cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Longitudinal Course of Perfluorochemical (PFC) Intrapulmonary Distribution, Uptake, and Elimination in a Chronic Rabbit Model. † 1547

The Longitudinal Course of Perfluorochemical (PFC) Intrapulmonary Distribution, Uptake, and Elimination in a Chronic Rabbit Model. † 1547
Low energy electron reflection (LEER) and electron affinity of MgO

Abstract LEER measurements have been made on epitaxial (100) MgO films. As was the case for previously reported measurements on BaO films, the reflection structure agrees with a Bragg reflection condition using a free electron dispersion law. Correlation of the reflection structure with LEED beam intensities verified that the LEER structure is primarily due to the (0, 0) reflection. Values of electron affinity χ obtained from LEER were consistent with values of χ obtained by measuring the threshold energy for secondary emission. These values were also consistent with estimates of χ in the literature.
Nitrosyl-heme complexes are formed in the ischemic heart: evidence of nitrite-derived nitric oxide formation, storage, and signaling in post-ischemic tissues.

Abstract In addition to the generation from specific nitric-oxide (NO) synthases, NO formation from nitrite occurs in ischemic tissues, such as the heart. Although NO binding to heme-centers is the basis for NO-mediated signaling as occurs through guanylate cyclase, it is not known if this process is triggered with physiologically relevant periods of sublethal ischemia and if nitrite serves as a critical substrate. Therefore electron paramagnetic resonance studies were performed to measure nitrosylheme formation during the time course of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion and the role of nitrite in this process. Rat hearts were either partially nitrite-depleted by nitrite-free buffer perfusion or nitrite-enriched by preinfusion with 50 μm nitrite. Ischemic hearts loaded with nitrite showed prominent spectra of six-coordinate nitrosyl-heme complexes, primarily NO-myoglobin, that increased as a function of ischemic duration, whereas in nonischemic-controls these signals were not seen. Total nitrosyl-heme concentrations within the heart were 6.6 ± 0.7 μm after 30 min of ischemia. Nitrite-depleted hearts also gave rise to NO-heme signals during ischemia, but levels were 8-fold lower. Nitrite-mediated NO-heme complex formation during ischemia was associated with activation of guanylate cyclase. Upon reperfusion, the levels of NO-heme complexes decreased 3-fold by the first 15 min but remained elevated for over 45 min. The decrease in NO-heme complex levels was paralleled by the formation of nitrate, suggesting the oxidation of heme-bound NO upon reperfusion. Thus, nitrite-mediated NO-heme formation occurs progressively during ischemia, with these complexes serving as a store of NO with concordant activation of NO signaling pathways.
Incidence and predictors of PEG placement in ALS/MND.

Abstract In the Project on Death in America ALS cohort, 121 patients were followed to examine the timing of key milestones in the course of the disease, such as tracheostomy and PEG placement. During the 2- to 4-year follow-up period, 26.5% of patients received PEG, yielding a cumulative incidence of 48%. PEG placement occurred, on average, 16 months after patients received confirmation of the diagnosis at our Center. Patients who received PEG were more likely to have tracheostomies than patients not using PEG ( p p
Nonmuscle myosin II is required for cell proliferation, cell sheet adhesion and wing hair morphology during wing morphogenesis.

Metazoan development involves a myriad of dynamic cellular processes that require cytoskeletal function. Nonmuscle myosin II plays essential roles in embryonic development; however, knowledge of its role in post-embryonic development, even in model organisms such as Drosophila melanogaster, is only recently being revealed. In this study, truncation alleles were generated and enable the conditional perturbation, in a graded fashion, of nonmuscle myosin II function. During wing development they demonstrate novel roles for nonmuscle myosin II, including in adhesion between the dorsal and ventral wing epithelial sheets; in the formation of a single actin-based wing hair from the distal vertex of each cell; in forming unbranched wing hairs; and in the correct positioning of veins and crossveins. Many of these phenotypes overlap with those observed when clonal mosaic analysis was performed in the wing using loss of function alleles. Additional requirements for nonmuscle myosin II are in the correct formation of other actin-based cellular protrusions (microchaetae and macrochaetae). We confirm and extend genetic interaction studies to show that nonmuscle myosin II and an unconventional myosin, encoded by crinkled (ck/MyoVIIA), act antagonistically in multiple processes necessary for wing development. Lastly, we demonstrate that truncation alleles can perturb nonmuscle myosin II function via two distinct mechanisms—by titrating light chains away from endogenous heavy chains or by recruiting endogenous heavy chains into intracellular aggregates. By allowing myosin II function to be perturbed in a controlled manner, these novel tools enable the elucidation of post-embryonic roles for nonmuscle myosin II during targeted stages of fly development.
Mechanism of phospholipase A2-induced conduction block in bullfrog sciatic nerve. II. Biochemistry.

