cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lipids of ocular tissues: VII. Positional distribution of the fatty acids in the phospholipids of bovine retina rod outer segments

Abstract The positional distribution of the fatty acids in the major phospholipids of bovine retina rod outer segments was determined. Phosphatidyl ethanolamine and phosphatidyl serine have mostly saturated acids in the 1-position and docosahexaenoic acid in position 2. These phospholipids contain 94 and 79%, respectively, of polyun-saturated acids in the 2-position. Phosphatidyl choline contains mostly saturated acids in the 1-position, but has significant quantities of palmitic in the 2-position along with docosahexaenoic acid. The levels of docosahexaenoic acid in rod outer segment phospholipids are among the highest yet reported for membrane phospholipids, amounting to 23% in phosphatidyl choline, 39% in phosphatidyl ethanolamine, and 45% in phosphatidyl serine.
Late Component Adaptation

Binary component adaptation (BCA) [KH98] is a mechanism to modify existing components (such as Java classfiles) to the specific needs of a programmer. Binary component adaptation allows components to be adapted and evolved in binary form. BCA rewrites component binaries while they are loaded, requires no source code access and guarantees release-to-release compatibility. Rewriting class binaries is possible if classes contain enough symbolic information (as do Java class files). Component adaptation takes place after the component has been delivered to the programmer, and the internal structure of a component is directly modified in place to make changes. Rather than creating new classes such as wrapper classes, the definition of the original class is modified.
LIX. On the heat-conducting power of iron and German silver

(1872). LIX. On the heat-conducting power of iron and German silver. The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science: Vol. 44, Supplement, pp. 481-500.
Design, Characterization, and In Vivo Pharmacokinetics of Tacrolimus Proliposomes

The objective of this study was to develop proliposomal formulation for a poorly bioavailable drug, tacrolimus. Proliposomes were prepared by thin film hydration method using different lipids such as hydrogenated soy phosphatidylcholine (HEPC), soy phosphatidylcholine (SPC), distearyl phosphatidylcholine (DSPC), dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC), and dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol sodium (DMPG) and cholesterol in various ratios. Proliposomes were evaluated for particle size, zeta potential, in vitro drug release, in vitro permeability, and in vivo pharmacokinetics. In vitro drug release was carried out in purified water using USP type II dissolution apparatus. In vitro drug permeation was studied using parallel artificial membrane permeation assay (PAMPA) and everted rat intestinal perfusion techniques. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies were conducted in male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Among the different formulations, proliposomes with drug/DSPC/cholesterol in the ratio of 1:2:0.5 demonstrated the desired particle size and zeta potential. Enhanced drug release was observed with proliposomes compared to pure tacrolimus in purified water after 1 h. Tacrolimus permeability across PAMPA and everted rat intestinal perfusion models was significantly higher with proliposomes. The optimized formulation of proliposomes indicated a significant improvement in the rate and absorption of tacrolimus. Following a single oral administration, a relative bioavailability of 193.33% was achieved compared to pure tacrolimus suspension.
A Fluorometric Method for Plasma Cortisol and Transcortin

A fluorometric method for cortisol applicable to 0.3-1.0 ml plasma is described. Inclusion of a carbon tetrachloride fractionation step assures greater specificity without undue increase in required technical skill or assay time. Advantages of the fluorometric procedure over the Porter-Silber chromogen method for determination of cortisol-binding globulin (transcortin) by a gel filtration procedure are emphasized. Utilizing the methods described, plasma concentrations of cortisol and transcortin for 22 healthy adults were found to be 13.9 ± 3.9 (SD) µg/100 ml and 15.7 ± 1.3 (SD) µg bound/100 ml, respectively.
Membrantheorie der Drehschalen

In diesem Kapitel wollen wir eine spezielle Klasse von Schalen untersuchen, die in den verschiedensten Gebieten der Technik immer wieder auftritt, ganz besonders im Behalter- und im Kuppelbau. Eine Drehflache entsteht bekanntlich, wenn sich eine ebene Kurve um eine in ihrer Ebene liegende Gerade dreht. Die erzeugende Kurve nennen wir Meridian, die Ebene, in der sie liegt, und die auch die Schalenachse enthalt, Meridianebene. Ein Schalenpunkt ist bestimmt durch Angabe des Meridians, auf dem er liegt, und durch eine langs des Meridians veranderliche Koordinate. Den Meridian kennzeichnen wir durch den Winkel ϑ, den seine Ebene mit einer festen Meridianebene einschliest, und als zweite Koordinate wahlen wir den Winkel φ der Schalennormalen gegen die Lotrechte. Wenn die Flache eine Kugel ist, geht das Koordinatensystem in das geographische uber: ϑ ist die Lange, φ das Komplement der Breite. Die Linien φ = const sollen deshalb Breitenkreise heisen.
A factor analysis of imagery tests

