cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
153: Completion rates for ultrasound anatomic surveys in obese gravid patients compared with non-obese controls

PATIENTS COMPARED WITH NON-OBESE CONTROLS LORALEI THORNBURG, KATHRYN MILES, EVA PRESSMAN, MONIQUE HO, University of Rochester, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Rochester, New York OBJECTIVE: Compare the rate and gestational age (GA) of completion of fetal anatomic surveys for obese gravid patients to non-obese controls. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of anatomic surveys of singletons 15-24 weeks from 1/2004 to 1/2007, at a single institution. Subjects were grouped based on pre-pregnancy BMI into normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.9), overweight (BMI 2529.9), and obese: Class I (BMI 30-34.9), Class II (BMI 35-40) or Class III (BMI 40) categories. Complete surveys were defined as adequate visualization of 13 predefined fetal structures, including biometry, intracranial anatomy, 4 chamber heart view, arms, legs, spine, ventral wall, diaphragm, kidneys, bladder, stomach, and 3 vessel cord. RESULTS: Of 14,353 ultrasound visits reviewed, 7023 patients were eligible for inclusion. The rate of survey completion, number of exams required, and GA at completion differed significantly as BMI increased. The completion rate at the first attempt decreased significantly with increasing BMI, while GA at completion on the first attempt increased (all p-values 0.00001). CONCLUSION: As maternal BMI increases, the rate of completion of the anatomic survey decreases, while the number of required exams increases. Delaying the initial anatomic survey until after 20 weeks for patients with BMI 35 may improve the ability to complete the exam in a single visit.
255. Preventing In Vivo Neurotoxicity Caused by HIV-1 Gp120 Using SV40 Vector Delivery of the Anti-Oxidant Enzymes Superoxide Dismutase and Glutathione Peroxidase

Top of pageAbstract Symptomatic HIV-1 infection of the CNS is a common complication of systemic HIV-1 infection, and may vary in severity from mild motor neuron or cognitive impairment to frank dementia. HIV encephalopathy is largely caused by neuronal loss. HIV-1 envelope, gp120, induces free radical-mediated apoptosis of neurons. This phenomenon involves generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide and peroxide, and may also involve other nitrogen-containing radicals, e.g., peroxynitrite (OONO). We hypothesized that neurons might be protected from such injury by gene delivery of anti-oxidant enzymes. To study this , we used recombinant SV40 derived vectors because they are highly efficient gene delivery vehicles for neurons. As antioxidant enzymes, superoxide-dismutase (SOD1) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx1) were used. We have established a small animal model system to study gp120-induced neuron apoptosis in rats. Both vectors SV(SOD1) and SV(GPx1) were injected once in vivo into the caudate putamen (CP) of the brain, to assess the effectiveness of rSV40 delivery of these antioxidant enzymes to the CNS. As assessed by Western blotting, enzyme activity assay and immunostaining, intracerebral injection of SV(SOD1) or SV(GPx1) into the CP resulted in excellent transgene expression 2 weeks and 4 weeks post-transduction. To elicit apoptosis with HIV-1 gp120, we performed dose-response and time course studies in which different amounts of gp120 were injected into the CP. Apoptosis, assayed by TUNEL, was maximal 24 hours after one injection of 500 ng gp120 (4.5 nmoles). By double staining, the preponderance of apoptotic cells were neurons. To test rSV40-delivered antioxidant protection, SV(SOD1) or SV(GPx1),or a control rSV40, was given 2 weeks before gp120 challenge. We observed gp120-induced apoptosis in high percentages of neurons from rats injected with control SV40 vectors. Transduction with SV(SOD1) or SV(GPx1) before gp120 challenge, reduced neuronal apoptosis by >80%. Currently we are testing the degree of protection in rat neurons after transduction with both the vectors in sequence. Thus SV(SOD1) and SV(GPx1) can be delivered by SV40 vectors in vivo, and they protect neurons from HIV-1 gp120-induced apoptosis. Because rSV40s have such high transduction efficiency for neurons and their delivery of antioxidant enzymes provides such effective mitigation of gp120-apoptosis, SV(SOD1) and SV(GPx1) may be useful both as investigative tools to elucidate mechanisms of neuron damage in HIV-1 infection in CNS and as potential paradigms for neuroprotective gene therapy strategies.
Trace-element distribution in various solvent refined-coal fractions as a function of the feed coal

Abstract Solvent-refined coal (SRC), a tetrahydrofuran soluble and insoluble SRC derived from five different feed coals have been analysed for twelve metallic elements via flameless atomic absorption spectroscopy. Correlations of metal content in the SRC and pilot-plant processing conditions are discussed. A comparison of these data with previously reported metal analyses via energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis of similar SRC solid products is discussed. Three of the coals have been separated according to effective molecular size by gel-permeation chromatography and metal analyses have been performed on selected fractions. The possibility that some of the metals may be organically bonded is discussed.
Proteolytic susceptibility of creatine kinase isozymes and arginine kinase.