Abstract The biochemical changes associated with conduction block following exogenous application of purified phospholipase A 2 to bullfrog sciatic nerves were investigated. Nerves were treated with concentrations of phospholipase A 2 needed to produce at least a 50% decrease in the compound action potential after a 2–21/2 h incubation. This phospholipase A 2 -induced conduction block was associated with lipid hydrolysis, depletion of high energy phosphates and decreases in [ 3 H]saxitoxin binding. Forty-two percent of the nerve phosphatidylcholine and 45% of the nerve phosphatidylethanolamine were hydrolyzed. [ 3 H]Saxitoxin binding was decreased by 85% in association with conduction block attained with phospholipase A 2 incubation. There were significant decrements in adenosine triphosphate levels (−58%) and in phosphocreatine levels (−78%), but no difference in the specific activities of these phosphate compounds. It is concluded that a number of mechanisms can account for the conduction failure resulting from phospholipase A 2 , including disruption of sodium channels needed for propagation of regenerative nerve impulses and the depletion of high energy phosphates needed to maintain ionic gradients.
AFLATOXIN B2: CHEMICAL IDENTITY AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY.

Aflatoxin B 2 , a blue-fluorescent metabolite of Aspergillus flavus, was isolated from cultures grown on crushed wheat. Chemical structure of the compound was elucidated as dihydroaflatoxin B 1 . Biological activity was determined in day-old male white Pekin ducklings. The criteria of activity were reduction in growth and liver size and the extent of bile-duct hyperplasia.
Plasma and pituitary concentrations of LH, FSH and prolactin in aging mongolian gerbils

Samples of plasma and pituitary homogenates collected from female Mongolian gerbils (3-4, 11-13 and 20-25 month-old) at various stages of the estrous cycle were analyzed by radioimmunoassay for luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin (Prl). Plasma and pituitary LH concentrations were similar in all three age groups. Plasma FSH concentrations tended to increase with age while plasma Prl concentrations remained unchanged. Pituitary concentrations of FSH and Prl were variable between the age groups depending upon the stage of the estrous cycle. The inability of older gerbils to produce young appears to result primarily from age-related changes occurring in the uterus rather than from alterations in the hypothalamic-hypophyseal complex.
Risk of vehicle-pedestrian and vehicle-bicyclist collisions among children with disabilities.

Abstract Objectives To examine the potential association between disability and risk of vehicle–pedestrian and vehicle–bicyclist collisions among children. Methods Data from the 2002 National Transportation Availability and Use Survey for Persons with Disabilities (NTAUSPD) were analyzed. Results Among 5019 persons who completed the survey, there were a total of 687 children between 5–17 years of age, including 299 respondents with and 388 without disabilities. After controlling for potential confounding variables, children with disabilities were more than five times more likely to have been hit by a motor vehicle as a pedestrian or bicyclist than children without disabilities (adjusted OR = 5.53, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.43–21.41). For all children, regardless of their disability status, children who reported having some difficulty with traffic had a significantly higher risk of collisions (adjusted OR = 50.71, 95% CI: 7.35–349.86). The most commonly reported traffic difficulties for all children with and without disabilities were “Too few or missing sidewalks/paths,” “Do not know when it's safe to cross,” and “Insensitive/unaware drivers.” Conclusions Existing effective transportation safety interventions should be effective in reducing the risk of vehicle–pedestrian and vehicle–bicyclist collisions in children with disabilities. Future research and safety interventions should focus on how to promote the use of existing effective transportation safety interventions among children with disabilities and their families.
The effect of oxygen as a light element in metallic liquids on partitioning behavior

Oxygen has been considered a potentially important light element in metallic liquids during a range of planetary processes, yet the influence of O in a metallic melt on element partitioning behavior is largely unknown. To investigate the effect of O in such systems, we conducted experiments in the Fe-S-O system, doped with 25 trace elements, which produced two immiscible metallic liquids. Our results indicate that the presence of O in the metallic liquid produces a distinctive chemical signature for W and Ga in particular. Tungsten shows an affinity for O in the metallic liquid and partitions more strongly into the metallic melt in the presence of O. The partitioning of Ga is relatively constant despite the presence of O, which is in contrast to the majority of the other siderophile elements in the study. Our experiments from 1400 to 1600 °C show no significant effect from temperature on the partitioning behavior of any trace elements over this limited temperature range. This distinctive chemical signature due to the presence of O in the metallic liquid has potential implications for modeling core formation, evaluating isotopic signatures produced by core crystallization, and interpreting chemical assemblages observed in meteorites.
Identification of the major sites of autophosphorylation of the murine protein-tyrosine kinase Syk

