cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Is Surgery Good for Advanced Localised Prostate Cancer? It’s Time to Find Out!

The debate over whether radiation therapy (RT) or radical prostatectomy (RP) is best for apparently localised cancer of the prostate (ALCaP) has raged for decades. Early on when the complications from both therapies were daunting and the cure rate from these cancers (discovered much later than today) discouraging, most urologists adopted the practice of sending their clinically advanced ALCaP patients to the radiotherapist, not so much because they believed the cure was better, but because having a patient returning to the office after RP not only impotent and incontinent but also not cured was not attractive. Conversely, radiotherapists were usually only too willing to accept these patients because significant complications after RT even then were not excessive and if they occurred, the patients were conveniently referred back to the urologist for management, which was often difficult and unsatisfactory. Thus began a tradition (and sometimes an antagonism) that exists today. Over the years the complications from these two therapies dramatically lessened and because of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening and better staging (with its inevitable stage migration), optimism about cure increased. These events intensified the debate over which was the preferred therapy for lowand intermediate-risk disease, but until recently the tradition of advising radiotherapy for high-risk disease (e.g., cT3a and/or PSA > 20 ng/ml and/or Gleason grade > 7) remained steadfast. This tradition was solidified by randomised trials of RT and radiation plus androgen
Behavioral Science Applied to Cardiovascular Health: Progress and Research Needs in the Modification of Risk-Taking Habits in Adult Populations:

Epidemiological and experimental studies provide evidence that a complex of behavioral, biological and environmental factors interact in the etiology of many cardiovascular diseases. A survey of research and theory concerning training and counseling programs for adult populations is provided . Six basic behavioral recommendations are made for the maintenance of cardiovascular health Problems in the design of mass media and interpersonal campaigns to alter the health habits of large populations are considered
Another Line for the Analysis of Variance

A test is developed for hypotheses about the grand mean in the analysis of variance, using the known relationship between the t distribution and the F distribution with 1 df for the numerator. Examples are given to suggest that the test may be of value in some research settings, especially when a known comparison population exists, and collection of data on a control group is expensive. Where appropriate, the test is efficient, as its addition to a standard analysis of variance requires no additional data collection and results in no loss of df from other comparisons in the analysis.
A quick method for determining fluid preference: Saccharin preference in water-deprived rats as a function of time on deprivation schedule

A simple method of assessing fluid preference within a single 60-min period, with position preferences counterbalanced between and within Ss, is described. After 10 days of water deprivation, and at 80% of their predeprivation body weights, Ss preferred.1% saccharin to water. The preference for saccharin was even greater 21 days later. It is suggested that the preference for saccharin under water deprivation may be an index of concurrent hunger which grows with the increasing cumulative food deficit accompanying water deprivation.
Asymptotic Distribution of Estimated Affinity between Multiparameter Exponential Families

Let F 1,...,F J be the distributions of J independent multiparameter exponential families, and ϱ J (F 1,...,F J ) denote the affinity between F 1,...,F J . We consider the problem of estimating ϱ J on the basis of independent random samples from these distributions. Subject to some mild regularity conditions, we derive the asymptotic distribution of the maximum likelihood estimator of ϱ J . Applications to hypothesis testing and discriminant analysis are discussed, and an example is provided.
Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic assessment of the effects of E4031, cisapride, terfenadine and terodiline on monophasic action potential duration in dog.

1. Torsades de pointes (TDP) is a potentially fatal ventricular tachycardia associated with increases in QT interval and monophasic action potential duration (MAPD). TDP is a side-effect that has led to withdrawal of several drugs from the market (e.g. terfenadine and terodiline). 2. The potential of compounds to cause TDP was evaluated by monitoring their effects on MAPD in dog. Four compounds known to increase QT interval and cause TDP were investigated: terfenadine, terodiline, cisapride and E4031. On the basis that only free drug in the systemic circulation will elicit a pharmacological response target, free concentrations in plasma were selected to mimic the free drug exposures in man. Infusion regimens were designed that rapidly achieved and maintained target-free concentrations of these drugs in plasma and data on the relationship between free concentration and changes in MAPD were obtained for these compounds. 3. These data indicate that the free ED50 in plasma for terfenadine (1.9 nM), terodiline (76 nM), cisapride (11 nM) and E4031 (1.9 nM) closely correlate with the free concentration in man causing QT effects. For compounds that have shown TDP in the clinic (terfenadine, terodiline, cisapride) there is little differentiation between the dog ED50 and the efficacious free plasma concentrations in man (< 10-fold) reflecting their limited safety margins. These data underline the need to maximize the therapeutic ratio with respect to TDP in potential development candidates and the importance of using free drug concentrations in pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic studies.
The contractile behavior of the heart and its functional coupling to the circulation

