cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Heteromeric Plastidic Pyruvate Kinase Complex Involved in Seed Oil Biosynthesis in Arabidopsis

Glycolysis is a ubiquitous pathway thought to be essential for the production of oil in developing seeds of Arabidopsis thaliana and oil crops. Compartmentation of primary metabolism in developing embryos poses a significant challenge for testing this hypothesis and for the engineering of seed biomass production. It also raises the question whether there is a preferred route of carbon from imported photosynthate to seed oil in the embryo. Plastidic pyruvate kinase catalyzes a highly regulated, ATP-producing reaction of glycolysis. The Arabidopsis genome encodes 14 putative isoforms of pyruvate kinases. Three genes encode subunits α, β1, and β2 of plastidic pyruvate kinase. The plastid enzyme prevalent in developing seeds likely has a subunit composition of 4α4β1, is most active at pH 8.0, and is inhibited by Glu. Disruption of the gene encoding the β1 subunit causes a reduction in plastidic pyruvate kinase activity and 60% reduction in seed oil content. The seed oil phenotype is fully restored by expression of the β1 subunit–encoding cDNA and partially by the β2 subunit–encoding cDNA. Therefore, the identified pyruvate kinase catalyzes a crucial step in the conversion of photosynthate into oil, suggesting a preferred plastid route from its substrate phosphoenolpyruvate to fatty acids.
Selecting a site for an association convention: an exploratory look at the types of power used by committee members to influence decisions.

Abstract This article examines how power is used by association members to influence the selection of a site for the association's meeting, convention, or trade show. Kohli's seven-category typology of power in group decision-making forms the basis for this pilot study. The results of 23 in-depth interviews with association meeting planners are reported. Marketing implications are also included.
Investigation of an artificially synthesized electromagnetic absorber

A new approach for synthesizing an artificial electromagnetic absorber, as inclusions in a host medium, is proposed in this paper. To realize an absorber, which also has a low reflection, a combination of two sets of thin wire geometries is employed. These include hairpin-shaped inclusions, whose reflection coefficients exhibit phase shifts close to zero, and dipoles whose corresponding phase shift in the backscattered field is approximately 180°. We show that a synthesized medium with these inclusions has the desirable properties of a low-reflection medium. To render the medium absorptive, as well as to suppress the resonances of the inclusions, we introduce finite conductivities in the wire structures. The synthesized medium is optimized for minimum reflection by using the genetic algorithm (GA) to achieve further improvement in its bandwidth as a low-reflection absorber. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 27: 384–386, 2000.
LaMnO/sub 3/: a single oxide buffer layer for high-J/sub c/ YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-/spl delta// coated conductors

Single buffer layer of LaMnO/sub 3/ (LMO) has been epitaxially grown on biaxially textured Ni and Ni-alloy substrates by sputter deposition. The property characterizations revealed that LMO buffers can serve both as a chemical as well as a structural buffer for YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-/spl delta// (YBCO) films. Epitaxial YBCO films grown on LMO buffers using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) have self-field critical current densities (J/sub c/) exceeding 1 /spl times/ 10/sup 6/ A/cm/sup 2/ at 77 K. The present results have demonstrated the strong prospect of LMO for the practical development of YBCO coated conductors.
Influence of balsam poplar tannin fractions on carbon and nitrogen dynamics in Alaskan taiga floodplain soils

The feedbacks between plant and soil processes play an important role in driving forest succession. One poorly understood feedback mechanism is the interaction between plant secondary chemicals and soil microbes. In the Alaskan taiga, changes in nutrient cycling caused by balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera) secondary chemicals may affect the transition from alder (Alnus tenuifolia) to balsam poplar on river floodplains. We examined the effects of four poplar condensed tannin fractions on N cycling in alder and poplar soils. Tannins were added to forest floor samples from both poplar and alder sites. Samples were incubated for 1 month in the laboratory with soil respiration rates measured over the course of the incubation. At the end of the incubation we measured both net and gross nitrogen mineralization and nitrification, microbial biomass C and N, and the activity of various exoenzymes. In all soils, tannin additions reduced N availability, however, the mechanisms differed depending on the molecular weight of the tannin and the native soil microbial community. Low molecular weight tannin fractions served as a labile C source in poplar Oi, poplar Oe, and alder Oe horizons but were toxic to microbes in alder Oi. High molecular weight tannin fractions appeared to act primarily by binding extracellular substrates and thus limiting C and N mineralization, with the strongest effects observed in the alder soils.
Colonic motility after surgery for Hirschsprung's disease.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Years after surgery for Hirschsprung’s disease, many children continue to suffer from fecal incontinence or constipation. The purpose of the present investigation was to define the physiology underlying the persistent symptoms in children after surgery for Hirschsprung’s disease, and to determine the outcome of interventions based on the results of the motility testing. METHODS: We studied 46 symptomatic patients (5.5 ± 3.3 yr old, 35 male) >10 months after surgery for Hirschsprung’s disease. We performed a colonic manometry with a catheter placed with the tip in the proximal colon. We used a structured questionnaire and phone interview to follow up the patients an average of 34 months after the manometry. RESULTS: We identified four motility patterns: 1) high-amplitude propagating contractions (HAPCs) migrating through the neorectum to the anal sphincter, associated with fecal soiling (n = 18); 2) normal colonic manometry associated with fear of defecation and retentive posturing (n = 9); 3) absence of HAPCs or persistent simultaneous contractions over two or more recording sites (n = 15), associated with constipation (n = 13); and 4) normal colonic motility and a hypertensive internal anal sphincter (>80 mm Hg) (n = 4). We based treatment on results of the motility studies. There was improvement in global health (mean score, 3.9 ± 1.1 vs 2.8 ± 1.3 at the time of initial evaluation, p vs 2.6 ± 1.1, p CONCLUSIONS: Colonic manometry clarifies the pathophysiology and directs treatment in symptomatic children after surgery for Hirschsprung’s disease.
Active Sonar transmission strategies in the presence of strong direct blast

