cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of hyperbaric oxygen on nitric oxide synthase activity and expression in ischemia-reperfusion injury

Abstract Background Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) mitigates ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury via a nitric oxide mechanism that is nitric oxide synthase (NOS) dependent. The purpose of this study was to investigate this NOS-dependent mechanism by examining isoform-specific, tissue-specific, and time-specific upregulation of NOS mRNA, protein, and enzymatic activity. Methods We raised a gracilis flap in Wistar rats that were separated into early and late phases. Treatment groups included nonischemic control, IR, HBO-treated ischemia-reperfusion (IR-HBO), and nonischemic HBO control. We harvested tissue-specific samples from gracilis, rectus femoris, aorta, and pulmonary tissues and processed them by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot to determine upregulation of isoform-specific NOS mRNA and protein. We also harvested tissue for NOS activity to investigate upregulation of enzymatic activity. Data are presented as mean ± standard error of the mean with statistics performed by analysis of variance. P ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Results There was no increase in NOS mRNA in the early phase. In the late phase, there was a significant increase in endothelial-derived NOS (eNOS) mRNA in IR-HBO compared with IR in gracilis muscle (79.4 ± 22.3 versus 36.1 ± 4.5; P versus 30.2 ± 3.1; P versus 125.2 ± 14.7; P versus 0.023 ± 0.003; P Conclusions The NOS-dependent effects of HBO on IR injury may result from a systemic effect involving an early increase in eNOS enzymatic activity followed by a late-phase increase in eNOS protein expression within the pulmonary tissues.
Rapid measurements of boiling point and vapor pressure of short-chain triglycerides by thermogravimetric analysis

Temperature dependence of vapor pressure and the boiling points for tricaproin (Tcap) and tricaprylin (Tcpy) were measured by a new rapid thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) method. Results were in agreement with data from other references. The Clausius/Clapeyron model fitted Tcap and Tcpy vapor pressure data with errors of 6% or less for pressures ranging from ambient down to 20 mmHg. This agreement with the model suggests that the vapor of these compounds has a large degree of ideal gas behavior and that their vaporization enthalpies are nearly constant from 25 to 400°C. Comparable accuracy and precision were obtained with TGA and differential scanning calorimetry methods for the compounds tested; however, TGA plots had significantly straighter baselines, which made vapor pressure determinations more convenient.
Configural cue performance in identical twins discordant for posttraumatic stress disorder: theoretical implications for the role of hippocampal function.

Background A significant subgroup of individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exhibits chronic, unremitting symptomatology that has also been associated with smaller hippocampal volume. The hippocampus plays a significant role in configural processing of contextual cues that facilitates context-appropriate extinction of conditioned fear. We test the hypothesis that hippocampus-based configural processing deficits are a pre-existing vulnerability factor for unremitting forms of PTSD. Methods Participants included male monozygotic twin pairs who were discordant for combat trauma. In 18 twin pairs the combat-exposed brother developed unremitting PTSD, whereas in 23 pairs the combat-exposed brother never developed PTSD. Participants were compared in the capacity to solve allocentric spatial processing tasks, and this performance was examined for its relationship to the severity of PTSD symptomatology and hippocampal volume. Results Although not completely differentiated from overall IQ, PTSD combat veterans demonstrated significantly impaired performance in configural processing relative to non-PTSD combat veterans. Despite having neither combat-exposure nor PTSD, the unexposed co-twins of combat veterans with PTSD displayed the same decrements as their brothers. Deficits were significantly related to PTSD severity and hippocampal volume. Conclusions The current study provides the first evidence that the relevance of the hippocampus in PTSD might be related to pre-existing configural cue processing deficits that predispose individuals to develop unremitting forms of the disorder.
Fast, effective dynamic compilation

Dynamic compilation enables optimization based on the values of invariant data computed at run-time. Using the values of these run-time constants, a dynamic compiler can eliminate their memory loads, perform constant propagation and folding, remove branches they determine, and fully unroll loops they bound. However, the performance benefits of the more efficient, dynamically-compiled code are offset by the run-time cost of the dynamic compile. Our approach to dynamic compilation strives for both fast dynamic compilation and high-quality dynamically-compiled code: the programmer annotates regions of the programs that should be compiled dynamically; a static, optimizing compiler automatically produces pre-optimized machine-code templates, using a pair of dataflow analyses that identify which variables will be constant at run-time; and a simple, dynamic compiler copies the templates, patching in the computed values of the run-time constants, to produce optimized, executable code. Our work targets general- purpose, imperative programming languages, initially C. Initial experiments applying dynamic compilation to C programs have produced speedups ranging from 1.2 to 1.8.
Age-related differences in acute neurotoxicity produced by mevinphos, monocrotophos, dicrotophos, and phosphamidon.

