cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Location as a Determinant of Myocardial Infarction in Rabbits

Determinants of infarct size in the rabbit heart include risk zone size, regional myocardial blood flow (RMBF), temperature and duration of ischemia. However, other factors might contribute, such as the location of the risk zone (apex to base), independent of known factors. Occlusion of a large marginal branch of the circumflex artery in the rabbit produces a risk region that typically comprises the entire apex of the left ventricle with decreasing area involvement from apex to base. In a retrospective study of 65 rabbit hearts (subjected to 30 min of coronary artery occlusion) which had been sliced into six to eight cross-sectional slices, average area at risk (AR) comprised 86+/-3% of the apical level, 68+/-2% of the middle level and 39+/-2% near the site of occlusion at the base of the heart. If necrosis were dependent on AR alone, then infarct size (area of necrosis/area at risk, AN/AR) would not vary by site. However, AN/AR in the apex was 54+/-3% while AN/AR near the base was 27+/-2%, P<0.0001. To test if this salvage of tissue at risk near the base was due to differences in regional myocardial blood flow, we measured RMBF during occlusion in additional rabbits (n=4). Average RMBF in the risk zone was 0.025 ml/min/g in the apex and 0.010 in the base, P=N.S. Nor was the salvage due to differences in temperature. During occlusion, temperature in the risk zone (n=5) was 38.1 degrees C+/-0.3 in the apex and 38.4+/-0.2 in the base (P=N.S.). When we examined this phenomenon in hearts that received a non-pharmacological intervention that decreases overall infarct size (ischemic preconditioning) and in hearts that received a pharmacological intervention that decreases overall infarct size, a similar pattern of decreasing infarct size as a percentage of the area at risk from apex to base was observed. In conclusion, infarct size as a percentage of the AR depends on whether the AR is at the apex or base of the heart. A larger part of the AR undergoes necrosis toward the apex of the heart. This phenomenon is independent of collateral flow or temperature, and suggests that other as yet unknown factors contribute to infarct size.
A quantum-classical bracket that satisfies the Jacobi identity.

A quantum-classical bracket is proposed and is shown to satisfy the Jacobi identity, in contrast to previous definitions that obey this property only up to higher order terms in the Planck constant ℏ. The Jacobi identity is required of a true Lie bracket and ensures that the Lie bracket of constants of motion is also a constant of motion. An explicit calculation of the Jacobi identity highlights the difference between the proposed and traditional definitions. A further example illustrates that the proposed bracket generates a more consistent quantum-classical dynamics than the traditional bracket. The traditional quantum-classical dynamics in the Henon-Heiles system diverges due to higher order ℏ terms. The divergence is eliminated with the proposed bracket.
Flow-induced structure in a system of nuclear waste simulant slurries

Thixotropy and antithixotropy were characterized in nuclear waste simulant slurries. For the neutralized current acid nuclear waste (NCAW) simulant slurries, NCAW with glycolic acid (NCAW+GA), and NCAW with nitric acid (NCAW+NA) (pH ≈ 4), a pre-shear flow at constant shear rate destroys the aggregates in the suspension and reduces viscosity. For the NCAW+NA (pH≈7–9), a pre-shear enhances the aggregates in the suspension and increases viscosity. With the addition of silica to the NCAW+GA and NCAW+NA slurries, the pre-shear effect tends to promote aggregation due to the formation of a network in the suspension, and hence, the viscosity increases. The macroscopic rheological property variation due to the microstructural aspects of the suspensions associated with the shear-induced effect are addressed.
Thermal spraying of nanostructured cermet coatings

Abstract A nanostructured WC–12Co powder was sprayed using three different HVOF gun-fuel combinations in which the fuels were kerosene, hydrogen and propylene. Using particle diagnostics, significant differences were observed in the particle temperatures and velocities generated using these various combinations. Important differences were identified when comparing various aspects of coatings produced using either hydrogen or propylene as the fuel. When using hydrogen, deposition efficiencies were higher, the coatings were harder and the extent of carbide degradation was less than when propylene was employed as the fuel.
Laser-Wakefield Accelerators: Glass-guiding benefits

A main attraction of laser-driven electron accelerators is their absence of cavity walls, which can break down in the presence of intense electric fields. Now it seems that the inclusion of a hollow glass fibre cavity could lead to more efficient acceleration at lower laser intensities.
On a Variational Approach for Water Waves

Using a variational method due to Alt and Caffarelli [1], we study regularity and qualitative properties of local and global minimizers of a functional with a variable domain of integration related to water waves.
Effector lymphocyte response to homologous tumor antigens in various stages of malignant disease as monitored by leukocyte adherence inhibition — cell mediated immunity (LAI-CMI)☆

