cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Trapped Radiation Estimates for the Other Planets

If one were to construe the title of this paper narrowly, one could restrict our subject almost entirely to Jupiter, for this planet is the only one other than the earth about which we can make reasonably reliable estimates of trapped radiation intensities. It will be more useful, however, to take a broader view and discuss a number of topics relevant to planetary radiation belts and/or planetary magnetic fields and thus convey the flavor of the entire field at this time. We shall cover the solar system planet by planet, reserving somewhat more of the commentary for Jupiter, since we know the most about it.
Developmental pathways through childhood for children treated in a neonatal intensive care unit

We report the findings of a longitudinal study of children who were treated in the neonatal intensive care units in 1975-78. Relationships are described between measures of conditions and treatments of both mothers and newborns during the perinatal period and measures representing motor, neurological, developmental, and ability functions of the children at 15 months, 4 years and 7 years. The results of multivariate and path analyses are presented in which a latent variable approach is used to characterize the covariation between signs, symptoms, and treatment in the perinatal period and the major dimensions of functioning at the follow-up occasions. Included among several noteworthy pathways between the latents of the various periods were ones from fetal distress, asphyxia, early crisis, intraventricular hemorrhage, anemia of prematurity, and number of days in the unit.
Stimulation of growth hormone secretion in dwarf chickens by thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH) or human pancreatic growth-hormone-releasing factor (hpGRF).

Abstract The basal plasma growth hormone (GH) level in adult sex-linked dwarf hens was elevated in comparison with autosomal dwarf hens and with control (Cornell K strain) laying hens. The iv administration of thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH) (10 μg/kg) had no effect on GH secretion in control hens but slightly (1.2-fold) and transiently (for 10 min) increased the GH level in the autosomal dwarfs and greatly (8.7-fold) increased the GH level in the sex-linked dwarfs, in which it remained elevated for at least 30 min after injection. The iv administration of human pancreatic GH-releasing factor (hpGRF) (10 μg/kg) stimulated GH release in each strain. The response in the sex-linked dwarfs was greater than that in the autosomal dwarfs and the control hens but less than that elicited by TRH. These results suggest that the increased basal GH level in the sex-linked dwarfs results from an increased responsiveness to provocative stimulation.
Hydrothermal scavenging at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge: Modification of trace element dissolved fluxes

Abstract We have carried out an ICP-MS study of the distributions of trace elements (Fe, Ca, Mg, Al, Mn, Cu, Zn, V, As, Cr, Co, Pb, Y, Mo, Ag, Sn, Cd and Be) in particulate material collected from the TAG hydrothermal plume (26°N, Mid-Atlantic Ridge) to examine the extent to which fluxes of dissolved trace elements emitted from hydrothermal vent-fluids are balanced by the precipitation of associated particulate phases. Comparison of particulate trace element distributions with particulate Fe concentrations within the neutrally buoyant plume reveals that the distribution of trace elements within the plume is controlled by the following processes: (i) co-precipitation from vent-fluids, (ii) scavenging from seawater, and (iii) preferential settling from the plume and oxidative dissolution within the water column. For Y and Be, continuous scavenging from seawater appears to be important, whereas for V, As and Cr it appears that conditions suitable for uptake into particles may be restricted to the buoyant portion of the hydrothermal plume. From a comparison of trace element: Fe ratios in the particles and associated Mid-Atlantic Ridge vent-fluids it appears that for many elements (e.g., Cu, Co, Ag, Pb, Al, Cd, Be and Zn) the flux of dissolved material from vent-fluids is matched closely by the precipitation of hydrothermal particulate phases. Of the various elements studied here, hydrothermal activity only appears to act as a significant source for dissolved Ca and dissolved Mn.
Kinematic couplings for precision fixturing — Part 2: Experimental determination of repeatability and stiffness

Abstract Results of tests performed to determine the repeatability of a large kinematic coupling are described. The coupling was constructed from two 356 mm (14 in) diameter 102 mm (4 in) thick cast iron discs with hardened steel gothic arch insects and 28.6 mm (1.125 in) diameter balls. A special load frame was constructed for performing cyclic tests of kinematic coupling while applying a 5800 N (1300 lbf) preload. Different types of balls and lubrication at the interface were tested. When using lubricated silicon nitride balls, axial and radial 3σ repeatability was on the order of 0.30 μm (12 μin). Worst case axial and radial stiffness was on the order of 1.09 × 10 8 N m −1 (0.62 × 10 6 lbf in −1 ) and 1.58 × 10 8 N m −1 (0.90 × 10 6 lbf in −1 ) , respectively, and at best was twice these values. Machined surface finishes on the order of 0.3 μm (12 μin) were obtained while using the coupling to hold a 304 stainless steel part machined with a depth of cut of 0.13 mm (0.005 in) at a rate of 55 surface metres per minute (180 SFM).
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays for Bovine α-Lactalbumin and β-Lactoglobulin in Serum and Tissue Culture Media

