cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ozone-Induced Changes in the Pulmonary Clearance of 99Tc-DTPA in Han

Abstract Ozone is a respiratory irritant that has been shown in animals to increase the permeability of the respiratory epithelium. Ve have recently reported that respiratory epithelial permeability vas similarly affected in eight healthy non-smoking young men exposed to ozone (ARRD, 135 (1987) 1124-8). Permeability vas evaluated by determining the pulmonary clearance of inhaled aerosolized 99mTc-DTPA with sequential posterior lung imaging by a computer-assisted gamma camera. Ve nov report our findings for an additional 16 subjects. In a randomized crossover design, the 16 young men vere exposed for 2 h to purified air and 0.4 ppm ozone while performing intermittent high intensity treadmill exercise; forced vital capacity (FVC) vas measured before and at the end of exposures. The pulmonary clearance of 99mTc-DTPA vas measured 75 minutes after the exposures. Ozone exposure vas associated vith a mean endexposure FVC decrement of 0.50 liters (10Z of baseline; p - 0.007). The mean (± SEM) 99mTc-DTPA pulmonary clearance rate of 1.16 ± 0.08 X/min observed after ozone exposure vas over 60Z greater than the rate of 0.71 ± 0.08 X/ain following air exposure (p > 0.001). The results demonstrate that ozone exposure increased respiratory epithelial permeability. Such an Increase may be a manifestation of direct ozone-induced epithelial cell injury, lung inflammation or both.
The Measurement of Triphosphopyridine Nucleotide and Reduced Triphosphopyridine Nucleotide and the Role of Hemoglobin in Producing Erroneous Triphosphopyridine Nucleotide Values

Abstract A method is described for determining TPN+ and TPNH in a single tissue homogenate made in dilute NaOH at 0°. One portion, for TPN+, is acidified after adding ascorbic acid to prevent TPNH oxidation. A second portion, for TPNH, is heated (still alkaline) after adding cysteine to prevent oxidation. If desired, a third portion can be analyzed directly without heating for total TPN (TPN+ plus TPNH). The same homogenate can also be used for measuring DPN+ and DPNH. In all cases the actual analyses are made with enzymatic cycling. Consequently, by reason of the high sensitivity, it is unnecessary to deproteinize. The procedure presented avoids the danger of TPNH oxidation to TPN+ by tissue hemoglobin which was responsible for our earlier erroneous conclusion that there exists an acid-labile tissue form of TPN+. The oxidation of TPNH by hemoglobin has been studied intensively. The oxidation by free hemoglobin occurs to the same degree in strong acids as in dilute. Therefore, the possibility of obtaining erroneously high TPN+ values is not eliminated by the preparation of homogenates in strong acid, although TPN+ formation is greatly decreased if red blood cells in the tissue are intact at the time of strong acid addition. Neither is the danger eliminated by preparation of extracts with heat at neutral pH. With the use of the revised procedure the levels of TPN+ and TPNH were measured in liver, kidney, heart, brain, and blood. The ratio of TPNH to TPN+ was found to vary from 20 to 1 in heart to 3 to 1 in blood.
Repetitive usage of immunoglobulin VH and D gene segments in CD5+ Ly‐1 B clones of (NZB x NZW)F1 mice.

The usually small Ly-1 B cell population is markedly increased in older mice by expansion of certain clones. This results in a cellular picture very similar to human B chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Here we report a molecular analysis of the immunoglobulin gene rearrangements of the Ly-1 B cell populations in (NZB x NZW)F1 females. We find that (i) the number of clones found in the peritoneum (a major tissue source of Ly-1 B cells) decreases with age till mono- or biclonality is common by approximately 6 months, (ii) many clones from different mice show the same size rearrangements at both the Ig heavy and light chain loci and (iii) the IgH rearrangements found in a clone isolated from the spleen of one mouse are a subset of those found in the peritoneum of the same mouse, implying migration occurs from the peritoneum to the spleen. Molecular cloning and sequencing of the IgH rearrangements from the peritoneal clones of one B/W mouse revealed that all productive rearrangements used the identical unmutated VH and D elements joined to different JHS. Indeed, two VDJH4 rearrangements were recovered which were identical but for six junctional (N region) nucleotides. The conservation of VH and D segment usage in the rearrangements of these Ly-1 B cell clones could indicate some strong selective pressure for clonal expansion (for example antigen selection) operates via the immunoglobulin molecules of these cells. Southern analyses of other (NZB x NZW)F1 mice with this cloned VH and the usage of the same or similar VH genes among a number of Ly-1 B origin tumors in other mouse strains indicate the generality of this repetitive VH gene usage in individual mice.
Performance of concurrency control mechanisms in centralized database systems

