cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stimulation of protein and plasma albumin synthesis in a cell-free system from livers of nephrotic rats.

Abstract An accelerated hepatic synthesis of plasma proteins in rats with nephrosis, produced by means of anti-kidney sera, has been demonstrated in the intact animal (1), the isolated, perfused liver (2), and in liver slices (3). We have now investigated the incorporation of labeled amino acids into microsomal protein by an anaerobic microsome-supernatant fluid system similar to that employed by Campbell et al (4). The microsome-supernatant fluid system from nephrotic liver has been found to be about twice as active as that from the control. The RNA content of mcirosomes from nephrotic liver was elevated; the ratio of RNA to protein was increased from 0.12 in the control to 0.20 in the nephrotic microsomes. However, the increase in activity of the nephrotic system appeared to be largely due to the 100,000 g supernatant fraction.
l-ephedrine-induced neurodegeneration in the parietal cortex and thalamus of the rat is dependent on hyperthermia and can be altered by the process of in vivo brain microdialysis

Abstract Multiple doses of the dietary supplement l -ephedrine can cause severe hyperthermia and modest dopamine depletions in the rat brain. Since d -amphetamine treatment can result in neurodegeneration, the potential of l -ephedrine to produce similar types of degeneration was investigated. Adult male rats, some implanted in the caudate/putamen (CPu) for microdialysis, were given four doses of 25 mg/kg l -ephedrine or 5 mg/kg d -amphetamine (2 h between doses) at an ambient temperature of 23 °C. l -ephedrine-induced degeneration in the forebrain was dependent on the degree of hyperthermia. Layer IV of the parietal cortex was the most sensitive to l -ephedrine treatment with peak body temperatures of at most 40.0 °C necessary to produce degeneration. Extensive neurodegeneration in the parietal cortex after l -ephedrine treatment was as pronounced as that previously described for d -amphetamine treatment and also occurred in the intralaminar, ventromedial and ventrolateral thalamic nuclei in rats with severe hyperthermia (peak body temperatures>41.0 °C). The neurodegeneration induced by l -ephedrine may have resulted in part from excitotoxic mechanisms involving the indirect pathways of the basal ganglia and related areas. No differences were observed between microdialysis and non-implanted rats with respect to degree of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) loss in the CPu after either d -amphetamine or l -ephedrine treatment. However, neurodegeneration resulting from d -amphetamine and l -ephedrine was reduced in the microdialysis animals in the hemisphere ipsilateral to the probe, which raises concerns when using the technique of in vivo microdialysis to evaluate neurodegeneration. The results of this study, in conjunction with human clinical evaluation of ephedrine neurotoxicity, indicate that regionally specific damage may occur in the cortex of some humans exposed to ephedrine in the absence of stroke or hemorrhage.
Alternate reality games and groupwork

Alternate reality games (ARGs) represent a unique form of group collaboration. The comparison of ARGs to more traditional groupware systems around themes of group formation and collective storytelling provides several questions for the study of groupwork and groupware systems.
VEGAS: A Monte Carlo Simulation of Intranuclear Cascades

The model dependence of the Monte Carlo simulation of intranuclear cascades generated by nucleons up to \ensuremath{\sim}380 MeV incident on complex nuclei has been investigated. Differences in the details of the Monte Carlo procedure between this work and previous intranuclear-cascade calculations are discussed. The specific effects that were investigated are those attendant upon the introduction of refraction of cascade particles when going through regions of varying potential energy, and upon the change in the nuclear density distribution from that of a uniform-density sphere to one with a diffuse surface similar to that consistent with electron-scattering experiments. Among the calculated quantities discussed are reaction cross sections, excitation energies of cascade products, spallation cross sections, energy and angular distributions of emitted particles, and linear and angular momentum transfers. The introduction of the diffuse-surface-density distribution improves agreement with available experimental data. At incident energies below \ensuremath{\sim}200 MeV and for medium and heavy nuclei, best agreement with experimental data is obtained when refraction and reflection are neglected. Possible reasons for this result are discussed.
Rhesus Macaque Rhadinovirus-Associated Disease

Rhesus macaque rhadinovirus (RRV) is a gamma-2 herpesvirus that naturally infects rhesus macaque (RM) monkeys and is closely related to human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8)/Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). Infection of immunodeficient RM induces disease in infected RM that resembles KSHV-associated pathologies. Importantly, RRV possesses homologues of KSHV ORFs that are postulated to play a role in disease development. As such, RRV has emerged as a prominent in vivo model system for examining mechanisms of infection and disease of these pathogenic herpesviruses, and has provided unique insight into how these viruses cause disease.
Transient dynamics of aircraft propellers during touch-down impact

Abstract A method for modeling transient dynamics of rotating flexible components is presented. Such dynamic models are of practical importance for both design and control of several engineering applications. Examples are airplane propellers and flexible appendages of spinning spacecrafts. This method is based on a nonlinear formulation of the Lagrangian form in conjunction with the finite element technique. A mixed set of generalized coordinates that accounts for inertia coupling between reference motions and local elastic deformations is employed. Component mode substitution techniques are used for generating a finite set of selected modal coordinates. The formulation accounts for component mode changes due to the effect of the reference rotational speed of the elastic component. Base motion excitations due to impulsive forces are taken into consideration. Numerical results are presented for a simplified model of an aircraft propeller during touch-down impact.
Cytochrome P450 3A: ontogeny and drug disposition.

