cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vapor Treatment of Cotton Upholstery Fabrics With Trimethylborate

Chemical treatment of fabrics in the textile finishing plant presents some unique challenges and oppor tunities. In cooperation with a major commission finisher of upholstery fabric, Cotton Incorporated has developed pilot scale capability to confer smolder resistance to heavyweight cotton upholstery fabrics using trimethylborate/methanol azeotrope as a chemical source for boric acid. The paper reviews the laboratory work preceding the mill phase of this effort and presents a schematic representation of the re quirements of the process for both chemical delivery and fabric preparation. The chemical and kinetic details that were considered in design are illustrated. Types of fabrics amen dable to treatment, the economics of the treatment and smolder performance are examined in detail. In summary, the relationship of boric acid treated cotton fabrics is compared with other developmental means of producing upholstered furniture with improved smolder resistance.
Effect of dopamine on tyrosine hydroxylase in cultured rat adrenal medulla

Abstract Explants of rat adrenal medulla were cultured in defined medium for up to 22 hr. Addition of dopamine to the medium led to a diminution in the activity of tyrosine hydroxylase (tyrosine 3-monooxygenase; EC 1.14.16.2) in the tissue. The enzyme activity was inversely proportional to the concentration of dopamine in the culture medium. The extent of loss to tyrosine hydroxylase, as measured by immunochemical titration, corresponded to the degree of loss in enzyme activity under the same conditions. The decreased amount of enzyme protein was due to a decrease in the rate of synthesis of tyrosine hydroxylase. However, this effect was not specific in that the relative rate of tyrosine hydroxylase synthesis was not decreased. Metabolites of dopamine when added to the medium did not affect tyrosine hydroxylase activity. Two other adrenal medullary enzymes, monoamine oxidase (EC 1.4.3.4) and acid phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2), were not affected by addition of dopamine to the medium. The results indicate that elevated cytoplasmic levels of dopamine decrease the concentration of tyrosine hydroxylase by inhibiting protein synthesis.
Statistics of dynamics of localized waves.

Physics Department, Queens College of CUNY, Flushing, NY 11367(Dated: June, 2001)The measured distribution of the single-channel delay time of localized microwave radiation andits correlation with intensity diﬀer sharply from the behavior of diﬀusive waves. The delay time isfound to increase with intensity, while its variance is inversely proportional to the fourth root of theintensity. The distribution of the delay time weighted by the intensity is found to be a double-sidedstretched exponential to the 1/3 power centered at zero. The correlation between dwell time andintensity provides a dynamical test of photon localization.
Acute Heat Acclimation and Kidney Function in Broilers

Abstract Broilers previously exposed to high environmental temperatures (heat-acclimated) are more resistant to heat stress and consume more water during heat stress than nonacclimated controls. Two experiments were conducted to determine whether heat-acclimated broilers conserve body water by reducing urine and solute (Na) excretion. In the first experiment, renal function studies were conducted at an ambient temperature (Ta) of approximately 21 C using anesthetized 7-wk-old male broilers. Control birds reared at a constant Ta of 24 C (Group N: noncycled Ta) were compared with birds that had been heat-acclimated by exposure for 3 to 6 d to a daily sinusoidal cycle of 24 to 35 to 24 C (Group C: cycled Ta). In the second experiment, renal function studies were conducted on anesthetized 5-wk-old control and heat-acclimated male broilers while they were exposed to a Ta of 21 C (Ambient Ta: Groups NA, CA), or to a Ta of 32 C (High Ta: Groups NH, CH). When high intravenous infusion rates (.37 mL/kg body mass per min) were used to simulate the volume expansion caused by thermogenic polydipsia, urine flow rates were significantly lower in Groups C and CA than in Groups N and NA, osmolal clearances were lower in Groups CA and CH than in Groups NA and NH, and all heat-acclimated groups in both experiments (Groups C, CA, CH) had significantly lower glomerular filtration rates (GFR), filtered loads of Na, and tubular Na reabsorption rates than the respective control groups (Groups N, NA, NH). These changes in kidney function potentially would minimize urinary fluid and solute loss when heat-acclimated broilers consume large quantities of water to support evaporative cooling. Reductions in GFR, filtered loads of Na, and tubular Na reabsorption rates also may help heat-acclimated broilers reduce the metabolic heat load associated with active (energy requiring) recovery of solute (Na) from the glomerular ultrafiltrate.
An extension of Barker's method for reduction of VLE data

Abstract A set of P vs. x data for vapor-liquid equilibrium properly contains the pure-component vapor pressures. These values are as uncertain as the values for other measured pressures, and data reduction should yield smoothed values for these as well as for the other pressures. However, the vapor pressures also appear as constants in the reducing equation; here they must have assigned values. This paper shows how the results of data reduction are influenced by different treatments of the vapor pressure.
Attenuation of galactose-induced cataract by pyruvate

