cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The mechanism and mitigation of niacin-induced flushing.

SUMMARY Aims: To summarise the metabolic responses to niacin that can lead to flushing and to critically evaluate flushing mitigation research. Methods and results: This comprehensive review of the mechanism of action of niacin-induced flushing critically evaluates research regarding flushing mitigating formulations and agents. Niacin induces flushing through dermal Langerhans cells where the activation of G protein-coupled receptor 109A (GPR109A) increases arachidonic acid and prostaglandins, such as prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), subsequently activating prostaglandin D2 receptor (DP1), prostaglandin E2 receptor (EP2) and prostaglandin E receptor 4 (EP4) in capillaries and causing cutaneous vasodilatation. Controlling niacin absorption rates, inhibiting prostaglandin production, or blocking DP1 ,E P2 and EP4 receptors can inhibit flushing. Niacin extended-release (NER) formulations have reduced flushing incidence, duration and severity relative to crystalline immediate-release niacin with similar lipid efficacy. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), notably aspirin given 30 min before NER at bedtime, further reduce flushing. An antagonist to the DP1 receptor (laropiprant) combined with an ER niacin formulation can reduce flushing; however, significant residual flushing occurs with clinically-relevant dosages. Conclusions: Niacin is an attractive option for treating dyslipidemic patients, and tolerance to niacin-induced flushing develops rapidly. Healthcare professionals should particularly address flushing during niacin dose titration. Review Criteria Research regarding the mechanism of action of niacin and the formulations and agents used in the mitigation of flushing were systematically reviewed and summarised. PubMed was searched from 1960 to 2008 using the terms niacin, flushing, laropiprant, prostaglandins and aspirin. All hits were reviewed for inclusion of mechanism of action, and pertinent articles were included, excluding results which had been subsequently disproven.
Efficient compression for multiplanar reformulated biomedical images for interactive visualisation

Multiplanar Reformatting (MPR) of 3D biomedical images is an important technique in visualising, editing, and interacting with volumetric data. To obtain near real time interactions with the data in many applications such as telemedicine and teleconsultation, the MPR slices are produced and transmitted dynamically. The MPR compression is an important technique to improve the transmission and display efficiency. We develop a dedicated MPR compression scheme by exploiting the characteristics of MPR slices, especially for thin MPR. Robust regression techniques are applied to predict the current slice from the previous ones. In the presence of scales, rotations, and translations, we make use of the known knowledge of the operations, or the transform domain representations of the image in the case of unknown parameters. The effectiveness of the scheme is confirmed by experimental results.
Salt preference and development.

Revue de travaux chez l'animal jeune et chez le nourrisson humain concernant la preference pour la saveur salee.
Asymptomatic sexually transmitted diseases: the case for screening.

Abstract Background The United States has the highest prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases in the developed world. Control strategies should address the most frequent reasons why curable sexually transmitted diseases are not treated. Methods We approached 1,631 persons ages 18–29 in various sites and offered them screening for gonorrhea and chlamydial infection and surveys regarding past genitourinary symptoms. For those with past symptoms we abstracted medical records or conducted additional interviews. From these data we estimated the total number of persons who had gonorrhea or chlamydial infections in the previous year, the proportion treated, and the primary reasons for nontreatment. Results The prevalence of gonorrhea was 2.3% and that of chlamydial infection was 10.1%. We estimate that 45 and 77% of all cases of gonorrhea and chlamydial infection, respectively, were never symptomatic and that 86 and 95% of untreated cases of gonorrhea and chlamydial infection, respectively, were untreated because they were never symptomatic. The remaining 14 and 5% of untreated cases of gonorrhea and chlamydia, respectively, were not treated because persons did not receive medical care for symptoms. Conclusions The primary reason that gonorrhea and chlamydial infections are untreated is that infected persons never have symptoms. The most effective method to control these sexually transmitted diseases is routine screening at high-volume sites.
Affinity of HMG17 for a mononucleosome is not influenced by the presence of ubiquitin-H2A semihistone but strongly depends on DNA fragment size

Abstract We have used a two-dimensional (deoxyribonucleoprotein leads to DNA) electrophoretic binding assay to study the interaction of the purified high mobility group protein HMG17 with isolated HeLa mononucleosomes as a function of their DNA fragment size and the presence of ubiquitin-H2A semihistone. No significant differences between affinities of HMG17 for ubiquitinated and non-ubiquitinated core mononucleosomes were observed. In striking contrast, the apparent affinity of HMG17 for a mononucleosome increases more than 100-fold upon an increase of the length of the mononucleosomal DNA fragment by as few as 3 to 5 bp over the core DNA length (integral of 146 bp). We suggest that the magnitude of this effect is sufficient to explain the preferential binding of HMG17 in vitro to mononucleosomes derived from actively transcribed genes.
Syngas Production By Coelectrolysis of CO2/H2O: The Basis for a Renewable Energy Cycle