The maturation of organ systems during fetal life and childhood exerts a profound effect on drug disposition. The maturation of drug-metabolising enzymes is probably the predominant factor accounting for age-associated changes in non-renal drug clearance. The group of drug-metabolising enzymes most studied are the cytochrome P450 (CYP) superfamily. The CYP3A subfamily is the most abundant group of CYP enzymes in the liver and consists of at least 3 isoforms: CYP3A4, 3A5 and 3A7. Many drugs are mainly metabolised by the CYP3A subfamily. Therefore, maturational changes in CYP3A ontogeny may impact on the clinical pharmacokinetics of these drugs. CYP3A4 is the most abundantly expressed CYP and accounts for approximately 30 to 40% of the total CYP content in human adult liver and small intestine. CYP3A5 is 83% homologous to CYP3A4, is expressed at a much lower level than CYP3A4 in the liver, but is the main CYP3A isoform in the kidney. CYP3A7 is the major CYP isoform detected in human embryonic, fetal and newborn liver, but is also detected in adult liver, although at a much lower level than CYP3A4. Substrate specificity for the individual isoforms has not been fully elucidated. Because of large interindividual differences in CYP3A4 and 3A5 expression and activity, genetic polymorphisms have been suggested. However, although some gene mutations have been identified, the impact of these mutations on the pharmacokinetics of CYP3A substrates has to be established. Ontogeny of CYP3A activity has been studied in vitro and in vivo. CYP3A7 activity is high during embryonic and fetal life and decreases rapidly during the first week of life. Conversely, CYP3A4 is very low before birth but increases rapidly thereafter, reaching 50% of adult levels between 6 and 12 months of age. During infancy, CYP3A4 activity appears to be slightly higher than that of adults. Large interindividual variations in CYP3A5 expression and activity were observed during all stages of development, but no apparent developmental pattern of CYP3A5 activity has been identified to date. Profound changes occur in the activity of CYP3A isoforms during all stages of development. These changes have, in many instances, proven to be of clinical significance when treatment involves drugs that are substrates, inhibitors or inducers of CYP3A. Investigators and clinicians should consider the impact of ontogeny on CYP3A in both pharmacokinetic study design and data interpretation, as well as when prescribing drugs to children.
The Use of Gastric Mucin to Lower Resistance of Laboratory Animals to Systemic Fungus Infections

Study of the deep fungus infections has been limited by the difficulty in consistently producing widespread or fatal infections in experimental animals. The lesions which result are frequently transient. Fatal infections can usually be produced only with massive doses of the organisms. Standardization of experimental disease and assay of chemotherapeutic agents on these infections is, therefore, difficult. Similarly difficult are studies dealing with the immunology of these organisms. In 1932, Nungester, Wolf and Jourdonais reported that the time necessary to produce a fatal infection in mice with various bacteria was shortened when the
Rural cooperatives in China: policy and practice

Purpose – The paper sets out to consider the impact of China's reform dynamics on its cooperative economy, examining developments both within the statist sector and beyond, in the variety of experimental quasi‐cooperative forms that have grown between plan and market.Design/methodology/approach – The paper employs a field study approach, examining the roles of farmers' specialised cooperatives within the agro‐industrial chain with experiments in Shandong province.Findings – The paper shows that reforms in the cooperative economy have been gradual, uneven and jerky, favouring the more entrepreneurial or better‐placed farmers to pursue new market opportunities. Creating a sustainable mechanism that would protect and even enhance the interests of the poorer farmers is proving to be far more difficult.Research limitations/implications – The field study of this paper covers just one region. A further investigation of the impact that the reform dynamics has on the cooperative economy is planned for the near fut...
Exploring the Theoretical Framework of Emotional Solidarity between Residents and Tourists

Residents and tourists within destinations are often portrayed as being separate from each other, possessing little in common. Such an approach can undermine the potential for a dynamic, intimate relationship to exist between residents and tourists. This research offers the theory of emotional solidarity, put forth by Emile Durkheim, as a theoretical framework to examine the relationship between residents and tourists. In addition, a series of focus groups with residents of a coastal South Carolina county was conducted to ascertain residents’ feelings about tourists and commonalities with tourists (i.e., shared beliefs, shared behavior, and interaction). Themes corresponding to constructs from Durkheim’s model were generated from the qualitative data analysis. Findings are discussed, along with practical implications and future research options.
Embed and Project: Discrete Sampling with Universal Hashing