This study attempted to place factor analyses of tests of verbal ability and imagery within the current orientation of research on imagery and on aptitude by treatment interactions. Two factor analytic studies were conducted with separate but overlapping test batteries. The factors extracted in the first study were labeled Verbal, Imagery, Automatization, and Anxiety. The factors extracted in the second study were Verbal, Imagery, and Social Desirability. In both studies, Verbal and Imagery abilities were identified as orthogonal factors. In the second study Imagery, as measured by introspective reports, was found to be saturated on the Social Desirability factor, thus indicating that introspective reports and objective tests of imagery cannot be used to substitute for one another.
Joint distribution of simultaneous exposures to several carcinogens in a case–control study: sample size determination

Consider a population of individuals who are free of a disease under study, and who are exposed simultaneously at random exposure levels, say X,Y,Z,… to several risk factors which are suspected to cause the disease in the populationm. At any specified levels X=x, Y=y, Z=z, …, the incidence rate of the disease in the population ot risk is given by the exposure–response relationship r(x,y,z,…) = P(disease|x,y,z,…). The present paper examines the relationship between the joint distribution of the exposure variables X,Y,Z, … in the population at risk and the joint distribution of the exposure variables U,V,W,… among cases under the linear and the exponential risk models. It is proven that under the exponential risk model, these two joint distributions belong to the same family of multivariate probability distributions, possibly with different parameters values. For example, if the exposure variables in the population at risk have jointly a multivariate normal distribution, so do the exposure variables among c...
Status of the MINOS experiment

Abstract The MINOS experiment is designed to perform detailed studies of the neutrino oscillations in the parameter space indicated by the recent SuperKamiokande experiment. This paper gives a general description of the experiment and of its physics goals and sensitivities, and describes the current status and projected schedule.
Effect of Visual Media Use on School Performance: A Prospective Study

Purpose To identify mechanisms for the impact of visual media use on adolescents' school performance.
Modeling the effects of aging on retinal ganglion cell density and nerve fiber layer thickness

The effects of aging on retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness should reflect the age-related losses in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), but published data suggest that the relative rate of thinning of RNFL thickness with age is less than predicted by age-related losses of RGCs. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to reconcile the differences in age-dependency on measures of RGCs and axons that are incorporated in normative clinical data. Normative data for RNFL thickness and visual field sensitivities were obtained from the printouts of standard optical coherence tomography (OCT) and standard automated perimetry (SAP) for patients aged between 25 and 95 years, in decade steps. These data were used in models to estimate the number of RGCs underlying each measure. The age-related losses of RGCs derived from normative perimetry data agreed closely with published histologic data, without an age-dependent variable in the model. In contrast, the age-related losses of RGCs derived from normative total RNFL thickness data required an age-dependent decrease of 0.007 axons/μm2/year in axon density in the RNFL to account for the relatively slower rate of RNFL thinning than RGC loss. The analysis of normative data suggests a model of age-related thinning of RNFL in which the relationship between RNFL thickness and the density of RGC axons varies with the number of neurons that are lost through normal aging. This model posits that the OCT measurement of total RNFL thickness of a normal retina represents two components: 1) an age-dependent population of RNFL axons, and 2) a non-neural component that partially compensates for the age-related decrease in axons in the nerve fiber layer.
THE ESTIMATION OF STAR FORMATION RATES AND STELLAR POPULATION AGES OF HIGH-REDSHIFT GALAXIES FROM BROADBAND PHOTOMETRY

We explore methods to improve the estimates of star formation rates and mean stellar population ages from broadband photometry of high-redshift star-forming galaxies. We use synthetic spectral templates with a variety of simple parametric star formation histories to fit broadband spectral energy distributions. These parametric models are used to infer ages, star formation rates, and stellar masses for a mock data set drawn from a hierarchical semi-analytic model of galaxy evolution. Traditional parametric models generally assume an exponentially declining rate of star formation after an initial instantaneous rise. Our results show that star formation histories with a much more gradual rise in the star formation rate are likely to be better templates, and are likely to give better overall estimates of the age distribution and star formation rate distribution of Lyman break galaxies (LBGs). For B- and V-dropouts, we find the best simple parametric model to be one where the star formation rate increases linearly with time. The exponentially declining model overpredicts the age by 100% and 120% for B- and V-dropouts, on average, while for a linearly increasing model, the age is overpredicted by 9% and 16%, respectively. Similarly, the exponential model underpredicts star formation rates by 56% and 60%, while the linearly increasing model underpredicts by 15% and 22%, respectively. For U-dropouts, the models where the star formation rate has a peak (near z ~ 3) provide the best match for age—overprediction is reduced from 110% to 26%—and star formation rate—underprediction is reduced from 58% to 22%. We classify different types of star formation histories in the semi-analytic models and show how the biases behave for the different classes. We also provide two-band calibration formulae for stellar mass and star formation rate estimations.
Examination of bounds on the chemical potential, using a one-dimensional system