Abstract The time course and dose–response to proteolysis of three dimeric isozymes of creatine kinase, CK-MM (muscle), CK-BB (brain), and CK-MB (heart) and the homologous monomer, arginine kinase were compared. Chymotrypsin and trypsin cause a rapid and significant loss of intact CK-BB, but limited hydrolysis of CK-MM. After 1 h of hydrolysis by chymotrypsin, 80% of CK-MM is intact as judged by quantification of monomers after electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate. While 50% of the intact monomers of CK-MB remain under these conditions, no CK-BB monomers are detected. These results indicate that treatment with chymotrypsin leads to a CK-MB devoid of the B-subunit. When treated with trypsin for 1 h, CK-MM is totally resistant to hydrolysis and all CK-BB is highly degraded. However, CK-MB exhibits approximately 90% intact monomers, indicating survival of intact B-subunit in CK-MB. This suggests that heterodimerization of a B-subunit with an M-subunit may have a protective effect against hydrolysis by trypsin. In view of the considerably larger number of potentially tryptic sensitive sites on the muscle isozyme, the resistance of CK-MM and susceptibility of CK-BB dimers to trypsin implies that differences in subunit tertiary structure are a factor in proteolysis of the homodimeric isozymes. Arginine kinase is rapidly degraded by trypsin, but is minimally affected by chymotrypsin. The finding that both a monomeric (arginine kinase) and dimeric (CK-BB) phosphagen kinase are highly susceptible to proteolysis by trypsin indicates that quaternary structure is not, in and of itself, an advantage in resistance to proteolysis. Since both arginine kinase and muscle creatine kinase are resistant to chymotryptic hydrolysis, it seems unlikely that in general, the increased packing density, which may result from dimerization can account for the stability of CK-MM towards trypsin.
Plaque-forming spleen cells following irradiation of x5563 tumor.

SummaryExposure of the transplanted plasma cell tumor X5563 in C3H/eB mice to 6.75 k rads of 137Cs gamma radiation resulted in complete regression in about 85% of the treated tumors. Primary immunization of experimental mice with sheep erythrocytes done 13-28 days after tumor irradiation was associated with spleen PFC counts and hemolysin titers on the fifth day following that were within the range observed for nontumorous controls. Mice whose tumors were irradiated within 3 hr before immunization had nearly four times more PFC on the average. The way in which the X5563 tumor produces suppression of IgM synthesis is not clear although its prompt recovery following tumor irradiation suggests that the tumor's suppressive action is closely linked with the active metabolic state of the growing neoplasm.
Cladorrhinum foecundissimum: a potential biological control agent for the reduction of Rhizoctonia solani.

Abstract The effect of bran preparations of the potential biocontrol fungus Cladorrhinum foecundissimum on the survival and saprophytic growth of the soilborne plant pathogen Rhizoctonia solani in soils and soilless potting mix and on its ability to reduce incidence of damping-off of sugar beet, eggplant and pepper caused by this pathogen was investigated. Bran inoculum of isolate Cf-1 of C. foecundissimum incubated for as long as 17 days did not reduce survival of the pathogen on R. solani-infested sugar beet seed in a loamy sand (LS) or sandy clay loam (SCL), but bran inoculum of Cf-1 older than 6 days prevented growth of the pathogen from the beet seed into soil. The saprophytic growth of R. solani applied as a soilless mix-cornmeal inoculum was also prevented by isolate Cf-1 in 4 different soil types. All 4 isolates (Cf-1, ATCC 62373, CBS 181.66 and CBS 182.66) of C. foecundissimum also prevented saprophytic growth of R. solani in LS when inoculum of the pathogen consisted of a soilless mix supplemented with cornmeal. 10-Day-old bran inoculum of isolates Cf-1 and ATCC 62373 prevented sugar beet damping-off caused by R. solani in LS after 4 wk of growth. Use of Cf-1 resulted in stands (>90%) greater than those in non-infested control soils. On the contrary, use of isolates CBS 181.66 and CBS 182.66 resulted in stands less than those in pathogen-infested soil. Bran preparations of isolates Cf-1 and ATCC 62373 prevented damping-off of eggplant and pepper in soilless mix and, depending on the rate of inoculum used, resulted in stands comparable to those in pathogen-free soilless mix.
The role of NZB-NZW F1 thymus in experimental tolerance and auto-immunity.

The role of the NZB/NZW F1 (B/W) thymus was studied with respect to tolerance to ultracentrifuged bovine γ globulin (BGG) and poly I· poly C, and spontaneous anti-DNA antibody formation. Thymectomy alone had little effect on the induction or escape from tolerance. An adult B/W thymus could not prevent toleranceinduction in young B/W mice. However, a young B/W thymus could facilitate the induction of partial tolerance in older B/W mice under appropriate conditions. These results suggest that the adult B/W thymus may be functionally deficient relative to the young thymus. Neonatal thymectomy accelerated the autoimmune disease, suggesting that the young B/W thymus has some normal regulatory function. Thymectomy at 6 weeks of age did not accelerate autoimmunity. A young B/W thymus, but not an older B/W thymus reversed the accelerated disease of neonatally thymectomized B/W mice. This again suggests that the older B/W thymus is functionally deficient.
Reference Sources in Biology

