cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Imipenem and cilastatin sodium

Abstract Imipenem/cilastatin sodium is a fixed combination of imipenem, a carbapenem antibiotic, and cilastatin sodium, a dehydropeptidase 1 inhibitor. It produces rapid bacterial-cell-wall lysis by attaching to penicillin-binding proteins on the bacterial cell wall and is bactericidal against a broad spectrum of pathogens. It is available for both intravenous and intramuscular administration. of particular relevance to obstetricians and gynecologists is that the drug reaches therapeutic levels in pelvic organs and abscess cavities. However, resistance has been noted in Clostridium difficile and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and imipenem/cilastatin has no activity against Chlamydia trachomatis or genital mycoplasmas. Imipenem/cilastatin is well tolerated; the most common side effects are phlebitis at the site of injection, transient elevation in serum transaminases, and allergic reaction. Nonetheless, its high cost precludes its routine use as a first-line agent for the treatment of mild to moderately severe pelvic infections. Its main role lies in the treatment of nosocomial infections, especially in the immunocompromised host or the patient with renal dysfunction.
Chronic infections produced in cultured cell strains by the virus of eastern equine encephalomyelitis

Abstract The behavior of the virus of eastern equine encephalomyelitis in continuous roller tube tissue cultures of two rat tumor cell strains, four rat cell strains, derived from muscle, and two human tumor cell strains was studied. A temperature of 37° during incubation favored recovery from infection, while 31° favored a state of chronic infection. The presence of embryo extract stimulated cells to grow faster and so to recover. One of the cell strains derived from normal rat muscle consistently recovered and lost virus, but was consistently susceptible to three successive reinfections. The onset of gross destruction of a cell strain was accompanied by an increased yield of virus. The amount of virus which initiated an infection in the cell strains tested in tissue culture was about the same as the minimal amount which infected chick embryos. In some cases, however, tissue culture infections were not initiated by less than 100 chick embryo infectious doses. The human carcinoma strain HeLa developed a chronic infection after minimal inocula of virus, whereas a human fibrosarcoma strain (AFI) was promptly destroyed.
Noncyclic generalizations of BCH and srivastava codes

We define two classes of linear error correcting codes which are noncyclic generalizations of the well known BCH and Srivastava codes. The corresponding parity check matrices are basically alternating functions of certain elements of GF(qm) and all determinants of maximum order of the parity check matrices are alternants. As a consequence lower bounds on the minimum distance of these codes can easily be obtained.
Receiver design for turbo codes used in an impulsive noise environment

Turbo codes allow reliable data communication at signal-to-noise ratios very close to those predicted by Shannon. Further, breaking up the decoding task so that separate decoders work on the two constituent codes, passing extrinsic information between them, greatly simplifies the implementation of the decoder. Traditionally, the statistical model for noise used in the design and analysis of the decoder is the additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) model. However many practical applications present situations where the AWGN model for noise is clearly sub-optimum. Optimum performance for a spread spectrum system when the noise is non-Gaussian in nature is possible by augmenting the traditional turbo decoder with a nonlinear preprocessor. A computationally efficient version of such a receiver for reliable decoding of turbo coded, direct-spread data in non-Gaussian noise is investigated here. The noise is represented using Middleton class-A model and a parametric receiver is designed. Performance of such a scheme based on the system bit error rate is studied.
Observing Islam observed: the family resemblance and the pun

Clifford Geertz's Moroccan work was of a piece with his overall project of understanding how cultural categories are formed and reformed in the context of such institutions as the marketplace and religious settings. His study of the Moroccan market was therefore really as much a study of religion as of economic structures. He sought to uncover the everyday morality that informs that domain and to show how that morality represents and incorporates concepts that are deeply embedded in Islamic thought. Far from romanticising or judging Moroccan social life, he sought to use his comparative work in Indonesia to highlight the distinctiveness of Moroccan local knowledge.
Advanced Practice and Neuroscience Nursing

In this report Calkin's model of advanced practice is used to contrast generalized/specialized and basic/advanced nursing practices. Examples of specialized and advanced practices in neuroscience nursing are described in the context of environmental forces that influence advanced practice in North America. Finally, a letter from the future is used to speculate and to illustrate visions of nursing practice in the twenty-first century.
Microencapsulation of Leydig cells: a system for testosterone supplementation.