Abstract The protein tyrosine kinase p72syk (Syk) is expressed in a variety of hematopoietic cell types, including B cells, thymocytes, mast cells and others. Both the activity and phosphotyrosine content of this enzyme increase in these cells in response to engagement of the appropriate cell surface receptors. Herein, we describe the cloning of murine Syk and its expression in Sf9 cells as a catalytically active protein. Full-length Syk and a catalytically active 42.5 kDa carboxyl terminal fragment were also expressed as glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins. Comparative reverse phase HPLC and 40% alkaline gel analysis of tryptic digests of phosphorylated Syk demonstrated that all of the major sites of autophosphorylation were also present in GST-Syk and all but one were contained in the 42.5 kDa fragment. The sites of autophosphorylation were identified using a combination of Edman sequencing and mass spectrometric analysis. Ten sites were identified. One site is located in the amino terminal half of the molecule between the two tandem Src homology 2 (SH2) domains. Five sites are located in the hinge region located between the carboxyl terminal SH2 domain and the kinase domain. Two sites lie in the kinase domain within the catalytic loop and two near the extreme carboxyl terminus. Sequences of phosphorylation sites located within the hinge region predict that Syk serves as a docking site for other SH2 domain-containing proteins. Consistent with this prediction, autophosphorylated Syk efficiently binds the carboxyl terminal SH2 domain of phospholipase C-γ1.
Pattern and process of prescribed fires influence effectiveness at reducing wildfire severity in dry coniferous forests

Abstract We examined the effects of three early season (spring) prescribed fires on burn severity patterns of summer wildfires that occurred 1–3 years post-treatment in a mixed conifer forest in central Idaho. Wildfire and prescribed fire burn severities were estimated as the difference in normalized burn ratio (dNBR) using Landsat imagery. We used GIS derived vegetation, topography, and treatment variables to generate models predicting the wildfire burn severity of 1286–5500 30-m pixels within and around treated areas. We found that wildfire severity was significantly lower in treated areas than in untreated areas and significantly lower than the potential wildfire severity of the treated areas had treatments not been implemented. At the pixel level, wildfire severity was best predicted by an interaction between prescribed fire severity, topographic moisture, heat load, and pre-fire vegetation volume. Prescribed fire severity and vegetation volume were the most influential predictors. Prescribed fire severity, and its influence on wildfire severity, was highest in relatively warm and dry locations, which were able to burn under spring conditions. In contrast, wildfire severity peaked in cooler, more mesic locations that dried later in the summer and supported greater vegetation volume. We found considerable evidence that prescribed fires have landscape-level influences within treatment boundaries; most notable was an interaction between distance from the prescribed fire perimeter and distance from treated patch edges, which explained up to 66% of the variation in wildfire severity. Early season prescribed fires may not directly target the locations most at risk of high severity wildfire, but proximity of these areas to treated patches and the discontinuity of fuels following treatment may influence wildfire severity and explain how even low severity treatments can be effective management tools in fire-prone landscapes.
Long-term increase in CD4+ T-cell counts during combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-1 infection.

Objective: To inform guidelines concerning when to initiate combination antiretroviral therapy (ART), we investigated whether CD4 + T-cell counts (CD4 cell counts) continue to increase over long periods of time on ART. Losses-to-follow-up and some patients discontinuing ART at higher CD4 cell counts hamper such evaluation, but novel statistical methods can help address these issues. We estimated the long-term CD4 cell count trajectory accounting for losses-to-follow-up and treatment discontinuations. Design: The study population included 898 US patients first initiating ART in a randomized trial (AIDS Clinical Trials Group 384); 575 were subsequently prospectively followed in an observational study (AIDS Clinical Trials Group Longitudinal Linked Randomized Trials). Methods: Inverse probability of censoring weighting statistical methods were used to estimate the CD4 cell count trajectory accounting for losses-to-follow-up and ART discontinuations, overall and for pretreatment CD4 cell count categories (≤200, 201-350, 351-500, and >500 cells/μl). Results: Median CD4 cell count increased from 270 cells/μl pre-ART to an estimated 556 cells/μl at 3 and 532 cells/μl at 7 years after starting ART in analyses ignoring treatment discontinuations, and to 570 and 640 cells/μl, respectively, had all patients continued ART. However, even had ART been continued, an estimated 25, 9, 3, and 2% of patients with pretreatment CD4 cell counts of 200 or less, 201-350, 351-500, and more than 500 cells/μl would have had CD4 cell counts of 350 cells/μl or less after 7 years. Conclusion: If patients remain on ART, CD4 cell counts increase in most patients for at least 7 years. However, the substantial percentage of patients starting therapy at low CD4 cell counts who still had low CD4 cell counts after 7 years provides support for ART initiation at higher CD4 cell counts.
Everolimus alters white matter diffusion in tuberous sclerosis complex

Objective: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) analysis was performed on patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) to investigate potential changes in normal-appearing white matter after treatment with everolimus, a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor. Methods: Recently, a phase I/II trial of everolimus demonstrated significant reductions in subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA) volume and decreased seizure frequency. Subgroup analysis was performed on DTI data available from this study. TSC patients with SEGA received everolimus, titrated to tolerability to achieve target trough concentrations of 5–15 ng/mL. DTI (1.5 T, 15 directions) was used to calculate fractional anisotropy (FA) and axial, radial, and mean diffusivity within regions of interest (ROIs). Baseline scans were compared to 12–18 months post-treatment and compared to a TSC age- and gender-matched nontreatment control cohort. Results: Of 28 enrolled patients, 20 had sufficient DTI data. Comparing baseline values with those acquired 12–18 months after treatment, a significant change in FA was observed in the corpus callosum, internal capsule, and geniculo-calcarine region ( p p p Conclusion: Significant changes in FA and radial diffusivity were observed after treatment with everolimus in patients with TSC, suggesting that the genetic defect of TSC in the brain may be modified pharmacologically, even in normal-appearing white matter.
The value of language: concept, perspectives, and policies

