cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Resolution of Nephrocalcinosis Associated with Tumor Lysis Syndrome

(1994). Resolution of Nephrocalcinosis Associated with Tumor Lysis Syndrome. Pediatric Hematology and Oncology: Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 115-118.
Novel computed tomography indexes of left atrial appendage stasis.

Contrast enhanced multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) may detect left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus; however, its ability to qualify LAA stasis has not been studied. We sought to identify MDCT derived LAA radiographic parameters which could qualify LAA stasis as defined by established transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) parameters. Pre-procedural MDCT followed by TEE (median procedural time difference of 11 days) from 45 patients who underwent ablation for atrial fibrillation were analyzed retrospectively. Contrast enhanced, non-gated, helical MDCT (64 detector row) was performed according to the institutional protocol. Using a combination of parametric and nonparametric tests, the mean attenuation and heterogeneity parameters of LAA attenuation were correlated with the presence of spontaneous echocardiographic contrast and Doppler derived LAA emptying velocity on TEE. If significant correlation is observed, a receiver operating curve analysis will be performed. The baseline characteristics of the studied population were; age, 62 ± 11; CHADS2 score, 2.0 ± 1.2; heart rate, 79 ± 10 bpm; left ventricular ejection fraction, 49 ± 14 %. SEC was seen on TEE in 19 patients; ten with mild, eight with moderate, and one had severe SEC. No patients had LAA thrombus. Compared with the group without SEC, those with SEC had significantly increased coefficient of variation (0.19 vs. 0.14, p = 0.014) and range to mean ratio (1.04 vs. 0.73, p = 0.011). There was no significant correlation between mean LAA attenuation and LAA emptying velocity. However, the range, range to mean ratio, standard deviation and coefficient of variation of LAA attenuation had a significantly negative correlation with LAA emptying velocity (r = −0.486, r = −0.497, r = −0.434, r = −0.466, respectively, all p < 0.05). On receiver operating curve analysis, each of the heterogeneity parameters significantly discriminated LAA emptying velocities ≤30 cm/s, with areas under the curve of 0.88, 0.83, 0.81 and 0.76 respectively. In patients with atrial fibrillation, increased contrast heterogeneity within the LAA on MDCT correlated with decreased LAA emptying velocity on TEE. Contrast enhanced MDCT provides an adjunctive, noninvasive technique for Qualification of LAA stasis.
SU-C-218-06: Evaluation of a CT-Based, Semi-Automated Lung Mass Estimation Method Under Varying Acquisition Conditions.

Purpose: To evaluate a simple, semi‐automated lung mass estimation method on CT scans from a variety of acquisition techniques for mass correction of MIRD dose estimates. Methods:CT scans from ten patients undergoing stereotactic body radiation therapytreatment planning on a GE DST PET/CT scanner were analyzed retrospectively. For each patient, free‐ breathing (FB) and respiratory gated 4D‐CT scans were acquired. 4D‐CT scans were reconstructed and sorted into ten phases representing one complete respiratory cycle. An average CT (ACT) was derived from the ten phase reconstructions. Half the patients also had breath‐hold (BH) scans. Scans were analyzed using Osirix MD's V 1.3 (Pixmeo, Geneva Switzerland) Grow Region segmentation tool. Lung volume; average lung,tissue (∼lcm ROI in the descending aorta), and air (∼1 cm ROI in the trachea) HU's were recorded for each acquisition type. Lung mass was calculated by assuming each voxel is a linear combination of only air and tissue. The fraction of total lung volume consisting of lungtissue is assumed to be (lung HU ‐ air HU) / (tissue HU ‐ air HU), and mass = total volume X fraction X 1 g/cm3. Results: 4D‐CT mass estimates showed variability, with a minimum at end‐expiration and a maximum just after end‐inspiration. ACT generally produced the highest estimate. FB and BH estimates were near the median. Conclusions: Although calculated mass increased with increasing total lung volume, the difference between minimum and maximum population means in the 4D‐CT data was 5.5%. FB and BH estimates fell within that 5.5%, while the ACT mean was 9.8% above the global mean. The range of estimated masses (524 g to 977 g) suggests the value of lung mass estimates for more patient‐specific MIRD dose assessment. Excluding ACT, the results indicate that any of the acquisition techniques can provide a reasonable lung mass estimate. This work was supported in part by a residency grant from the AAPM.
Ethical conflict and job satisfaction of public relations practitioners

Abstract This study attempted to explore the linkage between ethical conflict and job satisfaction, causes of ethical conflicts, and consequences of job dissatisfaction of public relations practitioners. The findings show that many practitioners confirmed the existence of ethical conflict in their workplace and suggest that ethical challenges are largely triggered by top management's ethical standard. Although practitioners resolved conflicts by leaving their companies, they also recognized the hope in resolving the ethical challenges that they had faced. Participants emphasized the importance of an open communication environment, the support of internal stakeholders, and a high professional standard.
Morphology and dendritic maturation of developing principal neurons in the rat basolateral amygdala

The basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLA) assigns emotional valence to sensory stimuli, and many amygdala-dependent behaviors undergo marked development during postnatal life. We recently showed principal neurons in the rat BLA undergo dramatic changes to their electrophysiological properties during the first postnatal month, but no study to date has thoroughly characterized changes to morphology or gene expression that may underlie the functional development of this neuronal population. We addressed this knowledge gap with reconstructions of biocytin-filled principal neurons in the rat BLA at postnatal days 7 (P7), 14, 21, 28, and 60. BLA principal neurons underwent a number of morphological changes, including a twofold increase in soma volume from P7 to P21. Dendritic arbors expanded significantly during the first postnatal month and achieved a mature distribution around P28, in terms of total dendritic length and distance from soma. The number of primary dendrites and branch points were consistent with age, but branch points were found farther from the soma in older animals. Dendrites of BLA principal neurons at P7 had few spines, and spine density increased nearly fivefold by P21. Given the concurrent increase in dendritic material, P60 neurons had approximately 17 times as many total spines as P7 neurons. Together, these developmental transitions in BLA principal neuron morphology help explain a number of concomitant electrophysiological changes during a critical period in amygdala development.
Regulation of RNA Polymerase II Termination by Phosphorylation of Gdown1

Gdown1 is a substoichiometric subunit of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) that has been recently demonstrated to be involved in stabilizing promoter-proximal paused Pol II. It was shown to inhibit termination of Pol II by transcription termination factor 2 (TTF2) as well as block elongation stimulation by transcription factor IIF (TFIIF). Here, using in vitro transcription assays, we identified two functional domains in Gdown1. Although both are required to maintain a tight association with Pol II, the N- and C-terminal domains are responsible for blocking TTF2 and TFIIF, respectively. A highly conserved LPDKG motif found in the N-terminal domain of Gdown1 is also highly conserved in TTF2. Deletion of this motif eliminated the TTF2 inhibitory activity of Gdown1. We identified a phosphorylated form of Gdown1 with altered mobility in SDS-PAGE that appears during mitosis. A kinase in HeLa nuclear extract that caused the shift was partially purified. In vitro, Gdown1 phosphorylated by this kinase demonstrated reduced activity in blocking both TTF2 and TFIIF because of its reduced affinity for Pol II. Mass spectrometry identified Ser-270 as the site of this phosphorylation. An S270A mutation was not phosphorylated by the partially purified kinase, and an S270E mutation partially mimicked the properties of phospho-Gdown1. Gdown1 Ser-270 phosphorylation occurs predominately during mitosis, and we suggest that this would enable TTF2 to terminate all Pol II even if it is associated with Gdown1.
Flotation of the P-type semiconductor NiO as a function of point defects

Abstract Electrophoretic measurements have demonstrated that the point of zero charge (PZC) of sintered NiO occurs at pH 7.5. The PZC is lowered to 6.4 by monovalent ion (Li+) doping and raised to 9.4 by trivalention (Al3+, Cr3+ doping. Flotation of the NiO samples with dodecyl sulfate and amine collectors follows the electrostatic model of flotation; below the PZC the positively charged solid is best floated by the anionic sulfate while above the PZC the solid, now negatively charged, is best floated with the cationic amine. The floatability of the doped NiO changes in a predictable manner as the PZC is shifted. A model is proposed to relate changes in the major point defects in NiO with the observed changes in the surface electrical properties and flotation behavior.
Bulk Heterojunction Materials Composed of Poly(2,5-bis(3-tetradecylthiophen-2-yl)thieno[3,2-b]thiophene): Ultrafast Electron Transfer and Carrier Recombination†

The results of time-resolved spectroscopic studies of the structurally ordered liquid-crystalline polymer, poly(2,5-bis(3-tetradecylthiophen-2-yl)thieno[3,2-b]thiophene), PBTTT, and of composites of PBTTT with the soluble fullerene derivative, [6,6]-phenyl-C61 butyric acid methyl ester, PCBM are reported. These ultrafast studies focus on the photogeneration of mobile carriers in PBTTT/PCBM composites following sub-picosecond electron transfer from PBTTT to PCBM. The recombination and loss of mobile carriers at early times (approximately 200 ps following photoexcitation) were measured with different ratios of the PBTTT and PCBM components (1:1 and 1:3) by monitoring the time decay of the photoinduced absorption features associated with the charge-transferred state. The results are well-correlated with the solar-cell efficiency obtained using PBTTT/PCBM bulk heterojunction materials.
The International Union of Biological Sciences

Historical. Although the first international organization in the field of science was established as early as 1861 it was not until the turn of the century that the movement began which culminated in the system of scientific unions as it exists today. In 1899 certain of the leading academies of the world formed an International Association of Academies which met at intervals until World War I. After the war this organization was superseded by the International Research Council, the statutes of which provided for the establishment of International Unions in the various sciences. At the first General Assembly of the IRC in 1919 the unions for Astronomy, Chemistry, Geodesy and Geophysics, and Mathematics were formed. Soon after, other unions were added, among which was the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS, 1923). The unions as first constituted were completely under the domination of the International Research Council. They were required to meet in Brussels in conjunction with the IRC. No country could belong to a union which did not also adhere to the IRC and pay dues to it. These restrictions, however, caused mounting dissatisfaction and led in 1931 to a reorganization of IRC under the name of International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU). Under the statutes of this organization, the unions, although adhering to ICSU, paying dues to it, and being represented on its Board, became largely autonomous bodies, free to meet when and where they pleased and eligible for support from countries not directly adhering to ICSU itself. Finally in 1946, UNESCO was created and at once entered into an agreement with ICSU whereby the latter undertook to support and assist UNESCO in the fulfillment of its objectives in the area of science, and UNESCO agreed to afford a measure of financial support for the scientific activities of ICSU, and its constituent unions.
Strategies for Left Ventricular Assist Device Insertion After the Dor Procedure