With the help of in-water experimentation data, we study: (1) the merits and limitations of two major classes of Active Sonar Systems, namely, Pulse Active Sonar (PAS) and Continuous Active Sonar (CAS), with the Doppler-Tolerant Linear Frequency Modulation (LFM) waveform; and (2) the merits and limitations of Doppler-Tolerant LFM and the Doppler-Sensitive SHAPE waveforms with CAS. Throughout the study, Matched Filter (MF) is used as the receiver design. The strong delay and Doppler spread direct blast and poor MF performance in noisy environments warrant us to introduce processing techniques which enable receivers to produce accurate range estimates.
Pituitary and prolactin influences on calcium regulation in the mud puppy, Necturus maculosus.

Abstract Hypophysectomized male mud puppies ( Necturus maculosus ) adapted to fresh water exhibited hyponatremia and hypocalcemia which were alleviated by ovine prolactin injections. However, if the animals were adapted to 0.6% sodium chloride solution, hypophysectomy produced hypocalcemia but not hyponatremia. These data suggest that mud puppy pituitary glands are specifically involved in calcium regulation in addition to their involvement in sodium regulation. Injection of ovine prolactin produced hypercalcemia and hypernatremia in intact mud puppies adapted to 0.6% sodium chloride solution containing high levels of calcium. However, the hormone had no significant effect on plasma calcium or sodium values in animals adapted to low-sodium fresh water with or without addition of calcium.
Reticulocyte quantification by flow cytometry, image analysis, and manual counting

Reticulocyte counting by flow cytometry with thiazole orange was compared to manual or automated counting of new methylene blue stained blood smears. Forty-nine samples were compared for manual counting from randomly chosen clinical samples. Two hundred and eighty-nine samples from bone marrow transplant patients were compared during the period before and through chemo-irradiation and engraftment. The slopes of correlation plots were less than 1 when flow cytometric data were the dependent variable, suggesting that thiazole orange is less sensitive than new methylene blue. In a third study, 407 samples from bone marrow transplant patients were compared after increasing the thiazole orange concentration. The reticulocyte fluorescence distribution was divided into four groups of the brightest (youngest) 40, 60, 80, and 100% of reticulocytes. The slopes from regression analysis were 0.25, 0.49, 0.78, and 1.14, respectively. This demonstrates that thiazole orange is more sensitive than new methylene blue because the window of analysis includes an increased fraction of mature reticulocytes. In addition, the precision of each assay as measured. The rank order of precision from high to low was flow cytometry > image analysis >> manual counting.
A complete NMR spectral assignment of the lipid-free mouse apolipoprotein A-I (apoAI) C-terminal truncation mutant, apoAI(1-216)

ApoAI is the major protein component of the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) that has been a hot subject of interests because of its anti-atherogenic properties. Lipid-free apoAI specifically binds to phospholipids, triggering HDL formation. Here we report a complete backbone assignment and nearly complete sidechain assignment of a C-terminal 24-residue truncation mutant of mouse apoAI, apoAI(1-216), in its lipid-free form.
Wave front analysis of a plane compressional pulse scattered by a cylindrical elastic inclusion

