cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract A49: Using IL10-/- mouse model to assess heavy-ion radiation exposure-associated colitis and colorectal cancer incidence

Underlying risk of γ-ray-induced colitis and colorectal cancer incidence is emphasized by the studies on atom bomb survivors and also in patients undergoing radiotherapy. However, uncertainties in colitis and CRC risk prediction after exposure to high-LET space (particle) radiation exposure has not been realized due to lack of reliable in vivo data. Here we report IL10-/- mice as a suitable mouse model for assessment of colitis and CRC risk after exposure to space radiation. Male mice (n=12 mice/group) were whole-body exposed to sham-radiation, γ-rays ( 137 Cs-source, 2.0 Gy), and 28 Si-ion (300 MeV/n; 70 keV/μm; 1.4 Gy). We used γ-ray equitoxic doses using relative biologic effectiveness (RBE) values determined earlier. Mice were sacrificed 90 days after irradiation, and colon swiss rolls were prepared and histopathologic assessment of colitis score and CRC grade was noted. Further, inflammation-associated gene-expression analysis was conducted in both radiation-induced tumor and adjoining normal tissue area. Immunohistochemistry (β-catenin, Cyclin-D1, and phospho-histone H3) was also performed to assess HZE-induced proliferative signaling. Relative to controls and γ-ray, colitis score, colon tumor incidence, size, and grade were significantly higher after space ( 28 Si-ion) radiation exposure. Additionally, tumor incidence per unit of radiation (per cGy) was also higher after 28 Si-ion radiation relative to γ radiation. Higher number of phospho-histone H3-positive cells in 28 Si-ion exposed mouse colon demonstrated increased proliferative index resulting in increased intestinal tumors of larger size and grade was due to greater activation of β-catenin and its downstream effector cyclin D1. Inflammatory gene signature was more pronounced after 28 Si-ion exposure. Significant upregulation of GATA4, ICAM1, ITGA2, and EGFR was exclusive to 28 Si-ion exposed mouse colon; however, PTGES and TGFβ1 were upregulated in both γ and 28 Si-ion exposed mice. Overall, our findings suggest that IL10 -/- mice are a suitable model to assess IR-induced colitis and CRC risk and space radiation carries higher risk of colitis and CRC incidence, relative to γ-rays at comparable doses. This study has implications for risk prediction in astronauts planning for deep-space missions and also for cancer patients planning to undergo particle radiotherapy. Citation Format: Shubhankar Suman, Bo-Hyun Moon, Albert J. Fornace, Jr., Kamal Datta. Using IL10-/- mouse model to assess heavy-ion radiation exposure-associated colitis and colorectal cancer incidence [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Advances in Modeling Cancer in Mice: Technology, Biology, and Beyond; 2017 Sep 24-27; Orlando, Florida. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(10 Suppl):Abstract nr A49.
Liberalism and religion: the plural grounds of separation

In what sense, and to what extent, should a liberal state be secular? Many interpret liberal-egalitarian political theory as dictating a radical separation between church and state. Against this vi...
IN VITRO DESENSITIZATION OF β-ADRENERGIC RECEPTORS IN RAT CORTEX

ABSTRACT Incubation of slices of rat cerebral cortex with β-adrenergic receptor agonists led to a decreased number of binding sites for the β-adrenergic receptor antagonist IHYP. A decrease in isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP accumulation was also observed. This in vitro desensitization was both rapid and reversible and appeared to have a pharmacologic specificity for β-adrenergic agents.
Abstract 5635: Negative Thinking: A Modifiable Target for the Treatment of Depressive Symptoms in Patients with Heart Failure

Background : The adverse effects of depressive symptoms on mortality and morbidity in patients with HF have been well described. The next step is to identify modifiable predictors of depressive symptoms that can be targeted for intervention. Negative thinking, a process of self-critical cognition, has been associated with depressed mood, which suggests it may be a modifiable target for intervention. However, it is not known whether negative thinking is independently related to depressive symptoms in patients with HF. Purpose : To describe the level of negative thinking among patients with HF. To determine whether negative thinking is a predictor of depressive symptoms in patients with HF. Methods : In this cross-sectional, descriptive study, 154 patients (61±12 years, 31% female, 52% NYHA Class III/IV) were recruited from an outpatient HF clinic. Negative thinking was measured with the Crandell Cognitions Inventory. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI). Multiple linear regression was used to determine whether negative thinking is an independent predictor of depressive symptoms. Results : The mean level of negative thinking was 60 ± 26, which is higher than the reported mean of 45 ± 8 for non-depressed, normal controls. The prevalence of clinically significant depressive symptoms (BDI >13) was 33%. Patients with depressive symptoms had substantially higher levels of negative thinking compared to patients without depressive symptoms (83 ± 27 vs. 49 ± 17, p p Conclusion: Our findings suggest that negative thinking plays a major role in the manifestation of depressive symptoms in patients with HF. Interventions that target the reduction of negative thinking may reduce depressive symptoms in patients with HF.
Ultrabroadband mid-infrared noncollinear difference frequency generation in a silver thiogallate crystal

