cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vitamin E therapy in Parkinson's disease

Though the etiology is not well understood, late-onset Parkinson's disease (PD) appears to result from several key factors including exposure to unknown environmental toxicants, toxic endogenous compounds and genetic alterations. A plethora of scientific evidence suggest that these environmental and endogenous factors cause PD by producing mitochondrial (mito) oxidative stress and damage in the substantia nigra, leading to cell death. Thus assuming a critical role for mito oxidative stress in PD, therapies to treat or prevent PD must target these mito and protect them against oxidative damage. The focus of this article is to briefly review the experimental and clinical evidence for the role of environmental toxicants and mito oxidative stress/damage in PD as well as discuss the potential protective role of mito d-alpha-tocopherol (T) enrichment and vitamin E therapy in PD. New experimental data are presented that supports the enrichment of mito with T as a critical event in cytoprotection against toxic mito-derived oxidative stress. We propose that chronic, high dose vitamin E dietary supplementation or parenteral vitamin E administration (e.g. vitamin E succinate) may serve as a successful therapeutic strategy for the prevention or treatment of PD (by enriching substantia nigra mito with protective levels of T).
Coatings in the electricity supply industry: past, present, and opportunities for the future

The cost of electricity, the reliability of its supply, the impact on the environment, and the global sustainability, are all forcing the supply industry to make greater demands on the materials of construction of the generation, transmission, and distribution components. Not only is the performance being enhanced, but the requirements for durability, and the ability to identify potential failures, to estimate remaining life using non-intrusive methods, and to repair or replace quickly and effectively, are also subject to greater demands. Coatings play an important role in all of these aspects. In this paper, a very general summary of some of the more important issues is presented.
The potential of spectral reflectance technique for the detection of Grapevine leafroll-associated virus-3 in two red-berried wine grape cultivars

The detection of viruses in plants involves destructive sampling followed by testing by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and/or reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In this study, we have investigated the potential of leaf spectral reflectance changes between virus infected and uninfected grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.) in developing non-invasive techniques for field-based 'real-time' diagnosis of grapevine leafroll disease (GLD). In situ leaf reflectance spectra were taken with a portable spectrometer using detached leaves from uninfected and Grapevine leafroll-associated virus-3 (GLRaV-3) infected plants of two wine grape cultivars (Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot). Specific differences in vegetation indices and wavelength intervals were observed between virus-infected and uninfected leaves in the green peak (near 550nm), the near infrared (near 900nm) and in the mid-infrared (near 1600nm and 2200nm). Results of reflectance spectra and classification analysis suggest that different vegetation indices and/or individual wavelength bands may differ in their ability to detect GLD depending on whether there are visible symptoms in the virus-infected leaves. The differences in leaf reflectance measurements at specific wavelength intervals between virus-infected and uninfected grapevines and their correlation with RT-PCR results for the presence of GLRaV-3 suggest spectral reflectance technique as a promising tool for cost-effective, nondestructive method for diagnosis of GLD in the field. To our knowledge this represents the first study to report the potential of using leaf spectral data for virus disease diagnosis in a perennial crop.
Visualization of hepatic sulfite oxidase in crude tissue preparations by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy

Abstract Sulfite oxidase (sulfite:O2 oxidoreductase, EC 1.8.3.1) has been purified to homogeneity from rat liver and has been found to be similar to those previously isolated from other sources. The purified enzyme is a molybdohemoprotein and on addition of sulfite displays the g = 1.97 electron paramagnetic resonance signal of pentavalent molybdenum. The shape of the signal undergoes uniquely characteristic changes with alteration of pH and of anionic composition. Rat liver homogenates display a well-defined EPR signal at g = 1.97. The effects of pH and of anions on the “native” signal in liver homogenates are identical to those produced on the EPR signal of purified enzyme. This is in contrast to the insensitivity of the molybdenum EPR signal of purified rat liver xanthine oxidase to these conditions. The subcellular distribution of the native signal corresponds to the distribution of sulfite oxidase activity. In addition, the amplitudes of native EPR signals at g = 1.97 in various tissues of the rat and in livers from several other species paralleled the sulfite oxidase activity.
Crack nucleation due to elastic anisotropy in polycrystalline ice

