cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Atezolizumab-induced scleroderma: a rare complication

Few cases of programmed death-ligand 1 inhibitor-induced scleroderma have been reported and their clinical features remain unpublished. Optimal management is, therefore, unknown and an autoantibody association has yet to be identified. We present the case of a female in her 60s who developed skin thickening after starting atezolizumab for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Skin biopsy 7 months after symptom onset showed histological changes consistent with scleroderma. Anti-PM/SCL-75 antibody was positive. Atezolizumab was discontinued and treatment was started with mycophenolate mofetil. After 5 months, she experienced mild improvement in skin thickening. Earlier identification of this complication may limit morbidity in this disease process, which otherwise has limited treatment options. In suspected cases, obtaining scleroderma-associated autoantibodies may help with earlier diagnosis.
Chapter 2 Cortical Exocytosis in the Sea Urchin Egg

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the process of cortical exocytosis in sea urchin egg. There is now ample evidence that an increase in cytosolic free calcium precedes and is the signal for exocytosis. The calcium signal is therefore described in the chapter, including the regulatory role of the guanyl nucleotide binding proteins. The use of subcellular fractions of sea urchin eggs has been analyzed with their retained exocytotic apparatus for in vitro studies of the calcium trigger. The fundamental mechanism of Ca 2+ signal generation in the sea urchin egg and in mammalian cells appears to be virtually identical: receptor occupation results in the sequential activation of a G protein and P1-specific phospholipase C. Two areas examined are (1) the mechanism of generation of the intracellular calcium signal and (2) the use of egg cortex as an in vitro model for the investigation of the molecular mechanism of the terminal stages of exocytosis. The egg cortex constitutes a particularly advantageous model system for studying exocytotic membrane fusion. The available data suggest that cortical vesicle discharge in the cell-surface complex and cortical-lawn preparations is the in vitro equivalent of exocytosis in the egg; however, ultimate validation of this in vitro approach will come only through the identification of proteins that are required for exocytosis, both in vitro and in vivo .
The kinetics of enzyme-catalyzed reactions with two or more substrates or products: III. Prediction of initial velocity and inhibition patterns by inspection

Abstract A general method for predicting initial velocity and dead end and product inhibition patterns by inspection of the mechanism is presented. This method is applicable to any non-random mechanism without alternate reaction sequences. Several examples of the application of the method are given.
Reproducibility of an objective four-choice canine vision testing technique that assesses vision at differing light intensities.

Objective The increasing importance of canine retinal dystrophy models means accurate vision testing is needed. This study was performed to evaluate a four-choice vision testing technique for any difference in outcome measures with repeated evaluations of the same dogs. Animals studied Four 11-month-old RPE65-deficient dogs. Procedures Vision was evaluated using a previously described four-choice vision testing device. Four evaluations were performed at 2-week intervals. Vision was assessed at six different white light intensities (bright through dim), and each eye was evaluated separately. The ability to select the one of the four exit tunnels that was open at the far end was assessed (‘choice of exit’) and recorded as correct or incorrect first tunnel choice. ‘Time to exit’ the device was also recorded. Both outcomes were analyzed for significance using anova. We hypothesized that performance would improve with repeated testing (more correct choices and more rapid time to exit). Results ‘Choice of exit’ did not vary significantly between each evaluation (P = 0.12), in contrast ‘time to exit’ increased significantly (P = 0.012), and showed greater variability in dim light conditions. Conclusions We found no evidence to support the hypothesis that either measure of outcome worsened with repeated testing; in fact, the ‘time to exit’ outcome worsened rather than improved. The ‘choice of exit’ gave consistent results between trials. These outcome data indicate the importance of including a choice-based assessment of vision in addition to measurement of device transit time.
Fluorescent staining of enzymes for flow cytometry.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses fluorogenic substrates for the quantitative evaluation of enzymes in single cells by flow cytometry (FCM) range from natural substrates for the dehydrogenases to exotic naphthol and coumarin derivatives. Many of these substrates are used in the direct analysis of specific activities but have to be used with limited incubation periods followed by immediate flow analysis because of diffusion artifacts. Uncoupled reactions with substrates, such as fluorescein diacetate, fluorescein diphosphate, and naphthol esters have been quantified on unfixed cells by FCM. Fluorescent measurements are done in the first 5–10 minutes of reaction to avoid diffusion losses of the fluorescent products. Some of the protocols describe methods for coupled histochemical reactions for assaying proteases, such as cathepsin B and esterases. Chemically blocked amino acid and peptide derivatives of 4-methoxy-2- naphthylamine (MNA) or 2-naphthylamine (NA) have been used for a number of years as chromogenic and fluorogenic substrates for a class of proteases called “arylamidases.” The protease splits the arylamide bond, releasing the peptide and naphthylamine. Diazonium salts react with the protease-liberated naphthylamine, forming an insoluble colored product in the cell.
Cancer risks associated with agriculture: epidemiologic evidence.