Abstract The integrated function of the heart and lungs provides for the transfer of O 2 from the atmosphere, for its delivery to the metabolizing tissues, and for the removal of CO 2 . When cardiac output is compromised as in heart failure, a series of reflexive and neurohumoral adjustments follow with activation of the adrenergic and renin-angiotensin systems. The resultant vasoconstriction constrains the performance of the failing heart. Accordingly, vasodilators have been used to attenuate this vasoconstriction and to improve cardiac performance in patients with cardiac failure. An understanding of the physiologic consequences of vasodilation, as well as the selection of the most appropriate vasodilator for these patients, requires an understanding of the contractile behavior of the normal and failing heart and of the factors that regulate their performance. Because the myocardium is composed largely of cardiac muscle, muscle force, length, and shortening are used to describe its contractile behavior. Myocardial contractile behavior is a function of: (A) instantaneous shortening load, or the ejection force (afterload), which the muscular wall has to support during its contraction; (b) shortening length; and (c) myocardial contractile state. The failing myocardium characteristically has both a depressed contractile state and an abnormal shortening load. In order to describe the functional coupling of the heart to its arterial and venous circulations, the concept of a mechanical pump having elastic and resistive properties is used. These mechanical properties of the pump determine its ability to generate pressure and flow. Unlike the normal heart, the failing pump with its decreased elastance (i.e., increased volume at normal chamber pressure) is more sensitive to vascular loading, and hence its more favorable response to vasodilators. Finally, the performance of the heart is determined by the coordination and integration of the right and left hearts that result from their anatomical arrangement and the mobile interventricular septum, the pericardium, and the pleural pressure surrounding the heart and lungs. Vasodilators improve the pump function of the failing heart by reducing ventricular interaction and by augmenting chamber distensibility. The consequences of pharmacologic vasodilation in heart failure, then, can best be appreciated by understanding the intrinsic properties of cardiac muscle, the functional coupling of the heart to the arterial and venous circulations, the interplay between ventricles, and the interaction of the heart with its pericardium and with pleural pressure.
History of science: Revelations of a wild continent

Linda Lear praises a study of one of the first naturalists to document North America's flora and fauna.
The persistence of a silent memory

One of the most striking properties of RNA interference (RNAi) in Caenorhabditis elegans is its persistence in offspring after the triggering double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) has disappeared. A new study reveals that a heterochromatic silencing mark is deposited around the targets of RNAi and is transmitted through generations. These results show that RNAi can induce stable and heritable chromatin modifications in animals.
Bias Analysis and SIMEX Approach in Generalized Linear Mixed Measurement Error Models

Abstract We consider generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) for clustered data when one of the predictors is measured with error. When the measurement error is additive and normally distributed and the error-prone predictor is itself normally distributed, we show that the observed data also follow a GLMM but with a different fixed effects structure from the original model, a different and more complex random effects structure, and restrictions on the parameters. This characterization enables us to compute the biases that result in common GLMMs when one ignores measurement error. For instance, in one common situation the biases in parameter estimates become larger as the number of observations within a cluster increases, both for regression coefficients and for variance components. Parameter estimation is described using the SIMEX method, a relatively new functional method that makes no assumptions about the structure of the unobservable predictors. Simulations and an example illustrate the results.
Clinically significant drug interactions at end of life

AbstractPotential drug interactions encountered at the end of life may be cumbersome to predict and have significant impact on the palliation of symptoms. Recent advances in identifying metabolic pathways and metabolites of frequently used medications allow clinicians to consider the fate and pharmacodynamic effects of drugs prescribed. Numerous medications used in the palliative care population undergo hepatic and extrahepatic metabolism to active and inactive metabolites. Hepatic reactions rendering medications prepared for excretion or removal from the system are complex, but may be summarised for medications frequently used in end-of-life care as Phase 1 oxidation, hydroxylation, and reduction reactions, and Phase 2 glucuronidation reactions. Both general types of drug metabolism pathways may be altered by medications, disease states, and normal ageing processes. Specific to end-of-life care, Phase 1 reactions may become less robust, while Phase 2 reactions are typically preserved. Benzodiazepines, op...
Reversal of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol-induced tolerance by specific kinase inhibitors

Abstract Tolerance develops to the pharmacological effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinoid (THC) following repetitive administration. Adaptations in signaling pathways involved in tolerance to THC-induced behaviors are not understood. The objective of our study was the evaluation of kinase involvement in the expression of tolerance to the above four THC-induced behaviors. Kinase inhibitors that specifically inhibit cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG), calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (PKC) and src tyrosine kinase were tested for reversal of tolerance to THC's effects. PKG and PKC inhibitors did not reverse tolerance in any behavioral measure. Src tyrosine kinase inhibition reversed tolerance to only the hypoactive effects of THC. PKA inhibition reversed tolerance to all measures, although the doses of inhibitor and time-course of inhibition varied among behaviors. Thus, our data suggest that PKA activity plays a major role in THC-induced tolerance, and that THC produces its multiple effects through different signaling pathways.
Achievement conflict and level of performance.

