cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Xylose uptake by the ruminal bacterium Selenomonas ruminantium.

Selenomonas ruminantium HD4 does not use the phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase system to transport xylose (S. A. Martin and J. B. Russell, J. Gen. Microbiol. 134:819-827, 1988). Xylose uptake by whole cells of S. ruminantium HD4 was inducible. Uptake was unaffected by monensin or lasalocid, while oxygen, o-phenanthroline, and HgCl2 were potent inhibitors. Menadione, antimycin A, and KCN had little effect on uptake, and acriflavine inhibited uptake by 23%. Sodium fluoride decreased xylose uptake by 10%, while N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide decreased uptake by 31%. Sodium arsenate was a strong inhibitor (83%), and these results suggest the involvement of a high-energy phosphate compound and possibly a binding protein in xylose uptake. The protonophores carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, 2,4-dinitrophenol, and SF6847 inhibited xylose uptake by 88, 82, and 43%, respectively. The cations Na+ and K+ did not stimulate xylose uptake. The kinetics of xylose uptake were nonlinear, and it appeared that more than one uptake mechanism may be involved or that two proteins (i.e., a binding protein and permease protein) with different affinities for xylose were present. Excess (10 mM) glucose, sucrose, or maltose decreased xylose uptake less than 40%. Uptake was unaffected at extracellular pH values between 6.0 and 8.0, while pH values of 5.0 and 4.0 decreased uptake 28 and 24%, respectively. The phenolic monomers p-coumaric acid and vanillin inhibited growth on xylose and xylose uptake more than ferulic acid did. The predominant end products resulting from the fermentation of xylose were lactate (7.5 mM), acetate (4.4 mM), and propionate (5.1 nM), and the Yxylose was 24.1 g/mol.
Familial resemblance on the Thurstone Activity Scale, systolic blood pressure, and total cholesterol among first degree relatives of subjects with and without coronary heart disease.

An investigation of the pattern of familial resemblance of three different risk factors assessed in families of coronary heart disease (CHD) patients and controls is presented. The fathers of these families participated in the Western Collaborative Group Study that first established the type A/B behavior pattern as an independent risk factor for CHD. A recently developed methodology, the Structured Exploratory Data Analysis (SEDA), was implemented to examine parental interaction, parent-offspring closeness, assymmetries in transmission, and other differences in the pattern of familial similarities among family members of case and control subjects. The analysis performed revealed pronounced parent-child similarity for total serum cholesterol values in both case and control families; spouse closeness and parent-child resemblance for systolic blood pressure measurements only in control families; and sex asymmetries in the parent-child closeness on pace of activity, which also differed between case and control families. The results of this investigation underscore the value of examining the joint pattern of familial resemblance of a number of risk factors as a means for differentiating between cultural and biological factors affecting familial aggregation of CHD.
Reporting and Clearance of Cyberbullying Incidents: Applying “Offline” Theories to Online Victims

Cyberbullying continues to receive growing research attention, but much of this work focuses on prevalence estimates. Little is known about responses to these incidents. The present study relies on...
Macrophages in diabetic gastroparesis– the missing link?

Background Diabetic gastroparesis results in significant morbidity for patients and major economic burden for society. Treatment options for diabetic gastroparesis are currently directed at symptom control rather than the underlying disease and are limited. The pathophysiology of diabetic gastroparesis includes damage to intrinsic and extrinsic neurons, smooth muscle, and interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC). Oxidative damage in diabetes appears to be one of the primary insults involved in the pathogenesis of several complications of diabetes, including gastroparesis. Recent studies have highlighted the potential role of macrophages as key cellular elements in the pathogenesis of diabetic gastroparesis. Macrophages are important for both homeostasis and defense against a variety of pathogens. Heme oxygenase 1 (HO1), an enzyme expressed in a subset of macrophages has emerged as a major protective mechanism against oxidative stress. Activation of macrophages with high levels of HO1 expression protects against development of delayed gastric emptying in animal models of diabetes, while activation of macrophages that do not express HO1 are linked to neuromuscular cell injury. Targeting macrophages and HO1 may therefore be a therapeutic option in diabetic gastroparesis. Purpose This report briefly reviews the pathophysiology of diabetic gastroparesis with a focus on oxidative damage and how activation and polarization of different subtypes of macrophages in the muscularis propria determines development of delay in gastric emptying or protects against its development.
Residual stress contribution to fracture of ferroelectric ceramics

Experiments based on the Vicker's indentation technique are applied to a ferroelectric and a relaxor composition of lead lanthanum zirconate titanate. When polarized, the ferroelectric composition displays anisotropic crack growth. The anisotropy in crack growth is affected by electric field. Increasing the electric field increases the crack growth perpendicular to the field direction. The relaxor composition displays nearly isotropic crack growth even under electric field. Application of electric field slightly hinders crack growth perpendicular to the field. As the field level is increased, this effect diminishes. The effect appears to be related to intergranular residual stress.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Cognitive function over time in patients on chronic hemodialysis