Abstract This paper presents a theoretical analysis of crack nucleation in isotropic polycrystalline ice due to the elastic anisotropy of the constituent crystals. The singularity of the associated stress concentrations near a grain-boundary facet junction provides the mechanism for inducing microcrack precursors, if similar nuclei do not already exist. The first-order microstructural stress field created by the elastic anisotropy mechanism is linearly superposed on the applied stress field. This total stress field causes the precursors to nucleate into microcracks. The analysis of the nucleation stress is based on a solution to the general problem of an extending precursor in a combined stress field including the effects of Coulombic frictional resistance. The local material resistance is characterized in terms of a critical value for the maximum principal tensile stress which can be determined from the surface free energy of either the grain boundary or the solid-vapor interface. Model predictions show that: (a) the stress required to nucleate cracks in compression is about 2.5 times that in tension, unlike other microstructural models which predict them to be equal; (b) elastic anisotropy rather than dislocation pile-up as proposed by others may govern crack nucleation in tension over a wide range of strain rates; (c) the stress required to nucleate a crack in compression is strongly dependent on crystal orientation and, as a consequence of the random orientation of crystals in isotropic polycrystalline ice, there can be a distinct beginning and end to the microcrack nucleation phase when stress is increased and if failure does not occur prematurely; (d) the grain size effect due to the elastic anisotropy mechanism is similar to that due to the dislocation pile-up mechanism over the typical range of grain sizes encountered in nature; and (e) a generalization of the limiting tensile strain criterion ∗ which accounts for the anisotropy of the constituent crystals is an excellent phenomenological approximation of the nucleation surface under multiaxial states of stress.
Approximation of locally optimum detector nonlinearities (Corresp.)

The problem of finding a detector nonlinearity that maximizes the efficacy (or asymptotic processing gain) over a class of suboptimal nonlinearities is considered. It is shown that this efficacy maximization problem is essentially the same as the problem of finding the minimum-mean-square-error approximation to the locally optimal detector nonlinearity. This result is compared with some intuitive ideas about suboptimal detection.
Polyampholyte adsorption on a charged sphere.

Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599-3290~Received 6 November 2000; revised manuscript received 24 January 2001; published 16 April 2001!A theory of the adsorption of polyampholyte chains on a charged spherical particle is developed. It is shownthat the equilibrium polymer density proﬁle near an adsorbing particle may be found by balancing thepolarization-induced attraction of polyampholytes to the charged spherical particle with the monomer-monomer repulsion. At intermediate values of the particle charge, the polyampholyte chains touching thesurface of the particle form a self-similar ﬂowerlike structure. The structure of an adsorbed polyampholyte inthe ﬂowerlike conformation is similar to that of a neutral star polymer.DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.63.051802 PACS number~s!: 61.25.Hq, 61.20.Qg
The meaning of low-grade inflammation in clinically quiescent inflammatory bowel disease.

Purpose of review Low-grade inflammation can persist in many patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who have otherwise obtained clinical remission. This review will summarize the prognostic implications of this finding for patients. Recent findings At least 40% of patients with IBD in clinical remission have ongoing histological evidence of inflammation, despite continued use of maintenance therapy. Follow-up endoscopy and biopsy is the current gold standard for identifying these patients. Recent studies have suggested that an elevated C-reactive protein is associated with underlying histological abnormalities in this setting. Patients with histological inflammation at baseline are at increased risk of clinical relapse, hospitalization, surgery, and colon cancer in observational longitudinal studies. Even when endoscopic healing has been achieved, the presence of underlying architectural changes on biopsies can identify patients at a higher risk of complications. Prospective studies to determine if 'histological healing' provides additional outcome benefits beyond endoscopic or clinical remission alone have not been performed to date, but warrant inclusion in future trials. Summary Chronic low-grade inflammation is common in patients with IBD in clinical remission. Clinicians should actively try to identify these patients and consider a lower threshold for intervention to reduce their higher risk of adverse outcomes over time.
Analysis of cyclic and acyclic nicotinic cholinergic agonists using radioligand binding, single channel recording, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

The relationship between the structure and function of a series of nicotinic cholinergic agonists has been studied using radioligand binding, single channel recording, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The cyclic compound 1,1-dimethyl-4-acetylpiperazinium iodide and its trifluoromethyl analogue (F3-PIP) interact with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) from both Torpedo electroplaque and BC3H-1 cells at lower concentrations than the acyclic derivatives, N,N,N,N'-tetramethyl-N'-acetylethylenediamine iodide and its fluorinated analogue (F3-TED). The magnitude of the difference in potencies depends on the type of measurement. In binding experiments, the differences between the two classes of compounds depends mainly on the conditions of the experiment. In measurements of the initial interaction with the nAChR, the PIP compounds have an affinity approximately one order of magnitude higher than that of the TED compounds. Longer incubations indicated that the PIP compounds were able to induce a time-dependent shift in receptor affinity consistent with desensitization, whereas the TED compounds were unable to induce such a shift. The activation of single channel currents by the cyclic compounds occurs at concentrations approximately two orders of magnitude lower than for the acyclic compounds, but the TED compounds exhibit a larger degree of channel blockade than the PIP compounds. Previous work (McGroddy, K.A., and R.E. Oswald. 1992. Biophys. J. 64:314–324) has shown that the TED compounds can exist in two energetically distinct conformational states related by an isomerization of the amide bond. 19F nuclear magnetic resonance experiments suggest that the higher energy population of the TED compounds may interact preferentially with the ACh binding sites on the nAChRs and that a significant fraction of the difference between the initial affinity of the PIP and TED compounds may be accounted for by the predominance in solution of a conformational state less able to interact with the ACh binding sites on nAChRs.
Response of the avian chorionic epithelium to presumptive scale‐forming dermis