We report the generation of ultrabroadband mid-infrared (mid-IR) pulses by noncollinear difference frequency mixing. The signal and the idler output beams of an optical parametric amplifier are combined in a silver thiogallate crystal (AgGaS2) to generate mid-infrared radiation. We show that a noncollinear geometry facilitates broadband phase matching. Spectral bandwidths up to 1750 cm−1 were obtained at an external noncollinear angle of 4.2 deg, which is more than three times broader than in a collinear geometry. The broadband spectrum is tunable in the range of 1500–4500 cm−1. Pulse energies up to 1 μJ were achieved. The broadband pulses were used in sum frequency generation in ZnSe and in vibrational absorption spectroscopy experiments of liquid samples.
Comparison of Displacement Tracking Algorithms for in Vivo Electrode Displacement Elastography

Hepatocellular carcinoma and liver metastases are common hepatic malignancies presenting with high mortality rates. Minimally invasive microwave ablation (MWA) yields high success rates similar to surgical resection. However, MWA procedures require accurate image guidance during the procedure and for post-procedure assessments. Ultrasound electrode displacement elastography (EDE) has demonstrated utility for non-ionizing imaging of regions of thermal necrosis created with MWA in the ablation suite. Three strategies for displacement vector tracking and strain tensor estimation, namely coupled subsample displacement estimation (CSDE), a multilevel 2-D normalized cross-correlation method, and quality-guided displacement tracking (QGDT) have previously shown accurate estimations for EDE. This paper reports on a qualitative and quantitative comparison of these three algorithms over 79 patients after an MWA procedure. Qualitatively, CSDE presents sharply delineated, clean ablated regions with low noise except for the distal boundary of the ablated region. Multilevel and QGDT contain more visible noise artifacts, but delineation is seen over the entire ablated region. Quantitative comparison indicates CSDE with more consistent mean and standard deviations of region of interest within the mass of strain tensor magnitudes and higher contrast, while Multilevel and QGDT provide higher CNR. This fact along with highest success rates of 89% and 79% on axial and lateral strain tensor images for visualization of thermal necrosis using the Multilevel approach leads to it being the best choice in a clinical setting. All methods, however, provide consistent and reproducible delineation for EDE in the ablation suite.
Oxygen-Guided Radiation Therapy.

Purpose It has been known for over 100 years that tumor hypoxia, a near-universal characteristic of solid tumors, decreases the curative effectiveness of radiation therapy. However, to date, there are no reports that demonstrate an improvement in radiation effectiveness in a mammalian tumor on the basis of tumor hypoxia localization and local hypoxia treatment. Methods and Materials For radiation targeting of hypoxic subregions in mouse fibrosarcoma, we used oxygen images obtained using pulse electron paramagnetic resonance pO2 imaging combined with 3D-printed radiation blocks. This achieved conformal radiation delivery to all hypoxic areas in FSa fibrosarcomas in mice. Results We demonstrate that treatment delivering a radiation boost to hypoxic volumes has a significant (P = .04) doubling of tumor control relative to boosts to well-oxygenated volumes. Additional dose to well-oxygenated tumor regions minimally increases tumor control beyond the 15% control dose to the entire tumor. If we can identify portions of the tumor that are more resistant to radiation, it might be possible to reduce the dose to more sensitive tumor volumes without significant compromise in tumor control. Conclusions This work demonstrates in a single, intact mammalian tumor type that tumor hypoxia is a local tumor phenomenon whose treatment can be enhanced by local radiation. Despite enormous clinical effort to overcome hypoxic radiation resistance, to our knowledge this is the first such demonstration, even in preclinical models, of targeting additional radiation to hypoxic tumor to improve the therapeutic ratio.
Deep learning on hyperspectral data to obtain water properties and bottom depths

Developing accurate methods to determine bathymetry, bottom type, and water column optical properties from hyperspectral imagery is an ongoing scientific problem. Recent advances in deep learning have made convolutional neural networks (CNNs) a popular method for classification and regression on complex datasets. In this paper, we explore the use of CNNs to extract water depth, bottom type, and inherent optical properties (IOPs) from hyperspectral imagery (HSI) of water. We compare the CNN results to other machine learning algorithms: k-nearest-neighbors (KNN), stochastic gradient descent (SGD), random forests (RF), and extremely randomized trees (ET). This work is an inverse problem in which we seek to find the water properties than impact the reflectance and hence the collected HSI. The data includes optically shallow water, in which the bottom can be seen, and optically deep, in which the bottom cannot be seen and does not affect the reflectance. The scalar optical properties we find through regression are chlorophyll (CHL), colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM), total suspended sediments (TSS). For the case of the optically shallow water, we classify the bottom type among 114 different substrates. The results demonstrate that for finding water depth, bottom type, and IOPs in the case of optically shallow water, the CNN has better performance than other machine learning methods. For regression of the IOPs in optically deep water, the extremely randomized trees method outperforms the CNN. We further investigate the mechanisms of these results and discuss hyperparameter tuning strategies that may improve deep learning accuracy.
Impact of Cognitive Measures and Sleep on Acute Squat Strength Performance and Perceptual Responses Among Well-Trained Men and Women.

