods Study of Homeless Men

In this study, we used a mixed methods approach to explore the determinants of relationship patterns and risky sex among homeless men living in downtown Los Angeles. This involved analysis of qualitative interviews focused on gender ideology and sexual events (n = 30) as well as structured interviews (n = 305) focused on homeless men’s sexual partners, sexual behaviors, and social networks. We found that men valued committed relationships but were frustrated by their lack of access to female partners (accentuated by the stigma attached to homeless males) and also by structural and logistical barriers to relationships. Some men reported monogamous relationships; such relationships were less likely with homeless or substance-using partners and more likely with partners central to men’s social networks.
The measurement of melt flow and melt stability

The melt flow of a plastic as measured by the standard method (ASTM D-1238) is at a high enough stress so that the flow is non-Newtonian. If the die in the plastometer is replaced by a nonstandard, tapered die of large orifice, a lower stress can be used and the flows are shown to be comparable to Newtonian viscosities measured in a cone and plate rheometer. Under these conditions the plastometer can be used as a sensitive measure of the melt stability of a plastic.
Prolonged psychotic states in borderline personality disorder

This paper reviews the literature concerning the phenomenology and duration of psychosis in borderline patients and presents empirical findings concerning a sample of eight borderline women with psychosis. Little work has yet been done to establish the duration of so called “transient psychotic episodes,” but the clinical consensus up to now has been that such episodes last less than two weeks. The patients in the current study experienced psychotic symptoms lasting between three weeks and four months. They were characterized by hysterical features, visual disturbances, and a possibile history of sexual trauma. The diagnostic and therapeutic implications of these prolonged psychotic episodes is discussed.
Advisory Fee Breakpoints: Guidance for the Post-Spitzer Era

Over the last several years, the level of fees charged by investment advisers to mutual fund clients and the adequacy of investment advisory contract reviews by mutual fund boards have been subject to a high degree of scrutiny. Critics have charged that advisory fees paid by mutual funds should be comparable to those paid by pension plans and other institutional clients, but, in practice, fees charged to mutual funds are often higher. In light of this increasing scrutiny, lawsuits, and recent SEC actions, mutual fund boards have been under pressure to negotiate reductions in advisory fees, and many fund boards have increasingly turned to advisory fee breakpoints, in addition to flat-fee cuts and fee waivers, to reduce advisory fees charged to fund shareholders. While advisory fee breakpoints are beneficial to mutual fund shareholders, empirical data discussed in this article demonstrate that fund boards have taken varied approaches in establishing them. The authors study this behavior through an examination of four Lipper fund categories—equity, fixed income, balanced, and international—between July 2004 and February 2005, a period of intense breakpoints adoption. The survey yields significant findings which include the rapid growth of advisory breakpoints among all fund types and fund families surveyed, an increase in the number of breakpoints in larger funds, the trend toward funds with breakpoints exhibiting higher current fees than non-breakpoint funds, and fee reductions triggered at significantly higher levels than present fund AUM for funds which introduced new breakpoints.
The TRMM Precipitation Radar's View of Shallow, Isolated Rain

Abstract The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) 2A23 convective–stratiform separation algorithm applied to the TRMM satellite's precipitation radar identifies shallow, isolated precipitation over much of the tropical oceans. The shallow, isolated rain elements dominate the outer fringes of the tropical rain area but give way to deeper, more organized convective systems and associated stratiform areas toward heavy-rain regions. The majority of the shallow, isolated radar echoes are classified as stratiform by version 5 of the 2A23 algorithm. Because the shallow, isolated echoes probably represent warm rain processes, they should be classified as convective. This reclassification leads to a more reasonable pattern of stratiform rain contribution across the Tropics.
Neutron-induced trapping levels in aluminum gallium arsenide

Deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) measurements have been performed on a variety of AlxGa1-xAs p-n junctions prior to and following a series of fast neutron irradiations at room temperature and subsequent isochronal anneals. In contrast with electron and proton irradiated GaAs, neutron irradiation produces a single, broad featureless DLTS band which is a majority carrier trap in both n and p type material. The characteristics of this neutron-induced trap are relatively independent of growth method, dopant type and concentration. In GaAs, the thermal emission energies of the trap are 0.58 to 0.68 eV depending on the particular junction. These energies increase with Al content to 0.94 eV at 20% Al. The trap introduction rate, which also increases with Al content, is 0.7 cm-1 in GaAs. Isochronal annealing to temperatures as high as 400‡C results in a smaller FWHM of the DLTS band, a shift in the peak to higher temperatures, and a modest decrease in magnitude. Above 400‡C the magnitude decreases rapidly, suggesting a similarity with the antisite defect, AsGa, which has been observed to anneal in this range.
Autoantigens in human neuroblastoma cells

