cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The pharmacology and therapeutic potential of small molecule inhibitors of acid-sensing ion channels in stroke intervention

In the nervous system, a decrease in extracellular pH is a common feature of various physiological and pathological processes, including synaptic transmission, cerebral ischemia, epilepsy, brain trauma, and tissue inflammation. Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are proton-gated cation channels that are distributed throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems. Following the recent identification of ASICs as critical acid-sensing extracellular proton receptors, growing evidence has suggested that the activation of ASICs plays important roles in physiological processes such as nociception, mechanosensation, synaptic plasticity, learning and memory. However, the over-activation of ASICs is also linked to adverse outcomes for certain pathological processes, such as brain ischemia and multiple sclerosis. Based on the well-demonstrated role of ASIC1a activation in acidosis-mediated brain injury, small molecule inhibitors of ASIC1a may represent novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of neurological disorders, such as stroke.
The feasibility of an intervention combining self-efficacy theory and Wii Fit exergames in assisted living residents: A pilot study.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of a self-efficacy based intervention using Wii exergames in assisted living residents. The study was a single-group pre- and post-test design. Seven older adults (aged 80–94 years) were instructed to engage in exergames twice a week for 8 weeks. Physical function (balance, mobility, and walking distance), fear of falling, self-efficacy for exercise, and outcome expectations for exercise were evaluated. All participants had enjoyable experiences and no serious adverse events were reported. Participants had significant improvement on balance. Although not significant, there were trends indicating that participants improved mobility, walking endurance, and decreased fear of falling. The use of Wii exergames was an acceptable, safe, and potentially effective approach to promote physical activity in older adults. Findings provide support for the applications of integrating self-efficacy theory into exergames as a mechanism to encourage older adults to engage in exercise.
Helm-model and shell-model studies of the photoproduction of charged pions in 12C

Abstract Differential and total cross sections for the reactions 12 C(γ, π − ) 12 N and 12 C(γ, π + ) 12 B are calculated on the generalized Helm model and the shell model. The Chew-Low reaction amplitude and the Born approximation are used in the calculation. The shell-model cross sections are generally four to eight times larger than the Helm-model prediction. This is consistent with results obtained for other processes where the shell model overestimates the experimentally observed quantities.
Looking backward and forward

It is the time of year when we have the opportunity to look backward and forward. 2010 saw an exciting International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Executive Board meeting in Tanzania, and we are pleased to present some of the proceedings in this issue. The President of FIGO and the Executive Officers have begun a series of meetings of the Executive Board in low-income countries so that the Board members representing constituent societies from around the world can become more aware of the varied challenges and opportunities faced by so many of our professional colleagues, and plans are already underway for a 2011 Executive Board meeting in another low-income country.
Explicating the ‘like’ on Facebook brand pages: The effect of intensity of Facebook use, number of overall ‘likes’, and number of friends' ‘likes’ on consumers' brand outcomes

This study examined the relationship between the number of overall ‘likes’ and friends' ‘likes’ on Facebook brand pages in influencing consumers' brand attitude, brand trust, brand involvement, and purchase intention, drawing upon theoretical concepts including diffusion of innovations, social capital theory, strength of weak ties, sociometric versus perceptual popularity, and prior research in online impression formation. Results of a 2 × 2 experiment revealed significant main effects of number of overall ‘likes’ and friends' ‘likes’ on key dependent measures. A significant interaction effect was also found between overall ‘likes’ and friends' ‘likes’. Additionally, intensity of Facebook use also mediated the relationships between number of overall ‘likes’ and friends' ‘likes’ with brand attitude, brand trust, and purchase intention.
Transformation Plasticity at High Strain Rate in Magnesia‐Partially‐Stabilized Zirconia

Transformation plasticity in magnesia- partially-stabilized zirconia (Mg-PSZ) is studied using a split Hopkinson pressure bar modified for ceramic materials. Axial and transverse strains are measured under uniaxial compressive loading at a strain rate of 250/s. The transformation yield stress is found to increase from 900 MPa under quasi-static loading to 1.2 GPa at high strain rate. Post-yield deformation is characterized by shear and volumetric plastic strains up to 1.2%. During unloading, the axial and transverse plastic strains are partially recovered while the volume is conserved. Axially oriented microcracks are observed but they do not contribute significantly to plastic deformation in Mg-PSZ.
The Conformed Panoramic - A New Concept In Electro-Optical Sensors

A new electro-optical sensor concept is presented. With this "Conformed Panoramic" sensor; a uniform GSD is implemented in both directions. Unwanted redundancy and "S" curve scan geometry are eliminated, and the duty-cycle approaches unity. These features make possible an electronically rectified, uniform-image-scale, minimum-bandwidth collection system.
Primary mycosis in shrimp larvae