Foreword, Jim Gray. 1. Transactions and Database Processing, Vijay Kumar and Meichun Hsu. 2. Serializability-based Correctness Criteria, Panos Chrysanthis. 3. Concurrency Control Mechanisms and Their Taxonomy, Vijay Kumar. 4. An Analytic Model of Transaction Interference, Andreas Reuter. 5. Concurrency Control Performance Modeling: Alternatives and Implications, Rakesh Agrawal, Michael J. Carey, and Miron Livny. 6. Modeling and Analysis of Concurrency Control Schemes, Philip S. Yu. 7. Modeling Performance Impact of Hot Spot, Bin Zhang and Meichun Hsu. 8. Two-Phase Locking Performance and Its Thrashing Behavior, Alexander Thomasian. 9. Database Concurrency Control Using Data Flow Graphs, Margaret H. Eich and David L. Wells. 10. Concurrency Control and Recovery Methods for B+-Tree Indexes: ARIES/KVL and ARIES/IM, C. Mohan. 11. Commmit_LSN: A Noval and Simple Method for Reducing Locking and Latching in Transaction Processing Systems, C. Mohan. 12. Synchronizing Long-Lived Computations, Friedemann Schwendreis and Andreas Reuter. 13. Implementation Considerations and Performance Evaluation of Object-Based Concurrency Control Protocols,Shehan Xavier and Krithi Ramaritham. 14. Reduction in Transaction Conflicts Using Semantics-Based Concurrency Control, Sushil Jajodia and Ravi Mukkamala. 15. The Design and Performance Evaluation of a Lock Manager for a Memory-Resident Database System, Toby Lehman and Vibby Gottemukkala. 16. Performance of Concurrency Control Algorithms for Real-Time Database Systems, Juhnyoung Lee and Sang H. Son. 17. Firm Real-Time Concurrency Control, Jayant Harista. 18. A Two-Phase Approach to Predictability Scheduling Real-Time Transactions, Pat O'Neil, Krithi Ramamritham and Calton Pu. 19. Conflict Detection Tradeoffs for Replicated Data, Michael J. Carey and Miron Livny. 20. On Mixing Queries and Transactions via Multiversion Locking, Paul M. Bober and Michael J. Carey. 21. Extensibility and Asynchrony in the Brown-Object Storage System, David E. Langworthy and Stanley B. Zdonik. Selected Biographies. Index.
Exotic plant invasions in forested wetlands: effects of adjacent urban land use type

There are a variety of land use types in urbanized areas that may have different effects on the ecological characteristics of patches of natural vegetation. In particular, residential housing and industrial land-use may have different effects on adjacent forest communities. We tested this hypothesis by examining the vegetation of forested wetlands in a densely urban region, northeastern New Jersey. Wetlands embedded in industrial areas were much less invaded by exotic plant species than were wetlands embedded in residential areas, as reflected in the number of exotic species, the fraction of the total flora that was exotic, and their frequencies of occurrence. Few other structural characteristics of the vegetation differed between the two types of urban areas. We suggest that the management of land adjacent to forest edges may explain this surprising result. The low rate of invasion of wetlands within industrial areas suggests they could have high conservation value in urban ecosystems.
Effective management of roles and responsibilities: driving accountability in software development teams

Teams differ in the way they define roles and responsibilities and in the level of formalism by which they establish and communicate these definitions. Responsibilities are not always clearly defined, and there is often confusion or mismatch between the individual's perspectives of a role and the expectations of that role by other team members. This lack of shared understanding can lead to issues in performance and lack of accountability. We review the notion of role specification as part of software development governance and present an approach for specifying responsibilities in terms of decisions to be made during the life cycle of software development artifacts. We present evaluation data from software teams as they redefine their roles and shape their responsibilities. We further present a tool for governance specification based on this approach, which can ensure that these specifications are adhered to in the software development platform. We conclude by describing a methodology for how the tool and approach can be implemented to help software development teams understand and evolve the appropriate governance for their needs.
Enhanced magnetocaloric effects in R3(Ga1-xFex)5O12 (R=Gd, Dy, Ho; 0<x<1) nanocomposites

A series of R 3 (Ga 1-x Fe x ) 5 O 12 (R=Gd, Dy, Ho; 0<x<1) compounds for potential magnetic refrigerants were synthesized by chemical routes and characterized by X-ray diffraction, and SQUID magnetometry. Dy and Ho were chosen since they respectively possess increasing orbital contributions to the total angular magnetic moment of the atom over the zero value for Gd. X-ray data showed that garnet structures were obtained and that improvements over the Gd 3 (Ga 0.5 Fe 0.5 ) 5 O 12 compound, which was reported in 1992 as possessing enhanced magnetocaloric effects, may be achieved by equilibrating at 1473K for 15 h, rather than at 1173K for 15h as was done in the earlier studies. Magnetometry measurements showed that when Gd was substituted either by Dy or Ho, the material was superparamagnetic, possessing fine magnetic clusters resulting in enhanced magnetocaloric effects (ΔS m ) with respect to the basic paramagnetic garnet (i.e., x = 0). In addition, with variation in x, the optimal ΔS m was measured for the x = 0.5 compound, similar to that found for the Gd-containing garnet nanocomposites. The optimal ΔS m values for the Ho- and Dy-containing compounds, respectively, were found to be about the same or smaller than that for the optimal Gd-containing nanocomposite Gd 3 (Ga 0.5 Fe 0.5 ) 5 O 12 , despite the increased total angular moment. We interpret these results as indicating a reduction in the interaction strength between the rare-earth elements and the Fe as the Gd is replaced by Dy or Ho, and that Dy reduces this interaction strength faster than does Ho.
Effect of Temperature, Solvent Polarity, and Nature of Lewis Acid on the Rate Constants in the Carbocationic Polymerization of Isobutylene

