cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Significance of pacemaker recovery time after the Mustard operation for transposition of the great arteries.

Abstract Pacemaker recovery time corrected for cycle length was measured in 24 patients 6 months to 3 years after the Mustard operation for transposition of the great arteries. This index of sinoatrial (S-A) nodal function was obtained by subtracting the control R-R interval from the first R-R interval recorded after 3 minutes of rapid atrial pacing at the superior vena caval-right atrial junction. Recovery times were compared with those of a control group of 54 children with various forms of congenital heart disease who had not had cardiac surgery and whose electrocardiogram revealed normal sinus rhythm. The longest corrected pacemaker recovery time in the control group was 250 msec. Recovery time was normal (mean 115 msec) in 13 of the 24 patients who had undergone the Mustard procedure and prolonged (mean 472 msec) in the other 11. In 4 of these 11 a junctional escape complex was recorded before recovery of the S-A node. The configuration of the P wave and the development of dysrhythmias in the postoperative follow-up period were compared in patients with a normal and a prolonged corrected pacemaker recovery time. The incidence of dysrhythmias was much smaller in the former group. Normal sinus rhythm after the first postoperative week was noted in 10 (76 percent) of patients with a normal corrected pacemaker recovery time but in only 2 (18 percent) of those with an abnormal recovery time. One patient with an abnormal recovery time died suddenly 26 months after operation in spite of good hemodynamic repair. A prolonged pacemaker recovery time after the Mustard operation for transposition of the great arteries indicated that rhythm abnormalities were likely to develop, but a normal recovery time did not exclude abnormal sinus nodal function.
Optimization of gene transfer in cultured insect cells

The use of polybrene for the efficient transfection of cultured mosquito cells is described. Cells are transfected with purified plasmid DNA coding for a bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene regulated by sequences from aDrosophila heat shock protein promoter. The DNA is added to the cells in serumfree medium containing polybrene, which facilitates adsorption of DNA to the cell surface. Expression of the transfected gene is induced by subjecting recipient cells to heat shock conditions. CAT activity in lysates from transfected cells is assayed using a simple thin layer chromatographic procedure. Adaptation of the transfection protocol to other insect cell types is discussed.
Absorption heat pump performance for different types of solutions

Resume L'interet croissant porte aux pompes a chaleur a absorption a conduit a effecteur des recherches sur de nouveaux fluides actifs. Dans cette etude, la thermodynamique des solutions binaires est appliquee a un modele de pompe a chaleur simple pour determiner quel type de solution optimise la performance thermique pour un frigorigene donne (ammoniac). On trouve que, bien que des solutions qui presentent une deviation negative par rapport a la loi de Raoult devraient conduire a de meilleures performances, il existe une deviation limite pour la solution. On etude aussi l'influence de la temperature et de la concentration sur le coefficient d'activite du frigorigene et l'on indique les domaines optimisant la performance des pompes a chaleur.
Epistemic Two-Dimensionalism and the Epistemic Argument

One of Kripke's fundamental objections to descriptivism was that the theory misclassifies certain a posteriori propositions expressed by sentences involving names as a priori. Though nowadays very few philosophers would endorse a descriptivism of the sort that Kripke criticized, many find two-dimensional semantics attractive as a kind of successor theory. Because two-dimensionalism needn't be a form of descriptivism, it is not open to the epistemic argument as formulated by Kripke; but the most promising versions of two-dimensionalism are open to a close relative of that argument.
A semiautomated technique for the rapid determination of left ventricular volume from left ventricular cineangiograms.

Abstract A semiautomated system for the rapid determination of left ventricular volume from left ventricular cineangiograms is described. The system includes direct projection of cineangiogram film on an X-Y digitizer, which is interfaced with a PDP-9 computer. The details of the computer system are described. Validation of this technique and its comparison to the conventional manual method of determining left ventricular volume from left ventricular angiograms is presented. It is concluded that the technique is equally as accurate as the conventional method and provides a significant decrease in time while significantly increasing the amount of available information.
Influences of adenosine on the fetus and newborn.