Summary.-Ss conflicted or nonconflicted in the achievement area, as assessed by Worell and Worell's Personaliry Conflict Scale, were compared on number of arithmetic problems completed in consecutive 2-min. periods. Ss whose scale responses indicated a preference for achievement but the presence of competing behaviors in achievement situations (high conflict) completed significantly fewer arithmetic problems than Ss whose responses indicated nor only high achievement need but also the use of comparable achievement-related behaviors (low conflict). Results were discussed as supporting the use of this scale to measure personality conflict. Recently, Worell and Worell (1965) proposed a novel method for assessing personality conflict. Their approach is to treat conflict as a differential between the total strengths of approach and avoidant tendencies within a set of functionally related behaviors (or needs). To measure this differential, they proposed a scale which consists of a paired-comparison format. Strength of an individual's approach and avoidance in a variety of need areas is measured by modified scales from Edward's Personal Preference Schedule (Edwards, 1954). Scale items are worded in two ways. First, in terms of behavior preference or need, example: "I most prefer . . . ." Preference statements are felt to approximate approach dispositions more closely than actual behaviors. Second, in terms of behavior actually used, example: "I most frequently . . . ." It is reasoned that avoidance in each need area is reflected in the total number of changes, relative to need, that occur when S is asked to indicate which behaviors he most frequently uses. Worell and Wore11 conceptualize the individual who states that he uses silbstantially fewer behavicrs, more behaviors, or different behaviors, in a need area than he would like to use, as an individual in conflict. In other words, conflict is indicated when an icdividual's behavioral choices (what he most frequently does) differ from his stated preferences (what he most prefers), for he is indicating that competing dispositions are replacing supposedly preferred alternatives. The relatively nonconflicted individual, on the other hand, tends to use the behaviors that he states he prefers. This suggests that the preferred behaviors are dominant and not in confl~ct with other potential alternatives. Previous findings (Worell & Worell, 1965 ) have indicated strong support for the use of this procedure in assessing personality conflict. However, the authors suggest that more accurate behavioral predictions will most likely be
The postprandial response of gastric inhibitory polypeptide to various dietary fats in man.

Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide (GIP) is secreted in response to oral glucose, amino acid, and fats. In the presence of hyperglycemia, GIP augments nutrient stimulated insulin secretion. Studies loo...
A variety of intercellular connections in heart muscle.

Abstract The present study was conducted to examine the ultrastructure of lateral connections between heart muscle cells. Such linkages exist in addition to large collagen struts and intercalated discs and were studied in ventricular trabeculae, left free-wall ventricular muscle, papillary muscles, and atrial trabeculae from hearts of 12 normal, 50 to 200 g, male Wistar rats. We observed an elaborate network of connections that included the following components: cell coats, collagen fibrils, 8 to 10 nm diameter microfibrils, 10 to 40 nm diameter granules and the newly described, 3 to 6 nm diameter microthreads. These components were analyzed with standard and stereo-pair transmission electron microscopy and were found to occur in several distinct combinations, including direct coupling of cell coats by collagen fibrils, coupling of collagen fibrils by a microthread-granule network, and coupling of cell coats to collagen by microthreads, microfibrils, and granules. The 10 to 40 nm diameter granules are ruthenium red-positive, as are many of the microthreads, and both have enhanced preservation after fixation with solution that includes ruthenium red or alcian blue. It is hypothesized that the lateral connections between cells are comprised of various structural combinations of collagen, microfibrils, glycosaminoglycan, and proteoglycan that might influence the relative motions of the myocytes during the cardiac cycle.
Implant Installation With Ridge Augmentation Using Autogenous Bone Harvested From an Adjacent Site

Abstract In general, autogenous bone is the most predictable material of choice for augmentation procedure. However, the autogenous bone graft procedure requires an additional surgical wound, and the amount of graft is limited because of the donor site. In this case, autogenous corticocancellous bone cores were harvested adjacent to the implant surgical site and the defect, which was distal to the implant surface, was treated with autogenous bone and deproteinized bovine bone. The implant-supported prosthesis was functioning well up to 6 months without any probing depth or gingival inflammation.
Pixel detectors in 3D technologies for high energy physics

This paper reports on the current status of the development of International Linear Collider vertex detector pixel readout chips based on multi-tier vertically integrated electronics. Initial testing results of the VIP2a prototype are presented. The chip is the second embodiment of the prototype data-pushed readout concept developed at Fermilab. The device was fabricated in the MIT-LL 0.15 μm fully depleted SOI process. The prototype is a three-tier design, featuring 30×30 μm2 pixels, laid out in an array of 48×48 pixels.
Growth of diamond films on Si(100) with and without boron nitride buffer layer