The absolute rate constant of propagation for ion pairs (kp±) was determined by the diffusion clock method in the living carbocationic polymerization of isobutylene at different solvent polarity and temperature in conjunction with TiCl4, Me2AlCl, and BCl3 as Lewis acids. The kp± ((3.6−5.7) × 108 L mol-1 s-1 in hexanes/MeCl 60/40, v/v) was independent of temperature and nature of Lewis acid and increased moderately with increasing solvent polarity to a nearly diffusion-limited value (∼1.7 × 109 L mol-1 s-1) in pure MeCl. A similar kp± (∼(5−6) × 108 L mol-1 s-1) value was obtained in the nonliving polymerization of isobutylene in conjunction with EtAlCl2 in hexanes/MeCl 60/40 (v/v) at −80 °C, indicating that living and nonliving polymerizations proceed on identical propagating centers. The apparent equilibrium constant of ionization (activation) Kiapp (= KiKD0, where Ki is the absolute equilibrium constant of ionization and KD0 is the equilibrium constant of TiCl4 dimerization) was calculated from the appar...
Eternal time machine in ( 2 + 1 ) -dimensional anti–de Sitter space

$(2+1)$-dimensional anti--de Sitter space has been the subject of much recent investigation. Studies of the behavior of point particles in this space have given us a greater understanding of the BTZ black hole solutions produced by topological identification of AdS isometries. In this paper, we present a new configuration of two orbiting massive point particles that leads to an ``eternal'' time machine, where closed timelike curves fill the entire space. In contrast with previous solutions, this configuration has no event or chronology horizons. Another interesting feature is that there is no lower bound on the relative velocities of the point masses used to construct the time machine; as long as the particles exceed a certain mass threshold, an eternal time machine will be produced.
What makes bad technical writing bad? A historical analysis

While bad technical writing has specific characteristics, one important cause of bad technical writing is abuse of natural English word order. Since about 1400, English has relied solely on word order to convey meaning, particularly active voice (agent-verb-object). Infusions of large numbers of foreign words from 1100 to 1600 further affected the development of English sentence patterns and their use in modern applied writing. To develop clear sentences, (1) use active voice as frequently as possible; (2) build sentences with clauses rather than phrases; (3) make the agent of the action the subject of the clause; (4) build clauses by concentrating meaning in the subject-verb pairs; (5) choose concrete rather than abstract nouns as subject-agents; (6) use action verbs rather than “be” verbs whenever possible; (7) use passive voice only when its use will not cloud meaning; (8) choose voice carefully when planning sentences; (9) remember that technical writing should inform, and that historically elegant sentence patterns and words are not suitable to express technical information.
Book Review: Globalised freight transport: intermodality, e-commerce, logistics and sustainability by Thomas R. Leinbach and Cristina Capineri

Globalised freight transport: intermodality, e-commerce, logistics and sustainability by Thomas R. Leinbach and Cristina Capineri. Cheltenham, UK, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2006. ISBN 978-1-84542-502-9
A Review of Wright, Conducting Psychological Assessment: A Guide for Practitioners

As instructors in a graduate psychology program who teach assessment courses, we confront our own teaching dilemmas in evaluating A. J. Wright's Conducting Psychological Assessment: A Guide for Pra...
Per-Unit Impedances of Synchronous Machines - II

THE preceding part1 of this paper derived the generalized per-unit equations of the synchronous machine. The machine impedances were divided into two groups: those measurable from the stator terminals (x d , x d ′, r, and so forth) called the definitive impedances, and those internal impedances which cannot be measured from the stator terminals (X afd , X ffd , R ffd , and so forth), called the nondefinitive impedances. The per-unit values of the definitive impedances are independent of the base rotor currents, but part I showed that the per-unit values of the nondefinitive impedances are functions of the base rotor currents, and accordingly are subject to misuse and misinterpretation unless the rotor-current bases are explicitly defined. These rotor-current bases and their corresponding base-current ratios are the fundamental quantities in any per-unit system, and this concluding part II is devoted to a fuller exposition of the base-current ratios of the more important per-unit systems.
Addendum to "Prospects for a second neutral vector boson at low mass in SO(10)"

An SO(10) model proposed previously is modified so as to allow for a legitimate fermion mass spectrum consistent with a low-mass ${Z}_{2}$. This drastically changes the neutral-current phenomenology of the original theory. The modified model reproduces more of the low-energy phenomenology of the standard model. All axial-vector-type neutral-current couplings at ${q}^{2}=0$ are identical to those in the standard model. The coupling of ${Z}_{2}$ to $u\overline{u}$ is enhanced, making it easier to detect the ${Z}_{2}$ in $\mathrm{pp}$ and $\overline{p}p$ colliders.
Ignition and temperature behavior of a single-wall carbon nanotube sample

The electrical resistance of mats of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) is measured as a function of mat temperature under various helium pressures, in vacuum and in atmospheric air. The objective of this paper is to study the thermal stability of SWNTs produced in a helium arc discharge in the experimental conditions close to natural conditions of SWNT growth in an arc, using a furnace instead of an arc discharge. For each tested condition, there is a temperature threshold at which the mat's resistance reaches its minimum. The threshold value depends on the helium pressure. An increase of the temperature above the temperature threshold leads to the destruction of SWNT bundles at a certain critical temperature. For instance, the critical temperature is about 1100 K in the case of helium background at a pressure of about 500 Torr. Based on experimental data on critical temperature it is suggested that SWNTs produced by an anodic arc discharge and collected in the web area outside the arc plasma most likely originate from the arc discharge peripheral region.
An inexpensive and efficient modular water‐renewal system for bulk sediment toxicity testing