Farmers are rather self-sufficient and routinely perform tasks normally associated with other occupations such as machine repair, carpentry, welding, equipment operating, pesticide application, and livestock handling. They may come in contact with a wide spectrum of chemical, physical, and biologic agents in the performance of these tasks. Of particular concern are pesticides; zoonotic viruses, microbes, and fungi; solvents, fuels and oils; dusts; metal fumes; and mycotoxins. The subset of exposures experienced by individuals would vary, however, according to the specific type of farming operation.
A glutamate mechanism in the intermediolateral nucleus mediates sympathoexcitatory responses to stimulation of the rostral ventrolateral medulla.

Publisher Summary The rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVL) contains a population of reticulospinal, sympathoexcitatory neurons. The regulation of the discharge of RVL-spinal vasomotor neurons by afferent pathways to the RVL underlies many reflex adjustments of circulation in response to peripheral and central stimuli. While vasomotor neurons of the RVL are presumed to exert their sympathoexcitatory effects over pathways terminating in the intermediolateral nucleus (IML) of the thoracolumbar spinal cord, little is known of the role played by specific spinal transmitter systems in mediating the increases in sympathetic nerve activity evoked by RVL neuronal discharge. This chapter discusses the combination of electrophysiological, immunocytochemical, and receptor autoradiographic techniques to test the hypothesis that an excitatory amino acid is the fast transmitter implicated in RVL-evoked excitation of sympathetic preganglionic neurons (SPNs). Results suggest that RVL stimulation causes the release of glutamate from nerve terminals in the IML that interacts with glutamate receptors of the kainate subtype to excite SPNs, thereby, producing an increase in sympathetic nerve activity and arterial pressure.
Clinical manifestation and prognosis of early versus late stent thrombosis of drug-eluting stents.

Background: Stent thrombosis (ST) is a serious complication of drug-eluting stents (DES), leading to catastrophic events. ST can occur early or late following the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with different possible consequences. Methods: The records of 91 consecutive patients who presented with a definite ST (as defined by the Academic Research Consortium) from 2003 to 2007 were reviewed. Clinical presentation and outcome were compared based on the time of the event. Fifty-one patients presented with an early ST versus 40 with a late ST. The primary end-point was a composite of death-recurrent myocardial infarction (MI)-recurrent ST at 1 year. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar. Patients with early ST had more initial stent implantation for an acute MI indication and presented more with cardiogenic shock when compared to patients with late ST: 43.1% versus 17.5% (P = 0.007) and 39.2% versus 20% (P = 0.042), respectively. There was no difference in the ST treatment except for more intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) use in the early ST group (28% vs. 10%, P = 0.034). Angiographic success rates were similar. The incidence of the composite primary end-point was 52.9% in the early ST group versus 30% in the late ST group (P = 0.034). Conclusion: Early definite ST is associated with more dramatic presentation and worse long-term prognosis when compared with definite late ST. This could be explained at least in part by the occurrence of two successive MIs within 30 days in almost 45% of the patients with early ST, leading to a higher rate of cardiogenic shock.
DOAS (differential optical absorption spectroscopy) urban pollution measurements

During July and August of 1990, a differential optical absorption spectrometer (DOAS) made by OPSIS Inc. was used to measure gaseous air pollutants over three separate open paths in Atlanta, GA. Over path 1 (1099 m) and path 2 (1824 m), ozone (03), sulfur dioxide (SO2) nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrous acid (HNO2) formaldehyde (HCHO), benzene, toluene, and o-xylene were measured. Nitric oxide (NO) and ammonia (NH3) were monitored over path 3 (143 m). The data quality and data capture depended on the compound being measured and the path over which it was measured. Data quality criteria for each compound were chosen such that the average relative standard deviation would be less than 25%. Data capture ranged from 43% for o-xylene for path 1 to 95% for ozone for path 2. Benzene, toluene, and o-xylene concentrations measured over path 2, which crossed over an interstate highway, were higher than concentrations measured over path 1, implicating emissions from vehicles on the highway as a significant source of these compounds. Federal Reference Method (FRN) instruments were located near the DOAS light receivers and measurements of 03, NO2, and NO were made concurrently with the DOAS. Correlation coefficients greater than 0.85 were obtained between the DOAS and FRM's; however, there was a difference between the mean values obtained by the two methods for 03 and NO. A gas chromatograph for measuring volatile organic compounds was operated next to the FRN's. Correlation coefficients of about 0.66 were obtained between the DOAS and GC measurements of benzene and o- xylene. However, the correlation coefficient between the DOAS and GC measurements of toluene averaged only 0.15 for the two DOAS measurement paths. The lack of correlation and other factors indicate the possibility of a localized source of toluene near the GC. In general, disagreements between the two measurement methods could be caused by atmospheric inhomogeneities or interferences in the DOAS and other methods.
Long-lived authentication protocols for process control systems