There have been several developments during the past year that will aid biologists in their constant battle to keep up with the scientific and technical literature. The Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) has introduced three new online services that are designed for current awareness and retrospective searches: ISI/CompuMath — access to pure and applied math literature; ISI/ISTPB and ISI/BIOMED — research front specialties in biomedicine.
Race in International Relations

Any discussion of race, whether in intranational or international relations, requires a clear definition of the term race and its derived concepts of racism and racial discrimination. The term must also be distinguished from those words that too often are used indiscriminately to mean race but have a distinctly different meaning and obfuscate any serious attempt at understanding intra-national and international race relations. Primary among such terms are a person's ethnicity and/or nationality to designate race. Examples of the former are use of the terms African-American or Jewish . Examples of the latter, though used less frequently, are such terms as Chinese race or Russian race . Distinctions must also be made to understand the difference between racism and the terms ethnocentrism and nationalism. The former posits the inherent superiority of one's culture over all others. The latter posits the nation-state as the ultimate and final boundary for a citizen's allegiance. Additionally, with the end of European colonialism around the world, the elimination of legal anti-Black racial discrimination in the United States and the defeat of Apartheid in South Africa, seemingly race-neutral terms have emerged in domestic and international lexicons to designate race. Examples such as inner-city , Western , the West , North-South , sub-Saharan Africa , and so on, all have racial undertones beyond the superficially obvious geographical designation. As a matter of fact, the almost universal use of the terms Western/Non-Western and the West not only have racial undertones but posit Europe as the geographic center of the international system. Hence, even in the present-day ‘global’ international system, western Asia is still defined from a European perspective, and northeasten Africa as well as Arabic speaking states of the Maghreb are referred to as part of the Middle East. The case of Israel as a ‘Middle East’ state …
Incidence of rainbow glare after laser in situ keratomileusis flap creation with a 60 kHz femtosecond laser.

Purpose To report the incidence of and factors associated with rainbow glare after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) flap creation with a 60 kHz femtosecond laser. Setting Department of Refractive Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Methods Consecutive patients having LASIK by the same surgeon were questioned during postoperative examinations or by telephone about postoperative rainbow glare (radiating colors around a white light at night). Femtosecond laser (IntraLase) settings included pulse frequency 60 kHz, flap thickness 90 to 110 μm, and spot/line separation 8 μm. Raster energy was 0.8 μJ (75% of eyes) and 1.0 to 1.1 μJ (25%). Excimer laser ablation was performed with the LADAR 4000 or 6000 platform using custom or conventional treatments. Results Of 260 consecutive patients, 256 (98.5%) were successfully contacted. Fifteen patients (28 eyes) reported postoperative rainbow glare (5.8%), described as 4 to 12 bands of color around a white light, with 6 bands most common. The symptom did not correlate with refractive error, age, or sex but was more frequent at 1.0 μJ or 1.1 μJ raster energy (11.6%) than at 0.8 μJ (4.1%). The incidence followed a bimodal distribution, with the first grouping due to inadequate alignment and higher energy just after laser installation and the second just before a later maintenance service call. Conclusion Rainbow glare is a mild optical side effect of femtosecond LASIK. In this study, higher raster energy levels and length of time between service calls were associated with the occurrence of rainbow glare.
Prevalence and the long-term prognosis of functional mitral regurgitation in Japanese patients with symptomatic heart failure

Functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) is a common and critical condition in patients with heart failure (HF); however, the prevalence and clinical outcome of FMR in Japanese real-world clinical practice remain unclear. Within a single hospital-based cohort in the Shinken Database 2004–2011, which comprised all new patients (n = 17,517) who visited the Cardiovascular Institute, we followed symptomatic HF patients. A total of 1,701 patients were included: 104 FMR patients (who had moderate to severe FMR) and 1,597 non-FMR patients (who had none or mild FMR). FMR patients had lower rates of hypertension and dyslipidemia, but higher rates of dilated cardiomyopathy, atrial fibrillation, and New York Heart Association functional class III/IV. FMR patients had higher levels of brain natriuretic peptide and lower left ventricular function. Use of cardiovascular drugs was more common among FMR patients. Kaplan–Meier curves revealed that the incidences of all-cause death, cardiovascular death, and admission for HF were significantly higher in FMR patients. The adjusted Cox regression analysis showed that significant FMR was associated with higher incidences of all-cause death [hazard ratio (HR) 2.179, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.266–3.751; P = 0.005], cardiovascular death (HR 2.371, 95 % CI 1.157–4.858; P = 0.018), and admission for HF (HR 1.819, 95 % CI 1.133–2.920; P = 0.013). FMR was common in Japanese symptomatic HF patients and was associated with adverse long-term outcomes. Establishing optimal therapeutic strategies for FMR is warranted.
EXTENDING THE APPLICABILITY OF NATIVE CHEMICAL LIGATION

A more general approach to native (amide-forming) chemical ligation of unprotected peptide segments is described that extends the technique beyond the previously reported X-Cys ligation site to now include X-Gly and Gly-X ligation sites. A peptide, [peptide1]αCOSR, is reacted with a second peptide, HSCH2CH2(O)-Nα[peptide2], under conditions promoting thioester exchange. The intermediate thioester-linked product rearranges to form a ligation product linked by an N-substituted amide bond. If desired, the -oxyalkyl substitution on the amide bond can be removed by facile treatment with Zn in acidic medium to give a native peptide bond at the ligation site. The techniques described have been employed to ligate small model peptide segments to yield peptides with native or modified backbones, proving the feasibility of this approach.
Dimer Shearing as a Novel Mechanism for Cluster Diffusion and Dissociation on Metal (100) Surfaces.