Abstract The plane-strain problem of a stress pulse striking an elastic circular cylindrical inclusion embedded in an infinite elastic medium is treated. The method used determines dominant stress singularities that arise at wave fronts from the focusing of waves refracted into the interior. It is found that a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of a propagating stress singularity is that the incident pulse has a step discontinuity at its front. The asymptotic wave front behavior of the first few P and SV waves to focus are determined explicitly and it is shown that the contribution from other waves are less important. In the exterior, it is found that in most composite materials the reflected waves have a singularity at their wave front which depends on the angle of reflection. Also the wave front behavior of the first few singular transmitted waves is given explicitly. The analysis is based on the use of a Watson-type lemma, developed here, and Friedlander's method [5]. The lemma relates the asymptotic behavior of the solution at the wave front to the asymptotic behavior of its Fourier transform on time for large values of the transform parameter. Friedlander's method is used to represent the solution in terms of angularly propagating wave forms. This method employs integral transforms on both time and θ, the circumferential coordinate. The θ inversion integral is asymptotically evaluated for large values of the time transform parameter by use of appropriate asymptotics for Bessel and Hankel functions and the method of stationary phase. The Watson-type lemma is then used to determine the behavior of the solution at singular wave fronts. The Watson-type lemma is generally applicable to problems which involve singular loadings or focusing in which wave front behavior is important. It yields the behavior of singular wave fronts whether or not the singular wave is the first to arrive. This application extends Friedlander's method to an interior region and physically interprets the resulting representation in terms of ray theory.
Physics and Applications of Laser-Atomic Oscillator

We report a new technique, laser-atomic oscillator. The oscillation frequency is photonically locked to an atomic resonance, and oscillations are generated as the modulated laser light and the modulated impedance of the semiconductor gain element.
Does peritoneal mobilization increase laparoscopic acidosis

PURPOSE: It was hypothesized that laparoscopic colon surgery may be associated with increased absorption of CO2 resulting from mobilization of lateral peritoneal reflections. METHODS: Six pigs underwent laparotomy with removal of a measured quadrant of peritoneum before insufflation to 15 mmHg with CO2. Six paired control animals also underwent insufflation with CO2 to 15 mmHg. Measurements of the end-tidal CO2 (PetCO2), arterial blood gas analysis for CO2(PaCO2), and pH were performed before insufflation, at 5 and 10 minutes following insufflation, then at successive 15-minute intervals for a total of two hours, and 15 minutes following desufflation. No attempt was made to correct the hypercarbia by increasing minute ventilation. RESULTS: PaCO2 reached its maximum level at two hours with values of 70.77±5.54 mmHg and 64.62±5.18 mmHg in the peritonectomized and control groups, respectively. PetCO2 also peaked at two hours to 60±13 mmHg for the study group and 54±11 mmHg for controls. pH reached its nadir at two hours, falling from a baseline of 7.45±0.08 to 7.23±0.09 in the study group, and from 7.42±0.04 to 7.24 ±0.04 in the control group. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups for any of the parameters measured at each time interval. CONCLUSIONS: The hypothesis that peritonectomy produces greater CO2 absorption during CO2 pneumoperitoneum was disproved under these experimental conditions.
A nested case-control study of methemoglobinemia risk factors in children of Transylvania, Romania

In this nested case-control study, we investigated the risk factors for methemoglobinemia (MHG) in 71 children in the Transylvania region of Romania. This study was unique in that the exposures for...
Compressive Stress Increase With Repeated Thermal Cycling in Tantalum(Oxygen) Thin Films

Stresses which build up in thin films, such as tantalum, during thermal processing, can cause major reliability problems in x-ray optics and electronic applications. We have demonstrated that 50 nm to 200 nm thick sputtered beta tantalum thin films undergo repeated compressive stress increases when thermally cycled from room temperature to 400°C (at 10°C/min) and back in a purified He ambient because of low levels of oxygen gettered by the tantalum. The oxygen contamination is a result of the poor quality of the quartz annealing chamber atmospheric seal. As-deposited stress in the sputter deposited tantalum films ranges from -1 to -4 GPa. The compressive stress build up was monitored in situ and was shown to increase -0.5 GPa on average after each thermal cycle for a final value of -6 to -7 GPa after seven cycles. After being cycled thermally seven times any perturbation of the film such as a four point probe resistivity measurement can cause the film to instantaneously crack in a serpentine pattern relieving the large compressive stress. Auger electron spectroscopy depth profiling analysis indicated that the as-deposited films contained one atomic percent oxygen which increased to eight to twelve percent after seven thermal cycles accompanied by an approximate doubling in resistivity. In conclusion, the increase in oxygen concentration in tantalum thin films which occurs upon thermal cycling leads to a repetitive increase in compressive stress which could be detrimental when the films are used in x-ray or electronic applications.
Contributions of the Inner Cavity to the Resistance of High Conductance K+ Channels Determined with a Two-Resistor Model