Abstract Process control systems that manage critical infrastructures have to be available continuously; they may have nodes that once deployed cannot be easily accessed; and they need to be functional over long periods of time. Since the consequences of critical infrastructure disruptions are potentially serious and since critical infrastructures are under threats ranging from extortion to terrorism, it is vital to keep the security services up to current standards over many years of deployment. The mutual authentication of process control system nodes is a fundamental building block of security. This paper describes authentication protocols for use in long-lived process control systems. The protocols address the issue of longevity by defining, as part of the protocol suites, a means for the cryptographic components of the authentication system to be replaced dynamically and securely. The correctness of the component update protocol is established using an extended version of the Burrows, Abadi and Needham (BAN) authentication logic, which incorporates primitives and rules for reasoning about the belief of the ability of cryptographic modules to maintain secrecy.
Molecular orbital study of interactions of single transition metal atoms with C2H2 and C2H4

Abstract Interactions of single transition metal atoms of Fe, Co, Ni and Cu with C 2 H 2 and C 2 H 4 were studied by an ab initio MO theory. The magnitudes of the HOMO level shifts of both ligands increase with atomic number. The results were compared with available absorption experiments.
Parathyroid hormone induces the NR4A family of nuclear orphan receptors in vivo.

Abstract Parathyroid hormone (PTH) has both anabolic and catabolic effects on bone metabolism, although the molecular mechanisms mediating these effects are largely unknown. Among the transcription factors induced by PTH in osteoblasts are the nerve growth factor-inducible factor B (NR4A; NGFI-B) family of orphan nuclear receptors: Nurr1, Nur77, and NOR-1. PTH induces NR4A members through the cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA) pathway in vitro. We report here that PTH rapidly and transiently induced expression of all three NR4A genes in PTH-target tissues in vivo. In calvaria, long bones, and kidneys, NR4A induction was maximal 0.5–1 h after a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 80 μg/kg PTH. Nur77 demonstrated the highest expression, followed, in order, by Nurr1 and NOR-1. In calvaria and long bone, PTH-induced expression of each NR4A gene was detectable at 10 μg/kg i.p. with maximum induction at 40–80 μg/kg. PTH (3–34) did not induce NR4A mRNA levels in calvaria, long bone, and kidney in vivo, confirming our in vitro results that NR4A genes are induced primarily through the cAMP-PKA pathway. The magnitude of PTH-induced NR4A expression was comparable in vivo and in vitro. However, NR4A mRNA levels peaked and returned to baseline faster in vivo. Both in vivo and in vitro, PTH induced NR4A pre-mRNA levels suggesting that induction of these genes is, at least in part, through activation of mRNA synthesis. The in vivo induction of the NR4A family members by PTH suggests their involvement in, at least some, PTH-induced changes in bone metabolism.
Effects of Relaxin on the Endothelium of Endometrial Blood Vessels in Monkeys (Macaca mulatto)

Hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the endothelium in certain maternal blood vessels of the uterine endometrium during gestation in monkeys (Macaca mulatto) occur in the first month of pregnancy. This reaction can be induced and enhanced in nonpregnant and castrated monkeys by giving estrogen, progesterone and relaxin in proper sequences and combinations. The effects produced seem to be a direct response of the endothelium to relaxin, as they occur only when this hormone is administered or when physiological conditions are favorable for its endogenous secretion. The concurrent presence of estrogen or progesterone at the time of the response to relaxin is not essential for its action on the endothelium. The relation of estrogens and progesterone to the action of relaxin seems to be one in which the steroids, when given singly or in combination, promote endometrial growth and thereby an increase in the areas of the vascular system responsive to relaxin. The estrogens, when given in small doses with relaxin, do ...
Workforce Issues in Residential Care Facilities in Rural China

This study examined contemporary frontline workforce issues related to residential care for elders in rural China. Residential facilities in rural China are in transition from exclusively providing shelter to childless elders to providing long-term care for frail elders. These facilities are also under pressure to improve the quality of services that they provide. The study is based on in-depth interviews with administrators and field observations of facilities. The study focused on the following issues related to the workforce: recruitment and retention, training, work environment, workforce organization, regulations, compensation, and career ladders. The implications of resident characteristics for demands on the work force were examined. The study found that lack of skilled personnel is one of the major reasons that the overwhelming majority of facilities deny admission to frail and demented elders. Improving workers’ skill is critical if these facilities are to meet the increasing demand for instituti...
Butch/Femme in the Personal Advertisements of Lesbians

Abstract Personal advertisements placed by lesbians were examined to determine how often butch/femme descriptors were used: (a) as a form of self-identification or (b) to indicate the type of partner being sought. The 388 personal advertisements were drawn from 16 alternative newspapers around the U.S., as well as from one Internet site (Qworld) that contained personal ads by lesbians. Each advertisement was coded for the presence or absence of butch/femme descriptors. The majority of advertisers did not mention butch or femme labels either in terms of self-identity or type of partner sought. Among the minority of advertisers who self-identified as butch or femme, more described themselves as femme than butch. Among advertisers seeking butch or femme partners, femme partners were sought most often. Explanations for the preference for femme lesbians were explored.
Role of the uranyl oxo group as a hydrogen bond acceptor.

