cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Unilateral and equitransitive tilings by squares of four sizes

D. Schattschneider proved that there are exactly eight unilateral and equitransitive tilings of the plane by squares of three distinct sizes. This article extends Schattschneider’s methods to determine a classification of all such tilings by squares of four different sizes. It is determined that there are exactly 39 unilateral and equitransitive tilings by squares of four different sizes.
Cellular mechanisms of microbial proteins contributing to invasion of the blood–brain barrier

One of the least understood issues in the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of microbial infection of the central nervous system (CNS) is how microorganisms cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which separates brain interstitial space from blood and is formed by the tight junctions of brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMEC). BMEC monolayer and bilayer culture systems have been developed as in vitro models to dissect the mechanisms of adhesion and invasion involved in pathogenesis of CNS infection caused by microbes. Viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic pathogens may breach the BBB and enter the CNS through paracellular, transcellular and/or Trojan horse mechanisms. Conceivable evidence suggests that microbial proteins are the major genetic determinants mediating penetration across the BBB. Several bacterial proteins including IbeA, IbeB, AslA,YijP, OmpA, PilC and InlB contribute to transcellular invasion of BMEC. Viral proteins such as gp120 of HIV have been shown to play a role in penetration of the BBB. Fungal and parasitic pathothogens may follow similar mechanisms. SAG1 of Toxoplasma gondii has been suggested as a ligand to mediate host-cell invasion. Understanding the fundamental mechanisms of microbial penetration of the BBB may help develop novel approaches to prevent the mortality and morbidity associated with central nervous system (CNS) infectious diseases.
Shamans, Storytellers, and Aesthetic Production

James Dow. The Shaman's Touch: Otomi Indian Symbolic Healing. Salt Lake City, UT: University of Utah Press, 1986. xiii plus 180 pp. $13.95 (cloth). Alan R. Sandstrom and Pamela Effrein Sandstrom. Traditional Papermaking and Paper Cult Figures of Mexico. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 1986. xxv plus 327 pp. $24.95 (cloth). Barbara A. Babcock. Guy Monthan. and Doris Monthan. The Pueblo Storyteller. Tucson, AZ: The University of Arizona Press, 1986. xix plus 201 pp. $40.00 (cloth).
Tibiofemoral alignment in posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasty: Static alignment does not predict dynamic tibial plateau loading

For total knee arthroplasty (TKA), neutral mechanical alignment produces balanced static knee loading. Dynamically, knee loading is affected by more than limb static alignment. We compared static and dynamic knee loading following TKA. Fifteen TKA patients were evaluated pre-operatively and 2 months and 2 years post-operatively. Tibiofemoral angles and medial tibial plateau loading were calculated. Pre-operatively, static medial load was greater for varus than valgus knees. Post-operatively, no relationship existed between tibiofemoral angle and static medial plateau load. Pre-operatively and post-operatively, dynamic medial load was not dependent on tibiofemoral angle. While all patients achieved equal static plateau load distributions at 2 years, only 47% had dynamic medial load distributions of 50 ± 10%. Static tibiofemoral alignment alone does not predict dynamic tibial loading. © 2014 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 32:???–???, 2014.
Action potentials and amphetamine release antipsychotic drug from dopamine neuron synaptic VMAT vesicles

Based on lysotracker red imaging in cultured hippocampal neurons, antipsychotic drugs (APDs) were proposed to accumulate in synaptic vesicles by acidic trapping and to be released in response to action potentials. Because many APDs are dopamine (DA) D2 receptor (D2R) antagonists, such a mechanism would be particularly interesting if it operated in midbrain DA neurons. Here, the APD cyamemazine (CYAM) is visualized directly by two-photon microscopy in substantia nigra and striatum brain slices. CYAM accumulated slowly into puncta based on vacuolar H+-ATPase activity and dispersed rapidly upon dissipating organelle pH gradients. Thus, CYAM is subject to acidic trapping and released upon deprotonation. In the striatum, Ca2+-dependent reduction of the CYAM punctate signal was induced by depolarization or action potentials. Striatal CYAM overlapped with the dopamine transporter (DAT). Furthermore, parachloroamphetamine (pCA), acting via vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT), and a charged VMAT, substrate 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), reduced striatal CYAM. In vivo CYAM administration and in vitro experiments confirmed that clinically relevant CYAM concentrations result in vesicular accumulation and pCA-dependent release. These results show that some CYAM is in DA neuron VMAT vesicles and suggests a new drug interaction in which amphetamine induces CYAM deprotonation and release as a consequence of the H+ countertransport by VMAT that accompanies vesicular uptake, but not by inducing exchange or acting as a weak base. Therefore, in the striatum, APDs are released with DA in response to action potentials and an amphetamine. This synaptic corelease is expected to enhance APD antagonism of D2Rs where and when dopaminergic transmission occurs.
On the relationship between Lagrangian micromixing models and computational fluid dynamics

The relationship between Lagrangian micromixing models, which are widely employed in chemical reaction engineering, and Eulerian computational fluid dynamic (CFD) models based on the Reynolds-averaged species conservation equation is explored. A general modeling methodology which combines the strengths of both approaches is developed in the form of a multi-environment CFD micromixing model. The formulation is shown to be equivalent to a presumed multi-scalar probability density function (PDF) approach. The four-environment generalized mixing model (GMM) model originally proposed by Villermaux and Falk (Villermaux and Falk, Chem. Eng. Sci. 49 (5127) (1994)) is used to illustrate the methodology by applying it to model a series-parallel reaction in a tubular reactor.
Liver biopsy: When, how, by whom, and where?