ABSTRACT Haischer, MH, Cooke, DM, Carzoli, JP, Johnson, TK, Shipherd, AM, Zoeller, RF, Whitehurst, M, and Zourdos, MC. Impact of cognitive measures and sleep on acute squat strength performance and perceptual responses among well-trained men and women. J Strength Cond Res 35(2S): S16-S22, 2021-This study assessed the efficacy of currently used assessments for sleep, anxiety, and stress in predicting 1-repetition maximum (1RM) back squat performance. Fifty-three men (age, 23 ± 3 years; body mass, 86.67 ± 13.93 kg; training age, 6.0 ± 2.5 years; 1RM = 163.5 ± 39.5 kg) and 15 women (age, 21 ± 1.5 years; body mass, 63.34 ± 9.6 kg; training age, 4 ± 1.5 years; 1RM = 81.5 ± 12.5 kg) participated. Subjects completed the Daily Analysis of Life Demands for Athletes (DALDA), the revised Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2R), and Oviedo Sleep Questionnaire (OSQ) to evaluate stress, anxiety, and sleep, respectively. Subjects then completed the perceived self-efficacy (PSE) scale, to predict what loads they were 100, 75, and 50% confident that they could lift for a 1RM; then completed 1RM testing with rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and average concentric velocity (ACV) obtained on each attempt. The performance-dependent variable was calculated by subtracting the PSE responses from the actual 1RM (1RM-PSE difference). Bootstrapping with 1,000 replicate samples was used with linear regression to increased robustness of the statistical analyses, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Hours of sleep was an inverse predictor of ACV (p = 0.014; 95% CI = 0.046 to-0.011) and a positive predictor of RPE (p = 0.005; 95% CI = 0.068-0.342). Furthermore, the hypersomnia subscale of the OSQ was a negative predictor of 1RM-PSE difference at 50% confidence (p = 0.028; 95% CI = -3.507 to -0.528), and CSAI-2R total score was a negative predictor of RPE at 1RM (p = 0.043; 95% CI = -0.041 to -0.003); however, the DALDA did not exhibit any significant relationships. These data highlight the importance of monitoring anxiety and sleep when assessing readiness for maximal strength performance.
Kinetic and Binding Studies Reveal Cooperativity and Off-Cycle Competition for H-Bonding Catalysis with Silsesquioxane Silanols.

The catalytic activity, kinetics, and quantification of H-bonding ability of incompletely condensed polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) silanols are reported. POSS-triols, a homogeneous model for vicinal silica surface sites, exhibit enhanced H-bonding compared with other silanols and alcohols as quantified using a 31 P NMR probe. Evaluation of a Friedel-Crafts addition reaction shows that phenyl-POSS-triol is active as an H-bond donor catalyst whereas other POSS silanols studied are not. An in-depth kinetic study (using RPKA and VTNA) highlights the concentration-dependent H-bonding behavior of POSS-triols, which is attributed to intermolecular association forming an off-cycle dimeric species. Binding constants provide additional support for reduced H-bond ability at higher concentrations, which is attributed to competitive association. POSS-triol self-association disrupts H-bond donor abilities relevant for catalysis by reducing the concentration of active monomeric catalyst.
A Pilot and Feasibility Study of Oatmeal Consumption in Children to Assess Markers of Bowel Function.

Inadequate dietary fiber intake contributes to irregular bowel movements and may contribute to difficulty with defecation in children. Whole grain foods, such as oatmeal, may improve stool consiste...
Linguistic Relativity in the Age of Ontology: How Language Shapes Worldview and Ways of Being, Even Going Beyond the Human

This chapter critically reexamines current claims about the diversity of ontological orientations among human societies, while revisiting work on linguistic relativity—the social construction of such lived-realities by means of the symbolism of everyday language. Thus, throughout the Pacific Northwest animals and plants think, as portrayed in popular songs and folktales. No sharp line is drawn between animals and humans, and humans owe a huge debt to their spiritual progenitors among other life-forms. At stake here are current claims about the diversity of ontological orientations among human societies, along with classic claims about linguistic relativity, or the social construction of such lived-realities by means of the symbolism of everyday language: in particular poetry and music as pan-human ways of “painting” mental imagery with ordinary sound.
La Epidemia Silenciosa del Cáncer de Mama (The Silent Outbreak of Breast Cancer)

Breast cancer is a scourge for women in developed countries but also there´s evidences that women in developing countries are affected by this illness
Coppering the Industrial Revolution: History, Materiality and Culture in the Making of an Ecological Regime