Density functional theory calculations have been used to evaluate the geometries and energetics of interactions between a number of uranyl complexes and hydrogen bond donor groups. The results reveal that although traditional hydrogen bond donors are repelled by the oxo group in the [UO2(OH2)5]2+ species, they are attracted to the oxo groups in [UO2(OH2)2(NO3)2]0, [UO2(NO3)3]−, and [UO2Cl4]2− species. Hydrogen bond strength depends on the equatorial ligation and can exceed 15 kcal mol−1. The results also reveal the existence of directionality at the uranyl oxo acceptor, with a weak preference for linear U═O---H angles.
PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ENDO-POLYGALACTURONASE FROM Rhizopus arrhizus

An endo-polygalacturonase (RAPG) from Rhizopus arrhizus grown on rotted apricot has been purified and characterized. Through dialysis, ammonium sulfate fractionation, and successive chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, Sephadex G-100 and Sephadex G-75 columns, a 274-fold purification was achieved. RAPG was stable at pH 3.8–6.5. Its optimum activity was at pH 5.0. The activation energy (Ea) was 11.9 Kcal/mole. The Q1 0 value was 2.01 between 20° and 30°C. RAPG has a Vmax at 1.430 μmoles reducing product/min, and Km at 0.054% pectic acid (DP = 70). Both sodium and potassium ions stimulated RAPG activity in the 0.05–0.10M range. Tannic acid was an effective inhibitor, while chlorogenic, caffeic, p-coumaric and gallic acids were not. The molecular weight of RAPG was 30,270 by SDS-gel electro-phoresis. Both viscosity drop and thin layer chromatography of the end products study proved that RAPG performed a random mechanism in the depolymerization process. RAPG also showed a synergistic effect when tomato pectinesterase was added to the reaction mixture with pectin as the substrate.
In search of a biological hour

Summary We focus here on a prominent subset of rhythms within the ultradian domain that have periods between 30 and 240 min as a candidate for a «biological hour.» Smooth histograms produced from reported periods obtained from two surveys of literature display prominent peaks centered near 95 min, with a range from about 50 to 130 min. The list of variables having these periodicities is extensive and diverse (e.g., circumnutation movements of plants and the REM/non-REM sleep cycle of human beings). The periodicity displayed by many of these examples is somewhat irregular, perhaps because of other changing biological components and/or environmental factors such as stress. For example, results from our experiments showed that when Phaseolm vulgaris L. shoots were subjected to stress caused by staking, the ultradian periodicity of circumnutation was initially lengthened and later restored to its «normal» length.
Forest harvesting and land-use conversion over two decades in Massachusetts

Forest harvesting is an important, ongoing disturbance that affects the composition, structure, and ecological function of the majority of the world’s forests. However, few studies have examined the interaction between land-use conversion and harvesting. We utilize a unique, spatially explicit database of all cutting events (n > 13,000) and land-cover conversions for Massachusetts over the past 20 years to characterize the interactions between land-use conversion and harvesting, and their relationship to physical, social, and economic factors. We examined three key variables: the proportion of forest harvested within an ecoregion (%), the mean harvest intensity (m 3 ha 1 ), and the mean harvest event area (ha). The mean harvest intensity (43 m 3 ha 1 ), mean harvest area (15 ha), and average species composition of harvests were remarkably constant over time. However, the proportion of forest harvested varied widely across the state, ranging from 0.01 to 1.48% annually. Harvesting activity ceases near the far outer suburbs of major metropolitan areas, as well as along the coast. There is a strong negative correlation (r = 0.89) between the proportion of forest lost to land-use conversion and the proportion of forest harvested. CART analysis shows that road density is the most important overall predictor of probability of forest harvest, with median house price also an important predictor. Harvest intensity, in contrast, appears related to ownership type, with state-owned lands having more intensive harvests (53 m 3 ha 1 ). Our results suggest that current forest management
Retroviral-fibronectin interactions in transduction of mammalian cells.

: Hematopoiesis occurs in a complex environment in the medullary cavity in close proximity to stromal cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells and matrix molecules. Hematopoietic cell interactions in this environment appear to involve both integrin and proteoglycan-mediated cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. Genetic transduction of hematopoietic stem cells via retroviral vectors has been hampered by low efficiency of gene transfer. Recently, hematopoietic stem cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix molecule fibronectin has been shown to increase transduction of these target cells using retrovirus vectors. The mechanism of increased transduction appears to involve colocalization of virus particles and target cells. These data are reviewed in this paper.
Daydreaming, absorption and hypnotizability.

