cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Esterases of Drosophila. II. Biochemical studies of esterase-5 in D. pseudoobscura.

ABSTRACT In vitro enzyme hybridization was carried out with combinations of six allozymic variants of Esterase-5 from Drosophila pseudoobscura . Studies on heat stability and specific activity changes accompanying hybridization were done to examine the possible expression of overdominance at the biochemical level. In 11 of 15 combinations no significant change in specific activity was found following hybridization. In two cases hybridization resulted in a decrease in activity in the mixture, while in two cases esterase activity was elevated. Heat stability studies, in several cases, revealed reduced rates of inactivation in in vitro and in vivo heterozygotes compared with homozygotes. From these and other data a model for the molecular mechanism of heterosis is presented.
Optical Transducers for Chemical Measurements

Optical phenomena are widely exploited in the development of instruments that perform measurement on chemical species. Various optical chemical measurement instruments that use incident photon radiation as the primary tool include those based on intensity, UV–visible absorption, atomic absorption, derivate spectra, spectrophotometers, and infrared absorption.
Transient charge conduction in high field stressed dielectrics

Recent Kerr electrooptic field and charge mapping measurements in electron-beam-irradiated and high-voltage-stressed solid dielectrics are analyzed in terms of a drift-dominated conduction model. A one-dimensional model with a lossy dielectric medium is treated. Attention is directed to the transient decay after the excitation is removed and the terminals are either short- or open-circuited. The effects of relaxation are investigated. >
Technology environments and organizational choice

Abstract Prevailing technology conditions in an industry are predicted to influence aspects of industry structure and conduct, and corporate organization and management. This article focuses on three variables to measure industry-specific technology conditions: average development cost, development cycle, and life cycle for major new technologies. Long-cycle industries with high average development costs are predicted to exhibit higher levels of concentration and competitive stability, vertical integration, capital and research intensity, and lower rates of entry and exit than short-cycle industries with low development cost, for example. Firms in long-cycle industries are hypothesized to exhibit practices in the areas of organization, control systems, and management that differ sharply from practices in short-cycle firms. A comprehensive set of hypotheses are developed and tested regarding the influence of industry-specific technology characteristics on management and organization patterns. These hypotheses are tested using samples of thirty-four industries and thirty-nine firms. The results suggest that technology environments do influence management and organization patterns. However, within any industry, firms exhibit a range of management and organization practices. These variotions appear to be linked to corporate choices regarding technology segments and market positions.
Influence of the biasing scheme on the performance of Au/SrTiO3/LaAlO3 thin film conductor/ferroelectric tunable ring resonators

The performance of gold/SrTio3 /LaAlO3 conductor/ferroelectric/dielectric side-coupled, tunable ring resonators at K-band frequencies is presented. The tunability of these rings arises from the sensitivity of the relative dielectric constant (Er) of SrTiO 3 to changes in temperature and dc electric fields (E). We observed that the change in F-, which takes place by biasing the ring up to 450 V alters the effective dielectric constant (e-eff) of the circuit resulting in a 3k resonant frequency shift of nearly 12 % at 77 K. By applying a separate dc bias between the microstrip line and the ring, one can optimize their coupling to obtain bandstop resonators with unloaded quality factors (Q(sub o)) as high as 12,000. The 31 resonance was tuned from 15.75 to 17.41 GHz while keeping Q. above 768 over this range. The relevance of these results for practical microwave components will be discussed.
THE ROLE OF EPINEPHRINE IN THE REACTIONS PRODUCED BY THE ENDOTOXINS OF GRAM-NEGATIVE BACTERIA I. HEMORRHAGIC NECROSIS PRODUCED BY EPINEPHRINE IN THE SKIN OF ENDOTOXIN-TREATED RABBITS

Extensive lesions of dermal hemorrhagic necrosis occurred in rabbits when epinephrine (or norepinephrine) was injected into the skin within 4 hours after an intravenous injection of endotoxin. As little as 5 µg. of intradermal epinephrine, and 1 µg. of intravenous endotoxin, were sufficient to produce lesions. Similar lesions, but smaller in size and surrounded by a zone of acute inflammation, were produced by intradermal injection of a mixture of comparable amounts of endotoxin and epinephrine. No lesions were produced by combinations of endotoxin with serotonin, pitressin, or ephedrine. Both types of epinephrine-endotoxin lesion were prevented by pretreatment with cortisone, dibenzyline, and chlorpromazine. They were not prevented by heparin or nitrogen mustard. The lesions produced by intradermal mixtures of epinephrine and endotoxin were greatly enhanced in size and severity in animals treated with nitrogen mustard. Both types of lesion were prevented in rabbits rendered "tolerant" by repeated injections of sublethal amounts of endotoxin. It is concluded that endotoxin has the property of altering the reactivity of blood vessels to epinephrine in such a way that this hormone becomes a potent necrotizing agent. The possibility that this effect may represent a basic mechanism in the various intoxicating actions of endotoxin, and certain implications of this hypothesis, are discussed.
The Differentiation of Boiled and Unboiled Water