Abstract Leukocyte adherence inhibition-cell mediated immunity (LAI-CMI) studies were performed on leukocytes obtained from patients with various stages of breast cancer, colon carcinoma and lung cancer in order to monitor cell mediated immunity during tumor progression. In the presence of autologous serum, all patients with localized tumors showed positive LAI-CMI indexes (> 20%), while significant reduction of homologous tumor antigen recognition as measured by the LAI-CMI responses was observed in nearly all patients with Stage IV breast cancer, Duke C colon cancer and Stage III lung cancer. On substituting autologous serum with normal AB serum, leukocytes from patients with large tumor burdens responded to homologous tumor antigens. These results indicate the existence of organ-specific serum factor(s) which may mask the receptor sites on effector cells for tumor recognition. Patients with such serum blocking factor(s) showed significant increase of IgG immune complexes IgM, IgA and alpha-2-macroglobulins. Application of a protein A affinity column purification resulted in a major reduction of IgG and other immune globulins but not of alpha-2-macroglobulin. The blocking effects of autologous serum, however, were not completely abrogated by fitration on the protein A column, thus suggesting that SBF may be heterogeneous in nature and may occur in other serum protein fractions beside the immune globulins.
Finite element vibrational analysis of planar mechanisms

Abstract The vibrational analysis of general planar mechanisms using a finite element approach is presented. The form of the mechanism can be any combination of links connected by turning or sliding pairs. In addition to bars consisting of a single member, links can be composed of several structural members forming a moving frame. The finite element analysis considers both axial and lateral vibrations using a high order hermite polynomial approximation which conserves moment compatibility between elements. The links of the mechanism can be broken into as many finite elements as desired for accuracy and computational efficiency. The finite element has variable length to handle links containing sliding pairs. A variable correlation table is used to automatically assemble the master matrices for the mechanism. The steady state solution of the resulting differential equations is obtained using a harmonic series technique and stresses are calculated from the resulting deformations.
Phospholipid and Ca++ dependency of phorbol ester receptors

The phospholipid and Ca++ dependency of a partially purified phorbol ester apo-receptor from the soluble fraction of mouse brain homogenates was studied. This apo-receptor is believed to be identical with the Ca++ and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C. Binding of phorbol esters to the receptor/kinase C was shown to be entirely dependent on phospholipids. The negatively charged phospholipids phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol, and phosphatidic acid all fully reconstituted binding. The neutral phospholipids were inactive. Among active phospholipids and mixtures of phospholipids, substantial differences (greater than 100-fold) were observed in the amounts required to achieve reconstitution. Although Ca++ was not required for reconstitution of binding activity, it dramatically (up to 100-fold) increased the potency of phospholipids for reconstitution. The phospholipids not only permitted reconstitution of the apo-receptor but also played a major role in determining the binding characteristics of the complex. The KD values of [3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate were in the range of 0.8 nM for the complex with phosphatidylserine to 30 nM for the complex with dioleoyl-phosphatidic acid. Like the binding affinity, the stimulation of protein kinase C activity by phorbol esters was dependent on the phospholipid into which the receptor/kinase C was reconstituted. The importance of the lipid domain for controlling the receptor/kinase C activity and for modulation of cellular sensitivity to phorbol esters is discussed.
Role of endodontics in current dental practice

Illinois dentists graduating from dental school since 1939 were surveyed for their use of endodontic therapy in general practice. Illinois dentists were surveyed on their use of endodontic techniques in general practice. Almost 90% of the respondents do some or all of their root canal therapy, and 20%usetheSargenti technique. Most try to fill the canal 0.5 to 1 mm from the apex. The lateral condensation of gutta-percha is the preferred technique for filling root canals.
The normal peristalsis of the colon

The following excerpt from Medizinische Wochenschrift 47:23, 1909, was translated by Dr. Ernst Fischer, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Albany Medical Center Hospital; formerly Chairman of the Department of Physiology, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, Va. The excerpt, approximately one-third the length of the original article, is published as a classic and early observation of colonic motor activity.—J. T. F., Editor
Identification of Three Trapping Centers in Calcium Tungstate

Partial thermal annealing of nominally pure calcium tungstate, after gamma irradiation at 78 °K, provided evidence for identifying three major 4900 A thermoluminescence peaks at 0.36, 0.55, and 0.72 eV with three groups of electron spin resonance lines of paramagnetic tungsten at g001 = 2.009 and 1.843 and niobium at g001 = 2.021, respectively. The impurity center identified with the paramagnetic Nb+4 ion is assigned to a tungsten site and a NbO complex. Arguments are presented for the assignment of two lattice defect models, a WO complex with nearby WO3 and NbO complexes, and a WO complex with a nearby calcium deficiency, to the paramagnetic (W+5)A and (W+5)B ions, respectively. Teilweise Temperung von gamma-bestrahlten (78 °K), sogenannten reinen CaWO4-Einkristallen ermoglichte die Identifizierung von drei ausgepragten 4900 A Thermolumineszenzmaxima bei 0,36, 0,55 und 0,72 eV mit drei Gruppen von ESR-Spektren, die mit paramagnetischem Wolfram mit g001 = 2,009 und 1,843 bzw. Niobium mit g001 = 2,021 verbunden sind. Die Fremdstorstelle wird als Nb+4 Ion auf Wolfram-Platz identifiziert und einem NbO-Komplex zugeordnet. Argumente fur die Zuordnung der paramagnetischen (W+5)A- bzw. (W+5)B-Ionen zu zwei Eigenstorstellenmodellen, einem WO-Komplex mit benachbarten WO3- und NbO-Komplexen und einem WO-Komplex mit einer benachbarten Kalzium-Fehlstelle, werden angefuhrt.
THE EFFECTS OF FRACTIONATED CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIC EXTRACT ON SPONTANEOUS ACTIVITY AND WEIGHT OF ELDERLY MALE RATS