No copper, no Industrial Revolution. Although accountants listed it in the very last position in the table of “value added” per sector in 1831, the British copper industry was essential for the Industrial Revolution, the period of British hegemony over the world-economy. In this article, I use the figure-ground method proposed by Terence K. Hopkins to show that the copper industry played key roles in the ecological regime of the 1700-1840 period, due to its material properties and related historical contingencies and cultural valuations. By focusing in on particular production processes, historical contingencies, and cultural phenomena in which copper played an important and unique role, and then zooming out again to the world-economy as a whole, I show that an Industrial Revolution would not have happened without copper. From sugar production in the Caribbean to textile printing, from the slave trade to the Battle of Saintes, from the development of the steam engine to gin and rum production, from the telegraph to buckles and buttons, copper was conspicuous. This demonstrates the ecological regime of the period, in which the removal of a single commodity from the picture—i.e., copper—disrupts the whole constellation of relations. This study also shows that a “copper boom” immediately before and at the start of the Industrial Revolution (~1700-1800), instrumental in the British struggle against France for the hegemony over the world-economy, has been overlooked in the literature. Additionally, the article includes a reflection on method.
Why are pharmacy acquisition costs and consumer prescription drug price indices apparently diverging

Pharmacy acquisition costs for prescription (Rx ) drugs have been trending below levels implied by the Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) Consumer Price Index for Rx drugs, with the divergence higher when generic approvals are high. Dropping the first 6 months of generic sales from price indices calculated from pharmacy acquisition costs eliminates most of the difference between such indices and BLS indices.
What Influences Choice of Continuing Medical Education Modalities and Providers? A National Survey of U.S. Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, and Physician Assistants.

Purpose To explore what influences clinicians in selecting continuing medical education (CME) activities in the United States. Method In August 2018, the authors conducted an Internet-based national survey, sampling 100 respondents from each of 5 groups: family medicine physicians, internal medicine and hospitalist physicians, medicine specialist physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. In total, 1,895 clinicians were invited and 500 (26%) responded. Questions addressed the selection and anticipated use of CME delivery modalities and perceived characteristics of specific CME providers. Response formats used best-worst scaling or 5-point ordinal response options. Results The factors identified as most important in selecting CME activities were topic (best-worst scaling net positivity 0.54), quality of content (0.51), availability of CME credit (0.43), and clinical practice focus (0.41), while referral frequency (-0.57) ranked lowest. The activities that the respondents anticipated using most in the future were live (mean 3.8 [1 = not likely, 5 = very likely]), online (mean 3.5), point-of-care (mean 3.5), and print-based (mean 3.5) activities. For online CME, the features of greatest appeal were that learning could be done when clinicians had time (mean 4.4), at their own pace (mean 4.2), and at lower cost (mean 4.2). For live CME, the features of greatest appeal were that the subject was best taught using this modality (mean 4.0), or the activity was located in a destination spot (mean 4.0) or a regional location (mean 3.9). When rating specific CME providers, most academic institutions received relatively high ratings for research focus and clinical practice focus, whereas commercial providers had slightly higher ratings for ease of access. Responses were generally similar across clinician types and age groups. Conclusions Physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants are interested in using a variety of CME delivery modalities. Appealing features of online and live CME were different.
WRF-simulated low-level jets over Iowa: characterization and sensitivity studies

Abstract. Output from 6 months of high-resolution simulations with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model are analyzed to characterize local low-level jets (LLJs) over Iowa for winter and spring in the contemporary climate. Low-level jets affect rotor plane aerodynamic loading, turbine structural loading and turbine performance, and thus accurate characterization and identification are pertinent. Analyses using a detection algorithm wherein the wind speed above and below the jet maximum must be below 80 % of the jet wind speed within a vertical window of approximately 20–530 m a.g.l. (above ground level) indicate the presence of an LLJ in at least one of the 14 700 4 km×4 km grid cells over Iowa on 98 % of nights. Nocturnal LLJs are most frequently associated with stable stratification and low turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) and hence are more frequent during the winter months. The spatiotemporal mean LLJ maximum (jet core) wind speed is 9.55 m s −1 , and the mean height is 182 m. Locations of high LLJ frequency and duration across the state are seasonally varying, with a mean duration of 3.5 h. The highest frequency occurs in the topographically complex northwest of the state in winter and in the flatter northeast of the state in spring. Sensitivity of LLJ characteristics to the (i) LLJ definition and (ii) vertical resolution at which the WRF output is sampled is examined. LLJ definitions commonly used in the literature are considered in the first sensitivity analysis. These sensitivity analyses indicate that LLJ characteristics are highly variable with definition. Use of different definitions identifies both different frequencies of LLJs and different LLJ events. Further, when the model output is down-sampled to lower vertical resolution, the mean jet core wind speed height decreases, but spatial distributions of regions of high frequency and duration are conserved. Implementation of a polynomial interpolation to extrapolate down-sampled output to full-resolution results in reduced sensitivity of LLJ characteristics to down-sampling.
Neutron-Induced Disintegration of Li 6 and Li 7

A study has been made of the ${\mathrm{Li}}^{6}(n, dn){\mathrm{He}}^{4}$ and ${\mathrm{Li}}^{7}(n, tn){\mathrm{He}}^{4}$ reactions over the energy region 5 to 14 Mev. The cross sections are very large and, as a consequence, normal Li may have important applications as a shielding material for fission and fusion reactors.
Corporate Governance With Practice’s Perspective