IT is often desirable to be able to ascertain whether water alleged to have been boiled for drinking purposes has in reality undergone the treatment. This may be readily determined by means of indicators appropriate to the type of water, for the effect of boiling is always to lower the hydrogen-ion concentration by removing carbon dioxide from solution and decomposing bicarbonates.
The specific gravity of biodiesel and its blends with diesel fuel

The specific gravities of biodiesel and 75, 50, and 20% blends with No. 1 and No. 2 diesel fuels were measured as a function of temperature from the onset of crystallization to 100°C. The results indicate that biodiesel and its blends demonstrate temperature-dependent behavior that is qualitively similar to the diesel fuels. The temperature dependence of the specific gravity for biodiesel and its blends was compared with the ASTM D 1250-80 procedure for the temperature correction of hydrocarbon fuels, and the procedure was found to provide accurate corrections. A blending equation was developed that allows the specific gravity of blends to be calculated from the specific gravities of the biodiesel and diesel fuels.
Design and Coordination Kinematics of an Insertable Robotic Effectors Platform for Single-Port Access Surgery

Single port access surgery (SPAS) presents surgeons with added challenges that require new surgical tools and surgical assistance systems with unique capabilities. To address these challenges, we designed and constructed a new insertable robotic end-effectors platform (IREP) for SPAS. The IREP can be inserted through a O15 mm trocar into the abdomen and it uses 21 actuated joints for controlling two dexterous arms and a stereo-vision module. Each dexterous arm has a hybrid mechanical architecture comprised of a two-segment continuum robot, a parallelogram mechanism for improved dual-arm triangulation, and a distal wrist for improved dexterity during suturing. The IREP is unique because of the combination of continuum arms with active and passive segments with rigid parallel kinematics mechanisms. This paper presents the clinical motivation, design considerations, kinematics, statics, and mechanical design of the IREP. The kinematics of coordination between the parallelogram mechanisms and the continuum arms is presented using the pseudo-rigid-body model of the beam representing the passive segment of each snake arm. Kinematic and static simulations and preliminary experiment results are presented in support of our design choices.
Crossing boundaries: more evidence for phonological constraints on early multi-word utterances*

A number of researchers have argued that phonological constraints may influence the emergence and form of combinatorial speech in children. Donahue (1986) presented evidence that one child's consonant harmony constraint operated across word boundaries. This paper presents further evidence for the operation of word-level phonological constraints in multi-word utterances. Selection and avoidance patterns as well as her modifications of adult forms indicate the presence of a syllable sequencing constraint in this child's grammar: an initial syllable must begin with a consonant whose sonority value is not less than that of the following syllable. The same constraint governs the form of her early word combinations. The existence of evidence for the operation of word-level constraints in word combinations, it is pointed out, has consequences for how we interpret two-lexicon models of phonological development.
DNA binding properties in vivo and target recognition domain sequence alignment analyses of wild-type and mutant RsrI [N6-adenine] DNA methyltransferases

A genetic selection method, the P22 challenge-phage assay, was used to characterize DNA binding in vivo by the prokaryotic beta class [N:6-adenine] DNA methyltransferase M.RSR:I. M.RSR:I mutants with altered binding affinities in vivo were isolated. Unlike the wild-type enzyme, a catalytically compromised mutant, M.RSR:I (L72P), demonstrated site-specific DNA binding in vivo. The L72P mutation is located near the highly conserved catalytic motif IV, DPPY (residues 65-68). A double mutant, M.RSR:I (L72P/D173A), showed less binding in vivo than did M.RSR:I (L72P). Thus, introduction of the D173A mutation deleteriously affected DNA binding. D173 is located in the putative target recognition domain (TRD) of the enzyme. Sequence alignment analyses of several beta class MTases revealed a TRD sequence element that contains the D173 residue. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that divergence in the amino acid sequences of these methyltransferases correlated with differences in their DNA target recognition sequences. Furthermore, MTases of other classes (alpha and gamma) having the same DNA recognition sequence as the beta class MTases share related regions of amino acid sequences in their TRDs.
Evaluation of methods to predict reactivity of gold nanoparticles

Several methods have appeared in the literature for predicting reactivity on metallic surfaces and on the surface of metallic nanoparticles. All of these methods have some relationship to the concept of frontier molecular orbital theory. The d-band theory of Hammer and Norskov is perhaps the most widely used predictor of reactivity on metallic surfaces, and it has been successfully applied in many cases. Use of the Fukui function and the condensed Fukui function is well established in organic chemistry, but has not been so widely applied in predicting the reactivity of metallic nanoparticles. In this article, we will evaluate the usefulness of the condensed Fukui function in predicting the reactivity of a family of cubo-octahedral gold nanoparticles and make comparison with the d-band method.
Composition-Explicit Distillation Curves for Mixtures of Gasoline with Four-Carbon Alcohols (Butanols)