Abstract Larvae of the shrimp Palaemonetes kadiakensis have been reared in large numbers in the laboratory. Occasionally, the larvae would be attacked and killed by an aquatic fungus. Saprolegnia parasitica and Achlya flagellata were isolated from the shrimp and grown in pure culture. Using special techniques, embryos were incubated and hatched under sterile conditions providing germ-free larvae. Following preliminary experiments that demonstrated the infective nature of Saprolegnia parasitica on otherwise normal larvae, two kinds of experiments were conducted. The first involved inoculation of larvae on the day of hatching. In the second experiment, larvae were inoculated on the 3rd day immediately after completion of the first molt to Form II. All larvae developed severe localized infections and died as a result. The experiments conducted demonstrate that the infection of shrimp larvae is of a primary nature. A partially successful attempt to rear shrimp larvae on defined media is also described.
Inter- and Intra-Sequence Faunal Distribution Patterns in the Sacramento Valley Cretaceous: ABSTRACT

The Cretaceous stratal succession of the Sacramento Valley, California, includes 5 unconformity-bounded sequences designated, in ascending order, Sequences A through E (Peterson, 1964). All are present on the western side of Sacramento Valley. Northward, in the Ono area, Sequences A through D crop out, but at nearby Horsetown only B and D are present. The Redding succession includes Sequences D and E, but at all other exposures on the eastern side of Sacramento Valley, only E is present. Each sequence is almost entirely clastic and wedge-shaped, with the thickest portion toward the west and the thinnest toward the east. Each sequence oversteps the underlying stratal units toward the east where, except for C, each rests on rocks of the Nevadan complex. Each sequence contains an essentially discrete assemblage of larger marine invertebrates (dominantly Mollusca), having in common only a few species with those either subjacent or suprajacent. Within each sequence, faunas are further distributed so that almost all megafossils occur in the eastern and basal portions; the western portions thus contain few megafossils except near the bases of A and D. The Buchia crassicollis fauna and the Hertleinites aguila and Shasticrioceras poninte zones occur in Sequence A of Neocomian age. Sequence B, of late Aptian and Albian age, contains the Gabbioceras wintunium, Acanthohopiites gardneri, A. reesidei, Leconteites lecontei, Beudanticeras hulenense, Oxytropidoceras packardi, and Mortoniceras hulenanum zones. Sequence C, of Cenomanian age, contains an unnamed fauna. Sequence D, of Turonian age, contains the Glycymeris pacificus fauna, and Sequence E, of Senonian age, contains the Glycymeris veatchii fauna. The bases of A, B, and D (and possibly all) are temporally variant and transgressive from west to east. Apparently these 5 sequences, together with their distribution and thickness relations, discrete faunas, intra-sequence faunal distribution patterns, and age relations, are the physical and biostratigraphic manifestations of 5 successive transgressive-regressive episodes and probably are related to diastrophism generated toward the east. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1088------------
Free radical initiation in proteins and amino acids by ionizing and ultraviolet radiations and lipid oxidation — part III: Free radical transfer from oxidizing lipids

Parallels and similarities in chemical and functional damage to proteins by ionizing and uv radiations and oxidizing lipids have been recognized for some time. However, only recently have oxidizing lipids been shown directly by electron spin resonance to be radiomimetic also in their capacity for protein free radical production. Free radicals play a key role in the transformation of energy to molecular and cellular damage. It is thus of critical importance to elucidate the general mechanisms of free radical formation and reactions in proteins in order to understand protein involvement in various pathological conditions and in food deterioration. Accordingly, this review is a detailed comparison of gamma-radiation, UV radiation, and lipid oxidation for what is presently known concerning (1) the specific modes of energy deposition and free radical formation, (2) the free radicals formed in proteins and amino acids, and (3) the typical damage correlating with these radicals.
Surgical treatment of spinal ependymoma and post-operative radiotherapy.

Introduction. With the advances in microsurgical and monitoring techniques, spinal ependymomas are gross totally resected more frequently. The use of adjuvant radiotherapy has become questionable with gross total resection and its role for residual neoplasm need to be redefined. A retrospective analysis of a series of patients was carried out to investigate our clinical outcome and selected use of postoperative radiotherapy.
The major histocompatibility complex, MnLA, of pigtailed macaques: definition of fifteen specificities.

Abstract The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of pigtailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina, Mn) is defined and designated as MnLA. Twenty-nine alloantisera were generated by fullsib alloimmunization and tested against a panel of 220 unrelated animals. The reactivities of different alloantisera were analyzed statistically in pairwise comparisons. Using 2 × 2 contingency tables, we calculated ч 2 independence, ч 2 allelism, and correlation coefficient values. Initially, specificities were defined by significant associations of certain sera, but some sera defined specificities individually. In all, 15 specificities were defined, and by family studies and negative correlation coefficients, a two-locus model was evident. Genetic analyses, together with statistical applications, revealed that the behavior of these specificities is consistent with the nature of MHC in other primate species, including man.
EFFECTS OF INCENTIVES AND ENFORCEMENT ON THE USE OF SEAT BELTS BY DRIVERS

Use of seat belts by drivers was measured in four target and four control cities in Illinois before, during, and after the application of incentives alone, enforcement alone, and both incentives and enforcement in the target cities. All the treatments produced significant increases in use of seat belts. The greatest effect was due to the combined use of incentives and enforcement. The effect of enforcement alone had largely decayed in about 6 weeks, whereas incentives retained their effect for at least up to 3 months, when measurements ended.
Relative spectral response as a function of sequential ligand binding.