Liver biopsy remains an important diagnostic tool in the management of liver disease. Complications, though infrequent, are potentially disastrous. Risks and discomfort can be minimized with good technique, although prospective data to prove the superiority of one method over another are often lacking. Image direction is preferred in all cases, as is a transjugular approach when bleeding risks are judged to be high. Bleeding is essentially a random event. Outpatient liver biopsy is appropriate in almost every instance if immediate hospitalization facilities are available. It should be more widely practiced. Liver biopsies should only be done if, after thoughtful assessment, benefits are thought to exceed risks.
Raman spectroscopic signature of semen and its potential application to forensic body fluid identification

A great potential of Raman spectroscopy for non-destructive, confirmatory identification of body fluids at the crime scene has been reported recently (Virkler and Lednev, Forensic Sci. Int. 2008 [5]). However, that analysis was carried out on only one sample of each body fluid and did not take into account any variations that might occur between different donors of the same fluid. This paper reports on the role of heterogeneity within a sample as well as among multiple donors for human semen. Near-infrared (NIR) Raman spectroscopy was used to measure spectra of pure dried human semen samples from multiple donors in a controlled laboratory environment. The major chemical components that contributed to the Raman spectrum of semen were determined and used to tentatively identify the principal spectral components. The issue of potential spectral variations that could arise between different donors of semen was also addressed. Advanced statistical analysis of spectra obtained from multiple spots on dry samples showed that dry semen is heterogeneous and its Raman spectra could be presented as a linear combination of a fluorescent background and three spectral components. The relative contribution of each of the three components varies with donor, so no single spectrum could effectively represent an experimental Raman spectrum of dry semen in a quantitative way. The combination of the three spectral components could be considered to be a spectroscopic signature for semen. This proof-of-concept approach shows the potential for Raman spectroscopy to identify an unknown substance to be semen during forensic analysis.
Abstract 3156: MicroRNA profiling for the detection of melanoma

Background: Numerous reports have suggested a link between aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) and various forms of cancer, including melanoma. We examined miRNA expression patterns in melanoma and nevi to identify candidate biomarkers for differentiating between these melanocytic lesions. Method: The study used formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues from 78 patients with melanoma and 98 with nevi (18 compound nevi, 20 intradermal nevi, 20 junctional nevi, 20 blue nevi, and 20 spitz nevi). All lesions were confirmed by at least 2 pathologists. Total RNA was extracted from the FFPE tissue and hybridized onto the Affymetrix GeneChip miRNA array (Affymetrix, Santa Clara, CA), which measure 850 human microRNAs. After determining an optimal set of miRNAs for differentiation using random forest algorithm, we retested specimens for this set using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) on a TaqMan miRNA system (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA). Results: Expression levels of 257 miRNAs differed significantly between melanomas and nevi (p values 0.75 for distinguishing melanomas from nevi, and 74 exhibited more than a two-fold difference. An optimized set of 7 miRNAs provided good differentiation of melanomas from nevi, with an AUORC of 0.94 and 87.7% concordance with pathology-determined tissue type. miRNA array data were further validated by qPCR: for 5 of the 7 miRNAs identified above, qPCR results showed significant correlation with the miRNA array results (average Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.95). Conclusions: These data suggest that the miRNA expression pattern from FFPE tissue holds promise for distinguishing melanomas from nevi. Use of this miRNA set as a diagnostic marker requires further validation and exploration in a large-scale study. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3156. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-3156
Preserving the Scholarly Collection: An Examination of the Perpetual Access Clauses in the Texas A&M University Libraries' Major E-Journal Licenses

Librarians are urged to lobby for the inclusion of perpetual access clauses during license negotiations and to examine existing contracts to ensure that perpetual access provisions are clearly understood and achievable. The authors analyzed the perpetual access clauses in nineteen of the Texas A&M University Libraries' licenses for electronic journal packages to determine the exact provisions granted, and found that the Libraries do not really know what access to previously subscribed content will entail. This raises profound concerns about the Libraries' ability to provide meaningful perpetual access to previously subscribed content to its users in the current environment.
SGML and the digital libraries of tomorrow