Abstract Few signaling molecules have the potential to influence the developing mammal as the nucleoside adenosine. In contrast to most neurotransmitters, adenosine is released by all cells and is present in all tissues. The adenosinergic system is therefore not dependent on the presence of mature synaptic structures or an intact autonomic nervous system for its release. However, similar to other signaling molecules, adenosine levels are dynamically regulated and increase with increased tissue activity, hypoxia, or stress. Local adenosine concentrations thus provide a “humoral barometer” of acute changes in cellular physiology. The receptors that transduce adenosine action include A 1 , A 2a , A 2b , and A 3 adenosine receptors. These receptors differ in their affinities for adenosine and in patterns of tissues expression. During development A 1 adenosine receptors (A1ARs) are especially important, and A1ARs are among the earliest receptors expressed in the embryonic brain and heart. In the developing heart, the adenosinergic system is the dominant regulator of fetal cardiac function and A1AR activation inhibits cardiac cell division leading to cardiac hypoplasia. In the forming central nervous system, A1AR activation potently inhibits the development of axons and can lead to leukomalacia. These recent data suggest that adenosine is an important modulator of mammalian development.
Effects of exercise training on responses to central injection of CRF and noise stress.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the cardiovascular and sympathoadrenal responses to acute environmental stress are attenuated by exercise training. Furthermore, we tested the hypothesis that the cardiovascular and sympathoadrenal responses to intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) would be attenuated by training. Conscious, unrestrained, male Sprague-Dawley rats assigned to either a treadmill trained (16–26 m/min, 30–60 min/day, 5 days/week) or nontrained (16–26 m/min, 10 min/day, 1 day/week) group were studied. After 8–10 weeks of training, maximal oxygen uptake was significantly higher in the trained (108 ± 3 ml/kg/min) vs. the nontrained (94 ± 4 ml/min/kg) group. There were no significant differences in baseline mean arterial pressure, heart rate and plasma catecholamine levels associated with training. Trained rats exhibited significantly attenuated elevations in arterial pressure (20 ± 3 vs. 36 ± 2 mmHg for nontrained) and heart rate (−3 ± 3 vs. 12 ± 5 beats/min for nontrained) in response to acute noise stress. Twenty minutes after ICV administration of CRF, blood pressure (trained = 119 ± 2 mmHg, nontrained = 127 ± 2 mmHg), heart rate (trained = 408 ± 8 beats/min, nontrained = 424 ± 10 beats/min), plasma norepinephrine levels (trained = 757 ± 54 pg/ml, nontrained = 775 ± 100 pg/ml) and plasma epinephrine levels (trained = 266 ± 29 pg/ml, nontrained = 225 ± 42 pg/ml) were significantly elevated in both trained and nontrained groups. CRF-induced elevations of blood pressure, but not heart rate or plasma catecholamine levels, were significantly attenuated in the trained group. These data support the hypothesis that regularly performed exercise is associated with diminished cardiovascular responses to environmental stress. Furthermore, the results indicate that exercise training can alter the cardiovascular response to a central nervous system pharmacologic stimulus in the rat.
A study of parison development in extrusion blow molding

Abstract The dynamics of parison development in the extrusion blow molding process have been studied by employing a pinch-off mold technique in conjunction with experimental photography. The experiments yielded quantitative information of the parison length, diameter, and weight distribution as a function of extrusion time and axial distance. At a given extrusion time, parison shape is controlled by the two competing influences of swell and drawdown. The initial phase of parison extrusion is dominated by swell effects, which are then gradually overshadowed by the growing influence of drawdown arising from the weight of the parison. In addition, the results indicate the strongly time-dependent nature of both the diameter and weight swell functions. The relationship between these swell functions suggests that the deformation is slightly anisotropic for the polyethylene resin used in this study. Moreover, a modelling approach, based on a combination of the competing effects due to swell and drawdown, has been proposed in order to develop an approximate quantitative analysis capable of predicting parison dimensions.
3.5- to 12-μm dual-band spectrometer

A new approach is described for obtaining spectral imagery over a broad range of infrared wavelengths, with high efficiency, and with a single grating element and focal plane array. The approach represents a simplification and mass reduction over the traditional approach involving multiple focal plane arrays, dispersing elements, and optical beamsplitters. The new approach has significant advantages for space-based hyperspectral imagers operating in the infrared over a broad range of wavelengths (e.g., MWIR and LWIR), where the reduction in cryocooled mass relative to the multichannel approach translates into noteworthy savings in cryocooling requirements and launch costs. Overlapping grating orders are focused onto a multiwaveband focal plane array to create spectral images of a scene simultaneously in multiple wavelength regions. The blaze of the grating is chosen so that all spectral orders are dispersed with high grating efficiency. Such an approach extends the spectral range of dispersive spectrometers to several octaves of wavelength, while preserving the compact packaging and cryogenic requirements of conventional (one octave) instruments. We conclude with a description of a ground-based demonstration of an MWIR and LWIR embodiment of the concept.
CE Resolution of Neutral and Anionic Racemates with Glycopeptide Antibiotics and Micelles

The glycopeptide antibiotics vancomycin, ristocetin A and teicoplanin have been shown to be effective chiral selectors in capillary electrophoresis (CE). However, most of the resolved enantiomers were anionic or acidic compounds that contained carboxylic acid, phosphate, or sulfonate groups. Conversely, a large number of neutral racemates are resolved using these same chiral selectors attached to the stationary phase in HPLC. The problem in resolving neutral analytes in CE is outlined and discussed. Addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles to the run buffer greatly increases the available elution window, thereby facilitating the separation of neutral racemates. Neutral analytes resolved in this CE system include bromacil, bendroflumethiazide and 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-phenylhydantion. The separations of coumachlor and warfarin are also demonstrated. In addition, the effect of surfactant concentration and organic cosolvents on elution time and enantioresolution are discussed.
“The Wonder-Dog”: the collected children's stories of Richard Hughes

