cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quality-control approach to improve donor care.

The operation of any donor center should include provision for the protection of the individual who reacts adversely to the withdrawal of blood. No center can expect an absence of reactions and every center should try to reduce the frequency of reactions to a minimum. A quality-control system was adapted to monitor reaction incidence based upon the average incidence in that particular center. When the frequency of reactions consistently exceeds the tolerance zone, poor reaction control is indicated. The most practical design for a phlebotomy area was found to be three beds that permitted the use, alternately, of either one or two beds for bleeding and, simultaneously either one or two beds for donor recovery. This achieved rapid blood collections without increasing the frequency of reactions. Reaction-prone donors are best identified through history of having reacted adversely to an earlier blood collection. Donors reacting away from the bed had greater risk of injury than those reacting on the bed. Observation and more care kept the incidence of reaction in hazardous areas at a low level. The quality control system proved useful in assuring proper and safe operation of the blood bank and in improving donor care.
3,6-Dibromoindole, A New Indole From the Palauan Ascidian Distaplia Regina

Abstract A specimen of Distaplia regina from Palau yielded a new antibacterial indole, 3,6-dibromoindole (1). the structure of the new indole was elucidated from spectroscopic data.
Effect of Intraventricular Administration of Antisomatostatin γ-Globulin on the Lethal Dose-50 of Strychnine and Pentobarbital in Rats*

Effects of intraventricular injection of sheep anti-somatostatin γ-globulin (anti-SSG) on strychnine-induced seizures, strychnine LD50, and pentobarbital LD50 were examined in male rats under light ether anesthesia. Ten microliters of anti-SSG given 2 h earlier significantly decreased the duration of strychnine- induced seizures as compared with that in the control rats pretreated with normal sheep γ-globulin (NSG). This effect of anti-SSG seemed to be specific, as there was no difference in seizure duration between sheep anti-LHRH γ-globulin (anti-LHRHG)- and NSGpretreated rats. Survival rates in anti-SSG-pretreated rats after injection of strychnine and pentobarbital were significantly larger (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively) than those in the control rats receiving NSG. The administration of anti-SSG resulted in 26.7% and 22.9% increases in the LD50 of strychnine and pentobarbital, respectively. These results indicate that endogenous somatostatin in the cerebrospinal fluids and/or the periventricul...
Reproducibility of a consensus panel in the interpretation of coronary angiograms

Abstract This report describes the consistency of coronary angiogram evaluation by a four man panel of experts rendering “consensus opinion.” The panel evaluated films from 38 patients at two grading sessions separated by an interval of seven months. Fourteen patients' films were selected at random for duplicate evaluation. These contained 186 lesion sites. The panel was 95 per cent consistent in designating significant stenosis (≥ 70 per cent). “Consensus” panel reading appears more consistent than “group opinion” panel reading. The over-all standard deviation of the difference in panel reading was 14 per cent. The panel was most consistent in evaluating the right coronary artery, proximal LAD, and proximal circumflex. In the left main segment two of fourteen duplicate evaluations showed major discrepancy.
Biological macromolecules: Some methods used to prepare specimens of various proteins for electron microscopy

Abstract A simplified method and equipment was devised for the study of protein macromolecules and microcrystals with the aid of the electron microscope. The transfer of carbon membranes onto grids, and the application of proteins and negative stains onto the carbon membranes are described. Materials examoned includes concanavalin A, myeloma protein, Bence-Jones protein, ornithine aminotransferase and catalase. Ornithine aminotransferase and myeloma protein solutions formed microcrystals on the carbon membrane during the process of speciment preparation.
Adding GPU Computing to Computer Organization Courses

How can parallel computing topics be incorporated into core courses that are taken by the majority of undergraduate students? This paper reports our experiences adding GPU computing with CUDA into the core undergraduate computer organization course at two different colleges. We have found that even though programming in CUDA is not necessarily easy, programmer control and performance impact seem to motivate students to acquire an understanding of parallel architectures.
Normal and Abnormal Temporomandibular Joint Disc and Posterior Attachment as Depicted by Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Subjects

Purpose This investigation provides a detailed assessment of the morphologic and signal intensity changes of the temporomandibular joint disc and posterior disc attachment as depicted by magnetic resonance imaging in symptomatic versus asymptomatic subjects. Patients and Methods Sixty-one asymptomatic volunteers and 58 symptomatic subjects were imaged using a 1.5 tesla magnetic resonance system utilizing bilateral high-resolution surface coils with the jaw in the closed and maximal opened position. Disc shape and signal intensity characteristics were tabulated along with a detailed assessment of the various regions of the disc posterior attachment in a blinded fashion as to symptomatology. Results Deformity of the disc was noted in 34 of 116 (29.3%) of joints in patients and in 5 of 122 (4%) of joints of volunteers (P Conclusion Magnetic resonance allows an in vivo characterization of the fine structural details of the disc and the disc posterior attachment, separating normal from internal derangement temporomandibular joints.
A HAMMERHEAD RIBOZYME THAT CLEAVES PERFORIN AND FAS-LIGAND RNAS IN VITRO