The use of testosterone supplementation for elderly men has increased markedly over the last decade due to a recognized gradual decline in serum testosterone, which may lead to decreased bone mass, muscle strength, and libido. Testosterone supplementation is also used widely to treat some forms of erectile dysfunction, androgen deficiency, and infertility. However, long-term exogenous testosterone therapy has been associated with several complications, such as fluid retention, nitrogen retention, and hypertension. Due to these problems, alternate treatment modalities, involving more physiological and longer-acting systems for androgen delivery, have been pursued. Alginate-poly-L-lysine-encapsulated Leydig cell microspheres were used as a novel method for the delivery of testosterone in vivo. Encapsulated Leydig cells, which were stimulated with human chorionic gonadotropin, secreted high levels of testosterone in culture. Unencapsulated cells injected ip or sc failed to produce any testosterone levels, even with human chorionic gonadotropin stimulation. Castrated rats that were administered encapsulated Leydig cells ip or sc maintained a serum testosterone level between 0.23 and 0.51 ng/ml. Similar levels of testosterone were obtained for 43 d when the encapsulated Leydig cells were injected sc (0.28 – 0.48 ng/ml). Approximately 10% of a normal adult rat Leydig cell population was injected into each castrated animal; however, this resulted in serum testosterone levels of up to 40% of normal. Clinically, testosterone is usually delivered for supplementation and not for full replacement therapy. Therefore, the findings of this study suggest that microencapsulated Leydig cells may be a viable option as a therapeutic modality involving testosterone supplementation. (Endocrinology 144: 4975– 4979, 2003)
Glucose repression in yeast.

The Snf1 protein kinase is a central component of the signaling pathway for glucose repression in yeast. Recent studies have addressed the regulation of Snf1 kinase activity and elucidated mechanisms by which Snf1 controls repression and activation of glucose-repressed genes. Important advances include evidence that Snf1 regulates the localization of the Mig1 repressor and that Snf functions at multiple points to control Cat8 and Sip4, the activators of gluconeogenic genes.
Image Guidance during Abdominal Exploration for Recurrent Colorectal Cancer

Real-time intraoperative image guidance has been successfully applied to malignancies of the head, neck and central nervous system. Few attempts have been made to apply this technology to gastrointestinal cancers. Our purpose was to determine if a computer-assisted navigation system could be accurately used at the time of abdominal exploration. Fourteen patients with resectable recurrent colorectal cancer underwent computer tomography (CT) imaging of the abdomen and pelvis. The CT images were uploaded to a StealthStation (Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN), a device that tracks the motion of a handheld probe in the operating field and displays its position, in real time, on the uploaded images. Various anatomic points were utilized to match, or register, the patient to the images in the navigation system. After four or more anatomic points were registered, the accuracy of the registration process was computed by the navigation system and reported as the global error. A total of 23 different anatomic structures were used for registration. The median number of points used for registration per patient was 6.5 (range 5–9). The anatomic sites most commonly used were the anterior superior iliac spines, aortic bifurcation, sacral promontory, symphysis pubis, and iliac artery bifurcation. The median global error was 10.0 mm (range 6.7 mm–27.0 mm). Computer-assisted navigation systems can be used to accurately deliver image guidance at the time of abdominal exploration. Future work will be directed at determining the value of this technology in the localization and resection of tumors.
SU-GG-T-166: Quality Assurance for SRS/SRT IMRT

Purpose: Investigate proper QA procedures, standards, and difficulties for IMRT SRS/SRT, which has high dose proscription (⩾10 Gy for a fraction) and high dose rate (600–1000 MU/minute). Under these situations, the films, diodes, or electron portal imaging devices (EPIDs) all have some limitations, such as dose saturation and dose rate dependence. Method and Materials: Our initial QA procedure is staying with conventional ion chamber plus film, to which each field is exposed to get around the saturation problem. SRS/SRT Patient IMRT plans were generated with Eclipse Treatment Planning System (Varian Medical Systems, Mountain View, CA). The plans then were copied to a verification plan with a polystyrene QA phantom. The generated QA plan was delivered with the same gantry, collimator, and couch angles from the patient plan. Point dose was measured at isocenter with Capintec PR‐05P (Capintec, Inc. Ramsey, New. Jersey, USA) and compared with the calculated value from the Eclipse TPS. At the same time, each field was filmed with EDR2 film (Kodak Inc., Rochester, NY). The film was processed and compared with the exported dose map from Eclipse TPS by Vidar scanner (Vidar Systems, Herndon, VA) and RIT113 software (Radiological Imaging Technology, Colorado Springs, CO). Results: The planned point dose agreed well with the measurements. For five plans, the ratios of measured dose over the planned dose are from 97.0% to 98.0%, with an average of 97.7%.The individual film also agrees with the exported two‐dimensional dose distribution, respectively. This IMRT QA procedure takes about 2–3 hours for each patient. Conclusion: Despite the problems arising from high dose and dose rate, conventional procedure of ion chamber plus film (EDR2) is reliable for SRS/SRT IMRT QA. Other QA methods, such as EPIDs, MapCheck, and ion chamber arrays, need to be investigated for quicker and reliable verification.
Post-mortem stability of membrane-associated sialidase activity in brain