Both BK and MthK are high conductance K+ channels. The dimensions of the conduction pathway for MthK are known from crystal structures. BK's conduction pathway may have similar dimensions. Geng et al. (2011) changed the size of the entrance to the inner cavity of BK channels by substituting uncharged amino acids with different sized side chains at positions E321/E324 located at the entrance. Fitting plots of conductance vs. amino acid side chain volume with a two-resistor model, where R1+R2 is the total resistance of the conduction pathway, suggested that ∼7% of the total resistance for wt channels was at the entrance to the inner cavity (R2), with ∼93% arising from the remainder of the conduction pathway including the selectivity filter (R1). Shi et al. (2011) changed the size of the conductance pathway deep in the inner cavity of MthK by substituting amino acids at A88. Our analysis of their data with the two-resistor model suggests that the deep segment of the inner cavity encircled by A88 (R2) contributes >80-90% of the total resistance of the condution pathway. On this basis, the deep inner cavity leading to the selectivity filter would constitute the major source of resistance. Alternatively, because the deep inner cavity has a narrow diameter compared to the entrance to the inner cavity, the substitution of larger amino acids at A88 in MthK may constrict the diameter sufficiently so that K+ has to start shedding waters of hydration before it reaches the selectivity filter, leading to an artificial high resistance localized deep in the inner cavity that would not be present in wt channels. NIH AR32805.
responses to grievance behavior: extended cases in a fishing community1

Recent work in anthropology of law has focused on the dispute settlement process and the factors influencing choice of one form of settlement over another. This paper questions this focus and suggests alternative categories through which law as a process can be examined. Analysis of cases collected by the author in an Atlantic fishing community indicated that for many cases no settlement process could be identified, although some involved a lengthy “cooling” period during which the alleged offense was discussed and subtle responses to it were made. Some cases were successfully handled in this way; others developed into full-blown disputes; still others continued in process for several years and did not appear headed for any clear settlement. Through analysis of these case materials, three issues are raised for discussion: (1) the concept of dispute settlement as a primary focus; (2) the traditional concept of a case, in which “a” dispute is aired or presented in public and a decision made which terminates the dispute; (3) the importance of time as a variable in the handling of disputes. It is suggested that the focus on settlement reflects our bias toward viewing disputes as short-range encounters in relationships which lack a past and future. In contrast, the concept of a case as a response to grievance behavior provides a more complete picture of the ways in which conflicts are handled in different types of relations and of the ways in which disputes develop, or are avoided. In particular, the development of the grievance-response process through time and the variations in pattern of development for different social relations with different time dimensions are discussed.
Calculation of the single-scattering properties of randomly oriented hexagonal ice columns: a comparison of the T-matrix and the finite-difference time-domain methods

We calculated the scattering and absorption properties of randomly oriented hexagonal ice columns using T-matrix theory, employing analytic orientation averaging, and the finite-difference time-domain method, which uses a numerical procedure to simulate random orientation. The total optical properties calculated are the extinction efficiency, absorption efficiency, single-scattering albedo, and the asymmetry parameter. The optical properties are calculated at the wavelengths of 0.66, 8.5, and 12 mum, up to a size parameter of 20 at 0.66 mum and 15 at the two other wavelengths. The phase-matrix elements P11, P12, and P22 are also calculated and compared, up to a size parameter of 20 at 0.66 mum and 15 at 12.0 mum. The scattering and absorption solutions obtained from the two independent electromagnetic methods are compared and contrasted, as well as the central processing unit time and memory load for each size parameter. It is found that the total optical properties calculated by the two methods are well within 3% of each other for all three wavelengths and size parameters. In terms of the phase-matrix elements it is found that there are some differences between the T-matrix and the finite-difference time-domain methods appearing in all three elements. Differences between the two methods for the P11 element are seen particularly at scattering angles from approximately 120 degrees to 180 degrees ; and at the scattering angle of 180 degrees , relative differences are less than 16%. At scattering angles less than 100 degrees , agreement is generally within a few percent. Similar results are also found for the P12 and P22 elements of the phase matrix. The validity of approximating randomly oriented hexagonal ice columns by randomly oriented equal surface area circular cylinders is also investigated in terms of the linear depolarization ratio.
Effect of the heating rate used during stress relief annealing on the magnetic properties of amorphous alloys

The effect of the heating rate used during stress relief annealing of amorphous alloy toroids on the final soft magnetic properties has been investigated by comparing three different annealing techniques. Batch furnace annealing of a completely formed toroid provides the slowest heating rate and the poorest properties. The hot block method tested in this study, provides a faster heating rate but only a small improvement in properties. This technique involves annealing the ribbon layer by layer as it is wound, the heat being applied by passing the ribbon over a hot block whose radius of curvature is the same as that of the final toroid. A similar annealing technique in which the hot block is replaced by a quartz line heater, provides the fastest heating rate and a significant improvement in properties. The latter method is however considerably slower than the hot block technique.
A Predicted Amphipathic Helix Mediates Plasma Membrane Localization of GRK5