Summary A unique method is presented for the determination of the critical number of ligands that must bind to a macromolecule to elicit a spectroscopic response. This method is based on analysis of ligand binding data. For example, four Ca2+ and two Mg2+ ions are necessary for mirroring the relative decrease in the intrinsic fluorescence of bovine prothrombin fragment 1. For application of the method, ligand loading and relative spectroscopic response data must be measured over a full range of concentrations.
Note on polarization of electron beam

Based on the classical theory of electrodynamics, we show the feasibility of using superconductors to realize transversal and longitudinal polarizations of electron beams. The results can in principle be used with beams of positron and/or other particles with magnetic moments without major modifications. We briefly discuss applications of polarized electron beams in physical sciences and technology.
Comparing Gubernatorial and Senatorial Elections

Drawing on several data sources we-compare elections for governor and United States senator We attempt to explain why governors are somewhat more electorally vulnerable than are senators. We show t...
ANALYSIS of the HELICAL SCREW RHEOMETER FOR FLUID FOOD

The Helical Screw Rheometer (HSR) is being evaluated for rheological measurements of fluid food suspensions. the HSR consists of a helical screw enclosed in a tight fitting cylinder. With a closed system the inner screw is rotated creating a linearly increasing pressure differential along the axis of the screw, which is proportional to the viscosity of the fluid. This paper presents theoretical one- and two-dimensional flow analyses for Newtonian fluids using both rectangular and cylindrical coordinates. For non-Newtonian fluids a one-dimensional rectangular analysis was developed using the power law model.
The partitioning of the truncus and conus and the formation of the membranous portion of the interventricular septum in the human heart

This paper deals with the partitioning of the human embryonic heart at the region where the ventricles narrow into the arterial cones and the septum membranaceum completes the interventricular septum. This region has been of interest to many workers because of its importance in the development of the pattern of the circulation, and the frequency of its involvement in congenital defects of the heart, but there are still gaps in our knowledge that invite further investigation. 11. HISTORICAL SUMMARY
Individual trajectories of cognitive decline in patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type.

Abstract The course of decline was studied in 16 patients with probable or definite dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) over 2.7 to 6.8 years from first to last evaluation. Overall severity of dementia was measured with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), the Dementia Rating Scale (DRS), and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), at approximately annual intervals. An initial plateau phase, during which language and cognitive functions did not change for periods of 9 to 35 months, was observed in 5 patients who initially had an isolated memory impairment without significant impairment of nonmemory language or visuospatial function. Once nonmemory functions began to decline, the rate of decline was remarkably steady in most individual patients but varied markedly among patients. The initial rate of decline after the plateau phase, as measured with the WAIS and DRS, was a significant predictor of subsequent rate in individual patients (r = .66, p < .01, and r = .67, p < .01, for the WAIS and DR...
Exposure matrices of endotoxin, (1→3)-β-d-glucan, fungi, and dust mite allergens in flood-affected homes of New Orleans.

Abstract This study examined: (i) biocontaminant levels in flooded homes of New Orleans two years after the flooding; (ii) seasonal changes in biocontaminant levels, and (iii) correlations between biocontaminant levels obtained by different environmental monitoring methods. Endotoxin, (1 → 3)-β- d -glucan, fungal spores, and dust mite allergens were measured in 35 homes during summer and winter. A combination of dust sampling, aerosolization-based microbial source assessment, and long-term inhalable bioaerosol sampling aided in understanding exposure matrices. On average, endotoxin found in the aerosolized fraction accounted for d -glucan levels in the floor dust and aerosolized fractions were mostly comparable, and 25% of the homes showed aerosolizable levels even higher than the dust-borne levels. The seasonal patterns for endotoxin in dust and the aerosolizable fraction were different from those found for (1 → 3)-β- d -glucan, reflecting the temperature and humidity effects on bacterial and fungal contamination. While the concentration of airborne endotoxin followed the same seasonal trend as endotoxin aerosolized from surfaces, no significant seasonal difference was identified for the concentrations of airborne (1 → 3)-β- d -glucan and fungal spores. This was attributed to the difference in the particle size; smaller endotoxin-containing particles can remain airborne for longer time than larger fungal spores or (1 → 3)-β- d -glucan-containing particles. It is also possible that fungal aerosolization in home environments did not reach its full potential. Detectable dust mite allergens were found only in dust samples, and more commonly in occupied homes. Levels of endotoxin, (1 → 3)-β- d -glucan, and fungi in air had decreased during the two-year period following the flooding as compared to immediate measurements; however, the dust-borne endotoxin and (1 → 3)-β- d -glucan levels remained elevated. No conclusive correlations were found between the three environmental monitoring methods. The findings support the use of multiple methods when assessing exposure to microbial contaminants.
Sustaining new parents in home visitation services: key participant and program factors