Electrolysis was carried out at 700−800 °C using solid oxide electrochemical cells with H2O−CO2−H2 mixtures at the Ni-YSZ cathode and air at the LSCF-GDC anode. (YSZ = 8 mol %, Y2O3-stabilized ZrO2, GDC = Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95, and LSCF = La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3). The cell electrolysis performance decreased only slightly for H2O−CO2 mixtures compared to H2O electrolysis and was much better than for pure CO2 electrolysis. Mass spectrometer measurements showed increasing consumption of H2O and CO2 and production of H2 and CO with increasing electrolysis current density. Electrolyzers operated on 25% H2, 25% CO2, and 50% H2O at 800 °C and 1.3 V yielded a syngas production rate of ∼7 sccm/cm2. The use of electrolytically produced syngas for producing renewable liquid fuels is discussed; an energy-storage cycle based on such liquid fuels is CO2-neutral, similar to hydrogen, and has the potential to be more efficient and easier to implement.
Concentrations of endogenous prostaglandin F2α in boar semen and effect of a 72-h incubation period on exogenous prostaglandin F2α concentration in extended boar semen

Abstract PGF 2α in semen has been shown to induce uterine contractions, thereby, facilitating sperm transport during fertilization. Previously, we demonstrated that extended boar semen used in artificial insemination does not increase myometrial contractility, but PGF 2α supplementation did. In this study, we determined the concentrations of endogenous PGF 2α in pre-sperm and sperm-rich fractions of the boar ejaculate and examined whether changes in the concentration of exogenous PGF 2α occurred when added to extended boar semen after 72-h incubation at a 17 °C storage temperature. Concentrations of endogenous PGF 2α ( n =10 boars) in pre-sperm and sperm-rich fractions were 69.6±7.6 and 58.9±4.4 pg/ml, respectively. No differences were observed in the concentrations of exogenous PGF 2α in the extended boar semen at 0 h (59.3±3.3 μg/ml) and after a 72-h incubation period (52.0±2.1 μg/ml). These results suggest that the concentration of endogenous PGF 2α in boar semen used for artificial insemination is 2α in the extended boar semen did not differ after 72 h, which indicates that it is not metabolized during this period of time.
The presumptive floor plate (notoplate) induces behaviors associated with convergent extension in medial but not lateral neural plate cells of Xenopus.

Abstract In previous work (Elul, T., Keller, R., 2000. Monopolar protrusive activity: a new morphogenic cell behavior in the neural plate dependent on vertical interactions with the mesoderm in Xenopus. Dev. Biol. 224, 3–19; Ezin, A.M., Skoglund, P. Keller, R. 2003. The midline (notochord and notoplate) patterns the cell motility underlying convergence and extension of the Xenopus neural plate. Dev. Biol. 256, 100–114), the midline tissues of notochord and overlying notoplate were found to induce the monopolar, medially directed protrusive activity of deep neural cells. This behavior is thought to drive the mediolateral intercalation and convergent extension of the neural plate in Xenopus. Here we address the issue of whether the notochord, the notoplate, or both is essential for this induction. Our strategy was to remove the notochord, leaving the overlying notoplate intact, and determine whether it alone can induce the monopolar, medially directed cell behavior. We first establish that the notoplate (presumptive floor plate), when separated from the underlying notochord in the early neurula (stages 13–14), will independently mature into a floor plate as assayed three criteria: (1) continued expression of an early marker, sonic hedgehog, and a later, marker, F-spondin; (2) the display of the notoplate/floor plate-specific randomly oriented protrusive activity; (3) the characteristic lack of mixing of cells between the notoplate and lateral neural plate. Under these conditions, in the presence of a mature notoplate/floor plate and in the absence of the notochord, the characteristic monopolar, medially directed behavior occurred, but only locally near the midline. These results show that the notoplate/floor plate capacity to induce the medially directed motility is limited in range, and they suggest that the notochord is necessary for the normally observed longer range induction in lateral neural plate cells. This work helps to further the understanding of molecular and tissue interactions required for convergent extension.
Motorcycle crash injuries and costs: effect of a reenacted comprehensive helmet use law.

Study objectives: To document the effect of a reenacted comprehensive helmet use law on injuries and fatalities. Design: Retrospective before-and-after analysis. Setting: Two urban counties representing 40% of Nebraska's population. Participants: Six hundred seventy-one patients reported as injured to the Nebraska Department of Roads in the period from one year before through one year after the reenactment on January 1, 1989. Results: The helmet use law was temporally associated with a 26% decrease in the reported rate of motorcycle crashes in Nebraska compared with five other midwestern states. There were sharp declines in the number (and rates) of reported injured, hospital transports, hospital admissions, severe nonhead injuries, severe head injuries, and deaths. Serious head injuries (Abbreviated Injury Score, 3 or higher) decreased 22%. The percentage of injured motorcyclists with serious head injuries was significantly lower among the helmeted motorcyclists (5%) than among the unhelmeted cyclists (14%) for the two years combined. Conclusion: The reenactment of a helmet use law resulted in fewer crashes, fatalities, and severe head injuries.
A Fiber Optic Sensor For Combustion Pressure Measurement In A Washer Configuration