Using bond-counting arguments and embedded-atom calculations, we establish the crucial importance of dimer shearing in metal (100) submonolayer epitaxy. This process provides the easiest pathway for diffusion of compact clusters of sizes 4, 6, and 8, and introduces a rich variety of localized cluster dynamics. A combination of the dimer shear motion and the traditional mechanism of sequential motion of individual atoms provides a better interpretation of the oscillatory behavior of cluster mobility with cluster size. This combination also defines a new set of critical cluster sizes that are likely to be selected in epitaxial growth.
Spectrally flat, broadband visible-wavelength astro-comb

We demonstrate a broadband visible-wavelength astro-comb enabled by two key technologies: dispersion-managed, fiber-optic Cherenkov radiation for green-to-red source-comb generation and complementary chirped-mirror pairs for constructing broadband Fabry-Perot filtering cavities.
Direct generation of abruptly focusing vortex beams using a 3/2 radial phase-only pattern

Abruptly focusing Airy beams have previously been generated using a radial cubic phase pattern that represents the Fourier transform of the Airy beam. The Fourier transform of this pattern is formed using a system length of 2f, where f is the focal length of the Fourier transform lens. In this work, we directly generate these abruptly focusing Airy beams using a 3/2 radial phase pattern encoded onto a liquid crystal display. The resulting optical system is much shorter. In addition, we can easily produce vortex patterns at the focal point of these beams. Experimental results match theoretical predictions.
Marine aggregates facilitate ingestion of nanoparticles by suspension-feeding bivalves.

Abstract As the application of nanomaterials to science and technology grows, the need to understand any ecotoxicological effects becomes increasingly important. Recent studies on a few species of fishes and invertebrates have provided data which suggest that harmful effects are possible. The way in which nanoparticles are taken up by aquatic organisms, however, has been little studied. We examined uptake of nanoparticles by two species of suspension-feeding bivalves (mussels, Mytilus edulis; oysters, Crassostrea virginica), which capture individual particles 70% of suspended particles are incorporated within aggregates that are >100 μm in size. Therefore, we delivered bivalves fluorescently labeled, 100-nm polystyrene beads that were either (1) dispersed or (2) embedded within aggregates generated in the laboratory. Results indicate that aggregates significantly enhance the uptake of 100-nm particles. Nanoparticles had a longer gut retention time than 10-μm polystyrene beads suggesting that nanoparticles were transported to the digestive gland. Our data suggest a mechanism for significant nanoparticle ingestion, and have implications for toxicological effects and transfer of nanomaterials to higher trophic levels.
Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism in anxiety disorders revisited: new data and literature review

Abstract Background : The need for thyroid screening of patients presenting with panic disorder (PD), social phobia (SP) or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) remains uncertain. Methods : We examined thyroid histories and serum testing in 169 patients, 92 with PD, 48 with SP, and 29 with GAD. Combined prevalence rates of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism were compared with expected rates (2.7%) derived from the population based Whickham Survey. Data from previously published studies were also compared with these expected rates. Results : In our sample, only 2/169 patients had thyroid dysfunction detected by serum testing, but 5/169 [1/92 (1%) with PD, 1/48 (2%) with SP, and 3/29 (10%) with GAD], all currently euthyroid, reported a history of thyroid disease. The rates were statistically significant only for GAD (10.4%; z =2.56, p =0.01). However, combining prior PD studies that examined both thyroid history and test results with our data also suggests significantly elevated rates of thyroid dysfunction (6.5%; z =4.69, p Limitations : As with previous data, the 95% confidence interval for our findings is broad, reflecting the instability of low rates of illness in relatively small samples. Further, methods for obtaining thyroid histories and tests were not uniform. Conclusions : Despite relatively low yields on serum testing, lifetime prevalence of thyroid dysfunction does appear elevated for GAD and PD, with minimal data addressing this issue for SP. The data support the need to query GAD and PD patients regarding thyroid history and perform serum testing in those without prior testing.
Improvements in Time Resolution of Tomographic Photoacoustic Imaging using A Priori Information for Multiplexed Systems

We present results of investigations of the application of a priori information and sparse or limited-view algorithms to simultaneously improve imaging quality and timeresolution in photoacoustic tomography. Modified versions of existing MRI/CT algorithms such as constrained backprojection and keyhole imaging are evaluated as well as a new Wiener estimation methods for extrapolation of missing data from reference data sets. Simulations indicate the effectiveness of the approaches for accurate tracking of dynamic photoacoustic events for data sets with limited views (< 90 degrees) or tomographic views with up to 1/64 of the full data set. We present experimental data of contrast uptake and washout using a 512-element curved transducer with 1:8 electronic multiplexing that demonstrates high-resolution tomographic imaging with a temporal resolution of better than 150 milliseconds using these methods.
Development of a web-based mobile airline ticketing model with usability features

