cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neural Correlates of Naming Actions and of Naming Spatial Relations

Ina [15O] water PET experiment, 10 normal subjects retrieved words denoting actions (performed with or without an implement), and another 10 normal subjects retrieved words denoting the spatial relations between objects. Our objective was to test the following hypothesis: that the salient neural activity associated with naming actions and spatial relations occurs in left frontal operculum and left parietal association cortices, but not in the left inferotemporal cortices (IT) or in the right parietal association cortices. There were two control tasks, one requiring a decision on the orientation of unknown faces (a standard control task in our laboratory) and another requiring the retrieval of words denoting the concrete entities used in the action and spatial relations tasks. In accordance with the hypothesis, both naming actions and spatial relations (using the face orientation task as control activated the left frontal operculum; naming actions also activated the left parietal lobe. However, sectors of the left posterior IT were also engaged in both naming actions and spatial relations. When the naming of concrete entities was subtracted from the naming of actions performed with such entities, area MT in the posterior temporo-occipital region was activated bilaterally. On the other hand, when naming of the concrete entities was subtracted from the naming of spatial relations, left parietal activation was found, and when two tasks of naming spatial relations were contrasted to each other bilateral parietal activation was seen, right when abstract stimuli were used and left when concrete objects were used. The activity in posterior IT is thought to be related to object processing and possibly name retrieval at a subconscious level.
Asymptotic convergence in a generalized predictor-corrector method

The asymptotic convergence properties of a generalized predictor-corrector method are analyzed. This method is based on making a sequence of corrections to the primal-dual affine scaling (predictor) direction. It is shown that a method makingr corrections to a predictor direction has theQ-order convergence of orderr+2. It is also shown that asymptotically the problem can be solved by only computing corrections to the predictor direction.
Loading strategies for a freight transport system

Abstract Dynamic programming and graph theory are utilized to obtain a solution and portray the policies to be followed at each of a sequence of freight depots. The system involves alternate stages of decision and uncertainty. The objective is to select the size of truck at each depot which will minimize the transport costs, where the events at the future depots are a stochastic variable. The methodology provides a solution, portrayed on a graph, which shows the decision maker what action to take at any decision point and any load size.
Angiotensin II induces region-specific medial disruption during evolution of ascending aortic aneurysms.

Angiotensin II (Ang II) promotes development of ascending aortic aneurysms (AAs), but progression of this pathology is undefined. We evaluated factors potentially involved in progression, and determined the temporal sequence of tissue changes during development of Ang II–induced ascending AAs. Ang II infusion into C57BL/6J mice promoted rapid expansion of the ascending aorta, with significant increases within 5 days, as determined by both in vivo ultrasonography and ex vivo sequential acquisition of tissues. Rates of expansion were not significantly different in LDL receptor–null mice fed a saturated fat-enriched diet, demonstrating a lack of effect of hypercholesterolemia. Augmenting systolic blood pressure with norepinephrine infusion had no significant effect on ascending aortic expansion. Pathological changes observed within 5 days of Ang II infusion included increased medial thickness and intramural hemorrhage characterized by erythrocyte extravasation in outer lamellar layers of the media. Intramedial hemorrhage was not observed after prolonged Ang II infusion, although partial medial disruption was present. Elastin fragmentation and transmural medial breaks of the ascending aorta were observed with continued Ang II infusion, which were restricted to anterior aspects. CD45+ cells accumulated in adventitia but were minimal in media. Similar pathology was observed in tissues obtained from patients with ascending AAs. In conclusion, Ang II promotes ascending AAs through region-specific changes that are independent of hypercholesterolemia or systolic blood pressure.
Magnetic resonance imaging of microbubbles in a superheated emulsion chamber for brachytherapy dosimetry.

This paper describes development of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) techniques for three-dimensional (3D) imaging of a position-sensitive detector for brachytherapydosimetry. The detector is a 0.5 l chamber containing an emulsion of halocarbon-115 droplets in a tissue-equivalent glycerin-based gel. The halocarbon droplets are highly superheated and expand into vapor microbubbles upon irradiation. Brachytherapy sources can be inserted into the superheated emulsion chamber to create distributions of bubbles. Three-dimensional MRI of the chamber is then performed. A 3D gradient-echo technique was optimized for spatial resolution and contrast between bubbles and gel. Susceptibility gradients at the interfaces between bubbles and gel are exploited to enhance contrast so microscopic bubbles can be imaged using relatively large voxel sizes. Three-dimensional gradient-echo images are obtained with an isotropic resolution of 300 μm over a 77 mm×77 mm×9.6 mm field-of-view in an imaging time of 14 min. A post-processing technique was developed to semi-automatically segment the bubbles from the images and to assess dose distributions based on the measured bubble densities. Relative dose distributions are computed from MR images for a 125 I brachytherapy source and the results compare favorably to relative radial dose distributions calculated as recommended by Task Group 43 of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine.
Morbid Obesity: Increased Risk of Failure After Aseptic Revision TKA

