cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 15294: Activation of Mac-1 Integrin Prevents G-CSF Mediated Monocyte Mobilization and Atherosclerosis Severity in Hypercholesterolemic Mice

Background: Leukadherins (LA) are a novel family of Mac-1 agonists that increase cell adhesion and prevent leukocyte mobilization and tissue inflammation. This study brings new insights into how leukadherin LA1 protects hypercholesterolemic ApoE-null mice from excessive atherosclerosis development. Hypothesis: Activation of Mac-1 integrin with leukadherin LA1 retains monocytes in medullary and extramedullary centers and therefore, controls high fat diet induced monocytosis and atherosclerosis in ApoE-null mice. Methods and Results: Once daily administration of LA1 (10mg/kg) for 16 weeks significantly reduced atherosclerosis in the entire aorta and the aortic valve of high fat diet fed ApoE-null mice as determined by Sudan IV staining. The LA1 treatment had not effect on body weight or plasma lipid levels though it significantly reduced the number of circulating monocytes (Lin2- CD11c- CD11b+ by FACS). The remaining circulating monocytes in LA1-treated mice displayed low levels of Ly6C, a marker for inflammation. Interestingly, LA1 caused monocyte retention in the bone marrow (BM) and macrophages (F4/80+ by IHC) in the spleen of hypercholesterolemic mice, which account for the low numbers of monocytes seem in the circulation of these mice. On the other hand, the excessive number of BM monocytes didn’t compromise the number of hematopoietic (Lin- Sca+ c-Kit+) or myeloid (Lin- Sca- c-Kit+) progenitor cells. Finally, we assessed the effect of LA1 on systemic inflammatory mediators using multiplex immunoassay. The plasma levels of G-CSF, one of the main monocyte mobilization cytokines capable of promoting atherosclerosis in ApoE-null mice, were found reduced in a half in treated versus control mice. Conclusions: These data demonstrate that Mac-1 activation with LA1 significantly reduces atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic ApoE-null by impairing G-CSF mediated monocyte mobilization from medullary and extramedullary centers.
Distributed Collaborations Using Network Mobile Agents

This paper describes a mobile agent-based approach for supporting coordination of user activities in distributed collaborations. The approach presented here uses XML to specify a collaboration plan in terms of various participants’ roles, access rights based on roles, and the coordination actions to be executed when certain events occur. Using this plan an agent-based distributed middleware system provides each user an interface to perform the tasks pertaining to the collaboration. The actions of a user transparently create and dispatch coordination agents to other users. The middleware also enforces the security constraints defined in the collaboration plan. We illustrate our approach with an example system for collaborative authoring implemented using the Ajanta mobile agent system.
Atti della 15a Conferenza Italiana Utenti Esri

La 15a edizione della Conferenza Italiana Utenti Esri, il 9 e 10 aprile all'Auditorium del Massimo di Roma, e stato un successo per tutta la geoommunity e per i numerosi partecipanti dei tanti eventi che hanno caratterizzato le due giornate. In queste pagine saranno raccolti e resi disponibili a breve gli atti contenenti le presentazioni suddivise nelle varie sessioni.
Deflagration-to-detonation transition in porous energetic materials: A comparative model study

A numerical study of deflagration-to-detonation transition (DDT) in porous HMX materials is carried out. Three reactive-flow models varying from single phase to three phase formulations are chosen for the study. The GISPA model is a single-phase model and the BKS model is a simplified two-phase, gas and solid model. The SVG model is a three-phase model which is based on evolution of solid, gas and void. The modeling assumptions made in construction of the SVG model are presented with a brief description of the other two models. In addition to hydrodynamic modeling, a new reaction-kinetics model, or rate law, is presented to model energy release. The rate law accounts for autocatalytic decomposition of HMX and the pressure dependent shock-to-detonation transition kinetics. The model results are compared in detail against the DDT events observed in physical experiments. Numerical simulation of inert compaction waves and DDT is carried out for parameters suitable for powered HMX. The simulation shows that all three models can effectively predict: (a) the formation of secondary compaction wave and a high-density plug, (b) initiation of the transition to detonation in the front of the plug, and (c) survival of the plug residual after the detonation. The SVG model compares the best against the measurable data of the physical experiment and is also computationally efficient and well-posed. Therefore it is a good candidate for multi-dimensional DDT calculations.
Development of a modular and upgradeable fast kicker magnet system for the Duke Storage Ring

A cost effective injection kicker has been developed for the electron storage ring at Duke. Magnet components and driver circuitry are integrated in a modular format that has resulted in a low cost, highly maintainable and upgradeable development system. The driver and magnet can be easily reconfigured from a simple LRC circuit (parallel or series) that provides a pulse approximating a half sinusoid to one utilizing a pulse forming line to provide a more trapezoidal pulse shape. The modular development platform has permitted the kicker to evolve with the storage ring in a way that minimizes further expenditures of time and materials.
Isolation of Amniotic Epithelial Stem Cells