Purpose – Development of mobile commerce (m‐commerce) environments that have user‐friendly features is important to accelerate the adoption of m‐commerce. The current research studies web‐based features that are crucial to the success of mobile air ticketing commerce.Design/methodology/approach – There are two phases involved. In the first phase, the current research develops a web‐based mobile airline ticketing (W‐MAT) model to study usability features necessary to perform mobile air ticketing commerce. Thirty‐six features are mapped and identified based on the W‐MAT model. In the second phase, the air ticketing web sites for 27 most popular airline companies and online air travel agencies are examined to analyze their existing implementation patterns on these 36 features. The pattern analysis is based on web site features analysis and web site versatility analysis.Findings – The analysis of web site features resulted in the development of an adoption feature pyramid that classified the 36 features into ...
Abstract 4960: Serial in vivo orthotopic passage of human pancreatic cancer cells selects for increased stem cell-like behavior

The aim of this study was to determine if stem-like properties of cancer cells increase after serial orthotopic passages in nude mice. Orthotopic mouse models of human pancreatic cancer cell lines were established by injecting 1x106 BxPC-3 RFP or Panc-1 GFP cells into the pancreas of nude mice. Cell lines were generated from primary pancreatic tumors after each passage. Cells (1x106) of the passaged cell lines were orthotopically injected into another set of mice and this process was repeated until a decreased host-mouse survival plateau was reached. To evaluate stem-like characteristics, 1x106 cells of the parental (P0) and multiply-passaged BxCP-3 RFP (P6) and Panc-1 GFP (P7) cell lines were orthotopically implanted into mice. The mice were followed until they were premorbid. In a second group of mice, the P0 and P6/7 lines were injected subcutaneously at different cell concentrations (102, 5 x 102, 103, 104, 105 cells) to determine the minimum cell number for tumor initiation. Additional orthotopic models were generated to evaluate differences in tumor progression and sensitivities to the chemotherapeutic agent, gemcitabine. In vitro proliferation and migration assays were performed on all four cell lines as well. The P6 and P7 lines demonstrated more aggressive behavior with regard to tumorigenicity, proliferation, tumor growth, migration, metastasis, progression, and chemotherapy resistance. A significantly fewer number of P6-passaged BxPC-3 cells (100 cells, p=0.02) and P7 Panc-1 cells (500 cells, p=0.005) were required for tumor initiation in mice by 6 weeks compared to their respective P0 lines. The P6/7 lines produced larger tumors at 6 weeks post implantation (p Citation Format: Cristina Metildi, Sharmeela Kaushal, Robert M. Hoffman, Michael Bouvet. Serial in vivo orthotopic passage of human pancreatic cancer cells selects for increased stem cell-like behavior. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 4960. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4960
Activity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in biofilms: effect of calcium

Aerobic glucose metabolism by Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms at various calcium loading rates was investigated. The influence of calcium on specific growth rate, extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) formation rate, biofilm detachment rate, and biofilm calcium concentrations was determined. Calcium accumulated in the biofilm in proportion to the liquid phase concentration. Increasing calcium concentration increased the cohesiveness of the biofilm as indicated by a lower relative detachment rate. Specific activity in the biofilm was the same as that measured in a chemostat and was not influenced by changing calcium concentration. EPS formation rate in the biofilm was unaffected by calcium concentration but was higher than that observed in a chemostat.
THE CLASSICAL LIMIT OF QUANTUM THEORY

Both physicists and philosophers claim that quantum mechanics reduces to classical mechanics as ħ→0, that classical mechanics is a limiting case of quantum mechanics. If so, several formal and non-formal conditions must be satisfied. These conditions are satisfied in a reduction using the Wigner transformation to map quantum mechanics onto the classical phase plane. This reduction does not, however, assist in providing an adequate metaphysical interpretation of quantum theory.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Reduces the Progression and Accelerates the Regression of Atherosclerosis in Rabbits

We studied the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment on the extent of diet-induced accumulation of lipid oxidation products in rabbit plasma and tissues, on plasma paraoxonase activity, and on the extent of progression and regression of atherosclerotic lesions in the rabbit aorta. HBO treatment of cholesterol-fed rabbits dramatically reduces the development of arterial lesions despite having little or no effect on plasma or individual lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. Compared with no treatment in cholesterol-fed animals, HBO treatment also substantially reduces the accumulation of lipid oxidation products (conjugated dienes, trienes, and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances) in plasma, in the low density lipoprotein and high density lipoprotein fractions of plasma, in the liver, and in the aortic tissues. In addition, HBO treatment prevents the decrease in plasma paraoxonase activity observed in rabbits fed cholesterol-rich diets. Similarly, in regression studies, HBO treatment has no effect on the rate of plasma (or lipoprotein) cholesterol decline but significantly accelerates aortic lesion regression compared with no treatment. Direct measures of aortic cholesterol content support these morphological observations. On the basis of these results, we conclude that repeated, but relatively short, exposure to HBO induces an antioxidant defense mechanism(s) that is responsible for retarding the development or accelerating the regression of atherosclerotic lesions.
Purification and properties of glutathione synthetase from bovine lens.

