cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aspirin in the Primary Prevention of Myocardial Infarction

Featured Article: Steering Committee of the Physicians' Health Study Research Group: Belanger C, Buring JE, Cook N, Eberlein K, Goldhaber SZ, Gordon D, et al. Final report on the aspirin component of the ongoing Physicians' Health Study. N Engl J Med 1989;321:129–35.4 In 1897, Felix Hoffman, a chemist working at Bayer in Elberfeld, Germany, synthesized the first stable form of acetylsalicylic acid. He was motivated, in part, to help his father, who suffered from painful and disabling arthritis. In the 20th century, acetylsalicylic acid, under its trade name, aspirin, became the most widely used drug in the world, but not until 1971 did Sir John Vane elucidate a new and novel mechanism of aspirin to irreversibly inhibit platelet aggregation. In 1982, Vane was awarded the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine, but the role of aspirin in the prevention of a first myocardial infarction (MI)5 was yet to be discovered. In 1982, the Physicians' Health Study (PHS) was funded by the US NIH as an investigator-initiated research grant. The PHS randomized 22 071 dedicated and conscientious male physicians at low risk of a first cardiovascular disease (CVD) event. On December 18, 1987, the independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board of the PHS unanimously recommended the early termination of the aspirin component, primarily because of the emergence of a statistically …
Device Simulation of a Unipolar Gamma-Ray Detector

The pulse height spectra from a new kind of unipolar gamma-ray detectors were predicted using a new three-dimensional simulation program developed at Sandia National Laboratories. The detectors were fabricated at Sandia and RMD Inc., and tested at Sandia. They were fabricated from Cd1-x.ZnxTe crystals and they were electron-transport-only devices. For the simulation, a successive overrelaxation method was used to determine the three-dimensional internal electric field within a detector, and to find the weighting potentials for the anode and the cathode. Uniform irradiation and ionization from a 137Cs source was assumed, and the charge transport and the signal induction within the detector were numerically computed using the appropriate materials and design parameters. The simulation gave excellent agreement with experimental pulse height spectra, and it demonstrated the power of such a simulation to correlate the materials parameters and the device design to the actual detector performance.
Development of amperometric glucose sensors with heterostructured nanowire arrays for continuous subcutaneous monitoring

This research discusses the development of a novel amperometric sensor to detect glucose concentrations in solution without the need for an artificial mediator. Since the intended goal of this research is to develop a glucose sensor to subcutaneously monitor glucose levels in the body, it is important that the sensor does not require a mediator, since such chemicals would prove harmful to the body. Nanowire arrays were used as the sensing electrode in place of planar electrodes to utilize the unique properties of nanostructures. Heterostructured Au/Pt nanowires were used so that the dual roles of covalent immobilization of glucose oxidase and oxidation of hydrogen peroxide could be carried out by the sensing electrode. Glucose oxidase was immobilized on these nanowires using self- assembled monolayers of alkanethiols and using a conducting polypyrrole matrix. Results indicate that the unique structure of the sensing electrode delivers superior performance with regards to sensitivity and response time in the absence of an artificial mediator. The development of such a sensor would assist the treatment of patients in an effective and timely manner. Ongoing efforts will help understand the process fabrication and analysis in detail.
Palliative thyroidectomy for malignant lymphoma of the thyroid.

Current treatment of malignant lymphoma of the thyroid consists of chemotherapy and external beam radiation. The diagnosis can routinely be made by fine-needle aspiration, obviating the need for surgery. However, a significant number of patients present with symptoms of obstruction, necessitating thyroidectomy for palliation. To determine the outcomes of patients with malignant thyroid lymphoma after palliative thyroidectomy, we reviewed our experience. Between 1980 and 2001, 27 patients with thyroid lymphoma and symptoms or signs of airway and/or esophageal obstruction were evaluated at 1 of 3 academic institutions. The mean age of the patients was 66±3 years, and the majority was female. Patients presented with symptoms of dyspnea/stridor (30%), dysphagia/pain (30%), or impending airway obstruction (40%). All underwent palliative surgery. In addition to surgery, 10 patients had combined chemo- and radiotherapy, 10 had radiotherapy alone, and 4 had only chemotherapy. Symptom-free survival after palliative surgery was determined by Kaplan-Meier analysis. The mean actuarial symptom-free survival of patients with symptomatic, malignant thyroid lymphoma was 10 years (95% confidence interval, 7.67 to 12.33 years). Patients with malignant lymphoma of the thyroid can present with obstructive symptoms requiring palliative intervention. In this group of patients, thyroidectomy can be associated with good long-term palliation and low morbidity.
Geophysical investigations of geology and structure at the Martis Creek Dam, Truckee, California