Recently developed test guidance for conducting whole-sediment toxicity tests with aquatic invertebrates requires exchange of overlying water to maintain acceptable water quality. Described here is an accurate and consistent modular water-renewal system (delivering 150 ± 5 ml renewal water) and containment chamber for bulk sediment toxicity tests. The system can be customized to meet testing demands by adding multiple units. Each unit can hold up to 49 300-ml beakers. Construction is simple (<4 h/unit) and inexpensive (< $90/unit). This system has been used successfully in 10-d whole-sediment toxicity tests with Chironomus tentans and Hyalella azteca.
Selective lysis of cells transformed by Rous Sarcoma virus.

Abstract Dibucaine and several other local anaesthetics exert a lytic action on chick embryo fibroblast cultures. Cultures infected and transformed by avian sarcoma viruses of antigenic subgroups C and D (but not A or B) are more sensitive to the lytic action of these agents than are normal, uninfected cultures. The selective action of dibucaine is dependent on drug concentration in the culture medium, duration of exposure, and on the Ca2+ concentration in the medium. Dibucaine does not directly inhibit virus infection, cellular transformation, or virus multiplication. Dibucaine does not selectively inhibit cation flux or macromolecule synthesis in transformed or in normal cells. The differential toxicity to transformed cells is correlated with an enhanced uptake of the drug (2–3-fold higher than uninfected cells) from the culture medium.
Species diversity and ecosystem functioning.

In their report “nonrandom processes maintain diversity in tropical forests” (27 Jan., p. [527][1]), C. Wills and colleagues provide strong evidence that nonrandom processes play a key role in maintaining diversity in tropical forests, specifically that forest tree diversity increases as
Composition of parametrizations, using the paired algebras of forms and sites

An elegant mathematical setting for Bezier curves and surfaces, proposed by Lyle Ramshaw, consists of two copies of a polynomial algebra and a pairing between them. One copy is used for the component functions of the parametrization. The other, in dimension one, represents the domain points. Elements of higher degree in the second algebra are called sites and are useful for explaining blossoming and other constructions performed on Bezier curves and surfaces. This paper extends these definitions to mixed polynomials in two sets of variables, to give an elegant description of the composition of two Bezier parametrizations. In case the first transformation is linear, the construction is related to a classical group representation.
Environmental and spatial influences on benthic community composition in wooded headwater streams in Zoar Valley, New York, USA

This study determined the relative influences of environmental variation versus spatial autocorrelation on benthic macroinvertebrate community composition of temperate headwater streams. We enumerated fauna in riffle zones of 23 separate (i.e., not tributaries to each other) but closely grouped from first- to third-order woodland streams surrounding Zoar Valley Canyon, western New York State, USA, during spring, summer, and fall of 2006. Watershed geomorphology (stream order, catchment area, and forest cover) and semi-quantitative habitat characteristics, the latter of which were incorporated into a Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI), were also recorded for each stream. Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) ordination was used to establish patterns of biotic similarity among these streams. Matrices of biological and environmental Euclidean distances were constructed for all between-stream pairings. Additionally, a between-stream spatial matrix was constructed based on global position system coordinates of sampling sites. Non-significant partial Mantel coefficients indicated that biological distances were uncorrelated with spatial distances both among all 23 study streams and among 12 first-order streams only. In contrast, biological distances were positively correlated with environmental distances (r M = 0.375 and 0.289 for all streams and for first-order streams only, respectively; P values 0.05), indicating that the measured environmental characteristics were not spatially structured. Each of the geomorphological and habitat variables was statistically associated with NMDS community composition axes (stepwise multiple regression, one-factor MANOVA). These results suggest that environmental filters and niche-based species sorting may operate here between separate streams, and that study sites appear to be effectively insular in their biota despite close physical proximity.
Life after TILT: Building an Interactive Information Literacy Tutorial

Academic librarians at a mid-size university library developed an online information literacy tutorial that is easy to create, access, edit, and organize even for those with limited time and technological skills. Modular in structure, Project Information Literacy Online Tutorial (PILOT) includes interactive exercises, media, and self-testing as well as quizzes that can be graded. The original development of this tutorial was not without its difficulties, but has resulted in a product that is flexible, powerful, and freely available for adoption and/or adaptation by other libraries.
A high-performance ultrasonic system for the simultaneous transmission of data and power through solid metal barriers

This paper presents a system capable of simultaneous high-power and high-data-rate transmission through solid metal barriers using ultrasound. By coaxially aligning a pair of piezoelectric transducers on opposite sides of a metal wall and acoustically coupling them to the barrier, an acoustic-electric transmission channel is formed which prevents the need for physical penetration. Independent data and power channels are utilized, but they are only separated by 25.4 mm to reduce the system's form factor. Commercial off-the-shelf components and evaluation boards are used to create realtime prototype hardware and the full system is capable of transmitting data at 17.37 Mbps and delivering 50 W of power through a 63.5-mm thick steel wall. A synchronous multi-carrier communication scheme (OFDM) is used to achieve a very high spectral efficiency and to ensure that there is only minor interference between the power and data channels. Also presented is a discussion of potential enhancements that could be made to greatly improve the power and data-rate capabilities of the system. This system could have a tremendous impact on improving safety and preserving structural integrity in many military applications (submarines, surface ships, unmanned undersea vehicles, armored vehicles, planes, etc.) as well as in a wide range of commercial, industrial, and nuclear systems.
Dominant Parent as Projected by Homosexual and Heterosexual Males