To the Editor: We read with much interest the article of Seidel et al.1 recently published in Kidney International that shows that cognitive deficits are mild in patients with stage 3–5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) not requiring hemodialysis and in patients with stage 5 disease requiring hemodialysis, and are associated with age, HbA1c, and fibrinogen. The authors conclude that longitudinal studies are required to further characterize the role of cognitive deficits in CKD. Indeed, we recently conducted just a longitudinal study aimed at evaluating whether changes of Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) over time in patients with stage 5 disease requiring hemodialysis (HDPs) and elderly patients (EPs) differ significantly and at determining the variables associated with such possible changes.2 In 80 HDPs and 160 EPs, the MMSE was assessed at baseline and after 1 year. Patients were stratified at baseline and at 1 year in three groups according to the MMSE: normal cognitive function, >23; mild–moderate cognitive dysfunction, 18–23; severe cognitive dysfunction, <18. One-year median reduction of MMSE was greater in HDPs (from 24 to 21) than in EPs (from 26 to 25; P<0.0001). A higher percentage of HDPs than EPs switched from the normal to mild–moderate or severe MMSE group (P<0.0001). At baseline, MMSE was negatively correlated with hypertension (P=0.013), angina (P=0.007), and Beck Depression Inventory (P=0.041), and positively correlated with education (P=0.017) and male gender (P=0.015). Peripheral vascular disease was associated with MMSE reduction over time (β=−1.626; P=0.004). Our results support the hypothesis that vascular factors may have a role in cognitive function deterioration in HDPs.
Qualitative reasoning about physical systems: An introduction

Abstract This volume brings together current work on qualitative reasoning. Previous publication has been primarily in scattered conference proceedings. The appearance of this volume reflects the maturity of qualitative reasoning as a research area, and the growing interest in problems of reasoning about physical systems. The papers present knowledge bases for a number of very different domains, from heat flow, to transistors, to digital computation. Anyone concerned with automated reasoning about the real (physical) world should read and understand this material.
Glaciology: From the front

The causes of recent dynamic thinning of Greenland's outlet glaciers have been debated. Realistic simulations suggest that changes at the marine fronts of these glaciers are to blame, implying that dynamic thinning will cease once the glaciers retreat to higher ground.
Prayer, Politics, and Power in the Hebrew Bible

This essay applies current anthropological methods to selected texts in the Hebrew Bible in order to investigate the place of prayer within relationships of power.1 Power does not simply exist as a...
Non-mutualistic yucca moths and their evolutionary consequences

INTERSPECIFIC mutualisms are regarded as having evolved from antagonistic or commensalistic interactions, with most mutualisms remaining facultative but some having coevolved into obligate reciprocal dependency1–4. Underlying mutualism is an intrinsic conflict between the parties, in that each is under selection for increased exploitation of the other3–7. Theoretical models suggest that this conflict is a source of evolutionary instability, and that evolution of 'cheating' by one party may lead to reciprocal extinction4,6,7. Here we present phylogenetic evidence for reversal of an obligate mutualism: within the yucca moth complex, distinct cheater species derived from obligate pollinators inflict a heavy cost on their yucca hosts by laying their eggs but not pollinating the yucca. Phylogenetic data show the cheaters to have existed for a long time. Coexisting pollinators and cheaters are not sister taxa, supporting predictions that evolution of cheating within a single pollinator is evolutionary unstable. Several lines of evidence support a hypothesis that host shifts preceded the reversal of obligate mutualism. Host or partner shifts is a mechanism that can provide a route of evolutionary escape among obligate mutualists in general.
Metal centered ligand field excited states: Their roles in the design and performance of transition metal based photochemical molecular devices

Abstract Transition metal complexes are vital components in a wide range of photooptical applications; these range from targeted drug delivery to devices for the conversion of solar energy to electrical and/or stored chemical energy. Metal centered (MC) ligand field excited states play important roles in the photophysics of those complexes having partially filled d-orbitals. This review offers a broad perspective on key investigations that have characterized the chemistry and physics of MC excited states in d3 and d6 transition metal complexes. It will also illustrate the impact of these excited states on various photooptical applications and highlight efforts to understand, control, and tune these MC excited states in the context of such applications.
VLSI perspective of real-time hidden-surface elimination

Abstract VLSI (very large-scale integration) technology provides and demands new ways of solving large-scale computational problems. A pipelined version of a real-time hidden surface elimination algorithm is proposed. The approach is tuned to the requirements of the VLSI technology: it is simple and regular, employs only local communication, and attains a high degree of parallelism. The feasibility of the technique is demonstrated for a computer graphics system where objects are defined in terms of planar triangular surface elements. A case is made in terms of early 1980s technology. The use of VLSI will make high-power graphics available to the small user as well as the traditional flight simulator customer. This is achieved by enabling system expansion to take place through the addition of more identical chips. Consequently system cost is linear with respect to the number of chips used, a number determined by the maximum number of rendering elements needed by the specific user application.
Temperature dependence of aggregation and dynamic surface tension in a photoresponsive surfactant system.

