cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of some diagnostic assays for bacterial ring rot of potato: a case study

The results of testing 48 stems and tuber samples, representing 15 seed lots from several different growers, for the presence of the causal organism of bacterial ring rot,Clavibacter michiganensis subsp.sepedonicus with the gram stain, latex agglutination (LAT), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and a DNA hybridization assay (DHA) were compared. The frequency with which positive tests were obtained varied significantly among assays and was associated with symptom expression in samples. Detection was highest with the serological assays and lowest for DHA. Use of the gram stain, in conjunction with either LAT, ELISA, or DHA reduced the number of positive diagnoses, but increased the agreement between results for different assay combinations. Based on a comparison of results for both individual samples and seed lots, the performance of LAT and ELISA for diagnostic purposes were equivalent. DHA was found to be less useful due to limitations in test sensitivity forC. m. sepedonicus, but it does give unequivocal diagnoses of samples where bacterial populations are sufficient to allow detection.
Contribution from a pH- and tonicity-sensitive K+ conductance to toad translens short-circuit current

Studies of toad (Bufo marinus) lenses mounted in Ussing-type chambers revealed that: (1) the translens short-circuit current (Isc) across the posterior surface is primarily carried by the movement of Na+ from the posterior bathing solution to the lens; (2) across the anterior face the majority of the Isc is mediated by Ba(2+)-sensitive channels and the remaining current is rapidly reduced by ouabain; (3) most of the anterior K+ conductance is of the tonicity-sensitive, quinidine-inhibitable type (i.e. hypotonic shifts increase Isc and hypertonic shifts decrease Isc; quinidine pretreatment eliminates such responses); (4) 86Rb+ uptake is stimulated by alkaline pH and occurs primarily across the anterior surface with quinidine the most potent inhibitor of this process; and (5) the Na(+)-K+ pump can maintain lens [Na+] and [K+] for at least 20 hr in a Ringer's solution near neutral pH but not at pH 8.7 (a pH used in some studies with this lens). It is concluded that the Isc can be viewed as a representation of the current across the epithelial basolateral membrane, a surface dominated by pH- and tonicity-sensitive K+ channels. The direction of the Isc response to tonicity changes suggests a role for these channels in epithelial volume regulation.
The Pet Connection: An Attachment Perspective

Using the ethological-evolutionary framework of attachment, and including how the theory has been updated and expanded by findings from attachment-based research, neuroscience and animal studies, this paper proposes that a relationship with a family pet, especially a dog or cat, reflects certain dynamics of attachment which may account for the sense of comfort and connection they provide to individuals at all stages of the life cycle. There is now convincing scientific evidence that companion animals have positive effects on psychological and physical well-being, helping shape how people regulate their emotions, deal with stress or trauma, and relate to others. Discussion considers the implications of these benefits for social work, in particular for policy, prevention, and psychotherapy. An illustration of treatment for pet loss, as well as a framework for promoting attachment in pets adopted from rescue shelters, is also presented. It is recommended that both social work professionals and social work students be educated about the human-animal bond and the significance of pets to so many of our clients.
Sustained Nitric Oxide Exposure Decreases Soluble Guanylate Cyclase mRNA and Enzyme Activity in Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle

Abstract Background.The soluble isoform of guanylate cyclase (sGC) is activated by nitric oxide (NO) to form guanoside 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP). Cyclic GMP levels cause smooth muscle relaxation and regulate vascular tone to various vascular beds, including the lung. Under conditions of cytokine excess the inducible synthesis of NO may result in cGMP overproduction, generalized vasodilatation, and septic shock. In the pulmonary bed the opposite response, pulmonary hypertension, may occur. We hypothesized that sGC activity decreases in the face of sustained levels of NO. Materials and Methods.We used the NO-donorS-nitroso-acetyl- d - l -penicillamine to study the effects of NO on sGC mRNA abundance and enzyme activity in cultured rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. Results.NO caused a prompt rise in extracellular cGMP production. Pretreating cells with NO for ≥45 min inhibited subsequent cGMP synthesis. NO-pretreated cells recovered the capacity for cGMP synthesis after removal of NO for 120 min. When actinomycin or cycloheximide was added to NO pretreatment, cells retained cGMP synthetic capacity. NO pretreatment decreased sGC mRNA abundance, but did not totally eliminate it. Conclusion.NO has important regulatory effects on cGMP synthesis at the level of enzyme activity and mRNA abundance. NO causes an immediate synthesis of large amounts of cGMP. With prolongation of exposure (≥60 min) sGC enzyme activity decreases and cGMP production drops significantly. Soluble GC mRNA abundance also decreases and may result in decreased responsiveness of cells to NO with regard to cGMP production.
Kinetics of interleukin-2 production in chickens infected with Eimeria tenella