Abstract Neuroblastoma cells are frequently used as targets in studies of autoimmune diseases of the nervous system. We examined the human neuroblastoma cell line, LAN-5, for the presence of autoantigens that react with naturally occurring autoantibodies in human sera. Antibodies to the HNK-1 and Gal(s1–3)GalNAc epitopes, which have been implicated in human autoimmune neuropathy and motor neuron disease, respectively, immunostained the surface of the neuroblastoma cells, and antibodies to the 200 kDa high molecular weight neurofilament protein (NFH) immunostained the cytoplasm and cell processes. The NHK-1 and Gal(s1–3)GalNAc epitopes were associated with several glycoprotein bands in Western blots of the neuroblastoma cells, and the HNK-1 epitope was also shared by a glycolipid which co-migrated with 3-sulfoglucuronyl paragloboside (SGPG) from peripheral nerve, indicating that SGPG is synthesized in neuronal cells. Northern blot analysis revealed a single RNA band of 4800 bp for NFH in normal brain but two RNA species of 4800 and 3800 bp in both neuroblastoma and adrenal cells, confirming their common origin. The neuroblastoma cells appear to contain antigens that bind to naturally occurring autoantibodies in human serum and might therefore be useful for detecting and investigating the effects of anti-neuronal antibodies. The antibody populations being investigated, however, should be distinguished from other autoantibodies which might be present in the patients' serum.
Reciprocal translocation 4;11 with both adjacent-1 segregants viable within a family

We describe a family carrying a balanced 4;11 translocation in which both adjacent-l segregants are viable. The proband had an unbalanced karyotype: 46,XY,der(11)t(4;11 ) (q34.3;q23. I )mat. At 8.5 years of age he showed trigonocephaly, hypertelorism, epicanthal folds, down-slanting palpebral fissures, low-set ears, anteverted nares, down-turned carp-shaped mouth, and bilateral fifth finger clinodactyly. His maternal aunt was also dysmorphic with high-arched palate, short philtrum and mild developmental delay. Her karyotype was 46,XX,der(4)t(4;11)-(q34.3;q23.1)pat. Other relatives who likely carried a chromosomally unbalanced segregant were identified from photographs and medical records. We compare the clinical findings in our family with descriptions of other similar karyotypic abnormalities from previous case reports.
Epidural analgesia and third- or fourth-degree lacerations in nulliparas.

Objective: To determine if epidural analgesia is associated with differences in rates of severe perineal trauma during vaginal deliveries. Methods: We studied 1942 consecutive, low-risk, term, vaginal deliveries in nulliparas, including spontaneous and induced labors, at a single institution from December 1994 to August 1995. The rate of third- and fourth-degree lacerations was compared for women who had and did not have epidural analgesia for labor-pain relief. Statistical significance was determined using χ2. Logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate associations while controlling for possible confounding variables. Results: Overall rates of third- and fourth-degree lacerations were 10.8% (n = 210) and 3.4% (n = 63), respectively. Epidural analgesia was given to 1376 (70.9%) women. Among women who had epidurals, 16.1% (221 of 1376) had severe perineal lacerations compared with 9.7% (n = 55) of the 566 women who did not have epidurals (P < .001; odds ratio [OR] 1.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3, 2.4). When controlling for birth weight, use of oxytocin, and maternal age in logistic regression analysis, epidural remained a significant predictor of severe perineal injury (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.0, 2.0). Epidural use is consistently associated with increased operative vaginal deliveries and consequent episiotomies, so we constructed a logistic regression model to evaluate whether the higher rates of those procedures were responsible for the effect of epidurals on severe perineal traumas. With operative vaginal delivery and episiotomy in the model, epidural was no longer an independent predictor of perineal injury (OR 0.9, 95% CI 0.6, 1.3). Conclusion: Epidural analgesia is associated with an increase in the rate of severe perineal trauma because of the more frequent use of operative vaginal delivery and episiotomy.
Have community banks reduced home foreclosure rates

Abstract Compared with mortgage brokers and universal banks, community banks have stronger incentives to originate high-quality residential home loans. Using the RealtyTrac database on residential foreclosures between 2005 and 2008, we show that county-level foreclosure rates are lower in counties with greater community bank presence. This finding is robust to a host of county-level economic and demographic control variables and after controlling for possible endogeneity of community bank presence.
Challenges for micro-scale flapping-wing micro air vehicles