This paper describes a microbend amplitude sensor for measurement of engine internal combustion pressure. Utilizing a step index singlemode fiber in a spark plug washer-type configuration, it is a simple, sensitive and rugged design. The microbending element, composed of two serrated washers constraining an optical fiber loop, responds to spark plug displacement arising from the combustion cycle. The response of the sensor is linear in dB with displacement and force over a wide dynamic range. We compare performance under static and running engine conditions with a research grade piezoelectric diaphragm sensor and a piezoelectric washer-type sensor.
Effects of moderate hyperglycemia on the temporal profile of brain tissue intracellular pH and [Mg2+] after global cerebral ischemia in rats

In an attempt to understand the mechanisms by which preischemic plasma glucose (pg) worsens neurologic and neuropathologic outcomes, we investigated the effect of moderate preischemic hyperglycemia (200 mg/dl < mean plasma glucose < 360 mg/dl) on postischemic energy metabolism, tissue intracellular pH (pHi) and tissue free intracellular pMg (= −log[Mg2+]) over a one week period after transient global cerebral ischemia in the rat. In vivo 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed prior to and daily up to 1 week (wk) in rats after 12 min of forebrain ischemia, induced by bicarotid occlusion concurrent with systemic hypotension. Preischemic plasma glucose significantly affected 1 wk postischemic survival (p = 0.05, Fisher's exact test). The temporal profile of the brain tissue pHi was significantly different (p < 0.03) between the moderate hyperglycemic (H-1wk, n = 7, mean pg = 266.0 ± 47.3 mg/dl) and the normoglycemic (N-1wk, n = 8, mean pg = 91.2 ± 23.7 mg/dl) ischemic animals over 1 wk. Postischemic tissue alkalosis was measured at 24 (p = < 0.006) and 48h (p = 0.001) postischemia in the N-1wk group. A single marginally significant (p = 0.011) mean pHi upshift was measured at 72h postischemia in the H-1wk group. The mean change in pHi at 24h postischemia from the baseline values in moderate hyperglycemic animals that survived only 48h after ischemia (H-48h, n = 6, mean pg = 298.8 ± 70.1 mg/dl) was significantly lower (p = 0.02) than that of the N-1wk ischemic animals. No differences were detected in the relative area ratios of phosphate metabolites and [Mg2+] profiles between the N-1wk and H-1wk groups. Scattered dark neurons were present in the cortices of the H-1wk ischemic animals. The present study demonstrates that a mild glucose load, administered 40 min before forebrain ischemia, is detrimental to long term survival and indicates that the pHi regulatory mechanism is sensitive to and has a long term response to a moderate preischemic glucose load, independent of the recovery of cerebral phosphate metabolism and free intracellular [Mg2+].
The use of surface samples in quaternary pollen analysis

Abstract Much of the uncertainty in the interpretation of Late Quaternary pollen assemblages can be removed by the judicious use of pollen surface samples from a variety of vegetational formations. The technique is especially useful in new regions of investigation, where not much is known of the pattern of the pollen sequence, and it can even be used in regions where much of the vegetation is disturbed. Two scales of study can be applied: 1. (1) For a regional study in a forested area, samples are taken from the centers of relatively large lakes, so that the regional pollen rain will not be distorted by local pollen rain. The regional pollen rain may then be compared with the regional upland vegetation, as surveyed by standard phytosociological methods, including air-photo study. A very large area must be surveyed, especially if the upland vegetation consists of a species-rich mosaic of forest types in an area of diversified topography. 2. (2) A second type of surface-sample study provides a different basis for historical reconstructions. In this case, transects of surface samples are taken in each of the main forest types, extending from the centers of small ponds or bogs to the adjacent hill slopes. Detailed vegetational analysis must be made of all the plant associations crossed by the transects from lowland to upland, and in the pollen analysis particular attention must be paid to the herbaceous pollen types. In this way the pollen counts can be assigned to either local, extralocal, or regional vegetation. Characteristic local or extralocal pollen percentages may then be identified in a pollen diagram for a long core from a small pond or bog, in order to work out the local vegetational succession that either accompanied or was independent of changes in the climatically controlled regional vegetation.
RATE OF ANHYDRIDE FORMATION IN TARTRATE BUFFER SYSTEM. NATURE OF REACTION PRODUCT WITH ANILINE.