Abstract The second enzyme required for synthesis of glutathione, glutathione synthetase, has been purified 137-fold from the bovine lens. Properties studied include: molecular weight, iso-electric point, thermal lability, pH optimum, apparent Km values for the substrates, and specificity toward potassium ion, magnesium ion, ATP, glycine and the dipeptide substrate, and analogues of all these. Some previously unreported properties of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase are also presented.
Cryotherapy in ankle sprains

This study assesses recovery from ankle sprains. Thirty-seven final participants were categorized according to the severity of their injury and the use of cryotherapy (15 minutes, one to three times per day) versus heat therapy (15 minutes, one to three times per day) for a minimum of three days. Therapy commenced either less than one hour, from one to 36 hours, or greater than 36 hours after traumatic event. Sprains were graded into five categories based on severity of the injury, but only two categories, subject to conservative treatment, are considered in this study. The study showed that cryotherapy started within 36 hours after the injury was statistically more effective than heat therapy for complete and rapid recovery. Patients in a group with Grade four sprains (unable to bear weight because of pain) reached full activity in 13.2 days compared to 30.4 days in a group using cryotherapy initiated 36 hours after injury or to 33.3 days in a group using heat therapy. Therefore, early use of cryotherapy, continued with adhesive compression, is an effective treatment of ankle sprains yielding earlier complete recovery than late cryotherapy or heat therapy.
Design technique for broadband microwave transistor power amplifiers

A technique for the design of broadband microwave transistor power amplifiers is presented that utilises the powerful methods of network synthesis to achieve optimum large-signal performance. Only two large-signal transistor measurements per frequency are required to achieve a good analytic model of the transistor's variation of added power with load impedance, and a mapping function is presented that translates this added-power characteristic into an equivalent linear-circuit reflection-coefficient characteristic. With this representation, methods of linear-network synthesis are used to obtain circuits which optimise the amplifier's added-power efficiency over a broad range of frequencies. The design technique has been experimentally verified by the characterisation, design and construction of a b.j.t. amplifier of near-octave bandwidth centred at 1 GHz, with the large-signal performance in good agreement with that predicted by the design theory.
Understanding anti-plagiarism software adoption: An extended protection motivation theory perspective

This study investigates factors affecting the adoption of anti-plagiarism software. Using protection motivation theory as a basis, this research examines the influence of threat and coping appraisals, along with social influences, moral obligation, and actual control variables, on the adoption of anti-plagiarism software. A field survey of 218 faculty members working at U.S. public universities reveals that threat appraisals have a stronger influence on the adoption of anti-plagiarism software than do coping appraisals. The faculty members' moral obligation, academic rank, class size, percentage of creative assignments, and gender significantly affect software adoption, whereas social influence does not. Key implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Nanostructured photoelectrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells

Summary Nanotechnology opens a door to tailing materials and creating various nanostructures for use in dye-sensitized solar cells. This review classifies the nanostructures into (1) nanoparticles, which offer large surface area to photoelectrode film for dye-adsorption, (2) core–shell structures, which are derived from the nanoparticles however with a consideration to reduce charge recombination by forming a coating layer, (3) one-dimensional nanostructures such as nanowires and nanotubes, which provide direct pathways for electron transport much faster than in the nanoparticle films, and (4) three-dimensional nanostructures such as nanotetrapods, branched nanowires or nanotubes, and oxide aggregates, which not only emphasize providing large surface area but also aim at attaining more effective light harvesting and charge transport or collection. The review ends with an outlook proposing that the oxide aggregates are a potentially promising structure which may possibly achieve higher efficiency than the record by reason that the bifunction of aggregates in providing large surface area and generating light scattering allows for photoelectrode film thinner than usual and thus decreases the charge recombination of DSCs.
On Optimal Point and Block Prediction in Log-Gaussian Random Fields

This work discusses the problems of point and block prediction in log-Gaussian random fields with unknown mean. New point and block predictors are derived that are optimal in mean squared error sense within certain families of predictors that contain the corresponding lognormal kriging point and block predictors, as well as a block predictor originally motivated under the assumption of 'preservation of lognormality', and hence improve upon them. A compari- son between the optimal, lognormal kriging and best linear unbiased predictors is provided, as well as between the two new block predictors. Somewhat surprisingly, it is shown that the correspond- ing optimal and lognormal kriging predictors are almost identical under most scenarios. It is also shown that one of the new block predictors is uniformly better than the other.
AN ANALYSIS OF IMAGE SHARPNESS AS RELATED TO FILM SPEED.