The isolated chorionic epithelium (CE) from 8-day chick embryos responds to the inductive influence of anterior shank (scale) dermis (ASD) in different ways depending on the age of the dermis. Eleven-day dermis induces the fomrmation of barb-ridges, typical of feathers, yet, very little feather elongation; while 13-day dermis induces the CE to form normal scale epidermis. Twelve-day ASD elicits both the formation of barb-ridges and scales. Thus, the ASD, in association with the overlying scale-forming epidermis, becomes altered in its inductive ability between 11 and 12 days of development.
Compressive through-focus wavefield imaging

Optical sensing and imaging applications often suffer from a combination of low resolution object reconstructions and a large number of sensors which, depending on frequency, can be quite expensive or bulky. It is therefore desirable to minimize the number of sensors (which reduces cost) for a given target resolution level (image quality) and permissible total sensor array size (compactness). Equivalently, for a given imaging hardware one seeks to maximize image quality, which in turn means fully exploiting the available sensors as well as all priors about the properties of the sought-after objects such as sparsity properties, and other, which can be incorporated into reconstruction schemes. This paper proposes a compressive-sensing-based method to process through-focus optical field data captured at a sensor array. The proposed approach treats in-focus and out-offocus data as projective measurements for compressive sensing, and assumes that the objects are sparse under known transformations applied to them. The proposed compressive through-focus imaging is illustrated for both coherent and incoherent light. The results illustrate the combined use of through-focus imaging and compressive sensing techniques, and provide insight on the information in in-focus and out-of-focus data for coherent as well as incoherent light.
The Putative Vitamin K-dependent γ-Glutamyl Carboxylase Internal Propeptide Appears to Be the Propeptide Binding Site

The vitamin K-dependent γ-glutamyl carboxylase binds an 18-amino acid sequence usually attached as a propeptide to its substrates. Price and Williamson (Protein Sci. (1993) 2, 1997–1998) noticed that residues 495–513 of the carboxylase shares similarity with the propeptide. They suggested that this internal propeptide could bind intramolecularly to the propeptide binding site of carboxylase, thereby preventing carboxylation of substrates lacking a propeptide recognition sequence. To test Price's hypothesis, we created nine mutant enzyme species that have single or double mutations within this putative internal propeptide. The apparent K d values of these mutant enzymes for human factor IX propeptide varied from 0.5- to 287-fold when compared with that of wild type enzyme. These results are consistent with the internal propeptide hypothesis but could also be explained by these residues participating in propeptide binding site per se. To distinguish between the two alternative hypotheses, we measured the dissociation rates of propeptides from each of the mutant enzymes. Changes in an internal propeptide should not affect the dissociation rates, but changes to a propeptide binding site may affect the dissociation rate. We found that dissociation rates varied in a manner consistent with the apparentK d values measured above. Furthermore, kinetic studies using propeptide-containing substrates demonstrated a correlation between the affinity for propeptide andV max. Taken together, our results indicated that these mutations affected the propeptide binding site rather than a competitive inhibitory internal propeptide sequence. These results agree with our previous observations, indicating that residues in this region are involved in propeptide binding.
The solution of fluid mechanics problems by probability methods

This study shows how fluid mechanics problems may be solved using probability methods. Problems solved include velocity distributions in steady and unsteady flow between parallel plates as well as steady flow through a constant diameter three-dimensional duct. We find that the results approach exact solutions as the number of random walks increases, and that the complexity of the flow equations precludes extension of the technique to three dimensions. We also find that these techniques are much easier for students to put into practice than others. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 13: 133–136, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20038
Technology choice as a first step in design: the interplay of procedural and sensemaking processes

Project design involves an initial selection of technologies, which has strong consequences for later stages of design. In this paper we describe an ethnographic-based field work study of a complex organization, and how it addressed the issue of front-end project and technology selection. Formal procedures were designed for the organization to perform repeatable, definable, and measurable actions. Yet, formal procedures obscured much about the processes actually being applied in selecting technologies and projects. In actuality, the formal procedures were interwoven with sensemaking activities so that technologies could be understood, compared, and a decision consensus could be reached. We expect that the insights from this study can benefit design teams in complex organizations facing similar selection and requirements issues.
Maturity‐onset diabetes of the young (MODY)

