cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of pH variation and annealing on covalently assembled nanodiamond films

Abstract This work examines the effect of using low-ionic strength zwitterionic buffer and post-deposition thermal annealing on the microstructure and thermal conductivity of continuous nanocrystalline diamond films that are deposited via the directed covalent assembly of detonation nanodiamonds. Variation of the zwitterionic buffer pH was found to tune the surface coverage, film thickness, thermal conductivity, and film morphology as quantified by apparent porosity and pore size distribution. The sequential annealing of these films up to 400 °C, showed the anticipated severance of amide bonds holding the nanodiamonds together, followed by the detrimental aggregation of the nanodiamonds to segregated islands, losing film continuity and increasing apparent porosity. The change in thermal conductivity with annealing was subjective to buffer pH, suggesting that the morphology changes associated with annealing may have a complex relationship with thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity data were further analyzed using a phonon hopping model to quantify the degree of phonon movement across boundaries. Overall, the results demonstrate a way to achieving porous, low-cost nanocrystalline diamond thin films with tunable film morphology and thermal conductivity.
Suppression of growth, progression and metastasis of breast cancer xenografts by orally administered complex sphingolipids

4663 Complex sphingolipids in the diet are hydrolyzed in the intestinal cells to bioactive metabolites that significantly reduced early and late stages of colon cancer in rodent models without causing severe side effects. In the present study, we investigated if bioactive metabolites generated from complex sphingolipids supplements can reach distant sites in the body in sufficient concentrations to suppress tumor formation, progression and possibly metastasis. Human breast epithelial cells representing early, intermediate, late and metastatic stages of breast cancer were injected subcutaneously into the mammary fat pad of nude mice. 0.1% sphingomyelin, or a combination with ceramide (0.08% SM, 0.02% ceramide) was added to the diet either before or after tumor implant to test both a preventive and an intervention approach. Orally administered sphingolipids affected tumor number and volume in a stage-dependent manner, with the less aggressive xenografts responding with both lower tumor incidence and tumor volume. This appears to correlate with the rate of proliferation that was more affected in xenografts representing earlier stages of breast cancer. Xenografts of more advanced breast cancer cells responded with a reduction of tumor size only; however, sphingolipid supplements significantly reduced metastases to the lungs (60-73%) and bone marrow (60-84%). These results suggest that sphingolipid supplements target fast growing but less aggressive tumors and metastases while they are relatively ineffective against solid, aggressive but slow growing tumors, indicating a promising potential as chemopreventive agents. Supported by grant BCT0503453 from the Susan G. Komen Foundation and NIH/NCI R03 CA101125.
A more efficient path-finding algorithm

Presents a new routing algorithm, which the authors call a path-finding algorithm (PFA). It drastically reduces the possibility of temporary routing loops, which accounts for its fast convergence properties. Like other path-finding algorithms, the PFA operates by specifying the second-to-last hop to each destination, in addition to the distance to the destination. A detailed proof of correctness and complexity is presented elsewhere. The PFA's performance is compared quantitatively by simulation with DUAL (a loop-free routing algorithm) and an ideal link-state algorithm (ILS). A number of parameters, including the length of the messages and the number of steps required for convergence, are used in the comparison. The simulation results indicate that the PFA constitutes a very efficient distance-vector algorithm. It provides about 50% improvement in performance compared to DUAL in terms of the convergence time and the number of updates after single link failures, and provides comparable or better convergence speed and traffic overhead than ILS, with orders of magnitude fewer CPU cycles. >
The Initial Velocities of Calcium Uptake by Rat Liver Mitochondria

Abstract Initial velocities of energy-dependent Ca++ uptake were measured in rat liver mitochondria by stopped flow techniques and dual wave length spectroscopy in the presence of the Ca++ indicator murexide. The initial rate of energy-dependent Ca++ uptake by mitochondria was 0.1 to 0.3 nmole per s per mg of protein at 5 to 15 µm Ca++, and increased to 8.2 nmoles of Ca++ per s per mg at 200 µm Ca++. When initial rates of Ca++ uptake by mitochondria were plotted against the Ca++ concentration in the medium, a sigmoidal curve was obtained in which half-maximal rate of Ca++ transport occurred at Ca++ concentration of 55 to 70 µm. A Hill plot of the data yields a straight line with slope, n, of 1.63. Comparable values of Ca++ transport were obtained when Ca++ was added to mitochondria oxidizing either succinate or glutamate and malate. Similar sigmoidicity was shown with Mn++ uptake; however the maximal rate of accumulation was 3.8 nmoles of Mn++ per s per mg of protein and the half-maximal rate was reached at 170 µm Mn++. A model, which takes into account previous and present data, is presented for the uptake of Ca++ and Mn++ in liver mitochondria. The results obtained and the proposed mechanism are discussed in terms of the physiological regulation of cellular [Ca++] homeostasis in liver cells.
Softsad: Integrated frame-based speech confidence for speaker recognition