Abstract Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for bovine α-lactalbumin and β-lactoglobulin have been developed for measurements of serum and tissue culture samples. Either α-lactalbumin or β-lactoglobulin antiserum was coated on ELISA plates. Biotinylated proteins were used in competition with unknown amount of proteins in samples. After unbound proteins were washed off, ExtrAvidin-peroxidase and tetramethylbenzidine were then used as a detection system. Crossreactivity of caseins or bovine serum albumin was less than .0001% in either α-lactalbumin or β-lactoglobulin ELISA. Parallel curves from serial dilutions were obtained in serum and media samples. The additivity of α-lactalbumin and β-lactoglobulin ELISA was validated in either serum or medium samples. The intraassay and interassay coefficients of variation for α-lactalbumin and β-lactoglobulin ELISA were below 10% over 51 and 47 assays. The ELISA are useful in mammary gland biology studies for measuring milk whey protein in serum or culture media.
LTP: AMPA receptors trading places

Many forms of LTP involve insertion of new postsynaptic AMPA receptors. Plant et al. now report transient insertion of Ca2+-permeable AMPA receptors after LTP induction, and find their activation is required for LTP maintenance.
Interventions to promote health: Crossing networks of intellectual and developmental disabilities and aging

Abstract Background People with intellectual and developmental disabilities experience lower levels of healthy behaviors as do older persons, making health promotion a key priority for these populations. Objective The aim of this paper is to review the two fields of developmental disability and aging health promotion research in order to understand strategies used by both and to identify emerging and innovative practices that disability researchers can learn from each other. Methods We conducted scoping reviews of health promotion intervention peer reviewed articles in English from 1991 to 2011 for intellectual and developmental disabilities and from 2007 to 2011 for the more extensive gerontological literature. Two reviewers extracted data. Results The disability review identified 34 studies and three main types of interventions: exercise, multi-component, and health screens. The aging review identified 176 articles which had a wider variety of intervention topics and techniques, with more articles including innovative approaches to bringing interventions to community settings across a wider variety of populations. Conclusions As people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are living longer, disability health promotion can look to the aging literature for ideas to incorporate in future interventions for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, while the gerontological research can learn from the research in intellectual and developmental disabilities on ways to adapt health promotion interventions to people with cognitive and physical limitations. Use of universal design principles could enable greater inclusion of people with disabilities in health promotion interventions for the general aging population.
Impurity clustering and impurity-induced bands in PbTe-, SnTe-, and GeTe-based bulk thermoelectrics

Complex multicomponent systems based on PbTe, SnTe, and GeTe are of great interest for infrared devices and high-temperature thermoelectric applications. A deeper understanding of the atomic and electronic structure of these materials is crucial for explaining, predicting, and optimizing their properties, and to suggest materials for better performance. In this work, we present our first-principles studies of the energy bands associated with various monovalent (Na, K, and Ag) and trivalent (Sb and Bi) impurities and impurity clusters in PbTe, SnTe, and GeTe using supercell models. We find that monovalent and trivalent impurity atoms tend to come close to one another and form impurity-rich clusters and the electronic structure of the host materials is strongly perturbed by the impurities. There are impurity-induced bands associated with the trivalent impurities that split off from the conduction-band bottom with large shifts towards the valence-band top. This is due to the interaction between the $p$ states of the trivalent impurity cation and the divalent anion which tends to drive the systems towards metallicity. The introduction of monovalent impurities (in the presence of trivalent impurities) significantly reduces (in PbTe and GeTe) or slightly enhances (in SnTe) the effect of the trivalent impurities. One, therefore, can tailor the band gap and band structure near the band gap (hence transport properties) by choosing the type of impurity and its concentration or tuning the monovalent/trivalent ratio. Based on the calculated band structures, we are able to explain qualitatively the measured transport properties of the whole class of PbTe-, SnTe-, and GeTe-based bulk thermoelectrics.
In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer

In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer now provide an acceptable therapeutic alternative for some infertile couples. The University of Texas/Houston Medical School uses a nurse-coordinated, in vitro fertilization computer program that combines a variety of nursing interventions. The nurse specialist functions to coordinate clinical and laboratory steps and to interpret the complex process to the couple.
Nondestructive evaluation of steels using acoustic and magnetic barkhausen signals—II. Effect of intergranular impurity segregation

Abstract The present paper has studied the influence of intergranular impurity segregation on acoustic and magnetic Barkhausen signals induced during magnetization in an undoped nickel-chromium steel and doped steels with antimony, tin or phosphorus. While the intergranular impurity segregation did not affect the magnetic hysteresis loop at all, it caused the characteristics of the acoustic and magnetic Barkhausen signals to change in a different manner. The impurity-doped steels produced a higher magnitude of the acoustic signal than the undoped one. However, the acoustic signal intensity of the impurity-doped steels remained the same independent of the quantity and type of segregants. With increasing quantity of segregants, the magnitude of the magnetic signal initially decreased and then increased above 0.078 atomic fraction. The magnetic signal also did not depend on the type of segregants. The effect of segregated impurities on the grain boundary energy and the magnetostatic energy at grain boundaries which change the nucleation and growth processes of domains is discussed.
The on and off of floral regulatory genes.