Abstract A convenience sample of 23 male homosexuals and 23 male heterosexuals were asked to draw a picture of a family. Because socialization that is predominantly maternal may contribute to cross‐sex identification and male homosexuals, compared to heterosexuals, would draw the mother figure larger than the father. The hypothesis was supported. This result suggests that family structure and socialization may be important in some types of homosexuality.
Carnitine biosynthesis in rat liver slices.

Abstract 1. 1. Liver slices from both normal and lysine-deficient rats converted 6- N -[ Me - 14 C ] trimethyllysine into carnitine, 4- N -trimethylaminobutyrate and at least three other unidentified metabolites. 2. 2. After 2 h incubation, carnitine was the major radioactive metabolite accounting for 1.5% of the added radioactivity. 3. 3. Isotope-dilution experiments demonstrated that 4- N -trimethylaminobutyrate was an intermediate in the conversion of 6- N -trimethyllysine into carnitine. When non-radioactive 4- N -trimethylaminobutyrate was added to liver slices incubated with 6- N -[ Me - 14 C]trimethyllysine, the conversion of radioactivity into carnitine was decreased by more than 96%, and the amount of radioactivity in 4- N -trimethylaminobutyrate increased 3–4 times above the amount found without added trapping agent. 4. 4. In similar isotope experiments using 5- N -trimethylaminopentanoate or 6- N -trimethylaminohexanoate, these compounds did not trap 6- N -trimethyllysine radioactivity and did not drastically reduce the amount of radioactivity converted into carnitine or trimethylaminobutyrate. 5. 5. 5- N -[ Me - 14 C]trimethylaminopentanoate was metabolized to carnitine to a small degree by liver slices whereas 6- N -[ Me - 14 C]trimethylamino-hexanoate, L -[U- 14 C]lysine, or L -[Me- 3 H]methionine were not converted into carnitine under the same conditions.
Ti(NMe2)4 as a Precatalyst for Hydroamination of Alkynes with Primary Amines.

Hydroaminations of carbon−carbon triple bonds with primary amines are catalyzed with commercially available Ti(NMe2)4. The reaction is surprisingly fast with many substrates and often selective for the Markovnikov product with terminal alkynes. The scope of the catalysis was investigated with a variety of amines and alkynes; arylamines and 1-hexyne were found to be especially good substrates.
Phospholipid transfer protein plays a major role in the initiation of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoprotein assembly in mouse primary hepatocytes

In this study, we tested the hypothesis that phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) is a plausible mediator of phospholipid (PL) transfer to the N-terminal 1000 residues of apoB (apoB:1000) leading to the initiation of apoB-containing lipoprotein assembly. To this end, primary hepatocytes from wild type (WT) and PLTP knock-out (KO) mice were transduced with adenovirus-apoB:1000 with or without co-transduction with adenovirus-PLTP, and the assembly and secretion of apoB:1000-containing lipoproteins were assessed. PLTP deficiency resulted in a 65 and 72% reduction in the protein and lipid content, respectively, of secreted apoB:1000-containing lipoproteins. Particles secreted by WT hepatocytes contained 69% PL, 9% diacylglycerol (DAG), and 23% triacylglycerol (TAG) with a stoichiometry of 46 PL, 6 DAG, and 15 TAG molecules per apoB:1000. PLTP absence drastically altered the lipid composition of apoB:1000 lipoproteins; these particles contained 46% PL, 13% DAG, and 41% TAG with a stoichiometry of 27 PL, 10 DAG, and 23 TAG molecules per apoB:1000. Reintroduction of Pltp gene into PLTP-KO hepatocytes stimulated the lipidation and secretion of apoB:1000-containing lipoproteins by ∼3-fold; the lipid composition and stoichiometry of these particles were identical to those secreted by WT hepatocytes. In contrast to the WT, apoB:1000 in PLTP-KO hepatocytes was susceptible to intracellular degradation predominantly in the post-endoplasmic reticulum, presecretory compartment. Reintroduction of Pltp gene into PLTP-KO hepatocytes restored the stability of apoB:1000. These results provide compelling evidence that in hepatocytes initial recruitment of PL by apoB:1000 leading to the formation of the PL-rich apoB-containing initiation complex is mediated to a large extent by PLTP.
Effects of sodium fluoroacetate on the metabolism of N-acetylaspartate and aspartate in mouse brain.