The response of a nonionic photoresponsive surfactant system to changes in temperature is reported. This surfactant contains the light-sensitive azobenzene group, and when exposed to light, a solution of this surfactant contains a mixture of the cis and trans photoisomers of this group. The temperature of the surfactant solution has a strong impact on the time needed for the surfactant to diffuse and adsorb to a freshly formed interface. At surfactant concentrations that give rise to trans aggregates but not to cis aggregates, the transport of cis and of trans isomers to the surface of a pendant bubble have quite different temperature dependencies, owing largely to the difference in their aggregation states in bulk solution. Diffusion and adsorption of the cis isomer are described reasonably well by a simple diffusion model that accounts for the effect of temperature on the diffusion coefficient. The trans isomer, which was primarily bound in aggregates during these measurements, exhibits a stronger depen...
Graft Enteric Fistula: A Report of Two Late Cases and Literature Review:

Two patients with late graft enteric fistula (GEF) are reported, one at nineteen years (238 months) and the other at nineteen years eleven months after implan tation. In a review of the literature the incidence varies from 0.2% to 4% and also varies for emergent, elective, aneurysmal, and occlusive disease. Mechani cal and infectious factors, alone or in combination, are thought to comprise the etiology of GEF. The diagnosis is based on a high index of suspicion and must be considered in any patient with a previous aortic graft and gastrointestinal bleed ing until proved otherwise. No single diagnostic study is useful in all cases, and exploratory laparotomy may be the final diagnostic procedure in some. Most authors recommend total graft excision and extra-anatomic bypass; however, in situ repair or replacement has been performed in a few selected cases. The 2 cases reported demonstrate that there is no time limit for occurrence of GEF after abdominal aortic reconstruction.
Lymphocyte transformation test in veterinary clinical immunology.

Abstract Lymphocyte transformation test is a powerful tool in laboratory testing of immunologic competence of animals. The impaired function of the lymphocytes or presence of mitogenesis suppressing factors in the patient serum were detected by comparing lymphocyte transformation (expressed as thymidine incorporation) obtained in media containing either autologous, homologous, or fetal calf serum additions. Most valuable results were obtained by using at least two, preferably three, different phytomitogens: concanavlin A (Con A), pokeweed mitogen (PWM), and pl ytohemagglutinin (PHA) at optimal concentrations (Con A, 15 μg/ml, PWM and PHA, 5 μg/ml) and decreased concentrations (Con A, 5 μg/ml, PWM and PHA, 1 μg/ml). Mitogenesis induced by lipopolysaccharide was considerably smaller and not used routinely. With 2 × 10 5 lymphocytes/well, the background count of unstimulated lymphocytes in autologous serum in healthy dogs was usually between 100 and 400 counts/min (CPM), in clinically healthy cattle and horses from 200 to over 2000 CPM. Higher CPM were rarely detected without clinical disease. Increased background counts were often associated with viral infections, leukemias and lymphoreticular hyperplasias, decreased background counts were associated with various diseases. The stimulation indexes (SI) of healthy animals in autologous serum with Con A, (5 μg/ml) or PWM or PHA (1 μg/ml) were in the range from 100 to 1000 in the dogs, in the tens for Con A and in hundreds for PWM and PHA in horses and cattle. Increased SI were present during the incubation period of various diseases. Decreased SI were associated with numerous infectious and lymphoreticular diseases and were caused by any of the following: (1) the presence of serum immunosuppressive factor(s) in the patient serum, (2) the decreased response of lymphocytes to mitogens, or (3) increased mitogenicity of lymphocytes due to unidentified serum factors in absence of phytomitogens.
Acclimation-induced changes in toxicity and induction of metallothionein-like proteins in the fathead minnow following sublethal exposure to zinc

Experiments were conducted to determine if a correlation exists between acclimation-induced alterations in Zn toxicity and the concentration of metallothionein-like proteins (MTP) in a cyprinid fish. Populations of subadult fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas, were maintained in dechlorinated tap water and exposed to 0, 0.60 and 1.80 mg Zn/L for 35 d. Groups of animals (120 each) were removed from each acclimation population after 0, 7, 14, 21 and 35 d to conduct 96-h acute tests. Tolerance and resistance were monitored as changes in the 96-h LC50 and LT50 values, respectively. Tolerance increased a significant 28% above control values after 14 d of exposure to 0.60 mg Zn/L, but decreased significantly to 63 and 74% of control values following exposure to 1.80 mg Zn/L for 7 and 14 d (p < 0.05). Acute toxicity values returned to control levels in both treatment groups after 21 d of exposure and remained stable to 35 d. The concentration of MTP was measured in the viscera (i.e., liver, spleen, intestine and pancreas) indirectly as the total Zn-binding capacity in MTP-containing fractions. MTP levels increased after 7, 14 and 21 d and plateaued to 35 d. Metal concentration in the MTP fraction reached a maximum of 31.6 μg Zn/g viscera, and following 28 d of exposure to 1.80 mg Zn/L concentrations declined to control levels after 7 d in diluent water. Whole-body residues of Zn reached steady state after 7 d of exposure to 0.60 mg Zn/L but continued to increase after 35 d of exposure to 1.80 mg Zn/L. Zn-acclimated animals were cross-resistant but not cross-tolerant to acute Cd challenge. There was no correlation of alterations in toxicity with observed changes in MTP concentration. Growth effects were observed at both acclimation exposure levels.
Highly Efficient Metal Halide HID Systems With Acoustically Stabilized Convection