Abstract The post-mortem changes in membrane-associated sialidase ( N -acetylneuraminosyl glycohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.18) were examined in rat brain obtained and stored in a manner which paralleled neuropathological handling of human brains. When whole brains were held at 4°C in covered containers for varying periods of time (0–67 h), sialidase activity toward endogenous membrane substrate was elevated. This elevated activity was maximal at 8 h of storage and decreased thereafter. The apparent decrease in enzyme activation from 8 to 67 h of storage was not due to a reduction of activity, but was the result of depletion of endogenous membrane substrate, since activity toward exogenous ganglioside remained elevated. The changes were due to whole brain storage at 4°C, and not a result of being stored at −80°C. The post-mortem activation of sialidase was not due to the expression of a new form of the enzyme, since it displayed characteristics similar to those reported previously: (a) membrane gangliosides being the preferred native substrate, and (b) ganglioside GM1 and lactosylceramide being the major hydrolytic products. The results underscore the importance of post-mortem storage conditions when analyzing complex carbohydrates of brain.
Fine structure of fast-twitch and slow-twitch guinea pig muscle fibers

The guinea pig soleus muscle is a convenient model for the study of slow-twitch intermediate (STI) fiber ultrastructure because it is composed entirely of fibers of this class. Such fibers were compared with fast-twitch red (FTR) and fast-twitch white (FTW) fibers from the vastus lateralis muscle. FTW fibers are characterized by small, sparse mitochondria, a narrow Z line and, an extensive sarcoplasmic reticulum arranged primarily in longitudinal profiles at the A band and with numerous expansions at the I band. Abundant mitochondria with a dense matrix and subsarcolemmal and perinuclear aggregations are typical of FTR fibers. These fibers contain a plexus of sarcoplasmic reticulum at the A band and a less extensive network at the I band. The Z lines are wider (890 ± 74 A) than those of FTW fibers (582 ± 62 A). STI intermediate fibers are distinguished from other types by wide Z lines (1205 ± 58 A), a faint M band, and a less extensive sarcoplasmic reticulum. Compared to FTR fibers, STI fiber mitochondria are usually smaller with less notable subsarcolemmal accumulations. FTW fibers have a more limited capillary supply, rarely contain lipid inclusions, and thus may be restricted to phasic activity. Extensive capillarity, mitochondrial and lipid context, and fast contraction times indicate possible phasic and tonic roles for FTR fibers. STI fibers, characterized by numerous lipid inclusions, extensive capillarity, relatively numerous mitochondria, but slow contraction-relaxation cycles, are morphologically suited for tonic muscle activity.
Length of Stay of Pediatric Mental Health Emergency Department Visits in the United States

Objective To compare pediatric mental health emergency department visits to other pediatric emergency department visits, focusing on length of stay. Method We analyzed data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, a nationally representative sample of US emergency department visits from 2001 to 2008, for patients aged ≤18 years (n = 73,015). Visits with a principal diagnosis of a mental disorder (n = 1,476) were compared to visits (n = 71,539) with regard to patient and hospital characteristics, treatment, and length of stay. Predictors of prolonged mental health visits were identified. Results Mental health visits were more likely than other visits to arrive by ambulance (21.8% versus 6.3%, p p p p Conclusions Compared with other pediatric emergency visits, mental health visits are longer, are more frequently triaged to urgent evaluation, and more likely to result in patient admission or transfer, thereby placing distinctive burdens on US emergency departments.
Forward–backward propagation in the mixed quantum–classical theory for the collisional energy transfer

Abstract A method of forward–backward propagation is incorporated into the mixed quantum–classical theory for calculations of the collisional energy transfer and ro-vibrational energy flow in a molecule + quencher encounter. This permits to avoid unphysical behavior of the energy transfer function in the range of large impact parameters. A case study is presented on stabilization of the metastable states of ozone in collisions with Ar bath gas.
Evaluation of packet latency in single and multi-hop WiFi wireless networks

In this paper, we evaluate the packet latency performance of a new scheduler-based scheme that we have implemented on top of the p-persistent 802.11 MAC layer. We extended Cali's dynamic p-persistent 802.11 protocol from single class to multiple classes by means of a weighted fair queuing scheduler built on top of the MAC p-persistent layer. We used the NS2 simulator in the implementation and testing of our multiple-class scheduler and incorporated the scheduler-based architecture by modifying the NS2's 802.11 DCF implementation and the protocol stack of the wireless node. Our tests showed that AEDCF cannot maintain the same throughput differentiation ratios among different traffic classes under different loads. In contrast, the p-persistent Scheduler scheme maintains the desired differentiation ratios under different loads, gives higher total network throughput and provides easier tuning. We present detailed performance results of the scheduler-based architecture in terms of QoS differentiation and packet latency. All tests were implemented in NS2. The paper concentrates on single hop wireless networks and compares the scheduler-based scheme with AEDCF. The paper is concluded by a discussion on how to extend the evaluation to multi-hop wireless networks and examine the role of the routing layer and the MAC layer.
The basic helix‐loop‐helix E2A gene product E47, not E12, is present in differentiating Sertoli cells