In this paper we propose softSAD: the direct integration of speech posteriors into a speaker recognition system as an alternative to using speech activity detection (SAD). Motivated by the need to use audio from short recordings more efficiently, softSAD removes the need to discard audio using speech/non-speech decisions based on a threshold as done with SAD. Instead, softSAD explicitly integrates into the Baum-Welch statistics a speech posterior for each frame. We compare softSAD and SAD in mismatched conditions by evaluating a system developed for the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) 2012 speaker recognition evaluation (SRE) on the short test conditions of the channel-degraded Robust Automatic Transcription of Speech (RATS) speaker identification task (and vice versa). We demonstrate that softSAD provides benefit over SAD for short test audio in mismatched conditions.
Automation and Control in Biomedical Systems

Biomedical systems are a complex collection of case studies where the principles of automation and control theory are seeing increased application. This growing interest has a twofold motivation: the need for advanced automation and treatment design tools for use in medical practice and the challenges inherent to biomedical systems and clinical deployment of technology. This chapter provides an overview of the automation, control, and optimization tools used in the biomedical arena. While the scope of potential applications is vast, examples of biomedical treatment design systems for cancer and insulin-dependent diabetes are discussed. The chapter concludes by scratching the surface of emerging areas in need of translated or novel systems and automation tools.
The Friend leukaemia virus integration 1 (Fli‐1) transcription factor affects lupus nephritis development by regulating inflammatory cell infiltration into the kidney

The transcription factor Friend leukaemia virus integration 1 (Fli-1) is implicated in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus in both human patients and murine models of lupus. Murphy Roths large (MRL)/lpr mice and New Zealand mixed (NZM)2410 mice, murine models of lupus, with decreased expression of Fli-1 had significantly prolonged survival and reduced nephritis. Lupus nephritis is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in patients, and inflammatory cell infiltration plays a key role in the development of the disease. To study how the expression of Fli-1 affects the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the kidneys, we generated congenic enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgenic MRL/lpr mice. A significantly increased number of GFP-expressing inflammatory cells infiltrated the kidneys of wild-type MRL/lpr mice compared to Fli-1 heterozygous (Fli-1(+/-)) MRL/lpr mice after injection of GFP(+) cells. Expression of inflammatory chemokine mRNA, including chemokine (C-C motif) ligand (CCL)2, CCL3, CCL4 and CCL5, was significantly lower in the kidneys from Fli-1(+/-) MRL/lpr mice compared to wild-type littermates. Numbers of infiltrated cells into the kidneys correlate with expression levels of CCL2, CCL4 and CCL5, but not the titres of anti-dsDNA autoantibodies in these mice. Significantly increased inflammatory cells from wild-type MRL/lpr mice infiltrated into kidneys compared to the cells from Fli-1(+/-) MRL/lpr mice. The chemotaxis of inflammatory cells from Fli-1(+/-) MRL/lpr mice towards each chemokine was decreased significantly compared to inflammatory cells from wild-type MRL/lpr mice in the transwell migration assay in vitro. Our results indicate that Fli-1 affects lupus nephritis development by regulating the expression of chemokines in the kidney and the migration of inflammatory cells.
Enterprises, workers, and skills in Urban Timor-Leste

Like many low-income countries, Timor-Leste faces challenges in providing employment for and increasing the skills of its labor force-challenges made more acute by high fertility rates, a very young population, and the capacity constraints of a new nation. However, there is limited information for policymakers to formulate appropriate policies. The paper presents findings of the first urban enterprise survey in independent Timor-Leste. It explores several aspects of the Timorese urban labor market, including the profile of formal and informal enterprises, their behavior in terms of employment and wage-setting practices, and constraints on firm growth. It also presents findings on the skills and training needs of urban employers, and constraints faced in overcoming skills shortages. It finds a highly informal urban enterprise scene, where even formal enterprises are largely micro-enterprises. While there has been considerable action in terms of new firm creation since independence, there is already surprisingly low job creation or destruction. This is driven by a number of constraints inside and outside the labor market. With respect to wages, the impacts of the informal minimum wage policy inherited from the interim international administration suggest the need for caution in future wage policy development. While employers identify many skills gaps, basic literacy, numeracy, and language skill needs dominate, and employers appear to value short courses and less formal modes of skills training to address their needs. The paper concludes with suggestions for addressing the key constraints identified.
Assessment of Immunization Compliance Among Children in the Department of Defense Health Care System

Objective. To describe immunization rates among children enrolled in the Department of Defense health care system and to determine risk factors for delay. Design. Cross-sectional survey of immunization records and demographic characteristics among parents of children presenting for acute care at seven pediatric clinics operated by the Department of Defense. Participants. Subjects were 1977 children aged 2 months to 18 years. Outcome Measures. Immunization rates were measured for various age strata from infancy to adolescence. Results. The overall immunization rate was 84%. By age 2 years, 86% of patients had received four diphtheriatetanus -pertussis, three oral polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccines. At school entry, 87% of children were fully immunized for diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis and MMR. However, only 50% of adolescents were up-to-date, primarily because of failure to receive booster doses of MMR. Seventy-nine percent of parents whose children were delayed thought that they were up-to-date. Factors associated with immunization delay included incorrect parental perception of immunization status, failure to keep routine health maintenance visits, and non-white race. Socioeconomic status, parental education level, access to care, and family mobility had no effect on immnization status. Conclusions. Although immunization rates for preschoolers approached national goals, accessibility to care and free vaccines did not guarantee immunization compliance, especially among adolescents. Most patients with delayed vaccinations were older children and adolescents whose school and parental reports of immunization status were incorrect. Immunization delay in our study was primarily the result of a failure to track patients and notify parents of when immunizations were due.
A survey assessment of the recognition and treatment of psychocutaneous disorders in the outpatient dermatology setting: how prepared are we?