The development of a multicellular organism requires the cells to acquire increasingly restricted fates. Regulatory genes are needed to specify cell fates during development in both animals and plants. Many regulatory genes have defined temporal and spatial expression patterns; therefore, these genes are themselves highly regulated. Plant development is also controlled by the environment, and different environments can trigger alternative developmental pathways. One example is that the decision to commence reproductive development in plants is often regulated by day length, which signals seasonal changes. In the small weed Arabidopsis thaliana, long day photoperiods (LD, 16 hr light/8 hr dark) accelerate flowering, compared to short days (SD, 10 hr light/14 hr dark; Martinez-Zapater et al. 1994)
On the Bayesian treed multivariate Gaussian process with linear model of coregionalization

The Bayesian treed multivariate Gaussian process (BTMGP) and Bayesian treed Gaussian process (BTGP) provide straightforward mechanisms for emulating non-stationary multivariate computer codes that alleviate computational demands by fitting models locally. Here, we show that the existing BTMGP performs acceptably when the output variables are dependent but unsatisfactory when they are independent while the BTGP performs contrariwise. We develop the BTMGP with linear model of coregionalization (LMC) cross-covariance, an extension of the BTMGP, that gives satisfactory fitting compared to the other two emulators regardless of whether the output variables are locally dependent. The proposed BTMGP is able to locally model more complex and realistic cross-covariance functions. The conditional representation of LMC in combination with the right choice of the prior distributions allow us to improve the MCMC mixing and invert smaller matrices in the Bayesian inference. We illustrate our empirical results and the performance of the proposed method through artificial examples, and one application to the multiphase flow in a full scale regenerator of a carbon capture unit.
Excision of thymine dimers from the DNA of UV-irradiated plant seedlings

Abstract The kinetics of in vitro and in vivo thymine dimerization of grass pea ( Lathyrus sativa L.) DNA have been studied. The results showed that the amount of thymine dimers in isolated DNA was two fold higher than in irradiated seedlings. Pyrimidine dimers were excised from the DNA during the incubation of the UV-irradiated seedlings. Excision occurred within the first 6 hr of incubation in the dark. Similar proportions of dimers disappeared during photoreactivation. The decrease in the amount of thymine dimers in DNA was accompanied by their accumulation in the acid-soluble fraction. The enhanced incorporation of labeled thymidine into DNA after UV-irradiation in the presence of hydroxyurea indicates the possibility of unscheduled synthesis in the course of DNA repair after UV-irradiation of seedlings.
The gene dosage of class Ia PI3K dictates the development of PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome.

The PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS) is a complex disorder caused by germline inactivating mutations of the tumor suppressor gene PTEN. Loss of PTEN function leads to unimpeded phosphatidylinositol-3′-kinase (PI3K) activity and PI3K-driven cell division. Individuals with PHTS develop benign hamartomas in various tissues and have an increased risk of developing malignant diseases. Notably, no effective therapy currently exists for this disorder. Using both genetic mouse models and pharmacological approaches, we recently demonstrated that PI3K p110α and p110β isoforms play spatially distinct but concerted roles in the skin that are required for the development and maintenance of PHTS. We also show that treatment with a pan-PI3K inhibitor prevents the development of skin PHTS and reverses advanced-stage skin hamartomas in vivo. Here, we report that genetic ablation of only 3 out of 4 p110 alleles is sufficient to block the development of skin hamartomas resulting from the complete loss of Pten in mice. Similar to our findings in skin, we now also show that mammary gland neoplastic lesions can be prevented or reversed upon PI3K inhibition in our PHTS mouse model. Our data suggest a possible route to chemoprevention using reduced doses of PI3K inhibitors for PTEN-deficient carrier patients.
Perceived Sexist Events and Psychological Distress of Sexual Minority Women of Color: The Moderating Role of Womanism

Scholars have argued that much of the sexism literature has not acknowledged diversity among women, and they have called for more attention to the intersectionality of the multiple marginalized identities of sexual minority women of color (WOC) in particular. With a sample of 182 sexual minority WOC, we examined (a) the links between perceived lifetime and recent sexist events and psychological distress and (b) the potential moderating role in these relations of womanism (a perspective of feminism that recognizes the roles of both gender and race/ethnicity in the lives of WOC). Findings from our Internet survey indicated that lifetime and recent sexism were related significantly and positively to psychological distress. Womanism was also associated positively with both forms of sexism and psychological distress. In partial support of study hypotheses, womanism moderated the relationship between perceived lifetime sexist events, but not recent sexist events, and psychological distress. More specifically, t...
Basilar artery infarction.