Abstract It is clear that success in extending the utility and power of computing and telecommunications to deliver scholarly information is dependent on many decisions. Among the most important are the adoption of standards and protocols which insure that the issues of migration, and refreshing of electronic information, are fairly straightforward and as routine as possible and thereby insuring long term both preservation and access requirements, which are dependent on open systems and interoperability. However, all standards are not created equal and while some make it possible to migrate data to new standards, others do not. Early adopters of SGML made a large contribution to understanding why these decisions are important, and David Chesnutt's column is an excellent summary of the case for this and related standards—CBL, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland.
Summary value smoothing of physical time series with unequal intervals

Abstract An algorithm SUMMOOTH for smoothing raw observations that are unequally spaced is explained. The process generalizes the method of summary values introduced into geophysics by H. Jeffreys. Smoothed data points, defined as the intersection of the local linear and parabolic least-squares fits, are computed for overlapping intervals rather than fixed sequential intervals as in previous work. A new feature is the parallel computation of (smoothed) summary gradients, essential for the Herglotz velocity integration. The interval selection is objective because the position of the smoothed values at each stage depends only on the spacing of the raw sample points. Selection of the starting interval can be made objective by addition of a principle, such as symmetry, or a rule, such as the fitted local curvature must never exceed a fixed value. In practice, selection should employ a trade-off curve between resolution and variance. An advantage of the process is that uncertainties at the summary points are independent. A comparison is given, for scarce data of Mossbauer spectra, with the smoothing method of Talmi and Gilat. Application to ragged time series for v p v s observations in earthquake prediction studies and to the construction of seismological travel-time curves illustrates the value of the method in geophysics.
Lichens: Unexpected anti-prion agents?

The prion diseases sheep scrapie and cervid chronic wasting disease are transmitted, in part, via an environmental reservoir of infectivity; prions released from infected animals persist in the environment and can cause disease years later. Central to controlling disease transmission is the identification of methods capable of inactivating these agents on the landscape. We have found that certain lichens, common, ubiquitous, symbiotic organisms, possess a serine protease capable of degrading prion protein (PrP) from prion-infected animals. The protease functions against a range of prion strains from various hosts and reduces levels of abnormal PrP by at least two logs. We have now tested more than twenty lichen species from several geographical locations and from various taxa and found that approximately half of these species degrade PrP. Critical next steps include examining the effect of lichens on prion infectivity and cloning the protease responsible for PrP degradation. The impact of lichens on prions in the environment remains unknown. We speculate that lichens could have the potential to degrade prions when they are shed from infected animals onto lichens or into environments where lichens are abundant. In addition, lichens are frequently consumed by cervids and many other animals and the effect of dietary lichens on prion disease transmission should also be considered.
Regulation of rat liver protein methylase III by S-adenosylhomocysteine after D,L-homocysteine thiolactone administration and during pyridoxine deficiency

Abstract Since S-adenosylhomocysteine is a potent inhibitor of rat liver protein methylase III in vitro , this enzyme appears to be regulated by modulation of the intracellular molar ratio of S-adenosylmethionine to S-adenosylhomo-cysteine (SAM:SAH ratio). The intraperitoneal administration of D,L-homocysteine thiolactone to animals (500 or 1000 mg/kg), followed by sacrifice 20 minutes later, decreased the SAM:SAH ratio in vivo from 4.35 in the control rats to 1.33 and 0.56 and caused a 62 and 82% inhibition of protein methylase III activity, respectively. Similarily, rats maintained on a pyridoxine-deficient diet for 7 weeks displayed a 5-fold reduction in the hepatic SAM:SAH ratio, when compared either to control or pair-fed counterparts, and a significant 26% reduction in the activity of protein methylase III. Thus, it would appear that a pyridoxine deficiency affects protein methylase III activity via altered SAM:SAH ratios.
Remarks on the global Markov property

The global Markov property is established for the + state and the − state of attractive lattice systems (e.g., the ferromagnetic Ising model and most other systems for which the FKG inequalities are satisfied) and of the (continuum) Widom Rowlinson model.
Assemblies of the clergy in early modern Europe

SUMMARY This paper examines assemblies of the clergy in early modern Castile and France. It provides a short overview of the representative nature of these assemblies, their functions, and their power over the ecclesiastical purse strings. In the process it argues that, in addition to secular representative institutions, historians need to take a closer look at ecclesiastical assemblies in order to understand politics, finance and representation in Catholic polities.
Postoperative myocardial ischemic events.

During the last 15 years, improved intraoperative hemodynamic management has helped reduce the incidence of myocardial ischemic events, and most events now occur outside the operating room in the first 72 hours following surgery. Currently, what is considered cost-effective management monitors high risk patients in the intensive care unit postoperatively, before transferring them to an unmonitored nursing unit. However, in both monitored and unmonitored areas ischemia is usually not appreciated unless clinical symptoms are present. Thus, our current system of delivering postoperative care is both inefficient and costly. It is clear that we are on the verge of a new frontier in our ability to detect and diagnose perioperative myocardial ischemic events. The possibility of acute real-time intervention and accurate risk stratification using surgery as a stress test is exciting. The challenge at hand is to utilize these modalities in the most beneficial, cost-effective manner. Only through continued quality research can this goal be attained.
Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for morbid obesity and glucose metabolism: a new perspective.