A recently devised method of establishing arbitrarily close upper and lower bounds on the chemical potential for certain kinds of thermodynamic systems is applied to a one-dimensional lattice system whose sites cannot accept particles as nearest neighbors, i.e., whose particles repel one another when they are nearest neighbors. Theexact chemical potential is found to always lie within the bounds, and the convergence of the bounds is examined for lattices of increasing size. The system, of course, lacks a phase transition, but its study, which is both brief and simple, is useful for the purposes of illustration and completeness.
Properties of the random-field Ising model in a transverse magnetic field

We consider the effect of a random longitudinal field on the Ising model in a transverse magnetic field. For spatial dimension $dg2$, there is at low strength of randomness and transverse field a phase with true long-range order that is destroyed at higher values of the randomness or transverse field. The properties of the quantum phase transition at zero temperature are controlled by a fixed point with no quantum fluctuations. This fixed point also controls the classical finite-temperature phase transition in this model. Many critical properties of the quantum transition are therefore identical to those of the classical transition. In particular, we argue that the dynamical scaling is activated, i.e., the logarithm of the diverging time scale rises as a power of the diverging length scale.
EVALUATING NANOTECHNOLOGIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY

This research demonstrates a systematic approach to evaluate nanotechnologies. A case study of applying nanotechnologies to the development of Thailand's agriculture industry is given as an example. A hierarchical decision model is built and qualified expert opinions are used as measurements. There are four levels in the hierarchy: mission, objectives, technological goals and research strategies. Three panels are formed based on their background and expertise in order to minimize and balance any possible biases among the members. The research results provide decision makers with a ranking of technological goals and research strategies in terms of their support for specific goals. The outcome of this research should help technology policy makers to evaluate technologies and research strategies on the basis of their contributions to the national mission.
Learning of scaling factors and reference axes for reaching movements

To further understand visuomotor transformations in reaching, we compared adaptation to display rotation and altered gain in planar movements. Healthy subjects moved a cursor on a screen by moving an indicator on a horizontal digitizing tablet with their unseen hand. Adaptation to rotation was less complete and was accompanied by markedly increased directional variability. Adaptation training on a single target generalized broadly for gain change, but poorly for rotation. We propose that the difficulty in adapting to rotation arises from the substantial demands on short-term working memory imposed by the need to determine the new reference direction. Adaptation to gain change makes more modest demands on short-term memory to recalibrate the visuomotor scaling factor.
Governance theory and practice for nonprofit organisations

Recent corporate scandals in the USA forced regulatory change and brought the governance dialogue to new heights and domains. In an attempt to strengthen understanding of the role of governance in the nonprofit organisational setting, this manuscript reviews theoretical directions and practical approaches to corporate governance and discusses the applicability of these factors to nonprofit organisations. Instead of examining inter-organisational relationships, the focus is on the governance dimensions that inform stakeholders of the general operations and performance of nonprofits. It is relevant to developed countries where there is a strong presence of nonprofit organisations operating.
Is potassium a necessary component of cardioplegic solutions

Abstract Potassium-treated hearts were more completely arrested, usually did not require defibrillation, and had slightly less impairment of left ventricular contractility than those treated with hypothermia alone. There was more reactive hyperemia in non-potassium-treated hearts suggesting a greater oxygen debt. There were no significant differences however, in myocardial metabolism, as determined by myocardial lactate and ATP, myocardial lactate extraction, and electron microscopy.
An under-met and over-met expectations model of employee reactions to merit raises

The authors developed a model of how raise expectations influence the relationship between merit pay raises and employee reactions and tested it using a sample of hospital employees. Pay-for-performance (PFP) perceptions were consistently related to personal reactions (e.g., pay raise happiness, pay-level satisfaction, and turnover intentions). Merit pay raises were strongly related to reactions only among employees with high raise expectations and high PFP perceptions. The interactive effects of under-met/ over-met expectations and PFP perceptions were mediated by the extent to which participants saw the raise as generous and they were happy with the raises they received. The authors discuss the implications of these findings for expectation-fulfillment theories, merit pay research, and the administration of incentives.
Neuronal ischemic injury: Light microscopy, ultrastructure and biochemistry

A uniform, predictable pattern of cellular abnormalities is seen after complete, irreversible ischemic injury to the central nervous system. This is in contrast to the heterogeneous, multifocal picture which characterizes incomplete ischemia. The range of abnormalities in neuronal soma after an arterial occlusion changes considerably as a function of time and site. There is no single pattern of neuronal alteration that can be ascribed exclusively to ischemia. Red neurons are a relatively late (about 18 h) indicator of ischemia and are seen only in areas where blood supply is marginal. In addition to depletion of high-energyphosphate reserves, brain ischemia results in characteristic alterations of amino acid concentrations in the ischemic tissue. Glutamate, glutamine, and aspartate either decrease or remain constant while alanine increases. Proportional decreases in the former three amino acids may be explained by simple dilution due to edema. Increases in alanine relative to glutamate and aspartate may be utilized as a biochemical index of perfusion to various brain regions.
Health consequences of racist and antigay discrimination for multiple minority adolescents