An 8 year old boy complained of headache and vomiting one morning and became drowsy in the afternoon. On the following day, diplopia and consciousness disturbance progressed. On admission to hospital, he was comatose and neurological examination revealed right hemianopsia and right ptosis. …
The effect of sputter deposition conditions on growth mechanism and microstructure of YBa2Cu3O7−x thin films on NdGaO3 substrates studied by scanning tunneling microscopy

Abstract The films of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7− x were deposited on a perovskite substrate, NdGaO 3 , by off-axis RF magnetron sputtering at a variety of different temperature, total pressure and oxygen partial pressure ( p O 2 ) growth conditions in order to study their effect on microstructure. The resulting c -axis and combined c / a -axis-normal films were characterized by scanning tunneling and atomic force microscopies, X-ray diffraction, and eddy-current measurements. Initial stages of deposition proceeded by c -axis-oriented growth on all films. At low p O 2 , a transition to a -axis perpendicular growth was observed, beyond a critical thickness, while at high p O 2 , exclusively c -axis perpendicular material was found. A transition from a spiral growth mechanism to a nucleation-dominated growth regime is discussed.
Fabrication of cellular materials

Nature uses cellular materials in applications requiring strength while, simultaneously, minimizing raw materials requirements. Minimizing raw materials is efficient both in terms of the energy expended by the organism to synthesize the structure and in terms of the strength- to-weight ratio of the structure. Wood is the most obvious example of cellular bio-materials, and it is the focus of other presentations in this symposium. The lightweight bone structure of birds is another excellent example where weight is a key criterion. The anchoring foot of the common muscle [Mytilus edulis] whereby it attaches itself to objects is a further example of a biological system that uses a foam to fill space and yet conserve on raw materials. In the case of the muscle the foam is water filled and the foot structure distributes stress over a larger area so that the strength of the byssal thread from which it is suspended is matched to the strength of interfacial attachment of the foot to a substrate. In these examples the synthesis and fabrication of the cellular material is directed by intercellular, genetically coded, biochemical reactions. The resulting cell sizes are microns in scale. Cellular materials at the next larger scale are created by organisms at the next higher level of integration. For example an African tree frog lays her eggs in a gas/fluid foam sack she builds on a branch overhanging a pond. The outside of the foam sack hardens in the sun and prevents water evaporation. The foam structure minimizes the amount of fluid that needs to be incorporated into the sack and minimizes its weight. However, as far as the developing eggs are concerned, they are in an aqueous medium, i.e. the continuous fluid phase of the foam. After precisely six days the eggs hatch, and the solidified outer wall re-liquefies and dumps the emerging tadpoles into the pond below. The bee honeycomb is an example of a cellular material with exquisite periodicity at millimeter length scales. The cellular structure provides strength through geometric regularity and functions as both honey storage vessels and incubators.
Bell's theorem and delayed determinism

The most recent experiment by Aspect, Dalibard, and Roger does not appear to rule out a class of theories in which the outcome of an event is not determined until some time after its occurrence. This class of theories includes not only the quantum theory but various local, realistic theories as well.
Blue–Green Emission in Terbium-Doped Alumina (Tb:Al2O3) Transparent Ceramics

Alumina (Al2O3) is one of the most versatile ceramics, utilized in an amazing range of structural and optical applications. In fact, chromium-doped single crystal Al2O3 was the basis for the first laser. Today, most photoluminescent (PL) materials rely on rare earth (RE) rather than transition-metal dopants because RE doping produces greater efficiencies and lower lasing thresholds. RE-doped alumina could provide an extremely versatile PL ceramic, opening the door for a host of new applications and devices. However, producing a transparent RE:Al2O3 suitable for PL applications is a major challenge due to the very low equilibrium solubility of RE (∼10−3%) in Al2O3 in addition to alumina's optical anisotropy. A method is presented here to successfully incorporate Tb3+ ions up to a concentration of 0.5 at% into a dense alumina matrix, achieving a transparent light-emitting ceramic. Sub-micrometer alumina and nanometric RE oxide powders are simultaneously densified and reacted using current-activated, pressure-assisted densification (CAPAD), often called spark plasma sintering (SPS). These doped ceramics have a high transmission (∼75% at 800 nm) and display PL peaks centered at 485 nm and 543 nm, characteristic of Tb3+ emission. Additionally, the luminescent lifetimes are long and compare favorably with lifetimes of other laser ceramics. The high transparencies and PL properties of these ceramics have exciting prospects for high energy laser technology.
Ion propulsion system for stationary-satellite control

The application of ion propulsion to the 3-axes attitude control and station keeping of stationary satellites is discussed. The mission constraints that affect the engine system design, such as velocity increments associated with vernier orbit corrections, magnitude of disturbance torques, and required thrusting directions are presented. An evaluation is made of the tradeoffs between such critical parameters as attitude and station-keeping accuracy, average power utilization, duty cycle, thrust level, and satellite mass and moments of inertia. A preliminary design is given for the ion engine attitude-control and station-keeping system. (A prototype system has been developed and laboratory tested.) Such system parameters as power level, thrust level, specific impulse, and weight are specified.
Analytical Modeling of Strain Rate Distribution During Friction Stir Processing

Friction Stir Processing (FSP) is becoming an acceptable technique for modifying the grain structure of sheet metals. One of the most important issues that hinder the widespread use of FSP is the lack of accurate models that can predict the resulting microstructure in terms of process parameters. Most of the work that has been done in the FSP field is experimental, and limited modeling activities have been conducted. In this work, an analytical model is presented that can predict the strain rate distribution and the deformation zone in the friction stir processed zone as a function of process parameters. In the model, the velocity fields within the processed zone are determined by incorporating the effects of both the shoulder and the pin of the tool on the material flow. This is achieved by introducing state variables and weight functions. The model also accounts for different interfacial conditions between the tool and the material. The effects of different process parameters and conditions on the velocity fields and strain rate distributions are discussed. The results clearly show that the model can successfully predict the shape of the deformation zone and that the predicted strain rate values are in good agreement with results reported in the literature.
Ectopic insulin-like growth factor I expression in avian skeletal muscle prevents expression of CMD4, a novel inhibitor of differentiation