Background Patients with obesity are known to have a higher risk of complications after primary TKA; however, there is a paucity of data regarding the effects of obesity with revision TKAs.
Settling speed of corn (Zea mays) pollen

Abstract The settling speed of corn pollen is fundamental for determining the distance that corn pollen can be transported in the atmosphere and for determining its probability of being deposited on plants and the ground. The settling speed, vS, and the corresponding volume-equivalent diameter, De, of corn pollen grains were measured at various times after pollen was released from the anther. The geometric size of pollen grains decreased with increasing time after release from the anther due to loss of water during drying. The density of corn pollen ranged from 1.25 g cm −3 when freshly collected to 1.45 g cm −3 when dry. Values of vS ranged from 21 cm s −1 for pollen grains with De of 76– 80 μm to 32 cm s −1 for pollen grains with De of 103– 106 μm . Over a wide range of pollen sizes (76– 106 μm ), which included pollen collected from two hybrid varieties and one inbred line, vS was described well (P
Lexicons for human language technology

Information about words---their pronunciation, syntax and meaning---is a crucial and costly part of human language technology. Many questions remain about the best way to express and use such lexical information. Nevertheless, much of this information is common to all current approaches, and therefore the effort to collect it can usefully be shared. The Linguistic Data Consortium (LDC) has undertaken to provide such common lexical information for the community of HLT researchers. The purpose of this paper is to sketch the various LDC lexical projects now underway or planned, and to solicit feedback from the community of HLT researchers.
Murine erythropoietic impairment induced by paclitaxel: interactions of GATA-1 and erythroid Krüppel-like transcription factors, apoptotic related proteins and erythropoietin receptor.

Abstract Paclitaxel, an antitumoral drug, was used in a single dose (29 mg/kg i.p.) as an injury agent for inducing transient suppression of hematopoiesis in a murine experimental model during 10 days. The aim of this study focuses on erythropoietin (EPO) receptor, GATA binding protein 1 (globin transcription factor 1) (GATA-1) and erythroid Kruppel-like factor (EKLF) expressions related to the apoptotic events triggered by paclitaxel in bone marrow and the subsequent in vivo erythropoietic recovery. Results showed a massive impairment of erythropoiesis early post paclitaxel administration (1–2 days), which involved induction of high Bax/Bcl-x L ratio, caspase-3 activation, disruptions of the medullar niche and cell death by both apoptosis and necrosis. EPO receptor over-expression was noticed from day 3 onwards. It prompted the subsequent up-regulations of GATA-1 and EKLF transcription factors as well as of the anti apoptotic protein Bcl-x L , crucial proteins in driving erythropoiesis. This study suggests that EPO receptor recovery is necessary for the subsequent bone marrow ability to accomplish the erythroid program through the modulation of apoptotic and survival events after a single paclitaxel insult. These findings contribute to new insights into the molecular mechanisms involved during in vivo erythropoiesis post paclitaxel administration. Therefore, the detailed knowledge of the injury elicited by this drug on red blood cell production may have clinical relevance to explore new therapeutic approaches.
PCSK9 Inhibitors: Potential in Cardiovascular Therapeutics

Despite the efficacy of statin therapy, patients treated with these agents face substantial residual risk that is associated with achieved levels of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C). These observations suggest a potential benefit of additional strategies to promote further LDL-C reduction. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) has emerged as an attractive target in this regard. Abrogation of PCSK9 function prevents PCSK9-mediated catabolism of LDL receptors, increases cell surface LDL receptor density, and promotes clearance of LDL and other atherogenic lipoproteins from the circulation. Thus far, the most advanced approaches to block PCSK9 action are monoclonal antibodies and anti-sense oligonucleotides. Among statin-treated patients, these agents may produce additional LDL-C lowering exceeding 50 %. In rare genetic experiments of nature, individuals with dominant negative or dual loss of function mutations of PCSK9 appear to have no adverse health effects resulting from lifelong, very low levels of LDL-C. In short-term trials, PCSK9 antibodies have been generally well-tolerated. However, evidence to support long-term safety and efficacy of PCSK9 therapy to reduce cardiovascular risk awaits the results of large cardiovascular outcome trials.
LINAC-Based Spinal Stereotactic Radiosurgery