AS MENTIONED in previous publications (1, 2), several estrogens have been found to increase the levels of spontaneous activity in elderly rats. The augmented activity has commonly been found to be associated with considerable losses of weight and the question was raised whether the disturbed nutrition rather than the induced hormonal imbalance was the cause of the increase. In short, did it represent merely something akin to the restlessness of an ailing child? One of the estrogens that has been utilised in our investigations is chorionic gonadotropin marketed under the trade name, emmenin. Through the kindness of the manufacturers of the product1 we have recently had opportunity to test two steroid-Containing derivatives, one of which had been found to be estrogenic and the other not.
Strategic Patterns in International Business: Product Differentiation or Complementarity?

ABSTRACT This paper attempts to find out whether, and which, strategic patterns in international business—as represented by two strategies: product differentiation and product complementarity—drive countries' bilateral trade flows. Using a modified version of the gravity model along with features of Porter's National Competitiveness theory (1990), this paper investigates which of the two major trade theories—inter-industry or intra-industry—prevails in the different regions of the world during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Results show that trade transactions were most statistically influenced by product complementarity in the 1970s, but then switched to product differentiation in the 1980s and 1990s, most probably due to the increasing role of globalization. Most regions experienced a product differentiation pattern over all three decades, except for South Asia, Africa, East Asia, and the Middle East (the latter three only in the 1970s), which show a pattern of product complementarity. The estimation of c...
Parallel evolution in pollen structure in linum

Abstract The pollen of most of the approximately 140 species of Linum has now been examined. Most have tricolpate pollen, but nineteen have been found to have multiaperturate pollen. These are distributed among three of the five subgenera usually recognized in the genus, and almost certainly are the result of three independent evolutionary routes. There is evidence that the multiaperturate condition may have evolved twice in each of two of these subgenera. It is possible, if not probable, therefore, that species with multiaperturate pollen may have evolved from those with triaperturate pollen on as many as five different occasions in this genus.
Cost-benefit issues in U.S. national health legislation: The case of the end-stage renal disease program

Since 1973, the U.S. government has been subsidizing the cost of dialysis treatment and organ transplantation for people suffering from kidney disease. But costs have been rising at an alarming rate. Home dialysis treatment is cheaper than treatment in a hospital or clinic, but only a small number of patients who could use home treatment actually do so. This paper examines factors, including physicians' financial profits, that affect treatment decisions and looks at the consequences of these decisions for patients' work status and medical status. I conclude that the U.S. dialysis treatment system is not cost-effective. The paper throws light on issues raised by government support for treatment of chronic diseases.
Euler characteristic of certain affine flag varieties

The purpose of this note is to prove, as Lusztig stated, that the Euler characteristic of the variety of Iwahori subalgebras containing a certain nil-elliptic elementn t istcl wherel is the rank of the associated finite type Lie algebra.
Triplet Repeat–Derived siRNAs Enhance RNA–Mediated Toxicity in a Drosophila Model for Myotonic Dystrophy

More than 20 human neurological and neurodegenerative diseases are caused by simple DNA repeat expansions; among these, non-coding CTG repeat expansions are the basis of myotonic dystrophy (DM1). Recent work, however, has also revealed that many human genes have anti-sense transcripts, raising the possibility that human trinucleotide expansion diseases may be comprised of pathogenic activities due both to a sense expanded-repeat transcript and to an anti-sense expanded-repeat transcript. We established a Drosophila model for DM1 and tested the role of interactions between expanded CTG transcripts and expanded CAG repeat transcripts. These studies revealed dramatically enhanced toxicity in flies co-expressing CTG with CAG expanded repeats. Expression of the two transcripts led to novel pathogenesis with the generation of dcr-2 and ago2-dependent 21-nt triplet repeat-derived siRNAs. These small RNAs targeted the expression of CAG-containing genes, such as Ataxin-2 and TATA binding protein (TBP), which bear long CAG repeats in both fly and man. These findings indicate that the generation of triplet repeat-derived siRNAs may dramatically enhance toxicity in human repeat expansion diseases in which anti-sense transcription occurs.
Biosynthesis and metabolism of ascorbic acid in plants

The biosynthesis of L‐ascorbic acid in plants differs from that encountered in ascorbic acid‐synthesizing animals. Enzymic details are sparse, but in vivo studies with tracers clearly establish the stereochemical detail of both processes. Examples of each process are found in separate classes of algae. Plants utilize L‐ascorbic acid as the carbon source for the biosynthesis of two important plant acids, oxalic acid and L‐tartaric acid. Here, cleavage of L‐ascorbic acid between carbons 2 and 3 releases the 2 and 4 carbon intermediates. A second L‐tartaric acid‐synthesizing process peculiar to vitaceous plants, i.e., grape, cleaves ascorbic acid between carbons 4 and 5. The physiological significance of these metabolic interconversions is discussed. Other metabolic processes such as the oxidation/reduction properties of L‐ascorbic acid are also considered.
Association between prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and health-related quality of life, South Carolina, 2011.