Abstract Age-related differences in the acute neurotoxicity of cholinesterase (ChE)-inhibiting pesticides have been well-studied for a few organophosphates, but not for many others. In this study, we directly compared dose-responses using brain and red blood cell (RBC) ChE measurements, along with motor activity, for mevinphos, monocrotophos, dicrotophos, and phosphamidon. Long–Evans hooded male rats were tested as adults and at postnatal day (PND) 17; PND11 pups were also tested with dicrotophos only. All chemicals were administered via oral gavage and tests were conducted at times intended to span peak behavioral and ChE effects. All OPs tested produced a rapid onset and recovery from the behavioral effects. There were age-related differences in the inhibition of brain, but not necessarily RBC, ChE. Mevinphos was clearly more toxic, up to 4-fold, to the young rat. On the other hand, monocrotophos, dicrotophos, and phosphamidon were somewhat more toxic to the young rat, but the magnitude of the differences was
Dependence of the solid-state photomechanical response of 4-chlorocinnamic acid on crystal shape and size

The photochemical dynamics of crystals composed of 4-chlorocinnamic acid (4Cl-CA), whose photochemistry is dominated by an irreversible [2+2] photodimerization reaction, are studied using 13C solid-state NMR, powder X-ray diffraction, and optical and electron microscopy. We find that photoreaction leads to a new crystal phase, but prolonged irradiation leads to an amorphous solid. To investigate effect of crystal morphology on the photoresponsive behavior, molecular crystals with different shapes and sizes are prepared and compared under the same irradiation conditions. Microribbons with submicron thicknesses twist under irradiation, but no response is observed in larger crystals with thicknesses of 5–10 microns. Possible mechanisms to explain these differences are discussed, including differences in defect densities, optical properties, and heat dissipation. We posit that the dominant effect is the dependence of the torsion constant on crystal thickness, which leads to the thinner microribbons being more susceptible to deformation by an internal energy density. This work shows that photo-induced twisting can be observed in photoreactive systems different from the anthracene [4+4] photodimerization studied previously. Our results also suggest that shrinking crystal dimensions to the nanoscale can give rise to new types of photomechanical motion.
Alcohol consumption before and after a significant reduction of alcohol prices in 2004 in Finland: were the effects different across population subgroups?

Aims: To examine trends in adult alcohol consumption by age, gender and education from 1982 to 2008 and evaluate the effects that a significant reduction in alcohol prices in 2004 had on alcohol consumption in different population subgroups. Methods: The study population comprised respondents aged 25–64 ( n = 79,100) replying to nationally representative annual postal surveys from 1982 to 2008 (average response rate 72%). The main measurements were the prevalence of respondents who had drunk at least eight (men) or five (women) drinks in the previous week (‘moderate to heavy drinkers’) and prevalence of those who weekly (men) or monthly (women) drank six or more drinks on a single occasion (‘heavy episodic drinkers’) (one ‘drink’ containing 11–13 g ethanol). Logistic models were used to test differences across population subgroups in the changes in drinking. Results: Following the reduction of alcohol prices in 2004, drinking increased among men and women aged 45–64. Among men, both moderate to heavy drinking and heavy episodic drinking increased in the lowest educational group. Among women, moderate to heavy drinking increased mostly in the lowest and intermediate educational groups, while the highest increases for heavy episodic drinking were in the intermediate and highest female educational groups. Conclusion: Alcohol consumption increased especially among those aged 45–64 and among lower educated people following the reduction in alcohol prices in 2004 in Finland.
Potential and Impedance Imaging of Polycrystalline BiFeO3 Ceramics

Electrostatic-force-sensitive scanning probe microscopy (SPM) is used to investigate grain boundary behavior in polycrystalline BiFeO3 ceramics. Scanning surface potential microscopy (SSPM) of a laterally biased sample exhibits potential drops due to resistive barriers at the grain boundaries. In this technique, the tips acts as a moving voltage probe detecting local variations of potential associated with the ohmic losses within the grains and at the grain boundaries. An approach for the quantification of grain boundary, grain interior, and contact resistivity from SSPM data is developed. Scanning impedance microscopy (SIM) is used to visualize capacitive barriers at the grain boundaries. In SIM, a dc-biased tip detects the variations of local potential induced by the lateral ac voltage applied to the sample. Unlike the traditional dc and ac transport measurement, both of these techniques are sensitive to the variation of local potential (SSPM) or local voltage oscillation amplitude and phase (SIM), rather than to current. Therefore, special attention is paid to the relationship between SSPM and SIM images and data obtained from traditional impedance spectroscopy and dc transport measurements. For BiFeO3 ceramics excellent agreement between the local SIM measurements and impedance spectroscopy data are demonstrated.
Determination of boron, germanium, phosphorus, and silicon in optical waveguide glass by dc plasma emission spectrometry

Abstract A dc plasma atomic emission analysis system consisting of a two-electrode plasma and an echelle spectrometer provides excellent sensitivity for the analysis of the four constituents most commonly found in optical waveguide materials. The four waveguide elements can be determined at the trace to major levels using a single sample dissolution and without the need for any chemical separations. Sample dissolution is accomplished by hydrofluoric acid attack at room temperature. Only 100 mg (or less) of powdered sample is required. The precision of the method is about 1% relative for elements which exceed 1% of the sample weight. At lower levels the absolute precision varies from ± 0.003 to ± 0.02% oxide, depending on the element. An accuracy on the order of 1% relative can be achieved for oxides exceeding 1% of the sample weight.
Fertilizer rate and hedging intensity influences on the yield and fruit size of rabbiteye blueberry, cultivar Tifblue

