cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Arginases and arginine deficiency syndromes.

Purpose of review Many physiologic and pathophysiologic processes are modulated by arginine availability, which can be regulated by arginase. An understanding of the conditions that result in elevated arginase activity as well as the consequences of arginine deficiency is essential for design of effective nutritional support for disease. This review will emphasize recent findings regarding effects of plasma arginase and arginine deficiencies in disease. Recent findings Elevations in plasma arginase, derived primarily from hemolysis of red blood cells or liver damage, that are associated with arginine deficiency have been identified in an increasing number of diseases and conditions. Arginine insufficiency not only can activate a stress kinase pathway that impairs function of T lymphocytes but it also can inhibit the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway required for macrophage production of cytokines in response to bacterial endotoxin/lipopolysaccharide. Summary There are at least two broad categories of arginine deficiency syndromes, involving either T-cell dysfunction or endothelial dysfunction, depending on the disease context in which arginine deficiency occurs. There is limited information regarding the safety and efficacy of supplementation with arginine or its precursor citrulline in ameliorating arginine deficiency in specific diseases, indicating the need for further studies.
Subtyping stuttering II: Contributions from language and temperament

This paper is the second in a series of two articles exploring subtypes of stuttering, and it addresses the question of whether and how language ability and temperament variables may be relevant to the study of subtypes within the larger population of children who stutter. Despite observations of varied profiles among young children who stutter, efforts to identify and characterize subtypes of stuttering have had limited influence on theoretical or clinical understanding of the disorder. This manuscript briefly highlights research on language and temperament in young children who stutter, and considers whether the results can provide guidance for efforts to more effectively investigate and elucidate subtypes in childhood stuttering. Issues from the literature that appear relevant to research on stuttering subtypes include: (a) the question of whether stuttering is best characterized as categorical or continuous; (b) interpretation of individual differences in skills and profiles; and (c) the fact that, during the preschool years, the interaction among domains such as language and temperament are changing very rapidly, resulting in large differences in developmental profiles within relatively brief chronological age periods.
Flow cytometric method for quantifying viable Mycoplasma agassizii, an agent of upper respiratory tract disease in the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii).

Aims: Mycoplasma agassizii can cause upper respiratory tract disease in the threatened desert tortoise of the Southwestern United States. Two technical challenges have impeded critical microbiological studies of this microorganism: (i) its small size limits the use of light microscopy for cell counting and (ii) its extremely slow growth in broth and agar cultures impedes colony counting. Our aim was to develop a rapid and sensitive flow cytometric method using a vital fluorescent dye to enumerate viable M. agassizii cells. Methods and Results: Here, we demonstrate that the nonfluorescent molecule 5-carboxyfluorescein (5-CF) diacetate acetoxymethyl ester penetrates M. agassizii cell membranes and it is converted in the cytoplasm to the fluorescent molecule 5-CF by the action of intracellular esterases. Labelled mycoplasma cells can be easily detected by flow cytometry, and cultures with as few as 100 viable mycoplasma cells ml−1 can be labelled and counted in less than 1 h. Experiments using temperature-induced cell death demonstrated that only viable M. agassizii cells are labelled with this procedure. Conclusions: A rapid and sensitive flow cytometric technique has been developed for enumerating viable M. agassizii cells. Significance and Impact of the Study: This technique should facilitate basic immunological, biochemical and pharmacological studies of this important pathogen which may lead to new diagnostic and therapeutic methods.
Perspectives on the Transition from Batch to Continuous Mixing Technologies in the Compounding Industry

Abstract During the last quarter of the 20th century, there was a transition from batch to continuous mixing in the polymer and food industries. We present and summarize experimental studies of flows in both internal and continuous mixers. Simulation of flow in these machines is also described. It is argued that the primary reason for this transition was that continuous mixers produce more uniform and better quality mixes, and that this is inherent in their different fluid mechanics. Batch mixers are always starved and largely unpressurized. Their complex fluid mechanics produce non-uniform mixing in the various portions of the compound material. Continuous mixers set up a steady state hydrodynamic flow field generally consisting of alternating regions of pressurized fully filled flow and starved flow. All of the compounds must pass through these regions to reach the die exit and thus possess uniform mixing histories. This uniform deformation history which includes pressurized mixing regions produces supe...
ACTIVATING MUTATION IN THE STIMULATORY G PROTEIN GENE IN AN INFANT WITH ADRFNOCORTICONODULAR DYSPLASIA

ACTIVATING MUTATION IN THE STIMULATORY G PROTEIN GENE IN AN INFANT WITH ADRFNOCORTICONODULAR DYSPLASIA
Stereospecific reduction of progesterone by Pisum sativum