The challenges for successful flight of insect-scale micro air vehicles encompass basic questions of fabrication, design, propulsion, actuation, control, and power - topics that have in general been answered for larger aircraft. When developing a flying robot on the scale of flies and bees, all hardware must be developed from scratch as there are no "off-the-shelf" sensors, actuators, or microcontrollers that can satisfy the extreme mass and power limitations imposed by such vehicles. Similar challenges exist for fabrication and assembly of the structural and aeromechanical components of insect-scale micro air vehicles that neither macro-scale techniques nor MEMS can adequately solve. With these challenges in mind, this paper presents progress in the essential technologies for micro-scale flapping-wing robots.
Magnitude and Complexity of Rectal Mucosa HIV-1-Specific CD8+ T-Cell Responses during Chronic Infection Reflect Clinical Status

Background: The intestinal mucosa displays robust virus replication and pronounced CD4+ T-cell loss during acute human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. The ability of HIV-specific CD8+ T-cells to modulate disease course has prompted intensive study, yet the significance of virus-specific CD8+ T-cells in mucosal sites remains unclear. Methods and Findings: We evaluated five distinct effector functions of HIVgag-specific CD8+ T-cells in rectal mucosa and blood, individually and in combination, in relationship to clinical status and antiretroviral therapy (ART). In subjects not on ART, the percentage of rectal Gag-specific CD8+ T-cells capable of 3, 4 or 5 simultaneous effector functions was significantly related to blood CD4 count and inversely related to plasma viral load (PVL) (p,0.05). Polyfunctional rectal CD8+ T-cells expressed higher levels of MIP-1b and CD107a on a per cell basis than mono- or bifunctional cells. The production of TNFa, IFN-c, and CD107a by Gag-specific rectal CD8+ T-cells each correlated inversely (p,0.05) with PVL, and MIP-1b expression revealed a similar trend. CD107a and IFN-c production were positively related to blood CD4 count (p,0.05), with MIP-1b showing a similar trend. IL-2 production by rectal CD8+ T-cells was highly variable and generally low, and showed no relationship to viral load or blood CD4 count. Conclusions: The polyfunctionality of rectal Gag-specific CD8+ T-cells appears to be related to blood CD4 count and inversely related to PVL. The extent to which these associations reflect causality remains to be determined; nevertheless, our data suggest a potentially important role for mucosal T-cells in limiting virus replication during chronic infection.
Controllable spatiotemporal nonlinear effects in multimode fibres

Highly nonlinear effects are observed in graded-index multimode optical fibres. Multimode fibres are of interest for next-generation telecommunications systems and the construction of high-energy fibre lasers. However, relatively little work has explored nonlinear pulse propagation in multimode fibres. Here, we consider highly nonlinear ultrashort pulse propagation in the anomalous-dispersion regime of a graded-index multimode fibre. Low modal dispersion and strong nonlinear coupling between the fibre's many spatial modes result in interesting behaviour. We observe spatiotemporal effects reminiscent of nonlinear optics in bulk media—self-focusing and multiple filamentation1,2—at a fraction of the usual power. By adjusting the spatial initial conditions, we generate on-demand, megawatt, ultrashort pulses tunable between 1,550 and 2,200 nm; dispersive waves over one octave; intense combs of visible light; and a multi-octave-spanning supercontinuum. Our results indicate that multimode fibres present unique opportunities for observing new spatiotemporal dynamics and phenomena. They also enable the realization of a new type of tunable, broadband fibre source that could be useful for many applications.
Measurements and scaling of wall shear stress fluctuations

Measurements of velocity and wall shear stress fluctuations were made in an external turbulent boundary layer developed over a towed surface-piercing flat plate. An array of eight flush-mounted wall shear stress sensors was used to compute the space-time correlation function. A methodology for in situ calibration of the sensors for ship hydrodynamic applications is presented. The intensity of the wall shear stress fluctuations, τ rms/τ avg was measured as 0.25 and 0.36 for R θ =3,150 and 2,160 respectively. The probability density is shown to exhibit positive skewness, and lack of flow reversals at the wall. Correlations between velocity and wall shear stress fluctuations are shown to collapse with outer boundary layer length and velocity scales, verifying the existence of large-scale coherent structures which convect and decay along the wall at an angle of inclination varying from 10 to 13° over the range of Reynolds numbers investigated. The wall shear stress convection velocity determined from narrow band correlation measurements is shown to scale with outer variables. The space-time correlation of the wall shear is shown to exhibit a well-defined convective ridge, and to decay 80% over approximately 3δ for R θ =3,150.
Performance analysis and modeling of errors and losses over 802.11b LANs for high-bit-rate real-time multimedia