This review summarized aspects of the widening scope, phenotypic expression, natural history, recognition, pathogeneses, and heterogenous nature of maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY), an autosomal dominant inherited subtype of NIDDM, which can be recognized at a young age. There are differences in metabolic, hormonal, and vascular abnormalities in different ethnic groups and even among Caucasian pedigrees. In MODY patients with low insulin responses, there is a delayed and decreased insulin and C-peptide secretory response to glucose from childhood or adolescence, even before glucose intolerance appears; it may represent the basic genetic defect. The nondiabetic siblings have had normal insulin responses for decades. The fasting hyperglycemia of some MODY has been treated successfully with sulfonylureas for more than 30 years. In a few, after years or decades of diabetes, the insulin and C-peptide responses to glucose are so low that they may resemble those of early Type I diabetes. The rate of progression of the insulin secretory defect over time does distinguish between these two types of diabetes. In contrast are patients from families who have very high insulin responses to glucose despite glucose intolerance and fasting hyperglycemia similar to those seen in patients with low insulin responses. In many of these patients, there is in vivo and in vitro evidence of insulin resistance. Whatever its mechanism, the compensatory insulin responses to nutrients must be insufficient to maintain normal carbohydrate tolerance. This suggests that diabetes occurs only in those patients who have an additional islet cell defect, i.e., insufficient beta cell reserve and secretory capacity. In a few MODY pedigrees with high insulin responses to glucose and lack of evidence of insulin resistance, an insulin is secreted which is a structurally abnormal, mutant insulin molecule that is biologically ineffective. No associations have been found between specific HLA antigens and MODY in Caucasian, black, and Asian pedigrees. Linkage studies of the insulin gene, the insulin receptor gene, the erythrocyte/Hep G2 glucose transporter locus, and the apolipoprotein B locus have shown no association with MODY. Vascular disease may be as prevalent as in conventional NIDDM. Because of autosomal dominant transmission and penetrance at a young age, MODY is a good model for further investigations of etiologic and pathogenetic factors in NIDDM, including the use of genetic linkage strategies to identify diabetogenic genes.
The fracture of constituent particles during fatigue

Abstract Localized plastic strains within individual surface grains in aluminum alloy 2219-T851 were measured, using a reference gauge technique, at intervals during fatigue. Consistent with contemporary hypotheses regarding the fracture of constituent particles, we found that critical values of localized plasticity led to particle fracture; however, we also found that cyclic hardening of the surface reduced the rate of accumulation of plasticity from that predicted by previous models. Consequently, fewer numbers of particles were found to fracture in aluminum alloy 2219-T851 during fatigue at low stress amplitudes than theories predict. Various methods to incorporate the cyclic hardening of the surface into a particle fracture model are discussed. One such model is used successfully to predict the reduced number of constituent particles in aluminum alloy 2219-T851 that fracture in specimens which are first conditioned by pre-fatigue at a low cyclic stress amplitude and compared with unconditioned specimens when both are cycled at higher cyclic stress amplitudes.
Further Validation of an Augmented Reduced Mechanism for Methane Oxidation: Comparison of Global Parameters and Detailed Structure

An augmented reduced mechanism (ARM) for methane oxidation, consisting of 16 species and 12 lumped reaction steps, was developed from GRI-Mech 1.2. It showed excellent performance in reproducing the global response of a wide varieties of combustion phenomena including auto-ignition, laminar flame propagation, and counterflowing non-premixed systems under extensive thermody-namical parametric variations including those of temperature, pressure, and composition. The present study extends the rigor of validation of this reduced mechanism to the next level by showing that good reproduction still exists for the detailed evolutionary and spatial structures of these phenomena. Validation comparisons have also been conducted for the two skeletal mechanisms developed by Kazakov and Frenklach, showing that DRM-22, which consists of 23 species and 102 elementary steps, appears to be the minimum size for a skeletal mechanism to approach the comprehensiveness of the 12-stepARM.
Vehicle emission sensing and evaluation using the Smog Dog in Houston

The advanced remote vehicle emission sensing equipment, Smog Dog, is a cost-effective infrared technology designed to measure the levels of vehicle exhaust. This paper presents and demonstrates a research effort for using the Smog Dog to conduct the on-road vehicle exhaust emission collection in the city of Houston, develop modal sensitive emission models and evaluate the EPA approved MOBILE5A emission factor model. The vehicle emission data collection is designed in a manner that various vehicle's modal events such as the acceleration and deceleration under the on-road driving conditions are considered. The Smog Dog remote mission sensor can not only collect the emission concentrations of hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide and oxide of nitrogen but also simultaneously detect the vehicles' instantaneous speeds and acceleration rates. Thus a vehicle's emission rates, which are converted from the collected emission concentration levels, can be functions of its instantaneous speed and acceleration rate. In addition, the Federal Test Procedure driving cycles are emulated using the emission versus speed profile relationships and the resulted emission rate for a predetermined average driving speed can then be compared with the emission factors produced by MOBILE5A. Since the emission models, that are developed based on the on-road emission data collected using the Smog Dog, naturally reflect the on-road driving conditions and the vehicle fleet combinations, they can potentially be used to evaluate the vehicle exhaust emission implications of various advanced traffic management strategies.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in a patient with an L-I type single coronary artery.