G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) specifically phosphorylate agonist-occupied G protein-coupled receptors at the inner surface of the plasma membrane (PM), leading to receptor desensitization. GRKs utilize a variety of mechanisms to bind tightly, and sometimes reversibly, to cellular membranes. Previous studies demonstrated the presence of a membrane binding domain in the C terminus of GRK5. Here we define a mechanism by which this short C-terminal stretch of amino acids of GRK5 mediates PM localization. Secondary structure predictions suggest that a region contained within amino acids 546-565 of GRK5 forms an amphipathic helix, with the key features of the predicted helix being a hydrophobic patch of amino acids on one face of the helix, hydrophilic amino acids on the opposite face, and a number of basic amino acids surrounding the hydrophobic patch. We show that amino acids 546-565 of GRK5 are sufficient to target the cytoplasmic green fluorescent protein (GFP) to the PM, and the hydrophobic amino acids are necessary for PM targeting of GFP-546-565. Moreover, full-length GRK5-GFP is localized to the PM, but mutation of the hydrophobic patch or the surrounding basic amino acids prevents PM localization of GRK5-GFP. Last, we show that mutation of the hydrophobic residues severely diminishes phospholipid-dependent autophosphorylation of GRK5 and phosphorylation of membrane-bound rhodopsin by GRK5. The findings in this report thus suggest the presence of a membrane binding motif in GRK5 and define the importance of a group of hydrophobic amino acids within this motif in mediating its PM localization.
Quantifying calculus: A suggested new approach for recording an important indicator of diet and dental health

This paper describes a quantitative approach to the assessment of dental calculus in human archaeological skeletal samples. The approach combines the ranked calculus scoring method described by Buikstra and Ubelaker [1994. Arkansas Archeological Survey Research Series, Arkansas Archeological Survey, Fayetteville, Arkansas] and a modified Simplified Calculus Index, utilized by dental clinicians. We recorded amounts of calculus on the buccal, lingual, and interproximal surface of all extant teeth, and generated an index for the maxillary posterior dentition, maxillary anterior dentition, mandibular posterior dentition, and mandibular anterior dentition for three skeletal samples. They include 145 Egyptian Predynastic individuals from the site of Hierakonpolis, 104 Predynastic individuals from Naqada, Egypt, and 101 Meroitic Nubians from Semna South, present-day Sudan. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to analyze differences between the sexes and among age groups at each site. The results demonstrate that the calculus indices more effectively reveal trends and differences in calculus severity than frequency data can alone. For example, at Hierakonpolis, males (18-35 years) had significantly more calculus in the maxillary posterior dentition than females, while females (50+ years) had significantly more calculus in the maxillary posterior teeth. Frequency data merely showed that 94% of both males and females had calculus. The use of calculus indices can reveal how quickly calculus accumulates with age within the dental arcade and within a sample. Moreover, better understanding of the severity and location of calculus can improve a researcher's knowledge regarding the effect of calculus on dental pathologies, such as carious lesions and periodontal disease.
The product of the Drosophila melanogaster segment polarity gene armadillo is highly conserved in sequence and expression in the housefly Musca domestica

Segmental pattern in Drosophila melanogaster is set up via a set of cell-cell interactions mediated by the products of the segment polarity genes. Among these is the armadillo gene, whose product seems to be required for the reception of an intercellular signal encoded by the wingless gene. As part of our effort to relate the structure of the armadillo protein to its function within the cell, we have examined the evolutionary conservation of the armadillo gene during insect evolution. We have cloned the armadillo gene from the housefly, Musca domestica, which diverged from Drosophila 100 million years ago. The Musca protein is 97.5% identical to that in Drosophila, while the noncoding sequences have diverged extensively. This remarkable degree of conservation at the protein level is mirrored in the expression pattern of the armadillo protein. Antibodies against the Drosophila protein cross-react with a Musca protein of the appropriate size. We have also used these antibodies to show that the Musca armadillo protein has a pattern of expression in larval and adult tissues similar to that of Drosophila armadillo. We discuss the implications of conservation of structure and expression for the cellular role of the armadillo protein and its mammalian homologs.
μ-p scattering and the glue fraction of the proton

The QCD version of the energy-momentum sum rule is tested against SLAC electroproduction and FNAL muon-proton scattering data. While providing only a single number for each Q2, the energy momentum sum rule is significant because the scaling violations due to gluons can be well determined. In particular, gluons carry 30±8% of the proton's energy-momentum at Q2=3.5 GeV2 (which means 22% at 1 GeV2). The largest single corrections of previous estimates of the glue fraction is the inclusion of gluon bremsstrahlung effects. Agreement with experiment is within the uncertainties in the μ-p data. However, the sum rule does not give a very sensitive test of the value of the quark-gluon coupling constant. The prediction for charm production agrees with the observed rates for dimuon and trimuon production in inelastic μ scattering.
The speed of convergence in the Ergodic Theorem

No general statement can be made about the speed with which convergence takes place in the Ergodic Theorem, in the sense that one can never be sure that convergence of the remainder to zero is fast enough to make, through term-by-term multiplication, any divergent series become convergent. As a corollary we obtain the nonexistence in general of the one-sided ergodic Hilbert transform; that is, there is no pointwise “nonhomogeneous ergodic theorem”.
Antenatal Steroids and Hemodynamic Maturation of Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) Infants † 1114