The revised form of the Absorption Scale extracted from Tellegen's Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire (Tellegen, 1981; Tellegen & Atkinson, 1974) and the Short Imaginal Processes Inventory (Huba, Aneshensel, & Singer, 1981), a self-report questionnaire concerned with daydreaming activity, were administered to 2 samples of Ss (N = 479, N = 476), who also received the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A (Shor & E. Orne, 1962). In both samples, hypnotizability was significantly correlated with absorption (average r = .24) and with a subscale measuring positive-constructive daydreaming (average r = .13). Absorption and positive-constructive daydreaming were also highly correlated (average r = .57). Of the subscales of the positive-constructive daydreaming scale, only those relating to positive reactions to daydreaming, and problem solving in daydreaming, consistently correlated with hypnotizability. Daydreaming and absorption each share some features in common with hypnosis, but they appear to have more in common with each other.
Spatial inhomogeneity and thermodynamic chaos.

We present a coherent approach to the competition between thermodynamic states in spatially inhomogeneous systems, such as the Edwards-Anderson spin glass with a fixed coupling realization. This approach, modeled on chaotic dynamical systems, leads to a classification of the allowable structures for replicas and their overlaps.
Acute sphenoid sinusitis induced blindness: a case report.

Abstract Background Acute, isolated sphenoid sinusitis is a rare but potentially devastating clinical entity. Missing this diagnosis can lead to permanent vision loss due to injury of the optic nerve. Patients may present with preseptal inflammation, lid edema, chemosis, or ophthalmoplegia. Objective We report a case of acute sphenoid sinusitis in a 10-year-old child who presented to the Emergency Department with essentially painless vision loss. Case Report Previously healthy, the patient reported progressive decrease in vision in her right eye for the 5 days prior. Other than blurred vision in the right eye, she complained of a mild frontal headache and right eye irritation the past week, which had abated. On examination, she was reading a book with her head tilted to one side. She had no photophobia, or facial or eyelid swelling. Her pupils were 5 mm bilaterally, but the right was non-reactive to light. She was unable to see two fingers 6 inches in front of her face (right eye), whereas her visual acuity on the left was 20/25. She had bilateral elevated intraocular pressures and a Marcus Gunn pupil on the right. Ophthalmology was consulted and the diagnosis of acute sphenoid sinusitis causing compression and vascular compromise to the optic nerve was diagnosed ultimately by magnetic resonance imaging. The patient was transferred to the nearest pediatric specialty hospital, where an emergent endoscopic sphenoidotomy was performed. The patient’s vision subsequently returned. Conclusion Sphenoid sinusitis should be considered in patients presenting with acute vision loss. Awareness, early diagnosis, and intervention help prevent permanent complications.
Clutters and Circuits, II

We continue to study ways of defining circuits associated with clutters, and we give several new characterizations of matroid ports using their circuits. We also discuss the use of these circuits to analyze redundancies among elements appearing in nonmatroidal reliability problems.
Pure plutonium behavior under negative pressures

Abstract Dilatometry curves on plutonium show reproducible hysteresis on heating and cooling. Simultaneous electrical resistivity and dilatometric measurements together with the pressure-temperature phase diagram extrapolated to negative pressures provide an understanding for the differences between the heating and cooling curves. Using the extrapolated pressure-temperature phase diagram, this study shows that the internal stresses produced in temperature cycling are much larger than previously thought and that negative pressures (tension) play a significant role in the behavior of plutonium metal.
E-mail contacts: a test of complex graphical designs in survey research

A web survey of high school students was used to understand how the visual design of the e-mail contact affects survey response. Respondents were contacted with one of six e-mail designs that varied by format (text vs. HTML), color of background (white vs. black), and graphical design (simple vs.complex). The results indicate that e-mails with nonwhite backgrounds and complex graphical designs can suppress response rates more than 5 percentage points.
TWO-LOOP RENORMALIZATION GROUP CORRECTIONS IN SO(10) AXION MODELS AND PROTON LIFETIME

A simplified way to calculate the two-loop corrections to the renormalization group equations is investigated and applied to two SO(10) axion models. It is found that the grand unification mass scale Mx is reduced by a factor ~ 1.5 – 3. And in both models, there exist solutions with Mx ~ 1015Gev, corresponding to a proton lifetime when sin2 θw, αs and αe are chosen within the experimental error range.
Lower Extremity Assessment Project (LEAP) – The Best Available Evidence on Limb-Threatening Lower Extremity Trauma

Lower Extremity Assessment Project (LEAP) study set out to answer many of the questions surrounding the decision of whether to amputate or salvage limbs in the setting of severe lower extremity trauma. A National Institutes of Health-funded, multicenter, prospective observational study, the LEAP study represented a milestone in orthopedic trauma research, and perhaps in orthopedics. The LEAP study attempted to define the characteristics of the individuals who sustained these injuries, the characteristics of their environment, the variables of the physical aspects of their injury, the secondary medical and mental conditions that arose from their injury and treatment, their ultimate functional status, and their general health. In the realm of evidence-based medicine, the LEAP studies provided a wealth of data, but still failed to completely determine treatment at the onset of severe lower extremity trauma.
State and Regional Payments Mechanisms