Interest in the domestic production of bioderived fuels, sparked by the high cost of petroleum crude oil, has led to consideration of fluids to replace or extend conventional petroleum-derived fuels. While ethanol as a gasoline extender has received a great deal of attention, this fluid has numerous problems, such as aggressive behavior toward engine components and a relatively low energy content. For these and other reasons, the butanols have been studied as gasoline extenders. For any extender to be designed or adopted, a suitable knowledge base of thermophysical properties is a critical requirement. In this paper, we provide volatility measurements of mixtures of a typical gasoline with n-butanol, 2-butanol, isobutanol, and t-butanol, performed with the advanced distillation curve metrology. This recently introduced technique is an improvement of classical approaches, featuring (1) a composition-explicit data channel for each distillate fraction (for both qualitative and quantitative analyses), (2) tem...
Behavioral consequences of pediatric traumatic brain injury

Behavioral problems are common after pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI), but poorly understood. In this article we review ten common behavioral problems observed in children after TBI and consider the factors that appear to contribute to their expression. Both neurological and non-neurological variables can interact in a complicated way to produce behavioral problems in school-age children following TBI. We conclude with suggestions for the management and treatment of these behavioral problems in a manner that hopefully will reduce parental distress and disruptive behaviors of the child in school.
New obesity guidelines: promise and potential.

Obesity is a major contributor to many chronic diseases and, because more than 1 in 3 US adults are obese,1 a public health challenge. The goal of new obesity guidelines is to help primary care clinicians manage obesity more effectively. Obesity 2 (published as “2013 ACCF/AHA/TOS Guidelines for the Management of Overweight and Obesity in Adults”2) has been long awaited. The expert panel for Obesity 2 was first convened in September 2008 by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and tasked with updating Obesity 1 (published in 1998 as “Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults—The Evidence Report”3). In 2013, the NHLBI elected to partner with the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology to promote and publish the guidelines.4
Die vollautomatische Berechnung einer einfachen Nullstelle von F(t)=0 einschließlich einer Fehlerabschätzung

Es wird ein immer konvergentes Verfahren zur Auflosung der GleichungF(t)=0 angegeben. WennF(t) im Grundintervall [a, b] nur eine einzige NullstelleZ besitzt, lassen sich furZ optimale Schranken bestimmen. Der mitgeteilte Algorithmus basiert auf der Grundlage des mehrfach angewandten Halbierungsverfahrens; wesentlich fur die Konstruktion der Schranken furZ ist, das der Wert der FunktionF(t) mittels einer Fehlerschranken-Arithmetik bestimmt wird.
The facilitatory effects of catechol and phenol at the neuromuscular junction of the cat.

Abstract The effects of catechol and phenol on neuromuscular transmission were studied in the indirectly stimulated anterior tibialis muscle of the cat in vivo . Both compounds facilitated transmission as they produced a slight augmentation of the muscle contractions, and antagonized neuromuscular blockade due to d -tubocurarine. It was concluded that the facilitation was due to a presynaptic action since no evidence was found for a postsynaptic or anticholinesterase action. Since the facilitation was not prevented by benzoquinonium it appears that catechol and phenol do not act at the same receptor sites as the anticholinesterase type of facilitatory drug. The facilitatory action of catechol and phenol resembled that of epinephrine in that it could be potentiated by neostigmine and further potentiated by aminophylline. However, since neither phenoxybenzamine nor propranolol prevented the facilitatory action of catechol or phenol, it seems that they do not act at the same receptor site as epinephrine.
Union Coverage, Membership and Performance-Related Pay: Are Piece Rates Different?:

This paper revisits a literature on the links between unionisation and performance-related pay (PRP), which offers a disparate set of results. Part of the reason for this is the usual inability to distinguish between different types of PRP and the lack of rich panel data containing such measures. Analysis of panel data containing six separate PRP schemes reveals that union members are less likely to receive PRP in general and less likely to receive bonus payments, stock options, or profit sharing than non-members. Furthermore, profit sharing is negatively related to both union membership and coverage. However, union members or those covered by a union contract are more likely to be paid piece rates, providing further evidence that piece-rate pay differs from other forms of PRP.
Photon-counting energy-sensitive micropattern gas detector for digital radiography

A photon counting energy sensitive micro-pattern gaseous detector is being developed for projection radiography. Two cascaded gas electron multipliers (GEMs) are used as gain stages following a drift region that acts as an absorption volume. Active area of the detector is 7cm x 7cm and the signal is read out by 0.2 mm pitch strips. An aluminum pressure vessel was designed as an integral part of the detector, which operates at pressures up to 10 atm. Voltage-gain curves were obtained for Ar and Kr mixtures. Energy resolution for a 5.9 keV Fe-55 was determined to be 20% FWHM. Energy spectra for a conventional x-ray generator operating at various voltages were also obtained. Detector MTF and DQE were calculated using linear systems analysis. The effect of primary electron range, a dominant factor in determining spatial resolution, and the effect of fluorescent photon reabsorption were studied. Operation of the detector for imaging at higher pressures with Kr and Xe mixtures is in progress.
Preliminary Results of Bidirectional Selection for Yolk Cholesterol Level in Laying Hens