Tartaric acid buffer has been shown to form a reactive intermediate in aqueous solution capable of rapidly acylating any nucleophilic compound present. With aniline as the nucleophile, the rate of formation of the intermediate, presumably an acid anhydride, has been found to proceed at roughly the same rate as that of succinic acid but slower than citric acid. Only the monoanilide was obtained in appreciable amount.
Edge-point correspondence in three views of a scene

A stereo camera arrangement that results from combining the lateral model with the axial motion model provides three views of a scene to be utilized in a stereo correspondence algorithm. The third view of the scene serves as a verification of established correspondences between the other two. Only the correspondence of edge points is considered. Some geometrical relations underlying each model and their combination are also examined. >
Genomic overview of protein kinases

Protein kinases are one of the largest and most influential of gene families: constituting some 2% of the proteome, they regulate almost all biochemical pathways and may phosphorylate up to 30% of the proteome. Bioinformatics and comparative genomics were used to determine the C. elegans kinome and put it in evolutionary and functional context. Kinases are deeply conserved in evolution, and the worm has family homologs for over 80% of the human kinome. Almost half of the 438 worm kinases are members of worm-specific or worm-expanded families. Such radiations include genes involved in spermatogenesis, chemosensation, Wnt signaling and FGF receptor-like kinases. The C. briggsae kinome is largely similar apart from the expanded classes, showing that such expansions are evolutionarily recent.
Conservation and management of humpback dolphins: the South African perspective

Population biology and socio-ecology of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins Sousa chinensis were investigated during a 3-year study period in the Algoa Bay region, South Africa. The dolphins inhabit a narrow strip of coastal waters, mostly less than 15 m deep. Groups are small (mean = 7 animals) and their daily activities concentrate around shallow rocky reefs—the primary feeding grounds. Dependence on these restricted, shallow-water habitats is evident throughout the year. Site fidelity is generally weak and is subject to seasonal migration, although female site fidelity seems to be related to reproductive stage. Births occur predominantly in summer. The social system is highly fluid, structured to some degree by sex and age, ‘matesearching’ behaviour being the most likely male reproductive strategy. The dolphins inhabiting Algoa Bay are part of a substantially larger population that uses a considerable length of the coastal zone. Estimated population parameters are generally low, as are modelled population growth rates, and an increase in the population size seems unlikely. Humpback dolphins appear to be vulnerable to negative environmental pressure and the alteration/destruction of inshore habitats is probably among the greatest threats to them. Conservation of this species should be given high priority and be seen as an important part of integrated coastal zone management. Establishment of multiple-use management areas with controlled ecotourism and several priority sites declared as strict reserves seems to be the most effective conservation approach. In order to be successful, conservation and management policies need to recognize the needs and lifestyles of the local inhabitants.
Unlicensed Assistive Personnel: A Solution to Dwindling Health Care Resources or the Precursor to the Apocalypse of Registered Nursing?

Does increased use of unlicensed assistive personnel in direct patient care delivery represent an effective solution to dwindling health care resources, or is it an economic-driven, short-term response that could lead to an apocalypse of registered nursing?
Simple approximate formulas for input resistance, bandwidth, and efficiency of a resonant rectangular patch

Simple approximate formulas for the input resistance, bandwidth, and radiation efficiency of a resonant rectangular microstrip patch are derived. These formulas become increasingly accurate as the substrate thickness decreases. Because the formulas are derived from approximations of a rigorous Sommerfeld solution, they provide insight into the effect of the substrate parameters on the patch properties, in addition to providing approximate design equations. >
Prevalence of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Swine: an 18-Month Survey at a Slaughterhouse in Massachusetts

Slaughterhouse pig samples were analyzed by PCR for Enterocytozoon bieneusi infection. Thirty-two percent were found to be positive, with rates being higher over the summer months. Three isolates from pigs were identical in their ribosomal internal transcribed spacer sequence to human E. bieneusi type D, two were identical to type F (from a pig), and nine were previously unreported. The viability of these spores was demonstrated by their ability to infect gnotobiotic piglets. The presence of the infection in liver was shown by in situ hybridization.
Combining testing and model checking for verification of high assurance systems

Proving the correctness of a developed specification with respect to the requirements is the most important and the most difficult task in the development of high assurance systems. Studies have shown that significant number of faults in real systems can be traced back to the specifications. In this short paper, we present our initial ideas on combining formal methods and specification testing for the purposes of specification verification.
Usefulness of a Percutaneous Transhepatic Coaxial Micropuncture Needle Technique in Patients with Nondilated Peripheral Intrahepatic Ducts

OBJECTIVE. I sought to develop an efficacious transhepatic technique for localizing normal or minimally dilated biliary radicles using 25- to 27-gauge needles threaded through 21- to 22-gauge needles.CONCLUSION. The micropuncture needle is a useful adjunct for performing transhepatic cholangiography in patients whose bile ducts are nondilated or in whom the standard transhepatic needle technique has failed.
Feasibility and preliminary outcomes for Move-Into-Learning: An arts-based mindfulness classroom intervention