We consider the problem of sampling from a probability distribution defined over a high-dimensional discrete set, specified for instance by a graphical model. We propose a sampling algorithm, called PAWS, based on embedding the set into a higher-dimensional space which is then randomly projected using universal hash functions to a lower-dimensional subspace and explored using combinatorial search methods. Our scheme can leverage fast combinatorial optimization tools as a blackbox and, unlike MCMC methods, samples produced are guaranteed to be within an (arbitrarily small) constant factor of the true probability distribution. We demonstrate that by using state-of-the-art combinatorial search tools, PAWS can efficiently sample from Ising grids with strong interactions and from software verification instances, while MCMC and variational methods fail in both cases.
Policy Options to Promote Smokefree Environments for Children and Adolescents

Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure among children is associated with a wide variety of adverse health risks, including: asthma, otitis media, respiratory infections, impaired lung growth and function, decreased exercise tolerance, cognitive impairments, behavior problems, and sudden infant death syndrome. Unfortunately, over 40% of children aged 3–11 years—15.1 million children—are currently exposed to SHS, with nearly 70% of black children in this age group being exposed. Over the past three decades, great strides have been made in establishing smokefree environments for adults, ultimately reducing their SHS exposure. Regulations have been passed at the organizational, local, and state levels that increasingly ban smoking in the workplace and public places. Children’s SHS exposure patterns, however, differ from adults’ exposures, with greater time spent in the home and other potentially unregulated venues (school, child care, and car). This means that children have been afforded relatively less protection from SHS by these smokefree regulations. It is imperative, therefore, to seek alternative options for promoting smokefree environments for children throughout the United States. This article explores policy options that promote smokefree environments for children and adolescents: comprehensive smokefree/tobacco-free policies covering indoor/outdoor public places, housing, private vehicles, and child care, as well as Clinical Guidelines regarding patient/family interviews on smoking, SHS, cessation, and voluntary smokefree efforts. The policy section highlights the role of child and adolescent health practitioners in promoting these policies with the hope of fostering engagement of these key stakeholders in the policy process. Note, there are a wide range of important policy and regulatory strategies aimed at reducing tobacco initiation and use among children, adolescents, and young adults; while essential in tobacco prevention and control efforts, a discussion of these strategies is beyond the scope of this article.
Human frequency-following response: representation of pitch contours in Chinese tones.

Abstract Auditory nerve single-unit population studies have demonstrated that phase-locking plays a dominant role in the neural encoding of both the spectrum and voice pitch of speech sounds. Phase-locked neural activity underlying the scalp-recorded human frequency-following response (FFR) has also been shown to encode certain spectral features of steady-state and time-variant speech sounds as well as pitch of several complex sounds that produce time-invariant pitch percepts. By extension, it was hypothesized that the human FFR may preserve pitch-relevant information for speech sounds that elicit time-variant as well as steady-state pitch percepts. FFRs were elicited in response to the four lexical tones of Mandarin Chinese as well as to a complex auditory stimulus which was spectrally different but equivalent in fundamental frequency ( f 0 ) contour to one of the Chinese tones. Autocorrelation-based pitch extraction measures revealed that the FFR does indeed preserve pitch-relevant information for all stimuli. Phase-locked interpeak intervals closely followed f 0 . Spectrally different stimuli that were equivalent in F 0 similarly showed robust interpeak intervals that followed f 0 . These FFR findings support the viability of early, population-based ‘predominant interval’ representations of pitch in the auditory brainstem that are based on temporal patterns of phase-locked neural activity.
Quantitative PET Imaging Detects Early Metabolic Remodeling in a Mouse Model of Pressure-Overload Left Ventricular Hypertrophy In Vivo

We proposed that metabolic remodeling in the form of increased uptake of the myocardial glucose analog 18F-FDG precedes and triggers the onset of severe contractile dysfunction in pressure-overload left ventricular hypertrophy in vivo. To test this hypothesis, we used a mouse model of transverse aortic constriction (TAC) together with PET and assessed serial changes in cardiac metabolism and function over 7 d. Methods: Scans of 16 C57BL/6 male mice were obtained using a small-animal PET device under sevoflurane anesthesia. A 10-min transmission scan was followed by a 60-min dynamic 18F-FDG PET scan with cardiac and respiratory gating. Blood glucose levels were measured before and after the emission scan. TAC and sham surgeries were performed after baseline imaging. Osmotic mini pumps containing either propranolol (5 mg/kg/d) or vehicle alone were implanted subcutaneously at the end of surgery. Subsequent scans were taken at days 1 and 7 after surgery. A compartment model, in which the blood input function with spillover and partial-volume corrections and the metabolic rate constants in a 3-compartment model are simultaneously estimated, was used to determine the net myocardial 18F-FDG influx constant, Ki. The rate of myocardial glucose utilization, rMGU, was also computed. Estimations of the ejection fractions were based on the high-resolution gated PET images. Results: Mice undergoing TAC surgery exhibited an increase in the Ki (580%) and glucose utilization the day after surgery, indicating early adaptive response. On day 7, the ejection fraction had decreased by 24%, indicating a maladaptive response. Average Ki increases were not linearly associated with increases in rMGU. Ki exceeded rMGU by 29% in the TAC mice. TAC mice treated with propranolol attenuated the rate of 18F-FDG uptake, diminished mismatch between Ki and rMGU (9%), and rescued cardiac function. Conclusion: Metabolic maladaptation precedes the onset of severe contractile dysfunction. Both are prevented by treatment with propranolol. The early detection of metabolic remodeling may offer a metabolic target for modulation of hypertrophy.
The onset of meandering in a barotropic jet