A field study was initiated to investigate the effects of two rates of N-P-K fertilizer, summer vs. winter hedging time, and three hedging intensities on yield and fruit size of mature rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Reade), cv. Tifblue. Yields were reduced by 45% the first year when no fertilizer was applied and 21% the fifth year of the experiment when half-rate fertilizer was used. No significant differences between full- and half-rate fertilizer effects were observed during the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year of the study. However, the difference between the 5-year yield averages of full- and half-rates approached the 0.05 significance level indicating higher yield with the full rate of fertilizer. Winter hedging of 33 and 50% produced more fruit the last three years than the same hedging intensities in the summer. Fertilizer rate and hedging intensity interaction was significant for yield and fruit size for some years. Full-rate fertilizer produced more fruit on 100% hedging intensity than on 33% hedged plants. Half-rate fertilizer produced higher yields on 33% hedged plants compared to those hedged 100%. Fruit size was not significantly affected by the rate of fertilizer or the time of hedging. Hedging intensity did influence fruit size which varied from one year to another.
Current distribution on isothermal rod electrodes in combustion MHD generators

'Drummond, J. P., and Hussaini, M. Y., "A Detailed Numerical Model of a Supersonic Reacting Mixing Layer," AIAA Paper 861427, June 1986. Riggins, D. W., and McClinton, C. R., "A Computational Investigation of Flow Losses in a Supersonic Combustor," AIAA Paper 90-2093, July 1990. Eklund, D. R., Northam, G. B., andHartfield, R. J., "ADetailed Investigation of Staged Normal Injection into a Mach 2 Flow," 27th J ANNAF Combustion Meeting, F. E. Warren Air Force Base, Cheyenne, WY, Nov. 1990. Eklund, D. R., Northam, G. B., and Fletcher, D. G., "A Validation Study of the SPARK Navier-Stokes Code for Nonreacting Scramjet Combustor Flowfields," AIAA Paper 90-2360, July 1990. Drummond, G. B., "A Two-Dimensional Numerical Simulation of a Supersonic, Chemically Reacting Mixing Layer," NASA TM 4055, Dec. 1988. Hitch, B. D., and Senser, D. W., "Reduced H2-O2 Mechanisms for Use in Reacting Flow Simulation," AIAA Paper 88-0732, Jan. 1988.
Transnational strategic alliances in the telecommunications industry

Abstract The global marketplace in the 1990s demands that multinational companies have access to an increasingly sophisticated, seamless communications network. Transnational strategic alliances (TSAs) are a way of meeting these needs in the context of limited available resources. The current map of TSAs in telecom industry is dominated by five groups of players; WorldPartners, Concert, Global One, Unisource, and C&W. Firms select the type of alliance depending on their relative positions with respect to size, profitability, capital structure, and R&D capability. The critical issues in TSAs are trade reciprocity, legal environment, and financing. Although competition is the flip side of the coin in strategic alliances, managing this duality effectively is a key to the success of the alliances.
A test of individual recognition in the stomatopod Gonodactylus festate

Abstract The mantis shrimp Gonodactylus festae lives in rock cavities which it must frequently defend against conspecifics. To determine if individual recognition is used to mediate these aggressive contests, adult intruders were matched sequentially against residents that were larger and smaller than themselves. Intruders were repulsed by large residents, but were able to evict small ones from their cavities. Later, each intruder was exposed once to a cavity containing the odour of the animal that deeated it and once to a cavity containing the odour of the animal it defeated. Intruders rapidly entered cavities containing the odour of the resident they defeated, but were hesitant to enter cavities containing the odour of the animal that had successfully defended against them. This demonstrates that G. festae can distinguish between the odours of two previously encountered opponents and suggests that this species is capable of individual recognition.
Reducing nitrogen leaching-losses from containerized plants: the effectiveness of controlled-release fertilizers

Abstract To evaluate the effectiveness of controlled‐release fertilizer (CRF) for reducing nitrogen (N) leaching‐losses from containerized greenhouse crops, three experiments were conducted where CRFs were applied in different ways and compared to water‐soluble fertilizer (WSF). In each experiment, ‘First Lady’ marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) plants in 0.5‐liter pots of a soilless growth medium were fertilized with the same amount of ? from 20N‐4.3P‐16.6K WSF, Osmocote 14N‐6.2P‐11.6K CRF, or Nutricote 14N‐6.2P‐11.6K CRF fertilizers. The volume of irrigation water applied to all treatments was the same in each experiment. Nitrogen content, as NH4‐N and NO3‐N in container leachates, and plant growth were measured and used to compare WSF with CRFs incorporated in the growth medium, or as applied to the surface, in either one large application or two small doses. A single large application of CRF at planting resulted in as much or more ? leaching than the regular application of WSF. Effectiveness of CRFs in limi...
Homeostatic control of immunity by TCR peptide–specific Tregs