Antenatal glucocorticoids (AG) for the prevention of respiratory distress syndrome in VLBW infants reduce the incidence of patent ductus arteriosus, intraventricular hemorrhage and necrotizing enterocolitis. In preterm fetal lambs, AG increase postnatal cardiac output (CO), heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP). We hypothesized that AG improve hemodynamic maturation in preterm infants. Twenty infants (750-1250 g; 24-31 wk) were enrolled in a prospective observational study. We measured middle cerebral (C) and superior mesenteric (M) artery Doppler blood flow velocities (BFV) and cardiac function at 6, 30, 54 and 168 hr of life. Infants were divided into three groups: non-treated controls (n=6), one dose (n=4), and two or more doses (n=10) of AG. Mean and end-diastolic CBFV increased (ANOVA, p<0.0001) by 83 and 230%, respectively, from 6 to 168 hr of age. Cerebral relative vascular resistance(RVR) decreased (ANOVA, p<0.05) by 27%. Mean MBFV and MRVR did not change, but end-diastolic MBFV increased (ANOVA, p<0.05) by 47%. HR, BP, and CO (fig.) increased (ANOVA, p<0.001) by 7, 35, and 60%, respectively. Contractility did not change. Mean and end-diastolic CBFV, mean and end-diastolic MBFV, CRVR, MRVR, HR, BP, CO and contractility did not differ among groups. We conclude that AG do not alter Doppler ultrasound indices of postnatal hemodynamic maturation in VLBW infants. Funded by Wyeth Pediatrics.
Categorizing numeric information for generalization

Learning programs that generalize from real-world examples will have to deal with many different kinds of data. Continuous numeric data can cause problems for algorithms that search for examples with identical property values. These problems can be surmounted by categorizing the numeric data. However, this process has problems of its own. In this paper, we look at the need for categorizing numeric data and several methods for doing so. We concentrate on the use of generalization-based memory, a memory organization where actual examples are stored along with generalizations, which leads to a generalization-based categorization algorithm. We also consider how to use a number heuristic, looking for gaps. These methods have been implemented in the UNIMEM computer system. Examples are presented of these algorithms categorizing data about the states of the United States.
Long-Term Follow-Up of Giant Serpentine Mca Aneurysm Treated With EC-IC Bypass and Proximal Occlusion

Giant serpentine aneurysms are a rare but important subset of giant aneurysms, with unique management considerations. We present long-term follow-up clinical and imaging features of a giant serpentine middle cerebral artery lesion treated with extracranial–intracranial bypass and proximal occlusion more than a decade earlier. Calcification of the obliterated aneurysm sac and durability of this management strategy are demonstrated.
Abstract 1520: Beta-endorphin neuron transplants suppress mammary tumor growth and progression via neuroimmune activation

A review of studies that evaluated psychological factors and outcome in cancer patients suggested an association between certain psychological factors and the growth and progression of cancer. It has been suggested that the effect of stress on the immune system may in turn affect the growth of some tumors. We have previously shown that a set of hormone secreting nerve cells in the hypothalamus, called beta-endorphin (BEP) neurons, plays a role in regulating stress response and immune function. Hence, we tested whether activation of BEP neurons reduces stress hormone levels and prevents the N-nitroso-N-methylurea (NMU)-induced mammary tumor burden and malignancy rate. To test this we differentiated rat neural stem cells from the hypothalamus into BEP neurons in culture, which were later transplanted into the paraventricular nuclei (PVN) of the hypothalamus of 90 day old Sprague-Dawley female rats, which were injected with MNU 4 weeks prior to cells transplantation. Control rats were transplanted with cortical cells or not operated. Animals were palpated every week to check for tumor growth for additional 12 weeks. Tumor length and width were measured with a calibrator. Sixteen weeks after MNU injection, animals were sacrificed, tumors were collected, and slices of tumors were put in formalin and processed for histological staining for pathology. Additionally, the impact of cell transplants on plasma levels of stress hormone corticosterone and cytokines interferon gamma (INF-γ), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in plasma and the levels of natural killer (NK) cell and macrophage cytotoxic activities in peripheral blood and spleen were evaluated. When the BEP neurons were transplanted into the PVN of an adult rat, they integrated well with the surrounding cells and produced BEP and it precursor gene proopiomelanocortin. We found that BEP implanted animals have significantly lower tumor incidence, tumor volume, tumor number and malignancy rate. Rats with BEP neuron transplants also showed reduced plasma corticosterone levels, increased NK cell and macrophage activities in the spleens and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, elevated plasma levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine INF-γ and decreased levels of inflammatory cytokine TNF-α. These results identify a protective role of BEP neurons against MNU-induced mammary tumor (animal model for breast cancer) growth and progression via increasing the innate immune function and reducing the inflammatory milieu. (Supported by NIH Grant AA015718). Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1520. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1520
Orphic revenge: the limits of language for a semiotics of religion

AbstractThis article examines Robert A. Yelle's Semiotics of Religion. The author argues that the project is weakened by an over-privileging of language as the only mode of semiosis. Using the figure of Orpheus and the semiotic exteriority of music, the author suggests that a semiotics of religion must escape this most fundamental logocentrism if it is not simply to perpetuate the ideological gestures Yelle works hardest to expose.
Obesity and the community food environment: a systematic review.