Global rise in the incidence of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus is widely recognized as one of the most challenging contemporary threats to public health. Weight loss surgery has proven to be an effective and durable solution for morbidly obese adults. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) was introduced as a restrictive procedure for obese patients, initially described as a possible first-stage operation, but now commonly performed as a stand-alone bariatric operation for both high-risk and super-morbid-obese patients, as well as for patients with lower body mass index. This study aims to evaluate the progression of glucose metabolism in patients undergoing LSG. This prospective study investigated 62 patients who underwent LSG by the same surgical team in an 18-month period. Preoperative evaluation included demographic information, complete medical history including comorbidities and medication, clinical examination, evaluation of cardiopulmonary function, measurement of weight and height on a standard electronic scale, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and upper abdominal ultrasound, as well as interviews with a psychologist and nutritionist. Glucose metabolism was evaluated by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), preoperatively and at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. The OGTT was significantly ameliorated in all groups during follow-up. Nine of 12 diabetic patients (75 %) ceased drug treatment at 3 months postoperatively (p = 0.004), increasing to 100 % at 1-year follow-up (p < 0.001). Normoglycemic patients and patients with borderline OGTT experienced mild or severe hypoglycemia during the glucose tolerance test at 3, 6, and 12 months’ follow-up. LSG offers excellent results to morbidly obese patients with regard to type 2 diabetes mellitus. Implementation of OGTT in these patients can be a valuable tool in their postoperative management. Bariatric teams performing LSG for morbid obesity should heighten their sensitivity to postoperative hypoglycemia, even in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Effect of Temperature Cycling on the Production of Patulin and Citrinin

Two strains of Peniciltium urticae (NRRL 2159A and 1952) and one strain of P. cltrinun (NRRL 5927) were used to investigate the effect of temperature Oycling on the production of patulin and citrinin. Temperature cycling (33–25°C, 33–15°C, and 25–15°C) delayed the rate of patulin biogenesis. As a general rule, cultures grown under cycling temmperature conditions produced less patulin than cultures grown a1 constant temperatures. The effect of temperature cycling (30–25°C, 30–15°C, and 25–15°C) on citrinin production was found to vary with the temperature combination.
Two Drosophila DEG/ENaC Channel Subunits Have Distinct Functions in Gustatory Neurons That Activate Male Courtship

Trimeric sodium channels of the DEG/ENaC family have important roles in neurons, but the specific functions of different subunits present in heteromeric channels are poorly understood. We previously reported that the Drosophila DEG/ENaC subunit Ppk25 is essential in a small subset of gustatory neurons for activation of male courtship behavior, likely through detection of female pheromones. Here we show that, like mutations in ppk25, mutations in another Drosophila DEG/ENaC subunit gene, nope, specifically impair male courtship of females. nope regulatory sequences drive reporter gene expression in gustatory neurons of the labellum wings, and legs, including all gustatory neurons in which ppk25 function is required for male courtship of females. In addition, gustatory-specific knockdown of nope impairs male courtship. Further, the impaired courtship response of nope mutant males to females is rescued by targeted expression of nope in the subset of gustatory neurons in which ppk25 functions. However, nope and ppk25 have nonredundant functions, as targeted expression of ppk25 does not compensate for the lack of nope and vice versa. Moreover, Nope and Ppk25 form specific complexes when coexpressed in cultured cells. Together, these data indicate that the Nope and Ppk25 polypeptides have specific, nonredundant functions in a subset of gustatory neurons required for activation of male courtship in response to females, and suggest the hypothesis that Nope and Ppk25 function as subunits of a heteromeric DEG/ENaC channel required for gustatory detection of female pheromones.
Hydrochlorothiazide: is it a wise choice?

Introduction: Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) has not been shown to reduce mortality or cardiovascular events when given as a single agent. In fact, HCTZ increased cardiovascular death and coronary artery disease (CAD) compared to placebo and usual care in 2 randomized trials, yet it is the most prescribed diuretic in the United States (U.S.). The Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure does not recommend one thiazide diuretic over another. However, there are more clinical data for chlorthalidone and indapamide than HCTZ. Areas covered: This review summarizes the differences between HCTZ, chlorthalidone and indapamide for pharmacological profile, surrogate marker data and clinical trial data. Expert opinion: The use of the term ‘thiazide diuretic' should be replaced with ‘non-thiazide sulfonamide diuretic' for chlorthalidone and indapamide. Furthermore, chlorthalidone and indapamide, rather than HCTZ, should be recommended due to the lack of evidence ...
What is the role of silent coronary artery disease and left ventricular hypertrophy in the genesis of ventricular arrhythmias in men with essential hypertension