Regulation of the immune response is a multifaceted process involving lymphocytes that function to maintain both self tolerance as well as homeostasis following productive immunity against microbes. There are 2 broad categories of Tregs that function in different immunological settings depending upon the context of antigen exposure and the nature of the inflammatory response. During massive inflammatory conditions such as microbial exposure in the gut or tissue transplantation, regulatory CD4+CD25+ Tregs broadly suppress priming and/or expansion of polyclonal autoreactive responses nonspecifically. In other immune settings where initially a limited repertoire of antigen-reactive T cells is activated and expanded, TCR-specific negative feedback mechanisms are able to achieve a fine homeostatic balance. Here I will describe experimental evidence for the existence of a Treg population specific for determinants that are derived from the TCR and are expressed by expanding myelin basic protein-reactive T cells mediating experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an animal prototype for multiple sclerosis. These mechanisms ensure induction of effective but appropriately limited responses against foreign antigens while preventing autoreactivity from inflicting escalating damage. In contrast to CD25+ Tregs, which are most efficient at suppressing priming or activation, these specific Tregs are most efficient in controlling T cells following their activation.
Excited-state nonlinear optical processes in polymers

In atoms and molecules, nonresonant second-order and third-order optical processes mediated by virtual electronic excitations are described by their second-order (beta) ijk(-(omega) 3;(omega) 1,(omega) 2) and third-order (gamma) ijkl(-(omega) 4;(omega) 1,(omega) 2,(omega) 3) optical susceptibilities, respectively. In general, the real population of the initial state for the virtual electronic excitations can be either the usual singlet ground state S0 or an optically pumped excited state Sn. The authors have found for quasi-one (1-D) and quasi-two (2-D) dimensional chain-like and disc-like structures, compared to the ground state, the nonresonant excited state (beta) ijkSn(-(omega) 3;(omega) 1,(omega) 2) or (gamma) ijklSn(-(omega) 4;(omega) 1,(omega) 2,(omega) 3) can markedly increase, and even change sign, when the first (S1) or second (S2) (pi) -electron excited state is optically pumped and populated for timescales sufficiently long to allow nonresonant measurements of (beta) ijkSn(-(omega) 3;(omega) 1,(omega) 2) or (gamma) ijklSn(-(omega) 4;(omega) 1,(omega) 2,(omega) 3).
Effects of Vomeronasal Organ Removal on Individual Odor Discrimination, Sex-Odor Preference, and Scent Marking by Female Hamsters

Removal of the vomeronasal organ (VNX) did not eliminate the ability of female hamsters to discriminate between individual male's flank gland or urine odors in a habituation/discrimination task nor did it impair preference for male odors over female odors from a distance. Vomeronasal organ removal did reduce overall levels of investigation of flank gland odor in the habituation/discrimination task. Although VNX females did not show severe impairments in the frequency of either flank or vaginal marking in response to odors, they did show an abnormal pattern of marking. VNX females, unlike shams, did not flank mark more to female odors than to male odors, nor did they vaginal mark more to male odors than to female odors. Thus, the vomeronasal organ in female hamsters appears to be important for differences in scent marking toward male and female odors, but is not essential for discrimination of individual odors or for preferences for male over female odors.
Relations between infant irritability and maternal responsiveness in low-income families

Abstract Relations between infant irritability and maternal responsiveness at 12 and18 months were investigated in low-income mother-infant dyads. Emphasis was placed on whether results varied according to measurement strategies, infant gender, or level of maternal social support and satisfaction with that support. Irritability was measured separately through observation and maternal report, responsiveness was measured observationally, and maternal social support and satisfaction were self-reported via questionnaire. Concurrent relations between irritability and responsiveness were, in general, negative and were larger when irritability was measured observationally rather than by maternal report. Correlations were similar across gender. No longitudinal relations were found between irritability and responsiveness. Amount of maternal social support was weakly related to responsiveness and to responses to infant irritability, and the nature of these relations was unexpected. Irritability-responsiveness relations varied as a function of measurement strategies, which may in part explain mixed findings in the empirical literature.
Nasal Obstruction: Adenoiditis vs Adenoid Hypertrophy

• The terms "adenoiditis" and "adenoid hyperplasia" are often used interchangeably to describe posterior nasal obstruction in children, tending to obscure indications for adenoidectomy. To more clearly define the role of the adenoid bed in nasal obstruction and its relationship to aural disease, we examined tissue obtained at adenoidectomy from 22 children via the quantitative bacteriological technique. In three patients, adenoidectomy was performed for nasal obstruction alone, in nine patients for serous otitis media and nasal obstruction, and in ten patients for nasal obstruction with serous otitis media and recurrent bacterial otitis. Using the criteria that 10 5 bacteria per gram of tissue indicates infection, 90% of the patients in the last group had infected adenoids vs 8% of the patients in the first two groups. Quantitative immunoglobulin levels, WBC counts, or preoperative antibiotic therapy was not helpful in determining which patients had infected adenoids. Pressure-equalizing tubes were placed when appropriate. A follow-up of nine to 22 months is included. ( Arch Otolaryngol 1982;108:315-318)
Mathematical construction of a Reissner¿Mindlin plate theory for composite laminates