The authors'' report on the use of a prototype spinal stereotactic radiosurgery frame which was employed for the treatment of 9 patients who presented with recurrent neoplastic involvement of the spinal column. All patients had failed standard therapy consisting of surgery, external fractionated radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy. Eight of the lesions represented metastatic tumors in the vertebral column, one of the lesions was a primary osteosarcoma involving multiple vertebral bodies. The lesions were found at multiple levels, from the cervical through the sacral region. Six out of the 9 patients presented with epidural compression; 4 of the 9 patients with evidence of myelopathy; 2 of the 9 patients with radicular symptoms secondary to compression from the tumor, and 1 patient was free of any compressive symptoms. All patients had pain requiring narcotics. Patients were treated with a median radiosurgical dose of 800 cGy (range 800–1,000) with a median of 1 isocenter (range 1–7 isocenters) and median normalization of 80% to the isodose contour (range 80–160). Median dose delivered to the already prior irradiated spinal cord was 179 cGy (range 52–320 cGy) with a median spinal cord dose of 34 (range 4–68). To date, there have been three minor complications: one radiation-induced esophagitis which was treated medically; one wound infection, and 1 patient requiring an additional 24 h of hospitalization stay. There have been no major complications. To date, 5 of the 9 patients have died, all from causes unrelated to the spinal radiosurgery. Three out of the 9 patients have been followed for more than 1 year. In all 3, there was radiographic regression of the tumor and epidural compression. In 2 patients, there was histologic confirmation of absence of tumor in the treated site; in 1 patient, no tumor was found at postmortem, 12 months after treatment, when the patient died of unrelated causes. Although the number of patients followed is limited, the phase I study clearly shows the technical feasibility of spinal radiosurgery for the control of metastatic involvement of the vertebral column even in the face of epidural compression.
Foraging behavior of fish schools via diffusion adaptation

Fish organize themselves into schools as a way to defend against predators and improve foraging efficiency. In this work we develop a model for food foraging and explain how a school of fish can move as a group if every fish were to employ a distributed strategy, known as diffusion adaptation. The algorithm assumes the fish sense the general direction of food and can also infer the general direction of motion of their neighbors. The result indicates that a simple diffusion algorithm can account for the foraging behavior. The study also reveals that some form of communication among the fish is crucial to achieve schooling.
The Role of the Amino-terminal Domain and the Collagenous Region in the Structure and the Function of Rat Surfactant Protein D

Surfactant protein D (SP-D) is a member of the C-type lectin superfamily with four distinct structural domains: an amino terminus involved in forming intermolecular disulfides, a collagen-like domain, a neck region, and a carbohydrate recognition domain. A collagen domain deletion mutant (CDM) of SP-D was created by site-directed mutagenesis. A second variant lacking both the amino-terminal region and the collagen-like domain was generated by collagenase treatment and purification of the collagenase-resistant fragment (CRF). The CDM expressed in CHO-K1 cells formed the covalent trimers, but not the noncovalent dodecamers, typical of native SP-D. The CRF derived from recombinant SP-D formed only monomers. The CDM bound mannose-Sepharose and phosphatidylinositol (PI) as well as SP-D, but the binding to mannosyl bovine serum albumin and glucosylceramide was diminished by approximately 60%. The CRF displayed weak binding to mannose-Sepharose and PI and essentially no binding to mannosyl bovine serum albumin and glucosylceramide. Both SP-D and CDM altered the self-aggregation of PI-containing liposomes. SP-D reduced the density and the light scattering properties of PI aggregates. These results demonstrate that the collagen-like domain is required for dodecamer but not covalent trimer formation of SP-D and plays an important, but not essential, role in the interaction of SP-D with PI and GlcCer. Removal of the amino-terminal domain of SP-D along with the collagen-like domain diminishes PI binding and effectively eliminates GlcCer binding.
A Novel Surgical Technique for the Management of Massive Osseous Defects in the Hindfoot with Bulk Allograft

The use of a spherical femoral head allograft in conjunction with spherical reaming provides a safe and effective technique for the management of a massive osseous defect in the hindfoot. This technique presents specific advantages over the standard technique of trapezoidal block allograft and joint preparation by way of flat osteotomies, including increased flexibility and freedom in deformity correction and joint alignment.
Peptide Quinoline Conjugates: A New Class of RNA-Binding Molecules

A synthesis of 4,8-disubstituted 2-phenylquinoline amino acids is reported with the incorporation of one example into a peptide by solid-phase synthesis. The phenylquinoline-containing peptide binds an RNA target with nanomolar affinity (KD = 208 nM). The strategy can be used to prepare a variety of 2-substituted quinoline amino acids for alteration of affinity in intercalator peptides. Since quinolones represent an important class of antibacterials, these compounds may be useful in the discovery of new antibacterial agents.
A population-based study of trends in the use of total hip and total knee arthroplasty, 1969-2008.

OBJECTIVE To study the rates of use of total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) during the past 4 decades. METHODS The Rochester Epidemiology Project was used to identify all Olmsted County, Minnesota, residents who underwent THA or TKA from January 1, 1969, through December 31, 2008. We used a population-based approach because few data are available on long-term trends in the use of THA and TKA in the United States. Rates of use were determined by age- and sex-specific person-years at risk. Poisson regression was used to assess temporal trends by sex and age group. RESULTS The age- and sex-adjusted use of THA increased from 50.2 (95% confidence interval [CI], 40.5-59.8) per 100,000 person-years in 1969-1972 to 145.5 (95% CI, 134.2-156.9) in 2005-2008, whereas TKA increased markedly from 31.2 (95% CI, 25.3-37.1) per 100,000 person-years in 1971-1976 to 220.9 (95% CI, 206.7-235.0) in 2005-2008. For both procedures, use was greater among females, and the rate generally increased with age. CONCLUSION In this community, TKA and THA use rates have increased steadily since the introduction of the procedures and continue to increase for all age groups. On the basis of these population-based data, the probable need for TKA and THA exceeds current federal agency projections.
Generation of 3-4- mu m femtosecond pulses from a synchronously pumped, critically phase-matched KTiOPO4 optical parametric oscillator.