Ventricular arrhythmias are not uncommon in patients with hypertension, are often attributed to left ventricular hypertrophy and are thought to be associated with an increased risk of sudden death. However, underlying silent coronary artery disease, another potential cause of ventricular arrhythmias, is often present in the same patient group. Therefore, the prevalence of ventricular arrhythmias was prospectively examined in 183 consecutive asymptomatic men with hypertension with neither clinical nor electrocardiographic (ECG) evidence of coronary artery disease in whom technically adequate echocardiograms could be obtained. After previous therapy had been withdrawn for greater than or equal to 4 days, each patient underwent exercise or dipyridamole thallium-201 scintigraphy, 48-h Holter ambulatory ECG monitoring and echocardiography for measurement of the left ventricular mass index. Forty patients (22%) had frequent ventricular ectopic activity, defined on the basis of greater than 10 premature ventricular complexes/h (38 patients) or ventricular tachycardia (11 patients), or both. A higher proportion of patients with than without a reversible thallium-201 defect had frequent premature ventricular complexes (33% vs. 18%, p less than 0.02) or ventricular tachycardia (14% vs. 4%, p less than 0.02). Similarly, more patients with than without left ventricular hypertrophy (defined as left ventricular mass index greater than or equal to 134 g/m2) had frequent premature ventricular complexes (29% vs. 15%, p less than 0.05) and ventricular tachycardia (12% vs. 2%, p less than 0.01). By stepwise logistic regression analysis, both findings were independent predictors of ventricular arrhythmia, which was present in 53% of patients with both abnormalities, but in only 12% of those with neither abnormality.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Picturing America’s ‘War on Terrorism’ in Afghanistan and Iraq Photographic motifs as news frames

Following research on depictions of the Persian Gulf War of 1991, this article discusses the nature of US news-magazine photo coverage of the ‘War on Terrorism’ in Afghanistan and the military inva...
Epidemiology and Policy: The Pump Handle Meets the New Millennium

The direct linkage of epidemiologic evidence to the formulation of policy intended to advance public health is widely acknowledged (1). Almost universally, epidemiologists tell the story of John Snow and the Broad Street pump to illustrate the immediacy of observational findings for solving public health problems. Based on observation of cholera cases clustered along Broad Street in London, Snow recommended the removal of the municipal pump handle, and his advice was heeded (2, 3). This example is particularly compelling, because Snow demonstrated waterborne transmission of cholera before there was knowledge of the existence of the Vibrio cholerae organism. Numerous other examples also considered triumphs of epidemiologic inquiry include the establishment of cigarette smoking as a cause of lung cancer and other diseases; the identification of powerful and remediable causes of cancer, such as asbestos exposure and diethylstilbestrol administration during pregnancy; and the characterization of risk factors for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. In spite of these evident successes, the place of epidemiologic evidence in supporting policy-making, as well as the role of epidemiologists in the process of policy-making, remains controversial and in flux. As a core discipline of biomedical research, epidemiology is not unique in generating evidence relevant to policy: the ultimate goal of all biomedical research is to advance the health of people. Epidemiology as a scientific method brings evidence that bears directly on the health of the population, and it is this direct linkage that distinguishes epidemiology from other branches of biomedical research. As a consequence, epidemiologic findings generally have
Cardiac immunoglobulin deposition in congenital heart block associated with maternal anti-Ro autoantibodies

Abstract Isolated congenital complete heart block is frequently found in offspring of mothers who have IgG anti-Ro/SSA autoantibodies. IgG deposition was reported in the heart of a baby whodied from heart block and heart failure. The pattern of antibody deposition observed was the same as that reproduced in animal models for anti-Ro/SSA binding. The IgG deposition was presented in, but not limited to, the conduction system. Scattered small infiltrates of mononuclear cells and a limited, patchy deposited of complemet were also observed. These findings support the possibility that isolated congenital heart block may be causally related to autoantibodies.
Spin-lattice relaxation times in amorphous materials as effected by exchange interactions, tunneling level states (TLS) centres, and fractons

Abstract The processes of spin-lattice relaxation (SLR) in amorphous materials are reviewed. In particular, the mechanisms involving exchange interaction, tunneling level states (TLS) centers and fractons predominant in effecting electron SLR at low temperatures in amorphous materials are reviewed. It has been deducded that the former two lead to quadratic temperature dependences at very low temperatures and linear temperature dependences at intermediate temperatures of the relaxation rate in amorphous materials. As for relaxation due to fractons in fractal state, the theories proposed by Alexander, Entin-Wohlman and Orbach (Phys. Rev. B 32 (1985) 6447; Phys. Rev. B 33 (1986) 3935; J. Phys. Lett. 46 (1985) 1555) are reviewed and the temperature dependences of fracton-assisted relaxation rate in the fractal state for Kramers and non-Kramers ions are examined.
Incorporation of 3H-N-ethylmaleimide into sheep red cell membrane thiol groups following protection by diamide-induced oxidation.