Purpose – Three distinct trends are evolving that characterize the challenges facing corporate planners in managing language as a corporate asset. These are the evolution of the knowledge economy, the globalization of business and economy, and the increasing diversity of the workforce. These trends call for attention to the role language plays in the creation of intellectual and organizational capital. Linguists have been hampered by their inability to model how linguistic conditions affect economic processes. They have long attempted to assess the economic value of language as a commodity, but with little success. The purpose of this article is to describe language as an asset, and argue that recent advances in decision sciences have sufficiently removed the deficit in theoretical and empirical research that challenged the linguists.Design/methodology/approach – Drawing an analogy between language and currency, this article identifies the functions that language must perform in terms of exchange, account...
What Does Ozone React with at the Air Lung Interface? Model Studies Using Human Red Blood Cell Membranes

Abstract We exposed human red blood cell (RBC) membranes to low levels of ozone and measured the oxidative damage that occurs to the proteins and the unsaturated lipids that are present. Oxidative damage to proteins causes significant decreases in the content of thiol groups, the fluorescence of protein-tryptophan residues, and the activity of membrane-bound acetylcholinesterase. Oxidative damage to lipids causes changes in some of the unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) in the lipid fraction of these RBC membranes. Significant amounts of hexanal, heptanal, and nonanal are formed from the ozonation of UFA. Although no decrease in the amount of oleate is detected, it does undergo ozonation to yield nonanal; thus, as would be expected, product appearance is a more sensitive measure of ozonation than is substrate disappearance. These results imply that both proteins and unsaturated lipids undergo simultaneous and competitive ozonation in human RBC membranes when ozone is the limiting reactant. The ratios of reaction of ozone with different targets can be predicted in reasonably good agreement with the observed values using calculations (W. A. Pryer and R. M. Uppu (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 3120-3126; R. M. Uppu and W. A. Pryer (1994) Chem. Res. Toxicol. 7, 47-55) that take into account the reactivities and relative amounts of protein and lipid functionalities present in the RBC membranes, Similar calculations are used to predict the reaction of ozone with unsaturated lipids and proteins at the air/lung interface, and both UFA and proteins are predicted to react with ozone in the lung, as in RBC membranes.
Spectrogram-based audio classification of nutrition intake

Acoustic monitoring of food intake in an unobtrusive, wearable form-factor can encourage healthy dietary choices by enabling individuals to monitor their eating patterns, maintain regularity in their meal times, and ensure adequate hydration levels. In this paper, we describe a system capable of monitoring food intake by means of a throat microphone, classifying the data based on the food being consumed among several categories through spectrogram analysis, and providing user feedback in the form of mobile application. We are able to classify sandwich swallows, sandwich chewing, water swallows, and none, with an F-Measure of 0.836.
Propranolol pharmacodynamic modeling using unbound and total concentrations in healthy volunteers

In an attempt to evaluate the propranolol (P) concentration-effect relationship, percentage reduction in exercise heart rate was modeled as a function of unbound and total P concentrations using the linear, E max ,and sigmoid E max models. Nine volunteers underwent repeated treadmill exercise tests over 48 hr during a control period, after receiving 160 mg of P orally and again after receiving 160 mg once daily for 7 days. Beta blockade was assessed as the percentage reduction in exercise heart rate compared to control. Total serum P concentrations were determined by HPLC and unbound fractions by equilibrium dialysis. Using nonlinear least-squares regression, the E max model was best in describing the concentration-effect relationship in each subject. Mean parameters for combined single dose and steady state were E max 33.6±4.5% and EC50 18.2±15.6ng/ml for total P and E max 33.5±4.3% and EC50 1.66±1.56 for unbound P. Model fits were not significantly better for unbound versus total P and EC50 values showed similar intersubject variability. The observed unbound EC50 values are consistent with reported receptor dissociation constants. Therefore the large intersubject variability in EC50 could not be accounted for by variability in P protein binding.
MO‐F‐108‐08: A Revolving Collimator for Proton Stereotactic Radiosurgery (pSRS)