Embryonic chick skeletal muscle undergoes profound hypertrophy in response to ectopic IGF-I resulting in two- to three-fold increase in total muscle mass. IGF-I likely causes several changes in gene expression profiles to elicit the robust effect. To identify genes differentially affected by IGF-I, total RNA was isolated from the hindlimbs of chick embryos infected with RCAS or RCAS-IGF-I and used in a subtractive library screen. CMD4 was identified as a novel, avian-specific gene expressed in muscle. In situ mRNA analysis reveals that the gene product is expressed in multiple tissues including skeletal muscle. Ectopic expression of IGF-I within the hindlimb results in a reduction in CMD4 mRNA to levels below conventional detection limits. A chimeric CMD4-yellow fluorescent protein (CMD4-YFP) demonstrates an indiscriminant localization pattern throughout the cytoplasm and nucleus of myoblasts. By contrast to control C2C12 myoblasts, a stable muscle cell line that expresses CMD4-YFP (C2C12-CMD4-YFP) is unable to form the large multinucleated cells characteristic of mature myofibers. The differentiation defective myoblasts do not express myosin heavy chain but the relative amounts of myogenin, desmin and troponin proteins do not differ from controls. The transcriptional activity of the myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs) remains unchanged by CMD4 expression. We report the identification of an IGF-I inhibited gene present in skeletal muscle. While the mechanism of CMD4-mediated inhibition of muscle development remains elusive, we propose that loss of CMD4 gene expression may be required for optimal muscle hypertrophy in the chick embryo.
Ultra-High-Efficiency Strong Cation Exchange LC/RPLC/MS/MS for High Dynamic Range Characterization of the Human Plasma Proteome

High-efficiency nanoscale reversed-phase liquid chromatography (chromatographic peak capacities of ∼1000: Shen, Y.; Zhao, R.; Berger, S. J.; Anderson, G. A.; Rodriguez, N.; Smith, R. D. Anal. Chem. 2002, 74, 4235. Shen, Y.; Moore, R. J.; Zhao, R.; Blonder, J.; Auberry, D. L.; Masselon, C.; Pasa-Tolic, L.; Hixson, K. K.; Auberry, K. J.; Smith, R. D. Anal. Chem. 2003, 75, 3596.) and strong cation exchange LC was used to obtain ultra-high-efficiency separations (combined chromatographic peak capacities of >104) in conjunction with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) for characterization of the human plasma proteome. Using conservative SEQUEST peptide identification criteria (i.e., without considering chymotryptic or elastic peptides) and peptide LC normalized elution time constraints, the separation quality enabled the identification of proteins over a dynamic range of greater than 8 orders of magnitude in relative abundance using ion trap MS/MS instrumentation. Between 800 and 1682 human proteins were identif...
Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus-encoded viral FLICE inhibitory protein (vFLIP) K13 suppresses CXCR4 expression by upregulating miR-146a

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS)-associated herpesvirus (KSHV)-encoded viral FLICE inhibitory protein (vFLIP) K13 is a potent activator of the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) pathway. In this study, we show that infection with KHSV and ectopic expression of K13, but not its NF-kappaB-defective mutant, suppressed the expression of CXCR4. Suppression of CXCR4 by KSHV and K13 was associated with upregulated expression of miR-146a, a microRNA that is known to bind to the 3'-untranslated region of CXCR4 mRNA. Reporter studies identified two NF-kappaB sites in the promoter of miR-146a that were essential for its activation by K13. Accordingly, ectopic expression of K13, but not its NF-kappaB-defective mutant or other vFLIPs, strongly stimulated the miR-146a promoter activity, which could be blocked by specific genetic and pharmacological inhibitors of the NF-kappaB pathway. Finally, expression of CXCR4 was downregulated in clinical samples of KS and this was accompanied by an increased expression of miR-146a. Our results show that K13-induced NF-kappaB activity suppresses CXCR4 through upregulation of miR-146a. Downregulation of CXCR4 expression by K13 may contribute to KS development by promoting premature release of KSHV-infected endothelial progenitors into the circulation.
Stimulation of the Uptake of α-Aminoisobutyric Acid in Rat Thymocytes by L-Triiodothyronine: A Comparison with Insulin and Dibutyryl Cyclic AMP