Diamond films were grown on Si(100) and boron nitride deposited Si(100) substrates using hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD) technique. Microstructure and morphology of diamond films have been investigated systematically as a function of CH4 and H2 ratio and the ambient pressure. The deposited films were characterized by employing techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and laser Raman spectroscopy. The average size and growth rate of diamond particles were found to increase with the CH4 to H2 ratio and decrease with the ambient pressure. Maximum growth rate of synthetic diamond deposited on Si(100) was found to be ∼3.5 µm/hr for the film deposited at 20 Torr with CH4:H2 ∼ 1.5:100 (substrate temperature ∼850°C). In most of these depositions, the morphology of the diamond crystals was cubic with significant secondary nucleation at higher methane concentrations and ambient pressure. The diamond film deposited on Si(100) with BN buffer layer shows an improvement in growth rate and the coverage, and the secondary nucleation was found to be substantially reduced, resulting in relatively smooth morphology. MicroRaman investigations show less amorphous graphite formation and better structural quality of diamond film than the one deposited without the BN buffer layer.
The spectrum of safety: A review of the safety of current hemophilia products

The safety of whole blood and blood products has been ensured by several different mechanisms introduced over the years, each of which reduces the risk of blood-borne infectious diseases. An exhaustive donor selection and screening process aims to exclude individuals at risk for infectious disease, and numerous screening tests are used to detect infectious pathogens in collected blood. During processing, blood is further subjected to various removal or inactivation procedures directed against specific pathogens, as well as additional screening with nucleic acid testing or polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays. Despite these measures, sporadic cases of infection continue to occur, caused by both known pathogens and newly emergent ones. Other challenges remain to be met, including the detection of infectious blood donated during the seronegative window period of infection and the rapid identification of and screening for emerging infectious diseases.
Neuroleptics in the treatment of dementia

The authors review the history of neuroleptic treatment in dementia. The initial review of 34 studies published since 1954 was limited to the 20 double-blind and / or placebo-controlled studies. Sixty per cent of the studies revealed generally positive clinical results in demented patients following neuroleptic treatment. Acute side-effects were not reported to be more prevalent or severe than in other psychiatric populations and included sedation, orthostatic hypotension, extrapyramidal reactions, and various anticholinergic symptoms. Careful assessment of the cognitive effects following neuroleptics, particularly those with known anticholinergic properties, was not performed in most of these studies and should be a focus of future prospective studies in this population. Nonetheless, it does appear that neuroleptics have a role in the treatment of patients with dementia. When used at low doses for specific purposes (i.e. treatment of agitation, hyperactivity, hallucinations, or hostility), they can both safe and effective in this population.
Modeling wire delay, area, power, and performance in a simulation infrastructure

We present Justice, a set of extensions to the Liberty simulation infrastructure that model chip area, wire length, and power consumption. Based on an architectural specification of a processor, Justice estimates the area and per-access power consumption of each module in the architecture. It then constructs a floorplan for the processor and computes the length and delay of critical communication paths. Finally, Justice modifies the architectural specification to account for wire delay and generates an executable simulator for the processor. To illustrate its capabilities, we simulate a number of very long instruction word (VLIW) architectures. Our results illustrate how Justice makes it possible for designers to compare the costs and benefits of diffierent changes to an architecture and demonstrate the importance of considering wire delay early in the design process.
Two tyrosine-based sorting signals in the Cx43 C-terminus cooperate to mediate gap junction endocytosis

Gap junction (GJ) channels that electrically and chemically couple neighboring cells are formed when two hemichannels (connexons) of apposed cells dock head-on in the extracellular space. Remarkably, docked connexons are inseparable under physiological conditions, and we and others have shown that GJs are internalized in whole, utilizing the endocytic clathrin machinery. Endocytosis generates double-membrane vesicles (annular GJs or connexosomes) in the cytoplasm of one of the apposed cells that are degraded by autophagosomal and, potentially, endo/lysosomal pathways. In this study, we investigated the structural motifs that mediate Cx43 GJ endocytosis. We identified three canonical tyrosine-based sorting signals of the type “YXXΦ” in the Cx43 C-terminus, two of which function cooperatively as AP-2 binding sites. We generated a set of green fluorescent protein–tagged and untagged Cx43 mutants that targeted these two sites either individually or together. Mutating both sites completely abolished Cx43-AP-2/Dab2/clathrin interaction and resulted in increased GJ plaque size, longer Cx43 protein half-lives, and impaired GJ internalization. Interestingly, Dab2, an accessory clathrin adaptor found earlier to be important for GJ endocytosis, interacts indirectly with Cx43 via AP-2, permitting the recruitment of up to four clathrin complexes per Cx43 protein. Our analyses provide a mechanistic model for clathrin's efficient internalization of large plasma membrane structures, such as GJs.
SIMULATION AND EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS ON GaN BASED ULTRA-SHORT PLANAR NEGATIVE DIFFERENTIAL CONDUCTIVITY DIODES FOR THz POWER GENERATION