Individuals who belong to a marginalized group and who perceive discrimination based on that group membership suffer from a variety of poor health outcomes. Many people belong to more than one marginalized group, and much less is known about the influence of multiple forms of discrimination on health outcomes. Drawing on literature describing the influence of multiple stressors, three models of combined forms of discrimination are discussed: additive, prominence, and exacerbation. The current study examined the influence of multiple forms of discrimination in a sample of African American lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) adolescents ages 14-19. Each of the three models of combined stressors were tested to determine which best describes how racist and antigay discrimination combine to predict depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and substance use. Participants were included in this analysis if they identified their ethnicity as either African American (n = 156) or African American mixed (n = 120). Mean age was 17.45 years (SD = 1.36). Results revealed both forms of mistreatment were associated with depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation among African American LGB adolescents. Racism was more strongly associated with substance use. Future intervention efforts should be targeted toward reducing discrimination and improving the social context of multiple minority adolescents, and future research with multiple minority individuals should be attuned to the multiple forms of discrimination experienced by these individuals within their environments.
A Restricted Least Squares Problem

In this note least squares problems with certain convex restraints are solved without the use of linear programming. The solution involves solving the normal equations for a number of unrestricted problems.
Fighting climate change in the air: lessons from the EU directive on global aviation

The European Union's (EU) decision to include aviation into the Emissions Trade Scheme was heatedly contested. Countries around the world, but mainly the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa group (BRICS) and the US, denounced the EU's initiate as illegal and unilateral. Following a decade of frustrated negotiations at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), this paper interrogates why such measure, in principle climate-friendly, inspired so much global resentment. I argue that concerns with competitiveness and risks of legal inconsistency are important, but insufficient elements to explain the core of the conflict. The paper suggests that the EU was strongly criticized because third countries perceived this action as an imposed solution, which fostered an environment of distrust. Therefore, I claim that the problem has more to do with a normative divide than with a substantive divergence on what should be done regarding aviation emissions. My analysis is informed by the present literature on the links between trade and climate change, but gives particular weight to first-hand information through interviews with key stakeholders. The paper is divided in three parts. First, it presents the scope of the EU directive in historical perspective. Second, it explores the EU's measure through three different angles: legal, economical and political. The final part explores some possible solutions to overcome these divergences.
The Ethical Mouse: Be Not Like Icarus

Several of the topics Greely and his colleagues (2007) address are either not issues of ethical character or have already been exhaustively explored. Furthermore, the genuine ethical issues that ha...
Detection of a distance-dependent rate of quenching by frequency-domain fluorometry

The effect of the collisional quenching on the fluorescence intensity decays has been studied by frequency-domain fluorometry. We used an efficient (CBr4) and/or inefficient (CCl4 quencher to quench the fluorescence of 1,2-benzanthracene (1,2-BA). The wide range of diffusion has been obtained by using propylene glycol at different temperatures (-40 degree(s)C to 40 degree(s)C). The measured intensity decays cannot be satisfactorily fitted either to the Smoluchowski or Collins-Kimball (RBC) model, except the case of inefficient quencher in the presence of high diffusion. In particular, we observed quenching in diffusionless conditions (-40 degree(s)C). To describe the collisional quenching of the fluorescence more correctly we propose a new model which includes a distance-dependent quenching rate (DDQ model). The DDQ simulations show that the local concentration of quencher surrounding the excited fluorophore cannot be approximated by using the RBC model, except in the case of high diffusion and low quenching rate. The DDQ model describes well all measured intensity decays of 1,2-benzanthracene in the presence of CBr4 and/or CCl4. Also, the DDQ model more correctly predicts the curvature of Stern-Volmer plots and activation energies obtained from the temperature dependent rate of quenching.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Factors influencing aggregation patterns in the sand crab Emerita analoga (Crustacea: Hippidae)

Aggregation patterns in Emerita analoga (in southern California) are delineated with respect to their spatial, daily, and seasonal components. Both abiotic and biotic factors are found to be associated with patterns of aggregation. Spatially, E. analoga aggregates from March through September to a significantly greater degree in the upper one-third area of the wash zone where exposure to wave shock and fish predation are probably decreased. Sand crabs are more aggregated on a daily basis during low tides than at high tides. This may be due to differential rates of migration caused by a decrease in the beach slope angle. Two seasonal peak periods of aggregation are present, one in the early spring, and one in the late summer. These periods occur during the times of highest reproductive female abundance. High seasonal intensities of aggregation probably function to facilitate mating through the maintenance of close proximity between males and females. Visual methods and/or quantitative sampling based on visual observations do not adequately reflect patterns of aggregation in E. analoga.
Osteoblasts: yes, they can.