Insertion of the inflow cannula of an implantable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a surgical challenge in patients who have previously undergone a Dor ventriculoplasty procedure. We report a 54-year-old man who had successful LVAD insertion 18 months after a Dor procedure. We also describe the strategy of LVAD insertion in such patients.
High‐dimensional coexistence based on individual variation: a synthesis of evidence

High biodiversity of forests is not predicted by traditional models, and evidence for trade-offs those models require is limited. High-dimensional regulation (e.g., N factors to regulate N species) has long been recognized as a possible alternative explanation, but it has not be been seriously pursued, because only a few limiting resources are evident for trees, and analysis of multiple interactions is challenging. We develop a hierarchical model that allows us to synthesize data from long-term, experimental, data sets with processes that control growth, maturation, fecundity, and survival. We allow for uncertainty at all stages and variation among 26 000 individuals and over time, including 268 000 tree years, for dozens of tree species. We estimate population-level parameters that apply at the species level and the interactions among latent states, i.e., the demographic rates for each individual, every year. The former show that the traditional trade-offs used to explain diversity are not present. Demographic rates overlap among species, and they do not show trends consistent with maintenance of diversity by simple mechanisms (negative correlations and limiting similarity). However, estimates of latent states at the level of individuals and years demonstrate that species partition environmental variation. Correlations between responses to variation in time are high for individuals of the same species, but not for individuals of different species. We demonstrate that these relationships are pervasive, providing strong evidence that high- dimensional regulation is critical for biodiversity regulation.
Resection of multiple recurrent cardiac myxomas in an adult man with Carney's complex

Cardiac myxomas have many manifestations, including an association with endocrine overreactivity, unusual testicular tumors, and manifestations in Carney’s complex [1]. We recently treated a 40-year-old man who presented with an embolic stroke. He had a family history of cardiac myxoma and underwent resection of a right atrial myxoma 7 years earlier. Echocardiography revealed multiple intracardiac masses in the left atrium (Fig 1A, arrow), right atrium, and right ventricle (Fig 1B, arrow). An ultrasound examination of the scrotum showed multiple bilateral testicular calcifications (Figs 2A, 2B), thought to be calcifying Sertoli cell tumors. A
The number of feasible designs in a compatibility matrix

Abstract Many design and planning problems consist of a number of distinct subsystems. Generally, there are several possible alternatives for design of a subsystem. However, an alternative for one subsystem may be incompatible with an alternative for another subsystem. Thus, a feasible design is one that incorporates one alternative for each subsystem such that no pairwise incompatibilities exist. Several such design and planning problems have been formulated as compatibility matrices. The feasible designs can be identified by using an efficient algorithm. This paper shows that, in general, the exact number of feasible designs decreases exponentially with the increase in the number of incompatible pairs. This finding should motivate more potential users to employ the compatibility matrix approach.
1,25‐dihydroxy vitamin D3 and 12‐O‐tetradecanoyl phorbol‐13‐acetate synergistically induce monocytic cell differentiation: FOS and RB expression

1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 and 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) interact synergistically to induce monocytic differentiation of U937 histiocytic lymphoma cells. Addition of TPA causes an otherwise ineffective dose of 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 to induce differentiation. The induced differentiation depends on the simultaneous (vs. sequential) presence of both agents. The kinetics of induced differentiation are consistent with a G1 specific cellular response to initiate the metabolic cascade culminating in cell differentiation. The induced differentiation occurs with down-regulation of c-fos protein and an accompanying up-regulation of RB protein expression, consistent with a possible need for up-regulated RB expression to maintain a given differentiated phenotype and suppress transcriptional activators that might typically be associated with proliferation. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Seston, light, nutrients and chlorophyll in the lower Missouri River, 1994-1998.

ABSTRACT We collected data for five years from the lower Missouri River including discharge (819–10032 m3 s−1), mean depth (2.7–9.3 m), underwater irradiance (0.1–3.7 Ein m−2 d−1), suspended solids (19–2340 mg L−1), total phosphorus (131–1810 μg L−1), total nitrogen (0.9–4.2 mg L−1), nitrate-N (380–3050 μg L−1), silica (8.2–16.8 mg L−1) and chlorophyll (4.5–107 μg L−1). Suspended solids, phosphorus and light attenuation varied directly with discharge. Nitrate, ammonium-N, silica and chlorophyll were strongly seasonal. Chlorophyll was temperature dependent exhibiting winter minima ( 40 μg L−1). In the growing season, chlorophyll co-varied with light and varied inversely with silica and dissolved P. Poor light conditions (mixed depth:photic depth > 10) and rapid flow rates (≈ 150 km d−1) suggest that in situ production of algae is less important than flux of biomass from upstream. Chlorophyll flux and pheophytin increased with discharge indicating contributions of bent...
Oncolytic measles viruses displaying a single-chain antibody against CD38, a myeloma cell marker.