Background Dermatologists provide the bulk of psychocutaneous care; however, recent studies suggest that dermatologists believe they are largely underprepared to treat most psychocutaneous conditions. Objective We sought to identify gaps in psychodermatologic knowledge among practicing dermatologists in two academic institutions. Methods An online survey was sent to 59 dermatologists at the Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston, MA) and Brigham and Women's Hospital (Boston, MA) from July 2010 through October 2011. Results The response rate was 40 of 59 (68%). More than 50% of dermatologists were comfortable making diagnoses for 8 of 10 psychocutaneous disorders. In all, 57% were comfortable making a diagnosis of depression. A total of 11% were comfortable starting antidepressants; 3%, antipsychotics; and 66%, medications for neuropathic pain. In all, 72%, 68%, and 21% of dermatologists never prescribe antidepressants, antipsychotics, or medications for neuropathic pain, respectively. Only 38% believed they were successful treating compulsive skin picking; 15%, body dysmorphic disorder; 27%, delusions of parasitosis; and 24%, depression. Limitations Limitations include small sample size, data extraction from an academic setting, self-reporting of outcome measures, and response bias. Conclusion Although the majority of the physicians surveyed believed they were capable of diagnosing psychocutaneous disease, very few were comfortable starting psychotropics or thought they were successful treating such conditions.
Solubility Parameters and the Distribution of Ions to Nonaqueous Solvents

Provided a singly charged, spherically symmetrical ion has a radius greater than ca. 0.2 nm, its distribution to a nonaqueous solvent from water can be accounted for by assigning to it a Hildebrand solubility parameter estimated for an uncharged atom or molecule, regardless of the model assumed for the Gibbs energy of charging the ionthat of Born, Abraham, and Liszi (J. Chem. Soc., Faraday Trans. 1 1978, 74, 1604, 2858) or Abe (J. Phys. Chem. 1986, 90, 713)in the nonaqueous phase. For smaller ions, however, no choice of solubility parameter or ion size can alone account for their extractability. The extensive data available for the Gibbs energy of transfer of monovalent ions from water to a variety of solvents can be accounted for by assigning to the ion, in addition to a plausible solubility parameter, an effective radius rs = (ri3 + Δrs3)1/3, wherein ri is the radius of the ion and Δrs is an adjustable distance characteristic of the solvent. Separate sets of Δrs values are needed for cations and anions....
Does forest removal increase rates of decomposition and nitrogen release

Abstract Little information is yet available concerning the effects of forest harvest on rates of decomposition and nutrient release. This study examines decomposition and nitrogen availability in adjacent cut and uncut sites by means of cellulose-filled litterbags and ion exchange resin bags located at three elevations on Vancouver Island, B.C., Canada. Cellulose weight loss was no greater in clear-cut than in uncut sites at the forest floor interface of litter and fragmented layers, but was 3 to 5 times greater at the interface of fragmented and humified layers and the interface of the humified layer and mineral soil. Resin-based estimates of nitrogen availability were 7 to 20 times greater in clear-cut sites.
“Of course it’s relevant!”: A focus group study of older adults' perceived importance of HIV/AIDS prevention education:

This article reports on older adults’ perceptions and opinions about the importance of HIV/AIDS prevention education and reasons for participation. It reports on specific themes that emerged from five focus groups consisting of 52 ethnically diverse adults 50 years and older. Participants identified four themes regarding HIV/AIDS prevention education: 1) “Knowing someone who has it”, 2) “Tell me about it at work”, 3) “We’re not dead yet”, and 4) “How do I talk about this with my doctor?” The article discusses the meaning of the findings as they relate to current knowledge about HIV prevention education and older adults, sexual activity, and implications for social work research, education, and outreach.
A p53-independent G1 cell cycle checkpoint induced by the suppression of protein kinase C α and θ isoforms