INTRODUCTION We investigated the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in various population subgroups in South Carolina and examined associations between COPD and 4 core measures of health-related quality of life (HRQOL). METHODS Data from 12,851 participants of the 2011 South Carolina Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) were analyzed. COPD prevalence rates were age-adjusted to the 2000 standard US population. Logistic regression models were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (AOR's) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS The overall age-adjusted prevalence of self-reported diagnosis of COPD among community-dwelling adults in South Carolina in 2011 was 7.1% (standard error [SE] ±0.3). Prevalence of self-reported diagnosis of COPD was highest among women (8.9%; SE, ±0.5), those aged 65 years or older (12.9%; SE, ±0.5), current smokers (15.9%; SE, ±0.7), and those with low levels of education and income. Compared with community-dwelling adults without COPD, those with COPD were more likely to report fair or poor general health status (AOR, 3.97; 95% CI, 3.13-5.03), 14 or more physically unhealthy days (AOR, 2.10, 95% CI, 1.57-2.81), 14 or more mentally unhealthy days (AOR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.21-2.43), and 14 or more days of activity limitation (AOR, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.53-3.22) within the previous 30 days. CONCLUSION COPD is a highly prevalent disease in South Carolina, especially among older people and smokers, and it is associated with poor HRQOL. Future work aimed at reducing risk factors may decrease the disease prevalence, and increasing early detection and improving access to appropriate medical treatments can improve HRQOL for those living with COPD.
Early Hominids and Cranial Capacities (continued)

I SHOULD like to make a few points arising from the previous letter1. Much of the debate centres around the problem of species in palaeontology; how to define these, and how to assign new specimens to their appropriate taxon2. It is obvious that “the specimens representing the species make up the statistical universe”. The point which Wolpoff ignores is the manner in which individual specimens are assigned to “species”. In classifying fossils, due attention must be paid to variation within and between infraspecific populations, as well as to possible variation due to time2. The most important issue to decide in the evaluation of a new find is the species lineage (that is, a sequence of ancestral/descendant species populations) to which it belongs, and this requires some consideration of position with respect to infraspecific lineages (infraspecific lineages being sequences of ancestral/descendant infraspecific populations which are not isolated from others but which do have some time duration). Only when this decision has been made ought attention to be turned to classification at the species level, that is, to dividing up the evolving continuum and giving the arbitrary divisions binomina.
Mental health research on Asian Americans

Because of the dramatic increase in the ethnic diversity of Americans and the shrinking world in which international contacts are commonplace, our society is confronted by problems and issues associated with race/ethnic relations. In the fields of community psychology and community mental health, ethnic diversity has posed challenges and opportunities, as well as problems. How can we better understand the cultural, experiential, and psychological sense of different ethnic communities? What means can be found to facilitate ethnic and racial harmony? What kinds of prevention and intervention strategies can be used to promote the well-being, growth, and development of individuals from diverse ethnic groups?
Immiserizing growth with semi-public goods under consistent conjectures

Abstract Population growth allows society to afford more public goods and, in this respect, improves per capita welfare possibilities. However, this note shows that with private provision of public goods, under consistent conjectures, population growth also exacerbates free-riding behavior. This ultimately reduces public good provision, when it should be increased, and population growth proves to be immiserizing. This striking result constrasts with the Nash model, where the improved welfare possibilities are at least partially exploited.
Increased numbers of mast cells in the hyperplastic buccal mucosa of the zinc‐deficient rat

Six weanling male Sprague Dawley rats were fed a diet containing 0.4 ppm Zn and seven were fed an identical diet except for 40 ppm Zn. After 4 weeks, specimens of buccal mucosa in the region facing the molar teeth were removed. Paraffin sections, cut at 6 micron, were stained with toluidine blue, and tracings made of five sections per animal, spaced no less than 60 micron apart. Counts of mast cells of five sections length of section were made in a superficial zone of the lamina propria of 50 micron width and a deeper zone of 250 micron width. The average number of mast cells, per mm in the subepithelial zone of the experimental animals was 15.4, the range 9.2-33.1. The control average was 4.0; the range was 2.9-5.3. No increase was found in the deeper zone. The epithelium was parakeratotic and its thickness was increased two-fold. In the peripheral portion of the section, cellular and keratin layers were evenly increased in thickness, but in the central portion a disproportionate, nearly four-fold increase occurred in the keratin layer and a lesser increase in the cellular layer.
Characteristics Distinguishing Adolescents by Fruit Consumption

