cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Federated scheduling for stochastic parallel real-time tasks

Federated scheduling is a strategy to schedule parallel real-time tasks: It allocates a dedicated cluster of cores to each high-utilization task (utilization ≥ 1); It uses a multiprocessor scheduling algorithm to schedule and execute all low-utilization tasks sequentially, on a shared cluster of the remaining cores. Prior work has shown that federated scheduling has the best known capacity augmentation bound of 2 for parallel tasks with implicit deadlines. In this paper, we explore the soft real-time performance of federated scheduling and address average-case workloads instead of worst-case ones. In particular, we consider stochastic tasks — tasks for which execution time and critical-path length are random variables. In this case, we use bounded expected tardiness as the schedulability criterion. We define a stochastic capacity augmentation bound and prove that federated scheduling algorithms guarantee the same bound of 2 for stochastic tasks. We present three federated mapping algorithms with different complexities for core allocation. All of them guarantee bounded expected tardiness and provide the same capacity augmentation bound. In practice, however, we expect them to provide different performance, both in terms of the task sets they can schedule and the actual tardiness they guarantee. Therefore, we present numerical evaluations using randomly generated task sets to examine the practical differences between the three algorithms.
Quantitative aspects of a valve-based, multi-stage multidimensional gas chromatography-infrared spectroscopy-mass spectrometry system

Abstract Use of high-resolution capillary gas chromatography coupled with infrared and mass spectral detectors is a very powerful qualitative analytical technique. However, accurate qualitative analyses with spectroscopic detection requires that the separation system provide the detectors with pure components. Unfortunately, in very complex mixtures, this is virtually impossible when single-stage separations are employed. This paper describes the sample recycling capabilities of a valve-based multidimensional gas chromatography system equipped with both infrared and mass spectral detectors. Sample recycle efficiencies, valve adsorption effects and cycle-to-cycle reproducibility are considered. Mixtures including the Grob test mixture were analyzed and it was found that 35 out of the 40 total components examined could be recycled six times or more following injection of 500 ng or less of each component. Additionally, the first demonstration of a 23-stage recycling experiment with several components of a chlorinated hydrocarbon mixture is shown. This demonstrates the plausibility of performing GC n experiments, where n is the number of separation stages, with values of n up to 23 for these components. It is also shown that mechanical valves generally do not have deleterious effects on the majority of these components. The main limitations of the system appear to be the design of the heating system and the manual control of the pressure and flow switching systems. The applicability of the present results to qualitative analyses are discussed.
The Menopausal Transition: Analysis of LH, FSH, Estradiol, and Progesterone Concentrations During Menstrual Cycles of Older Women

Studies of menstrual cycle length in large populations demonstrated that there is a striking increase in the variability of intermenstrual intervals just before menopause. The changes in serum concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2), and progesterone (P) during menstrual cycles in a group of perimenopausal women were compared with the findings in young normal women. In 8 women, 46-56 years old with regular cycles, cycle length was shorter and the mean E2 concentration was lower than in younger women. There was a striking increase in FSH concentration throughout the cycle while LH remained in the normal range. In 2 women, 14 cycles of variable length were studied during 2 years of the menopausal transition. In some instances, hormonal changes associated with follicular maturation and corpus luteum function occurred in the presence of high, menopausal levels of LH and FSH with a diminished secretion of E2 and P. In others vaginal bleeding occurred during a fall in serum E2 with no associated rise in P. Cycles of variable length during the menopausal transition may be due either to irregular maturation of residual follicles with diminished responsiveness to gonadotropin stimulation, or to anovulatory vaginal bleeding that may follow estrogen withdrawal without evidence of corpus luteum function. The observation of elevated FSH concentrations and normal LH levels in perimenopausal women emphasizes the complexity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian regulatory system and suggests that LH and FSH are modulated independently at the level of the pituitary.
Seasonal respiratory metabolism of two sympatric araneid spiders

Abstract 1. 1. Metabolic responses to season and low temperature acclimation were examined in the spiders Argiope aurantia (Lucas) and Argiope trifasciata (Forskal) from populations in central Illinois. 2. 2. Field-collected Argiope aurantia displayed positive acclimation and maintained relatively high metabolic rates from mid-August through mid-October. 3. 3. Argiope trifasciata exhibited negative acclimatization to 15, 20, and 25°C from mid-September to mid-October. 4. 4. A comparison of metabolic rates after acclimation to 5°C in October with those of field groups revealed a positive compensatory response in A. trifasciata and negative one in A. aurantia. 5. 5. Interspecific differences in metabolism were considered adaptive in terms of the energetic demands of vitellogenesis.
Social equilibrium and cycles on compact sets

One proof of existence of general equilibrium assumes convexity and continuity of a preference correspondence on a compact convex feasible set W. Here the existence of a local equilibrium for a preference field which satisfies, not convexity, but the weaker local acyclicity is shown. The theorem is then applied to a voting game, σ, without veto players. It is shown that if the dimension of the policy space is no greater than ν(σ) − 2, where ν(σ) is the Nakamura number of the game, then no local cycles may occur and a local equilibrium must exist. With convex preferences, then, there will exist a choice of the game from W.
Factors Influencing Pyrethroid Resistance in a Permethrin-Selected Strain of the Soybean Looper, Pseudoplusia includens (Walker)