The protein kinase C (PKC) family consists of multiple isoforms that are involved in the regulation of diverse cellular responses. Suppression of PKC induces growth arrest in various types of cells. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms have not been thoroughly investigated. In this report, we demonstrated that the concurrent inhibition, rather than separate inhibition, of phorbol ester-dependent PKC α and θ isoforms is crucial for the induction of G1 cell cycle arrest and that this negative cell cycle regulation is via p53-independent mechanisms. PKC suppression-mediated growth arrest is associated with the induction of cell cycle inhibitor p21WAF1 /CIP1 and the occurrence of hypophosphorylated Rb. The G1 checkpoint induced by the suppression of PKC occurs not only in murine Swiss3T3 but also in p53-deficient cells and human lung cancer cells containing mutated p53. Luciferase and nuclear run-off assays demonstrated that p21WAF1 / CIP1 is, in part, transcriptionally regulated in response to the suppression of PKC α and θ. However, the stability of p21 mRNA is also augmented after the addition of PKC α and θ antisense oligonucleotides, indicating the involvement of post-transcriptional mechanisms in p21WAF1 / CIP1 expression. These data suggest the existence of a cell cycle checkpoint pathway regulated by PKC α and θ isoforms. Furthermore, our findings support the notion that G1 checkpoint control can be restored in tumor cells containing abnormal p53, by targeting the PKC-regulated p21WAF1/CIP1 induction.
Investigation of shipping material and reticle storage environment to dark loss stability of chemically amplified resist

Excessive dark loss has been observed along the edge nearest the lid of aged chemically amplified resist blanks, which was traced to organic acid contamination evolving from the acrylic plastic lid of the shipping box. Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) combined with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) of the shipping box lid material have proven useful in identifying that organic acid evolves from the plastic at 110°C. An alternative plastic shipping material offered by the supplier was tested with the same analysis technique and no organic acid was evolved during the test. To accelerate the aging effect, both lid materials were baked in an oven for 4 days, and no excessive dark loss was observed with the new shipping material. An evaluation with chemically amplified resist comparing storage in the original shipping materials at ambient conditions vs. storage in dry nitrogen demonstrate that nitrogen storage improves, but does not eliminate, the excessive dark loss from the original plastic lid material.
The Impact of a Promotora on Increasing Routine Chronic Disease Prevention among Women Aged 40 and Older at the U.S.-Mexico Border:

A randomized controlled intervention tested the effectiveness of a community health worker (CHW) program in increasing compliance with annual preventive exams among uninsured Hispanic women living in a rural U.S.-Mexico border area. During 1999-2000, household surveys were administered to women aged 40 and older. Uninsured women not receiving routine comprehensive preventive care were invited to participate in a free comprehensive clinical exam. Participants in the initial exam were eligible to participate in the CHW (promotora) intervention. Women were randomized to one of two intervention arms. One arm received a post-card reminder for an annual preventive exam, the other a postcard reminder and follow-up visit by a promotora. Receiving the promotora intervention was associated with a 35% increase in rescreening over the postcard-only reminder (risk ratio [RR] = 1.35, 95% confidence interval 0.95-1.92). Using promotoras to increase compliance with routine screening exams is an effective strategy for rea...
Existence and Convergence of Equilibria in the Buyer's Bid Double Auction

This paper concerns a Bayesian game model of the Buyer's Bid Double Auction, which is a procedure for organizing trade that selects a market-clearing price from a list of offers/bids. Strategic misrepresentation by traders may make the outcome of trade inefficient. Satterthwaite and Williams (1989) showed that misrepresentation and inefficiency quickly converge to zero as the number of traders on each side of the market increases. This is extended here to cases in which the number of buyers may differ from the number of sellers. The existence of equilibria in a generic instance of the model is also proven. This paper concerns a market in which each trader privately knows his own preferences. Such a trader may have an incentive to misrepresent his preferences in order to influence the market price in his favour. A buyer, for instance, may bid less than his true evaluation of the good for sale in an attempt to drive the price down; similarly, a seller may ask for more than he is willing to accept. With behaviour of this kind, a seller's offer could exceed a buyer's bid even though a mutually profitable trade between them exists. In the market as a whole, a price may be determined at which all potential gains from trade are not achieved. Strategic misrepresentation may therefore cause inefficiency. Our confidence in markets rests upon the belief that this inefficiency is insignificant when there are a large number of small traders. A small trader in a large market is unlikely to have much influence on the market price; as a consequence, he has little incentive to misrepresent and the market is therefore almost fully efficient. This argument, however, is vague about a very important point: when is a trader relatively small and how many traders constitute a large market? The meaning of "small" and "large" in this context is critical to understanding when this intuitive argument applies. This argument is investigated here by thoroughly analyzing a particular model of trade. A market is considered in which money may be exchanged for indivisible units of a good. For n, m ' 1, there are n sellers, each of whom has a unit to sell, and m buyers, each of whom wishes to buy a unit. Each trader is therefore small in that he trades at most one unit; we shall consider arbitrary values of n and m, however. Trade is organized with the following rules. Each seller submits an offer while each buyer submits a bid. The n + m offers/bids are ordered in a list sl S2'-* 'Sn+m. Any
A geometric characterization of Dowling lattices

Abstract The Dowling lattices based on finite groups are generalizations of the partition lattices. They form one of the two classes of modularly complemented geometric lattices. In this paper, we present a characterization of the Dowling lattices in terms of the existence of special bases and their weight functions. We show that the hypotheses of this characterization allow us to appeal to a powerful result of Kahn and Kung. A characterization of the partition lattices, Π n , follows as a corollary of our main result.
Imaging solid tissues with an OCT imaging needle