The thiol oxidant diazene dicarboxylic acid bis [N,N-dimethylamide] (diamide) is known to reversibly activate K-Cl cotransport in sheep red blood cells [1]. Although the detailed mechanism of activation is unknown, functional thiols at the membrane or at the cytoplasmic level are recognized as important. To search for membrane bound thiols involved in the regulation of K-Cl cotransport, sheep red cells were first exposed to diamide at concentrations activating K-Cl cotransport, and then to the alkylating agent N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) in order to block non-oxidized thiols. White ghosts, prepared by osmotic lysis from these cells, were again treated with NEM followed by reduction of the diamide-induced dithiols with dithio-threitol (DTT) concentrations known to reverse the diamide-induced K-Cl flux [1]. Maximum 3H-NEM incorporation into the DTT-reduced thiols occurred at 50 μM DTT. Saturation labelling by 3H-NEM of about 2 × 104 diamide-protected thiols/cell occurred at 25 μM NEM. Diamide protected about 0.1% of all membrane thiols chemically determined earlier [2]. Membranes from high K (HK) and low K (LK) sheep red cells did not differ significantly in the number of diamide-protected thiols, and polyacrylamide gels revealed a similar protein distribution of 3H-NEM-labelled thiols. Since diamide is known to stimulate K-Cl flux in LK cells ten times more than in HK cells this finding is consistent with the hypothesis of a cytoplasmic control effecting different K-Cl flux activities in the membranes of the two cation genotypic red blood cells.
Monitoring the State of Cholecystokinin Receptor Oligomerization after Ligand Binding Using Decay of Time-Resolved Fluorescence Anisotropy

Oligomeric complexes of G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) are now commonly recognized and can provide a mechanism for regulation of signaling systems. Receptor oligomerization has been most extensively studied using coimmunoprecipitation and bioluminescence or fluorescence resonance energy-transfer techniques. Here, we have utilized decay of time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy of yellow fluorescent protein-labeled cholecystokinin receptor constructs to examine the state of oligomerization of this receptor in living cells. The rotational correlation times established that the cholecystokinin receptor is constitutively present in an oligomeric state that is dissociated in response to agonist occupation. In contrast, antagonist occupation failed to modify this signal, leaving the oligomeric structure intact. This dynamic technique complements the other biochemical and steady-state fluorescence techniques to establish the presence of oligomeric receptor complexes in living cells.
Functional clustering in hippocampal cultures: relating network structure and dynamics

In this work we investigate the relationship between gross anatomic structural network properties, neuronal dynamics and the resultant functional structure in dissociated rat hippocampal cultures. Specifically, we studied cultures as they developed under two conditions: the first supporting glial cell growth (high glial group), and the second one inhibiting it (low glial group). We then compared structural network properties and the spatio-temporal activity patterns of the neurons. Differences in dynamics between the two groups could be linked to the impact of the glial network on the neuronal network as the cultures developed. We also implemented a recently developed algorithm called the functional clustering algorithm (FCA) to obtain the resulting functional network structure. We show that this new algorithm is useful for capturing changes in functional network structure as the networks evolve over time. The FCA detects changes in functional structure that are consistent with expected dynamical differences due to the impact of the glial network. Cultures in the high glial group show an increase in global synchronization as the cultures age, while those in the low glial group remain locally synchronized. We additionally use the FCA to quantify the amount of synchronization present in the cultures and show that the total level of synchronization in the high glial group is stronger than in the low glial group. These results indicate an interdependence between the glial and neuronal networks present in dissociated cultures.
Subchannel Allocation for Multicarrier CDMA with Adaptive Frequency Hopping and Decorrelating Detection

Multicarrier code-division multiple access (MC-CDMA) system with adaptive frequency hopping (FH) has attracted significant attention in the literature due to its excellent spectral efficiency. A suboptimal water-filling (WF) channel allocation algorithm was previously proposed for the conventional matched filter (MF) detector in the reverse link of this system. However, the performance of the WF algorithm is degraded by the fading-induced near-far problem. We propose a new allocation algorithm to overcome the limitations of the WF algorithm, and demonstrate the resulting BER improvement using simulation. Moreover, we employ the linear decorrelating detector at the receiver of the MC-CDMA system with adaptive FH to improve the spectral efficiency. The proposed allocation algorithm is also extended to this receiver by exploiting the SNR analysis of decorrelator. We demonstrate that the linear decorrelating detector that employs the proposed allocation algorithm is very effective in mitigating MAI, with performance approaching the single user bound for MC-CDMA system with adaptive FH
Heterogeneity of anionic sites at the electrokinetic surfaces of fixed Ehrlich ascites tumor cells.