Sertoli cells are the epithelial cells required to maintain spermatogenesis in the adult testis. The induction of Sertoli cell differentiation in the embryo promotes testicular development and male sex determination. Previous reports suggest that Sertoli cell differentiation is regulated in part by basic helix loop helix transcription factors. This was based on the observation that the promoters of a number of Sertoli cell-specific genes contain E-box response elements and over-expression of Id, a negatively acting bHLH protein, which down regulates Sertoli cell differentiated functions. The present study investigates the ubiquitously expressed bHLH proteins E12 and E47 in Sertoli cells. E12 and E47 are spliced variants of the E2A gene and are implicated in cell-specific gene expression as part of a dimeric bHLH complex that interacts with E-box response elements. Both E12 and E47 bHLH proteins are detected in a wide range of cell types. The E12/E47 cDNA product was cloned from Sertoli cells and sequenced. The sequence of the E2A gene product was found to be highly similar to E47, with only two amino acid differences. Characterization of the E2A transcripts suggested that Sertoli cells express E47. Interestingly, using specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers, Sertoli cells were found to only express E47 and not E12. However, E12 was present in the RNA samples obtained from whole testis containing a mixture of cell types. Hormones were found to have no influence on the expression of E47 by Sertoli cells. No other cell system studied to date has been shown to specifically express E47. The results are discussed in relation to the possibility that Sertoli cells may express a more cell-specific bHLH protein that can preferentially dimerize with E47, and/or that E47 homodimers may be transcriptionally active in Sertoli cells. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 52:1–8, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
On the metabolic stability of nucleic acids in mitotically inactive adult tissues labeled during embryonic development

Abstract [8-14C]adenine was administered to pregnant mice in order to incorporate isotope into DNA and RNA of dividing fetal tissue (brain and liver) that subsequently becomes mitotically inactive in the adult animal. The radioactivity in the DNA and RNA purines of these and other tissues from the offspring were determined at periods from nine days to one year after birth. During this period there was no loss of 14C from the DNA purines of brain and liver, whereas the RNA of these tissues did lose radioactivity. These results further confirm the metabolic stability of DNA and indicate that radioactive atoms incorporated into DNA of the liver and brain of embryos may remain fixed for the life of the animal.
Factitious hosts in insect parasitoid rearings

Guidelines for choosing surrogate laboratory hosts for rearing parasitic Hymenoptera are given. A survey of 43 instances in which “unnatural” hosts were used in rearing revealed the search should not be limited to closely related taxa. Ease of rearing was the common denominator for host selection. A case study, i.e. selection ofEutrapela clemataria (J.E. Smith) (Lep.: Geometridae) as a factitious host for the egg parasiteTelenomus alsophilaeViereck, illustrates the adaptation of a readily parasitized and productive candidate to available rearing methods for a successful attempt in biological control.
Stereo viewing 3-component, planar PIV utilizing fuzzy inference

An all electronic 3-D Digital Particle Image Velocimetry (DPIV) system has been developed for use in high velocity (supersonic) flows. Two high resolution CCD cameras mounted in a stereo viewing configuration are used to determine the out-of-plane velocity component from the difference of the in-plane velocity measurements. Double exposure image frames are acquired and Fuzzy inference techniques are used to maximize the validity of the velocity estimates obtained from the auto-correlation analysis. The CCD cameras are tilted relative to their respective lens axes to satisfy Scheimpflug's condition. Tilting the camera film plane ensures that the entire image plane is in focus. Perspective distortion still results, but can be corrected by proper calibration of the optical system. A calibration fixture is used to determine the experimental setup parameters and to assess the accuracy to which the z-plane displacements can be estimated. The details of the calibration fixture and procedure are discussed in the text. A pair of pulsed Nd:YAG lasers operating at 532 nm are used to illuminate the seeded flow from a convergent nozzle operated in an underexpanded condition. The light sheet was oriented perpendicular to the nozzle flow, yielding planar cross-sections of the 3-component velocity field at several axial stations. The key features of the supersonic jet are readily observed in the cross-plane vector plots.
Extinction Rates: Modern extinctions in the kilo-death range

For some groups of species, extinction rates are orders of magnitude higher than expected background rates--many species now last nearer a fateful second than their destined hour.
Radio Noise from Meteors

AN average meteor releases energy at a rate of 100 megawatts as it is disintegrated in the Earth's upper atmosphere. A portion of this energy is converted into heat and light, and it is possible that energy is also emitted in other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, at high and low radio frequencies. Plasma resonance of the ionized trail and deceleration of electrons and ions, for example, are possible mechanisms for radio emission. Preliminary experiments conducted by Kalashnikov1 in the U.S.S.R. seemed to show that meteors produced radio noise at the lower end of the spectrum, at a frequency of about 1 c./s. His equipment consisted of a search coil, 100 m. in diameter, that was connected to a sensitive moving-coil galvanometer. With this magnetometer a field change of 4 × 10−8 oersted, or 4 × 10−3γ, could be detected, and pulses were obtained simultaneously with the occurrence of a meteor. I have recently repeated the magnetometer experiment, and measurements have also been made at other points in the electromagnetic spectrum, so that meteor noise has been investigated at the frequencies: 1 c./s., 30 Mc./s., 218 Mc./s. and 475 Mc./s.
Atomic Force Microscopy of Atomic-Scale Ledges and Etch Pits Formed During Dissolution of Quartz