I. The payments mechanism for a single state, 619. — II. Importance of large holdings of generalized claims and an integrated capital market, 626. — III. Implications of this analysis for a group of nations, 629.
Cytoskeletal association of the cholera toxin receptor in rat erythrocytes

Summary Cholera toxin receptors are associated with the cytoskeletal residue of Triton X-100 extracts of rat erythrocytes. The solubilized cytoskeletal toxin-receptor complex appears to be a large macromolecular entity whose formation is facilitated by increased receptor occupancy. These findings suggest a role for GM 1 -gangliosides in transmembrane signalling and in the mechanism of action of cholera toxin.
The appeal of rough‐and‐tumble play in televised professional football

In a factorial design varying (1) the degree of roughness/violence of a play (low, intermediate, and high), (2) several particular plays within this classification, and (3) sex of viewer, the enjoyment of televised plays of professional football was investigated. The plays were taken from a large pool of plays drawn from numerous games and involving numerous teams. In a pretest, a strong differentiation in the selection plays' degree of roughness/violence was secured. At the same time, the plays were matched on several other, potentially contaminating stimulus dimensions. The enjoyment of plays was found to increase with the degree of their apparent roughness/violence. However, this relationship was significant for male viewers only. It was not reliable for females. There were no appreciable sex differences in the enjoyment of plays featuring low and intermediate levels of roughness. Highly violent plays, in contrast, were significantly more enjoyed by males than by females. The findings suggest that, at ...
What happens in the vagus

the vagal afferents that innervate the gastrointestinal (GI) tract play a major role in conveying meal-related signals to the central nervous system. Functional alterations of these sensory neurons have been implicated in obesity ([17][1]) and eating disorders ([9][2]). In the past, chemical or
Beyond hall: Variables in the use of personal space in intercultural transactions

Edward T. Hall maintains that culture plays the definitive role in determining how individuals use personal space, e.g., that people from contact cultures choose closer distances, maintain more direct eye contact, touch each other more frequently, and speak more loudly than those from non‐contact cultures. This analysis considers other variables—age, sex, relationship, environment and ethnic co‐cultures—which play equally important roles in determining use of personal space and which, particularly in the cases of age and relationship, supercede any cultural aspects of the transaction. Field research should be performed to study actual examples of individuals from different cultures in interaction with each other.
HSV-1 degrades, stabilizes, requires, or is stung by STING depending on ICP0, the US3 protein kinase, and cell derivation

STING (stimulator of IFN genes) activates the IFN pathway in response to cytosolic DNA. Knockout of STING in mice was reported to exacerbate the pathogenicity of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). Here we report the following: (i) STING is stable in cancer-derived HEp-2 or HeLa cells infected with wild-type HSV-1 but is degraded in cells infected with mutants lacking the genes encoding functional infected cell protein 0 (ICP0), ICP4, or the US3 protein kinase (US3-PK). In HEp-2 cells, depletion of STING by shRNA results in a decrease in the yields of wild-type or ΔICP0 viruses. (ii) STING is stable throughout infection with either wild-type or ICP0 mutant viruses in human embryonic lung cells (HEL) or HEK293T cells derived from normal tissues. In these cells, depletion of STING results in higher yields of both wild-type and ΔICP0 viruses. (iii) The US3-PK is also required for stabilization of IFI16, a nuclear DNA sensor. However, the stability of IFI16 does not correlate positively or negatively with that of STING. IFI16 is stable in STING-depleted HEL cells infected with wild-type virus. In contrast to HEL cells, IFI16 was undetectable in STING-depleted HEp-2 cells, and hence the role of HSV-1 in maintaining IFI16 could not be ascertained. The results indicate that in HSV-1–infected cells the stability of IFI16 and the function and stability of STING are dependent on cell derivation, the functional integrity of ICP0, and US3-PK, an indication that in wild-type virus-infected cells both proteins are actively stabilized. In HEp-2 cells, the stability of IFI16 requires STING.
Stimulation of a Chlamydomonas chloroplast promoter by novobiocin in situ and in E. coli implies regulation by torsional stress in the chloroplast DNA.

Abstract We have characterized regulation of a complex Chlamydomonas reinhardtii chloroplast promoter (P A ) whose activity is stimulated by the DNA gyrase inhibitor novobiocin, both in the alga itself and in a heterologous Escherichia coli plasmid system. Since novobiocin is known to reduce torsional stress in E. coli DNA, we interpret our results to mean that P A is regulated by torsional stress in the chloroplast DNA. In E. coli, where we could readily manipulate P A , we found that this regulation depends on sequences upstream of P A . These sequences contain at least two different kinds of silencing elements that inhibit P A in the absence of novobiocin. Novobiocin stimulates P A only when the promoter-distal silencing element is present.
Curvelets as a sparse basis for compressed sensing magnetic resonance imaging