Abstract Inherent error-resilient nature of multimedia content renders two high-level options for wireless multimedia application design. One option is to employ (semi-) reliable wireless Medium Access Control (MAC) functions in conjunction with the traditional User Datagram Protocol (UDP). The other option is to employ a less-reliable MAC and transport layer protocol stack that passes corrupted packets to the application layer, which consequently achieves a “higher throughput”. This “higher throughput” traffic, however, could contain many “useless” corrupted packets. In this paper, we address key questions regarding the viability of the above two options for the support of high-bit-rate wireless multimedia applications over 802.11b LANs. First, we study the level of throughput improvements realized by the less-reliable protocol stack at 2, 5.5 and 11 Mbps data rates using actual measurements that mimic realistic home or business settings. Second, we analyze and model the error patterns within the “higher throughput” corrupted packets to evaluate their potential impact on multimedia applications. Third, we compare the amount of overhead that is needed at the application layer to achieve different levels of lost- and corrupted-packet recovery for the two (reliable and less-reliable) protocol stack scenarios. Major conclusions of our study include: (1) Either protocol-stack is viable at 2 Mbps while neither of them is viable at 11 Mbps under realistic settings; and (2) Some benefits of the “higher throughput” corrupted packets can be realized at 5.5 Mbps when combined with a joint erasure-error protection algorithm at the application layer.
Social defeat stress selectively alters mesocorticolimbic dopamine release: an in vivo microdialysis study

Exposure to various aversive stimuli ('stressors') as well as positively-reinforcing stimuli has been shown to increase extracellular dopamine concentrations in terminal areas of the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system. The magnitude and site specificity of the dopaminergic response may depend on the nature of the aversive stimulus. In the present study, in vivo microdialysis was used to examine the effects of an ethologically relevant stressor, namely threat of social defeat, on dopamine concentrations in nucleus accumbens, striatum, and prefrontal cortex of freely-moving male Long-Evans rats. During the test session, dialysate and video recording samples were collected from previously-defeated 'intruder' rats in consecutive phases, while (1) in the home cage, (2) when placed in the empty, soiled cage of a resident rat which had previously defeated them, (3) when exposed to threat of defeat by the resident, and (4) when returned to their home cages. Control animals were not defeated; in this group of rats video recording and dialysate samples were obtained when they were placed into an empty, clean novel cage and later returned to their home cage. The results indicated that levels of dopamine were elevated to approximately 130% of baseline in nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex when rats were placed into either the resident or novel cage. In defeated intruders, extracellular dopamine levels in accumbens and prefrontal cortex were increased further (approximately 160% of baseline), during social threat; these biochemical changes were synchronous with high levels of orienting toward the resident but not with heightened motor activity. Extracellular dopamine levels in lateral striatum were not affected by either manipulation. These results suggest that altered accumbens and cortical extracellular dopamine concentrations during social threat are not secondary to motor activation but instead reflect increased attention to the provocative stimulus or attempts by the intruder to 'cope' with the stimulus.
Amine uptake in chloroplasts

Abstract Ethylamine uptake in illuminated chloroplasts, measured by a technique including microcentrifugation through silicone fluid layers, had properties similar to those of the light-dependent uptake of ammonia. The uptake of ethylamine was also found to be associated with adenosine triphosphate hydrolysis in the dark after activation of the magnesium-dependent adenosine triphosphatase in chloroplasts by light and dithiothreitol. From 1.3–1.7 μmoles of ethylamine were accumulated per μmole of adenosine triphosphate hydrolyzed, suggesting that 2 hydrogen ions are taken up per adenosine triphosphate split. The internal volume of chloroplasts illuminated in the presence of 4–6 m m ethylamine was two to three times greater than that of chloroplasts kept in the dark. At these concentrations of ethylamine, the internal concentration of ethylamine in illuminated chloroplasts was about ten times greater than the external concentration, whereas at 0.1 m m ethylamine, the concentration gradient was about 250-fold. These gradients in ethylamine concentration correspond to a pH differential across chloroplast membranes of 1 unit and 2.4 units, respectively. The uptake of radioactive chloride ion accompanied that of ethylamine. At concentrations of chloride exceeding 20 m m , about 1 chloride ion is transported into illuminated chloroplasts per molecule of ethylamine accumulated.
An Integrative Therapeutic Approach to the Treatment of a Depressed American Indian Client

This case demonstrates an integrative approach to the treatment of an American Indian. The client, a 37-year-old female, presented with felings of depression and a past history of alcohol dependence. She was residing on a reservation and had strong ties to her culture. The treatment consisted of an integrative approach utilizing client-centered, behavioral, cognitive-behavioral, and psychopharmacological approaches as well as participation in self-help support groups. Therapist sensitivity to cultural factors was critical throughout treatment.
Deformation and relaxation processes of mono- and bilayer domains of liquid crystalline Langmuir films on water