Many of the cell types that can be isolated from placental tissues retain phenotypic plasticity that makes them an interesting source of cells for regenerative medicine. Several procedures for the isolation of stem cells from different parts of the placenta have been reported. This unit describes a detailed and simple protocol for the selective isolation of amniotic epithelial cells from human term placenta without disturbing the mesenchymal layer. We also introduce a simple density separation technique for the enrichment of the population for SSEA-4 positive cells.
AMINO ACIDS AND PEPTIDES

A preparation is described for the pentadecapeptide L-seryl-L-aspartyl-L-asparaginyl-L-asparaginyl-L-glutamyl-L-glutaminylglycyl-L-lysyl-L-seryl-L-alanyl-L-glutamyl-L-glutaminylglycylglycyl-L-tyrosinamide, which possesses the structure attributed to scotophobin, a possible “memory code word”. The biological activity of this compound is one-tenth of the natural product and the physical constants differ also. It is concluded that the proposed structure is in error, either in terms of sequence and/or in functionality.
Presentational Form in First Person Research Off-Line Collaborative Reflection Using Art

Rigorous reflection for the purposes of learning about and changing our own behavior as the foundation of an organizational change process (in the action science tradition) can include representing our tacit knowing with an artistic form and then applying explicit analytic techniques to the artistic form to generate actionable explicit knowing. This process is illustrated with an example of a collaborative off-line reflection process based on a presentational (or artistic) representation in which I learned in what ways and in which conditions I cooperate with and re-enforce power systems rather than speaking to or fighting the power. This process suggests: 1) the need for first person research in order to act as a third person change agent; 2) the need for second person research in order to do first person research; 3) the need to use multiple forms of representation and; 4) the advantages of presentational forms.
The Influence of Consumer Distractions on the Effectiveness of Food-Sampling Programs:

Abstract Sampling programs are a significant element of the promotions mix, particularly in the food category. In this research, the authors find that the degree to which consumers are distracted while sampling a product can influence the effectiveness of such programs. In particular, the authors find that distraction actually increases subsequent choice of the sampled food, a finding that is contrary to what industry experts predict. The authors propose a dual-process model of somatosensory experiences to account for the findings. In line with the model, the findings suggest that the ultimate pleasure that a consumer derives from the taste of a food sample depends on two components, an informational component and an affective component. Furthermore, the findings suggest that distraction affects the subsequent choice of the sampled item by increasing (decreasing) the impact of the affective component (informational component) on subsequent choice.
Prenatal stress has long-term effects on behavioral responses to stress in juvenile rhesus monkeys

The effect of maternal psychological disturbance during pregnancy on postnatal responses of the offspring to stressful events was investigated in juvenile rhesus monkeys. Six pregnant monkeys were repeatedly removed from their home cages and briefly exposed to unpredictable noise during mid to late gestation (Days 90-145 postconception). Six undisturbed pregnant mothers served as controls. Behavioral data were later collected from the 18-month-old offspring under a baseline and four progressively stressful conditions. Social behaviors were considerably more affected by prenatal treatment than nonsocial behaviors. Prenatally stressed offspring showed more abnormal social behavior (mutual clinging) and less normal social behavior (proximity, contact) than controls. These results suggest that offspring of mothers stressed during pregnancy may show enhanced responsivity to stressors later in life, and concur with rodent findings indicating that prenatal stress may have long-term effects on behavioral reactivity.
Effects of resolution, spectral window, and background on multivariate calibrations used for open-path Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry

The performance of CLS, PLS-2, and PLS-1 on calibration/validation sets of mixtures of five short-chain alcohols was examined as a function of resolution, spectral window, and type of background single beam to determine the feasibility of achieving automated calibrations for open-path Fourier-transform infrared (OP-FTIR) spectrometry. The backgrounds used in the study were created by ratioing actual single-beam OP-FTIR spectra. Some backgrounds were created by ratioing spectra measured at the same path length, and others were created by ratioing a long-path sample spectrum against a short-path reference. After conversion to absorbance, these background spectra provided a noise term that is representative of what is seen in actual field deployment. The absorbance spectra of mixtures of the spectra of up to five short-chain alcohols (chosen because of their spectral similarity) were added to these spectral baselines. CLS was shown to perform well only when using equidistant backgrounds and TO-16 spectral window selection, with average errors of 2–20%. CLS calibrations under other conditions tested typically produced average errors of greater than 100%. Under most conditions the measurement of OP-FTIR spectra at low (8 cm−1) resolution produced an increase in the accuracy of the determinations over higher-resolution spectra. Both PLS-1 and PLS-2 were able to predict the concentrations of the alcohols under any conditions, including short-path backgrounds, with an error of less than 5%; errors of less than 2% were achieved in most cases. The results indicate that an automated calibration system is feasible for OP-FTIR spectra measured at low resolution, even when a short-path background is used. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Field Analyt Chem Technol 3: 117–130, 1999
Harry and Georgie