Abstract Cytochrome P450 monooxgenase activity towardp-nitroanisole was measured in larvae of three strains of soybean looper,Pseudoplusia includens(Walker), including a laboratory susceptible (S) strain, a resistant (R) strain selected for several generations with permethrin, and a nonselected (NS) strain from the same field collections as the R strain. Activity was significantly higher in R strain larvae than in the S and NS strains (1.8- and 1.4-fold, respectively), and there was no significant difference between activity in the S and NS strains. Resistance to the α-cyano pyrethroids deltamethrin and cypermethrin was similar to or higher than that observed with permethrin (RR = 70.0, 62.4, 145.3 and 12.1, 32.3, and 27.0 for permethrin, deltamethrin, and cypermethrin in R and NS strains, respectively). The R strain was less resistant (RR = 4.3) to tefluthrin, a pyrethroid with a fluorinated-phenyl alcohol moiety, and a nonester (ether) pyrethroid, BRC 429 (RR = 17.7). Piperonyl butoxide (PB) significantly increased the toxicity of each insecticide tested in the R and NS strains. In addition, penetration of14C-cypermethrin was decreased significantly at 24 hr after treatment when R strain larvae were pretreated with PB, with 21.1% of the applied dose unpenetrated in PB-treated larvae and 7.6% unpenetrated in larvae not treated with PB.
Different reactions of control and epileptic rats to administration of APV or muscimol on thalamic or CA3-induced CA1 responses.

The physiology and pharmacology of CA1 is changed in epilepsy. There is evidence that the thalamic input to CA1 has a somewhat different physiological effect compared with the CA3 input. In this st...
Protein Kinase C in Primary Astrocyte Cultures: Cytoplasmic Localization and Translocation by a Phorbol Ester

The distribution of calcium-activated, phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C) in supernatant and particulate fractions of primary cultures of rat astrocytes and its translocation by a phorbol ester were studied. We observed that 91% of protein kinase C activity in astrocytes was in the supernatant fraction, as measured by lysine-rich histone phosphorylation assay. Attempts to uncover latent activity in the particulate fraction were unsuccessful. Approximately 75% of the supernatant protein kinase C activity could be translocated to the particulate fraction by prior treatment (30-60 min) of the cultures with 100 nM 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol 13-acetate (TPA), but not with 4 alpha-phorbol, an inactive phorbol ester. Investigation of endogenous substrates for protein kinase C showed that TPA treatment brought about an increase in phosphorylation in membrane proteins and a decrease in phosphorylation of supernatant proteins. These findings indicate that the distribution of protein kinase C in astrocytes differs substantially from that in whole brain tissue, where approximately two-thirds of the protein kinase C activity is associated with the particulate fraction. Because protein kinase C is concentrated in the cytosol of astrocytes and most of this activity can be translocated to membranes, astrocytes may be particularly well-suited to respond to signals that activate phosphoinositide-linked receptors in brain.
Predictors of systemic inflammatory response syndrome in ischemic stroke undergoing systemic thrombolysis with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator.

Background: Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is an inflammatory processassociated with pooroutcomes in acute ischemic stroke(AIS) patients. However,nostudy todate has investigated predictors ofSIRS inAIS patients treated with intravenous (IV) tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). Methods: Consecutive patients were retrospectively reviewed for evidence of SIRS during their acute hospitalization. SIRS was defined as the presence of 2 or more of the following: (1) body temperature less than 36 � C or greater than 38 � C, (2) heart rate greater than 90, (3) respiratory rate greater than 20, or (4) white blood cell count less than 4000/mm or greater than 12,000/mm or more than 10% bands for more than 24 hours. Those diagnosed with an infection were excluded. A scoring system was created to predict SIRS based on patient characteristics available at the time of admission. Logistic regression wasusedtoevaluatepotential predictorsofSIRS usingasensitivity cutoff of $65% or area under the curve of .6 or more. Results: Of 212 patients, 44 had evidence of SIRS (21%). Patients with SIRS were more likely to be black (61% versus 54%; P 5 .011), have lower median total cholesterol at baseline (143 versus 167 mg/dL; P 5 .0207), and have history of previous stroke (51% versus 35%; P 5 .0810). Ranging from 0 to 6, the SIRS prediction score consists of African American (2 points), history of hypertension (1 point), history of previous stroke (1 point), and admission total cholesterol less than 200 (2 points). Patients with an SIRS score of 4 or more were 3 times as likely to develop SIRS when compared with patients with a score of #3 (odds ratio 5 2.815, 95% confidence interval
Improved procedure for calculating the collision stopping power of elements and compounds for electrons and positrons