Abstract Polyfunctional ribozymes targeting more than one RNA might be ideal for treatment of diseases caused by the expression of more than one mRNA. This is the case of Graft versus Host Disease, which in the mouse model is due to the action of two proteins responsible for different lytic pathways: perforin and fas-ligand. We have created a bifunctional ribozyme fusing two antiperforin and antifas-ligand hammerhead ribozymes with a stretch of CA dinucleotides. This bifunctional ribozyme is able to recognize and cleave in vitro perforin and fas-ligand mRNA in a specific and selective fashion, with a catalytic efficiency similar to that of its individual components.
2N Noncollinear points determine at least 2N directions

Abstract We find sharp bounds for the number of moves required to bring a permutation to the form n ( n −1),…, 1 if a move consists of inverting some increasing substrings. If we invert every maximal increasing substring in each move we need at most n − 1 moves. If n is even and we start with 1, 2,…, n and we do not invert the entire permutation at once, then we need at least n moves. The lower bound implies that when n ⩾ 4 is even, n points which are not collinear determine at least n different directions, as do n + 1. These bounds are sharp.
Discrete calculations of interstellar migration and settlement

Abstract Monte Carlo calculations of the expansion of space-faring civilizations are presented for a wide range of values of the population growth coefficient (α) and emigration coefficient (γ). Even for the very low values proposed by Newman and Sagan (α = 10−4per year; γ = 10−8per year) the migration wavefront expands at 1.4 × 10−5 pc per year. Even with this low expansion velocity, such a civilization would fill the Galaxy in about 109 years. Filling times of the order of 60 million years seem probable. The wavefront velocity is approximated by υ = Δr [( Δx υ s ) + ( 1 α ) ln ( 2α γ )] , where Δr is the average radial distance traveled, δx the average distance traveled, and υs the ship speed. This approximation was derived by Newman.
Preoperative therapy for advanced pelvic malignancy by isolated pelvic perfusion with the balloon-occlusion technique.

Background: Although the technique of isolated pelvic perfusion dates back to the time of Creech (1959) and has been used by a variety of authors to treat unresectable neoplasms, the inherent complexity of the open procedure limited its widespread use. We simplified the technique through use of the balloon-occlusion technique for aortic and caval control. Our initial efforts used this technique for unresectable pelvic cancer, but recently we used this as preoperative therapy for advanced pelvic malignancy.
Molecular Dynamics Investigation of the ω-Current in the Kv1.2 Voltage Sensor Domains

Voltage sensor domains (VSD) are transmembrane proteins that respond to changes in membrane voltage and modulate the activity of ion channels, enzymes, or in the case of proton channels allow permeation of protons across the cell membrane. VSDs consist of four transmembrane segments, S1–S4, forming an antiparallel helical bundle. The S4 segment contains several positively charged residues, mainly arginines, located at every third position along the helix. In the voltage-gated Shaker K+ channel, the mutation of the first arginine of S4 to a smaller uncharged amino acid allows permeation of cations through the VSD. These currents, known as ω-currents, pass through the VSD and are distinct from K+ currents passing through the main ion conduction pore. Here we report molecular dynamics simulations of the ω-current in the resting-state conformation for Kv1.2 and for four of its mutants. The four tested mutants exhibit various degrees of conductivity for K+ and Cl− ions, with a slight selectivity for K+ over Cl−. Analysis of the ion permeation pathway, in the case of a highly conductive mutant, reveals a negatively charged constriction region near the center of the membrane that might act as a selectivity filter to prevent permeation of anions through the pore. The residues R1 in S4 and E1 in S2 are located at the narrowest region of the ω-pore for the resting state conformation of the VSD, in agreement with experiments showing that the largest increase in current is produced by the double mutation E1D and R1S.
Integration of planning, scheduling and stochastic inventory under uncertainty for flexible process networks

We address in this article the tactical planning and scheduling of chemical process networks consisting of both dedicated and flexible processes under demand and supply uncertainty. To integrate the stochastic inventory control decisions with the production planning and scheduling, we propose a mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) model that captures the stochastic nature of the demand variations and supply delays by using the guaranteed-service approach (GSA). The model takes into account multiple tradeoffs and simultaneously determines the optimal selection of production schemes, purchase/sales and production levels, cyclic production schedules for flexible processes, as well as working and safety inventory levels of all chemicals involved in the process network. To globally optimize the resulting non-convex MINLP problems with modest computational times, we exploit the model properties, propose a tailored branch-and-refine algorithm and introduce three symmetry breaking cuts. The application is illustrated through a large-scale example with 25 chemicals and 16 processes including at most 8 production schemes for each flexible process.
Changes in the concentration of aflatoxin M1 during manufacture and storage of White Pickled cheese