Flow deformation and relaxation of mono- and bilayer domains of a thermotropic liquid crystal at the air−water interface have been studied by means of simultaneous application of extensional flow fields and Brewster angle microscopy measurements. In an extentional flow, mono- and bilayer domains are found to be distorted into long, stringlike domains that are stable. This is due to the absence of Rayleigh instabilities in the two-dimensional case, which otherwise lead to the occurrence of a break-up mechanism in three dimensions. However, small fluctuations in the domain thickness lead to defects that can cause breakup of the string domains followed by a retraction of the two domain ends due to line tension effects. In relaxation experiments covering both the high deformation bola-shaped regime and the small-deformation regime of slightly deformed domains, the line tensions of mono- and bilayer domains were determined. Both deformation regimes yielded the same values for the line tension of the mono- and ...
Inlets for waveriders derived from elliptic-cone stream surfaces

The stream surfaces of the hypersonic flow of a gas past an elliptic cone are found in this paper and used to design blended inlets for waveriders. By perturbing the basic circular cone flow and stream surfaces for small values of e, where e is a measure of the eccentricity of the elliptic cone, the stream surfaces of the elliptic-cone flow are found in closed form. Two arbitrary functions appear in the equation of the stream surface. By suitably choosing those functions, inlet shape can be controlled. Thus smooth, blended, symmetric designs are possible. The rate of mass flow through the inlet is found in closed form, and the effect of the various parameters on the shape of the inlet and the rate of mass flow is found and discussed in detail.
Do antidepressant advertisements educate consumers and promote communication between patients with depression and their physicians

Objective To examine how online depression support group members respond to direct-to-consumer (DTC) antidepressant advertising.
THE EFFECT OF DEOXYGUANOSINE ON THE IN VITRO PROLIFERATION AND DIFFERENTIATION OF NORMAL HUMAN B LYMPHOCYTES: 181

The effect of dGuo - being the toxic metabolite in PNP-deficiency - on normal B lymphocytes was studied: purified B cells were cultured with formalinized Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I during 18 hours, leading to activation of resting B cells which then become sensitive to the action of B cell growth and differentiation factors present in the supernatant of Con-A-activated T cells. In this system both proliferation and differentiation of the B cells do occur and can be inhibited by dGuo in a dose-dependent way. Subsequently the mechanism of this inhibitory phenomenon was studied, e.g. by addition of hypoxanthine, adenine, deoxycytidine and the PNP-inhibitor 8-aminoguanosine. The results indicate that the accumulation of dGTP is not the cause of dGuo toxicity for in vitro function of normal B cells. Toxicity of dGuo requires the presence of active PNP and most probably is based on a product of the salvage of guanine (i.e. GMP, GDP or GTP). We conclude that proliferation and differentiation of normal B cells is inhibited by dGuo through a mechanism independent of dGTP accumulation. Consequently B cells of PNP deficient patients escape dGuo toxicity because PNP is lacking.
Elevated temperature diffusion in the systems Nb-Pt, Nb-Se, Nb-Zn, Nb-Co, Ni-Ta, and Fe-Mo

Abstract The electron probe microanalyzer has been used to determine the composition and extent of phases occurring in bimetal diffusion couples at 1100° C. A total of eighteen phases were determined in six binary systems: Nb-Pt, Nb-Se, Nb-Zn, Nb-Co, Ni-Ta, and Fe-Mo. In all cases the phases are stoichiometric and expressible in small whole numbers. The Nb-Se and Nb-Zn systems are somewhat alike in their phase formations in that Nb-Se exhibits Nb-Se, Nb2Se3, and Nb-Se2 while Nb-Zn produces Nb-Zn, Nb2Zn3, NbZn2, and NbZn3. Diffusion between niobium and platinum to form Nb3Pt, NbPt, NbPt2, and NbPt3 would seem to preclude prolonged use of platinum thermocouples in contact with niobium at 1100° C. The only phases produced in the Nb-Co system are previously unreported in the literature and are Nb3Co2 and NbCo4. This system also exhibited an extended region containing about 5 weight percent niobium in cobalt in agreement with the solubility limit shown in existing phase diagrams. Ni-Ta diffusion produced zones which showed strong cracking and grain formation. The phases TaNi3, TaNi2, TaNi, and Ta3Ni2 comprised the zones, with pure tantalum precipitating in the TaNi2 phase on cooling from 1100° C. Fe-Mo produced only one phase: Mo2Fe3.
CHARGE DISTRIBUTIONS AND MULTIPERIPHERALISM.