Live attenuated measles virus (MV-Edm) has potent oncolytic activity against myeloma xenografts in mice. Therapy of multiple myeloma, a disseminated plasma cell malignancy, would require systemic administration of the virus. Thus, the virus should ideally be targeted to infect only myeloma cells to minimize collateral damage to normal tissues: viral binding to its natural receptors must be ablated and a new specificity domain that targets entry into myeloma cells be added. This study covers 2 critical steps toward generating such a retargeted virus: (1) a new specificity domain against the plasma cell marker CD38 was constructed in the form of a single-chain antibody (scFv) and (2) display of that scFv on the measles viral envelope glycoprotein successfully redirected virus entry through CD38 expressed on target cells devoid of the natural MV receptors. The anti-CD38 scFv was tethered to the C-terminus of the hemagglutinin (H) glycoprotein of MV-Edm through a Factor Xa protease cleavable linker. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated that the scFv was efficiently incorporated into recombinant viral particles. Replication of MV-αCD38 was not hindered by the scFv, reaching titers comparable to MV-Edm. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were resistant to infection by MV-Edm and MV-αCD38. In contrast, CHO cells expressing CD38 became susceptible to infection by MV-αCD38 but not MV-Edm. Removal of the displayed scFv rendered MV-αCD38 noninfectious on CHO-CD38 cells. Tumorigenicity of CHO-CD38 cells in immunocompromised mice was significantly attenuated by MV-αCD38, resulting in enhanced survival of these mice compared with the control group.
The Relation of Parent and Child Gender to Parental Tolerance of Child Disruptive Behaviors

Parental tolerance has been defined as the degree to which a parent tends to be annoyed by his or her child’s disruptive behavior. The purpose of the current study is to examine the relation of both parent and child gender to parental tolerance of child disruptive behaviors. Participants were 150 parents with 3–6 year-old at-risk children (47.5 % girls) who sought help with parenting of their child’s oppositional defiant behaviors. Tolerance was measured by the difference between parent ratings of intensity on 36 disruptive behaviors and whether each behavior was identified as a problem (resulting in a score of either high, expected, or low tolerance). A 2 (child gender) by 2 (parent gender) analysis of variance was conducted on the tolerance score. A significant interaction between child and parent gender emerged: Mothers were equally tolerant of boys’ and girls’ oppositional defiant behavior but fathers were more tolerant of boys’ than girls’ oppositional behavior. Exploratory analyses suggested that this interaction may be qualified by clinical status of the child. Implications and future directions are discussed.
Influence of plasma drug level and the presence of conduction disease on the electrophysiologic effects of procainamide

Abstract Electrophysiologic measurements were made in 16 patients before and after the intravenous administration of procainamide. The drug was administered at two different dose levels. The lower plasma procainamide level (6 to 7 μg/ml) caused small decreases in cycle length (848 ± 13 versus 799 ± 42 msec), sinus nodal recovery time (1,166 ± 81 versus 1,024 ± 90 msec at a paced rate of 120 beats/min) and sinoatrial conduction time (105 ± 11 to 90 ± 9 msec). Sinus or atrial echo zones, whether or not they caused supraventricular tachyarrhythmia, were abolished by procainamide in 11 of 13 instances. The higher plasma level of procainamide (10 to 11 μg/ml) generally caused greater changes in electrophysiologic measurements. Atrial refractory periods tended to increase but changed significantly only at higher plasma levels. The latter effect was blunted in patients with a prolonged sinoatrial conduction time. The A-H interval and atrioventricular nodal functional refractory period tended to decrease at higher plasma levels, but not significantly. The H-V interval increased slightly from 48 ± 2 to 52 ± 2 msec; this effect was blunted in patients with bundle branch block. It is concluded that procainamide could be useful in managing supraventricular tachyarrhythmia because it abolishes atrial and sinus echo zones that trigger supraventricular tachyarrhythmia and because its widespread effects make it capable of blocking reentry at several sites. The electrophysiologic effects or procainamide are less predictable in patients with conduction disease, and some effects occur only at high plasma levels.
Lactate and glycogen metabolism during and after exercise in the lizardSceloporus occidentalis

Lactate removal and glycogen replenishment were studied in the lizardSceloporus occidentalis following exhaustion at 35°C. Whole body lactate concentrations and oxygen consumption were measured inSceloporus at rest, after 2 min vigorous exercise and at intervals during a 150 min recovery period. Lactate concentrations peaked at 2.2 mg/g (24 mM) after exercise and returned to resting levels after 90 min. Oxygen consumption returned to resting rates after 66 min. In a second set of experiments, glycogen and lactate concentrations of liver, hindlimb and trunk musculature were measured over the same time periods of exercise and recovery. The decrease in muscle glycogen following exercise was identical (mg/g) to the increase in muscle lactate, and the stoichiometric and temporal relationships between lactate removal and glycogen replenishment during the recovery period were also similar. Glycogen replenishment was rapid (within 150 min) and complete in fastedSceloporus. Dietary supplement of carbohydrate during 48 h of recovery led to supercompensation of glycogen stores in the muscle (+66%) and liver (+800%). The changes were similar to the seasonal differences measured inSceloporus from the field.
Upregulation by Retinoic Acid of Interleukin-2-Receptor mRNA in Human T Lymphocytes