A GaN based negative differential conductivity diode utilizing transient ballistic transport effects is proposed and large-signal circuit simulations along with preliminary experimental results are presented. The diode is an n+-n-n+ structure and transport is described by an empirical velocity-field relation which is derived directly from femtosecond pulse-probe measurements available in literature and incorporated into the simulations through curve fitting. Efficient THz generation is predicted as a result of ~2.8 peak-to-valley ratio. Pulsed current-voltage characteristics were measured and N-type dependence was observed.
Tuberculosis and the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome at a New York City Hospital: 1978-1985

Recent reports have described an increase in cases of tuberculosis in several urban centers. To investigate the possible relationship between tuberculosis and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), we reviewed case records at a New York City hospital between 1978 and 1985. During this period, tuberculosis occurred in 15.1 percent of AIDS patients with a history of parenteral drug use and 4.4 percent of all other patients with AIDS. The yearly rate of tuberculosis more than doubled during the study period; this increase was entirely attributable to cases among patients with AIDS or AIDS-related complex and parenteral drug users, a group at high risk for the development of AIDS. Patients with AIDS and tuberculosis were younger and more frequently men than other patients with tuberculosis, and were more likely to have extrapulmonic disease. In the majority of patients, tuberculosis occurred prior to confirmation of CDC-defined AIDS. Forty-four percent of patients with AIDS-related complex at the time of diagnosis of tuberculosis subsequently developed AIDS. Mycobacterium tuberculosis appears to be yet another opportunistic agent to which patients with AIDS retroviral-induced immunodeficiency are susceptible.
Overlay network placement for diagnosability

Overlay networks have become an effective method to help overcome the limitations of the Internet in the last decade. Overlays must be monitored for various kinds of problems so that efficient performance can be sustained. An overlay's topology and placement on the substrate have a considerable effect on the level of difficulty in monitoring it. In this paper, we study the problem of placing overlay networks onto the substrate in a way that makes it easier to detect and localize faults, in other words, improves their diagnosability. Overlay network fault diagnosis is especially challenging because of their construction as virtual networks on top of a network substrate. We give a practical definition of diagnosability, and develop an overlay assignment algorithm that aims to optimize overlay placement for the ease and quickness of fault diagnosis. We evaluate the efficiency of this algorithm using an existing passive fault diagnosis scheme, and show that we are able to improve diagnosability without placing a significant strain on the network. We also analyze diagnosability in situations where traffic is sufficient for passive measurements on a percentage of paths rather than the whole network, and study how to augment passive diagnosis with selective active probing in order to raise diagnosability to a desired level.
Ionically Cross-Linked Triblock Copolymer Hydrogels with High Strength

High strength hydrogels were made by ionically cross-linking the polyelectrolyte midblock of a self-assembled, amphiphilic triblock copolymer network. The polymer backbone consisted of glassy, sphe...
Review of recent developments of spatial phase-shift digital shearography

In the last decade, due to the fast development of phase-shift technique, the measurement sensitivity of digital shearography (DS) technology has been increased tens of times which brings the technology itself a wide acceptance by the industry as a practical measurement tool for quality inspection and non-destructive testing. In common sense, compare to Temporal Phase-Shift Digital Shearography (TPS-DS), Spatial Phase-Shift Digital Shearograhy (SPS-DS) has the advantage of a broader capability for both static and dynamic measurement applications while keeps the disadvantage of lower phase-map quality. Recently, with new developments, the phase map quality of spatial phase-shift digital shearography has been greatly improved which is now comparable to the temporal phase-shift technique. This article gives a review of recent developments of spatial phase-shift digital shearography. Theory, experimental setup, phase-map results and applications are shown in detail.
Stability Margins with Real Parameter Uncertainy: Test Data Implications

A stability robustness problem is posed in which a plant description contains both parametric and unstructured uncertainty, and test data is available for reduction of the parameter uncertainty through identification. An expression is obtained for the minimal stability margin consistent with the test data and unstructured uncertainty assumptions. Computational procedures for obtaining bounds on the stability margin are indicated. The computations require the solution of a convex optimization problem.
Body fluid exposure in an urban tertiary care medical center.

The increasing prevalences of the human immunodeficiency (HIV) and hepatitis B viruses have focused attention on the risks that health care workers face when exposed to potentially infective body fluids. This study establishes a profile of 320 parenteral exposure incidents and 47 exposure incidents to mucous membranes or abraded skin, reported in our medical center between July 1988 and July 1990. We found that 102 (27.8%) of the incidents involved an HIV-positive patient, that 130 (35.4%) of the reporting employees had completed their hepatitis B vaccination at the time of the incident, and that, although the majority of incidents involved employees with patient contact, unfortunately, service workers also were represented (4.6%, n + 17). Factors contributing to incidents included recapping (10.9%, n + 40), full needleboxes (7.6%, n + 28), and inappropriate disposal (13.1%, n + 48). A health fair featuring walk-in hepatitis B immunization attracted 260 participants, 90% of whom completed the entire immunization series. This significantly improved the immunization rate of employees subsequently reporting body fluid exposure. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Heterogeneous expression of car☐ypeptidase E and proenkephalin mRNAs by cultured astrocytes