Abstract LEARNING OUTCOME: To characterize adolescents according to their fruit consumption for the development of effective nutrition messages. The primary messages promoted by the US Department of Agriculture's Team Nutrition program include expanding the variety of foods in the diet, adding more fruits, vegetables, and grains, and constructing a diet lower in fat. Data from the Nutritional Marketing Information Division of MRCA Information Services were analyzed to determine characteristics which distinguish adolescents with low and those with high consumption of fruit. MRCA recruits and selects households based on US Census figures for census region, metro-area size, household size, homemaker age, and household income. MRCA developed weights to yield a representative sample of the US population on a household and individual level. Data from July 1991 to June 1994 were analyzed using SPSS to calculate descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Adolescents were divided into tertiles based on their average daily fruit consumption over 14 days. The lowest and highest tertiles (one tertile n=85) were compared across several sociodemographic and psychographic variables of the adolescents' primary food preparers. For this study adolescents were defined as those 11 through 17 years of age (n = 255). The median daily servings of fruit consumed was 0.9 for all adolescents. A majority of the adolescents (79%) had on average less than two servings per day and no fruit was consumed by 12% of the adolescents. The lowest tertile had a median fruit serving of 0.2 and the highest tertile had 1.6 servings. Adolescents' age and consumption of fruit were not related. Males and females did not consume statistically different numbers of fruit servings. Food preparers'characteristics which distinguished low fruit consumers from high consumers (p ⩽.01) included food budget concerns, receptiveness to new foods and dishes, and concern over their household members' health and nutrition. Adolescents appear not to be eating recommended servings of fruits, therefore, this information may be useful in developing programs to increase fruit consumption by adolescents.
TU-FF-A4-06: Dynamic Accuracy of An Implanted Wireless AC Electromagnetic Sensor for Guided Radiation Therapy; Implications for Real-Time Tumor Position Tracking

Purpose: A wireless tumor localization and tracking system using three implanted ACelectromagnetic transponders is in clinical trials for use in prostate cancer (Calypso® Medical). Phantom‐based studies have shown sub‐millimeter spatial localization accuracy in static tests. Accuracy has not been evaluated for dynamic motion found in lung tumors. This study was designed to determine the feasibility of using this patient positioning system for real‐time tumor‐tracking. Materials and Methods: A 4‐dimensional (4D) stage capable of arbitrary multidimensional motion with speeds up to 10 cm/sec was constructed. Two elliptical trajectory paths were created with peak‐to‐peak motion of 1cm × 2cm × 1cm and 2cm × 4cm × 2cm in the x, y and z directions. Each trajectory was operated with periods of 15 – 20 cycles per minute. The Calypso System was operated using one and two transponders with radiofrequency signal integration times of 33 ms 100 ms. The transponders were mounted on the 4D‐stage, with the ellipse centroids positioned 14 cm from the array. The effects of ellipse size, speed, number of transponders and signal integration time on transponder localization accuracy were evaluated by comparing the intended and measured trajectories. Results: The root mean square (RMS) position difference was less than 1 mm for all tested combinations. While small, the RMS error was largest for the large ellipse at 20 cycles per minute compared with the small ellipse at 15 cycles per minute. The single‐transponder system with 67 ms integration time had the smallest overall error, with a maximum single‐point error of 1.3mm. Conclusions Use of a wireless electromagnetic implanted transponder system for real‐time tumor‐tracking is feasible, with RMS errors less than 1mm for high‐speed multidimensional ellipses. This compares favorably with continuous fluoroscopic tracking methods without an ionizing radiation burden. This work is currently being expanded to patient‐derived tumor trajectories.
Techniques for including large deformations associated with salt and fault motion in basin modeling

Abstract Modeling large deformations such as non-vertical fault displacement and salt motion have been a major obstacle for the improvement of regional basin modeling studies. Because salt has a large thermal conductivity and is practically impervious, and faults can act as conduits or seals during the evolution of sedimentary basins, they are critical in making accurate predictions of the generation, migration and accumulation of hydrocarbons within salt-bearing basins. To model numerically the evolution of salt structures is not a trivial task and one of the major difficulties in modeling the motion of salt and faults is the management of numerical meshes that are severely corrupted with large deformations. In this study, we use a topological framework for the representation of complex geological structures that makes it possible to model geological processes with large deformation within sedimentary basins and the lithosphere. This framework greatly facilitates the automatic meshing and remeshing required during modeling because meshes, like lithology and physical properties, are treated as attributes of subregions of the model. In this context, we developed a series of techniques to classify fault blocks in order to model the displacement of multiple faults simultaneously in the correct order. In addition, we show that this framework allows the decomposition of the basin model along geological discontinuities and makes it suitable for parallel computation of the solution of differential equations governing generation and migration of hydrocarbons.
A1 Adenosine Receptor-G Protein Coupling in Bovine Brain Membranes: Effects of Guanine Nucleotides, Salt, and Solubilization