This feasibility study investigated teachers’ assessment of Move-Into-Learning (MIL), an eight-week school-based Mindfulness-based intervention (MBI), designed to reduce stress and improve behavior in at-risk elementary students. MIL was implemented with two classrooms of third-grade students (n = 41) in a low income, urban neighborhood using a pretest to posttest single group design. One of the two classrooms (n = 20) completed a two-month follow-up measure examining sustainability of results. The program included mindfulness meditation, yoga movement with breathing exercises, and Appreciative Inquiry (AI) exercises that invited students to express themselves in the written and visual arts. MIL was evaluated via semi-structured teacher interviews and the Connors’ Behavior Rating Scale. Pre/post intervention showed significant improvement in behaviors, such as hyperactivity (t[1,39 = 3.1; p = 0.002), and highly significant differences in the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder index (t[1,39] = 5.42; ...
Synaptotagmin-Mediated Bending of the Target Membrane Is a Critical Step in Ca2+-Regulated Fusion

Summary Decades ago it was proposed that exocytosis involves invagination of the target membrane, resulting in a highly localized site of contact between the bilayers destined to fuse. The vesicle protein synaptotagmin-I (syt) bends membranes in response to Ca 2+ , but whether this drives localized invagination of the target membrane to accelerate fusion has not been determined. Previous studies relied on reconstituted vesicles that were already highly curved and used mutations in syt that were not selective for membrane-bending activity. Here, we directly address this question by utilizing vesicles with different degrees of curvature. A tubulation-defective syt mutant was able to promote fusion between highly curved SNARE-bearing liposomes but exhibited a marked loss of activity when the membranes were relatively flat. Moreover, bending of flat membranes by adding an N-BAR domain rescued the function of the tubulation-deficient syt mutant. Hence, syt-mediated membrane bending is a critical step in membrane fusion.
The lingua franca of human rights and the rise of a global bioethic.

Globalization is often discussed as if it were a recent phenomenon relating primarily to the development of world financial markets and improvements in information and travel technologies. But globalization is an ancient process, beginning with mercantile and cultural exchanges and facilitated by advances in transportation. In the twentieth century, the results of globalization can be seen in the rise of global capitalism and in the construction of a global economy. Most recently, the process of globalization has moved beyond the world of finance, however, into areas still traditionally thought of as national concerns, such as culture and healthcare. It is no surprise, therefore, that increasingly the challenges the United States is confronting in healthcare, biotechnology, and the environment are simultaneously faced by the international community as a whole. In the wake of the HIV pandemic, growing environmental consciousness, and a series of sensational advances in biotechnology, there is a dawning realization that problems such as improving public health, regulating advances in biotechnology, and achieving sustainable environmental development transcend national borders. In other words, bioethics concerns are global in nature.
Periodic leg movements in sleep following treatment of obstructive sleep apnea with nasal continuous positive airway pressure.

Periodic leg movements in sleep are shown to be a common finding in patients with OSA and may become evident or increase in severity after treatment of the OSA with NCPAP. Periodic leg movements in sleep were measured during baseline polysomnography, a NCPAP treatment trial, and a repeat NCPAP recording in 33 patients treated with NCPAP for OSA. During baseline PSG, nine patients had five or more PLMS per hour of sleep (index), while 14 patients had a PLMSI of 5 or more during the NCPAP trial and the repeat NCPAP recording. Among those patients with a PLMSI of 5 or more during repeat NCPAP studies, the PLMSI showed a significant increase from baseline to initial NCPAP (16.9±25.3 vs 39.3±29.4; p (Chest 1989; 96:89-91)
Population Characteristics of Black Crappies in South Dakota Waters: A Case for Ecosystem-Specific Management

Abstract We sampled 22 populations of black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus from three ecosystem types (large impoundments, >40 ha; small impoundments, ≤40 ha; natural lakes) to determine the factors that influence population characteristics (recruitment, growth, size structure, and condition) in South Dakota. Recruitment variability was best correlated with the log10 of the shoreline development index (r = 0.63, df = 16) and the log10 of the watershed : lake area ratio (r = 0.89, df = 12). Mean back-calculated length at age was highly variable among ecosystems and was inversely correlated with the log10 of the catch per unit effort (CPUE; r = –0.35 to –0.69). Mean back-calculated length for all ages was positively correlated with mean relative weight (r = 0.48–0.78, df = 18-21). Proportional stock density and relative stock density of preferred-length fish were inversely correlated with log10 CPUE (Spearman correlation, rs = –0.31 to –0.83, df = 21) and were positively correlated with growth of black crap...
Letter of apology for falsification of data.

To the editor : Re: Poehlman ET, Goran MJ, Gardner AW, Ades PA, Arcerio PJ, Katzman-Rooks SN, Montgomery SM, Toth MJ, and Sutherland PT. Determinants of decline in resting metabolic rate in aging females. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 264: E450–E455, 1993. In the referenced paper, we reported
Implementation issues of a deterministic transformation system for structured document query optimization

As the popularity of XML keeps growing rapidly, XML compliant structured document management becomes an interesting and compelling research area. Query optimization for structured documents stands out as a very challenging issue because of the much enlarged optimization (search) space, which is a consequence of the intrinsic complexity of the underlying data model of structured documents. We therefore propose to apply deterministic transformations on query expressions to most aggressively control the search space and fast achieve a sufficiently improved alternative (if not the optimal) for each incoming query expression. This idea is not just exciting but practically attainable. This paper first provides an overview of our optimization strategy, and then focuses on the implementation issues of our transformation system for structured document query optimization.
Androgens and prostate disease