Data in the present paper demonstrate a significant inhibition in the progress of sugar cataract formation by systemic administration of pyruvate. The formation of the cataract was induced by feeding young rats a diet containing 30% galactose. All animals fed this diet developed nuclear lens opacity by the end of 30 days. This was delayed if the diet and water contained, in addition, 2% sodium pyruvate. The incidence of cataract in the latter group was 0% at day 30 and only 25% at day 55. Physiologically, the inhibition was associated with the prevention of lens membrane damage as reflected by its ability to maintain transport of rubidium ions against a concentration gradient; decreased tissue hydration as indexed by the lens wet weight; inhibition of protein glycation, and higher levels of ATP. Since pyruvate, being a normal tissue metabolite, is likely to be non-toxic, the findings are considered useful for further pharmacological studies with this and other similar metabolites, relevant to protection against various secondary complications of diabetes and galactosemia.
Solid-phase synthesis of anandamide analogues.

The endocannabinoids are amides and esters of arachidonic acid that can mimic the pharmacological properties of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC). Anandamide, the most prominent of the endocannabinoids, has been implicated in both metabolic/physiological roles of the central nervous system, making it an attractive medicinal target. As such, we report the first solid-phase methodology that expedites access to various anandamide analogues. Our synthesis features a repetitive Cu-mediated coupling reaction between terminal alkynes and propargyl halides or allylic halides.
Coarticulation strategies: preliminary implications of a detailed analysis of lower lip protrusion movements

Abstract A two-part experiment on protrusion movements of the lower lip for the vowel /u/ was conducted to investigate: (1) the production of ‘troughs’, i.e., diminution of lip protrusion during the intervocalic consonant in /uCu/ utterances, and (2) ‘time locking’, that is, movement onset at a fixed interval prior to onset of voicing of /u/, regardless of the number of ‘neutral’ consonants in /V unrounded C n u/ utterances. Two speakers of French, a speaker of Spanish and two speakers of English produced similar sets of nonsense utterances. A bite block was used to eliminate mandible movements as a source of lower lip movements. A detailed examination was made of relationships among events in movement and acoustic signals for each token of multiple repetitions of the test utterances. Results suggest that the production of troughs may be due in part to specific articulatory targets for the intervocalic consonants /s/ and /t/. Specific consonantal targets prevented the direct investigation of time-locking. Experimental limitations preclude firm conclusions, but the nature of the results suggests that a complex of factors, including “co-production of adjacent segments” and “context-dependent adjustments of articulatory targets” may underlie observed variation in articulatory behaviour.
Spatially resolved femtosecond time correlation measurements on a GaAsP photodiode

Abstract Femtosecond photoconductive near-field microscopy on a GaAsP diffusion type photodiode is used to investigate the response of the pure semiconductor material and impurity defect sites. At an excitation energy of 780 nm, below the bulk band gap, impurity sites ≈1 μm in diameter are observed. These sites exhibit a linear dependence of photoconductivity on light intensity instead of the usual two-photon dependence. The linear response on the defect sites gives rise to a first-order interferometric autocorrelation, while the typical GaAsP semiconductor material in other regions yields a second-order interferometric autocorrelation, which can be used for determinations of temporal shape, phase, and linear chirp of pulses. The results indicate that high concentrations of impurity sites can limit the application of a GaAsP photodiode as a femtosecond auto- or cross-correlator.
A new computer-aided method for the efficiency measurement of low-loss transformers and inductors under nonsinusoidal operation

The measurement of voltages, currents and losses of saturated magnetic devices under nonsinusoidal conditions is not well understood, because the principle of superposition does not apply. The complexity of the task is increased by the fact that internally generated harmonic currents can be compensated by externally applied currents of either the same harmonic frequency or of other harmonic frequencies. In other words, a transformation of fundamental power to harmonic power, and vice versa, takes place. In addition the flux-density waveshape varies-and therefore also the iron-core losses-as the harmonic phase shift of the externally applied harmonic voltage changes, although the percentage of the harmonic amplitude remains constant. It is the first objective of this paper to assemble a computer-aided testing circuit which enables the investigation of the variation of the iron-core losses with the amplitude of the fundamental flux density B/spl circ//sub 1/, the amplitude of the /spl nu//sup th/ harmonic B/spl circ//sub /spl nu//, the harmonic order /spl nu/ and the phase shift /spl phi//sub /spl nu//of the /spl nu//sup th/ harmonic with respect to the fundamental. Phase-factor functions-which reflect the dependency of the iron-core losses on the harmonic phase shift /spl phi//sub /spl nu//-are directly measured for given Epstein frame iron-core samples. Thereafter, the effect of these newly defined phase-factor functions on the total transformer losses is demonstrated. The attenuation of low-frequency (60 to 3,000 Hz) flux-density harmonics in inductors is determined, if the core is biased with fundamental flux density.
Communities of Excellence in Tobacco Control: Changes in Local Policy and Key Outcomes