This study explores the dynamics of an unstable jet of two-dimensional, incompressible fluid on the beta-plane. In the inviscid limit, standard weakly nonlinear theory fails to give a low-order description of this problem, partly because the simple shape of the unstable normal mode is insufficient to capture the structure of the forming pattern. That pattern takes the form of ‘cat's eyes’ in the vorticity distribution which develop inside the modal critical layers (slender regions to either side of the jet's axis surrounding the levels where the modal wave speed matches the mean flow). Asymptotic expansions furnish a reduced model which is a version of what is known as the single-wave model in plasma physics. The reduced model predicts that the amplitude of the unstable mode saturates at a relatively low level and is not steady. Rather, the amplitude evolves aperiodically about the saturation level, a result with implications for Lagrangian transport theories. The aperiodic amplitude ‘bounces’ are intimately connected with sporadic deformations of the vortices within the cat's eyes. The theory is compared with numerical simulations of the original governing equations. Slightly asymmetrical jets are also studied. In this case the neutral modes along the stability boundary become singular; an extension of the weakly nonlinear theory is presented for these modes.
Toxicity of LY303366, an Echinocandin Antifungal, in Mice Pretreated with Glucocorticoids

LY303366 is a semisynthetic derivative of the echinocandin class. During preclinical studies, lethal toxicity was observed in DBA/2 mice pretreated with a cortisone acetate dose followed by treatment with LY303366 at doses ranging from 12.5 to 50 mg/kg of body weight/day given intraperitoneally (i.p.). In the cortisone-treated, uninfected controls, 90% given LY303366 at 50 mg/kg died. Deaths occurred only in steroid-treated mice. In additional experiments, uninfected DBA/2 and CD-1 mice were pretreated with different glucocorticoids. Dosages were adjusted for comparative potency with cortisone and were given at one, two, or five times the equivalent cortisone dosage of 5 mg prior to treatment with LY303366 at 25 mg/kg/day given i.p. Lethal toxicity occurred in DBA/2 mice given hydrocortisone (1× or 2×), triamcinolone (1× or 5×), and cortisone. However, no mice pretreated with 1× or 5× dexamethasone died. In CD-1 mice, deaths occurred only in those given 5× triamcinolone; three of five died 2 days after the cessation of 10 days of LY303366 treatment. The causes of the deaths and why inbred DBA/2 mice are more sensitive than outbred CD-1 mice to the combined lethal effects of LY303366 and some glucocorticoids could not be determined histologically and remain unexplained. This is the first report of this toxicity of combination glucocorticoids and LY303366. Whether a similar toxicity might apply to the other compounds in the echinocandin class of antifungals and the species specificity require additional study. In addition, the clinical relevance of these observations in steroid-treated patients to the clinical safety of LY303366 and other echinocandins needs to be determined.
Charge Transport through Methylated DNA Strand

Charge transport through an eight-base pair methylated DNA strand and its native counterpart have been investigated. We focus on three factors, contact coupling, decoherence and temperature, which can contribute to DNA charge transport. Our results show that with the same choice of contact coupling, in the phase-coherent limit the transmission of the methylated strand is smaller in the bandgap at energies close to the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO), while inside the HOMO band, the transmission is oscillatory and the methylated DNA may have a larger transmission in certain energy windows. The trend in transmission also holds in the presence of the decoherence though there is a crossover in the transmission of the native and methylated strands away from the HOMO level. We also find that the transport depends on the strength of contact coupling and the measurement temperature.
Opposing Effects of CTLA4 Insufficiency on Regulatory versus Conventional T Cells in Autoimmunity Converge on Effector Memory in Target Tissue

Quantitative variations in CTLA4 expression, because of genetic polymorphisms, are associated with various human autoimmune conditions, including type 1 diabetes (T1D). Extensive studies have demonstrated that CTLA4 is not only essential for the suppressive role of regulatory T cells (T(reg)) but also required for intrinsic control of conventional T (T(conv)) cells. We report that a modest insufficiency of CTLA4 in mice, which mimics the effect of some human CTLA4 genetic polymorphisms, accompanied by a T1D-permissive MHC locus, was sufficient to induce juvenile-onset diabetes on an otherwise T1D-resistant genetic background. Reduction in CTLA4 levels had an unanticipated effect in promoting Treg function both in vivo and in vitro. It led to an increase in T(reg) memory in both lymphoid and nonlymphoid target tissue. Conversely, modulating CTLA4 by either RNA interference or Ab blockade promoted conventional effector memory T cell formation in the T(conv) compartment. The CD4(+) conventional effector memory T cells, including those within target tissue, produced IL-17 or IFN-γ. Blocking IL-7 signaling reduced the Th17 autoimmune compartment but did not suppress the T1D induced by CTLA4 insufficiency. Enhanced effector memory formation in both T(conv) and T(reg) lineages may underpin the apparently dichotomized impact of CTLA4 insufficiency on autoimmune pathogenesis. Therefore, although the presence of CTLA4 plays a critical role in controlling homeostasis of T cells, its quantitative variation may impose diverse or even opposing effects on distinct lineages of T cells, an optimal sum of which is necessary for preservation of T cell immunity while suppressing tissue damage.
Arthroscopic Treatment of Suprascapular Neuropathy from a Suprascapular Notch Cyst Using a Lateral Subacromial Approach.