Abstract In this study White Pickled cheese was produced from cow’s milk contaminated artificially with aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) at two different levels, 1.5 and 3.5 μg/kg (ppb), and the effects of process stages on the AFM1 contents were investigated. Pasteurization at 72 °C for 2 min caused losses of AFM1 about 12% and 9%, respectively, in milk contaminated with 1.5 μg/kg AFM1, and 3.5 μg/l AFM1. These losses were found to be statistically significant (P 0.05 and P > 0.01) for 3-month storage periods.
Input- and Cell-Type-Specific Endocannabinoid-Dependent LTD in the Striatum

Changes in basal ganglia plasticity at the corticostriatal and thalamostriatal levels are required for motor learning. Endocannabinoid-dependent long-term depression (eCB-LTD) is known to be a dominant form of synaptic plasticity expressed at these glutamatergic inputs; however, whether eCB-LTD can be induced at all inputs on all striatal neurons is still debatable. Using region-specific Cre mouse lines combined with optogenetic techniques, we directly investigated and distinguished between corticostriatal and thalamostriatal projections. We found that eCB-LTD was successfully induced at corticostriatal synapses, independent of postsynaptic striatal spiny projection neuron (SPN) subtype. Conversely, eCB-LTD was only nominally present at thalamostriatal synapses. This dichotomy was attributable to the minimal expression of cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptors on thalamostriatal terminals. Furthermore, coactivation of dopamine receptors on SPNs during LTD induction re-established SPN-subtype-dependent eCB-LTD. Altogether, our findings lay the groundwork for understanding corticostriatal and thalamostriatal synaptic plasticity and for striatal eCB-LTD in motor learning.
Laser interaction with dental soft tissues: What do we know from our years of applied scientific research?

A variety of lasers are used for many oral soft tissue procedures. Each dental laser has specific parameters giving a wide range of operation. Lasers such as the carbon dioxide, argon and diode operate in continuous wave, while Nd:YAG, Er:YAG, Ho:YAG, and Er,Cr:YSGG are free-running pulsed lasers with high peak power and very short pulse duration. Laser tissue interaction is basically a photothermal effect and the biologic effect is dependent on the laser operating parameters, such as emission wavelength, power, emission mode, pulse duration, energy/pulse, energy density, duration of exposure, total energy and tissue characteristics. This article reviews current knowledge of laser parameters, laser-tissue interaction and applied preclinical and clinical safety and effectiveness scientific support.
Growth and photosynthesis of sweet orange plants treated with paclobutrazol

Paclobutrazol [(2RS,3RS)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)pentan3-ol], formulated as GFU 265, applied at 100, 250, and 500 mg plant−1 to the soil of container-grown sweet orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck cv. Valencia], suppressed plant weight, stem height, leaf size, and total leaf area. At the 500-mg dosage, total plant dry weight was reduced by 61%, stem height by 74%, and both leaf biomass and area by 80%, as compared to control plants. All paclobutrazol dosages induced fibrous root thickening and increased their soluble sugar and starch content. Fresh root biomass was 14 to 40% higher and root:shoot ratios were increased three- to sixfold for treated plants. Paclobutrazol applications of 250 and 500 mg plant−1 reduced leaf photosynthetic rate, ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase activity, total nonstructural carbohydrates, and dark respiration 70 to 80% of the control plants. Reductions of leaf photosynthetic rate, carboxylase activity, and photosynthate by paclobutrazol contributed to biomass reduction in treated sweet orange.
Toward a reflexive sociology

Gouldner’s call for a “reflexive sociology” in 1970 remains a largely unexamined idea, yet with the breakdown of functionalism’s begemony and the present ferment in theory its time may finally have come. In attempting to clarify and reconstruct Gouldner’s idea, I begin with his concepts “background assumptions” and “domain assumptions,” linking them with Kubn’s ideas. Employing levels of abstraction to approach Gouldner’s material systematically, I proceed to develop and illustrate two contrasting background assumptions or world hypotheses: “stratification” and “interaction.” Finally, I examine some methodological implications of these world views, centering on defining problems, ratio scales and images of measurement, sampling and multivariate-analysis procedures.
Enhanced Physical Stability of Amorphous Drug Formulations via Dry Polymer Coating

Although amorphous solid drug formulations may be advantageous for enhancing the bioavailability of poorly soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients, they exhibit poor physical stability and undergo recrystallization. To address this limitation, this study investigates stability issues associated with amorphous solids through analysis of the crystallization behavior for acetaminophen (APAP), known as a fast crystallizer, using a modified form of the Avrami equation that kinetically models both surface and bulk crystallization. It is found that surface-enhanced crystallization, occurring faster at the free surface than in the bulk, is the major impediment to the stability of amorphous APAP. It is hypothesized that a novel use of a dry-polymer-coating process referred to as mechanical-dry-polymer-coating may be used to inhibit surface crystallization and enhance stability. The proposed process, which is examined, simultaneously mills and coats amorphous solids with polymer, while avoiding solvents or solutions, which may otherwise cause stability or crystallization issues during coating. It is shown that solid dispersions of APAP (64% loading) with a small particle size (28 μm) could be prepared and coated with the polymer, carnauba wax, in a vibratory ball mill. The resulting amorphous solid was found to have excellent stability as a result of inhibition of surface crystallization.
Auto-antigenicity of connective tissue extracts.