: The effects of guanine nucleotides, NaCl, and solubilization on the interaction of antagonists and agonists with the A1 adenosine receptor of bovine brain membranes were studied using the high-affinity antagonist radioligand [3H]xanthine amine congener ([3H]XAC). In membranes, guanine nucleotides and NaCl had no effect on [3H]XAC saturation curves. Using agonist (R)-phenylisopropyladenosine (R-PIA) competition curves versus [3H]XAC, it was demonstrated that agonists could differentiate two affinity states having high and low affinity for agonist and that guanine nucleotides shifted the equilibrium to an all-low-affinity state that was indistinguishable from the low-affinity state in the absence of guanine nucleotides. In contrast, NaCl decreased agonist affinity by a distinctly different mechanism characterized by a parallel rightward shifted agonist curve such that R-PIA still recognized two affinity states albeit of lower affinity than in the absence of salt. R-PIA competition curves in the presence of both guanine nucleotides and salt were still shallow but were shifted far to the right, and two very low affinity states were discerned. On solubilization, guanine nucleotides in a reversible, concentration-dependent manner increased antagonist ([3H]XAQ but not agonist (R-N6-−[3H]phenyl-isopropyladenosine) binding. This was consequent to a change in maximal binding capacity. R-PIA competition curves (versus [3H]XAC) in solubilized preparations demonstrated that agonist could still differentiate two agonist specific affinity states which were modulated by guanine nucleotides. In the presence of guanine nucleotides all the receptors were shifted to a uniform low-affinity state. In contrast, NaCl had no effect on agonist affinity as determined by agonist competition curves in a solubilized receptor preparation. This is firm evidence that guanine nucleotides and NaCl must decrease agonist affinity by distinct mechanisms.
Effects of age and age-related hearing loss on the neural representation of speech cues

Abstract Objective : To examine the effects of aging and age-related hearing loss on the perception and neural representation of a time-varying speech cue. Methods : P1, N1 and P2 cortical responses were recorded from younger and older normal-hearing adults, as well as older adults with age-related hearing loss. Synthetic speech tokens representing 10 ms increments along a /ba/–/pa/ voice-onset-time (VOT) continuum were used to evoke the responses. Each participant's ability to discriminate the speech tokens was also assessed. Results : Compared with younger participants, older adults with and without hearing loss had more difficulty discriminating 10 ms VOT contrasts. In addition, both older groups elicited abnormal neural response patterns. There were no significant age-related findings for P1 latency; however, N1 latencies were prolonged for both older groups in response to stimuli with increased VOT durations. Also, P2 latencies were delayed for both older groups. The presence of age-related hearing loss resulted in a significant increase in N1 amplitude in response to voiceless stimuli. Conclusions : Aging and age-related hearing loss alter temporal response properties in the central auditory system. Because both older groups had difficulty discriminating these same speech stimuli, we conclude that some of the perceptual difficulties described by older adults might be due to age-related changes regulating excitatory and inhibitory processes. Significance : Some of the speech understanding difficulties expressed by elderly adults may be related to impaired temporal precision in the aging auditory system. This might explain why older adults frequently complain that wearing a hearing aid makes speech louder, but does not necessarily improve their ability to understand speech.
Finding small feedback vertex sets for VLSI circuits

Abstract VLSI circuits are often modelled as directed graphs. For many of the problems in VLSI, it is required to find a small feedback vertex set, i.e. a vertex set that breaks all cycles in the graph modelling the underlying circuit. The problem of finding a minimum sized feedback vertex set has been proved to be NP-complete. However, for special classes of graphs, the minimum vertex cover can be found in polynomial time. But, in general, graphs representing VLSI circuits do not fall into any of the special classes. We present a polynomial time algorithm for finding small feedback vertex cover sets, for general graphs. The algorithm finds vertex cover by constructing spanning trees and uses heuristics to select the nodes to be included in the feedback vertex set. Implementation results are provided, which indicate that for the standard benchmark circuits, the algorithm provides ‘close to optimum’ solutions.
Excitation of an electrostatic wave by a cold electron current sheet of finite thickness

Calculations for the threshold of current-driven instabilities and the growth rates of ion acoustic and electrostatic ion cyclotron instabilities in a magnetized plasma driven a current sheet with a finite width are presented. Maxwellian equations are employed to model the velocity distributions of electrons and ions in a direction perpendicular to the sheet. A dispersion relation is defined for the regions of instability, and boundary conditions are characterized in order to obtain a set of eigenvalue equations. Thresholds are delineated for various regions, including ducted mode solutions where only ion-acoustic waves are excited in areas where the frequency range significantly exceeds the ion cyclotron frequency. When a constant electron drift velocity is present, a thick current sheet is more unstable than a thin one. Fewer modes become unstable with a thinner sheet.
Solution Luminescence of Anthraquinone, Naphthoquinone, and Some Derivatives at Room Temperature:

9, 10-Anthraquinone (AQ) in an inert aliphatic solvent emits luminescence at room temperature. The emission consists of (1) solution phosphorescence and (2) delayed thermal fluorescence (DTF). We found that similar emission is observed for some AQ and naphthoquinone (NQ) derivatives. The singlet–triplet separation, ΔE1,3, was determined from the DTF–phosphorescence separation.
Finite element simulations of steady, two-dimensional, viscous incompressible flow over a step