[Introduction][1] We describe a safe surgical technique for arthroscopic decompression of a suprascapular notch cyst in the setting of compressive suprascapular neuropathy. [Step 1: Position the Patient][2] Position the patient in the standard beach-chair position. [Step 2: Mark Anatomic Landmarks][3] Palpate and mark the subcutaneous landmarks of the shoulder in preparation for later arthroscopy. [Step 3: Diagnostic Arthroscopy][4] Create standard anterior and posterior portals for glenohumeral visualization. [Step 4: Perform Suprascapular Cyst Decompression Through a Lateral Subacromial Approach][5] Establish accessory superior and lateral portals and transition to a lateral viewing portal to perform suprascapular notch decompression. [Step 5: Release the Transverse Scapular Ligament][6] Establish a G Portal and release the transverse scapular ligament using arthroscopic scissors. [Step 6: Closure][7] Perform arthroscopic lavage of the subacromial space and glenohumeral joint and close arthroscopic portals. [Results][8] As suprascapular nerve entrapment is a relatively rare entity, with only a limited number of studies from which to draw conclusions regarding the outcomes of arthroscopic suprascapular nerve release, Shah et al. recently reported on their results in twenty-four patients using this surgical technique. [Indications][9] [Contraindications][10] [Pitfalls & Challenges][11] [Introduction][1] We describe a safe surgical technique for arthroscopic decompression of a suprascapular notch cyst in the setting of compressive suprascapular neuropathy. [Step 1: Position the Patient][2] Position the patient in the standard beach-chair position. [Step 2: Mark Anatomic Landmarks][3] Palpate and mark the subcutaneous landmarks of the shoulder in preparation for later arthroscopy. [Step 3: Diagnostic Arthroscopy][4] Create standard anterior and posterior portals for glenohumeral visualization. [Step 4: Perform Suprascapular Cyst Decompression Through a Lateral Subacromial Approach][5] Establish accessory superior and lateral portals and transition to a lateral viewing portal to perform suprascapular notch decompression. [Step 5: Release the Transverse Scapular Ligament][6] Establish a G Portal and release the transverse scapular ligament using arthroscopic scissors. [Step 6: Closure][7] Perform arthroscopic lavage of the subacromial space and glenohumeral joint and close arthroscopic portals. [Results][8] As suprascapular nerve entrapment is a relatively rare entity, with only a limited number of studies from which to draw conclusions regarding the outcomes of arthroscopic suprascapular nerve release, Shah et al. recently reported on their results in twenty-four patients using this surgical technique. [Indications][9] [Contraindications][10] [Pitfalls & Challenges][11] [1]: #sec-10 [2]: #sec-11 [3]: #sec-12 [4]: #sec-13 [5]: #sec-14 [6]: #sec-15 [7]: #sec-16 [8]: #sec-17 [9]: #sec-19 [10]: #sec-20 [11]: #sec-21
Gravity Base Stations in Antarctica

Summary Gravity base stations established in Antarctica during the austral summer of 1960-61 are presented and compared with previous results by various observers. The use of two geodetic gravity meters, viz. a LaCoste-Romberg and a Worden has increased the accuracy and resolved several discrepancies. Ties were made between Christchurch, New Zealand and the United States Antarctic Stations at McMurdo Sound, South Pole, Byrd, and Hallett, as well as satellite stations in West Antarctica and the New Zealand Scott Base at McMurdo ound. Station descriptions and observed gravity values are presented.
A Matter of Balance: Specialization, Task Variety, and Individual Learning in a Software Maintenance Environment

Specialization at work has been recognized as a key driver of learning and productivity since the days of Adam Smith. More recently, researchers have noted that exposure to task variety can enhance learning. We examine how exposure to specialization and variety jointly drive employee productivity in a real-life setting. We analyze a data set covering 88 individuals who worked on 5,711 maintenance tasks in an offshore software support services operation. We find that, as expected, specialization enhances productivity. However, exposure to variety has a nonlinear influence on productivity; i.e., “too much variety” can impede learning. We also find that achieving a proper balance between specialization and exposure to a variety leads to the highest productivity. We capture this balance using an adaptation of the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index from the economics literature. In addition, we examine how the productivity of individuals in a workgroup is affected by member entry and exit, with the latter specified in terms of the degree of specialized experience and the degree of variety experience lost from the workgroup when a member exits. Our analysis reveals that the degree of variety experience lost has a greater impact on productivity than the degree of specialized experience that is lost.
Temperature-dependent Chaperone Activity and Structural Properties of Human αA- and αB-crystallins