Abstract It was previously demonstrated that retinoic acid (RA) can enhance the functional responses of human T lymphocytes by increasing surface IL-2Rα chain protein expression on proliferating T blasts, resulting in augmented IL-2-dependent growth. In the present study, we used IL-2- maintained lymphoblasts generated from human thymocytes to show that RA enhancement of IL-2Rα is accompanied by an increase in steady-state levels of IL-2Rα mRNA. This increase occurred within 1 hr after the addition of RA to the culture and was inhibited by the presence of the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide. RA did not alter the stability of either IL-2Rα on the cell surface or IL-2Rα mRNA, suggesting regulation by RA at the level of transcription. This contention was supported by the demonstrated ability of RA to activate the IL-2Rα promoter in a chloramphenicol acetlytransferase plasmid construct that was transfected into the blast cells. In addition to inducing IL-2Rα expression. RA also increased the surface expression and mRNA levels of IL-2Rβ, the 75-kDa component of the IL-2 receptor that mediates IL-2 signal transduction. These new findings showing regulation by RA of both IL-2Rα and IL-2Rβ suggest multiple parthways by which this retinoid can modulate functional IL-2 receptors.
The role of key characteristics in the design of mechanical assemblies

Purpose – Products are complex and are comprised of many parts from many sources, designed at different times by different people and companies. The same holds true for the tooling and fixtures used to make and assemble them. There is little research and practice on how to design assemblies that deal with such problems. The purpose of this paper is to describe a technique aimed at this goal.Design/methodology/approach – The technique is built up from a number of concepts. The paper defines the intent of the design, identifies key assembly‐level dimensions called key characteristics (KCs) that embody the intent, designs an architecture for the assembly that will deliver each key dimension within some stated tolerance, and conveys the intent and architecture in the form of a diagram called a datum flow chain (DFC).Findings – The design and achievement of KCs is a joint responsibility of engineering and manufacturing.Originality/value – The DFC method provides people with a vocabulary and a simple diagrammin...
Strategies to Prevent Cellular Rejection in Pediatric Heart Transplant Recipients

Despite more than 40 years’ experience in pediatric heart transplantation, cellular rejection remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. In this review, strategies and agents to prevent acute cellular rejection are discussed. Strategies to prevent rejection are divided into two phases — induction and maintenance therapies. Currently, the most commonly used induction agents are polyclonal antibodies (rabbit or equine antithymocyte globulin) and interleukin-2 receptor antibodies (daclizumab or basiliximab). Induction therapies have reduced early rejection, are renal sparing, and can reduce corticosteroid exposure, but have not yet been shown to have a longer term survival benefit. Multiple maintenance immunosuppressants are available. Nearly all regimens include a calcineurin inhibitor (either ciclosporin [cyclosporine] or tacrolimus). Most combinations in pediatric heart transplantation include an antiproliferative agent (azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil or, less commonly, sirolimus). Everolimus has seen increasing use in adult heart transplant patients in Europe but, to date, its use is rare in pediatric heart transplantation. The use of corticosteroids as a third agent is still common, but strategies to avoid or minimize their use are increasing. The ‘best’ combination of therapies varies between studies. By gaining a better understanding of individuals’ genetic and environmental risk factors, we may in the future be able to better predict the course of cardiac allografts and enhance our ability to tailor immunosuppression to individual patient variables with the ultimate goal of inducing a state of immune tolerance.
Quantifying Effects of Clover Root Curculio (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Larval Feeding on Biomass and Root Reserves of Alfalfa

Alfalfa response to larval feeding of the clover root curculio (CRC), Sitona hispidulus (F.), was examined under controlled conditions. Nonlinear regression models were used to quantify reduction of plant biomass and total nonstructural carbohydrate root reserves based on taproot damage and CRC density. Root reserves, nodule dry weight, and number of nodules were most severely reduced by larval feeding, followed by dry weight reductions of other root components. Dry weight reductions of leaves, stems, and top growth were significantly correlated with larval taproot damage but were not significantly correlated with number of CRC recovered per plant. Taproot diameter was significantly and positively correlated with root reserves and plant dry weights, but this effect was independent of CRC density or damage. Results of a separate experiment indicated that the number of alfalfa root nodules damaged by first-instar CRC recovered from infested plants was much less than the number of intact nodules estimated to have been lost, based on a comparison of infested and uninfested plants. These results suggested that many nodules were consumed by older larvae rather than by first instars.
All the Brazil nuts are not on top: Vibration induced granular size segregation of binary, ternary and multi-sized mixtures