The Galerkin finite element method is utilized to obtain quite detailed results for flow through a channel containing a step at Reynolds numbers of 0 and 200. This technique, however, like its centered finite difference counterpart, is prone to generating wiggles or oscillations when streamwise gradients become too large to be resolved by the mesh. These wiggles are carefully analyzed and are used as a guide in obtaining accurate solutions via successive mesh refinement. It is argued that the appropriate solution to the wiggle problem is the utilization of selective grid refinement (easily available via isoparametric finite elements) rather than taking recourse to upwind methods which effectively reduce the local Reynolds number and thereby generate deceptively smooth and often inaccurate results.
α-HALO SULFOXIDES. A REVIEW

(1974). α-HALO SULFOXIDES. A REVIEW. Organic Preparations and Procedures International: Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 77-102.
A Representation of Large Integers from Combinatorial Sieves

For any positive integers k and m, and any l, 0 ≤ l 0 such that any sufficiently large integer x can be represented as x = ƒ1 · · · ƒk + r · m + l where ƒ1, ..., ƒk and r are nonnegative integers and r · m + l ≤ xβ and ƒi ≥ xβ for each i = l,..., k. This says one can find numbers with certain factorizations in "short arithmetic sequences". The representation is proven by way of the number sieve of Brun and its generalization to multiplicative functions by Alladi; by studying the distribution of the arithmetic function ν(n), the number of distinct prime divisors of n, on sieved short arithmetic sequences. This has applications in Combinatorial Design Theory and Coding Theory.
Role of cavum septum pellucidum in akinetic mutism of hydrocephalic children

Two children 9 and 13 years of age with histories of aqueductal stenosis developed akinetic mutism after multiple shunt revisions. The girl had spontaneous relief of her akinetic mutism 1 month later, after parenteral antibiotics and multiple shunt revisions. The akinetic mutism of the boy was resistant to antiparkinsonian therapy before megadosage of bromocriptine (120 mg/day). Both children had a prominent cavum septum pellucidum (CSP), which has rarely been involved in the pathogenesis of akinetic mutism. Because of the rapid shrinkage of the girl's CSP after shunt revision, but not that of the boy even after stereotactic fenestration of the wall of his CSP, their eventual outcomes were different. Wide CSP (WCSP) may play an important role in the occurrence of akinetic mutism in hydrocephalic patients.
Evidence for fixed charge in the nexus

The nexus or gap junction has been characterized as a low-resistance junction as well as a highly permeable junctional membrane to many molecules1–6. The transfer of electrical current from one cell interior to another, the aqueous solubility of dyes used to trace cell to cell communication and the fact that these molecules move across the nexus more rapidly than the plasma membrane4–10 have led to the hypothesis of an aqueous channel in the junction. Both Ca2+ (ref. 11) and H+ (ref. 12) are thought to alter nexal membrane conductance, and a voltage-sensitive gate has been demonstrated within the junction13. Recently, Flagg-Newton et al.14 have concluded that mammalian junctions may contain fixed charge or be of smaller diameter than arthropod junctions. Here, we have investigated these alternatives by examining the permeability of nexuses of septa of the median giant axon of Lumbricus terrestris1,15 with various derivatives of fluorescein. Both carboxyfluorescein and aminofluorescein were found to have depressed permeabilities relative to their predicted permeabilities based on molecular size and weight (MW). Fluorescein diffusion was significantly suppressed in axons pre-injected with aminofluorescein but carboxyfluorescein had no such effect (Table 1). These data suggest the existence of fixed anionic charge within the nexal channel which may have affinity for amino groups.
Multi-band envelope function calculations for sawtooth superlattices

Abstract The conduction and valence band structures parallel to the growth direction are calculated for Ga 1− x Al x As sawtooth superlattices using a multi-band k · p model and the envelope function approximation. Exact numerical solutions are obtained to the full set of equations. A simplified single-band approach yields good results for the fundamental gap but becomes increasingly inaccurate at higher and lower energies.
Effects of adrenergic agonists and antagonists on the metabolism of [1-14C]oleic acid by rat hepatocytes.

Abstract The possibility that the antihypertensive adrenoceptor antagonists (propranolol, phentolamine and metoprolol) may alter hepatic lipid metabolism was examined in freshly dispersed rat hepatocytes with [1- 14 C]oleate. Propranolol (1.8 × 10 −4 M) and phentolamine (1.4 × 10 −4 M) increased incorporation of [1- −14 C]oleate into cholesteryl esters by 51 and 92%, respectively, and decreased ketogenesis by 46 and 62%, respectively. While neither drug affected incorporation into total phospholipid, propranolol decreased triglyceride synthesis by 37%. These effects of propranolol and phentolamine may not occur through β- or α-receptor inhibition since neither epinephrine nor norepinephrine reversed the effects of the adrenoceptor antagonists. Although epinephrine and norepinephrine per se did not alter the incorporation of [1- −14 C]oleate into triglyceride, phospholipid, cholesteryl esters or ketone bodies, they stimulated the production of 14 CO 2 (control 5.6 ± 1.3; epinephrine 7.6 + 1.1; norepinephrine 9.1 ± 0.2 nmol oleate incorporated/mg protein), and these effects were reversed by phentolamine and propanolol. The data suggest that adrenoceptor antagonists exert direct effects on hepatic metabolism of oleate.
NON-REFLUXING ILEAL URETER REPLACEMENT USING INTUSSUSCEPTED NIPPLE VALVE -AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY IN DOGS-