Purpose: Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a non‐invasive treatment modality appropriate for a wide array of tumors. Particularly in patients with benign tumors receiving proton SRS (pSRS), the generation of secondary neutrons from brass apertures may be associated with higher risk of secondary radiation‐induced tumors. A specially designed revolving titanium alloy collimator system with multiple sized collimator openings in circular and elliptical shapes is proposed and investigated in this study. Methods: Simulations of the passage of a proton beam through the proposed collimator system was performed using the FLUKA Monte Carlo general purpose code with treatment nozzle model implemented. The set of materials potentially applicable for the collimator fabrication, i.e. brass, stainless steel (SS), tungsten alloy (WA) and titanium alloy (TiA) (Ti‐6A1‐4V Grade 5) were simulated. The neutron fluence, dose equivalent, activation of the collimator material, the cooling times and beam shaping properties are analyzed. Results: Utilization of TiA results in less neutron dose equivalent at the patient compared to brass, WA or SS. The neutron flux spectra for TiA is an order of magnitude lower than those for the other materials in the energy interval with the maximum neutron weighting factor. The activation of TiA is lower and the cooling time 10 times shorter compared to WA. Dose shaping with the pSRS collimator is similar to a brass aperture. Dose enhancement at shallow depths for small proton fields limits the practical collimator opening size. Conclusion: The specially designed revolving pSRS titanium alloy collimator proposed in this study may reduce secondary neutron dose to the patient compared to other collimator materials investigated. This may reduce the risk of secondary tumors and malignancies and reduce late effects to the patient. The pSRS collimator allows the establishment of a pSRS system and methodology without the need for a dedicated pSRS treatment vault.
Improved survival with early CT diagnosis of pancreatic abscess

Until recently pancreatic abscess was often a lethal complication of acute pancreatitis. A major factor contributing to this high mortality has been delay in diagnosis. When combined with diagnostic needle aspiration, computed tomography (CT) has greatly enhanced the early detection of pancreatic abscesses. In the past 5 years at our institutions 23 patients with proven pancreatic abscesses were evaluated early in their clinical course by CT. In follow-up ranging from 4 months to 4 1/2 years there were only 4 deaths: a mortality rate of 17%. Many of the surviving patients had a long and protracted clinical course (mean length of hospitalization, 58 days) and reoperation for recurrent abscess or gastrointestinal complications was required in 9 patients (39%). Computed tomography proved helpful both in localizing the site of de novo or recurrent pancreatic abscess and in detecting postoperative complications. An aggressive approach to early CT scanning with diagnostic needle aspiration appears to be a factor in the improved survival of these patients.
Morphology and properties control on rubber-epoxy alloy systems

Morphology and properties of polymer alloys can be controlled by thermody-namlcally reversible (structure freeze-in) or irreversible (structure lock-in) processes by simultaneously manipulating miscibility, mechanisms of phase separation, glass transition temperature (structural relaxation), and cure kinetics of polymer systems. Using phase diagrams consisting of binodal and spinodal curves, the morphology of epoxy/CTBN (carboxyl-terminated butadiene acryloni-trile copolymer) systems can be controlled by the mechanism of nucleation and growth or by spinodal decomposition via simultaneously manipulating the kinetic processes of phase separation and curing reactions. We have found that the particle size of the rubber reinforcement in epoxies is affected by the mechanisms of phase separation. Phase separation by nucleation and growth gives larger rubber particles than the corresponding phase separation by spinodal decomposition. This contrast in the morphology development is the consequence of controlling phase separation through chemorheological behavior. Medication of the phase separation kinetics in epoxy/CTBN systems was extremely effective at altering both morphology and properties of these alloys. This technique offers a means to shift the glass transition temperature of the rubber-rich phase drastically without reducing the glass transition temperature of the epoxy-rich phase significantly. Such control over morphology is the key to ultimately controlling material properties. This morphology manipulation allows us to tailor the mechanical properties of alloy systems.
Comments on “Modified MUSIC algorithm for estimating DOA of signals”

Abstract In Signal Processing, Vol. 48, No. 1, January 1996, pp. 85–90, Kundu proposes a modified MUSIC algorithm and demonstrates that the modification improves the algorithm's performance. Both the modification and its efficacy have been known for some time, and we provide an explanation for the improved performance that is more directly to the point than that provided in the referenced paper.
Adventitial Remodeling After Coronary Arterial Injury

Background Intraluminal thrombus formation and medial smooth muscle (SM) cell proliferation are recognized responses of the arterial system to injury. In contrast to these well-characterized processes during vascular repair, changes involving the adventitia have been largely neglected in previous studies. Hence, the goal of this investigation was to assess the response of the adventitia to coronary arterial injury. Methods and Results Adventitial changes in porcine coronary arteries subjected to medial injury were characterized by immunohistochemistry, histochemistry, and microscopic morphometry. The rapid development of a hypercellular response in the adventitia was evident 3 days after balloon-induced medial injury. Cell proliferation, as assessed by proliferating cell nuclear antigen immunostaining, reached the maximum level in the adventitia at 3 days, whereas at 14 and 28 days, the number of replicating cells reverted toward the baseline. The proliferating activity in the adventitia exceeded that see...
Streptozotocin, Type I Diabetes Severity and Bone