Interleukin (IL)-2 is a major cytokine of cell-mediated immunity (CMI). Because chickens infected with Eimeria, the causative agent of coccidiosis, develop a robust cell-mediated response against the parasite, we measured IL-2 concentrations in vivo and in vitro during the course of primary and secondary experimental Eimeria tenella infections. IL-2 levels in serum and culture supernatants of spleen lymphocytes stimulated with mitogen or E. tenella sporozoites were significantly increased on day 7 post-primary infection compared with control group. This peak in IL-2 coincided with the time of maximum intestinal lesions as measured by cecum lesion scores. By contrast, during secondary infection highest IL-2 concentrations preceded intestinal lesions by 5 days (day 2 versus day 7, respectively). These results confirmed that IL-2 production is augmented during experimental coccidiosis and suggested that cellular immunity elicited during an anamnestic response to parasite reinfection is mediated, at least in part, by IL-2.
Ordering of Interfacial Water Molecules at the Charged Air/Water Interface Observed by Vibrational Sum Frequency Generation

The molecular structure and orientation of interfacial water molecules at the air/water interface in the presence of soluble cationic and anionic surfactants has been characterized. We have employed vibrational sum frequency generation (VSFG) to probe the orientation of interfacial water molecules as a function of both bulk surfactant concentration and solution ion strength. The observed ordering of interfacial water molecules is manifested by an enhancement of the OH stretching modes in the VSFG spectra. We attribute the observed enhancement to an alignment of the interfacial water molecules induced by the large electrostatic field present at these charged interfaces. The nature of this enhancement is further explored by studying mixed (cationic and anionic) surfactant systems as well as surfactant systems at different ionic strengths. From these studies we find that the interfacial water molecules attain their highest degree of alignment at surface surfactant concentrations well below maximum surface co...
Performance Differences between Two Endemic Stocks of Largemouth Bass in South Carolina

Abstract A common-garden experiment was conducted to compare growth of two stocks of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides, one from the Coastal Plain and one from the Piedmont region of South Carolina. An equal number of fish from each stock were released at age 0 in Lake Paul Wallace, a 113-ha municipal impoundment in South Carolina's Coastal Plain. Boat electrofishing during spring was used to sample the population at ages 1, 3, and 4. Relative survival, mean length and weight, weight frequency distributions, and weight–length relationships were compared between stocks. The Piedmont stock was significantly larger at age 1, whereas the Coastal Plain stock was larger at ages 3 and 4. The weight frequency distributions differed between stocks, as did the weight–length relationships. The total catch for each stock was not proportionally different from stocking rates at age 1. However, the catch of the Coastal Plain stock was significantly higher at ages 3 and 4, suggesting better survival to those ages. We...
Dynamic Hubbard model for solids with hydrogen-like atoms

We discuss how to construct a tight-binding model Hamiltonan for the simplest possible solid, composed of hydrogen-like atoms. A single orbital per atom is not sufficient because the onsite electron-electron repulsion mixes in higher-energy orbitals. The essential physics is captured by a dynamic Hubbard model with one electronic orbital and an auxiliary spin degree of freedom per site. We point out that this physics can lead to a substantial shift in the position and width of electronic energy bands relative to what is predicted by conventional band-structure calculations.
Torsion of the spleen: An unusual presentation of congenital diaphragmatic hernia

We describe an unusual case of congenital diaphragmatic hernia in a 6-week-old boy who presented with severe respiratory distress due to torsion of the spleen which had passed up into the chest through a Bochdalek hernia and caused a left hemothorax. Scintigraphy with heat-damaged red cells was diagnostic by showing a damaged but functioning spleen above the diaphragm. Surgical repair and return of the spleen to the abdomen resulted in complete recovery.
Near-infrared spectroscopy and the tilting table protocol: a novel method to study the blood flow and the oxygen consumption in tissues

We present a novel technique based on tilting the bed where the subject is lying, to non-invasively measure the tissue blood flow (BF) and oxygen consumption (OC) with near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. We used a NIR, frequency domain spectrometer to measure the concentrations of oxy-hemoglobin ([HbO2]), deoxy-hemoglobin ([Hb]) and total hemoglobin (THC) in the calf muscle of human subjects. The subject was lying horizontally, and after a baseline acquisition, the bed was tilted by 10 degrees (feet down, head up). This position was kept for 1 min, then the subject was brought back to the horizontal position. This tilting procedure caused variations in the calf [Hb02], [Hb], and THC similar to those observed during a pneumatic-cuff-induced venous occlusion. The increasing rate of THC and [Hb] caused by tilting allowed the calculation of blood flow and oxygen consumption. We found a quantitative agreement between the values of BF (OC) measured with the tilting table and with the venous occlusion protocols. On the 26 subjects examined with the tilting table protocol, we found population average values of BF = 1.51 ml (100ml)-1-min-1 and OC = 6.10 ?mol( 100ml)-1 min-1.
Positive solutions for a nonlinear functional dynamic equation on a time scale

Abstract In this paper we obtain sufficient conditions for the existence of positive solutions to a nonlocal eigenvalue problem for a class of nonlinear functional dynamic equations on a time scale. We employ a cone theoretic fixed-point theorem to establish our results.
Adenosine A2A receptors induced on iNKT and NK cells reduce pulmonary inflammation and injury in mice with sickle cell disease.