Abstract Objectives: As prevention efforts have adopted more intensive service models, concerns over initial enrollment and retention rates have become more salient. This study examines the participant, provider and program factors that contribute to a longer length of stay and greater number of home visits for new parents enrolling in one national home visitation program. Methods: Retrospective data were collected on a random sample of 816 participants served by one of 17 Healthy Families America (HFA) program sites around the country. Using case record reviews, research staff documented each participant’s characteristics and service experiences. To capture relevant staff and program information, research staff collected basic descriptive information from published documents and interviews with program managers. All home visitors who had contact with sample families also completed a self-assessment instrument regarding personal and professional characteristics. Hierarchical linear modeling allowed us to examine the unique role of participant, provider and program characteristics while recognizing the lack of independence among these three sets of variables. Results: The combined provider and program levels in the HLM model accounted for one-third of the variance in service duration and one-quarter of the variance in the number of home visits. Older participants, those unemployed, and those who enrolled in the program early in their pregnancy were more likely to remain in services longer and to complete a greater number of home visits. Compared to White participants, African Americans and Hispanics were significantly more likely to remain in services longer and, in the case of African Americans, to receive a greater number of home visits. Participants who were enrolled in school were more likely to remain in services longer. Age was the only consistent provider characteristic associated with positive results in both models, with younger home visitors performing better. Prior experience showed a significant relationship only in the service dosage model and African American workers demonstrated greater success than White home visitors did in retaining families in service. At the program level, programs with lower caseloads and greater success in matching their participants and providers on parenting status and race/ethnicity were significantly more likely to demonstrate stronger enrollment patterns.
Diffuse dermal angiomatosis

Diffuse dermal angiomatosis (DDA) is an acquired, benign vascular proliferation characterized clinically by poorly circumscribed, violaceous, livedoid plaques with frequent ulceration. Histologically, a diffuse interstitial proliferation of CD31-positive endothelial cells is present within the papillary and reticular dermis. Endothelial atypia, atypical mitoses, and vasculitis are lacking. We describe a case of DDA in a 53-year-old man with peripheral vascular atherosclerosis that resolved following revascularization. Early correction of the associated ischemic peripheral vascular disease promotes resolution of this unusual clinicopathologic entity.
Muscle density in rheumatoid arthritis: associations with disease features and functional outcomes.

OBJECTIVE To explore the associations of thigh computed tomography (CT)-derived measures of body composition with functional outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Design and operation of large systems

Abstract Issues related to the design of large systems are explored based on the axiomatic approach to design. A large system has the characteristic of having to satisfy varying sets of functional requirements (FRs) over its lifetime, some of which are not known a priori. Such a system must therefore be designed to accommodate these varying and sometimes unknown sets of functional requirements. The design must also allow the system to have an expandable database of design parameters (DPs) to satisfy yet-unknown FRs and endow the system with “intelligence” to make correct decisions. The independence axiom and the information axiom are the basis for several theorems that are derived for large systems. These theorems characterize or establish the bounds on the large systems. The implications of these theorems are examined using organizational design and the design of intelligent manufacturing systems as examples. Finally, the human cognitive process, including human creativity, is discussed as an example of a large system.
Image and edge detail detection algorithm for object-based coding

Abstract This paper presents a novel approach to extract image and edge details that are useful for segmentation of video objects in object-based coding. The proposed approach provides a transform domain technique and uses perceptual properties and edge contrast information in the transform coefficients along with the human visual system weighting to extract image and edge details that are perceptually most significant.
Molecular and genetic analyses of lama, an evolutionarily conserved gene expressed in the precursors of the Drosophila first optic ganglion

Drosophila retinal axons trigger both the proliferation of their targets, the lamina neurons, as well as the final differentiation and migration of the lamina glia. To date, the molecular basis of these interactions has remained unclear. We have identified a new gene, lamina ancestor (lama). Both the lamina's neural and glial progenitors express lama, even though these cells have very different developmental origins. Expression of lama is down-regulated once the precursors begin their differentiation programs. Loss of function mutants are viable and fertile, and appear to have normally developed visual systems. lama encodes a novel protein that is 74% identical to its D. virilis homologue.
Combined soot optical characterization using 2-D multi-angle light scattering and spectrally resolved line-of-sight attenuation and its implication on soot color-ratio pyrometry