High-intensity discharge (HID) lamp systems based on the application of acoustically induced convection, causing arc straightening, enhanced plasma mixing, and effective suppression of segregation effects, are presented. Outstanding HID lamp system properties with significantly enhanced efficacy level up to 150 lm·W-1 providing high-quality white light can be achieved. The design and dimensioning of the ceramic lamp tubes in accordance with high-frequency supply schemes, which enables the system for long-term operation, are discussed.
Simulation of anisotropic particle shape development during 2D transformation

Simulations were conducted of transformations involving anisotropic particles growing into a matrix of simultaneously growing isotropic particles. The ultimate shape development of the anisotropic particles, present in dilute concentration, was determined. The faster growing directions are found to impinge neighboring grains earlier in the transformation, thus creating a final particle morphology that is less eccentric than the shape would be if grown in isolation. The extent of this effect was determined as a function of intrinsic growth rate anisotropy and compared with analytical predictions.
1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D and fish oil synergistically inhibit G1/S-phase transition in prostate cancer cells

Abstract Laboratory and epidemiological studies have indicated that 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1α,25(OH)2D3] and dietary ω3-polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are capable of inhibiting prostate cancer at the initiation and progression stages. The objective of this study is to investigate the influence of 1α,25(OH)2D3 and PUFAs in the form of fish oil applied alone or in combination on cell cycle kinetics in the exponentially growing androgen-dependent and -independent prostate cancer cells. Our data indicate that the high passage androgen-independent cell line, LNCaP-c115 had a much greater inhibitory response at the level of the G1/S-phase transition in response to fish oil treatment than androgen-dependent low passage LNCaP-c38 cells. When LNCaP-c38 and LNCaP-c115 cells were treated with fish oil (50 μg/ml), 1α,25(OH)2D3 (10−8 M) or fish oil (50 μg/ml) + 1α,25(OH)2D3 (10−8 M), a synergistic growth inhibitory effect was observed with 1α,25(OH)2D3 + fish oil group in LNCaP-c115 cell line at the levels of the G1/S-phase transition and cell division. This interaction appears to be specific for androgen-independent prostate cancer cell lines. Based on these results, we hypothesize that dietary components, such as ω3PUFAs and Vitamin D, have the potential to delay the progression of prostate cancer cells to an aggressive and un-treatable state.
Role and Treatment of Mitochondrial DNA-Related Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Sporadic Neurodegenerative Diseases

Several sporadic neurodegenerative diseases display phenomena that directly or indirectly relate to mitochondrial function. Data suggesting altered mitochondrial function in these diseases could arise from mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are reviewed. Approaches for manipulating mitochondrial function and minimizing the downstream consequences of mitochondrial dysfunction are discussed.
A high computational power wireless sensor network for distributed structural health monitoring

This paper presents the design of a wireless sensor network consisting of high computational power sensor nodes to support distributed structural health monitoring. The unique features of the presented sensor nodes are their high computational capability, multi-modality sensing, and combined ability for both active and passive sensing. These embedded computer-based sensor nodes include Linux operating system; integrate with C numerical libraries; embed a mobile agent-based network middleware; and provide web services at sensor node level. The software development of wireless sensor nodes utilises a two-layer approach. The open software architecture design of the upper layer promotes software reuse and speeds up the development cycle by employing available numerical algorithms in open software packages such as CLAPACK and Numerical Recipes in C. Several experimental tests are presented including accelerometer test using a scaled steel bridge, strain gauge measurement on a deflectometer, and relative humidity and temperature tests.
Response uncertainty in dual-task performance

Abstract In three experiments, Ss performed under one of several secondary task conditions while engaged in pursuit tracking as a primary task. Secondary tasks were of the information creation (1: many) type with from one to five alternative response buttons to be used randomly in response to a tone cue. The results generally support the prediction that interference in the primary task increases as a function of the response uncertainty in the secondary task. These results provide further evidence that information processing capacity may be relatively limited at the response selection stage.
Absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) study with 2,2',4,4',5,6'-hexabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-154) in male Sprague-Dawley rats.