Abstract A new distribution of charged and neutral pions is proposed on the basis of a resonance dominated Amati-Fubini-Stanghellini multiperipheral model. The model is in good agreement with the present experimental data.
Hypervelocity projectile development for electromagnetic guns

Since 1987, comprehensive hypervelocity projectile development and test programs have been demonstrating the potential benefits of electromagnetic gun weapons systems as counters to evolving threats. Results to date indicate that electromagnetic-gun-launched hypervelocity projectiles should survive both the inbore and flight environments associated with 2.0 and 4.0 km/s launch velocities, while improving terminal effects. The status of unguided hypervelocity projectile development, specific electromagnetic gun/projectile interface issues, and test results obtained from both 9 MJ single-shot electromagnetic guns are discussed. >
Morphology Evolution in Nanoscale Light-Emitting Domains in MEH-PPV/PMMA Blends

The compositional evolution of the morphology of blends of a light-emitting conjugated polymer MEH-PPV [MEH-PPV = poly(2-methoxy-5-(2‘-ethylhexyloxy)-p-phenylenevinylene)] with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) on a PEDOT/PSS [PEDOT/PSS = poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrenesulfonate)] coated glass substrate is reported. Results of AFM (topographic and phase images), optical microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and photographs of the emission from light-emitting devices (LEDs) illustrate this morphological evolution. The 5 wt % compositional study demonstrates the stability of morphology for the blend films dried in air, vacuum-dried at room temperature, and vacuum-dried at 80 °C. Annealing above the Tg (106 °C) of PMMA caused significant dewetting between the blend and the PEDOT/PSS. At low MEH-PPV compositions, isolated light-emitting domains ranging in diameter from 300 to 900 nm and ∼100 nm in thickness were observed. At approximately 50 wt % MEH-PPV, a phase inversion was observed and a bicon...
Optimal Low-Thrust Transfer in General Circular Orbit Using Analytic Averaging of the System Dynamics

Edelbaum’s classic problem of minimum-time low-thrust transfer between inclined circular orbits is analyzed within the context of the additional perturbation due to the Earth’s oblateness. The original analytic theory using only the orbital velocity V and relative inclination i variables, which is sufficient to describe the transfers between conic orbits, is extended by also considering the right ascension of the ascending node Ω variable needed to account for the precession of the instantaneous orbit during the transfer due to the second zonal harmonic J2 perturbation. Analytic averaging of the dynamic and adjoint differential equations using a piecewise constant thrust angle is carried out for the thrust-perturbation-only case within the framework of the three-state description above in order to emulate the purely closed-form Edelbaum solution. For the more general precessed orbit plane case, an identical analytic averaging is carried out to rotate the orbit plane around the instantaneous line of nodes to generate the set of averaged differential equations that do not require numerical quadratures during their integration. The suboptimal results are compared to the purely numerical solutions using precision integration on a four-state system description by the addition of the mean angular position α as the fourth state variable with continuously varying thrust vector orientation for the unaveraged system dynamics, and additionally using numerical quadrature for the averaged system dynamics case.
Effects of hypophysectomy on unilaterally cryptorchid rats.

Male rats (Long-Evans) were rendered unilaterally cryptorchid on day 21 of life by abdominal fixation of the left testis. Three weeks later, when tubular degeneration was complete, these animals were hypophysectomized and sacrificed serially during the ensuing post-hypophysectomy interval. Normal animals were also hypophysectomized at this time and autopsied in a corresponding manner. Following hypophysectomy, abdominal testis weight of unilateral cryptorchid rats declined rapidly and at a rate not unlike that of the ventral prostate; however, weight loss of the contralateral, scrotal testis and of the testes of hypophysectomized control animals was gradual in the immediate post-hypophysectomy interval. These data, corroborated by histologic evidence but not analyzed histometrically, indicate that testicular regression following hypophysectomy begins probably with a rapid decline in weight and functional activity of interstitial cells and that the tubular weight response is delayed for several days. (Endo...
Mendelian analysis of the organization of actin sequences in Physarum polycephalum

Abstract The genormic organization of the multiple actin DNA sequences in the lower eukaryote Physarum polycephalum was investigated by Mendelian mapping. Actin-homologous restriction endonuclease cleavage fragments detected by DNA blotting showed length polymorphisms when different strains were compared. These length polymorphisms were used as phenotypic markers for actin sequences in the genome. The meiotic assortment of the polymorphic restriction fragments was analysed, revealing four unlinked actin loci. The data for three-of the actin loci, ardB, C and D , are consistent with a single sequence or gene at each locus. The data for the other actin locus. ardA , is consistent with multiple linked actin sequences or genes.
Chest wall resections and reconstruction: a 25-year experience.