Abstract A recent evaluation of Martis Creek Dam highlighted the potential for dam failure due to either seepage or an earthquake on nearby faults. In 1972, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed this earthen dam, located within the Truckee Basin to the north of Lake Tahoe, CA for water storage and flood control. Past attempts to raise the level of the Martis Creek Reservoir to its design level have been aborted due to seepage at locations downstream, along the west dam abutment, and at the base of the spillway. In response to these concerns, the U.S. Geological Survey has undertaken a comprehensive suite of geophysical investigations aimed at understanding the interplay between geologic structure, seepage patterns, and reservoir and groundwater levels. This paper concerns the geologic structure surrounding Martis Creek Dam and emphasizes the importance of a regional-scale understanding to the interpretation of engineering-scale geophysical data. Our studies reveal a thick package of sedimentary deposits interbedded with Plio-Pleistocene volcanic flows; both the deposits and the flows are covered by glacial outwash. Magnetic field data, seismic tomography models, and seismic reflections are used to determine the distribution and chronology of the volcanic flows. Previous estimates of depth to basement (or the thickness of the interbedded deposits) was 100 m. Magnetotelluric soundings suggest that electrically resistive bedrock may be up to 2500 m deep. Both the Polaris Fault, identified outside of the study area using airborne LiDAR, and the previously unnamed Martis Creek Fault, have been mapped through the dam area using ground and airborne geophysics. Finally, as determined by direct-current resistivity imaging, time-domain electromagnetic sounding, and seismic refraction, the paleotopography of the interface between the sedimentary deposits and the overlying glacial outwash plays a principal role both in controlling groundwater flow and in the distribution of the observed seepage.
High-performance liquid chromatographic assays for free and phosphorylated derivatives of the creatine analogues β-guanidopropionic acid and 1-carboxymethyl-2-iminoimidazolidine (cyclocreatine)

Creatine and phosphocreatine are substrates for creatine kinase which is a key enzyme involved in energy transfer within the cell. Analogues of creatine have been fed to animals to determine the role this enzyme plays in energy metabolism, but progress in interpretation has been hampered by the lack of quantitative techniques to determine tissue content of these compounds. We describe the separation and quantitation of substituted guanidino compounds and their phosphorylated forms by high-performance liquid chromatography. First, a cation-exchange column is used to assay free creatine and its unphosphorylated analogues, and then phosphocreatine and its phosphorylated analogues as well as adenylate content (AMP, ADP, ATP) are assayed on an anion-exchange column. These methods have proven successful in measuring the chemical contents of these compounds in neutralized perchloric acid extracts of mammalian skeletal muscles. The sensitivity of this method ranges from 50 to 200 pmol, which is adequate to provide information from tissue extracts of 5- to 10-mg samples.
Curcumin inhibits telomerase activity through human telomerase reverse transcritpase in MCF-7 breast cancer cell line.

Abstract The inhibitory effect of curcumin, the yellow-colored pigment from turmeric, on telomerase activity was analyzed in human mammary epithelial (MCF-10A) and breast cancer (MCF-7) cells. Telomerase activity in MCF-7 cells is 6.9-fold higher than that of human mammary epithelial cells. In MCF-7 cells, telomerase activity decreased with increasing concentrations of curcumin, inhibiting about 93.4% activity at 100 μM concentration. The inhibition of telomerase activity in MCF-7 cells may be due to down-regulation of hTERT expression. Increasing concentrations of curcumin caused a steady decrease in the level of hTERT mRNA in MCF-7 cells whereas the level of hTER and c-myc mRNAs remained the same. Our results suggest that curcumin inhibits telomerase activity by down-regulating hTERT expression in breast cancer cells and this down-regulation is not through the c-myc pathway.
Problem-oriented object memory: customizing consistency

This paper presents the notion of problem-oriented object memory, and its realization in a distributed object-based programming system, Penumbra. This system allows location transparent object invocation, object migration and caching. Its distinguishing feature, however, is its support for problem-oriented object sharing.Problem-oriented object memory is an object model that allows exploitation of application specific semantics by relaxing strict consistency in favour of performance.Our work addresses the problem of achieving scalability of shared write-intensive data in an environment of networked workstations. We have successfully applied the presented ideas to the management of a highly demanding telecoms application.
The Question of Thresholds for Radiation and Chemical Carcinogenesis

(1989). The Question of Thresholds for Radiation and Chemical Carcinogenesis. Cancer Investigation: Vol. 7, No. 3, pp. 267-276.
Mechanism for shear banding in nanolayered composites

Recent studies have shown that two-phase nanocomposite materials with semicoherent interfaces exhibit enhanced strength, deformability, and radiation damage resistance. The remarkable behavior exhibited by these materials has been attributed to the atomistic structure of the bimetal interface that results in interfaces with low shear strength and hence, strong barriers for slip transmission due to dislocation core spreading along the weak interfaces. In this work, the low interfacial shear strength of Cu/Nb nanoscale multilayers dictates a new mechanism for shear banding and strain softening during micropillar compression. Our findings, supported by molecular dynamics simulations, provide insight on the design of nanocomposites with tailored interface structures and geometry to obtain a combination of high strength and deformability. High strength is derived from the ability of the interfaces to trap dislocations through relative ease of interfacial shear, while deformability can be maximized by controlli...
Psychosocial Measures Used to Assess the Effectiveness of School-based Nutrition Education Programs: Review and Analysis of Self-report Instruments for Children 8 to 12 Years Old