Hacking might occupy a special position-that gray area between the darkness and the light-because it touches not only on ethical issues but also on the very nature of computing itself. Beyond the topics under discussion, all of which concerned how to exploit the flaws of commercial software, the conference strayed from its more conventional cousins in the exhibits room. The hacking community, for good or ill, is generally not perceived as inventors puttering in their workshops, individuals who accomplish their ends by working on the edge of society. Hackers do expose software vulnerabilities, but in doing so, they can put the public at risk. They have made vendors account for their actions, but they have also extorted unwarranted concessions from firms. They indeed serve as regulators, but as regulators they are accountable to no one but themselves.
An existence theorem for a bargaining set

Abstract This paper considers non-transferable utility games and provides sufficient conditions for the existence of the bargaining set introduced in Mas-Colell (1989). Our main assumption is weak balancedness. This assumption is weaker than balancedness and is satisfied in all transferable utility games and all three-player games. The proof of our main result is based on an application of a coincidence theorem of Fan (1969).
Potentially PathogenicVibriospp. in Market Seafood and Natural Habitats from Southern New England and Florida

Abstract Potentially pathogenic vibrios were sought in a total of 381 samples of finfish and shellfish collected from natural habitats and retail outlets in southern New England (NE) and west central Florida (FL). The overall percent of samples yielding Vibrio spp. was as follows: NE (environment 73%, fish market 58%, supermarket 36%); FL (environment 94%, fish market 77%, supermarket 60%). In all cases, the recovery of vibrios from molluscan shellfish obtained from retail sources was significantly greater during the period June to October than during November to May. Vibrio alginolyticus and V. parahaemolyticus were the most frequently isolated species although V. fluvialis, V. dam-sela, V. choterae and V. vulnificus were recovered also. The results indicate that potentially dangerous vibrios are common in seafood products at the retail level in both NE and FL.
Adsorption, immunoadsorption and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of proteins using nitrocellulose membrane filters

A rapid analytical procedure is described to perform sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of proteins specifically adsorbed on antibody-coupled nitrocellulose membrane filters. Purified antibodies were adsorbed on nitrocellulose filters and were immobilized by treatment with dilute glutaraldehyde. Efficient adsorption of specific antigen occurred upon filtration of the antigen solution (e. g. cell supernatant or cell lysate) within a few minutes. Theim-munoadsorbed proteins were released from the membrane filters in the presence of urea, Nonidet P-40 detergent and electrophoresis sample buffer and were directly analyzed by SDS-PAGE. All adsorptions and washing steps were performed by filtration utilizing a filtration manifold. This allowed the processing of a large number of samples in a short time. Furthermore, and in contrast to the Western blotting method, antigen-antibody recognition preceeded gel electrophoresis, which greatly reduced potential failures in antigen recognition. Similarly, SDS-PAGE of proteins non-specifically adsorbed on nitrocellulose filters was also possible. Dilute protein solutions, like cell supernatants, were filtered through nitrocellulose membrane filters. Hereby proteins, but not low molecular weight compounds such as inorganic salts, amino acids or detergents, were rapidly and quantitatively adsorbed. The adsorbed proteins were released from the filters and subjected to SDS-PAGE as in the previous method.
Heightened cutaneous reactions to mosquito bites in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome receiving zidovudine.

• Three patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome noted changing cutaneous reactions to mosquito bites one to three months after starting zidovudine therapy. Enhanced T-cell function is one possibility for the heightened response to mosquito bites in these patients. ( Arch Intern Med 1988;148:2296
Inhibition of protein synthesis by didemnin B is not sufficient to induce apoptosis in human mammary carcinoma (MCF7) cells

Abstract Didemnin B (DB) is one member of a class of natural cyclic depsipeptides that display potent cytotoxicity in vitro . The detailed mechanism of action of DB is unknown, although it appears to involve the inhibition of protein biosynthesis. Additional activities of DB have established DB as a rapid and potent inducer of apoptosis in HL-60 cells. Our aim was to determine if the induction of apoptosis by DB is mediated through inhibition of protein synthesis in MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells. Apoptosis was observed only at ≥ 100 nM DB, even though inhibition of protein synthesis occurred at much lower DB concentrations ( ic 50 = 12 nM). DB-induced apoptosis was mediated by caspase activation, since cleavage of the caspase substrate poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase was observed as early as 6 hr after DB exposure. Two additional protein synthesis inhibitors, cycloheximide (CHX) and emetine (ET), failed to induce apoptosis at concentrations that completely inhibited protein synthesis. Moreover, DB-induced apoptosis was enhanced only slightly by pre- and co-treatment with CHX and ET. Thus, inhibition of protein synthesis alone was not sufficient to induce apoptosis in these cells. As a measure of antiproliferative potential, DB (1–5 nM) inhibited the colony forming ability of MCF7 cells regardless of pretreatment with CHX. In conclusion, additional effects of DB, independent of protein synthesis inhibition, are proposed to account for its ability to induce apoptosis and prevent cell proliferation.
A MODIFICATION OF ARMIJO'S STEP-SIZE RULE FOR NEGATIVE CURVATURE*