The operation of a Ti:sapphire-pumped, femtosecond optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based on the nonlinear material KTiOPO4 is described. By empirically optimizing the parametric interaction geometry, we have extended the maximum idler wavelength beyond that reported for similar systems. The OPO typically produces 175-fs idler and signal pulses tunable in the ranges of 2.9–3.96 and 1.05–1.16 μm, respectively.
A Single-Lens Multiband Camera

The advent of multispectral remote sensing in the 1960s1 evoked interest in its possible application as an acquisition tool, providing information needed to produce topographic and special-purpose thematic maps for civil and military use. Subsequently, the U. S. Army Engineer Topographic Laboratories initiated a program to investigate optimization of this technology by studying the options and tradeoffs. In the course of the investigation, it was determined that the per-formance characteristics of existing multiband cameras and multispectral scanners were unacceptable for evaluating the full potential of multiband imagery for mapping applications for several reasons. With conventional multi-lens and multi-camera photographic systems,293 the primary shortcomings became evident when additive color techniques4 were employed to display the spectrally separated images. The additive color display requires the superposition of several images, projected through spectral filters (nominally red, green, and blue) to exhibit color and false color renditions of a recorded scene. Severe restrictions on the permissible relative distortion between images must be imposed if high-quality displays are to be achieved. The difficulties encountered in shutter synchronization, boresighting, and lens matching are inher-ent sources of relative distortion which must be overcome to obtain coincident, spectrally isolated imagery using conventional camera systems. On the other hand, multispectral scanners, while avoiding some of the distortion problems, lacked resolving power. In order to avoid the limitations imposed by existing equipment, it was decided that a high-performance, experimental multiband camera would be built to provide input imagery for the evaluation. The goal would be to obtain multispectral imagery with minimum relative distortion and maximum resolution for display using additive color techniques.
Synthesis of multivariate random vibration systems: A two-stage least squares AR-MA model approach☆

Abstract A parametric time series model procedure for the synthesis of multivariate stationary time series random vibrations is shown. The vibrations are assumed to be the outputs of a regularly sampled, random noise excited, differential equation model of a vivration system. The procedure is a two-stage least squares method for realizing a multivariate disrcrete time mixed autoregressive-moving average (AR-MA) model from a given stationary process matrix covariance function. The synthesis procedure and the problem of the minimal representation of multivariate output systems and the overparameterization of AR-MA models are discussed and illustrated.
“Oh” in Shakespeare: A conversation analytic approach

The use of “oh” in conversation has been widely studied. These studies demonstrate various uses of “oh” in different sequences. For example, John Heritage (1984) has identified six different sequences in which “oh” is used as a “change-of-state token”. Ian Hutchby (2001) has demonstrated how “oh” can be used ironically in disputations. This study compares the observations concerning “oh” in spoken modern English with “oh”/“O” in The First Folio and Early Quartos of William Shakespeare. This comparison demonstrates that all of the identified contemporary uses of “oh” were also used in the Elizabethan English of Shakespeare. Furthermore, the Shakespeare corpus includes some previously unidentified uses of “oh” (for example, “oh” prefacing a refusal to a request) that augment our understanding of “oh”.
The Effect of Hypophysectomy on Somatostatin-Like Immunoreactivity in Discrete Hypothalamic and Extrahypothalamic Nuclei*

Several hypothalamic and extrahypothalamic sites that have high concentrations of somatostatin-positive nerve terminals and/or cell bodies are important in the regulation of GH secretion. GH is capable of inhibiting its own secretion under certain prescribed conditions, and a short loop feedback regulatory mechanism may involve somatostatinergic pathways. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of removal of GH by hypophysectomy on the content of somatostatin- like immunoreactivity (SLI) in discrete hypothalamic and extrahypothalamic nuclei. Individual nuclei were removed from frozen brain sections of hypophysectomized and sham-operated male rats. The tissue content of somatostatin was determined by a specific RIA. The content of SLI in the median eminence of hypophysectomized animals was significantly reduced by 38%, compared to shamoperated controls (278 ± 53.2 vs. 447.0 ± 57.4 pg/μg protein, respectively). Significant reductions of SLI in the medial preoptic (50%), arcuate (33%), ...
Glycosylated and Nonglycosylated Complement Control Protein of the Lister Strain of Vaccinia Virus