Abstract This paper is an addendum to an earlier paper which described a procedure and provided the data base for the quick-and-easy calculation of electron and positron collision stopping powers. The procedure makes use of Bethe's stopping-power formula and Sternheimer's theory of the density effect, and involves a parametrization such that some parameters depend only on the particle energy and all others on the properties of the stopping material. Using the data provided, the stopping powers can easily be evaluated with a hand-held scientific calculator. The data base for 278 materials has now been updated through an improved evaluation of the density effect within the framework of Sternheimer's theory. The use of the new instead of the old data base can result in stopping-power changes as large as 1–2%.
Computer-Controlled Gamma Camera

A germanium gamma-camera has been interfaced to a conventional x-ray CT computer obviating the need for a separate camera control console. The computer provides all the functions of hardwired consoles (including the persistence oscilloscope), and increases the flexibility of the system. Updated images are available on a real time basis, and a high quality display provides reliable transcription of images onto Polaroid or transparent film.
Identification of an Amsacta Spheroidin-like Protein within the Occlusion Bodies of Choristoneura Entomopoxviruses

Like baculoviruses, a characteristic feature of entomopoxviruses is the amalgamation of virions within environmentally stable occlusion bodies. It is this occluded form of the virus that is primarily responsible for dissemination to other insects. While the major protein (polyhedrin) of baculovirus occlusions is quite similar between viruses, it has been reported that the major occlusion body protein (spheroidin) of two group B entomopoxviruses, Amsacta moorei (AmEPV) and Choristoneura biennis (CbEPV) is quite different both in terms of amino acid sequence and coding capacity of the corresponding spheroidin genes (115 and 47 kDa for AmEPV and CbEPV, respectively). We report the discovery of a AmEPV spheroidin gene homolog in both CbEPV and a second Choristoneura virus, Choristoneura fumiferana (CfEPV). Antibodies directed against the AmEPV 115-kDa spheroidin reacted with the major protein of approximately 115 kDa found within the occlusion body preparation from both Choristoneura viruses. Direct protein microsequencing of small portions of the 115-kDa protein from CbEPV has resulted in peptide sequences identical to those of corresponding regions of the AmEPV spheroidin gene. We suggest that it is this Choristoneura gene which encodes spheroidin. All attempts, however, to find a homolog of the previously reported CbEPV spheroidin gene within AmEPV have been unsuccessful. We also show this newly identified Choristoneura homolog of the AmEPV spheroidin gene as well as the AmEPV spheroidin gene itself are both located at the 3' end of an NPH I gene and are highly homologous in all three viruses, indicating that this region of the genome in the three viruses is co-linear. These results and others suggest that while the insect viruses lack the traditional central core of conserved genes observed for the vertebrate poxviruses, the insect poxviruses may have also evolved an alternative central core of conserved genes, unique to the invertebrate poxviruses.
Correlation of cusp MeV helium with turbulent ULF power spectra and its implications

A new magnetospheric phenomenon called a cusp energetic particle (CEP) event was observed by the POLAR spacecraft. CEP events were detected in the dayside polar cusp near the apogee of POLAR and could last for hours, in which the measured helium ions had energies up to 8 MeV [Chen et al., 1997a, 1998]. A fundamental question is where do the cusp MeV ions come from? To answer this question, we have compared the ion flux in the CEP events with that in both the upstream and the downstream from the bow shock and found that bow shock acceleration cannot explain the measured ion flux in the CEP events. We have further determined the power spectra of the local magnetic field turbulence calculated over the September 18, 1996 CEP event periods for fluctuations in the ultra-low frequency (ULF) ranges, corresponding to periods of about 0.33–500 seconds. It is found that the integrated power of the turbulent spectra over the ULF ranges is correlated with the intensity of the MeV helium flux. These new results provides the first direct observation evidence that the high-altitude dayside cusp is a new acceleration region of the magnetosphere.
Towards a semiclassical justification of the effective random matrix theory for transport through ballistic chaotic quantum dots

The scattering matrix $S$ of a ballistic chaotic cavity is the direct sum of a classical and a quantum part, which describe the scattering of channels with typical dwell time smaller and larger than the Ehrenfest time, respectively. According to the effective random matrix theory of Silvestrov, Goorden, and Beenakker [Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 116801 (2003)], statistical averages involving the quantum-mechanical scattering matrix are given by random matrix theory. While this effective random matrix theory is known not to be applicable for quantum interference corrections to transport, which appear to subleading order in the number of scattering channels $N$, it is believed to correctly describe quantum transport to leading order in $N$. We here partially verify this belief, by comparing the predictions of the effective random matrix theory for the ensemble averages of polynomial functions of $S$ and ${S}^{\ifmmode\dagger\else\textdagger\fi{}}$ of degree 2, 4, and 6 to a semiclassical calculation.
The potential of energy loss spectroscopy for electronic characterization of structures on the nanometer scale

Abstract The last few years have seen a dramatic increase in the use of electron spectroscopy coupled with microscopy. Though dominant consideration has been aimed at elemental analysis and the use of ELS as a complementary tool with EDX for elemental determination, much less consideration has been given to one of the more powerful aspects of this spectroscopy, namely, electronic structure determination on the nanometer scale. It is the purpose here to consider certain aspects of such determination on the nanometer scale (with reference to elucidation and evaluation of man-made nanostructures) and to discuss some aspects of spectrometer design relevant to such determinations.
Psychogenic Seizures in Old Age: A Case Report