A metabolism study of orally administered 2,2′,4,4′,5,6′-hexabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-154; 11.3 μmoles kg−1) was conducted in conventional and bile duct-cannulated male Sprague–Dawley rats.In conventional rats, approximately 31% of the radiolabelled dose was retained at 72 h, and lipophilic tissues were the preferred sites for disposition.Urinary excretion of BDE-154 was very low (1.0%), and parent compound was detected.Cumulative biliary excretion was 1.3%, and glutathione conjugates were suggested.Over 62% of the dose in conventional male rats was excreted in faeces, and was composed of parent compound (7.3%), free metabolites (13.1%), and covalently bound residues (41.4%). Faecal metabolites characterized by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry included multiple isomers of monohydroxylated hexa-/penta-/tetrabromodiphenyl ethers, and di-hydroxylated hexa/pentabromodiphenyl ethers.The adipose tissue 14C was extractable BDE-154, but 40% of liver 14C was bound to macromolecules.The study demonstrated the i...
The solution behavior of poly‐L‐proline: I. Light scattering studies in water and concentrated aqueous neutral salt solutions

The solution bebavior of poly-L-proline Form II has been studied in water and aqueous salt solutions by both elastic and quasi-elastic light -scattering techniques. The results of this study suggest that polyproline Form II can exist in water at 24 °C as an associated polymer complex and that certain salts which do not appear to affect the helix integrity, e.g., guanidinium-HCl, resutl in dissociation of the aggregate. Other neutral salts, of the variety effective in mediating unfolding of the Form II helix (e.g., 4M NaClO4) also induce aggregate dissociation, but 4M CaCl2 results in enhanced aggregation of polyproline. Kinetic experiments indicate that a time of 20 hours is necessary for the completion of the “large” to “small” transformation (at 22°C) which is induced by the addition of 4M NaClO4. Thus it appears that neutral salts additives in aqueous solutions of polyproline influence both the state of aggregation and the conformation of this polymer.
Forearm compartment syndrome secondary to leukemic infiltrates

A 20-year-old white man with leukemia was recently treated with chemotherapy and was admitted to the Massachusetts General Hospital with a fever and a swollen and painful left forearm that worsened despite intravenous antibiotics. The flexor forearm compartment pressures were elevated; therefore, surgical decompression of the flexor compartments was done. All the wound cultures were negative, and biopsy specimens of tissue showed leukemic infiltrates in the muscle and subcutaneous tissue. Tumor infiltrates may result in increased compartmental pressures, and the treatment of these lesions includes chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy to provide local control of the tumor.
Effects of Phalaris arundinacea and nitrate-N addition on the establishment of wetland plant communities

1. Nutrient enrichment may adversely impact plant species richness in wetlands and enhance their susceptibility to colonization and dominance by invasive species. For North American prairie wetlands, enrichment by nitrate-N (NO 3 -N) from agricultural runoff is thought to contribute to the increasing colonization and dominance of Phalaris arundinacea (reed canary grass), especially during restoration. If true, P. arundinacea might compromise the re-establishment of sedge meadow vegetation on sites reflooded with agricultural drainage water. 2. We tested this hypothesis using a fertilization experiment in wetlands with controlled hydrology. A community mixture comprising 11 species from native sedge meadow was seeded in mesocosms and grown under one of three NO 3 -N levels (0 g m -2 year -1 , 12 g m - year -1 , 48 g m -2 year -1 ) with or without P. arundinacea. Above- and below-ground biomass were measured after two growing seasons to assess the response of vegetation to NO 3 -N and P arundinacea treatments. 3. The total shoot biomass of the native community was suppressed in the presence of P. arundinacea at all NO 3 -N levels, but shoot suppression was significantly greater at the highest NO 3 -N dose level (48 g m -2 ). Shoot growth of the native community was reduced by nearly one-half under these conditions. 4. The total root biomass of the community was also suppressed by P. arundinacea when no NO 3 -N was added. 5. As NO 3 -N increased, the relative abundance (shoot biomass) of native graminoids declined while native forbs increased in communities with and without Phalaris. The most common graminoid, Glyceria grandis, was suppressed by P arundinacea at all levels, with suppression enhanced at the 48 g m -2 NO 3 -N level. Three other species were suppressed at the highest NO 3 -N level, in the presence of Phalaris. The two most common forbs, Asclepias incarnata and Sium suave, exhibited a continual increase in growth with NO 3 -N additions along with overall suppression by P. arundinacea. 6. Community diversity and evenness declined with increasing NO 3 -N levels, whether or not P arundinacea was present. 7. Our results demonstrate that if P. arundinacea is present, the restored sedge meadow community will not achieve levels of abundance that are possible when this species is absent, regardless of NO 3 -N enrichment conditions. 8. At the same time, the increased suppression by P. arundinacea at the 48 g m -2 NO 3 -N dose level supports the hypothesis that the dominance of this species over the native sedge meadow community is enhanced by NO 3 -N inputs at levels that are common in agricultural landscapes. 9. Our results carry two implications for achieving biodiversity conservation in agricultural landscapes. First, reducing nitrate loads to wetland reserves is essential for minimizing declines in community diversity. Secondly, the use of P. arundinacea for soil conservation and other agri-environmental purposes should be curtailed because of the likelihood of off-site impacts to wetland biodiversity.
Photoimmunotherapy of Gastric Cancer Peritoneal Carcinomatosis in a Mouse Model