Abstract The net surface negativity of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells was reduced by treatment with neuraminidase and/or ribonuclease. After fixation in glutaraldehyde, the electrophoretic mobilities of the cells were measured, and their average surface charge densities calculated. Fixed cells were also reacted with net positively charged colloidal iron oxide particles, embedded, cut into sections of known approximate thickness, and examined by electron microscopy. Particle counts per unit area of cell surface, which are thought to indicate coulombic binding to cell surface anionic sites, bore no proportional relationship to the surface density of anionic sites calculated from the electrokinetic data. The two sets of data were best “explained” by postulating that the enzyme-sensitive cell surface anionic sites are arranged in higher-than-average density clusters. On average, 30 RNase-susceptible surface anionic sites were covered by one iron particle (c. 8000 A2), compared with 20 neuraminidase-susceptible sites. It was also postulated that the anionic sites not susceptible to these two enzymes, were spread more homogeneously over the cellular electrokinetic surface. This model provides a reasonable explanation for the lack of correlation between observed cell social behaviour, and their electrophoretic mobilities, in terms of the heterogeneous distribution of surface ionogenic groups.
Polarization of Bi2Te3 thin film in a floating-gate capacitor structure

Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (MOS) capacitors with Bi2Te3 thin film sandwiched and embedded inside the oxide layer have been fabricated and studied. The capacitors exhibit ferroelectric-like hysteresis which is a result of the robust, reversible polarization of the Bi2Te3 thin film while the gate voltage sweeps. The temperature-dependent capacitance measurement indicates that the activation energy is about 0.33 eV for separating the electron and hole pairs in the bulk of Bi2Te3, and driving them to either the top or bottom surface of the thin film. Because of the fast polarization speed, potentially excellent endurance, and the complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor compatibility, the Bi2Te3 embedded MOS structures are very interesting for memory application.
Prospective Performance Assessment of an Out-of-Hospital Protocol for Selective Spine Immobilization Using Clinical Spine Clearance Criteria

Study objective We determine whether the use of an emergency medical services (EMS) protocol for selective spine immobilization would result in appropriate immobilization without spinal cord injury associated with nonimmobilization. Methods A 4-year prospective study examined EMS and hospital records for patients after the implementation of an EMS protocol for selective spine immobilization. EMS personnel were trained to perform and document a spine injury assessment for out-of-hospital trauma patients with a mechanism of injury judged sufficient to cause a spine injury. The assessment included these clinical criteria: altered mental status, evidence of intoxication, neurologic deficit, suspected extremity fracture, and spine pain or tenderness. The protocol required immobilization for patients with a positive assessment on any of those criteria. Outcome characteristics included the presence or absence of spine injury and spine injury management. Results The study collected data on 13,483 patients; 126 of the patients were subsequently excluded from the study because of incomplete data, leaving a study sample of 13,357 patients with complete data. Spine injuries were confirmed in the hospital records for 3% (n=415) of patients, including 50 patients with cord injuries and 128 patients with cervical injuries. Sensitivity of the EMS protocol was 92% (95% confidence interval [CI] 89.4 to 94.6%) resulting in nonimmobilization of 8% of the patients with spine injuries (33 of 415). None of the nonimmobilized patients sustained cord injuries. The specificity was 40% (95% CI 38.9 to 40.5%). Conclusion The use of our selective immobilization protocol resulted in spine immobilization for most patients with spine injury without causing harm in cases in which spine immobilization was withheld.
A Fast, Four-Mirror, Free-Form, Wide Field of View, Telecentric Telescope

We describe a f/2.5, four-mirror, free-form telescope with a 8.5o x 25.5o and space for a beam splitter. This is a 3x increase in the etendue over the comparable rotationally symmetric design.
The effect of surfactant hydrophilic group on gas absorption rates

Abstract A quiescent cell differential manometric absorption apparatus was used to study the effect of surfactant hydrophilic functional group on the rate of gas absorption. Carbon dioxide and water was chosen as the absorption system. Six surfactants were selected for study, namely: n -octanol, 4-oxtanol, lauryl diglycol amide, lauryl diethanol amide, sodium lauryl sulfate, and sodium lauryl benzene sulfonate. The last four surfactants were chosen because they are biodegradable and widely used in detergent formulations. Preliminary absorption tests were made using deionized water to determine the diffusion coefficient for the system. A value of 1.93 ± 0.05 × 10 −5 square centimeters per second was obtained. Absorption tests were made with the six surfactants at several bulk concentrations for each surfactant. The octanol with the hydroxyl group at a branched position was found to cause a higher resistance to gas absorption than with the hydroxyl group at the end of the hydrophobic chain. It was also found that increasing the molecular weight of the hydrophilic functional group decreased the resistance to gas absorption.
Ultrahigh-Resolution 1H−13C HSQC Spectra of Metabolite Mixtures Using Nonlinear Sampling and Forward Maximum Entropy Reconstruction