Abstract [4 - 14 C]-Progesterone was applied to the leaves of growing pea plants, Pisum sativum . After 3 weeks, about 50% of the administered steroid was reduced, about 20% being reduced to 5α-pregnane-3α,20β-diol as the major metabolite. The radioactivities of 5α-pregnane-3α,20α-diol and 5α-pregnane-3α,20β-diol after 3 weeks were more than twice those after one week. The following radioactive metabolises were also isolated: 5α-pregnane-3,20-dione; 20α-hydroxy-4- pregnen-3-one; 20β-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one; 3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one; 3α-hydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one; 3β-hydroxy- 5α-pregnan-20-one; 20β-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-3-one; 5α-pregnane-3β,20β-diol; and 5β-pregnane-3α,20β-diol. The radioactivities of the 5α-pregnane derivatives were considerably higher than those of the corresponding 5β-pregnane derivatives.
SP0104 The Molecular Basis of Autoimmune Disease

Genome-wide association studies have identified numerous genetic associations between common SNPs and risk of autoimmune diseases, some of which are shared between diseases. Along with clinical evidence, this suggests that some genetic risk factors with their biologic effects may be shared across diseases. We evaluate the extent of this sharing for 107 immune disease-risk SNPs in seven diseases and developed a novel statistic for C ross P henotype M eta- A nalysis which detects association of a SNP to multiple, but not necessarily all, phenotypes. We find evidence that 47/107 (44%) immune-mediated disease risk SNPs are associated to multiple – but not all – immune-mediated diseases (SNP-wise P CPMA + T-cell populations. These investigations identified risk variants disrupting the enhancers of distinct cell types among the different autoimmune diseases, particularly in AP-1 and NFkB. Finally, autoimmune disease results from untoward interactions between genetics and the environment. We recently showed that increased salt (NaCl) concentrations found locally under physiological conditions in vivo dramatically boost the induction of Th17 cells mediated by SGK1. The Th17 cells generated under high-salt display a highly pathogenic and stable phenotype characterized by the up-regulation of the pro-inflammatory cytokines GM-CSF, TNFα and IL-2. Recent data revealed that higher NaCl levels also decreased the function of human CD4 + CD25 + FoxP3 + Tregs isolated ex vivo . Mice fed with a high-salt diet develop a more severe form of EAE, in line with augmented central nervous system infiltrating and peripherally induced antigen specific Th17 cells. It was of interest to observe that RNA array analyses of genes induced by NaCl were markedly enhanced among GWAS hits. Identifying specific sites where a single, non-coding nucleotide variant is responsible for disease risk may pinpoint specific disruptions of consensus transcription factor binding sites that ultimately define disease risk as related to environmental factors. Disclosure of Interest None declared DOI 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.6254
Regeneration of the urodele limb: A review

Urodele amphibians have been widely used for studies of limb regeneration. In this article, we review studies on blastema cell proliferation and propose a model of blastemal self-organization and patterning. The model is based on local cell interactions that intercalate positional identities within circumferential and proximodistal boundaries that outline the regenerate. The positional identities created by the intercalation process appear to be reflected in the molecular composition of the cell surface. Transcription factors and signaling molecules involved in patterning are discussed within the context of the boundary/intercalation model.
Requirements for Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Glycoproteins in Assembly and Egress from Infected Cells

Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is an enveloped RNA virus that assembles and buds from the plasma membrane of infected cells. The ribonucleoprotein complex (RNP) must associate with the viral matrix protein and glycoproteins to form newly infectious particles prior to budding. The viral proteins involved in HRSV assembly and egress are mostly unexplored. We investigated whether the glycoproteins of HRSV were involved in the late stages of viral replication by utilizing recombinant viruses where each individual glycoprotein gene was deleted and replaced with a reporter gene to maintain wild-type levels of gene expression. These engineered viruses allowed us to study the roles of the glycoproteins in assembly and budding in the context of infectious virus. Microscopy data showed that the F glycoprotein was involved in the localization of the glycoproteins with the other viral proteins at the plasma membrane. Biochemical analyses showed that deletion of the F and G proteins affected incorporation of the other viral proteins into budded virions. However, efficient viral release was unaffected by the deletion of any of the glycoproteins individually or in concert. These studies attribute a novel role to the F and G proteins in viral protein localization and assembly.
Use of live animals in the curricula of U.S. medical schools in 1994.