The chaperone activity and biophysical properties of recombinant human alphaA- and alphaB-crystallins were studied by light scattering and spectroscopic methods. While the chaperone function of alphaA-crystallin markedly improves with an increase in temperature, the activity of alphaB homopolymer appears to change very little upon heating. Compared with alphaB-crystallin, the alphaA-homopolymer is markedly less active at low temperatures, but becomes a more active species at high temperatures. At physiologically relevant temperatures, the alphaB homopolymer appears to be modestly (two times or less) more potent chaperone than alphaA homopolymer. In contrast to very similar thermotropic changes in the secondary structure of both homopolymers, alphaA- and alphaB-crystallins markedly differ with respect to the temperature-dependent surface hydrophobicity profiles. Upon heating, alphaA-crystallin undergoes a conformational transition resulting in the exposure of additional hydrophobic sites, whereas no such transition occurs for alphaB-crystallin. The correlation between temperature-dependent changes in the chaperone activity and hydrophobicity properties of the individual homopolymers supports the view that the chaperone activity of alpha-crystallin is dependent on the presence of surface-exposed hydrophobic patches. However, the present data also show that the surface hydrophobicity is not the sole determinant of the chaperone function of alpha-crystallin.
Molecular Basis of Immunity to Rickettsial Infection Conferred through Outer Membrane Protein B

Pathogenic rickettsiae are the causative agents of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, typhus, and other human diseases with high mortality and an important impact on society. Although survivors of rickettsial infections are considered immune to disease, the molecular basis of this immunity or the identification of protective antigens that enable vaccine development was hitherto not known. By exploring the molecular pathogenesis of Rickettsia conorii, the agent of Mediterranean spotted fever, we report here that the autotransporter protein, rickettsial outer membrane protein B (rOmpB), constitutes a protective antigen for this group of pathogens. A recombinant, purified rOmpB passenger domain fragment comprised of amino acids 36 to 1334 is sufficient to elicit humoral immune responses that protect animals against lethal disease. Protective immunity requires folded antigen and production of antibodies that recognize conformational epitopes on the rickettsial surface. Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) 5C7.27 and 5C7.31, which specifically recognize a conformation present in the folded, intact rOmpB passenger domain, are sufficient to confer immunity in vivo. Analyses in vitro indicate this protection involves a mechanism of complement-mediated killing in mammalian blood, a means of rickettsial clearance that has not been previously described. Considering the evolutionary conservation of rOmpB and its crucial contribution to bacterial invasion of host cells, we propose that rOmpB antibody-mediated killing confers immunity to rickettsial infection.
Aquaporin-2 localization in clathrin-coated pits: inhibition of endocytosis by dominant-negative dynamin.

Before the identification of aquaporin (AQP) proteins, vasopressin-regulated “water channels” were identified by freeze-fracture electron microscopy as aggregates or clusters of intramembraneous pa...
Estriol in pregnancy. VII. Unconjugated plasma estriol in prolonged gestation.

Abstract This study was undertaken to determine the course of unconjugated plasma estriol (E3) concentrations after 40 weeks' gestation and to assess whether the latter may be used as a first-line test in the management of term pregnancies with poor dates and prolonged gestation. Plasma E3 was measured twice weekly in 134 women with well-dated pregnancies of 40 weeks or more and in 213 women with pregnancies of unverified age but believed to be in excess of 40 weeks from the last menstrual period. The obstetric management was based upon twice weekly determinations of urinary E3 and antepartum heart rate testing, but not all patients complied. Plasma E3 levels were not available for management of the patients. The results indicate that unconjugated plasma E3 levels are highest at 40 weeks' gestation and decline thereafter by 12% each week. Because of this slow decline, biweekly assays suffice. Increasing and plateauing serial plasma E3 levels reveal that a patient approaches term or has reached 39 to 41 weeks' gestation, respectively, whereas decreasing E3 concentrations indicate that the patient is well beyond 40 weeks, and that her fetus may be about to or has become postmature. Only seven of the 347 patients studied were delivered of a postmature infant. Their last plasma E3 levels ranged from 3.8 to 8.0 ng/ml, i.e., were below the 95% confidence limits established for normal term pregnancies. It was found that 73% of the 347 patients had plasma E3 levels of 12 ng/ml or more, and that all their pregnancies ended normally, except for three instances of presumed intrapartum fetal distress. However, in 19 (20%) of the other 27% of the 347 patients who had plasma E2 levels of less than 12 ng/ml, abnormal outcome was encountered: postmaturity (seven), fetal death (four), intrauterine growth retardation (three), malformations (two), or intrapartum fetal distress (three). These results allow the conclusion that twice weekly assays of unconjugated plasma E2 may be used as a first-line test in the management of prolonged gestation.
Laryngitis and Hoarseness

A 42-year-old female jazz singer presents with a 3-day history of hoarseness. She had the onset of symptoms 3 days after a concert at a local club where she performs as a soloist in a jazz trio.Four days before her performance she complained of a cold with symptoms that included nasal congestion and sore throat. She was previously healthy with no history of systemic diseases. She occasionally drinks alcohol, but denies history of smoking.
Impact Of The Repeal Of The Investment Tax Credit ON Firms Investment Decisions