Although the vast accumulation of data from the continent urinary reservoir clearly proves that intussusception of the ileum is a reliable procedure for preventing urine reflux, few reports have appeared on the application of this technique to ileal replacement of the ureter. In an effort to determine if the nipple valve created by the intussuscepted ileum can prevent urine reflux in the ileal ureter, an experimental study was done using five dogs. I performed ureteral replacement using a newly developed procedure to secure the nipple valve in place. All dogs were followed for 6 months and evaluated by blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), serum electrolyte, urine culture, intravenous urogram (IVU), cystogram, and urodynamic studies. No significant differences were notable between the preoperative and 6-month postoperative values of BUN, Cr, and serum electrolytes in all dogs. Only one of the dogs, which showed extussusception of the nipple valve, demonstrated the reflux. IVUs and Whitaker flow studies did not confirm any urinary outflow obstruction. Furthermore, during the pressure studies, the nipple valve prevented transmission of the increased intravesical pressure to the upper urinary tract. I believe that the intussuscepted ileum can be secured by our procedure and can prevent reflux even though it is incorporated into the urinary system itself. (Acta Urol. Jpn. 42: 289-294, 1996)
Toward an emergent global culture and the effects of globalization on obsolescing national cultures

One of the major effects of globalization is the creation of a new and identifiable class of persons who belong to an emergent global culture. As membership in this new global culture rises, many critics find a distinct threat to national cultures, resulting quite possibly in their eventual obsolescence. In this paper, we consider the trends driving the growth of this newly emerging global culture, the process by which new members are socialized into it, the characteristics, or features, that appear to be descriptive of its members, and the impact of this emerging global culture on the obsolescence of national cultures. Finally, while it is unrealistic to expect that the emerging global culture will replace national cultures, we nevertheless conclude that national cultures must be adaptable and able to emphasize the attractiveness of their core elements if they wish to remain relevant in some viable fashion.
On the Synthesis and Mass-Spectroscopical Identification of Certain Polyhalogenated Acetic Acids

Abstract Improved syntheses of bromochloroacetic acid 1, dibromochloroacetic acid 2, and bromodichloroacetic acid 3, are reported. The acids are identified by elemental analyses, 1H-NMR spectra, and their mass spectra.
Truncated Streptococcus pneumoniae PspA Molecules Elicit Cross-Protective Immunity against Pneumococcal Challenge in Mice

Since the isolation of Streptococcus pneumoniaefrom hu­ man saliva in 1881 and its subsequent connection with lobar pneumonia 2 years later, human disease resulting from pneu­ mococcal infection has been associated with a significant de­ gree ofmorbidity and mortality [1]. A recent survey ofurgently needed vaccines in the developing and developed world places an improved pneumococcal vaccine among the top three vac­ cine priorities of industrialized countries [2]. The currently licensed vaccine is a 23-valent composition of pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides that is -60% effective in the elderly and because of poor efficacy is not recommended for use in children <2 years of age [3]. Furthermore, the increased fre­ quency of isolation of multidrug-resistant strains of S. pneu­ moniae accentuates the need for a more effective vaccine to prevent pneumococcal infections. The immunogenic nature of proteins makes them prime tar­ gets for new vaccine strategies. Pneumococcal molecules being investigated as potential protein vaccine candidates include pneumolysin [4], neuraminidase [5], autolysin [5], pneumococ­ cal surface adhesin A [6], and pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) [7]. All of these proteins are capable of eliciting
The Proportion of NUC Pre-56 Titles Represented in OCLC WorldCat

This article describes a research project that included a designed experiment and statistical analysis to sample and estimate the proportion of records in the 754 volumes of the National Union Catalog Pre-56 Imprints ( Mansell ) that also appear in OCLC WorldCat. The authors randomly selected a sample of records from Mansell and then searched the records in OCLC WorldCat. The results show that 72.2 percent of the records in Mansell were found in WorldCat and 27.8 percent of the sampled Mansell records were not (95% confidence interval [26%, 30%]). Because a significant proportion of works held by libraries is not found in OCLC WorldCat, Mansell remains a valuable library resource.
Mechanics of the Human Common Carotid Artery in Vivo

The relationships between lateral intravascular pressure, vessel radius, and vessel length were evaluated in the common carotid artery in vivo in thirteen patients during treatment by surgery. Strain was measured in the wall of the carotid artery by means of an electrical caliper sutured to the vessel wall. Lateral intravascular pressure was measured directly with either an 18-gauge needle or a short polyethylene catheter connected to a Statham, P23Db, strain gauge. The results indicate that circumferential and longitudinal strains in the common carotid artery were both small. The mean systolic change in cross-sectional area was 2.10% (±SD 1.08) of the end diastolic area. In three patients a negative circumferential strain was produced by making the cross section of the vessel elliptical. During systole, longitudinal strain increased in four patients and decreased in six patients. The average change in vessel segment length during systole was approximately 1.0% of the end diastolic length.