Summary: Psychogenic seizures are unusual after age 60 years, A 73-year-old woman had onset of psychogenic seizures at age 69 years. Five to six attacks occurred each month, usually at night, characterized by an initial subjective sensation and headache followed by generalized stiffening and shaking. Continuous EEG-closed circuit television (EEG-CCTV) monitoring clearly showed these episodes to be nonepileptic. Discontinuation of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) did not increase the frequency or severity of attacks. Epileptiform discharges were not recorded during the awake, drowsy, or sleeping states. Psychiatric evaluation identified significant turmoil in the patient's life and a history of childhood sexual and physical abuse. Psychogenic seizures may begin in old age and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intractable seizures in the elderly. Predominantly nocturnal occurrence should not exclude the diagnosis.
Factors Influencing Snowy Plover Nest Survival on Ocean-Fronting Beaches in Coastal Northern California

Abstract. Selection of a nest site that affords camouflage of eggs or incubating adults is thought to be strongly influenced by predation, especially for ground-nesting birds. Data from 115 Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus) nests were used to model relationships between nest survival, habitat characteristics, predator activity and human activity on four sandy, ocean-fronting beaches in coastal northern California from 2007–2009. Plover daily nest survival was higher at two southern sites (South Spit range = 0.98–0.99; Eel River Wildlife Area range = 0.91–0.96) compared with two northern sites (Mad River Beach range = 0.77–0.88; Clam Beach range = 0.79–0.89) where predator activity was appreciably higher. Nest survival was positively related to debris heterogeneity and negatively related to the amount of debris near the nest, but these relationships were weaker than the site-level effect. Although plovers select nest sites among cryptic debris in sparsely vegetated areas, restoration that creates and enhan...
Unified theory of enzyme catalysis and denaturation. I. Specificity considerations of prostatic acid phosphatase.

Abstract Through the use of inhibitors a portion of the enzyme surface of prostatic acid phosphatase was mapped. Four critical points were located on the surface and their probable spatial relationships to one another demonstrated. There are two positive sites and two hydrogen-bonding sites. With the aid of the kinetic theory they were shown to be the area in which substrate is split. In conjunction with the critical region, a theory is developed which in a fundamental way explains cnzyme mechanism. Partial theoretical answers to the questions “how does this enzyme split substrate, and how is it denatured,” are provided. The two processes are shown to be related. A number of new inhibitors are presented and their minimal configurations of negative charges separated by 2.5–3.0 A. units from single pairs of electrons are found to be common to all of them.
Hydrolysis of retinyl esters by pancreatic triglyceride lipase.

Previously [van Bennekum, A. M., et al. (1999) Biochemistry 38, 4150−4156] we showed that carboxyl ester lipase (CEL)-deficient (CELKO) mice have normal levels of pancreatic, bile salt-dependent retinyl ester hydrolase (REH) activity. In the present study, we further investigated this non-CEL REH activity in pancreas homogenates of CELKO and wild-type (WT) mice, and rats. REH activity was detected in both the presence and absence of tri- and dihydroxy bile salts in rats, WT mice, and CELKO mice. In contrast, pancreatic cholesteryl ester hydrolase (CEH) activity was only detected in the presence of trihydroxy bile salts and only in rats and WT mice, consistent with CEL-mediated cholesteryl ester hydrolysis. Enzyme assays of pancreatic triglyceride lipase (PTL) showed that there was a colipase-stimulated REH activity in rat and mouse (WT and CELKO) pancreas, consistent with hydrolysis of retinyl ester (RE) by PTL. Pancreatic enzyme activities related to either CEL or PTL were separated using DEAE-chromatogr...
Protein Structure Prediction in Structure-Based Ligand Design and Virtual Screening

Advances in protein modeling algorithms and state-of-the-art sequence similarity comparison and fold recognition methods, in combination with growing protein structure information, are facilitating "genome-to-drug lead" approaches in which chemicals are virtually screened against computationally-predicted protein targets. Although the quality of predicted protein structures by homology modeling methods, and thus their applicability to drug discovery initiatives, predominantly depends on the sequence similarity between the protein of known structure and the protein target to be modeled, recent research underscores that this approach can be used to significant advantage in the identification and optimization of lead compounds, as well as for the identification and validation of drug targets. Rational structure-based drug design cycles begin with an iterative procedure that is dependent on the initial determination of the structure of the target protein, followed by the prediction of ligands for the target protein from molecular modeling computation. The structure determination of all proteins encoded by vast genome sequencing efforts appears to be an unrealistic goal with current technologies. Therefore, other approaches based on the development of technology useful for accurately predicting and modeling the structures of proteins have become exceedingly important in certain structure-based drug design efforts. This review provides an overview of the recent method advancements in protein structure prediction by homology modeling and includes an assessment of the application of homology modeling to pharmaceutically relevant questions. In addition, examples of successful applications of homology modeling approaches to genome-to-drug lead investigations are described.
Optimal control theory applied to pressure-controlled axial piston pump design