This study investigates the relationship between the 1986 repeal of the investment tax credit (ITC) and firms capital investment rates using an ANCOVA model that includes firm size and growth rate variables as covariates. Our results demonstrate: (1) there is a significant decline in firms investment rates between the pre-Tax Reform Act (TRA) and post-TRA periods; and (2) holding the amount of ITC available to firms constant during the two time periods, firms investment rates remain relatively constant. We conclude that ITC is an important determinant in firms capital investment rates.
Gene Therapy for Mucositis

A major dose limiting toxicity of chemoradiotherapy of head and neck cancer is mucositis. Attempts to decrease radiation damage have included both locally delivered and systemic strategies. A highly effective locally applied radioprotectant is Manganese Superoxide Dismutase-Plasmid Liposomes (MnSOD-PL), which has been shown in animal models with fractionated radiotherapy to the head and neck to be an effective radioprotector, when delivered between each radiotherapy fraction. Intraoral administration of Manganese Superoxide Dismutase-Plasmid Liposomes (MnSOD-PL) prior to single fraction irradiation or immediately before each of multiple fractions of head and neck irradiation significantly reduces oral cavity and oropharyngeal mucositis in the C57BL/6NHsd model. The mechanism is dependent upon mitochondrial targeting of the MnSOD transgene product. A phase I Clinical Trial of administration of MnSOD-PL to patients twice a week during chemoradiotherapy of lung cancer has demonstrated significant protection of the esophagus in patients, who swallow MnSOD-PL. A “mouthwash” administration of MnSOD-PL is being tested in a clinical trial at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. Reduction of irradiation-induced oral cavity and oropharyngeal mucositis should allow dose escalation in clinical trials of chemoradiotherapy and biological response modifier therapy of head and neck cancers, but more importantly, reduce significant side effects of treatment. An attractive evolution of this gene therapy approach has been the development of small molecule radioprotectants, prominently mitochondrial targeted 4-amino tempo. Mitochondrial targeting has been optimized with the development of hemigramicidin linkers, which deliver concentrated drug to the mitochondria thereby limiting radiation-induced apoptosis. The GS-nitroxide, JP4-039, then delivered in a novel F15 tissue targeted emulsion provides significant radioprotection of normal oral cavity and oropharyngeal mucosa when delivered before single fraction or between fractions of radiotherapy. The ease of administration of oral cavity/oropharynx radioprotectants makes their application in clinical translational protocols both safe and feasible.
Decentering the Consuming Self: Personalized Medicine, Science, and the Market for Lemons

This Article examines the policy issues raised by technological advances in personalized medicine, also known as precision medicine. The author identifies several problems for consumers arising from asymmetric information in the provision of personalized medicine services. The Article examines regulatory solutions to these problems that seek to realize the benefits from personalized medicine for consumers.
Alcohol: A Simple Nutrient with Complex Actions on Bone in the Adult Skeleton

BACKGROUND: Alcohol is an important nonessential component of diet, but the overall impact of drinking on bone health, especially at moderate levels, is not well understood. Bone health is important because fractures greatly reduce quality of life and are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly. Regular alcohol consumption is most common following skeletal maturity, emphasizing the importance of understanding the skeletal consequences of drinking in adults. METHODS: This review focuses on describing the complex effects of alcohol on the adult skeleton. Studies assessing the effects of alcohol on bone in adult humans as well as skeletally mature animal models published since the year 2000 are emphasized. RESULTS: Light to moderate alcohol consumption is generally reported to be beneficial, resulting in higher bone mineral density (BMD) and reduced age-related bone loss, whereas heavy alcohol consumption is generally associated with decreased BMD, impaired bone quality, and increased fracture risk. Bone remodeling is the principal mechanism for maintaining a healthy skeleton in adults and dysfunction in bone remodeling can lead to bone loss and/or decreased bone quality. Light to moderate alcohol may exert beneficial effects in older individuals by slowing the rate of bone remodeling, but the impact of light to moderate alcohol on bone remodeling in younger individuals is less certain. The specific effects of alcohol on bone remodeling in heavy drinkers are even less certain because the effects are often obscured by unhealthy lifestyle choices, alcohol-associated disease, and altered endocrine signaling. CONCLUSIONS: Although there have been advances in understanding the complex actions of alcohol on bone, much remains to be determined. Limited evidence implicates age, skeletal site evaluated, duration, and pattern of drinking as important variables. Few studies systematically evaluating the impact of these factors have been conducted and should be made a priority for future research. In addition, studies performed in skeletally mature animals have potential to reveal mechanistic insights into the precise actions of alcohol and associated comorbidity factors on bone remodeling.Copyright © 2016 by the Research Society on Alcoholism. Language: en
Shading Effect on Pecan by Sooty Mold Growth