A subconvulsant dose of sodium fluoroacetate inhibited the metabolic utilization of intracerebrally-administered N-acetyl-l-[U-14C]asparticacid and the labelling of glutamine from this precursor in mouse brain, but not the labelling of glutamate or aspartate. A convulsant dose also inhibited the utilization of l-[U-14C]aspartic acid. When intraperitoneal injection of a convulsant dose of sodium fluoroacetate was followed by intracerebral injection of N-acetyl-l-[U-14C]asparticacid, the levels of N-acetylaspartate, aspartate and glutamate in brain were lowered, while the glutamine content was increased. The specific radioactivity of glutamine relative to that of glutamate was much lower when these compounds were labelled from l-[U-14C]aspartic acid than when N-acetyl-l-[U-14C]aspartic acid was used as the precursor. Intracerebral injection of tracer amounts of l-[U-14C]aspartic acid reduced the content of N-acetylaspartate in brain and raised the glutamine content. Sodium fluoroacetate had no additional effect on the relative specific radioactivity of glutamine or the content of N-acetylaspartate, aspartate, glutamate or glutamine when l-[U-14C]aspartic acid was the precursor. We consider the results to be consistent with a selective inhibition both by sodium fluoroacetate and by exogenous aspartic acid of the tricarboxylic acid cycle in brain associated with the biosynthesis of glutamine. We suggest that the activity of this pathway may regulate the metabolism of N-acetylaspartate and aspartate.
Predictors of seizure freedom after surgery for malformations of cortical development.

Objective: Malformations of cortical development (MCDs) are a major cause of medically refractory epilepsy. Our aim was to examine a surgical series of patients with cortical malformations to determine the prognostic factors associated with long-term seizure control. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 143 patients with MCD who underwent resective surgery for medically refractory epilepsy. Demographic, imaging, histopathologic, and surgical variables were analyzed for potential association with seizure freedom. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was evaluated in a blind fashion and classified according to a new imaging/embryologic MCD classification system. Results: Gray-white blurring on MRI, smaller lesions, complete resection of structural lesions, complete resection of abnormal electrocorticographic areas, and locally confined electrocorticographic abnormalities are favorable prognosticators of seizure freedom on univariate analysis. Imaging features consistent with abnormal proliferation (Barkovich class I) were associated with better outcome compared to those related to abnormal neuronal migration (class II) or abnormal cortical organization (class III). Multivariate logistic regression revealed complete resection of tissue manifesting electrocorticographic and/or MRI anatomic abnormalities as the main independent predictor of seizure freedom. Other histopathologic or demographic factors were not associated with seizure control. Long-term follow-up of patients demonstrated sustained overall rates of seizure control (72% at 2 years, 65% at 5 years, and 67% at 10 years). Interpretation: Surgery for MCDs can result in high rates of seizure freedom. Complete resection of electrocorticographic and anatomic abnormalities appears to be most predictive of long-term seizure control. ANN NEUROL 2011
CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins modulate human T cell leukemia virus type 1 long terminal repeat activation.

Abstract CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) basic region/leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors have been shown to form heterodimers with cAMP-responsive element binding protein 2 (CREB-2), a transcription factor involved in regulating basal and Tax-mediated transactivation of the human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) long terminal repeat (LTR). In cells of the monocyte–macrophage lineage (proposed to play a role in HTLV-1 pathogenesis as an accessory target cell), several members of the C/EBP family are expressed at high levels and may have functional impact on both basal and Tax-mediated transactivation of the HTLV-1 LTR. Basal activation of the HTLV-1 LTR was enhanced by overexpression of C/EBPβ, C/EBPδ, or C/EBPe, whereas transactivation of the LTR by Tax was inhibited by overexpression of C/EBPα and C/EBPβ. Inhibition of Tax-mediated transactivation of the HTLV-1 LTR was co-activator-independent, did not require C/EBP binding to the Tax-responsive elements, and may involve heterodimerization with CREB factors.
Computer utilization in an oral biopsy service

In order to improve our knowledge about the biological activity of oral lesions, a computer-based system of oral biopsy data recall has been established. The program is utilized in eight United States dental schools and is adaptable to almost any oral biopsy service with an available computer. This article deals with the implementation of the program at Washington University School of Dental Medicine.
Rituximab-induced acute thrombocytopenia: an underappreciated entity.

Acute rituximab-induced thrombocytopenia (RIT) is a rare complication of this drug and described in few case reports. It is usually self-limited, and may be under-diagnosed due to its transient nat...
Applications of similitude to the structural mechanics of reactors

Abstract The structural mechanics of a reactor involves the prediction of the behavior of the components of the reactor and the entire reactor system under a combination of gravitational and other force fields, electrical and magnetic fields, thermal fields and radiation fields. The nature of the materials and components is such that under the operational conditions imposed, the behavior is often nonlinear, with the result that the application of the usual techniques of mathematical analysis to predict behavior often results in lengthy computations based on assumptions that are somewhat subjective. Although computer techniques have proven very helpful in many instances, they are often limited in scope through size of available computer storage. The direct approach, that of cut-and-try design, is often not appropriate because of the possibility of release of radioactive materials in the event of a faulty design or a failure of the containment or other materials. In addition, economics, as well as safety, usually precludes construction of a complete operating unit without preliminary analysis Under these conditions of complex mathematical analysis and expensive construction the use of small scale models is suggested as a method of obtaining data from which realistic predictions may be made. In the design of small scale models the theory of similitude is used in the same way that it has been used in many fields of engineering. It is also pertinent to consider current power reactors in the 400-MW range as models of projected reactors in the 2000-MW range. Direct application of the principles of similitude leads to a series of design conditions that cannot be satisfied simultaneously. In such a situation the application of distorted model theory is mandatory. The application of distorted model theory requires the determination of the prediction factors associated with the pertinent distortion factors derived from the significant parameters that are distorted. Evaluation of the prediction factors as functions of the distortion factors may be accomplished experimentally or analytically, and the remainder of the presentation is devoted to consideration of the applicable methods and procedures for determining the prediction factors. The analytical procedures may be classed as those based on well established laws and those based on fundamental principles. Specific illustrations of the application of the principles includes fuel element containment, distortion of primary containment, performance of containment shells as a result of sudden release of energy within or from external disturbances, and thermal strains resulting from loss of coolant and subsequent sudden cooling. As the numerical examples will illustrate, distorted model theory often enables one to make practical judgments concerning which distortions are significant and which will have a trivial influence upon the results.
Response of plasma triglycerides to dietary change in patients on hemodialysis.