This article reviews the collected children's stories of Richard Hughes published under the titleThe Wonder-Dog in the UK in July 1977 by Chatto and Windus and in the USA in the autumn of 1977 by Greenwillow Books.
The parascope editor: an interactive parallel programming tool

The ParaScope project is building an integrated collection of tools to help scientific programmers develop correct and efficient parallel programs. The centerpiece of this collection is the ParaScope Editor, an intelligent interactive editor for parallel FORTRAN programs. The ParaScope Editor displays data dependencies, which correspond to potential data races among the iterations of a parallel loop, to assist the user in determining the correctness of a proposed parallelization. In addition, it uses dependencies to support a variety of program transformations selectable by the programmer. The eventual goal for the ParaScope Editor is to support arbitrary editing changes by performing full incremental data dependence analysis in response to program changes. In addition, it will understand and recognize when synchronization correctly prevents race conditions. The ParaScope Editor is a new kind of program construction tool; one that not only manages text, but also presents the user with insights into the semantic structure of the program being constructed.
Structural implications of electric-field induced dichroism of nucleic acids: Studies of alternating purine-pyrimidines

Transient and steady-state electric dichroism measurements of double helical poly(dG-dC) and its 5-methyl guanosine analogue and transient electric dichroism measurements of double helical poly(dA-dT) are shown to give the following information on the structural and dynamical properties of these molecular systems: (i) the Z form structure of the alternating guanosine-cytidine moieties has the same inter base-pair separation in solution as it does in the fibre and crystalline forms; (ii) the mean normal to the base pairs (and thus their average tilt and twist) of the B and Z forms of the guanosine-cytidine moieties is very nearly the same despite the large difference in their secondary structure; (iii) the alternating adenosinethymidine nucleic acid is at least twice as flexible as random-sequence DNA.
A scanning electron microscopy and histological study on the effects of the mutant eyeless (e/e) gene upon the hypothalamus in the Mexican axolotl Ambystoma mexicanum shaw

A scanning electron microscopy, histological, and immunochemical investigation examined the effects of the mutant gene (e) upon hypothalamic development in the Mexican axolotl. The adult eyeless mutant is sterile. Previous studies indicated that this reproductive defect was due to the mutation's effect upon the hypothalamus. The present study demonstrated the pleiotropic effects of the eyeless gene upon development of the hypothalamus. Scanning electron microscopy studies looked at the early ontogeny of the hypothalamohypophyseal system. The major morphological difference observed in the hypothalamus of normals compared to eyeless mutants was the reduced nature or complete lack of a preoptic recess in eyeless mutants. Early embryonic tissue movements also differed when normal siblings were compared to eyeless mutant axolotls. Histological examination looking for paraldehyde-fuchsin-positive secretory neurons revealed a paired nucleus preopticus in both normals and eyeless mutants, but this region lacked the emanating paraldehyde-fuchsin-positive fiber tracts in eyeless mutants. The neurohypophysis of the eyeless mutants was atrophied and contained far less paraldehyde-fuchsin-positive material when compared to normal axolotls. Immunochemical studies were done to look at the distribution of immunoreactive luteinizing-hormone-releasing hormone (ir-LHRH) in brains of eyed and eyeless mutant axolotls of different stages. This study detected deficiencies in ir-LHRH in the anterior hypothalamus of eyeless mutants. In general in the eyeless mutant axolotl, the observed anterior hypothalamic deficiencies are comparable to those observed in anurans which have had their optic vesicles removed. These observations suggest a possible utility of the eyeless mutant axolotl for studies concerned with endocrine development in the absence of hypothalamic modulation.
Lost in translation: Treatment trials in the SOD1 mouse and in human ALS

Therapeutic success in the superoxide dismutase (SOD1) mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has not translated into effective therapy for human ALS, calling into question the utility of such preclinical data for identifying therapeutic agents that are worthy of further study in humans. This random effects meta-analysis of treatment trials in the superoxide dismutase (SOD1) mouse was undertaken in order to explore possible reasons for this failure of translational research and to identify potential pharmacological interventions that might be used in either a preventative or therapeutic trial in familial ALS. Among studies in which treatment was initiated presymptomatically, the weighted mean differences (WMDs) comparing the active treatment to control treated animals were 12 days (onset), 13 days (survival) and 5 days (survival interval). Among studies in which treatment was initiated at the time of symptom onset, the WMDs were 15 days (survival) and 8 days (survival interval). Subgroup analysis suggests that drugs such as minocycline and Cox-2 inhibitors with an anti-inflammatory mechanism of action, and anti-oxidative agents such as creatine or the manganese porphyrin AEOL-10150, appear to be the most promising for preventative and therapeutic trials respectively in patients with familial ALS. These conclusions should be tempered by the methodological limitations of the relevant literature.
Bacterial mixture analysis with Raman chemical imaging microspectroscopy