The processes involved in the dissolution and growth of crystals are closely related. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) of faceted pits (called negative crystals) formed during quartz dissolution reveals subtle details of these underlying physical mechanisms for silicates. In imaging these surfaces, the AFM detected ledges <1 nanometer (nm) high that were spaced 10 to 90 nm apart. A dislocation pit, invisible to optical and scanning electron microscopy measurements and serving as a ledge source, was also imaged. These observations confirm the applicability of ledge-motion models to dissolution and growth of silicates; coupled with measurements of dissolution rate on facets, these methods provide a powerful tool for probing mineral surface kinetics.
HELIUM IN THE POLAR WIND

The coupled time-dependent continuity, momentum, and energy equations for four charged species (H(+), He(+), O(+) and electrons) moving through a stationary upper neutral atmosphere (composed of O2, N2, O, He, and H) were solved along open geomagnetic field lines using a modified version of the Gombosi et al. (1985) model. The thermospheric densities and temperatures, obtained from the MSIS-86 model (Hedin, 1987), were used to calculate neutral-ion sources, sinks, and collision frequencies. The various cross sections and conductivities employed by the Gombosi et al. model were also updated. The paper presents the first time-dependent solutions for the He(+) component of the polar wind. Special attention is paid to the solar cycle variation of the ion upflows.
Morphological Development of Crested and Western Wheatgrass Following Grazing

Stage of morphological development during spring growth of perennial forage grasses can be predicted reliably from accumulated growing degree-days (GDD), but information is lacking on the relationship between morphological development and GDD accumulated following grazing. A study was conducted in a rainout shelter at Mandan, ND during 1987 and 1988 to determine the GDD required for morphological development of initial and regrowth forage of crested wheatgrass [Agropyron desertorum (Fisch. ex Link) Schult.] and western wheatgrass [Pascopyrum smithii Rydb, (Love)] (...)
The antagonists RU486 and ZK98299 stimulate progesterone receptor binding to deoxyribonucleic acid in vitro and in vivo, but have distinct effects on receptor conformation.

Three types of transfection experiments were used to detect the abilities of different classes of antagonists to stimulate binding of progesterone receptor (PR) to progesterone response elements (PRE) in intact mammalian cells. These included a promoter interference assay, in which PR binding to PREs positioned between the TATA box and the start of transcription is detected as a reduction of expression of a constitutively active reporter gene, competition of PR antagonist and glucocorticoid receptor agonist for a common glucocorticoid response element/PRE-controlled reporter construct, and activation of a chimeric receptor (PR-VP16) containing the constitutive trans-activation domain derived from the VP16 protein of herpes simplex virus. By each approach, all antagonists tested were equally effective in stimulating PR binding to PREs in the cell. This included previously designated type I (ZK98299) and type II (RU486, ZK98734, and ZK112993) 11β-aryl substituted steroid analogs. Stimulation of PR binding t...
Properties of as-cast and structurally relaxed Zr-based bulk metallic glasses

We have studied the influence of the arc melting procedure of Nb-containing Zr-based bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) on their thermal and mechanical properties. We found that the strength and plastic strain to failure, determined at room temperature, increases by the addition of a few percentage of Nb into the Zr-based BMGs. High-resolution transmission-electron microscopy results show that the addition of 2 at.% Nb introduces the formation of as-cast nanocrystals. At the same time, thermal analyses indicate an increase in glass forming ability with the small addition of Nb. Contrary to the reported results in other amorphous alloys, we found that the plastic strain increases further after heat-induced structural relaxation in the Zr-based BMGs.
Accumulation of feruloyltyramine and p-coumaroyltyramine in tomato leaves in response to wounding

The amounts of two phenolic compounds, E-feruloyltyramine and E-p-coumaroyltyramine, increased 10-fold in tomato leaves in response to mechanical wounding, and 25-fold in response to the oligosaccharide elicitor chitosan. Using fluorescence detection, feruloyltyramine was shown to accumulate in response to wounding, but not to jasmonic acid or systemin, two elicitors of systemic wound-inducible defense responses in tomato. Feruloyltyramine also accumulated in leaves of mutant tomato plants deficient in the octadecanoid signaling pathway in response to wounding, indicating that its synthesis is not regulated through this pathway. These data support a role for hydroxycinnamate-tyramine conjugates as part of the array of defense chemicals and protective biopolymers induced in leaves and other plant tissues by wounding, to protect the plants against pathogen and herbivore attacks.
Heterogeneous Concurrent Error Detection (hCED) Based on Output Anticipation

A conventional Concurrent Error Detection (CED) technique usually relies on two exact replicas of a given module to provide redundancy in fault-tolerant systems. A discrepancy in one of the two instances flags at least one of them as faulty. We propose a heterogenous redundant FPGA-based system by exploiting the application properties. Consequently, the replicated module is not necessarily an exact copy of the original module but is much less resource and power hungry. In the paper, we discuss two forms of the heterogeneous structure which are spatial and temporal redundancy based. These forms are evaluated using FPGA based hardware implementation of the Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) block. A necessary condition is derived to declare the DCT block as fault-free. The results show that the heterogeneous spatial redundancy can realize a resource efficient CED pair at the cost of a small latency in error detection. On the other hand, the heterogeneous temporal redundancy can provide permanent faults resource coverage at the cost of reduced throughput with negligible resource overhead.
Osmolyte-Induced Perturbations of Hydrogen Bonding between Hydration Layer Waters: Correlation with Protein Conformational Changes