In this issue of Blood , Mayak and Wagers report on a new method to isolate putative osteoblastic cells that can regulate hematopoietic stem cell proliferation and function. The cellular and extracellular matrix components that support and regulate hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) form niches that
Determinants of detained male youth’s willingness to be tested for chlamydia

Conclusions: These results suggest that dispelling myths and providing young people with more information about chlamydia may be necessary to motivate male youth to seek testing. In addition offering non-invasive chlamydia testing during health visits for both STD and non-STD related reasons and improving access to primary medical care may be essential elements to increasing chlamydia screening of high risk adolescent males. (excerpt)
Incidence of Aster Yellows in Lettuce as Affected by Placement of Systemic Insecticides

Systemic insecticides applied in the row with lettuce seeds gave promise of significantly reducing the incidence of aster yellows virus, Chlorogenus callistephi Holmes, vectored by the six-spotted leafhopper, Macrosteles fascifrons (Stal),(Thompson and Rawlins 1961). The virus causes a debilitating disease in lettuce and in a myriad of other plant species, resulting in losses of considerable magnitude. The systemics applied with the seeds are absorbed by the roots of the growing plants and translocated to the foliage. M. fascifrons adults succumb after feeding on treated plants and few or no nymphs are produced.
Meridional heat transport determined with expendable bathythermographs—Part I: Error estimates from model and hydrographic data

Abstract Heat transports estimated CTD data collected during the World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE) along the January 1993 30°S hydrographic transect (A10) and the output from a numerical model show a mean heat transport of 0.40 and 0.55±0.24 PW (standard deviation), respectively. The model shows a large annual cycle in heat transport (more than 30% of the variance) with a maximum (minimum) heat transport in July (February) of 0.68 (0.41) PW. Using these data, a method is proposed and evaluated to calculate the heat transport from temperature data obtained from a trans-basin section of expendable bathythermographs (XBTs) profiles. In this method, salinity is estimated from Argo profiles and CTD casts for each XBT temperature observation using statistical relationships between temperature, latitude, longitude and salinity computed along constant-depth surfaces. Full-depth temperature/salinity profiles are obtained by extending the profiles to the bottom of the ocean using deep climatological data. The meridional transport is then determined by using the standard geostrophic method, applying NCEP-derived Ekman transports, and requiring that the salt flux through the Bering Straits be conserved. The results indicate that the methods described here can provide heat transport estimates with a maximum uncertainty of ±0.18 PW (1 PW=1015 W). Most of this uncertainty is due to the climatology used to estimate the deep structure and issues related to not knowing the absolute velocity field and most especially characterizing barotropic motions. Nevertheless, when the methodology is applied to temperatures collected along 30°S (A10) and direct model integrations, the results are very promising. Results from the numerical model suggest that ageostrophic non-Ekman motions can contribute less than 0.05 PW to heat transport estimates in the South Atlantic.
A major ozonation product of cholesterol, 3β-hydroxy-5-oxo-5,6-secocholestan-6-al, induces apoptosis in H9c2 cardiomyoblasts

Abstract Cholesterol, a major neutral lipid component of biological membranes and the lung epithelial lining fluids, is susceptible to oxidation by reactive oxygen and nitrogen species including ozone. The oxidation by ozone in biological environments results in the formation of 3β-hydroxy-5-oxo-5,6-secocholestan-6-al (cholesterol secoaldehyde or CSeco, major product) along with some other minor products. Recently, CSeco has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease. In this communication, we report that CSeco induces cytotoxicity in H9c2 cardiomyoblasts with an IC50 of 8.9 ± 1.29 μM (n = 6). The observed effect of CSeco at low micromolar concentrations retained several key features of apoptosis, such as changes in nuclear morphology, phosphatidylserine externalization, DNA fragmentation, and caspase 3/7 activity. Treatment of cardiomyocytes with 5 μM CSeco for 24 h, for instance, resulted in 30.8 ± 3.28% apoptotic and 1.8 ± 1.11% of necrotic cells as against DMSO controls that only showed 1.3 ± 0.33% of apoptosis and 1.6 ± 0.67% of necrosis. In general, the loss of cellular viability paralleled the increased occurrence of apoptotic cells in various CSeco treatments. This study, for the first time, demonstrates the induction of apoptotic cell death in cardiomyocytes by a cholesterol ozonation product, implying a role for ozone in myocardial injury.
Pancreatic complications following laparoscopic splenectomy

Background: Laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) has been widely accepted despite a paucity of outcome data. Therefore, we performed a review of LS to assess the pancreatic complications and outcomes associated with this procedure. Methods: Ninety-four splenectomies were performed for a variety of hematologic disorders. The patient was placed in the lateral position, and three or four trocars were used. Results: LS was completed successfully in 93 patients. One case was converted to an open splenectomy for suspected gastrotomy. Thirty of 32 patients with splenomegaly underwent successful LS. Fifteen patients (16%) had some evidence of pancreatic injury. Six patients had asymptomatic hyperamylasemia. An injury directly associated with an adverse outcome occurred in nine cases (9.5% overall); six patients had pancreatic collections, one had a pancreatic fistula, and two developed hyperamylasemia and pain altering the length of hospitalization. Four of these nine patients did not have elevated postoperative amylase levels and were readmitted with pancreatic complications. Conclusions: LS can be performed for most pathologic conditions. Pancreatic injury is the most common morbidity associated with LS. The detection of hyperamylasemia can alert the surgeon to a pancreatic injury and alter postoperative management.
Influence of Electromechanical Activity on Cardiac Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