Abstract Egg yolk cholesterol was measured on a total of 67 hens from a closed population of White Leghorns. Three eggs per hen were analysed to arrive at the mean cholesterol level for each hen. Milligrams percent of egg yolk cholesterol was determined for each egg according to the method described by Abell (1952). This method was modified by using the color reagent of Zlatkis et al. (1953). Egg yolk cholesterol level ranged from a low of 921.4 mgs.% to a high of 1755.6 mgs.% with the parental population mean being 1268.8 mgs.%. A significant negative correlation was observed between rate of production and egg yolk cholesterol level with a significant positive correlation between hatch of fertile eggs and egg yolk cholesterol. Rate of production and hatchability accounted for approximately 16% of the variance in egg yolk cholesterol. Eight-tenths of a standard deviation on each side of the population mean was used to truncate this population into low, medium and high egg yolk cholesterol dams, and to establish selection intensities. Egg yolk cholesterol level was determined on a random sample of 137 progency from the parent dams. A highly significant difference of 71.45 mgs.% of cholesterol was found between the mean egg yolk cholesterol level of the progency from the low cholesterol dams and the progeny produced from the high cholesterol dams, indicating separation of the populations after one generation of selection. The heritability of yolk cholesterol level based on intrasire regression of offspring on dam was 0.24.
Clinicopathologic Report of Successful Cobalt 60 Plaque Therapy for Choroidal Melanoma

A 66-year-old man had malignant melanoma of the choroid that enlarged during a two-year period while a retinal detachment developed. Treatment consisted of a cobalt 60 plaque placed to deliver a dose of 35,000 rads to the base and 9,000 rads to the apex of the tumor. Clinical response was excellent and complete regression occurred. The patient later died of an unrelated disease. Histopathologic study verified complete regression of the tumor.
Quantification of nanoscale density fluctuations using electron microscopy: Light-localization properties of biological cells

We report a study of the nanoscale mass-density fluctuations of heterogeneous optical dielectric media, including nanomaterials and biological cells, by quantifying their nanoscale light-localization properties. Transmission electron microscope images of the media are used to construct corresponding effective disordered optical lattices. Light-localization properties are studied by the statistical analysis of the inverse participation ratio (IPR) of the localized eigenfunctions of these optical lattices at the nanoscale. We validated IPR analysis using nanomaterials as models of disordered systems fabricated from dielectric nanoparticles. As an example, we then applied such analysis to distinguish between cells with different degrees of aggressive malignancy.
Immunoaffinity measurement of recombinant granulocyte colony stimulating factor in patients with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia

A high-performance immunoaffinity chromatographic technique has been developed for the measurement of recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor in human patients receiving this agent, following neutropenia, arising from cancer chemotherapy. The technique employs a short, biocompatible polymer column packed with minute, antibody-coated glass beads. This system was applied to the analysis of recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor in three different human body fluids. A reasonable degree of correlation was achieved when comparing the immunoaffinity technique to a conventional immunoassay, although the immunoaffinity technique displayed greater specificity.
1-Methylcyclopropene sorption by tissues and cell-free extracts from fruits and vegetables: evidence for enzymic 1-MCP metabolism.

Abstract Non-specific sorption of 1-MCP has been demonstrated for a number of fruit and vegetable tissues. In experiments examining comparative sorption of 1-MCP gas (765 μmol m−3, 18.2 μL L−1) to whole and processed apple fruit, sorption rate increased from 3.0 ± 0.2 ng kg−1 s−1 in intact fruit to 13.8 ± 2.4 and 28.2 ± 1.5 ng kg−1 s−1 in halved and fresh-cut wedges, respectively. Sharply enhanced sorption was also observed in whole fruit in response to peeling, indicating that sorption was restricted by epidermal tissue and/or enhanced in response to tissue wounding. Sorption to fresh-cut apple was reduced nearly 90% in response to tissue heating. Heat inactivation of 1-MCP sorption was not a consequence of cellular disruption, as frozen–thawed tissue retained around 76% of initial sorption rate and 95% of sorption capacity over 6 h. High 1-MCP sorption was also exhibited by asparagus spears. Sorption rate and capacity of asparagus spears were unaffected by tissue wounding and were inhibited 54 and 50%, respectively, following a freeze–thaw cycle. As with apple tissue, sorption of 1-MCP to asparagus tissue was inactivated (>90%) following tissue heating. The strong inhibition by heating indicated that metabolism participates in tissue 1-MCP consumption. Subsequent analysis revealed that cell-free homogenates (CFH) from apple fruit tissue metabolized 1-MCP at rates approaching 80 ng kg−1 s−1. Activity was negligible in buffer-insoluble residue (BIR). Standard 1-MCP metabolism assays utilized 10 mL CFH from 5.0 g of tissue along with 10 mL 125 mol m−3 Na-MES, pH 5.0. The solutions were sealed in 244 mL jars and provided with 420.5 μmol m−3 (10 μL L−1) gaseous 1-MCP (SmartFresh™ Technology). 1-MCP metabolism in apple CFH displayed saturation kinetics, with a Km of 160 mmol m−3 and Vmax of 4.12 μmol kg−1 s−1, occurred optimally at pH 5, and was inhibited by heating (>90%), ascorbate (83% at 4 mol m−3), hypoxia (45% at 0.25 kPa O2), and sodium docecyl sulfate (SDS, 63% at 34 mol m−3). 1-MCP metabolism was also detected in CFH from plantain peel but not pulp, consistent with the high and low sorption capacities of the respective tissues. High sorptive properties of asparagus spears were not evident in CFH, which showed no detectable 1-MCP metabolism. CFH from asparagus reduced 1-MCP metabolism in apple fruit CFH by 75%, providing evidence for compounds in asparagus that inhibited 1-MCP metabolism. The data suggest that membrane-associated, enzymic oxidation rather than physical sorption constitutes the primary sink for 1-MCP applied to fruit and vegetable tissues.
Correlation of Radiation Types with Radiation Effects