Background The Oklahoma Communities of Excellence in Tobacco Control (CX) program was established in 2004. Thirty-three CX grants have been funded to implement comprehensive tobacco control programs in 50 counties and one tribal nation. Purpose To describe local tobacco policy gains within CX counties and short-term and intermediate outcomes such as Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline registration and awareness, quit attempts, and home smoking bans among adults. Methods A before-and-after study design examined outcomes within CX counties and among CX urban and rural counties. Comparisons were made with non-funded counties when possible. Local policy tracking databases were reviewed for the number of policies implemented from 2004 to 2013 in CX counties. Population-level tobacco indicators, using Helpline registration and 2004–2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data, quantified changes over time. Data were collected in 2003–2013 and analyzed in 2013. Results Eight hundred thirty-one legislated and voluntary policies were implemented in CX counties and high levels of Helpline registration were maintained. Statistically significant increases were observed in CX counties for the proportion of smokers making a quit attempt, Helpline awareness, and home smoking bans among smokers. These observed increases were greater in rural CX counties than urban. Non-CX counties only experienced a statistically significant increase in Helpline awareness. Conclusions Using community-based best practices in tobacco control while focusing on social norm change, CX counties experienced positive changes in smoking-related attitudes and behaviors. This study expands the evidence base for statewide tobacco control programming and underscores the value of community-based tobacco control programs.
The impact of insider trading laws on dividend payout policy

Abstract We posit that firms use dividend payout policy to reduce information asymmetry and agency costs caused by country-level institutional weaknesses. Firms operating in countries with weak insider trading laws attempt to mitigate this institutional weakness by committing themselves to paying out large and stable cash dividends. We test this central hypothesis (among others) using an international sample of firms across 24 countries, as well as by conducting a case study during an enforcement action. The results show that weak insider trading laws lead to a higher propensity of paying dividends, larger dividend amounts and greater dividend smoothing. We also show that the market's valuation of dividend payouts is significantly higher when insider trading protection is weak. It is important to note that these insider trading results are not due to cross-country variations in investor or creditor protection, nor are they contingent on the enforcement of insider trading laws. Overall, our evidence supports the view that dividend payouts serve as a substitute bonding mechanism when country-level legal protections fail.
Evaluation of TiO2-glass composites as interconnector material for solid oxide electrolyte fuel cells

Electronically conducting interconnector materials are required to connect consecutive anodes and cathodes in high-temperature solid oxide fuel cells. Nb-doped TiO2-glass composites, prepared by cold pressing and sintering in air above 1200° C, possess adequate conductivity and resistance to oxidizing and reducing atmospheres, as well as compatibility with Y2O3-doped ZrO2. They thus show promise as interconnector materials.
Time course of the response of carbohydrate metabolism to unloading of the soleus

The time course of the response of carbohydrate metabolism to unloading was studied in the soleus muscle of rats subjected to tail-cast suspension. In the fresh soleus, 12 hours of unloading led to higher concentrations of glycogen and lower activity ratios of both glycogen synthase and glycogen phosphorylase. These changes were still evident on day three. Thereafter, the increased glycogen concentration apparently diminished the activity ratio of glycogen synthase, leading to a subsequent fall in the total glycogen content after day one. After 24 hours of unloading, when no significant atrophy was detectable, there was no differential response to insulin for in vitro glucose metabolism. On day three, the soleus atrophied significantly and displayed a greater sensitivity to insulin for most of these parameters compared to the weight-bearing control muscle. However, insulin sensitivity for glycogen synthesis was unchanged. These results showed that the increased sensitivity to insulin of the unloaded soleus is associated with the degree of muscle atrophy, likely due to an increased insulin binding capacity relative to muscle mass. This study also showed that insulin regulation of glucose uptake and of glycogen synthesis is affected differentially in the unloaded soleus muscle.
Management Strategies for Internal Hernia after Gastric Bypass

Internal hernia after gastric bypass is common, occurring with an incidence approaching 10% in some series. Operative management of internal hernia after gastric bypass presents significant conceptual and technical challenges. This manuscript reviews management of internal hernia after gastric bypass with a focus on operative strategy.
Spectral modeling and propagation schemes for time-dependent quantum systems

In this paper, we propose effective modeling and novel spectral-based propagation schemes to address the general problems of time-dependent quantum simulations. The integral solution of the time-ordered evolution operator is obtained accurately via direct Hamiltonian diagonalizations performed using the new eigenvalue solver FEAST. In addition, we have designed a new highly efficient basis transformed propagation scheme (BTPS) which reduces considerably the simulation times needed by time intervals. These numerical schemes are applied to study the AC response of a (5,5) carbon nanotube within a 3D real-space mesh framework, and obtaining the kinetic inductance.
A Predictive Score Index for the Outcome of Associated Biofeedback and Vaginal Electrical Stimulation in the Treatment of Female Incontinence