Abstract Objective To identify the psychometric properties of evaluation instruments that measure mediators of dietary behaviors in school-aged children. Design Systematic search of scientific databases limited to 1999–2010. Main Outcome Measures Psychometric properties related to development and testing of self-report instruments for children 8–12 years old. Analysis Systematic search of 189 articles and review of 15 instruments (20 associated articles) meeting the inclusion criteria. Search terms used included children, school, nutrition, diet, nutrition education, and evaluation. Results Fourteen studies used a theoretical framework to guide the instrument's development. Knowledge and self-efficacy were the most commonly used psychosocial measures. Twelve instruments focused on specific nutrition-related behaviors. Eight instruments included over 40 items and used age-appropriate response formats. Acceptable reliability properties were most commonly reported for attitude and self-efficacy measures. Although most of the instruments were reviewed by experts (n = 8) and/or pilot-tested (n = 9), only 7 were tested using both rigorous types of validity and with low-income youth. Conclusions and Implications Results from this review suggest that additional research is needed to develop more robust psychosocial measures for dietary behaviors, for low-income youth audiences.
Marijuana But Not Alcohol Use During Adolescence Mediates the Association Between Transmissible Risk for Substance Use Disorder and Number of Lifetime Violent Offenses

AIM: This study determined the extent to which alcohol and marijuana use during adolescence mediates the relation between transmissible risk for substance use disorder (SUD) and lifetime number of different types of violent offenses. METHODS: The transmissible liability index was administered to 359 10-12 year old youths who were tracked to 22 years of age. Past year frequency of alcohol and marijuana consumption was longitudinally tracked to age 22 at which time lifetime violent offenses was recorded. RESULTS: Rate of increase in marijuana use mediated the association between transmissible risk and lifetime number of different types of violent offenses. No association was found between past year frequency of alcohol use and violent offenses. CONCLUSIONS: Prevention directed at lowering the psychological characteristics associated with transmissible risk for SUD may also reduce violent offending. Language: en
Multidimensionality and IRT-Based Item Invariance Indexes: The Effect of Between-Group Variation in Trait Correlation

Using a bidimensional two-parameter logistic model, the authors generated data for two groups on a 40-item test. The item parameters were the same for the two groups, but the correlation between the two traits varied between groups. The difference in the trait correlation was directly related to the number of items judged not to be invariant using traditional unidimensional IRT-based unsigned item invariance indexes; the higher trait correlation leads to higher discrimination parameter estimates when a unidimensional IRT model is fit to the multidimensional data. In the most extreme case, when rθ1 θ2= Ofor one group and r θ1 θ2= 1.0 for the other group, 33 out of 40 items were identified as not invariant. When using signed indexes, the effect was much smaller. The authors, therefore, suggest a cautious use of IRT-based item invariance indexes when data are potentially multidimensional and groups may vary in the strength of the correlations among traits.
Nucleic acid synthesis during the vegetative life cycle of Volvox aureus M5.

1. The synthesis of both DNA and RNA are shown to follow the same general pattern during the vegetative life cycle of Volvox aureus M5. Nucleic acid synthesis is minimal during the first 12 h of development and maximal at the 36–48 h phase. 2. Mitomycin C at 45 μg/ml and actinomycin D at 4 μg/ml are shown to selectively inhibit DNA and RNA synthesis respectively. 3. The continued synthesis of DNA and RNA throughout the period of cell division is required for normal completion of development. Gonidial enlargement is not inhibited by either antibiotic.
COUPLING BETWEEN IMPURITY SPINS IN A MAGNETIC HOST

The localized modes associated with crystal impurities have been studied by many investigators.1 Localized excitons play an important role in the fluorescence of optically active materials, and localized phonons are a useful probe for studying lattice dynamics. We shall treat the localized modes associated with impurities in a magnetic host. At zero temperature an exact formulation2 using Green’s functions as well as spin wave techniques3,4,5 have been used. The thermodynamics of such impurity modes have been studied elsewhere.6
Eat, pray, love mimic: Female citizenship and otherness

Looking at Asia and the Asian Diaspora as a geopolitical post-colonial space, this paper aims to examine the role of travel and tourism as a sign of modernity and how it influenced and reconstruct the use of existing spatial gender categorization in cultural practices. Through the understanding of tradition as a fluid bodily knowledge in contemporary cultural political economics, this paper questions the intervention and innovation of the female bodies in Asian global tourism and indigenous Diaspora subjects within globalization. Based on the novel Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert, to mediate the analysis of the effect on space in cultural modernity, in the construction of otherness, which provokes the understanding of other culture as ‘non-modern’ yet reiterating tourism as one of the possible mechanism to mediate this encounter in bringing the ‘un-modern’ cultural practices to the world of modernity. This paper seeks to discuss the invisibility and visibility of female bodies in tourism space and c...
Equatorial zonal circulations: Historical perspectives