Abstract Background . Chest wall defects continue to present a complicated treatment scenario for thoracic and reconstructive surgeons. The purpose of this study is to report our 25-year experience with chest wall resections and reconstructions. Methods . A retrospective review of 200 patients who had chest wall resections from 1975 to 2000 was performed. Results . Patient demographics included tobacco abuse, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, alcohol abuse, coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and human immunodeficiency virus. Surgical indications included lung cancer, breast cancer, chest wall tumors, and severe pectus deformities. Twenty-nine patients had radiation necrosis and 31 patients had lung or chest wall infections. The mean number of ribs resected was 4 ± 2 ribs. Fifty-six patients underwent sternal resections. In addition 14 patients underwent forequarter amputations. Immediate closure was performed in 195 patients whereas delayed closure was performed in 5 patients. Primary repair without the use of reconstructive techniques was possible in 43 patients. Synthetic chest wall reconstruction was performed using Prolene mesh, Marlex mesh, methyl methacrylate sandwich, Vicryl mesh, and polytetrafluoroethylene. Flaps utilized for soft tissue coverage were free flap (17 patients) and pedicled flap (96 patients). Mean postoperative length of stay was 14 ± 14 days. Mean intensive care unit stay was 5 ± 9 days. In-hospital and 30-day survival was 93%. Conclusions . Chest wall resection with reconstruction utilizing synthetic mesh or local muscle flaps can be performed as a safe, effective one-stage surgical procedure for a variety of major chest wall defects.
Interfacial adsorption of microorganisms and its effect on oxygen absorption by fermentation broths

Steady-state mass transfer experiments were done to determine whether certain strains of bacteria in homogeneous suspension will accumulate at the gas:liquid interface and thereby significantly increase the oxygen transfer rate to the suspension. In particular, with suspensions ofB. licheniformis, the measured transfer rates are as much as three times the rate expected for a uniform suspension. In contrast, suspensions ofM. luteus show no increase in oxygen flux above expected values. The fact thatB. licheniformis is motile, whereasM. luteus is not suggests that cell motility may play an important role in the accumulation process.
Do fatty breasts increase or decrease breast cancer risk

Few studies have investigated the association of non-dense area or fatty breasts in conjunction with breast density and breast cancer risk. Two articles in a recent issue of Breast Cancer Research investigate the role of absolute non-dense breast area measured on mammograms and find conflicting results: one article finds that non-dense breast area has a modest positive association with breast cancer risk, whereas the other finds that non-dense breast area has a strong protective effect to reduce breast cancer risk. Understanding the interplay of body mass index, menopause status, and measurement of non-dense breast area would help to clarify the contribution of non-dense breast area to breast cancer risk.
An Interesting Yucca

IT frequently happens that facts of much general interest are published in systematic monographs and other taxonomic works, and are in consequence overlooked by many of those to whom they would be most valuable. Turning over the pages of the revision of the Liliaceous group Yucceae, published with superb illustrations in the 1902 report of the Missouri Botanical Garden, I came across some statements which seem to deserve wider circulation and comment. The whole of the work referred to, by Dr. Wm. Trelease, is exceptionally well worth reading on account of the extremely lucid presentation of the facts, but the statements which especially interested me are as follows:—
Colloquium 2 “God is Not To Blame”: Divine Creation and Human Responsibility in Plato’s Timaeus

When Timaeus claims that all vice is involuntary, and that it is not individual human beings but their “nurturers” and begetters” who must be assigned causal responsibility for human vice (Timaeus 86b-87b), he is extending the grand cosmological discourse he has been offering to include the causes of human vice, and he is presenting a novel twist on the Socratic paradox familiar from earlier works, that no one does wrong voluntarily. He is not, however, contradicting his earlier claims (42d-e) that human beings, rather than the gods, are responsible for human evils. This is because (a) 86b-87b does assign responsibility to human causes and (b) responsibility for individual actions is not under discussion there.
Multiscale modeling of impact on heterogeneous viscoelastic solids containing evolving microcracks