AbstractA group of 64 women with stress incontinence alone (20), urgency incontinence (7) and mixed incontinence (37) were treated during 12 sessions, each 20 minutes long, during 6 weeks with combined alternating biofeedback and intravaginal electrical stimulation. Of the patients 21 had a complete recovery, 20 recovered sufficiently to avoid other forms of treatment and 23 failed to respond to the treatment. Thus, the overall success rate for this treatment was 64 percent.Various physiological parameters were collected from each patient before the start of the treatment sessions. Patient age, estrogen status, detrusor hyperreflexia, intravaginal pressure, percent transmission of the abdominal pressure to the urethra, degree of intrinsic sphincter deficiency and compliance with therapy were significant factors affecting the success of treatment. A statistical analysis was performed on these measurements to generate a score index model capable of predicting the outcome of a treatment consisting of associa...
Electrophoresis and chromatography of wheat proteins: available methods, and procedures for statistical evaluation of the data

Analysis of gluten proteins from the wheat grain endosperm has long challenged the analytical chemist. Several hundred unique polypeptides are present, many in large polymers. This complexity, plus useful relationships of composition to genotype and quality, encouraged development and application of electrophoresis and chromatography for gluten analysis. We review the methods of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing and high-performance liquid chromatography available for study of wheat proteins. Singly and in combination, they provide rapid, reproducible, high-resolution separations based on size, charge, or surface hydrophobicity. As challenging and important as the analyses themselves, however, is interpretation of data. Subjective evaluation is sometimes possible, but statistical methods such as similarity scores, clustering, principal components, multiple linear regression, and partial least squares now are increasingly used for data analysis. We review the use of these procedures, and precautions necessary to avoid misinterpretation of data. Optimal evaluation of protein analytical data will enhance the value of such analyses in wheat breeding, marketing, and processing.
On a stochastic hyperbolic integro-differential equation

Abstract In this paper we study an initial–boundary-value problem for a hyperbolic integro-differential equation with random memory and a random noise. We establish the existence, uniqueness and exponential stability of solutions. Our method consists of finite-dimensional approximation and energy estimates.
Preparation of α-Sulfenyl Enones by Thermal Fragmentation of β-Sulfenyl Enol Triflates

The synthetic scope and mechanism of the fragmentation of cyclic β-sulfenyl enol triflates to give α-sulfenyl enones are described. This transformation is the central step in a mild, functional group-tolerant method for preparing α-sulfenyl enones.
Ultrasound Treatment of Centrifugally Atomized 316 Stainless Steel Powders

The Bureau of Mines is studying the surface characteristics of rapidly solidified powders and the potential for surface modification of fine powders prior to consolidation. The surface modification and work hardening of fine powders were accomplished by applying high-energy ultrasound to centrifugally atomized austenitic 316 stainless steel powders suspended in liquid media. Cavitation implosion changed the surface morphology, hammering the surface and occasionally fretting off microchips of work-hardened metal. Ultrasound-cavitation work-hardened metal powder surfaces producing a strained, duplex austenite face-centered cubic (fcc)-martensite body-centered tetragonal (bct) phase structure. The amount of work hardening depended upon the quantity of ultrasound energy used, considering both power level and experimental time. Work hardening was relatively independent of the liquid media used.
Why conversation is not the soul of democracy

Inspired by the writings of John Dewey, among others, thinking in communication studies has often taken face‐to‐face conversation to be the heart of democratic life. But face‐to‐face conversation has been as much honored in aristocracies as in democracies and there are, in fact, two distinctive and contrasting ideals of conversation—the sociable conversation and the problem‐solving conversation. Conversation that serves democracy is distinguished not by egalitarianism but by norm‐governedness and public‐ness, not by spontaneity but by civility, and not by its priority or superiority to print and broadcast media but by its necessary dependence on them. An argument is offered that institutions and norms of democracy give rise to democratic conversations rather than that the inherent democracy of conversation gives rise to politically democratic norms and institutions.
IMRT versus conventional 3DCRT on prostate and normal tissue dosimetry using an endorectal balloon for prostate immobilization

This study was undertaken to compare prostate and normal tissue dosimetry in prostate cancer patients treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and conventional 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) using an endorectal balloon for prostate immobilization. Ten prostate cancer patients were studied using both IMRT and conventional 3DCRT at Houston Veterans Affairs Medical Center. For IMRT, the prescription was 70 Gy at 2 Gy/fraction at the 83.4% isodose line, allowing no more than 15% of the rectum and 33% of the bladder to receive above 68 and 65 Gy, respectively. For conventional 3DCRT, a 6-field arrangement with lateral and oblique fields was used to deliver 76 Gy at 2Gy/fraction, ensuring complete tumor coverage by the 72-Gy isodose line. Mean doses for prostate and seminal vesicles were 75.10 and 75.11 Gy, respectively, for IMRT and 75.40 and 75.02 Gy, respectively, for 3DCRT (p > 0.218). 3DCRT delivered significantly higher doses to 33%, 50%, and 66% volumes of rectum by 3.55, 6.64, and 10.18 Gy, respectively (p < 0.002), and upper rectum by 7.26, 9.86, and 9.16 Gy, respectively (p < 0.007). 3DCRT also delivered higher doses to femur volumes of 33% and 50% by 9.38 and 10.19 Gy, respectively, (p < 0.001). Insignificant differences in tumor control probability (TCP) values between IMRT and 3DCRT were calculated for prostate (p = 0.320) and seminal vesicles (p = 0.289). Compared to 3DCRT, IMRT resulted in significantly reduced normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) only for upper rectum (p = 0.025) and femurs (p = 0.021). This study demonstrates that IMRT achieves superior normal tissue avoidance, especially for rectum and femurs compared to 3DCRT, with comparable target dose escalation.
Biogeochemistry and bacteriology of ferrous iron oxidation in geothermal habitats