Abstract The changing perceptions on zonal circulations in the equatorial belt are traced for (a) stratospheric wind regimes, and (b) vertical-zonal circulation cells in the troposphere. (a) Observations from the Krakatoa eruption 1883 and Berson's 1908 expedition to East Africa, along with later soundings over Batavia (Jakarta) led to the notion of “Krakatoa easterlies” around 30 km (10 mb) and “Berson westerlies” around 20 km (50 mb). Prompted by contrary observations since the late 1950s, this dogma was replaced by the notion of easterlies alternating with westerlies in the equatorial stratosphere at a rhythm of about 26 months. (b) Stimulated by Bjerknes’ postulate of a “Walker circulation” along the Pacific Equator, a multitude of such cells have been hypothesized at other longitudes, in part from zonal contrasts of temperature and cloudiness. Essential for the diagnosis of equatorial zonal circulation cells is the continuity following the flow between the centers of ascending and subsiding motion. Evaluation of the recent NCEP-NCAR and ECMWF Reanalysis upper-air datasets reveals equatorial zonal circulation cells over the Pacific all year round, over the Atlantic only in boreal winter, and over the Indian Ocean only in autumn, all being seasons and oceanic longitudes with strong zonal flow in the lower troposphere.
Startle and Surprise on the Flight Deck: Similarities, Differences, and Prevalence

Startle and surprise are often cited as potentially contributing factors to aircraft incidents due to their possible negative effects on flightcrew performance. In this paper, we provide definitions of startle and surprise with the goal of delineating their differences. In the past, these terms have often been used interchangeably; however, there are distinctive conceptual, behavioral, and physiological differences between the startle reflex and the surprise emotion. Furthermore, we investigated the prevale nce of startle and surprise on the flight deck by examining voluntary incident reports in the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) and found surprise to be more prevalent than startle. Implications of these findings and limitations of our initial exploratory analysis are discussed.
Research Note: Pilot Study of the Advantages and Disadvantages of the Electronic Personal Response System

A Personal Response System (PRS) consists of keypad units, which are used by students to respond to lecture questions electronically in real time. In this pilot study, two modes of communication were used for two separate lectures. In the first lecture, high resolution software was utilized for speaker visuals. Lecture two utilized PRS hardware and interactive software. The first lecture with response by hand-raising yielded 35 (92%), 36 (90%) and 39 (97.5%) responses during three separate question episodes. The second lecture using the PRS yielded 39 (97.5%), 24 (60%), and 26 (65%) responses. Responses lessened with the use of the PRS.
Seismic data acquisition

Seismic data acquisition involves a number of different subjects, and I am not expert in each of these areas. In fact, it is possible that such an expert in all phases of seismic acquisition may be entirely hypothetical. My approach, therefore, will be to list and briefly describe some ideas which I think are likely to be important in the future.
Use of Vaccinium octoploids to facilitate 4x-6x gene transfers

The use of an 8x Vaccinium produced through doubling a tetraploid hybrid with colchicine was studied as a means of facilitating gene exchange between V. corymbosum L. and V. asheiReade. Analysis included meiotic observations and crossability studies of the 8x plant, as well as attempting to develop 6x breeding lines. Meiotic analysis revealed the presence of micronuclei in Telphase II products and polyspory in sporads. In the crossability studies five 4x highbush plants were pollinated with 8x o2 4x pollen. Data gathered included: % fruit set, average weight/fruit, average number of seeds/fruit, average number of seedlings/pollination, and number of 6x seedlings. Octoploid pollinations were significantly lower than 4x pollinations in all parameters. One 6x plant was produced from the 4x-8x crosses but was found to be mitotically unstable, having somatic cells with chromosome numbers ranging from 48 to 168.
The effect of rhythmic auditory stimulation on the disfluency of nonstutterers.

The purpose of the study was to ascertain whether nonstutterers, like stutterers, become more fluent when pacing their speech with a metronome. Each of 20 adult male nonstutterers read four differe...
Sharpening of frequency tuning by inhibition in the central auditory system: tribute to Yasuji Katsuki.

Abstract Frequency analysis is a fundamental function of the auditory system. Bekesy and Katsuki believed that sharpening of frequency tuning by lateral inhibition takes place in the central auditory system. However, most ‘cat’ auditory physiologists have believed that frequency tuning of neurons is not sharpened in the central auditory system, so that there is no lateral inhibition. Unlike quasi-triangular frequency-tuning curves of peripheral neurons, pencil- or spindle-shaped frequency-tuning curves have been found in the central auditory systems of many species of animals belonging in different classes. Inhibitory tuning curves are commonly associated with such ‘level-tolerant’ sharp excitatory tuning curves. It is clear that frequency-tuning curves of some central auditory neurons are sharpened by inhibition. Yasuji Katsuki (Professor, M.D., Ph.D.) passed away on 6 March 1994 at the age of 88. I have written this article as a tribute to him, focusing on his major contribution to auditory neurophysiology: the finding of the sharpening of frequency tuning in the cat's central auditory system. Neural sharpening of frequency tuning is an old yet still current topic, as you will read in this article dedicated to Professor Katsuki.
Hyperglycemia during critical illness.