Gadolinium vibronic sideband luminescence spectroscopy (GVSBLS) is used to probe osmolyte-induced changes in the hydrogen bond strength between first and second shell waters on the surface of free Gd3+ and Gd3+ coordinated to EDTA and to structured calcium binding peptides in solution. In parallel, Raman is used to probe the corresponding impact of the same set of osmolytes on hydrogen bonding among waters in the bulk phase. Increasing concentration of added urea is observed to progressively weaken the hydrogen bonding within the hydration layer but has minimal observed impact on bulk water. In contrast, polyols are observed to enhance hydrogen bonding in both the hydration layer and the bulk with the amplitude being polyol dependent with trehalose being more effective than sucrose, glucose, or glycerol. The observed patterns indicate that the size and properties of the osmolyte as well as the local architecture of the specific surface site of hydration impact preferential exclusion effects and local hydr...
Optical imaging of sprays

Review on the use of optical imaging, high speed cinematography and holography for detecting solid liquid or slurry particles over a wide range of particle diameters
“Energy Up”: A Novel Approach to the Weight Management of Inner-City Teens

There are few successful adolescent obesity prevention programs. We evaluated "Energy Up," an innovative program for inner-city girls that focuses on addictive food avoidance, exercise, and self-esteem building. Over a 9-month period, obese participants lost 12.9 pounds and overweight participants lost 2.9 pounds, prompting expansion to other schools.
On the number of sides necessary for polygonal approximation of black-and-white figures in a plane

A bound on the number of extreme points or sides necessary to approximate a convex planar figure by an enclosing polygon is described. This number is found to be proportional to the fourth root of the figure's area divided by the square of a maximum Euclidean distance approximation parameter. An extension of this bound, preserving its fourth root quality, is made to general planar figures. This is done by decomposing the general figure into nearly convex sets defined by inflection points, cusps, and multiple windings. A procedure for performing actual encoding of this type is described. Comparisons of parsimony are made with contemporary figure encoding schemes.
THE ADRENAL PROBLEM

We meet for the exchange of ideas in one of the most fascinating fields of biology, one which taxes the ingenuity of biologists, chemists and clinicians to the utmost. We seek facts that we may approach a little nearer the truth concerning humoral integration. Like explorers in a new country, we are finding the paths so numerous and devious that no individual can follow the course of all. Let us tramp some of the trails which have been blazed toward an understanding of two glands upon which we depend for our very existence. For the past eighty years there has been a growing conviction that the adrenal locked up one of the major biological secrets of the higher animals. The work that has been done since the discovery of epinephrin has made a beaten path of the medulla. Although the adrenal cortex and medulla are so intimately associated, they are distinct in origin and continue to act separately in many ways throughout life. The short-lived cells of the cortex originating in the outer levels, finish their ...
Mechanisms of DNA oxidation.

. Oxidative damage of DNA caused by a variety of chemical and physical agents appears to be linked to cancer. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that endogenous generation of oxidants, such as hydroxyl radical and peroxynitrite, lead to oxidation of DNA, and this may cause cancer in individuals where no obvious exposure to chemical or physical agents known to be carcinogenic has occurred. The mechanisms for generation of these two oxidants in living organisms will be discussed and their reactivities with DNA to produce oxidized products (e.g., 8-oxo-dG) will be presented with special emphasis on the individual characteristics of the generation and reactivity of each oxidant.
Regulation of phenotypic expression in crown-gall teratoma tissues of tobacco.

Abstract Cultured tissues obtained from crown-gall teratomas of tobacco provide a model system for the study of heritable changes in phenotype in which the cell genome is not irreversibly altered. The present study was undertaken to investigate the physiological basis for stability of the organized phenotype in teratoma tissue. Although remarkably stable in culture, organized tissues occasionally give rise to two variant forms. These phenovariants, designated unorganized and snowy, differ from the parent organized tissue in their pattern of development, rate of growth, and ability to synthesize chlorophyll. Phenocopies of these phenovariants were produced from organized tissue by altering the relative concentrations of nitrate ion and glutamine in the culture medium. The organized phenotype was expressed on media containing nitrate ion as a sole nitrogen source. The snowy phenotype was expressed on media containing equal concentrations of nitrate ion and glutamine and the unorganized phenotype on media containing glutamine as a sole nitrogen source. Unorganized tissue produced by growing organized tissues on the glutamine-medium underwent a second change to the snowy phenotype when returned to the original medium containing nitrate ion as a sole nitrogen source. This phenotype persisted for at least 7 transfer generations when the tissues were subcultured on nitrate-medium in the absence of added glutamine. Snowy tissues regularly reverted, at low frequency, to the organized phenotype from which they were derived, indicating that glutamine does not induce irreversible changes in phenotype. The stability of the snowy phenotype induced by glutamine was influenced by the number of transfers on glutamine-medium as well as the number of subsequent transfers and interval of time between transfers on nitrate-medium. It was concluded that glutamine induces heritable although reversible changes in teratoma phenotype. A possible site for regulation of teratoma phenotype was identified by assaying metabolites related to glutamine for the ability to induce the snowy phenotype. Malic acid, α-ketoglutaric acid, and ammonium ion promoted organized development while glutamine, glutamic acid, proline, γ-aminobutyric acid, aspartic acid and asparagine induced persistent changes to the snowy phenotype. These findings suggest that the reversible reaction of α-ketoglutaric acid and ammonium ion to form glutamic acid is a key site in regulating phenotypic expression in tobacco teratoma tissues.
Whey Proteins of Drying-Off Secretions, Mastitic Milk, and Colostrum Separated by Ion-Exchange Cellulose