A growing body of literature has established the anabolic benefi ts of testosterone (T) therapy in hypogonadal men. However, there remains a paucity of data regarding the risks of exogenous androgen use in older men and the potential for adverse effects on the prostate gland. Whether T therapy in older, hypogonadal men might worsen lower urinary tract symptoms or exacerbate, unmask, or even incite prostate cancer development has tempered enthusiasm for T therapy, while known prostatic disease has served as a relative contraindication to T therapy. Androgens are necessary for the development and maintenance of the prostate gland. However, epidemiologic studies do not consistently fi nd a positive relationship between endogenous serum androgen concentrations and the risk of prostate disease. Recent data demonstrate that 5α-reductase inhibitors decrease the risk of low-grade prostate cancer, suggesting that modifying androgen metabolism may have beneficial effects on prostate health, yet similar reductions in high-grade disease have not been observed, thereby questioning the true clinical benefits of these agents for chemoprevention. Knowing how to best investigate the relationship between androgens and the development of prostate disease given the lack of large, randomized trials is difficult. Accumulating data challenges the assumption that alterations in serum androgens have parallel effects within the prostate hormonal environment or change androgen-regulated processes within the gland. Long-term intervention studies are needed to truly ascertain the effects of androgen manipulation on prostate tissue and disease risk. However, available data do not support the notion that restoring serum androgens to normal physiologic ranges drives prostate disease.
Genes determining yeast replicative life span in a long-lived genetic background

Here we describe the replicative life spans of more than 50 congenic Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, each carrying a mutation previously implicated in yeast aging. This analysis provides a direct comparison, in a single, long-lived strain background, of a majority of reported yeast aging genes. Of the eleven deletion mutations previously reported to increase yeast life span, we find that deletion of FOB1, deletion of SCH9, and deletion of GPA2, GPR1, or HXK2 (three genetic models of calorie restriction) significantly enhanced longevity. In addition, over-expression of SIR2 or growth on low glucose increased life span. These results define a limited number of genes likely to regulate replicative life span in a strain-independent manner, and create a basis for future epistasis analysis to determine genetic pathways of aging.
Comparison of analog and digital Fourier transforms in medical image analysis

The effectiveness and limitations of medical image processing using analog and digital methods are studied. Several types of errors introduced during the image processing are analyzed. For the analog optical Fourier transform, errors are introduced by the vignetting effect and lens aberration. For the digital Fourier transform, errors are introduced by the aliasing effect and the band limit. To compare the results obtained by the two techniques, a set of x-ray images was processed both optically and digitally. The former was achieved by an optical system containing a large Fourier telephoto lens and the latter by a personal computer using a Fourier transform algorithm. The veracity of both the optical and digital Fourier spectra is analyzed. Our results indicate that the optical method has high speed due to parallel processing. High veracity can be achieved in high frequency regions by using an optimal optical system. In comparison, the digital method has the advantages of high processing precision and programmability, but has low processing speed. The comparison of the two different techniques presented in this article can provide a basis for selection of the processing method in different clinical settings. Even with today's fast computers, the optical method is still suitable for many clinical applications. The best choice lies in an analog-digital combination.
Blood Glucose Measurement in the Intensive Care Unit: What is the Best Method?:

Abnormal glucose measurements are common among intensive care unit (ICU) patients for numerous reasons and hypoglycemia is especially dangerous because these patients are often sedated and unable to relate the associated symptoms. Additionally, wide swings in blood glucose have been closely tied to increased mortality. Therefore, accurate and timely glucose measurement in this population is critical. Clinicians have several choices available to assess blood glucose values in the ICU, including central laboratory devices, blood gas analyzers, and point-of-care meters. In this review, the method of glucose measurement will be reviewed for each device, and the important characteristics, including accuracy, cost, speed of result, and sample volume, will be reviewed, specifically as these are used in the ICU environment. Following evaluation of the individual measurement devices and after considering the many features of each, recommendations are made for optimal ICU glucose determination.
Children with down syndrome: Implications for assessment and intervention in the school.

Down syndrome is the most common genetic cause of mental retardation and one of the most frequently occurring neurodevelopmental genetic disorders in children. Children with Down syndrome typically experience a constellation of symptomology that includes developmental motor and language delay, specific deficits in verbal memory, and broad cognitive deficits. Children with Down syndrome are also at increased risk of medical problems, which can exacerbate their cognitive deficits. Although the diagnosis of Down syndrome is facilitated by cytogenetic testing and the unique physical phenotype, the development of proper interventions for this group of children is less obvious. Despite their functional deficits, children with Down syndrome possess relative strengths, which can be the focus of interventions. This article reviews the etiology and developmental course of Down syndrome, appraises examples of empirically validated interventions, and discusses neurocognitive processing issues that should be considered during a psychoeducational evaluation for intervention.
Ultraviolet B (UVB) induction of the c-fos promoter is mediated by phospho-cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) binding to CRE and c-fos activator protein 1 site (FAP1) cis elements.