As many as 50% of adults with type I (T1) diabetes exhibit bone loss and are at increased risk for fractures. Therapeutic development to prevent bone loss and/or restore lost bone in T1 diabetic patients requires knowledge of the molecular mechanisms accounting for the bone pathology. Because cell culture models alone cannot fully address the systemic/metabolic complexity of T1 diabetes, animal models are critical. A variety of models exist including spontaneous and pharmacologically induced T1 diabetic rodents. In this paper, we discuss the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced T1 diabetic mouse model and examine dose-dependent effects on disease severity and bone. Five daily injections of either 40 or 60 mg/kg STZ induce bone pathologies similar to spontaneously diabetic mouse and rat models and to human T1 diabetic bone pathology. Specifically, bone volume, mineral apposition rate, and osteocalcin serum and tibia messenger RNA levels are decreased. In contrast, bone marrow adiposity and aP2 expression are increased with either dose. However, high-dose STZ caused a more rapid elevation of blood glucose levels and a greater magnitude of change in body mass, fat pad mass, and bone gene expression (osteocalcin, aP2). An increase in cathepsin K and in the ratio of RANKL/OPG was noted in high-dose STZ mice, suggesting the possibility that severe diabetes could increase osteoclast activity, something not seen with lower doses. This may contribute to some of the disparity between existing studies regarding the role of osteoclasts in diabetic bone pathology. Examination of kidney and liver toxicity indicate that the high STZ dose causes some liver inflammation. In summary, the multiple low-dose STZ mouse model exhibits a similar bone phenotype to spontaneous models, has low toxicity, and serves as a useful tool for examining mechanisms of T1 diabetic bone loss.
Synthesis, Structure and Magnetism of ErCoIn 5

A new member of the LnM In 5 family, ErCoIn 5 , has been synthesized by a flux-growth method. The structure of ErCoIn 5 was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. It crystallizes in the tetragonal space group P 4/ mmm , Z = 1, with lattice parameters a = 4.5400(4) and c = 7.3970(7) A, and V = 152.46(2) A 3 . Electrical resistivity data show metallic behavior. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show this compound to be antiferromagnetic with T N = 5.1 K. We compare these experimental results with those of LaCoIn 5 in an effort to better understand the effect of the structural trends observed on the transport and magnetic properties.
A monoclonal antibody that reacts with nonallelic enzyme glycoproteins

One of six monoclonal antibodies raised against purified human placental alkaline phosphatase cross-reacts with the adult and fetal forms of intestinal alkaline phosphatase. The placental and intestinal enzymes are nonallelic. A new electrophoretic titration procedure was used to assess the relative reactivities of the different enzymes with the antibody. The placental enzyme was the most reactive. However, the adult intestinal enzyme showed greater reactivity than the fetal enzyme. The determinants to which the antibody binds on these three forms of alkaline phosphatase presumably differ in their detailed molecular configurations.
An optical associative parallel processor for high-speed database processing. Theoretical concepts and experimental results

We have devised a novel architecture, called the Optical Content-Addressable Parallel Processor for Relational database Processing (OCAPPRP), that exploits the advantages of optics for performing word-parallel and bit-parallel equivalence and relative magnitude searches of database tables in constant time. Moreover, our experimental optoelectronic implementation of the associative processing portion of this architecture has achieved encouraging preliminary results. As the present system evolves, it will substantially exceed current database processing speeds. The proposed architecture has the potential to process approximately 10/sup 10/ tuples per second. Nevertheless, with available optical switching devices such as spatial light modulators (SLMs), the proposed system clearly cannot compete with its electronic counterparts because the switching time of current optical device technology is slow. However, many improvements are being made in optical and optoelectronic device technologies. With advances in SLM technology, we can expect the proposed optical system to become a viable and cost-effective alternative for parallel and high-speed database processing. >
Parallel graph search: application to intraretinal layer segmentation of 3-D macular OCT scans

Image segmentation is of paramount importance for quantitative analysis of medical image data. Recently, a 3-D graph search method which can detect globally optimal interacting surfaces with respect to the cost function of volumetric images has been introduced, and its utility demonstrated in several application areas. Although the method provides excellent segmentation accuracy, its limitation is a slow processing speed when many surfaces are simultaneously segmented in large volumetric datasets. Here, we propose a novel method of parallel graph search, which overcomes the limitation and allows the quick detection of multiple surfaces. To demonstrate the obtained performance with respect to segmentation accuracy and processing speedup, the new approach was applied to retinal optical coherence tomography (OCT) image data and compared with the performance of the former non-parallel method. Our parallel graph search methods for single and double surface detection are approximately 267 and 181 times faster than the original graph search approach in 5 macular OCT volumes (200 x 5 x 1024 voxels) acquired from the right eyes of 5 normal subjects. The resulting segmentation differences were small as demonstrated by the mean unsigned differences between the non-parallel and parallel methods of 0.0 ± 0.0 voxels (0.0 ± 0.0 μm) and 0.27 ± 0.34 voxels (0.53 ± 0.66 μm) for the single- and dual-surface approaches, respectively.
N, P, and K Supply to Pinot noir Grapevines: Impact on Vine Nutrient Status, Growth, Physiology, and Yield