Raman chemical imaging microspectroscopy (RCIM) is being evaluated as a technology for waterborne pathogen detection. Binary and ternary mixtures including combinations of polystyrene beads, Grampositive Bacillus anthracis and B. atrophaeus spores, B. cereus vegetative cells, and Gram-negative E. coli cells were investigated by RCIM for differentiation and characterization purposes. We have demonstrated the ability of RCIM, in combination with Pearson's cross correlation and multivariate principal components analysis data reduction techniques, to differentiate these components in the same field of view (FOV). Conventional applications of RCIM consist of differentiating relatively broad areas in a FOV. Here, RCIM is expanded in its capabilities to differentiate and distinguish between different micron size species in single particles and clusters of mixed species.
Aging of oily soils on textile materials: A literature review

Literature covering the problems of oily soil aging on textile materials is reviewed. Difficulty of soil removal and discoloration of oily soiled fabrics were the main problems of aged oily soil reported by researchers. Yellowing of fabrics is attributed mainly to residual oily soils although there are other causes. Oxidation of unsaturated oils was suggested as the cause of problems related to aging of oily soils; thus, the autoxidation mechanisms of unsaturated lipids are an important part of this review. The effects of aging on oily soil removal are attributed to this oxidation of unsaturated oils, wicking of oils into small capillaries within the yarn structure, and possible chemical linkages of aged oils with fibers. Thus, included in this review are studies on the interactions between lipid oxidation products and proteins that suggest interaction between aged oily soils and fiber substrates.
EKG artifacts suppression from the EEG

A method is proposed to identify and eliminate EKG artifacts from a single channel of EEG recordings. The method identifies the EKG as outlying data in the EEG. The algorithm may be applied universally to all EEG recordings.
Meta-analysis: Rapid infliximab infusions are safe

SummaryBackground Infliximab is typically administered intravenously via 2- to 3-h duration infusions. Infusions are time-consuming and costly. Shorter duration infusions are administered at some centres. Limited safety data are available on shorter duration infusions. Aim To determine risk of infusion reaction associated with standard 2- to 3-h infusions vs. rapid infusions in patients receiving infliximab therapy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rheumatoid arthritis, spondylarthopathy and psoriatic disease. Methods MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science were searched. Inclusion required human subjects, documentation of number of standard and rapid infliximab infusions and number of incident infusion reactions. Studies of overlapping populations were excluded. Three reviewers independently extracted data. Study quality was assessed. Relative risk (RR) was pooled using random effects models. Results We identified 10 studies comprising 13 147 standard 2- to 3-h and 8497 ≤ 1-h infliximab infusions. Nine studies reported the risk of infusion reaction in standard vs. 1-h infusions, demonstrating decreased RR of infusion reaction with 1-h vs. standard infusions (0.9% vs. 2.2% of infusions; RR = 0.48, P = 0.009). Seven studies limited to IBD also demonstrated decreased risk of reaction (RR = 0.49, P = 0.002). Other comparisons demonstrated no difference in RR of reaction, including concomitant medication use (P = 0.30) or analysis limited to high and medium quality studies (P = 0.07). Conclusions Rapid infliximab infusions of ≤1-h duration are not associated with increased risk of infusion reaction when compared to standard 2- to 3-h infusions in selected patients who previously tolerated three to four standard infusions. One-hour infusions will conserve health care resources and may lead to improved adherence and quality of life in patients receiving infliximab.
Textile design engineering within the product shape

This body of research seeks to improve the design and development of a class of products referred to as engineered designs. Specifically, the process for textile design engineering within the shape of a product. Textile Design Engineering within the Product Shape is an iterative and often highly collaborative design process. The purpose of this type of engineered design is to (i) improve the performance of the product and/or, (ii) to improve the aesthetics of the design. Products engineered for aesthetic purposes can create a seamless design by continuing a motif or fabric structure across a seam, dart or closure, and accentuate shape or movement. Products engineered for functional purposes can improve performance, comfort, fit, and movement, reduce waste, and reinforce areas of high wear. Expert practitioners from industry, academia, and research institutes were surveyed on their use of engineered design. In addition, case study analysis was conducted on the engineered design process. Results from the survey and case study analysis assisted with building a four stage process model. The research uncovered a need for increased input from designers and the need for improved communication and collaboration between members of design and product development teams. New and emerging technologies such as digital printing, integral knitting, and 2D and 3D simulation software facilitate the engineered design process; however, these technologies are underutilized.
Effects of Exercise on Cardiovascular Outcomes in Monkeys With Risk Factors for Coronary Heart Disease