Armijo's step-size procedure for function minimization is modified to include second derivative information. Accumulation points using this procedure are shown to be stationary points with positive semi-definite Hessian matrices.
VERSE: a vector replacement procedure for improving test compaction in synchronous sequential circuits

Static test compaction procedures for synchronous sequential circuits may saturate and be unable to further reduce the test sequence length before the test length reaches its minimum value, resulting in test sequences that may be longer than necessary. We propose a method to take a static compaction procedure out of saturation and allow it to continue reducing the test sequence length. The proposed method is based on the replacement of test vectors in the test sequence every time the compaction procedure reaches saturation. Test vector replacement is done such that the fault coverage of the sequence is maintained. After one or more test vectors are replaced, the test sequence is different from the one obtained after the compaction procedure saturated, and the compaction procedure can be applied to further reduce the test length. Experimental results with an effective static compaction procedure demonstrate that reductions in test length can be obtained by the proposed vector replacement method.
Musculotrophic effects of insulin receptors before and after denervation.

Abstract Insulin binding and metabolic effects have been used to assess properties of the insulin and after denervation. It has been found that the amount of insulin-displaceable insulin binding on both type I (soleus) and type II (extensor digitorum longus) muscles rises slowly for up to 3 weeks after denervation, following a brief period of reduced binding. As estimated from weight loss and unstimulated deoxyglucose uptake, the extra binding sites are not functional. Stimulation in vitro with shocks or excess potassium can temporarily cause a relative increase in sugar uptake in both types of muscle, but an excess of insulin rapidly loses its effect in the soleus muscle. The effects of stimulation are taken to mean either conformational changes in the receptor or enhancement of some postbinding step, or both. It is suggested that the slow increase of binding sites for insulin after denervation may reflect loss of a neural substance normally effective in activating receptor degradation.
A study of the effect of buried biomass on ground-penetrating radar performance

It is widely acknowledged that tree roots and other forms of buried biomass have an adverse effect on the performance of ground-penetrating radars (GPRs). In this work we present experimental and theoretical work that quantifies that effect. Test sites containing extensive root infiltration at Eglin Air Force Base, FL were probed with a GPR. After completing the measurements, the sites were excavated, and the root structure and soil were thoroughly characterized. Supplemental GPR measurements of simple cylindrical objects in a laboratory setting were performed to investigate basic scattering behavior of buried roots. A numerical simulator based on the Discrete Dipole Approximation (DDA), an integral-equation-based method, was developed, validated and subsequently used to compute scattering from root structures modeled by an ensemble of buried cylinders. A comparison of the measurements and numerical calculations is presented that quantifies the potential for false alarms and increased clutter due to buried roots.
A carrier-borne epidemic with two stages of infection

This paper examines an epidemic spread by carriers, in which infectives may be in stage I or stage II of infection, depending on the number of contacts between the susceptibles, stage I infectives and carriers. A formal matrix solution for the state probabilities of the process is obtained, and the probabilities of survivors derived. A partial differential equation for the probability generating function of the process is also found, and its solution obtained in terms of Laplace transforms. Once again, the probabilities of survivors can be derived from these. The Laplace transforms may be inverted to provide time dependent solutions for the model.
Power in the Post-World War II Senate

T HE DISTRIBUTION of legislative power in the United States Senate has changed since the end of World War II. The thesis of this article is that between 1945 and 1968 the Senate has transformed itself from a body in which principal legislative power resided in the chairmen and, to a lesser extent, the ranking minority members of the full standing committees into a body in which significant legislative power is spread among virtually all senators of both parties. This also means that the Senate has changed from a body in which most important legislative decisions were dominated by conservative southern Democrats into a body in which many important legislative decisions are not dominated by conservative southern Democrats. The literature on the Senate offers a confusing picture of the distribution of legislative power. Commentators who knew well the Senate of the late 1940's and early and middle 1950's concluded that a conservative oligarchy, variously identified as the Club or Establishment, ruled the Senate.1 They asserted that the rule of the oligarchy is perpetuated in part by the continuing emergence of "Senate men" who possess certain personal traits acceptable to the ruling oligarchs. These traits include tolerance for others, courteousness, prudence, and a willingness to help others, to work hard, to compromise, and to keep one's word.2 The "Senate man" is de-
3D reconstruction: the registration problem