In 1994, the AAMC surveyed the 126 U.S. medical schools to obtain data on live-animal use in the undergraduate medical curriculum. The questions focused entirely on the use of live animals in teaching laboratories that are either required or optional parts of the undergraduate medical curriculum. Seventy-seven of the 125 responding schools used live animals in one or more courses; of the required courses, animals were most often used in physiology courses (49 schools), followed by surgical clerkships (21) and pharmacology courses (13). Although these data show that the majority of schools used live animals in their curricula, the data also show that the majority of schools did not use live animals as part of the teaching of any specific course of discipline in 1994. The animals most often used were dogs (54 schools) and pigs (12). Forty-three of the 77 schools that used live animals offered a variety of alternatives to their use. The respondents' data indicate a steady decline in the number of schools using live animals in teaching labs since before 1982. The reasons most often reported for discontinuing live-animal use were expense, changes in curriculum or curriculum focus, and lack of time, faculty, or space. Several other reasons were also listed, but live animals' value in teaching was seldom a factor. Only 15 schools indicated they had experienced harassment, protests, or legal actions arising from their use of live animals in the previous two years.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
State space analysis of stochastic response cumulants

Abstract The technique of linear state space analysis is extended to allow computation of response cumulants of any order. In particular, equations are derived which govern the evolution of the cumulants for the response of a linear system excited by a delta correlated process, which generally causes nonnormal response. The technique also applies if the excitation can be viewed as the output of a linear filter with a delta correlated input. When applied to find second cumulants (i.e., covariances), the method gives the usual Lyapunov matrix equation. The method is illustrated by formulation of the state space equations for the third-order cumulants of the response of an SDF oscillator.
Influences on responsiveness: Interactions between mothers and their premature infants

The responsiveness of mothers to their infants has been found to make an important contribution to children's development. Mothers' cognitive ability, emotional state, and life stresses may influence their responsiveness, as may the medical condition of their infants. The patterns of influence may vary between groups of children with different biological risk conditions and should be examined carefully to determine intervention points for different groups. Forty mothers and their 3-month-old (corrected age) infants with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) were observed in free play. Mothers' depressive symptoms, cognitive skills, and the degree of infants' IVH were assessed and expected to be influences on mothers' responsiveness. Results indicated that mothers' depressive symptoms and cognitive skills were associated with their responsiveness, but that depressive symptoms were the stronger predictor. Post hoc analyses suggested that socioeconomic status and depressive symptoms may have related effects on mothers' behavior.
Commensal enteric bacteria lipopolysaccharide impairs host defense against disseminated Candida albicans fungal infection

Commensal enteric bacteria maintain systemic immune responsiveness that protects against disseminated or localized infection in extra-intestinal tissues caused by pathogenic microbes. However, as shifts in infection susceptibility after commensal bacteria eradication have primarily been probed using viruses, the broader applicability to other pathogen types remains undefined. In sharp contrast to diminished antiviral immunity, we show commensal bacteria eradication bolsters protection against disseminated Candida albicans fungal infection. Enhanced antifungal immunity reflects more robust systemic expansion of Ly6G(hi)Ly6C(int) neutrophils, and their mobilization into infected tissues among antibiotic-treated compared with commensal bacteria-replete control mice. Reciprocally, depletion of neutrophils from expanded levels or intestinal lipopolysaccharide reconstitution overrides the antifungal protective benefits conferred by commensal bacteria eradication. This discordance in antifungal compared with antiviral immunity highlights intrinsic differences in how commensal bacteria control responsiveness for specific immune cell subsets, because pathogen-specific CD8(+) T cells that protect against viruses were suppressed similarly after C. albicans and influenza A virus infection. Thus, positive calibration of antiviral immunity by commensal bacteria is counterbalanced by restrained activation of other immune components that confer antifungal immunity.
Quantum-noise-limited sensitivity of an interferometer using a phase generated carrier demodulation scheme

The quantum-noise-limited sensitivity is derived for a two-beam interferometer, which uses a phase generated carrier demodulation scheme. For surface-disturbance-detecting sensors, this sensitivity limit is expressed in terms of the smallest displacement that may be detected if the signal-to-noise ratio is unity. We determine the quantum-noise-limited displacement of the classical Michelson interferometer to be 5 pm.
Critical behavior of a layered-superconductor model.

We have performed a Wilson-Kogut renormalization-group study of Kosterlitz-Thouless-Berezinskii (KTB) layers coupled to one another by a Lawrence-Doniach-type term, in zero field. The recursion relations that we derive are valid when the interlayer coupling \ensuremath{\lambda} is weak and correctly reduce to the recursion relations for the KTB transition when \ensuremath{\lambda}=0. We find that there is crossover away from the two-dimensional KTB behavior and that the size of the upward shift in the transition temperature and the critical region are weakly dependent on \ensuremath{\lambda}. We apply our findings to layered high-temperature superconductors and conclude that their critical behavior at zero field is explained by our model.
Abundant gene conversion between arms of palindromes in human and ape Y chromosomes