Abstract Cultured astrocytes have been found to express neuropeptides, neuropeptide processing enzymes and their mRNAs. Although astrocytes were shown to display regional variation in their expression of these mRNAs, it was unclear whether all astrocytes cultured from the same brain region express similar mRNA levels or if this expression is heterogeneous. We examined the individual heterogeneity of astrocytes cultured from several brain regions by in situ hybridization. Astrocytes derived from the frontal cortex, hypothalamus and cerebellum of neonatal rat brains were cultured for 3 weeks and then analyzed by in situ hybridization using 35 S-labeled cRNA probes to car☐ypeptidase E (CPE), proenkephalin (PE), and cyclophilin (1B15) mRNAs and an oligomeric probe complimentary to the first 45 bases of rat 18S rRNA. Frequency histograms generated by counting the grains produced over emulsion-coated cells demonstrated populations of astrocytes expressing high levels of mRNA for CPE and PE and a population expressing low to background levels of these mRNAs. In contrast, all cultured astrocytes expressed high levels of 1B15 mRNA and 18S rRNA. The percentage of cultured astrocytes expressing high levels of CPE mRNA was 42% for frontal cortex astrocytes and 23% for cerebellar astrocytes. While the percentages of cultured astrocytes expressing high levels of PE mRNA varied slightly between brain regions (24–28%), the level of PE mRNA expression per cell showed greater variation between regions. The effect of culture density on the expression of PE mRNA was also examined. Approximately 55% of the cells in low density cultures expressed PE mRNA, while only 5–10% of the cells in high density cultures expressed this mRNA. These results indicate that cultured astrocytes display individual heterogeneity with regard to neuropeptide biosynthesis and that the expression of neuropeptides by these cells is regulated.
Critical temperatures and pressures of hydrocarbons

A method has been developed for the calculation of van der Waals' constants both a and b for hydrocarbons usually encountered, including the aliphatic, naphthenic, and aromatic types. With these constants critical temperatures and pressures can be calculated directly. Methods recently made available (12, 13, 14, 15) allow the calculation of these constants through the use of substitution values involving the replacement of hydrogen atoms by methyl groups in a definitely prescribed pattern. In this study van der Waals' constants are directly calculated from a consideration only of the molecular structure of the hydrocarbon. This approach has become possible through the assignment of group contributions to different types of carbon atoms, which can be combined in any manner to produce the van der Waals' constants representative of the molecular structure of the hydrocarbon.
Human liver prenyltransferase and its characterization

Prenyltransferase (dimethylallydiphosphate: isopentenyldiphosphate dimethylallytransferase, EC 2.5.1.1) has been purified to homogeneity from human liver obtained at autopsy. The enzyme is a dimer with a native molecular weight of 74 000 +/- 1 400. The amino acid composition is reported. the enzyme has a broad pH optimum between 7.3 and 8.8 and an absolute requirement for either Mn2+ or Mg2+ for activity; half-maximal activity was observed at 3.7 microM Mn2+ or 89.0 microM Mg2+. Michaelis constants for geranyl pyrophosphate and isopentenyl pyrophosphate were 0.44 and 0.94 microM, respectively; the V value for synthesis of farnesyl pyrophosphate from these substrates was 1.1 mumol . min-1 . mg-1. Isopentenyl pyrophosphate inhibited the reaction rates at concentrations above 2 microM when the concentrations of geranyl pyrophosphate were less than 2 microM. The highest concentration of geranyl pyrophosphate tested, 16 microM, showed no inhibition of reaction rates even when the concentration of isopentenyl pyrophosphate was as low as 0.2 microM. Only one form of human liver prenyltransferase could be observed under conditions which resolved the porcine enzyme into two distinct forms; the human enzyme is akin, physico-chemically, to the B-form of the pig liver enzyme. After dialysis against Tris-HCl buffer, pH 7.8, the enzyme became completely dependent upon dithiols or thiols for its activity. Kinetic experiments with a partially activated enzyme sample showed that the activation by the dithiol greatly enhanced the affinity of the enzyme for geranyl pyrophosphate, but not that for isopentenyl pyrophosphate. The human prenyltransferase is inactivated by phenylglyoxal according to pseudo-first-order kinetics, but is protected against the inactivation by 3,3-dimethylallyl and geranyl pyrophosphate. It is also inactivated by high concentrations (greater than 2 mM) of iodoacetic acid, but is protected against the inactivation by dithiothreitol. Antibodies raised to the B-form of the pig liver enzyme cross-reacted with the human prenyltransferase and were 47% as effective in precipitating the human enzyme as the porcine enzyme. In double immunodiffusion experiments the antiserum was monospecific against the B-form of the porcine enzyme; it also gave a single precipitin line with the A-form, but not identical with that given by the B-form. It gave a precipitin line also with the human enzyme, but not identical with that given by either the A- or B-form of the porcine enzyme.
Effects of Biotic and Abiotic Factors on Grape Root Borer (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) Infestations in Commercial Vineyards in Virginia