Abstract A Reissner–Mindlin theory for composite laminates without invoking ad hoc kinematic assumptions is constructed using the variational-asymptotic method. Instead of assuming a priori the distribution of three-dimensional displacements in terms of two-dimensional plate displacements as what is usually done in typical plate theories, an exact intrinsic formulation has been achieved by introducing unknown three-dimensional warping functions. Then the variational-asymptotic method is applied to systematically decouple the original three-dimensional problem into a one-dimensional through-the-thickness analysis and a two-dimensional plate analysis. The resulting theory is an equivalent single-layer Reissner–Mindlin theory with an excellent accuracy comparable to that of higher-order, layer-wise theories. The present work is extended from the previous theory developed by the writer and his co-workers with several sizable contributions: (a) six more constants (33 in total) are introduced to allow maximum freedom to transform the asymptotically correct energy into a Reissner–Mindlin model; (b) the semi-definite programming technique is used to seek the optimum Reissner–Mindlin model. Furthermore, it is proved the first time that the recovered three-dimensional quantities exactly satisfy the continuity conditions on the interface between different layers and traction boundary conditions on the bottom and top surfaces. It is also shown that two of the equilibrium equations of three-dimensional elasticity can be satisfied asymptotically, and the third one can be satisfied approximately so that the difference between the Reissner–Mindlin model and the second-order asymptotical model can be minimized. Numerical examples are presented to compare with the exact solution as well as the classical lamination theory and the first-order shear-deformation theory, demonstrating that the present theory has an excellent agreement with the exact solution.
A Primer on Homophobia for the Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

T he term homophobia was coined in 1972 by Weinberg to signify irra tionally negat ive atti tudes toward homosexual people. It describes the phenomenon in heterosexuals of the "dread of being in close quarters with homosexuals," and its counte rpart in gay persons of "self-loath ing." Int ernal ized hom ophobi a shares characteristics with self-hatred experienced by other socially stigmatized minor ity groups (Phinn ey and C havira, 1992). Among males, homophobia is correlated with those who support traditional gender roles, are highly religious or members of a conservative or fundamenta list denomination, are politically conservat ive, have no known personal contact with homo sexuals, and believe their social group agrees with their att itudes (Herek, 1994). In a large national telephone survey, about two thirds of respondents reported significant hom ophobic attitudes (Herek, 1994). On the other hand , studies of hom osexuals show that high levels of int ernalized hom oph obia vary significantly with overall psychological distress, depression, somatic symptoms, poor self-esteem, loneliness, and distru st (Shidlo, 1994). Between a quarter and one third of homosexuals ind icate significantly negat ive att itudes toward homo sexuality (Shidlo, 1994).
Mercury concentrations in waters of Lake Naivasha watershed, Kenya

We present the first mercury measurements made in African waters utilizing ultraclean collection and state-of-the-art analytical techniques. Concentrations of total mercury (HgT) in streams entering Lake Naivasha, Kenya are similar to values obtained from runoff water in the Northern Hemisphere.
Optical encoder feedback system for levitating rotor system

This paper describes the design and fabrication of feedback control system for a three phase motor with a diamagnetically levitating rotor. The planar rotor described in this paper uses a triangular configuration of magnets that rotates due to nine electric coils evenly spaced around the rotor. An optical mechanical feedback system controls the frequency at which the rotor spins. The current input to the coil is controlled by a mechanical relay circuit which latches based on a DC pulse signal generated by a PID control algorithm. The mechanical relay circuit allows current to flow to each coils (the actuators of this system), which then produces a magnetic field strong enough to spin the rotor.
Methylnaltrexone: its pharmacological effects alone and effects on morphine in healthy volunteers.

Rationale Methylnaltrexone bromide (MTNX) is a peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonist, prescribed for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation in patients with advanced illness who are receiving palliative care. Studies have used this drug to determine if other opioid-induced effects besides constipation are altered by MTNX in humans and have suggested, based on their results, that these other effects are altered by peripheral opioid actions.
Oral manifestations of leukemia: a postdiagnostic study

A 10-year retrospective study of the 155 patients with leukemia was conducted to determine the nature and frequency of oral manifestations occurring after the initial diagnostic period. Oral bleeding or petechiae was the most common oral sign of leukemia occurring in the postdiagnostic period.
Editorial Note on: Optimal scaling of weight and waist circumference to height for adiposity and cardiovascular disease risk in individuals with spinal cord injury

Editorial Note on: Optimal scaling of weight and waist circumference to height for adiposity and cardiovascular disease risk in individuals with spinal cord injury
Origin of proteins released from barley roots by osmotic shock

Abstract Proteins released from osmotically-shocked Hordeum vulgare roots were shown to originate primarily from the root and not from contaminating bacteria. The addition of 6 mg/l tetracycline to the culture solution 1 day before harvest reduced bacterial contamination of 5-day-old roots by 98% without adversely affecting the uptake of oxygen or orthophosphate, although root growth was suppressed. Calculations from bacterial counts indicated that the bacterial protein associated with tetracycline-treated roots could not account for more than 2% of the protein released by osmotic-shock treatments. Furthermore, electrophoretic separations on acrylamide gels using isoelectric focusing showed that patterns for bacterial proteins differed distinctly from those obtained from osmotically-shocked roots.
Free amino acids in Tay-Sachs and normal human brain gray matter.