Photoimmunotherapy (PIT) is a new cancer treatment that combines the specificity of antibodies for targeting tumors with the toxicity induced by photosensitizers after exposure to near infrared (NIR) light. We performed PIT in a model of disseminated gastric cancer peritoneal carcinomatosis and monitored efficacy with in vivo GFP fluorescence imaging. In vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted with a HER2-expressing, GFP-expressing, gastric cancer cell line (N87-GFP). A conjugate comprised of a photosensitizer, IR-700, conjugated to trastuzumab (tra-IR700), followed by NIR light was used for PIT. In vitro PIT was evaluated by measuring cytotoxicity with dead staining and a decrease in GFP fluorescence. In vivo PIT was evaluated in a disseminated peritoneal carcinomatosis model and a flank xenograft using tumor volume measurements and GFP fluorescence intensity. In vivo anti-tumor effects of PIT were confirmed by significant reductions in tumor volume (at day 15, p<0.0001 vs. control) and GFP fluorescence intensity (flank model: at day 3, PIT treated vs. control p<0.01 and peritoneal disseminated model: at day 3 PIT treated vs. control, p<0.05). Cytotoxic effects in vitro were shown to be dependent on the light dose and caused necrotic cell rupture leading to GFP release and a decrease in fluorescence intensity in vitro. Thus, loss of GFP fluorescence served as a useful biomarker of cell necrosis after PIT.
Specific Synergy of Multiple Substrate–Receptor Interactions in Platelet Thrombus Formation under Flow

We have used confocal videomicroscopy in real time to delineate the adhesive interactions supporting platelet thrombus formation on biologically relevant surfaces. Type I collagen fibrils exposed to flowing blood adsorb von Willebrand factor (vWF), to which platelets become initially tethered with continuous surface translocation mediated by the membrane glycoprotein Ib alpha. This step is essential at high wall shear rates to allow subsequent irreversible adhesion and thrombus growth mediated by the integrins alpha2beta1 and alpha(IIb)beta3. On subendothelial matrix, endogenous vWF and adsorbed plasma vWF synergistically initiate platelet recruitment, and alpha2beta1 remains key along with alpha(IIb)beta3 for normal thrombus development at all but low shear rates. Thus, hemodynamic forces and substrate characteristics define the platelet adhesion pathways leading to thrombogenesis.
Dieldrin-induced destruction of marine algal cells with concomitant decrease in size of survivors and their progeny

Abstract Treatment of axenic cultures of the marine dinoflagellate Exuviella baltica with 10 parts per thousand million (10 9 ) of dieldrin inhibited growth rate and caused large numbers of cells to disintegrate within 12 h of exposure. The diameters of surviving cells averaged 11·2% smaller than controls; this size reduction persisted for at least four generations after cells were transferred to dieldrin-free medium. These effects of dieldrin contrasted with that of DDE, which merely inhibited growth rate. Pollutant-induced cell disintegration, size reduction and growth inhibition among sensitive phytoplankters in natural waters could affect those consumers that feed selectively according to algal species and particle size.
Outcomes of interrupted aortic arch repair using the carotid artery turndown procedure.

Objective Interrupted aortic arch is a rare congenital anomaly affecting 1.5% of infants with congenital heart disease. Multiple surgical modalities exist to address this defect. We evaluate the long-term outcome of interrupted aortic arch with the left carotid artery turndown technique from a single institution. Methods Patients with interrupted aortic arch who underwent the carotid turndown procedure were identified between September 1982 and March 2010. Medical and surgical records were reviewed. Mortality data were obtained from state death records. Results Forty-seven patients met inclusion criteria. Median follow-up was 6.2 years (5 days to 23.2 years). Twenty-one patients (45%) had genetic syndromes. There were 4 operative deaths (8.5%) and 9 late deaths (19%). One-year and 5-year survivals were 80.2% and 72.6%, respectively. Seventeen patients (36.2%) required reoperation or other interventions on the aortic arch. Conclusions Left carotid artery turndown offers a favorable surgical outcome. It compares with end-to-end repair, while providing a tension-free anastomosis and avoiding neonatal circulatory arrest and cardiopulmonary bypass. Disadvantages include a 2-stage repair and a significant reintervention rate, particularly when compared with the aortic arch advancement technique. Nevertheless, the reduced exposure to circulatory arrest and bypass and avoidance of left bronchial obstruction are important considerations that may offset these limitations.
On a decision procedure for quantified linear programs