We present an example of compressed sensing magnetic resonance imaging reconstruction where curvelets instead of wavelets provide a superior sparse basis when coupled to a group sparse representation of chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) imaging of the human breast. Taking a fully sampled CEST acquisition from a healthy volunteer, we retrospectively undersampled by a factor of four. We find that a group-sparse formulation of the reconstruction coupled with either Cohen-Daubechies-Feauveau 9/7 wavelets or curvelets provided superior results to a spatial-only regularized reconstruction. Between the group sparse reconstructions, the curvelet-regularized reconstruction outperformed the wavelet-regularized reconstruction.
Open-access synthetic spike-in mRNA-seq data for cancer gene fusions

Oncogenic fusion genes underlie the mechanism of several common cancers. Next-generation sequencing based RNA-seq analyses have revealed an increasing number of recurrent fusions in a variety of cancers. However, absence of a publicly available gene-fusion focused RNA-seq data impedes comparative assessment and collaborative development of novel gene fusions detection algorithms. We have generated nine synthetic poly-adenylated RNA transcripts that correspond to previously reported oncogenic gene fusions. These synthetic RNAs were spiked at known molarity over a wide range into total RNA prior to construction of next-generation sequencing mRNA libraries to generate RNA-seq data. Leveraging a priori knowledge about replicates and molarity of each synthetic fusion transcript, we demonstrate utility of this dataset to compare multiple gene fusion algorithms’ detection ability. In general, more fusions are detected at higher molarity, indicating that our constructs performed as expected. However, systematic detection differences are observed based on molarity or algorithm-specific characteristics. Fusion-sequence specific detection differences indicate that for applications where specific sequences are being investigated, additional constructs may be added to provide quantitative data that is specific for the sequence of interest. To our knowledge, this is the first publicly available synthetic RNA-seq data that specifically leverages known cancer gene-fusions. The proposed method of designing multiple gene-fusion constructs over a wide range of molarity allows granular performance analyses of multiple fusion-detection algorithms. The community can leverage and augment this publicly available data to further collaborative development of analytical tools and performance assessment frameworks for gene fusions from next-generation sequencing data.
Initial plasma disappearance and distribution volume of [131I]albumin and [125I]fibrinogen in man.

The simultaneous plasma disappearance curves of albumin and fibrinogen were recorded in eight normal subjects from 10 to 60 min following intravenous injection. Additional samples were taken at 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 min. The initial distribution volume (IDV) of albumin calculated by semilogarithmic extrapolation to zero time was 5.56% (range 3.73-8.53) larger than that of fibrinogen, denoting an initial high-rate function of albumin efflux extending from zero to about 10 min after tracer injection. The following slower phase of the albumin curve from 10 to 60 min was found to be similar to the so-called transcapillary escape rate (TER) of single-tracer experiments. By introducing the value Cp(0) (i.e. the estimated curve height at t = 0, from the injected amount of albumin tracer divided by the IDVf), the entire initial part of the albumin curves was analysed. From this analysis the mean value of 0.0135 +/- 0.0038 min-1 was determined for initial slope, corresponding to a whole-body unidirectional albumin efflux [j(0)] of 0.0572 +/- 0.0160 ml 100 g-1 min-1. The result is about 16 times higher than normal estimates of total lymphatic albumin return, indicating a huge backflux of interstitial albumin at the whole-body capillary level. Both phases of efflux seem to reflect uptake in a variety of peripheral tissues, and the hypothesis that the second phase (TER) expresses the initial slope of albumin escape into non-liver tissues is not substantiated. Based on the difference in IDV of the tracers demonstrated, the uncritical use of albumin as a plasma volume marker is not justified.
Managing Organizational Emotions: Framing Feelings of Illegitimacy in the Radical Women's Prison Movement

Abstract This article examines how activists manage the potentially deleterious emotions that arise in social movement organizations. Using data from a case study of an organization in the contemporary radical women's prison movement in California, I explore how feelings of illegitimacy are managed and sublimated by activists, during the course of organizational life, to sustain participation in the movement. Drawing on framing theory, I find that organizational frames serve as mechanisms that manage and focus activists' feelings, delimit movement strategies, and inspire and legitimate collective action.
Comparison of a solid-phase, no-extraction radioimmunoassay for progesterone with an extraction assay for monitoring luteal function in the mare, bitch, and cow

Abstract Equine, canine, and bovine plasma samples were assayed for progesterone (P 4 ) using extracted plasma in a liquid-phase assay and unextracted plasma in a solid-phase 125 I direct assay developed for human serum. The direct assay was also used to monitor P 4 levels in defatted milk. Results indicated that the direct-assay method was as reliable as the extraction assay for monitoring changes in plasma P 4 during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy. The regression equation specifying the relationship for the two methods was exponential. In this study, correlation coefficients from data subsets ranged from 0.93 to 0.99. The direct assay for P 4 did result in higher values than the extraction assay in plasma from diestrous animals. The use of diluted standards with stripped plasma from the species being assayed gave values that correspond more closely to the extraction assay. The comparisons in this study indicate that the direct radioimmunoassay (RIA) method offered a convenient, reliable method for monitoring luteal function in the species that were evaluated.
Serum creatine phosphokinase in acute pancreatitis.