Summary Quarter milk samples from three cows in late lactation, dried off by intermittent milking, were analyzed for chlorides, pH, breed cell count, California Mastitis Test (CMT) score, and whey proteins. As milk production dropped, a rise in values for all constituents was observed. Increased whey protein was principally immune globulins resolved on DEAE-cellulose as four separate but probably nonhomogeneous components. The udder-formed proteins were secreted at a constant rate during the drying-off phase. Similar changes were observed in a case of induced mastitis. At 8 hr. a marked rise in blood serum albumin was found. The quarter then became nonfunctional. At 72 hr. the whey protein pattern was similar to the latter drying-off secretions. In both cases, the principal fraction was an immune-globulin that was not adsorbed on to the column. Though the relative concentrations of individual proteins of colostral whey were similar in magnitude to mastitic milk and latter drying-off secretions, the nonadsorbed immune globulin was markedly decreased and the bulk of the immune globulins appeared as a peak eluting with 0.05–0.075 M NaCl. A part of the difference was a colored component present in mastitic milk and drying-off secretions, but absent or in low concentration in colostrum. Euglobulin and pseudoglobulin prepared by two methods produced higher euglobulin/pseudoglobulin ratios from drying-off secretions than from colostrum. The amount of euglobulin and pseudoglobulin found and the elution pattern from DEAE-cellulose varied with the method and source. Thus, no peak could be described as principally a euglobulin or pseudoglobulin.
Effects of 5,5-diphenylhydantoin and related carbamates and hydroxylamines on nucleic acid and protein synthesis of proliferating human lymphocytes.

Abstract In order to explore the mode of action of 5,5-diphenylhydantoin (DPH), we studied the inhibitory effect of compounds with related hydroxylamine or carbamate structures on DNA and protein synthesis of proliferating human lymphocytes. A series of 3-hydroxyhydantoins was weaker than the parent DPH, indicating that the N3 hydroxyl group did not activate the compounds, whereas substitutions at the C5 position generally diminished activity. Parahydroxylation of the benzene ring enhanced inhibition of DNA and protein synthesis. Acetoxylation of the N3 position of diphenylhydantoin greatly increased its potency; acetoxylation of 2-acetylaminofluorene, a known carcinogen, had a similar effect. 1-Acetyl-3-acetoxy-5,5-diphenylhydantoin inhibited DNA synthesis to approximately the same degree as N-acetoxy-2-acetyl aminofluorene, xylyl phenyl carbamate, hydroxyurea, and hydroxylamine. This derivative of DPH illustrates the central role of the N3 position in metabolic reactions with lymphocytes. The contribution of this derivative to lymphomagenesis is not known.
Metamaterial-enhanced slow-wave structures for traveling wave tube applications

The growing need for high power sources at millimeter wave (MMW) frequencies has been motivated by a number of applications ranging from high-data rate communication systems to homeland security and radar applications. Vacuum electronics amplifiers such as traveling wave tubes (TWTs) have superior power and efficiency capabilities at MMW and THz regions compared to solid state power amplifiers. However, at these frequencies, the extremely small dimensions of the slow-wave structures (SWS) used in TWTs limits their maximum beam diameter and beam current and consequently their gain and total output power levels. Therefore, at these frequency bands, it is desirable to increase the size of the SWS of a TWT without decreasing the primary frequency band of operation of the SWS.
Spectrin subtypes in mammalian brain.