Abstract The ultraviolet B (UVB) portion (280–320 nm) of the ultraviolet spectrum has been shown to contribute to the development of non-melanoma skin cancer in humans. Research in the human keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT, revealed that UVB irradiation caused the upregulation of the transcription factor activator protein-1 (AP-1). The AP-1 complex formed in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells is specifically composed of c-fos and Jun D. c-Fos expression was induced in a manner that correlated with the UVB-induced activation of AP-1. To investigate how c-fos expression is regulated by UVB irradiation, the role of each of four cis elements within the c-fos promoter was evaluated. Clustered point mutations at the sis inducible element (SIE), serum response element (SRE), c-fos AP-1 site (FAP1), or cyclic AMP response elements (CRE) significantly inhibited UVB induction of the c-fos promoter. This indicated that all four cis elements are required for maximum promoter activity. The CRE and FAP1 elements were the two most active cis elements that mediate the UVB transactivation of c-fos. Homodimers of phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) were induced by UVB irradiation to bind to each of these elements. Therefore, CREB may function as an important regulatory protein in the UVB-induced expression of c-fos.
Dendritic cells restrict the transformation of Histoplasma capsulatum conidia into yeasts

Infections due to Histoplasma capsulatum occur as a result of the inhalation of airborne microconidia of the mold into the alveoli of the lungs. In this study we quantifi ed the transformation over time of conidia into yeast-like cells within macrophages (M φ ) and dendritic cells (DC). Conidia from strain G217B which had been surface labeled with carboxy-fl uorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE), or conidia from strain G217B that expresses green fl uorescent protein (GFP) only in the yeast phase, were used to infect M φ and DC. At various time points, numbers of intracellular conidia or yeasts were quantifi ed via phase-contrast and fl uorescent microscopy. Transformation of conidia from nonGFP-expressing G217B also was quantifi ed by their incorporation of 3 H-leucine. In both human and murine M φ , numerous yeast-like cells appeared by day 3 post-infection. The time course of conidia transformation into yeasts in culture medium was the same as in M φ . However, transformation of conidia to yeasts was signifi cantly restricted in human DC and murine lung DC. In DC, signifi cant numbers of yeasts did not appear until 5 days post-infection. Further, M φ monolayers were destroyed by day 6 – 7 post-infection, whereas DC monolayers remained intact throughout the study period. These data suggest that in vivo , conidia may transform into yeast-like cells effi ciently whether or not they are phagocytosed by M φ , but not when ingested by DC.
Temperature threshold and modulation of energy metabolism in the cardioplegic arrested rabbit heart.

Hypothermia protects ischemic tissues by reducing ATP utilization and accumulation of harmful metabolites. However, it also reduces ATP production, which might cause deterioration in the energy supply/demand ratio. Modulation of energy supply/demand according to temperature has not been previously studied in detail. In this study, isolated, perfused rabbit hearts ( n 5 60) were used to determine the effects of various temperatures on myocardial energy metabolism and function during cardioplegic arrest. Ischemia was induced by crystalloid cardioplegic solution at 4, 18, 30, and 34°C for 120 min, respectively. At each temperature, the hearts were divided into a glucose-treated group which contained 22 mM glucose in cardioplegic solution as the only substrate and a control group which contained 22 mM mannitol to keep same osmolarity. Following 15 min reperfusion, recovery of left ventricular developed pressure (DP), 6 dP/dtmax, and the product of heart rate and DP were significantly higher in 30, 18, and 4°C groups than those in 34°C control group. The functional recovery was also significantly higher in the 34°C glucose-treated group than that in the 34°C control group, but there was no difference between those groups at 30°C and the temperature below 30°C. Myocardial ATP concentration was significantly lower in 34°C control group than those in other groups. There is a close relationship between myocardial ATP concentration and functional recovery (R 2 5 0.90). The accumulations of lactate and CO2 were significantly higher at 34°C in glucose-treated group than those in the control group. However, there was no significant difference between these two groups at 30°C and the temperature below 30°C. These results indicate that under these study conditions: (1) a marked decrease in energy supply/demand occurs above 30°C, implying that a temperature threshold exists; and (2) this can be ameliorated by provision of glucose as substrate in cardioplegia solution. © 1998 Academic Press
Cardiac glycosides of Euonymus atropurpurea jacq. I. Detection, separation, and isolation

The root bark of Euonymus atropurpurea Jacq., has been investigated and the presence of at least seven different digitaloids was demonstrated by the use of color reactions and pharmacological tests on frogs. Separation of the glycosides was accomplished by fractionation on a cellulose column and by chromatography on large sheets of filter paper impregnated with formamide. The name euatroside is proposed for one of the glycosides isolated for structural study.
In Situ Analysis of the Formation of thin TISI2, (>50 nm) Contacts in Submicron Cmos Structures during Rapid Thermal Annealing