Soot characterization using multiple techniques has been performed in a series of nitrogen-diluted ethylene coflow laminar diffusion flames. Soot aggregate sizes have been measured in two dimensions, as opposed to traditional point measurements, by a newly developed two-dimensional multi-angle light scattering technique where image processing was applied to align images for Guinier analysis. Extinction measurements have also been performed using spectrally resolved line-of-sight attenuation with an imaging spectrometer. Spectrally and spatially resolved extinction measurements have been obtained as well. Combined with previously obtained time-resolved laser-induced incandescence measurements of primary particle diameters, the scattering and absorption components of extinction can be estimated. The so-called dispersion exponent that describes the wavelength dependence of spectral emissivity was determined in two dimensions and found to improve the accuracy of soot color-ratio pyrometry measurements.
Hydration state and activity of aqueous silica in H2O-CO2 fluids at high pressure and temperature

Quartz solubility in H 2 O-CO 2 fluids was measured at 800 °C and 10 kbar. Mixed fluids were generated from hydrous oxalic acid, silver oxalate, silver carbonate, and liquid H 2 O; solubility was determined by weight changes of the quartz crystals. Stringent blank tests and weighing procedures were used to establish the CO 2 and H 2 O contents of experimental fluids. Using experimentally constrained models of H 2 O activity and mixing of silica monomers and dimers, a logarithmic plot of monomer activity vs. H 2 O activity yields a linear data array of constant slope n insignificantly different from 4 ( n = 4.024, R 2 = 0.997), where n is the total monomer hydration number. Moreover, all high-quality quartz solubility data in H 2 O-CO 2 fluids at lower temperature and pressure fall on the same line when SiO 2 and H 2 O activities are calculated with this formulation. The same analysis for the dimer yields slope n of 7 ( n = 7.049, R 2 = 0.996). Our results show that neutral silica monomers and dimers have fixed stoichiometry of Si(OH) 4 ·2H 2 O and Si 2 O(OH) 6 ·4H 2 O (i.e., two solvating H 2 O molecules per Si) in H 2 O-CO 2 fluids for a large range of crustal metasomatic processes. This provides a simple basis for modeling H 2 O-CO 2 -SiO 2 fluids over a range of pressure, temperature, CO 2 , and SiO 2 activity.
Preliminary investigations on the effects of no‐till corn production methods on specific soil mesofauna populations∗

Abstract Moldboard plowing, chisel plowing and no‐till methods were used to produce field corn (Zea mays) in an old grass sod. Grain yields were similar ranging between 13,100 and 14,186 kg/ha. The greatest spread in soil temperatures was only 2.1 C with the plowed soil always being warmest. Mean soil organic matter levels of the surface soil ranged between 1.9 percent on the moldboard plowed plots and 3.3 on the no‐till plots. Ten species of soil Collembola were identified. Collembola and Acarina populations were concentrated in the surface 5 cm of soil and were present in greatest numbers in the No‐Till soil.
Peroxidase catalysed oxidative decarboxylation of vanillic acid to methoxy-p-hydroquinone

Abstract Horseradish peroxidase catalysed the oxidative decarboxylation of vanillic acid to methoxy- p -hydroquinone and subsequent oxidation of the hydroquinone to methoxy- p -benzoquinone. Peroxidase also catalysed the oxidation of vanillyl alcohol to vanillin and vanillic acid; however, neither vanillyl alcohol nor vanillin appeared to give rise to methoxyhydroquinone directly. Correspondingly, peroxidase catalysed the oxidative decarboxylation of syringic acid to 2,6-dimethoxy- p -hydroquinone and subsequent oxidation of the hydroquinone to 2,6-dimethoxy- p -benzoquinone.
Regulation of human mast cell and basophil function by anaphylatoxins C3a and C5a

Allergic diseases such as asthma result from inappropriate immunologic responses to common environmental allergens in genetically susceptible individuals. Following allergen exposure, interaction of dendritic cells (DC) with CD4(+) T cells leads to the production of Th2 cytokines, which induce B cells to synthesize IgE molecules (sensitization phase). These IgE molecules bind to their high affinity receptors (FcvarepsilonRI) on the surface of mast cells and basophils and their subsequent cross-linking by allergen results in the release of preformed and newly synthesized mediators, which cause bronchoconstriction, lung inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in asthma (effector phase). The complement components C3a and C5a levels are increased in the lungs of patients with asthma and are likely generated via the actions of both allergen and mast cell proteases. In vivo studies with rodents have shown that while C3a facilitates allergen sensitization in some models C5a inhibits this response. Despite this difference, both anaphylatoxins promote lung inflammation and AHR in vivo indicating that cells other than DC and T cells likely mediate the functional effects of C3a and C5a in asthma. This review focuses on the contribution of C3a and C5a in the pathogenesis of asthma with a particular emphasis on mast cells and basophils. It discusses the mechanisms by which anaphylatoxins activate mast cells and basophils and the associated signaling pathways via which their receptors are regulated by priming and desensitization.
Pharmacological characterization of phosphoinositide-linked glutamate receptor excitation of hippocampal neurons.