Objective— Exercise reduces the risk for coronary heart disease. However, the mechanisms mediating the beneficial effects of exercise remain ambiguous. In particular, it is uncertain whether exercise inhibits the development of atherosclerosis, a major pathobiologic process underlying heart disease. Methods and Results— To address this question, adult male monkeys were fed an atherogenic diet while assigned to one of four experimental conditions for 34 months: 1) runner/no group disruption, ie, “stable” (n=19); 2) runner plus frequent social group disruption, ie, “unstable” (n=19); 3) sedentary/stable (n=15); or 4) sedentary/unstable (n=18). Neither exposure to exercise nor social group disruption significantly affected the resulting coronary artery atherosclerosis extent or lumen areas (all ANOVA values, P >0.05). When compared with sedentary individuals, exercise animals had lower resting heart rates (119.0±3 vs132.0±3 bpm, P =0.002), greater echocardiographically measured left ventricular ejection fractions (77.2±0.01% vs 73.8±0.01%, P =0.02), greater quantitative angiographically measured dilation of coronary arteries to phenylephrine (2.6±1% vs −3.7±1% change from baseline diameter, P =0.003), and a reduced cortisol response to an adrenocorticotropin challenge. These measures were not significantly affected by social condition. Conclusions— Thus, exercise improved some measures of cardiovascular health and reduced stress responsivity but did not inhibit progression of coronary artery atherosclerosis or promote positive artery remodeling. It is concluded that exercise may exert cardioprotective effects without influencing atherosclerosis extent.
The natural history of patients with claudication with toe pressures of 40 mm Hg or less

Abstract Purpose: This study was performed to determine the natural history of patients with symptoms of claudication and systolic toe pressures (TP) of 40 mm Hg or less. Methods: We followed the clinical course of 56 men with stable claudication and TP of 40 mm Hg or less. All TP measurements were performed on at least two occasions 6 months apart. Primary end points included development of rest pain, tissue loss, or gangrene. The clinical course of 56 case controls with TP greater than 40 mm Hg matched for age, sex, and race was used for comparison. Results: During a mean (±SD) follow-up time of 31 ± 4 months, 37 (66%) patients with TP of 40 mm Hg or less remained stable, and 19 (34%) had ulceration ( n = 10), rest pain ( n = 6), or gangrene ( n = 3). Nine (24%) of the 37 stable patients had gradual improvement of TP values greater than 40 mm Hg. Among the 19 patients whose conditions deteriorated, eight (42%) patients underwent successful bypasses, and five (26%) patients required amputations. Two patients who had rest pain had spontaneous resolution, and three patients who had ulcerations healed without intervention. In contrast, five (9%) of the case controls with TP greater than 40 mm Hg had rest pain ( n = 2) or gangrene ( n = 3) ( p = 0.003). Among patients with TP of 40 mm Hg or less, there were no statistically significant differences between the stable patients and patients with deteriorating conditions in age, ankle-brachial indexes, or risk factors (including diabetes mellitus). However, diabetes conferred a higher probability of clinical deterioration ( p = 0.005, Kaplan-Meier). Conclusions: In patients with symptoms of intermittent claudication, TP of 40 mm Hg or less portends clinical deterioration. Patients with diabetes in this group have a significantly higher risk of development of critical ischemia. Close scrutiny is warranted. (J VASC SURG 1993;18:506-11.)
Liposomal Doxorubicin, Cyclophosphamide, and Etoposide and Antiretroviral Therapy for Patients with AIDS-Related Lymphoma: A Pilot Study

PURPOSE: To evaluate in a pilot study the safety and efficacy of liposomal doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and etoposide (LACE) when combined with antiretroviral therapy (ART) in patients with AIDS-related lymphoma (ARL). The impact of HIV viral control on therapy and survival was also assessed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1994 and 2005, 40 patients at Virginia Mason Medical Center were diagnosed with ARL. Twelve received LACE every 28 days. All patients received intrathecal chemoprophylaxis, ART, and G-CSF. RESULTS: The median patient CD4+ count was 190 cells/microl (range, 20-510 cells/microl), and the median HIV viral load (VL) was 61,613 copies/ml (range, <50-500,000 copies/ml). Seven patients (58%) had an International Prognostic Index score of 3 or 4. Six patients (50%) were ART-naive, five were viremic despite ART, and one had an undetectable HIV-1 VL. Nine patients (75%) achieved a complete response (CR), and median overall survival was 107 months. At a median follow-up of 46 months, the recurrence-free survival rate was 50%. Two patients died from relapsed/refractory ARL and one patient achieved a CR with salvage therapy. One CR patient died from complications of pneumonia, and another CR patient died from uncertain causes 5 years after treatment. Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia occurred in 23 of 61 (38%) chemotherapy cycles. Hospitalization was required after 5% of treatment cycles due to neutropenic fever. CONCLUSION: LACE is an effective and tolerable treatment for ARL. HIV viral control can be maintained in the majority of patients during and after completion of LACE.
Commentary on the 2014 BP Guidelines from the Panel Appointed to the Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC 8)