Abstract Three dimensional (3D) reconstruction of serial sections through biological tissue is a very important method for visualizing and quantifying the 3D relationships between internal structures. This project involves the automation of the 3D reconstruction process, focusing on the problem of registering or aligning successive serial sections. Serial sections can be misregistered with respect to rotation, translation and scaling (if magnification is not constant). A linear least squares fitting procedure is developed to determine the required registration transformation based on a set of labeled feature points. The results obtained from using two different types of feature points are evaluated and compared: (1) manually selected feature points and (2) characteristic shape points computed from the contours which describe specific shape properties (e.g., centroid and radius weighted mean point). These results demonstrate that good registration accuracy is obtained using both kinds of feature points under conditions in which the contours do not have exact matches.
Parental preferences and goals regarding ADHD treatment.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the association between parents’ attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) treatment preferences and goals and treatment initiation. METHODS: Parents/guardians of children aged 6 to 12 years diagnosed with ADHD in the past 18 months and not currently receiving combined treatment (both medication and behavior therapy [BT]) were recruited from 8 primary care sites and an ADHD treatment center. Parents completed the ADHD Preference and Goal Instrument, a validated measure, and reported treatment receipt at 6 months. Logistic regression was used to analyze the association of baseline preferences and goals with treatment initiation. Using linear regression, we compared the change in preferences and goals over 6 months for children who initiated treatment versus others. RESULTS: The study included 148 parents/guardians. Baseline medication and BT preference were associated with treatment initiation (odds ratio [OR]: 2.6 [95% confidence interval (CI):1.2–5.5] and 2.2 [95% CI: 1.0–5.1], respectively). The goal of academic achievement was associated with medication initiation (OR: 2.1 [95% CI: 1.3–3.4]) and the goal of behavioral compliance with initiation of BT (OR: 1.6 [95% CI: 1.1–2.4]). At 6 months, parents whose children initiated medication or BT compared with others had decreased academic and behavioral goals, suggesting their goals were attained. However, only those initiating BT had diminished interpersonal relationship goals. CONCLUSIONS: Parental treatment preferences were associated with treatment initiation, and those with distinct goals selected different treatments. Results support the formal measurement of preferences and goals in practice as prioritized in recent national guidelines for ADHD management.
Laparoscopic repair of an intrapericardial diaphragmatic hernia.

An isolated intrapericardial diaphragmatic hernia is very rare. Only 15 cases have been reported, 2 of which are in adults. The defect in the anterior diaphragm allows abdominal contents to enter the pericardial cavity. We report the 16th case—the third in an adult—and its laparoscopic repair.
Element-specific magnetization of a Gd-Co composite system using spin-polarized Auger electron spectroscopy

Spin-polarized Auger electron spectroscopy is found to have applications for monitoring element-specific magnetization in composite systems. Here, we report on an application of such a study performed on a Gd-Co composite system. Special emphasis is given for $4d$-core-hole-initiated Auger decays in Gd interacting with a Co subnetwork within the energy region of 30\char21{}150 eV. Prominent resonant $(4\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{d}4f)$ and nonresonant Auger lines involving $4d({\mathrm{N}}_{45}),$ $5s({\mathrm{O}}_{1}),$ $5p({\mathrm{O}}_{23}),$ $4f({\mathrm{N}}_{45}),$ and $(5d,6s)(\mathrm{V})$ valence states are identified with the information obtained on either the spin polarization spectrum or the corresponding Auger spectra. Besides the applicability of this technique in this system, it is observed that the $5d$ states have enhanced spin polarization, confirming the coupling of moments in the composite system via $5d$ states of gadolinium. It is also directly observed that Co magnetic moments are indeed aligned antiparallel to the Gd ones, as has been postulated by theory and indirectly determined by various methods.
Hypophagia following dietary obesity

Two experiments examined the hypophagia that occurs when rats are switched from a high-fat to a low-fat diet. In the first experiment, rats fed a high-fat diet for eight weeks weighed 79 g more than rats fed a low-fat diet. Removal of the high-fat diet led to reduced food intake for at least four weeks. Reducing the body weight of the rats by a 24 hour fast did not alter the time course of the hypophagia. Plasma levels of free glycerol, free fatty acids and ketones were elevated during and after feeding the high-fat diet; suggesting that feeding a high-fat diet increases fat oxidation even after the high-fat diet is withdrawn. In the second experiment, feeding rats the high-fat diet for four weeks increased body weight and body fat. Starving the rats for two days after feeding the high-fat diet did not alter subsequent hypophagia and did not alter the percentage of body fat. This pattern of results is similar to that previously seen following termination of obesity-inducing insulin treatment. The results are consistent with the idea that a persistent increase in fat oxidation is responsible for the hypophagia.
Formation of reactive oxygen metabolites in glomeruli is suppressed by inhibition of cAMP phosphodiesterase isozyme type IV