Abstract Pharmacological studies of glutamate receptor stimulation of the phosphoinositide (PI) system have demonstrated that this response is blocked by several agents: 2-amino-3-phosphonopropionate (AP3), phorbol esters and in some preparations pertussis toxin. In electrophysiological studies of CA1 pyramidal neurons, we have found that pertussis toxin and AP3 (1–2 mM) do not block either the membrane depolarization or inhibition of the slow afterhyperpolarization elicited by trans-1-aminocyclopentyl-1,3-dicarboxylate (ACPD; 30 μM), a selective agonist of the PI-linked glutamate receptor. However, phorbol 12,13-diacetate (1–1.5 μM) which itself blocks the slow afterhyperpolarization, completely blocks the membrane depolarizing response elicited by ACPD. These results add to growing evidence for heterogeneity among PI-linked glutamate receptor responses.
Spinal cord protection during aortic occlusion: efficacy of intrathecal tetracaine.

Abstract Spinal cord ischemia and resultant paraplegia are devastating sequelae in up to 40% of patients undergoing repair of thoracoabdominal aneurysms. We investigated the effect of intrathecal tetracaine on the neurological sequelae of spinal cord ischemia and reperfusion with aortic occlusion. Cocaine-derived anesthetics (lidocaine and its analogues) have been shown to decrease neuronal cell metabolism and also have specific neuronal membrane stabilizing effects. New Zealand white rabbits were anesthetized and spinal cord ischemia was then induced by infrarenal aortic occlusion. Animals were divided into six treatment groups. Tetracaine (groups 2 and 4) or normal saline solution (group 5) was administered intrathecally before aortic cross-clamping. Groups 1 and 3 functioned as controls. Group 6 animals received intravenous thiopental. Rabbits were classified as either neurologically normal or injured (paralyzed or paretic). Among controls, 25 minutes of aortic occlusion produced varied neurological sequelae (group 1, 3 / 6 injured, 50%) whereas 30 minutes resulted in more consistent injury (group 3, 5 / 6 injured, 83%). All rabbits that received intrathecal saline solution were paralyzed (group 5, 4 / 4 injured, 100%). Animals treated with intrathecal tetracaine and aortic occlusion of 30 minutes (group 4) showed significantly better preservation of neurological function ( 6 / 7 normal, 86%) than controls and salinetreated animals (groups 3 and 5). All animals treated with intrathecal tetracaine and aortic occlusion for 25 minutes (group 2) showed no signs of injury ( 5 / 5 normal, 100%), but this was not significant versus controls (group 1). Intravenous thiopental (group 6, 5 / 5 injured, 100%) had no beneficial effect. Intrathecal tetracaine significantly and dramatically abrogated the neurological injury secondary to spinal cord ischemia and reperfusion after aortic occlusion at 30 minutes in the rabbit model.
Charge distribution on thin conducting nanotubes—reduced 3‐D model

The subject of this paper is the calculation of charge distribution on the surfaces of thin conducting nanotubes in electrostatic problems, by the boundary element method (BEM). A line model of a nanotube is proposed here. This model overcomes the problem of dealing with nearly singular matrices that occur when the standard BEM is applied to very thin features (objects or gaps). This new approach is also very efficient. Numerical results are presented for selected examples. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ozone Exposure and Population Density in Harris County, Texas

Abstract We address the following question: What is the pattern of human exposure to ozone in Harris County (Houston) since 1980? While there has been considerable research on characterizing ozone measured at fixed monitoring stations, little is known about ozone away from the monitoring stations, and whether areas of higher ozone correspond to areas of high population density. To address this question, we build a spatial-temporal model for hourly ozone levels that predicts ozone at any location in Harris County at any time between 1980 and 1993. Along with building the model, we develop a fast model-fitting method that can cope with the massive amounts of available data and takes into account the substantial number of missing observations. Having built the model, we combine it with census tract information, focusing on young children. We conclude that the highest ozone levels occur at locations with relatively small populations of young children. Using various measures of exposure, we estimate that expos...
Streptokinase Therapy in Arterial Thromboembolic Disease

A review of the world literature on streptokinase treatment of arterial thromboembolic disease is presented, followed by two cases of peripheral arterial thromboembolic disease successfully treated with streptokinase. The role of streptokinase in the treatment of arterial occlusive disease is discussed, and its emerging role as a primary mode of therapy in thromboembolic arterial disease is predicted.The successful management of venous embolic and occlusive disease by treatment with streptokinase is well-known, including its use in treating pul monary emboli, deep venous thromboses and clotted hemodialysis shunts. However, the role of streptokinase in the management of arterial thromboem bolic disease has not received much attention in the United States, although it has been used extensively in Europe.The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on the use of strep tokinase in treating thromboembolic arterial disease, to present two cases successfully treated with this technique, and to discuss t...
Electromagnetic wave propagation in the wire medium: a complex medium with long thin inclusions