The recently published article “2014 Evidence-based guideline for the management of high blood pressure in adults: Report from the panel members appointed to the Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC 8)” (James et al., JAMA 311: 507–520, 2014) has generated considerable controversy. In this commentary, we evaluate the document and compare the recommendations contained within it with those of the JNC 7 and other national and international guidelines. The evidence quality rating approach followed by the article “2014 Evidence-based guideline for the management of high blood pressure in adults: Report from the panel members appointed to the Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC 8)” (James et al., JAMA 311: 507–520, 2014) disqualified nearly 98% of previous studies from review; as a result, some of the key recommendations were on the basis of expert opinion alone. We are especially concerned that the recommendation to raise the systolic/diastolic BP levels at which treatment is initiated to ≥150/≥90 mmHg in adults≥60 years old may affect cardiovascular and renal health in these patients. Additionally, we recommend that hypertension guidelines should be updated every 3–4 years with a fresh approach to the definition of target BP levels, the use of modern technology in the diagnosis of hypertension, and the treatment of hypertension in special populations not addressed in earlier guidelines.
Distinct Roles for the α and β Subunits in the Functions of Integrin αMβ2

Integrin alphaMbeta2 (Mac-1, CD11b/CD18) is a noncovalently linked heterodimer of alphaM and beta2 subunits on the surface of leukocytes, where it plays a pivotal role in the adhesion and migration of these cells. Using HEK293 cells expressing alphaMbeta2 or the individual constituent chains on their surface, we analyzed the contributions of the alphaM or beta2 subunits to functional responses mediated by the integrin. In cells expressing only alphaM or beta2, the individual subunits were not associated with the endogenous integrins of the cells, and other partners for the subunits were not detected by surface labeling and immunoprecipitation under a variety of conditions. The alphaM cells mediated adhesion and spreading on a series of alphaMbeta2 ligands (fibrinogen, Factor X, iC3b, ICAM-1 (intercellular adhesion molecule-1), and denatured ovalbumin) but could not support cell migration to any of these. The spreading of the alphaM cells suggested an unanticipated linkage of this subunit to the cytoskeleton. The beta2 cells supported migration and attachment but not spreading on a subset of the alphaMbeta2 ligands. The heterodimeric receptor and its individual subunits were purified from the cells by affinity chromatography and recapitulated the ligand binding properties of the corresponding cell lines. These data indicate that each subunit of alphaMbeta2 contributes distinct properties to alphaMbeta2 and that, in most but not all cases, the response of the integrin is a composite of the functions of its individual subunits.
Special Words on Special Sections

This PDF file contains the editorial “Special Words on Special Sections” for JM3 Vol. 1 Issue 03
Reconfigurable bipolar analog optical crossbar switch

A differential technique is proposed for obtaining bipolar analog {−1…0…1} inputs, outputs, and connection weights in a mask-type optical crossbar switch. The technique compensates for the limitations of current component technology and permits the use of inexpensive, low-contrast spatial light modulators for reconfigurable switching matrices. The conclusions of this work may be extended to design improvements in a wide variety of optical computing implementations.
Duality of MIMO multiple access channel and broadcast channel with amplify-and-forward relays

In this work, we consider a two-hop multiuser amplify-and-forward relay network with multi-antenna nodes. The results are three-fold. First, for any relay amplification matrix D in the multiple-access channel (MAC), we show that duality holds when ?D? is employed in the broadcast channel (BC), and vice versa, where re is obtained from switching the total source and relay power constraints. Second, under a total network power constraint, we show that MAC-BC duality holds when D and D? are the relaying matrices in the MAC and BC respectively. Third, for any D in the MAC and cD? in the BC where c is any positive real scalar, MAC-BC duality under total network power constraint holds only for the above two cases.
Inducing and Measuring Particulate Migration' 1

A review of a recommended method for inducing and measuring particulate mi gration is given and refinements to the method are suggested. Statistical analysis of experimental data shows that the use of a watch glass migration chamber that is sat urated with water vapor can lead to slightly higher values of particulate migration than can the use of an unsaturated chamber.
SEASONAL ANOINTMENT WITH MILLIPEDES IN A WILD PRIMATE: A CHEMICAL DEFENSE AGAINST INSECTS?

Members of a wild group of wedge-capped capuchin monkeys (Cebus olivaceus) intentionally anoint themselves with millipedes (Orthoporus dorsovittatus). Chemical analysis revealed these millipedes secrete two benzoquinones, compounds known to be potently repellent to insects. We argue that the secretion that rubs off on the monkeys in the course of anointment provides protection against insects, particularly mosquitoes (and the bot flies they transmit) during the rainy season. Millipede secretion is so avidly sought by the monkeys that up to four of them will share a single millipede. The anointment must also entail risks, since benzoquinones are toxic and carcinogenic. We suggest that for capuchins the immediate benefits of anointment outweigh the long-range costs.
Differentiation of human ES and Parkinson’s disease iPS cells into ventral midbrain dopaminergic neurons requires a high activity form of SHH, FGF8a and specific regionalization by retinoic acid