Eight palindromes comprise one-quarter of the euchromatic DNA of the male-specific region of the human Y chromosome, the MSY. They contain many testis-specific genes and typically exhibit 99.97% intra-palindromic (arm-to-arm) sequence identity. This high degree of identity could be interpreted as evidence that the palindromes arose through duplication events that occurred about 100,000 years ago. Using comparative sequencing in great apes, we demonstrate here that at least six of these MSY palindromes predate the divergence of the human and chimpanzee lineages, which occurred about 5 million years ago. The arms of these palindromes must have subsequently engaged in gene conversion, driving the paired arms to evolve in concert. Indeed, analysis of MSY palindrome sequence variation in existing human populations provides evidence of recurrent arm-to-arm gene conversion in our species. We conclude that during recent evolution, an average of approximately 600 nucleotides per newborn male have undergone Y-Y gene conversion, which has had an important role in the evolution of multi-copy testis gene families in the MSY.
The role of ideological change in India's economic liberalization

Abstract The paper describes the role of ideological change in India's economic liberalization and provides evidence for it. Since the 1980s the most prevalent ideology has changed from condemning commerce and profit as anti-social, to tolerating—even applauding—commercial success. The paper reports on a content analysis of the most popular Hindi film each year since 1955, and finds that characters of rich merchants have changed from being portrayed as villains to being portrayed as heroes.
KTiOPO 4 (KTP): A New Material for Optical Waveguide Applications

KTP is a unique nonlinear optical material that is widely used for second harmonic generation of Nd:YAG. It also has high electrooptic coefficients and low dielectric constants that together with its high optical damage thresholds and high thermal stability make KTP superior for integrated optical applications as well.
The effects on branch prediction when utilizing control independence

Though current general-purpose processors have several small CPU cores as opposed to a single more complex core, many algorithms and applications are inherently sequential and so hard to explicitly parallelize. Cores designed to handle these problems may exhibit deeper pipelines and wider fetch widths to exploit instruction-level parallelism via out-of-order execution. As these parameters increase, so does the amount of instructions fetched along an incorrect path when a branch is mispredicted. Some instructions are fetched regardless of the direction of a branch. In current conventional CPUs, these instructions are always squashed upon branch misprediction and are fetched again shortly thereafter. Recent research efforts explore lessening the effect of branch mispredictions by retaining these instructions when squashing or fetching them in advance when encountering a branch that is difficult to predict. Though these control independent processors are meant to lessen the damage of misprediction, an inherent side-effect of fetching out of order, branch weakening, reduces realized speedup and is in part responsible for lowering potential speedup. This study formally defines and works towards identifying the causes of branch weakening. The overall goal of the research is to determine how much weakening is avoidable and develop techniques to help reduce weakening in control independent processors.
Intelligent robotic teams: ideas, issues, and implementation

Team robotics is slowly but surely emerging as a useful and effective solution to a number of practical problems. There are a number of important motivations for developing robotic teams of cooperating modules. Differences in task requirements, resources, and environments provide a very strong motivation not to attempt to develop a single complicated robotic system which performs all functions, in all conditions, poorly. Consideration of multiple cooperative robotic teams, provide an attractive, effective, and practical alternative. Individual robots in the team are typically simpler to design, enhancing the system reliability. Also, teams are more efficient and more fault tolerant. In our own research, we have investigated a number of important issues underlying the development of cooperative robotic teams. These research studies have emphasized experimental validation of the concepts. Highlights of these studies are presented below.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Fatal ECHO 24 infection in a patient with hypogammaglobulinemia: Relationship to dermatomyositis-like syndrome

Patients with deficient antibody-mediated immunity may develop a rare "dermatomyositis-like" syndrome, which is usually progressive and fatal. We have observed a child with hypogammaglobulinemia in whom a dermatomyositis-like syndrome was associated with a fatal, disseminated ECHO 24 infection. This association suggests that in some immunodeficient patients the fatal dermatomyositis-like syndrome is a manifestation of a viral infection in a compromised host. The use of maternal plasma, with a high titer of ECHO 24 neutralizing activity, was unsuccessful in arresting the progress of the infection.
Complete genome sequence of Ferroglobus placidus AEDII12DO

Ferroglobus placidus belongs to the order Archaeoglobales within the archaeal phylum Euryarchaeota. Strain AEDII12DO is the type strain of the species and was isolated from a shallow marine hydrothermal system at Vulcano, Italy. It is a hyperthermophilic, anaerobic chemolithoautotroph, but it can also use a variety of aromatic compounds as electron donors. Here we describe the features of this organism together with the complete genome sequence and annotation. The 2,196,266 bp genome with its 2,567 protein-coding and 55 RNA genes was sequenced as part of a DOE Joint Genome Institute Laboratory Sequencing Program (LSP) project.
Microstructural tectonometamorphic processes and the development of gneissic layering: a mechanism for metamorphic segregation