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an emerging technology capable of imaging tissue architectural morphology at micron scale resolution . OCT was first developed to image the relatively transparent suctures in the eye 2,3 and later applied extensively in highly scattering tissues for moiphologic and functional imaging with unprecedented resolution 48 Real-time, in vivo imaging and ultrahigh (1 tm) resolution imaging have also been demonstrated. A variety of applications of OCT imaging have been made possible by designing novel OCT delivery/collection probes. Examples include a forward imaging hand-held probe for assessing tissue during open field surgery 11,12 and a transverse scanning OCT endoscope/catheter for imaging hollow organs such as the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system 1318 oT applications have been limited to the surfaces or lumina of organ systems because the penetration depth of OCT is 2-3 mm and also because high transverse resolution is only achievable within a short confocal length. To date, it has not been possible to image structures inside solid tissues or organs. However, there are many clinical scenarios where high resolution internal imaging of solid tissues is required. One such application of OCT is to image pathology and guide biopsy in solid tissues. Other applications include optical imaging where excisional biopsy is hazardous, and surgical guidance such as in cryosurgery or interstitial photodvnmic therapy.
Relaxing the sure-solvency conditions in temporary equilibrium models

Abstract The usual temporary equilibrium results hold when sure-solvency conditions are appropriately relaxed. Preferences over potentially bankrupt states are represented by an extension of the indirect utility function for negative wealth. For models without institutional constraints such as margin requirements, sure-solvency can be replaced by unbounded aversion to bankruptcy. For models with institutional constraints, sure-solvency can be replaced by a weaker limit on maximum loss (or expected loss).
Cell Type-specific Modes of Feedback Regulation of Capacitative Calcium Entry

The Ca2+-ATPase inhibitor, thapsigargin, activated Ca2+ entry into pancreatic acinar cells, a process known as capacitative calcium entry. In cells loaded with the calcium chelator BAPTA, the transient Ca2+ release was blunted and the rise of [Ca2+]i on readdition of Ca2+ was slowed. However, the steady-state [Ca2+]i due to Ca2+ entry was substantially augmented compared with control cells. This indicates that [Ca2+]i exerts a negative feedback on Ca2+ entry from a compartment buffered by BAPTA and separated from the bulk of cytoplasmic Ca2+. This interaction probably occurs close to the calcium channel where [Ca2+] is higher than in the bulk of the cytoplasm. In support of this interpretation, the slower Ca2+ chelator, EGTA, also blunted the release of Ca2+ and slowed the rise of the sustained [Ca2+]i phase but failed to augment steady-state [Ca2+]i. In contrast, Ca2+ entry in NIH 3T3 cells was characterized by a transient rise of [Ca2+]i that decays to near prestimulus levels. This decay in Ca2+ entry also results from negative feedback by Ca2+ because the decrease in Ca2+ entry was reversed by incubation in a Ca2+-deficient medium. However, unlike its effects in acinar cells, BAPTA neither augmented steady-state [Ca2+]i nor prevented the inactivation of entry. Rather, in BAPTA-loaded cells, [Ca2+]i failed to increase substantially suggesting that negative regulation by Ca2+ may occur at a site distinct from the cytoplasmic compartment and inaccessible to cytoplasmic BAPTA. These two distinct types of feedback behavior may indicate subtypes of store-operated calcium channels expressed in different cells or a single type of channel which is differentially regulated in a cell type-specific manner.
The Effect of Vehicular Flow Patterns on Crime and Emergency Services: The Location of Cul-de-sacs and One-way Streets

The use of cul-de-sacs and one-way streets has been proposed as a means to reduce crime in several locales. Closing streets or restricting flow patterns on them make travel through neighbourhoods more difficult and may also serve to define better the neighbourhood. Both of these effects it is hoped will reduce crime. A deleterious side-effect of cul-de-sacs is the increased difficulty of travel for all people who traverse the neighbourhood-specifically providers of essential services such as the fire department and the police department. A problem faced by city planners is where to most effectively place these impediments to travel so that they make travel difficult for the criminal, but not too difficult for residents and allow essential services to be provided expeditiously. This problem is modelled and its complexity explored, with several simplified variants studied. A prototype interactive design aid, that will enable city planners to use a computer to develop solutions, is described and its potential use is explored.
Exactly integrable analogue of a one-dimensional gravitating system

Abstract Exchange symmetry in acceleration partitions the configuration space of an N particle one-dimensional gravitational system (OGS) into N! equivalent cells. We take advantage of the resulting small angular separation between the forces in neighboring cells to construct a related integrable version of the system that takes the form of a central force problem in N − 1 dimensions. The properties of the latter, including the construction of trajectories and possible continuum limits, are developed. Dynamical simulation is employed to compare the two models. For some initial conditions, excellent agreement is observed.
Sources of amino acids for protein synthesis during early organogenesis in the rat. 2. Exchange with amino acid and protein pools in embryo and yolk sac.