I discussed about the code of corporate governance in the detail way for the student who want good corporate culture.
On the channel capacity of wireless fading channels

The objectives of this paper are twofold. First, to point out the significance of certain results on stochastic processes in computing the channel capacity for flat fading wireless channels. Next, to design an optimal encoding and decoding strategies for general sources, when the channel is perfectly known to both transmitter and receiver. We give an optimal encoding and decoding scheme with noiseless feedback achieving the channel capacity and consider the effect of feedback on decoding error. It turns out that the optimal encoding function has two parts: one part behaves as power control and the other part represents the decoding error.
FastPGA: a dynamic population sizing approach for solving expensive multiobjective optimization problems

We present a new multiobjective evolutionary algorithm (MOEA), called fast Pareto genetic algorithm (FastPGA). FastPGA uses a new fitness assignment and ranking strategy for the simultaneous optimization of multiple objectives where each solution evaluation is computationally- and/or financially-expensive. This is often the case when there are time or resource constraints involved in finding a solution. A population regulation operator is introduced to dynamically adapt the population size as needed up to a user-specified maximum population size. Computational results for a number of well-known test problems indicate that FastPGA is a promising approach. FastPGA outperforms the improved nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) within a relatively small number of solution evaluations.
Using Nursing Diagnoses to Achieve Desired Outcomes for Hemodialysis Clients

As part of the multidisciplinary end-stage renal disease (ESRD) health care team, nephrology nurses assess, diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate nursing care for hemodialysis clients. As the team member with the most consistent contact with the client, registered nurses not only practice within their own unique domain but also refer to medical, nutritional, and social work staff. Use of the taxonomy of nursing diagnosis provides a framework for nurses to identify client problems and risk factors that they can treat independently. The use of client surveys specific to the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) core indicators: anemia, low albumin, treatment adequacy, and hypertension, enhances collection of subjective data from patients and increases their participation in care planning. Nursing diagnoses common to clients with these four conditions and related nursing interventions are presented in this article.
HYPOPARATHYROIDISM IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Eight cases of hypoparathynoidism in patients less than 17 years of age have been presented and discussed. One case was primary in type and seven were secondary to thyroidectomies performed for thyrotoxicosis or carcinoma of the thyroid gland. The similarity of symptomatology, time of onset, treatment and long-term management between cases of hypoparathyroidism in the younger age group and in adults has been emphasized. Prophylaxis against the development of hypoparathyroidism following thyroid surgeny is the responsibility of the surgeon. When present, the disorder must be recognized early and treated promptly with adequate dosages of appropriate drugs. Conscientious long-term clinical and laboratory follow-up examinations are necessary to avoid the serious complications of chronic hypocalcemia. Tests to quantitate more accurately degrees of parathyroid function are needed in secondary hypopanathyroidsm which is thought to be temporary in nature. Children and adolescents with hypopanathyroidism deserve special care in diagnosis, treatment and long-term management.
The Microepidemiology of Wasting Syndrome, a Common Link to Diarrheal Disease, Cancer, Rabies, Animal Models of AIDS, and HIV‐AIDS (HAIDS)

Infant cats were inoculated intracranially with rabies or feline leukemia viruses in an experimental study of wasting syndrome. The daily pre- and postinoculation body weights were recorded until kittens were moribund. Affected animals in both groups manifested growth failure or wasting syndrome. Immunodepression, manifested by a conspicuous depletion of thymic cortex, the thymus dependent areas of the spleen, and growth hormone producing-alpha adenopituicytes was significantly (p less than 0.01) related to the wasting status of the animals. The ability of pituitary glands from these animals to produce growth hormone was studied by in situ immunoperoxidase staining and showed a significant (p less than 0.01) difference between healthy and wasted animals. Rabies and feline leukemia viruses were each found responsible for the low immunoreactivity of growth hormone producing alpha adenopituicytes. Because the hypothalamus and the hypophysis were both found infected, it was concluded that regardless of the triggering agent in primary wasting, the hypothalamic-hypophyseal-thymic axis was always involved through a decrease in growth hormone production.
Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Coupling at Earth, Jupiter, and Beyond

In this tutorial and selective review, we define magnetosphere-ionosphere (M-I) coupling, present its basic properties, and summarize outstanding problems in the field. We compare M-I coupling processes at Earth and Jupiter. We use that comparison to argue that M-I coupling processes that generate the northern and southern auroral lights are fundamental to how some astrophysical systems behave and evolve throughout the universe, specifically those involving partially ionized gases connected by magnetic fields. Using the example of solar system formation, we finally speculate as to the importance of what we can learn about M-I coupling at Earth and Jupiter towards understanding these distant astrophysical systems.
Uses and Limitations of Inulin and Mannitol for Monitoring Gill Permeability Changes in the Rainbow Trout