Multiscale computational techniques play a major role in solving problems related to viscoelastic composites due to the complexities inherent to these materials. In this paper, a numerical procedure for multiscale modeling of impact on heterogeneous viscoelastic solids containing evolving microcracks is proposed in which the (global scale) homogenized viscoelastic incremental constitutive equations have the same form as the local-scale viscoelastic incremental constitutive equations, but the homogenized tangent constitutive tensor and the homogenized incremental history-dependent stress tensor at the global scale depend on the amount of damage accumulated at the local scale. Furthermore, the developed technique allows the computation of the full anisotropic incremental constitutive tensor of viscoelastic solids containing evolving cracks (and other kinds of heterogeneities) by solving the micromechanical problem only once at each material point and each time step. The procedure is basically developed by relating the local-scale displacement field to the global-scale strain tensor and using first-order homogenization techniques. The finite element formulation is developed and some example problems are presented in order to verify the approach and demonstrate the model capabilities. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The role of endoscopy in the evaluation of fistulizing Crohn's disease

Fistulas in Crohn's disease are classified as internal fistulas, for example, enteroenteric, enterovesical, rectovaginal, and external fistulas, for example, enterocutaneous, perianal, and parastomal. Although radiographic contrast studies are superior to endoscopy for diagnosing fistulas, endoscopic procedures have a definite role in the evaluation and management of fistulizing Crohn's disease. Endoscopy allows for tissue sampling, and provides information regarding the extent and severity of gastrointestinal inflammation, and the presence of such complications as strictures and cancer. Preoperative colonoscopy has particular value in assessing an enterocolonic fistula, and has important implications regarding the type of surgery performed. Endoscopic therapy for Crohn's fistula is less certain, but may allow for dilation of associated strictures, and may someday serve as a better delivery system for targeted anticytokine and immunologically based therapy.
Electronic Structure of a Low-Spin Heme/Cu Peroxide Complex: Spin-State and Spin-Topology Contributions to Reactivity

This study details the electronic structure of the heme–peroxo–copper adduct {[(F8)Fe(DCHIm)]-O2-[Cu(AN)]}+ (LSAN) in which O22– bridges the metals in a μ-1,2 or “end-on” configuration. LSAN is generated by addition of coordinating base to the parent complex {[(F8)Fe]-O2-[Cu(AN)]}+ (HSAN) in which the O22– bridges the metals in an μ-η2:η2 or “side-on” mode. In addition to the structural change of the O22– bridging geometry, coordination of the base changes the spin state of the heme fragment (from S = 5/2 in HSAN to S = 1/2 in LSAN) that results in an antiferromagnetically coupled diamagnetic ground state in LSAN. The strong ligand field of the porphyrin modulates the high-spin to low-spin effect on Fe–peroxo bonding relative to nonheme complexes, which is important in the O–O bond cleavage process. On the basis of DFT calculations, the ground state of LSAN is dependent on the Fe–O–O–Cu dihedral angle, wherein acute angles (<∼150°) yield an antiferromagnetically coupled electronic structure while more obt...
Azithromycin in an experimental Staphylococcus aureus abscess model

We studied the efficacy and pharmacokinetics of azithromycin in a rabbit tissue-cage Staphylococcus aureus abscess model. A dosage of 15 mg/kg/day azithromycin was administered to rabbits with 24 h or 2 week old infected tissue cages and to uninfected controls. Concentrations of azithromycin were higher in the infected compared with the uninfected tissue cages. Azithromycin was effective in reducing the bacterial concentrations in both groups of infected tissue cages by approximately 3 log10 cfu/mL compared with untreated controls after 8 days of therapy. Fifty percent of the 24 h and 29% of the 2 week infected tissue cages became culture-negative.
An effect of DNA sequence on nucleosome occupancy and removal

Prior to induction, promoters tend to be depleted for nucleosomes, but the mechanism and function of this depletion has been obscure. It is now shown that in yeast, where a barrier can lead to phasing of nucleosomes, the degree of occupancy of these phased sites is predictably determined by the underlying DNA sequences; in addition, as occupancy is increased, nucleosomal removal upon induction is decreased, as is mRNA production.
The 825–1110 Å EUV Spectrum of Venus

On 15 August 1994 we launched the EUVS sounding rocket payload to observe the 825-1110 angstrom region of Venus's far ultraviolet airglow spectrum. The EUVS telescope/spectrograph obtained good data at five times higher spectral resolution than was previously available in the far ultraviolet. We present these data and compare our results to those obtained by the Galileo UVS and Venera 11/12 UV spectrophotometers. We identify several new spectral emission features, including both singly ionized nitrogen and molecular nitrogen in Venus's spectrum. We also see evidence for electron-impact-induced emission from CO. Finally, the EUVS data indicate that the "Ar" emissions detected in Venus's far ultraviolet spectrum by Venera 11/12 spectrophotometers are in fact not due to argon, thus eliminating the discrepancy between in situ and remote sensing measurements.