These images are from a 51-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with an anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, Killip class I. During emergency coronary angiography, we were unable to engage the right coronary artery (RCA) with a JR4 catheter (Cordis, Bridgewater, New
Optimization of Potent, Selective, and Orally Bioavailable Pyrrolodinopyrimidine-Containing Inhibitors of Heat Shock Protein 90. Identification of Development Candidate 2-Amino-4-{4-chloro-2-[2-(4-fluoro-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)ethoxy]-6-methylphenyl}-N-(2,2-difluoropropyl)-5,7-dihydro-6H-pyrrolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine-6-carboxamide

A novel class of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitors was discovered by high-throughput screening and was subsequently optimized using a combination of structure-based design, parallel synthesis, and the application of medicinal chemistry principles. Through this process, the biochemical and cell-based potency of the original HTS lead were substantially improved along with the corresponding metabolic stability properties. These efforts culminated with the identification of a development candidate (compound 42) which displayed desired PK/PD relationships, significant efficacy in a melanoma A2058 xenograft tumor model, and attractive DMPK profiles.
Impact of Adenosine Triphosphate Detection and Feedback on Hospital Room Cleaning

Objective. To assess the effect of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) device measurement of hospital room cleaning and feedback of pooled results to environmental service workers (EVS) to improve cleaning efficacy.Design. Nonrandomized controlled trial conducted over 20 months.Setting. Three hospitals of varying size.Participants. EVS workers, randomly selected on the basis of convenience sample of rooms.Interventions. Environmental cleanliness composite scores were combined with layered educational interventions and used to provide feedback to EVS workers on specific hospital units. Trends in cleaning efficacy were observed after the interventions.Results. Cleaning efficacy improved significantly with each intervention (P < .01) and decreased during the washout period.Conclusions. The ATP detection device combined with educational feedback for EVS workers resulted in significant improvement in cleaning efficacy of the hospital room environment.
Hypothermic circulatory arrest in octogenarians: risk of stroke and mortality.

Abstract Background . The proportion of patients in their ninth decade of life undergoing complex cardiovascular procedures has increased over the past decade. The purpose of this study is to quantify the potential for stroke and mortality associated with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) in this age group. Methods . At our institution, 251 adult patients had cardiovascular procedures that required DHCA since 1989. This included 20 patients 80 years of age or older (group I) and 231 patients less than 80 years (group II). Additionally, we analyzed 632 patients 80 years of age or older who underwent a variety of cardiovascular procedures since 1989 that required cardiopulmonary bypass but not DHCA (group III). Neurologic outcomes have been maintained in our database prospectively since 1991. Results . The 30-day mortality in group I was 5%, in group II 15.2%, and in group III 8.2%. The stroke rate was 20% in group I, 8.8% in group II, and 6.5% in group III. Conclusions . DHCA can be performed with acceptable early mortality in patients in their ninth decade of life, but they are at an increased risk of stroke. Follow-up shows satisfactory late survival.
The molecular origins of optical nonlinearity: beyond charge-transfer effects

A remarkably simple methodology is described for quantitatively relating virtually all nonlinear optical phenomena directly back to intuitive molecular processes, including absorption, Raman polarizability, and two-photon absorption. The dramatic reduction in complexity resulting from this approach provides new routes for predicting and optimizing the molecular nonlinearities in emerging materials and spectroscopic applications without sacrificing mathematical rigor. In combination with experimental measurements, this general approach is shown to be particularly useful in interpreting the unique polarization-dependent nonlinear optical properties of chiral materials and surfaces.
Responses of blood flow, oxygen consumption, and contractile function to inotropic stimulation in stunned canine myocardium