The cardinal motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) are caused by the vulnerability to dysfunction and degeneration of ventral midbrain (VM) dopaminergic (DA) neurons. A major limitation for experimental studies of current ES/iPS cell differentiation protocols is the lack of VM DA neurons with a stable phenotype as defined by an expression marker code of FOXA2/TH/β-tubulin. Here we demonstrate a combination of three modifications that were required to produce VM DA neurons. Firstly, early and specific exposure to 10(-)(8)M (low dose) retinoic acid improved the regional identity of neural progenitor cells derived from human ES cells, PD or healthy subject-specific iPS cells. Secondly, a high activity form of human sonic hedgehog established a sizeable FOXA2(+) neural progenitor cell population in vitro. Thirdly, early exposure to FGF8a, rather than Fgf8b, and WNT1 was required for robust differentiation of the FOXA2(+) floor plate-like human neural progenitor cells into FOXA2(+) DA neurons. FOXA2(+) DA neurons were also generated when this protocol was adapted to feeder-free conditions. In summary, this new human ES and iPS cell differentiation protocol using FGF8a, WNT1, low dose retinoic acid and a high activity form of SHH can generate human VM DA neurons that are required for relevant new bioassays, drug discovery and cell based therapies for PD.
Utility of Flexible Bronchoscopy in the Evaluation of Pulmonary Infiltrates in the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Population - A Single Center Fourteen Year Experience

a b s t r a c t Introduction: Pulmonary infiltrates are common within the hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) population and unfortunately portend an increased mortality. Bronchoscopy is often utilized as an initial diagnostic tool, but the literature supporting its diagnostic utility and effect on clinical management varies significantly. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic ability, complication rate, and clinical impact of flexible bronchoscopy (FB) in evaluating pulmonary infiltrates in a large HSCT population. Patients and method: Retrospective review of all patients undergoing FB after HSCT in the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit from 1996 to 2009. Results: FB was performed 162 times in 144 patients with pulmonary infiltrates yielding positive results in 52.5%. The most common positive results were bacterial pneumonia (31%), fungal pneumonia (15%), and alveolar hemorrhage (11%). Treatment changes occurred in 44% of patients after FB. Treatment changes included antibiotic modification (59%), addition of corticosteroids (21%), antifungal modification (12%), and antiviral modification (7%). The overall complication rate associated with FB was 30%, although 84% of these complications were considered minor. Conclusions: FB in patients with pulmonary infiltrates after HSCT should still be considered a valuable tool in the evaluation and management of pulmonary infiltrates in the HSCT population. Future prospective, multicenter randomized studies are needed to evaluate the overall clinical impact that bronchoscopic results and management changes have in this unique population.
The de novo centriole assembly pathway in HeLa cells: cell cycle progression and centriole assembly/maturation.

It has been reported that nontransformed mammalian cells become arrested during G1 in the absence of centrioles (Hinchcliffe, E., F. Miller, M. Cham, A. Khodjakov, and G. Sluder. 2001. Science. 291:1547–1550). Here, we show that removal of resident centrioles (by laser ablation or needle microsurgery) does not impede cell cycle progression in HeLa cells. HeLa cells born without centrosomes, later, assemble a variable number of centrioles de novo. Centriole assembly begins with the formation of small centrin aggregates that appear during the S phase. These, initially amorphous “precentrioles” become morphologically recognizable centrioles before mitosis. De novo–assembled centrioles mature (i.e., gain abilities to organize microtubules and replicate) in the next cell cycle. This maturation is not simply a time-dependent phenomenon, because de novo–formed centrioles do not mature if they are assembled in S phase–arrested cells. By selectively ablating only one centriole at a time, we find that the presence of a single centriole inhibits the assembly of additional centrioles, indicating that centrioles have an activity that suppresses the de novo pathway.
Variables affecting postoperative tissue perfusion monitoring in free flap breast reconstruction

Postoperative flap monitoring is a key component for successful free tissue transfer. Tissue oxygen saturation measurement (TOx) with near-infrared spectrophotometry (NIRS) is a method used for this purpose. The aim of this study was to identify external variables that can affect TOx. Patients who had breast reconstruction with free flaps were monitored prospectively and intra-operative details were recorded. Flap TOx was recorded with NIRS pre-extubation, postextubation, and then every four hours for 36 hours. At each of these time points, blood oxygen saturation (SO2), amount of supplemental oxygen, and blood pressure were recorded. Thirty flaps were monitored. Initially, a significant trend over time was detected such that for every increase of 24 hours, TOx decreased on average by 2.1% (P = 0.025). However, when accounting for SO2 levels, this decrease was no longer significant (P = 0.19). An increase by 1% in SO2 produced an increase in TOx reading of 0.36 (P = 0.007). The amount of supplemental O2, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure did not have a significant impact on TOx (P > 0.05). The TOx values were highest in the free TRAM flaps and were lower in decreasing order in the muscle-sparing TRAM, DIEP, and SIEA flaps (P > 0.05). The TOx values did not significantly correlate with vessel size, perforator number, or perforator row. Postoperative flap TOx was found to correlate with SO2 and was not significantly dependent on blood pressure, supplemental O2, or surgical variables. Careful interpretation of oximetry values is essential in decision making during postoperative flap monitoring. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 35:123–128, 2015.
Reply to Schaberg et al.: Applying stable isotope analyses to examine the influence of acid deposition on Juniperus virginiana