Abstract A survey of hot, acid springs in Yellowstone Park has shown that high concentrations of ferrous and ferric iron are often present. Total ionic iron concentrations in different springs ranged from less than 1 ppm to greater than 200 ppm, and up to 50% of the ionic iron was in the ferrous form. Some of these springs also have high concentrations of reduced sulfur species (S 2− and S 0 ). Significant populations of the bacterium Sulfolobus, acidocaldarius , an autotrophic organism able to live and oxidize sulfur compounds at low pH and high temperature, were present in most of these springs. The role of this organism in the oxidation of ferrous iron was investigated by incubating natural samples of water and assaying for disappearance of ferrous iron. Controls in which bacterial activity was inhibited by addition of 10% NaCl were also run. Bacterial oxidation of ferrous iron occurred in most but not all of the spring waters. The temperature optimum for oxidation varied from spring to spring, but significant oxidation occurred at temperatures of 80–85°C, but not at 90°C. Thus, 85–90°C is the upper temperature at which bacterial iron oxidation occurs; a similar upper limit has previously been reported for sulfur oxidation in the same kinds of springs. The steady-state concentrations of ferrous and ferric iron are determined by the rate at which these ions move into the spring pools with the ground water (flow rate), by the rate at which ferric iron is reduced to the ferrous state by sulfide, and by the rate of bacterial oxidation. The bacterial oxidation rate is faster than the flow rate, so that the rate of reduction of ferric iron is probably the rate-controlling reaction. In several springs, no decrease in ferrous iron occurred, even though high bacterial populations were present. It was shown that in these springs, ferrous iron oxidation occurred but the ferric iron formed was reduced back to the ferrous state again. These springs were all high in suspended sediment and the reductant was shown to be present in the sediment. X-ray diffraction revealed that the sediment contained three major ingredients, elemental sulfur, natroalunite, and quartz. Chemical analyses showed a small amount of sulfide, too little to reduce the ferric iron. Elemental sulfur itself did not reduce ferric iron but when elemental sulfur was removed from the sediment by CS 2 extraction, the activity of the sediment was abolished. It is hypothesized that the sulfide present in the sediment (possibly bound to natroalunite) reacts with elemental sulfur to form a reductant for ferric iron. The results show that bacteria can have a profound influence on the ferrous/ferric ratios of geothermal systems, but that temperature and mineral composition of the water may significantly influence the overall result.
Messianic Religious Zionism Confronts Israeli Territorial Compromises

This is a study of how religious Zionism has coped with Israeli withdrawals from territory that religious Zionists generally consider part of the land of Israel promised to the people of Israel by ...
Fertility and Behavioral Responses of Roosters to Diets Differing in Protein and Calcium

Abstract Diets differing in calcium (approximately 3.2 and .9%) and protein (15 and 12%) were fed to assess their effects on fertility, behavior, and physiological traits of White Leghorn males from lines selected for high (HA) and low (LA) antibody titers in response to the administration of sheep erythrocytes. Two trials, terminated when the males were 721 and 380 days of age, respectively, were conducted. In Trial 1, the HA males consumed significantly more feed than the LA males and those fed the low protein diets consumed more feed than those fed the high protein diets. No significant differences in feed intake were observed in Trial 2. Neither line, calcium level, nor protein level had a consistent effect on body weight in either trial. There were no significant first or second order interactions between main effects. Comparisons within ages and trials for percentage and duration of fertility revealed no significant differences between lines, protein level, or calcium level. Although the HA males produced significantly more antibodies to canine erythrocytes, dietary effects on antibody titers, heterophil: lymphocyte ratios, and plasma corticosterone were not significant. Thus, there was no indication that dietary treatments were inducing physiological adaptation. Behavioral adaptations, however, were observed; differences were significant for fear, territoriality, air pecking, and head shaking. It was concluded that behavioral responses symptomatic of nutrient deficiencies occur when no overt deficiency is present; this infers that an animal's well-being cannot be assessed strictly on the basis of behavioral consequences.
The Relationship between Expressed and Experienced Emotion in Depression

Sixty right-handed adult subjects, divided equally into three groups (mildly depressed, normal, and "low normal") on the basis of the Zung self-Rating Depression Scale, were exposed for forty seconds each to forty-eight imagery items designed to reflect happy, sad, angry, and fearful situations. Expressed emotion (facial electromyography) and experienced emotion (self-report) were measured. Results replicated and extended previous findings, suggesting both a "dissociation" between expressed and experienced happiness and an abnormal degree of "association" between expressed and experienced sadness for depressives and possibly "low normals."
Hyaluronan Oligosaccharides Inhibit Anchorage-independent Growth of Tumor Cells by Suppressing the Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase/Akt Cell Survival Pathway