Objective To examine the relationship between obesity and the community and/or consumer food environment. Design A comprehensive literature search of multiple databases was conducted and seven studies were identified for review. Studies were selected if they measured BMI and environmental variables related to food outlets. Environmental variables included the geographic arrangement of food stores or restaurants in communities and consumer conditions such as food price and availability within each outlet. The study designs, methods, limitations and results related to obesity and the food environment were reviewed, and implications for future research were synthesized. Results The reviewed studies used cross-sectional designs to examine the community food environment defined as the number per capita, proximity or density of food outlets. Most studies indirectly identified food outlets through large databases. The studies varied substantially in sample populations, outcome variables, units of measurement and data analysis. Two studies did not find any significant association between obesity rates and community food environment variables. Five studies found significant results. Many of the studies were subject to limitations that may have mitigated the validity of the results. Conclusion Research examining obesity and the community or consumer food environment is at an early stage. The most pertinent gaps include primary data at the individual level, direct measures of the environment, studies examining the consumer environment and study designs involving a time sequence. Future research should directly measure multiple levels of the food environment and key confounders at the individual level.
Getting Tie(2)d up in angiogenesis.

Angiogenesis, the growth of new vessels from pre-existing blood vessels, requires complex signaling pathways and a high degree of spatial and temporal coordination among various cell types, multiple pro- and anti-angiogenic factors, and their corresponding receptors. Although the targeted disruption of many of these factors leads to embryonic lethal defects in vascular development, the precise actions of these factors at the cellular and molecular levels are not completely defined. Such is the case for angiopoietin-1 (Ang1), angiopoietin-2 (Ang2) and the Ang receptor Tie2. Mice deficient in Ang1, Ang2, or Tie2 exhibit aberrant vascular development, characterized by abnormal interactions between endothelial cells (ECs) and their supporting cells. The abluminal cells of the vasculature, which includes pericytes in the microvasculature and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in large vessels, are collectively referred to as mural cells (reviewed in ref. 1). In this issue of the JCI, Uemura and colleagues provide some insight into the mechanisms that underlie these defects (2). The authors demonstrate that whereas blocking the function of the PDGF β receptor (PDGFR-β) in the developing retinal vasculature led to mural cell-deficient vessels that were poorly remodeled and leaky, administration of recombinant modified angiopoietin-1 (Ang1*) restored the vascular structure of the larger vessels in the absence of the mural cells.
Climate change and the middle atmosphere. II - The impact of volcanic aerosols

The response of the middle atmosphere to an increase in stratospheric aerosols, normally associated with increased volcanic activity, is investigated. The aerosols are found to induce a direct stratospheric response, with warming in the tropical lower stratosphere, and cooling at higher latitudes. On the shorter time scales, this radiative effect increases tropospheric static stability at low- to midlatitudes, which reduces the intensity of the Hadley cell and Ferrel cell. There is an associated increase in tropospheric standing wave energy and a decrease in midlatitude west winds, which result in additional wave energy propagation into the stratosphere at lower midlatitudes in both hemispheres. On the longer time scale, a strong hemispheric asymmetry arises. In the Northern Hemisphere eddy energy decreases, as does the middle-atmosphere residual circulation, and widespread stratospheric cooling results. In the Southern Hemisphere, the large increase in sea ice increases the tropospheric latitudinal temperature gradient, leading to increased eddy energy, an increased middle-atmosphere residual circulation, and some high-latitude stratospheric warming.
Molecular mechanisms of atopy

Production of specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E is the characteristic abnormality of atopy. IgE is produced by B lymphocytes under the influence of interleukin (IL)4 and IL-13. IgE binds to high-affinity IgE receptors (Fc«RI) on mast cells to induce degranulation and mediator synthesis. IL-4 enhances the activation of Fc«RI to augment the production of cytokines and lipid mediators. These receptors may also be expressed on other cells such as basophils, monocytes and eosinophils. IgE may also activate low-affinity IgE receptors (Fc«RII or CD23) that are expressed on B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, macrophages and airway smooth muscle cells. CD23 expression is enhanced by IL-4. Recently, a humanised murine monoclonal antibody (E25) directed against IgE has demonstrated a reduction in early and late responses to inhaled allergen and eosinophil counts in induced sputum, and reduced airway hyperresponsiveness. There is a profound reduction in circulating IgE, which may be due to switching-off IgE production from B cells. In patients with severe asthma who require oral steroids there is a significant reduction in oral steroid requirements, and several patients are able to completely withdraw oral steroids in comparison with a placebo. E25 may also reduce signalling through CD23 as IgE levels are lowered and this might explain its efficacy in chronic asthma, through an inhibitory effect on T lymphocytes, macrophages, eosinophils and airway smooth muscle.
Physiological, psychological, and performance diffe rences between Wii fitnes s gaming and traditional gym exercises