During differentiation, mouse embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (mESC-CMs) receive electromechanical cues from spontaneous beating. Therefore, promoting electromechanical activity via electrical pacing or suppressing it by drug treatment might affect the cellular functional development. Electrical pacing was applied to confluent monolayers of mESC-CMs during late-stage differentiation (days 16–18). Alternatively, spontaneous contraction was suppressed by (a) blocking ion currents with CsCl (HCN channel), trazodone (T-type Ca2+ channel), or both CsCl and trazodone on days 11–18; or (b) applying blebbistatin (excitation–contraction uncoupler) on days 11–14. Electrophysiological properties and gene expression were examined on day 19 and 18, respectively. Optical mapping revealed no significant difference in conduction velocity (CV) in paced vs. non-paced monolayers, nor were there significant changes in gene expression of connexin-43, Na–Ca exchanger (NCX), or myosin heavy chain (MHC). However, CV variability among differentiation batches and CV heterogeneity within individual monolayers were significantly lower in paced mESC-CMs. Alternatively, while the four drug treatments suppressed contraction with varying degrees (up to complete inhibition), there was no significant difference in CV for any of the treatments compared with controls. Trazodone treatment significantly reduced CV variability as compared to controls, whereas CsCl treatment significantly reduced CV heterogeneity. Distinct changes in gene expression of connexin-43, MHC, HCNl, Cav3.1/3.2 were not observed. Electrical pacing, but not suppression of spontaneous contraction, during late-stage differentiation reduces the intrinsic variability of CV among differentiation batches and across individual monolayers, which can be beneficial in the application of ESCs for myocardial tissue repair.
EFFECTS OF RESERPINE ON THYROIDECTOMIZED-ANDRENODEMEDULLATED RATS.

Administration of reserpine to thyroidectomized-adrenodemedullated rats produced an abrupt fall in body temperature, oxygen consumption and heart rate. This effect on body temperature and oxygen consumption was counteracted by raising the environmental temperature to 30 C, but even at this elevated temperature reserpine produced a significant bradycardia. Measurement of oxygen consumption on diaphragm and on heart and liver slices in vitro showed that pretreatment with reserpine raised the Qo2, of both heart and liver but was without effect on the Qo2 of diaphragm. When diaphragm from normal rats was incubated with palmitate rather than glucose, Qo2 was reduced to the same level as in diaphragm from hypothyroid rats. Reserpine was also found to prevent the mobilization of liver glycogen in rats fasted for 18 hr. These findings are discussed in relation to the role of catecholamines and thyroid in maintaining body temperature. (Endocrinology 75: 389, 1964)
Cisplatin Toxicity in Cats

Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum; Platinol, Bristol, Syracuse, NY) was administered to 11 cats, divided into three groups of experimental and clinical patients. In group 1, cisplatin was administered at a dose of 60 mg/m2 to four cats. In an attempt to avoid renal toxicity, saline diuresis was induced by administering 0.9% saline solution intravenously at a rate of 20 ml/kg/hr for 4 hours before and 2 hours after cisplatin administration. All four cats became dyspneic and died 48-96 hours after cisplatin administration. Postmortem findings included severe hydrothorax, pulmonary edema, and mediastinal edema. In group 2, four experimental cats entered a trial comparing the effects of saline diuresis and cisplatin (60 mg/m2) with the effects of saline diuresis and placebo (0.9% saline solution). The cats in the saline control group remained completely normal, while the cats that received cisplatin developed clinical signs and gross postmortem pulmonary changes identical to those in the first group of cats. Histopathologic examination showed that the alveolar septa were thickened and congested, and contained macrophages, occasional neutrophils, thrombi, and small foci of necrosis and fibrin. Microangiopathic changes were seen in the alveolar capillaries. In the third group, three additional cats were treated with a lower dose of cisplatin. Two cats that received 40 mg/m2 of cisplatin developed pulmonary changes similar to, but less severe than, those seen in the cats that received the higher dose of cisplatin. One cat treated with 20 mg/m2 of cisplatin showed no pulmonary changes ante mortem or post mortem. This series of 11 clinical and experimental cases identifies an apparent species-specific, dose-related, primary pulmonary toxicity of cisplatin in cats.
Mechanism of the olivine-spinel transformation in Co 2 SiO 4

An experiment conducted in a 2000-ton uniaxial split-sphere apparatus (USSA-2000) utilizes large sample volume and a substantial temperature gradient to synthesize intergrowths of the olivine and spinel polymorphs of Co2SiO4. The olivine starting material consists of a finegrained fraction (<20μm) which records the stable polymorphs along the length of the sample plus large olivine grains (100–500 μm) which help decipher the mechanism of the phase transformation. At conditions near equilibrium, the olivine-spinel transformation in the large grains occurs by inward growth of a few large single crystals of spinel nucleated on the surfaces of the olivine. The overall rate of transformation is governed by the mobility of the interphase boundary, whose morphology is crystallographically controlled by the spinel. No renucleation of spinel is observed in the host olivine crystal, even in the region immediately adjacent to the olivine/spinel interface; analysis of this region with transmission electron microscopy reveals an extremely high density of dislocations induced by plastic flow accommodating the volume change associated with the phase transformation.
Transformation dependent signalling pathways leading to transcriptional induction of vascular endothelial growth factor in prostate cancer.