The Mary granite, in the East Athabasca mylonite triangle, northern Saskatchewan, provides an example and a model for the development of non-migmatitic gneissic texture. Gneissic compositional layering developed through the simultaneous evolution of three microdomains corresponding to original plagioclase, orthopyroxene and matrix in the igneous rocks. Plagioclase phenocrysts were progressively deformed and recrystallized, first into core and mantle structures, and ultimately into plagioclase-rich layers or ribbons. Garnet preferentially developed in the outer portions of recrystallized mantles, and, with further deformation, produced garnet-rich sub-layers within the plagioclase-rich gneissic domains. Orthopyroxene was replaced by clinopyroxene and garnet (and hornblende if sufficient water was present), which were, in turn, drawn into layers with new garnet growth along the boundaries. The igneous matrix evolved through a number of transient fabric stages involving S-C fabrics, S-C-C′ fabrics, and ultramylonitic domains. In addition, quartz veins were emplaced and subsequently deformed into quartz-rich gneissic layers. Moderate to highly strained samples display extreme mineralogical (compositional) segregation, yet most domains can be directly related to the original igneous precursors. The Mary granite was emplaced at approximately 900 °C and 1.0 GPa and was metamorphosed at approximately 750 °C and 1.0 GPa. The igneous rocks crystallized in the medium-pressure granulite field (Opx–Pl) but were metamorphosed on cooling into the high-pressure (Grt–Cpx–Pl) granulite field. The compositional segregation resulted from a dynamic, mutually reinforcing interaction between deformation, metamorphic and igneous processes in the deep crust. The production of gneissic texture by processes such as these may be the inevitable result of isobaric cooling of igneous rocks within a tectonically active deep crust.
Gas chromatographic determination of pentoxifylline and its major metabolites in human breast milk

A method has been developed for determination of the xanthine drug, pentoxifylline, and three of its metabolites (a secondary alcohol and two carboxylic acids) in human milk. The method requires pre-extraction with hexane to remove lipids followed by extraction with dichloromethane or dichloromethane-isopropanol (4:1). Absolute extraction recoveries were between 76-90%. Pentoxifylline and its alcohol metabolite (as the trifluoroacetate) and the carboxylic acid metabolites (as ethyl esters) were measured in separate gas chromatographic steps using a nitrogen detector. Determinations of pentoxifylline and its three metabolites were 96-99% accurate and standard deviations of 5-10% were observed for samples at or above the lower practical sensitivity limit (10 ng/ml) for the assay. Pentoxifylline and its metabolites were stable in breast milk for three weeks when stored at -15 degrees C.
Claimholder Incentive Conflicts in Reorganization: The Role of Bankruptcy Law

When a firm is financial distress, in most cases a set of mutually advantageous reorganization plans exist. This article shows that the bankruptcy code, by providing rules governing the negotiation process, yields a unique solution to the reorganization process. In addition, the structure imposed by the code mitigates the holdout problem created by the individual claimant's divergent incentives. Article published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Financial Studies in its journal, The Review of Financial Studies.
Patterns of migration in Arctic Alaska

Abstract Migration has always been an important feature of the Arctic. This paper highlights geographic patterns of human migration in Arctic Alaska using origin and destination micro-data from the US Census Decennial Survey. Important migration patterns identified in this paper include large village to village migration flows and large negative net migration from villages to rural regional centers. Hierarchical or step-wise patterns of migration that are not purely distance determined are also observed. Also, migration backto Arctic Alaska from other Alaska and US places is important and these migration patterns conform to general hierarchical migration. Models in the new economics of migration literature appear to better explain Arctic migration patterns in Arctic Alaska compared to models focusing purely on expected wages.
Evaluation of small-area population estimation using LiDAR, Landsat TM and parcel data

This paper presents methods and results of small-area population estimation using a combined Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR), Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and parcel dataset for a study area in Denton, Texas, USA. A normalized digital surface model (nDSM) was created from a digital surface model (DSM) and a digital elevation model (DEM) built from LiDAR point data. Residential and commercial parcels were selected from parcel data and used as a mask to remove non-residential and non-commercial pixels from the nDSM. Classification results of residential areas from Landsat TM images acquired on two dates were used to further refine the nDSM. Using continuous and random census blocks as samples, building count, building area and building volume were calculated from the nDSM through mathematical morphological operations, zonal statistics, data conversion and spatial joining in a geographic information system (GIS). Combined with census 2000 data, a total of 10 ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models and geographically weighted regression (GWR) models were built and applied to the census blocks in the study area. Finally, accuracy assessments were carried out. The results show that the sign and magnitude of the relative estimation errors at the census-block level lead to underestimation of the total population in the study area. Possible reasons for the relatively low accuracies and problems for further investigation are also discussed.
Transcriptional profiling of young and old mesenchymal stem cells in response to oxygen deprivation and reparability of the infarcted myocardium