The effects produced by different types of nuclear radiation can be compared by making use of the available information on radiation-effects mechanisms. One can separate radiation-effects manifestations into three categories: transient radiation effects, which are due to excited and ionized electrons; displacement radiation effects, which are manifestations of atoms displaced from their normal lattice sites in crystalline solids; and chemical radiation effects, which are due to molecular rearrangements occurring as a second stage to ionizing interactions. The effects produced by different primary radiations can be compared by first identifying the manifestation as belonging to one of these three types. For displacement effects one should then compute the relative cross sections for producing displaced atoms and the average size of the displacement cascade produced by the primary recoil atom. Similarly, for transient and chemical effects one should compute the ionization density produced by the incident radiation. Examples of the pertinent cross sections have been calculated for electrons, gamma rays, protons, and neutrons of various energies.
All-to-all broadcast by flooding in communications networks

The author establishes the worst-case time complexity of all-to-all broadcast, which involves the simultaneous broadcast of messages from each node in a network to each other node, as with the dissemination of network status information for adaptive routing in ARPANET, by flooding. It it shown to be almost two times the optimum. This suboptimality of flooding results from the selection method permitting some message(s) to be consistently blocked by others. It is possible to avoid such blocking and attain the optimal worst-case time complexity by flooding within a spanning subtree. Simulations examine the performance of all-to-all broadcast by flooding using different selection methods. The best overall performance came using random selection, with FIFO next best, followed by LIFO, and in-order last. This relative performance is consistent with the hypothesis that flooding will generally perform better if implemented with a selection method that tends to avoid having some message(s) consistently blocked by others. Simulations show that the optimal worst-case time complexity is rarely exceeded, and then by only a relatively small amount. >
Information processing and quality evaluations

We examine the concept of Quality of Information (QoI); the idea that networked data systems can better support users if they have a notion of what the data is being used for. We argue that to judge quality it is as important to know how the data was processed as it is to know what the data says. We model QoI systems as a structure that enforces the annotation of data creating processes with the data they produce. Furthermore, we model the evaluation of quality as functions that map information into a closed and bounded, totally ordered set. We define addition and multiplication operations which make a subring out of the set, thus allowing data composed of multiple pieces of information to be evaluated as sums and products of its components. Finally, we give an example to show how our model supports the delivery of high quality information.
Cerebrospinal fluid gradients of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activity in healthy aging.

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activities were measured in 13 sequential 2 ml aliquots of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained by lumbar puncture from 7 young and 7 elderly healthy normal subjects. The slopes of the rostrocaudal gradients of AChE and BChE were calculated and compared to those of total protein concentration and the major dopaminergic metabolite homovanillic acid (HVA), for which a pronounced rostrocaudal gradient (with highest concentrations of HVA in more rostral CSF) is consistent with HVA originating primarily from the brain. AChE activity was higher in more caudal fractions of young, but not elderly subjects and there was a significant difference between the mean AChE gradient slopes in the young and old groups. These results suggest that the spinal cord makes an important contribution to AChE activity in lumbar CSF. Furthermore, the absence of a negative AChE gradient in elderly subjects may be the result of a greater rate of entry of cerebral AChE into CSF, possibly as a consequence of an increased ventricular surface area and shorter diffusion distances in atrophic elderly brains. In contrast to AChE, BChE activity and total protein concentrations were higher in more caudal CSF fractions of not only young but also old subjects. In addition, there was a significant correlation between the gradient slopes of BChE activity and total protein concentrations, suggesting that the majority of BChE activity in lumbar CSF derives from the same source as the majority of total protein, namely plasma. The diffuse (i.e. brain and spinal cord) origin of AChE in lumbar CSF would explain the relatively modest changes in lumbar CSF AChE activity in diseases involving certain central cholinergic systems, most notably Alzheimer's disease.
Comparative study of Finn Chambers and T.R.U.E. test methodologies in detecting the relevant allergens inducing contact dermatitis