Formation of reactive oxygen metabolites in glomeruli is suppressed by inhibition of cAMP phosphodiesterase isozyme type IV. Several independent studies indicate that synthetic inhibitors of cyclic-3′,5′-nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) isozymes, especially inhibitors of PDE-IV, are potent agents which suppress generation of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) by NADPH oxidase in leukocytes. Recent studies also show that NADPH oxidase is present in all cell types populating glomeruli. In view of this, we investigated PDE isozymes and their relation to ROM in isolated rat glomeruli. Glomeruli have the capacity to hydrolyze cAMP by isozymes PDE-II, PDE-III and PDE-IV, whereas cGMP is hydrolyzed by PDE-I and PDE-V. Inhibitor of PDE-IV rolipram inhibited significantly (cca 40 to 50%) ROM generation in response to stimulation by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). Inhibitor of PDE-III cilostamide had only minor suppressive effects and inhibitors of other PDE isozymes did not influence ROM generation. Rolipram (3 µM) suppressed ROM generation without detectable increase in cAMP content. Incubation of glomeruli with forskolin, which increased cAMP content in glomeruli tenfold, inhibited ROM generation to a similar degree as rolipram. The suppression of ROM generation by rolipram was prevented by Rp-cAMPS, a specific inhibitor of protein kinase A (PKA) activity. Further, incubation of glomeruli with rolipram elicited marked in situ activation of PKA (+100%), as documented by increase in the (-cAMP/+cAMP) PKA activity ratio. We suggest that selective inhibitor of PDE-IV rolipram acted via the cAMP-signaling pathway and suppressed ROM generation possibly via phosphorylating ras -typc GTP-binding protein component of NADPH oxidase and thereby blocking assembly of functional NADPH oxidase complex. Results also suggest that ROM burst in glomeruli is modulated by a distinct cAMP-signaling pathway which is controlled by PDE-IV. We surmise that inhibitors of PDE-IV might be effective agents for suppression of ROM generation in glomeruli in vivo and attenuation of glomerular injury.
Prebunched high-harmonic FEL for short-pulse millimeter wave emission

A novel wide-band millimeter-wave source is described where a "point-charge" electron beam rotating within a bifilar wiggler will generate a short-pulse TE/sub mn/ wavepacket at the mth-harmonic of the fundamental free electron laser (FEL) frequency. In this first-order interaction, all electrons lose energy to the wave if the electron bunch size is much less than the wavelength. For a grazing intersection of the beam mode with the waveguide mode, there is no slippage of the electron bunch in the wave and the narrow width of the broad-band output pulse is limited only by the waveguide's dispersion. A linear theory of this new interaction is presented along with the design for a prebunched tenth harmonic FEL proof-of-principle experiment that is predicted to generate a 140-ps pulsewidth 30-GHz wavepacket at kilowatt power levels.
Boundary Layer Regime for Laminar Free Convection between Horizontal Circular Cylinders

The steady, buoyancy-driven, laminar motion induced in the annulus of two horizontal, concentric, circular cylinders by a difference in the boundary temperatures is studied analytically in the large Rayleigh number limit. The flowfield is divided into five physically distinct regions: (1) an inner free convection boundary layer near the inner cylinder, (2) an outer free convection boundary layer near the outer cylinder, (3) a vertical plume above the inner cylinder, (4) a stagnant region below the inner cylinder, and (5) a core region surrounded by the other four regions. Zeroth-order solutions which account for the coupling of those five regions are obtained in the high Prandtl number limit using a boundary-layer approximation and integral methods. Comparisons of the calculated heat transfer and temperature fields with experiment and numerical finite-difference results are favorable.
Relationship of Antral Motility to Gastrin Activity in Surgically Prepared Dogs

Chemical secretagogues and insulin-induced vagal stimulation were utilized to evoke gastrin release in dogs prepared with vagally denervated fundic pouches. For comparative purposes a gastrin extract was prepared from hog antral mucosa, using the method of Gillespie and Grossman. Gastrin activity was assessed in terms of the total acid content of periodic samples aspirated from the fundic pouch. Movements of a magnet, affixed surgically to the pyloric antrum, were remotely monitored using a magnetometer. Antral motility was monitored during the stimulation of endogenous gastrin release and the infusion of exogenous gastrin in anesthetized animals. These studies indicated that there is not a direct correlation between endogenous gastrin release and antral motility. The intravenous infusion of exogenous gastrin elicited gastric acid secretion and antral motility; the responses bore a relationship to infusion rate.
An auto-addiction opioid model of chronic anorexia nervosa

The phenomenology of chronic anorexia nervosa is compared with that of addictive states. A model is proposed in which brain opioids mediate the elation, neuroendocrine changes, and down-regulation of metabolism that occur in adaptation to dieting. The physiology of opioids is reviewed, and clinical and animal data are marshalled to support an auto-addictive model. Opiate blockade together with therapeutic approaches used in the addictions may prove helpful in this stubborn disorder.
A Single Vesicular Glutamate Transporter Is Sufficient to Fill a Synaptic Vesicle

Quantal size is the postsynaptic response to the release of a single synaptic vesicle and is determined in part by the amount of transmitter within that vesicle. At glutamatergic synapses, the vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT) fills vesicles with glutamate. While elevated VGLUT expression increases quantal size, the minimum number of transporters required to fill a vesicle is unknown. In Drosophila DVGLUT mutants, reduced transporter levels lead to a dose-dependent reduction in the frequency of spontaneous quantal release with no change in quantal size. Quantal frequency is not limited by vesicle number or impaired exocytosis. This suggests that a single functional unit of transporter is both necessary and sufficient to fill a vesicle to completion and that vesicles without DVGLUT are empty. Consistent with the presence of empty vesicles, at dvglut mutant synapses synaptic vesicles are smaller, suggesting that vesicle filling and/or transporter level is an important determinant of vesicle size.
Sol-gel imprint lithography for guided mode resonance structures