Background: We sought to review the literature describing the benefits of tight glycemic control in critically ill patients, comparing outcome differences in subgroup populations. Methods: We searched PubMed for relevant literature on the topic of hyperglycemia and its management in the intensive care unit. Results: Overwhelming evidence in both surgical and medical patients conclusively demonstrates that hyperglycemia is a marker of severity of illness and is also an independent determinant of bad outcome, largely from infectious complications. Randomized trial evidence, in conjunction with historically controlled trials, supports the use of intensive insulin therapy and euglycemic control in critically ill patients, with nondiabetics possibly benefiting even more than diabetic patients. Euglycemia is best achieved, and hypoglycemia attenuated, through use of a protocolized approach. Further elaboration as to what threshold range defines euglycemia in patient subpopulations is needed and what pitfalls mu...
Single-crystal absorption and reflection infrared spectroscopy of forsterite and fayalite

Polarized single-crystal absorption and reflection spectra of fundamental modes in both the mid- and far-infrared are presented for microscopic crystals of forsterite and fayalite. All modes predicted by symmetry were observed for forsterite, but two B3u modes were not observed for fayalite. Consideration of previously determined frequency shifts for isotopically and chemically substituted olivines, along with symmetry analysis, produced a complete set of band assignments satisfying all constraints for forsterite. A plausible assingment was derived for fayalite by analogy. The frequency shifts from forsterite to fayalite are consistently small for bands assigned to SiO4 stretching and bending, moderate for rotations, and large for translations of M-site ions, suggesting that in olivine, SiO4 groups vibrate separately from the lattice. Allocating the bending and external modes among multiple continua in Kieffer's (1979c) model considerably improves prediction of quasiharmonic heat capacityC v and entropy for forsterite (∼1% discrepancy from 200–1000 K). The experimental entropy of fayalite is closely accounted for (1.8 to 0.1%) by summing lattice, electronic (from Burns' (1985) optical band assignment), and constant magnetic contributions above 200 K.S magnetic determined from the difference of the experimental and model lattice entropies shows inflection points at the two magnetic transition temperatures (23 and 66 K) and indicates that complete spin disorder is not achieved below 680 K.
Minimally Invasive Treatment of Adult Scoliosis

Adult scoliosis is commonly treated with nonoperative measures. When treated surgically, traditional open methods of deformity correction are associated with high morbidity. Minimally invasive spine surgery allows for correction of adult deformity with reduced blood loss and reduced tissue trauma when compared to open methods. We describe the surgical technique used for the minimally invasive correction and fusion of adult scoliosis and review outcomes.
Pediatric Blood Viscoelasticity Measurements

Motivated by questions related to flow in pediatric cardiovascular devices, the purpose of this study was to compare pediatric and adult complex viscoelasticity η* = ηV − iηE, where ηV and ηE are viscous and elastic components, respectively, measured in oscillatory flow in a capillary tube [Thurston 1972]. For normal blood, viscosity is increased at low shear rates by red cell aggregation and reduced at high shear rates due to disaggregation, orientation and deformation of red cells. The elastic part is also normally psuedoplastic, indicative of the deformation of red cell aggregates at high shear and individual cells at low shear, respectively.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Application of optical flow and scale space methods to sea ice motion in Antarctica

Methods from computer vision and scale-space theory are applied to the study of sea-ice motion in Antarctica. The input data is a sequence of daily images of the continent, obtained from scatterometer data and processed with a resolution enhancing algorithm. The information contained in these images can be studied at different scales when the appropriate filters are applied. Large scales omit detail and smoothen local variations of intensity while smaller scales show much detail and local variation. When motion is studied through different scales, different patterns might be observed. We assume that all the information coded in these images is the radar backscatter, and that it is closely coupled with advection. The Optical Flow method is used to obtain a dense vector field representing sea-ice motion, the method’s limitations are overcome by adding second order constraints to the main equation and through the use of large neighborhoods to normalize the direction of flow. Validation of results has been done to the extent possible, taking into account that there is practically no ground-truth data available for Antarctica in the form of buoy-data. Sea-ice motion results are displayed along available ocean surface wind data, observing a clear consistency along the ocean-ice border. The results are compared to existing studies applying wavelets and it is shown that differences can be explained by the fact that each method is observing motion at a different scale.
Creating a safe environment.

William Sage provides an excellent rationalization for today’s medical liability crisis. Patient safety and a safe environment are related concepts directed at helping to resolve this crisis. His paper helps to bring the complexities into perspective and suggests the need for an even better definition of “avoidable error” and for a righting of the tort system in the direction of the health care provider. I discuss here two ideas concerning injury compensation tables and medical liability specialty courts to help bring about this “righting.”
Toxicological effects of cadmium chloride on the canine testis following various routes of administration

Abstract The toxic effects of cadmium chloride on the canine testis were investigated. Various dosages of cadmium chloride were administered subcutaneously, intramuscularly, intravenously and intratesticularly. Single intravenous doses equivalent to 4.0 or 8.0 mg CdCl2/kg body weight were lethal. The study showed that the canine testis is sensitive to cadmium administered intratesticularly, but relatively insensitive to the subcutaneous, intramuscular and intravenous administration of cadmium. Single intratesticular infusions of 0.2 mg CdCl2/kg body weight caused testicular inflammation, hemorrhage, massive necrosis of central seminiferous tubules, and disorganization and degeneration of the peripheral seminiferous tubules. Leydig cell degeneration was also prominent. Atrophy of the seminiferous tubules was followed by interstitial revascularization and Leydig cell regeneration. The persistence of disorganized and degenerative seminiferous tubules was observed throughout the post-injection period (24 weeks), while signs of limited seminiferous tubule regeneration and spermatogenesis were present at 24 weeks. Epididymal damage occurred following cadmium infusion into the testes, however, it subsided by the 24th week after administration. In all cadmium-treated dogs evaluated, aspermic ejaculates were collected close to the time of sacrifice.
Functional programming for reconfigurable computing