To obtain a comprehensive assessment of metabolite levels from extracts of leukocytes, we have recorded ultrahigh-resolution 1H−13C HSQC NMR spectra of cell extracts, which exhibit spectral signatures of numerous small molecules. However, conventional acquisition of such spectra is time-consuming and hampers measurements on multiple samples, which would be needed for statistical analysis of metabolite concentrations. Here we show that the measurement time can be dramatically reduced without loss of spectral quality when using nonlinear sampling (NLS) and a new high-fidelity forward maximum-entropy (FM) reconstruction algorithm. This FM reconstruction conserves all measured time-domain data points and guesses the missing data points by an iterative process. This consists of discrete Fourier transformation of the sparse time-domain data set, computation of the spectral entropy, determination of a multidimensional entropy gradient, and calculation of new values for the missing time-domain data points with a ...
Influence of size, ellipticity and charge separation on the free energy of some aqueous bolaform electrolyte models

The free energy of some models of aqueous bolaform electrolytes have been calculated at the Debye-Huckel limiting law plus B2 level of approximation. The repulsive forces are modeled by hard spheres or hard ellipsoids. The charges are placed either at the center of the sphere or at the foci of the ellipsoid. Parameters were chosen to approximate the size and shape of sodium and calcium p-benzenedisufonate and sodium 4,4′-biphenyldisulfonate. The results show that contrary to the standard explanations for the unusual properties of bolaform electrolytes, separating the charges has little effect on the excess free energy. It is also shown that changing from a sphere to an ellipse has little effect on the excess free energy. The most important determinates of the properties of these salts are the sizes of the ions. Agreement of the model calculations with experimental results is reasonable considering the simplicity of the models.
Tolerance to cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity following cadmium pretreatment☆☆☆

Tolerance to several toxic effects of Cd, including lethality, has been shown following pretreatment with Cd. This study was designed to determine if tolerance also develops to Cd-induced hepatotoxicity. Rats were challenged with Cd (2.0, 3.0, 4.0, or 5.0 mg/kg, iv) 24 hr after pretreatment with saline (2 ml/kg, sc) or Cd (2.0 mg/kg, sc). Ten hours following challenge, plasma enzyme activities were dramatically elevated in control rats (sorbitol dehydrogenase 30- to 300-fold and aspartate aminotransferase 3- to 40-fold). In addition, histologic examination revealed moderate to severe hepatic injury, evidenced by cell swelling, cytoplasmic eosinophilia, pyknosis, karyorrhexis, and necrosis. In Cd-pretreated rats, plasma enzyme levels were similar to control values and only slight morphologic changes were evident. This tolerance to Cd-induced hepatotoxicity is probably due to the increase in hepatic metallothionein induced by Cd pretreatment, which has been shown to alter the hepatic subcellular distribution of Cd such that less binds to subcellular organelles and more binds to metallothionein located in the cytosol.
Effect of Behavioral Intervention on Comorbid General Anxiety Disorder and Parkinson's Disease

A multiple-baseline, across-behaviors experimental design was used to evaluate the effects of a multicomponent behavioral intervention for anxiety secondary to Parkinson's disease (PD). A 67-year-old man with an 18-year history of PD, a 13-year history of anxiety, and meeting DSM-IV-TR criteria for general anxiety disorder (GAD) took part in the study. Dependent variables were the Clinical Anxiety Scale (CAS), Subjective Unit of Discomfort (SUD) ratings, and the Behavioral Relaxation Scale, a direct observation measure of relaxed behavior. Systematic increases in relaxed behavior with corresponding reductions in SUD ratings and CAS scores were obtained following Behavioral Relaxation Training (BRT). Further decreases in SUD ratings occurred following BRT + Imagery and BRT + Coping. Generalization assessment of relaxed behavior in the home environment indicated 78% relaxed. Social validity ratings, obtained by a “blinded” rater during neuropsychological assessment, indicated the patient was as “calm as oth...
PATATIN AND ESTERASE IN DESIREE POTATO TUBERS

Patatin, the major glycoprotein of potato tubers, had very similar chemical and physical properties whether isolated from cultivar Desiree or from Kennebec. The patatin of each cultivar exhibited copurification with p-nitrophenyl laurate esterase. However, the esterases from the two sources differed in substrate preference ranging from near equality toward α-naphthyl laurate to a hundredfold difference toward p-nitrophenyl laurate.
Why is the Solid-Electrolyte-Interphase Selective? Through-Film Ferrocenium Reduction on Highly Oriented Pyrolytic Graphite

To determine if the solid-electrolyte-interphase (SEI) selectively permits reduction of redox shuttles because of specific surface interactions, through-film ferrocenium reduction was studied on the edge and basal planes of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG). Monitoring ferrocene kinetics in-situ during SEI formation demonstrated that the SEI formed in LiPF6-based electrolyte is unstable on both graphite orientations, and that introducing just 1.6 mM of PF−6 to the electrolyte chemically dissolves the SEI formed in LiClO4-based electrolyte. When PF−6 was avoided completely, a 2 V overpotential was sufficient to reduce ferrocenium through the SEI on the basal plane, suggesting through-film tunneling. On the edge plane, more complicated behavior was observed. On both orientations, the shuttle cation can function as an oxidizing agent that corrodes the SEI.