Summary 1. Serum creatine phosphokinase has been determined in normal subjects, patients with acute alcoholic intoxication and patients with acute pancreatitis associated with alcoholism or biliary tract disease. 2. Serum levels of this enzyme are elevated in most alcoholics. 3. Increased serum creatine phosphokinase in patients with alcoholic pancreatitis was found to be indicative of a more severe and prolonged course of the disease than in patients with normal creatine phosphokinase values.
A Meta-analytic Review of the Effectiveness of Single-Layer Clothing in Preventing Exposure From Pesticide Handling

This review summarizes available information on the penetration of pesticides through single-layer clothing by pesticide handlers and introduces epidemiological and observational studies on pesticide exposure. The data for this report were taken from peer-reviewed articles, publicly available government reports, and publicly available government reviews of registrant-submitted data and information. The arithmetic mean of calculated clothing penetration was obtained for various parts of the body (upper arm, lower arm, chest/torso, back/torso, upper leg, and lower leg) that were exposed to pesticide. The range of pesticide penetration to the various parts of the body through single-layer clothing during mixing, loading, and application (MLA) activities was found to be 6.2% ± 5.7% to 21.4% ± 6.7%, which demonstrates a potential for increased and unintentional pesticide exposures. Based on this evaluation, some accepted default values for protection against pesticide exposure may be overestimated.
Born-Oppenheimer breakdown effects and hyperfine structure in the rotational spectrum of strontium monosulfide, SrS

Abstract A newly constructed Fourier transform microwave spectrometer has been used to record the pure rotational spectra of four isotopomers of SrS (88Sr32S, 87Sr32S, 86Sr32S, and 88Sr34S) between 6 and 26 GHz. The molecules were produced by reacting laser ablated strontium with carbonyl sulfide (0.1% in argon). Pure rotational transitions in the ground, first and second vibrational states have been observed. The data set has enabled a multi-isotopomer fit. Born–Oppenheimer breakdown terms for both atoms have been determined. The 87Sr nuclear quadrupole coupling constant in 87Sr32S has been determined for the first time.
Using Mock Trials to Teach Students Forensic Core Competencies in Marriage and Family Therapy

This article provides a description of a university-based project that used mock trials to train both practicum-level marriage and family therapy and law students in forensic work, and a qualitative investigation of student experiences with the training. The content of the training focused on American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) core competencies that relate specifically to the legal aspects of therapy. This article describes the didactic training the students received to prepare for the mock trials, the structure and protocol of the mock trials themselves, and the specific AAMFT core competencies addressed in the project. The results of an analysis of focus group interviews with participating law school (n = 15) and marriage and family therapy (n = 19) students are presented as well as the results of a 36-item Knowledge, Skills, and Comfort Level Questionnaire completed by participating marriage and family therapy students. Participants discussed the value of the training with regard to preparation for mock trial procedures, preparation for testimony, importance of documentation, and cross-discipline collaboration issues. The article concludes with a discussion of how this type of training may be used in developing students' skills with regard to forensic and legal core competencies, and future research directions.
Blocking performance analysis of fixed-paths least-congestion routing in multifiber WDM networks

Wavelength-routed all-optical networks have been receiving significant attention for high-capacity transport applications. A good routing and wavelength assignment (RWA) algorithm is critically important to improve the performance of wavelength-routed WDM networks. We study the blocking performance of fixed-paths least-congestion (FPLC) routing in multifiber WDM networks in this paper. A new analytical model based on the link-load correlation is developed to evaluate the blocking performance of the FPLC routing. The analytical model is a generalized model that can be used in both regular (e.g. mesh-torus) and irregular (e.g. NSFnet) networks. It is shown that the analytical results closely match the simulation results, which indicates that the model is adequate in analytically predicting the performance of the FPLC routing in different networks. Multifiber WDM networks offer the advantage of reducing the effect of the wavelength continuity constraint without using wavelength converters. A wavelength that cannot continue on the next hop on the same fiber can be switched to another fiber using an optical cross-connect (OXC) if the same wavelength is free on one of the other fibers. However, the cost of a multifiber network is likely to be higher than a single-fiber network with the same capacity, because more amplifiers and multiplexer/demultiplexer may be required. The design goal of a multifiber network is to achieve high network performance with the minimum number of fibers. Two FPLC routing algorithms, wavelength trunk (WT)-based FPLC and lightpath (LP)-based FPLC, are proposed and studied. Our analytical and simulation results show that the LP-based FPLC routing algorithm can use multiple fibers more efficiently than the WT-based FPLC and the alternate path routing. In both the mesh-torus and NSFnet networks, limited number of fibers is sufficient to guarantee high network performance.