Quantified linear programming is the problem of checking whether a polyhedron specified by a linear system of inequalities is non-empty, with respect to a specified quantifier string. Quantified linear programming subsumes traditional linear programming, since in traditional linear programming, all the program variables are existentially quantified (implicitly), whereas, in quantified linear programming, a program variable may be existentially quantified or universally quantified over a continuous range. In this paper, the term linear programming is used to describe the problem of checking whether a system of linear inequalities has a feasible solution. On account of the alternation of quantifiers in the specification of a quantified linear program (QLP), this problem is non-trivial. QLPs represent a class of declarative constraint logic programs (CLPs) that are extremely rich in their expressive power. The complexity of quantified linear programming for arbitrary constraint matrices is unknown. In this paper, we show that polynomial time decision procedures exist for the case in which the constraint matrix satisfies certain structural properties. We also provide a taxonomy of quantified linear programs, based on the structure of the quantifier string and discuss the computational complexities of the constituent classes.
Low-salinity tolerance of and salinity-induced dormancy in the estuarine sponge Microciona prolifera (Ellis et Solander) under long-term laboratory culture

Abstract Explants of Microciona prolifera (Ellis et Solander), maintained in long-term laboratory culture at 20°C, were transferred to different low salinities at different rates and for different periods of time. Explants transferred directly from 30%. seawater to 20%. seawater remained healthy and active. Following direct transfer from 30%. seawater to 15%. seawater, the explants underwent dormancy for several days after which they resumed normal activity. During the dormant period, pumping ceased and subdermal spaces, canals and oscula disappeared. Direct transfer from 30%. seawater to 10%. seawater was lethal. Progressive transfer of the explants from 30%. seawater to 10%. seawater resulted in dormancy which persisted until the salinity was raised. Such dormancy was induced when the salinity was changed 5%. every day, 5%. every 3 days or 5%. in two steps every 9 days. The explants remained dormant but healthy in 10%. seawater for up to 25 days. Explants transferred progressively from 30%. seawater to 5%. seawater survived exposure to the lower salinity for up to 7 days when the change in salinity was gradual. Cold-dormant explants at 4 °C appeared to be less low-salinity tolerant than explants maintained at 20°C.
Root growth response to water and nutrients in the New Jersey Pinelands

Resource limitation theory regarding water versus nutrient limitation predicts on the one hand that, because of uptake trade-offs, increases in water will increase limitation by nutrients; on the o...
Design of a MUMPS interpreter

This paper describes the basic design of Comp Consultants Standards Mumps system for Tano Corporation's Outpost 11 6800 based micro computer running under the Flex 2.0 floppy disk operating system with 64K bytes of random access memory. The Mumps system consists of an executive which includes I/O device handlers, and interpreter for Standard Mumps and a floppy disk storage system for global variables based on balanced trees with key compression by indexes and with 32 K of random access memory buffers to make up for the slow floppy disk access times. Comp Consultants Mumps involves some significant departures from previous Mumps implementations. In particular local variables and routine lines are stored in the same manner as global variables. For example the storage key for a routine consists of three parts: The routine name, a label, and a line offset number. Representing local variables and routines as global variables not only increases the available buffer space by eliminating special code to handle local variable storage, routine storage, and program editing; but also increases the utilization of the buffers by keeping in memory what is most often accessed regardless whether it is a local variable, a global variable, or program code. This unified representation of local variables and routines as global variables is described in detail in this paper.
Instrumentality Theory Predictions of Academic Behavior

Summary The purpose of this study was to test instrumentality theory predictions of work effort. The theory suggests that effort exerted on an activity is a function of the probability (instrumentality) of effort leading to certain outcomes weighted by the evaluation of these outcomes. In this research the amount of effort exerted on various tasks by a group of faculty members at a large university in the United States was examined. Predictions based on instrumentality theory were tested along with predictions based on modifications of the theory. It was found that the modifications of the theory generally led to improved predictions of effort.
Energy, manpower, and the highway trust fund.

If energy conservation were a goal of a federal budget policy maker, such conservation could be achieved by reinvesting the highway trust fund in any of several other alternative federal programs (except criminal justice), especially in railroad and mass transit construction and national health insurance (see Table 1). Total employment would increase in each alternative program examined. For example, if construction monies were shifted from highways to railroads, the energy required for construction would be reducedby about 62 percent and employment would increase by 3.2 percent. By comparing the dollar, energy, and employment requirements of a highway transportation system with such requirements for a railroad transportation system, we obtained detailed information from which we concluded the following: 1) Passenger transport by railroad was much less dollar and energy demanding and required more labor than car transport in 1963. If the dollar savings had been respent in an average way by consumers, the net impact would have been to reduce the energy savings and further increase employment. A similar conclusion was reached in a study of bus substitution for automobiles in urban areas (20). If the marginal substitution effects would have held over the whole range of change, and the dollar savings had been spent on the construction of railways, then about 3.0 billion gallons of gasoline could have been saved annually and 1.2 million new jobs created. 2) Freight transport by railroad was less expensive, in terms of dollar, energy, and labor requirements, than was truck transportation in 1963. If, under a national shift to rail freight, the dollar savings had been absorbed as personal consumption expenditures, a net increase of labor and energy would have ensued. If the dollar savings had been absorbed as a tax and respent on railroad and mass transit construction, about 0.3 billion more gallons of gasoline (energy equivalent) would have been consumed annually and 1.2 million jobs created, under a complete shift to rail. Had there been a full shift from intercity car and truck transportation to transportation by railroad with dollar savings spent on railway construction, 2.7 billion gallons of gasoline (energy equivalent) could have been saved and 2.4 million new jobs could have been created in 1963.
Perioperative Use of β-Blockers in the Elderly Patient