Abstract To examine the effects of inotropic stimulation on regional myocardial blood flow (MBF), oxidative metabolism, and contractile function in stunned myocardium, nine closed-chest dogs were studied 2 hours postreperfusion after a 25 minute occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). MBF was determined with microspheres, and regional myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2) was estimated from the rate constant k1 of the rapid clearance phase of [1-11C] acetate time activity curves, recorded with dynamic positron emission tomography. Myocardium at risk was determined from [13N] ammonia images obtained during occlusion. Wall motion, assessed by two-dimensional echocardiography, was impaired in postischemic myocardium in all dogs 2 hours after reperfusion. Dobutamine infusion increased the rate pressure product by 70% ± 31% and significantly improved contractile function in the postischemic region in all dogs. In remote myocardium, MVO2 increased from 5.7 ± 1.2 to 8.6 ± 1.6 μmol/gm/min, and blood flow from 0.87 ± 0.16 to 1.52 ± 0.42 ml/gm/min in response to dobutamine. In reperfused myocardium, MVO2 increased from 3.1 ± 0.7 to 7.4 ± 1.5 μmol/gm/min, and blood flow from 0.51 ± 0.12 to 1.2 ± 0.4 ml/gm/min. Oxygen extraction increased significantly in reperfused myocardium relative to remote myocardium consistent with a flow-limited response to dobutamine stimulation. The improvement in contractile function failed to correlate significantly with relative increases in MBF or MVO2, suggesting that mechanical function is not as tightly coupled as MBF and MVO2 in postischemic myocardium during inotropic stimulation.
Effect of oral contraceptives on the rat brain and pituitary β-endorphin

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of oral administration of progesterone (15 μg norethindrone, NE) in presence and absence of estradiol (1 μg ethinyl estradiol, EE2) on the CNS levels of β-endorphin like immunoreactivity (β-EI) in female rats. In acute study (5 days), NE alone did not change β-EI significantly in pituitary. NE and EE2 together decreased β-EI by 37% (47% at 10X dose). In chronic study (7 weeks), NE had no significant effect on pituitary β-EI, however, NE and EE2 together at 10X dose decreased it by 14%. In the hypothalamus, NE alone or in presence of EE2 had no significant effect on β-EI, but 10X dose of NE+ EE2 caused 50 and 76% decrease in β-EI in acute and chronic study. Striatum was the only tissue where NE alone caused a decrease of 82% in β-EI when given acutely and 52% when given chronically. EE2 had some protective effect on this decrease since when given together (NE+EE2) the decrease in β-EI was 21% in acute and 43% in chronic study. Thus our results, along with other studies on the regulation of gonadotropin levels by opioids, suggest that oral contraceptives alter the level of β-EI and in turn may regulate the release of gonadotropins.
Evolving strategies in lung transplantation for emphysema

Evolving strategies of pulmonary preservation, bronchial revascularization, immunosuppression, and infectious disease management were used in 15 initial consecutive patients undergoing lung transplantation for emphysema. There were 10 women and 5 men with a mean age of 49 years (range, 36 to 60 years). All patients required supplemental oxygen therapy. One bilateral, 9 left, and 5 right transplantations were performed. Mean preoperative forced expiratory volume in 1 second and total lung capacity were 16% and 146%, respectively, of predicted. Quadruple drug immunosuppression was used. Actuarial 1-year survival in this initial series is 93.3% +/- 6.4% (Kaplan-Meier) with one early cardiac death at day 71. Mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide at discharge were 43% and 62%, respectively, of predicted. Rehabilitation has been excellent, and all survivors are active and free of supplemental oxygen. During the study, the following treatment strategies have evolved: (1) University of Wisconsin solution has replaced Euro-Collins' solution for pulmonary preservation; (2) direct bronchial revascularization with the internal thoracic artery now is used; (3) an algorithm-based variable dose OKT3 induction regimen has resulted in a major reduction in dosage; and (4) infectious disease management focuses on the prophylaxis of cytomegalovirus and fungal infection using prolonged ganciclovir and early itraconazole therapy as well as the avoidance of Epstein-Barr virus mismatches. Single-lung transplantation for emphysema has excellent early results with continuing evolving management strategies.
Generation of furazolidone radical anion and its inhibition by glutathione

Furazolidone is a nitrofuran drug which causes dilated cardiomyopathy in turkeys and serves as an important model of human dilated cardiomyopathy. Although extensively investigated, the chemical mechanism by which furazolidone produces injury remains unknown. In this work we used electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy to show that furazolidone was reduced to its corresponding nitro anion radical by ascorbate and hypoxanthine. Glutathione prevented the generation of this anion radical. These results document directly, with EPR spectroscopy, the presence of furazolidone anion radical during biochemical reduction and suggest a protective role of glutathione in furazolidone-induced injury. These data enhance our understanding of furazolidone metabolism and may be useful in defining its role in furazolidone-induced dilated cardiomyopathy.
Masculinity, femininity, and Hispanic professional men's self-esteem and self-acceptance.