The vaccinia virus complement control protein (VCP) is a secreted viral protein that binds the C3b and C4b complement components and inhibits the classic and alternative complement pathways. Previously, we reported that an attenuated smallpox vaccine, LC16m8, which was derived from the Lister strain of vaccinia virus (VV-Lister), expressed a glycosylated form of VCP, whereas published sequence data at that time indicated that the VV-Lister VCP has no motif for N-linked glycosylation. We were interested in determining whether the glycosylation of VCP impairs its biological activity, possibly contributing to the attenuation of LC16m8, and the likely origin of the glycosylated VCP. Expression analysis indicated that VV-Lister contains substrains expressing glycosylated VCP and substrains expressing nonglycosylated VCP. Other strains of smallpox vaccine, as well as laboratory strains of vaccinia virus, all expressed nonglycosylated VCP. Individual Lister virus clones expressing either the glycosylated VCP or the nonglycosylated species were isolated, and partially purified VCP from the isolates were found to be functional equivalents in binding human C3b and C4b complement proteins and inhibiting hemolysis and in immunogenicity. Recombinant vaccinia viruses expressing FLAG-tagged glycosylated VCP (FLAG-VCPg) and nonglycosylated VCP (FLAG-VCP) were constructed based on the Western Reserve strain. Purified FLAG-VCP and FLAG-VCPg bind human C3b and C4b and blocked complement-mediated hemolysis. Our data suggest that glycosylation did not affect the biological activity of VCP and thus may not have contributed to the attenuation of LC16m8. In addition, the LC16m8 virus likely originated from a substrain of VV-Lister that expresses glycosylated VCP.
Availability of binaural cues for bilateral implant recipients and bimodal listeners with and without preserved hearing in the implanted ear

The purpose of this study was to examine the availability of binaural cues for adult, bilateral cochlear implant (CI) patients, bimodal patients and hearing preservation patients using a multiple-baseline, observational study design. Speech recognition was assessed using the Bamford-Kowal-Bench Speech-in-Noise (BKB-SIN) test as well as the AzBio sentences [Spahr AJ, et al: Ear Hear 2012;33:112-117] presented in a multi-talker babble at a +5 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Test conditions included speech at 0° with noise presented at 0° (S0N0), 90° (S0N90) and 270° (S0N270). Estimates of summation, head shadow (HS), squelch and spatial release from masking (SRM) were calculated. Though nonwwe of the subject groups consistently showed access to binaural cues, the hearing preservation patients exhibited a significant correlation between summation and squelch whereas the bilateral and bimodal participants did not. That is to say, the two effects associated with binaural hearing - summation and squelch - were positively correlated only for the listeners with bilateral acoustic hearing. This finding provides evidence for the supposition that implant recipients with bilateral acoustic hearing have access to binaural cues, which should, in theory, provide greater benefit in noisy listening environments. It is likely, however, that the chosen test environment negatively affected the outcomes. Specifically, the spatially separated noise conditions directed noise toward the microphone (mic) port of the behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid and implant processor. Thus, it is possible that in more realistic listening environments for which the diffuse noise is not directed toward the processor/hearing aid mic, hearing preservation patients have binaural cues for improved speech understanding.
Classes for caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease: A practical approach

A model for a series of educational classes for caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease is presented. This paper offers a rationale for comprehensive and practical classes as well as a detailed outline, bibliography, and tips for beginning instructors. Future areas of study include the long range impact of educational classes on the family's ability to manage the multiple tasks associated with the caregiver role.
On limit cycles in N-order direct-form digital filters

The relationship between the elements in the vector of any limit cycle due to rounding in ann-order direct-form digital filter is established. Some bounds on the elements in such vectors are also determined. Sufficient conditions for the accessibility of period-r limit cycles due to rounding inn-order digital filters are presented.
A reader-writer queue with reader preference

This paper considers a reader-writer queue with reader preference. The system can process an unlimited number of readers simultaneously. However, writers have to be processed one at a time. Readers are given non-preemptive priority over writers. Both readers and writers arrive according to Poisson processes (PP) and have general independent service times. There is infinite waiting room for both. This system is analyzed to produce stability conditions. The analysis uses anM/G/∞ queue busy period to model readers, followed by a modifiedM/G/1 queue to model the entire system. Finally, results are presented for the expected wait-in-queue times for the readers and writers. The paper ends with an example.
A systematic review of factors predicting door to balloon time in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with percutaneous intervention

Abstract Background Door to balloon time is important in the outcome of ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous intervention. This review summarizes prognostic factors for door to balloon time in STEMI patients presenting to a PCI capable hospital. Method NLM Gateway and Cochrane CENTRAL are the primary data sources. Searched reports were screened by title and abstract and full texts were located for potentially relevant articles. References from the selected articles and relevant background papers were hand searched for additional reports. Articles were reviewed and assessed for risk of bias. The results are summarized without meta-analysis. Results 90 papers are included in the review. Individual study quality was variable but was generally low. A number of patient characteristics, hospital characteristics, physician characteristics, care processes and "other" factors were associated with door to balloon time. Prognostic factors for longer times include: pre-hospital delay in presentation, cerebrovascular disease, absence of chest pain, lower PCI volume and specialization hospital, lower sum ST elevation, absence of Q waves and left bundle branch block. Shorter times were associated with: presentation during regular hours, PCI in a more recent year, 24hour on site cardiology, pre-hospital ECG, single call to central page to activate the catheterization lab, ER physician activating the cath lab, lab staff arriving within 20min of paging and culprit vessel PCI before full diagnostic angiography. Conclusion Understanding prognostic factors for door to balloon time can likely lead to improved quality of care for STEMI.
A Lens Model Analysis of Confidence Judgments: Beyond Calibration Measures