Summary1. Rabbit tendon extracts, reinjected into the donor animals produced circulating complement fixing antibodies, skin reactivity of the delayed type and fixation of antibody to synovia and interstitial spaces of several organs. 2. The growth of the animals was stunted, but no other abnormalities were demonstrable. 3. Isologous antibodies were produced in a similar way, but the effects were not as marked.
Relation of left-ventricular dyssynchrony by phase analysis of gated SPECT images and cardiovascular events in patients with implantable cardiac defibrillators

Left-ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony could be measured by gated SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). This study examined the relation between the degree of dyssynchrony and outcome in patients with implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICDs). We studied 70 patients with ICD and LV ejection fraction (EF) <.40 by gated MPI (performed within 6 weeks of the device implantation). The images were re-processed using phase analysis to derive phase standard deviation (SD) and histogram bandwidth. All-cause mortality and appropriate ICD shocks were identified as the primary endpoint. There were 87% men, aged 62 ± 11 years. The EF was 26 ± 8% (range 12%-39%). The phase SD was 51° ± 20° (range 12°-99°) and the histogram bandwidth was 157° ± 72° (range 21°-327°). The SD and bandwidth were significantly greater than corresponding values in patients with normal EF (15.8 ± 11.8° and 42.0 ± 28.4°, respectively, P < .0001, each). At 1 year, 8 patients (11%) died or had shocks. The patients with events had higher phase SD than those without events (60 ± 5° vs 50 ± 21°, P = .002). The histogram bandwidth was also higher in those with events (185 ± 37 vs 154 ± 75, P = .07). All patients with event had a phase SD ≥ 50°, while none of the patients with a phase SD < 50° (N = 26) had an event (P = .02). The severity of LV dyssynchrony by phase analysis in patients with LV dysfunction, and ICD is associated with increased risk of death and appropriate ICD shock; a phase SD < 50° was associated with no events at 1 year.
Inhibition of neuronal membrane GABAB receptor binding by GABA structural analogues.

Abstract 1. 1. A number of compounds structurally related to GABA were tested as inhibitors of baclofen-sensitive GABA B receptor binding to membranes from mouse brain. 2. 2. In addition to two known inhibitors—baclofen and 5-aminovaleric acid—two analogues were shown to possess inhibitory activity. These compounds were 4-aminobutyryl- dl -alanine hydrobromide ( IC 50 = 3 μ M) and trans -2-(aminomethyl)cyclopropane carboxylic acid ( IC 50 = 90 μ M). 3. 3. Both drugs also exhibited affinity for GABA A binding sites. 4. 4. Further experiments are needed to establish if these analogues exert agonist or antagonist action at the GABA B receptor.
Irreducible aberrations of a lens used for a range of magnifications

In practical photography a lens must form a high-quality image at a variety of magnifications. It has, however, been known for more than a century that no lens can be designed that is perfect at more than one conjugate. It follows that lenses designed for a range of magnifications must have residual aberrations that cannot be corrected no matter how complicated the lens is made. In this paper it is shown how these residual aberrations can be calculated.
Sliding characteristics of the metal-ceramic couple

Abstract Friction studies have been conducted with a number of metals sliding against ceramic and cermet materials at temperatures to 1600°F. The apparatus consisted of a hemisphere sliding back and forth on a flat plate at low speeds and light loads. It was found that where there is no interaction or reaction, the frictional behavior of the metal-ceramic couples can be accounted for by the nature of the transferred film. In many instances, this means that the frictional behavior is similar to that of the metal sliding against itself. Exceptions to this behavior at high temperatures are discussed.
Solutions of a Class of Discrete-Time Inventory Problems

In solving problems of inventory control, where fluctuation in demand and/or supply must be taken into account, two classes of operational procedure lead to two different techniques for solution. If operating decisions orders for replacement, for example are made whenever the inventory reaches certain preassigned levels, the queuing theory model may be used. But if operating decisions are made at the ends of finite periods of time, on the basis of inventory counts made then, the techniques of the theory of Markov processes are usually applicable. Several general situations of the latter class are analyzed in the present paper those where the size of the replenishment order is equal to the number of demands arriving during the last period, or where the order is “quantized” in multiples of some lot-size q, those where the replenishment order is delivered within the next period, and those where sometimes delivery is delayed one or more periods. Techniques of solution are displayed for finding the steady-state probabilities that inventories of various sizes are present at the beginning of a period and various measures of effectiveness of the operation are computed from these probabilities. Finally, it is shown how asymptotic formulas for large demand rates can be obtained for these measures, in terms of the standard deviation of the interarrival times between demands.
Angular distribution of K-shell X-rays produced by 29 keV electrons incident on Ag

Abstract The absolute intensities of the Kα and Kβ X-rays produced by 29 keV electrons incident on a thick Ag target at forward angles in the range 0° to 55° relative to incident electrons have been measured. When corrections are made for attenuation within the target material, the results indicate that the K-shell X-rays are emitted isotropically. The experimental K-shell X-ray and bremsstrahlung production probability densities are compared to the results simulated by the Monte Carlo program, PENELOPE, and are found to be in good agreement.
Liquids at large negative pressures: water at the homogeneous nucleation limit.