SUMMARY Inulin and mannitol are excreted at measurable rates across gills in freshwater and sea-water-adapted trout. Clearance behaviour suggests that the effluxes may reflect passive permeation, which might make such compounds suitable for monitoring permeability changes. Application of poly-L-lysine and elevation of environmental temperature made FW trout gills reversibly 'leaky* to Na+. Mannitol efflux paralleled that of Na+ in both experiments. However, Na + efflux was reduced in SW trout gills, by increasing external Ca B+ and mannitol efflux was unchanged. The data suggest that these nonelectrolytes can be used to assess permeability changes that do not involve highly selective ionic channels.
Total body water reference values and prediction equations for adults

Total body water reference values and prediction equations for adults. Background The clinical interpretation of total body water (TBW) necessitates the availability of timely comparative reference data. The prediction of TBW volume in renal disease is critical in order to prescribe and monitor the dose of dialysis in the determination of Kt/V. In clinical practice, urea distribution (V) is commonly predicted from anthropometric equations that are several decades old and for white patients only. This article presents new reference values and prediction equations for TBW from anthropometry for white and black adults. Methods The study sample included four data sets, two from Ohio and one each from New Mexico and New York, for a total of 604 white men, 128 black men, 772 white women, and 191 black women who were 18 to 90 years of age. The TBW concentration was measured by the deuterium or tritium oxide dilution method, and body composition was measured with a Lunar DXA machine. An all-possible-subsets of regression was used to predict TBW. The accuracy of the selected equations was confirmed by cross-validation. Results Blacks had larger TBW means than whites at all age groups. The 75th TBW percentile for whites approximated the TBW median for blacks at most ages. The white men and black men and women had the largest TBW means ever reported for healthy individuals. The race- and sex-specific TBW prediction equations included age, weight, and stature, with body mass index (BMI) substituted for weight in the white men. The root mean square errors (RMSEs) and standard errors for the individual (SEIs) ranged from approximately 3.8 to 5.0 L for the men and from 3.3 to 3.6 L for the women. In both men and women, high values of TBW were associated with high levels of total body fat (TBF) and fat-free mass (FFM). Conclusion TBW in these healthy adults is relatively stable through a large portion of adulthood. There are significant race and sex differences in TBW. These accurate and precise equations for TBW provide a useful tool for the clinical prediction of TBW in renal disease for white and black adults. These are the first TBW prediction equations that are specific for blacks.
Structure and kinetic behavior of linear multicompartment systems

The general kinetic behavior of a multicompartment system is shown to depend upon certain general structural features, including its connectivity, whether it is open, and whether it contains cyclic pathways. Structural influences are clarified by putting the system matrix in a certain form. For systems not strongly connected, a distinction is drawn between partially and completely open systems. Necessary and sufficient conditions are given for non-singularity of the system matrix and for asymptotic stability of the system. Sufficient conditions are given for non-overshooting and monotonic transitions. A system is demonstrated whose solution may contain a prolonged series of damped oscillations; but the oscillations are very slow and small; and it seems unlikely that oscillations could be detected experimentally in any biological system.
Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer to human cerebral arteries.

Gene therapy is being investigated as a putative treatment option for cardiovascular diseases, including cerebral vasospasm. Because there is presently no information regarding gene transfer to human cerebral arteries, the principal objective of this study was to characterize adenovirus-mediated expression and function of recombinant endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene in human pial arteries. Pial arteries (outer diameter 500 to 1000 μm) were isolated from 30 patients undergoing temporal lobectomy for intractable seizures and were studied using histologic staining, histochemistry, electron microscopy, and isometric force recording. Gene transfer experiments were performed ex vivo using adenoviral vectors encoding genes for bovine eNOS (AdCMVeNOS) and Escherichia coli β-galactosidase (AdCMVLacZ). In transduced arteries, studied 24 hours after exposure to vectors, expression of recombinant β-galactosidase and eNOS was detected by histochemistry, localizing mainly to the adventitia (n = 4). Immunoelectron microscopy localized recombinant eNOS in adventitial fibroblasts. During contractions to U46619, bradykinin-induced relaxations were significantly augmented in AdCMVeNOS-transduced rings compared with control and AdCMVLacZ-transduced rings (P < 0.01; n = 6). The NOS inhibitor L-nitroarginine methylester (L-NAME) caused significantly greater contraction in AdCMVeNOS-transduced rings (P < 0.001; n = 4) and inhibited bradykinin-induced relaxations in control and transduced rings (P < 0.001; n = 6). The current findings suggest that in AdCMVeNOS-transduced human pial arteries, expression of recombinant eNOS occurs mainly in adventitial fibroblasts where it augments relaxations to NO-dependent agonists such as bradykinin. Findings from the current study might be beneficial in future clinical applications of gene therapy for the treatment or prevention of cerebral vasospasm.
Effect of Safety and Environmental Variables on Task Durations in Steel Erection