Abstract T.R.U.E. Test is a ready-to-use patch test system, which contains 23 allergens and is the only Food and Drug Administration-approved source of allergens currently commercially available in the United States. Previously, allergens dispersed in either petrolatum or water and designed to be applied utilizing Finn Chambers were also commercially available in the United States. During a 5-year study at the University of Kansas Medical Center, 167 patients were patch tested using both Finn Chamber and T.R.U.E. Test methodologies. Discordant positive reactions were examined for clinical relevance. The Finn Chamber methodology was superior in detecting clinically relevant allergies to fragrance mix, balsam of Peru, and thiuram mix. T.R.U.E. Test performed somewhat better than the Finn Chamber in detecting relevant allergic reactions to nickel, neomycin, and methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone. Neither T.R.U.E. Test nor Finn Chamber methodologies performed optimally in detecting relevant allergies to formaldehyde and carbamates. Practitioners limited to only the T.R.U.E. Test methodology need to be aware that relevant reactions to fragrances, rubber accelerators/pesticides (carbamates and thiurams), and formaldehyde may be missed with this system. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2001;45:836-9.)
Endogenous IL-13 protects hepatocytes and vascular endothelial cells during ischemia/reperfusion injury

Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury involves a complex inflammatory cascade resulting in neutrophil-mediated injury of hepatocytes. Previous studies from our laboratory have established that exogenous administration of the anti-inflammatory cytokines interleukin 10 (IL-10) and IL-13 can ameliorate the inflammatory response and significantly reduce hepatocellular injury. The purpose of the present study was to determine if IL-10 and IL-13 function as endogenous regulators of the hepatic inflammatory response to ischemia/reperfusion. Wild-type, IL-10-, and IL-13-deficient (IL-10(-/-), IL-13(-/-)) mice were exposed to 90 minutes of partial hepatic ischemia and up to 24 hours of reperfusion. In wild-type mice, expression of IL-10 and IL-13 shared similar expression profiles with maximal production after 8 hours of reperfusion. There were no significant differences between wild-type and IL-10(-/-) mice in response to hepatic ischemia and reperfusion. IL-13(-/-) mice had much greater liver injury, as assessed biochemically and histologically, than wild-type mice. There were no differences between wild-type and IL-13(-/-) mice in their production of inflammatory cytokines, but IL-13(-/-) mice displayed disrupted neutrophil accumulation, with less neutrophils present in the hepatic parenchyma and far more neutrophils adherent to the endothelium of large hepatic venules than wild-type mice. These observations were associated with increased liver endothelial cell injury in IL-13(-/-) mice, as measured by serum levels of hyaluronic acid. In vitro, IL-13 protected hepatocytes from H(2)O(2)-induced cytotoxicity. In conclusion, IL-10 is not an important endogenous regulator of the inflammatory response to hepatic ischemia/reperfusion. In contrast, endogenous IL-13 appears to be critical for the control of this response, with prominent protective effects on hepatocytes and hepatic endothelial cells.
Additional diagnostic procedures for the detection of abnormal red cell pyruvate kinase

Abstract Two additional methods for the detection of abnormal pyruvate kinase in hemolysates are described: heat stability test and activation studies with the allosteric effector fructose 1,6-diphosphate. These assays may serve as a useful tool for the diagnosis of hereditary hemolytic anemia, caused by abnormal pyruvate kinase.
Fura 2 analysis of cytosolic calcium regulation in elutriated rat gastric parietal cells

The calcium probe, Fura 2, is used to establish and partially characterize histamine-, carbachol-, and forskolin-induced calcium transients in enriched parietal cell populations prepared by centrifugal elutriation of dispersed rat fundic mucosa cell isolates. The magnitude of the maximal carbachol response, which is blocked by atropine but not cimetidine, is nearly five times that of histamine or forskolin. Time to peak responses for carbachol, forskolin, and histamine are approximately 7, 17, and 28 sec, respectively. Carbachol-, histamine-, and forskolin-induced increases in Fura 2 fluorescence appear dependent upon extracellular calcium, since these responses are attenuated in low calcium media and blocked by EGTA in low-calcium media or by lanthanum in high- or low-calcium medium. Trifluoperazine and fenoctimine, at concentrations that inhibit secretion, have no effect on either carbachol- or histamine-induced increases in cytosolic calcium. Seven major calcium/EGTA-sensitive phosphoproteins are identified by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis of ATP 32P-labeled cell sonicates. We conclude that cytosolic calcium in enriched rat gastric parietal cell populations is regulated by secretagogue receptor-controlled calcium channels. We postulate that these channels may be controlled by cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation, since neither changes in cyclic AMP nor calcium alone mediate the effects of secretagogues entirely, but the interplay between these two second-messenger systems potentiates the actions of these agents. The role of cytosolic calcium as a second messenger in secretagogue action appears similar to that of cyclic AMP in that a specific cellular concentration must be reached to initiate acid secretion.
‘Superparameterization’ and statistical emulation in the Lorenz '96 system