Summary form only given. Reconfigurable computing requires organizing computation with mixtures of processors and discrete logic thus presenting a difficult problem of hardware/software integration. An execution model and adaptation of functional programming is proposed which removes the distinction between hardware and software while offering the possibility of "correct by construction" design. The resulting language is called "V" because one way of creating it is to begin with the verifiable, synthesizable subset of Verilog, and then add functional programming features. V generates the net-list of elementary functions which are supported by an array. The compiler has stages of compilation and instantiation so that recursion can be supported in the early definition of a design. The execution model is cycle based synchronous dataflow. V syntax looks much like Verilog or C without pointers in order to facilitate adoption.
Distinguishing ferritin from apoferritin using magnetic force microscopy

Estimating the amount of iron-replete ferritin versus iron-deficient apoferritin proteins is important in biomedical and nanotechnology applications. This work introduces a simple and novel approach to quantify ferritin by using magnetic force microscopy (MFM). We demonstrate how high magnetic moment probes enhance the magnitude of MFM signal, thus enabling accurate quantitative estimation of ferritin content in ferritin/apoferritin mixtures in vitro. We envisage MFM could be adapted to accurately determine ferritin content in protein mixtures or in small aliquots of clinical samples.
Empirical battery model characterizing a utility-scale carbon-enhanced VRLA battery

In this paper, the electrical characteristics of a carbon enhanced valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) battery from East Penn Manufacturing are investigated and a dynamic model is developed for use in electrical simulations. The electrochemical processes that cause specific dynamic behaviors have been investigated. These processes are explained and a non-linear electric model, which captures the results of some of these electrochemical dynamics, is presented. The method to determine model parameters using experimental data is shown. To verify the battery model, both a pulsed current profile and an arbitrary current profile were applied to the battery and to the battery model and the voltage responses of the two were compared.
Novel dual-reporter preclinical screen for antiastrocytoma agents identifies cytostatic and cytotoxic compounds

Astrocytoma/glioblastoma is the most common malignant form of brain cancer and is often unresponsive to current pharmacological therapies and surgical interventions. Despite several potential therapeutic agents against astrocytoma and glioblastoma, there are currently no effective therapies for astrocytoma, creating a great need for the identification of effective antitumor agents. The authors have developed a novel dual-reporter system in Trp53/Nf1-null astrocytoma cells to simultaneously and rapidly assay cell viability and cell cycle progression as evidenced by activity of the human E2F1 promoter in vitro. The dual-reporter high-throughput assay was used to screen experimental therapeutics for activity in Trp53/Nf1-null astrocytoma. Several compounds were identified demonstrating selectivity for astrocytoma over primary astrocytes. The dual-reporter system described here may be a valuable tool for identifying potential antitumor treatments that specifically target astrocytoma. (Journal of Biomolecular ...
Zirconyl hematoxylin: a new stain for acidic mucins.

Most stains for acidic mucins are time-consuming to prepare and have poor stability. Zirconyl hematoxylin is easily prepared and works for a year or more. It is made by adding 5 ml freshly-made 0.1% aqueous sodium iodate, 400 mg zirconyl chloride oc-tahydrate, and 40 ml 25% aqueous glycerol, in that order, to 100 mg of hematoxylin in 5 ml of absolute ethanol and stirring for 5 min. Stain 10 min and do not “blue” the stain. Chlorazole black or kernechtrot and fast green are good counterstains. Zirconyl hematoxylin stains acidic mucins violet or red violet, regardless of how they are fixed. It stains the same mucins as alcian blue in mouse and sheep salivary glands. It shows goblet cells in mouse rectum as well as alcian blue. It stains the same stomach regions in a lizard as alcian blue. Like alcian blue and colloidal iron, zirconyl hematoxylin stains the mucin of cancerous prostate, but not normal prostate.
Effect of neodymium:YAG laser capsulotomy on retinal straylight values in patients with posterior capsule opacification.