In spite of the efforts by government agencies, labor organizations, and researchers in the field of health and safety, injuries and fatalities continue to affect the construction industry. In 2002 the construction industry had the undesirable distinction of having two of the most dangerous occupations in the United States, with fatalities among structural steel workers at 58.2 per 100,000 workers (fourth highest rate) and among construction laborers at 27.7 per 100,000 workers (ninth highest rate). Costs associated with construction accidents, such as increased insurance premiums and medical expenses, and loss of productivity are also concerns in the industry. It has not been demonstrated how unsafe working conditions affect worker performance, and the impact of unsafe work practices on worker performance has not been quantified. This paper describes a methodology that included direct observation of steel erection activities and statistical analysis of task duration data. The data collected at steel erection sites included safety conditions such as the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), elevation of the work area, environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity, and worker performance in the form of task durations. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) analysis of 186 of steel erection task durations collected over a six-month period showed that the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), the time of day during which the operation was being performed, the elevation at which the work was being performed, and the presence of decking below the work area had statistically significant effects on the durations of steel erection tasks.
Review of clinical experience with clot-lysing agents

Abstract The general results of treatment of 197 patients have shown that effective fibrinolytic activity can be delivered and maintained by either fibrinolysin (SK-activated) plasminogen or streptokinase alone for periods of up to twenty-four hours. In general, much shorter periods of treatment (four to six hours with doses of 200,000 to 600,000 units) repeated for two to four days are necessary for treatment of venous thromboses, depending on the age of the condition and the amount of inhibitor present. Arterial thrombi or emboli are best treated by local instillation followed by removal of the embolus if present, or by local plus systemic treatment. Thromboses can be treated by more prolonged infusions, usually of ten to twelve or more hours' duration. Coronary and cerebral thromboses must be approached with caution primarily because of the difficulty of diagnosis and evaluation. With carotid arteriograms and local infusion, treatment of early cerebral thrombosis can be under-taken more logically. The materials available have steadily improved and are now safe for general use in the dosages recommended here and with proper laboratory control of activity and side effects. Search should continue for better activators and for methods of enhancing fibrinolytic activity in the patient.
Heat Induced Gelation of Pea (Pisum sativum) Mixed Globulins, Vicilin and Legumin

Mixed globulins (MG) were extracted from ground dry peas (Pisum sativum, B-160) with 0.5M NaCl, 50 mM potassium phosphate, pH 7.2, and isolated by precipitation at pH 4.5. Crude vicilin and legumin were fractionated from the MG by dialysis against 0.2M NaCl, pH 4.8, and centrifugation, then further purified using DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Conditions for maximum gel hardness of heat induced MG gel, as determined with an Instron Universal Testing Machine, were heating for 20 min at pH 7.1 at 87 o C. Purified vicilin, but not legumin, formed heat induced gels. The relationship was linear between protein (globulin) concentration and log gel hardness. At all protein concentrations studied, as proportion of legumin decreased, gel hardness increased
Transport of neutral solute in articular cartilage: effects of loading and particle size

We investigate the influence that matrix structure, size of diffusing molecules and type and intensity of mechanical loading have on the transport of neutral solutes in articular cartilage. Althoug...
Optimization of calyculin A-induced premature chromosome condensation assay for chromosome aberration studies†

Calyculin A-induced premature chromosome condensation (PCC) assay is a simple and useful method to assess structural and numerical chromosome aberrations in cells. Our hypothesis in this study is that suboptimum calyculin A induction of PCC resulting in fuzzy compactness and/or shortened length chromosomes would decrease the detection sensitivity of numerical and structural chromosome aberrations such as small PCC rings and small excess fragments. In this study, an optimization of calyculin A exposure on chromosome morphology and PCC induction frequency was investigated using a human peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) ex vivo irradiation ((60) Co-γ rays; ∼0.6 Gy/min; 0-30 Gy) model. Treatment with calyculin A (50 nM) for 15 and 30 min resulted in 11.3 ± 2.7 and 9.9 ± 1.6-fold increases in the frequency of G(2) /M-PCC cells with extended length chromosomes compared with the 60-min treated group over a broad dose range (0 to 20 Gy), respectively. The G(2) /M-PCC scoring index per PCC in 15- and 30-min treated groups was increased by 1.9 ± 0.2 (P = 0.001) and 1.8 ± 0.2 (P = 0.001) compared with the 60-min treated group over 0-20 Gy, respectively. The G(2) /M-PCC efficiency of 30-min treated group was highest in the three conditions (i.e., 15-, 30-, and 60-min treatment) of calyculin A exposure. Calyculin A (50 nM) treatment for 30 min before the 48-h harvest of mitogen-stimulated human PBL is optimum for the formation of suitable chromosome morphology necessary to assess structural chromosome aberrations induced by exposure to radiation using the chemical induced-PCC assay. Published 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Dynamic General Equilibrium Model of Driving, Gasoline Use and Vehicle Fuel Efficiency

The paper constructs a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model to study the endogenous determination of gasoline use, driving and vehicle fuel efficiency. Before vehicles are produced, their fuel efficiency can be chosen optimally. Once produced, their fuel efficiency cannot be changed. The model generates endogenously different short-run and long-run price and income elasticities of gasoline use and vehicle miles of travel. We find that although gasoline taxes, the CAFE standard and mileage taxes can all reduce gasoline use in the long run, they are different in terms of the magnitude of responses and the dynamic paths followed by key variables.
Minireview serum inhibitors of interleukin-2