We showed previously that pulmonary function and arterial oxygen saturation in NY1DD mice with sickle cell disease (SCD) are improved by depletion of invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells or blockade of their activation. Here we demonstrate that SCD causes a 9- and 6-fold induction of adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) mRNA in mouse pulmonary iNKT and natural killer (NK) cells, respectively. Treating SCD mice with the A2AR agonist ATL146e produced a dose-dependent reversal of pulmonary dysfunction with maximal efficacy at 10 ng/kg/minute that peaked within 3 days and persisted throughout 7 days of continuous infusion. Crossing NY1DD mice with Rag1−/− mice reduced pulmonary injury that was restored by adoptive transfer of 106 purified iNKT cells. Reconstituted injury was reversed by ATL146e unless the adoptively transferred iNKT cells were pretreated with the A2AR alkylating antagonist, FSPTP (5-amino-7-[2-(4-fluorosulfonyl)phenylethyl]-2-(2-furyl)-pryazolo[4,3-ϵ]-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine), which completely prevented pro-tection. In NY1DD mice exposed to hypoxia-reoxygenation, treatment with ATL146e at the start of reoxygenation prevented further lung injury. Together, these data indicate that activation of induced A2ARs on iNKT and NK cells in SCD mice is sufficient to improve baseline pulmonary function and prevent hypoxia-reoxygenation–induced exacerbation of pulmonary injury. A2A agonists have promise for treating diseases associated with iNKT or NK cell activation.
Distributed homology algorithm to detect topological events via wireless sensor networks

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) can span large geographical regions and collaboratively monitor environmental phenomena, for example, forest fires. By designing a WSN to detect changes to such phenomena, current environmental monitoring systems could be supplemented, if not replaced. This research focuses on incremental insertion events, arising from the elevation of a single node's sensor reading between two consecutive states of network operation. Homology, a field of topology, is used to detect and differentiate between incremental insertion events of interest. Particular homology tools are translated to a distributed environment for 2-dimensional WSN deployments. The result is a novel distributed algorithm that can compute an incremental insertion event associated with a region comprising n nodes in O(n) time, using O(n) storage, and O(n) data passed via messages. A small-scale, laboratory testbed is developed to evaluate the algorithm. Deployment results indicate that only nodes in physical proximity to an event are tasked, thereby conserving network resources and allowing multiple disparate events to be simultaneously monitored. Further, transmission cost is shown to vary linearly with the size of the evolving region, confirming one component of the formal analysis.
The Effects of Breath Management Instruction on the Performance of Elementary Brass Players

The present study is an investigation of the effects of breath management instruction on the performance of elementary brass players. The experimental group (N = 32) received instruction on the use of air during brass performance. The control group (N = 29) continued with instruction from their method books. Three measures for breathing (thoracic displacement, abdominal displacement, and lung capacity) and for performance (range, duration, and tone quality) were the dependent variables. The data were analyzed using multivariate and univariate analyses of covariance. Independent variables included group (experimental and control), instrument (trumpet, horn, and trombone), and grade level (fourth, fifth, and sixth). Main effects for group showed that the experimental group had significantly higher scores on measures of abdominal displacement, range, and duration (p < .05). There were no treatment-by-instrument or treatment-by-grade-level interactions. Breathing instruction in group lessons was effective in ...
Thin-Layer Radiochromatographic Study of Prochlorperazine Photodeterioration

Procedures to determine microquantities of photochemical deterioration products of prochlorperazine were developed by using thin-layer chromatography in combination with the radioisotope tracer technique. Up to 11 products were separated on a silica gel thin-layer plate using ethylene dichloride-methanol-ammonia as the solvent. The separated radioactive spots were scraped off the plate, suspended in a Thixcin scintillator gel, and counted. Quantitative results for each product indicated that complex reactions are involved in the photochemical deterioration of prochlorperazine.
Conformal and projective structures in general relativity

It is proposed that compatible conformal and projective structures be taken as the basic space-time structures in general relativity, with the symmetry group restricted to unimodular diffeomorphisms. Models of classical massless fields, such as the Maxwell field, interact directly with the conformal structure; while classical bodies composed of massive particles, such as solids and fluids, interact directly with the projective structure. It is suggested that this difference is the classical limit of the respective quantum-gravitational interactions, which should reflect the differing approaches to the quantization of fields and particles when gravity is neglected. Models of general relativity based on compatible conformal and projective structures should be the basis for the exploration of ideal measurement procedures, both classical and quantum.
The Relationship of Egg Shape to Time of Oviposition and Egg Shell Quality

Abstract Experiments were conducted to determine the relationship of egg shape to time of oviposition and egg shell quality. Eggs were collected at 2-hr intervals throughout the day and depending upon the experiment various measurements (egg weight, shape index, shell weight, shell thickness, or specific gravity) were determined. The results indicated that eggs laid during the afternoon had a higher shape index (rounder eggs) than eggs laid during the morning. The afternoon eggs also had a higher specific gravity, shell weight, shell thickness, and were smaller than eggs laid during the morning. A large variation in shape index occurred among eggs. It was concluded that the difference in shape between times of oviposition would not explain the variation in shell quality due to time of oviposition, but that the large variation in egg shape among birds is a significant factor in determining the bird’s ability to produce eggs with maximum shell thickness with a given amount of shell.
Small-angle X-Ray scattering study of the quasi-crystal structure of montmorillonite-CTAB in suspension