Purpose To determine the effect of neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) laser capsulotomy on retinal straylight values in patients with posterior capsule opacification (PCO). Setting Rotterdam Eye Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Methods This prospective study comprised 35 patients with PCO scheduled to have Nd:YAG capsulotomy. Before and after Nd:YAG capsulotomy, the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was determined, a slitlamp examination was performed, and retinal straylight was measured. The straylight measurements were performed using the C-Quant instrument utilizing the compensation-comparison method. Based on the median BCVA before Nd:YAG capsulotomy (20/50), patients were divided into 2 groups: those with visual acuity better than 20/50 (good VA group) and those with an acuity of 20/50 or worse (poor VA group). Results The BCVA and straylight values improved significantly after Nd:YAG capsulotomy. The improvement in the straylight value was statistically significant in the good VA group and poor VA group. The BCVA and straylight values behaved independently from each other. Before capsulotomy, the BCVA and the straylight value were moderately correlated. After Nd:YAG capsulotomy, there was no significant correlation between the 2 parameters. Also, the improvement in the 2 parameters after Nd:YAG capsulotomy was unrelated. Conclusions After Nd:YAG capsulotomy, both BCVA and straylight values improved significantly. There was no uniform relation between BCVA and retinal straylight. Straylight must be considered an independent entry criterion for capsulotomy.
Mitigation of colluding route falsification attacks by insider nodes in mobile ad hoc networks

Colluding malicious insider nodes with no special hardware capability can use packet encapsulation and tunneling to create bogus shortcuts (in-band wormholes) in routing paths and influence data traffic to flow through them. This is a particularly hard attack using which even a handful of malicious nodes can conduct data traffic analysis of packets or disrupt connections by dropping packets when needed. Simulation analysis shows that a disproportionately large amount of traffic goes through routes with wormholes even when a secure routing protocol (SRP) such as Ariadne is used. To mitigate such attacks and augment existing on demand SRPs, distributed packet filtering techniques based on statistical profiling of control packet propagation speeds are proposed. These techniques do not require network-wide synchronized clocks or new packet transmissions and need only simple computations by the sources or the destinations of the connections. The proposed packet filters together with Ariadne are implemented in the Glomosim simulator and their effectiveness is evaluated. The simulation results indicate that the proposed packet filters can reduce the in-band wormhole creation and their usage by a factor of 2--10. Also, the false alarm rates of the proposed techniques are very low and have little impact on normal network throughput, making them practical for mobile ad hoc networks. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Software architectures: divine plan or digital Darwinism?

Is there a hidden pattern to developments in the computer industry, or are they simply a demonstration of Darwinism? The author discusses the fate of software architectures as a good example of digital Darwinism.
Molecular Structure and Functionalities of Protein Isolates Prepared from Defatted Cottonseed Flour Succinylated at Various Levels

Protein isolates were prepared from glandless cottonseed flour succinylated at various levels. Succinylation levels of the resultant proteins followed first order kinetics with respect to succinic anhydride concentration added. Succinylation decreased the amount of free sulfhydryl, as well as ξ-amino groups of proteins, but did not change intermolecular disulfide bonds. Protein isolate prepared from highly succinylated flour consisted of one homogeneous protein agglomerate, while isolate from unmodified flour contained several heterogeneous proteins. Water solubility of the isolates increased logarithmically with respect to degree of succinylation, with the sharpest increase at 95% succinylation or higher. Heat coagulability had an inverse-linear relationship with amounts of negative charges on protein molecules. Emulsion capacity and oil absorption capacity were not significantly changed at less than 60% succinylation. However, these increased markedly at greater than 60% succinylation. Emulsion capacity had a positive, but not linear correlation with water solubility of proteins.
Price Filtering: Restricting Price Deals to Those Least Likely to Buy Without Them

Discusses methods of tailoring prices to buyers who differ in their willingness to pay while maintaining a semblance of fairness and uniformity – filtered pricing. Considers microeconomic theory, geographic discrimination, filtering methods such as couponing, skimming, quality and features, sales, as well as newer methods like rebates and price packaging. Surmises that there is a challenge to create new price filtering techniques, without ignoring the ethical questions involved.
Vertical alignment of high birefringence and negative dielectric anisotropic liquid crystals for projection displays

Physical properties and alignment performance of biphenyl and terphenyl negative dielectric anisotropic liquid crystal (LC) compounds are investigated. Results show biphenyl compounds align well in homeotropic LC cells and the alignment of terphenyls are relatively poor. We have developed a new method to align these high birefringence LC compounds. Adding a few percent of positive dielectric anisotropic or nonpolar LC material not only enhances the contrast ratio but also improves the overall figure-of-merit. Molecular modeling and experimentation are demonstrated to support this concept.
Tricarbonyl(4‐methoxy‐1‐methylcyclohexadienyl)iron Hexafluorophosphate

[51508-58-8] C11H11F6FeO4P (MW 408.04) InChI = 1S/C8H11O.3CO.F6P.Fe/c1-7-3-5-8(9-2)6-4-7;3*1-2;1-7(2,3,4,5)6;/h3,5-6H,4H2,1-2H3;;;;;/q+1;;;;-1; InChIKey = CGNCTZIJCSGEPD-UHFFFAOYSA-N (regiospecifically reacts with a wide range of nucleophiles;2 serves as a cyclohexenone γ-cation equivalent1) Solubility: easily sol MeCN, MeNO2; difficult in nonpolar solvents; partially sol H2O. Form Supplied in: yellow powder. Preparative Methods: easily prepared from 4-methylanisole by Birch reduction, followed by complexation with Pentacarbonyliron and hydride abstraction. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: is stable to air and moisture. Potent alkylating agent. Toxicity unknown.
Taking the Escherichia coli TonB Transmembrane Domain “Offline”? Nonprotonatable Asn Substitutes Fully for TonB His20