Transformation dependent signalling pathways leading to transcriptional induction of vascular endothelial growth factor in prostate cancer
Long-term hemodynamic evaluation of lower extremity percutaneous transluminal angioplasty

Abstract Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) has provided an alternative method of treatment for occlusive disease of the lower extremities. However, the long-term durability of PTA compared with that of surgical reconstruction has not been adequately evaluated. This study was undertaken to assess the long-term hemodynamic results of PTA. Thirty-four dilatations performed on 28 patients over a 30-month period and followed for 1 to 53 months were reviewed. Twenty-two dilatations were done in the iliac arteries, seven in the superficial femoral, three in the popliteal, one in the peroneal artery, and one at a bypass graft anastomosis. All patients underwent noninvasive measurements of lower extremity segmental pressure prior to dilatation and at scheduled follow-up intervals. Success was defined as an increase in the Doppler-derived segmental lower extremity/brachial index of ≥0.15 or normalization of the index (≥0.90), measured at the closest level distal to the site of dilatation. Sixteen of 22 iliac dilatations (72.7%) were initially successful. However, long-term success was maintained in only six (27.6%). Cumulative hemodynamic success for the initially successful iliac dilatations was 28% at 3 years. Seven of 11 (63.6%) dilatations performed on infrainguinal arteries were initially successful; however, only two (18.2%) experienced continued success. Cumulative hemodynamic success for the initially successful infrainguinal dilatations in this group was 35% at 3 years. Although immediate patency and improvement in hemodynamic parameters are similar to comparable surgical procedures, these results demonstrate that PTA is not as durable as conventional surgical procedures. (J VASC SURG 1985;2:785-93.)
Primary meningeal extraosseous Ewing's sarcoma: case report.

ABSTRACTA 25-YEAR-OLD man presented with a suspected right-sided subdural hematoma after a skiing accident. A large hemorrhagic mass was found and was evacuated. Histological studies demonstrated a highly cellular neoplasm with extensive hemorrhage. Further histological, immunohistochemical (includi
The effects of atmospheric NO2 on the measured isotopic composition of atmospheric CO2

The consequences of the effects of the slight concentration of N/sub 2/O in the atmosphere in the isotopic studies of CO/sub 2/ are discussed. N/sub 2/O has the same molecular masses as CO/sub 2/ (44, 45, 46), and being isoteric with CO/sub 2/, has almost exactly the same physical properties, including vapor pressure. Thus N/sub 2/O is condensed in liquid N/sub 2/ during removal of CO/ sub 2/ from air, follows the CO/sub 2/ through purification by fractional distillation, and enters the mass spectrometer as a contaminant with identical mass numbers but quite a different isotope ratio. Indicated corrections to be added to the measured isotopic delta values of atmospheric CO/sub 2/ were determined to be +0.6% for C/sup 13/ and +0.8% for O/sup 18/. (P.C.H.)
Iterative solutions of the gradient wind equation

The gradient wind equation from meteorology plays a fundamental role in the understanding of atmospheric dynamics: it describes the circulation associated with high- and low-pressure systems as well as the flow of the jet stream. While it is easily solved analytically, iterative solutions of the gradient wind equation illustrate many of the characteristics of numerical solutions to the full dynamical equations, including convergence, dependence on initial conditions, and the impact of different solution approaches on the character of the solution. We explore these properties of the gradient wind equation, and in so doing rectify an error in the research literature. Our analysis should be of particular interest to teachers of computational methods in the geosciences as well as their students.
Comparison of Accuracy and Performance for Lattice Boltzmann and Finite Difference Simulations of Steady Viscous Flow

The lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is used to simulate flow in an infinite periodic array of octagonal cylinders. Results are compared with those obtained by a finite difference (FD) simulation solved in terms of streamfunction and vorticity using an alternating direction implicit scheme. Computed velocity profiles are compared along lines common to both the lattice Boltzmann and finite difference grids. Along all such slices, both streamwise and transverse velocity predictions agree to within 0ċ5% of the average streamwise velocity. The local shear on the surface of the cylinders also compares well, with the only deviations occurring in the vicinity of the corners of the cylinders, where the slope of the shear is discontinuous. When a constant dimensionless relaxation time is maintained, LBM exhibits the same convergence behaviour as the FD algorithm, with the time step increasing as the square of the grid size. By adjusting the relaxation time such that a constant Mach number is achieved, the time step of LBM varies linearly with the grid size. The efficiency of LBM on the CM-5 parallel computer at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) is evaluated by examining each part of the algorithm. Overall, a speed of 13ċ9 GFLOPS is obtained using 512 processors for a domain size of 2176×2176.
Problems in combining skeletal age for an individual.