Hyaluronan oligosaccharides (molecular weight: ∼2.5 × 103) inhibit growth of several types of tumors in vivo. In vitro, the oligomers inhibit anchorage-independent growth of several tumor cell types. In accordance with this finding, the oligomers also induce apoptosis and stimulate caspase-3 activity under anchorage-independent conditions. Since inhibitors of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) mimic the action of hyaluronan oligomers and since the PI 3-kinase/Akt (protein kinase B) cell survival pathway has previously been implicated in anchorage-independent growth of tumor cells, we examined the effect of oligomers on PI 3-kinase and its downstream activities in TA3/St murine mammary carcinoma and HCT 116 human colon carcinoma cells. We observed that 50–150 μg/ml hyaluronan oligomers inhibit PI 3-kinase activity and phosphorylation of Akt to approximately the same extent as optimal doses of wortmannin and LY294002, known inhibitors of PI 3-kinase. Similar inhibition of downstream events, i.e.phosphorylation of BAD and FKHR, was also observed. These effects were not observed on treatment with similar concentrations of chitin oligomers, chondroitin sulfate, or hyaluronan polymer. High molecular weight (∼2 × 106) and low molecular weight (∼8 × 104) preparations of hyaluronan polymer were equally ineffective. The effects of hyaluronan oligomers on these parameters were similar in magnitude to the effect of treatment with activity-blocking antibody against CD44. We interpret these results to indicate that the oligomers competitively block binding of endogenous hyaluronan polymer to CD44, consequently giving rise to attenuated signaling. Finally, we observed that hyaluronan oligomers, but not chitin oligomers, chondroitin sulfate, or hyaluronan polymer, stimulate expression of PTEN, a phosphatase that degrades the major signaling product of PI 3-kinase action, phosphoinositide 3,4,5-trisphosphate. We conclude that perturbation of hyaluronan-CD44 binding leads to suppression of the PI 3-kinase/Akt cell survival pathway and consequently to inhibition of anchorage-independent growth in culture and tumor growth in vivo.
Effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF) on the immune system in guinea pigs.

ABSTRACTThe effects of TCDF exposure on the immune system were investigated in Hartley guinea pigs. TCDF was administered by gavage at doses of 0.05, 0.17, 0.5 or 1.0 ug/kg body weight once weekly for six weeks. Thymus/body weight ratios were suppressed in the higher dosage groups. Parameters of cell-mediated and humoral immune function were investigated. TCDF modestly suppressed cell-mediated immune function and had slight effects on humoral-mediated functions. TCDF immunosuppression appears similar to that induced following exposure to TCDD.
Trillium sulcatum (Liliaceae), a new species of the southern Appalachians

Trillium sulcatum, a new species with two petal color forms, was first circumscribed by Barksdale as a variety in 1938, but without a Latin diagnosis. It superficially resembles the mainly northernT. erectum and appears to be closely related to the primarily midwesternT. flexipes. Its distinguishing features are ringent flowers, short sepals, and long pedicels; additional characters are presented in a chart contrasting it with species with which it has been confused. Distribution suggesting relictual significance is documented. Except that intermediates withT. flexipes are occasional,T. sulcatum maintains its distinctiveness throughout its southern Appalachian range.
Soybean Cultivar and Foliar Fungicide Effects on Phomopsis sp. Seed Infection

Phomopsis seed decay (PSD) caused by Phomopsis spp. can be severe when soybean seed producers in the southern United States use the early soybean production system (ESPS) to avoid late-July through early-September drought damage to soybean. The usefulness of this production system would be greater if developing seed could be protected from PSD by foliar application of fungicides or by planting Phomopsis spp.-resistant soybean lines. The objective of this research was to determine the affects of the fungicides benomyl and azoxystrobin applied to soybean, at various times, on percent Phomopsis spp. infection of seed in Asgrow 3834, a PSD-susceptible cultivar, and SS93-6012, a PSD-resistant soybean line, planted in mid-April. The percent Phomopsis spp. infection of Asgrow 3834 seed averaged over years was significantly less for the benomyl (0.28 kg a.i. ha-1) applied at R3 + R5 treatment (48.6% seed infection) than the control (52.8% seed infection) and significantly greater for the azoxystrobin (0.17 kg a.i. ha-1) applied at R3 + R5 treatment (61.6% seed infection) than the control (52.8% seed infection). This method of managing PSD will not be acceptable to soybean growers. The percent of Phomopsis spp. infection of Asgrow 3834 seed averaged over years (52.8% seed infection) was significantly greater than for line SS93-6012 (2.8% seed infection). There were no differences in percent Phomopsis spp. infection of SS93-6012 seed between the control (2.8% seed infection) and benomyl treatment (4.0% seed infection). The most effective method for PSD management was to plant a resistant soybean line. Line SS93-6012 will be useful in breeding programs focused on developing high yielding PSD-resistant cultivars.
Delivering palliative care to patients and caregivers in inner-city communities: challenges and opportunities.