This work presents a study of the applicability of optimal control theory to the design of a pressure regulator by use of an axial piston pump with a two-stage electrohydraulic servovalve. The control valve has been modeled and an optimal control law has been formulated. The time response curves due to a step input in flow rate to the pump have been obtained for the open loop and the for the optimal control system
Hormone replacement therapy and risk of breast cancer: Results from epidemiologic studies

OBJECTIVE: We combined data from published reports of the relation between estrogen use and breast cancer. We specifically addressed the hypothesis that the addition of progestins to estrogen therapy reduces the risk of breast cancer. STUDY DESIGN: A meta-analysis was performed. RESULTS: Replacement hormone therapy is not associated with increased risk of breast cancer in women who have ever used it (relative risk 1.02, 95% confidence interval 0.93 to 1.12). However, current use is associated with increased risk (relative risk 1.40, 95% confidence interval 1.20 to 1.63). Although there was no significant trend with increasing duration of use, women with ≥ 10 years of estrogen use had a relative risk of 1.23 (95% confidence interval 1.08 to 1.40). However, data on use of estrogen plus progestins combined from four studies indicate that risk is not reduced and that the overall relative risk is 1.13 (95% confidence interval 0.78 to 1.64). Further, risk did not vary in strata of family history or benign breast disease. CONCLUSION: Although these results exclude a large effect of hormone therapy on risk of breast cancer, we are unable to rule out some risk associated with current or long-term estrogen use.
UMAVC: A program for computing comparisons in multifactor designs with unequal cell Ns

While some computer center libraries include programs that perform comparisons for multifactor analysis of variance (ANOVA) designs, these programs are usually limited to designs with equal cell Ns. Program UMAVC extends these basic capabilities to include factorial designs with unequal cell Ns (Keppel, 1973; Myers, 1972). The program employs unweighted means techniques to assess comparisons for main effects (example: Acomp) and for interactions (example: Acomp by B by C). Description. This program consists of two major segments. The first segment performs one-, two-, three-, or four-way unweighted means ANOVAs for standard factorial designs (fixed effect only) having either equal or unequal cell Ns; this program segment is similar in design to Veldman's (1967) AVAR23 program. The second segment performs comparisons requested by the user. These comparisons may be orthogonal or nonorthogonal, or tests for trend depending upon the coefficients that are specified. Input. Three program control cards precede the data: an ANOVA problem identification card, an ANOVA design card, and a data format card. The data is read in accordance with the user-specified format and is arranged with the subscript of the last factor varying the fastest. Cards containing the cell Ns are placed before each "cell" of data cards. A card containing the comparison problem identification immediately follows the data. Cards specifying the desired comparisons and their coefficients complete the deck setup. Output. Output from UMAVC consists of (l) a standard unweighted means ANOVA table including the probabilities of the computed F ratios, (2) cell means and cell Ns, and (3) a comparison table including sums of squares, degrees of freedom, mean squares and F ratios accompanied by their associated probabilities. Restrictions. The number of levels of each ANOV A factor must not exceed 10. The program can analyze only one comparison per factor in a given run; different comparisons for different factors may be analyzed in a single run. In the case of trend comparisons, for example, to investigate both linear and quadratic trends for factor A would require two runs, while a linear trend for factor A, a quadratic trend for factor B, a cubic trend for factor C, and a quartic trend for factor D could be investigated in a single run. Computer and language. The program is written in FORTRAN IV and was developed on an IBM 370{155 with virtual memory. It executes in approximately 192K of core; reducing the maximum number of levels for the ANOV A factors below the present value of 10 would greatly reduce the program's core requirements. Compilation time is approximately 30 sec. Data sets of average size may be analyzed in 5-10 sec of CPU time. Two direct access devices are required. The program consists of a mainline and 13 subroutines. Availability. A documented listing of UMAVC is available at no cost from the first author at: Southern College of Optometry, 1245 Madison Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38104.
A Comparison of Injuries, Limited-Duty Days, and Injury Risk Factors in Infantry, Artillery, Construction Engineers, and Special Forces Soldiers

ABSTRACTObjectives: We compared injuries/risk factors in infantry soldiers (I), construction engineers (CE), combat artillery (CA), and Special Forces (SF) during their operational and fitness activities. Methods: Anthropometrics, ethnicity, and fitness data were collected before review of medical records. Results: Injury rates for I, CE, and CA were 4.0, 7.2, and 5.5 injuries/100 soldier-months, respectively; over 70% of them resulted from overuse. SF soldiers had an injury rate of 3.5 injuries/100 soldier-months, 50% of them reported as traumatic. Average limited-duty days (LDDs) were threefold higher in SF. Smoking, BMI ≥25, and APFT run time for 3.2 km >14 minutes were risk factors in I. Caucasian ethnicity, height 27 years old was a risk factor in SF. Conclusions: Greater emphasis should be placed on risk factor identification and testing strategies to reduce injuries among SF and other troops.
On the left and right hemisphere visual processing that precedes recognition