Abstract Previous studies showed significant differences in the amino acid composition of the ganglioside-peptides in Tay-Sachs disease as compared to normal brain gray matter. The present study was undertaken to determine whether these differences in peptide composition could be related to variations in their free amino acid pools. About 31 amino acid peaks were obtained by means of automated ion-exchange column chromatography of which 27 were identified. The results obtained (moles of amino acid/100 moles of total amino acids) for autopsied normal brain gray matter agree well with previously published data except for higher values for taurine, threonine and glycine and a lower value for phosphoethanolamine. Comparison of free amino acid levels in Tay-Sachs brains with normals showed significantly decreased values for glutamic acid, aspartic acid and γ-aminobutyric acid and increased values for alanine, valine, leucine and tyrosine. No significant differences in free amino acid levels were found between samples from frontal, parietal and occipital lobes for either normal or Tay-Sachs brains. The possible relationship of the free amino acid changes in Tay-Sachs disease to ganglioside accumulation and to ganglioside-peptide amino acid composition is discussed.
Oncologic image compression using both wavelet and masking techniques

A new algorithm has been developed to compress oncologic images using both wavelet transform and field masking methods. A compactly supported wavelet transform is used to decompose the original image into high- and low-frequency subband images. The region-of-interest (ROI) inside an image, such as an irradiated field in an electronic portal image, is identified using an image segmentation technique and is then used to generate a mask. The wavelet transform coefficients outside the mask region are then ignored so that these coefficients can be efficiently coded to minimize the image redundancy. In this study, an adaptive uniform scalar quantization method and Huffman coding with a fixed code book are employed in subsequent compression procedures. Three types of typical oncologic images are tested for compression using this new algorithm: CT, MRI, and electronic portal images with 256 x 256 matrix size and 8-bit gray levels. Peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) is used to evaluate the quality of reconstructed image. Effects of masking and image quality on compression ratio are illustrated. Compression ratios obtained using wavelet transform with and without masking for the same PSNR are compared for all types of images. The addition of masking shows an increase of compression ratio by a factor of greater than 1.5. The effect of masking on the compression ratio depends on image type and anatomical site. A compression ratio of greater than 5 can be achieved for a lossless compression of various oncologic images with respect to the region inside the mask. Examples of reconstructed images with compression ratio greater than 50 are shown.
Studying the specific features pertinent to combustion of chars obtained from coals having different degrees of metamorphism and biomass chars

Better conditions for igniting low-reaction coal (anthracite) can be obtained, higher fuel burnout ratio can be achieved, and the problem of shortage of a certain grade of coal can be solved by firing coal mixtures and by combusting coal jointly with solid biomass in coal-fired boilers. Results from studying the synergetic effect that had been revealed previously during the combustion of coal mixtures in flames are presented. A similar effect was also obtained during joint combustion of coal and wood in a flame. The kinetics pertinent to combustion of char mixtures obtained from coals characterized by different degrees of metamorphism and the kinetics pertinent to combustion of wood chars were studied on the RSK-1D laboratory setup. It was found from the experiments that the combustion rate of char mixtures obtained from coals having close degrees of metamorphism is equal to the value determined as a weighted mean rate with respect to the content of carbon. The combustion rate of char mixtures obtained from coals having essentially different degrees of metamorphism is close to the combustion rate of more reactive coal initially in the process and to the combustion rate of less reactive coal at the end of the process. A dependence of the specific burnout rate of carbon contained in the char of two wood fractions on reciprocal temperature in the range 663—833 K is obtained. The combustion mode of an experimental sample is determined together with the reaction rate constant and activation energy.
The half-life of 197gPb

Abstract The half-life of 197g Pb was determined to be 6.2 ± 1.2 min by measuring the γ-decay ingrowth of 197g Pb from sources of 197m Pb (42 min). The sources were produced through the ( 6, 7 Li, x n) reaction on 197 Au using 69–95 MeV beams. Several ambiguities in the decây schemes were resolved based on these γ-decay data.
Preservation of structural properties in anonymized social networks

Social networks such as Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter have nowadays a global reach that surpassed all previous expectations. Many social networks gather confidential information of their users, and as a result, the privacy in social networks has become a topic of general interest. To defend against privacy violations, several social network anonymization models were introduced. In this paper, we empirically study how well several structural properties of a social network are preserved through an anonymization process. We first anonymize several real and synthetic social networks using the k-anonymous cluster social network model, and then we compare how well structural properties such as diameter, centrality measures, clustering coefficients, and topological indices are preserved between the original networks and their anonymized versions. Our experiments show that there are correlations between the structural properties' values obtained from the original network and from the corresponding anonymized networks. Preserving such graph properties through anonymization might be extremely important / essential for subsequent graph-mining of the anonymized networks.
A comparison of DSM-III—R, DSM-IV and ICD-10 substance use disorders diagnoses in 1922 men and women subjects in the COGA study.