Abstract Vertically vibrated systems of granular materials have been used to gain insight on granular segregation for decades. However, the majority of studies have focused on the rise of a single large “intruder” particle in an otherwise monodisperse bed, or binary mixtures. As most industrially relevant granular materials are characterized by some degree of polydispersity, a study of granular mixtures with additional particle sizes is warranted to determine the role of polydispersity in granular mixing and segregation. In this work, the segregation of binary, ternary and polydisperse mixtures of nuts and spheres in a vertically vibrated cylinder is studied experimentally and computationally. We find that the presence of the other species – besides the smallest and largest size – is responsible for dramatic reductions in the final degree of segregation compared to a binary mixture. In addition, we quantify orders of magnitude reduction in the segregation rate of a mixture of polydisperse spheres compared to a binary mixture. This reduction in segregation coincides with an increase in diffusive and convective mixing and correlates with a lower average system density. Voidage distributions demonstrate the bed packing structure plays an important role in enabling multi-sized systems to remain in a more mixed state as compared to binary systems. Our observations show that this prototypical segregation experiment provides as much insight into why materials do not segregate as why they do.
Peripheral nerve injury sensitizes the response to visceral distension but not its inhibition by the antidepressant milnacipran.

BACKGROUND Manipulations that cause hypersensitivity to visceral stimuli have been shown to also result in hypersensitivity to somatic stimuli coming from convergent dermatomes, but the converse has not been examined. The authors tested whether lumbar spinal nerve ligation in rats, a common model of neuropathic pain that results in hypersensitivity to somatic stimuli, also leads to hypersensitivity to visceral stimuli coming from convergent dermatomes and whether pharmacology of inhibition differed between these two sensory modalities. METHODS Female Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized, and the left L5 and L6 spinal nerves were ligated. Animals received either intrathecal saline or milnacipran (0.1-3 microg), and withdrawal thresholds to mechanical testing in the left hind paw, using von Frey filaments, and visceral testing, using balloon colorectal distension, were determined. RESULTS Nerve ligation resulted in decreases in threshold to withdrawal to somatic mechanical stimulation (from 13 +/- 1.8 g to 2.7 +/- 0.7 g) and also in decreases in threshold to reflex response to visceral stimulation (from 60 mmHg to 40 mmHg). Intrathecal milnacipran increased withdrawal threshold to somatic stimulation in a dose-dependent manner but failed to alter the response to noxious visceral stimulation. CONCLUSIONS Injury of nerves innervating somatic structures enhances nociception from stimulation of viscera with convergent input from nearby dermatomes, suggesting that somatic neuropathic pain could be accompanied by an increased likelihood of visceral pain. Lack of efficacy of the antidepressant milnacipran against visceral stimuli suggests that visceral hypersensitivity may not share the same pharmacology of inhibition as somatic hypersensitivity after nerve injury.
The use of outdoor freshwater pond microcosms. III. Responses of phytoplankton and periphyton to pyridaben

An outdoor freshwater microcosm study was conducted in which pyridaben, an insecticide-miticide, was directly applied to water to determine its biological effects on phytoplankton and periphyton. Twenty-four microcosms (24 m3 each) were monitored for 11 months, then four treatments of pyridaben were applied two times at three concentrations (0.34, 3.4, 34.0 micrograms/L), including an untreated control. The succession of algal groups observed and the major genera found in microcosms during the baseline phase of the study were typical of oligo-mesotrophic systems in Florida. Following application of pyridaben, the most remarkable effect was a positive correlation of phytoplankton abundance with pyridaben concentrations in water; indicating increased abundance as a result of exposure. Both Chlorophyta and Pyrrophyta exhibited a significant increase (p = 0.05) in population abundance at 3.4 and 34.0 micrograms/L pyridaben. Chrysophyta also elicited a trend of increased abundance at 34.0 micrograms/L, although the effect was not significant. The effects on phytoplankton populations were associated with the decline of zooplankton populations as a result of a direct effect of pyridaben exposure. There were no effects of pyridaben on periphyton communities or on functional endpoints.
A self-correcting version of Karmarkar's algorithm

A relaxed version of Karmarkar’s algorithm is developed that does not require the direction of movement to be in the null space of the constraint matrix. The algorithm is proved to have the same rate of convergence as Karmarkar’s algorithm. Conditions are also given guaranteeing that the approach suggested by Karmarkar for transforming an “inequality form” linear program into the form required by his algorithm is well defined.
Requirement of Ras/MAPK pathway activation by transforming growth factor β for transforming growth factor β1 production in a Smad-dependent pathway