The quasi-crystals of hexadecyltrimethylammonium (CTA + )-montmorillonite formed in suspension were investigated by small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS). The d-spacing of the quasi-crystals increased from 17.1 to 21.7 A, corresponding to an increasing surfactant loading from 20 to 250% of the clay's cation exchange capacity (CEC). One-dimensional grating theory was used to describe the scattering in the Porod region so that the number of clay layers and crystal size were obtained. The quasi-crystal reaches maximum size at a surfactant loading equal to the clay's CEC. The scattering peaks in the Porod region are due solely to quasi-crystals. Small-angle x-ray scattering avoids intermediate peaks resulting from the artificial inter-stratification of free and complexed layers in conventional x-ray diffraction analysis.
Basolateral membrane potential of a tight epithelium: ionic diffusion and electrogenic pumps.

Summary. The contribution of specific ions to the conductance and potential of the basolateral membrane of the rabbit urinary bladder has been studied with both conventional and ion-specific microelectrode techniques. In addition, the possibility of an electrogenic active transport process located at the basolateral membrane was studied using the polyene antibiotic nystatin. The effect of ion-specific microclectrode impalement damage on intracellular ion activities was examined and a criterion set for acceptance or rejection of intracellular activity measurements. Using this criterion, we found (K+)=72m~ and (CI)=15.8mM. CI- but not K + was in electrochemical equilibrium across the basolateral membrane. The selective permeability of the basolateral membrane was measured using microelectrodes, and the data analyzed using the Goldman, Hodgkin-Katz equation. The sodium to potassium permeability ratio (PNa/PK) was 0.044, and the chloride to potassium permeability ratio (Pcl/PK) was 1.17. Since K § was not in electrochemical equilibrium, intracellular (K § is maintained by active metabolic processes, and the basolateral membrane potential is a diffusion potential with K + and C1- the most permeable ions. After depolarizing the basolateral membrane with high serosal potassium bathing solutions and eliminating the apical membrane as a rate limiting step for ion movement using the polyene antibiotic nystatin, we found that the addition of equal aliquots of NaC1 to both solutions caused the basolateral membrane potential to hyperpolarize by up to 20 mV (cell interior negative). This potential was reduced by 80 ~o within 3 min of the addition of ouabain to the serosal solution. This hyperpolarization most probably represents a ouabain sensitive active transport process sensitive to intracellular Na +. An equivalent electrical circuit for Na § transport across rabbit urinary bladder is derived, tested, and compared to previous results. This circuit is also used to predict the effects that microelectrode impalement damage will have on individuM membrane potentials as well as time-dependent phenomena; e.g., effect of amiloride on apical and basolateral membrane potentials.
A simple dot-density topogram for EEG

A simple computer-generated dot-density topogram for depicting localized EEG abnormalities, and which can supplement the conventional EEG report, is described. The display technique permits direct visual comparison with other diagnostic topographic displays such as the CT (computerized tomography) scan.
Test anxiety in elderly and young adults.

Test anxiety in elderly and young adult college students was measured by the Anxiety Achievement Test following a free-recall memory experiment. As expected, the elderly had higher levels of debilitating test anxiety than the younger adults. A large proportion of older persons showed behavioral manifestations of test anxiety either by refusing to participate in the study, or by their reactions during the testing. Test anxiety was related to memory performance among both age groups, suggesting that an older person's performance on a cognitive task may be influenced by affective reactions to the testing situation itself.
Recombinant Human Acid Sphingomyelinase as an Adjuvant to Sorafenib Treatment of Experimental Liver Cancer

Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of liver cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. The only approved systemic treatment for unresectable HCC is the oral kinase inhibitor, sorafenib. Recombinant human acid sphingomyelinase (rhASM), which hydrolyzes sphingomyelin to ceramide, is an orphan drug under development for the treatment of Type B Niemann-Pick disease (NPD). Due to the hepatotropic nature of rhASM and its ability to generate pro-apoptotic ceramide, this study evaluated the use of rhASM as an adjuvant treatment with sorafenib in experimental models of HCC. Methodology/Principal Findings In vitro, rhASM/sorafenib treatment reduced the viability of Huh7 liver cancer cells more than sorafenib. In vivo, using a subcutaneous Huh7 tumor model, mouse survival was increased and proliferation in the tumors decreased to a similar extent in both sorafenib and rhASM/sorafenib treatment groups. However, combined rhASM/sorafenib treatment significantly lowered tumor volume, increased tumor necrosis, and decreased tumor blood vessel density compared to sorafenib. These results were obtained despite poor delivery of rhASM to the tumors. A second (orthotopic) model of Huh7 tumors also was established, but modest ASM activity was similarly detected in these tumors compared to healthy mouse livers. Importantly, no chronic liver toxicity or weight loss was observed from rhASM therapy in either model. Conclusions/Significance The rhASM/sorafenib combination exhibited a synergistic effect on reducing the tumor volume and blood vessel density in Huh7 xenografts, despite modest activity of rhASM in these tumors. No significant increases in survival were observed from the rhASM/sorafenib treatment. The poor delivery of rhASM to Huh7 tumors may be due, at least in part, to low expression of mannose receptors. The safety and efficacy of this approach, together with the novel findings regarding enzyme targeting, merits further investigation.
The Laser In Dentistry

The laser is unique in its capacity to deliver very high heat energy in a short time. This paper will describe the aleration of the carious process in vitro and in vivo by laser induced physical changes of the surface enamel. It will also broadly consider future laser application in dentistry.
Sensitivity of the guinea-pig to raw soya bean in the diet.