Abstract Research suggests that in the United States, Hispanic professional women's self-esteem is affected by their unique challenge of balancing U.S. majority cultural values with their own, more family-oriented ethnic values. In the present study, the effect of this ethnic minority/majority cultural value differential on U.S. Hispanic men's self-esteem was investigated. Differences in self-esteem, self-acceptance, masculinity, and femininity among U.S. Hispanic professional men, non-Hispanic professionals, scientists, college students, and clients seeking counseling were examined. Masculinity scores were significantly higher for Hispanic professional men than for all other groups of men, and self-acceptance scores were significantly lower for Hispanic professional men than for non-Hispanic professionals and students.
Applications of Gliding ARC as a Source of Atmospheric Pressure Transitional Plasma

Summary form only given. Drexel Plasma Institute has several projects that exploit gliding arc as a source of atmospheric pressure transitional plasma. Transitional plasma or transplasma has parameters in the range between cold and thermal plasmas. Transplasma offers distinct advantages in some processes. We are using transplasma generated by gliding arc (GA) in different systems for the following processes: surface sterilization: conventional flat geometry GA was used in surface sterilization experiments, made in a framework of a joint project with our partners from NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). These experiments have shown efficacy of GA against spores of B. subtilis on an inert surface. Complete sterilization was achieved without significant heating of the substrate. Now we are involved in a joint research with USDA Eastern Regional Research Center where the GA discharge is employed in sterilization of fresh and minimally processed produce. Air sterilization: GA system with magnetic rotation is being used as an innovative method to sterilize indoor air in the event of a chemical or biological terrorist attack. We have constructed a special pathogen detection and remediation facility (PDRF) for handling and processing bacterial and viral bio-aerosols. The PDRF was designed for operation with multiple interchangeable plasma devices, including magnetically rotated GA. Ignition and combustion enhancement: magnetically rotated GA is used in our joint project with Princeton University related to plasma enhancement of combustion and flame stabilization. The effect of non-equilibrium plasma on the stabilization and extinction of nitrogen diluted, methane/air counterflow diffusion flames was investigated both experimentally and numerically. The results show that the extinction limits were significantly extended, with up to 220 percent increase in the extinction strain rate with low levels of plasma power addition. Our research with Applied Plasma Technology Company demonstrated that GA in Tornado system is very promising as an igniter and a pilot in gas turbine engines. Significant advantages of this system are unlimited lifetime of electrodes and possibility to work with air-fuel mixture without soot formation. Plasma catalysis: reverse vortex or "Tornado" stabilized GA is used for methane partial oxidation catalysis. Plasma power consumed for the conversion process was only 0.09 KW-hr per cubic meter of syn-gas produced, which is an insignificant fraction of the total heat value or chemical power of the system.
Economics and the law from posner to post-modernism Nicholas Mercuro and Steven G. Medema Princeton University Press, 1997, 235 pp.

This overview presents the core elements of the different perspectives on the varied traditions within law and economics. One perspective considers what economics has to offer the law. This includes the microeconomic analytic framework based on self-interest to predict and evaluate the actions of consumers and firms (in traditional microeconomic analysis), voters and their elected representatives (in public choice theory), common law and settlements, torts and injury law (the Chicago school of law and economics), and contract law (in neoinstitutional transaction cost and agency issues).
Antibody Design by Man and Nature

Catalytic antibodies have emerged as being without peer as rationally designed biocatalysts. They have been shown to catalyze an ever-increasing array of chemical reactions with both high substrate specificity and selectivity. Probing the immune repertoire, via an expanding number of techniques, has lead to the production of proteins that can catalyze chemistry that is both difficult to perform using existing chemical methods and that is not catalyzed by endogenous enzymes. Remarkably, recent evidence has pointed to a hitherto unknown catalytic function of all antibodies that seems to be intrinsic to their immunoglobulin structure, the conversion ofOinto HO. This new catalytic potential of antibodies points to a new 9chemical arm9 of the immune system and reveals that the evolution of catalytic antibodies significantly predates their rational design.
Ebola in West Africa: an international medical emergency

ABSTRACT West Africa is facing the worst Ebola outbreak with 3 685 cases and 1 841 deaths reported from Liberia, Guinea, Senegal, Sierra Leona and Nigeria. There is no vaccine or direct treatment available to treat the patients with Ebola. World Health Organization (WHO) has approved the use of experimental drugs for Ebola patients. Health workers are at high risk. The governments and WHO are responsible to provide necessary protective equipment to health workers dealing with Ebola. There is a strong need to identify the invisible chains of virus transmission. World Bank pledges $200 million to fight against Ebola, while WHO said $430 million are needed to control the Ebola outbreak. Ebola can be contained by early detection and isolation of case, contact tracing, monitoring of contacts and adaptation of rigorous procedures for virus control.
Doppler characteristics of late-diastolic flow in the left ventricular outflow tract.