L-Triiodothyronine in vitro increased the uptake of the non-metabolizable amino acid, alpha-aminoisobutyrate, into isolated rat thymocytes. This effect was evident at extracellular free hormone concentrations of 10-7 to 5 times 10-8M and was due to a marked inhibition of amino acid efflux. In contrast, insulin and dibutyryl cyclic AMP, which also increased uptake in these cells, acted to stimulate amino acid influx. When L-triiodothyronine was added to maximally effective concentrations of either insulin or dibutyryl cyclic AMP, the resultant effect was the sum of the effect of each hormone added individually. These studies extended previous observations which indicate that thyroid hormones stimulate the cellular uptake of amino acids, and they provide a convenient system for the study of thyroid hormone action in vitro.
Active and Passive Immunity in Chickens Against Plasmodium Lophurae

of the protective action of serum derived from latently infected birds, but Findlay and Brown8 reported that such serum, if incubated with parasites for 1 hour at 37 C. and injected along with them into canaries, caused the incubation period of the ensuing infection to be lengthened. Manwell and Goldstein9 stated in a preliminary report that birds may be completely protected against infection with P. circumflexum by 8 serial injections of serum before infection and one thereafter and may be partially protected if the serum is given curatively. Working with P. cathemeri-
Fractal texture analysis of perfusion lung scans

The purpose of this study is to investigate if fractal texture analysis can assist in the diagnostic interpretation of perfusion lung scans. Forty-five perfusion scans were acquired from patients with clinical suspicion of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) who underwent pulmonary angiography for final diagnosis. Fractal texture analysis was performed on 270 regions of interest (ROIs) extracted from the posterior view of the lung scans. Specifically, there were 94 normally perfused ROIs and 176 abnormal ROIs representing various lung diseases including PE and obstructive pulmonary disease (OPD). The average fractal dimension (FD) of normal ROIs was statistically significantly higher than that of abnormal ROIs. Furthermore, the FDs of abnormal ROIs with PE were significantly lower than the FDs of ROIs with OPD present.
Intermixing of a system with positive heat of mixing at high strain rates

This paper investigates a mode of mechanically driven alloying of elements that are otherwise immiscible at temperatures well below the equilibrium melting point. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we have studied the alloying between Ag and Cu, a positive-heat-of-mixing $(+\ensuremath{\Delta}H)$ binary system with little solid solubility near ambient temperature, during high strain rate deformation at temperatures \ensuremath{\leqslant}600 K. Above a critical strain rate, both elements undergo mechanical melting into undercooled liquids, which are miscible at 600 K due to the reduced magnitude of the $+\ensuremath{\Delta}H$ in the liquid state compared with that in the crystalline state. The nonequilibrium deformation maintains the melt state and assists the intermixing reaction between elemental Ag and Cu through stress-directed atomic flow. Upon unloading, the intermixed amorphous Ag-Cu crystallizes towards a supersaturated fcc solid solution. The scheme described is a process of low-temperature amorphization and intermixing of elements, and as such differs from the well-known liquid quench route that starts from an already-mixed liquid alloy at high temperatures.
Molecular endpoints of Ca2+/calmodulin- and voltage-dependent inactivation of Cav1.3 channels

Ca2+/calmodulin- and voltage-dependent inactivation (CDI and VDI) comprise vital prototypes of Ca2+ channel modulation, rich with biological consequences. Although the events initiating CDI and VDI are known, their downstream mechanisms have eluded consensus. Competing proposals include hinged-lid occlusion of channels, selectivity filter collapse, and allosteric inhibition of the activation gate. Here, novel theory predicts that perturbations of channel activation should alter inactivation in distinctive ways, depending on which hypothesis holds true. Thus, we systematically mutate the activation gate, formed by all S6 segments within CaV1.3. These channels feature robust baseline CDI, and the resulting mutant library exhibits significant diversity of activation, CDI, and VDI. For CDI, a clear and previously unreported pattern emerges: activation-enhancing mutations proportionately weaken inactivation. This outcome substantiates an allosteric CDI mechanism. For VDI, the data implicate a “hinged lid–shield” mechanism, similar to a hinged-lid process, with a previously unrecognized feature. Namely, we detect a “shield” in CaV1.3 channels that is specialized to repel lid closure. These findings reveal long-sought downstream mechanisms of inactivation and may furnish a framework for the understanding of Ca2+ channelopathies involving S6 mutations.
Is the length of newly diagnosed Barrett's esophagus decreasing? The experience of a VA Health Care System.

Abstract Background & Aims: Secular trends in the length of newly diagnosed Barrett’s esophagus (BE) are unknown. We have anecdotally noticed less frequent new diagnoses of long segments of BE. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected information on a well-characterized large cohort of patients with documented BE that was diagnosed between 1981 and 2000 at Southern Arizona Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System. We examined temporal changes in the length of BE at the time of diagnosis (frequency and proportions). We conducted correlation analyses, as well as multivariate linear regression analyses, to examine the association between year of diagnosis and BE length while adjusting for temporal differences in age, sex, ethnicity, previous use of antisecretory therapy, and the presence of intestinal metaplasia (IM) of the gastric cardia. Results: There were 340 patients with BE first diagnosed between 1981 and 2000. All cases were defined by the presence of areas of salmon-colored mucosa in the lower end of the tubular esophagus and IM in biopsy specimens obtained from these areas on at least 2 endoscopic examinations. There were no significant changes over time in mean age of patients with BE (61 yr) or proportion of white patients (84%). The mean length of BE at the time of first diagnosis declined progressively over time. In the earliest period (1981–1985), mean BE length was 6 ± 3.8 cm, whereas mean BE length in 1996–2000 was 3.6 ± 2.9 cm. This observation was explained not only by more frequent diagnoses of short BE, but also by less frequent diagnoses of long BE (≥3 cm). There was a strong inverse correlation between BE length at the time of diagnosis and year of diagnosis (Pearson’s correlation coefficient, −0.29; P Conclusions: There has been a progressive decline in the length of newly diagnosed BE as a result of an increase in short-segment BE, but, curiously, also because of a decline in long-segment BE (≥3 cm). These changes cannot be explained fully by changes in demographic features of patients, previous therapy, or the increasing emphasis on IM of the gastric cardia. The role of referral bias and/or temporal changes in the definitions cannot be excluded.
Kentucky Bluegrass Cultivar Root and Top Growth Responses When Grown in Hydroponics