Our previous results have shown that transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) rapidly activates Ras, as well as both ERKs and SAPKs. In order to address the biological significance of the activation of these pathways by TGFβ, here we examined the role of the Ras/MAPK pathways and the Smads in TGFβ3 induction of TGFβ1 expression in untransformed lung and intestinal epithelial cells. Expression of either a dominant-negative mutant of Ras (RasN17) or a dominant-negative mutant of MKK4 (DN MKK4), or addition of the MEK1 inhibitor PD98059, inhibited the ability of TGFβ3 to induce AP-1 complex formation at the TGFβ1 promoter, and the subsequent induction of TGFβ1 mRNA. The primary components present in this TGFβ3-inducible AP-1 complex at the TGFβ1 promoter were JunD and Fra-2, although c-Jun and FosB were also involved. Furthermore, deletion of the AP-1 site in the TGFβ1 promoter or addition of PD98059 inhibited the ability of TGFβ3 to stimulate TGFβ1promoter activity. Collectively, our data demonstrate that TGFβ3 induction of TGFβ1 is mediated through a signaling cascade consisting of Ras, the MAPKKs MKK4 and MEK1, the MAPKs SAPKs and ERKs, and the specific AP-1 proteins Fra-2 and JunD. Although Smad3 and Smad4 were not detectable in TGFβ3-inducible AP-1 complexes at the TGFβ1promoter, stable expression of dominant-negative Smad3 could significantly inhibit the ability of TGFβ3 to stimulate TGFβ1 promoter activity. Transient expression of dominant-negative Smad4 also inhibited the ability of TGFβ3 to transactivate the TGFβ1 promoter. Thus, although the Ras/MAPK pathways are essential for TGFβ3 induction of TGFβ1, Smads may only contribute to this biological response in an indirect manner.
COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF A CELL-BASED MICROFLUIDIC DRUG SCREENING PLATFORM

About 50% of all candidate drugs that make it past Phase-I clinical trials ultimately fail to receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) marketing approval due to human toxicity or bioavailability problems that the drug develops. To remedy this state of affairs, in recent years, researchers have attempted to develop improved in vitro assays which can be applied pre-clinically to produce data with a higher degree of correlation to in vivo responses, and which circumvent the allometric limitations inherent in animal models. Such in vitro assays are intended to enable preclinical research and development groups to better predict the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic action of candidate molecules prior to clinical trials, thereby reducing high late-stage failure rates. While most such in vitro systems comprise a static cell culture environment, microfluidic systems have been shown to provide better results. For example, experiments performed with the HμREL® microfluidics system demonstrated increased clearance rates and better in vitro–in vivo correlation (IVIVC) than that observed with static culture systems. Several hypotheses were suggested to account for these improvements: (1) enhanced mass transport resulting in better functional efficiency; (2) a flow-induced transduction of gene and protein expression and function; and (3) a flow-induced effect resulting in increased cellular uptake. In this paper, we describe a framework, utilizing computational fluid dynamics (CFD), that can be used to study culture systems with a level of scrutiny and spatial precision not offered using standard in vitro assays. Using this approach, we were able to successfully model experimental observations of increases in the clearance rates of high and medium clearance compounds in the microfluidics system. Based on these results we posit that the increase in clearance is most likely due to the addition of convective transport, and a thinning of the boundary layer present in static and mixed plate cultures systems.
The Cost of Resistance and the Maintenance of Genetic Polymorphism in Host-Pathogen Systems

By using models which incorporate both numerical and gene-frequency dynamics, we investigate the conditions for a stable polymorphism in host disease resistance when there is a genetically uniform pathogen. We show that polymorphism is more likely when the difference in resistance conferred by alternative alleles is large rather than small. This conforms with the frequent observation of major gene effects on resistance. Moreover, when allelic differences in resistance are large, polymorphism is possible over a wide range of costs, including situations where costs approach values close to zero. The actual resistance cost that can be sustained in such polymorphic populations is dependent on the transmission mode and the intensity of disease-independent population regulation. Expectations regarding resistance costs in any particular host-pathogen system will be dependent on knowledge of the epidemiological and genetic characteristics of that system.
Comparison of quasi-static and non-quasi-static capacitance models for the four-terminal MOSFET

Analytic comparison of quasi-static and non-quasi-static capacitance models is performed for the four-terminal MOSFET with the bulk charge effect included under all operating regimes (weak, moderate, and strong inversion). It is shown that, with the use of a linearized bulk charge density, the Ward quasi-static charge-based approach [2] is equivalent to the non-quasi-static solution [5] in terms of the capacitances calculated at low frequencies. Such a mathematical link between the two approaches may be crucial toward developing high-frequency models for transient analysis.
Minmax control of systems with uncertainty in the initial state and in the state equations

In this paper, optimal control problems where there is uncertainty in the initial state measurement or where there are uncertain parameters in the state equations are investigated. It is assumed that nature will choose the uncertainty to maximize the cost which the controller is attempting to minimize. Thus, a minmax control is sought. Sufficient conditions for a control to be a minmax control are presented. These conditions suggest methods for finding the minmax control and such techniques are described. The application of these methods is illustrated by example problems.
OmcF, a Putative c-Type Monoheme Outer Membrane Cytochrome Required for the Expression of Other Outer Membrane Cytochromes in Geobacter sulfurreducens