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is an important modulator of cell-mediated immunity. Its activity is suppressed by various serum inhibitors generated under normal and pathological conditions. It is believed that an inhibitor which occurs in normal serum is a T-cell derived heat labile protein (or protein-glycolipid complex), and it acts in a homeostatic mechanism to restrict IL-2 action to the vicinity of the activated T cells. Changes in inhibitory activity have been found in various physiological and pathological states, e.g. during ontogeny, in systemic lupus erythematosus, in rheumatoid arthritis, and with some systemic infections. There are also suggestions that some tumor cells generate IL-2 inhibitors which diminish killer cell activity against the tumor. It is possible that a better understanding of IL-2 inhibitors would help elucidate some pathological mechanisms connected with disturbed cellular immune responses.
Early revascularization improves survival in cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction

The effects of coronary revascularization by percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or coronary bypass grafting, or both, on survival were evaluated in 81 patients with cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction. Thirty-two patients had successful revascularization and 49 patients had unsuccessful or no revascularization. Revascularization was achieved by coronary angioplasty in 22 patients, coronary bypass surgery in 2 and angioplasty followed by bypass surgery in 8. No significant differences were noted between the two groups with regard to baseline clinical or hemodynamic variables. Intraaortic balloon counterpulsation was employed in 27 (84%) of the 32 patients in the group with revascularization and in 19 (39%) of the 49 patients without revascularization (p = 0.0006). The in-hospital survival was significantly better in the patients with--18 (56%) of 32--than in the patients without revascularization--4 (8%) of 49 (p less than 0.0001). At a mean follow-up period of 21 +/- 15 months, this survival difference persisted--16 (50%) of 32 patients with revascularization survived versus 1 (2%) of 49 patients without revascularization (p less than 0.0001). The mean time from the onset of shock to revascularization differed significantly between survivors (12.4 +/- 15 h) and nonsurvivors (58.5 +/- 93 h) in the group with revascularization (p = 0.0004). In the revascularization group, the in-hospital survival rate was 77% (17 of 22) when revascularization was performed within 24 h but only 10% (1 of 10) when it was performed after 24 h (p = 0.0006).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
23 ACCEPTANCE OF MULTIPLE INSULIN INJECTIONS BY ADOSCENT DIABETICS

Nine adolescent diabetics, 6 males and 3 females from 19 yr 10 m to 13 yr 1 m on poor diabetic control on one injection of NPH and Regular insulins daily, were placed on good diabetic control with two injections of NPH and Regular insulins daily. Good diabetic control was defined by fasting blood sugars below 200 mg per 100 ml and plasma levels of HgA1C within one SD below the normal mean for 12 months. At the time of their hospitalization for stabilization on the new treatment regimen, patients' emotional adjustment was evaluated by means of a structured interview plus figure drawings and data from parental and school sources. Acceptance of the new treatment regimen was positive in 8 of the 9 patients. There was only one instance of poor acceptance, a 13 yr old boy, with a prior history of poor compliance. In the other 8, there was a generally good prior adjustment to being diabetic. It was concluded that a more demanding treatment regimen did not add to adjustment problems in those adolescents who had previously achieved an emotional accommodation to their disease.
M-FAILURE GROUP REPLACEMENT MODEL FOR QUEUEING SYSTEMS WITH UNRELIABLE AND REPAIRABLE SERVERS

In this research we consider the group replacement problem for an M/M/N production/service system. The servers are unreliable with identically exponentially distributed failure times. The repair cost consists of a fixed cost and a variable cost proportional to the number of repaired machines. In addition there is a holding cost for each customer in the system per unit of time. We develop a specific class of m-failure group replacement policy where the repair is started as soon as the number of failed machines reaches a predetermined level m. In the repair process, we assume the positive repair time and allow server failures during replacement. Finally, we formulate a matrix-geometric model to perform the steady state analysis and to obtain the expected average number of customers and the expected average cost. Besides the mathematical analysis, we numerically demonstrate the properties of the optimal policy for various sets of parameter values.
A user agency's view of hydrologic, soil erosion and water quality modelling

Abstract The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) of the US Department of Agriculture provides assistance for land management planning and the use of conservation measures on private farmland in the United States. The NRCS must concern itself with a broad range of issues with regard to models and their application to support the assessments and decision making associated with these activities. These issues include the basic science for the description of physical processes, user issues in the practical application of the model, and software maintenance. In recent years, a significant amount of effort has gone into implementing existing agricultural hydrology/erosion/water quality models. There are, however, some important areas of model development that need to be addressed, including: reconciling the strengths and weaknesses of existing models; accounting for spatial variability of precipitation over the catchment; rectifying weaknesses in the stochastic climate generators currently included in some erosion models; improving the representation of runoff generating processes and water flow paths; and improving our understanding of ephemeral gully (thalweg) erosion and including algorithms to describe it. New model development also needs to follow modern standards of software engineering to ensure code reusability and maintainability. Although the NRCS is primarily a model user agency, it must be involved in all aspects of model development as well as model application to ensure satisfactory results.