The fine texture and fibrous nature of turfgrass root systems make it difficult, tedious, and time consuming to measure root production, distribution, and plasticity. Timely, labor-efficient methods for turfgrass root assessment would be helpful. The objectives of this study were to: (i) evaluate Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) cultivars and experimental lines for root production, depth, and distribution in hydroponics; (ii) determine ability to redistribute roots as solution levels decline; and (iii) assess production of clipping yield, verdure, and top growth. Fifteen Kentucky bluegrass cultivars and one experimental line were studied in hydroponics experiments. Georgetown' produced the most root mass at 1460 mg, while Kenblue' and NE 80-88 had the least production at 1122 and 1099 mg, respectively. Total root production varied by 25% among entries. Root production was greatest for all cultivars in the range of 0 to 300 mm, declining with depth, but all entries produced roots at depths >600 mm. NE 80-88 had 90% of its root growth in this range, while Touchdown' had 71%. Root production declined considerably at depths >450 mm. Birka', Dormie', Eclipse', and Touchdown had the greatest roots, while 'Aspen', Georgetown, NE 80-88, and Park' had the least. Touchdown had the most roots (i.e., 27% of root mass) remaining in the hydroponic solution at the end of each experiment, while NE 80-88 had the least at 8.7%. Total top growth varied among the Kentucky bluegrass cultivars by 42%. 'America' produced the most total top growth at 9.2 g, while Kenblue had the least at 5.4 g. Aspen produced the most clippings with a yield of 3.7 g, while 'Challenger' and Eclipse had the lowest production at 2.1 g. Results from these experiments indicate hydroponic systems can be used to effectively separate Kentucky bluegrass genotypes for rooting and top growth responses. Furthermore, these results support the potential to select Kentucky bluegrass genotypes with improved rooting characteristics, such as root distribution and plasticity. Additional research is needed to relate results developed from hydroponics studies with field conditions.
Expiratory threshold loading impairs cardiovascular function in health and chronic heart failure during submaximal exercise

We determined the effects of augmented expiratory intrathoracic pressure (PITP) production on cardiac output (QTOT) and blood flow distribution in healthy dogs and dogs with chronic heart failure (...
Ferenczi and Groddeck: simpatico. Roots of a paradigm shift in psychoanalysis.

Sigmund Freud introduced Sandor Ferenczi to Georg Groddeck in 1917. The warm personal friendship that these two men shared for the rest of their lives was a breeding ground for many of their respective theoretical and clinical contributions. 1923 was a schismatic year in the history of psychoanalysis. Freud's appropriation of Groddeck's Das Es and its adaptation to Heinroth's tri-partite model (Freud, 1923; Poster, 1997) marked the beginning of Ego psychology. Almost simultaneously there appeared Groddeck's Book of the It (Groddeck, 1923), together with Rank and Ferenczi's The Development of Psychoanalysis (Rank and Ferenczi, 1924), and Ferenczi's Thalassa (Ferenczi, 1924). These three seminal publications set the stage for a paradigm shift (Hoffer, 2008; Rudnytsky, 2002). They were the forerunner of later developments in object relations, self-psychology, interpersonal and relational psychoanalysis. Taken together, the contributions of Groddeck and Ferenczi and Rank reinvigorated psychoanalysis, Freud's baby, with “the constructive aspect” that Groddeck told Freud had been lost in Freud's re-definition of Das Es (Groddeck, 1977, p. 13). Each of these pioneers stimulated the thinking of the others. Always an independent thinker, Groddeck was welcomed into the psychoanalytic circle by both Freud and Ferenczi. Suffering under the “crushing paternal(ism)” of Freud, Ferenczi was supported by Groddeck to carry out his own clinical experiments. Preoccupied with his own legacy and intolerant of dissent, Freud was able to maintain cordial contact with these two creative spirits and allow them to modify his own ideas.
Métodos de puntuación de propensión para crear una distribución equilibrada de las covariables en los estudios observacionales