Abstract The effects of raw soya bean in the diet were investigated in the guinea-pig. Weanling guinea-pigs fed raw soya bean for 30 days suffered a high mortality rate. The excised pancreases from the test animals were significantly larger than those from control animals fed a casein diet, but the enlargement was not as marked as that reported for rats and chicks fed similar dietary regimens. Pancreatic trypsinogen, chymotrypsinogen and amylase were all increased by soya feeding in the young guinea-pig. Adult guinea-pigs fed the same soya-bean diet suffered no deaths and showed no pancreatic enlargement compared with controls. Pancreatic trypsinogen and amylase activities were higher than those of control animals but chymotrypsinogen was not changed. The response of the guinea-pig to dietary raw soya bean is similar to that previously observed in other rodents.
Beyond formal operations: uses and limits of pure logic in life-span development.

The present paper outlines a life-span model derived from Piaget’s population-dynamic interpretation of the two-tiered function of logic in adaptation: logical intercoordination and
Imaging techniques in parathyroid surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism

As more patients present with the incidental diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism due to biochemical screening, treatment guidelines have been developed for the treatment of hyperparathyroidism. Management of primary hyperparathyroidism has evolved in recent years, with considerable interest in minimally invasive approaches. Successful localization of the diseased gland(s) by nuclear imaging and anatomical studies, along with rapid intraoperative parathyroid hormone assay, has allowed for focused and minimally invasive surgical approaches. Patients in whom the localization studies have identified single-gland adenoma or unilateral disease are candidates for such focused approaches instead of the traditional approach of bilateral exploration. These imaging techniques have also been critical in the successful management of patients with persistent or recurrent disease.
A Pathway to Spirituality

The phenomenology of mystical experiences has been described throughout all the ages and in all religions. All mystical traditions identify some sense of union with the absolute as the ultimate spiritual goal. I assume that the pathway to both theistic and secular spirituality and our readiness to seek a solution in a psychological merger with something beyond the self evolves out of our human experience. Spirituality is one of man's strategies for dealing with the limitations of the life cycle, separation and loss, biological fragility, transience, and non-existence. Spirituality may serve as the affective component to a belief system or myth that is not rooted in scientific evidence but is lived as if it is true. Spirituality may take many forms, but I will suggest that in some instances it may serve as a reparative process in which one creates in the external world, through symbolic form, a nuance or facet of an internalized mental representation which has become lost or is no longer available to the self; or it may represent the continuity of the self-representation after death through a self-object merger. Lastly I will illustrate from the writings of two of our greatest poets, Dante Alighieri and William Wordsworth, how their poetry became interwoven with a profound spirituality. In Dante we will see the elaboration of a religious spirituality, while in the writings of Wordsworth a secular spirituality emerges interwoven with nature and belatedly his identification with "tragic man" as his mythos.
Preoperative weight gain does not predict failure of weight loss or co-morbidity resolution of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for morbid obesity

Abstract Background Success with preoperative weight loss (PWL) is often mandated by the bariatric team to assess patient compliance and has been suggested to correlate with improved postoperative weight loss outcomes. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of 1629 consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass at Duke University Medical Center. Patients with a preoperative weight gain (PWG) or loss of ≥10 lb were compared. Patients with Results We found no difference between the 2 groups (PWG, n=115, PWL, n=88) with regard to age, gender, race, preoperative body mass index, presence of co-morbidities, or interval between the initial program-entry weight and surgery (149 versus 141 d). No difference was found in the percentage of excess weight loss (EWL) at 12 months, when calculated using the patient's immediate preoperative weight (PWG group, 63.5% EWL versus PWL group, 63.9% EWL, P = NS). If the %EWL was calculated using the initial program-entry weight, the PWL did confer a transient postoperative weight loss advantage; however, this did not persist past 24 months postoperatively. At both 12 and 24 months, the resolution rates of diabetes (82% versus 83% at 2 yr; P = NS), hypertension (48% versus 42% at 2 yr, P = NS), and continuous positive airway pressure discontinuation (87% versus 87% at 1 yr, P = NS) were equivalent. No differences in perioperative complications or conversion rates were detected. The operative time was slightly longer for the PWG group (119.7 versus 104.9 min, P = .02). Conclusion The results of our study have shown that weight loss before laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is not mandatory and might deter patients from considering weight loss surgery. Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass can be performed safely with equivalent co-morbidity resolution and %EWL regardless of PWG or PWL.
TERAHERTZ POLARITONICS: HIGH POWER THZ SIGNAL GENERATION IN FERROELECTRIC CRYSTALS