The TonB system of Gram-negative bacteria uses the proton motive force (PMF) of the cytoplasmic membrane to energize active transport of nutrients across the outer membrane. The single transmembrane domain (TMD) anchor of TonB, the energy transducer, is essential. Within that TMD, His20 is the only TMD residue that is unable to withstand alanine replacement without a loss of activity. H20 is required for a PMF-dependent conformational change, suggesting that the importance of H20 lies in its ability to be reversibly protonated and deprotonated. Here all possible residues were substituted at position 20 (H20X substitutions). The His residue was also relocated throughout the TonB TMD. Surprisingly, Asn, a structurally similar but nonprotonatable residue, supported full activity at position 20; H20S was very weakly active. All the remaining substitutions, including H20K, H20R, H20E, and H20D, the obvious candidates to mimic a protonated state or support proton translocation, were inactive. A second-site suppressor, ExbB(A39E), indiscriminately reactivated the majority of H20 substitutions and relocations, including H20V, which cannot be made protonatable. These results suggested that the TonB TMD was not on a proton conductance pathway and thus only indirectly responds to PMF, probably via ExbD.
Model of Dry Matter and Plant Nitrogen Partitioning between Leaf and Stem for Coastal Bermudagrass. I. Dependence on Harvest Interval

Part I of this series discussed dependence of partitioning between leaf and stem on harvest interval for Coastal bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L. Pers.). The expanded growth model described partitioning of both dry matter and plant nitrogen for seasonal totals. In this article the model is applied to accumulation of stem dry matter with time (growth interval) as the season progresses. A linear phase relation is established between leaf and stem dry matter. Estimates of leaf and stem nitrogen concentrations from Part I are then used to estimate accumulation of plant nitrogen with time. Model simulations describe data from Tifton, GA rather well.
Women’s Political Engagement Under Quota-Mandated Female Representation Evidence From a Randomized Policy Experiment

Do affirmative action measures for women in politics change the way constituents view and interact with their female representatives? A subnational randomized policy experiment in Lesotho with single-member districts reserved for female community councilors provides causal evidence to this question. Using survey data, I find that having a quota-mandated female representative either has no effect on or actually reduces several dimensions of women’s self-reported engagement with local politics. In addition, implications from the policy experiment suggest that the quota effect is not accounted for by differences in qualifications or competence between the different groups of councilors, but rather stems from citizens’ negative reactions to the quota’s design.
Effect of age and coronary artery disease on the postural adjustment of peripheral circulation.

Circulatory regulation tends to minimize gravitational effects of postural changes. The changes of the extracranial volume pulse, recorded by means of an impedance plethysmograph, in tilted head-up and head-down position, are significantly greater in older than in younger men, indicating impairment of circulatory postural regulation with age. Surprisingly enough, this impairment is partially compensated in coronary patients, possibly due to hyperactive carotid sinus reflexes.
Up-regulation of site-specific remodeling without accumulation of microcracking and loss of osteocytes

Abstract Functional adaptation of bone normally protects the skeleton from fracture during daily activity. Accumulation of microcracking and loss of osteocytes have been implicated in the regulation and initiation of targeted (reparative) remodeling of bone and, in certain situations, the development of fatigue or stress fracture. We performed a histologic study of the dorsal cortex of the mid-diaphysis of the third metacarpal (Mc-III) bone of Thoroughbred racehorses after bones were bulk-stained in basic fuchsin and transverse calcified sections were prepared. The Thoroughbred racehorse is an extreme athlete whose Mc-III bone experiences particularly high cyclic strains during training and racing. A group of non-athletic horses was also included in the experiment. The following variables were quantified: activation frequency (Ac.f); bone formation rate (BFR); resorption space density (Rs.N/T.Ar); microcrack density (Cr.Dn); microcrack mean length (Cr.Le); microcrack surface density (Cr.S.Dn); osteocyte density (Ot.N/T.Ar; Ot.N/B.Ar); and bone volume fraction (B.Ar/T.Ar). Ac.f and BFR were estimated using a mathematical algorithm. Using confocal microscopy, bones were examined for fine microcracks, diffuse matrix injury, and disruption of the osteocyte syncytium. Low values for Cr.Dn (#/mm 2 ) were found in both groups (0.022 ± 0.008 and 0.013 ± 0.006 for racing Thoroughbreds and non-athletic horses, respectively). There was no significant relationship between Cr.Dn and Ot.N/T.Ar; Ot.N/B.Ar, B.Ar/T.Ar, and Ot.N/T.Ar; Ot.N/B.Ar, and remodeling (Ac.f, Rs.N/T.Ar) and Ot.N/T.Ar; Ot.N/B.Ar. Intense remodeling of the Mc-III dorsal cortex was found in the racing Thoroughbreds (Ac.f 12.8 ± 7.4 #/mm 2 /year; BFR 31.5 ± 15.6%; Rs.N/T.Ar 0.19 ± 0.09 #/mm 2 ) and was significantly increased compared with non-athletic horses. Overall, remodeling was weakly correlated with Cr.Dn ( r 2 = 0.15, P