Abstract 1. A method for calculating and evaluating dental roentgenographic unsharpness is described. 2. Experimental results show that the unsharpness of an image made with conventional exposure factors and of an object of representative dental roentgenographic density can be reduced by 50 to 65 per cent by the use of slow films instead of fast films. 3. Precise application of the results to the problems associated with dental roentgenology requires further study of the problems discussed.
Control of molybdenum disulfide basal plane orientation during coating growth in pulsed magnetron sputtering discharges

Abstract Molybdenum disulfide coatings were grown under selected mid-frequency bi-polar pulsed direct current power conditions to control the basal plane orientation relative to the substrate, from parallel (002) to perpendicular (100). Growth mechanisms under different conditions were made apparent by the observed trends. The highest (002)/(100) orientation ratios were obtained with growth rates near 1 atomic layer per second accompanied by high energy ion bombardment (up to 175 eV). These conditions allowed maximum surface diffusion of deposited atoms before burial by incident material or removal by desorption and resputtering. Additionally, high energy ion bombardment during pulsed deposition produced defects on the otherwise inert MoS 2 (002) surface that further enabled adsorption and crystal growth. For growth rates of less than one monolayer per second coupled with low ion energies and fluxes, coatings exhibited strong (100) orientation. Under these low growth rate conditions, the burial rate was still higher than the desorption rate on the (100) surface, and the lack of energetic ion bombardment permitted uninterrupted growth of crystals in this orientation. For sliding wear tests conducted in humid air, the tribological performance of the coatings demonstrated a strong dependence on (002)/(100) ratios.
Torsion of a Wandering Spleen: CT Appearance

AbstractA case of wandering spleen with torsion of the splenic vascular pedicle and pancreatic tail is presented. The entity was diagnosed and evaluated preoperatively with various imaging modalities (ultrasound, nuclear medicine, and CT) as well as visceral angiography.
SKELETONIZING BINARY PATTERNS ON THE HOMOGENEOUS MULTIPROCESSOR

A modification is proposed to the Safe Point Thinning Algorithm (SPTA) to speed it up. The modified algorithm was implemented on a single processor. It was then implemented on the Homogeneous Multiprocessor Proper under two techniques: data decomposition and function decomposition. Experimental results show that with our modification and multiprocessor implementations, the SPTA was considerably speeded up.
Structural Basis of Multiple Sequential LC8 Sites: Insights from Interactions of Lc8 with Pac11

Cytoplasmic dynein is a large multi-subunit protein complex that is responsible for retrograde transport of diverse cellular cargoes along microtubules. Dynein is comprised of heavy chain subunits responsible for motor activity, and intermediate chain (IC) and light chain subunits for cargo attachment and regulation. Dynein also binds to dynactin which is essential for most dynein activities. Dynein light chain LC8 is conserved across species and is proposed to dimerize and stabilize IC but its effect on dynein regulation remains unclear. To examine the role of LC8 in complex with IC, we used LC8, IC and dynactin homologs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Dyn2, Pac11 and Nip100, respectively. Backbone assignments of Pac11 1-87 and secondary chemical shifts show that the N-terminal 24 residues adopt a long helical structure, which are followed by a short nascent helix for residues 28-38. The two recognition motifs for Dyn2 have small propensity to form β-strands while the rest of the molecule is disordered. NMR titration experiments identify the exact residues of Pac11 involved in binding to both Dyn2 and Nip100. The energetics of binding of Dyn2 to two sites on Pac11 and its effect on Nip100 binding were determined by ITC. Comparison of the thermodynamics of this interaction with the Pac11 peptide that contains a single Dyn2 site, Drosophila IC with a single LC8 site and Drosophila IC with two sites suggests that the role of multiple sites in Pac11 is not simply to form a stable IC/light chain assembly but to also restrict the conformation of Pac11 so that it binds Nip100 with higher affinity. These studies suggest a novel role for protein disorder in controlling the interplay of light chain binding and dynein regulation and function.
Shedding new light on the regulation of complementary chromatic adaptation

Complementary chromatic adaptation (CCA) is a light-dependent acclimation process that occurs in cyanobacteria and likely is related to increased fitness of these organisms in natural environments. Although CCA has been studied for over 40 years, significant advances in our understanding of the molecular foundations of CCA are still emerging. In this minireview, I explore recently reported developments that include novel insights into the molecular mechanisms utilized in the photoregulation of pigmentation and the molecular basis of light-dependent changes in cellular morphology, which are central elements of the process of CCA. I also discuss future avenues of study that are expected to lead to additional progress in our understanding of CCA and our general appreciation of light sensing and photomorphogenesis in cyanobacteria.
Childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and growth in adolescent alcohol use: the roles of functional impairments, ADHD symptom persistence, and parental knowledge.

Research on the relation between childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and adolescent alcohol use has found mixed results. Studies are needed that operationalize alcohol use in developmentally appropriate ways and that test theoretically plausible moderators and mediators in a longitudinal framework. The current study tested childhood ADHD as a predictor of alcohol use frequency at age 17 and age-related increases in alcohol use frequency, through adolescence for 163 adolescents with ADHD diagnosed in childhood and 120 adolescents without ADHD histories. Childhood ADHD did not predict either alcohol outcome. However, parental knowledge of the teen's friendships, activities, and whereabouts moderated the association such that childhood ADHD predicted alcohol use frequency at age 17 when parental knowledge was below median levels for the sample. Mediational pathways that explained this risk included social impairment, persistence of ADHD symptoms, grade point average, and delinquency. Social impairment was positively associated with alcohol use frequency through delinquency; it was negatively associated with alcohol use frequency as a direct effect independent of delinquency. These nuanced moderated-mediation findings help to explain previously inconsistent results for the ADHD-adolescent alcohol use association. The findings also imply that future research and intervention efforts should focus on ADHD-related social and academic impairments as well as symptom persistence and parenting efforts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved). Language: en
A Closed-Course Feasibility Analysis of Temporary Rumble Strips for Use in Short-Term Work Zones