Larval grape root borer, Vitacea polistiformis (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), feed on roots of wild Vitis and commercially important Vitis species and rootstocks in portions of the eastern United States. Grape root borer pupal exuviae sampling in Virginia vineyards from 2008 to 2012 revealed that infestation levels varied substantially among 48 vineyard blocks. Data on horticultural (cultivar, rootstock, vine age, and planting area), cultural (insecticide use, ground cover, weed control, and irrigation), and environmental variables (proximity to forest, soil composition, soil moisture holding capacity, pH, organic matter, bulk density, and cation exchange capacity) from each block were subjected to optimal quantification using categorical principal component analysis (CATPCA). Variables with component loading values ≥0.70 from the CATPCA were used as predictors and pupal exuviae density as the dependent variable in binary logistic regression. A prediction model was developed by including statistically significant variables in the logistic regression. CATPCA showed that seven vineyard factors (ground cover, soil texture, soil mass moisture, soil pH, clay/sand ratio, clay/silt ratio, and sand/silt ratio) based on three selected principal components were significant for subsequent regression analysis. Binary logistic regression showed that soil mass moisture and clay/sand ratio were statistically significant factors contributing to differences in infestation among vineyard blocks. Based on these two factors, a risk prediction model for calculating the probability of grape root borer infestation in vineyards was developed and validated using receiver operating characteristic curve. Results are discussed in relation to the practical implications of a predictive, risk assessment model for grape root borer management.
The facile generation of covalently closed, circular DNAs with defined negative superhelical densities.

Abstract A rapid and simple method for generating samples of circular DNAs with defined superhelical densities is presented. A wide range of negative superhelical densities can be produced; namely, from 0 to 0.165 under the conditions employed. This method should facilitate the study of the detailed relationship between superhelical density and biochemical processes such as replication, transcription, and recombination.
Conducting polymer nanowires-based label-free biosensors

Label-free sensing technologies have recently attracted a great deal of interest for sensitive, rapid and facile analysis for applications in health care, environmental monitoring, food safety and homeland security. One-dimensional (1-D) nanostructures such as nanowires, configured as field-effect transistors (FETs)/chemiresistors that change conductance upon binding of charged macromolecules to receptors linked to the device surfaces are extremely attractive for label-free biosensors. Herein, we review recent advances in label-free biosensors based on conducting polymer nanowires based FET/chemiresistor. Specifically, we address the fabrication, functionalization, assembly/alignment and sensing applications of FET/chemiresistor based on these nanomaterials. The advantages and disadvantages of various fabrication, functionalization, and assembling procedures of these nanosensors are reviewed and discussed.
Further characterization of long-lived proteins in mouse tissues

Abstract The nuclear fractions from all the tissues examined contained substantial amounts of protein label possessing quite high relative isotope-retention values. Since several histones are lysine rich and turn over slowly, this is not suprising. Except for the nuclear fractions, the amount of label retained in subfractions derived from liver, kidneys, heart and skeletal muscle was quite low, as were the relative isotope-retention values of homogenates of these tissues when compared with brain fractions. The rapid turnover of many proteins in these tissues clarifies these findings. The unique functions of the nervous tissue in information storage evidently requires strable structures compared to most other tissues. The presence of such structures, made up of non-replenishing molecules has implications for any non-replenishing group of structures. Such components will eventually deteriorate from stochastic or programmed causes and result in the loss of those functions they support.
Performance, place and power at Dún Ailinne, a ceremonial site of the Irish Iron Age

AbstractDun Ailinne is one of the major ceremonial sites of the Irish Iron Age (600 bce–ce 400), a time when society was becoming increasingly centralized. We argue that these sites were a focus for the process of centralization, facilitated by performance though the site’s construction and use. Physical movement in the context of ritual has been shown to affect the perception of social relationships. These would have been experienced through performance, including movement through the landscape, the visual dominance of the hill and the site located on it, the hierarchical arrangement of spaces within the bank and ditch, and the resulting ways in which movement and access are gradually more constrained through time. Experienced through the medium of ritual performance, these various aspects would have reinforced ideas of power and elite status, providing a context in which such constraints could have been created, justified, maintained and perhaps resisted.
Diabetes mellitus and concomitant leukemia.

The association of diabetes mellitus and leukemia in the same patient is infrequent. Ten cases of coexistence of these two diseases are reported. This group is part of a series of 805 cases of leukemia studied.
Patent ductus arteriosus with pulmonary hypertension: temporary obstruction of the ductus during cardiac catheterization to evaluate indication for surgical closure.