Abstract The use of high-dielectric ferroelectric crystals for THz generation is reviewed and recent progress in high-power THz signal generation is presented.
Instrumental versus bounded rationality: a comparison of Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association

Abstract The professional team sports industry is characterized by an abundance of information, defined objectives, and clear consequences. Given these characteristics, researchers have generally assumed that economic actors follow the dictates of instrumental rationality. The purpose of this research is to present evidence that in professional baseball, where player statistics have historically been tabulated and utilized, information is employed efficiently. However, economic agents in professional basketball, where player statistics are less intuitive and not historically tabulated, fail to process information in a fashion consistent with the precepts of instrumental rationality.
Enhancement of the anticonvulsant effect of fluoxetine following blockade of 5-HT1A receptors.

Abstract Serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as fluoxetine, have been shown to exert anticonvulsant effects in several animal models of epilepsy. In view of recent studies showing that 5-HT 1A receptor antagonists (somatodendritic autoreceptor antagonists) enhance the increase in extracellular 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) produced by serotonin reuptake inhibitors, it was of interest to determine if these antagonists also enhance the anticonvulsant effect of fluoxetine in Genetically Epilepsy-Prone Rats (GEPRs). The 5-HT 1A receptor antagonists (−)-pindolol and LY 206130 (1-[1-H-indol-4-yloxy]-3-[cyclohexylamino]-2-propanol maleate) were examined in the present study and both enhanced the anticonvulsant action of fluoxetine in severe seizure GEPRs (GEPR-9s). The latter effect of LY 206130 was found to be dose- and 5-HT-dependent. These findings provide further evidence that the increase in extracellular serotonin observed after administering fluoxetine in combination with a 5-HT 1A receptor antagonist is physiologically important and that the anticonvulsant effect of fluoxetine in the GEPR is mediated through an increase in extracellular 5-HT.
Adjustments and adaptations to indoor and outdoor environments: Continuity and change in young adult rhesus monkeys

Optimal environments for captive primates are assumed to be those which simulate certain ecological features and elicit a wide range of species-typical behavior patterns. Outdoor environments are often thought to be more suitable than indoor environments in that they provide more space and potentially higher levels of stimulation. The purpose of this study was to compare the long-term behavioral responses of several groups of animals that had been reared identically during the first two years of life and then exposed to different environments. Two groups were moved into separate "enriched" indoor pens while one group was moved to an outdoor area covering approximately 5 acres. The monkeys were observed during the first year of life and again in these different environments between the ages of 6 and 10. Although behaviorally similar during the first year of life, monkeys developed different response patterns to indoor and outdoor environments. Contrary to commonly held views, indoor monkeys were not more aggressive, nor did they show higher levels of stereotypical behavior. Instead, indoor monkeys exhibited higher levels of grooming, sexual posturing, tactile/oral exploration, and passive visual behavior than their outdoor counterparts. These differences are consistent with the reconciliation model of de Waal. Individual monkeys also showed remarkable stability in certain traits over the 5-year period. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Clinical and laboratory features of measles in hospitalized adults

Abstract purpose: Description of the epidemiology, morbidity, and mortality of hospitalized adults with typical measles. patients and methods: Restrospective case analysis of 33 adults who required acute care for complications of measles in a public hospital in Los Angeles, California. The diagnosis of measles was established on standard clinical or serologic grounds. results: Of 68 patients (age greater than 14) with signs and symptoms of measles who presented for medical care, 33 (19 males and 14 females) required hospitalization; 18 were natives of the United States. The patient age was 26.1 ± 7.3 (mean ± SD) years; four patients, all natives of the U.S., were born before 1957. The duration of hospitalization was 6.8 ± 8.8 days for all patients and 13.4 ± 14.2 days for the nine patients who required intensive care unit (ICU) care. Six of the ICU patients required mechanical ventilation for 11.0 ± 15.0 days; two deaths occurred among these patients. During the course of their illness, 7 of 25 (28%), 11 of 28 (39%), 6 of 28 (21%), and 5 of 16 patients (31%) had peak lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and creatine kinase values, respectively, that were greater than 5 times the upper limit of normal. Fifteen of 28 patients (54%) developed total serum calcium levels less than or equal to 2.0 mmol/L. Ten cases were serologically confirmed; 23 cases were diagnosed as probable measles on clinical grounds. There were no significant demographic, clinical, or laboratory differences between patients with confirmed and probable measles. No patients had characteristic manifestations of atypical measles. The sole immunocompromised patient died. conclusions: Measles in adults may result in severe, life-threatening complications that utilize substantial medical resources. Physicians need to appreciate the clinical presentations and manifestations of severe measles in adults and to provide measles vaccine to nonimmune adults during community-wide outbreaks.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory Plasma Diagnostic Research

A high power optically-pumped submillimeter oscillator for use in plasma diagnostics has been developed which employs an unstable resonator cavity. This oscillator has been operated using CH3I(447 μm), CH3F (496 μm) and D20(385/361 μm). The peak power output varied from approximately 40 kW with CH3I to 200 kW with D20.© (1977) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Tyrosine Phosphorylation of VE-cadherin Prevents Binding of p120- and β-Catenin and Maintains the Cellular Mesenchymal State *