Abstract Three experiments, and a replication of each, investigated the nonconscious prerecognition visual processing given left visual field (LVF) and right visual field (RVF) letter inputs. Each input was a vertically arrayed pair of letters in which three variables were manipulated: (1) the same letter twice vs one each of two letters, (2) same vs 180° difference in orientations within each letter pair, and (3) normal vs mirror-image letter form. The procedure presented all pairs of letter combinations in pairs of pre- and postmasked 10-msec flashes; the subject's task was to report which flash of each pair appeared to last longer. When letter pairs differed on all three variables, RVF presentations of mirror-image letters were judged to be longer than equal presentations of normal letters; the reverse occurred for LVF presentations. When one normal and mirror-image letter were presented, RVF presentations of mismatched orientations were judged to be longer than matched orientations, and the reverse was true for LVF presentations. When pairs of two normal letters were presented, no processing difference between LVF and RVF presentations was observed. A fourth experiment tested presence/absence detection of the letter pairs under the input conditions of the main experiments and showed those conditions to produce chance-level presence/absence detection. These results suggest that each hemisphere can perform its own prerecognition operations and that neither hemisphere is necessarily specialized for any particular prerecognition visual operation.
Survival of daphnia magna and hyalella azteca in cadmium-spiked water and sediment

Freshwater sediments and water were spiked with cadmium (Cd) in the laboratory, and toxicity tests were conducted with the cladoceran Daphnia magna and the amphipod Hyalella azteca to determine if Cd in the sediment would cause increased toxicity. The 48-h LC50 values for Daphnia in tests without sediment were 36, 33, 24, and 40 micrograms/L total Cd. Calculated free-ion (Cd/sup 2 +/)LC50 values for the same tests were 28, 25, 18 and 31 micrograms/L. LC50 values (48-h) determined for total Cd(uncentrifuged water sample) in the sediment-containing beakers were 252, 69, and 122 micrograms/L for Daphnia. LC50 values for dissolved Cd(centrifuged 10,000 rpm) in the sediment-containing beakers were 61, 27, and 100 micrograms/L for Daphnia. Higher total Cd LC50 values indicate that Cd adsorbed to soluble organic material was not biologically available. No significant mortality of Daphnia or Hyalella occurred in the flow-through tests in which sediment contained the same levels of Cd as in the static tests. Mortality was similar in beakers with and without Cd-spiked sediment, indicating that Cd in the sediment and adsorbed to organic materials was not available to cause increased mortality.
Completing the length-tension curve of tissue.

Abstract General equations describing the relationship between tension and length of tissue have to date been based on data obtained primarily by simple elongation, i.e. positive strains. The portion of the curve representing negative strains should be described by the same equations. In practice this portion can be found either by one-dimensional compression, or more conveniently, by uniform two-dimensional extension of tissue sheets. The entire curve cannot be predicted by extrapolation from the results of either elongation or compression alone, and must be completed experimentally. Data from four types of tissue are presented, and a suitable mathematical form describing the complete length-tension curve is given. The limitations of data from one-dimensional and uniform two-dimensional extension experiments with respect to the full description of the mechanical properties of tissue are also discussed.
Bioenterics Intragastric Balloon May Represent an Alternative and Effective Treatment for Body Weight Control in Prader–Willi Syndrome

To the editor: We agree with the comment of Scheimann and colleagues [1] regarding the difficulties on treating obesity in Prader– Willi syndrome (PWS). We also agree with the concept that obesity should be primarily prevented and treated with supervised reduced-energy diets, restricted access to food, and daily exercise regimen [2]. When pharmacological, dietary, and behavioral approaches fail, however, to control body weight and obesity is progressive and severe (body mass index (BMI) over 40)—as occurs in patients not followed since birth or those referred when the obesity is already severe—the use of Bioenterics Intragastric Balloon (BIB) may represent an alternative and effective treatment for body weight control [3]. In our study [4], younger patients appeared to benefit from treatment more than their older peers, and in the two youngest patients treated more than once, a substantial BMI reduction was maintained during a treatment period of 3 years. In one patient (12.4 years), we were able to maintain a satisfactory BMI control until the age of 17, when he underwent a successful biliopancreatic diversion. BIB, as a totally reversible and repeatable technique, can be used more than once to allow pediatric patients to reach adult age maintaining their BMI as close as possible to normal values. In older patients, BIB can be useful as a preliminary treatment to reduce the risks of a definitive bariatric surgical procedure. Serious complications in BIB appear when a specific postoperative management protocol is not followed. In our experience, all major complications occurred at the beginning of the study as a consequence of the lack of a specifically designed dietary protocol and strict postoperative monitoring. Once this postoperative protocol has been adopted, the complication rate has been significantly reduced and no serious adverse events were observed. With this new protocol and the extensive experience that we now have in our Institute, we have inserted ten BIB over the last 2 years, without any significant complications (data not published). In conclusion, our experience clarifies that to reduce the risk of serious adverse events after BIB, careful selection of patients and families followed by adequate follow-up after implantation is required. Considering that individuals with PWS have an underlying defect in satiety, altered pain threshold, and a decreased ability to vomit with the possibility of gastric rupture [5], a specific postoperative protocol of management must be always adopted, including close postoperative monitoring. Finally, we consider BIB a valid alternative treatment of body weight control only when pharmacological, dietary, and behavioral approaches have failed and obesity is progressive and severe. OBES SURG (2009) 19:674–675 DOI 10.1007/s11695-009-9817-7
Hypertensive Encephalopathy in Cats with Reduced Renal Function