An isochoric cooling method for obtaining unprecedented tensions on liquids was used to determine the homogeneous nucleation limit for stretching of water at a variety of water densities. At densities in the range 0.55 to 0.68 gram per milliliter (g/ml), the data agree with the homogeneous nucleation temperatures measured by Skripov for superheated water at positive pressures. At densities between 0.68 and 0.93 g/ml, cavitation occurred only at negative pressures (that is, under tension). The cavitation tensions measured were in excellent agreement with those predicted by Fisher9s 1948 vapor nucleation theory. A maximum tension of 140 megapascals (=1400 bars) was reached at 42°C, which lies on an extrapolation of the line of isobaric density maxima. At higher densities, cavitation of droplets that survived heterogeneous nucleation failed to occur at all unless provoked, at much lower temperatures, by freezing. This observation confirms the existence of a density maximum at 42°C and –140 megapascals and hence greatly strengthens the basis for Speedy9s conjecture of a reentrant spinodal for water.
Barriers to Screening for Colorectal Cancer

Rapidly growing interest in colon cancer screening is a crucial first step to identifying and reducing many of the barriers that impede population screening for this common disease. Promoting screening demands health care policy change to increase the percentage of Americans with insurance coverage that includes a colon cancer screening benefit. A systematic approach to screening with invitations that come from a clinician are likely to be the most effective way to prompt more individuals to be screened. Awareness campaigns and patient educational aids, including decision tools, implemented in multiple sites, such as worksites, community centers, health care systems, and physician offices, increase the percent of eligible Americans who understand their personal risk, the need for screening, and the options available to them.
Dielectric properties of nanoscale Hf O 2 slabs

First principles total energy calculations have been performed to determine the extent to which surfaces impact the dielectric properties of ultrathin dielectric materials. $\mathrm{Hf}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ (001) slabs in the cubic phase with various thicknesses have been considered in this study. It was found that the induced dipole moment due to an external electric field can be cleanly partitioned into bulk and surface contributions. The bulk part of the dipole moment is linearly related to the slab thickness, and so aids in the accurate determination of the bulk polarization and the dielectric constant. This work has resulted in a simple method for calculating both the electronic and total dielectric constant of a dielectric using standard total energy methods.
Gene therapy with vascular endothelial growth factor for inoperable coronary artery disease.

Abstract Background . Patients presenting with medically intractable angina who have undergone previous coronary bypass (CABG) and/or percutaneous revascularization procedures are frequently deemed "inoperable" based on angiographic findings of diffuse distal disease or a lack of available conduits. We initiated a phase I clinical trial to assess the safety and bioactivity of intramyocardial transfection of plasmid DNA encoding for the angiogenic mitogen vascular endothelial growth factor (phVEGF165) in such patients. Methods . phVEGF165 (125 μg, n=10; 250 μg, n=10) was injected directly into the myocardium through a mini left anterior thoracotomy as sole therapy in 20 patients (15 male, 5 female, age 48 to 74 years) with class III or IV angina, reversible ischemia on stress sestamibi scans, and "inoperable" coronary artery disease. Results . All patients tolerated surgery uneventfully and were extubated on the table. No perioperative myocardial infarction, hemodynamic instability, or change in ventricular function occurred. Mean hospital stay was 3.9 days. There was one late death (4 months). Plasma VEGF protein level increased from 30.6 ± 4.1 pg/mL pretreatment to 73.7 ± 10.1 pg/mL 14 days posttreatment ( p = 0.0002) and returned to baseline by day 90. All 16 patients followed to day 90 reported a reduction in angina (nitroglycerin use/week = 60.2 ± 4.9 preop vs 3.5 ± 1.6 at 90 days; p p = 0.025). Angiographic evidence of improved collateral filling of at least one occluded vessel was observed in all patients evaluated at day 60. Conclusions . Direct myocardial gene transfer with phVEGF165 via a mini-thoracotomy can be performed safely and may result in significant symptomatic improvement in patients with "inoperable" coronary artery disease.
An extremal property of positive operators and its spectral implications

The Perron-Frobenius theory of a positive operator T (defined on an ordered space E) is developed from an extremal characterization of its largest eigenvalue. This characterization has manifest intrinsic interest. Additionally, it is used to give a particularly revealing derivation of the basic results concerning the existence, multiplicity, and distribution of the eigenvalues of T of maximum modulus. A significant feature of this derivation is that the customary assumptions that the space E be complete and/or that its positive cone have a nonvoid interior are often unnecessary or can be replaced by weaker hypotheses more amenable to practical applications (see 1, 3). The extremal characterization proof of the distribution properties of the eigenvalues of maximum modulus is new in the infinite dimensional case. Also, several new results on the extent of applicability of the extremal characterization are given
Presence and measurement oftele-methylhistamine in mast cells