Resumen La asignacion aleatoria del tratamiento en los experimentos divide a los pacientes en grupos de tratamiento que estan aproximadamente equilibrados en cuanto a las covariables basales. Sin embargo, en los estudios observacionales, en los que la asignacion del tratamiento no es aleatoria, los pacientes de los grupos de tratamiento activo y de control difieren a menudo en covariables cruciales que estan relacionadas con las variables de respuesta. Estos desequilibrios en las covariables pueden conducir a estimaciones sesgadas del efecto del tratamiento. La puntuacion de propension (propensity score) es la probabilidad de que a un paciente con unas caracteristicas basales especificas se le asigne el tratamiento activo, y no el control. Aunque las puntuaciones de propension son desconocidas en los estudios observacionales, al parear o subclasificar a los pacientes segun las puntuaciones de propension estimadas, podemos disenar estudios observacionales que sean analogos a los experimentos aleatorios, con un equilibrio aproximado entre pacientes en cuanto a las covariables observadas. Los disenos de estudios observacionales basados en puntuaciones de propension estimadas pueden producir estimaciones aproximadamente insesgadas del efecto del tratamiento. Una cuestion crucial es que los disenos de puntuacion de propension deben crearse sin tener acceso a las respuestas, imitando la separacion entre el diseno del estudio y el analisis de las respuestas que es propia de los experimentos aleatorios. En este articulo se describen el marco conceptual de las respuestas potenciales para la inferencia causal y las mejores practicas para el diseno de estudios observacionales con puntuaciones de propension. Comentamos el uso de puntuaciones de propension en dos estudios en los que se evaluaron la efectividad y los riesgos de los farmacos antifibrinoliticos durante las cirugias cardiacas.
Retinoylation of proteins in leukemia, embryonal carcinoma, and normal kidney cell lines: differences associated with differential responses to retinoic acid.

Abstract In HL60 cells a nuclear protein of Mr 55,000 is retinoylated, with the formation of a thioester bond. To gain further knowledge on the role of retinoylation we studied it in cell lines with varied responses to retinoic acid (RA). Compared to HL60 the extent of retinoylation (mol/cell) was about fivefold higher in HL60/MRI, a mutant which is more sensitive to RA than HL60. Retinoylation occurred to the same extent and at similar rates in HL60 and in HL60/RA-res, a mutant resistant to differentiation by RA. One-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis patterns for the three HL60 cell lines were similar. However, two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis patterns of the three HL60 cell lines were distinct. While we saw the same major retinoylated protein of Mr 55,000 in the three cell lines, the HL60/RA-res cells also contained a high level of a protein with the same Mr and a lower pI. The extent of retinoylation was greater in the RA-sensitive embryonal carcinoma cell line, PCC4.aza1R, than in a RA-resistant cell line, PCC4.(RA)−2. One-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis patterns of retinoylated proteins of the embryonal carcinoma cell lines were different from HL60 and from each other. The retinoylation pattern of the normal canine kidney cell line (MDCK) was different from either HL60 or the embryonal carcinoma cells. These results showed that retinoylation was widespread and that the response to RA of different cell types may depend on the retinoylation of specific proteins.
Is intensive measurement of body image reactive? A two-study evaluation using Ecological Momentary Assessment suggests not.

Intensive assessment methods (e.g., Ecological Momentary Assessment [EMA]) are increasingly used to capture body image experiences in daily life. One concern with EMA is multiple assessments may increase reactivity to internal or external cues, potentially biasing measurement. Reactivity to EMA was evaluated in two studies (Study 1: N = 63 female undergraduates, Study 2: N = 131 women with high body dissatisfaction/disordered eating). Participants completed five daily surveys on handheld computers for 1–2 weeks and body image-related questionnaires at the start and end of each study. Results showed no systematic changes in pre- and post-EMA measures or momentary EMA reports, suggesting women were not reactive to the EMA protocols. Completing 1–2 weeks of EMA does not appear to affect body dissatisfaction, mood, or attitudes in non-clinical or at-risk samples of women. These studies provide evidence that EMA methods can be used to assess real-world body image experiences without undue concern about measurement reactivity.
Monitoring Active Volcanoes

Monitoring volcanoes is a surprisingly controversial enterprise. Some volcanologists argue that monitoring promises too much and delivers too little for risk mitigation. They trust only strict land-use measures (and accompanying high insurance premiums in risky zones) and urge that funds be used for public education and awareness rather than for instrumental monitoring. Others claim that monitoring is more akin to Brownian motion than to science: lots of action but little net progress. Still other volcanologists acknowledge the potential value of monitoring for prediction and warning but despair at the difficulty of it all. And, finally, some shy from surveillance, fearing the legal consequences of a failed monitoring effort during these litigious times. They wonder, “Will I be sued if an eruption is not foreseen or if an instrument fails at a critical time?”
Performance analysis and improvement in model reference adaptive control

The purpose of this paper is to address the issue of performance by using two additional criteria to assess performance in the ideal and nonideal situations. They are the mean square tracking error criterion and the L/sub /spl infin// tracking error bound criterion. We use these criteria to examine the performance of a standard model reference adaptive controller and motivate the design of a modified scheme that can have an arbitrarily improved nominal performance in the ideal case and in the presence of bounded input disturbances. It is shown that for these cases the modified scheme can provide an arbitrarily improved zero-state transient performance and an arbitrary reduction in the size of possible bursts that may occur at steady state. As in every robust control design, the nominal performance has to be traded off with robust stability and therefore the improvement in performance achieved by the proposed scheme is limited by the size of the unmodeled dynamics, as established in the paper. >