Our conclusion that a Juniperus virginiana stand in the central Appalachian Mountains is recovering from decades of acid deposition was based on tree ring carbon isotope ratios (δ13C) that show: (i) close correspondence between the timing of changes in direction of δ13C with declines in SO2 emissions occurring after the Clean Air Act; (ii) close similarities between patterns of δ13C after 1980 and during the 1930s Great Depression when SO2 emissions were reduced; and (iii) support of our hypothesis that stomatal conductance would increase after the Clean Air Act if trees were recovering from acid deposition (1). The issues outlined …
Translation's coming of age

Mol Syst Biol. 7: 498 Proteins are the key players in our cells, and their biological concentrations are regulated through an intricate interaction of transcription, translation, as well as mRNA and protein degradation. In a work recently published in Nature , Schwanhausser et al (2011) report one of the first and most comprehensive characterizations of the complete sequence of events producing proteins in mammalian cells. The authors measured concentrations and degradation rates for >5000 mRNAs and proteins, respectively, and tied these data into a mathematical model that, in unprecedented completeness, describes the cellular dynamics that govern protein production. Their analysis confirms, extends, and generalizes what has been suspected before: ‘transcription is only half the story’ (Plotkin, 2010), and translational control is at least as important in determining the final concentrations of proteins (Figure 1) (reviewed in de Sousa Abreu et al , 2009; Vogel et al , 2010). Figure 1. Francis Crick's central dogma of biology revolves around the transcription of mRNA from DNA, the translation of proteins from mRNA, and the degradation of the respective molecules. A new study by Schwanhausser et al (2011) measures concentrations of mRNAs and proteins as well as the corresponding degradation rates for >5000 genes in mouse cells, and with the help of a mathematical model they are able to deliver a complete description of the dynamics governing mammalian protein production. The thickness of the arrows indicates the relative importance of the processes in defining protein concentrations. The values indicate median rates …
Vif Overcomes the Innate Antiviral Activity of APOBEC3G by Promoting Its Degradation in the Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathway

Viruses must overcome diverse intracellular defense mechanisms to establish infection. The Vif (virion infectivity factor) protein of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) acts by overcoming the antiviral activity of APOBEC3G (CEM15), a cytidine deaminase that induces G to A hypermutation in newly synthesized viral DNA. In the absence of Vif, APOBEC3G incorporation into virions renders HIV-1 non-infectious. We report here that Vif counteracts the antiviral activity of APOBEC3G by targeting it for destruction by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Vif forms a complex with APOBEC3G and enhances APOBEC3G ubiquitination, resulting in reduced steady-state APOBEC3G levels and a decrease in protein half-life. Furthermore, Vif-dependent degradation of APOBEC3G is blocked by proteasome inhibitors or ubiquitin mutant K48R. A mutation of highly conserved cysteines or the deletion of a conserved SLQ(Y/F)LA motif in Vif results in mutants that fail to induce APOBEC3G degradation and produce non-infectious HIV-1; however, mutations of conserved phosphorylation sites in Vif that impair viral replication do not affect APOBEC3G degradation, suggesting that Vif is important for other functions in addition to inducing proteasomal degradation of APOBEC3G. Vif is monoubiquitinated in the absence of APOBEC3G but is polyubiquitinated and rapidly degraded when APOBEC3G is coexpressed, suggesting that coexpression accelerates the degradation of both proteins. These results suggest that Vif functions by targeting APOBEC3G for degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and implicate the proteasome as a site of dynamic interplay between microbial and cellular defenses.
Changes in pool size in response to a reduction in discharge: a flume experiment

Management of river systems can create a reduction in flow with associated potential impacts on channel morphology. A total of 30 flume runs were conducted with two different sediment sizes to determine the effect of a reduction in flow on pool size and depth in confined channels. The experiments were conducted in a 6 m long, 0.5 m wide recirculating flume. Pools were scoured adjacent to a triangular-shaped obstruction to flow from an initially flat bed. After 3 h of high flow, bed topography was measured and the flow was changed to a level of 50, 67, 80, 85 or 100% of the original flow. Changes in bed topography were then measured after 3 h under the modified flow regime. Results indicate that a reduction in flow creates smaller volume pools. With well sorted, fine-sand substrate, changes in pool volume, volume of deep habitat and depth were significant for both 50 and 80% reductions in flow level. However, development of an armor level in experiments with poorly sorted, very coarse sand limited sedimentation at lower flows. Consequently, no changes in pool size were statistically significant with this sediment. The results suggest that data on the dimensions of pools are needed prior to any flow modifications in order to detect degradation of the physical pool habitat. Monitoring programs initiated after flow regulation may only identify changes in a limited number of cases where sediments are mobile at low flows and the reduction in flow level is severe. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.