The clinical, hemodynamic, and pathologic features of hypertensive encephalopathy in two cats with reduced renal mass are described. The cats developed a progressive syndrome of lethargy, ataxia, blindness, stupor, and seizures following an abrupt increase in blood pressure associated with a surgical reduction in renal mass. The cats had severe gross brain edema, evidenced by cerebellar changes of caudal coning and cranial displacement over the corpora quadrigemina and cerebral changes of widening and flattening of the gyri. Histologically, interstitial edema was most pronounced in the cerebral white matter. Hypertensive vascular lesions were present as hyaline arteriolosclerosis in one cat and hyperplastic arteriolosclerosis in the other. Rare foci of parenchymal microhemorrhages and necrosis were also observed. Systemic hypertension (especially severe or rapidly developing) accompanied by neurologic signs and the pathologic findings of diffuse brain edema with cerebral arteriolosclerosis are consistent with an etiologic diagnosis of hypertensive encephalopathy.
A method to generate pressure gradients for molecular simulation of pressure-driven flows in nanochannels

One of the difficulties in molecular simulation of pressure-driven fluid flow in nanochannels is to find an appropriate pressure control method. When periodic boundary conditions (PBCs) are applied, a gravity-like field has been widely used to replace actual pressure gradients. The gravity-fed method is not only artificial, but not adequate for studying properties of fluid systems which are essentially inhomogeneous in the flow direction. In this paper, a method is proposed which can generate any desired pressure difference to drive the fluid flow by attaching a “pump” to the nanofluidic system, while the model is still compatible with PBCs. The molecular dynamics model based on the proposed method is applied to incompressible flows in smooth nanochannels, and the predicted velocity profiles are identical to those by the gravity-fed method, as expected. For compressible flows, the proposed model successfully predicts the changes of fluid density and velocity profile in the flow direction, while the gravity-fed method can only predict constant fluid properties. For fluid flows in nanochannels with a variable cross-sectional area, the proposed model predicts higher mass flow rates as compared to the gravity-fed method and possible reasons for the difference are discussed.
TFIIA abrogates the effects of inhibition by HMGB1 but not E1A during the early stages of assembly of the transcriptional preinitiation complex.

Abstract Successful assembly of the transcriptional preinitiation complex (PIC) is prerequisite to transcriptional initiation. At each stage of PIC assembly, regulation may occur as repressors and activators compete with and influence the incorporation of general transcription factors (GTFs). Both TFIIA and HMGB1 bind individually to the TATA-binding protein (TBP) to increase the rate of binding and to stabilize TBP binding to the TATA element. The competitive binding between these two cofactors for TBP/TATA was examined to show that TFIIA binds preferentially to TBP and inhibits HMGB1 binding. TFIIA can also readily dissociate HMGB1 from the preestablished HMGB1/TBP/TATA complex. This suggests that TFIIA and HMGB1 may bind to the same or overlapping sites on TBP and/or compete for similar DNA sites that are 5′ to the TATA element. In addition, EMSA studies show that adenovirus E1A 13S oncoprotein is unable to disrupt either the preestablished TFIIA/TBP/TATA or TFIIA/TFIIB/TBP/TATA complexes, but does inhibit complex formation when all transcription factors were simultaneously added. The inhibitory effect of E1A 13S on the assembly of the PIC is overcome when excess TBP is added back in the reaction, while addition of either excess TFIIA or TFIIB were ineffective. This shows that the main target for E1A 13S is free TBP and emphasizes the primary competition between E1A and the TATA-element for unbound TBP. This may be the principal point, if not the only point, at which E1A can target TBP to exert its inhibitory effect. This work, coupled with previous findings in our laboratory, indicates that TFIIA is much more effective than TFIIB in reversing the inhibitory effect of HMGB1 binding in the early stages of PIC assembly, which is consistent with the in vitro transcription results.
SGK3 mediates INPP4B-dependent PI3K signaling in breast cancer.