Abstract Tenth-day rat conceptuses were cultured in whole rat serum containing [ 3 H]leucine and harvested after 24 or 48 h. Hydrolysates of the acid-precipitable fraction of embryo or yolk-sac homogenates were prepared and subjected to paper chromatography. Liquid scintillation counting of the separated amino acids showed that leucine was the only amino acid with above-background radioactivity. This established that radiolabel was not transferred from leucine to other amino acids in the cultured rat conceptus. Tenth-day rat conceptuses were cultured in whole rat serum containing [ 3 H]leucine, as above. After 19 h, some conceptuses were harvested; other conceptuses were rinsed, transferred to culture medium without [ 3 H]leucine, and after a further 24 h of culture the embryos and yolk sacs were harvested. A comparison of the prot ein-associated radioactivity of embryo and yolk sac before and after culturing for the further 24-h period showed that these structures quantitatively conserve radiolabelled leucine incorporated into their proteins. Further experiments involved culturing the rat conceptus for 24 h as above but in the presence of either [ 3 H]leucine or [ 3 H]leucine-labelled serum proteins. After harvesting the conceptuses, the specific radioactivity of [ 3 H]leucine was determined in the acid-soluble and acid-precipitable fractions prepared from embryo and yolk-sac homogenates. The specific radioactivity of [ 3 H]leucine in the acid-soluble fraction of embryos or yolk sacs from conceptuses grown in the presence of radiolabelled protein was about 120 per cent of that in the culture medium, while that in the acid-precipitable prections was about 70 per cent of that in the culture medium. By comparison, the specific radioactivity of [ 3 H]leucine in the acid-soluble fraction of embryos and yolk sacs from conceptuses grown in the presence of free [ 3 H]leucine was only 3–4 per cent of that in the culture medium, while that in the acid-precipitable fraction was about 1 per cent of that in the culture medium. If our data on the fate of leucine incorporated into newly synthesized proteins of the early post-implantation rat embryo can be extrapolated to the other amino acids, they suggest that once amino acids have been incorporated into newly synthesized protein in embryo or yolk sac, they are not exchanged to any detectable extent with amino acid pools outside the conceptus. The results also provide independent confirmation of our earlier conclusion that the only significant source of amino acids utilized by the 10th-day embryo is protein taken up by the yolk sac and digested intracellularly. The conceptus is able to utilize free amino acids, but they make a quantitatively insignificant contribution.
Wing rotation and lift modeling and measurement in suex flapping wing mechanisms

This paper presents detailed modeling and experimental testing of wing rotation and lift in the LionFly, a flapping wing mechanism powered by piezoelectric bimorph actuators fabricated using SUEX dry film. The goal of this paper is to understand the flapping and rotation dynamics and the lift-producing mechanisms in this device. A linear vibrational model is developed and augmented with nonlinear aerodynamic forces using the blade element method. Experimental testing using a laser vibrometer in air and in vacuum characterizes small amplitude flapping and rotation. Strobe photography and high definition image processing measures high amplitude wing trajectories. A lift measurement system using a force transducer is designed and used to measure average lift in the LionFly. The LionFly produces 46° peak flapping and 44° peak rotation resulting in lift of 71 μN at 37 Hz.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Three-dimensional structure and intrinsic defects in trans-polyacetylene.

We report first-principles local-density-functional pseudopotential calculations of static and dynamic electronic structure properties of crystalline 3D trans-(CH${)}_{\mathrm{x}}$. We find a broken-symmetry ground state of P${2}_{1}$/a symmetry with in-phase dimerizations. Using a Green's-function technique, we show that the 3D character of the electronic band-edge states strongly suppresses self-trapping, destabilizing polarons, and possibly bipolarons as well in perfectly ordered 3D trans-(CH${)}_{\mathrm{x}}$. .AE
Benthic Invertebrates Associated with a Serpulid Polychaete Assemblage in a Temperate Estuary

Hydroides dianthus (Verrill), a serpulid polychaete which secretes calcareous tubes, provides microhabitats for a variety of benthic invertebrates in Delaware Bay. These microhabitats function as biologically generated refuges and physical heterogeneities for at least 54 species. Dominance was measured by the biological index value which yielded 12 taxa that comprised 90% by number of the serpulid assemblage. These taxa included seven polychaetes, two amphipods, Nematoda, Oligochaeta, and Harpacticoida. In addition to the refuges provided by the serpulids, it was concluded that this temperate serpulid assemblage was comparable in function but not scale to calcareous biogenic assemblages in lower latitudes.
Aortic valve insufficiency in arterial hypertension

Abstract An improved phonocardiographic method for adequate recording of cardiac murmurs, characterized by medium-high frequency vibrations of low amplitude, is presented. This method utilizes a special band-pass filter and an amplifying stethoscope. The faint, early, basal diastolic murmur which is present in some patients with arterial hypertension was satisfactorily recorded in nine of ten instances by this method, whereas the murmur was not recorded by the routine phonocardiogram. We believe that this murmur suggests insufficiency of the aortic valve. On phonocardiography, the diastolic vibrations were low in amplitude and were more readily detected when a frequency band of 150 to 200 c.p.s. was selected. These vibrations immediately followed a second heart sound of increased amplitude and duration and were best visualized at the third left parasternal area. The presence of the murmur did not seem to be related to the level of the systolic, diastolic or pulse pressures at the time of the technical procedure.
CD8+ epidermotropic cytotoxic T-cell lymphoma with peripheral blood and central nervous system involvement.