Response of plasma triglycerides to dietary change in patients on hemodialysis. The effect of reduction in dietary carbohydrate content of meal formula diets on plasma triglyceride concentrations was studied in 12 patients receiving chronic hemodialysis. Fasting plasma triglycerides decreased over a 10-day period in 11 of 12 patients in response to a decreased proportion of carbohydrate (from 50 to 35% of total daily calories) regardless of the type of fat used. Postprandial insulin responses were also significantly lower in the patients on the diets lower in carbohydrate. In addition, triglyceride kinetics were studied in three groups of patients. Patients with renal failure (dialyzed and undialyzed) had lower triglyceride production rates than those of control subjects, despite higher plasma triglyceride concentrations. Elevated (>150 mg/100 ml) fasting plasma triglycerides are associated with lower triglyceride production rates in patients with chronic renal failure and may not be improved by conventional hemodialysis. A long-term study of the efficacy of reduction in dietary carbohydrate on plasma triglycerides is needed since routine hemodialysis does not appear to correct the lipid abnormality in patients with chronic renal failure. Reponse des triglycerides plasmatiques aux modifications du regime chez les malades en hemodialyse. L'effet de la diminution du contenu en hydrates de carbone de l'alimentation sur les concentrations des triglycerides plasmatiques a ete etudie chez 12 malades soumis e l'hemodialyse chronique. Les triglycerides plasmatiques, mesures e jeun, ont diminue sur une periode de 10 jours chez 11 des 12 malades en reponse e une diminution de la proportion d'hydrates de carbone (de 50 a 35% de l'apport calorique quotidien) independamment de la categorie de graisse utilisee. Les reponses insuliniques post-prandiales sont significativement diminuees chez les malades recevant l'alimentation restreinte en hydrates de carbone. De plus, la cinetique des triglycerides a ete etudiee dans trois groupes de malades. Les malades atteints d'insuffisance renale (dialyses ou non dialyses) ont un debit de production de triglycerides inferieur e celui des sujets temoins malgre une concentration plasmatique superieure. Des concentrations de triglycerides elevees (superieures a 150 mg/100 ml) a jeun sont associees a des debits de production de triglycerides bas chez les malades en insuffisance renale et cette hypertriglyceridemie peut ne pas etre amelioree par l'hemodialyse. Une etude au long cours de l'efficacite de la diminution des hydrates de carbone alimentaires sur l'hypertriglyceridemie est necessaire puisque l'hemodialyse conventionnelle ne parait pas corriger l'anomalie lipidique chez les malades en insuffisance renale.
Trp1, a Candidate Protein for the Store-operated Ca2+Influx Mechanism in Salivary Gland Cells

The trp gene family has been proposed to encode the store-operated Ca(2+) influx (SOC) channel(s). This study examines the role of Trp1 in the SOC mechanism of salivary gland cells. htrp1, htrp3, and Trp1 were detected in the human submandibular gland cell line (HSG). HSG cells stably transfected with htrp1alpha cDNA displayed (i) a higher level of Trp1, (ii) a 3-5-fold increase in SOC (thapsigargin-stimulated Ca(2+) influx), determined by [Ca(2+)](i) and Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel current measurements, and (iii) similar basal Ca(2+) permeability, and inhibition of SOC by Gd(3+) but not by Zn(2+), as compared with control cells. Importantly, (i) transfection of HSG cells with antisense trp1alpha cDNA decreased endogenous Trp1 level and significantly attenuated SOC, and (ii) transfection of HSG cells with htrp3 cDNA did not increase SOC. These data demonstrate an association between Trp1 and SOC and strongly suggest that Trp1 is involved in this mechanism in HSG cells. Consistent with this suggestion, Trp1 was detected in the plasma membrane region, the proposed site of SOC, of acinar and ductal cells in intact rat submandibular glands. Based on these aggregate data, we propose Trp1 as a candidate protein for the SOC mechanism in salivary gland cells.
Causes of Esophageal Food Bolus Impaction in the Pediatric Population