SUMMARY In patent ductus arteriosus with pulmonary hypertension and partial reversal of the shunt, the outcome of the surgical closure of the ductus depends on the direction of the major shunt and on the behavior of the pulmonary artery pressure following closure. Calculation of the shunts in the presence of bidirectional flow through the patent ductus is inaccurate using ordinary means. This report illustrates the possibility of prediction of the changes in pulmonary artery pressure and of a more accurate calculation of the shunts without surgical exploration. The ductus can be occluded during cardiac catheterization by a special three-way catheter with an inflatable balloon attachment which is placed into the patent ductus. The danger of the procedure does not exceed that of the usual cardiac catheterization and prevents the performance of an unnecessary thoracotomy.
Mobile Source CO2 Mitigation through Smart Growth Development and Vehicle Fleet Hybridization

This paper presents the results of a study on the effectiveness of smart growth development patterns and vehicle fleet hybridization in reducing mobile source emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) across 11 major metropolitan regions of the Midwestern U.S. over a 50-year period. Through the integration of a vehicle travel activity modeling framework developed by researchers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory with small area population projections, we model mobile source emissions of CO2 associated with alternative land development and technology change scenarios between 2000 and 2050. Our findings suggest that under an aggressive smart growth scenario, growth in emissions expected to occur under a business as usual scenario is reduced by 34%, while the full dissemination of hybrid-electric vehicles throughout the light vehicle fleet is found to offset the expected growth in emissions by 97%. Our results further suggest that high levels of urban densification could achieve reductions in 2050 CO2 emissions equivalent to those attainable through the full dissemination of hybrid-electric vehicle technologies.
Routine left atrial appendage ligation during cardiac surgery may prevent postoperative atrial fibrillation–related cerebrovascular accident

Objective The aim of the study was to determine whether routine left atrial appendage ligation in cardiac surgery would reduce the risk of postoperative atrial fibrillation–related cerebrovascular accident. Methods We performed an institutional review board–approved, case-control, retrospective chart review of adult patients who underwent cardiac surgery by a single surgeon between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2010. Preoperative CHADS 2 score criteria were collected, and outcomes through postoperative day 30 were analyzed. Results A total of 2067 patients were reviewed. Propensity score matching was used to create matched groups based on left atrial appendage ligation, and 631 patients were matched in each group. Subjects with postoperative atrial fibrillation were 2.4 times (95% confidence interval, 1.51-2.82) more likely to undergo valve surgery, 2.11 times (95% confidence interval, 1.56-2.86) more likely to be aged more than 75 years, and 1.36 times (95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.80) more likely to have undergone left atrial appendage ligation. In the left atrial appendage ligation group with postoperative atrial fibrillation (n = 145), there were zero subjects (0%) with a postoperative cardiovascular accident. In the non–left atrial appendage ligation group with postoperative atrial fibrillation (n = 115), there were 7 subjects (6.1%) with a postoperative cardiovascular accident (0.0% vs 6.1%, P = .003). Conclusions Although postoperative atrial fibrillation remains a common complication of cardiac surgery, there was a significant decrease in the incidence of postoperative cerebrovascular accidents since routine ligation of the left atrial appendage was undertaken. This has been found to be a safe adjunct to a wide variety of cardiac procedures and therefore deserves further study by a larger randomized controlled trial.
Findings on the Revised Morally Debatable Behaviors Scale

Abstract The Morally Debatable Behaviors Scale (Harding & Phillips, 1986; MDBS) was developed in Europe in the mid-1980s to measure the justifiability of morally contestable behaviors. For the present study, we used a revised version of the MDBS (the MDBS-R) to gather data from 156 adults. Principal component analysis revealed three primary factors related to honesty-dishonesty morality, personal-sexual morality, and legal-punitive morality. Women showed less tolerance for illegal acts but more tolerance for personal and sexual freedom than did men. Moral tolerance was unrelated to self-esteem, but individuals with strong religious and authoritarian beliefs were usually more dogmatic in their attitudes. Political liberalism was predictive of increased moral tolerance and flexibility. Generally speaking, the respondents were least tolerant of behaviors that were illegal or dishonest (e.g., stealing a car, welfare fraud) and showed the most disagreement over behaviors that were controversial, often sexual i...
Ashamed to be an American? The role of identification in predicting vicarious shame for anti-Arab prejudice after 9–11

We propose that individuals sometimes feel ashamed for the negative actions of their in-group because these actions constitute a threat to their identity. The present study examined factors that evoke shame when individuals recall instances of negative behavior committed by another in-group member. American undergraduates recalled instances when other Americans exhibited prejudice toward people of Middle-Eastern descent after September 11th and rated their emotions and motivations following the event. Results indicated that identification with being American predicted more shame and a stronger desire to distance oneself from the group when the event was very negative. Identification predicted less shame and distancing for less negative events. The implications of the results for social emotions, identity management, and the black sheep effect are discussed.