A sol-gel based imprint lithography process has been developed to fabricate guided-mode resonance (GMR) structures. The inexpensive process offers a rapid means to create sub-micron grating waveguide structures over large surface areas. Both one-dimensional and two-dimensional GMR devices have been successfully fabricated and characterized.
Bridging the Differences between Social Theory and Technological Invention in Human-Computer Interface Design

A number of different theories have been proposed to explain the relationship between technological development and social change, including: technological determinism, symptomatic development and social constructionism. A popular and influential theory describing this relationship is technological determinism. An examination of the history of the computer's graphical user interface reveals that the original inventors of this technology were influenced by theorists associated with the determinist perspective. However, when creating their actual interfaces, early designers Douglas Engelbart and Alan Kay utilized methods that support a social constructionist view of technology development. Moreover, as new social interfaces emerge that incorporate software agents into the process of computer interaction, these new designs continue to support a constructionist approach. This article will describe the relationship between theories of technological determinism and the development of graphical user interfaces t...
A review of dual-task walking deficits in people with Parkinson's disease: Motor and cognitive contributions, mechanisms, and clinical implications

Gait impairments in Parkinson's disease (PD) are exacerbated under dual-task conditions requiring the simultaneous performance of cognitive or motor tasks. Dual-task walking deficits impact functional mobility, which often requires walking while performing concurrent tasks such as talking or carrying an object. The consequences of gait impairments in PD are significant and include increased disability, increased fall risk, and reduced quality of life. However, effective therapeutic interventions for dual-task walking deficits are limited. The goals of this narrative review are to describe dual-task walking deficits in people with PD, to discuss motor and cognitive factors that may contribute to these deficits, to review potential mechanisms underlying dual-task deficits, and to discuss the effect of therapeutic interventions on dual-task walking deficits in persons with PD.
Lithium niobate: Summary of physical properties and crystal structure

Ferroelectric lithium niobate (LiNbO3) is widely used in integrated and guided-wave optics because of its favorable optical, piezoelectric, electro-optic, elastic, photoelastic, and photorefractive properties. However, detailed summaries of its pertinent physical properties and crystal structure are not readily available. In this tutorial paper, the important tensor physical properties and their mathematical descriptions are compiled and presented. The essential features of the structure of lithium niobate, including its hexagonal and rhombohedral unit cells, are illustrated and the principal (Cartesian) axes used in the description of the anisotropic properties are specified relative to the crystal structure. Errors in property coefficient values and structure information that have been propagated in the literature are corrected.
Some Effects of Hypophysectomy and Parathyroid Extract on Bone Matrix Biosynthesis1

The effect of hypophysectomy on in vitro incorporation of isotope into hydroxyproline and hexosamine of calvaria and cartilage of experimental animals has been measured. Following hypophysectomy, the specific activity of hydroxyproline and hexosamine of cartilage was reduced, while the specific activity of both was increased in calvaria. Thus, cartilage and membranous bone respond differently to hypophysectomy. When synthesis of hydroxyproline during a 6-hr incubation was measured as /xmoles synthesized per 100 mg bone, it was found to be essentially the same in bone from hypophysectomized and control animals. It is suggested that the membranous bone of the calvarium grows primarily by cell division; consequently, a measured quantity of bone from either hypophysectomized or control animals could contain an equal number of cells and synthesize an equal quantity of hydroxyproline. The specific activity of matrix hydroxyproline of bone from hypophysectomized animals was probably increased because of a reduce...
Proton affinities of the N- and C-terminal segments arising upon the dissociation of the amide bond in protonated peptides

Dissociation of the amide bonds in a protonated peptide leads to N-terminal sequence fragments with cyclic structures and C-terminal sequence fragments with linear structures. The ionic fragments containing the N-terminus (b n ) have been shown to be protonated oxazolones, whereas those containing the C-terminus (y n ) are protonated linear peptides. The coproduced neutral fragments are cyclic peptides from the N-terminus and linear peptides from the C-terminus. A likely determinant of these structural choices is the proton affinity (PA) of the described peptide segments. This study determines the PA values of such segments (Pep), i.e., cyclic and linear dipeptides and a relevant oxazolone, based on the dissociations of proton-bound dimers [Pep + B i ]H+ in which B i is a reference base of known PA value (Cooks kinetic method). The dissociations are assessed at different internal energies to thereby obtain both proton affinities as well as entropies of protonation. For species with comparable amino acid composition, the proton affinity (and gas phase basicity) follows the order cyclic peptide ≪ oxazolone ≈ linear peptide. This ranking is consistent with dissociation of the protonated peptide via interconverting proton-bound complexes involving N-terminal oxazolone (O) or cyclopeptide (C) segments and C-terminal linear peptide segments (L), viz. O ⋯ H+ ⋯ L ⇄ C ⋯ H+ ⋯ L. N-terminal sequence ions (b n ) are formed with oxazolone structures which can efficiently compete for the proton with the linear segments. On the other hand, N-terminal neutral fragments detach as cyclic peptides, with H+ now being retained by the more basic linear segment from the C-terminus to yield y n .
Genetic control of the immune response to haemoglobin. IV. Ly-1+ T-cells and appropriate non-H-2 genes are required for in vitro responses to alpha- and beta-subunits of human adult haemoglobin.