In several pathological conditions, epithelial cells demonstrate a breakdown of barrier function and acquire an invasive phenotype. Endothelial cells in particular are maintained in a mesenchymal state during the cell invasion phase of angiogenesis. We show here that tyrosine phosphorylation of the adherens junction protein VE-cadherin at two critical tyrosines, Tyr-658 and Tyr-731, via tyrosine kinase activation or phosphatase inactivation was sufficient to prevent the binding of p120- and β-catenin, respectively, to the cytoplasmic tail of VE-cadherin. In fact, phosphorylation at either site led to the inhibition of cell barrier function. Cells expressing wild-type VE-cadherin showed decreased cell migration compared with cells lacking VE-cadherin, whereas expression of VE-cadherin with a simple phosphomimetic tyrosine-to-glutamic acid mutation of Y658E or Y731E was sufficient to restore the migratory response. These findings demonstrate that a single phosphorylation event within the VE-cadherin cytoplasmic tail is sufficient to maintain cells in a mesenchymal state.
A memory-efficient real-time non-copying garbage collector

Garbage collectors used in embedded systems such as Personal Java and Inferno or in operating systems such as SPIN must operate with limited resources and minimize their impact on application performance. Consequently, they must maintain short real-time pauses, low overhead, and a small memory footprint. Most garbage collectors, including the Treadmill algorithm, are inadequate because they sacrifice space for time. We have implemented a new Treadmill variant that provides good memory utilization by using real-time page-level management techniques that reduce fragmentation. A page-wise collection is used to locate pages of free memory, which are then dynamically reassigned between free lists as needed. Virtual memory is used to dynamically remap free pages into continuous ranges, and objects are allocated from under-utilized pages when needed. Finally, the use of header compaction and arbitrary free-list sizes reduces internal fragmentation. Our experiments demonstrate that we have substantially improved memory utilization without compromising latency or overhead, and that the new collector performs very well for SPIN's workloads and regular Modula-3 programs.
Human mast cells expressing recombinant proteinase 3 (PR3) as substrate for clinical testing for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)

We have expressed conformationally intact, enzymatically active recombinant PR3 in HMC-1 cells (HMC-1/PR3 cells) that is recognized by C-ANCA. Here we directly compared the clinical utility of C-ANCA testing by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) using HMC-1/PR3 cell cytospin versus polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) cytospin preparations and commercially available anti-PR3 ELISA kits. Two hundred sera were tested independently by three investigators: 101 previously determined to be C-ANCA-positive by routine clinical laboratory testing using standard IIF on PMN cytospins, and 99 control samples chosen primarily because they contained antibodies against other cytoplasmic target antigens. Discrepant test results between the two cellular substrates were found in seven samples: 2/7 were PMN-positive and HMC-1/PR3 cell-negative (one Sjogren's syndrome, one hand injury); 5/7 were PMN-negative and HMC-1/PR3-positive (all Wegener's granulomatosis (WG)). All C-ANCA-positive WG patients were also positive on HMC-1/PR3 cells. IIF using HMC-1/PR3 cells was as sensitive as the most sensitive anti-PR3 ELISA (79.8% versus 80.7%, P = 0.739), and more sensitive than standard IIF C-ANCA testing using PMN cytospins (79.8% versus 75.2%, P = 0.025) or the anti-PR3 ELISA with the least false-positive test results (79.8% versus 63%, P < 0.01). These findings indicate that HMC-1/PR3 cells are a very sensitive antigen-specific substrate for clinical anti-PR3 ANCA testing which appears superior to standard C-ANCA testing using PMN cytospin substrates and anti-PR3 ELISA. Our results also suggest that in WG the C-ANCA fluorescence pattern is not caused by antibodies against target antigens other than PR3.
Weighted shifts and commuting normal extension

The main result of this paper shows that the existence of commuting normal extension (c.n.e.) for an arbitrary family of commuting subnormal operators can be determined by considering appropriate families of multivariable weighted shifts. In proving this some known criteria for c.n.e. are generalized. It is also shown that a family of jointly quasi-normal operators has c.n.e.
Solution structures of aminofluorene [AF]-stacked conformers of the syn [AF]-C8-dG adduct positioned opposite dC or dA at a template-primer junction.