Background Most cutaneous T-cell lymphomas demonstrate a malignant population with a CD4 + phenotype. In rare cases, CD8 + phenotypes have been described based on immunostaining of skin specimens. Although some CD8 + lymphomas have an indolent course, others, such as CD8 + epidermotropic cytotoxic T-cell lymphomas, are typically more aggressive. To our knowledge, involvement of peripheral blood or cerebrospinal fluid with a malignant population of CD8 + cells demonstrated by flow cytometry and T-cell receptor gene rearrangement has not been previously described. Observations We describe a patient with a CD8 + cutaneous T-cell lymphoma with an initially indolent course and early stage diagnosed on the basis of a skin biopsy specimen. However, when flow cytometry was performed looking specifically at CD8 + /CD4 − cells in the peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid, a malignant population of CD8 + /CD4 − /CD26 − /CD7 − cells was discovered. Conclusions It is important for prognosis and treatment to be able to identify CD8 + epidermotropic cytotoxic T-cell lymphoma and separate it from other relatively indolent CD8 + lymphomas. Furthermore, detection of an abnormal CD8 + /CD26 − /CD7 − T-cell population within the peripheral blood has important prognostic and therapeutic implications. The use of flow cytometry looking for abnormal CD8 + populations in the peripheral blood or cerebrospinal fluid can assist with this critical information.
Obstructive intramural coronary amyloidosis and myocardial ischemia are common in primary amyloidosis.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of clinical syndromes and pathologic changes of myocardial ischemia due to obstructive intramural coronary amyloidosis among patients with primary amyloidosis and cardiac involvement. Subjects and methods Medical records and pathologic specimens were reviewed from 96 patients with primary amyloidosis and cardiac involvement at autopsy or after cardiac transplantation during a 20-year period. Medical records were reviewed for patient demographic and clinical characteristics, including evidence for syndromes of myocardial ischemia. Pathologic specimens were examined for obstructive intramural coronary amyloidosis and microscopic changes of myocardial ischemia. Results Obstructive intramural coronary amyloidosis was present in 63 of 96 patients (66%). Microscopic changes of myocardial ischemia were more common in patients with obstructive intramural coronary amyloidosis (86%) than in those without (52%) ( P P P =.027). For 11% of the patients with obstructive intramural coronary amyloidosis, a syndrome of myocardial ischemia consisting of acute myocardial infarction or angina pectoris was the first manifestation of primary amyloidosis. Conclusion Most patients with primary systemic amyloidosis and cardiac involvement have obstructive intramural coronary amyloidosis and associated microscopic changes of myocardial ischemia. Syndromes of myocardial ischemia may occur in these patients.
Insulin, blood sugar, and growth hormone levels in an anencephalic infant before and after intravenous administration of glucose

Insulin, blood sugar, and growth hormone levels have been evaluated in an anencephalic infant before and after two intravenous glucose tolerance tests at 10 and 34 hours of life, respectively. Blood sugar levels remained remarkably high throughout the 50 hours of the child's life. The possibility that this finding supports the concept that the metabolically active brain contributes significantly to glucose consumption in the newborn infant is discussed.
Elements of Entomology—Foreword

After having served as moderator of the Symposium on the Elements of Entomology, I have been asked to prepare a foreword for this group of four papers to be published in the BULLETIN. Having listened to the reading of these papers, and having had the privilege of reading the manuscripts, my contribution could as well be called a postscript.
Professor Mukai: the man and his work.

Professor Mukai was my postdoctoral associate for more than two years, from June 1965 through July 1967. In this article, I discuss mainly the work done during that period. Mukai's best known accomplishment was to demonstrate that the total deleterious mutation rate is considerably higher than was previously thought, due to the very high rate of mutation of viability-depressing polygenes. These are at least 25 times as frequent as lethals. These experiments, utilizing a mutation-accumulation scheme, were clever in design, meticulous in execution, and heroic in scope. In related experiments he showed that the typical viability-reducing mutation is deleterious in the heterozygous as well as homozygous state. From the viability experiments he was able to infer that there is strong heterozygous selection for fitness, comparable to that for lethals. All of Mukai's research was characterized by a willingness to undertake problems that involved enormous numbers of Drosophilae and many hours of work. His ability to plan such experiments and to see that they were carried out carefully was a rare gift, one that the genetics community will sorely miss.
Automated, rapid image analysis and densitometry for enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, dot‐blot, and two‐dimensional gels using a microcomputer and electrooptical device