A detailed in situ study of silicide reactions during rapid thermal annealing of patterned structures was performed to determine the effects of linewidth (0.2 to 1.1 μm), dopants (arsenic, boron or phosphorus) and silicon substrate type (poly-Si or -Si) on the C49 to C54-TiSi2 transformation. A synchrotron x-ray source and a high speed position sensitive detector were used to collect x-ray diffraction patterns of the reacting phases on a millisecond time scale, in situ, during annealing. We demonstrate that most patterned C49-TiSi2 structures (0.2 to 1.1 μm in width, 2 to 4 μm2 in area) will incompletely transform into C54-TiSi2 during rapid thermal annealing. The C49 to C54 transformation ends at about 900°C and further annealing to higher temperatures does not force the remaining C49 to transform into C54. We also observed that the C54 formation temperature increases as the linewidth of the silicide structure decreases. These results are explained by a low density of C54 nuclei in C49 which leads to a one-dimensional growth of C54 grains along the length of the patterned lines. Finally the incorporation of a Mo implant into either poly-Si or -Si before the deposition of titanium is shown to increase the percentage of C49 that transforms into C54 and also to lower the C54 formation temperature.
Ghrelin-mediated sympathoinhibition and suppression of inflammation in sepsis

Sepsis, a systemic inflammatory response to infection, continues to carry a high mortality despite advances in critical care medicine. Elevated sympathetic nerve activity in sepsis has been shown to contribute to early hepatocellular dysfunction and subsequently multiple organ failure, resulting in a poor prognosis, especially in the elderly. Thus, suppression of sympathetic nerve activity represents a novel therapeutic option for sepsis. Ghrelin is a 28-amino acid peptide shown to inhibit sympathetic nerve activity and inflammation in animal models of tissue injury. Age-related ghrelin hyporesponsiveness has also been shown to exacerbate sepsis. However, the mechanistic relationship between ghrelin-mediated sympathoinhibition and suppression of inflammation remains poorly understood. This review assesses the therapeutic potential of ghrelin in sepsis in the context of the neuroanatomical and molecular basis of ghrelin-mediated suppression of inflammation through inhibition of central sympathetic outflow.
Evolutionary Conservation of Microsatellite Flanking Regions and their Use in Resolving the Phylogeny of Cichlid Fishes (Pisces: Perciformes)

A phylogeny of the principal lineages of cichlid fishes and two other fish families of the suborder Labroidei was based on phylogenetic information from DNA sequences of the flanking region of a (CA)n microsatellite locus. Microsatellite (CA)n containing clones from a genomic library of an African cichlid fish from Lake Tanganyika, Tropheus moorii, were sequenced and primers for the polymerase chain reaction designed. All primers amplified the homologous microsatellite loci in many more than the source species and one microsatellite flanking locus (TmoM27) was particularly conserved and amplified in several lineages of perciform fishes that diverged more than 80-100 million years ago. Despite the extensive level of evolutionary conservation of this microsatellite flanking region (MFR), this nuclear region contained reliable phylogenetic information in the form of both point and length mutations. A phylogeny of cichlids based on this MFR agrees with other phylogenetic hypotheses based on morphological, mitochondrial, and anonymous nuclear DNA. Madagascan and Indian cichlids are found to be paraphyletic and the most basal group in the family Cichlidae. African and Neotropical cichlids are both monophyletic and sistergroups. Within African lineages, the East African cichlids are most likely to be monophyletic and the West African cichlids are probably paraphyletic and basal to all African species. The focal microsatellite locus contained much variation in (CA)n repeats in African cichlids and in surfperches (up to 64 repeats), but was short (with only 2-4 repeats) and almost invariant in Neotropical cichlids. The design of phylogenetically highly versatile MFR-primers will be of use not only for phylogeny reconstruction among families of perciform fishes, but also for population-level work in the thousands of species belonging to this highly species-rich suborder of fishes.
COAGULATION CASCADE | iuPA, tPA, uPAR

The fibrinolytic system is a cascade of enzymes, and their inhibitors and cell surface receptors which were initially characterized based on their capacity to proteolytically degrade fibrin. The effector proenzyme plasminogen is widely distributed in tissue as an inactive zymogen, and its activity is regulated largely at the level of activation by the plasminogen activators, urokinase and tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA). Studies in vitro and in transgenic/gene deleted mice amply demonstrate that the role of this enzyme system extends far beyond the dissolution of fibrin, to tissue remodeling, growth factor modulation, and cell migration. Not surprisingly, plasminogen activators, their naturally occurring inhibitor, plasminogen activator inhibitor type I (PAI-1), and plasminogen activator receptors have been implicated in a number of respiratory disorders including acute lung injury, pulmonary fibrosis, airway remodeling in asthma and infectious pneumonia. In some disorders, the proximate consequences of the plasminogen activators/inhibitors on disease pathogenesis are independent of their known mediation of the dissolution of fibrin.