A solution structural study has been undertaken on the aminofluorene−C8-dG ([AF]dG) adduct located at a single-strand−double-strand d(A1-A2-C3-[AF]G4-C5-T6-A7-C8-C9-A10-T11-C12-C13)·d(G14-G15-A16-T17-G18-G19-T20-A21-G22-N23) 13/10-mer junction (N = C or A) using proton−proton distance restraints derived from NMR data in combination with intensity-based relaxation matrix refinement computations. This single-strand−double-strand junction models one arm of a replication fork composed of a 13-mer template strand which contains the [AF]dG modification site and a 10-mer primer strand which has been elongated up to the modified guanine with either its complementary dC partner or a dA mismatch. The solution structures establish that the duplex segment retains a minimally perturbed B-DNA conformation with Watson−Crick hydrogen-bonding retained up to the dC5·dG22 base pair. The guanine ring of the [AF]dG4 adduct adopts a syn glycosidic torsion angle and is displaced into the major groove when positioned opposite dC...
Microtox assay to determine the toxicity of degradation products from degradable plastics

Six types of starch-polyethylene degradable plastics were evaluated for the release of water-soluble toxic compounds under accelerated degradation conditions. A plastic strip (2.5×15.2 cm) was placed in a 250-ml Erlenmeyer flask with 100 ml of ASTM type I water with or without trace element solutions and shaken at 65°C and 110 rpm for 20 weeks in replicates of two. High temperature was used to accelerate the oxidative degradation of polyethylene. Plastic degradation was measured by loss of tensile strength, percentage elongation, strain energy, and weight-average molecular weight. The most rapid period of polyethylene thermal degradation was complete for most materials by day 28. Ten-milliliter aqueous samples were removed from each flask at days 1, 7, 28, 56, 84, and 140 (water volumes were maintained at 100 ml with fresh type I water), filtered through glass filters, then evaluated by using the Microtox Toxicity Analyzer (Microbics Corporation, Carlsbad, CA). No water-soluble toxic compounds were detected during the period of rapid film degradation. Toxicity was observed at day 28 for one film and at day 84 for all films, which could possibly correlate with the release of small oxidative compounds such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. Because of the sensitivity of this assay, positive results must be confirmed by otherin vitro studies.
N-terminal Domain of Myelin Basic Protein Inhibits Amyloid β-Protein Fibril Assembly

Accumulation of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) into brain parenchymal plaques and the cerebral vasculature is a pathological feature of Alzheimer disease and related disorders. Aβ peptides readily form β-sheet-containing oligomers and fibrils. Previously, we reported a strong interaction between myelin basic protein (MBP) and Aβ peptides that resulted in potent inhibition of fibril assembly (Hoos, M. D., Ahmed, M., Smith, S. O., and Van Nostrand, W. E. (2007) J. Biol. Chem. 282, 9952–9961; Hoos, M. D., Ahmed, M., Smith, S. O., and Van Nostrand, W. E. (2009) Biochemistry 48, 4720–4727). MBP is recognized as a highly post-translationally modified protein. In the present study, we demonstrate that human MBP purified from either brain or a bacterial recombinant expression system comparably bound to Aβ and inhibited Aβ fibril assembly indicating that post-translational modifications are not required for this activity. We also show that purified mouse brain MBP and recombinantly expressed mouse MBP similarly inhibited Aβ fibril formation. Through a combination of biochemical and ultrastructural techniques, we demonstrate that the binding site for Aβ is located in the N-terminal 64 amino acids of MBP and that a stable peptide (MBP1) comprising these residues was sufficient to inhibit Aβ fibrillogenesis. Under conditions comparable with those used for Aβ, the fibrillar assembly of amylin, another amyloidogenic peptide, was not inhibited by MBP1, although MBP1 still bound to it. This observation suggests that the potent inhibitory effect of MBP on fibril formation is not general to amyloidogenic peptides. Finally, MBP1 could prevent the cytotoxic effects of Aβ in primary cortical neurons. Our findings suggest that inhibition of Aβ fibril assembly by MBP, mediated through its N-terminal domain, could play a role in influencing amyloid formation in Alzheimer disease brain and corresponding mouse models.
Dilated coronary sinus in the fetus: misinterpretation as an atrioventricular canal defect.

The ostium of the coronary sinus opens directly into the right atrium in close proximity to the insertion of the atrioventricular valves. If the coronary sinus is dilated, it can create the appearance of an atrioventricular canal defect in the fetal echocardiographic four-chamber view. The diagnosis of a serious heart lesion, such as a canal defect, necessitates decisions regarding pregnancy termination or optimal timing/location of delivery. We present three women who were referred at 23, 36 and 38 weeks' gestation with a preliminary diagnosis by level II ultrasound of a fetal atrioventricular canal defect. In each patient, the targeted fetal echocardiogram demonstrated a dilated coronary sinus and no evidence of an atrioventricular canal defect. The fetal echocardiographic presentation of a dilated coronary sinus can be mistaken for an atrioventricular canal defect. Misdiagnosis can be avoided by utilizing both variable angulation in the four-chamber projection and additional transducer views to confirm an intact atrioventricular septum and two normal atrioventricular valves. Copyright © 1997 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
The Geography for Life Standards and American Political Geography

Abstract Political geography is concerned with a myriad of spatial relationships that impact government and public policy. Thus it is an important perspective that needs to be integrated into the teaching of the Geography for Life: National Geography Standards 1994. The intersection of geography and politics in American public policy development is explored through several of the National Geography Standards. Contemporary issues involving electoral district delineation, the impact of migration, cultural values and culture group distribution, economic interdependence, resource competition, and environmental modification highlight geographical perspectives that inform public policy deliberations. Suggestions for student activities and discussions follow consideration of each issue illustrating one of the standards. Key words: geography standards, political geography, public policy.