The buildup of sooty mold fungus on the honeydew that is deposited on the upper surfaces of the foliage of pecan, Carya illinoensis (Wang) K. Koch, as a result of feeding by Monellia costalis (Fitch) and Monelliopsis nigropunctata (Granovsky) was measured throughout the growing season. The percentage reduction in light transmission by sooty mold was as high as 25%. Therefore, sooty mold could have a serious effect on pecan production.
An exact Kolmogorov–Smirnov test for whether two finite populations are the same

We develop an algorithm for finding exact critical values for the two-sample Kolmogorov–Smirnov test in the finite-population case. We then compare these exact critical values to the asymptotic values that are available in the literature. The asymptotic critical values work well for equal sample sizes, but can be excessively conservative when the sample sizes differ.
Developing an institutional intelligence system:a new trend of institutional research

Institutional intelligence is a result of integrating business intelligence techniques into institutional research.It is an indispensable component of institutional research in this information era,which plays a significant role in improving efficiency and effectiveness of collecting and integrating data,exploring unknown information and knowledge,disseminating results,and,thus,eventually enhancing higher education decision making.This study describes the concept and significance of institutional intelligence from the perspective of the development of institutional research and the functions of business intelligence,and also introduces a fundamental framework of institutional intelligence system.
Toward Design Principles for Diffusionless Transformations: The Frustrated Formation of Co–Co Bonds in a Low-Temperature Polymorph of GdCoSi2

Diffusionless (or displacive) phase transitions allow inorganic materials to show exquisite responsiveness to external stimuli, as is illustrated vividly by the superelasticity, shape memory, and magnetocaloric effects exhibited by martensitic materials. In this Article, we present a new diffusionless transition in the compound GdCoSi2, whose origin in frustrated bonding points toward generalizable design principles for these transformations. We first describe the synthesis of GdCoSi2 and the determination of its structure using single crystal X-ray diffraction. While previous studies based on powder X-ray diffraction assigned this compound to the simple CeNi1–xSi2 structure type (space group Cmcm), our structure solution reveals a superstructure variant (space group Pbcm) in which the Co sublattice is distorted to create zigzag chains of Co atoms. DFT-calibrated Huckel calculations, coupled with a reversed approximation Molecular Orbital (raMO) analysis, trace this superstructure to the use of Co–Co isol...
Characterization of a murine model of recurrent herpes simplex viral keratitis induced by ultraviolet B radiation.

The authors characterized a murine model of herpes simplex virus (HSV) reactivation in which recurrent herpetic keratitis was obtained in up to 80% of animals. Five weeks after ganglionic latency was established in National Institutes of Health inbred mice after corneal inoculation, HSV type 1 (HSV-1) was reactivated by irradiating the previously inoculated eye with ultraviolet (UV) light. Comparison of different UV wavelengths showed UVB to be optimal for reactivation, with peak viral recurrence being induced by a total exposure of approximately 250 mJ/cm. 2 Reactivated infectious virus generally began to appear in trigeminal ganglia 2 days postirradiation and was subsequently detectable in the cornea by both corneal swabbing and immunostaining for viral antigens. Two consecutive outbreaks of viral recurrence at the ocular surface were induced in selected animals by serial exposure to UVB. Advantages of this model over other models of recurrent keratitis are discussed. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 32:2741-2746,1991 Several animal models have been developed in an effort to reproduce different pathogenic aspects of recurrent herpes simplex virus (HSV) keratitis. Rabbits were used in many studies related to ocular herpetic disease and the subsequent latent infections established in the trigeminal ganglia. They were used in the first experimental production of recurrent herpetic eye disease 1 in which ultraviolet (UV) light was used to induce HSV recurrence in the eye. The UV irradiation, combined with ocular and systemic corticosteroid treatment, resulted in recurrent herpes keratitis with viral shedding in three of four rabbits. Subsequent experiments with rabbit models of herpetic eye disease used iontophoresis of epinephrine or other substances into the cornea 2 to induce viral shedding, although recurrent ocular lesions did not accompany this shedding in all cases. Unfortunately, the rabbit model of herpetic disease is prone to spontaneous reactivation of latent virus; therefore it is not ideal
Interactions Between Neural Crest-Derived Cells and Extracellular Microenvironment During Cardiovascular Development

Organ morphogenesis requires coordinated communications between and within different populations of progenitors. Development of the mammalian asymmetric aortic arch artery tree is an excellent model system to study genes and mechanisms orchestrating complex inter-tissue interactions during organ morphogenesis. In this system, the initially symmetric vascular tree connecting the heart to the embryonic circulation undergoes asymmetric remodeling in a highly stereotyped manner. This morphogenetic process is essential for the separation of arterial and venous circulations and requires coordinated communication between cells of mesoderm, endoderm, surface ectoderm, and the neural crest. While a number of key signals have been identified, the means by which these signals are integrated to drive this morphogenetic process is not well understood. One possible means by which signaling by various growth factors can be integrated into precise developmental programs is via the extracellular matrix. This review will examine roles of extracellular matrix proteins in mediating growth factor signaling between neural crest cells and the surrounding tissues during development of the cardiac outflow tract and aortic arch arteries.