Abstract The wire medium is a type of complex artificial material we conceptually envision as many identical finite-length, parallel, thin wire inclusions embedded within a host medium. It is representative of a class of novel artificial materials characterized by long thin inclusions. Unlike some conventional artificial material, the inclusions of this class are not necessarily electrically short. Here, we present our theoretical analysis for wire media and by studying certain salient features of plane-wave propagation through these media, introduce equivalent medium parameters that depend, among other parameters, on the direction of wave propagation. The approach we use separates the artificial material into its elementary planes and then uses periodic moment method techniques to individually characterize each elementary plane. Analytic formulas from periodic structure theory are then used to determine the effective wavenumber for the overall medium and the transverse impedance at the midpoint between adjacent elementary planes. Our examples show that some realizations of these media are spatially dispersive and may exhibit interesting features such as “angular windows of propagation” and other properties that are dependent on the polarization, frequency and direction of wave propagation.
Establishment of stable NaCl-resistant rice plant lines from anther culture: distribution pattern of K+/Na+ in callus and plant cells

Soil salinity markedly suppresses the growth of rice (Oryza sativa L.). We established rice anther culture to select for rice callus lines adapted to NaCl stress and regenerated plant progenies resistant to a NaCl stress of E.C. 16–18 mS. When exposed to NaCl, NaCl-adapted rice calli lost K+ and accumulated little Na+. Conversely, plant cells lost relatively little K+ and accumulated Na+. It is plausible that, NaCl-resistant mechanisms are different at callus and plant level. The stable NaCl-resistant lines produced have potential use in elucidating the molecular mechanisms behind NaCl resistance in rice and in rice breeding.
Endometrial carcinomas with ambiguous features

Endometrial carcinomas are a heterogenous group of tumors that show variable histologies, molecular abnormalities and clinical outcomes. The idea of rigid distinctions between tumor types is appealing to pathologists, gynecologists, researchers and patients, but in a recent study where high grade endometrial carcinomas were reviewed by three experienced gynecologic pathologists, diagnostic agreement about tumor type was reached in only approximately one half of cases. In general, biologically and clinically validated diagnostic criteria are lacking for high grade endometrial carcinomas and for those that appear mixed epithelial. Until such criteria are developed, it remains important to define which morphologic patterns convey accurate clinical and biological information and which do not or might not. "Endometrial carcinomas with ambiguous features," the focus of this review, are tumors with comparatively uninformative morphologic features. Some publications indicate that gland forming and papillary endometrial carcinomas that appear morphologically low grade or ambiguous are really high grade. There are also indications that high grade endometrial carcinomas are biologically heterogeneous and that the morphologic clues we currently use to distinguish one subtype from another fail to correlate with biological data. Many tumors that appear morphologically mixed are, in fact, not biologically or clinically confused: most represent biologically "pure" tumors with variant morphology. Interesting associations between the presence of Lynch Syndrome (hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal carcinoma syndrome) and ambiguous morphology have been discussed in the literature. An apparent relationship between morphologic ambiguity and malignant mixed Mullerian tumor (MMMT) also exists. The identity of some morphologically ambiguous endometrial carcinoma can be elucidated with immunohistochemistry or other ancillary techniques at present, but the nature of many still remains undefined. This review presents the concept of morphologically ambiguous endometrial carcinomas, proposes morphological gold standard diagnostic criteria for tumors that are not ambiguous (an effort that helps define tumors that are ambiguous), provides a relevant literature review and offers practical guidance for sorting through diagnostically challenging cases.
Experimental investigation of aligned groove formation on the inner surface of polyacrylonitrile hollow fiber membrane

Abstract The fabrication of textured hollow fiber membrane (HFM) such as fibers with aligned grooves on the inner surface is of great interest especially for nerve regeneration applications. Grooved polyacrylonitrile (PAN) HFMs have been successfully fabricated using a dry-jet wet spinning process. Aligned grooves are formed on the HFM inner surface due to process-induced instability under selected fabrication conditions (air gap distance, polymer solution concentration, and polymer solution and nonsolvent flow rates). The influence of different fabrication conditions has been experimentally investigated to appreciate their relationship with the groove formability. It is found that HFMs with aligned grooves on the inner surface can be fabricated within an identified groove forming region, which is defined by the air gap distance, polymer solution concentration, and polymer solution and nonsolvent flow rates; and within the groove forming region, the number of grooves increases with the air gap distance from 1 to 20 cm, and it decreases with the polymer solution concentration and flow rate. The number of grooves is not sensitive to the inner nonsolvent flow rate.
The effect of thixotropy on suspension stability.