Objective:Social and economic barriers can hinder access to quality palliative and end-of-life care for patients living in inner-city communities. Using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach, we investigated the stresses associated with living with a chronic disease and barriers to access and utilization of palliative care resources experienced by low-income patients and caregivers in five inner-city communities.Methods:Four focus groups (N = 33) were conducted with community stakeholders, including healthcare professionals (social workers and nurses), persons living with chronic illnesses (e.g., HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular disease, and cancer), and caregivers. Focus group responses were analyzed using thematic analyses.Results:Patients' and caregivers' stresses centered around five themes: lack of family support, communication barriers with healthcare professionals, minority stress, caregiver burden, and lack of spiritual support. The community stakeholders identified resources and services to improve access to care and the quality of life of underserved, low-income populations living with chronic illnesses.Significance of Results:A CBPR approach enabled us to develop an interdisciplinary and culturally sensitive intervention to begin addressing the palliative and end-of-life needs of the patients and caregivers of the inner-city community.
Relationship between physiologic and psychological measures of autonomic activation in operating room teams during a simulated airway emergency.

Abstract Background Emotional stability is important for individual and team performance during operating room (OR) emergencies. We compared physiologic and psychological anxiety assessments in OR teams during simulated events. Methods Twenty-two teams participated in a "cannot intubate/cannot ventilate" simulation. Participants completed the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory and wore a galvanic skin response (GSR) sensor. Differences in State–Trait Anxiety Inventory scores and GSR levels were analyzed. Anxiety scores were correlated with GSR levels. Results Resident physicians had significantly higher trait anxiety than the nurses, certified registered nurse anesthetists, and surgical technicians (43.9 ± 9.9 vs 38.3 ± 9.3, P P = .03). All groups showed significant increases in GSR. Psychological and physiologic data did not correlate. Conclusions Senior practitioners and residents have higher levels of baseline trait anxiety for unclear reasons. Also, OR team training results in physiological signs of anxiety that do not correlate to self-reported psychological measurements.
Visual evoked potentials in the evaluation of “cortical blindness” in children

Visual evoked responses (VERs) to brief light flashes were recorded from occipital regions in a group of 30 "cortically blind" children aged 4 months to 15 years and were compared with those of 31 children of similar age range who had the same type of central nervous system diseases but without signs or symptoms of blindness. The VERs were analyzed for amplitude, number of peaks, and morphology, following a method used previously by other authors. All the responses had some degree of abnormality, but there were no significant differences between the two groups. The findings suggest that recording of VERs is not always an accurate method for diagnosis of cortical blindness in children since the presence of abnormal responses is not incompatible with normal vision. Only 1 patient with coritcal blindness showed no response.
Detrusor and urethral dysfunction in prostatic hypertrophy.

Summary Assessment of bladder and urethral function in 9 patients with prostatic hypertrophy before and after transurethral resection of the prostate was performed utilising gas cystometry, detrusor reflex activating procedures, combined electromyographic and gas urethral pressure profilometry and uroflowmetry. A high incidence of detrusor hyperreflexia was found preoperatively indicating neurogenic dysfunction of the bladder. Removal of the obstructive tissue implied a change in detrusor reflex function in a part of the patients confirming the findings from a larger series studied with water-cystometry. Decompression or injury of sensory nerve endings in the prostatic urethra thus seem to determine detrusor function after surgery to the prostate. The impact of the resection upon urethral function was an increase in maximum urinary flow due to a significant shortening of the functional urethral length. No change in maximum urethral intramural pressure could be demonstrated.
Diagnostic fine-needle aspiration biopsy of an intrathyroidal parathyroid gland and subsequent eucalcemia in a patient with primary hyperparathyroidism.

ABSTRACT Objective To present the clinical course of a patient with persistent primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) whose intrathyroidal parathyroid gland was diagnosed by ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). Methods We describe the clinical course and laboratory, radiographic, and microscopic findings of a patient with persistent PHPT due to an intrathyroidal cystic parathyroid gland and review the relevant literature. Results A 74-year-old man with PHPT (presenting serum calcium concentration, 16.2 mg/dL; intact parathyroid hormone [PTH] concentration, 341 pg/mL) had surgical excision of the right superior, right inferior, and left inferior parathyroid glands, but the left superior parathyroid gland remained unidentified. Microscopic examination revealed parathyroid hyperplasia. Technetium Tc 99m sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography imaging showed uptake in 2 foci, 1 on each side of midline in the neck. Reoperation with attention to the left neck failed to locate another parathyroid gland. Neck ultrasonography demonstrated a complex nodule within the right lower lobe of the thyroid. Results from FNAB of the solid component were consistent with parathyroid cells, and cystic fluid PTH concentration was greater than 1800 pg/mL. Nine months later, neck ultrasonography showed a hypoechoic area located posterior to the inferior pole of the right thyroid. The patient remained eucalcemic 16 months postprocedure. Conclusion Autoinfarction of the parathyroid gland and aspiration of cystic fluid may explain resolution of hypercalcemia. Although PHPT due to functioning parathyroid cysts is rare, and PHPT due to cystic parathyroid hyperplasia has been described, this is the first case report of a patient with persistent PHPT due to a functional parathyroid cyst whose diagnosis by FNAB was followed by eucalcemia. (Endocr Pract. 2008;14:80-86)
Sufficient Conditions for Torpid Mixing of Parallel and Simulated Tempering