Maturity imbalance between bones from different areas of the body, or between different bones in the same area or even between different centers within the same bones, are not an infrequent experience in doing radiographic assessment of skeletal maturation. Data from previous works have demonstrated tremendous variation concerning the pattern, degree, and causes of the imbalance. In view of the incomplete and contradictory knowledge concerning the mechanism producing such imbalance, it was only recommended to obtain the unweighted arithmetic mean of all the separately assessed bones as the overall skeletal age for an individual. It was hoped, however, that enthusiastic collection of new data on multiple bone assessments would soon take place which would facilitate a further recognition of the significance in skeletal maturity imbalance.
The 2008 Amendments to the Americans with Disabilities Act: Implications for Student Affairs Practitioners

The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), which became effective at the beginning of 2009, is poised to have potentially wide-reaching implications for higher education. The article reviews the recent amendments to the original Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (1990), summarizes the relevant Supreme Court cases that have been overturned, and examines practical implications of the recent ADA changes for university personnel, particularly student affairs practitioners.
Packaging and design of a heterogeneous dual laser chip for a widely tunable spectrally pure optical RF source

In this paper, we report the results of the efforts to extend our previous work through the packaging and redesign of a heterogeneously integrated silicon-photonic circuit for use in a modulation side-band injection-locked optical RF generation system. Towards that effort, we attempted to improve the RF spectrum coverage of our design by decreasing the laser cavity length. Despite the unintended formation of an additional parasitic cavity in that device, we demonstrated increased spectrum coverage between 5 and 50 GHz in a packaged module with an ∼1-Hz linewidth.
Norepinephrine Synthesis from Tyrosine-C 14 in Isolated Perfused Guinea Pig Heart

The isolated, perfused guinea pig heart contains all the catalysts required to form norepinephrine from the dietary precursor, tyrosine. The conversion of tyrosine-C 14 to norepinephrine in the perfused heart occurred at a rate comparable to that estimated for this conversion in vivo. To account for the maintenance of norepinephrine stores in the normal heart, it is not necessary to postulate that the hormone is extracted from the blood.
Acute oral and percutaneous toxicity of pesticides to mallards: correlations with mammalian toxicity data.

Abstract Acute oral (po) and 24-hr percutaneous (perc) LD50 values for 21 common pesticides (19 anticholinesterases, of which 18 were organophosphates, and one was a carbamate; one was an organochlorine central nervous system stimulant; and one was an organonitrogen pneumotoxicant) were determined in mallards (Anas platyrhynchos). Three of the pesticides tested were more toxic percutaneously than orally. An index to the percutaneous hazard of a pesticide, the dermal toxicity index (DTI = po LD50/perc LD50 × 100), was also calculated for each pesticide. These toxicity values in mallards were compared with toxicity data for rats from the literature. Significant positive correlations were found between log po and log percutaneous LD50 values in mallards (r = 0.65, p 0.10). Variations in percutaneous methodologies are discussed with reference to interspecies variation in toxicity values. It is recommended that a mammalian DTI value approaching 30 be used as a guideline for the initiation of percutaneous toxicity studies in birds, when the po LD50 and/or projected percutaneous LD50 are less than expected field exposure levels.
‘Voting with their feet’: Senegalese youth, clandestine boat migration, and the gendered politics of protest

Abstract This article explores the political, economic, racialized, and moral dimensions of clandestine boat migration from Senegal to the Canary Islands between 2006 and 2011. I begin with a critical interpretation of clandestine boat migrations as a form of gendered protest and as a strategic response to the perceived lack of economic opportunities for young Senegalese men. I continue with a critique of the overlapping and racialized geographies of the Canary Islands, which simultaneously represent a holiday respite for tourists and the promise of a new life for economic migrants. I conclude with a discussion of the utility of scholarship, such as this, which complicates the tidiness of area studies, illuminates the lived complexities of transnational studies, and paves the way for a more global African Diaspora Studies.
Precision Therapy for Lung Cancer: Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Beyond

For patients with advanced cancers there has been a concerted effort to transition from a generic treatment paradigm to one based on tumor-specific biologic, and patient-specific clinical characteristics. This approach, known as precision therapy has been made possible owing to widespread availability and a reduction in the cost of cutting-edge technologies that are used to study the genomic, proteomic, and metabolic attributes of individual tumors. This review traces the evolution of precision therapy for lung cancer from the identification of molecular subsets of the disease to the development and approval of tyrosine kinase, as well as immune checkpoint inhibitors for lung cancer therapy. Challenges of the precision therapy era including the emergence of acquired resistance, identification of untargetable mutations, and the effect on clinical trial design are discussed. We conclude by highlighting newer applications for the concept of precision therapy.