To better understand the judgment processes leading to an unjustifiably high level of confidence, the present study tested the impact of task characteristics as determinants of overconfidence, using a Lens Model analysis. Participants were asked to make a repair judgment about a pavement crack, and then rate the confidence in their judgments. Two, 2 level between-participants conditions (i.e., high/low environmental predictability and yes/no confidence judgment training), and one 4 level within-participants condition (i.e., task familiarity) were used as independent variables. Lens Model parameters and calibration measures were used as dependent variables. Results showed that similar to results in prior studies, participants tended to be overconfident, in which their level of overconfidence was greater in a less predictable (i.e., more difficult) task environment. These effects were only somewhat mitigated by confidence judgment training, not being affected by increased task familiarity. An analysis of Le...
Bcl-2 family members inhibit oxidative stress-induced programmed cell death in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Abstract Selected antiapoptotic genes were expressed in baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) to evaluate cytoprotective effects during oxidative stress. When exposed to treatments resulting in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), including H2O2, menadione, or heat shock, wild-type yeast died and exhibited apoptotic-like characteristics, consistent with previous studies. Yeast strains were generated expressing nematode ced-9, human bcl-2, or chicken bcl-xl genes. These transformants tolerated a range of oxidative stresses, did not display features associated with apoptosis, and remained viable under conditions that were lethal to wild-type yeast. Yeast strains expressing a mutant antiapoptotic gene (bcl-2 Δα 5–6), known to be nonfunctional in mammalian cells, were unable to tolerate any of the ROS-generating insults. These data are the first report showing CED-9 has cytoprotective effects against oxidative stress, and add CED-9 to the list of Bcl-2 protein family members that modulate ROS-mediated programmed cell death. In addition, these data indicate that Bcl-2 family members protect wild-type yeast from physiological stresses. Taken together, these data support the concept of the broad evolutionary conservation and functional similarity of the apoptotic processes in eukaryotic organisms.
Cholecystokinin and pancreatic cancer: the chicken or the egg?

The gastrointestinal peptide cholecystokinin (CCK) causes the release of pancreatic digestive enzymes and growth of the normal pancreas. Exogenous CCK administration has been used in animal models ...
Evaluation of nonmetallic coatings and films for thermal control applications

An evaluation of the thermophysical and tribological properties of nonmetallic coating materials has been conducted in order to determine which materials are most suitable for thermal enhancement applications. These nonmetallic materials consist of oxides, carbon-based coatings, ceramics, and polymer-based coatings. The thermal conductivity, mechanical, electrical, and tribological properties have been summarized for comparison. Among the oxides, beryllia (BeO) was selected as a potential coating because of its high thermal conductivity in comparison to other oxides. Anodic coatings processed at room temperature result in soft coatings which may lead to improved heat transfer. Carbon-based coatings, such as poly crystalline diamond or diamond-like films, offer excellent thermophysical and tribological properties which makes them attractive as coatings. Ceramics generally exhibit excellent structural and thermal capabilities at high temperatures, however, they are extremely hard and prove to be more suitable for thermal isolation applications. Polymer-based coatings have excellent properties for environmental applications and provide good dimensional and structural stability over a wide range of temperatures.
Rat Adenocarcinoma Cell Line Infected With an Adenovirus Carrying a Novel Herpes-Simplex Virus-Thymidine Kinase Suicide Gene Construct Dies by Apoptosis Upon Treatment with Ganciclovir

Background Eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) facilitates the translation of mRNAs with long 5′ untranslated regions and thus regulates protein synthesis. This protein has been found in elevated quantities in breast, colon, and head and neck cancers. To exploit this dysfunction, the 619 base pair 5′ untranslated regions of fibroblast growth factor-2 was spliced upstream of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene in an adenovirus vector (Ad-HSV-UTK), with the expectation that TK will be expressed in cells that overexpress eIF4E and, thus, render these cells susceptible to ganciclovir. In this study, we investigated the in vitro activity of this suicide gene therapy against the rat Mat BIII breast adenocarcinoma cell line, and assessed whether apoptosis was the responsible mechanism of cell killing. Methods Mat BIII cells were infected with Ad-HSV-UTK, and optimal multiplicity of infection was determined using green fluorescent protein tagged adenovirus. Western blot analysis was used to detect eIF4E and TK expression. Cell viability was assessed by the MTT assay. Induction of apoptosis was determined using annexin V-FITC and propidium iodine detection kit and a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin-dUTP nick end labeling in situ cell death detection kit. Results Western Blot analysis confirmed successful infection of the cell line. Marked cytotoxicity was noted by the MTT assay in the infected group with a 100-fold less concentration of ganciclovir compared with the control groups. Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide revealed apoptosis in infected cells following treatment with ganciclovir. Conclusion Suicide gene therapy targeting the overexpression of eIF4E induces apoptosis and cell death in rat Mat BIII mammary adenocarcinoma cells.
A Further Study of the Factor in Soybeans Affecting the Vitamin a Value of butter