Oncogenic mutations in PIK3CA, the gene encoding the catalytic subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), occur with high frequency in breast cancer. The protein kinase Akt is considered to be the primary effector of PIK3CA, although mechanisms by which PI3K mediates Akt-independent tumorigenic signals remain obscure. We show that serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 3 (SGK3) is amplified in breast cancer and activated downstream of PIK3CA in a manner dependent on the phosphoinositide phosphatase INPP4B. Expression of INPP4B leads to enhanced SGK3 activation and suppression of Akt phosphorylation. Activation of SGK3 downstream of PIK3CA and INPP4B is required for 3D proliferation, invasive migration, and tumorigenesis in vivo. We further show that SGK3 targets the metastasis suppressor NDRG1 for degradation by Fbw7. We propose a model in which breast cancers harboring oncogenic PIK3CA activate SGK3 signaling while suppressing Akt, indicative of oncogenic functions for both INPP4B and SGK3 in these tumors.
Effects of the 6β-7β-epoxide of 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate on radiation transformation in vitro

Experiments were performed to compare the abilities of 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), croton oil and TPA-6β-7β-epoxide to enhance radiation transformation in vitro. Both croton oil and TPA-6β-7β-epoxide were more powerful than TPA in the ability to promote radiation transformation in vitro.
Regression of Corpora Lutea and Interruption of Pregnancy in Rabbits Following Treatment with Rabbit Serum to Ovine LH

Antibodies against ovine luteinizing hormone (LH) were prepared in male rabbits. The antiserum was injected iv daily into pregnant rabbits at various stages between 16 hr following mating and day 18 of pregnancy. Doses of 0.25 ml or more of the antiserum given between days 3 and 18 of pregnancy induced regression of corpora lutea and complete resorption of embryos, whereas antiserum administered initially between 16 hr following mating and day 3 did not significantly affect weight of corpora lutea or the percentage of normally cleaved ova. Four mg of progesterone sc daily between days 11 and 18 of pregnancy in either ovariectomized or intact- antiserum treated rabbits maintained normal survival and growth of embryos. Progesterone alone had no effect on weight of corporalutea in intact pregnant rabbits or on survival of embryos, nor did it influence the luteolytic effect of the antiserum in antiserum-progesterone treated animals. Two μg of estradiol-17β in beeswax- sesame oil injected every 12 hr between d...
Photodynamic Therapy of Human Glioma (U87) in the Nude Rat

— We measured the response of normal brain and the human U87 glioma implanted in the brain of rats (n = 65) to photodynamic therapy (PDT) using Photofrin as the sensitizer. Normal brain and U87 tumor implanted within brain of athymic (nude) rats were subjected to PDT (12.5 mg/kg of Photofrin) at increasing optical energy doses (35 J/cm2, 140 J/cm2, 280 J/cm2) of 632 nm light. Photofrin concentration in tumor, brain adjacent to tumor and normal brain were measured in a separate population of rats. Twenty-four hours after PDT, the brains were removed, sectioned, stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and the volumes of the PDT-induced lesion measured. Photofrin concentration in tumor greatly exceeded that of normal brain and brain adjacent to tumor (>20×). Both normal brain and U87 tumor exhibited superficial tissue damage with PDT at 35 J/cm2. However, both normal and tumor-implanted brain exhibited tissue damage with increasing optical dose. A heterogeneous pattern of pannecrosis along with a uniform volume of pannecrosis was detected in the tumor. In contrast, normal brain exhibited a uniform sharply demarcated volume of necrosis. Our data indicate that the U87 human brain tumor model and the normal brain in the athymic rat are sensitive to PDT and Photofrin with an optical dose-dependent response to treatment.
Discrimination of spatial and temporal intervals defined by three light flashes: Effects of spacing on temporal judgments and of timing on spatial judgments

Observers were presented stimulus patterns consisting of a sequence of three laterally displaced light flashes, which defined two spatial intervals and two temporal intervals. The position and time of the second flash were varied factorially, and observers were asked to make relative judgments of either the two spatial intervals or the two temporal intervals. “Induction” effects of stimulus timing on spatial judgments and of stimulus spacing on temporal judgments were both found; however, the directionality of these effects differed between subjects. The results are inconsistent with the hypothesis, derived from previous findings, that such effects are determined primarily by a tendency toward perceiving constant velocity of apparent motion; it is proposed that the directionality of the induction effects is determined largely by the strategy adopted by the observer for combining spatial and temporal stimulus information.
Light scattering from a binary mixture with internal relaxation

Abstract The hydrodynamic modes of a binary liquid mixture are investigated for two cases: (1) the bulk viscosity contains a frequency dependent part, and (2) an additional internal variable is introduced. The consequences for the light scat- tering spectrum are discussed and comparisons are made with previous investigations by other authors.
Effect of nifedipine on TRH stimulation of TSH and PRL release by the pituitary gland.

Abstract Studies in vitro and in vivo have shown that thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-induced calcium ion changes in the adenohypophysial cells play an important role in release of hormones by the anterior pituitary. To determine the effect of the calcium blocker nifedipine on TRH-induced thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and prolactin (PRL) release, TRH stimulation tests were performed before and after 74 hours of nifedipine therapy in ten patients. Although the magnitude of the TSH and PRL mean peak increase above baseline was slightly lower during calcium blocker administration (TSH 14.1 ± 4.8 SEM v 16.4 ± 4.5 SEM; PRL 37.7 ± 4.5 SEM v 41.7 ± 5.4 SEM), this was not statistically significant. Use of nifedipine in clinically effective doses does not appear to significantly interfere with TRH-stimulated release of TSH or PRL, in vivo.