An idealized ‘superparameterization’, or abbreviated but dynamically explicit representation of small-scale influences on the conventionally resolved larger scales of a dynamical model, is constructed within the Lorenz '96 system. The feasibility of abstracting the greater portion of its information content using computationally much faster statistical summaries, or emulators, is investigated through integration of a large number of ensemble forecasts. Even though based on an extremely small training-sample size, consistent with an assumed high computational expense for running a full superparameterization, some of the statistical emulator formulations perform nearly as well as the superparameterization forecast ensembles. As in previous studies, better forecast characteristics are generally achieved when autocorrelated random forcing is included, both in the otherwise deterministic superparameterization and in its statistical emulators. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society
Decreased dorsolateral prefrontal N-acetyl aspartate in bipolar disorder

Background: N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) is an amino acid present in high concentrations in neurons and is thus a putative neuronal marker. In vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) studies have shown lower NAA concentrations in patients with various neurodegenerative disorders, suggesting decreased neuronal number, size, or function. Dorsolateral prefrontal (DLPF) NAA has not been extensively assessed in bipolar disorder patients, but it could be decreased in view of consistent reports of decreased DLPF cerebral blood flow and metabolism in mood disorders. We measured DLPF NAA in patients with bipolar disorder and healthy control subjects using in vivo 1H MRS. Methods: We obtained ratios of NAA, choline, and myoinositol (mI) to creatine-phosphocreatine (Cr-PCr) in bilateral DLPF 8-mL voxels of 20 bipolar patients (10 Bipolar I, 10 Bipolar II) and 20 age- and gender-matched healthy control subjects using 1H MRS. Results: DLPF NAA/Cr-PCr ratios were lower on the right hemisphere(p < .03) and the left hemisphere (p < .003) in bipolar disorder patients compared with healthy control subjects. Conclusions: These preliminary data suggest that bipolar disorder patients have decreased DLPF NAA/Cr-PCr. This finding could represent decreased neuronal density or neuronal dysfunction in the DLPF region.
Dose properties of x-ray beams produced by laser-wakefield-accelerated electrons.

Given that laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA) has been demonstrated experimentally to accelerate electron beams to energies beyond 25 MeV, it is reasonable to assess the ability of existing LWFA technology to compete with conventional radiofrequency linear accelerators in producing electron and x-ray beams for external-beam radiotherapy. We present calculations of the dose distributions (off-axis dose profiles and central-axis depth dose) and dose rates of x-ray beams that can be produced from electron beams that are generated using state-of-the-art LWFA. Subsets of an LWFA electron energy distribution were propagated through the treatment head elements (presuming an existing design for an x-ray production target and flattening filter) implemented within the EGSnrc Monte Carlo code. Three x-ray energy configurations (6 MV, 10 MV and 18 MV) were studied, and the energy width ΔE of the electron-beam subsets varied from 0.5 MeV to 12.5 MeV. As ΔE increased from 0.5 MeV to 4.5 MeV, we found that the off-axis and central-axis dose profiles for x-rays were minimally affected (to within about 3%), a result slightly different from prior calculations of electron beams broadened by scattering foils. For ΔE of the order of 12 MeV, the effect on the off-axis profile was of the order of 10%, but the central-axis depth dose was affected by less than 2% for depths in excess of about 5 cm beyond dmax. Although increasing ΔE beyond 6.5 MeV increased the dose rate at dmax by more than 10 times, the absolute dose rates were about 3 orders of magnitude below those observed for LWFA-based electron beams at comparable energies. For a practical LWFA-based x-ray device, the beam current must be increased by about 4−5 orders of magnitude.
The role of hormones in breast carcinogenesis: issues of relevance to female childhood cancer survivors.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Western industrialized countries, and is an important potential second cancer to consider in young women who are survivors of childhood or adolescent cancers. This paper reviews the relationship between hormones and breast biology, cancer treatment factors that may increase or reduce the risk of breast cancer in female survivors of childhood cancer, the treatment of ovarian failure in these survivors, and the potential for preventive strategies in this population. The expanding numbers of female childhood cancer survivors increase the need for health care providers to understand the late health effects of treatments on reproductive health and breast cancer risk. Med. Pediatr. Oncol. 36:514–518, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effects of interferon-α in patients with aids-associated Kaposi's sarcoma are related to blood interferon levels and dose

Definition of improved therapeutic regimens of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) for the treatment of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) would be useful since currently recommended doses are sometimes associated with unacceptable toxicity. IFN concentrations were measured in serum samples from men with AIDS-associated KS who were enrolled in a trial of IFN-alpha alone (16 patients) or a trial of IFN-alpha combined with zidovudine (25 patients). Analyses were done to examine the relationship between the dose of IFN-alpha, blood level of IFN, and the patient's clinical response to treatment. There was no correlation between dose of zidovudine given and response. As expected, there was a high correlation between dose of IFN-alpha and blood level in both studies (p less than 0.001). Furthermore, we found relationships between clinical response and both dose of IFN-alpha and blood level achieved. In the two studies combined, among men with greater than 200 CD4+ cells/mm3 of blood at baseline on average daily doses of greater than or equal to 10 million international units (MIU) of IFN-alpha, 13/19 (68%) responded compared to 6/17 (35%) on less than MIU (p = 0.05). Similarly, of men with IFN blood levels greater than or equal to 100 IU/mL 12/16 (75%) responded compared to 7/20 (35%) of those with blood levels less than 100 IU/mL (p = 0.02). The dose and blood levels of IFN achieved and maintained may be important factors in determining responses of KS. Additional clinical trials of IFN-alpha treatment of KS at doses about 10 MIU/day appear warranted.
Pediatric asthma revisits to the ED and the role of primary care physicians versus asthma specialists