Summary 1.Further studies have been made of the vitamin A suppressing factor in soybeans which interferes with the transference of the vitamin A activity of the feed to the butterfat secreted by dairy cows. 2.This factor was found to be distributed in both the soybean oil and soybean oil meal secured by either the expeller process or by chemical solvents. 3.The suppressing action is not due to the presence of oil in the ration but to some factor in soybean oil in the bean. 4.Prolonged extraction of soybeans first with ethyl ether and then with ethyl alcohol failed to completely remove this factor. 5.The inability of alcohol to extract the factor from fat free soybean oil meal indicates that it is not soluble in ethyl alcohol.
Analysis of radiation induced nucleobase-peptide crosslinks by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Upon exposure to ionizing radiation, DNA undergoes a variety of modifications including the production of a covalent bond between the nucleobase thymine and the amino acid tyrosine. These crosslinked lesions, produced in cells exposed to ionizing radiation, if unrepaired are thought to result in cell death. We have used electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) to study a model system consisting of the peptide angiotensin, a 10 amino acid peptide containing only one tyrosine residue, irradiated in the presence of the nucleobase thymine. The presence of the covalently crosslinked species has been determined by ESI-MS, by the appearance of additional species in the irradiated samples which correspond to the adduction of thymine as well as a hydrated species containing thymine and water (5-hydroxy-6-hydrothymine). The formation of 5-hydroxy-6-hydrothymine adduct is reversible and the relative abundance of the thymine and 5-hydroxy-6-hydrothymine adducts is dependent on the pH of the spray solution. High resolution experiments using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry confirms the presence of the thymine and hydrated thymine adducts. The high resolution nature of these experiments also allows the detection of a 5,6-dihydrothymine adduct. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Physical changes accompanying drying of western US lignites

Abstract Experiments have been performed to measure the effect of drying procedures of different degrees of severity on the physical properties of four North Dakota lignites. Moisture desorption-readsorption behaviour was relatively reversible in some cases and irreversible in others. Shrinkage measurements commonly showed volume loss greater than that calculated from moisture loss. The shrinkage was always irreversible, even when drying was relatively incomplete; only ≈ 80% of original volume was regained upon reswelling in water. Severity of drying had a significant effect on measured N2 surface areas, and on pore size distributions throughout most ranges of pore sizes. All the results are consistent with the view that low-rank coals are essentially colloidal gels, many of whose properties are irreversibly altered by drying.
Photoelectron spectra of adsorbed carbonates

Abstract In order to provide photoelectron spectra for analytical purposes, X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectra for known surface species have been measured. The surface carbonate on Ag(110), formed by reacting gaseous CO 2 with pre-adsorbed atomic oxygen, yields C 1 s and O 1 s peaks at 287.7 and 529.9 eV, respectively. The UPS results show features due to surface CO 3 which scale well with those for bulk carbonates. These observations, coupled with the increase in work function that accompanies carbonate formation, suggest strongly that this surface species is negatively charged.
Teacher Accountability or Credibility

Teacher trainers, practicing teachers of all content and grade levels, and school leaders should make a differentiation between the words accountability and credibility. A clearer understanding of the two concepts could help teachers defend their actions and speak against unwarranted headlines.
Optimally adaptive, minimum-distance, circuit-switched routing in hypercubes

In circuit-switched routing, the path between a source and its destination is established by incrementally reserving all required links before the data transmission can begin. If the routing algorithm is not carefully designed, deadlocks can occur in reserving these links. Deadlock-free algorithms based on dimension-ordered routing, such as the E-cube, exist. However, E-cube does not provide any flexibility in choosing a path from a source to its destination and can thus result in long latencies under heavy or uneven traffic. Adaptive, minimum-distance routing algorithms, such as the Turn Model and the UP Preference algorithms, have previously been reported. In this article, we present a new class of adaptive, provably deadlock-free, minimum-distance routing algorithms. We prove that the algorithms developed here are optimally adaptive in the sense that any further flexibility in communication will result in deadlock. We show that the Turn Model is actually a member of our new class of algorithms that does not perform as well as other algorithms within the new class. It creates artificial hotspots in routing the traffic and allows fewer total paths. We present an analytical comparison of the flexibility and balance in routing provided by various algorithms and a comparison based on uniform and nonuniform traffic simulations. The Extended UP Preference algorithm developed in this article is shown to have improved performance with respect to existing algorithms. The methodology and the algorithms developed here can be used to develop routing for other schemes such as wormhole routing, and for other recursively defined networks such as k-ary n-cubes.
77Se NMR probe of magnetic excitations of the magic angle effect in (TMTSF)2PF6.