Most clinical studies have used autologous bone marrow (BM) stem cells for myocardial regeneration in elderly patients. We hypothesize that aging impairs the survival and differentiation potential of BM stem cells thus limiting their therapeutic efficacy. BM-derived MSCs from young ((Yng)MSCs; 8-12 weeks) and old ((Old)MSCs; 24-26 months) rats were purified and assessed for their responsiveness to anoxia and reparability of infarcted heart. Higher expression of angiogenic growth factors was observed by (Yng)MSCs under anoxia as compared to (Old)MSCs, cultured either alone or in co-culture ((Co-old)MSCs) with (Yng)MSCs. Likewise, (Yng)MSCs were more tolerant to apoptotic stimuli and showed higher ability to form tubular structures during in vitro Matrigel assay as compared to (Old)MSCs and (Co-old)MSCs with a possible role of p21 and p27 as contributory survival factors. For in vivo studies, acute myocardial infarction model was developed in Fischer-344 rats (n=38). The animals were grouped to receive 70 microl basal DMEM without cells (group 1) or containing 2 x 10(6)(Yng)MSCs (PKH67 labeled; group 2) or (Old)MSCs (PKH26 labeled; group 3) and mixture of (Yng)MSCs + (Old)MSCs (1 x 10(6) cells each; group 4). Histological studies revealed that by day 7, (Yng)MSCs showed elongated morphology with orientation similar to the host muscle architecture. Electron microscopy and confocal imaging after fluorescent immunostaining showed superior angiomyogenic potential of (Yng)MSCs. Echocardiography showed significantly preserved heart function indices in the animals transplanted with (Yng)MSCs. Aging impairs the responsiveness of (Old)MSCs to anoxia and their differentiation potential. (Yng)MSCs fail to alter the survival of (Old)MSCs under in vitro as well as in vivo conditions. It is therefore concluded that transplantation of stem cells from young donors would be a better option for heart cell therapy in future clinical studies.
Inhibitory SMADs: Potential Regulators of Ovarian Function

Transforming growth factor beta (TGFB) superfamily signaling regulates essential reproductive functions. Dysregulation of TGFB signaling results in cellular and molecular deficiencies in the ovary, leading to reproductive diseases and cancer development. SMAD proteins are canonical TGFB signaling components consisting of receptor-regulated SMADs (SMAD1/2/3/5/9), a common SMAD (SMAD4), and inhibitory SMADs (SMAD6/7). Inhibitory SMADs are negative regulators of TGFB and bone morphogenetic protein signaling, and their reproductive functions are poorly defined. Emerging evidence supports that inhibitory SMADs are potential regulators of ovarian function. Further efforts and new genetic models are needed to unveil the role of inhibitory SMADs in the ovary.
Note-Operations Sequencing in Discrete Parts Manufacturing

This paper presents an algorithm for efficiently sequencing the cutting operations associated with the manufacture of discrete parts on a CNC machine. The problem is first modeled as an integer program but recast via Lagrangian relaxation as a min-cut problem on a bipartite network. Tight lower bounds are obtained with a max-flow algorithm. The corresponding solution is used as input to a greedy heuristic which generates "good" feasible points. Given nonconvergence, a branch and bound strategy is used to find the optimal solution.
Low-power architectural synthesis and the impact of exploiting locality

Recently there has been increased interest in the development of high-level architectural synthesis tools targeting power optimization. In this paper, we first present an overview of the various architecture synthesis tasks and analyze their influence on power consumption. A survey of previously proposed techniques is given, and areas of opportunity are identified. We next propose a new architecture synthesis technique for low-power implementation of real-time applications. The technique uses algorithm partitioning to preserve locality in the assignment of operations to hardware units. Preserving locality results in more compact layouts, reduced usage of long high-capacitance buses, and reduced power consumption in multiplexors and buffers. Experimental results show reductions in bus and multiplexor power of up to 80% and 60%, respectively, resulting in 10–25% reduction in total power.
In a pickle: is cornichon just relish or part of the main dish?

The recent discovery that vertebrate homologs of Drosophila cornichon associate with AMPA receptors led to the unexpected notion that cornichons play a role in synaptic transmission. In this issue of Neuron , Kato et al. find that cornichons modulate the gating of TARP-associated AMPA receptors by preventing their resensitization to glutamate.
Reconstruction of an enzyme by domain substitution effectively switches substrate specificity.