The histamine metabolitetele-methylhistamine (t-MH) was identified and measured in crude and purified peritoneal mast cells (MCs). Peritoneal dialysates, peritoneal cells, and purified MCs all containedt-MH in concentrations representing about 0.2% of the corresponding histamine (HA) levels.T-MH levels in crude cells represented about 70% of the total dialysate levels, indicating the presence of extracellular as well as intracellulart-MH.T-MH levels per MC in purified fractions were similar to those of crude fractions, indicating a MC origin for the intracellulart-MH. Histamine methyltransferase activity was not detected in crude or purified MC fractions, and incubations with the monoamine oxidase inhibitor pargyline failed to increase the content or release oft-MH in either fraction, suggesting a very slow or non-existent histamine methylation in MCs. Compound 48/80 produced a temperature-dependent release of HA andt-MH in crude and purified preparations, and Triton X-100 also released both amines. In all cases, the degree of release of both amines was correlated, consistent with a granular origin fort-MH in MCs. The low concentrations oft-MH in MCs do not necessarily indicate a role for MCs in HA metabolism, but suggest thatt-MH may be a valuable marker for non-MC HA.
Zooarchaeology and Historical Archaeology: Progress and Prospects

This review assesses the development and current status of zooarchaeological research in historical archaeology. Analytical issues in recovery, identification, quantification and interpretation are discussed with particular reference to assemblages from historical sites. The results section summarizes the substantive contributions zooarchaeological studies of historical assemblages have made to our understanding of past diet, food production systems, social and cultural variation, and archaeological interpretations. The last four decades of research has provided a strong basis for future analyses that draw together diverse strands of zooarchaeological, historical, scientific, and anthropological evidence.
Transplantation: CNIs to mTOR inhibitors--effects on allosensitization?

Pre-existing HLA antibodies negatively impact long-term graft survival and might be a major risk factor for the formation of new HLA antibodies. Whether conversion of transplant recipients from calcineurin inhibitors to mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors increases the risk of allosensitization remains to be determined.
Sparse principal component analysis via regularized low rank matrix approximation

Principal component analysis (PCA) is a widely used tool for data analysis and dimension reduction in applications throughout science and engineering. However, the principal components (PCs) can sometimes be difficult to interpret, because they are linear combinations of all the original variables. To facilitate interpretation, sparse PCA produces modified PCs with sparse loadings, i.e. loadings with very few non-zero elements. In this paper, we propose a new sparse PCA method, namely sparse PCA via regularized SVD (sPCA-rSVD). We use the connection of PCA with singular value decomposition (SVD) of the data matrix and extract the PCs through solving a low rank matrix approximation problem. Regularization penalties are introduced to the corresponding minimization problem to promote sparsity in PC loadings. An efficient iterative algorithm is proposed for computation. Two tuning parameter selection methods are discussed. Some theoretical results are established to justify the use of sPCA-rSVD when only the data covariance matrix is available. In addition, we give a modified definition of variance explained by the sparse PCs. The sPCA-rSVD provides a uniform treatment of both classical multivariate data and high-dimension-low-sample-size (HDLSS) data. Further understanding of sPCA-rSVD and some existing alternatives is gained through simulation studies and real data examples, which suggests that sPCA-rSVD provides competitive results.
Some Remarks about the Gasser-Sroka-Jennen-Steinmetz Variance Estimator

This article proposes some simplifications of the residual variance estimator of Gasset, Sroka, and Jeneen-Steinmetz (GSJ, 1986) which is often used in conjunction with non parametric regression. The GSJ estimator is a quadratic form of the data, which depends on the relative spacings of the design points. When the errors are independent, identically distributed Gaussian variables, and the true regression curve is flat, the estimate is distributed as a weighted sum of x2 variables. By matching the first two moments, the distribution can be approximated by a x2 with degrees of freedom determined by the coefficients of the. quadratic form. Computation of the estimated degrees of freedom requires computing the trace of the square of an n x n matrix, where n is the number of design points. In this article, (n-2)/3 is shown to be a conservative estimate of the approximate degrees of freedom, and (n-2)/2 is shown to be conservative for many designs. In addition, a simplified version of the estimator is shown to...
Myelin figures: The buckling and flow of wet soap

Myelin figures are interfacial structures formed when certain surfactants swell in excess water. Here, I present data and model calculations suggesting the formation and growth of myelins is due to the fluid flow of surfactant, driven by the hydration gradient at the dry surfactant/water interface; a simple model based on this idea qualitatively reproduces various myelin growth behaviors observed in different experiments. From a detailed experimental observation of how myelins develop from a planar precursor structure, I identify a mechanical instability that may underlie myelin formation. These results indicate the mixed mechanical character of the surfactant lamellar structure, where fluid and elastic properties coexist, is what enables the formation and growth of myelins.
Social and Emotional Learning as a Universal Level of Student Support: Evaluating the Follow-up Effect of Strong Kids on Social and Emotional Outcomes