We report $^{77}\mathrm{Se}$ spin-lattice relaxation rates for $(\mathrm{TMTSF}{)}_{2}{\mathrm{PF}}_{6}$, carried out in the regime where a set of spectacular transport anomalies known as the ``magic angle effects'' are observed. In situ resistance measurements (${R}_{zz}$) were used to verify the experimental conditions and give precise sample alignment information. We found that the $^{77}\mathrm{Se}$ ${T}_{1}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ exhibits no significant changes as the magnetic-field orientation is rotated through the magic angles, and conclude that there is no evidence for either a single-particle gap or a spin gap. The clearly observed field-induced spin-density wave transition temperature is also, unexpectedly, not enhanced at the magic angles.
Laser Electro-Optic System Integration And Its Application To Rangefinders And Designators

System integration related to rangefinder/designator development is discussed and significant problems and areas of potential concern elucidated. The complex interaction between technology development and system integration is described in some detail and fruitful technical management tools indicated.© (1977) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Seasonal Changes in Enzymes of Lipogenesis and Triacylglycerol Synthesis in the Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus lateralis)

Abstract In order to determine whether critical enzyme activities of glycerolipid synthesis change seasonally in the golden-mantled ground squirrel ( Spermophilus lateralis ), we collected summer and winter samples of liver, brown adipose tissue (BAT), and white adipose tissue (WAT). Compared with fatty acid synthase activity during hibernation, summer activities were 2.5- to 8-fold higher in adipose tissue and liver. Diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) activity was 2.6-fold higher in WAT during the summer, consistent with increased seasonal triacylglycerol storage, but the activity did not change in liver or BAT, suggesting that in these tissues, triacylglycerol synthesis is equally active in summer and winter. Lack of change in acyl-CoA synthetase in liver and BAT may reflect high synthetic rates for acyl-CoAs that are destined in the summer for glycerolipid synthesis and in the winter for β -oxidation. Monoacylglycerol acyltransferase (MGAT) activity increased significantly in both liver and WAT during the summer but decreased in BAT. Although the changes were consistent with active year-round triacylglycerol synthesis, the higher summer MGAT activity observed in the squirrel liver and WAT suggest that MGATs function may not be limited to conserving essential fatty acids during physiological states of lipolysis. Seasonal changes observed in the ground squirrel were similar to those previously reported in the yellow-bellied marmot ( Marmota flaviventris ), confirming that important adjustments occur in energy metabolism necessitated by long seasonal hibernation.
Normal reproductive capacity of heifers that originated from in vitro fertilized embryos cultured with an antiviral compound

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) can associate with in vitro fertilized (IVF) bovine embryos despite washing and trypsin treatment. An antiviral compound, DB606 (2-(4-[2-imidazolinyl]phenyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)furan), inhibits the replication of BVDV in bovine uterine tubal epithelial cells, Madin Darby bovine kidney cells, and fetal fibroblast cells. As well, DB606 in in vitro culture medium does not affect embryonic development. Antiviral-treated-IVF embryos placed into recipients developed into clinically normal calves. The objective of this project was to determine if these resultant heifer calves were capable of reproducing. Seven heifers from each of the treatment groups (natural breeding, IVF embryo, and IVF embryo cultured in DB606) of the previous study were used. At 20-27 months of age, the heifers were exposed to a fertile bull in a single pasture during a 63 d breeding season. Five of the seven heifers originating from natural breeding were pregnant 35 d after removal of the bull and calved. All of the heifers resulting from transfer of untreated IVF embryos were pregnant at 35 d; however, one aborted the fetus at 5-7 months of gestation. All of the heifers derived from transfer of IVF embryos cultured in DB606 were pregnant and calved. Offspring from dams of all treatment groups were clinically normal at birth. Adjusted 205 d weaning weights were not significantly different among the offspring of the treated and untreated dams. These results indicate that culture of bovine-IVF embryos in DB606 does not impair future reproductive capacity of resulting heifers.
The temperature dependent photochemistry of phenyl azide in diethylamine

Abstract The photochemistry of phenylazide in diethylamine changes from products consistent with electrophilic singlet intermediates to products consistent with triplet nitrenes as the temperature is lowered from 273 to 77k.
Understanding AIDS: historical interpretations and the limits of biomedical individualism.

The popular and scientific understanding of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the United States has been shaped by successive historical constructions or paradigms of disease. In the first paradigm, AIDS was conceived of as a "gay plague," by analogy with the sudden, devastating epidemics of the past. In the second, AIDS was normalized as a chronic disease to be managed medically over the long term. By examining and extending critiques of both paradigms, it is possible to discern the emergence of an alternative paradigm of AIDS as a collective chronic infectious disease and persistent pandemic. Each of these constructions of AIDS incorporates distinct views of the etiology, prevention, pathology, and treatment of disease; each tacitly promotes different conceptions of the proper allocation of individual and social responsibility for AIDS. This paper focuses on individualistic vs collective, and biomedical vs social and historical, understandings of disease. It analyzes the use of individualism ...