THE polar domains of the two transcarbamoylases, aspartate transcarbamoylase (ATCase) and ornithine transcarbamoylase, (OTCase) from Escherichia coli bind the common substrate carbamoyl phosphate and share extensive amino-acid sequence homology1,2. The equatorial domains of the two enzymes differ in their substrate specificity (ATCase binds aspartate, OTCase binds ornithine) and have decreased sequence identity. While addressing the conservation of specific protein interactions during the evolution of these enzymes, we were able to switch one of their amino-acid-specific equatorial domains to produce a viable chimaeric enzyme. This was achieved by the in vitro fusion of DNA encoding the polar domain of OTCase to DNA encoding the equatorial domain of ATCase. The resulting gene fusion successfully transformed an argl-pyrB deletion strain of E. coli to pyrimidine prototrophy, giving rise to Pyr+ transformants that expressed ATCase but not OTCase activity. The formation of this active chimaeric enzyme shows that by exchanging protein domains between two functionally divergent enzymes we have achieved a switching in substrate specificity.
Reforming venture capital in India: creating the enabling environment for information technology

The paper analyses the need for venture capital in India to support the growth of its Information Technology industry. It is shown that the growth of a venture capital industry in India will help sustain growth at current levels with less risk, but that substantial changes in the regulatory, tax and currency environments are needed. An ideal environment is proposed, benchmarked against the US environment and used to develop a set of proposals for reform. The Indian venture capital regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India, recently accepted a report based on these proposals and the Ministry of Finance has put some of the proposals into law. An analysis of the accepted proposals shows the least progress in currency reform and in prudent expert rules. The forecast is for modest growth of the venture capital industry, with substantial growth unlikely until the remaining proposals are accepted.
Snail2 is an Essential Mediator of Twist1-Induced Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition and Metastasis

To metastasize, carcinoma cells must attenuate cell–cell adhesion to disseminate into distant organs. A group of transcription factors, including Twist1, Snail1, Snail2, ZEB1, and ZEB2, have been shown to induce epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), thus promoting tumor dissemination. However, it is unknown whether these transcription factors function independently or coordinately to activate the EMT program. Here we report that direct induction of Snail2 is essential for Twist1 to induce EMT. Snail2 knockdown completely blocks the ability of Twist1 to suppress E-cadherin transcription. Twist1 binds to an evolutionarily conserved E-box on the proximate Snail2 promoter to induce its transcription. Snail2 induction is essential for Twist1-induced cell invasion and distant metastasis in mice. In human breast tumors, the expression of Twist1 and Snail2 is highly correlated. Together, our results show that Twist1 needs to induce Snail2 to suppress the epithelial branch of the EMT program and that Twist1 and Snail2 act together to promote EMT and tumor metastasis. Cancer Res; 71(1); 245–54. ©2010 AACR.
The mediating influence of interpersonal problems on the intergenerational transmission of relationship aggression

Intergenerational patterns of relationship aggression have received considerable theoretical attention and empirical support. A developmental account of such effects suggests that childhood exposure to family violence leads to interpersonal problems that are subsequently manifested in aggressive dating relationships. The current study tested this hypothesis using structural equation modeling with data from a sample of female college students (N= 207). The theoretical model of interest, in which interpersonal problems with dominance, intrusiveness, and vindictiveness fully mediate the link between violence in the family of origin and participation in physically aggressive dating relationships, provided a very good fit to the data. This mediational model was preferable to alternative models that (a) included both direct and indirect influences of family-of-origin violence, (b) reversed the direction of effects by modeling interpersonal problems with dominance as a result of intimate partner aggression; and (c) modeled interpersonal problems with submissiveness as mediating intergenerational violence patterns. The findings implicate interpersonal problems with dominance as an important mediating factor in the developmental pathway linking family-of-origin violence to intimate partner violence in adulthood for young adult women.
Nonlinear random response of angle-ply laminates with static and thermal preloads

This paper investigates the response of rectangular plates subjected to combinations of static. thermal, and acoustic loads. The analytical formulation used herein is based on the classical Karman-type strain nonlinearity and includes the effect of initial deflection, initial stress, and temperature.
Statistics of the Stokes parameters

The probability-density functions and lower-order moments of the four Stokes parameters are obtained as a function of the degree of polarization and the mean intensities of the two field components.
C-kit receptor expression in acute leukemias—association with patient and disease characteristics and with outcome

We hypothesize that c-kit expression may be associated with disease-specific features and have prognostic value in acute leukemias. In acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), higher levels of c-kit expression predicted lower complete response (CR) rates, suggesting that these patients may benefit from acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) therapy. Despite a negative association with the Philadelphia-chromosome, there was no correlation with disease-free survival (DFS) in CR. In AML, c-kit was associated with older age and cytogenetic abnormality t(-5, -7). Consequently higher levels of c-kit predicted lower CR rates. However, after accounting for these covariates, multivariate analysis indicates that higher c-kit expression predicts higher CR rates, although there was no effect on DFS in CR.
Three-dimensional confocal microscopy of the mammalian inner ear