We obtain upper bounds on the spectral gap of Markov chains constructed by parallel and simulated tempering, and provide a set of sufficient conditions for torpid mixing of both techniques. Combined with the results of Woodard, Schmidler and Huber (2009), these results yield a two-sided bound on the spectral gap of these algorithms. We identify a persistence property of the target distribution, and show that it can lead unexpectedly to slow mixing that commonly used convergence diagnostics will fail to detect. For a multimodal distribution, the persistence is a measure of how ``spiky'', or tall and narrow, one peak is relative to the other peaks of the distribution. We show that this persistence phenomenon can be used to explain the torpid mixing of parallel and simulated tempering on the ferromagnetic mean-field Potts model shown previously. We also illustrate how it causes torpid mixing of tempering on a mixture of normal distributions with unequal covariances in R^M, a previously unknown result with relevance to statistical inference problems. More generally, anytime a multimodal distribution includes both very narrow and very wide peaks of comparable probability mass, parallel and simulated tempering are shown to mix slowly.
mtDNA Affinities of the Peoples of North-Central Mexico

mtDNA haplotypes of representatives of the cosmopolitan peoples of north-central Mexico were studied. Two hundred twenty-three samples from individuals residing in vicinities of two localities in north-central Mexico were analyzed. A combination of strategies was employed to identify the origin of each haplotype, including length variation analysis of the COII and tRNALYS intergenic region, nucleotide sequence analysis of control region hypervariable segment 1, and RFLP analysis of PCR products spanning diagnostic sites. Analysis of these data revealed that the majority of the mtDNA haplotypes were of Native American origin, belonging to one of four primary Native American haplogroups. Others were of European or African origin, and the frequency of African haplotypes was equivalent to that of haplotypes of European derivation. These results provide diagnostic, discrete character, molecular genetic evidence that, together with results of previous studies of classical genetic systems, is informative with regard to both the magnitude of African admixture and the relative maternal contribution of African, European, and Native American peoples to the genetic heritage of Mexico. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that African sequences formed a basal, paraphyletic group.
Aromatase inhibitors for the treatment of breast cancer: is tamoxifen of historical interest only?

Breast cancer is the second most common cause of death from malignancy in American women ( 1 ) . Although it is almost uniformly fatal, metastatic breast cancer is very treatable, and many patients will live for long periods of time with good quality of life ( 2 ) . In this regard, nearly 100 000 patients are living with metastatic breast cancer in the United States ( 3 ) . There is reason to be optimistic that the life expectancy of patients with metastatic breast cancer will be extended further as novel therapies targeting growth pathways, cell signaling, and tumor microenvironment are developed. Among these therapies, the oldest and most effective are those that target the estrogen receptor pathway. Although the importance of endocrine control of breast cancer was recognized by Beatson 110 years ago ( 4 ) , the fi eld is still exploring means of optimizing endocrine therapy. Over the last 35 years, the selective estrogen receptor modulator tamoxifen has become the standard of care for patients with hormone receptor – positive breast cancer in most of the western world ( 5 ) . However, several recent studies have suggested that estrogen depletion may be a slightly more effective endocrine strategy against hormone-dependent breast cancer. In postmenopausal patients, estrogen depletion is best accomplished by specifi c inhibition of aromatase, which converts estrogen precursors, dihydroepiandrostenedione and testosterone, respectively, to estradiol and estrone. These aromatase inhibitors were developed after the recognition that aminoglutethimide, which nonselectively inhibits a number of critical enzymes in steroidogenesis, including the aromatase cytochrome P450 CYP19, was effective in controlling breast cancer. Subsequent translational studies have demonstrated that agents that more specifi cally target aromatase are equally or more effective than aminogluthamide, yet safer ( 6 ) . Aromatase inhibitors are now widely used in treating breast cancer in both the metastatic and adjuvant setting, and ongoing studies are investigating the use of the aromatase inhibitors to prevent breast cancer ( 7 ) . In this issue of the Journal , Mauri et al. ( 8 ) report a metaanalysis of published randomized controlled trials comparing aromatase inhibitors and standard endocrine therapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Overall, they conclude that either fi rst- or second-line aromatase inhibitor therapy results in a moderate, but statistically signifi cant, proportional prolongation of overall survival of approximately 10%. When compared with nonaromatase inhibitor treatments for hormone receptor – positive metastatic breast cancer, this effect predicts an increased survival of approximately 5 months among patients with an expected median survival of 40 months.