The authors examined the initial and follow-up effect of Strong Kids, a social and emotional learning (SEL) curriculum, among a sample of 106 third- and fourth-grade students. Students were assigned to either the treatment or the wait-list condition and completed questionnaires on SEL knowledge and perceived use of SEL skills across 3 assessment periods (pretest, posttest, and follow-up). The classroom teachers also completed a social functioning questionnaire on each student at each assessment period. The classroom teachers implemented 12 weekly lessons from September to December, and 1 booster session in January. Generalization of SEL skills was promoted with verbal praise by treatment teachers to students outside of the lessons and by reminders to students to use the SEL skills they were learning. Fidelity of implementation was more than 85% and was measured by observing the number of components of the curriculum implemented. Analyses revealed that the treatment group had greater positive gains across ...
Volumetric properties of CO2CH4N2 fluids at 200°C and 1000 bars: A comparison of equations of state and experimental data

Abstract Predictions of molar volume, excess molar volume, and isochoric P-T trajectories from thirteen published equations of state are compared with one another and with preliminary volumetric data for CO2CH4N2 fluids at 200°C and 1000 bars. The equations of state investigated represent a wide variety of empirical and semi-empirical approaches to the modeling of fluids. The experimental data indicate that excess volumes of CO2CH4N2 mixtures are small (
A radiographic comparison of short-arm cast and plaster and fiberglass wrist splints

Prepackaged plaster and fiberglass splints are used in many emergency departments. This study evaluated the effectiveness of short-arm cast (SAC), volar fiberglass wrist splint (FWS), and volar plaster wrist splint (PWS) in limiting wrist range of motion. Ten healthy male volunteers between the ages of 18 and 35 years were included. Each wrist on each volunteer was immobilized with SAC, FWS, and PWS. Wrist radiographs were taken with each appliance and angular motion measured by two radiologists. PWS performed better than FWS in flexion, extension, radial deviation, and ulnar deviation (all P < .05). PWS was not statistically different than SAC in limiting flexion, extension, or radial deviation, although SAC performed better in ulnar deviation (P < .05). PWS limits wrist motion more effectively than FWS and performs in a similar manner to SAC in flexion, extension, and radial deviation.
Updating memory in list-method directed forgetting: Individual differences related to Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

The goal of the present study was to evaluate intentional forgetting in adults with characteristics of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Adults with characteristics of ADHD (n=72) showed a different pattern of recall and source discrimination than adults without characteristics of ADHD (n=72) in a task of list-method intentional forgetting. Specifically, participants in the Non-ADHD group demonstrated successful intentional forgetting and seemed to encode items using item-specific processing and relational processing. In contrast, participants in the ADHD group did not show intentional forgetting and seemed to engage in mostly item-specific processing during encoding. The results of this study are consistent with qualitative differences in intentional memory updating processes between individuals with and without characteristics of ADHD.
Production of pancreatic hormone–expressing endocrine cells from human embryonic stem cells

Of paramount importance for the development of cell therapies to treat diabetes is the production of sufficient numbers of pancreatic endocrine cells that function similarly to primary islets. We have developed a differentiation process that converts human embryonic stem (hES) cells to endocrine cells capable of synthesizing the pancreatic hormones insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, pancreatic polypeptide and ghrelin. This process mimics in vivo pancreatic organogenesis by directing cells through stages resembling definitive endoderm, gut-tube endoderm, pancreatic endoderm and endocrine precursor--en route to cells that express endocrine hormones. The hES cell-derived insulin-expressing cells have an insulin content approaching that of adult islets. Similar to fetal beta-cells, they release C-peptide in response to multiple secretory stimuli, but only minimally to glucose. Production of these hES cell-derived endocrine cells may represent a critical step in the development of a renewable source of cells for diabetes cell therapy.
Measurement of optic nerve blood flow with iodoantipyrine: limitations caused by diffusion from the choroid.

Abstract Radioactively labelled iodoantipyrine has been used to measure optic nerve blood flow in experimental animals. The reliability of blood flow measurements with this technique may be limited by diffusion of tracer from the nearby choroid. The activity of tracer in the peripapillary choroid and anterior optic nerve was measured in a series of in vivo optic nerve blood flow experiments in cats. The diffusion of iodoantipyrine into cat optic nerve segments was also measured in vitro, and a model for diffusion of tracer from the peripapillary choroid into the anterior optic nerve was developed. The activity profiles established by simple diffusion experiments were similar to the activity profiles in the anterior optic nerve established by blood flow experiments. Apparent blood flow measurements in the anterior optic nerve made with iodoantipyrine may be largely influenced by tracer diffusion from the nearby choroid. For measurements of tracer activity which are statistically similar between control and experimental optic nerve samples, and with a total diffusion time of 60 sec (a well-done experiment), real blood flow in the experimental sample may differ by as much as 60% from the control at a point 50 μm from the choroid. At 300 μm from the choroid, the maximum undetectable difference because of diffusion declines to approx. 12%. These estimates assume an autoradiographic technique which can reliably detect tissue tracer activity differences of ± 10%. Measurements of optic nerve blood flow made with diffusible tracers are affected by diffusion from the choroid and should be reported with estimated limits of reliability.
Experimental Pediatric Arterial Ischemic Stroke Model Reveals Sex-specific Estrogen Signaling