Abstract Video gaming systems market themselves as tools for promoting physical activity or physical therapy. In thisinvestigation, we wanted to compare the Wii console system game EA Sports Active to traditional gymexercises using five activities: basketball passing, basketball shooting, biceps curls, body squats, and jogging.Our hypotheses were that: (1) physiological demand would be greater in the gym than on the Wii, (2)psychological measures of exertion would be greater in the gym than on the Wii, and (3) performance wouldbe poorer in the gym than on the Wii. Ten young adults participated in the study, completing all five exercisesin both settings. Heart rate recordings were higher for four of the five exercises when performed in the gymversus on the Wii, though estimations of caloric expenditure in the jogging exercise did not differ between thetwo settings. Ratings of perceived exertion and difficulty were higher in the gym versus on the Wii for half ofthe exercises but not different for the remaining ones. For the basketball exercises, accuracy was consistentlylower in the gym versus on the Wii. These results support use of active video gaming to ameliorate inactivityor to help in physical therapy and rehabilitation, but point out important differences between the gym versusWii exercise that are important in determining which may be better for general exercise, skill-building,promoting recovery.
Molecular Mechanisms of Hepcidin Regulation: Implications for the Anemia of CKD

Anemia is prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is associated with lower quality of life and higher risk of adverse outcomes, including cardiovascular disease and death. Anemia management in patients with CKD currently revolves around the use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents and supplemental iron. However, many patients do not respond adequately and/or require high doses of these medications. Furthermore, recent clinical trials have shown that targeting higher hemoglobin levels with conventional therapies leads to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, particularly when higher doses of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents are used and in patients who are poorly responsive to therapy. One explanation for the poor response to conventional therapies in some patients is that these treatments do not fully address the underlying cause of the anemia. In many patients with CKD, as with patients with other chronic inflammatory diseases, poor absorption of dietary iron and the inability to use the body's iron stores contribute to the anemia. Recent research suggests that these abnormalities in iron balance may be caused by increased levels of the key iron regulatory hormone hepcidin. This article reviews the pathogenesis of anemia in CKD, the role and regulation of hepcidin in systemic iron homeostasis and the anemia of CKD, and the potential diagnostic and therapeutic implications of these findings.
Are Similar Sex Offenders Treated Similarly? A Conjunctive Analysis of Disparities in Community Notification Decisions:

Using a sample of sex offenders in the state of Washington, the current study examines the nature and magnitude of disparities in notification decisions among distinct groups of sex offenders. The method of conjunctive analysis is used to describe the extent to which similar types of sex offenders (i.e., groups of sex offenders that share similar sets of risk factors for re-offending) are treated similarly in notification decisions. The observed patterns of widespread disparities in these decisions among distinct composite profiles of sex offenders are then discussed in terms of their implications for future research on evaluating disparity in criminal processing, the collateral consequences of notification decisions, and ongoing public policy on the control and management of sex offenders.
Familial adenomatous polyposis

Although the description of the first patient occurred more than 100 years ago, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP or adenomatosis coli) continues to be the object of several convergent lines of scientific and medical interest. Familial gastrointestinal polyposis includes various rare syndromes with the common features of numerous polyps (often adenomatous) scattered in the various tracts of the large bowel and an autosomal dominant pattern of genetic transmission [1, 2]. The occurrence of other clinical manifestations will determine the development of specific phenotypes; thus, for instance, in Gardner’s syndrome (which is considered a variant of FAP) colorectal adenomas are associated with osteomas of the skull and mandible, epidermoid cysts and soft-tissue tumors [3].
A Test of the Research and Development Model of Change

This study questions the basic educational change strategy employed by the Office of Education and other top policy groups for the last several years. The implication is that educational change is more dependent on the internal workings of the school district than on feeding carefully engineered products to practitioners.
Development of minimal models of the elastic properties of flexible and stiff polymer networks with permanent and thermoreversible cross-links

We review the elasticity of flexible and stiff polymer networks with permanent cross-links and synthesize these results into a unifying polymer chain network model. This framework is then used to address how the network elasticity becomes modified when the network cross-linking is thermoreversible in nature, changes in the stability of the network with deformation, and the effect of a variable rate of network deformation on the non-linear elastic response. Comparisons are made between this class of simplified network models with elasticity measurements performed on flexible chain and stiff fiber networks, both with permanent and associative cross-links. Although these network models are highly idealized, they are apparently able to capture many aspects of the elastic properties of diverse real networks.