A commercially available electrooptical device, coupled to a microcomputer, is capable of analyzing densitometric values with a resolution of 280 × 128 points (35 840 individual points). A complex autoradiogram of a two-dimensional electrophoretic gel is completely sorted into X and Y coordinates and exposure values differeing by as little as 0.01 O.D. (optical density) units or over an O.D. range of 0 to 4.00 in less than 2 min. For other purposes such as comparison of two gels, immunoelectrophoretic patterns, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay or microtitration plates, dot-blot assays, or tissue samples, a comparison may be made and all differences stored in the computer in less than one second and further decisions or computer-driven actions decided on that basis.
Allogeneic stem cell transplantation and donor lymphocyte infusions for chronic myelomonocytic leukemia

Prognosis in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is unfavorable and the optimal therapy remains uncertain. Currently, allogeneic stem cell transplantation is the only known curative therapeutic option. However, the data available are limited and restricted to small retrospective series. There is even less information on the use of donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI) for this disease. We reviewed our experience of allogeneic stem cell transplantation and DLI for adults with CMML. Seventeen consecutive adults underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation from related (n=14) or unrelated (n=3) donors. Median age was 50 years (range 26-60). Seven patients (41%) demonstrated relapse or persistent disease at a median of 6 months (range 3-55.5). Five patients underwent DLI for morphologic relapse and one for mixed donor chimerism. Two patients achieved durable complete remissions of 15 months each. The overall transplant-related mortality was 41% (n=7). With a median follow-up of 34.5 months, three patients (18%) currently remain alive and in continuous CR. The current study demonstrates a graft-versus-leukemia effect in CMML, both for allogeneic stem cell transplantation and for DLI. Nevertheless, consistent with reported experience of others, overall outcomes remain less than optimal and unpredictable.
Investigations of Indoor and Outdoor Levels of Benzo(a) Pyrene in a Community of Older Homes

Abstract Indoor and outdoor air measurements of PM-10 (particulate mass dp < 10 μm) and its benzo (a)pyrene (Bap) content were made daily in 13 residences and 5 nearby sites during one or more of three 14-day periods (Winters 1987 and 1988, and Fall 1988). These are a population of older homes (60+ years) adjacent to a gray-iron foundry. Winter BaP values were ∼ 10 × higher than fall values. Indoor BaP sources in several homes (e.g., cooking, cigarette smoke, a coal stove) led to contaminant levels higher than the ambient concentrations. However, in homes without strong sources, concentrations were very close to outdoor levels. Periods of elevated ambient pollution were readily discernible in the record of virtually all homes. Correlations for indoor-outdoor concentrations (PM-10 and BaP) were statistically significant (p < 0.01) in the majority of homes. Higher BaP concentrations were associated with periods of lower temperatures. There were high degrees of correlation for BaP and PM-10 among outdoor sit...
Coexistence of corticotropin-releasing factor and enkephalin in the paraventricular nucleus of the rat.

Corticotropin-releasing factor and enkephalin-containing neurons are found in the paraventricular nucleus of the rat hypothalamus. Their immunocytochemical distribution suggests that a subpopulation of neurons of the paraventricular nucleus might contain both peptides. The present study describes the coexistence of corticotropin-releasing factor and enkephalin in parvicellular neurons of the paraventricular nucleus. Immunocytochemical labeling of peptides was combined with in situ hybridization of mRNA to visualize peptide and mRNA labeling in the same tissue section. This resulted in several observations: (1) neurons labeling for the peptide corticotropin-releasing factor also contain the mRNA to synthesize corticotropin-releasing factor, (2) neurons labeling for the peptide enkephalin also contain the mRNA to synthesize the peptide enkephalin, (3) a subpopulation of corticotropin-releasing factor neurons contains the mRNA to synthesize enkephalin, and (4) a subpopulation of enkephalin neurons contains the mRNA to synthesize corticotropin-releasing factor. A large percentage of enkephalin immunoreactive neurons contains corticotropin-releasing factor mRNA, where as a smaller percentage of corticotropin-releasing factor immunoreactive neurons contains enkephalin mRNA. These double-labeled neurons are present throughout the rostral-caudal extent of the paraventricular nucleus; the majority of these neurons is present in the medial parvicellular paraventricular nucleus.
Off-Label Use of Gastrointestinal Medications in the Intensive Care Unit

Purpose:Determine the level of evidence supporting off-label gastrointestinal (GI) medication use and identify the medication class and indication whereby off-label use was most common.Materials an...
Stress and Coping Theory and Evaluation Research An Integrated Perspective

This article focuses on an attempt to integrate stress and coping theory into a framework of evaluation research. An expanded evaluation paradigm is illustrated: This paradigm encompasses the careful study of treatment implementation and considers patients'life context factors and how they influence treatment entry, duration, and outcome. Examples of the value of this paradigm are taken from a program of research on the long-term outcome of alcoholism and depression. Implications are drawn for comprehensive assessment and diagnosis, designing and improving intervention programs, and expanding stress and coping theory.