AbstractObjective: Control the refractive index in fixed specimens of mammalian inner ear to reduce spherical aberrations that limit our ability to obtain 3-dimensional images of fluorescently labeled inner ear specimens by conventional laser scanning confocal microscopy. Study Design: Mouse inner ear specimens were fixed with minimal dissection, rapidly decalcified and fluorescently labeled by immunohistochemistry then impregnated by epoxy resin or a clearing agent composed of 5 parts methyl salicylate:3 parts benzyl benzoate. The specimens were imaged by both confocal microscopy and by widefield epi-fluorescent microscopy, with additional processing by deconvolution. Results: Rapid decalcification preserved tissue morphology and antigenicity for the antibodies tested. Although the epoxy allowed some reduction of spherical aberration, the clearing agent enabled optical volumes of high quality and resolution to be collected through the inner ear. The conditions for immunolabeling are important to ensure a...
School nursing for children with special needs: does number of schools make a difference?

BACKGROUND: Few recent studies have focused on the role of school nurses who predominantly care for children with special health care needs (CSHCN). The primary aim of this study was to explore differences related to (a) child health conditions covered, (b) direct care procedures, (c) care management functions, and (c) consultation sources used among nurses who spent the majority of their time caring for CSHCN compared to a mixed student population and among nurses who covered a single school versus multiple schools. METHODS: A community-based interdisciplinary team developed a 28-item survey which was completed by 50 nurses (48.5% response) employed by health departments and school districts. Descriptive and comparative statistics and thematic coding were used to analyze data. RESULTS: Nurses who covered a single school (n = 23) or who were primarily assigned to CSHCN (n = 13) had a lower number of students, and more frequently (a) encountered complex child conditions, (b) performed direct care procedures, (c) participated in Individualized Education Plan (IEP) development, (d) collaborated with the Title V-CSHCN agency, and e) communicated with physicians, compared to nurses who covered multiple schools or a general child population. Benefits centered on the children, scope of work, school environment, and family relationships. Challenges included high caseloads, school district priorities, and families who did not follow up. CONCLUSION: The number of schools that the nurses covered, percent of time caring for CSHCN, and employer type (school district or health department) affected the scope of school nurse practice. Recommendations are for lower student-to-nurse ratios, improved nursing supervision, and educational support.
Adolescent Marital Expectations and Romantic Experiences: Associations With Perceptions About Parental Conflict and Adolescent Attachment Security

This study tested associations between adolescent perceptions of interparental conflict, adolescent attachment security with parents, and adolescent marital expectations and romantic experiences. Participants were 96 early adolescent females from 2 parent families. Insecurity was examined as a mediator of the association between negative perceptions of parental conflict and romantic outcomes. Results supported the mediation model in which adolescents' negative perceptions of parental conflict was associated with insecure attachment with parents, which was in turn associated with negative marital expectations and romantic experiences. Implications for understanding how parent-adolescent and interparental variables influence adolescent marital expectations and romantic experiences are discussed.
A review of research on the teaching and learning of thermodynamics at the university level

We review previous research on the teaching and learning of thermodynamics in upper-level, undergraduate settings. As chemistry education researchers we use physical chemistry as a context for understanding the literature. During our synthesis four themes of research emerged: factors that influence student success in learning thermodynamics, understanding thermodynamics through mathematical concepts and representations, student reasoning using the particulate nature of matter, and students' alternative thermodynamic conceptions. We also draw from literature in physics education research, engineering education research, and research on undergraduate mathematics education communities to widen our perspective on the teaching and learning of thermodynamics across disciplines. Following our presentation of studies, we discuss gaps in the literature and directions for new research in line with the recommendations of the National Research Council's (2012) recent report on Discipline-Based Education Research. We also discuss implications for practice which we hope will provide increased pedagogical support for teaching thermodynamics in upper-level, undergraduate settings, especially physical chemistry.
Implementation of an intelligent-position-controller-based matrix formulation using adaptive self-tuning tracking control

This paper proposes an intelligent position controller for brushless motor drives and motion controls. The controller is based on theory of the self-tuning tracking control. It integrates the principles of fuzzy logic with learning functions of neural networks into intelligent control architecture. A matrix formulation of a fuzzy-rule-based system is introduced. Consequently, a training-algorithm-based error function is also expressed in a matrix form. The resulting controller is significantly simple in structure and learning capability, and robust, and has high tracking performance (with respect to reference and measured data). With the proposed controller the rotor position can trace any arbitrary selected trajectory without overshooting or overstressing the hardware system. The entire system is designed and implemented in the laboratory using a hardware setup. The results of the laboratory testing are described in the paper. Compared to the proportional-plus-integral controller, the proposed controller yields a better dynamic performance with shorter settling time, without overshoot. Experimental results have shown that the proposed controller adaptively and robustly responds to a wide range of operating conditions.