Pinot noir grapevines (self-rooted Pommard clone) were grown in a pot-in-pot sand culture vineyard to examine the impact of low N, P, and K supply on vine growth and physiology. Four-year-old vines were given either full nutrition (Control) or reduced levels of each N, P, and K supplied at 50%, 20%, or 10% of the Control rate with all other nutrients held constant over three years (2006–2008). Vine growth, nutrient status, photosynthetic parameters, yield, and berry quality were monitored. The N, P, and K status of vines was reduced by each of the intended treatments, although N and P concentrations in leaf blades and petioles were reduced earlier and to a greater extent than K. Low N treatments reduced dormant season cane weights in all years, shoot lengths and leaf area in 2008, and fruit yield in 2008. Yield reduction under low N supply in 2008 was primarily a result of reduced berry size. Low N also reduced single leaf photosynthesis and quantum efficiency of photosystem II in 2008, while low P and K did not. Juice YAN (yeast assimilable nitrogen) levels were greatly reduced by low N supply in 2007 and 2008, although YAN was lower in 2007 across all treatments. Low P and low K supply did not alter growth or yield. Low P supply reduced juice P concentrations, but low K supply did not alter juice K. Reduced yield, growth, and juice YAN levels in low N treatments provide a framework to refine leaf blade and petiole N standards for Pinot noir grown in the region, but limiting levels of P and K were not as clearly defined.
Children will eat the strangest things: a 10-year retrospective analysis of foreign body and caustic ingestions from a single academic center.

BACKGROUND: Foreign body (FB) ingestions are common in children presenting to the emergency department. Health care providers are quickly challenged to determine which children need urgent endoscopy for diagnostic or therapeutic reasons. We performed a retrospective study to determine if esophageal injury caused by FB ingestion correlated to presenting signs or symptoms, location of impaction, duration of impaction, or denomination of coin (as this was the most commonly ingested FB). METHODS: A retrospective chart review of children between birth and 17 years of age who presented for esophagogastroduodenoscopy for removal of upper gastrointestinal FB was performed. Demographic data collected from all children included age, sex, and race. For children with FB ingestion, the type of FB, location of the FB, underlying gastrointestinal pathology, duration of impaction, and endoscopic findings were recorded. Descriptive analysis of the data was performed using means, medians, SD, and percentages; χ test was used to test the association between categorical variables. RESULTS: Over a 10-year period of review, a total of 3279 esophagogastroduodenoscopies were performed; 248 (7.8%) were done for FB removal. The mean age for children having endoscopy for FB removal was 3.9 (SD, 3.2) years (median, 3.1 years); there was a slight male predominance (male/female ratio = 1.6:1). The vast majority (81%) of retained FBs was coins. Most of the FBs were located in the upper esophagus (68%). Success rate for retrieval was greater for esophageal FBs (99%) than for more distally located FBs (70%; P Language: en
Identification and elimination of trench crystal defects in sub-0.13-μm era

A series of study of trench dislocation occurred in 0.13/0.18um CMOS technologies have been done. First, it is demonstrated for the first time that trench crystal dislocations can be detected successfully using current mapping atomic force microscopy (C-AFM). Different from conventional voltage contrast technique, which uses SEM image brightness for the comparison of leaky contacts/junctions and normal ones, C-AFM probes the surface of samples by contacting them directly and can provide I-V curve mapping data for each contact/junction where the needle passes. Thus a quantified contact/junction leakage current data is acquired and can be used to find out minor trench dislocation (located beneath the leaky contact), which works as a leakage source negligible before but crucial in 0.13um low power devices. Besides, a model concerning about the FEOL overall thermal budget is proposed to explain the formation of trench dislocations.
Effect of locus of warning tone on auditory choice reaction time

Forty Ss pressed a left- or right-hand key depending on the ear in which they heard a 500-Hz stimulus tone. Half of the Ss were instructed to press the key on the same side as the ear stimulated (corresponding condition), while the other half pressed the key on the opposite side (noncorresponding condition). A 200-Hz warning tone preceded the stimulus tone by either 200 or 400 msec. The warning tone was presented to the left ear, the right ear, or to both ears in a predetermined random sequence. The locus of the warning tone affected RT on noncorresponding trials but not on corresponding trials. The effect consisted of a significant slowing of information processing on trials where the warning tone was contralateral to the response. Results were explained in terms of an initial tendency to respond toward the source of the warning tone.
Targeted opioid receptor antagonists in the treatment of alcohol use disorders.

In 1994, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the μ-opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone to treat alcohol dependence. However, treatments requiring daily administration, such as naltrexone, are inconsistently adhered to in substance abusing populations, and constant medication exposure can increase risk of adverse outcomes, e.g., hepatotoxicity. This has fostered a ‘targeted’ or ‘as needed’ approach to opioid receptor antagonist treatment, in which medications are used only in anticipation of or during high-risk situations, including times of intense cravings. Initial studies of the ability of targeted naltrexone to reduce drinking-related outcomes were conducted in problem drinkers and have been extended into larger, multi-site, placebo-controlled investigations with positive results. Another μ-opioid receptor antagonist, nalmefene, has been studied on an ‘as-needed’ basis to reduce heavy drinking in alcohol-dependent individuals. These studies include three large multi-site trials in Europe of up to 1 year in duration, and serve as the basis for the recent approval of nalmefene by the European Medicines Agency as an ‘as-needed’ adjunctive treatment for alcohol dependence. We review potential moderators of opioid receptor antagonist treatment response including subjective assessments, objective clinical measures and genetic variants. In sum, the targeted or ‘as-needed’ approach to treatment with opioid antagonists is an efficacious harm-reduction strategy for problem drinking and alcohol dependence.
Coordination, overload and team performance: effects of team communication strategies