Background and Purpose—Pediatric stroke, birth to 18 years, is a significant cause of long-term disability in the United States; however, there is currently little experimental data on the pathophysiology of childhood stroke owing to lack of animal models. We developed a novel mouse model of experimental childhood-onset arterial ischemic stroke to characterize the sex-specific response of the adolescent brain to cerebral ischemia and assess the neuroprotective effect of estrogen at this developmental stage. Methods—Postnatal day 20 to 25 mice were subjected to 90 minutes experimental stroke via the intraluminal filament middle cerebral artery occlusion model and ischemic damage assessed 22 hours after reperfusion. Real-time quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed 22 hours after middle cerebral artery occlusion to determine the effects of ischemia and estrogen treatment on the proapoptotic gene Bax. Results—Ischemic injury did not differ between male and female juvenile (postnatal da...
Petrous bone epidermoid cyst caused by penetrating injury to the external ear: Case report and review of literature.

Epidermoid cysts are histologically benign, slow-growing congenital neoplasms of the central nervous system that may arise from retained ectodermal implants. The epidermoid lesions are generally caused during the 3 rd to 5 th week of gestation by an incomplete cleavage of the neural tissue from the cutaneous ectoderm, though it can also happen later in life due to introduction of skin elements by skin puncture, trauma or surgery. We present this unique case of a petromastoid epidermoid cyst associated with ipsilateral cerebellar abscesses, presenting 20 years after a penetrating trauma to the external auditory canal. Radical excision of both lesions and revision of the previous fistulous tract was performed. We present the diagnostic challenge and the operative treatment of this unique case, which to our knowledge is the first where an epidermoid cyst and an adjacent brain abscess occurred as a result of a single traumatic event.
Acculturation and Its Implications on Parenting for Chinese Immigrants A Systematic Review

Purpose: To systematically review and synthesize existing findings on acculturation and its implications on parenting for Chinese immigrants. Method: Three electronic databases were searched for or...
A epsilon-Relaxation Method for Generalized Separable Convex Cost Network Flow Problems

We propose an extension of the e-relaxation method to generalized network flow problems with separable convex cost. The method maintains e-complementary slackness satisfied at all iterations and adjusts the arc flows and the node prices so to satisfy flow conservation upon termination. Each iteration of the method involves either a price change at a node or a flow change at an arc or a flow change around a simple cycle. Complexity bounds for the method are derived. For one implementation employing e-scaling, the bound is polynomial in the number of nodes N, the number of arcs A, a certain constant Γ depending on the arc gains, and ln(e0/e−), where e0 and e− denote, respectively, the initial and the final e.
Resonant adiabatic passage with three qubits

We investigate the nonadiabatic implementation of an adiabatic quantum teleportation protocol, finding that perfect fidelity can be achieved through resonance. We clarify the physical mechanisms of teleportation, for three qubits, by mapping their dynamics onto two parallel and mutually coherent adiabatic passage channels. By transforming into the adiabatic frame, we explain the resonance by analogy with the magnetic resonance of a spin-1/2 particle. Our results establish a fast and robust method for transferring quantum states and suggest an alternative route toward high-precision quantum gates.
Integrated Thermomechanical Design and Optimization of BGA Packages Using Genetic Algorithm

A new multidisciplinary design and optimization methodology in electronics packaging is presented. A genetic algorithm combined with multi-disciplinary design and multi-physics analysis tools are used to optimize key design parameters. This methodology is developed to improve the electronic package design process by performing multidisciplinary design and optimization at an early design stage. To demonstrate its capability, the methodology is applied to a Ball Grid Array (BGA) package design. Multidisciplinary criteria including thermal, thermal strain, electromagnetic leakage, and cost are optimized simultaneously. A simplified routability analysis criterion is treated as a constraint. The genetic algorithm is used for systematic design optimization while reducing the total computational time. The present methodology can be applied to any electronics product design at any packaging level from the chip level to the system level.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Reverse Engineering the Yeast RNR1 Transcriptional Control System

Transcription is controlled by multi-protein complexes binding to short non-coding regions of genomic DNA. These complexes interact combinatorially. A major goal of modern biology is to provide simple models that predict this complex behavior. The yeast gene RNR1 is transcribed periodically during the cell cycle. Here, we present a pilot study to demonstrate a new method of deciphering the logic behind transcriptional regulation. We took regular samples from cell cycle synchronized cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and extracted nuclear protein. We tested these samples to measure the amount of protein that bound to seven different 16 base pair sequences of DNA that have been previously identified as protein binding locations in the promoter of the RNR1 gene. These tests were performed using surface plasmon resonance. We found that the surface plasmon resonance signals showed significant variation throughout the cell cycle. We correlated the protein binding data with previously published mRNA expression data and interpreted this to show that transcription requires protein bound to a particular site and either five different sites or one additional sites. We conclude that this demonstrates the feasibility of this approach to decipher the combinatorial logic of transcription.