This study characterizes the relationship between late-diastolic Doppler detected forward flow in the left ventricular outflow tract and diastolic transmitral flow. Pulsed-wave Doppler interrogation of the left ventricular outflow tract, in a prospective consecutive series ( n = 137), revealed the presence of end-diastolic forward flow in 83% of the patients studied. Further quantification of both flow signals was performed in 67 patients. Pulsed-wave mapping demonstrated that peak velocity of the end-diastolic left ventricular outflow tract signal (J wave) was maximal, 2.6 ± 0.7 cm from the aortic valve anulus, and occurred 48 ± 34 milliseconds after the peak transmitral atrial velocity flow signal. Peak J velocity ranged from 25 to 118 cm per second and correlated with peak A velocity ( r = 0.69, p r = − 0.53, p r = − 0.43, p
High resolution images of Venus from ground-based radar

The Goldstone Deep Space Station ground-based synthetic aperture radar system has been used to obtain radar images of Venus with resolutions of close to 1.3 km. Observations were made at 12.5 cm wavelength using circular polarization. From 12 days of observations during the 1986 inferior conjunction, three images have been selected for initial processing. The images show remarkable surface features including craters, ridges, and regions of high Fresnel reflectivity in the plains region.
Carbon allocation in forest ecosystems

Carbon allocation plays a critical role in forest ecosystem carbon cycling. We reviewed existing literature and compiled annual carbon budgets for forest ecosystems to test a series of hypotheses addressing the patterns, plasticity, and limits of three components of allocation: biomass, the amount of material present; flux, the flow of carbon to a component per unit time; and partitioning, the fraction of gross primary productivity (GPP) used by a component. Can annual carbon flux and partitioning be inferred from biomass? Our survey revealed that biomass was poorly related to carbon flux and to partitioning of photosynthetically derived carbon, and should not be used to infer either. Are component fluxes correlated? Carbon fluxes to foliage, wood, and belowground production and respiration all increased linearly with increasing GPP (a rising tide lifts all boats). Autotrophic respiration was strongly linked to production for foliage, wood and roots, and aboveground net primary productivity and total belowground carbon flux (TBCF) were positively correlated across a broad productivity gradient. How does carbon partitioning respond to variability in resources and environment? Within sites, partitioning to aboveground wood production and TBCF responded to changes in stand age and resource availability, but not to competition (tree density). Increasing resource supply and stand age, with one exception, resulted in increased partitioning to aboveground wood production and decreased partitioning to TBCF. Partitioning to foliage production was much less sensitive to changes in resources and environment. Overall, changes in partitioning within a site in response to resource supply and age were small (o15% of GPP), but much greater than those inferred from global relationships. Across all sites, foliage production plus respiration, and total autotrophic respiration appear to use relatively constant fractions of GPP ‐ partitioning to both was conservative across a broad range of GPP ‐ but values did vary across sites. Partitioning to aboveground wood production and to TBCF were the most variable ‐ conditions that favored high GPP increased partitioning to aboveground wood production and decreased partitioning to TBCF. Do priorities exist for the products of photosynthesis? The available data do not support the concept of priorities for the products of photosynthesis, because increasing GPP increased all fluxes. All facets of carbon allocation are important to understanding carbon cycling in forest ecosystems. Terrestrial ecosystem models require information on partitioning, yet we found few studies that measured all components of the carbon budget to allow estimation of partitioning coefficients. Future studies that measure complete annual carbon budgets contribute the most to understanding carbon allocation. Nomenclature:
A miniature molecular-sieving column assay for cytoplasmic vitamin A-binding proteins☆☆☆

Abstract Cytoplasmic vitamin A-binding proteins were measured by a method using centrifugation of gel-exclusion columns and compared to the sucrose gradient method. The gel-exclusion method analyzed 18 samples simultaneously on one table-top centrifuge, while the sucrose gradient method required use of three ultracentrifuges to process 18 samples simultaneously. Multiple 2-min low-speed centrifugations of test cytosol applied to miniature molecular-sieving columns was a faster ( 1 2 the working time for 18 samples), more convenient, and more accurate method for measuring cytoplasmic vitamin A-binding proteins than was the sucrose gradient method. Using the same cytosol and [ 3 H]retinoid preparations, the rapid gel-exclusion method results were only slightly lower than those obtained by radioimmunoassay but 50% higher than the values obtained by the sucrose gradient assay. The methodology described may be useful not only for cytoplasmic vitamin A-binding proteins but also for other similar binding protein assays.
Urokinase and dialysis therapy.

To the Editor: In a recent review by Schwab and Beathard on hemodialysis catheters, the authors did not acknowledge the value of systemic urokinase infusion to open clotted catheters1. Although they admit that the infusion appears to be safe and less expensive than either fibrin sheath stripping or catheter exchange, they also state that the "... primary disadvantage lies in the fact that [the infusion] requires four to six hours of hospital observation to facilitate payment for the urokinase."