The god of this paper is to iden@ the communication tactics that tiow management teams to successtiy coordinate without becoming overloaded, and to see whether successti coordination and fidom from overload independently Muence team pefiormance. We found that how much teams comnumicatti, what they communicated abou~ and the technologies they used to communicate prdlcted coordination and overload. Team coordination but not overload prdlcted team SUWSS.
GLYCEROLKINASE ACTIVITY IN WHITE ADIPOSE TISSUE OF OBESE-HYPERGLYCAEMIC MICE.

IN a recent communication, it was reported that epididymal fat pads from obese-hyperglycaemic mice incorporate 3.5 times as much glycerol-1,3-14C into glyceride-glycerol as did fat pads from non-obese litter-mates1. It was suggested that white adipose tissue of obese-hyperglycaemic mice might therefore contain higher levels of glycorolkinase. This possibility has now been tested by direct assay of the enzyme.
MPI-implementation of PFI-code for numerical modeling of the anatomy of breast cancer

Large-scale parallelized distributed computing has been implemented in the message passing interface (MPI) environment to solve numerically, eight reaction-diffusion equations representing the anatomy and treatment of breast cancer. The numerical algorithm is perturbed functional iterations (PFI) which is completely matrix-free. Fully distributed computations with multiple processors have been implemented on a large scale in the serial PFI-code in the MPI environment. The technique of implementation is general and can be applied to any serial code. This has been validated by comparing the computed results from the serial code and those from the MPI-version of the parallel code.
Reducing Impact of Pulsed Power Loads on Microgrid Power Systems

Microgrid power systems are becoming increasingly common in a host of applications. In this work, the mitigation of the adverse affects of pulsed-power loads on these systems is considered. In microgrid power systems, pulsed loads are particularly problematic since the total system inertia is finite. Examples include ships and aircraft with high-power radars, pulsed weapons, and electromagnetic launch and recovery systems. In these systems, energy is collected from the system over a finite time period, locally stored, and then rapidly utilized. Herein, a new strategy to accommodate these loads is presented. This strategy is based on identifying the optimal charging profile. Using simulation and experiment, it is shown the proposed strategy is highly effective in reducing the adverse impact of pulsed-power loads.
Grieving for the loss of the perfect child: Parents of children with handicaps

Family reaction to the diagnosis of a child with a handicap marks the occurrence of a family crisis. The losss experienced by the family at the birth of a handicapped child is explored within a framework for grieving. A wholistic model for the grieving process, which is based on a view that grieving has important biological, intellectual, emotional, behavioral and spiritual aspects is presented. Examples from clinical cases are offered to illustrate this process. Implications are provided for better understanding and facilitating of the grief process for both the family and the helping professional.
Transport of bile acids in a human intestinal epithelial cell line, Caco-2.

Abstract The transport of taurocholic acid (TA) across Caco-2 cell monolayers was dependent on time in culture and reached a plateau after 28 days, at which time the apical (AP)-to-basolateral (BL) transport was 10-times greater than BL-to-AP transport. The amounts of TA inside the cells following application of 10 nM [14C]TA to the AP or BL side of the monolayers (30 min) were approximately equal (54.4 ± 2.7 and 64.6 ± 2.8 fmol/mg protein, respectively). AP-to-BL transport of TA was saturable and temperature-dependent. Vmax and Km for transport were 13.7 pmol/mg protein per min and 49.7 μM, respectively. The transport of TA had an activation energy of 13.2 kcal·mol−1, required Na+ and glucose. AP-to-BL transport of [14C]TA was inhibited by the co-administration (on the AP side) of either unlabeled TA or deoxycholate, but it was not reduced by the presence of unlabeled TA on the BL side.
Host phase of a strange xenon component in Allende

A description is presented for the isolation and characterization of the host phase from the Allende C3V chondrite and a mass spectrometric study of the five noble gases in this phase. It is though that the Xe component may have been produced by spontaneous fission of an extinct superheavy element. The fission Xe resides in a minor fraction comprising 0.5% of the meteorite. The fraction consists of chromite, an unknown Cr, Fe-mineral, and amorphous carbon. The gas components and the progenitor of the fission Xe may have been trapped in these minerals when they formed from the solar nebula.
In-process improvement through defect data interpretation

An approach that involves both automatic and human interpretation to correct the software production process during development is becoming important in IBM as a means to improve quality and productivity. A key step of the approach is the interpretation of defect data by the project team. This paper uses examples of such correction to evaluate and evolve the approach, and to inform and teach those who will use the approach in software development. The methodology is shown to benefit different kinds of projects beyond what can be achieved by current practices, and the collection of examples discussed represents the experiences of using a model of correction.