A research interview was used to evaluate the relationships between DSM-IV, DSM-III-R and ICD-10 diagnostic criteria for substance use disorders. The sample of 1992 subjects, including both men and women, was composed of subjects and their relatives from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) study. With regard to diagnoses of substance dependence, the analyses revealed tha the proportions of individuals diagnosed in the three systems were similar, with the highest numbers observed for DSM-III-R, the lowest for ICD-10 and the figures for DSM-IV between the two. The kappas for dependence diagnoses ranged from 0.54 to 0.83, with the majority at 0.7 and higher, indicating that the same subjects were being given the same labels in the three systems. However, the criteria for abuse or harmful use resulted in rather disparate proportions labeled across the three systems, with kappas that rarely exceeded 0.10.
Abstract 5623: Eliminating pancreatic cancer metastases through inhibition of hedgehog and RAS signaling

Pancreatic cancer is arguably one of the most challenging human malignancies, with the five year survival rate below 5%. Pancreatic cancer is often found in advanced stages, and is unresponsive to conventional cancer therapy. Thus, the need to develop novel treatment strategies targeting metastasis of pancreatic cancer has never been greater. The molecular hallmark of pancreatic cancer is an activating mutation in the small GTPase KRAS. Unfortunately, efforts to target RAS signaling are not very successful for pancreatic cancer treatment. Recently, inhibition of hedgehog (Hh) signaling emerges as a new cancer therapeutic option, but the available data from several current clinical trials in pancreatic cancer show only modest activity. At present, gemcitabine is the standard chemotherapy for metastatic pancreatic cancer but the response rate is less than 10%, with the median survival of only 6-7 months. A new chemotherapy combination of 5-fluorouracil, irinotecan and oxaliplatin (FOLFIRINOX) was recently studied in Europe with a response rate of 30% and median survival of 11 months, but at a cost of significant toxicity. In order to design treatment strategies based on the molecular changes critical for cancer metastasis, we took the advantage of the knowledge recently generated in our laboratory and the newly developed molecularly targeted drugs currently in clinical trials. We compared primary pancreatic tumors with metastatic liver tumors for molecular alterations in an orthotopic mouse model, and discovered elevated expression of Indian hedgehog (Ihh) and ERK1/2 phosphorylation in liver metastases. Inhibition of Hh signaling or MEK activity alone reduced primary tumor size but did not significantly affect distal tumor metastases. In contrast, targeting Hh signaling and MEK activity in the orthotopic mouse model dramatically decreased the primary tumor size and nearly eliminated lung and liver metastases. Mice treated with two inhibitors lived two weeks longer than those in other groups. While MEK inhibition mainly interefered with cell proliferation, suppression of ligand-dependent Hh signaling affected the tumor microenvironment. These data indicate that simultaneous suppression of RAS and Hh signaling will be more effective in future pancreatic cancer treatment. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5623. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-5623
A communication concept for protocol models

A concept is introduced for the communication within hierarchically ordered distributed systems like computer network protocols. Characterstrings common for output and input instructions are sufficient to describe a broadcast communication via an unbuffered send. The broadcast can be restricted to clusters of processes to express the physical links in a network. Any hierarchical order is not described in process types but in messages which can be encoded or decoded.
Node-oriented optimal flow control protocols for ATM networks

Optimal flow control protocols for ATM networks that satisfy grade of service (GOS) requirements and fairness criteria are developed. The authors propose a novel node-oriented approach for flow control based on a modified definition of power. In this approach, bandwidth allocation and enforcement are carried out for groups of users multiplexed at nodes rather than for each individual user as in previous designs. Higher efficiency and ease of implementation are among the key features of this approach. A dynamic bandwidth sharing scheme which dynamically partitions the optimal bandwidth among all the ATM service categories is also introduced. The methodology can handle all the services in ATM networks, namely CBR, VBR, ABR and UBR services.
Women's Rights and the Limits of Constitutional Doctrine

The law of sexual equality provides an exception to almost every generalization which can be made about the Supreme Court during Warren Burger's tenure as chief justice. The Burger Court was less committed to protecting individual rights than the Warren Court had been--except for their respective records on women's rights. The Burger Court was respectful of precendent-except for this departure from sixty years of entrenched precedent. The Burger Court was neither revolutionary nor counter-revolutionary except for the decade in which it transformed the constitutional law of sex discrimination. If we examine doctrine alone, the Burger Court emerges as the best judicial friend the women's movement ever had. But, then and since, the actual beneficiaries of actual cases include more men than women. The results seem to support Nora Ephron's observation that "the major concrete achievement of the women's movement in the 1970s was the Dutch treat" (1983: 81). This article provides an explanation for the disappointing results of the new doctrine.
The sum is greater than the FGFR1 partner