This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of thixotropy on physical suspension stability. Two thixotropic suspending agents, bentonite and attapulgite, were evaluated in systems of varying concentrations for thixotropy, plastic viscosity, and yield value by employing a modified Stormer viscometer. A technique involving centrifugation was developed for the evaluation of stability. In the case of both suspending agents employed, the correlation of physical suspension stability and the degree of thixotropy of the suspending agent indicated that sedimentation velocity was directly proportional to the reciprocal of thixotropic area.
Effect of Safety Measures on Reliability of Aircraft Structures Subjected to Damage Growth

This paper demonstrates the effect of various safety measures used to design aircraft structures for damage tolerance. In addition, it sheds light on the effectiveness of measures like certification tests in improving structural safety. Typically, aircraft are designed with a safety factor of 2 on the service life in addition to other safety measures, such as conservative material properties. This paper demonstrates that small variation in material properties, loading and errors in modeling damage growth can produce large scatter in fatigue life, which means that quality control measures like certification tests are not very effective in reducing failure probability. However, it is shown that the use of machined cracks in certification can substantially increase the effectiveness of certification testing.© 2005 ASME
Recent Discoveries in Ethiopia

Ethiopia or Cush extends from the upper end of the First Cataract in the Nile southwards to somewhere near the junction of the White and the Blue Niles at Khartum. Strictly speaking, the name “Cush” was applied by the ancient Egyptians to that part of the valley which lies between the Second and the Fourth Cataracts while the name “Wawat” was given to that between the First and Second Cataracts. More general names were “Ta-set” (or perhaps “Ta-Khent”), “Khenthennefer,” and “Tanehsi” (= Land of the Negroes), and a still more general name was “The Southern Lands,” applied to all the southland including Wawat, Cush, Punt and the tribal districts along the Red Sea and in the eastern and the western deserts. The people of Ethiopia are usually called neḥsi which is translated inaccurately “negro;” and neḥsi are represented in the monuments as typical woolly-haired black men. But it is clear from the pictures of men from Ethiopia and from the skeletons found in the ancient cemeteries that Ethiopia was inhabited by a race, dark-skinned it is true, but easily distinguished from the true negro. Thus it is probable that the proverb in Jeremiah 13 23 (“Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots ?”) was founded on the Egyptian tradition rather than on a first-hand knowledge of the Ethiopians.
EKA: efficient keyserver using ALMI

The keyserver network serves as a repository of OpenPGP keys, providing replication throughout the Internet. It currently uses an inefficient and insufficient protocol to keep its nodes synchronized: highly redundant network traffic and excessive overhead due to several thousand e-mail messages per day. Under these conditions, even short network outages cause massive mail server overloads and losses, resulting in continuously diverging databases. We present a new protocol to achieve complete synchronization efficiently and automatically, drastically reducing the need for manual intervention. Our protocol transmits only the updates and uses multicast to optimize the amount of data sent. Since support for native multicast is not widely available in the underlying network and current Internet multicast does not scale well, we base our keyserver on ALMI. ALMI is a middleware for reliable application-level multicast, providing scalable join/leave notification of neighbors, significantly reducing the complexity of the application. As a part of this work, we have also implemented keyserver software which uses our protocol and an efficient RDBMS (Oracle 8i concepts) back-end to hold the keys.
Analysis of time-varying images using 3D vascular models

A medical image traditionally represents a "snapshot" of a portion of the patient's anatomy at a particular moment in time. However, the appearance of image objects often varies between images taken at different times. Such changes may occur because of differences in the image acquisition techniques employed, because of shifts in the positions of organs, or because of development, progression, or regression of pathology. We have developed a method of defining vessel "trees" from 3D image data. These vessel trees can then be registered with any type of 2- or 3D image data obtained from the same patient and that show the vasculature. Changes in vascular configuration can then be used not only to clarify vascular changes over time, but also to help determine the location and/or change in other image objects. As vessels are present throughout the body, the approach is applicable to any anatomical region.
Drug Users’ Test-Retest Reliability of Self-Reported Alcohol Use on the Risk Behavior Assessment

Using data collected from 218 street drug users in 11 cities in the United States, we examined the test-retest reliability of the alcohol-related items on the Risk Behavioral Assessment (RBA; National Institute on Drug Abuse, 1993), an instrument commonly used in drug abuse research. With a 48-hr retest interval, findings indicated excellent to good reliability for the following variables: age of first use, ever used alcohol, and days used alcohol in last 30 days. Items with fair to poor reliability were number of occasions used alcohol in last 30 days without injecting and number of times used alcohol immediately before or during sex. These findings suggest that self-report items on alcohol use from the RBA are generally reliable, particularly items that ask for more general, rather than specific, information.
Molecular and cellular biology of small cell lung cancer

For any tumor to become cancerous, various genetic mutations and biologic alterations must occur in the cell that in combination render it a malignant neoplasm. Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a neoplasm associated with several molecular and cellular abnormalities. SCLC is associated with early and frequent metastasis as well as a poor ultimate response to chemotherapy. New and novel therapies based on understanding the mechanisms of transformation are needed. SCLC is associated with multiple chromosomal abnormalities, the most common of which is chromosome 3p deletion, as well as with abnormal oncogenes and tumor-suppressor genes. Along with the genetic alterations, SCLC has been shown to overexpress various cell surface receptors, including receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), G-protein-coupled receptors, integrins, and others. Some downstream molecules are also activated, such as phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase, and would serve as good candidates for therapeutic strategies.