Experiments were conducted to determine if non-H2 gene effects could be demonstrated in mice which had been primed to either the alpha-subunit or beta-subunit of human haemoglobin. It was found that C3H.SW (H-2b) and Balb/c (H-2d) mice are low responder mice to alpha-chain of a haemoglobin when compared to H-2 identical B10 (H-2b) and B10.D2(H-2d) mice. B120.S and A.SW (both H-2s) are responsive to beta-chain challenge while Balb/c mice are low responders in contrast to high responder B10.D2 mice. Ly-1+ cells were demonstrated to be required (by cell depletion experiments) for an in vitro T-cell proliferative response to either subunit. In these experiments, Ly-2+ cells were not of crucial importance.
TH‐C‐T‐6C‐07: Is Cone Beam CT Suitable for Dose Verification?

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of cone beam CT(CBCT) on dose calculation accuracy and check if CBCT is suitable for the daily dose verification of patient treatment.Method and Materials: A CT‐calibration phantom was first used to calibrate both conventional CT(GE Discovery‐ST) and CBCT (Varian Trilogy OBI system). CT and CBCTimages of the calibration phantom, an anthropomorphic phantom and a lung patient were then acquired for this study. The HU profiles along two orthogonal lines were acquired and compared for both CT and CBCT.CT and CBCTimages were then imported to a treatment planning system (Varian Eclipse). Treatment plans were generated based on both CT and CBCT and the resultant dose distributions were compared based on isodose curves, dose profiles and DVHs. The various factors causing the dosimetric inaccuracy in CBCT‐based planning were analyzed. Results: Even though the same calibration was used for both CT and CBCT‐based planning, the difference in the HUs between the CT and CBCT was found to be clinically significant. The discrepancy was most pronounced in the regions close to the phantom surface, with the maximum difference reaching 400 HUs. For the same planning condition (geometric setups, energy, MU, and dose calculation algorithm), ∼3% dose difference was found in the two planning schemes for the phantom. For the lung case, the maximum dose discrepancy was found to be ∼7% due to the motion artifacts in CBCT.Conclusion: Although CBCT provides useful volumetric anatomy information for patient positioning verification, when used for dose calculation, it could introduce clinically unacceptable dosimetric errors. The quality of current CBCT should be improved in order for it to be used routinely for dosimetric verification calculation.
The angiogenesis inhibitor AGM-1470 selectively increases E-selectin.

Abstract The levels of E-selectin mRNA and protein were analyzed in bovine capillary cells treated with or without the angiogenesis inhibitor AGM-1470 (also known as TNP-470). Cells treated with AGM-1470 had a two- to sevenfold (median fivefold) increase in E-selectin mRNA compared with little or no increase in P-selectin, PECAM-1 and VCAM-1 mRNA. E-selectin protein was also significantly increased after exposure to AGM-1470. In contrast, there was no detectable effect on PECAM-1 protein. The increase in E-selectin mRNA and protein was always greater with subconfluent growing cells than with confluent cells. This apparent resistance of confluent endothelial cells to AGM-1470 may be relevant to its specificity in vivo. The fact that the effect of AGM-1470 on E-selectin is relatively selective for subconfluent growing cells may provide a clue as to how AGM-1470 is able to both reversibly inhibit endothelial cell proliferation in vitro and inhibit tumor growth in vivo without apparent effects to quiescent endothelium.
Thrifty interconnection network for HPC systems

We propose Thrifty Interconnection Network (TIN), where the network links are activated and de-activated dynamically to save power with little or no overhead by using inherent system events to overlap the link activation or de-activation time. Our simulation results on a set of real world HPC workload traces show on average 35% network power reduction.
Evaluating statistical difference, equivalence, and indeterminacy using inferential confidence intervals: an integrated alternative method of conducting null hypothesis statistical tests

Null hypothesis statistical testing (NHST) has been debated extensively but always successfully defended. The technical merits of NHST are not disputed in this article. The widespread misuse of NHST has created a human factors problem that this article intends to ameliorate. This article describes an integrated, alternative inferential confidence interval approach to testing for statistical difference, equivalence, and indeterminacy that is algebraically equivalent to standard NHST procedures and therefore exacts the same evidential standard. The combined numeric and graphic tests of statistical difference, equivalence, and indeterminacy are designed to avoid common interpretive problems associated with NHST procedures. Multiple comparisons, power, sample size, test reliability, effect size, and cause-effect ratio are discussed. A section on the proper interpretation of confidence intervals is followed by a decision rule summary and caveats.