Abstract Rationale Stressful and costly revisits to an emergency department (ED) for asthma exacerbation occur often. This study examines the frequency with which asthmatic children require multiple ED visits and explores the effect of age and specialty care on this phenomenon. Methods We conducted a systematic chart review of all pediatric patients treated for asthma in the ED of the AI duPont Hospital for Children between 1/1/00 to 3/1/03. Results There were 3565 ED encounters for asthma involving 2603 children. In 602/2603 (23%) there were multiple visits with 388/2603 (14.9%) having one revisit and 214/2603 (8.2%) >1 revisit; 83/2603 (3.2%) had revisits within 5 days of the first visit and 149/2603 (5.7%) within 30 days. Mean age increased significantly with number of revisits (p Conclusions We conclude that: 1. Repeat ED visits are commonplace for asthmatic children. 2. The number of revisits is a function of the age of the patient. 3. Almost 6% of patients had revisits in close proximity to initial contact which may reflect insufficient initial treatment or inadequate follow-up. 4. Consistent with earlier studies, asthma patients managed by specialists, particularly allergists, may fare better as judged by frequency of ED revisits.
The instrumental determination of cadmium in biological samples at nanogram levels with the aid of a Compton suppression system and epithermal neutron activation analysis

Instrumental epithermal neutron activation analysis in conjunction with Compton suppression methods has been used to determine cadmium concentrations in seven biological reference materials. The114Cd(n, γ)115CD(t1/2=53.3h→115mIn(t1/2=4.5h) reaction using the 336.3 keV photopeak was successfully employed to achieve an overall precision between 4%–15% and detection limits between 10–20 ng/g. The accuracy of the results as compared to the certified or compilation values was in excellent agreement.
Effect of nitrogen dioxide on ovalbumin-induced allergic airway disease in a murine model.

The effect of exposure to irritant air pollutants on the development of allergic airway disease is poorly understood. This study examines the effects of the lower respiratory tract irritant, NO 2 , on the outcome of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic airway disease. Male and female C57Bl/6 mice were sensitized by weekly intraperitoneal (ip) OVA injections for 3 wk followed by daily 1-h OVA aerosol inhalation challenge for 3 or 10 d. Initially, mice were exposed daily for 3 d to air or 0.7 or 5 ppm NO 2 for 2 h following each OVA aerosol challenge. OVA exposure resulted in pronounced lower airway inflammation, as evidenced by a significant increase in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) total cellularity and eosinophil levels. BAL eosinophil levels were significantly lower in OVA-NO 2 compared to OVA-air animals. The reduction was similar at both NO 2 exposure concentrations. In a subsequent study, sensitized animals were exposed for 3 or 10 d to aerosolized OVA followed by air or 0.7 ppm NO 2 . BAL eosinophils wer...
Smart Containers and the Public Goods Approach to Supply Chain Security

This paper will review the state of technology related to smart containers; discuss their role in the drive to securing global supply chains; and use the economics of public goods to help explain the strategic decisions faced by government, shippers and carriers. The US Bureau of Customs and Border Protection has offered to give ‘green lane’ treatment to any smart container arriving at a US port of entry. Promised benefits would be no inspection and immediate release at the port. The problem is that there is no smart container currently in use; nor is the nature of a smart container yet agreed to by industry and government. The economics of public goods, as developed in this paper, help to clarify the role of the importer, the carrier, the foreign vendor and the US regulatory agencies. Essentially, the issue is how to manage the trade-off between efficient trade flows and security across international supply chains. It will be shown that some of these players have incentives to under-provide expenditures devoted to such security. But this creates a further opportunity for smart containers to mitigate that situation.
The altitude dependence of the OH(X2Π) vibrational distribution in the nightglow: Some model expectations

Abstract A number of different OH Meinel band excitation models are used to investigate the extent to which quenching and vibrational deactivation processes could cause the nightglow OH vibrational distributions to vary with altitude. The various models, which are based upon those described by McDade and Llewellyn (1988, Planet. Space Sci.36, 897), are used to calculate the steady state OH vibrational distributions throughout the 80–100 km region. The results of the calculation show that, irrespective of the basic model assumptions, the OH vibrational distributions should not be strongly altitude dependent and that the emission profiles of the Meinel bands from the υ′ levels 1 through 9 should not differ in altitude by more than one or two kilometers. The results of some recent laboratory studies pertaining to the Meinel band excitation mechanism are also discussed and it is shown that stepwise collisional vibrational deactivation is unlikely to play a major role in controlling the observed nightglow OH vibrational distribution.