Mammalian neural cells contain at least two forms of brain spectrin: brain spectrin (240/235) which is located primarily in the axons and presynaptic terminals of neurons, and brain spectrin (240/235E) which is found in the cell bodies, dendrites and postsynaptic terminals of neurones. Brain spectrin (240/235E) is also found in certain glial cell types. Antibodies against red blood cell spectrin detect only brain spectrin (240/235E), while antibodies against brain spectrin isolated from axonal and synaptic membranes detect brain spectrin (240/235). Previous apparent discrepancies in the literature concerning brain spectrin localization at the light microscope level were undoubtedly due to different laboratories detecting distinct brain spectrin subtypes, based on the particular antibody being utilized for immunohistochemistry. In this review we (1) discuss the data supporting the presence of at least two distinct subtypes of mammalian brain spectrin, (2) explain how these results reconcile previous discrepancies concerning the localization of spectrin within neural cells, and (3) suggest the future implications of these findings.
Identification of phases in zinc alloy powders using electron backscatter diffraction

Abstract Scanning electron microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) were used for the structural characterization of phases in Zn alloy powders. Commercial Zn alloy powders contained additions of 1 μm that could be used for EBSD analysis for phase characterization. Deformation-free microstructures were obtained by mechanical polishing and ion milling. The Zn matrix was characterized as Zn via EBSD. A BiIn2 phase was identified in the powder microstructures via EBSD. An In phase with 8–9 wt.% Bi was identified using low voltage energy dispersive spectroscopy and closely matched the composition predicted by the Bi–In phase diagram.
DISTORTED-WAVE CROSS SECTIONS FOR ELECTRON-IMPACT IONIZATION OF AR7+

Distorted-wave methods have been used to calculate cross sections for electron-impact ionization of sodiumlike Ar{sup 7+} for collision energies ranging from near threshold to 1 keV. We included contributions due to excitation-autoionization and resonant excitation{endash}double autoionization (REDA), as well as the contributions from direct ionization of the 3{ital s} electron and the {ital n}=2 inner-shell electrons. We find that the effects of radiative damping and loss channels reduce the REDA contributions by a factor of 4. We compare our calculated results to experimental results and to theoretical cross sections obtained in a close-coupling approximation. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
Differential activation of valvulogenic, chondrogenic, and osteogenic pathways in mouse models of myxomatous and calcific aortic valve disease

Studies of human diseased aortic valves have demonstrated increased expression of genetic markers of valve progenitors and osteogenic differentiation associated with pathogenesis. Three potential mouse models of valve disease were examined for cellular pathology, morphology, and induction of valvulogenic, chondrogenic, and osteogenic markers. Osteogenesis imperfecta murine (Oim) mice, with a mutation in Col1a2, have distal leaflet thickening and increased proteoglycan composition characteristic of myxomatous valve disease. Periostin null mice also exhibit dysregulation of the ECM with thickening in the aortic midvalve region, but do not have an overall increase in valve leaflet surface area. Klotho null mice are a model for premature aging and exhibit calcific nodules in the aortic valve hinge-region, but do not exhibit leaflet thickening, ECM disorganization, or inflammation. Oim/oim mice have increased expression of valve progenitor markers Twist1, Col2a1, Mmp13, Sox9 and Hapln1, in addition to increased Col10a1 and Asporin expression, consistent with increased proteoglycan composition. Periostin null aortic valves exhibit relatively normal gene expression with slightly increased expression of Mmp13 and Hapln1. In contrast, Klotho null aortic valves have increased expression of Runx2, consistent with the calcified phenotype, in addition to increased expression of Sox9, Col10a1, and osteopontin. Together these studies demonstrate that oim/oim mice exhibit histological and molecular characteristics of myxomatous valve disease and Klotho null mice are a new model for calcific aortic valve disease.
Three‐dimensional quantitative dose reduction analysis in MammoSite balloon by Monte Carlo calculations

Abstract: Current treatment planning systems (TPS) for partial breast irradiation (PBI) using the MammoSite ® brachytherapy applicator often neglects the effect of inhomogeneity, leading to potential inaccuracies in dose distributions. Previous publications have studied either only a planar dose perturbation along the bisector of the source or pay little attention to the anisotropy effect of the system. In this study we investigate the attenuation-corrected radial dose and anisotropy functions in a form parallel to the updated AAPM TG-43U1 formalism. This will delineate quantitatively the inaccuracies in dose distributions in three-dimensional space. The changes in dose deposition and distribution caused by the increased attenuation coefficient of iodine-based contrast solution are quantified using MCNP Monte Carlo simulations in coupled photon/electron transport. The source geometry was that of the VariSource wire (model VS2000). Concentration of the iodine-based solution was varied from 5% to 25% by volume, a range recommended by the balloon’s manufacturer. Balloon diameters of 4, 5 and 6cm were simulated. Dose rates at the typical prescription line of 1cm away from the balloon surface were determined for different polar angles. According to the computations verified by Mosfet measurements in water phntom, the dose rate reduction throughout the entire region of interest ranged from 0.64% for the smallest balloon diameter and contrast concentration to a maximum of 6.17% for the largest balloon and concentration.
Knowledge flows: knowledge transfer, sharing and exchange in organizations

Knowledge flows occur between individuals, among groups of individuals, and between organizations. This mini track focuses on examining the nature and role of knowledge flows (e.g., knowledge transfer and knowledge sharing) among entities. Technical, managerial, behavioral, organizational, and economic perspectives on knowledge flows are examined. Broadly speaking, this mini track is intended to provide a forum for reporting the results of research focusing on knowledge flows among academicians and practitioners in the computer based system sciences. Six papers are presented in two sessions as part of this mini track.