This research was conducted to determine how best to incorporate portable rumble strips into traffic control plans for short-term work zones. One objective of the research was to provide guidance on how existing traffic control plans could be amended to include provisions for the evaluated devices. This research focused on rumble strips that were considered beneficial for any type of work zone where the duration is one day or less. The tests on the portable rumble strips were conducted on a closed roadway surrounding the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas, and in a closed park-and-ride parking facility in Lawrence, Kansas. The rumble strips tested in this study were two different types of reusable temporary rumble strips made out of steel with a rubber bottom and four generations of plastic rumble strips. From this study the best solution for most short-term work zones would be the latest generation of plastic rumble strips tested. The earlier generations did not perform as well as the fourth generation especially at 60 mph (96.6 km/hr). The steel rumble strips also hold some promise; however, the structural integrity of the steel rumble strips is an issue that needs to be addressed.
Isolation of two peptides containing hydroxyproline from urine of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract Evidence is presented for the urinary excretion of two peptides containing hydroxyproline, proline, and glutamic acid in amounts of about 10 and 50 mg. daily in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis on a collagen-free diet. The peptides were isolated and found to be chromatographically pure in three different systems. The ratios of the component amino acids were conclusively determined with sulfur-labeled p-iodobenzenesulfonyl (pipsyl-S∗) chloride. Peptide I consists of four proline, four hydroxyproline, and one glutamic acid residues. Peptide II consists of three proline, two hydroxyproline, and nine glutamic acid residues. The N-terminal amino acid in peptide II was demonstrated to be hydroxyproline by pipsyl-S∗ determination.
Micromechanics effects in creep of metal-matrix composites

The creep of metal-matrix composites is analyzed by finite element techniques. An axisymmetric unit-cell model with spherical reinforcing particles is used. Parameters appropriate to TiC particles in a precipitation-hardened (2219) Al matrix are chosen. The effects of matrix plasticity and residual stresses on the creep of the composite are calculated. We confirm (1) that the steady-state rate is independent of the particle elastic moduli and the matrix elastic and plastic properties, (2) that the ratio of composite to matrix steady-state rates depends only on the volume fraction and geometry of the reinforcing phase, and (3) that this ratio can be determined from a calculation of the stress-strain relation for the geometrically identical composite (same phase volume and geometry) with rigid particles in the appropriate power-law hardening matrix. The values of steady-state creep are compared to experimental ones (Krajewskiet al.). Continuum mechanics predictions give a larger reduction of the composite creep relative to the unreinforced material than measured, suggesting that the effective creep rate of the matrix is larger than in unreinforced precipitation-hardened Al due to changes in microstructure, dislocation density, or creep mechanism. Changes in matrix creep properties are also suggested by the comparison of calculated and measured creep strain rates in the primary creep regime, where significantly different time dependencies are found. It is found that creep calculations performed for a timeindependent matrix creep law can be transformed to obtain the creep for a time-dependent creep law.
Somatic hybrid plants of Nicotiana glauca and Nicotiana tabacum obtained by protoplast fusion

Somatic hybrid plants were produced by fusion of protoplasts from cell cultures of the Nicotiana tabacum L. sulfur mutant Su/Su and from leaf mesophyll of Nicotiana glauca Graham. After fusion the N. glauca protoplasts failed to survive under the selected culture condition. From the hybrid cells light green shoots were produced. The hybrid plants exhibited intermediate characters between parental species with respect to leaf morphology, trichome density, floral structure and flower color. The chromosome number of 25 hybrid plants was 2n = 72 and both N. glauca and N. tabacum chromosomes were identified in the hybrids. Results of isoenzyme analysis showed bands of both parents and a specific (hybrid) band for aspartate amino-transferase. Small subunit fraction-1-protein of somatic hybrids also consisted of the sum of N. glauca and N. tabacum bands. Leaf spot formation associated with the Su locus of N. tabacum was observed in somatic hybrids.
EFFECT OF SYNNEMATIN B ON BRUCELLA.

IN view of the high percentage of relapses in cases of brucellosis treated with the antibiotics now in use, we have examined the in vitro effect of synnematin B on Brucella. This antibiotic is unique among the penicillins in that it possesses remarkable activity against a narrow spectrum of Gram-negative organisms. Synnematin B has proved capable of controlling experimental infections in mice caused by Salmonella and Proteus1–3 and natural infections in man4–6. Cultures of mouse fibroblast cells infected with Salmonella typhosa have been freed regularly of infection by treatment with synnematin7. Bacteriostasis of Brucella by 1–2 units/ml. of the antibiotic and bactericidal action against Brucella abortus with 100 units/ml. have been reported8,9. No other reports are known.