Elderly patients are increasingly referred for complex surgery, but are at particular risk for coronary artery disease. One strategy to prevent perioperative cardiac events in elderly patients is to employ perioperative beta-blockade, but doing so has the potential to increase the incidence of congestive heart failure, perioperative hypotension, bradycardia, and stroke. This article examines common comorbidities in the elderly who may benefit from the chronic use of beta-blockers, prophylactic perioperative use of beta-blockers including timing, dosage, and choice of beta-blocker, the pharmacologic effects of aging, and recommendations on the use of beta-blockers.
Effect of gravity on three-dimensional coordination number distribution in liquid phase sintered microstructures

Abstract Gravity affects microstructural evolution when a liquid phase is present during sintering. The effect of gravity on the three-dimensional coordination number distribution of tungsten grains in liquid phase sintered heavy alloy specimens is quantitatively characterized. A combination of montage serial sectioning, digital image processing, and unbiased stereological sampling procedures is used to estimate the coordination number distribution in three-dimensional microstructures. The microgravity environment decreases the mean coordination number. However, hardly any isolated grains are observed in the specimens, liquid phase sintered in a microgravity environment. The effect of microgravity on the coordination numbers mainly resides in its effect on the mean coordination number. In all specimens, there is a strong correlation between grain size and coordination number, which can be expressed as [D c / D ] 2 =C/C 0 where C0 is the mean coordination number, D the global average size of the tungsten grains, and Dc the average size of only those grains which have coordination number C.
Carboniferous fossil plants and soils of an early tundra ecosystem

Siltstones with fossil root traces and surface mats of fossil plants in the mid-Carboniferous (Westphalian or 310-312 Ma) Seaham Formation near Lochinvar, New South Wales, represent ancient soils of tundra ecosystems. Formerly well-drained paleosols show deeply-penetrating root traces, ferruginous nodules, freeze-thaw banding, and earth hummocks (thufur), but little evidence of mineral weathering. These paleosols also preserve leaf fragments of the seed fern Botrychiopsis plantiana. Formerly poorly-drained paleosols show tabular root systems, partly decomposed mats of the horsetail Dichophyllites peruvianus, and parent material of varved shale. Comparable soils are widespread in tundra regions of the northern hemisphere today. The paleosols show greater organic matter content than polar desert soils and much less weathering than soils of polar woodland. Shrubs or prostrate woody plants are represented by slender compressed fossil logs, but these are a less reliable guide to ancient ecosystem type than the paleosols because scattered small trees are found throughout the modern tundra belt. These fossil soils and plants are the most geologically ancient record of tundra vegetation known.
Five Fast Fixes: Debriefing

Abstract Debriefing is the most important part of the simulation process; yet, it remains highly unstructured. Student-led discussions are encouraged with the facilitator serving as a guide for best practices in nursing. Five fast fixes that structure debriefing are described in this article: (a) setting an agenda, (b) video debriefing, (c) think–pair–share, (d) plus delta, and (e) reflective journals. These five fast fixes allow the learners to actively participate in the simulation debriefing process.
Knockout of Adamts7, a Novel Coronary Artery Disease Locus in Humans, Reduces Atherosclerosis in Mice

Background—Genome-wide association studies have established ADAMTS7 as a locus for coronary artery disease in humans. However, these studies fail to provide directionality for the association between ADAMTS7 and coronary artery disease. Previous reports have implicated ADAMTS7 in the regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell migration, but a role for and the direction of impact of this gene in atherogenesis have not been shown in relevant model systems. Methods and Results—We bred an Adamts7 whole-body knockout mouse onto both the Ldlr and Apoe knockout hyperlipidemic mouse models. Adamts7−/−/Ldlr−/− and Adamts7−/−/Apoe−/− mice displayed significant reductions in lesion formation in aortas and aortic roots compared with controls. Adamts7 knockout mice also showed reduced neointimal formation after femoral wire injury. Adamts7 expression was induced in response to injury and hyperlipidemia but was absent at later time points, and primary Adamts7 knockout vascular smooth muscle cells showed reduced migratio...
Overwriting information: Correlations, physical costs, and environment models

Abstract In this sequel to our previous study of the entropic and energetic costs of information erasure [N.G. Anderson, Phys. Lett. A 372 (2008) 5552], we consider direct overwriting of classical information encoded in a quantum-mechanical memory system interacting with a heat bath. Lower bounds on physical costs of overwriting – in both “single-shot” and “sequential” overwriting scenarios – are obtained from globally unitary quantum dynamics and entropic inequalities alone, all within a referential approach that grounds information content in correlations between physical system states. A heterogeneous environment model, required for consistent treatment of sequential overwriting, is introduced and used to establish and relate bounds for various cases.