Abstract Cancer-associated chromosomal translocations create chimeric oncoproteins that contribute to aberrant growth by dominant or dominant negative mechanisms. Interestingly, genes such as MLL, RARA , and EWS are fused to multiple partners. This molecular promiscuity can provide important functional information, as specific translocations may be associated with discrete clinical and molecular features. In this issue of Cancer Cell , Roumiantsev et al. (2004) use a murine retroviral transduction/transplantation system to analyze two FGFR1 fusions found in hematologic malignancies. Their results show that these chromosomal rearrangements play a central role in pathogenesis, underscore the role of partner genes in modulating disease phenotypes, and uncover potential therapeutic targets.
Dynamic channel reservations for wireless multihop communications

Providing real-time service in an energy efficient manner in wireless multihop networks is an important and challenging problem. However, existing medium access control schemes are either over-coordinated (fixed-schedule-based schemes) or under-coordinated (prioritized contention-based schemes), failing to address this problem efficiently. This paper introduces a new medium access scheme, called FrugalMAC, aiming to provide timely, ondemand, and contention-free medium access by relying on a progressive, dynamic reservation mechanism coupled with reservation vectors. A node sleeps whenever the channel is not needed for data communication and slot reservation. In addition, FrugalMAC employs reservation pipelining and an admission control mechanism to support end-to-end real-time stream delivery. We have implemented a prototype of FrugalMAC in our sensor network testbed. Our preliminary results show that FrugalMAC has high energy efficiency and effectively supports timeliness.
Adiabatic following in two-photon transition

Renewed interest has been generated recently in coherent multiphoton transitions in many-level systems [1–5]. Coherent two-photon propagations, exhibiting self-induced transparency when twice the propagating frequency is resonant with a two-level system, have been analyzed [1,2], and the one- and two-photon resonant fields were shown to obey together an area theorem [2]. Tan-no et al. [3] reported the observation of coherent propagations based on a two-photon transition which involved the interaction of two optical pulses of different frequencies with a gaseous three-level system. Further, self-transparency in a resonant two-photon absorption with a two-level system was observed [4]. In this work, we consider the effect of relaxation on the response of a three-level system to a smoothly varying, near resonant, two-photon field.
Low-Protein Diets and Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibition in Progressive Renal Failure

Both protein restriction and administration of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have been reported to slow the progression of chronic renal failure. Protein intake conditions the activity of the renin-angiotensin system and the renal production and excretion in the urine of eicosanoids. Both dietary protein restriction and ACE inhibitors decrease proteinuria. The effects of ACE inhibitors on the progression of renal disease may be due to hemodynamic effects (lowering of systemic or intraglomerular pressures) or to decreased activity of growth factors as a result of blockade of angiotensin II production.
First record of eocene bony fishes and crocodyliforms from Canada's Western Arctic.

Background Discovery of Eocene non-marine vertebrates, including crocodylians, turtles, bony fishes, and mammals in Canada’s High Arctic was a critical paleontological contribution of the last century because it indicated that this region of the Arctic had been mild, temperate, and ice-free during the early – middle Eocene (∼53–50 Ma), despite being well above the Arctic Circle. To date, these discoveries have been restricted to Canada’s easternmost Arctic – Ellesmere and Axel Heiberg Islands (Nunavut). Although temporally correlative strata crop out over 1,000 km west, on Canada’s westernmost Arctic Island – Banks Island, Northwest Territories – they have been interpreted as predominantly marine. We document the first Eocene bony fish and crocodyliform fossils from Banks Island. Principal Findings We describe fossils of bony fishes, including lepisosteid (Atractosteus), esocid (pike), and amiid, and a crocodyliform, from lower – middle Eocene strata of the Cyclic Member, Eureka Sound Formation within Aulavik National Park (∼76°N. paleolat.). Palynology suggests the sediments are late early to middle Eocene in age, and likely spanned the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum (EECO). Conclusions/Significance These fossils extend the geographic range of Eocene Arctic lepisosteids, esocids, amiids, and crocodyliforms west by approximately 40° of longitude or ∼1100 km. The low diversity bony fish fauna, at least at the family level, is essentially identical on Ellesmere and Banks Islands, suggesting a pan-High Arctic bony fish fauna of relatively basal groups around the margin of the Eocene Arctic Ocean. From a paleoclimatic perspective, presence of a crocodyliform, gar and amiid fishes on northern Banks provides further evidence that mild, year-round temperatures extended across the Canadian Arctic during early – middle Eocene time. Additionally, the Banks Island crocodyliform is consistent with the phylogenetic hypothesis of a Paleogene divergence time between the two extant alligatorid lineages Alligator mississippiensis and A. sinensis, and high-latitude dispersal across Beringia.