Outer membrane cytochromes are often proposed as likely agents for electron transfer to extracellular electron acceptors, such as Fe(III). The omcF gene in the dissimilatory Fe(III)-reducing microorganism Geobacter sulfurreducens is predicted to code for a small outer membrane monoheme c-type cytochrome. An OmcF-deficient strain was constructed, and its ability to reduce and grow on Fe(III) citrate was found to be impaired. Following a prolonged lag phase (150 h), the OmcF-deficient strain developed the ability to grow in Fe(III) citrate medium with doubling times and yields that were ca. 145% and 70% of those of the wild type, respectively. Comparison of the c-type cytochrome contents of outer membrane-enriched fractions prepared from wild-type and OmcF-deficient cultures confirmed the outer membrane association of OmcF and revealed multiple changes in the cytochrome content of the OmcF-deficient strain. These changes included loss of expression of two previously characterized outer membrane cytochromes, OmcB and OmcC, and overexpression of a third previously characterized outer membrane cytochrome, OmcS, during growth on Fe(III) citrate. The omcB and omcC transcripts could not be detected in the OmcF-deficient mutant by either reverse transcriptase PCR or Northern blot analyses. Expression of the omcF gene in trans restored both the capacity of the OmcF-deficient mutant to reduce Fe(III) and wild-type levels of omcB and omcC mRNA and protein. Thus, elimination of OmcF may impair Fe(III) reduction by influencing expression of OmcB, which has previously been demonstrated to play a critical role in Fe(III) reduction.
Mining environmental toxicology information: web resources

Environmental toxicology is the study of the ecological effects of anthropogenic substances released into the environment. It is a relatively diverse field addressing impacts to aquatic and terrestrial organisms and communities. The determination of potential risk associated with toxic agents is of interest to government regulators, industry, researchers, private organizations and citizen groups. In assessing the ecological risk associated with a chemical stressor, it is important to establish linkages between likely exposure concentrations and adverse effects to ecological receptors. To do so requires access to reliable information resources. The proper application of such data requires familiarity with the scientific literature and keeping abreast of new and emerging issues as well as state-of-the-art research findings and methods. In addition, an understanding of government regulations as they relate to environmental issues is also of primary interest. The advent of the Web has made these tools accessible at computer desktops. This review focuses on currently available free Web resources related to environmental toxicology, specifically those which address available empirical data sources, predictive tools and publications of interest such as standard test methods, guidance documents and governmental regulations.
Evaporation of Nonequilibrium Raindrops as a Fog Formation Mechanism

To gain insights into the poorly understood phenomenon of precipitation fog, this study assesses the evaporation of freely falling drops departing from equilibrium as a possible contributing factor to fog formation in rainy conditions. The study is based on simulations performed with a microphysical column model describing the evolution of the temperature and mass of evaporating raindrops within a Lagrangian reference frame. Equilibrium defines a state where the latent heat loss of an evaporating drop is balanced by the sensible heat flux from the ambient air, hence defining a steady-state drop temperature. Model results show that the assumption of equilibrium leads to small but significant errors in calculated precipitation evaporation rates for drops falling in continuously varying ambient near-saturated or saturated conditions. Departure from equilibrium depends on the magnitude of the vertical gradients of the ambient temperature and moisture as well as the drop-size-dependent terminal velocity. Contrasting patterns of behavior occur depending on the stratification of the atmosphere. Raindrops falling in inversion layers remain warmer than the equilibrium temperature and lead to enhanced moistening, with supersaturation achieved when evaporation proceeds in saturated inversions. Dehydration occurs in layers with temperature and water vapor increasing with height due to the vapor flux from the environment to the colder drops. These contrasts are not represented when equilibrium is assumed. The role of nonequilibrium raindrop evaporation in fog occurrences is further emphasized with simulations of a case study characterized by fog forming under light rain falling in a developing frontal inversion. Good agreement is obtained between fog water content observations and simulations representing only the effects of rainfall evaporation. This study demonstrates the need to take into account the nonequilibrium state of falling raindrops for a proper representation of an important mechanism contributing to precipitation fog occurrences.
Complexity Leadership Theory: Shifting leadership from the industrial age to the knowledge era !

According to Hitt (1998), “we are on the precipice of an epoch,” in the midst of a new economic age, in which twenty-first century organizations are facing a complex competitive landscape driven largely by globalization and the technological revolution. This new age is about an economy where knowledge is a core commodity and the rapid production of knowledge and innovation is critical to organizational survival (Bettis and Hitt, 1995; Boisot, 1998). Consistent with these changes, much discussion is taking place in the management literature regarding challenges facing organizations in a transitioning world (Barkema et al., 2002; Bettis and Hitt, 1995; Child and McGrath, 2001).
Relayed magnetization transfer from nuclear Overhauser effect and chemical exchange observed by in vivo 31P MRS in rat brain

Abstract The 31 P magnetization transfer effects among nuclear magnetic resonances (NMRs) of phosphocreatine (PCr), γ-adenosine-5'-triphosphate (γ-ATP) and inorganic phosphate (Pi) have been attributed to the chemical exchange reactions among PCr, ATP and Pi catalyzed by creatine kinase (CK) and ATPase enzymes and, therefore, are commonly applied in situ to measure chemical exchange fluxes involving two chemically coupled CK and ATPase reactions (i.e., PCr↔ATP↔Pi) by selectively saturating γ-ATP resonance. Besides the expected reductions in the Pi and PCr NMR signals upon saturating γ-ATP resonance, one particularly interesting phenomenon showing decreases in α-ATP and β-ATP signals was also observed. The underlying mechanism was investigated and identified via saturating NMR of β-ATP in the present study. The unique relayed magnetization transfer effects through spin diffusion were observed in the rat brain using in vivo 31 P magnetic resonance spectroscopy.