Esophageal food bolus impaction is an uncommon entity in the pediatric population that presents with the acute onset of dysphagia, pain, and vomiting. The causes of esophageal food bolus impaction are thought to be different in the pediatric population as compared to adults. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of the different causes of food impaction in patients who undergo an esophagram or upper GI examination. The radiology report database was searched to identify all patients with an esophageal food bolus impaction diagnosed on upper GI or esophagram between 1993 and 2009. Two pediatric radiologists then evaluated each esophagram to determine the location of the filling defect within the esophagus. Finally, the electronic medical record was queried to identify demographic information and abnormalities associated with the food impaction. After querying the radiology database, 43 patients were identified with an impacted food bolus on esophagram or upper GI. There were three abnormalities associated with food impaction: eosinophilic esophagitis (23/43; 53%), prior esophageal atresia repair (11/43; 26%), and prior Nissen fundoplication (5/43; 12%). There were eight patients in whom no underlying abnormality was identified. Eosinophilic esophagitis is the major abnormality associated with food bolus impaction in pediatric patients followed by narrowing at the site of prior esophageal or esophageal-related surgery.
The Related Adhesion Focal Tyrosine Kinase Forms a Complex with Paxillin in Hematopoietic Cells

Abstract Related adhesion focal tyrosine kinase (RAFTK), also known as proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 and cellular adhesion kinase β, has been recently cloned and characterized as a member of the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) subfamily. RAFTK has an overall 48% amino acid homology to p125FAK and contains a kinase domain but lacks a transmembrane region, myristylation sites, and Src homology region 2 and 3 domains. By Northern blot analysis, RAFTK is expressed in myeloid, lymphoid, and megakaryocytic hematopoietic cells. Like p125FAK, we found that RAFTK interacts with the focal adhesion protein paxillin. In the lymphoid cell line BaF3 and the myeloid cell line 32Dcl3, RAFTK coprecipitates with paxillin. Using in vitro binding assays, RAFTK and paxillin were shown to bind directly, through a segment of paxillin that required amino acids 100-227 and a domain in the C terminus of RAFTK. In vitro, RAFTK could phosphorylate paxillin on tyrosine residues. These results suggest that RAFTK, as well as p125FAK, may be important in phosphotyrosine-signaling events within the focal adhesion.
Erratum to “The primes contain arbitrarily long polynomial progressions”

In our previous paper “The primes contain arbitrarily long polynomial progressions” [Acta Math., 201 (2008), 213–305] there were some minor errors in our definition of the polynomial forms and polynomial correlation conditions, which is unreasonably strong as written due to the overly loose bound on the degree of the polynomials involved. In this erratum we repair this issue by capping the degree of the polynomials more strongly, and adjusting some other relevant components of the argument accordingly.
Quench Sensitivity of an Al-7 Pct Si-0.6 Pct Mg Alloy: Characterization and Modeling

The quench sensitivity of a cast Al-7 wt pct Si-0.6 wt pct Mg alloy was characterized by tensile tests and scanning electron microscopy. Specimens were cooled from the solution treatment temperature following 58 different cooling paths including interrupted and delayed quenches. Analysis of the microstructure showed that quench precipitates were Mg2Si (β), which nucleated heterogeneously on Si eutectic particles as well as in the aluminum matrix, presumably on dislocations. The quench sensitivity of the alloy’s yield strength was modeled by multiple C-curves, using an improved methodology for quench factor analysis. The three C-curves used in the model represented loss of solute by (1) diffusion of Si to eutectic particles, (2) precipitation of β on Si eutectic particles, and (3) precipitation of β in the matrix. The model yielded a R 2 of 0.994 and a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 7.4 MPa. The model and the implications of the results are discussed in the article.
Protein composition of apical surface fluid from the human airway cell line Calu-3: effect of ion transport mediators.

Abstract Background : Analysis of the protein components of airway secretions is a potential means of detecting and characterizing biochemical alterations associated with airway diseases. Methods : We evaluated airway protein secretions using the airway epithelial cell line Calu-3 grown at an air–liquid interface. To observe changes in apically secreted proteins, we analyzed the protein content of apical surface fluid (ASF) washings of Calu-3 monolayers treated with ion transport mediators. Results : Immunoassay screening for antibacterial and inflammatory proteins indicated the presence of measurable levels of lysozyme and IL-8 in Calu-3 ASF. RT-PCR and immunoassay studies indicated that Calu-3 cells do not produce clara cell 10 kDa protein (CC10). The total protein secretion of Calu-3 was not altered by bradykinin, but amiloride and adenosine significantly increased Calu-3 protein secretion. Lysozyme secretion was not altered by bradykinin, but amiloride and adenosine significantly reduced lysozyme secretion. IL-8 secretion was not altered by bradykinin or adenosine, but amiloride significantly decreased IL-8 secretion. Conclusion : Our results demonstrate the presence of antibacterial protein lysozyme and the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8 in Calu-3 ASF and that ion transport mediators such as bradykinin, amiloride and adenosine influence the secretion of Calu-3 ASF proteins.
Development of visible and near-IR LCTF-based spectroscopic imaging systems for macroscopic samples

Near infrared and visible spectroscopic imaging systems were developed which are able to acquire spectroscopic images of samples at a distance, completely without contact. These imaging systems were used to analyze two color test samples and one 15th Century drawing from the Winnipeg Art Gallery. Spectra extracted from the quantitative test sample showed good linearity with ink levels across the visible wavelengths. By using wavelength images which match the wavelength sensitivities of the human eye, color reconstructed RGB images can be created with good color fidelity. Because of its ability to penetrate through some art pigments and inks, near infrared spectroscopic imaging was used to investigate lead-point underdrawings in ancient drawings in order to understand the artistic process better.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.